The influence of solid matrices on arsenic toxicity to Corophium orientale

In marine ecosystems, benthic organisms are really important because they are the first step in the transfer of contaminants from environment to biota. To this end, this study focused on biological assays with the amphipod Corophium orientale exposed to two different molecules of arsenic: arsenate (As^V), the most abundant form in sediments, and dimethyl-arsinate (DMA), expected to be moderately toxic as an intermediate in the process of detoxification. The toxicity of arsenic compounds was measured after exposure to three different matrices: water, spiked natural sediment and inert spiked quartz sand. LC₅₀ values were calculated for each exposure, and the results confirmed the highest toxicity of As^V, in addition to underlining the importance of matrix of exposure. Water exposure was the matrix which presented the highest toxicity for inorganic arsenic (As^V LC₅₀=3.51 mg L^?1 vs DMA LC₅₀=54.65 mg L^?1), spiked natural sediment demonstrated its capability to chelate arsenate toxicity (As^V LC₅₀=34.27 mg kg^?1 vs. DMA LC₅₀=52.19 mg kg^?1) and spiked quartz sand presented intermediate values for As^V (LC₅₀=25.26 mg kg^?1), whereas for DMA a lower toxicity was registered (LC₅₀=872.35 mg kg^?1). This study can provide some useful data linked with chemical speciation of arsenic and exposure matrix, for improving the correct management of contaminated sediment.     

Effects of river sediment addition to the beach microbial communities

During the processes of claiming land from the sea, river sediments are used to fill and transform the sea area along the margin of islands and lands into new lands. These activities would probably affect microbial ecosystems of the beach sediment. However, little is known about these effects. In this study, a simulation test was conducted to evaluate these effects. Pyrosequencing technique was employed to assess the effects of river sediment addition to the beach bacterial communities. The used river sediments were collected from different rivers. The results indicated that river sediment addition greatly impacted microbial ecosystems of the beach and caused a clear shift in the beach bacterial community composition. These processes remarkably increased toxic metals and decreased the bacterial diversity in the beach sediment, mainly including the phyla of Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes. River sediment addition caused an increase in potentially pathogenic bacterial genera of the beach sediment. Bacterial phylotype richness in the beach without river sediment addition was higher than that in the beach with river sediment input. There were significant differences in bacterial communities between beach sediments with and without river sediment addition, and the most dominant classes were Gammaproteobacteria and Flavobacteria.     

环境治理工程对蠡湖水体中磷空间分布的影响

为评估水环境治理工程措施对蠡湖水体营养状态的影响,2012年4月对湖体与环湖河口调查分析,研究了蠡湖磷元素空间分布特征及其影响因素.结果表明:蠡湖水体总磷浓度介于0.03~0.31mg/L之间,平均为0.06mg/L,呈由西向东逐渐递增的趋势,且环湖河口磷含量明显高于湖体;沉积物中总磷空间分布趋势类似于水体,湖体总磷含量在321.77~1062.08mg/kg之间,平均为593.75mg/kg,而环湖河口总磷含量在523.38~1396.39mg/kg之间,平均为784.51mg/kg;结合历年监测数据可以看出,一系列水环境治理工程使得蠡湖水质有了大幅度的改善,水体中总磷的年均值由治理前0.18mg/L下降到0.06mg/L,但仍没有完全从根本上解决水体的富营养化问题.主要原因是沉积物中总磷对水体影响较大,相关性分析表明磷的扩散通量与沉积物总磷和可交换态磷成显著正相关.     

洱海沉积物中不同形态磷的时空分布特征

为揭示洱海沉积物磷形态变化的影响因素及其内源磷负荷状况,研究了洱海沉积物中不同形态磷的空间分布和季节性变化特征. 结果表明,洱海表层沉积物中w(TP)为418.71～1108.34mg/kg,空间分布总体呈中部湖区＞南部湖区＞北部湖区;w(IP)为302.35～871.00mg/kg,分布趋势与w(TP)相同;w(Fe/Al-P)为36.22～406.40mg/kg,与w(IP)分布趋势相同;w(Ca-P)为172.34～420.38mg/kg,北部最高;Fe/Al-P和Ca-P是IP的主要形态. 夏季(7月)w(TP)、w(IP)和w(Fe/Al-P)升高,w(labile-P)(labile-P为弱吸附态磷)和w(Fe/Al-P)季节性差异显著. 沉积物柱状样w(TP)、w(OP)、w(labile-P)和w(RSP)(RSP为可还原态磷)随着沉积物深度的增加呈下降趋势,表层富集明显;w(IP)、w(Fe/Al-P)和w(Ca-P)随深度的增加呈上升趋势. 洱海沉积物磷时空分布主要受外源磷输入影响,随水深增加沉积物中w(TP)呈升高趋势,不同形态磷分布受水生生物活动影响较大. 与长江中下游湖泊相比,洱海沉积物中w(TP)高,其中w(IP)及其所占w(TP)的比例较小,磷内源可释放量较低,Fe/Al-P和RSP等生物可利用磷的质量分数及其占w(TP)的比例较大,释放风险较高.      

Horizontal Distribution of Some Artificial Radionuclides in Sediments Collected Off the Rhone Mouth (Gulf of Lions-Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

The Rhône delta is a typical microtidal estuary. River runoff spreads out into the Gulf of Lions as a surface plume influenced by the prevailing N or NW wind and the Liguro-Provençal-Catalan current. in the prodelta, sediments form a filter that traps radionuclides released by the different nuclear installations on the Rhône River and which are associated with fine particles. the horizontal distribution of various artificial radionuclides shows the highest concentrations at the Rhône River mouth. There,¹³⁷Cs reaches 86.6 and 94.4 Bq·kg^?1 dry wt. and is still present 10 miles away (32.5 Bq·kg^?1 dry wt.) in the southwestward direction (influence of the general circulation). Data obtained in the sediment at Roustan station between 1980 and 1990 show that in 1990, ¹³⁷Cs levels were similar to those found previous to the Chernobyl accident.     

The Application of A Tiered Testing Approach to the Management of Dredged Sediments for Disposal at Sea in Canada

Canada, and other signatories to the London Convention 1972 on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping, are preparing to ratify a 1996 Protocol to this convention. Among the improvements to this international agreement, is a new process for the Assessment of Waste and Other Matter, which is to be adopted by signatory parties. the process includes a step in which material considered potentially acceptable for sea disposal must be characterized by chemical, physical and biological properties. Canada's interpretation and intended implementation of this characterization step is presented for the assessment of dredged sediments. This tiered testing approach involves using chemical screening limits for contaminants, and biological testing when screening levels are exceeded. Dredged material containing specified substances (e.g., cadmium, mercury, PAHs, PCBs, etc.) below or at screening levels would generally be considered of little environmental concern for disposal at sea. Wastes above the screening levels would require more detailed assessment before their suitability for disposal at sea could be determined.     

Concentrations of cadmium,manganese, copper,zinc, and lead in the tissues of the oyster (Crassostrea iredalei) obtained from Setiu Lagoon,Terengganu, Malaysia

Heavy metals pollution in aquatic environments is a major problem contributing to human health issues. The study of these pollutants through bioindicators such as the oyster Crassostrea iredalei is important for (1) determining the levels and sources and (2) regulating the quantity of pollutants. The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) in tissues of C. iredalei, sediment and surrounding water was measured, and data was analyzed to determine the relationship between sampling periods and between oyster tissue, sediment, and water. The highest concentration of metals in oyster tissue was Zn, followed by Cu, Mn, Cd, and Pb. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Zn exceeded the maximum level allowed according to the Malaysian Food Act of 1983, which is equivalent to the WHO recommended levels of heavy metals in organisms used for consumption. The highest metal concentration in sediment was Mn followed by Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cd. Concentrations of heavy metals in surrounding water were Zn, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Cd. There was no correlation between metal concentration in oyster tissue and in sediment for all five metals.     

Methodological approach for metal pollution evaluation in sediments collected from the Taranto Gulf

The concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, V, and Sn were determined in marine sediments collected from Taranto Gulf (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy). The aim of this article is to study the methodological approach in order to evaluate total metal levels determined in marine sediments of a contaminated area (Taranto Gulf, Southern Italy), to identify contaminated areas and to predict adverse biological effects based on Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQGs). The results are discussed in relation to geological characteristics of sediments in order to define background levels and anthropogenic input. Experimental results were elaborated by multivariate statistical techniques and Geographical Information System (GIS) software. The geoaccumulation index I _geo and two sets of SQGs (in particular (a) the threshold effect level (TEL), the probable effect level (PEL) and (b) the effect range-low (ERL) and the effect range median (ERM)) have been used for environmental evaluation of metal concentrations. Results show that in Taranto coastal area, Mar Piccolo basin represents the most contaminated area. A comparison with results from other Mediterranean areas demonstrates that for some metals (such as Cd, Pb, and Hg) Taranto seas represent one of the most polluted areas in the Mediterranean Sea. A comparison of metal levels with SQGs also suggests an ecotoxicological risk for benthic organisms mainly in the first inlet of Mar Piccolo.     

湖泊底泥土地利用对土壤中重金属铅、铜形态影响

采用田区试验研究了田间种植冬小麦条件下,底泥土地利用前后土壤中重金属铅、铜的形态演变及小麦各器官中铅、铜的富集。结果表明,随着底泥施用量的增加,土壤中重金属铅、铜的可交换态、碳酸盐结合态、铁锰氧化物结合态、有机结合态、残渣态均有不同程度的增加,本试验所有处理中,可交换态铅的质量分数范围为0.02~0.10 mg·kg-1,碳酸盐结合态铅的质量分数范围为0.04~0.24 mg·kg-1,铁锰氧化物结合态铅质量分数为0.41~1.88 mg·kg-1,有机物结合态铅质量分数范围为1.23~4.92 mg·kg-1,残渣态铅质量分数范围为4.82~23.66 mg·kg-1;各处理与对照相比,可交换态铜质量分数增加了40.00%~200.00%,碳酸盐结合态铜质量分数增加了36.84%~363.16%,铁锰氧化物结合态铜质量分数增加了7.17~45.15%,有机结合态铜质量分数增加了7.98%~62.61%,残渣态铜质量分数增加了0.12%~9.69%,各处理的残渣态铅、铜质量分数均较高。随着底泥用量增加,小麦根系、茎叶、籽粒中铅、铜质量分数均呈增加趋势,植株对重金属铅、铜的富集顺序为根系>茎叶>籽粒,铜的富集系数均大于铅。小麦籽粒产量、茎叶生物量及地上部生物量随着底泥施用量的增加,均出现了先增加后减少的现象,当小麦籽粒产量达到最大值时,籽粒中铅、铜质量分数未超出我国相应标准,依此确定底泥环境安全施用量为3051.29 t·hm-2。     

连云港潮滩表层沉积物中有机氯农药残留特征与风险评估

利用GC-ECD检测了连云港地区绣针河口、临洪河口、灌河口北和灌河口南等4个潮滩断面表层沉积物中DDTs和HCHs含量及组成成分.结果表明,连云港潮滩沉积物中有机氯农药的含量在2.15—24.84 ng.g-1之间,均值为9.09 ng.g-1.其中DDTs的含量在1.11—11.74 ng.g-1之间,均值为3.72 ng.g-1,HCHs的含量在0.38—20.17 ng.g-1之间,均值为5.36 ng.g-1.4个断面有机氯农药含量的顺序是临洪河口>绣针河口>灌河口北>灌河口南.连云港潮滩沉积物中HCHs主要来源于早期林丹在土壤中的残留,灌河口有新的DDT污染源输入.总有机碳是影响绣针河口和临洪河口潮滩有机氯农药分布的主要因素.以风险低值(ERL)为评价基准,沉积物中有机氯农药的最大风险商达到7.43,连云港潮滩有机氯农药存在着一定的潜在生态风险.