Possible biological significance of contaminated sediments in Port Jackson,Sydney, Australia

Comprehensive investigations of estuaries incentral New South Wales has identified Port Jackson as themost contaminated waterway on the eastern seaboard ofAustralia. Extensive areas of the estuary are mantled insediment containing high concentrations of a large range ofmetallic and organic contaminants. Although extensive, thisdatabase does not provide an effective basis for determiningthe potential adverse effects of chemicals on livingresources. In the absence of any ecotoxicologicalinformation, the recently published (1999) draft Australianand New Zealand Environmental and Conservation Council(ANZECC) sediment quality guidelines have been used toassess possible adverse biological effects of thesetoxicants. The ANZECC guidelines use the lower effects range of thewidely used U. S. National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration (NOAA) scheme to identify potentiallycontaminated sediment and as a threshold to trigger foradditional investigative work. This guideline level has beenused in the current study to assess possible toxicity ofcontaminated sediments in Port Jackson. It is estimated thatsediments in approximately 26% of the estuary, mainly theupper parts of the harbour and much of the central harbour,have a 67% probability of being toxic. Sediments in thecentral harbour and a major tributary, the Middle Harbour,comprising about 40% of the estuary, have a 13 to 25%probability of toxicity. All sediments in the harbour,except at the mouth of the estuary, would require additionalenvironmental assessment based on the proposed draft ANZECCsediment quality guidelines.     

Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative: Context and Prevailing Legacy

The Northern River Ecosystem Initiative (NREI), 1997–2004, has provided new scientific knowledge in response to specific recommendations from its predecessor, the Northern River Basins Study (NRBS), 1990–1996. The two initiatives together provide a remarkable body of science which is, and will continue to be, used by resource managers responsible for economic and environmental sustainability in the northern watersheds of Alberta. The NREI focused its investigative efforts on improving our understanding related to ecological considerations of changes in river flow, effect of climate change on flow, ecological responses to pollution and cumulative effects, vulnerability of drinking water quality, and to a lesser degree, wildlife (birds) response to large scale changes within the watersheds. Key findings are briefly presented in this paper and discussed in greater detail in the other NREI papers included in this. Commensurate with the undertakings of NREI, provincial and territorial governments, First Nation and Métis communities, and other administrative organizations such as the Mackenzie River Basin Board, undertook policy, regulatory, and watershed initiatives towards achieving sustainability and providing reliable drinking water quality.     

基于水动力数值模型的港口规划累积影响评价

累积影响评价是战略环境评价的主要方法和重要内容之一,但目前还缺乏通用的评价程序和方法.通过识别港口规划的累积影响源和途径,建立了基于水动力数值模型的累积影响评价的量化评估和分析框架.以厦门港嵩屿港区规划为例,通过对海湾纳潮量及各敏感点流速的模拟,计算淤积量及其分布变化,进而推测海域水质和底质变化,并分析了由此引起的海洋生物群落的变化趋势.通过比较不同岸线方案的累积影响,为港区岸线优选提供了科学判据.实践表明,该方法框架综合运用定量预测和定性分析手段,其结果能为港口规划的战略环境评价提供科学依据.     

生活垃圾焚烧二噁英排放对人群健康影响研究进展

综述了二噁英对人体健康的危害特性, 以及我国生活垃圾焚烧厂二噁英排放浓度水平,及其周边环境空气和土壤中二噁英污染浓度水平、人群暴露途径、剂量和健康影响。指出,现有研究显示,我国生活垃圾焚烧排放的二噁英浓度在合理范围之内,垃圾焚烧厂周边人群二噁英暴露量普遍低于世界卫生组织（WHO）推荐的容许标准,但也有研究发现,垃圾焚烧会导致周边环境介质中二噁英浓度水平增高。提出,应重点关注垃圾焚烧排放二噁英的长期低剂量暴露对人群健康的影响。     

Ecotoxicological Classification of the Berlin River System Using Bioassays in Respect to the European Water Framework Directive

Bioassays as well as biochemical responses (biomarkers) in ecosystems due to environmental stress provide us with signals (environmentally signalling) of potential damage in the environment. If these responses are perceived in this early stage in ecosystems, the eventual damage can be prevented. Once ecosystem damage has occurred, the remedial action processes for recovery could be expensive and pose certain logistical problems. Ideally, “early warning signals” in ecosystems using sensing systems of biochemical responses (biomarkers) would not only tell us the initial levels of damage, but these signals will also provide us with answers by the development of control strategies and precautionary measures in respect to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Clear technical guidelines or technical specifications on monitoring are necessary to establish and characterise reference conditions for use in an ecological status classification system for surface water bodies. For the Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment (ERA) of endocrine effects we used an approach of the exposure – dose – response concept. Based on the “Ecototoxicological Classification System of Sediments” that uses pT-values to classify effects in different river systems, we transferred the bio-monitoring data to the five-level ecological system of the WFD. To understand the complexity of the structure of populations and processes behind the health of populations, communities and ecosystems an ERA should establish links between natural factors, chemicals, and biological responses so as to assess causality. So, our ecological monitoring assessment has incorporated exposure & effects data.     

Monitoring and assessment of toxic metals in Gulf War oil spill contaminated soil using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied for the detection of toxic metals in oil spill contaminated soil (OSCS). The OSCS samples were collected from Khursania Saudi Arabia along the coast of Persian Gulf exposed to oil spills in 1991 Gulf war. Environmentally important elements like Aluminum Magnesium, Calcium, Chromium, Titanium, Strontium, Iron, Barium, Sodium, potassium, Zirconium and Vanadium from the contaminated soil have been detected. Optimal experimental conditions for analysis were investigated. The LIBS system was calibrated using standard samples containing these trace elements. The results obtained using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) were compared with the results obtained using Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (ICP). The concentrations of some elements (Ba and Cr) were found higher than permissible safe limits. Health risks associated with exposure to such toxic elements are also discussed.     

Nutrient Export from Watersheds on Mt. Desert Island, Maine, as a Function of Land Use and Fire History

A study of 13 small (less than 7.5 km²) watersheds on Mt. Desert Island, Maine, was conducted from January 1999 to September 2000 to determine nutrient export delivery to coastal waters around the island, and to determine whether a series of wildfires in 1947 have affected nutrient export in burned watersheds. Nutrient export (nitrate–nitrogen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus) was determined for each watershed during the study period, and was normalized by watershed area. The yield of nitrate–nitrogen (N) ranged from 10 to 140 kg/km²/year. Total N yield ranged from 42 to 250 kg/km²/year. Total phosphorus (P) yield ranged from 1.4 to 7.9 kg/km²/year. Watersheds entirely within Acadia National Park (lacking human land-based nutrient sources) exported significantly less total N and total P than watersheds that were partly or entirely outside the park boundary. Nitrate–N export was not significantly different in these two groups of watersheds, perhaps because atmospheric deposition is a dominant source of nitrate in the study area. No relation was observed between burn history and nutrient export. Any effect of burn history may be masked by other landscape-level factors related to nutrient export.     

耕地整理的景观效应分析

论文通过对不同耕地类型区的典型样区调查获得的小尺度耕地景观现状特征与各耕地类型在不同整理水平下的耕地景观细部规划设计下的景观特征进行对比分析来研究北京市延庆县耕地整理的景观效应。选用斑块平均面积、平均周长、密度、边界密度、平均斑块周长面积比等指标来描述整理前后耕地景观斑块特征的变化;采用廊道类型、廊道占耕地景观面积的比例、各类型廊道占总廊道长度的比例、密度、网络连通度、网络环通度等来表达整理前后廊道特征的变化。研究结果表明,通过耕地整理明显提高了斑块平均面积、平均周长,降低了斑块密度、边界密度、平均斑块周长面积比,提高了景观粒度,减小了耕地景观破碎化程度和耕地景观被边界分割程度。整理后廊道占耕地景观面积比例减小;整理后耕地廊道系统中各廊道类型占总廊道长度的比例趋于合理;廊道类型中增加了农田防护林带,改变了耕地内单一类型景观格局;提高了道路、沟渠等廊道的网络连通度和环通度,有利于农田生态系统中物质和能量流动。     

Trends of organochlorine pesticides in drinking water supplies

The effectiveness of the treatment process for the removal of pesticides in the final water supplies in Delhi has been evaluated. Samples were collected during 2000–2005 from five water treatment plants (WTPs). Analysis was carried out to identify pesticides, which are more commonly encountered in treated drinking water. In most of the treatment plants, the concentrations of lindane, total endosulphan and total DDT were significantly less in the finished water. Monitoring of these less soluble pesticide in the finished water from WTPs was done quarterly to arrive at the quality trends and to plan for the mitigation action, in case the concentration of the parameter exceeded at any site or time.     

关于南通台地磁近期异常的调查报告

南通地震台核旋观测值从 2 0 0 10 8起大幅下降 ,经过与其他台站资料的比较和仪器工作情况的分析 ,认为该异常不是地磁本身的异常变化 ,也不是仪器的问题。进一步对外界环境调查和实地测试 ,证实是受台站附近基建工地的干扰影响。