A Survey of Trace Metals in Vegetation, Soil and Lower Animal Along Some Selected Major Roads in Metropolitan City of Lagos

The concentration of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in a total of 144 samples of grass, soil and lower animal (earthworm, Lybrodrilus violaceous) were collected and analysed for their metallic content. Levels of cadmium ranged from 0.01–0.07 g g^–1; 0.01–0.12 g g^–1 and from trace–0.05 g g^–1 dry weight for plant, soil and animal samples respectively. Mean concentration of copper ranged 0.10–1.48 g g^–1; 0.10–2.90 g g^–1 and 0.01–0.08 g g^–1 for samples in similar order as above. The levels of Pb varied from 0.01–0.14 g g^–1; 0.02–0.23 g g^–1 and from trace–0.07 g g^–1 while that of Zn ranged from 0.19–1.80 g g^–1; 0.51–3.35 g g^–1and 0.01–0.08 g g^–1 also in the same order of samples as mentioned above. Levels of metals in soil samples were higher than the background levels with the exception of Zn but lower than European Union (EU) limits. The results generally revealed the presence of metals in plant and animal samples and metal dynamics up the food chain is highly possible. Acceptable recoveries of the spiking experiment validate the experimental protocol.     

SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND EUTROPHICATION ASSESSMENT FOR CHLOROPHYLL a IN TAIHU LAKE

Spatial structure analysis and kriging analysis have been identified to be useful tools in illustrating the spatial patterns of variables. Taihu Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in China, and has suffered serious eutrophication in recent years due to the rapid economic development and growing environmental pollution in the Taihu Catchment. In this paper, spatial structural analysis, kriging interpolation and eutrophication assessment were carried out for chlorophyll a in the lake. Studies show that spherical model could be applied to fit all experimental variograms. Positive nuggets were observed for three directions except NE–SW direction. The variograms show some anisotropy with anisotropic ratio falling within 1.76. The spatial structural patterns of chlorophyll a in the lake were affected by factors such as distribution of pollution sources, water flow and wind. Two-dimensional ordinary block kriging was applied for interpolation process. An eutrophication assessment map was also made based on a water-quality evaluation standard. Results show that the content of chlorophyll a in Taihu Lake was quite high. The whole lake has suffered serious eutrophication. However, the eutrophic situation varied in space. Higher contents of chlorophyll a appeared mainly in the northern part of the lake.     

IMPACTS OF VISITORS ON SOIL AND VEGETATION OF THE RECREATIONAL AREA “NACIMIENTO DEL RÍO MUNDO” (CASTILLA-LA MANCHA, SPAIN)

This study examines the effects of recreational use on the soil and vegetation at a site of ecological importance (Nacimiento del Río Mundo, Albacete, Spain). The most visited sites showed increased soil compaction of approximately 50%, bare ground increase to 61 ± 10% and a decrease in richness (from 25 ± 2 to 15 ± 2 species), diversity (from 4.0 ± 0.1 to 2.7 ± 0.4) and stratification of plant species (from 80 ± 11 to 21 ± 4%). The most visited sites had 90% less plant species as compared to the least visited. Intense use was associated with the presence of nitrophilous plant and vegetal species with a morphology adapted to heavy trampling. The recreational areas showed a distribution pattern of impact radiating outwards from the most used and degraded point. At the most visited point, Los Chorros (the spring of the river), the impact radiated outwards for about 20 m. A pilot experiment examining the effects of one-year restriction to visitors for access to a formerly impacted area showed a plant cover increase by anthropic and not by native species of 57 percent units.     

Arsenic compounds in the haemolymph of the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister, as determined by using HPLC on-line with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Arsenobetaine, two arsenosugars, dimethylarsinate and several unidentified arsenic species were detected in extracts of the haemolymph of the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister, by using HPLC-ICP-MS. This is the first report of the presence of arsenosugars in the haemolymph/blood of marine animals. Total, extractable and residual arsenic concentrations were determined by ICP-MS. The concentration of total arsenic was in the range of 1.4-3.8 [micro sign]g ml(-1). Nearly all (98%) the arsenic was found to be extractable, and accounted for primarily by arsenobetaine, two arsenosugars and dimethylarsinate. The results demonstrate that arsenic compounds present in the diet of crabs are not fully metabolized in the gut. They are, at least partly, taken up into the haemolymph. The concurrence of arsenobetaine and arsenosugars suggests that the use of repeated haemolymph sampling in crustaceans could facilitate investigations into the kinetics of the biotransformation pathways of arsenic compounds. Finally, the present study clearly demonstrates the unique capabilities of HPLC-ICP-MS for the detection and identification of minor arsenic components amongst the predominant arsenobetaine.     

提高化学需氧量比色分析精度的研究

CODCr化学分析因其分析速度快、能够反映废水有机污染的程度,在水质监测和废水处理过程中是一种必测和经常测定的指标。测定方法目前有很多种,常用的有滴定法、比色法等。滴定法技术成熟,结果可靠,是我国环境监测标准中规定的测试方法,但是测试过程仍然繁琐、费时、消耗试剂多;比色法测试速度快,方法简单,试剂用量少,但测试的结果有一定的误差。为此,文章针对提高比色法测定CODCr精度进行了研究,并与滴定法进行了同步测试和比较,结果表明,改进后的测试精度有了很大的提高。     

Numerical Analyses of Soft Bottom Macroinvertebrates to Diagnose the Pollution in Tropical Coastal Waters

Soft bottom benthic organisms especially polychaetes are known to adapt as r or k selected strategies to different gradients of pollution. This will result in changes of benthic community structure from that of normal structure. There are a number of techniques to assess the impact of pollution on benthic community structure. Hence, to test this hypotheses some of the univariate and multivariate techniques were applied to soft bottom macro-invertebrates data of coastal waters of Mangalore, central west coast of India, a hot-spot area. Univariate techniques such as Pearson Rosenberg Model (PRM), abundance biomass comparison curve (ABC), geometrical class distribution, dominance-diversity curve, benthic community structure indices and multivariate techniques such as cluster classification, multidimensional scaling (MDS) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to discriminate and diagnose the disturbance among the sites. Effectiveness and applicability of some of the above techniques are highlighted and discussed with the present set of data for environmental impact assessment studies.     

空气中多氯联苯的定量研究

使用大流量采样器,分别以石英纤维滤膜(QFF)和聚氨基甲酸乙酯泡沫(PUF)对空气中颗粒相和气相PCBs进行采集。以GC/MS为检测手段,采用选择性离子检测技术(SIM)对PCBs进行定性,内标法结合响应因子法进行PCBs的定量。PCBs的仪器检测限为4.40~93.60pg,回收率为68.57%~121.28%。气相和颗粒相PCBs的方法检测限分别为2.36~381.75fg/m3和2.78~348.81fg/m3。吸附和穿透试验结果表明,在采样流速为0.23m3/min、采样时间为24h的条件下,吸附和穿透情况对空气中PCBs的定量不会产生显著影响。     

微量环境荷尔蒙类物质双酚A的荧光分析研究

基于在pH为1的酸性介质中,β-环瑚精对双酚A荧光强度的增强作用,建立了荧光分光光度法测定水中微量环境荷尔蒙类物质双酚A的简单灵敏的方法。该法的线性范围为0·4~300·0μg/L,相对标准偏差为1·3%,检出限为0·023μg/L。用该法检测PC膜浸泡水样中双酚A残留量,结果令人满意。     

污染源监测报告有效期问题的探讨

环境监测是环境管理的基础性工作,污染源监测报告(数据)的有效性是保证环境执法严肃、公正的重要条件,也是是守法企业展示良好社会形象的基本保证。依照国家的相关规定,并结合行业技术规范的要求,探讨污染源监测报告的有效期问题,以利于相关各方严肃、科学、合理地使用污染源监测数据。     

环境中萘和甲基萘的气相色谱测定

针对发生的甲基萘油车泄漏事故进行了水样和空气样品中萘和甲基萘的测定，水样中直接进样，对空气样品则以甲醇为吸收液吸收，富集，氢火焰毛细管色谱法测定。