The cadmium adsorption capacity of contaminated marine sediments from Hong Kong

The binding capacity of Cd to the sediment particles determines the potential of Cd release from the sediments. An experiment was performed to evaluate the adsorption of Cd by contaminated sediments collected from three different locations in Hong Kong, i.e. Kwun Tong, North Point and Nam Tam Wan, having different degrees of pollution. Langmuir and Freundlich equations were used to evaluate the adsorption of Cd by the sediments. Adsorption isotherms obtained from the Freudlich and Langmuir equations were generally linear and the adsorption of Cd by the sediments was significantly correlated with the adsorption maximum and binding energy constant of the Langmuir equation, and equilibrium partition constant of the Freundlich equation. All sediments had a high Cd adsorption capacity and the highly organic contaminated sediments from Kwun Tong had the highest adsorption capacity of 24,272 mg kg^‐1 at pH8. The adsorption of Cd for all sediments increased with a rise in pH of the equilibrium solution and the total organic carbon content of the sediments. Therefore, a change in the sediment chemical equilibrium is likely to reduce the binding capacity.     

Study of metal accumulation in wild plants using principal component analysis and ionic impulsions

The objective of this work is to apply principal component analysis (PCA) and ionic impulsions to the study of the accumulation and uptake of metals in wild plants. Soil samples were taken in three locations and the following plant species were selected: Poa, Pteridium aquilinum, Diplotaxis, Plantago lanceolata and Trifolium repens. After determining contents of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Pb, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd and Fe in the plant samples and in the soils, principal component analysis was carried out for plant data treatment. Sample position maps revealed that there was no substantial differences among samples when plant species or sampling locations were used as a criteria. As the factors obtained by PCA only correlated with one or two variables, the study of accumulation patterns of metals was carried out by using ionic impulsions. The presence of large amounts of pollutants (like Cd, Cr) in plants is related to a greater assimilation of essential micronutrients in order to counteract the influence of the pollutants.     

Determination of traces of fluorine,chlorine, bromine,cadmium and lead in plastic materials

This paper describes the quantitative determination of F, Cl, Br, Cd and Pb in plastic materials. The concentration of the elements Cl, Br, Cd and Pb is first semiquantitatively measured by X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) directly in the solid sample with a detection limit of approximately 10 μg/g. Afterwards, F and any of the other elements which exceed the limit values for materials which are disposable without special precautions are measured after the digestion of the material. The samples are digested either under pressure in an oxygen atmosphere for F, Cl and Br or under pressure with nitric acid for Cd and Pb. The digestion converts the halides to the anions which are measured potentiometrically (F^‐, Br^‐) or with ion chromatography (Cl^‐). Cd and Pb are measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF‐AAS). The determination limits achieved are 20 μg/g for F and Br, 250 μg/g for Cl, 0.01 μg/g for Cd and 0.2 μg/g for Pb, all below the limit values set by current regulations in Switzerland.     

Trace metals in fish,sediment and water from the south west coast of the Arabian sea,Pakistan

Concentrations of ten metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) in the edible muscle of Arius maculatus captured from eight different near‐shore and off‐shore sites off the south west coast of the Arabian Sea, Pakistan, were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Relevant water and sediment samples from the sites were also analysed for the metals. Zinc showed the highest metal concentration (6.763 μg/g, wet weight) in the muscle of the fish, while Mn and Hg showed lowest level (0.019 μg/g, wet weight). Of all the metals investigated, largest scatter (measured as σ) was observed for Zn (σ = 2.058 /μg/g) in fish muscle, for Fe and Mn in sediment (σ = 27481 and 44.50 μg/g) and for As in water (σ = 0.270 μg/L). The metal distribution data pertaining to water, fish and sediment were examined on the basis of simple metal correlations. The statistical study revealed that Ni, Cr, Pb and Cu had significant positive correlations (r > 0.830 at ρ = 0.01). The finding substantiated a trace metal concentration gradient in the area, thereby indicating that the local marine environment is contaminated by anthropogenic sources.     

Environmental fate of pesticides used in Australian viticulture IV. Aqueous stability of dithianon

Dithianon formulations are unstable in slightly basic aqueous solutions (pH 9, 20°C, t _½ = 5.6 h) but relatively stable in neutral or acidic solution (pH 4,20°C, t _½ = 6443 h). To ensure the efficacy of this fungicide it is important to prepare the spray mix fresh with neutral or slightly acidic water. Dithianon is unstable towards natural sunlight in the solid and aqueous phase, with half‐lives of approximately 68 and 42 days, respectively. Thermal hydrolysis does not seem to be the preferred degradation pathway when aqueous solutions are heated by the South Australian summer sun. The major aqueous phase photodegradation product has been identified as 2,3‐dihydro‐1,4‐dithiaanthraquinone. These results strongly suggest that should dithianon be accidentally released into basic Australian waters then it is likely to be rapidly chemically hydrolysed and pose little long term environmental threat. However, dithianon is only slowly chemically and photo‐lytically hydrolysed in neutral and acidic waters, and in this case accidentally release may pose a significant short term environmental threat.     

黄浦江水源地沉积物重金属潜在生态风险评价

为了解黄浦江上游饮用水源地沉积物中重金属的污染特征,对黄浦江干流和主要支流15个采样点的Hg、Cd、Pb、Cu和Zn含量进行检测,并对其生态风险进行评价.相比环境背景中位值,在15个样品中5种重金属含量都存在一定比例的超标现象,其中,Cd和Hg的污染相对明显;相比背景最大值,仅有Cu和Cd含量超标.采用潜在生态风险指数法和污染负荷指数法进行评价,所得出的生态风险等级均为无污染～中等污染水平,急水港近苏沪交界处、淀峰大桥、大蒸港沪浙交界处、大蒸港泖洋河交汇处、园泄泾以及五厍东一号河交界处区域生态风险较高,Cd和Hg是研究区域生态风险的主导因子.值得注意的是,黄浦江支流大蒸港和园泄泾的生态风险整体高于黄浦江干流.总体而言,黄浦江上游水源地表层沉积物中重金属污染仍处于中等以下水平.     

东北典型湖库水体对铜绿微囊藻荧光特性的影响

为考察东北典型湖库水体对铜绿微囊藻(Microcystic aeruginosa)生长过程中IDOM(细胞内溶解性有机物)荧光特性的影响,在镜泊湖、兴凯湖、五大连池、松花湖和大伙房水库5个典型湖库,共10个采样点采集水样,用于铜绿微囊藻的培养,利用EEM(三维荧光光谱)技术,结合三维荧光FRI(区域体积积分)开展IDOM荧光特性的聚类分析. 结果表明:铜绿微囊藻中IDOM的主要荧光特征峰为类蛋白荧光峰(峰S和峰T),峰S荧光强度高于峰T;对IDOM的三维荧光光谱分为5个区(Ⅰ～Ⅴ区)进行区域体积积分,荧光响应值比例(P_Ⅰ+Ⅱ,n和P_Ⅳ,n)总体上呈互补趋势;Ф_T,n(总区域体积积分)表现为镜泊湖>五大连池>兴凯湖>松花湖>大伙房水库,第16天镜泊湖的Ф_T,n最大,平均值为9.76×10-5 AU·nm2/(mg/L);大伙房水库的Ф_T,n最小,平均值为3.72×10-5 AU·nm2/(mg/L). 聚类分析将10个采样点分成3类. HJ1、HJ2采样点为类别1;HX1、LD1、JS1、LD2采样点为类别2;HX2、JS2、HW2、HW1采样点为类别3,其中,类别1(镜泊湖)水体较类别2和类别3水体更适宜铜绿微囊藻的生长.      

综采放顶煤工作面过地质构造时架前冒顶控制技术探讨

综采放顶煤工作面遇到地质构造时冒顶频繁,控顶困难,严重影响采煤工作面的安全生产和经济效益。通过对工作面架前冒顶原因进行深入分析及对工作面遇地质构造时架前冒顶防治进行不断探索,在技术和管理上形成了一整套切实可行的管理方法,在遇地质构造期间,通过采用有效手段便可保证综放支架安全通过地质构造。以伯方煤矿二盘区3207工作面工程实际为例,运用具体技术和管理措施,使工作面安全通过地质构造断层。该方法可为类似构造煤层的安全开采提供参考。     

Maternal transfer of mercury to the developing embryo/fetus: is there a safe level?

Mercury (Hg) exposure is ubiquitous in modern society via vaccines, fish/crustacea, dental amalgam, food, water, and the atmosphere. This article examines Hg exposure in the context of primary exposure to pregnant women and secondary exposure experienced by their unborn babies. Babies in utero are particularly at risk of higher Hg exposure than adults (on a dose/weight basis through maternal Hg transfer via the placenta), and are more susceptible to adverse effects from mercury and its biologically active compounds. It is, therefore, critical that regulatory advisories around maximum safe Hg exposures account for pregnant women and secondary exposure that children in utero experience. This study focused on standardized embryonic and fetal Hg exposures via primary exposure to the pregnant mother of two common Hg sources (dietary fish and parenteral vaccines). Data demonstrated that Hg exposures, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy, at well-established dose/weight ratios produced severe damage to humans including death. In light of research suggestive of a mercuric risk factor for childhood conditions such as tic disorders, cerebral palsy, and autism, it is essential that Hg advisories account for secondary prenatal human exposures.     

Ligand-less in situ surfactant-based solid phase extraction for preconcentration of silver from natural water samples prior to its determination by atomic absorption spectroscopy

A simple and rapid ligand-less in situ surfactant-based solid phase extraction method for preconcentration of silver from water samples is developed. In this method, a cationic surfactant containing a proper alkyl group (n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide) is dissolved in the aqueous sample and then a proper ion-pairing agent (ClO₄^?) is added. Due to the interaction between surfactant and ion-pairing agent, solid particles are formed and used for adsorption of silver carbonate. After centrifugation, the sediment is dissolved in 2.0 mL 1 M HNO₃ in ethanol and then aspirated directly into the flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Variables affecting the extraction efficiencies such as pH, concentrations of surfactant and CO₃^2?, ion pair concentration, and extraction time, are optimized. Under such conditions, the calibration curve is linear from 3 to 700 μg L^?1. Detection limit is 1.1 μg L^?1 with an enrichment factor of 37. The relative standard deviation for eight replicate measurements of 100 μg L^?1 is 2.1%. The method has been applied for the determination of silver in water samples.