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.     

Sequence of the main geochemical controls on the Cu and Zn fractions in the Yangtze River estuarine sediments

Metal speciation can provide sufficient information for environmental and geochemical researches. In this study, based on the speciation determination of Cu and Zn in the Yangtze Estuary sediments, roles of eight geochemical controls (i.e., total organic carbon (TOC), clay, Fe/Mn in five chemical fractions and salinity) are fully investigated and sequenced with correlation analysis (CA) and principal components analysis (PCA). Results show that TOC, clay and Fe/Mn oxides are key geochemical factors affecting the chemical speciation distributions of Cu and Zn in sediments, while the role of salinity appears to be more indirect effect. The influencing sequence generally follows the order: TOC>clay>Mn oxides>Fe oxides>salinity. Among the different fractions of Fe/Mn oxides, residual and total Fe content, and exchangeable and carbonate Mn exert the greatest influences, while exchangeable Fe and residual Mn show the poorest influences.     

沸石覆盖原位控制湖泊内源中等活性有机磷迁移转化

为揭示湖泊内源中等活性有机磷(MLOP)控制与释放发生机制,采用室内模拟试验,研究沸石覆盖原位控制湖泊内源MLOP迁移转化影响因子.结果表明:酸性水体促进内源MLOP迁移,碱性条件下抑制其转化,不同pH值试验水体沉积物中内源MLOP相对浓度为:[MLOP/TP]pH8>[MLOP/TP]pH7>[MLOP/TP]pH6;温度明显提高内源MLOP迁移水平,低温水体相对高温水体沉积物中内源MLOP含量较低,5℃条件下内源MLOP迁移表观量最大,其随时间迁移量呈幂函数关系,可表示为[MLOP/TP]=0.2823T0.657(R2为0.9709);好氧或厌氧条件下,内源MLOP均发生迁移,且迁移特征和影响效能高度一致,迁移平衡后好氧环境内源MLOP和厌氧内源MLOP相对浓度呈线性相关,可表示为[MLOP/TP]好氧环境=1.0884[MLOP/TP]厌氧环境 -0.0271(R2为99895);光照因子促使内源MLOP迁移,而避光和沸石粒径因素对内源MLOP迁移影响较小;底栖生物颤蚓通过爬行、摄食、掘穴、栖所建造及分泌排泄等一系列活动影响内源MLOP迁移.沸石原位控制湖泊内源MLOP迁移转化效能较弱.     

蠡湖表层沉积物中磷的形态与赋存特征及其生物有效性

采用连续分级提取法研究了蠡湖表层沉积物中有机磷和无机磷的形态及其赋存特征,同时结合间隙水体中DTP(溶解性总磷)的空间分布特征,讨论了各形态磷的生物有效性及其释放风险. 结果表明,蠡湖沉积物中的磷以IP(无机磷)为主,w(IP)占w(TP)的58.09%. IP中以生物可利用性差的Ca-P_i(Ca结合态无机磷)占优势,w(Ca-P_i)为(207.75±48.56)mg/kg,占w(IP)的48.97%;沉积物OP(有机磷)中以活性最差的NA-P_o(非活性有机磷)占绝对优势,w(NA-P_o)为(195.33±50.73)mg/kg,占w(OP)的67.09%. 间隙水中的磷以DIP(溶解性无机磷)为主,ρ(DIP)占ρ(DTP)的11.86%~86.13%,平均值为59.65%. WA-P_i(弱吸附态无机磷)、PA-P_i(潜在活性无机磷)、Fe/Al-P_i(Fe/Al结合态无机磷)、WA-P_o(弱吸附态有机磷)、PA-P_o(潜在活性有机磷)的质量分数均与间隙水中ρ(DTP)呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),w(Ca-P_i)与间隙水中ρ(DTP)呈正相关(P<0.05),w(NA-P_o)与间隙水中ρ(DTP)无显著的相关性. 因此,即使在外源磷得到有效控制的情况下,沉积物中的IP及高活性有机磷的释放仍有可能导致湖泊富营养化状态维持不变.      

Determination of polychlorinated biphenyl and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon marine regional Sediment Quality Guidelines within the European Water Framework Directive

Marine regional Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQG) for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from the Basque coast (SE Bay of Biscay) were determined, on the basis of sediment chemistry, toxicity and benthic community disturbance from analysis of 756 estuarine and coastal samples. The SQG were calculated using a percentile approach (based upon effect and non-effect data), using non-normalised and normalised concentration, by total organic carbon. However, normalisation by total organic carbon did not result in any improvement in accuracy compared with non-normalised values. Hence, this study proposes non-normalised SQG values for assessment of the chemical and physicochemical status in marine waters in the Basque Country, within the Water Framework Directive: 24.6–29 μg kg^?1 for total PCBs; 164–285 μg kg^?1 for low molecular weight PAH; 922–1537 μg kg^?1 for high molecular weight PAH; and 1607–2617 μg kg^?1 for total PAH.     

Corrosion behavior of steels for CO2 injection

The process chain for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) includes tubing for injection of CO₂ into saline aquifers. The compressed CO₂ is likely to contain specific impurities; small concentrations of SO₂ and NO₂ in combination with oxygen and humidity are most harmful. In addition, CO₂ saturated brine is supposed to rise in the well when the injection process is interrupted. The material selection has to ensure that neither CO₂ nor brine or a combination of both will leak out of the inner tubing. In this comprehensive paper the investigated materials range from low-alloy steels and 13% Cr steels up to high-alloy materials. Electrochemical tests as well as long term exposure tests were performed in CO₂, in brine and combination of both; pressure was up to 100 bar, temperature up to 60 °C. Whereas the CO₂ stream itself can be handled using low alloy steels, combinations of CO₂ and brine require more resistant materials to control the strong tendency to pitting corrosion. The corrosion behavior of heat-treated steels depends on factors such as microstructure and carbon content. For different sections of the injection tube, appropriate materials should be used to guarantee safety and consider cost effectiveness.     

微生物对沉积物主要化学组分吸附重金属能力的影响

通过松花江水中微生物与铁、锰氧化物和腐殖酸形成的复合物质的比表面积及吸附Pb、Cd能力的分析,探讨微生物对沉积物中主要化学组分理化性质的影响及机理.结果表明:锰氧化物的比表面积大于铁氧化物和腐殖酸,与微生物结合后比表面积均不同程度增加. 固体物质的比表面积与吸附Pb和Cd的能力并不完全一致,与它们对重金属的吸附机制不同有关.复合物质的的吸附能力并不符合加和模型,微生物的存在掩盖了铁、锰氧化物和腐殖酸表面部分官能团,造成了复合物质的吸附量小于各组分的吸附量之和.     

Speciation of heavy metals in Albanian coastal sediments

This article presents results on heavy metal (Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn) speciation in the coastal sediments of Albania. Sediment samples were collected within the framework of the activities of the Interreg Italia–Albania Project, carried out in the Southern Adriatic Sea in 2000–01. This study shows that Albanian coastal sediments are highly influenced by river input, as the decreasing concentrations from coast to offshore confirm. Pb represents an exception of the general trend; meteoric inputs are prevalent for this metal. Ni, Cr, Fe, Zn and Cu correlate significantly and positively in the entire area, indicating a common origin for these metals in the analyzed sediments. All metals result mostly associated to the most refractory phases, which constitute up to 80% of the total concentration. Nevertheless a recent input of Cr, Ni, Cu and Mn can be observed, as the result of mining and industrial activities, in some selected areas, such as the Drin Bay and Durres. Their high concentration in the bioavailable phase can determine toxic effect upon biota.     

Role of GSH in the amelioration of chromium-induced membrane damage

Membrane damage is one of the important consequences of chromium (Cr), an environmental toxicant, induced cytotoxicity. Reduced glutathione (GSH), a membrane protectant may be used to reduce the Cr-induced membrane damage. In the present study, the impact of Cr in presence and absence of GSH was studied on plasma membrane of the liver and kidneys in male Wistar rats. Significant increases in membrane cholesterol levels as well as significant decreases in membrane phospholipid levels in Cr exposed (0.8 mg per 100 g body weight, i.p., for 28 days) animals suggest structural alterations in both the liver and kidney plasma membranes. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total ATPase, and Na⁺–K⁺–ATPase activities of plasma membrane were significantly decreased in both the liver and kidneys after Cr treatment. This treatment also produced significant weight loss and increased Cr content in the liver and kidneys. However, GSH (8 mg per 100g body weight, i.p., daily at an interval of 6 h after injection of Cr for a period of 28 days) supplementation restored alterations induced by Cr in plasma membrane of both the liver and kidneys but was not able to eliminate the deposited Cr from the liver and kidney tissues.     

The status of heavy metal levels in a Ramsar site,Kuala Gula bird sanctuary: the impact of the anthropogenic inputs

Distributions of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the surface sediments from two sites of the Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary, Malaysia were monitored for a period of 6 months from October 2006 to March 2007. In December 2006, the concentration of Zn in one location was significantly (p??1) than the other metals at both sites, but in the oxidizable organic fraction it was highest at both sites during October; with mean concentrations of 18?mg?kg^?1 at both locations. In the acid-reducible fraction, high concentrations of Pb (2.3?mg?kg^?1) were detected at station 2 in February 2007, being highest among all four metals at both stations. The acid-reducible fraction found in Pb ranged from 0.10% to 3.1% in both stations. Percentages ranging from 51% to 96% were observed for all four metals in the resistant fraction throughout the sampling period. These results indicate low contributions from anthropogenic sources. The findings constitute a baseline data archive for future reference.