从月球般的荒凉到加拿大最适合人类居住的十大城市之一--加拿大萨德伯雷市的环境治理经验

本文简要介绍了加拿大萨德伯雷市的环境治理工程，并从中总结了值得我们借鉴的几条经验。     

High level of nickel tolerance and metal exclusion identified in silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

Nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) are the most prevalent metals found in the Greater Sudbury Region ecosystems. The main objectives of this study are to (1) assess silver maple (Acer saccharinum) tolerance to different doses of Ni and (2) determine the translocation pattern of metals in A. sacharinum. This study revealed that A. sacharinum is highly tolerant to high doses of NI (1600 and 9200?mg/kg). Growth chamber screening trials revealed that Ni is stored in roots and does not translocate to other plant parts. Analysis of samples from A. sacharinum growing for >30 years in soil contaminated with metals also showed that the levels of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), Ni, and zinc (Zn) were significantly higher in roots compared with soils and aerial parts. On the other hand, the amount of Cu was higher in soil compared with roots and other plant parts. In fact, the bioaccumulation factors (BFs) were 0.29, 2.00, 3.6, 1.9, and 4.0 for Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn, respectively. The translocation from roots to aerial parts showed an insignificant level of movement of Cu, Fe, and Ni. Hence, A. saccharinum is classified as excluder for Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn, and avoider for Cu.     

Recovery of Acidified Lakes: Lessons From Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Over 7,000 lakes around Sudbury, Ontario, Canada were acidified by S deposition associated with emissions from the Sudbury metal smelters and more distant S sources. Air pollution controls have led to widespread changes in damaged Sudbury lakes, including increased pH and decreased concentrations of SO₄, metals and base cations. While chemical improvements have often been substantial, many lakes are still acidified, although water quality recovery is continuing. Biological recovery has been observed in some lakes among various groups of organisms including fish, zooplankton, phytoplankton and zoobenthos. Generally, however, biological recovery is still at an early stage. Lakes around Sudbury are also showing that the recovery of acid-damaged lakes is closely linked to the effects of other major environmental stressors such as climate change, base cation depletion and UV-B irradiance. Future studies of the recovery of acid-damaged lakes around Sudbury, and in other regions, will need to consider the interactions of these and other stressors.     

Reduced Metals Concentrations of Water, Sediment and Hyalella Azteca from Lakes in the Vicinity of the Sudbury Metal Smelters, Ontario, Canada

Hyalella azteca (Crustacea: Amphipoda), water and sediments from 12 circum-neutral lakes between Sudbury and North Bay in Ontario, Canada were sampled in August 1998 and analyzed for 10 metals including Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Co, Mo, V, Ba and Ti. Statistical analyses showed that concentrations of the metals in H. azteca, water and sediment differed significantly (ANOVA, P<0.05) among lakes (except for Zn and Pb in H. azteca and Mo in water). There was a trend of declining metal concentration, especially for Cu, Ni and Co (in water, Hyalella and sediment), with distance from the smelters indicating the reduced impact of atmospheric pollution. Metal concentrations of lakes (water) in the Sudbury area were found to be lower compared to data from the 1970s and 1980s indicating an improvement in water quality. Metal concentrations in field-collected amphipods compared favorably with those measured in the laboratory in animals exposed to deep-water sediments, provided metal concentrations were not extremely low (e.g., Pb) and that water chemistry differences (e.g., pH) were taken into account for some metals (especially Cd). In general bioaccumulation of metals in H. azteca was predicted better from surface water than from sediment total metal.     

Genetic analysis of Pinus banksiana and Pinus resinosa populations from stressed sites contaminated with metals in Northern Ontario (Canada)

The Sudbury region in Canada is known for the mining and smelting of high-sulphide ores containing nickel, copper, iron and precious metals. Although reports provide information of metal levels in soil and plants, knowledge of genetic effects on plants growing in contaminated areas is limited. The main objective of this study was to characterise the level of genetic diversity in Pinus banksiana and Pinus resinosa populations from the Sudbury (Ontario) region using microsatellite markers. Soil samples were analysed for concentrations of metals. High levels of metal contents in soil were observed within short distances of the smelter compared with control sites. The level of genetic diversity was very low for P. resinosa populations and moderate for P. banksiana samples. Observed heterozygosity was fivefold higher in P. banksiana populations than P. resinosa populations studied. Overall, 17 and 24% of the total genetic diversity were attributed to differences among populations for P. banksiana and P. resinosa, respectively. In general, the inbreeding was significantly higher in P. resinosa populations than P. banksiana populations and gene flows were relatively low in both species. No significant trend of the levels of genetic diversity for metal contaminated and uncontaminated sites was found.     

Total and bioavailable metals in two contrasting mining regions (Sudbury in Canada and Lubumbashi in DR-Congo): relation to genetic variation in plant populations

Knowledge of total and bioavailable metal contents in soil is important for regional risk assessment and management. The main objective of the present study was to analyse the concentrations of metals in soils in two contrasting mining regions (Sudbury in Canada and Lubumbashi in DR-Congo). Genetic variation of plant populations was investigated to assess the potential impact of metal contamination on forest sustainability. The levels of copper, cobalt, zinc, arsenic, and lead were significantly higher (up to 200-fold) in mining sites in the Lubumbashi compared to the most highly contaminated Sudbury sites. The nickel content in soil samples from Lubumbashi was much lower compared to Sudbury region samples. Only 3.5% and 4 % of total copper and nickel, respectively, were phytoavailable, with values of 6%, 5.7%, 3.6%, and 5.4% for cobalt, magnesium, manganese, and zinc, respectively. There were significant positive correlations between total metal and phytoavailable metal concentrations for copper (r=0.99), nickel (r=0.86), cobalt (r=0.72), strontium (r=0.71), and zinc (r=0.66). Although genetic variation was high in Picea glauca populations from the Sudbury region, no association was found between metal contamination levels and genetic variation within and among the P. glauca populations.