Biological Activity in a Heavily Organohalogen-Contaminated River Sediment (8 pp)

Background, Aims and Scope Sediments of the Spittelwasser creek are highly polluted with organic compounds and heavy metals due to the discharge of untreated waste waters from the industrial region of Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany over the course of more than one century. However, relatively few data have been published about the chloroorganic contamination of the sediment. This paper reports on the content of different (chloro)organic compounds with special emphasis on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F), and chlorobenzenes. Existing concepts for the remediation of Spittelwasser sediment include the investigation of natural attenuation processes, which largely depend on the presence of an intact microbial food web. In order to gain more insight in terms of biological activity, we analyzed the capacity of sediment microflora to degrade organic matter by measuring the activities of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes involved in the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. Furthermore, the detection of physiologically active bacteria in the sediment, particularly of those known for their capability to reductively dehalogenate organochlorine compounds, illustrates the potential for intrinsic bioremediation processes. Methods PCDD/F and chlorobenzenes were analyzed by gas chromatography(GC)/mass spectrometry and GC/flame ionization detection, respectively. The activities of hydrolytic enzymes were determined from freshly sampled sediment layers using 4-methylumbelliferyl (MUF) or 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin-conjugated model compounds and kinetic fluorescence measurements. Physiologically active bacteria from different sediment layers were microscopically visualized by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Specific bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. Results and Discussion The PCDD/F congener profile was dominated by dibenzofurans. In addition, the presence of specific tetra and pentachlorinated dibenzofurans supported the assumption that extensive magnesium production was one possible source for the high contamination. A range of other chloroorganic compounds, including several isomers of chlorobenzenes, hexachlorocyclohexane and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chloro-phenyl)ethane (DDT), was present in the sediment. Activities of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes showed a strong decrease in those sediment layers that were characterized by high contents of absorbable organic halogen (AOX), indicating disturbed organic matter decay. Interestingly, an abnormal increase of cellulolytic enzyme activities below the organochlorine-rich layers was observed, possibly caused by residual cellulose from discharges of sulfite pulping wastes. FISH revealed physiologically active bacteria in most sediment layers from the surface down to the depth of about 60 cm, including members of Desulfitobacterium (D.) and Sulfurospirillum. The presence of D. dehalogenans was confirmed by its partial 16S rRNA gene sequence. Conclusions Results of chemical sediment analyses demonstrated high loads of organochlorine compounds, particularly of PCDD/F. Several years after stopping the waste water discharge to Spittelwasser creek, this sediment remains a main source for pollution of the downstream river system by way of the ongoing mobilization of sediment during high floods. As indicated by our enzyme activity measurements, the decomposition potential for organic matter is low in organochlorine-rich sediment layers. In contrast, the comparably higher enzyme activities in less organochlorine-polluted sediment layers as well as the presence of physiologically active bacteria suggest a considerable potential for natural attenuation. Recommendations and Perspectives From our data we strongly recommend to explore the degradative capacity of sediment microorganisms and the limits for in situ activity towards specific sediment pollutants in more detail. This will give a sound basis for the integration of bioremediation approaches into general concepts to reduce the risk that permanently radiates from this highly contaminated sediment. Submission Editor: Dr. Henner Hollert (Henner.Hollert@urz.uniheidelberg.de)     

安徽月山地区闪长岩类地质地球化学研究

安徽月山地区是长江中下游地区的重要成岩-成矿区段。本文通过岩石学、岩石化学和同位素地球化学等方面的研究，探讨和阐明了月山地区闪长岩类的形成环境、物质来源、源区特征、岩浆形成与演化机理等。     

基于GIS的长江中下游地区洪灾风险分区及评价

国内外近几年的发展表明,在所有可能避免和减轻自然灾害的措施中,最简单有效的方法就是通过在科学研究基础上进行风险区划,将自然灾害管理提高到风险管理的水平.在长江流域数字化地图的基础上,选取不同重复期(20,50,100年),及包括1870年历史洪水和1931,1935,1954,1991,1995,1996,1998,1999和2002年共10次洪水,借助Arcview地理信息系统的空间分析和叠加功能,对长江中下游地区的洪水灾害危险性进行了初步评价.首先参考洪水灾害淹没图和相关历史文献记录资料,构建10次洪水受灾县(市)分布图;其次对这10次洪水受灾县(市)分布图进行叠加,得到长江中下游地区洪涝灾害风险性评价图.分析表明:长江中下游地区洪水风险的分布是有规律的,而且具有明显的地理意义.有4个明显的高危风险区,分别是洞庭湖、鄱阳湖两湖平原的湖滨地区和公安以下的长江中游河段的沿江一带,尤其是荆江河段以及两江相夹地势低洼的江汉平原;沿高危风险区外侧为高风险地区,重点在汉江下游、资、沅、澧水、清江流域、皖沿江地区以及太湖流域的部分地区;沿长江于高危风险和高风险地区两侧分别为风险较小地区;其他地区对于洪水灾害而言则为安全地区.评价结果与长江中下游的实际情况基本吻合.     

长江上游重庆段近20 a降水时空变化特征

全球气候变暖背景下,中国的降水分布日趋复杂,气象灾害造成的损失巨大。为满足防灾减灾与水资源管理的数据支撑需求,基于长江上游重庆段近20 a降水数据,利用线性回归、M-K非参数检验等方法,探究降水的时间变化趋势与空间分异特征。结果表明：近20 a重庆市年降水量在875.6—1348.2 mm。时间上,春、秋两季呈明显增多的趋势,其中3月最显著。降水在14 a时间尺度的周期过程线中波动最强,是第一主周期。空间分布上,呈西低东高的特点,在渝西和长江河谷地区降水相对偏少,主要受重庆地形的影响;渝西和渝东北地区秋季降水显著增多。研究结果可为长江流域旱涝灾害防治、水资源开发利用及经济社会可持续发展提供数据支撑,同时可为植被修复与生态廊道保障提供参考。     

稳定同位素混合模型揭示的长江下游新石器时代人群摄食策略

长江下游地区是稻作农业的主要起源地之一。然而,水稻对长江下游新石器时代人群饮食的贡献程度仍不清晰。稳定同位素混合模型能够量化揭示长江下游地区史前人群的摄食策略。系统收集长江下游地区已发表的人骨、动物骨和植物稳定碳氮同位素数据,基于稳定同位素混合模型,对长江下游地区新石器时代人群的摄食策略进行研究。结果发现：距今7.0—5.3 ka长江下游地区人群可能摄食多种动植物资源,该时期水稻对人类饮食的贡献与其他植物资源基本相当。距今5.3—4.3 ka,水稻已超过其他动植物资源,成为美人地遗址人群的主要食物资源。研究揭示了长江下游新石器时代文明化进程与稻作农业发展具有同步性,狩猎采集经济则为该区域文明化进程起到基础支撑作用。     

20世纪长江的3次巨洪

分析了形成20世纪长江3次巨洪的3个遥相关因子：（1）太阳黑子活动;（2）厄尔尼诺事件,（3）青藏高原南部大震。依据长江巨洪和遥相关因子的基本事实,讨论了长江发生巨洪的统计规律。指出当3个因子的出现时间互相重叠时,长江很可能发生巨洪,这对长江巨洪的超长期预测具有重要的指导作用。     

基于开发需求的安徽沿江地区生态经济分区

从压力、状态和人类响应3个方面,构建了生态经济分区指标体系,结合经济开发需求的评价结果,以县(市、城区)为基本评价单元,利用主成分分析与系统聚类的方法,根据自上而下的专家定性评估,遵循空间邻近性原则,将安徽沿江地区划分为7个生态经济类型,即:合肥污染防治与城镇生态优化区、巢滁湖泊湿地保护与平原生态农业区、马芜铜宣工业污染防治与城镇生态优化区、宣南生态农业与水土保持区、安庆平原农业与湿地生态保护区、池州森林保育与生态农业区以及皖西水源保护与森林保育区.     

玛纳斯河流域生态问题的潜在风险性评估

玛纳斯河流域是中国干旱区最具代表性的山地-绿洲-荒漠生态系统,三大生态系统表现出的区域生态、经济要素的空间状况有所分异,所存在的生态安全问题的表现形式也各不相同。根据流域土地利用和水资源数据库,在生态经济功能分区的基础上,针对流域不同分区存在的生态安全问题,选取相应的17个生态风险评估指标,建立了生态-经济风险性评价模型,对流域各个生态经济功能亚区的生态问题潜在的风险性进行了生态风险评估。结果表明:Ⅰ1,Ⅱ1,Ⅱ2,Ⅱ3,Ⅲ1,Ⅲ2和Ⅲ3亚区的生态问题潜在的风险性在增大,说明生态问题日益突出,而Ⅰ1和Ⅱ4亚区生态问题潜在的风险性指数存在波动;Ⅰ,Ⅱ和Ⅲ三个大区中生态问题潜在的风险性指数最高的分别是Ⅰ1,Ⅱ1和Ⅲ1亚区。评价结果能够较为客观地反映了当地的实际情况,因而对流域可能出现的灾害性的环境问题及由此引起的巨大的经济损失提出了警示。     

长江入海口北支沿海滩涂养殖区底泥重金属污染特征及趋势评价

对长江入海口北支沿海滩涂养殖区底泥重金属污染的总体水平进行调查,结果表明,滩涂养殖区底泥重金属含量满足海洋沉积物质量一类标准要求,污染程度属于安全Ⅰ级水平,重金属潜在生态危害属轻微级别,6种重金属潜在生态危害由大到小排序依次为Cd﹥Hg﹥Cu﹥Cr﹥Pb﹥As,2005年～2011年,底泥重金属污染程度均处于安全的Ⅰ级水平。     

改善太仓城区水环境原型调水实验研究及模型建立

为达到改善太仓城区水环境的目的,于2004年4月21日进行了调水实验.调水历时14 h,期间向城区调水21.8万m3.通过对监测点采样,得到水量、水质实测数据.根据实验数据,建立了符合太仓河网的水量水质数学模型,分析了从长江引水对太仓城区水环境的改善程度.同时对不同引水方案情况下城区水环境改善效果,以及截污和清淤对水环境的影响做了分析.研究表明,引水只能短期改善水环境;要根治水环境,必须从源头抓起,进行截污.