Monitoring urban growth and detecting land-cover changes on the Istanbul metropolitan area

Istanbul is the most populated city of Turkey with a population of around 10.58 M (2000) living on around 5,750 km². In 1980, the population was only 4.7 M and then it has been more than doubled in only two decades. The population has been increasing as a result of mass immigration. An urbanization process continues and it causes serious increases in urban areas while decreasing the amount of green areas. This rapid, uncontrolled, and illegal urbanization accompanied by insufficient infrastructure has caused degradation of forest and barren lands in the metropolitan area, especially through the last two decades. The watershed basins inside the metropolitan area and the transportation network have accelerated the land-cover changes, which have negative impacts on water quality of the basins. Monitoring urban growth and land cover change will enable better management of this complex urban area by the Greater Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (GIMM). A temporal assessment of land-cover changes of Istanbul has been documented in this study. The study mainly focuses on the acquisition and analysis of Landsat TM and Landsat GeoCover LC satellite images reflecting the significant land-cover changes between the years of 1990 and 2005. Raster data were converted to vector data and used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A database was created for Istanbul metropolitan area to plan, manage, and utilize statistical attribute data covering population, water, forest, industry, and topographic position. Consequently an overlay analysis was carried out and land use/cover changes through years have been detected for the case study area. The capability of Landsat images in determining the alterations in the macro form of the city are also discussed.     

Heavy metals in water, sediment and tissues of Liza saliens from Esmoriz–Paramos lagoon, Portugal

Esmoriz–Paramos lagoon is an ecosystem of great ecological importance that is located on the northwest coast of Portugal and has been degraded as a result of industrial and anthropogenic activities. Concentrations of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) were measured in water, sediment and in tissues (liver and muscle) of Liza saliens, which is the dominant fish from the lagoon. Comparisons between metal concentrations in water and sediments were made with those in tissues of fish caught at the lagoon. Metals in water were quantified predominantly bound to particulate and equalled or exceeded the limit of chronic reference values. Metal concentrations in sediments varied among sampled sites. The relative order of concentrations was “Zn > Cu ∼ Pb > Cr” the same pattern observed for metals in water. Metals in fish tissues showed higher concentrations in liver (262 mg Cu·Kg⁻¹ and 89 mg Zn·Kg⁻¹) than in muscle (<3 mg Cu·Kg⁻¹ and 26 mg Zn·Kg⁻¹), while Pb and Cr were not detected. These results suggest that Cu and Zn are the metals of major concern in the lagoon. Mullet detritivorous feeding habits, bioaccumulation pattern and the high sediment metals concentrations relative to the water suggest that sediments can be the most important source of contamination in this ecosystem. The positive relationship found between Cu in liver and fish length demonstrates that time of exposure is a crucial factor in bioaccumulation. Condition indices (K and HSI) in mullets from the lagoon were higher compared to mullets from sea, suggesting abnormal condition in the lagoon population. We conclude that metals chronic exposure in the lagoon can impose considerable fish stress. The results also show that the lagoon is an area of environmental concern.     

Concentration of heavy metals in Karanja reservoir, Bidar district, Karnataka, India

In this study, some heavy metals concentrations (Zn, Pb, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni) and other physico-chemical parameters were studied during October 2001 to September 2003 in Karanja reservoir, Bidar district. Water quality parameters were collected monthly basis whereas heavy metals were analyzed by Atomic Adsorption Spectrometer (AAS). Heavy metals have shown within the permissible limits, except Fe and Ni were recorded higher values in southwest monsoon, where as Mn has showed higher concentration in northeast monsoon in and summer. All other physico-chemical parameters are with in the permissible limit. Water is moderately hard and reservoir is productive.     

An evaluation of selenium concentrations in water, sediment, invertebrates, and fish from the Solomon River Basin

The Solomon River Basin is located in north-central Kansas in an area underlain by marine geologic shales. Selenium is an indigenous constituent of these shales and is readily leached into the surrounding groundwater. Portions of the Basin are irrigated primarily through the pumping of selenium-contaminated groundwater from wells onto fields in agricultural production. Water, sediment, macroinvertebrates, and fish were collected from various sites in the Basin in 1998 and analyzed for selenium. Selenium concentrations were analyzed spatially and temporally and compared to reported selenium toxic effect thresholds for specific ecosystem components: water, sediments, food-chain organisms, and wholebody fish. A selenium aquatic hazard assessment for the Basin was determined based on protocol established by Lemly. Throughout the Basin, water, macroinvertebrate, and whole fish samples exceeded levels suspected of causing reproductive impairment in fish. Population structures of several fish species implied that successful reproduction was occurring; however, the influence of immigration of fish from low-selenium habitats could not be discounted. Site-specific fish reproduction studies are needed to determine the true impact of selenium on fishery resources in the Basin. The U.S. Government’s right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Modelling vegetation greenness responses to climate variability in a Mediterranean terrestrial ecosystem

Accurate knowledge of the quality and environmental impact of the highway runoff in Pear River Delta, South China is required to assess this important non-point pollution source. This paper presents the quality characterization and environmental impact assessment of rainfall runoff from highways in urban and rural area of Guangzhou, the largest city of Pear River Delta over 1 year’s investigation. Multiple regression and Pearson correlation analysis were used to determine influence of the rainfall characteristics on water quality and correlations among the constituents in highway runoff. The results and analysis indicates that the runoff water is nearly neutral with low biodegradability. Oil and grease (O&G), suspended solids (SS) and heavy metals are the dominant pollutants in contrast to the low level of nutrient constituents in runoff. Quality of highway runoff at rural site is better than that of at urban site for most constituents. Depth and antecedent dry period are the main rainfall factors influencing quality of highway runoff. The correlation patterns among constituents in highway runoff at urban site are consistent with their dominant phases in water. Strong correlations (r ≥ 0.80) are found among chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus, Cu and Zn as well as conductivity, nitrate nitrogen and total nitrogen. O&G, COD, SS and Pb in highway runoff at urban site substantially exceed their concentrations in receiving water of Pear River. The soil directly discharged by highway runoff at rural site has contaminated seriously by heavy metals in surface layer accompanying with pH conversion from original acidic to alkaline at present.     

水体中泥沙对藻类光谱特征位置的影响分析

自然水体叶绿素a浓度的遥感反演中,泥沙的存在影响着反演精度.如何消除这种影响是提高叶绿素a遥感反演精度的关键,而了解泥沙对藻类光谱特征的影响是消除影响的前提.文章在人工控制条件下获取了不同泥沙浓度下藻类光谱曲线,通过分析光谱曲线特征位置的漂移和数值变化,总结泥沙对藻类光谱的影响并提出了消除影响的可能性.     

大体积进样-气相色谱法测定水中多种痕量有机磷农药

建立了大体积进样气相色谱-火焰光度法检测水中多种痕量有机磷农药的方法.重点研究了程序升温汽化(PTV)进样条件的选择,通过对分流排空量、吹扫时间、PIV起始温度等PTV参数的选择,优化了测试条件,提高了检测灵敏度.水中9种有机磷农药的线性良好,10ml水样中三乙基偶磷硫酯的检出限为0.01μg/L,硫磷嗪、致螟磷、甲拌磷、乐果、乙拌磷、甲基对硫磷、对硫磷和氨磺磷的检出限可达0.001μg/L.水中添加多种有机磷农药准确度精密度试验,平均回收率为85.8%～108%,相对标准差在3.3%～11.4%之间.与常规方法相比,该方法前处理简单快速、分析成本低.灵敏度、准确度和精密度均符合地表水检测质量的要求,适用于水环境中多种农药残留的快速检测.     

改性沸石分离富集-火焰原子吸收光谱法测定长江水中镉

采用改性沸石分离富集-火焰原子吸收光谱法测定长江水中微量镉,优化了富集和洗脱条件,讨论了干扰离子的影响。方法在0μg~4.00μg范围内线性良好,检出限为0.214μg/L,长江水平行测定的RSD为1.8%,加标回收率为99.0%~104%。     

我国水环境有机物分析前处理技术

介绍了我国水环境有机物分析中常用的前处理技术,包括液液萃取、树脂吸附、固相萃取、固相微萃取、液膜萃取、半透膜被动采样、顶空、吹扫-捕集等,归纳了各种方法的原理、应用及优缺点,并对环境中有机污染物前处理技术的发展方向进行了展望。     

水环境中药品和个人护理用品污染现状及研究进展

综述了当前国内外药品和个人护理用品(PPCPs)在地表水、地下水和饮用水中的污染现状,介绍了水环境中PPCPs污染的危害及其预测、调查与检测方法。提出了我国水环境中PPCPs污染未来的研究方向,包括改进水处理工艺,提高PPCPs的去除效率;提升分析技术水平,拓宽PPCPs的检测种类;深入研究PPCPs产生的环境效应,重视其职业暴露的污染与危害;建立水环境中PPCPs的预测制度及风险评价体系。