Arsenic and fluoride in the groundwater of Mexico

Concentrations of arsenic and fluoride above Mexican drinking water standards have been detected in aquifers of various areas of Mexico. This contamination has been found to be mainly caused by natural sources. However, the specific processes releasing these toxic elements into groundwater have been determined in a few zones only. Many studies, focused on arsenic-related health effects, have been performed at Comarca Lagunera in northern México. High concentrations of fluoride in water were also found in this area. The origin of the arsenic there is still controversial. Groundwater in active mining areas has been polluted by both natural and anthropogenic sources. Arsenic-rich minerals contaminate the fractured limestone aquifer at Zimapán, Central México. Tailings and deposits smelter-rich fumes polluted the shallow granular aquifer. Arsenic contamination has also been reported in the San Antonio-El Triunfo mining zone, southern Baja California, and Santa María de la Paz, in San Luis Potosí state. Even in the absence of mining activities, hydrogeochemistry and statistical techniques showed that arsenopyrite oxidation may also contaminate water, as in the case of the Independencia aquifer in the Mexican Altiplano. High concentrations of arsenic have also been detected in geothermal areas like Los Azufres, Los Humeros, and Acoculco. Prevalence of dental fluorosis was revealed by epidemiological studies in Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosí states. Presence of fluoride in water results from dissolution of acid-volcanic rocks. In Mexico, groundwater supplies most drinking water. Current knowledge and the geology of Mexico indicate the need to include arsenic and fluoride determinations in groundwater on a routine basis, and to develop interdisciplinary studies to assess the contaminant's sources in all enriched areas.     

Vertical distribution,abundance and community structure of oncaeid copepods in the Oyashio region,western subarctic Pacific

The vertical distribution, abundance and community structure of oncaeid copepods were investigated in the Oyashio region, western subarctic Pacific. Samples were collected with a 0.10 mm mesh closing type net from five discrete layers down to a maximum depth of 2,000 m in September and December 1996 and in April and October 1997. The copepods were widely distributed from epipelagic to bathypelagic zones, and showed prominent peaks of abundance above the thermocline and/or between 250 and 1,000 m depth. Standing stocks of total oncaeid copepods ranged from 1.5 to 2.5×10⁵ inds m^–2 at 0–2,000 m in the water column, which are the same order of magnitudes as those reported in tropical, subtropical and polar regions by previous workers. A total of 38 species and two forms belonging to the genera Oncaea, Triconia, Spinoncaea, Conaea and Epicalymma, and two provisionally classified species of the family Oncaeidae were identified in this study. Of these, 14 species have already been recorded from the eastern subarctic Pacific. Several warm-water species were also found in December 1996 and/or October 1997, when the effect of warm-core rings originating from the Kuroshio Current was evident in the epipelagic zone. Dominant species throughout the whole water column were T. borealis, T. canadensis, O. grossa, O. parila, O. rimula, O. lacinia, Epicalymma spp. and Oncaea sp. A, and these eight species together always made up about half of the total oncaeid numbers. Community analysis revealed that species composition in epipelagic and upper mesopelagic zones varied temporally due to the changes of hydrographic conditions, whereas those in lower mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones were relatively stable, reflecting the constancy of deep environments.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

珠江口水、沉积物及生物体As含量分布特征及生态风险评价

于2008年2、5、8及11月对珠江口进行了水、沉积物和生物体As含量的调查,分析其分布特征以及进行生态评价。结果表明：珠江口水体中As含量平均值为2.88μg·L-1,符合一类海水水质标准;其中,11月份显著高于其它3个月份(P <0.05)。全年珠江口水体八个河口在地域分布上As平均含量由高到低依次为：虎门、鸡啼门、磨刀门、崖门、洪沥门、蕉门、横门、虎跳门。表层沉积物As含量平均值为38.73 mg·kg-1,沉积物中As含量均超过海洋沉积物质量一类标准,但均未超三类标准。结果显示,表层沉积物横门含量最高,为(70.5±2.0) mg·kg-1,显著高于其它7个口门(P <0.05),而其它7个口门差异不显著。各口门含量从大到小依次为横门、洪沥门、鸡啼门、虎门、崖门、磨刀门、虎跳门、蕉门。表层沉积物地质累积指数评价结果与潜在生态风险系数评价结果一致,横门为中等污染水平,其余站点均为低污染水平。采集代表性生物样品,其中11种鱼类As平均含量为0.587 mg·kg-1,部分受检鱼类超出水产品中有毒有害物质限量要求,超标率为37.8%,肉食性鱼类平均含量要略低于杂食性鱼类,但不同食性和不同生活水层的鱼类As含量差异不显著(P >0.05)。受检生物样品虾的含量为0.314 mg·kg-1,符合水产品中有毒有害物质限量要求。与历年比较发现珠江口水、沉积物和生物体中As含量有上升的趋势,与其它河口相比较发现珠江口As污染在对比的河口和海湾中受污染程度较高。     

Arsenic in freshwater ecosystems of the Bengal delta: status,sources and seasonal variability

The study aimed to examine the contamination status of arsenic (As) in excavated small water bodies, commonly known as ponds – the integral part of daily life in the arsenic-affected rural areas of West Bengal, India in comparison to the unaffected areas. The ponds of the contaminated area had higher levels of As: water 2–174 µg L^?1 (mean 31 ± 2 µg L^?1) and sediment 1.3–37.3 mg kg^?1 (mean 10.3 ± 0.4 mg kg^?1), than those from the unaffected area: water 1–8 µg L^?1 (mean 4 ± 0 µg L^?1) and sediment 1.4–5.3 mg kg^?1 (mean 3.0 ± 0.1 mg kg^?1). A moderate positive correlation was observed between the water and sediment arsenic content of the ponds of the arsenic-affected region (r = 0.688, n = 277, p < 0.0001). Contaminated ground water, either as direct input or through agricultural washings, was found to be the major contributor of arsenic pollution to these ecosystems. Seasonal variations were not prominent. This study emphasized the beneficial role of using the studied ecosystems over the highly contaminated ground water for various livelihood activities in the Gangetic delta region.     

Vertical distribution,population structure and life cycles of four oncaeid copepods in the Oyashio region,western subarctic Pacific

Vertical distribution and population structure of four dominant oncaeid copepods (Triconia borealis, Triconia canadensis, Oncaea grossa and Oncaea parila) were investigated in the Oyashio region, western subarctic Pacific. Seasonal samples were collected with 0.06 mm mesh nets from five discrete layers between the surface and 2,000 m depth at seven occasions (March, May, June, August and October 2002, December 2003 and February 2004). The depth of occurrence of major populations of each species differed by species; the surface–250 m for T. borealis, 250–1,000 m for T. canadensis, 250–500 m for O. grossa and 500–1,000 m for O. parila. The ontogenetic vertical migration characterized by deeper occurrence of early and late copepodid stages, and shallower occurrence of middle copepodid stages was observed in T. canadensis and O. parila. Of the four oncaeid copepods, almost all copepodid stages occurred throughout the study period, suggesting that their reproduction continues throughout the year in the region. Nevertheless, a clear developmental sequence of stage-to-stage was traced for T. canadensis and O. grossa copepodids, implying their generation time to be 1 year. For T. borealis and O. parila copepodids, no clear seasonal succession was observed thus estimation of their generation time was uncertain. The present comprehensive results of vertical distribution and life cycle features for T. borealis, T. canadensis, O. grossa and O. parila are compared with the few published data on oncaeid species distributing in high latitude seas.     

成都东郊稻田水中砷形态的测定及分布特征

采用氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定了成都东郊4块稻田水中砷的形态.研究发现,该区域稻田表面水砷浓度平均值为3.15—7.9μg.L-1,土壤孔隙水为18.71—53.71μg.L-1,除4号稻田土壤孔隙水外,其余各稻田表面水及土壤孔隙水中砷浓度的平均值均未超出国家农田灌溉水质标准.垂直方向上,土壤孔隙水中各形态砷的浓度均比稻田表面水中的高,且都在水-土界面或接近界面处最大,然后依次向下呈递减趋势.水平方向上,各形态砷的浓度因所处稻田条件的不同而分布各异.各形态砷在所研究稻田水中的分布皆呈现出可溶态砷>颗粒态砷、三价砷>五价砷的特征.     

Vertical distribution, life cycle, and developmental characteristics of the mesopelagic calanoid copepod Gaidius variabilis (Aetideidae) in the Oyashio region, western North Pacific Ocean

Vertical distribution, life cycle, and developmental characteristics of the mesopelagic copepod Gaidius variabilis Brodsky in the Oyashio region were investigated by combining analyses of field copepodite populations with laboratory-rearing data of egg hatching and naupliar development. Field samplings from five discrete depths between the surface and ≤2000 m were made approximately every month for 1 year. Most populations of G. variabilis occurred between 600 and 1000 m depth. A modest degree of reversed diel vertical migration behavior and some stage-specific depth-distribution patterns were noted. All copepodite stages were observed throughout the year, suggesting a year-round spawning of G. variabilis. From a prominent abundance peak of Copepodite Stage 1 (C1) seen in June to August, together with development times of eggs and nauplii obtained in laboratory-rearing experiments, the major spawning season was extrapolated to be April to June, the phytoplankton bloom season. Tracing the peak abundance of each copepodite stage (distinguishing males and females for C4 to C6), the generation times of males and females were deduced as 2 and 1 year, respectively. All between-stage increments in terms of wet-, dry-, and ash-free dry weights were greatest in C3/C4, and least in C5/C6 for both males and females. The increments in C3/C4 and C4/C5 were greater for males than for females, reflecting a longer stage duration of the males. These weights did not increase in C5/C6 males, possibly because feeding ceased in C6 males. These results for G. variabilis are compared with those for some mesopelagic copepods previously reported from other regions. Received: 25 October 1999 / Accepted: 20 March 2000     

The Relationship Between Exposure to Arsenic Concentrations in Drinking Water and the Development of Skin Lesions in Farmers from Inner Mongolia, China

Associations between the concentration of arsenic naturally occurring in drinking water and the development of skin lesions in people have been documented for some years at various locations around the world. Data on the exposure-response relationship between concentrations of arsenic in drinking water and prevalence of skin lesions in farmers from five locations in Inner Mongolia, China have been collected from the original publications and re-analysed together as a meta-study. The calculated data show a positive linear exposure-response relationship without a threshold. The reasons for this linear correlation are discussed and compared with the data from Xinjiang, another arsenism area located in a different geographical area of China. Here a different relationship was recorded that involved a threshold concentration before skin lesions developed. The significance of these two different exposure-response scenarios is discussed.     

Spatial statistics for modeling of abundance and distribution of wildlife species in the Masai Mara ecosystem, Kenya

This study illustrates the use of modern statistical procedures for better wildlife management by addressing three key issues: determination of abundance, modeling of animal distributions and variability of diversity in space and time. Prior information in Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods is used to improve estimates of abundance. Measures of autocorrelation are included when modeling distributions of animal counts, and a diversity index to indicate species abundance and richness for large herbivores is developed. Data from the Masai Mara ecosystem in Kenya are used to develop and demonstrate these procedures. The new abundance estimates are up to 35% more accurate than those obtained by existing methods. Significant temporal changes in spatial patterns are found from a space-time analysis of elephant counts over a 20-year period, with strong interactions over 5 km and 6 months space and time separations, respectively. The new diversity index is sensitive to both high abundance and species richness and is also able to capture year to year variation. It indicates an overall marginal decrease in diversity for large herbivores in the Mara ecosystem. The space-time analyses and diversity index can easily be computed thereby providing tools for rapid decision making.     

夏季渭河西安段溶解性有机质(DOM)的特征、分布及来源分析

通过紫外吸收光谱,三维荧光光谱结合平行因子分析(EEMs-PARAFAC)方法及主成分分析(PCA),研究了夏季渭河西安段水体中的溶解性有机质(DOM)的组成、来源,及其与水质指标的相关性.在研究区域共检出2种类别5个不同的DOM组分,分别为类腐殖质荧光组分C1、C2、C3、C5和1个类蛋白类荧光组分C4,5个组分具有...     

黄河源头生态环境变化的遥感监测及驱动因素

利用1990年、2000年和2004年的TM卫星影像数据研究表明,近10 a来,黄河源头玛多县生态环境状况变化剧烈,主要表现为沼泽、滩涂、河流、湖泊等湿地萎缩干涸,所占比例持续减少,表明水源涵养力减弱.同时,沙地、盐碱地和不宜林草荒地等劣质土地的增加使天然草地破碎化程度加大;而天然草地、林地和宜林草荒地比例持续增加,说明在21世纪初以来的暖湿化气候背景下,黄河源头-玛多县生态环境呈良性发展态势.分析认为气温、降水、蒸发、冻土等自然因素,以及超裁过牧、滥采乱挖和草地鼠害等人类活动是导致黄河源头生态环境变化的共同驱动因素,其中又以气候因子为主导,与冻土环境及水文条件相互影响.     

成都城区蔬菜地土壤中农药残留及其分布特征

采用GC-ECD检测、GC/MS-MS确证的方法对成都城区14个区县蔬菜地土壤中23种有机氯农药（OCPs）进行分析,以揭示OCPs的残留现状及其分布特征。结果表明,OCPs残留水平在不同区县间差异很大,变化范围20.18～104.33μg.kg-1之间,近郊区县（双流、龙泉驿、郫县、新都、温江）远低于边缘区县。被检出的18种OCPs中,DDTs、HCHs检出率最高（100%）,残留水平为16.11～99.51、1.31～9.34μg.kg-1,分别占OCPs残留总量质量分数的87.68%、8.15%;六氯苯（HCB）次之（90%）;灭蚁灵、环氧七氯、硫丹Ⅰ和γ-氯丹也有不同程度的检出（44.29%～47.14%）,主要分布在近郊区县;艾氏剂、狄氏剂、异狄氏剂、毒杀芬的检出率较低（32.86%～37.14%）,多分布于彭州、都江堰、大邑、崇州等地。土壤中OCPs的各种异构体、代谢物变化规律显示,DDTs、HCHs残留主要源于早期的使用或大气输入,但不排除金堂、青白江、新津地区近期可能有新的DDTs输入,崇州、彭州、都江堰、大邑地区可能有HCHs输入。     

近50年三江源地表湿润指数变化特征及其影响因素

基于三江源区1959—2008年月平均气温、最高气温、最低气温、相对湿度、降水量、风速和日照百分率等气候要素资料,应用修订的Penman-Monteith（P-M）模型计算了最大潜在蒸散量和地表湿润指数,分析其空间分布、年际和年代际变化特征及其主要气象因子的影响。结果表明：1959—2008年间,研究区年降水量呈增加趋势,降水量变化曲线线性拟合倾向率为5.316~13.047 mm.（10a）-1,春夏季增幅较大;最大潜在蒸散量呈增加趋势,年最大潜在蒸散量变化曲线线性拟合倾向率在5.073~10.712 mm.（10a）-1,夏季增幅最大;地表湿润指数变化也呈增加趋势,年地表湿润指数变化曲线线性拟合倾向率0.011~0.026（10a）-1,冬季增幅最大,在15年周期附近,出现了3~5个干湿交替期,1984年之后为偏湿期,在中高频区,1998—2006年有偏干振荡;影响三江源区地表湿润指数的主要因子是降水量、相对湿度和平均最高气温。     

50年长江源区域植被净初级生产力及其影响因素变化特征

基于长江源区1959—2008年月平均气温、最高气温、最低气温、相对湿度、降水量、风速和日照时数等气候要素资料,应用修订的Thornthwaite Memorial模型计算了50年植被净初级生产力,分析其年际和年代际变化特征及其主要气象因子的影响。结果表明：1959—2008年间,研究区年降水量呈增加趋势,降水量变化曲线线性拟合倾向率每10年为5.685~13.047 mm,春夏季增幅较大;年平均气温呈极显著上升趋势,气温变化曲线线性拟合倾向率每10年在0.240~0.248℃之间,增温率以秋冬季最大;最大蒸散呈增加趋势,年最大蒸散变化曲线线性拟合倾向率每10年在5.073~5.366 mm,春季增幅最大;地表湿润指数也呈增加趋势,年地表湿润指数变化曲线线性拟合倾向率每10年为0.013~0.020,冬季增幅最大,在10年周期时间频率附近,出现了6~8个干湿交替期,20世纪90年代之后为偏湿期,在低频区,1998—2005年有偏干振荡;近50年年NPP变化呈显著上升趋势,NPP变化曲线线性拟合倾向率每10年在97.901~197.01 kg.hm-2之间,2001—2008年NPP较高。影响长江源区NPP变化的主要气候因子是降水量、最大蒸散量和平均最低气温。     

An opinion on the distribution and behavior of chemicals in response to climate change,with particular reference to the Asia-Pacific region

There is a general lack of knowledge as regards the effects of climate change on pollutant behavior. This is particularly true of the Asia-Pacific Region (APR). This region has major significance in terms of global pollutant emission and also displays a wide variety of environments. This review presents the authors’ opinions on possible implications of climate change for pollutant behavior in the APR. Although differing responses can be expected across the region, there are clear implications as regards the short- and long-term behavior of pollutants. Effects can be predicted through modeling, but further data are required for model calibration. Nevertheless, it can be predicted that climate change will affect processes including global distillation of persistent organic pollutants, airborne transport of heavy metals, half-life of readily degradable pollutants, and eutrophication in water bodies. Particulates are expected to play a central role in mediating the effects of climate change, and successful predictive models will need to be based on particulate-mediated transport and behavior. Climate change also has the potential to cause an increase in the intensity and frequency of harmful algal blooms in aquatic environments throughout the region, with significant implications for supply of both food and drinking water.     

Distribution of Pb,Cr, Cu and Zn in the marine-coastal region of Zanzibar (Tanzanian archipelago,East Africa)

In Tanzania, a large amount of domestic and industrial wastes are daily released to the aquatic environment without prior treatment. The present paper establishes the status of distribution and environmental implications of heavy metals in water, sediment, suspended particulate matter and biota (Anadara antiquata) from two marine coasts in Zanzibar, Tanzania. These metals are derived from the industrial areas through rivers and storm water outflows. Heavy metal concentrations in the collected samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Concentrations were significantly higher in the Malindi compared to the Fumba coast (ANOVA, p?=?.001). Calculation of metal partition coefficients shows that the relative importance of the particulate and the water phases varies in response to water parameters and suspended solid content, but that most elements achieve a conditional equilibrium in these coasts. Higher metal concentrations found in Malindi suggest a pollution effect related to anthropogenic activities. Mean metal burdens in the tissues of A. antiquata from both Malindi and Fumba coasts were significantly higher than in other compartments analysed (ANOVA, p?<.05). Maximum values of contamination factor and contamination degree for metals were noticed for sediments from both Malindi and Fumba coasts. It is imperative to understand that metal concentrations of coastal environments depend not only on industrial and household waste inputs but also on the geochemical composition of the area.     

Vertical and spatial distribution of biogenic silica in the sediment of the gulf of Riga,Baltic Sea

The vertical and spatial concentration trends of biogenic silica (BSi) were investigated in a variety of sediment types from the Gulf of Riga. These trends were compared with the concentration of organic carbon to examine how variations in the mass sedimentation and the dissolution rate of BSi versus bacterially mediated oxidation of organic matter affect the distribution of BSi in different environments. The effects of important physical and biogeochemical factors on the distribution of BSi have also been examined.

The concentration of BSi in the surface sediment at accumulation bottoms ranges between 0.8–1.5 mmol/g with an average concentration of 1.1 mmol/g. This is about two times the concentration that has been reported in similar sediments in the open Baltic proper. Much lower concentrations were measured in erosion and transitional areas; on average around 0.2 and 0.6 mmol/g, respectively.

A comparison between recent sedimentation rate measurements (²¹⁰Pb) and concentrations of BSi within different accumulation bottoms suggests an approximate inverse relationship with each other. The importance of variation in the sedimentation rate on the surface BSi concentration is supported by the fact that higher C_org/BSi ratios are found in periphery accumulation zones close to transition areas (larger supply of carbon rich allochthonous material that dilutes settled amounts of BSi) than at accumulation bottoms in the central part of the Gulf. The C_org/BSi ratio in the sediment is always lower than in living siliceous algae which shows that the microbial degradation of organic carbon is always greater than the inorganic dissolution of BSi, irrespective of the assemblage of silica and non‐silica species.

The general vertical concentration pattern at accumulation sites showed a decreased concentration with increased depth down to 2–6 cm below seafloor where the concentration gradually equalizes. The concentration in the equalizing zone is on average about 20% lower than in the uppermost centimeter. This implies that the main part of the BSi entering the accumulation bottoms is permanently buried and that a great amount of silica already has been released during halmyrolysis. The spatial and vertical BSi trends at sites in transitional and erosional areas reflects prevailing sedimentation conditions with a low concentration in sections with a dominance of sand and gravel (no deposition of fine material) and a higher concentration in the sections containing stiff glacial clay (former accumulation area).

The average annual burial amount of BSi in the Gulf has been estimated to be around 50 000 tons of which most is buried in accumulation bottoms outside the central muddy part of the Gulf. The buried amount is about 60% of the annual river load of silica.     

Characterization and seasonal distribution of microplastics in the nearshore sediments of the south-east coast of India,Bay of Bengal

• MPs in the coastal sediment of south-east coast of India are quantified. • High MPs are recorded near river mouths and nearshore regions. • Polyethylene and polypropylene are the major polymers observed. • MPs contamination is higher than the values reported elsewhere. In view of increasing Microplastics (MPs) contamination in the marine environment and dearth of baseline data, a study was conducted on the abundance, characterization, and seasonal distribution of MPs in the nearshore sediments of the south-east coast of India. Sediment samples (n = 130) were collected at a distance of 1 km and 10 km from the shore region at varying depths (8–45 m) along the Chennai to Puducherry coast (165 km stretch), representing two seasons, i.e., south-west (July 2019 and July 2020) and north-east (January 2020) monsoons. The average abundance of MPs at the 22 offshore sites along the Chennai to Puducherry coast varied from 9±4.3 to 19±12.9 particles/50 g dry weight, in July 2019 and January 2020, respectively. July 2020 had an average abundance of 10±4.5 particles/50 g dry weight. Spatially, high levels of MPs were found at 1km stations and transects in proximity to the river inlets, and temporally, the north-east month recorded the maximum concentration. The dominant morphotype was the filament, and the major polymers were polyethylene and polypropylene. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images revealed the surface irregularity and degradation of MPs due to weathering. The study highlights that high sediment contamination by MPs occurs during heavy rainfall and accumulates closer to river inlets. Eventually, this study suggests that appropriate management of plastic wastes on the landside will reduce MP contamination in the marine environment.     

新疆阿克苏地区平原区高砷地下水分布特征及富集因素分析

地下水砷污染是全球化环境问题.本文基于阿克苏地区平原区2017年75个地下水砷实测含量进行分析.结果表明,研究区地下水砷含量变化范围为ND-98.70 μg?L-1,平均值为9.42μg?L-1,超标率达26.7％.水平方向上,高砷地下水主要集中在研究区的中部偏南一带;垂直方向上,山麓斜坡冲洪积砾质平原潜水区地下水砷含...