Toxicity of octameric elemental sulphur in aquatic sediments

The proportions of elemental sulphur species in sediment from a contaminated area and a reference sediment sample were compared with the acute toxicity measured in short-term toxicity tests. Octameric elemental sulphur was separated into three operationally defined fractions. Here we show that octameric elemental sulphur contributes to the acute toxicity measured by bioluminescence inhibition. Our findings show that only a small part of extractable elemental sulphur was effective during exposure to the test organisms. A firmly bound fraction of sulphur was found in a contaminated sediment. This information has to be taken into account while interpreting the acute sediment toxicity.     

Chromium speciation in river sediment pore water contaminated by tannery effluent

Cr(VI) is far more soluble and toxic than Cr(III). Sediment pore water was investigated in a river adjacent to the property of a large former tannery, into which Cr-contaminated effluent was discharged over a 55-year period, and where extremely high Cr concentrations have been found in the sediments. Dialysis cells, or peepers, were used to generate depth profiles of Cr concentration in sediment pore water. Samples were analyzed for total Cr using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and for Cr species using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-ICP-MS. The results show an absence of Cr(VI) in all samples. Furthermore, incomplete recovery of Cr(VI) added to the samples collected at the locations with highest sediment Cr concentrations indicate strong reducing conditions at those locations, which are not conducive to the presence of Cr(VI).     

Preliminary Evidence for Pollen as an Indicator of Recent Floodplain Accumulation Rates and Vegetation Changes: The Barmah-Millewa Forest, SE Australia

Eucalyptus forest; and in the composition of understorey herbs, sedges, and grasslands. Pollen concentration and charcoal and organic content also exhibit post-European changes. Thus, pollen analysis provides a technique for determining changes in sediment budgets and identifying major vegetation changes in floodplains.     

时间序列沉积物捕获器（sediment trap）及其在青海湖的放置

沉积物捕获器在认识现代沉积过程方面具有独特的优势,已在海洋和国外一些大湖的研究中得到了成功的应用,但相关的工作在我国湖泊研究中尚未开展。Mark 8-13型时间序列沉积物捕获器是用来连续收集水体沉降颗粒物的仪器,可以获得沉积物输入通量和季节性变率。本文在介绍了该类型沉积物捕获器的设计、工作原理、投放和回收等基本知识的基础上,阐明了我们选择青海湖作为放置沉积物捕获器的理由和科学意义。在本专题的五篇论文中,我们展示了在青海湖放置的沉积物捕获器于2010年7月至2012年9月期间收集的沉积物和湖水样品的研究结果和同步的实时监测数据。通过在青海湖两年多的试验性地放置以及初步的结果,我们建议在我国典型内陆不同位置的湖泊等水体长期地放置这类沉积物捕获器,将为湖泊等水体系统的现代沉积和生物过程的深入理解提供全新的视角。     

顶空气相色谱法测定漓江底泥中的三氯乙烯和四氯乙烯

采用Na Cl溶液提取,顶空气相色谱法测定底泥中的三氯乙烯和四氯乙烯,方法在0.098 ng/L~1.03 ng/L范围内线性良好,三氯乙烯和四氯乙烯的方法检出限分别为0.013 ng/g和0.016 ng/g。对空白样品做3个质量比水平的加标回收试验,7次测定结果的RSD为2.0%~3.8%,平均加标回收率为94.0%~109%。将该方法用于桂林市漓江底泥样品的测定,结果三氯乙烯和四氯乙烯均为未检出,实际样品加标回收率为92.0%~107%。     

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Water, Sediment, Fish and Some Benthic Organisms from Tigris River, Turkey

In this study concentrations of heavy metals, such as Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in water, sediment, muscle, liver and gill of fish (Silurus triostegus, Mastacembelus simack, Mystus halepensis, Orthrias euphraticus) the muscle and liver of crab (Potamon fluviatilis), the internal organs of fresh water snail (Physa acuta), and mussel (Unio elongatulus), and in whole biomass of green algae (Spirogyra sp.) examples collected seasonally from three selected sites (I, II, and III) of Tigris River and from a reference site on Resan Creek. In general, the average Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Fe values in Sites I, II, and III were found to be high in spring and summer. The concentrations of heavy metals in the Tigris River are compared with previous studies in the same sites. The results showed that Cu levels have gradually decreased during recent years. In Tigris River, among the living organisms, i.e., those which are living in benthic region and showing biomonitor characteristic, crab, snail, green algae, mussel and fish are seen to be formed in sequence. Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn values obtained from the muscle of fish and from the mass of internal organs of mussel and snail were found to be under the acceptable values suggested.     

松花江底泥沉积物中重金属释放影响因素的研究

以松花江哈尔滨段底泥沉积物为实验对象,研究松花江底泥沉积物中重金属的释放规律,使用循环槽(circulating flume)模拟松花江水力学条件,考察了重金属在上覆水和底泥中的沉积和释放。结果表明:松花江哈尔滨段底泥沉积物中重金属只有镉(Cd)超标,其它检测出重金属没有超标;随着温度升高,沉积物重金属溶出释放量也随之增加;重金属在酸性条件下的释放量明显高于碱性条件下的释放量;水体盐度升高,沉积物重金属的溶出释放也随之升高;水体扰动达到160 r/min时,重金属的释放达到最高值。     

High Cu and Cd pollution in sediments from Sisimiut, Greenland. Adsorption to organic matter and fine particles

High concentrations of Cu of up to 200 mg/kg, and Cd of up to 4.0 mg/kg, were found in sediments from the aquatic environment around Sisimiut, Greenland. These concentrations are four times higher than the limiting concentration where toxicological effects are expected. The pollution could be linked to human activities in Sisimiut, a link that have not been investigated previously in Greenland. Except from the most polluted samples there was good correlation between heavy metal concentration and organic matter. Also some relationship between fine fraction and heavy metal concentration was observed.     

The influence of mariculture on mercury distribution in sediments and fish around Hong Kong and adjacent mainland China waters

To study the influence of mariculture on mercury (Hg) speciation and distribution in sediments and cultured fish around Hong Kong and adjacent mainland China waters, sediment samples were collected from six mariculture sites and the corresponding reference sites, 200-300 m away from the mariculture sites. Mariculture activities increased total mercury, organic matter, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur concentrations in the surface sediments underneath mariculture sites, possibly due to the accumulation of unconsumed fish feed and fish excretion. However, methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations and the ratio of MeHg to THg (% MeHg) in sediments underneath mariculture sites were lower than the corresponding reference sites. The % MeHg in sediments was negatively correlated (r = −0.579, p < 0.05) with organic matter (OM) content among all sites, indicating that OM may have inhibited Hg methylation in surface sediments. Three mariculture fish species were collected from each mariculture site, including red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) and snubnose pompano (Trachinotus blochii). The average MeHg concentration in fish muscle was 75 μg kg⁻¹ (wet weight), and the dietary intake of MeHg through fish consumption for Hong Kong residents was 0.37 μg kg⁻¹ week⁻¹, which was lower than the corresponding WHO limits (500 μg kg⁻¹ and 1.6 μg kg⁻¹ week⁻¹).