POLLUTION THREATS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA: AN OVERVIEW

This overview summarises the present knowledge on major sources of pollution, which are of concern for the Mediterranean Sea. Eutrophication, red tides, organic loads, hydrocarbon spills, heavy metal contamination and their biological effects are described on the light of the ecological characteristics of the Mediterranean. In particular special attention is paid to the "new pollution" processes; i.e. , the introduction of novel substances with biological activity that might have synergetic effects with "classical pollutants". Different compartments and marine ecosystems are considered and compared. The degree of anthropogenic impact and its apparent trends are discussed. Possible monitoring plans and remedial actions for a sustainable management of coastal zones subjected to increasing pollution are also suggested.     

Metals and organic pollutants in snow surrounding an iron factory

To estimate air pollution snow samples were collected in March 2001 at six sites in the vicinity of the Kostomuksha factory in Karelia. Seventy-two chemical elements and more than 200 individual organic compounds were identified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was found that the levels of Li, B, Al, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Hg, Mn, Mo as well as hydrocarbons, phthalates and phenols exceeded the existing maximum allowable concentrations. A list of toxicants emitted with the factory exhausts and a list of priority pollutants for Kostomuksha were compiled. The impact of the exhausts of the Kostomuksha factory on the environment in Finland is relatively small. Electronic Publication     

Monitoring of waste deposit derived groundwater contamination with organic tracers

Specific anthropogenic substances derived from seepage and leakage water from a waste deposit landfill were analysed in groundwater and drainage effluents using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Here, we demonstrate the application of an organic marker approach to study lateral and vertical distribution of contamination as well as the long-term emission behaviour. Source-specific and environmentally-stable pesticides, plasticisers and pharmaceuticals, such as N,N-diethyl toluamide, N-butyl benzene sulfonamide, clofibric acid, mecoprop and bisphenol A, were quantitatively analysed. A distinct lateral expansion was detected. Although temporal variations were high, no significant trend was observed.     

Environmental behavior of antibiotic monensin: preliminary studies in Argentina

The increase of intensive bovine production systems in Argentina involves the use of therapeutic agents and growth promoters that reach the environment through animal excreta. The growth promoter most widely used in Argentina is monensin, an ionophore polyether antibiotic produced by Streptomyces cinnamoniensis. Here, the behavior of monensin in different solid environmental matrices is analyzed, and preliminary results that suggest a strong dependence of monensin retention with the organic matter content of the matrix are discussed.     

Soil Lead at Elementary Public Schools: Comparison Between School Properties and Residential Neighbourhoods of New Orleans

Soil studies, conducted in Maryland, Minnesota and Louisiana, have described the urban pattern of lead contamination. They have shown that the highest amounts of lead cluster within the interior of the largest cities. The results of the New Orleans urban patterns of distribution of soil lead provided the basis for further study. The hypothesis was tested that elementary school properties have the same pattern of soil lead contamination as their neighbouring residential communities. Thirty New Orleans Public Elementary Schools were selected for this study. Surface samples (2.5cm or 1 inch depth) were collected from playgrounds and next to entrances of each school. Results showed that soil lead on school properties follows the same relative contamination patterns (pvalue10^–5) as soil lead on residential properties of neighbouring communities. Schools however, have significantly lower lead contamination than the neighbouring residential properties. Innercity school properties present a higher risk of soil lead exposure than mid and outercity schools. Soils next to innercity school entrances showed the highest lead, with 18.5% having concentrations over 400gg^–1. Systematic landscaping around the school entrances would significantly reduce the hazard from lead dust contaminated soils.     

Assessment of groundwater contamination using geographic information systems

In this study two sites were selected in order to investigate groundwater contamination and spatial relationships among groundwater quality, topography, geology, landuse and pollution sources. One site is the Asan area, an agricultural district where pollution sources are scattered and which is mainly underlain by granite of Cretaceous age. The other site is the Gurogu area of Seoul city, an industrial district where an industrial complex and residential areas are located and which is mainly underlain by gneiss of Precambrian age. Groundwater samples collected from these districts were analysed for chemical constituents. An attribute value files of chemical constituents of groundwater and the spatial data layers were constructed and pollution properties were investigated to establish out spatial relationships between the groundwater constituents and pollution sources using geographic information systems (GIS).Relatively high contents of Si and HCO₃ ^– in the groundwater from the Asan area reflect the effect of water–rock interaction whereas high contents of Cl^–, NO₃ ^– and Ca²⁺ in the groundwater from the Gurogu area are due to the pollution of various sources. The significant seasonal variation of SiO₂, HCO₂ ^– and Ca²⁺ contents, and that of Ca²⁺ content were observed in the Asan and the Gurogu areas, respectively. Seasonal variation of pollutants such as Cl^–, NO₃ ^– and SO₄ ^2– was not observed in either area. Pollution over the critical level of the Korean drinking water standard has been investigated from 15 sampling sites out of 40 in the Asan area, and 33 sampling sites out of 51 in the Gurogu area. Pollution by NO₃ ^–, Cl^–, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, SO₄ ^2– and Zn²⁺ in the groundwater from the industrial district (Gurogu area) and that of NO₃ , SO₄ ^2– and Zn²⁺ in the groundwater from the agricultural district (Asan area) were observed. The principal pollutant in both areas is NO₃ ^–. Deep groundwater from the Asan area is not yet contaminated with NO₃ ^– except for one site, but most of the shallow groundwater site occurring near the potential point sources is seriously contaminated. From the result of buffering analysis, it seems clear that factories and stock farms are the principal pollution sources in the Asan area. The groundwater from the Gurogu area has already been seriously polluted considering the fact of NO₃ ^– contamination of deep groundwater. Chlorine pollution of shallow groundwater in the Gurogu area was also observed. Spatial relationship between pollution level and its source was clarified in this study by using GIS, which will be applicable to the effective management of groundwater quality.     

山东博山地下水污染的数学模拟

在分析研究区的水文地质特征和地下水污染情况的基础上，用模糊数学方法进行地下水水质评价，用趋势面分析和Ｋｒｉｇｉｎｇ方法模拟地下水中污染物的空间分布，用灰色系统方法和对流－弥散方程的特征有限元解模拟地下水中污染物随时间的分布并且进行污染的预测，对各种方法的特点和应用条件进行了分析，表明和数学模拟方法进行地下水污染的定量研究是可行的。     

生物难降解有机污染物微生物处理技术的进展

耗氧有机污染物的微生物处理技术已日趋完善，研究重点转向生物难解污染物处理，文章详细阐述了几种生物难降解污染物微生物处理技术的研究进展：（１）几种污染物的高效降解微生物的分离培养以及这些高效降解微生物的降解效率和最佳降解条件研究。（２）利用微生物共代谢作用降解污染物的研究，为一些难以作为微生物唯一碳源和能源的污染物生物降解提供一条有效的途径；（３）利用基因工程技术创建高效降解菌的研究，该项技术在提高     

Compound contamination and secondary ecological effects of Cd and As in soil-alfalfa ecosystems

ＣｏｍｐｏｕｎｄｃｏｎｔａｍｉｎａｔｉｏｎａｎｄｓｅｃｏｎｄａｒｙｅｃｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌｅｆｆｅｃｔｓｏｆＣｄａｎｄＡｓｉｎｓｏｉｌ－ａｌｆａｌｆａｅｃｏｓｙｓｔｅｍｓ（ＺｈｏｕＱｉｘｉｎｇ；ＧａｏＺｈｅｎｇｍｉｎ）（ＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＡｐｐｌｉｅ...     

有机化合物的生物降解性能和生物毒性

有机化合物在环境中的出现是当今世界的重大挑战之一,80年代以来,对于有机化合物在生化处理系统中的归宿和对生物的影响已引起普遍的关注。迄今为止,有关这个课题的研究和资料仍然很少。文章对有机化合物的生物降解性能和生物毒性作一综述,以供同行参考。