Marginal bleaching of thalli of Rhizocarpon as evidence for acid rain in the Norra Storfjället, Sweden

Recent lichen surveys in the foreland of The Syterb?cken glacier reveal that the crustose lichens, principally species of Rhizocarpon section Rhizocarpon, exhibit marginal bleaching, readily distinguishable from normal pigmented forms. The largest elliptical thallus of Rhizocarpon measured 290 mm maximum diameter on a bedrock outcrop beyond the margin of Little Ice Age moraines in the upper Syterb?cken Valley. Many small and large thalli of Rhizocarpon suffered damage to the periphery of individual thalli. We examine here some of the possible hypotheses explaining these occurrences. Among others, these are bedrock lithology, ice crystal blasting, long-term snowbank cover, ultraviolet exposure and acid rain. While at this time none of the possibilities can be ruled out entirely, acid rain would appear to be at least one of the factors involved. Acid rain, which is known to produce a soil pH as low as 3.3 in the field area, appears to provide a high input of H(+) ions that the lichen algal component cannot withstand. However, the lack of similar effects on associated foliose or fruticose forms raises the possibility that perhaps two or more factors specific to the environment of Rhizocarpon are operating.     

Fractionation of Cu, Pb and Zn in certified reference soils SRM 2710 and SRM 2711 using the optimized BCR sequential extraction procedure

Sequential extraction of metals from solid media is a common analytical tool used in environmental and exploration geochemistry. A number of procedures exist, but without harmonization and standardization, meaningful comparisons are tenuous without baseline data. A newly developed, standardized sequential extraction procedure (optimized BCR) was applied to two contaminated certified reference soils from Montana, US (SRM 2710 and SRM 2711) for Cu, Pb and Zn. Four operationally defined fractions were isolated, acid extractable, reducible, oxidizable, and residual (by aqua regia). Fraction-specific concentrations, percentages and recoveries for Cu, Pb and Zn were used to explore differences between the optimized BCR procedure and three other sequential extraction schemes with published data for SRM 2710 and 2711 (i.e. Tessier scheme, Geological Survey of Canada scheme and the original BCR scheme). Results indicate significant differences between the four schemes, even for schemes that are closely associated (i.e. the original and optimized BCR schemes). Order-of-magnitude fraction-specific concentration differences were observed, especially for Pb in the reducible fraction. Differences between schemes are worrisome because trends varied between metals, between fractions and between reference soils. These data reinforce the need for increased adoption of standardized sequential extraction procedures and further examination of different solid media.     

中国东南沿海大(中)型浅成中低温热液矿床—斑岩型矿床评价的地质准则、成矿模式及其找矿意义

本文总结中国东南沿海高钾钙碱性—双峰式火山岩带中已勘查大中型矿床成矿环境的共性：矿床所处区域构造的部位、成岩与成矿时代、矿床与岩浆成因类型、火山构造及其基底构造控矿性、矿床与爆发角砾岩、矿床与矿化类型叠加与共生、矿化与蚀变的分带往、矿床定位深度与剥蚀深度。作者认为这八点可作为找寻与评价大（中）型矿床的地质准则。通过火山地质与矿床地质统一的研究提出本区晚中生代以火山为中心地热体系的成矿模式。并就三个方面作类比：①与现代火山地热体系成矿作用类比；②以紫金山高硫型浅成低温热液矿床与世界同类型矿床作比较；③与环太平洋其他火山岩带同类型矿床模式作类比．通过建立本区的模式与类比获得进一步找矿中值得重视的一些思路．     

Ecoprofit-Styria-prepare Thirteen pollution prevention case studies in the Styrian industry

The paper focuses upon the organization of a federal state-funded pollution prevention project in the Styrian industry. The project includes 13 companies from the textile, pulp and paper, machine building, wood working and printed circuit board manufacturing industries, covering most of the sectors and sizes in the Styrian industry. It started in January 1994 and will last for one year. It will demonstrate the possibilities of pollution prevention and the need for further research work. This project will make use of the methods and tools that were refined in the Austrian Prepare project. As a first step, a systematic balance of all the inputs and outputs of a company is made, after which the weak points and inefficiencies of material and energy use are identified and the options for improvements, both economical and ecological, are defined. Consequently, modifications in products and production lead to a situation with less waste and emissions. The preliminary lessons from these projects are presented: as a rule, the utilities (consumption of process materials and water, cleaning, energy, preparatory and finishing steps) are treated as black boxes and usually represent a considerable optimization potential. In these areas especially there is usually a lack of information and coordination as well as a need for a systematic and comprehensive approach. Leadership in the company and creative consultants are needed for starting lasting successful pollution prevention projects.     

A biological paleoindicator for early lake acidification: Mallomonadacean (Chrysophyceae) scale abundance in sediments

The Science of Nature -     

Rapid prediction of disinfection by-product formation potential by fluorescence

Recent drinking water regulations have lowered the disinfection by-product standards as well as added new disinfection by-products for regulation. Natural organic matter (NOM) plays a major role in the formation of undesirable organic by-products following disinfection/oxidation of drinking water. It is suspected that most precursors to disinfection by-products are humic, although nonhumic substances are also suspected of contributing to these by-products. Many of the disinfection by-products have adverse health effects in humans (i.e., carcinogenic or mutagenic effects). The primary chlorinated disinfection by-products of concern include trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and haloacetonitrile. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to study humic and fulvic acids. The two fractions of humic substances, humic and fulvic acids, were characterized by a double-peak phenomena in an overlapping fluorescing region. Disinfection by-product formation potentials of humic and fulvic acids have been correlated with total organic carbon, UV absorbance at 254 nm, specific absorbance and fluorescence. River humic and fulvic acid was found to have the highest reactivity to disinfection by-product formation as compared to soil and peat humic and fulvic acid. Fluorescence spectroscopy has shown to be a rapid and predictive tool for disinfection by-products formation potential of humic and fulvic acids.