Periphyton as monitors for heavy metal pollution in the Calcasieu River estuary

The levels of copper, lead, chromium, zinc, cadmium, arsenic and silver were determined in periphyton specimens obtained with a diatometer collector. Stations selected were along three important bayous of the Calcasieu River system. Distributions of some metals in the organisms were similar to those found in sediment from the same locations, while other metals appeared to be similar to water concentrations. Concentration ratios of periphyton over sediment greatly exceeded one for the metals chromium, zinc, cadmium, arsenic and silver. The concentrations of heavy metals in the periphyton appeared to yield more information about pollutants than either water or sediment samples collected at the periphyton stations.     

Persistent organic pollution characterization of sediments in Pearl River estuary

As a byproduct of rapid urbanization and industrial development in the Pearl River estuary of South China, excessive release of various types of persistent toxic substances were conveyed from agricultural, industrial and municipal discharges at upstream section down into the estuary largely via various river outlets. In this paper, a persistent organic pollution (POP) characterization of sediments in the estuary is undertaken. More than one bioavailable toxicants are detected to play active roles in causing toxicity of marine sediments in the estuary. POPs may be transported for long distances to the downstream end of the Pearl River delta region. The data suggests that DDT might still be applied illegally within the region recently and that the prevalent levels of DDTs and HCHs in sediments are likely to pose detrimental biological effects on benthic organisms. The findings have significant implications in order to understand the environmental changes, to determine reasonable ways for future development, and to maintain a sustainable environment in the Pearl River estuary region.     

黄河入海口水质评价与预测

对黄河入海口2004-2011年的水质进行评价与预测,采用灰色聚类法分析水体DO、CODMn、NH3-N 3项指标,总结水质年均变化情况.建立水质GM(1,1)灰色预测模型,用实际水质指标值检验其精度,并用此模型预测未来4年水质变化趋势.结果表明,2004-2015年期间,黄河入海口水质在2004-2007年波动较大,但将越来越好,CODMn、NH3-N呈下降趋势,DO、达标率呈上升趋势,并通过灰色关联分析方法分析水质变化原因以期对黄河入海口水质分析预测与水体保护工作提供参考.     

Non-aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments near the Pearl River estuary in the South China Sea

Surface sediment samples at 4 sites along an offshore transect from outer continental shelf off the Pearl River estuary to the shelf slope region of the northern South China Sea, have been analyzed for total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), solvent extractable organic matter (EOM) and non-aromatic hydrocarbons. TOC, TN and EOM show distinct spatial variations. Their highest values are all recorded at the shelf slope region. EOM varies from 18.70-38.58 microgg(-1) dry sediment and accounts for 0.20-0.72% of the TOC contents. The non-aromatic hydrocarbons are an important fraction of EOM. Their contents range from 3.43-7.06 microgg(-1) dry sediment. n-Alkanes with carbon number ranging from 15-38 are identified. They derive from both biogenic and petrogenic sources in different proportions. Results of isoprenoid hydrocarbons, hopanes and steranes also suggest possible petroleum contamination.     

白洋淀-府河入淀口段沉积物中微塑料的丰度及分布特征

为研究白洋淀-府河入淀口沉积物中微塑料的污染现状,在府河入淀口段15个采样点进行采样,利用密度浮选法分离沉积物样品中的微塑料,分析微塑料的丰度、分布特征及来源。结果表明：府河沉积物中微塑料的平均丰度为(558.4±233.3) 个·kg⁻¹,最大丰度值达到1 049 个·kg⁻¹;依据微塑料的形态特征可将府河入淀口段沉积物中的微塑料划分为碎片状、纤维状、薄膜状和球状;丰度最高的微塑料为碎片状,占总数的66.1%;粒径为0.1~0.5 mm的微塑料占比最大(44.7%),其次是0.5~1 mm的微塑料(30.0%);微塑料的类型主要是聚乙烯和聚丙烯,占比分别为44.2%和32.6%。综上所述,府河入淀口段沉积物中微塑料的丰度和分布特征与该区域的人口密度和人类活动强度等环境特点密切相关。     

Growth of Zostera japonica in different sediment habitats of the Yellow River estuary in China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The estuarine delta of the Yellow River is a region of strong land-ocean-human interactions that undergoes a unique evolutionary process. The delta is...     

Antibiotics pollution in Jiulong River estuary: source, distribution and bacterial resistance

To gain insight into the antibiotic pollution in the Jiulong River estuary and the pollutant sources, we analyzed the concentration of 22 widely-used antibiotics in water samples collected from the river and estuary, 17 and 18 sampling sites, respectively. Contamination with sulfonamides, quinolones and chloramphenicols was frequently detected and the distribution pattern of antibiotics suggested that most of the pollutants are from the Jiulong River, especially from the downstream watersheds. To reveal the ecological effects, we isolated 35 bacterial strains from the estuary and analyzed their antibiotic resistance to the eight most frequently detected antibiotics. The bacteria were subsequently classified into seven different genera by 16SrDNA sequencing. Up to 97.1% of the bacteria showed resistance and 70.6% of strains showed multi-resistance to these antibiotics, especially to sulfonamides. This study demonstrated a pattern of antibiotic contamination in the Jiulong River and its estuary and illustrated high bacterial antibiotic resistance which was significantly correlated with the average antibiotics concentrations and detected frequencies in the estuary.     

三亚河口海域叶绿素a与海洋环境因子的关系研究

根据对三亚河口海域叶绿素a(Chl-a)浓度及海洋环境因子的监测结果,分析了Chl-a和各环境因子的空间分布情况,以及Chl-a与各环境因子的相关关系。结果表明,三亚河口海域的表层水温、pH、盐度、悬浮物、高锰酸盐指数、DO、营养盐等环境因子的空间分布明显受到陆地径流注入的影响;该海域的Chl-a浓度较低,表层平均值为0.203mg/m3,底层平均值为0.179mg/m3,且靠近河口采样点的表层Chl-a浓度是底层的数倍,远离河口采样点的底层Chl-a浓度是表层的数倍,造成这种空间分布格局的主要原因可能是靠近河口采样点表层海水中的营养盐更容易得到陆地径流的补充;该海域的Chl-a浓度与无机氮(DIN)呈极显著负相关,与活性磷(DIP)呈极显著正相关,与两者质量浓度之比(DIN/DIP)呈极显著负相关,与其他环境因子均不存在相关性,Chl-a浓度主要受磷含量的控制;该海域Chl-a浓度与Cd、Pb、Cu、Hg、As浓度基本未呈现出相关关系。     

基于垂向沉积的近百年来鸭绿江河口环境演变分析

对鸭绿江河口剖面沉积物中生源要素和重金属含量的垂向变化进行了分析,探讨了重金属元素之间和重金属与生源要素之间的相关性,总结了近百年来鸭绿江河口地区的环境演变过程.结果表明,除Cu以外,Cr、Ni、Zn、Cd、Pb、As和Hg之间及它们与生源要素之间有着很高的相关性,主要来源于工业和农业污染物排放等,Cu与其他环境因子有着不同的来源,人类活动对鸭绿江河口地区环境变化贡献极大;鸭绿江河口地区的环境演变过程可以分为3个阶段;总体上鸭绿江河口地区的污染状况日益严重.     

Heavy metal and Pb isotopic compositions of aquatic organisms in the Pearl River Estuary, South China

The accumulation of trace metals in aquatic organisms may lead to serious health problems through the food chain. The present research project aims to study the accumulation and potential sources of trace metals in aquatic organisms of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE). Four groups of aquatic organisms, including fish, crab, shrimp, and shellfish, were collected in the PRE for trace metal and Pb isotopic analyses. The trace metal concentrations in the aquatic organism samples ranged from 0.01 to 2.10 mg/kg Cd, 0.02 to 4.33 mg/kg Co, 0.08 to 4.27 mg/kg Cr, 0.15 to 77.8 mg/kg Cu, 0.17 to 31.0 mg/kg Ni, 0.04 to 30.7 mg/kg Pb, and 8.78 to 86.3 mg/kg Zn (wet weight). High concentrations of Cd were found in crab, shrimp and shellfish samples, while high concentration of Pb was found in fish. In comparison with the baseline reference values in other parts of the world, fish in the PRE had the highest elevated trace metals. The results of Pb isotopic compositions indicated that the bioaccumulation of Pb in fish come from a wide variety of food sources and/or exposure pathways, particularly the anthropogenic inputs.     

Frequency of hepatocellular fibrillar inclusions in European flounder (Platichthys flesus) from the Douro River estuary,Portugal

Liver lesions in wild fish have been associated with xenobiotic exposure. Facing reports of pollution in the Douro River estuary (north of Portugal), we have been making field surveys using fishes and targeting histopathological biomarkers of exposure and effect. Herein, we intended to better characterize and report the rate of one poorly understood lesion—hepatocellular fibrillar inclusions (HFI)—found in European flounder (Platichthys flesus). With this report, we aimed to establish sound baseline data that could be viewed as a starting point for future biomonitoring, while offering the world's second only pool of field data on such a liver toxicopathic lesion, which could be compared with data available from the UK estuaries. Sampling was done in the Douro River estuary over 1 year. A total of 72 animals were fished with nets, in spring–summer (SS) and autumn–winter (AW) campaigns. Livers were processed for histopathology and both routine and special staining procedures (alcian blue, periodic acid Schiff (PAS), tetrazonium coupling reaction). Immunohistochemistry targeted AE1/AE3 (pan cytokeratins). The severity of the HFI extent was graded using a system with four levels, varying from 0 (absence of HFI) to 3 (high relative density of cells with HFI). Cells (isolated/groups) with HFI appeared in 35 % or more of the fish, in the total samples of each season, and over 40 % in more homogeneous sub-samples. There were no significant differences when comparing samples versus sub-samples or SS versus AW. When merging the data sets from the two seasons, the frequency of fish with HFI was ≈36 % for the total sample and ≈49 % for the sub-sample. The extreme group (biggest and smallest fish) revealed a HFI frequency of only 16 %, which differed significantly from the total and sub-sampled groups. Immunostaining and PAS were negative for the HFI, and alcian blue could, at times, faintly stain the inclusions. These were positive with the tetrazonium reaction. We showed the presence of HFI in European flounder from the Douro River estuary, proving that they are essentially protein in nature, that no seasonal changes existed in the HFI frequency, and that it was rarer in the smallest and biggest fish groups. Within the ranges of weight/size of our total sample, we estimate that the frequency of HFI in the local flounder is ≈35 %. That rate stands as a baseline value for future assessments, namely for biomonitoring purposes targeting correlations with the estuary pollution status.     

Temporal variations and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in different Suaeda salsa marshes of the Yellow River estuary,China

To understand the temporal variations and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the coastal marshes, the concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Pb, and Cu) in the two Suaeda salsa marshes [middle S. salsa marsh (MM) and low S. salsa marsh (LM)] of the Yellow River estuary were determined from May to November in 2008 by in situ sampling and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. Results showed that heavy metal concentrations in S. salsa of MM and LM were generally in the order of Cu?>?Cr?>?Pb?>?Ni, while those in sediments fell in the order of Cr?>?Ni?>?Cu?>?Pb. Heavy metal concentrations of S. salsa in MM and LM were different, and significant differences were observed in stems (F?=?4.797, p?=?0.046) and litters (F?=?6.799, p?=?0.026) for Ni. Litter was the main stock of heavy metals, and the allocations of Cr, Ni, and Pb reached 31.25–51.31, 28.49–42.58, and 29.55–66.79 % (in MM) and 36.73–48.60, 41.70–57.87, and 33.30–60.64 % (in LM), respectively. The ratios of roots/leaves (R/L) and roots/stems (R/S) for Cr and Ni in MM were mostly greater than 1, while those ratios in LM were mostly less than 1, indicating that Cr and Ni in S. salsa at LM had greater mobility compared with those at MM. Moreover, the [accumulation factor, AF]_plant of Cr, Ni, Cu, and Pb in LM, especially [AF]_root and [AF]_stem of Cr and [AF]_litter of Ni, was also higher than that in MM. These indicated that S. salsa grown in LM was more suitable for potential biomonitor or phytoremediation of Cr, Ni, Cu, and Pb if intertidal sediments were seriously contaminated with an increase of pollutant loading (especially heavy metals) in the Yellow River estuary. The use of biomonitor (S. salsa) living and growing in LM could yield valuable information not only on the presence of anthropogenic stressors, but, more importantly, on the adverse influence the stressors are having on the environment.     

Enzymatic biomarkers in the crab Carcinus maenas from the Minho River estuary (NW Portugal) exposed to zinc and mercury

Zinc and mercury are common contaminants of estuaries and coastal ecosystems where they may induce adverse effects on the biota. Carcinus maenas is a key-species in several European estuaries, living in close association with the sediment where a considerable number of environmental contaminants, including zinc and mercury may accumulate. In the present study, the acute effects of zinc and mercury on C. maenas from the Minho River Estuary (NW Portugal) were investigated by using the activity of the enzymes cholinesterase (ChE), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) as effects' criteria. Crabs were exposed for 96h to several concentrations of Zn(2+) (0, 1.84, 3.71, 7.39 and 14.79mg/l) or Hg(2+) (0, 0.09, 0.19, 0.37 and 0.74mg/l). The choice of Zn(2+) test concentrations was based on the LC50 value (14.86mg/l) determined in a first part of the study, while the choice of Hg(2+) concentrations was based on values from the literature. At the end of the bioassays, eye, muscle and hepatopancreas tissues were isolated and used for ChE, LDH and GST determinations, respectively. Zinc significantly inhibited ChE activity (p<0.05, EC50=14.68mg/l), caused significant alterations of GST activity (p<0.05) and induced LDH activity (p<0.05) at the exposure of 14.79mg/l. Mercury significantly inhibited ChE activity (p<0.001, LOEC=0.09mg/l, EC50=0.235mg/l) and increased both GST (p<0.05, LOEC=0.774mg/l) and LDH activities (p<0.05, LOEC=0.119mg/l). These results suggest that both metals interfere with cholinergic neurotransmission in C. maenas by inhibiting ChE activity. In addition, they also interfere with GST activity and this may reduce the capacity of detoxification of some chemicals and/or to increase the probability of oxidative stress to occur. Furthermore, both metals increase LDH activity, suggesting an interference with energy production pathways. Therefore, the presence of zinc and mercury in estuaries at concentrations in the mg/l or mug/l range, respectively, may have a negative impact on C. maenas.     

Spatial and temporal variations of nitrous oxide flux between coastal marsh and the atmosphere in the Yellow River estuary of China

To investigate the spatial and seasonal variations of nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes and understand the key controlling factors, we explored N₂O fluxes and environmental variables in high marsh (HM), middle marsh (MM), low marsh (LM), and mudflat (MF) in the Yellow River estuary throughout a year. Fluxes of N₂O differed significantly between sampling periods as well as between sampling positions. During all times of day and the seasons measured, N₂O fluxes ranged from ?0.0051 to 0.0805 mg N₂O m^?2 h^?1, and high N₂O emissions occurred during spring (0.0278 mg N₂O m^?2 h^?1) and winter (0.0139 mg N₂O m^?2 h^?1) while low fluxes were observed during summer (0.0065 mg N₂O m^?2 h^?1) and autumn (0.0060 mg N₂O m^?2 h^?1). The annual average N₂O flux from the intertidal zone was 0.0117 mg N₂O m^?2 h^?1, and the cumulative N₂O emission throughout a year was 113.03 mg N₂O m^?2, indicating that coastal marsh acted as N₂O source. Over all seasons, N₂O fluxes from the four marshes were significantly different (p?<?0.05), in the order of HM (0.0256?±?0.0040 mg N₂O m^?2 h^?1)?>?MF (0.0107?±?0.0027 mg N₂O m^?2 h^?1)?>?LM (0.0073?±?0.0020 mg N₂O m^?2 h^?1)?>?MM (0.0026?±?0.0011 mg N₂O m^?2 h^?1). Temporal variations of N₂O emissions were related to the vegetations (Suaeda salsa, Phragmites australis, and Tamarix chinensis) and the limited C and mineral N in soils during summer and autumn and the frequent freeze/thaw cycles in soils during spring and winter, while spatial variations were mainly affected by tidal fluctuation and plant composition at spatial scale. This study indicated the importance of seasonal N₂O contributions (particularly during non-growing season) to the estimation of local N₂O inventory, and highlighted both the large spatial variation of N₂O fluxes across the coastal marsh (CV?=?158.31 %) and the potential effect of exogenous nitrogen loading to the Yellow River estuary on N₂O emission should be considered before the annual or local N₂O inventory was evaluated accurately.     

Relationships between pesticides and organic carbon fractions in sediments of the Danshui River estuary and adjacent coastal areas of Taiwan

In order to understand the fate of pesticides in marine environments, concentrations of pesticides and different carbonaceous fractions were determined for surface sediments in the Danshui River and nearby coastal areas of Taiwan. The major compounds detected were tetrachlorobenzene, HCHs, chlordane, aldrin, DDDs, DDEs and DDTs. Total concentrations of pesticides in the sediments ranged from not detectable to 23 ng g(-1), with the maximum value detected near the discharge point of the marine outfall from the Pali sewage treatment plant. These results confirm that pesticides persist in estuarine and nearby coastal environments of the Danshui River well after their ban. Concentrations of total pesticides significantly correlate with concentrations of total organic carbon and black carbon in these sediments, suggesting that total organic carbon and black carbon regulate the distribution of trace organic pollutants in fluvial and coastal marine sediments.     

Eighty-year sedimentary record of heavy metal inputs in the intertidal sediments from the Nanliu River estuary, Beibu Gulf of South China Sea

²¹⁰Pb analysis in the sediment core C11 was used to reconstruct the historical fluxes of Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr and As in the Nanliu River estuary during the last ∼81 year. The ²¹⁰Pb_xs-derived sedimentation rates, molar C/N ratios, enrichment factors and excess fluxes indicated that the natural inputs prevailed till the early 1990s. When the erosion related to land-use modifications enhanced, it promoted higher accumulation rates of the sedimentary material. In the recent sediments they were found a moderate enrichment of Cd and Hg (maximum 3.5- and 2.8-fold corresponding to the local background levels, respectively) and a slight enrichment of Cr, Zn, As and Pb (maximum 1.3-, 1.3-, 1.3- and 1.2-fold, respectively). The excess metal fluxes also showed a consistently increasing tread since the early 1990s, which could be associated with the intensive use of phosphate fertilizers and the combustion of fossil fuels derived from human activities.     

强化生物除磷系统中聚磷菌与聚糖菌的种群分析及代谢机制研究进展

强化生物除磷(EBPR)工艺是目前国内外广泛应用的废水除磷技术之一。微生物的研究对于提高EBPR系统的除磷稳定性有着非常重要的意义。综述了EBPR系统中聚磷菌和聚糖菌的种群分析及其代谢机制、聚磷菌与聚糖菌之间竞争的影响因素等方面的研究进展。分析了目前相关研究中存在的不足,并展望了今后相关的研究发展方向。     

Impact of industrial and mine drainage wastes on the heavy metal distribution in the drainage basin and estuary of the Sado River (Portugal)

This paper presents results from a survey of the heavy metal distribution in sediments in the drainage basin and estuary of the Sado River (Portugal). In the drainage basin, heavy metals originate mostly from pyrite outcrop erosion and mining activities (Cd, Zn, Cu and locally Hg, Pg), and also from crust erosion (Sn, Ni, Ti, Zr). These sources are not correlated with the particulate organic carbon (POC) and so the metals are thought to be in inorganic forms in this area. Anthropogenic heavy metal sources (urban and industrial) are found in the lower estuary (Sn, Cd, Hg, Zn, Pb and Cu) along with high POC concentrations. In this zone, these metals are thought to be strongly adsorbed onto organic particles. Furthermore, organo-metallic species are likely to be present, as demonstrated in the case of Sn, since methyl- and butyl-tin species were detected in sediments from this area. This suggests the need for the detection of organo-metallic species to understand the heavy metal geochemical cycles. No long-term changes in metal concentrations are found in sediment cores, except in the middle estuary (Zn, Cu) due to the development of mining activities on an industrial scale in the 1860s.     

A chemometric approach to the evaluation of atmospheric and fluvial pollutant inputs in aquatic systems: the Guadalquivir River estuary as a case study

To establish the quality of waters it is necessary to identify both point and non-point pollution sources. In this work, we propose the combination of clean analytical methodologies and chemometric tools to study discrete and diffuse pollution caused in a river by tributaries and precipitations, respectively.During a two-year period, water samples were taken in the Guadalquivir river (selected as a case study) and its main tributaries before and after precipitations. Samples were characterized by analysing nutrients, pH, dissolved oxygen, total and volatile suspended solids, carbon species, and heavy metals. Results were used to estimate fluvial and atmospheric inputs and as tracers for anthropic activities.Multivariate analysis was used to estimate the background pollution, and to identify pollution inputs. Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis were used as data exploratory tools, while box-whiskers plots and Linear Discriminant Analysis were used to analyse and distinguish the different types of water samples.