Improvement of the BCR three step sequential extraction procedure prior to the certification of new sediment and soil reference materials

The Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme (formerly BCR) of the European Commission proposed a three-step sequential extraction procedure for sediment analysis, following extensive expert consultations and two interlaboratory studies. This scheme was recently used to certify the extractable trace element contents of a sediment reference material (CRM 601). Although this procedure offers a means to ensure the comparability of data in this field, some difficulties concerning the interlaboratory reproducibility still remain, and a new project is currently being conducted to determine the causes of poor reproducibility in the extraction scheme. The final objective of the project is the certification of new sediment and soil reference materials for their extractable contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. This paper presents the results of a small-scale interlaboratory study, which aimed to test a revised version of the extraction schemes by comparing the original and the modified protocols using the CRM 601 sample. This work offers an improvement to the BCR sequential extraction procedure through intercomparison exercises. This improved procedure will allow the obtaining of CRMs to validate analytical data in the analysis of soils and sediments, and it will also facilitate comparability of data in the European Union.     

Soil properties and crop productivity as influenced by flyash incorporation in soil

Field experiments were carried out during 1996–97at Gulawathi, Muthiani and Salarpur Villages, IARI Farm, NewDelhi and NCPP Campus, Dadri to evaluate changes in soilcharacteristics and growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.),mustard (Brassica juncea L.), lentil (Lence esculentaMoench.), rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) byvarying amounts of flyash addition (up to 50t ha^-1) in soils atsowing/transplanting time of crops. Flyash addition in areasadjoining NCPP Thermal Power Plant, Dadri, Ghaziabad, U.P.ranged from 5–12 t ha^-1 yr^-1 in 1995–96. Shoot and root growthand yield of test crops at different locations after flyashincorporation resulted in beneficial effects of flyashaddition in most cases. The silt dominant texture of flyashimproved loamy sand to sandy loam textures of the surfacesoils at the farmers' fields. The increased growth in yield ofcrops with flyash incorporation was possibly due tomodifications in soil moisture retention and transmissioncharacteristics, bulk density, physico-chemical characterssuch as pH and EC and organic carbon content. The response offlyash addition in the soil on soil health and cropproductivity needs to be evaluated on long-term sustainableaspects.     

Characterization of microbial communities from coastal waters using microarrays

Molecular methods, including DNA probes, were used to identify and enumerate pathogenic Vibrio species in the Chesapeake Bay; our data indicated that Vibrio vulnificus exhibits seasonal fluctuations in number. Our work included a characterization of total microbial communities from the Bay; development of microarrays that identify and quantify the diversity of those communities; and observation of temporal changes in those communities. To identify members of the microbial community, we amplified the 16S rDNA gene from community DNA isolated from a biofilm sample collected from the Chesapeake Bay in February, 2000. The resultant 75 sequences were 95% or more similar to 7 species including two recently described Shewanella species, baltica and frigidimarina, that have not been previously isolated from the Chesapeake. When the genera of bacteria from biofilm after culturing are compared to those detected by subcloning amplified 16S fragments from community DNA, the cultured sample exhibited a strong bias. In oysters collected in February, the most common bacteria were previously unknown. Based on our 16S findings, we are developing microarrays to detect these and other microbial species in these estuarine communities. The microarrays will detect each species using four distinct loci, with the multiple loci serving as an internal control. The accuracy of the microarray will be measured using sentinel species such as Aeromonas species, Escherichia coli, and Vibrio vulnificus. Using microarrays, it should be possible to determine the annual fluctuations of bacterial species (culturable and non-culturable, pathogenic and non-pathogenic). The data may be applied to understanding patterns of environmental change; assessing the health of the Bay; and evaluating the risk of human illness associated with exposure to and ingestion of water and shellfish.     

Monochlorobenzene Marine Risk Assessment with Special Reference to the Osparcom Region: North Sea

This risk assessment on monochlorobenzene was carried out for the marine environment, following methodology given in the EU risk assessment Regulation (1488/94) and Guidance Document of the EU New and Existing Substances Regulation (TGD, 1996). Data from analytical monitoring programmes in large rivers and estuaries in the North Sea area were collected and evaluated for effects and environmental concentrations. Risk is indicated by the ratio of predicted environmental concentration (PEC) to predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for the marine aquatic environment. In total, 27 data for fish, 24 data for invertebrates and 13 data for algae were evaluated. Acute and chronic toxicity studies were taken into account and appropriate assessment factors used to define a final PNEC value of 32 micro/l. Recent monitoring data indicate that monochlorobenzene levels in surface waters are below determination limits of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 microg/l used in monitoring programs. Assuming that half of the lowest determination (0.1 microg/l) is typical, a PEC of 0.05 microg/l was derived. A worst case of 0.5 microg/l is assumed. PEC/PNEC ratios give safety factors of 60 to over 500, taking no account of dilution in the sea. Monochlorobenzene is not a 'toxic, persistent and liable to bioaccumulate' substance sensu the Oslo and Paris Conventions for the Prevention of Marine Pollution (OSPAR-DYNAMEC) criteria. Environmental fate and effects data indicate that current use of monochlorobenzene poses no unacceptable risk to the aquatic environment.     

Growth and development of cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum treated with DDT

The effects of dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) on the growth, phagocytic activity, ultrastructure and developmental stages of a well known species of the cellular slime mould, Dictyostelium discoideum were studied. DDT, at doses of 60 ppm and above, inhibited growth of the vegetative cells and this was also evident from the colony blots which were smaller in size. A dose-dependent inhibition occurred in the phagocytic activity and macromolecular syntheses of DDT-treated cells. The cytomorphology of growing Dictyostelium cells, as revealed under light and electron microscopes, was profoundly affected by DDT treatment. Further, a considerable delay occurred in the various morphogenetic events in the slime mould cells exposed to DDT.     

中大西洋中脊37°N洋底玄武岩的稀土元素特征

一、引言 根据以往的认识,稀土的丰度对于区分各种类型的玄武岩具有特殊的意义。据此,所谓的深海拉斑玄武岩的球粒陨石标准化稀土分布模式不同于所有其它的玄武岩类型,前者轻稀土元素(LREE)的亏损大于重稀土元素(HREE),而且HREE的富集因子(e.f.)通常比较低。     

玻璃陨石的成因

玻璃陨石——这些小小的玻璃物质长期以来吸引着人们极大的注意力。早在十世纪,中国文献中就有了关于玻璃陨石或“雷公墨”的记载。关于莫尔道熔融石和澳大利亚玻璃陨石,在十八世纪和十九世纪初就已有人作了记载和描述。 斯潘塞(Spencer,1933)对玻璃陨石和冲击玻璃作了广泛的研究后得出结论:玻璃陨石虽然与巨大陨石体的降落有关,但它并不是陨石质的,它是由地球岩石熔化形成的。     

斑岩钼矿床的大地构造分类

<正> 当前西方世界市场上金属钼的价格剧增,而且予料,在八十年代钼的消费量将持续增长。这使得寻找现今钼的主要来源一斑岩钼矿床的勘探工作加紧了步伐。最近的几篇评论文章对于斑岩钼矿床只认识到一种单一的广泛的成因类型,尽管也强调了根据矿带或容矿侵入体的几何形态可以再分成亚类。本文根据大地构造位置将斑岩钼矿分为两大类——与俯冲消亡有关的和与裂谷     

经济地质学家学会

<正> 经济地质学家学会的由来 经济地质学家学会(SEG)是1919年年底召开的,有大批美国地质学会(GSA)会员参加的一次会议的结果,这些与会成员对地质学矿产资源领域的应用都特别感兴趣。创始人包括16位杰出的著名人物,从中选出七人成立了组织委员会,这七位组委会成员可认为是广阔的矿产资源专业的代表。该领导小组慎重考虑了     

西澳大利亚博丁顿金矿床红土剖面的地球化学模式

<正> 在产有红土和铝土质红土的那些地体中,红土和铝土质红土形成了分布很广的、在很大程度上覆盖着基岩的盖层。但是意外的是,在已发表的有关勘探的文献中,将红土剖面成分与基岩成分进行对比以便确定红土可反映矿化的文章却不多。许多文章报道了地表红土在找矿中的应用(例如,Mazzucchelli和James,1966;Blain和Andrew,1977;Smith和Perdrx,1983),但是涉及红土剖面研究的那些文章主要