Concentration of trace elements in feathers of three Antarctic penguins: Geographical and interspecific differences

Antarctica is often considered as one of the last pristine regions, but it could be affected by pollution at global and local scale. Concentrations of Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd and Pb were determinated by ICP-MS in feathers (n = 207 individuals) of gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguin collected in 8 locations throughout the Antarctic Peninsula (2006-2007). The highest levels of several elements were found in samples from King George Island (8.08, 20.29 and 1.76 μg g⁻¹ dw for Cr, Cu and Pb, respectively) and Deception Island (203.13, 3.26 and 164.26 μg g⁻¹ dw for Al, Mn and Fe, respectively), where probably human activities and large-scale transport of pollutants contribute to increase metal levels. Concentrations of Cr, Mn, Cu, Se or Pb, which are similar to others found in different regions of the world, show that some areas in Antarctica are not utterly pristine.     

Interactions between accumulation of trace elements and macronutrients in Salix caprea after inoculation with rhizosphere microorganisms

Although the beneficial effects on growth and trace element accumulation in Salix spp. inoculated with microbes are well known, little information is available on the interactions among trace elements and macronutrients. The main purpose of this study was to assess the effect of phytoaugmentation with the rhizobacteria Agromyces sp., Streptomyces sp., and the combination of each of them with the fungus Cadophora finlandica on biomass production and the accumulation of selected trace elements (Zn, Cd, Fe) and macronutrients (Ca, K, P and Mg) in Salix caprea grown on a moderately polluted soil. Dry matter production was significantly enhanced only upon inoculation with Agromyces sp. Regarding the phytoextraction of Cd and Zn, shoot concentrations were mostly increased after inoculation with Streptomyces sp. and Agromyces sp. + C. finlandica. These two treatments also showed higher translocation factors from roots to the leaves for both Cd and Zn. The accumulation of Cd and Zn in shoots was related to increased concentrations of K. This suggests that microorganisms that contribute to enhanced phytoextraction of Cd and Zn affect also the solubility and thus phytoavailability of K. This study suggests that the phytoextraction of Zn and Cd can be improved by inoculation with selected microbial strains.     

机械排烟作用下无机防烟卷帘防烟特性的实验研究

采用全尺寸模拟实验,通过测量机械排烟作用下无机防烟卷帘背火面壁面的平均温升、卷帘缝隙处的烟气流动等,对无机防烟卷帘在机械排烟作用下的防烟特性展开研究。结果表明:无机防烟卷帘在发生火灾时自动下降至地面,在机械排烟作用下,在20 m in的实验时间内,基本上能将烟气阻挡在模拟着火房间内,只有极少量烟气进入模拟中庭,卷帘背火面壁面温度接近环境温度;该无机防烟卷帘具有良好的挡烟耐热性能,火灾时可以保证非着火区域人员的安全疏散。本文研究可为该种新型无机防烟卷帘在复杂中庭防火设计中的应用提供实验支持。     

贵阳市区大气降水中有机酸的研究

利用ICS-90常规离子色谱结合RFC-30型淋洗液在线发生器,对贵阳市区大气降水中的小分子有机酸进行了系统研究。测得贵阳市降水中的有机酸主要以甲酸[质量分数为(0.2-4.5)×10-6]、乙酸[质量分数为(0.6-5.3)×10-6]、草酸[质量分数为(0.1-4.9)×10-6]为主,其次是乳酸和丙酮酸,及少量丙酸和甲烷磺酸;有机酸对降水自由酸平均贡献为23.2%,占总阴离子的1.4%;通过比较贵阳市区有机酸前后二十年的变化,得出现阶段可能至少有近1/2乙酸和3/4甲酸来源于人类的活动,这说明有机酸人为源是其来源的重要组成部分。     

硫化矿物中无机盐及重金属离子溶出的影响因素探讨

基于浸泡试验,在不同的时间、温度、酸碱度、固液比等条件下研究硫化矿物中无机盐和重金属离子的溶出反应,得到影响该溶出反应的重要因素,为实际矿业生产过程中硫化矿物的堆放和处理提供了理论依据.     

成都市城区大气细颗粒物水溶性离子污染特征

为了解成都市城区大气细颗粒物水溶性离子污染特征,在成都市城区四季采集PM2.5有效样品共计102个,测得颗粒物质量浓度以及水溶性离子质量浓度(NH4+、Ca2+、Na+、Mg2+、K+、F-、NO3-、SO42-、Cl-),并分析其浓度变化特征,重点关注二次无机离子的污染特征及形成影响.结果表明,成都市城区水溶性离子与...     

DISTRIBUTION AND GRAIN-SIZE PARTITIONING OF METALS IN BOVFOM SEDIMENTS OF AN EXPERIMENTALLY ACIDIFIED WISCONSIN LAKE1

ABSTRACT: A study of concentrations and distribution of major and trace elements in surficial bottom sediments of Little Rock Lake in northern Wisconsin included examination of spatial variation and grain-size effects. No significant differences with respect to metal distribution in sediments were observed between the two basins of the lake, despite the experimental acidification of one of the basins from pH 6.1 to 4.6. The concentrations of most elements in the lake sediments were generally similar to soil concentrations in the area and were well below sediment quality criteria. Two exceptions were lead and zinc, whose concentrations in July 1990 exceeded the criteria of 50 μg/g and 100 μg/g, respectively, in both littoral and pelagic sediments. Concentrations of some elements, particularly Cu, Pb, and Zn, increased along transects from nearshore to midlake, following a similar gradient of sedimentary organic carbon. In contrast, Mn, Fe, and alkali/alkaline-earth elements were at maximum concentrations in nearshore sediments. These elements are less likely to partition to organic particles, and their distribution is more dependent on mineralogical composition, grain size, and other factors. Element concentrations varied among different sediment grain-size fractions, although a simple inverse relation to grain size was not observed. Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn were more concentrated in a grain-size range 20–60 tm than in either the very fine or the coarse fractions, possibly because of the aggregation of smaller particles cemented together by organic and Fe/Mn hydrous-oxide coatings.     

Trace elements in camel tissues from a semi-arid region

Trace and minor element concentrations differ in animal tissues as the result of the surrounding environment (feeding plants, soil contaminated with food and drinking water) and animal absorption of these elements. Concentrations of Ag, Au, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, and Zn were determined from different tissues of camel (inter-costal, scapula, sirloin, flank, front knuckle and front limb) from the semi-arid areas of the Aswan desert (Wadi El-Allaqi) and from Aswan city, Egypt. The study included an assessment of these same elements in the desert and city plants used as food by the camels and in soils from the study areas. The results reveal that camel tissues from the desert areas exhibited higher concentrations of Na, Mg, K, Au, Ag, Cu, Co and Zn than in those of the city camels. These higher levels of element are because of the high concentrations of the same elements in the desert plants and soil of the desert area. This, in turn, depends upon the geological formation differences between the desert area and the city area. Camel tissues appear to concentrate high levels of Mn, Ni, Co and Mg in the scapula while flank portions concentrate high levels of Mg and K. The levels of elements in the camel tissues under study were within the recommended safety baseline levels for camel health and human use, as well as within the appropriate limits in the desert and city plants for camel use.     

MANGANESE IN LACUSTRINE ECOSYSTEMS: A REVIEW1

This paper serves as a literature review of manganese in fresh water. The major aspects of manganese occurrence discussed are: (1) sources, (2) geochemistry, (3) manganese-iron relationships, (4) effects on the fauna and flora and (5) detection.     

Response of Organic and Inorganic Carbon and Nitrogen to Long-Term Grazing of the Shortgrass Steppe

We investigated the influence of long-term (56 years) grazing on organic and inorganic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents of the plant–soil system (to 90 cm depth) in shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado. Grazing treatments included continuous season-long (May–October) grazing by yearling heifers at heavy (60–75% utilization) and light (20–35% utilization) stocking rates, and nongrazed exclosures. The heavy stocking rate resulted in a plant community that was dominated (75% of biomass production) by the C₄ grass blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), whereas excluding livestock grazing increased the production of C₃ grasses and prickly pear cactus (Opuntia polycantha). Soil organic C (SOC) and organic N were not significantly different between the light grazing and nongrazed treatments, whereas the heavy grazing treatment was 7.5 Mg ha^–1 higher in SOC than the nongrazed treatment. Lower ratios of net mineralized N to total organic N in both grazed compared to nongrazed treatments suggest that long-term grazing decreased the readily mineralizable fraction of soil organic matter. Heavy grazing affected soil inorganic C (SIC) more than the SOC. The heavy grazing treatment was 23.8 Mg ha^–1 higher in total soil C (0–90 cm) than the nongrazed treatment, with 68% (16.3 Mg ha^–1) attributable to higher SIC, and 32% (7.5 Mg ha^–1) to higher SOC. These results emphasize the importance in semiarid and arid ecosystems of including inorganic C in assessments of the mass and distribution of plant–soil C and in evaluations of the impacts of grazing management on C sequestration.