Biogeochemical characteristics of natural and technogenic ecosystems of the southern Baikal region

The distribution of chemical elements in plants was studied in natural and technogenic ecosystems of the southern Baikal region. Basic statistical parameters characterizing the contents of a wide range of elements in different soil horizons and plants of the region and the “world land” (average for all the continents) were compared. On the basis of data on the distribution of chemical elements in the soil-plant system, groups of elements differing in the coeffient of biological absorption (C _b) were distinguished. Evidence of antagonism between the main biophilous elements and heavy metals accumulating in plants was obtained. Interrelations of K and Na, which play an important role in the regulation of osmotic processes in plants, were analyzed. The phenomenon of potassium replacement by sodium in plants of technogenic ecosystems may serve as a criterion for assessing the phytotoxicity and environmental quality.     

The use of isotope dilution mass spectrometry for the certification of standard reference materials

Isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) has been used extensively at the U.S. National Bureau of Standards as an accurate method to determine trace element concentrations in natural materials. Thermal ionization mass spectrometry is a single element technique capable of high accuracy and precision, and has been used for “definitive” measurements of trace elements in sera with 95% confidence limits less than 0.25%. Spark source mass spectrometry is a complementary multielement, high-sensitivity technique that has been used to determine up to 20 elements in a sample, with typical accuracies of 2%–5%. Together with appropriate chemical separations, such as anion and cation exchange, chelate resins, electrodeposition, and chemical extraction, IDMS has been applied to elemental concentration measurements ranging over eight orders of magnitude, from decigrams/gram to picograms/gram. Many of these applications have been used for the certification of a broad spectrum of biological and environmental Standard Reference Materials, including lead in Trace Elements in Water (SRM 1643), 15 elements in Coal Fly Ash (SRM 1633a), uranium in Bovine Liver (SRM 1577a), and mercury in water (SRM 1642).     

Biological activity and environmental impact of anionic surfactants

The newest results concerning the biological activity and environmental fate of anionic surfactants are collected and critically evaluated. The chemical and physicochemical parameters related to the biological activity and the field of application are briefly discussed. Examples on the effect of anionic surfactants on the cell membranes, on the activity of enzymes, on the binding to various proteins and to other cell components and on their human toxicity are presented and the possible mode of action is elucidated. The sources of environmental pollution caused by anionic surfactants are listed and the methods developed for their removal from liquid, semiliquid and solid matrices are collected. Both the beneficial and adversary effects of anionic surfactants on the environment are reported and critically discussed. It was concluded that the role of anionic surfactants in the environment is ambiguous: they can cause serous environmental pollution with toxic effect on living organisms; otherwise, they can promote the decomposition and/or removal of other inorganic and organic pollutants from the environment. The relationship between their chemical structure, physicochemical parameters, biological activity and environmental impact is notwell understood. A considerable number of data are needed for the development of new anionic surfactants and for the successful application of the existing ones to reduce the adversary and to promote beneficial effects.     

Treatment of olive mill effluents Part I. Organic matter degradation by chemical and biological processes--an overview

Olive mill effluents constitute a serious environmental problem in the Mediterranean Sea region due to the unique features associated with this type of agro-waste (i.e. seasonal and localized production, high and diverse organic load, low flow rates). Therefore, it is not surprising that research efforts have been directed towards the development of efficient treatment technologies including various physico-chemical and biological processes. This work reviews recent advances regarding olive mill effluent treatment with emphasis given on biological and chemical degradation processes.     

Genotoxicity and toxicity assay of water sampled from a radium production industry storage cell territory by means of Allium-test

Water from natural reservoirs located near the radium production industry storage cell were analyzed using the anaphase-telophase chromosome aberration assay that was carried out on Allium schoenoprasum L. meristematic root tip cells. (262)Ra, (228)U, (232)Th, (210)Pb and (210)Po concentrations in all samples were found not to exceed the radioactivity concentration guides. The concentrations of 10 heavy metal ions were measured in water samples, but only Zn and Mn levels exceeded the maximum permissible concentration for the natural reservoirs. All water samples caused a significant increase of the chromosome aberration frequency as compared to control. The chromosome aberration spectrum analysis shows that the genotoxic effect was a result of chemical toxicity mainly. Two samples from the brook springhead were found to be toxic. The regression analysis results show that the mitotic index increased in parallel to Zn ion levels, and decreased with higher (238)U concentrations. The water samples genotoxicity positively correlated with the Zn concentration. The present work demonstrates that in order to achieve pollutant screening, it is not sufficient to determine the pollutants concentration only. Adequate conclusions on the risk due to environment contamination need to be based on the additional simultaneous use of toxicity and genotoxicity tests. When bioassays indicate some genotoxic and toxic effects, the determination of the chemical composition of the samples is then required. A combination of these two methods allows the identification of the elements that require constant biological monitoring. In the study reported here, those elements are Zn and (238)U.     

Organic contaminants in the environment: Research progress and needs

An already large and rapidly increasing number of manmade organic contaminants is found to be present in environmental samples from around the world. However, the biological effects of many of these compounds are unknown. Traditional biological testing, albeit important, cannot be done on each chemical due to limitations of the available resources. Therefore, new avenues should be pursued to screen out the hazardous compounds for more intensive research. One of these avenues, quantitative structure-activity correlations, applies the existing knowledge to estimate the effects of other, structurally related compounds. In combination with a fast and cost-effective biological test, this method appears useful in solving both the existing backlog and future needs for information on the safety and environmental effects of new chemicals.     

Linking empirical estimates of body burden of environmental chemicals and wellness using NHANES data

Biomonitoring of industrial chemicals in human tissues and fluids has shown that all people carry a “body burden” of synthetic chemicals. Although measurement of an environmental chemical in a person's tissues/fluids is an indication of exposure, it does not necessarily mean the exposure concentration is sufficient to cause an adverse effect. Since humans are exposed to multiple chemicals, there may be a combination effect (e.g., additive, synergistic) associated with low-level exposures to multiple classes of contaminants, which may impact a variety of organ systems. The objective of this research is to link measures of body burden of environmental chemicals and a “holistic” measure of wellness. The approach is demonstrated using biomonitoring data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Forty-two chemicals were selected for analysis based on their detection levels. Six biological pathway-specific indices were evaluated using groups of chemicals associated with each pathway. Five of the six pathways were negatively associated with wellness. Three non-zero interaction terms were detected which may provide empirical evidence of crosstalk across pathways. The approach identified five of the 42 chemicals from a variety of classes (metals, pesticides, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) as accounting for 71% of the weight linking body burden to wellness. Significant interactions were detected indicating the effect of smoking is exacerbated by body burden of environmental chemicals. Use of a holistic index on both sides of the exposure-health equation is a novel and promising empirical “systems biology” approach to risk evaluation of complex environmental exposures.     

Metals in the shell of Bathymodiolus azoricus from a hydrothermal vent site on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Specimens of the mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus were collected from Menez Gwen, a relatively shallow (850 m) hydrothermal vent field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Each bivalve shell (n = 21) was individually cleaned by selective chemical. The residual crystal matrix of each shell was individually analysed for the concentrations of the minor elements magnesium and strontium and the trace elements iron, manganese, copper and zinc. The chemical composition of the crystal matrix is unusual. B. azoricus is identified as a species having one of the most strontium impoverished shells amongst the marine molluscs. For a bimineral species the magnesium concentration is also extraordinary low. Despite originating from a trace metal rich environment; the metal concentrations in the shells were exceptionally low. Mean concentrations of iron, manganese, copper and zinc were 20.6, 3.7, 0.6 and 9.4 microg g(-1) respectively. Minor and trace element concentrations exhibited a marked intra-population variability. Copper concentrations increased and iron and zinc concentrations decreased with increasing shell weight. Due to its insensitivity to the high environmental levels of trace elements and the variability in intra-population concentrations induced by shell weight the crystal matrix of the shell of B. azoricus has little potential for use in environmental trace metal monitoring in areas contiguous to deep-sea hydrothermal vents.     

Using unexplained variation in the chemical composition of organisms for identification of xenobiotics in ecological studies

The contents of ten metals in the bone and muscle tissues were studied in three fish species from a water body located in the impact zone of a copper smelter. In the course of principal component analysis with “tissue” and “species” taken as instrumental variables (IVs), a high proportion of unexplained IV variance was revealed for xenobiotic elements, and the procedure of optimal scaling by the CATPCA method allowed their pattern to be estimated. It is proposed to use the unexplained variance of multidimensional data on the chemical composition of organisms for identifying the pattern of xenobiotics in environmental objects.     

洪湖水环境现状及主导因子分析

利用2003年夏季在洪湖采集的20个水体样本的测定结果分析了洪湖目前的水体化学性质。根据分析洪湖夏季为Ⅲ类水,则其他季节的水质等级很有可能在Ⅲ类以下。洪湖水体的理化性质各方面状况有利于水生生物的生长和繁殖。运用模糊数学方法得到的结果表明2003年水质状况以Ⅲ类水为主,表明洪湖近年来的水质呈现下降的趋势,这与人类对洪湖水生资源的过度开发有直接的联系;通过主成分分析方法,得到了目前洪湖水质的三个主要控制因素。洪湖水质主要受到氮盐营养元素和生物活动的控制,其次是悬浮物和水体的离子属性,第三是水体的磷化合物。尽管磷是大多数湖泊水体富营养化的关键物质,但它对洪湖湖水而言,并不是最重要的控制因素,所以洪湖富营养化不是水质变化的主要原因。     

基于GIS的景观生态功能指标分析

针对当前我国规划及战略环评指标体系中缺乏直接反映生态功能指标的问题,提出可通过系统研究区域景观生态结构与景观功能变化间的关系,由斑块面积指数计算生物生产力、由景观香农多样性指数和景观香农均匀度指数反映生态质量,以此表征景观生态功能。以地理信息系统（GIS）为平台,提出了利用基于斑块面积而得到的景观要素转移矩阵及基于年鉴统计而得到的景观单位面积生物生产力的转移矩阵来计算生物生产力的方法,并在统计若干研究流域景观格局异质性指数文献的基础上发掘了景观多样性指数、景观均匀度指数与生态质量间的关系。最后,以江苏省沿江地区2000、2004年的数据开展了实例分析,结果表明,提出的生物生产力和生态质量这两个指标确实能反映区域景观功能的变化,在今后的规划和战略环评中具有一定的应用前景.     

海州湾保护区海洋环境质量综合评价

海洋环境质量综合评价是开展海洋环境保护和管理的基础和依据。以海州湾海洋保护区为研究区，结合国内海洋环境调查现状，利用层次分析法构建了以生物要素为主、物理化学要素为辅的海洋环境质量综合评价指标体系。参考国内外相关研究，将海洋环境质量等级划分为“优良中差劣”。收集了海州湾保护区2005~2011年环境调查资料，结合国家相关标准和统计数据序列综合确定各评价指标等级判定标准。利用2006年8月、2009年12月和2011年3月的调查数据对海州湾保护区环境质量进行评价和分析。评价结果显示综合指数值分别为0608、0465、0638，保护区环境质量整体处于等级良，且近岸环境较离岸海域差，较客观地反应了该区域的环境状况。此外，海洋生物物种丰度和生物多样性呈现一定程度的季节波动，尤以冬季底栖生物较为明显，反应了区域气候特点对生态系统生物要素的影响。在生态环境评价以及评价标准的选择中需注意季节变化可能产生的干扰；开展环境质量评价时应充分注意调查时间选择的代表性，方能客观有效地反映区域环境质量状况     

Determining sediment quality for regulatory proposes using fish chronic bioassays

Sediment quality assessments for regulatory purposes (i.e. dredged material disposal) are characterized by linking chemical and acute ecotoxicological data. The design of chronic bioassays that incorporate more sensible endpoints than acute tests is discussed to address sediment quality for environmental quality assessment and regulatory proposes. The chronic tests use juveniles of commercial species of fish Sparus aurata and Solea senegalensis, to assess sediment toxicity in samples collected along different littoral areas in the North and the South of Spain. The organisms were exposed during 60 days and sublethal endpoints were selected including biomarkers of exposure to metals (metallothioneins - MTs) and to organic contaminants (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity - EROD activity) and biomarkers of effect (histopathology in different tissues, gill and liver). A Multivariate Analysis Approach was conducted in order to associate these biological responses with sediment metal concentration from the ports and with chemical residues in biological tissues exposed to sediments under laboratory conditions.     

Mutagenic properties of PM2.5 air pollution in the Padana Plain (Italy) before and in the course of XX Winter Olympic Games of "Torino 2006"

PM2.5 is one of the most important aspects of environmental health. This air pollutant is breathable and it is implicated in several chronic adverse health effects such as the decrease of respiratory functionality and cancer. Several in vitro bioassays are able to predict the mutagenic/carcinogenic activity of the environmental pollutants and mixtures of them. In this study PM2.5 air pollution was daily monitored in three cities located in the Northern part of Italy and the mutagenic properties of the PM2.5 organic extracts were also assessed. Samplings lasted 14 months and cover the period of the Winter Olympic Games of "Torino 2006". In this work, the levels of PM2.5, its mutagenic properties (detected with Salmonella typhimurium assay), the role of the Olympic Games as environmental factor and some meteorological data are discussed. The mean concentration of PM2.5 measured in Torino was 45.4 (+/-30.6) microg/m(3), in Pavia 37.6 (+/-25.6) microg/m(3), in Verona 43.1 (+/-28.5) microg/m(3). Findings of the monthly pool bioassay were in Torino 107 (+/-104) net revertans/m(3), in Pavia 108 (+/-89) net revertans/m(3), in Verona 128 (+/-109) net revertans/m(3). The Olympic Games period data show that PM2.5 pollution and its load of mutagenic potential are different and partially independent phenomena. The Olympic Games had not a great impact on the PM2.5 pollution. The exclusive PM2.5 gravimetric analysis shows a potential human risk if compared with the latest international guide values but it does not describe exhaustively the human health risk associated to the presence of this particular air pollutant. Moreover, the chemical and biological activity qualification of the PM organic extracts as a whole, can instead improve the knowledge.     

Determination of technetium-99 using electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ETV-ICP-MS) and NH4OH as chemical modifier

In recent years, developments in ICP-MS have led to improved methods for determination of long-lived radionuclides. This paper reports the use of NH(4)OH as a matrix modifier and ETV sample introduction for the determination of technetium-99 ((99)Tc) in a variety of environmental and biological samples, using Re as carrier and (99m)Tc as yield monitor in the chemical separation method. Addition of an excess of NH(4)OH led to a stable (99)Tc signal, reduced memory effect, better reproducibility and reduced detection limits. Following radiochemical separation of (99)Tc from the sample matrix, detection limits in the order of a few microBq have been achieved. ETV has also proved applicable for rapid, direct analysis of a number of environmental samples having relatively high concentrations of (99)Tc (sediment extracts and river water close to nuclear installations). However, in this case, control of matrix effects (signal reduction and enhancement) using standard additions is necessary.     

潮汐循环影响下上覆水环境因子和氮营养盐的变化及其相关关系

潮汐循环对水体理化特征的短期影响是潮汐河口各种理化参数变化的一个重要原因。通过崇明东旺沙堤外低潮滩和东海农场低潮滩采样及环境因子分析，发现崇明东滩各环境因子之间（除浊度外）相关性较好，均呈宽 “U”型变化；东海农场各环境因子之间相关性较差，变化不一致，且盐度、电导率变化与崇明东滩变化相反；受潮汐循环影响，崇明东滩涨潮初期各形态氮有明显释放过程，而东海农场的近底层水体在涨潮初期NH4+ N急剧下降，NOX- N缓慢下降；无论是在崇明东滩还是在东海农场，营养盐浓度受环境因子的共同影响，整个潮汐循环过程中总无机氮（TIN）与盐度呈显著线性负相关，这与整个长江口近岸水体的营养盐负荷相一致，长江上游淡水带来的高负荷营养盐流经河口进入海洋。     

Chemical pollution: Transfer of chemical elements to the aboverground phytomass of herbaceous plants

Changes in the species composition and a decrease in species diversity and total plant biomass along the gradient of soil pollution with heavy metals have been shown. Data on the concentrations of chemical elements (Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Co, Ni, Mn, Cr, and Fe) in the aboveground organs of herbaceous plants and the biomass of each species make it possible to estimate the role of higher producers in the incorporation of chemical elements into biogenic cycles in background zones and under conditions of chemical pollution. Plants of the composite family (Asteraceae) play the main role in accumulation of chemical elements. The results obtained indicate that natural ecosystems have mechanisms limiting excessive accumulation of chemical elements into the aboveground plant biomass.     

渤海海峡跨海通道建设环境影响研究

渤海海峡跨海通道建设是一项高技术、高投入的特大战略性工程，工程建设具有重大的经济、军事和政治意义，但是也必将对环境产生重大影响。本文在对各界专家一致推荐的“伏贴式隧道和隧道桥”方案进行简要分析的基础上．论述了对工程建设进行环境影响研究的必要性，提出了环境影响评价工作程序与工程决策生命周期的耦合过程，以便从工程源头控制环境影响的产生；初步探讨了工程施工期和运营期的环境影响识别内容，结果表明：采用“伏贴式隧道和隧道桥”方案，相对于其它方案对资源、生态环境的干扰和影响是最小的；并提出了预防和减缓不良环境影响的对策措施，为工程的环保施工与运营提供科学依据。     

Patterns of the accumulation of chemical elements in the plankton of a fresh water body

For the first time, comparative data are presented on the distribution of 70 chemical elements occurring in the Beloyarsk Reservoir between the water and the plant and animal components of the plankton (phyto- and zooplankton). All these elements are ranked into groups according to the values of accumulation coefficient (AC) for phytoplankton and zooplankton. For the sum of all chemical elements, a significant positive correlation has been revealed between their content in the water and in the plankton. It has been shown that elements with even atomic numbers and concentrations in the plankton below 7 ??g/g dry weight are accumulated by the plankton in significantly larger amounts than such elements with odd atomic numbers. This fact confirms the classic concept developed by A.P. Vinogradov that the prevalence of chemical elements in the biosphere depends on their position in the periodic system.     

规划项目大气环境影响评价要点及案例研究

由于规划项目涉及面广、不确定性强、行业多样等特点,目前还没有针对规划环评的通用方法。虽然很多适用于建设项目环境影响评价的方法可以直接用于规划环评,但二者之间仍存在着很大的不同。结合规划项目的环境影响评价特点与评价要求,参考国内现有行业标准规范与新发布的大气评价导则技术要求,提出了规划项目大气环境影响评价的基本工作流程和4个工作要点,并通过具体案例应用,分别从基础资料收集与分析、环境影响预测方案制定、规划方案的比选及环境承载力的测算给出具体说明与实施方法。通过预测评价分析及方案比选,对规划选址、发展规模、规划布局、产业结构以及区域规划发展方式等进行综合分析,最终针对规划项目的污染控制及规划方案提出调整建议,为今后规划环境影响评价工作提供依据和技术参考。