Mercury in fish tissues in the area of Malachov Hg-ore deposit (Slovakia)

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The abandoned Malachov deposit belongs among the most important historic Hg deposits in the world. The soil, groundwater, surface water, plants, and animals...     

An integrated method for the rapid dewatering and solidification/stabilization of dredged contaminated sediment with a high water content

• An integrated method, called PHDVPSS, was proposed for treating DCS. • The PHDVPSS method showed superior performance compared to conventional method. • Using the method, water content (%) of DCS decreased from 300 to<150 in 3 days. • The 56-day UCS from this method is 12‒17 times higher than conventional method. • Relative to PC, GGBS-MgO binder yielded greater reduction in the leachability. To more efficiently treat the dredged contaminated sediment (DCS) with a high water content, this study proposes an integrated method (called PHDVPSS) that uses the solidifying/stabilizing (S/S) agents and prefabricated horizontal drain (PHD) assisted by vacuum pressure (VP). Using this method, dewatering and solidification/stabilization can be carried out simultaneously such that the treatment time can be significantly shortened and the treatment efficacy can be significantly improved. A series of model tests was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Experimental results indicated that the proposed PHDVPSS method showed superior performance compared to the conventional S/S method that uses Portland cement (PC) directly without prior dewatering. The 56-day unconfined compressive strength of DCS treated by the proposed method with GGBS-MgO as the binder is 12‒17 times higher than that by the conventional S/S method. DCS treated by the PHDVPSS method exhibited continuous decrease in leaching concentration of Zn with increasing curing age. The reduction of Zn leachability is more obvious when using GGBS-MgO as the binder than when using PC, because GGBS-MgO increased the residual fraction and decreased the acid soluble fraction of Zn. The microstructure analysis reveals the formation of hydrotalcite in GGBS-MgO binder, which resulted in higher mechanical strength and higher Zn stabilization efficiency.     

Aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the bottom sediments from Klaipėda Harbour,Lithuania (Baltic Sea)

A total of 22 bottom surface sediment samples were collected from Klaip?da Harbour, Lithuania (Baltic Sea). Sediment parameters, such as grain size and concentrations of total organic carbon, aliphatic hydrocarbons (ALHs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were determined. Hydrocarbon contamination levels in the sediments were estimated based on classifications provided in the literature, and potential biological effects were assessed based on the effects range low–effects range median values of the Sediment Quality Guidelines and on the total toxic benzo(a)pyrene equivalent. The results demonstrated that concentrations of PAHs and total aliphatic hydrocarbons in the sediments varied between 1.6 and 5456?ng?g^?1 d.w. and 6.9 and 727?μg?g^?1 d.w., respectively. In most cases, the concentrations of ALHs and PAHs in the sediments indicated low to moderate levels of pollution and were not observed to have any significant adverse effects on living biota. To determine possible sources of hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon compositions were analysed, and ALHs’ and PAHs’ specific diagnostic ratios were calculated. According to the results, the Klaip?da Harbour bottom sediments were dominated by PAHs of pyrogenic origin, whereas the origin of ALHs was mixed, that is, anthropogenic with a biogenic (aquatic and terrestrial) input.     

类二噁英物质及芳香烃受体(AhR)介导的有害结局路径(AOP)研究进展

二噁英及类二噁英物质(dioxin-like compounds,DLCs)是一类高毒性化合物的统称,对其毒理学的研究一直都是备受关注的焦点。已有证据表明,高毒二噁英及DLCs主要通过激活芳香烃受体(aryl hydrocarbon receptor,AhR),进而导致一系列生物毒性。近年来越来越多的新型有机污染物被发现具有类二噁英分子结构并存在潜在生物毒性或活性。与此同时,如何评估二噁英及DLCs对本土生态生物的危害及其风险也受到更多关注。本文综述了近几年发现的新型二噁英物质、二噁英及DLCs的AhR致毒机制、相应的有害结局路径(adverse outcome pathway,AOP)及AOP在指导探索新型物质及物种敏感性方面上的新观点和发现,同时也展望了二噁英及DLCs在生态毒理及风险评估领域的未来研究方向。     

成都市冬季大气颗粒物组成特征及来源变化趋势

年冬季分别在成都市8个环境受体采样点采集PM₁₀、PM_2.5样品,同时采集颗粒物源类样品,分析上述样品质量浓度及多种无机元素、水溶性离子和碳组分的含量,以对这3 a冬季大气颗粒物浓度、特征组分、来源及变化趋势进行分析. 使用CMB-iteration模型对成都市中心城区的PM₁₀、PM_2.5进行来源解析. 结果表明: 成都市冬季ρ(PM₁₀)在工业区最高,PM_2.5污染呈现区域性特征;冬季PM₁₀的主要来源有扬尘、二次硫酸盐、煤烟尘、二次硝酸盐和机动车尾气尘,上述5类源在2010─2012年的分担率分别为24%～29%、17%～22%、13%～16%、6%～12%、6%～11%;对PM_2.5有重要贡献的源类有二次硫酸盐、扬尘、煤烟尘、二次硝酸盐和机动车尾气尘,这5类源在2010─2012年的分担率范围分别为25%～27%、19%～22%、12%～15%、11%～13%、8%～11%. 二次粒子、扬尘等是成都市大气颗粒物的主要污染源,其中扬尘、建筑水泥尘等以粗粒子为主的源类浓度贡献呈逐年下降趋势,而二次粒子等以细粒子为主的源类浓度贡献则逐年上升,成都市冬季大气细颗粒物污染加重.      

The repeatability of avian egg ejection behaviors across different temporal scales,breeding stages,female ages and experiences

An evolutionarily fundamental, yet rarely examined, aspect of host–parasite arms races is the repeatability of individual host responses to parasitism. We examined the repeatability of egg ejection, and the latency to eject, across a time-scale of days (within one breeding attempt), weeks and months (between breeding attempts within one breeding season), and years (across different breeding seasons). The ejection of non-mimetic model eggs by European blackbirds, Turdus merula, showed overall high repeatability (r?~?0.70) and, similar to empirical patterns on most other behavioral traits already studied, showed decreasing repeatability with time. In contrast, latency to ejection showed negligible repeatability overall (r ~0.20) and did not change with time. Ejection rates, latencies to ejection and the repeatability of egg ejection did not differ between young and old females. Previous experience with experimentation (number of model eggs the female received before the focal trial) marginally non-significantly covaried with egg ejection (positively) and with latency to egg ejection (negatively). Repeatability estimates for both egg ejection and latency to egg ejection at the within one breeding attempt time-scale did not statistically differ from those reported in a previous study of a different blackbird population (introduced population in New Zealand). To our knowledge, this is the first comparison of behavioral repeatability between a native vs. introduced population of any animal species.     

致癌性卤代醌介导的脂质氢过氧化物分解的分子机制

卤代醌是许多卤芳香持久有机污染物的致癌代谢产物和饮用水消毒副产物.13-过氧羟基-9,11-十八碳二烯酸(13-HPODE)是最为广泛研究的内源性脂质过氧化物.众所周知,过渡金属离子可以催化分解13-HPODE,但尚不清楚卤代醌是否可以通过不依赖金属离子的途径促进其分解;若是如此,又有什么特异性和相似性?我们发现卤化醌如2,5-二氯-1,4-苯醌(DCBQ)可显著促进13-HPODE的分解.综合采用电子自旋共振-自旋捕获、HPLC-MS和GC-MS等分析方法,可检测到反应形成的脂质烷基自由基如戊烷基自由基、7-羧甲基自由基以及具有基因毒性的4-羟基-2-壬烯醛(HNE)等.在DCBQ和13-HPODE的反应中也能检测到两种氯醌-脂质烷氧基耦合物.我们认为卤代醌促进内源性脂质过氧化物13-HPODE分解生成活性脂质烷基自由基和基因毒性的HNE是通过一类新型的金属非依赖亲核取代与裂解机理来实现的,这也在一定程度上解释了其潜在的基因毒性和致癌性.     

利用蚀刻废液生产碱式氯化铜过程中二英类污染物的去除

针对蚀刻废液及其回收后生产的碱式氯化铜产品中二英(PCDD/Fs)和二英类多氯联苯(dl-PCBs)进行了分析研究,并比较了采用去除工艺前后两类污染物含量水平的变化特征.利用高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱对样品中PCDD/Fs和dl-PCBs进行分析,结果表明,氯化铜废液中PCDD/Fs和dl-PCBs的平均总浓度分别为264、139 pg·mL-1,而铜氨液中浓度分别为0.09、0.50 pg·mL-1;碱式氯化铜产品中浓度分别为106 pg·g-1(2.79 pg WHO-TEQ2005·g-1)和27.8 pg·g-1(0.69 pg WHO-TEQ2005·g-1);而经过吸附和过滤等去除工艺后,产品中PCDD/Fs和dl-PCBs的TEQ浓度水平分别降低至0.10—0.25 pg WHO-TEQ2005·g-1和0.05—0.72 pg WHO-TEQ2005·g-1,满足欧盟对于矿物源性饲料添加剂中PCDD/Fs和dl-PCBs的限量标准要求.研究表明该工艺能够有效去除利用蚀刻废液生产碱式氯化铜过程中的二英类污染物.     

Dust from Zambian smelters: mineralogy and contaminant bioaccessibility

Metal smelting is often responsible for local contamination of environmental compartments. Dust materials escaping from the smelting facilities not only settle in the soil, but can also have direct effects on populations living close to these operations (by ingestion or inhalation). In this particular study, we investigate dusts from Cu–Co metal smelters in the Zambian Copperbelt, using a combination of mineralogical techniques (XRD, SEM/EDS, and TEM/EDS), in order to understand the solid speciation of the contaminants, as well as their bioaccessibility using in vitro tests in simulated gastric and lung fluids to assess the exposure risk for humans. The leaching of metals was mainly dependent on the contaminant mineralogy. Based on our results, a potential risk can be recognized, particularly from ingestion of the dust, with bioaccessible fractions ranging from 21 to 89 % of the total contaminant concentrations. In contrast, relatively low bioaccessible fractions were observed for simulated lung fluid extracts, with values ranging from 0.01 % (Pb) up to 16.5 % (Co) of total contaminant concentrations. Daily intakes via oral exposure, calculated for an adult (70 kg, ingestion rate 50 mg dust per day), slightly exceeded the tolerable daily intake limits for Co (1.66× for fly ash and 1.19× for slag dust) and occasionally also for Pb (1.49×, fly ash) and As (1.64×, electrostatic precipitator dust). Cobalt has been suggested as the most important pollutant, and the direct pathways of the population’s exposures to dust particles in the industrial parts of the Zambian Copperbelt should be further studied in interdisciplinary investigations.     

Metal contamination recorded in the sediment of the semi-closed Bakar Bay (Croatia)

This study presents metal levels in the sediments of the Bakar Bay, with its main goal to evaluate recent anthropogenic influence, as well as over previous decades. Sediment profiles at 7 sampling points were taken. Chemical contents in bulk sediment were obtained using ICP, ICP-MS, and AAS methodologies, and 20 most significant elements were presented. Concentrations of selected elements were evaluated by factor statistical analyses to identify their source. Also, metal enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index were calculated, and spatial distribution maps for three sediment layers were constructed. Measured metal concentrations in sediment were compared with concentrations in other sediments from the Adriatic Sea. In addition, a set of sediment quality guidelines were also applied in order to predict the probability of adverse biological effects on the benthic community: This was found not to be very serious. Factor analysis clearly demonstrates the segregation between metals of natural origin resulted from soil and bedrock weathering (Li, Al, Cr, Sc), and with two anthropogenic sources originating from the city of Bakar and bulk cargo terminal (Hg, Pb, Zn, Ag, Sn, and Fe). Mercury (max 0.65 μg g^?1) is found to be the heaviest contaminant, followed by lead (max 71.5 μg g^?1), copper (89.3 μg g^?1), and zinc (156 μg g^?1). However, this study shows that Bakar Bay is considerably less polluted with toxic metals than it was believed.