The Distribution and Sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Sediments Along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast

Coastal marine sediment samples were collected from 31 sampling stations along the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast. All sediment samples were analyzed to determine aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as total organic carbon (TOC) contents and grain size analysis. Total concentrations of 16 EPA-PAHs in the sediments were varied from 88 to 6338 ng g⁻¹ with an average value of 154 ng g⁻¹ (dry weight). However, the concentrations of total aliphatic were varied from 1.3 to 69.9 ng g⁻¹ with an average value of 15.6 ng g⁻¹ (dry weight). The highest contents of PAHs were found in the Eastern harbor (6338 ng g⁻¹), Manzala (5206 ng g⁻¹) and El-Jamil East (4895 ng g⁻¹) locations. Good correlations observed between a certain numbers of PAH concentrations allowed to identify its origin. The average total organic carbon (TOC) percent was varied from 0.91 to 4.54%. Higher concentration of total pyrolytic hydrocarbons (∑COMB) than total fossil hydrocarbons (∑PHE) declared that atmospheric fall-out is the significant source of PAHs to marine sediments of the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. The selected marked compounds, a principal component analysis (PCA) and special PAHs compound ratios (phenanthrene/anthracene vs fluoranthene/pyrene; ∑COMB/∑EPA-PAHs) suggest the pyrogenic origins, especially traffic exhausts, are the dominant sources of PAHs in most locations. Interferences of rather petrogenic and pyrolytic PAH contaminations were noticed in the harbors due to petroleum products deliveries and fuel combustion emissions from the ships staying alongside the quays.     

不同环境介质中异丙隆残留的前处理方法研究

利用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定水、土壤和植物中除草剂异丙隆的残留量.采用LC-18固相萃取小柱分离、净化和富集水中异丙隆残留;利用丙酮/水(体积比为3:1)振荡提取土壤中的异丙隆残留,并通过硅胶柱层析净化、分离;以乙酸乙酯为提取剂,采用超声波提取植物样品中的异丙隆残留,并用Florisil固相萃取小柱净化、分离.利用HPLC-UVD(Ultraviolet Detector,紫外检测器)定性、定量测定水、土壤和植物样品中异丙隆残留量.结果表明,异丙隆HPLC的线性检测范围为0.1～16 mg/L,决定系数\%R2\%=0.999 9,最低检测浓度为0.012 mg/L.水的加标回收率为90.7%～91.1%,相对标准偏差为3.0%～12.0%;土壤的加标回收率为88.4%～97.4%,相对标准偏差为6.9%～9.8%;植物的加标回收率为94.4%～99.9%,相对标准偏差为4.6%～9.0%.研究为异丙隆残留的检测提供了一种有效方法.     

长江入海口北支沿海滩涂养殖区底泥重金属污染特征及趋势评价

对长江入海口北支沿海滩涂养殖区底泥重金属污染的总体水平进行调查,结果表明,滩涂养殖区底泥重金属含量满足海洋沉积物质量一类标准要求,污染程度属于安全Ⅰ级水平,重金属潜在生态危害属轻微级别,6种重金属潜在生态危害由大到小排序依次为Cd﹥Hg﹥Cu﹥Cr﹥Pb﹥As,2005年～2011年,底泥重金属污染程度均处于安全的Ⅰ级水平。     

基于韦伯-费希纳定律的空气质量普适韦伯指数公式

在适当设定各项空气污染物浓度"参照值"cj0的基础上,用相应于"参照值"cj0的污染物的"规范值"xj作为基于韦伯-费希纳(W-F)定律空气质量指数公式中的污染刺激量。由于各污染物同级标准的浓度"规范值"xjl差异不大,从而可以认为各污染物的韦伯指数公式等效于一个具有共同适用的韦伯常数α的W-F指数公式,并采用粒子群(PSO)算法优化得出α,得到对7项空气污染物皆适用的空气质量普适韦伯指数公式。该公式应用于多个实例分析,并与多种其它评价方法的评价结果比较表明,空气质量普适韦伯指数公式具有简单、实用和直观的特点。     

Impact of changed trophic status on the zooplankton composition in six water bodies of Dharwad district, Karnataka state (South India)

Morgan Island, located within the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve in South Carolina, is home to the only free-ranging colony of rhesus monkeys (Macca mulatta) in the continental United States. The purpose of this study was to assess environmental impacts of the monkey colony on water quality in adjacent tidal creeks and on island vegetation. Three tidal creeks were sampled: Morgan Creek, adjacent to the monkey colony; Back Creek, on Morgan Island not adjacent to the colony; and Rock Creek, on a nearby island unoccupied by monkeys. Temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and fecal coliform bacteria were measured six times at three sites in each of these creeks, and vegetation change analysis was conducted in a geographic information system using satellite imagery. Results showed elevated fecal coliform concentrations in the Morgan Creek site immediately adjacent to the colony, though no samples exceeded the standard set for recreational water use. Ribotyping reconnaissance matched four Escherichia coli isolates from Morgan and Back Creeks to the monkeys, identifying the colony as one source of fecal coliform bacteria, though relative source loadings could not be quantified. Significant differences were not observed between ammonia or orthophosphate levels in Morgan Creek relative to the other creeks tested; and vegetation change analysis showed a 35% increase in canopy cover between 1979 and 1999. Overall, these results suggest that the rhesus colony’s environmental impacts are localized and minimal. Results from this study provide baseline data on Morgan Island and may be useful in management decisions regarding the future of the monkey colony.     

Assessment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gmelina arborea</Emphasis> sawdust–cement-bonded rainwater storage tank

The performance of a mixture of a forest bye product and cement for the production of storage structure for harvested rainwater was assessed. Three mix ratios of Cement: Gmelina arborea sawdust 3.0:1.0 (specimen A), 2.5:1.0 (specimen B) and 2.0:1.0 (specimen C) were considered. Engineering properties and dimensional stability of the different mix-ratios were monitored from prototypes cylindrical pots and test billet specimens. Possible change in quality of stored rainwater, with time was monitored in all the three cases. Water quality parameters monitored include pH, hardness, total suspended solids, alkalinity, acidity and total dissolved CO₂. The tensile stress obtained were 110, 104, and 95 N/mm², while the compressive strength were 5,000, 3,000, and 2,000 kN for specimens A, B and C respectively. Accelerated aging test showed that sample A were more resistant to deformation, while specimen C were more susceptible to change in structure over time. Similarly, the values of tensile and compressive strength after accelerated aging test increased in the order of specimen A > B > C. Except in specimen C where significant differences in alkalinity and acidity were observed, there were no significant differences in quality of the water stored in the pots after 2 months of storage. The results indicate the suitability of the Gmelina arborea waste as an alternative in constructing water storage structures in rural communities.     

基于岩体质量指标Q分类系统的风险分析方法

基于岩体质量指标Q分类系统,应用Monte-Carlo模拟技术,研究了岩体质量风险分析方法。该方法视Q分类系统中各单因素取值为随机变量,建立了各单因素取值概率模型;通过对所建模型的抽样计算,可获取所评价岩体实际Q值小于设计所采用Q值的概率;通过对比分析Q值累计曲线和岩体质量分布图,可得到任意Q值对应的风险概率,查清岩体中可能出现的质量等级以及每个质量等级所占百分比的情况。本文研究成果已在青岛胶州湾海底隧道工程中得到应用,并获得良好效果。     

Extraction of labile metals from solid media by dilute hydrochloric acid

Extraction of labile metals from solid media is environmentally more meaningful than a total digestion. A variety of reagents have been introduced in the literature, but dilute HCl has received the greatest attention. We compare metal concentrations liberated by a dilute HCl leach with the sum of the 3-step optimized (standardized) BCR sequential extraction procedure. This is the first study to compare these procedures over a range of grain sizes. Road-deposited sediments from 10 sites in Honolulu were fractionated into six grain size classes. Aliquots of individual fractions were digested with dilute HCl, the 3-step BCR procedure (‘labile’), and a 4-acid (total) procedure. Results indicated that the weighted labile concentrations of Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were statistically greater than those from the dilute HCl leach. However, regression analysis indicated strong statistically significant relationships between the two partial extraction procedures for all metals. On a whole-sample basis, the toxicity classifications for anthropogenic-enhanced metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) were similar between extractions. Taken together, results suggest that the application of dilute HCl to solid media provides a rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally meaningful approach for contaminant monitoring.     

Mobilisation of sediment-associated metals from historical Pb working sites on the River Sheaf, Sheffield, UK

Spatial and temporal patterns of metal mobilisation from former water-powered, Pb working sites in a suburban area of Sheffield (UK) were investigated. Twelve time-integrated mass flux samplers were strategically deployed over two contrasting campaign periods (summer and winter). Suspended sediment samples were characterised magnetically and subjected to metal analysis. Metal levels in the upper River Sheaf showed a marked spatial and temporal variability. Pb concentrations in particular were relatively high (maximum 2132 mg kg(-1)). Their distribution tended to reflect the historical contamination of the valley by 17th to 19th century industry, especially during summer high discharge conditions. The mean suspended sediment Pb concentration (803 mg kg(-1)) exceeds contamination guidelines. It is unclear whether ground remediation of one of the seven floodplain sites in the catchment has been successful. The river is still affected by the legacy of at least two other Pb working sites.     

Variability of soil-water quality due to Tsunami-2004 in the coastal belt of Nagapattinam district, Tamilnadu

In this study, the Tsunami-caused deterioration of soil and groundwater quality in the agricultural fields of coastal Nagapattinam district of Tamilnadu state in India is presented by analyzing their salinity and sodicity parameters. To accomplish this, three sets of soil samples up to a depth of 30cm from the land surface were collected for the first six months of the year 2005 from 28 locations and the ground water samples were monitored from seven existing dug wells and hand pumps covering the study region at intervals of 3 months. The EC and pH values of both the soil and ground water samples were estimated and the spatial and temporal variability mappings of these parameters were performed using the geostatistical analysis module of ArcGIS((R)). It was observed that the spherical semivariogram fitted well with the data set of both EC and pH and the generated kriged maps explained the spatial and temporal variability under different ranges of EC and pH values. Further, the recorded EC and pH data of soil and ground water during pre-Tsunami periods were compared with the collected data and generated variability soil maps of EC and pH of the post-Tsunami period. It was revealed from this analysis that the soil quality six months after the Tsunami was nearing the pre-Tsunami scenario (EC< 1.5dSm(-1); pH<8), whereas the quality of ground water remained highly saline and unfit for irrigation and drinking. These observations were compared with the ground scenarios of the study region and possible causes for such changes and the remedial measures for taking up regular agricultural practices are also discussed.