Imposex in the commercial snail Bolinus brandaris in the northwestern Mediterranean

A survey of the degree of imposex in populations of the commercial muricid Bolinus brandaris (L.) was carried out at six locations along the Catalan Coast (NW Mediterranean). Imposex was found to be a widespread phenomenon; the occurrence of a penis was observed in all females studied with the exception of those from St. Carles (South of Catalunya) where only 37% were affected. Other indices such as Relative Penis Length (RPL) and Vas Deferens Sequence (VDS) were applied; RPL varied from 4.5% in St. Carles--the least affected area--to 29.8% in the vicinity of Barcelona; similar results were obtained for VDS. Tissue organotin residues ranged from 6 to 140 ng g(-1) w.w. as Sn. Despite legislation restricting the use of tributyltin (TBT) in antifouling paints, this paper evidences the occurrence of organotin pollution far from the source, with levels of both TBT and triphenyltin (TPhT) high enough to cause environmental concern.     

Fractionation of fulvic acids: characteristics and complexation with copper

Two fulvic acid samples isolated from Suwannee river (International Humic Substance Society) and Feeitsuey reservoir were subjected to gel filtration chromatography (GFC) for molecular size fractionation. The GFC-eluted samples were separated into three groups corresponding to the molecular weight ranges: < 220, 220-1000, and 1000-4000. Fluorescence quenching techniques were employed for determining the conditional stability coefficient and kinetic parameters of copper complexation with the three fractions of fulvic acids. Experimental conditions were pH 6, 5 x 10(-5)m total copper and 5 mg C litre(-1) of fulvic acids. The conditional stability coefficients of the fulvic acid fractions were in the order of 0.9-3.3 x 10(5)m(-1), and the forward and reverse rate constants were in the order of 6.9-12.4 x 10(3)m(-1) s(-1) and 3.5-8.0 x 10(-2) s(-1). Information could be useful in modelling copper transport in the hydrosphere.     

A natural analogue of high-pH cement pore waters from the Maqarin area of northern Jordan: Comparison of predicted and observed trace-element chemistry of uranium and selenium

Current design concepts for low-/intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal in many countries involve emplacement underground in a cementitious repository. The highly alkaline groundwaters at Maqarin, Jordan, are a good analogue for the cementitious pore waters that will be present within such a repository. A geochemical modelling study of these groundwaters has been carried out in order to test the applicability of equilibrium models in geochemical programs and their associated thermodynamic databases in such hyperalkaline conditions. This was achieved by comparison of elemental solubilities and speciations predicted by the programs with observations in the natural system. Five organisations took part in the study: AEA Technology, U.K.; Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; MBT Tecnología Ambiental, Spain; Nagra, Switzerland; and SKB, Sweden. The modelling study was coordinated by the University of Berne.The results of the study showed good agreement between the predictions of the programs employed. Comparison of the observed solids with those predicted by the models has allowed limited validation of the databases. The results for U and Se are presented here.     

Toxicological evaluation of sulfur-containing metabolites of 2,5,2′,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl in rats

Sulfur-containing metabolites of 2,5,2′,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB), 4-methylthio-TCB (MT-TCB), 4-methylsulfoxyl TCB (MSX-TCB) and 4-methylsulfonyl TCB (MS-TCB) were examined for their acute toxicities, hepatic enzyme inducing activities, accumulation in the liver and lung, and excretion to the feces in rats. TCB and MT-TCB suppressed body weight and recovery of body weight gain was delayed in the MT-TCB-treated rats. MT-TCB and MS-TCB caused an increase in total liver lipid and only MT-TCB brought about an atrophy of the thymus. Treatment with MT-TCB increased cytochrome P-450 content and benzphetamine N-demethylase activity. The same enzymes were also induced by treatment with MSX-TCB. Although TCB administered was excreted mostly as hydroxylated TCB, a part was excreted as unchanged and a very small portion as the sulfur-containing metabolites. MT-TCB, MSX-TCB and MS-TCB were excreted from the MT-TCB- and MSX-TCB-treated rats. The MS-TCB-treated rats excreted only MS-TCB. The same compounds as found in the feces were identified in the liver and lung of the rats treated with those compounds except in the liver of TCB-treated rats. These results indicate that sulfur-containing metabolites, especially MT-TCB, were more important than their parent compound, TCB, from a toxicological point of view.     

生物接触氧化结合气浮法处理卷烟综合废水

某卷烟厂采用生物接触氧化结合气浮法处理卷烟综合废水,经过3年的运行实践表明,工艺运行稳定可靠,在进水COD为300～1 500 mg/L、SS为100～600 mg/L、BOD5为100～900 mg/L、NH3-N为10～20 mg/L、水温为20～30 ℃时,出水COD《70 mg/L、BOD5《20 mg/L、SS《30 mg/L、NH3-N《3 mg/L,完全实现达标排放.     

HCHs and DDTs in sediment-dwelling animals from the Yangtze Estuary, China

HCHs and DDTs in sediment-dwelling animals including mollusks and crabs from the Yangtze Estuary were determined by GC-ECD. Levels of t-HCH were in the range of 1.2-5.5 ng g(-1) and averaged 3.5 ng g(-1) in mollusks, while t-DDT concentrations ranged from 26.0 to 68.8 ng g(-1), with a mean of 34.5 ng g(-1). In crabs t-HCH concentrations varied from 2.0 to 25.7 ng g(-1) and averaged 13.8 ng g(-1), whereas the concentrations of t-DDT were in the range of 1.5-24.8 ng g(-1) with a mean value of 5.9 ng g(-1). The HCHs and DDTs levels depend on geographical position and sources, showing the high levels at fresh water area in the estuary, such as XP, CM and LHK sites, and lower at brackish water area, such as FX site, and little difference between species. Results also indicate there was no significant relationship between t-HCH (t-DDT) concentrations and lipid contents both in mollusks and crabs because of non-equilibrium state under a specific estuarine dynamics; smaller individuals accumulated more HCHs and DDTs than larger individuals of mollusks at LHK site, showing different uptake rate for these pesticides; moreover, HCHs and DDTs levels were lower in female crab bodies than male crab bodies suggesting that the release of spawning. BSAFs (Biota- Sediment Accumulation Factors) from sediment-dwelling animals for HCHs and DDTs show a significant "one high with two low" and "one low with two high" effect in the Yangtze Estuary.     

Factors influencing arsenic accumulation by Pteris vittata: a comparative field study at two sites

This study compared the factors influencing arsenic (As) accumulation by Pteris vittata at two sites, one containing As along with Au mineralization and the other containing Hg/Tl mineralization. The soils above these two sites contained high As concentrations (26.8-2955 mg kg(-1)). Although the As concentration, pH, soil cation exchange capacity and plant biomass differed significantly between the two sites, no differences were observed in the As concentrations in the fronds and roots, or the translocation factors, of P. vittata, suggesting that this species has consistent As hyperaccumulation properties in the field. The As concentration in the fronds was positively related to phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), but negatively related to calcium (Ca), at one site. This suggested that P, K and Ca influenced As accumulation by P. vittata in the field.     

Changes of copper speciation in maize rhizosphere soil

Chemical forms of copper in the rhizosphere and bulk soil of maize were investigated using rhizobox cultivation and sequential extraction techniques. The copper accumulations were also determined. The results demonstrated that there were continuous changes in copper fractionation within the maize rhizosphere. Initially, the amount of exchangeable copper increased before dropping below the initial level after 40 days or so. Carbonate associated copper followed a similar trend of change, but with a slower pace than the exchangeable copper. The increase in carbonate associated copper only become evident after 30 days, with the net loss occurring after 60 days. There were also initial increases in oxide bound copper as well as decreases in the organic matter associated copper, both followed by a turnover after 40-50 days. The accumulation of copper in the maize plant was found to be biomass dependent. The amount of accumulated copper absorbed in the plant material exceeded the initial quantity of the exchangeable copper in the soil, revealing a transformation from less bioavailable to more bioavailable fractions. During cultivation, decreases in redox potential and increases in pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial activity in the maize rhizosphere were observed. The change in copper speciation may result from root-induced changes in DOC, redox potential, and microbial activity in the rhizosphere.     

Trace metal behaviour in the Conwy estuary,North Wales

The distribution of trace metals Zn, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr between suspended particulate matter (SPM) and water in the Conwy estuary, North Wales, has been studied in three surveys in 1998. Dissolved Cu and Mn showed some monthly variations. Most of the dissolved trace metals displayed a negative association with salinity, indicating rivers as a major source of inputs for them. Particulate Zn, Mn and Fe showed a decreasing concentration seaward, whilst the levels of Ni, Cu, Cr and Pb increased with salinity. SPM concentration was the most important variable significantly related to trace metal concentrations in SPM, with an inverse relationship between the two parameters. This was explained by the relative enrichment of trace metals in fine particles at low SPM concentrations and relative depletion of trace metals in coarse particles at high SPM concentrations. Particulate Zn, Mn and Pb were dominated by the fraction available to acetic acid (non-detrital), whilst particulate Ni, Fe and Cr were dominated by the fraction available to nitric acid (detrital). The partition coefficient of trace metals between SPM and water declined with increasing SPM concentration, consistent with the so-called "particle concentration effect". Such a phenomenon may be explained by the presence of fine particles (including colloids) enriched with trace metals at low SPM concentrations, and the salinity-induced desorption.     

Multivariate statistical study of heavy metal enrichment in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary

The concentrations and chemical partitioning of heavy metals in the sediment cores of the Pearl River Estuary were studied. Based on Pearson correlation coefficients and principal component analysis results, Al was selected as the concentration normalizer for Pb, while Fe was used as the normalizing element for Co, Cu, Ni and Zn. In each profile, sections with metal concentrations exceeding the upper 95% prediction interval of the linear regression model were regarded as metal enrichment layers. The heavy metal accumulation mainly occurred at sites in the western shallow water areas and east channel, which reflected the hydraulic conditions and influence from riparian anthropogenic activities. Heavy metals in the enrichment sections were evaluated by a sequential extraction method for possible chemical forms in sediments. Since the residual, Fe/Mn oxides and organic/sulfide fractions were dominant geochemical phases in the enriched sections, the bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments was generally low. The 206Pb/207Pb ratios in the metal-enriched sediment sections also revealed the influence of anthropogenic sources. The spatial distribution of cumulative heavy metals in the sediments suggested that the Zn and Cu mainly originated from point sources, while the Pb probably came from non-point sources in the estuary.