Mercury distribution,speciation and potential ecological risk assessment in sediments from Lake Taihu,China

Abstract

Twenty-one surface sediments collected from seven surroundings areas of Lake Taihu in two different years were analyzed for total mercury (THg) concentrations, physicochemical characteristics and speciation using a sequential extraction method to assess spatial distribution, sources, and potential ecological risk. Surface sediments from Lake Taihu contained elevated levels of Hg in two sampling years with THg levels ranging from 77 to 346?ng/g (mean 145?ng/g) in October 2010 and ranging from 122 to 573?ng/g (mean 266?ng/g) in November 2012, respectively. The mean THg concentrations in all studied surface sediments exhibited an increasing trend over time. The oxidizable fraction (F3) and residual fraction (F4) were the predominant Hg species in sediments, while more mobile Hg phases of acid-soluble fraction (F1) and reducible fraction (F2) made up less than 0.5% THg. Significant relationships were found between total organic carbon (TOC) and THg and geochemical speciation indicating an important role for organic matter in affecting distribution, mobility, and bioavailability of Hg in sediments. As evidenced by Hakanson’s potential risk index the total ecological risk of Hg was low in the entire Lake Taihu in 2010 but considered moderate in Zhushan Bay, West Coast, and Meiliang Bay in 2012. These findings provide conservation managers with information needed to more effectively regulate the environment of Lake Taihu.     

DDT对太湖大银鱼种群危害的生态风险

DDT作为难降解、高脂溶性的污染物,对湖泊水生生态有重要影响。该研究选择太湖大银鱼(Protosalanx hylocranius(Abbott))种群为研究对象,通过分析大银鱼在整个生命周期富集DDT的过程,结合相关的毒理学研究成果,分析DDT富集对大银鱼各生长阶段种群存活率的影响;并在此基础上,应用Lesile矩阵模型分析DDT富集对大银鱼种群规模的影响,研究结果表明,当太湖水体DDT浓度为9.3μg.L-1时,随着DDT在大银鱼体内的富集以及由此导致的毒性效应的影响,大银鱼种群规模在一个生命周期内减少6.39%,其影响较为显著。虽然具体的定量过程受到一些不确定性因素,如水体污染物浓度、剂量-反应关系等的影响,模拟准确度有待进一步提高,但本研究同样也为湖泊水生生态风险的细化提供了有益的尝试。     

固城湖生物资源潜力及其生态渔业探讨

根据 1999年对固城湖生物资源的周年综合调查 ,推算出固城湖的生物资源可供养鱼虾蟹能力在 65～ 75万kg ,其中河蟹产量可达 2 .5万kg。分析了固城湖近年河蟹产量不高的原因并提出解决办法。为保证固城湖作为饮用水源区等多重功能的发挥 ,提出了固城湖主要生态功能区划和污染负荷量计算模型及渔业生态对策     

Element levels in cultured and wild sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) from the Adriatic Sea and potential risk assessment

In this study, the role of aquaculture activity as a source of selected metals was analyzed. Significant differences in element content between cultured (Dicentrarchus labrax, Sparus aurata) and wild fishes as well as between fish muscle and their feed were detected. Higher concentrations of trace elements (i.e., As, Cu, Hg, Se) in wild fish tissues in comparison with cultured ones indicate additional sources of metals beside fish feed as natural and/or anthropogenic sources. Generally, mean Cd, Cu, Pb, Se, and Zn concentrations in cultured (0.016, 1.79, 0.14, 0.87, and 34.32 μg/g, respectively) and wild (0.011, 1.97, 0.10, 1.78, and 23,54 μg/g, respectively) fish samples were below the permissible levels, while mean As (2.57 μg/g in cultured, 4.77 μg/g in wild) and Cr (5.25 μg/g in cultured, 2.92 μg/g in wild) values exceeded those limits. Hg values were lower in cultured (0.17 μg/g) and higher in wild (1.04 μg/g) fish specimens. The highest elemental concentrations were observed in almost all fish samples from Kor?ula sampling site. The smallest cultured sea basses showed As (4.01 μg/g), Cr (49.10 μg/g), Pb (0.65 μg/g), and Zn (136 μg/g) concentrations above the recommended limits; however, values decreased as fish size increased. Therefore, the majority of metal concentrations in commercial fishes showed no problems for human consumption. Also calculated Se:Hg molar ratios (all >1) and selenium health benefit values (Se-HBVs) (all positive) showed that consumption of all observed fishes in human nutrition is not risk.     

Fighting and assessment in the yellow-rumped cacique (Cacicus cela)

Summary I tested the prediction derived from game theory models that the intensity of aggressive interactions should reflect the value of the resource being contested and the disparity in fighting ability of the contestants. Females of the yellow-rumped cacique compete for nest sites and the material to build nests. Females competing for established nest sites engage in higher intensity interactions than those competing for sites in which building has not begun and against females robbing nest material (Fig. 1). For males, access to females is determined by dominance, which is positively correlated with weight. Comparably-sized males (Fig. 2) and those of similar rank (Fig. 3) engage in significantly more intense interactions than males that differ widely in size or rank.     

应用物种敏感性分布法分析太湖及天目湖水体的生态风险

采用物种敏感性分布法(SSDs法),应用水生生物急性和慢性毒性数据计算了31种污染物在水中和其中疏水物质在沉积物中的预测无效应浓度(PNECwater和PNECsed),通过收集以往报道的16种污染物在太湖和天目湖的环境浓度,用商值法求得物质的风险商并进行排序.结果发现:蒽、菲、萘、荧蒽、阿特拉津和马拉硫磷在太湖的梅梁湾和五里湖具有很大的生态风险;毒死蜱、三丁基锡氧化物和环己锡虽无环境浓度报道但很有可能具有风险.     

Quantitative characterization of Cu binding potential of dissolved organic matter （DOM） in sediment from Taihu Lake using multiple techniques

Dissolved organic matter （DOM） plays an important role in heavy metal speciation and distribution in the aquatic environment especially for eutrophic lakes which have higher DOM concentration. Taihu Lake is the third largest freshwater and a high eutrophic lake in the downstream of the Yangtze River, China. In the lake, frequent breakout of algae blooms greatly increased the concentration of different organic matters in the lake sediment. In this study, sediment samples were collected from various part of Taihu Lake to explore the spatial difference in the binding potential of DOM with Cu. The titration experiment was adopted to quantitatively characterize the interaction between Cu（II） and DOM extracted from Taihu Lake sediments using ion selective electrode （ISE） and fluorescence quenching technology. The ISE results showed that the exogenous DOM had higher binding ability than endogenous DOM, and DOM derived from aquatic macrophytes had a higher binding ability than that derived from algae. The fluorescence quenching results indicated that humic substances played a key role in the complexation between DOM and Cu（II） in the lake. However, because of the frequent breakout of algae blooms, protein-like matters are also main component like hnmic matters in Taihu Lake. Therefore, the metals bound by protein-like substances should be caused concern as protein-like substances in DOM were unstable and they will release bound metal when decomposed.     

乌梁素海沉积物中营养盐分布特征与固碳能力

通过2008—2011年连续现场采样和室内实验分析,研究了乌梁素海沉积物营养盐的分布特征以及固碳功能.结果发现,乌梁素海沉积物中氮与有机碳水平分布具有相同规律,总磷水平分布差异较大,揭示了沉积环境和水动力条件对磷在沉积物中的累积具有一定影响,也在一定程度上反映了磷来源的多样性.在垂直方向上,总氮、有机碳、硝态氮规律明显,随深度增加有递减的趋势,而总磷和氨氮垂直分布差异性显著,表明其与环境因素和早期演化和成岩作用有关.乌梁素海沉积物中C:N:P=20.2:4.5:1,小于Redfield比(C:N:P=106:16:1).沉积物中总氮与有机碳有明显的正相关性,而总磷与有机碳无相关性.乌梁素海沉积物有机碳沉积速率为169.55 g·m-2·a-1,有机碳密度为5.70 kg·m-2.30 cm深度沉积物中,碳储量为134.39×104t,存在很大的固碳潜力,这对于调节气候变化和维护湖泊区域生态平衡具有重要潜能.     

乌梁素海底泥沉积物资源化利用初步分析

基于乌梁素海底泥沉积物的分布特征、质地、营养物成分及其含量,对乌梁素海底泥沉积物资源化利用前景进行了初步的分析.粒径级配分析结果表明,乌梁素海底泥沉积物受沉积作用明显,分选性好,属于砂壤土和壤土,可以用做土建工程材料;底泥沉积物中所含污染物成分分析结果表示,虽然底泥沉积物受上覆富营养化水体的影响,氮、磷和有机养分含量相对较大,但仍属于中等肥力土壤,且伴随着较大含量的重金属积累,可能会在资源化利用中对土壤、水体等造成二次污染,具有一定的生态风险性,不适宜用做农田施肥,可在一定保护措施条件下用做土壤质地改良、建立湖滨带和堆放处置等.     

太湖不同湖区生态系统健康评价方法研究

基于长期的监测资料,计算了表征湖泊生态系统健康的系统能(Ex)、系统能结构(Exst)和生态缓冲容量(|β|)指标,以及湖泊营养状态指数(Its)。结果表明,太湖不同湖区生态系统健康状况差异明显,1998—2001年太湖典型湖区健康状况由好到差的相对顺序为:东太湖、贡湖和湖心区、梅梁湾、五里湖。在此基础上,提出了富营养化浅水湖泊生态系统健康指标阈值和湖泊系统能量健康指数(IEx)及其健康状况分级。经2002、2003年太湖不同湖区实测检验表明,所提出的湖泊系统能量健康指数及其健康状况分级适用于评价太湖不同湖区生态系统健康的区域分异状况。     

Seasonal changes in the diving parameters of king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus)

Contrasting conditions at-sea are likely to affect the foraging behaviour of seabirds. However, the effect of season on the dive parameters of penguins is poorly known. We report here on an extensive study of the diving behaviour of king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) over the bird's complete annual cycle at the Crozet Islands. Time-depth recorders were used to record dive duration, bottom duration, post-dive interval, ascent rate and descent rate in breeding adults during different seasons in 1995 and 1996. Seasons included summer (n=6, incubation; n=6, chick brooding), autumn and winter (n=5 and n=3, respectively, chick at the crèche stage), and spring (n=4, birds at the post-moult stage). In all seasons dive duration increased with dive depth, but, for a given depth, dives were longer in winter (6.8 min when averaged over the 100-210 m depth layer) than in spring (4.6 min) and summer (4.4 min). The time spent at the bottom of the dives, which probably represents a substantial part of the feeding time, was much longer in winter (2.5 min per dive for dives over the 100-210 m layer) than during other seasons (1.0-1.4 min), i.e. there was a 2.5-fold augmentation for similar diving depths. Ascent and descent rates increased with increasing dive depth, but no difference in the relationships between rates of ascent and descent and dive depth was found among seasons. Furthermore, for all dive depths, ascent and descent rates were independent of the bottom duration. In all seasons post-dive intervals increased with dive duration and with dive depth, but they were longer in spring (2.3 min for dives over the 100-210 m layer) and summer than in autumn and winter (1.6-1.8 min). The diving efficiency decreased with increasing dive depth and was higher in autumn and winter (0.22-0.29) than in summer and spring (0.15-0.18). The large increase in bottom and dive duration from spring to winter is in agreement with the seasonal drop in prey density, with penguins spending more time searching for prey. In contrast, the consistency of the vertical velocity during contrasting conditions at-sea suggests that the transit time to depth is an important component of the foraging behaviour (scanning of the water column) that is independent of the prey availability. The time budget of the penguins during diving in a fluctuating environment appears to vary primarily during the bottom phase of the dives, with bottom duration increasing with diminishing prey supplies, while post-dive intervals shorten in the same time.     

Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFASs) in surface and tap water around Lake Taihu in China

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are ubiquitously distributed in the environment mainly as perfluoro-carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFASs). In this paper, six PFCAs and two PFASs were quantified in surface and tap water samples from 12 sites around Lake Taihu near Shanghai City in East China. Predominant PFCs were perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), of which the concentration ranges were 6.8–206 and 1.2–45 ng·L⁻¹, the geometric means were 35.3 and 9.4 ng·L⁻¹, and the median (quartile range) values were 31.4 (34.4) and 10.4 (10.7) ng·L⁻¹, respectively. Other PFCs were also detected but in much lower concentrations than PFOA. The sources of the PFCs were expected to be direct industrial discharges in the Lake Taihu area, and this area was also a possible source of PFCs contaminations in Shanghai district in the downstream. PFCs distributions were found different in the upstream, downstream and north part of Lake Taihu. Occurrences of PFCs in the tap water in Lake Taihu area indicated their exposure to the local people. A brief estimation of the environmental risks by PFCs implied no acute or immediate risks from PFCs to local human health, but chronic risks from PFOA in the tap water should be considered in the downstream regions.     

太湖北部湾多氯联苯分布特征及生态风险评价

采用GC-ECD联用检测技术分析了太湖北部贡湖大贡山(1号点)、小贡山(2号点)与梅梁湖马山(3号点)、拖山(4号点)不同季节10种PCB同系物(PCB28、52、101、112、118、138、153、155、180、198)的含量.其中含量最高的为三氯联苯PCB28与四氯联苯PCB52,占总量的50%～69%,其次分别为五氯联苯与六氯联苯,而PCB180与PCB198基本未检出.不同监测点表现出了季节变化,受"引江济太"调长江水人太湖的影响,贡湖中1号点与2号点监测点夏季PCB总量高于其它季节,而梅梁湖受周围生产及竺山湖大桥入污影响,3号点监测点不同季节PCBs总量变化不显著,4号点监测点春季高于冬季,夏季受高温影响,PCBs总量出现最小值.采用生态风险值与毒性当量法对沉积物中PCBs进行了风险评价.太湖北部湾底泥中PCBs总量较低,未对生态构成严重威胁,但由于这类物质的生态累积效应,其潜在危害仍不容忽视.