THE FATE OF NITRATE IN LAKE SEDIMENT COLUMNS1

ABSTRACT: To investigate the magnitude of denitrification and assimilatory nitrate reduction as these reactions relate to the fate of nitrate reaching sediments via groundwater seepage, undisturbed core samples of sediments (40 cm length) from two lakes (Mendota and Tomahawk) were leached from the bottom (at 1.4 cm/day) with a solution of ¹⁵N-nitrate (10 mg N/liter). The sediment columns were fitted with Pt electrodes to measure the oxidation-reduction (Eh) potential. While leaching removed considerable ammonium-N and soluble organic N, essentially no ¹⁵N had passed through the columns by 50 days. The Eh readings indicated that denitrification was occurring in the lower portions of the columns. The ¹⁵N distribution of the sediment N after 50 days showed that about 15 to 26% of the added nitrate-N was converted to organic N and ammonium-N. The data show that denitrification can be a significant N sink in seepage lakes.     

Risk assessment and binding mechanisms of potentially toxic metals in sediments from different water levels in a coastal wetland

The excessive accumulation of potentially toxic metals (Pb and Cd) in coastal wetlands is among the main factors threatening wetland ecosystems. However, the effects of water table depth (WTD) on the risk and binding mechanisms of potentially toxic metals in sediments remain unclear. Here, sediments from different WTD obtained from a typical coastal wetland were evaluated using a newly developed strategy based on chemical extraction methods coupled with high-resolution spectroscopy. Our findings indicated that the WTD of the coastal wetland fluctuates frequently and the average enrichment factor for Pb was categorized as minor, whereas Cd enrichment was categorized as moderate. High-resolution spectroscopy techniques also demonstrated that organic functional groups and partly inorganic compounds (e.g., Fe-O/Si-O) played a vital role in the binding of Pb and Cd to surface sediments. Additionally, mineral components rather than organic groups were mainly bound to these metals in the bottom sediments. Collectively, our findings provide key insights into the potential health effects and binding characteristics of potentially toxic metals in sediments, as well as their dynamic behavior under varying sediment depths at a microscale.     

Metal Concentration in Oyster, Crassostrea Gigas, and Sediment in Ann-Ping Mariculture Ground, Taiwan

This study was to assess the metal contamination in oyster tissue grown in the Ann-ping mariculture ground in Taiwan. the information generated from this work also revealed general metal pollution problem for Taiwan's oyster farmers. Oysters, Crassostrea gigas, and surficial sediments collected from ten locations in Ann-ping mariculture ground in Taiwan for metals concentration (Cu, Zn, Pd, Cd, Fe and Mn) were performed. Analytical results indicated that the yearly averaged oyster copper concentrations (μg g^-1, wet weight) in oyster soft parts from Ann-ping increased from 21.3±4.1 in 1993; 24.1±6.8 in 1994; 36.8±11.9 in 1995 to 43.9±23.1 μg g^-1, wet weight, in the 1996 raising season. the mean oyster copper concentration reached a level of 50 μg g^-1, wet weight, in December 1996. This increasing trend of metal concentration in oyster tissue indicates a potential pollution source which may pose a potential disaster as green oyster incidence, which occurred on the Charting coast in 1986, in Taiwan. Sediment samples in Ann-ping mariculture ground were also collected and examined. the seasonal variation of the copper concentration in surficial sediment from Ann-ping did not show an increasing trend as observed in oyster tissue.     

The Aging of America's Reservoirs: In‐Reservoir and Downstream Physical Changes and Habitat Implications

Reservoirs are important for various purposes including flood control, water supply, power generation, and recreation. The aging of America's reservoirs and progressive loss of water storage capacity resulting from ongoing sedimentation, coupled with increasing societal needs, will cause the social, economic, environmental, and political importance of reservoirs to continually increase. The short‐ and medium‐term (<50 years) environmental consequences of reservoir construction and operation are well known and include an altered flow regime, lost connectivity (longitudinal, floodplain), an altered sediment regime, substrate compositional change, and downstream channel degradation. In general, reservoir‐related changes have had adverse consequences for the natural ecosystem. Longer term (>50 years) environmental changes as reservoirs enter “old” age are less understood. Additional research is needed to help guide the future management of aging reservoir systems and support the difficult decisions that will have to be made. Important research directions include assessment of climate change effects on aging and determination of ecosystem response to ongoing aging and various management actions that may be taken with the intent of minimizing or reversing the physical effects of aging.     

Streamside Management Zones Compromised by Stream Crossings,Legacy Gullies,and Over‐Harvest in the Piedmont

Streamside management zone (SMZ) breakthroughs were identified and characterized to determine frequency and potential causes, in order to provide enhanced guidance for future water quality protection. Ten kilometers of SMZs were carefully examined for partial or complete breakthroughs. With partial breakthroughs the SMZ trapped sediment before it reached the stream, while complete breakthroughs appeared to have allowed sediment to have passed through with minimal restriction. A total of 41 breakthroughs occurred (33 complete, 8 partial) across 16 sites, averaging 1 complete breakthrough per 0.3 km of SMZ length. The most common complete breakthroughs were caused by stream crossings (42%), reactivation of legacy agricultural gullies (27%), and harvest related soil disturbances near/within SMZs (24%). Pearson correlations of site characteristics at breakthroughs indicated no strong relationships between breakthrough sites, representing the variable nature of these unique circumstances. Stream crossings are an intentional breakthrough for access purposes, but resulting environmental impacts can be reduced with best management practice implementation. Current recommendations for SMZs tend to work in most situations, yet further research is needed to identify causal factors and quantify breakthrough severity.     

秦淮河干流沉积物磷形态沿程分布特征

应用化学连续提取法,分析了秦淮河干流14个表层沉积物样品的磷形态沿程变化特征及其影响因素.结果发现,秦淮河干流由上游至南京市区段,随城市化程度的提高,河流沉积物总磷和各种形态磷沿程增加的趋势十分明显.Ca-P和Fe-P平均含量分别占TP的26.8%和25.7%,是主要的磷形态.易吸附态磷(L-P)在TP中的比例最低,但在城区由于TP的高度富集,其含量均超过15 mg·kg-1.沉积物中的总磷含量在城区河段显著增加,但只有很少部分转化为稳定形态的磷,人口密集区生活污水等各种来源排放的磷仍然深刻影响着城市河流的水环境质量.随城市化程度的提高,秦淮河中下游沉积物样品中钙富集的趋势明显,与之相对应的是沉积物Ca-P含量均超过200 mg·kg-1,相关分析和通径分析结果表明,二者之间存在成因上的联系.钙的富集提高了沉积物的固磷能力,将上覆水体中的磷转化为钙结合态磷.城区河流沉积物中钙含量的升高,对于河流生态系统磷的迁移转化有重要影响.     

重庆主城区次级河流表层沉积物重金属污染特征及风险评价

山地城市次级河流因季节性降雨容易导致沉积物中污染物形成"二次污染",沉积物可能具有重金属潜在生态风险.本文采集了重庆市主城区19条次级河流表层沉积物,分析了7种重金属元素(V、Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd和Pb)的污染水平,解析了重金属污染来源,并从流域层面评价次级河流表层沉积物重金属的潜在生态风险.结果表明,与背景值(中国土壤元素背景值)相比,除V外,其它6种重金属元素超标1.1~6.7倍.富集系数分析和主成分分析显示,沉积物中重金属V、Ni和Pb均未发生富集(富集系数小于1.5),且主要来源于自然源.Cd、Zn、Cu和Cr平均富集系数分别为6.63、2.31、1.90和1.40,均存在不同程度的富集;Cr、Zn和Cu主要来源于工业废水的排放.主城区次级河流表层沉积物重金属潜在生态风险指数RI值范围为77~382,均值为228,总体属于中等生态风险等级.空间分布上,重庆主城区西北部汇入嘉陵江的次级河流表层沉积物重金属表现出较高的生态风险,东南部汇入长江的次级河流表层沉积物表现为相对较低的风险.     

预测沉积物-水微宇宙系统中化学品浓度变化的多介质模型

沉积物-水微宇宙系统是经济合作发展组织(Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development,OECD)颁布的化学品测试准则中推荐的试验系统之一,可用来测试化学品对底栖生物的慢性毒性。为了在试验前对化学品的浓度变化进行预测,进而确定试验方法,以摇蚊慢性毒性试验系统为例,采用环境多介质模型的建模方法,构建了一种可通过化学品理化性质和试验系统参数,对化学品在沉积物-水试验系统中浓度变化进行预测的模型。结合试验数据和文献资料,给出了模型中试验系统参数的推荐取值,并使用Matlab软件中的Simulink工具对模型进行编程和求解。以此模型为基础,给出了模型在3个方面的应用,即预测蓄积时间、预测平衡时间以及拟合试验数据。对80种已有或假想化学品的蓄积时间和平衡时间进行了计算,得出的范围分别为1~204 d和1~73 d。此外,适当修改模型结构和模型参数,也可将其应用于其他暴露场景中。但使用模型对化学品浓度进行预测时发现,模型仅对沉积物中化学品浓度的预测结果较为准确,而对水中化学品浓度的预测结果与实测值相差1~2个数量级。模型对浓度的预测精度未来仍需进一步提高。上述研究结果完善了沉积物-水微宇宙系统试验方法。     

贵州东风水库沉积物间隙水中溶解态汞及甲基汞的分布特征及界面交换

为弄清水库沉积物间隙水中汞及甲基汞的分布及扩散特征,于2009年春、夏两季对东风水库进行了采样,分别采用两次金汞齐-CVAFS法和蒸馏-乙基化结合GC-CVAFS法测定沉积物间隙水中溶解态(DHg)和甲基汞(DMeHg)浓度。结果表明夏季沉积物间隙水DHg浓度远高于春季,而DMeHg浓度却略低于春季;沉积物间隙水中DHg和DMeHg均有向上覆水体扩散的趋势,其夏季扩散通量高于春季;间隙水中DMeHg对上覆水体的贡献率大于DHg,最高可达30%,再次证明了沉积物间隙水中的DMeHg是其上覆水体的重要来源。     

药品和个人护理用品在固体基底中的检测方法和分布现状

药品和个人护理用品(Pharmaceuticals and personal care products,PPCPs)在环境中广泛存在,威胁生态环境和人类健康,受到越来越多的关注.本文综述了固体基底中PPCPs的检测方法,总结了国内外污泥、土壤、沉积物等基底中PPCPs的污染现状,并对PPCPs的进一步研究进行了展望.结果表明,PPCPs的检测方法朝多样化和趋优化的方向发展.污泥样品中PPCPs种类多、浓度高(μg·kg-1—mg·kg-1),土壤和沉积物中虽然浓度不高,但是总量不可小觑.目前,固体基底中的PPCPs还需要更全面和更广泛的研究.