Chromium in intertidal sediments of the Clyde,UK: potential for remobilisation and bioaccumulation

Detailed surveys of intertidal sediments have been performed along the north and south shores of the Inner Clyde estuary, UK. Surface sediment data reveal significant spatial variation in Cr content and an association with major sediment characteristics and location within the estuary. Depth variation for Cr and other heavy metals cannot be explained by variation in major geochemical controls such as grain size and organic matter and highlights the impact of historical contamination on sediment quality. These elevated levels at depth may still have environmental impact through redox-reactivity, in association with iron and manganese. Sequential extraction of sediments and pore water analysis of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) provide detailed information on release potential from the sediments. The implication of Cr mobility for biota in the estuary has been assessed by the analysis of a common marine bivalve, Mytilus edulis (Blue Mussel) and a burrowing polychaete, Nereis diversicolor (rag worm) from a number of survey sites. Bioconcentration factors for Mytilus indicate that the weakly held portion of sediment Cr is available for uptake and in the case of Nereis, bioaccumulation appears to be inhibited by sediment organic matter.     

The lead content and isotopic composition of british coals and their implications for past and present releases of lead to the UK environment

More than 60 coal samples, predominantly from the principal coalfields of England and Wales (25) and Scotland (30), were analysed for lead by AAS and for stable lead isotopes by ICPMS. While the average lead content of Scottish coal, 23.9mg kg^–1, was more than double that of coal from England and Wales, 11.0mg kg^–1, the corresponding mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios (± 1 s.d.) were nearly identical, at 1.181±0.011 and 1.184±0.006, respectively. In the light of the lead isotopic signatures of British coals and of both indigenous (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb 1.17) and imported Australian (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb 1.04) lead ores, an approach based on estimated lead emissions from these sources and the deconvolution of the historical lead and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb records preserved in lake sediments, peat bogs and archival herbage material indicates that coal combustion became an increasingly significant contributor to atmospheric lead deposition in the UK during the period 1830–1930, especially after the onset of Englands decline as a major location of lead mining and smelting in the late19th Century. Since 1930 and the introduction of leaded petrol, the atmospheric ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio in the UK has been strongly influenced by carexhaust emissions of comparatively ²⁰⁶Pbdepleted lead of predominantly Australian origin, counterbalanced to some extent by coalcombustion emissions of lead, although these have fallen dramatically since the mid1950s. Nevertheless, with the introduction and substantial uptake of unleaded petrol in the UK during the last decade, even the declining releases from coal, along with contributions from other sources, are continuing to affect the atmospheric lead content and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio.     

长江口海域表层沉积物污染及其潜在生态风险评价

根据2004年8月份长江口海域表层沉积物的监测基础资料,采用单因子污染参数法和Hakanson前在生态风险指数法,通过分析长江口不同水域表层沉积物中典型污染要素PCB,Hg,Cd,Pb,As的质量分数,评价了长江口表层沉积物的质量状况。定量确定了长江口表层沉积物的潜在生态风险程度、主要污染因子和潜在生态风险因子;分析了近年来长江口表层沉积物总的潜在生态风险和单个污染要素的潜在生态风险的变化趋势。结果表明:长江口表层沉积物质量状况良好,各典型污染要素的质量分数值均小于背景值,典型污染要素的平均综合指数Cd为1.37,典型污染要素的污染程度由高至低顺序为As>Pb>Hg>PCB>Cd,As是主要环境污染因子;长江口各水域表层沉积物总的对水域均只具有低潜在生态风险,其由高至低的排列顺序为杭州湾北岸>长江口南支>长江口北支>长江口外;各典型污染物对水域也均只具有低潜在生态风险,其由高至低顺序为Hg>PCB>Cd>As>Pb,Hg是主要潜在生态风险因子;近年来,长江口表层沉积物总的潜在生态风险和单个污染物的潜在生态风险均呈现增加趋势。     

Heavy metals in Hediste diversicolor (polychaeta: nereididae) and salt marsh sediments from the lagoon of Venice (Italy)

The nereid polychaete Hediste diversicolor was frequently used as biomonitor of heavy metals contamination in estuaries. In the present work, the bioaccumulation of five heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb) in tissues of H. diversicolor collected from six salt marshes in the lagoon of Venice is studied by analysing the relationships between concentrations of the operationally-defined reactive fraction of trace metals in sediments and total concentrations in tissues. The characterisation of sediment samples shows a clear distinction between sites near and far from the Industrial Zone; no analogous pattern is observed for tissue concentrations suggesting that metal bioaccumulation is controlled by complex interactions between metal bioavailability and physiological factors. Considering relationships between metals, strong inverse correlations are observed in polychaetes and sediments for Cu and Cr concentrations suggesting a possible interaction between these two metals. The role played by organic matter (OM) in the availability of metal is highlighted considering inverse relationships found between bioaccumulation factors for Cu, Cr, Cd and OM.     

Zooplankton of the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary. The distribution of four copepods in relation to salinity

The seasonal variations in distribution and abundance of the common zooplankton species in the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary were related to the salinity regimes observed over the period November 1973 to February 1975. The dominant constituents in all regions were the calanoid copepods, which reached maximum densities in July: approximately 100 times their winter levels. Four zooplankton assemblages were recognised using an objective classification program which computed similarity coefficients and used group-average sorting. The assemblages existed along the salinity gradient observed from the Severn Estuary to the Celtic Sea. The assemblages were classified as true estuarine, estuarine and marine, euryhaline marine and stenohaline marine and were characterized by the copepods Eurytemora affinis (Poppe) (<30S), Acartia bifilosa var. inermis (rose) (27 to 33.5S), Centropages hamatus (Lilljeborg) (31 to 35S) and Calanus helgolandicus (Claus) (>33S), respectively.     

Contaminated lead environments of man: reviewing the lead isotopic evidence in sediments,peat, and soils for the temporal and spatial patterns of atmospheric lead pollution in Sweden

Clair Patterson and colleagues demonstrated already four decades ago that the lead cycle was greatly altered on a global scale by humans. Moreover, this change occurred long before the implementation of monitoring programs designed to study lead and other trace metals. Patterson and colleagues also developed stable lead isotope analyses as a tool to differentiate between natural and pollution-derived lead. Since then, stable isotope analyses of sediment, peat, herbaria collections, soils, and forest plants have given us new insights into lead biogeochemical cycling in space and time. Three important conclusions from our studies of lead in the Swedish environment conducted over the past 15 years, which are well supported by extensive results from elsewhere in Europe and in North America, are: (1) lead deposition rates at sites removed from major point sources during the twentieth century were about 1,000 times higher than natural background deposition rates a few thousand years ago (~10 mg Pb m^?2 year^?1 vs. 0.01 mg Pb m^?2 year^?1), and even today (~1 mg Pb m^?2 year^?1) are still almost 100 times greater than natural rates. This increase from natural background to maximum fluxes is similar to estimated changes in body burdens of lead from ancient times to the twentieth century. (2) Stable lead isotopes (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios shown in this paper) are an effective tool to distinguish anthropogenic lead from the natural lead present in sediments, peat, and soils for both the majority of sites receiving diffuse inputs from long range and regional sources and for sites in close proximity to point sources. In sediments >3,500 years and in the parent soil material of the C-horizon, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios are higher, 1.3 to >2.0, whereas pollution sources and surface soils and peat have lower ratios that have been in the range 1.14–1.18. (3) Using stable lead isotopes, we have estimated that in southern Sweden the cumulative anthropogenic burden of atmospherically deposited lead is ~2–5 g Pb m^?2 and ~1 g Pb m^?2 in the “pristine” north. Half of this cumulative total was deposited before industrialization. (4) In the vicinity of the Rönnskär smelter in northern Sweden, a major point source during the twentieth century, there is an isotopic pattern that deviates from the general trends elsewhere, reflecting the particular history of ore usage at Rönnskär, which further demonstrates the chronological record of lead loading recorded in peat and in soil mor horizons.     

铅锌冶炼厂渣堆场周边土壤铅污染特征

金属冶炼过程留下的废渣经过雨水冲刷及渗滤液等的作用使残留在废渣中的重金属发生迁移转化,导致渣堆场下及周边土壤受到重金属污染。了解冶炼厂渣堆场下及周边土壤重金属污染状况对场地修复及土地利用规划均有重大意义。本研究调查了湖南某铅锌冶炼厂渣堆场0~4 km内三个采样区0~20 cm表层土壤及0~100 cm深度土壤中铅的污染状况,采用单项污染指数法进行铅污染评价,并分析了铅纵向迁移随深度变化和横向迁移随距离变化的分布特征。结果表明,铅锌冶炼厂渣堆场下及周边0~1 km范围内土壤受到了铅污染,渣堆场下、距渣堆场10 m处及1 km处表层土壤中重金属铅的质量分数分别可达775.25、645.33和309.80 mg·kg^-1,超过了当地土壤中铅的背景值,也超过了土壤二级质量标准甚至三级质量标准。三个采样区的铅污染指数分别为2.6、2.1及1.03,污染等级均为Ⅱ级,污染程度为轻度污染。三个采样区土壤中铅污染主要集中于0~20 cm土壤层中,铅的质量分数分别达775.25,645.33和309.80 mg·kg^-1,20~100 cm土壤层中铅的质量分数低于0~20 cm的,分别在88.48~120.96 mg·kg-1、235.01~380.16 mg·kg^-1及309.80~59.32 mg·kg^-1之间。渣堆场下土壤中的铅从0~20cm土壤层往下至20~100cm土壤层迁移量远小于距渣场10 m处及1 km处的。三个采样区表层0~20 cm土壤层中铅的变化规律为距渣堆场0 m（渣堆场下）〉距渣堆场10 m〉距渣堆场1 km〉距渣堆场4 km,质量分数随距离增加而降低。20~40 cm及40~60 cm土壤层中铅的变化规律为距渣堆场10 m〉距渣堆场1 km〉距渣堆场0 m处（渣堆场下）〉距渣堆场4 km,60~80 cm及80~100 cm土壤层的变化规律为距渣堆场10 m〉距渣堆场0 m处（渣堆场下）〉距渣堆场1 km〉距渣堆场4 km,铅的质量分数随距离的增加先升高后降低。     

A review of prehistoric and early historic mainland salt marsh vegetation in the northern-Netherlands based on the analysis of plant macrofossils

The article presents an overview of archaeobotanical research on artificial dwelling mounds, so-called ‘terps’, in the northern-Netherlands. A total of 40 studies carried out over the past 40 years is evaluated. The vegetation diversity in the area as well as the differences with the present marsh are studied. Seriation, Principal Component Analysis and Sørensen similarity indices are used to assess the diversity of both individual samples and sites. For comparison with the present marshes, an index based on the TMAP vegetation typology was defined. Based on these methods, a selection of the individual samples was analyzed phytosociologically. It is found that all samples represent a mixture of vegetation types, but that the salt marsh species are a constant factor. The variation in the sample composition is not related to their dating, except for some of the latest samples that reflect the earliest endikements. Great similarity to the present marshes is found, but the analysis also testifies of a landscape profoundly disturbed by human activities throughout history.     

25 years of salt marsh erosion in Essex: Implications for coastal defence and nature conservation

This paper presents the results from a study which was undertaken to monitor, map and quantify salt marsh change along 440 km of shoreline within the county of Essex, south-east England, between 1973 and 1998. Results indicate that during this 25-yr period, 1000 ha of salt marsh has been lost in Essex, primarily due to coastal erosion. This figure represents ca. 25% of the total salt-marsh area originally present in Essex in 1973. The salt marshes of Essex are important nature conservation areas, with many sites designated as Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) and as Special Areas of Conservation under the EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Salt marshes are also natural features which significantly dissipate wave and tidal energy, thereby playing an important role in contributing to effective coastal defence. The large-scale loss of salt marsh in Essex has, therefore, implications for both nature conservation and flood defence. Potential hypotheses for, and implications of such losses are discussed in this paper, together with the identification of potential management approaches to alleviate the losses.     

中国三个不同富营养化湖泊沉积物中Cu、Zn赋存特征及其与营养盐的相关性分析

对太湖、南四湖、白洋淀三个不同富营养化湖泊沉积物进行采样,采用Tessier连续提取法,测定了3个湖泊表层沉积物中Cu、Zn两种重金属的赋存形态,并初步探讨了重金属各形态与沉积物及上覆水中营养盐的相关关系。结果表明,沉积物中重金属总量以白洋淀最高,太湖最低,但重金属污染程度为太湖＆gt;南四湖＆gt;白洋淀,太湖Cu污染指数为1.34~1.6,白洋淀Cu污染指数仅为0.79~1.17。沉积物中重金属赋存形态Cu主要以残渣态和有机质结合态为主（二者之和占73%以上）, Zn则以残渣态和Fe-Mn氧化态占优（二者之和比例达83%以上）,含量最少的均为可交换态。不同湖泊沉积物重金属赋存形态差异较大,太湖残渣态重金属占总量的比例最小（Cu为43%~56%,Zn为49%~63%）,南四湖残渣态占的比例最大（Cu为59%~82%、Zn为64%~77%）;可交换态比重在太湖中最高（Cu占3.2%~5.6%,Zn为1.3%~1.5%）,在南四湖中最低（Cu为1.1%~2.9%,Zn未检出）。从“非稳定态”重金属（除残渣态外的四种形态之和）所占比例看,相较其它两个湖泊,太湖沉积物中重金属污染人为输入的活性态占较大比重,具有较高的二次释放风险。相关性分析得出,重金属Cu的可交换态与上覆水中总氮及总磷之间存在着极显著的正相关关系,碳酸盐结合态Cu与沉积物中营养盐呈现出显著的负相关性,说明水体的富营养化程度加剧可能会增强沉积物中Cu向水体释放的风险。     

The abundance and life histories of terrestrial isopods in a salt marsh of the Ria Formosa lagoon system,southern Portugal

Four species of isopod characteristic of salt marsh habitats, Tylos ponticus, Porcellio lamellatus, Halophiloscia couchii and Armadillidium album coexist in the upper reaches of the Ria Formosa lagoon salt marsh system in southern Portugal. In this locality, T. ponticus is the most abundant of the four species with mean annual densities of 2,950 m⁻² and a peak density of 10,387 m⁻² in July 1998 which is very much higher than what has previously been recorded for any isopod in any habitat. The mean annual densities for the other species were lower: P. lamellatus 36 m⁻², A. album 19 m⁻² and H. couchii 3 m⁻², indicating a less significant role in this ecosystem. Tylos ponticus and A. album started to breed on May, 24 and 12 months after release from the marsupium, respectively, where as other species start to breed in March, 12 months after their release from the marsupium. Tylos ponticus has a relative growth rate (RGR) of 0.23 between release from the marsupium and time of first breeding in July of its second year and breeds at a mature mass of 3.6 mg AFDM whereas the other three species mature after 10–12 months, have more than double this RGR but because of the shorter pre-reproductive period breed at masses of 1.8 mg AFDM for P. lamellatus, 1.0 mg AFDM for H. couchii, and 1.1 mg AFDM for A. album, respectively. The mass specific fecundity of all three of the less abundant species was higher than that of T. ponticus but the offspring of T. ponticus were ten times heavier than those of the next largest species, P. lammellatus. The difference in abundances between the species is interpreted as being due to the larger mass of the offspring of the most successful species. This larger mass confers an adaptive advantage due to larger size being associated with reduced juvenile mortality for isopods under abiotically stressful conditions. M. Sprung died in an accident on June 18, 2003     

Phosphate-induced differences in stabilization efficiency for soils contaminated with lead,zinc, and cadmium

Phosphates can cost-effectively decrease the mobility of Pb in contaminated soils. However, Pb always coexists with other metals in soil, their competitive reactions with phosphates have not been tested. In this study, the abilities of KH₂PO₄, K₂HPO₄, and K₃PO₄ to stabilize Pb, Zn, and Cd in soils contaminated with a single metal or a ternary metal for different phosphorus/metal molar ratios were investigated. Results indicated that the stabilization efficiency of KH₂PO₄, K₂HPO₄, and K₃PO₄ for Pb, Zn, and Cd in single metal contaminated soil (P/M ratio 0.6) was 96.00%–98.74%, 33.76%–47.81%, and 9.50%–55.79%, respectively. Competitive stabilization occurred in the ternary system, Pb exhibited a strong competition, the stabilization efficiency of Zn and Cd reduced by 23.50%–31.64%, and 7.10%–39.26%, respectively. Pyromorphite and amorphous lead phosphate formed with excess KH₂PO₄ or K₂HPO₄ addition, while K₃PO₄ resulted in the formation of a hydroxypyromorphite precipitate. Amorphous Zn and Cd phosphates and hydroxides were the primary products. The immobilization rate of Zn and Cd depends on pH, and increased significantly in response to the excess phosphate application. This approach provides insight into phosphate-induced differences in stabilization efficiency in soils contaminated with multiple metals, which is of theoretical and engineering significance.

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Lignocellulose and lignin in the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora: initial concentrations and short-term,post-depositional changes in detrital matter

Individuals of Mytilus edulis of the same age (ca 2 months) were collected as spat from natural populations. Relative growth rates were determined among individuals differing in heterozygosity at five enzyme loci. Growth rate was positively correlated with individual heterozygosity and each of the five loci contributed about equally to the relatinship. More heterozygous individuals also achieved more uniform average growth rates. Although there was a deficiency of heterozygotes at each locus, relative to Hardy-Weinberg expectations, the magnitude of the deficiency, measured as F_IS, was less among faster growing mussels. Our results conform closely with those of Zouros et al. (1980) on the American oyster. We conclude that the relationship between multiple locus heterozygosity and growth rate is one that is general to a diversity of outbreeding plant and animal populations. Other studies indicate that this relationship is due to a greater average metabolic efficiency of more heterozygous individuals. This relationship does not emerge from experimental designs in which there has been limited genetic sampling of the natural genetic variation.     

Intertidal distribution,population dynamics and production of the amphipod Uhlorchestia spartinophila in a Georgia,USA, salt marsh

The talitrid amphipod Uhlorchestia spartinophila Bousfield and Heard occurs in close association with the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora Loisel in salt marshes along the U.S. Atlantic coast. In order to assess its potential as a prey resource for secondary consumers, we followed the population and production dynamics of this amphipod from 3 November 1990 to 2 October 1991 in a salt marsh on Sapelo Island, Georgia. Semimonthly samples were taken along an intertidal transect, which extended from a vegetated creekbank levee landward 140 m to a site near the upland edge of the marsh. Amphipod densities ranged from 9 to 826 indm^-2 and were greatest in the levee and high marsh habitats at opposite ends of the transect. The highest densities occurred in March to May and the lowest in November and December. Specific growth rates, which ranged from 0.001 to 0.024 mm mm^-1 d^-1 length and 0.003 to 0.068 mg mg^-1 d^-1 AFDW (ash-free dry weight), were least in winter and decreased with increasing amphipod size. Although some reproduction occurred year-round, most of the population's reproductive output was from January to May, when adults had the greatest size-specific mass. Sex ratio usually favored females, which were larger than males. Minimum adult female size was 5.4 mm total length (TL). Broods included from 1 to 28 eggs or young and increased with increasing body size, averaging 7.4 young for an average-size female of 7.6 mm TL. Annual production, which ranged from 0.769 to 1.444 g AFDW m^-2, was least in the low marsh and greatest in the levee habitat. Production:biomass ratios were 15.4 to 17.3 in different habitats. Such high turnover rates, together with the population's broad intertidal distribution, suggest a greater contribution to trophic dynamics than is implied by the relatively low standing stock biomass of U. spartinophila in this marsh system.     

Use of the “Acetylene blockage” technique for assaying denitrification in a salt marsh

The acetylene blockage technique was evaluated for measurement of denitrification in salt-marsh sediments (near Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada). N₂O in the gas phase of closed Spartina alterniflora marsh-sediment systems was analyzed with use of a thermal conductivity gas chromatograph sensitive to approximately 0.1 nmoles ml^-1 gas. No N₂O was detected for unfertilized sediment samples taken through the growing season and incubated in sealed buckets with 10% C₂H₂. For sediment samples amended with nitrate and for enrichments, initial rates of N₂O evolution were higher in the presence of 10% C₂H₂ than in the absence of C₂H₂, but after longterm incubation N₂O was consumed in some samples containing C₂H₂ as well as in samples without C₂H₂. In addition, total gaseous nitrogen (N₂ and N₂O) production in the absence of C₂H₂ was higher than in the presence of C₂H₂. Acetylene appears to be an inconsistent inhibitor of N₂O reduction in salt-marsh sediments. The usefulness of the acetylene-denitrification technique in this habitat is, therefore, questionable.     

The Environmental Capacity Approach to the Control of Marine Pollution: The Case of Copper in the Krka River Estuary

Changes in soil pH, soil heavy metal forms, and the metabolic diversity of microbial communities were examined in soil samples collected in 1-mm increments from barley roots in soil contaminated with cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) using a rhizobox system. Concentrations of exchangeable Cd and Zn increased near the roots owing to a decrease in soil pH. Conversely, the concentration of inorganically bound Cd and Zn decreased near the roots. Despite having the highest concentration of the most toxic exchangeable metals, the rhizosphere also had the highest bacterial and fungal metabolic activity and diversity when assessed using BIOLOG plates. Therefore, the promoting effects of root exudates on microbial activity could outweigh the adverse effects of Cd and Zn on microorganisms in the rhizosphere.     

成都市河流表层沉积物重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

根据流经成都市内的三条河流（府河、南河、沙河）表层沉积物重金属数据，采用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对重金属的潜在生态风险进行了评价。结果表明（1）重金属潜在的生态危害因子（Er^i）说明大多属于轻微生态危害范畴，产牛生态危害的主要重金属是Hg、Cd，Cu、Pb次之，As影响最小；（2）多种重金属的生态系统的潜在生态风险指数（RI）表明河流重金属污染属于轻微生态危害和接近中等生态危害，其受危害程度由强至弱的次序为：府河，南河，沙河。     

The role of root organic acids in the tolerance of Festuca rubra to zinc,lead and cadmium

Abstract

Festuca rubra L. plants are pseudometallophytes colonizing abandoned Pb/Zn mine areas, successfully employed in phytostabilization. To study the contribution of low-molecular weight organic acids to metal tolerance, F. rubra plants were grown for three months in hydroponics with Cd (1.8, 18 and 36 µmol?L^?1), Pb (50, 250 and 500?µmol?L^?1) and Zn (0.3, 3 and 6?mmol?L^?1), separately, and in ternary combination (18?µmol?L^?1 Cd + 250?µmol?L^?1 Pb + 0.3?mmol?L^?1 Zn). The roots retained most of the metals but their distribution from shoot to root was altered when the plants were treated with the ternary combination. The main organic acids in roots were citrate and malate. At the lowest concentrations, the metals caused small reductions in biomass, had no effects on photosynthetic pigments nor on malondialdehyde, but led to increases in root organic acids. At higher concentrations, phytotoxic responses were observed, associated with a decline of citrate and malate in the roots.     

Fuzzy comprehensive assessment of metal contamination of water and sediments in Ondo Estuary,Nigeria

A more reliable methodology for evaluating metal contamination of coastal water and sediments using fuzzy comprehensive assessment (FCA) is presented by this study. Ten metals (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) were investigated in water and sediments from ten sampling sites and formulated into fuzzy matrix based on three contamination classifications of pristine, moderately enriched and extremely impacted categories using regulatory limits as criteria. The products of the matrices from membership function of the observed data and the weight matrices generate indices that classify the degree of metal impact on the sites. The results of the FCA show that the estuary is negatively impacted by metals in a range of 45.5–75.1% membership in the extremely impacted category with potential adverse effects on the ecosystem of the neighbouring Atlantic Ocean. The crude oil exploration activity at site 1 is the major source input of the metals beside Fe and Mn which are natural to the geological structure of the area while domestic waste discharges contribute notably to metal contamination in some sites.     

珠江河口沉积物中拟除虫菊酯类农药污染及毒性评价

拟除虫菊酯农药是一种广谱、高效、低毒、低残留的亲脂性杀虫剂,它会随农田排水、降雨淋洗进入水体,最终进入沉积环境,故沉积物是其最终归宿之一。本研究针对珠江河口沉积物中菊酯类农药的污染状况进行调查,研究它们的含量、组成比例、污染来源及其潜在毒性,为珠江渔业水生生态环境管理及掌握环境中有机污染情况提供依据,对保护渔业环境安全有十分重要的意义。2012年5月采集珠江河口表层沉积物,采用气相色谱法-电子捕获法（GC-ECD）对表层沉积物中联苯菊酯、甲氰菊酯、高效氯氟氰菊酯、氯菊酯、氯氰菊酯、氰戊菊酯、溴氰菊酯进行残留检测,并利用其对钩虾的生物毒性来评价沉积物的潜在毒性。结果显示,表层沉积物（以干质量计）中7种菊酯类农药质量分数介于ND~6.59μg·kg-1（ND表示未检出）,平均值为0.75μg·kg-1,其总质量分数与有机碳质量分数呈现一定的正相关性;组成比例表明,氯菊酯最多,占总量的57.63%,它的检出率为61.90%,甲氰菊酯其次,约占总量的16.39%,检出率为28.57%,氯菊酯占主要组成部分,可能与其在珠江三角洲居民生活中被大量使用及其降解速率有关;珠江桥采样点高浓度的菊酯类农药的检出（6.59μg·kg-1）,可能与其靠近人口密集和经济发达的广州有关;与国内外其他地区相比,珠江河口沉积物中菊酯农药处于较低水平;采用毒性单元TU（选用钩虾Hyallela Azteca的LC50）进行毒性评估,∑TU值范围为0~0.09,远远低于1,表明珠江河口拟除虫菊酯不存在生态风险。