Yangtze Three Gorges Reservoir, China: A holistic assessment of organic pollution, mutagenic effects of sediments and genotoxic impacts on fish

Besides obvious benefits,the Three Gorges Dam's construction resulted in new pollution scenarios with the potentials to threaten the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR) ecosystem.In order to record organic contamination,to find links to ecotoxicological impacts and to serve as reference for ensuing monitoring,several sites in the TGR area were screened applying the triad approach with additional lines-of-evidence as a holistic assessment method.Sediments and the benthic fish species Pelteobagrus vachellii were sampled in 2011 and 2012 to determine organic pollution levels,mutagenic potentials and genotoxic impacts.Two regional hot-spots near the cities of Chongqing and Kaixian were identified and further investigated in 2013.Only polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) could be detected in sediments in 2011(165–1653 ng/g),emphasizing their roles as key pollutants of the area.Their ubiquity was confirmed at Chongqing(150–433 ng/g) and Kaixian(127–590 ng/g) in2013.Concentrations were comparable to other major Chinese and German rivers.However,the immense sediment influx suggested a deposition of 216–636 kg PAH/day(0.2–0.6 mg PAH/(m2·day)),indicating an ecotoxicological risk.PAH source analysis highlighted primary impacts of combustion sources on the more industrialized upper TGR section,whereas petrogenic sources dominated the mid-low section.Furthermore,sediment extracts from several sites exhibited significant activities of frameshift promutagens in the Ames fluctuation assay.Additionally,significant genotoxic impairments in erythrocytes of P.vachellii were detected(Chongqing/Kaixian),demonstrating the relevance of genotoxicity as animportant mode of action in the TGR's fish.PAHs,their derivatives and non-target compounds are considered as main causative agents.     

THE EFFECT OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON GROUND‐WATER QUALITY NEAR DETROIT,MICHIGAN1

ABSTRACT: Two water‐quality studies were done on the outskirts of the Detroit metropolitan area to determine how recent residential development has affected ground‐water quality. Pairs of monitor and domestic wells were sampled in areas where residential land use overlies glacial outwash deposits. Young, shallow waters had significantly higher median concentrations of nitrate, chloride, and dissolved solids than older, deeper waters. Analysis of chloride/bromide ratios indicates that elevated salinities are due to human activities rather than natural factors, such as upward migration of brine. Trace concentrations of volatile organic compounds were detected in samples from 97 percent of the monitor wells. Pesticides were detected infrequently even though they are routinely applied to lawns and roadways in the study area. The greatest influence on ground‐water quality appears to be from septic‐system effluent (domestic sewage, household solvents, water‐softener backwash) and infiltration of storm‐water runoff from paved surfaces (road salt, fuel residue). No health‐related drinking‐water standards were exceeded in samples from domestic wells. However, the effects of human activities are apparent in 76 percent of young waters, and at depths far below 25 feet, which is the current minimum well‐depth requirement.     

海河流域沉积物中典型重金属的生态风险评估及验证

沉积物重金属污染及其生态风险评估日益受到关注,而沉积物质量基准是开展生态风险评估的有力工具。本研究通过物种敏感度分布法(species sensitivity distributions, SSD)和急慢性毒性比(acute to chronic ratios, ACR)推导了镍、铜、锌、镉和铅的沉积物质量基准(sediment quality guideline, SQG)。在获得合理的重金属沉积物慢性毒性数据的基础上,采用S-Logistic模型拟合镍、铜、镉和铅的慢性SSD曲线,采用S-Gompertz模型拟合锌的慢性SSD曲线。得到镍、铜、锌、镉和铅沉积物质量基准低值(sediment quality guideline low value, SQGlow)分别为18.6、69.9、107、1.26和38.4 mg·kg~(-1),应用ACRs,得到相应的沉积物质量基准高值(sediment quality guideline high value, SQGhigh)分别为167、226、556、10.1和384 mg·kg~(-1)。与加拿大和澳大利亚重金属沉积物基准值具有一定的可比性。选择花翅摇蚊(Chironomus kiiensis)、伸展摇蚊(Chironomus tentans)和霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri)3种底栖生物作为受试生物,验证基准值对海河流域沉积物重金属毒性的预测能力。结果表明,利用SQGs预测沉积物毒性的总准确率为76.2%,3种底栖生物验证准确率从高至低为:花翅摇蚊>伸展摇蚊>霍甫水丝蚓。     

Assessing contamination of smoked sprats (Sprattus sprattus) with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and changes in its level during storage in various types of packaging

The analysis of material used in this study demonstrated that the amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoked sprats varies from the level below the lowest detection limit in muscles up to 9.99 µg kg^?1 of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in fish skin. Such a high level of PAHs in skin was reported only in one of six batches of sprats, while mean BaP level was at 1.69 µg kg^?1. Regardless such a high BaP level in skin, its concentration in muscles did not exceed the maximum acceptable level. The study objective was to assess to what extent packaging materials adsorb PAH compounds from food. Changes in the PAH levels were monitored in fish during their storage in packages made of various materials. The storage time was from 0 to 168 hours. The obtained results varied considerably, therefore their scatter did not allow to confirm unequivocally the preliminary hypothesis about the reduction of PAHs due to their migration to packaging material. However, analysis of the packaging used in this study demonstrated a significant increase in the level of total 16 PAHs. When high-density polyethylene (HDPE) packaging was analysed, a six-fold increase in the total 16 PAHs was observed comparing to the blank sample.     

深圳市社会经济发展与近岸水体富营养化关系研究(Ⅰ)

通过对深圳市近年来近海海域水体水质数据分析,研究和评价该海域水质演变趋势,并对这种趋势进行环境经济原因分析。得出以下结论:1.西部海域水体富营养化程度比较严重;2.深圳东、西部海域近年N:P值都远远超过16,属于严重的P缺乏型海域;3.深圳海域的大部分水质指标在1998年以后都有大幅上升的趋势,反映了深圳市近年向近海水体排放污染物量有加剧趋势;4.深圳市社会经济的发展加剧了近海水体的污染;5.深圳市人民生活水平近年有较大的提高,排放的生活污染造成环境危害远远大于工业污染。     

Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Street Soil Dust in Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana

Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in street soil dust from streets in Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region of the Republic of Ghana have been measured in this study. The concentrations of the various types of PAHs identified in this study are as follows: Naphthalene (m/e 128) – 41,700 μg/kg, Acenaphthylene (m/e 152) – 99,300 μg/kg, Acenaphthene (m/e 154) – 111,200 μg/kg, Fluorene (m/e 166) – 8,900 μg/kg, Carbazole (m/e 167) – 3,500 μg/kg, phenathrene (m/e 178) – 12,900 μg/kg, Anthracene (m/e 178) – 5,400 μg/kg, Fluoranthene (m/e 202) – 16,200 μg/kg, Pyrene (m/e 202) – 15,000 μg/kg, Benzo[a]anthracene (m/e 228) – 13,800 μg/kg, Chrysene (m/e 228) – 33,600 μg/kg, Benzo[k]fluoranthene (m/e 252) – 45,700 μg/kg, Benzo[a]pyrene (m/e 252) – 27,900 μg/kg, Perylene (m/e 252) – 57,200 μg/kg and Benzo[g, h, i]perylene (m/e 276) – 47,000 μg/kg. The results of the study shows that road users, like resident living in buildings within these areas, those engaged in commercial activities like hawking, and the general public are at risk of exposure to the toxic effects of the various types of PAHs from the exhaust of vehicles into the environment. According to these results, there is the potential for exposure to high levels of PAHs for road users and those living in urban environments or along highways.     

兰州市大气降尘中PAHs分布与生态风险评价

对兰州市春季不同功能区大气降尘有机质中多环芳烃（PAHs）种类进行分析,采用GC／MS法检出了大气降尘中有机质USEPA优控PAHs有11种以上,含量较高的集中于萘（NAP）、荧蒽（FLUA）、菲（PHE）、芘（PYR）、[艹屈]（CHR）,占各采样点PAHs总量的70％以上。源解析表明兰州市各功能区大气降尘PAHs来源不仅有较高的燃煤源、交通源（汽车尾气）,同时PAHs的组成与分布也在很大程度上受到采样点周围居民居住环境的影响。对照有关的沉积物质量标志水平,兰州市城关区各站点都有PAHs浓度超出相应质量警戒水平,属高生态风险区     

Metal Extraction from Road Sediment using Different Strength Reagents: Impact on Anthropogenic Contaminant Signals

Washoff of road deposited sediment into storm drainsystems is one of the major contributors to nonpoint sourcepollution in urban fluvial networks. These sediments contain avariety of potentially toxic organic and inorganic contaminants.Road sediment from 13 locations in an urban (non-industrialized)drainage basin, and soil from 10 background (control) locationswere collected to assess total and labile fractions of Al, Co,Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Four digestions, of varying strength,were used to assess contaminant levels, these included: a totalfour-acid digestion, a microwave-assisted digestion withconcentrated nitric acid (USEPA Method 3051), a 0.5 M `cold' HCl,and a 0.05 M EDTA (pH 7). Road sediment data indicate that Al,Co, Fe, Mn and Ni were primarily lithogenic in origin, while Cu,Pb and Zn showed very significant anthropogenic signals, mostprobably from vehicle-related sources. Median Pb concentrationenrichment ratios for the EDTA extraction were about 42,indicating an extreme anthropogenic signal. The weak extractants(HCl and EDTA) are considered in this study to be superior intheir ability to characterize the degree of anthropogeniccontamination and should be utilized more widely in environmentalcontaminant studies.     

Sampling and Analysis of Organic Compounds in Diesel Particulate Matter

The fraction of atmospheric semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) is partitioned between the gaseous and particulate phases. Certain of these compounds eg. polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and their derivatives have been shown to exhibit mutagenic or carcinogenic properties. Emissions from diesel engines are an important source of these contaminants. In a dilution chamber, we studied a diesel engine emissions. It is shown firstly, that the gaseous fraction is predominant (by up to 20 times) with respect to the particulate phase. Secondly, the polar compounds, neglected in the majority of previous studies, are the predominant species. A test campaign was carried out in Paris-Porte d'Auteuil which yielded similar results to the laboratory experiments.     

Genotoxicity at Low Level Dose of Inspirable Urban Ambient Air Particulate in a Semiarid Regime

Samples of inspirable air particulate(inhalable + ingestable) were obtained at two urbanlocations in southern Argentina which differ in theirexposure to pollution by class B2 polynuclear aromatichydrocarbons (PAHs). Sample extracts were tested in vitro for induction of chromosomal aberrations incultured rat hepatocytes. The average induced amountof chromosomal aberrations did not vary amonggeographic locations, but significant differences wereidentified in samples near known emitting sources. Thedifferences were analyzed in the frame of a model ofthe emissions and their subsequent distribution andre-suspension from the soil and other surfaces. Theresults show that the rat hepatocyte test is sensitiveto genotoxic activity of the urban air particulate inthe low dose range of the tested fractions. Adequatemodels of human exposure to these materials shouldconsider emissions and re-suspension of pollutants bywind. The implications of these results on theformulation of policies of emission reduction, urbansoil management and the design of cancer epidemiologystudies are discussed.