Rare earth elements distribution in seawater and suspended particulate of the Central Mediterranean Sea

Rare earth element (REE) content in suspended and dissolved phases from the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea) has been measured. Vertical profiles of several dissolved REEs along the water column reflect the 3-D oceanographic features of the studied area and identifies the different water masses present there. Shale-normalized REE distribution patterns and derived parameters calculated for the suspended particulate show different atmospheric dust-surface inputs and their interactions with seawater. Finally, combined information from [La/Yb]_N, ratios, REE/La ratios and Eu anomalies measured in the suspended particulate suggest an important contribution of volcanic materials from the Etna volcano and Saharan dust to the lithogenic fraction of the suspended particulate.     

Recognition of water masses according to geochemical signatures in the Central Mediterranean sea: Y/Ho ratio and rare earth element behaviour

This study reports the results of geochemical investigations carried out in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea) during the oceanographic cruise BANSIC 2000, focusing on the area around the Pantelleria Island. We evaluate the interface processes between dissolved phase and suspended particulate matter in the water columns on the basis of Y/Ho ratio and rare earth elements and yttrium distributions that are suitable to trace the occurrence of different water layers in Central Mediterranean Area. The main source of trace elements to the sea water system was recognized in the atmospheric fallout, while different scavenging mechanisms among Y and rare earth elements occur. Cation exchange at the dissolved phase-suspended media interface is driven by their external electronic configurations as monitored through the Y/Ho ratios, shape, and amplitude of the tetrad effects calculated along the water columns. The shape and amplitude of the tetrad effects in bottom waters suggest that the preferential Y scavenging from deep water layers depends on the hydrothermal activity in the seafloor. Here, Y is surface-complexed through the formation of inner-sphere complexes; Ho and other heavy rare earth elements are sorbed onto suspended particulate matter surfaces as weak outer-sphere complexes; these materials have a montmorillonite like nature; and preferential incorporation medium rare earth elements in crystal structures of biogenic carbonates is suggested by the relationship between the Eu anomaly and the nutrient contents of water masses.     

A case study of spatial variation and enrichment of selected elements in ambient particulate matter around a large coal-fired power station in Central India

The dominant use of coal in power sectors has been associated with adverse environmental impacts. Ambient air monitoring for the two size fractions of particulate matter, respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) and non-respirable suspended particulate matter (NRSPM) in the downwind and upwind directions of a large coal-fired power station in central India, was carried out. Collected samples of ambient particulate matter were analysed atomic absorption spectrophotometrically for 15 elements. Spatial variability in elemental composition of RSPM and NRSPM and the degree of enrichment of these toxic metals in RSPM were investigated. A significant spatial variability for the elements in RSPM and NRSPM and higher degrees of enrichment of the elements were observed.     

Trace elements in particulate matter of ambient air at petroleum filling stations

Size segregated suspended particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM_10-2.5) in air at four major petroleum-filling stations in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, were monitored using double staged “Gent” stacked samplers to assess variations in mass loads and elemental concentrations of 25 elements. Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Cs, Ta, W, and Pb were determined in both fractions by external ion beam proton-induced X-ray emission technique. Enrichment factors and pollution indices were calculated and results revealed that most elements were anthropogenic in both fractions with concentrations exceeding the World Health Organization guideline standards.     

赣南富稀土矿区农田土壤中稀土元素的环境化学特征

选择江西赣县大田稀土矿区,研究了矿区耕作农田土壤中稀土元素的含量、分布及赋存形态特征。结果表明,该区土壤中稀土元素含量明显高于对照区和全国土壤平均含量,且相对富含重稀土元素。土壤中稀土元素的分布模式受成土母岩及元素性质控制,呈现Eu和Ce负异常。稀土元素主要以可交换态和有机结合态（特别是松结有机态）形式存在,具有较高的活性和生物有效性,可能影响生态环境安全。     

Assessment of heavy metals among suspended particulates and dissolved phases in Suez Canal water

The concentrations and distribution of particulate and dissolved heavy metals, viz: Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe and Mn have been determined seasonally during 2003 in water samples collected from the Suez Canal. The presented data clarifies that the metals exhibited clear differences in their distribution between particulate and dissolved forms. The concentrations of particulate metals viz: Zn, Pb, Cd, Fe and Mn were high as compared to the dissolved form. Dissolved copper showed the highest percentage of total copper rather than particulate. The particulate forms of Pb, Cd, Fe and Mn had always-higher concentrations than the dissolved forms during the course of study except at summer season. The northern part of the Suez Canal at Port Said showed mean concentrations of particulate and dissolved Cu = 1.43 and 2.10, Zn = 8.61 and 3.17, Pb = 1.72 and 1.23, Cd = 0.35 and 0.35, Fe = 23.49 and 15.83 and Mn = 2.09 and 1.82 μg/L. These high concentrations may be attributed to the high activities, particularly, loading and unloading operations at Port Said harbour, industrial effluents and domestic drainage of Port Said city. On the other hand, Sinai side could be considered as reference site, as it is almost clean without harmful outfalls, where Cu = 0.16 and 0.56, Zn = 2.14 and 0.94, Pb = 6.29 and 3.44, Cd = 0.055 and 0.088, Fe = 6.29 and 3.44 and Mn = 0.56 and 0.26 μg/L for particulate and dissolved metals respectively.     

我国四个大气背景点颗粒物浓度及其元素分布特征

选择全国由南至北的4个大气背景站(广东南岭、湖北神农架、山西庞泉沟和吉林长白山),于2013年分4个季度同步采集环境空气颗粒物PM10和PM2.5样品,采用微波消解电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定滤膜样品中60余种元素.结果表明,4个背景点PM2.5日均质量浓度平均值为17μg·m-3,PM10为29μg·m-3,低于《环境空气质量标准》(GB 3095—2012)规定的一级浓度限值.第一季度的PM10和PM2.5最高,除长白山第三季度高于第四季度之外,其他3个点位均呈现第二季度第四季度第三季度的趋势.PM2.5和PM10二者呈线性正相关,4个季度的PM2.5/PM10比值均小于0.5,第二、第三季度较高,而第一、第四季度较低.PM10和PM2.5中元素随季节变化不大,PM2.5含量在同一水平上低于PM10.Na、Mg、Al、S、K、Ca、Fe、Zn质量浓度在0.1—10μg·m-3之间,P、Ti、Mn、Ni、Cu、Ba、Pb质量浓度在10—100 ng·m-3之间,Cd、Co、Ge、Ga、Zr、Sr、V等质量浓度在0.01—10 ng·m-3之间.K、Al、Ca含量大于10%,S、Mg、Na、Fe、Zn、Pb、Mn含量大于1%,Cu、P、Ba、Ti量介于0.5%—1%,其他痕量元素含量所占比例小于0.5%.     

The quantity,composition and distribution of suspended particulate matter in the Gulf of California

The distribution and composition of suspended particulate matter in the sea is very complex and not well understood. In this study, 3 different approaches were used to estimate the quantity and quality of suspended particulate matter in 34 samples from the euphotic zone of 9 stations in the Gulf of California. The results from electronic, microscopic and chemical analyses showed that most parameters measured were significantly correlated, e.g. the total particulate volume from particles of 2 to 150 diameter, as obtained from the Coulter Counter, proved to be significantly related to such parameters as seston, particulate nitrogen, particulate carbon, phytoplankton carbon and chlorophylla. It can be concluded from this study that the Coulter Counter can be a very useful instrument to determine, with little effort, the size, distribution, and volume of particulate suspended matter in the sea. These data can then be used to calculate some important biological parameters which are necessary to establish meaningful models of phytoplankton production. More detailed studies are necessary to prove the above mentioned relationships in depth, space and time.Contribution from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego. This work was completed under the Scripps Tuna Oceanography Program supported by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries under Contract No. 14-17-0007-963. Ship time was provided from National Science Foundation funds.     

Response of benthic foraminifera to heavy metal contamination in marine sediments (Sicilian coasts,Mediterranean Sea)

To examine the suitability of benthic foraminifera and their test deformations as bioindicators of pollution in coastal marine environments, we studied foraminifera and metal concentrations in 72 marine sediment samples, collected from the inner shelf along the Sicilian coast (Gulfs of Palermo and Termini) and on the south-eastern coast of Lampedusa Island. These areas are characterised by different environmental conditions. On the basis of pollution sources and foraminiferal assemblages, we recognised different zones in the Gulf of Palermo. The most polluted zones showed high metal concentrations, and low diversity of benthic foraminifera with species typical of stressed environments. By contrast, the lowest polluted zones showed a high population density and the highest percentages of epiphytes. Epiphytes were abundant where a Posidonia oceanica meadow was present and decreased in the most polluted zones. Sediments of the Gulf of Termini and Lampedusa exhibited high percentages of benthic foraminifera typical of well-oxygenated waters and low concentrations of metals, with the exception of sites located near sewage outfalls and harbour areas. Furthermore, even though deformed tests are commonly known in natural stressed environmental conditions, this study shows that in the most polluted zones, benthic foraminifera were characterised by the highest percentages of deformed individuals.     

稀土矿开采对土地资源的影响及植被恢复

对广东省平远县稀土矿开采对土地资源的影响进行了初步的调查和分析。同时在已进行的植被恢复措施的基础上,对其效应作了初步的分析,评价了恢复措施对水土流失和土壤理化性质的影响,并据此提出了比较适合的植被恢复措施。     

Factors affecting the distribution of trace elements in harbour sediments

A large number of data (n=488) were acquired from 2003 to 2006 for five Italian harbours and three control areas to determine trace element (Al, As, Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, Cr, and Ni) levels in sediments. Results were utilised to evaluate, on a multivariate statistical basis, pollution levels, significant relationships between observed levels and specific factors, and enrichment factors. Of the factors tested, main human use of harbour, was best able to determine segregations in the observed trace element fingerprints. Compared with the concentration limit approach, the evaluation of enrichment factors, even if affected by mathematical approximations, represented a useful tool for environmental studies, allowing evaluation of the presence of sediments enriched by human activities and reducing the occurrence of both false positives and false negatives due to natural differences in aluminosilicate levels.     

On the distribution of particulate metals,chlorophyll and seston in the Baltic Sea

During the end of the phytoplankton spring bloom, about 100 water samples were taken at 23 stations in the Baltic Sea. The samples were analyzed for particulate Cu, Fe, Zn, Cd, and Pb by atomic absorption as well as for chlorophyll and seston. Further subsamples were counted with an inverted microscope, and phytoplankton carbon content was calculated. The hydrographical-biological state of the Baltic Sea during spring is described. Two different water masses could be differentiated and these were separated by the halocline. The concentrations of particulate metals are in accordance with those published by other authors. No significant differences could be calculated between mean values of particulate metal concentrations in the two water bodies. Correlations between particulate metal concentrations and chlorophyll, seston, phytoplankton carbon and cell-count were calculated for both photic layer and deeper waters. Significant correlations were found only in the photic layer. The importance of standing crop for metal accumulation in seston is discussed.     

Fine-scale distribution of juvenile Atlantic and Mediterranean loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean Sea

Loggerhead turtles nesting in the Mediterranean Sea exhibit remarkable genetic structuring. This paper tests the hypothesis that young loggerhead turtles from different rookeries do not distribute homogeneously among the major Mediterranean foraging grounds, due to a complex pattern of surface currents. We extracted long fragments of mitochondrial DNA from 275 stranded or bycaught juvenile turtles from six foraging grounds (Catalano-Balearic Sea, Algerian basin, Tyrrhenian Sea, Adriatic Sea, northern Ionian Sea and southern Levantine Sea). We used a Bayesian mixed-stock analysis to estimate the contributions from rookeries in the Mediterranean, the North-west Atlantic and Cape Verde to the studied foraging grounds. Differences were found in the relative contribution of juvenile turtles of Atlantic and Mediterranean origin to each foraging ground. A decreasing proportion of Atlantic juveniles was detected along the main surface current entering the Mediterranean, with a high prevalence of turtles from eastern Florida in the Algerian basin and lower numbers elsewhere. In regard to the turtles of Mediterranean origin, juveniles from Libya prevailed in central and western Mediterranean foraging grounds other than the Algerian basin. Conversely, the Adriatic Sea was characterised by a large presence of individuals from western Greece, while the southern Levantine Sea was inhabited by a heterogeneous mix of turtles from the eastern Mediterranean rookeries (Turkey, Lebanon and Israel). Overall, the distribution of juveniles may be related to surface circulation patterns in the Mediterranean and suggests that fisheries might have differential effects on each population depending on the overlap degree between foraging and fishing grounds.     

Determination of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in water and suspended particulate matter in the river Elbe and North Sea, Germany

The distribution of polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) in the dissolved and particulate phase and their discharge from the river Elbe into the North Sea were studied. The PFCs quantified included C₄-C₈ perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS), C₆ and C₈ perfluorinated sulfinates (PFSiAs), C₄-C₁₂ perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluoro-3,7-dimethyl-octanoic acid (3,7m₂-PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA), and n-ethyl perfluroctane sulfonamidoethanol (EtFOSE). PFCs were mostly distributed in the dissolved phase, where perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) dominated with 2.9–12.5 ng/L. In the suspended particulate matter FOSA and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) showed the highest concentrations (4.0 ng/L and 2.3 ng/L, respectively). The total flux of ΣPFCs from the river Elbe was estimated to be 802 kg/year for the dissolved phase and 152 kg/year for the particulate phase. This indicates that the river Elbe acts as a source of PFCs into the North Sea. However, the concentrations of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) in the North Sea were higher than that in the river Elbe, thus an alternative source must exist for these compounds.     

稀土元素的脑部蓄积性、毒性及其对人群健康的潜在危害

论述了稀土元素在动物脑部的蓄积性、对脑的毒性以及稀土区人群的脑部毒性效应,分析了稀土农业应用和稀土厂“三废”对生态环境和人群健康的潜在危害。     

应用浅层地温测量法分析崩岗侵蚀与地下水分布关系

地下水是影响崩岗发生的重要驱动力之一,而地温场异常可以反映反推地下水分布。在野外调查的基础上,利用浅层地温法反演流动地下水脉分布的原理,分析并探讨了粤东五华典型崩岗侵蚀区的地下水分布、流向及与崩岗分布的空间关系。结果表明：地下水脉复杂多变的区域,其崩岗侵蚀程度也越严重。这种关系主要表现在3点：（1）较活跃和集中分布的崩岗侵蚀群常具有更多的浅层地温冷点;（2）零散分布的单个崩岗体,其水脉形态常呈不连续性,且总体流动方向较均一,与崩岗前进方向相反;（3）在崩岗群中,地下水脉则呈树枝状或网状展布。应用浅层地温法间接探讨崩岗侵蚀与地下水分布关系,是研究崩岗侵蚀过程与机理的新手段,具较好的应用前景。     

稀土矿城市不同季节大气可吸入颗粒物中稀土含量特征及颗粒物细胞毒性

为探讨典型稀土矿城市不同季节大气可吸入颗粒物(inhalable particulate matter,PM10)中稀土元素污染特征及其细胞毒性响应,将前期采集于包头市的PM10颗粒物进行提取,检测PM10中的稀土元素(rare earth elements,REEs)含量,并将人肺上皮细胞(A549)暴露于不同浓度水平(25,50,100μg·m L-1)的PM10样品和标准颗粒物1649b(standard reference material,SRM1649b)暴露液,用WST-1法测定暴露24 h后的细胞活性,用2’7’二氯荧光素二醋酸盐(2’7’-dichlorofluorescein diacetate,DCFH-DA)荧光探针法和彗星实验分别测定暴露3 h后的细胞内活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)产生水平和DNA双链损伤程度。结果表明,包头春、夏季大气PM10和SRM1649b均引起A549细胞活性下降,并诱导细胞内ROS生成量增加,造成显著的细胞内DNA损伤,含REEs的大气颗粒物毒性显著高于标准颗粒物。与春季相比,包头夏季PM10对细胞活性的抑制程度更高,造成更多的DNA双链损伤,从而表现出更强的细胞毒性和遗传毒性。包头PM10呈现明显的轻稀土元素(light rare earth elements,LREEs)富集,铈(Ce)、钷(Pm)、镧(La)和钕(Nd)含量占稀土总量的50%以上。LREEs均与细胞活性和细胞内ROS产生水平呈负相关性,包头春季和夏季PM10中稀土元素含量的差异是导致包头PM10细胞毒性效应不同于标准颗粒物且具有季节性差异的原因之一。     

Evaluation of the levels and sources of trace elements in urban particulate matter

An assessment of air quality of Belgrade, Serbia, was performed by determining the trace element content in airborne daily PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples collected from a central urban area. The ambient concentrations of Zn were the highest in PM_2.5 (1,998.0 ng m⁻³). Multivariate receptor modelling (principal component analysis and cluster analysis) has been applied to determine the contribution of different sources of specific metallic components in airborne particles. The obtained results showed that vehicle traffic and fossil fuel combustion in stationary objects were the main sources of trace metals in Belgrade urban aerosols.     

稀土元素的脑部蓄积性、毒性及其对人群健康的潜在危害

论述了稀土元素在动物脑部的蓄积性、对脑的毒性以及稀土区人群的脑部毒性效应，分析了稀土农业应用和稀土厂“三废”对生态环境和人群健康的潜在危害。     

Spring and autumn spatial distribution of zooplankton carbon requirement across the Mediterranean Sea

Zooplankton represents a key contributor to the ocean biological pump through its consumption of sinking and suspended carbon. A specific and highly sensitive method to evaluate zooplankton carbon requirement from the sinking flux is through the estimation of the activity of the electron transport system. The present study was carried out from samplings in 2006, and it was focused on the spatial 200–0?m zooplankton carbon demand across 24 sampling stations, along the Mediterranean Sea, from the island of Crete to the Strait of Gibraltar. Its potential day/night variability was evaluated. The zooplankton composition, abundance and biomass were investigated. The carbon demand per unit zooplankton biomass indicates geographical and diel differences among the sampling stations. A higher mean carbon demand was seen for the western Mediterranean with respect to the eastern Mediterranean, which can be justified through the observed ratio of gelatinous:crustacean taxa and the water temperatures recorded. Higher carbon demand was measured in samples collected during the dark hours. The relation to the presence and abundance of actively migrating euphausiids and copepods was discussed. A comparison with data from another of our study carried out in the same study area but in another seasonal period was done.