A Procedure for NEPA Assessment of Selenium Hazards Associated With Mining

This paper gives step-by-step instructions for assessing aquatic selenium hazards associated with mining. The procedure was developed to provide the U.S. Forest Service with a proactive capability for determining the risk of selenium pollution when it reviews mine permit applications in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The procedural framework is constructed in a decision-tree format in order to guide users through the various steps, provide a logical sequence for completing individual tasks, and identify key decision points. There are five major components designed to gather information on operational parameters of the proposed mine as well as key aspects of the physical, chemical, and biological environment surrounding it — geological assessment, mine operation assessment, hydrological assessment, biological assessment, and hazard assessment. Validation tests conducted at three mines where selenium pollution has occurred confirmed that the procedure will accurately predict ecological risks. In each case, it correctly identified and quantified selenium hazard, and indicated the steps needed to reduce this hazard to an acceptable level. By utilizing the procedure, NEPA workers can be confident in their ability to understand the risk of aquatic selenium pollution and take appropriate action. Although the procedure was developed for the Forest Service it should also be useful to other federal land management agencies that conduct NEPA assessments, as well as regulatory agencies responsible for issuing coal mining permits under the authority of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and associated Section 401 water quality certification under the Clean Water Act. Mining companies will also benefit from the application of this procedure because priority selenium sources can be identified in relation to specific mine operating parameters. The procedure will reveal the point(s) at which there is a need to modify operating conditions to meet environmental quality goals. By recognizing concerns early in the NEPA process, it may be possible for a mining company to match operational parameters with environmental requirements, thereby increasing the likelihood that the permit application will be approved.     

Metabolomic modulations in a freshwater microbial community exposed to the fungicide azoxystrobin

An effective broad-spectrum fungicide, azoxystrobin (AZ), has been widely detected in aquatic ecosystems, potentially affecting the growth of aquatic microorganisms. In the present study, the eukaryotic alga Monoraphidium sp. and the cyanobacterium Pseudanabaena sp. were exposed to AZ for 7 days. Our results showed that 0.2–0.5 mg/L concentrations of AZ slightly inhibited the growth of Monoraphidium sp. but stimulated Pseudanabaena sp. growth. Meanwhile, AZ treatment effectively increased the secretion of total organic carbon (TOC) in the culture media of the two species, and this phenomenon was also found in a freshwater microcosm experiment (containing the natural microbial community). We attempted to assess the effect of AZ on the function of aquatic microbial communities through metabolomic analysis and further explore the potential risks of this compound. The metabonomic profiles of the microcosm indicated that the most varied metabolites after AZ treatment were related to the citrate cycle (TCA), fatty acid biosynthesis and purine metabolism. We thereby inferred that the microbial community increased extracellular secretions by adjusting metabolic pathways, which might be a stress response to reduce AZ toxicity. Our results provide an important theoretical basis for further study of fungicide stress responses in aquatic microcosm microbial communities, as well as a good start for further explorations of AZ detoxification mechanisms, which will be valuable for the evaluation of AZ environmental risk.     

太湖水质氮素质量浓度时空差异特征及影响因素分析

通过对2014—2016年湖体水质中氮素质量浓度分析,结合出入湖总氮浓度、水量、湖体水生生态等影响因素,发现太湖水体中总氮浓度呈现逐年下降的趋势,各监测点位总氮为0.530 mg/L～5.51 mg/L,时空分布不均,差异明显。时间上,总氮浓度表现为春季最高,夏季和秋季最低,且月均值变化曲线呈现出规律的正弦函数波形。空间上,总氮浓度大致表现出由西部湖区向东部湖区递减的趋势,呈现西部湖区﹥北部湖区﹥南部湖区﹥湖心区﹥东部湖区。要改善湖体水质,不仅要切断污染源,而且要加强水生生态功能修复。     

三峡大坝对重庆城区水环境的影响及对策

本文在假定城区排污量维持1990年水平的条件下,用计算机模拟了三峡大坝建成后重庆城区长江、嘉陵江岸边污染带增宽的情况。同时,借助水质模型模拟的2000年时城区的水质状况和城区两个控制断面上的多年监测浓度值,用灰色理论预测了三峡水库形成后重庆城区的实际岸边污染带宽度和九种污染物的断面平均浓度。最后,提出一套最佳的对策方案及投资估算。     

推导保护水生环境质量标准的方法研究

综述了美国及欧洲一些国家推导水生环境质量标准的方法研究。对水生环境质量标准包括的水质标准，底泥标准，人类和野生生物标准进行了分别叙述，详细讨论了推导水生环境质量标准的数据要求和计算方法。     

利用水生植物净化富营养化水体的研究进展

综述了近几年来利用水生植物净化富营养化水体的研究和应用现状，包括水生植物的净化机理和净化效果，并对目前常用净化富营养化水体的水生植物研究频度进行了统计。此外，还着重强调了水生植物在净化应用中需关注的问题，展望了这种净化技术的发展前景。     

入冬水生高等植物的衰亡对河流水质的影响

上海市郊河流水体中有很高的氮、磷和有机负菏，由于受水生高等植物生灭的影响，初春河流中的氮、磷和有机负菏明显高于上一年的初冬，河流中的水生高等植物能大量地吸收水体中的氮、磷，抑制藻类生长，净化水质；但其植株残体在水中的腐解，又会重新释出营养元素，造成对水体的二次污染。在冬季，随着水生高等植物的大量死亡这种污染更加明显，应加强对水生高等植物的利用，尝试建立既能净化水质，又有创造经济效益的生态工程模式，使市郊受污水体得到资源化利用。     

水环境中重金属的生物毒性预测模型

简要介绍了近年来发展的几种金属生物毒性预测模型，如FIAM、GSIM和BLM等模型。金属与生物有效性和毒性之间的关系，是制定金属的水质标准的依据，随着对金属形态及其生物有效性和毒性关系研究的深入，产生了很多的机理描述模型。描述金属与生物作用的现存模型有多种，分别从多种角度解释了环境因素对金属形态分布及其生物毒性的影响，各模型在一定程度上可给出重金属的生物毒性信息，但都存在缺陷，不能完全替代毒性实验。建立合理的金属毒性预测模型，为建新的水质标准提供依据，正是国际环境界研究的热点。     

水生植物毒性试验及在生态风险评价中的作用

综述了利用大型水生毒性试验的主要技术和方法，地其在环境监测和评价中的特点进行分析，讨论了它在污染物生态风险评价中的作用和地位，并介绍国内外对水生植物生态毒理学研究和应用现状及发展趋势。     

水环境中痕量有机有害物质的监测

论述了水中有机有害物质的监测,实质上是一项复杂系统的痕量分析课题。重点评述了痕量富集、色谱分离与监测、综合分析的主要进展。