Water quality monitoring using remote sensing in support of the EU water framework directive (WFD): A case study in the Gulf of Finland

Water quality monitoring using remote sensing has been studied in Finland for many years. But there are still few discussions on water quality monitoring using remote sensing technology in support of water policy and legislation in Finland under the WFD. In this study, we present water quality monitoring using remote sensing in the Gulf of Finland, and focus on the spatial distribution of water quality information from satellite-based observations in support of water policy by a case study of nitrate concentrations in surface waters. In addition, we briefly describe instruments using a system of river basin districts (RBD), highlighting the importance of integrated water resources and river-basin management in the WFD, and discuss the role of water quality monitoring using remote sensing in the implementation of water policy in Finland under the WFD.     

The Natural Vegetation Responses to the Groundwater Change Resulting from Ecological Water Conveyances to the Lower Tarim River

This paper takes the ecological water conveyance project (EWCP) that transfers water from the Bosten Lake, to Daxihaizi Reservoir, and finally to the Taitema Lake as a case study to analyze the dynamic change of the groundwater depth, the vegetation responses to the elevation of the groundwater depth as well as the relationship between the groundwater depth and the natural vegetation. The results from many years’ monitoring in field indicate: (1) the groundwater depth has been elevating gradually with the increase in the times of watering and the elevation range has been expanding continuously in the lower reaches of Tarim River. Correspondingly, the natural vegetation has a favorable response to the elevation of the groundwater depth. The change of the natural vegetation has accordance with that of the groundwater depth. Such facts not only show that groundwater is a key factor to the growth of the native vegetation but also prove it is feasible that the degraded ecosystem can be restored and protected by the EWCP; (2) the results of analysis of the spatial-temporal response of the natural vegetation to watering reveals that the beneficial influence of the EWCP on the ecosystem in the lower Tarim River is a long-term process; (3) in terms of the function and structure of ecosystem after watering in the lower reaches of Tarim River, the EWCP does not still reach the goal of ecological restoration at a large spatial scale at present. Based on such monitoring results, some countermeasures and suggestions for the future restoration strategy are proposed so as to provide a theoretical basis for restoring and protecting the ecosystem in Tarim River, and meanwhile it can also provide some scientific references for implementing the similar ecological projects in other areas.     

Assessment of the Water Quality of Troia for the Multipurpose Usages

The aim of this study was to determine the origin and quality of waters in Troia. For this purpose total of 25 water samples including 2 springs, 14 surfaces and 9 groundwaters, were collected at eight different times. Global positioning system (GPS) was used to determine to coordinates of sampling points. The concentration of 6 minor elements (B, Cu, F, Fe, Pb and Zn), 9 major anions and cations (Na(+), Ca(2+), K(+), Mg(2+), SO(4)(2-), PO(4)(3-), HCO(3)(-), Cl(-) and, CO(3)(2-)) were determined by spectrometric, colorimetric and volumetric methods. Water pH, EC, DO, ORP and TDS were measured in situ using probes. The data showed that the concentrations of most of minor elements were below the EPA and TSE limits except Pb which ranged between 0.001 and 4.832 mg L(-1). Statistically significant relationships (P<0.01 and r>0.70) were observed between Fe and Cu, Cu and K(+), Cu and Ca(2+), B and Na(+), Na(+) and K(+). Assessing the water based on irrigation using Wilcox model showed that some well waters were not suitable for irrigation. Troia water was found to be highly corrosive and the average corrosion coefficients varied from 0.5 to 4.6. According to the Piper and Schoeller diagrams results, the water in Troia was classified as mixed water type.     

Characterization of semi-volatile organic compounds emitted during heating of nitrogen-containing plastics at low temperature

Because of recent volume increases, appropriate management of plastic recycling, which generates various organic compounds, is required to ensure the chemical safety of the processes. The processing temperature and resin type are the important factors determining both the efficiency of the processes and the emission of chemicals. Therefore, we studied the thermal degradation of various plastics at various temperatures from 70 to 300 °C under oxygen-present conditions to identify the semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) emitted and to understand their thermal behaviors. The plastics examined were nitrogen-containing resins, such as polyamide 6, polyurethane, melamine formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. Major commodity plastics were also investigated for comparison. In total, more than 500 SVOCs were detected as emissions from plastics. While various nitrogen-containing SVOCs were detected from nitrogen-containing resins, the major commodity plastics released only these, which possibly were included as additives. These results indicate that the nitrogen atoms in the SVOCs emitted originated from the resins and additives, and not from ambient air at low temperature. As a result of the detection of raw materials, degradation chemicals and by-products of the polymers in the emissions, we found that the variation in chemical species is dependent on the resins. Additives were also emitted from all the resins, meaning that these chemicals were also released to the environment at the temperature examined. In most cases, the numbers and concentrations of SVOCs increased with increasing heating temperature. The variation of thermal behaviors of SVOCs was related to the origins and chemical species of SVOCs.     

Age-dependent accumulation of heavy metals in a pod of killer whales (Orcinus orca) stranded in the northern area of Japan

Mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe) manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) concentrations in the liver, kidney and muscle of nine killer whales (including three calves) that stranded together in the northern area of Japan were determined. The Hg and Cd concentrations were found at trace levels in the calf organs, and increased with age. The Fe concentration in the muscle was significantly lower in the calves than in the mature whales and also increased with age. In contrast, Mn and Cu concentrations in the muscle were significantly higher in the calves than in the mature whales, and changes in the Zn concentration relative to age were unclear. These results suggest minimal mother-to-calf transfer of the toxic metals Hg and Cd and accumulation of these metals in the organs with age, while the essential metals Mn and Cu were found at higher concentrations in the muscle of calves than in mature whales.     

Predicting organic contaminant concentrations in sediment porewater using solid-phase microextraction

Because of its cost and time saving features, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a leading candidate as a biomimic technique in assessing the bioavailable fraction of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) in sediment porewater. However, no predictive modeling framework in which to systematically address the effect of key parameters on SPME performance for this application exists. In this study, we derived two governing equations to predict (1) the minimum sediment volume (V(s)min) required to achieve non-depletive conditions, and (2) dissolved phase HOC porewater concentrations (C(pw)) as functions of HOC- and sediment specific characteristics in a conceptual three compartment system. The resulting model predicted that V(s)min was independent of HOC concentrations both in sediment and porewater, but did vary with hydrophobicity (characterized by logK(ow)), the fraction of sediment porewater (f(pw)), and the volume (V(f)) of the SPME sorbent phase. Moreover, the effects of these parameters were minimized (i.e., V(s)min reached plateaus) as logK(ow) approached 4-5. Model predictions of C(pw), a surrogate for SPME-based detection limits in porewater, decreased with increasing sediment volume (V(s)) at low V(s) values, but rapidly leveled off as V(s) increased. A third result suggested that the sediment HOC concentration required for SPME is completely independent of K(ow). These results suggest that relatively small sediment volumes participate in exchange equilibria among sediment, porewater and the SPME fiber, and that large sediment HOC reservoirs are not needed to improve the detection sensitivity of SPME-based porewater samplers. The ultimate utility of this modeling framework will be to assist future experimental designs and help predict in situ bioavailability of sediment-associated HOCs.     

Enhanced bioaccumulation of cadmium in carp in the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles

In this study adsorption of Cd onto TiO2 nanoparticles and natural sediment particles (SP) were studied and the facilitated transports of Cd into carp by TiO2 nanoparticles and SP were assessed by bioaccumulation tests exposing carp (Cyprinus carpio) to Cd contaminated water in the presence of TiO2 and SP respectively. The results show that TiO2 nanoparticles had a significantly stronger adsorption capacity for Cd than SP. The presence of SP did not have significant influence on the accumulation of Cd in carp during the 25 d of exposure. However, the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles greatly enhanced the accumulation of Cd in carp. After 25 d of exposure Cd concentration in carp increased by 146%, and the value was 22.3 and 9.07 microg/g, respectively. And there is a positive correlation between Cd and TiO2 concentration. Considerable Cd and TiO2 accumulated in viscera and gills of the fish.     

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran concentrations in common fish species in the Pearl River Delta area, China

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (PCDD/Fs) concentrations in 31 fish samples from 19 commonly consumed freshwater and saltwater species from the Pearl River Delta Area were analyzed. The PCDD/Fs dietary intake from fish for the local population was evaluated to provide a database for setting the national PCDD/F limits in fish for the People's Republic of China. The median concentration from the 31 fish samples was 1.27 pg/g wet weight for the total of PCDD/Fs, and the median WHO-TEQ was 0.26 pg/g wet weight, and ranged from 0.063 to 1.30 pg WHO-TEQ/g wet weight. The dominant contributors to the WHO-TEQ were 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, which accounted for 38% and 28%, respectively. The dietary intake of PCDD/Fs from fish for local people was estimated to be 0.47 pg WHO-TEQ/kg bw x day. In view of the findings, the dietary of PCDD/Fs from other foods of animal origins in China should be studied in more detail as soon as possible in order that standards can be put forward to protect human health.     

Changes in photochemical and antioxidant enzyme activities in maize (Zea mays L.) leaves exposed to excess copper

Changes in photosynthetic and antioxidant activities in maize (Zea mays L.) leaves of cultivars 3223 and 31G98 exposed to excess copper (Cu) were investigated. Cu treatment reduced the shoot and root length of both cultivars. No significant difference of Cu accumulation in the roots of both cultivars was observed while the cultivar 3223 accumulated significantly higher Cu in leaves than 31G98. The observed decreases in effective quantum efficiency of PSII, ETR and qP indicate an over excitation of photochemical system in 3223 compared to 31G98. The leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of both cultivars decreased with increasing Cu concentration. A far higher production of anthocyanins in 31G98 has been observed than that of 3223. At 1.5 mM Cu concentration, all antioxidant enzyme activities increased in leaves of the cultivar 31G98 while there were no significant changes in SOD and GR activities in 3223 compared to the control except increased APX and POD activities. The lower Cu accumulation in leaves and higher antioxidant enzyme activities in 31G98 suggested an enhanced tolerance capacity of this cultivar to protect the plant from oxidative damage.