Metal Pollution Assessment of Surface Sediments Along a New Gas Pipeline in the Niger Delta (Nigeria)

Chromium, nickel, copper, zinc and cadmium were determined in sediments of the Niger Delta (Nigeria) in order to discriminate between natural metal sources and anthropogenic ones. Surface sediments were collected at seven sites along a new gas pipeline near Port Harcourt, between the New Calabar River and the Bonny River towards Bonny town. Chemical characterisation is obtained by hydrofluoric–nitric acid digestion procedure, providing the ‘total’ (‘residual’) metal contents. Information about the anthropogenic metal fraction was obtained by cold diluted hydrochloric acid extraction procedure. This ‘labile’ acid soluble fraction of metals, perhaps due to relatively recent inputs in the sediments, constitutes the fraction more likely to be available to marine organisms, and furnishes a first evaluation of the possible toxicity of sediments of this sensitive ecosystem. Zinc appears to be the most available of all the heavy metals: its ‘labile’ fraction attains 40–50% of the ‘total’ zinc in sediment. Sites near Port Harcourt city are the most contaminated. All the examined metals are one order of magnitude below the respective values proposed as a limit for toxicity and are comparable with those observed by other authors in similar Niger Delta areas. Some anomalous data found near Port Harcourt city suggest that zinc and cadmium are the metals that require further monitoring. Their anthropogenic source could be derived from urban and industrial sewage.     

Seasonal Variability of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediment of Lake Sapanca, Turkey

Lake Sapanca is exposed to heavy urbanization and industrialization because of its natural beauty and its proximity to the metropolitan İstanbul, Turkey. In this study, it was aimed to investigate seasonal changes of some heavy metals (Pb, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn and Cd) concentration of surface sediment. Nine different stations were chosen as sampling points. Samples were taken every three months and the seasonal and annual average concentration of the elements were determined. Seasonal highest values of heavy metals were observed as follows; Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn in Summer, Cd in Autumn. There was no seasonal difference for Pb, Cr and Cd. It seems that Lake Sapanca has not been polluted yet. However, it was found that Cu and Ni concentrations in surface sediment exceed lowest effect level.     

平台石墨炉原子光谱法测定底质中镉

提出了用平台石墨炉原子吸收法测定底质中镉的方法,以２ｇ／Ｌ ＰｄＣＩ２溶液为基体改进剂,能有效地消除底质样品的基体效应,方法简单。用此方法对底质标准样品和太湖底质进行测定,回收率在９５％～９８％之间,检测限为０．０３μｇ／Ｌ,取得了较满意的结果。     

Sediment quality triad assessment of an industrialized estuary of the northeastern USA

The lower Passaic River in northern New Jersey (USA) has been heavily industrialized since the mid-nineteenth century and its shoreline and aquatic habitats degraded or destroyed. Similar to other urban systems, Passaic River sediments, both surface and buried, historically have contained elevated levels of numerous contaminants that may pose risks to ecological receptors and humans. Sediments from 15 stations in the lower Passaic River and 3 reference stations in the Mullica River in southern New Jersey were sampled in 1999 and characterized for chemical contamination, toxicity, and impairment of the benthic community. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, degree, and nature of degraded surficial sediments in the area to support subsequent plans for restoration of the system. Results demonstrated that Passaic River sediments had concentrations of many organic and inorganic contaminants at levels significantly greater than the reference area and effect-based guidelines. Sediments were toxic to marine amphipods at 11 stations and the benthic assemblages were impaired relative to the reference area at all stations. The weight-of-evidence of this sediment quality triad (SQT) assessment indicates that impacts from multiple contaminants are occurring throughout the lower Passaic River and, that these impacts must be evaluated further and addressed as part of ongoing restoration initiatives for the river.     

扬州古运河底泥重金属污染潜在生态危害评价

对扬州古运河底泥重金属污染潜在生态危害进行了调查与评价。结果表明,古运河各监测断面的潜在生态危害指数等级为轻微至强。经综合整治,2002年后古运河重金属污染潜在生态危害指数较2002年之前显著下降。下游因曾经工厂聚集,污染程度高于上游,毒性系数较大的Cd和Hg的潜在生态危害始终排在首位。     

碱熔浸取-离子选择电极法测定沉积物中总氟

采用氢氧化钠高温熔融浸取沉积物,用离子选择电极法测定浸取液中的总氟,通过试验确定最佳浸取条件,使方法在5.00μg~500μg范围内线性良好。当取样量为0.2 g时,方法检出限为12.4 mg/kg。用该方法测定沉积物有证标准物质,结果均在标准值范围内,测定3个沉积物实际样品,总氟质量比为254 mg/kg~1 389 mg/kg,6次测定结果的RSD为4.1%~4.8%,3个质量比水平加标回收率为99.2%~101%。     

环境因子对长江宜宾段底泥吸附磷的影响

本文主要研究模拟长江底泥对富营养化水体磷的吸附,分析环境因子对底泥吸附磷的影响。结果显示：（1）在25℃时,底泥对磷的吸附在碱性条件时的吸附速率小于酸性和中性条件,中性条件下的吸附速率最大;（2）在控制上覆水温度时,温度越高底泥对磷的吸附量越小,20℃时底泥的吸附量是30℃吸附量的1.5倍;（3）上覆水中溶解氧的浓度越高,吸附速率越高。     

Determination of organochlorine pesticide residue in sediment and water from the Densu river basin, Ghana

The distribution of organochlorine pesticides in the aquatic ecosystem from the Densu river revealed varying levels of concentration in water and the sediment samples. Three locations were sampled along the river to evaluate the levels of organochlorine pesticide residue in the river. Sediment and surface water samples were extracted by soxhlet and liquid-liquid extraction respectively and analyzed using Gas Chromatograph coupled with electron capture detector. The detectable organochlorine pesticides were gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), delta-hexachlorocyclohexane, heptachlor, aldrin and dieldrin. The other pesticides that were investigated are gamma-chlordane, alpha endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, p,p′-DDT and its metabolite p,p′-DDE, methoxychlor, endrin and its metabolite endrin aldehyde and endrin ketone. The order of increasing frequency of detection of samples was higher in sediment than water. In sediment, the mean concentration ranged from 0.030 μg kg⁻¹ dry weight (endrin) to 10.98 μg kg⁻¹ dry weight (aldrin). The highest detected concentration of organochlorine in water was endosulfan sulfate with mean concentration of 0.185 μg L⁻¹. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences for most organochlorine pesticide residue in the sediment sampled from the various locations. Some of the levels of organochlorine pesticides detected in water were relatively high compared to guideline values set by World Health Organization and Australia and thus could be harmful if the trend is not checked.     

Sorption and desorption of carbamazepine, naproxen and triclosan in a soil irrigated with raw wastewater: estimation of the sorption parameters by considering the initial mass of the compounds in the soil

The amphipod Hyalella azteca was exposed for 28 d to different combinations of Zn contaminated sediment and food. Sediment exposure (+clean food) resulted in increased Zn body burdens, increased mortality and decreased body mass when the molar concentrations of simultaneously extracted Zn were greater than the molar concentration of Acid Volatile Sulfide (SEM_Zn-AVS > 0), suggesting that dissolved Zn was a dominant route of exposure. No adverse effect was noted in the foodexposure (+clean sediment), suggesting selective feeding or regulation. Combined exposure (sediment + food) significantly increased adverse effects in comparison with sediment exposure, indicating contribution of dietary Zn to toxicity and bioaccumulation. The observed enhanced toxicity also supports the assumption on the presence of an avoidance/selective feeding reaction of the amphipods in the single sediment or food exposures. During 14 d post-exposure in clean medium, the organisms from the same combined exposure history received two feeding regimes, i.e. clean food and Zn spiked food. Elevated Zn bioaccumulation and reduced reproduction were noted in amphipods that were offered Zn spiked food compared to the respective organisms that were fed clean food. This was explained by the failure of avoidance/selective feeding behavior in the absence of an alternative food source (sediment), forcing the amphipods to take up Zn while feeding. Increasing Zn body burdens rejected the assumption that Zn uptake from food was regulated by H. azteca. Our results show that the selective feeding behavior should be accounted for when assessing ecological effects of Zn or other contaminants, especially when contaminated food is a potential exposure route.     

What Do the Occurrences of Migratory Fishes in the Upper Mekong Mean?

This paper examines the recent appearance of four migratory species in the Upper Mekong: Dasyatis laosensis, Anguilla bicolor, Anguilla marmorata, and Chitala ornata. Since 2006 these species have been continually sampled in an area below Jinghong Dam in Xishuangbanna, China. This region is far beyond their historical upstream distribution, and the reasons for these appearances and their subsequent impact on river ecosystem are considered.