Chemical and colloidal analyses of natural seep water collected from the exploratory studies facility inside Yucca Mountain,Nevada, USA

Yucca Mountain is being considered as a geological repository for the USA’s spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste. Numerous groundwater seeps appeared during March 2005 within the exploratory studies facility (ESF), a tunnel excavated in the mountain. Because of the relevance to radionuclide transport and unsaturated zone-modeling studies, we analyzed the seep samples for major anions and cations, rare earth elements, and colloids. Major ion species and elemental concentrations in seep samples reflect interaction of the water with the volcanic rock and secondary calcites. Elemental fractograms from flow-injection field-flow fractionation ICP–MS scans detected Br, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, I, Mg, Si, Sr, W, and U at void fractions, suggesting they may be present in the form of dissolved anions. Colloids approximately 10 nm in hydrodynamic diameter, possibly calcite, were also present in the seepage samples. Geochemical calculations indicate, however, these may be an artifact (not present in the groundwater) which arose because of loss of CO₂ during sample collection and storage.     

Medical geochemistry research in Spišsko-Gemerské rudohorie Mts., Slovakia

This study presents an assessment of the potential impact of geological contamination of the environment on the health of the population in Spišsko-Gemerské rudohorie Mts. (SGR Mts.). The concentration levels of potentially toxic elements (mainly As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, and Zn) were determined in soils, groundwater, surface water, and stream sediments as well as in the food chain (locally grown vegetables). A medical study included some 30 health indicators for all 98 municipalities of the study area. The As and Sb contents in human fluids and tissues were analyzed in one municipality identified to be at the highest risk. Based on element content, environmental and health risks were calculated for respective municipalities. Out of 98 municipalities 14 were characterized with extremely high environmental risk and 10 were characterized with very high carcinogenic risk from arsenic (groundwater). Extensive statistical analysis of geochemical data (element contents in soils, groundwater, surface water, and stream sediments) and health indicators was performed. Significant correlations between element contents in the geological environment and health indicators, mainly cancer and cardiovascular diseases, were identified. Biological monitoring has confirmed the transfer of elements from the geological environment to human fluids and tissues as well as to the local food chain.     

Characterization of Santa Catarina (Brazil) coal with respect to human health and environmental concerns

The current paper presents the concentration, distribution, and modes of occurrence of trace elements of 13 coals from south Brazil. The samples were collected in the state of Santa Catarina. Chemical analyses and the high ash yields indicate that all studied coals are rich in mineral matter, with SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ dominating as determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Quartz is the main mineral species and is associated with minor levels of feldspars, kaolinite, hematite, and iron-rich carbonates. The contents of trace elements, including As, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn, Be, V, U, Zn, Li, Cu, Tl, and Ni, in coals were determined. A comparison of ranges and means of elemental concentrations in Santa Catarina, Brazil, and world coals shows that the ranges of most elements in Santa Catarina coal are very close to the usual worldwide concentration ranges in coal.     

发展地方环保产业的思考

本文论述了发展地方环保产业的六大要素：优势、科技、龙头、基地、环境、创新。抓住了这六大要素,地方环保产业就可成为地方经济新的增长点。     

分级燃烧工况下高岭土对煤中微量元素排放的影响研究

通过在一维煤粉燃烧炉上进行肥煤、无烟煤添加高岭土吸附剂的燃烧实验 ,研究了肥煤、无烟煤及其燃烧产物中 18种微量元素的含量和分布 ;计算了高岭土在分级燃烧工况条件下对每种微量元素的吸附率 .结果表明 :高岭土对中、低挥发性微量元素具有不同的吸附作用 ,吸附效率与煤种、元素种类、燃烧温度等因素有关 ,无烟煤燃烧比肥煤燃烧吸附效果更好 .     

锡林河流域地表水痕量元素的时空分布

为更好地理解锡林河流域水文循环过程,在2006～2008年锡林河主要径流期内13个河水断面(10个位于锡林河干流,3个位于3条支流)取得的248个水样,应用高分辨电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS)进行了Al、As等20种痕量元素的分析测定,利用分析结果对流域内痕量元素时空分布特征进行了分析.结果表明,锡林河河水中痕量元素平均质量浓度大部分在0.1～10μg.L-1之间;大多数痕量元素浓度值介于大气降水和地下水之间,并且十分接近地下水浓度,说明地表水同时受大气降水和地下水补给并主要依靠地下水补给.时间上,地表水痕量元素年内、年际变化均不大,就年内而言,大部分元素浓度变化在4、5月较大,7、8月较小;大部分元素在2007年间浓度略小.在空间上,从上游到下游,大多数痕量元素浓度呈上升趋势,地下水的补给、河水的蒸发等造成了元素富集的变化.     

我国典型海域主要生物体微量元素含量的统计研究

研究了微量元素Fe、Mn、Zn、CM、Sr、Ba在我国典型海域主要生物类别中的概率分布特征，并与常量元素Ca、Mg进行了比较。结果表明，微量元素的概率分布曲线具正偏态性质，概率分布类型大多为对数正态分布或近似对数正态分布，表明对某一特定微量元素，大多数生物体中的含量都比较低，只有个别生物有不成比例的高含量。常量元素Ca与微量元素相似，表现为对数正态分布，而Mg却具正态分布特征。本文给出了我国典型海域生物体中元素含量的总体分布特征。     

北京河流水污染现状分析研究

通过总结近年来北京河流中氮磷、有机质和重金属等方面的研究成果,结果表明北运河水系各河段水质均较差,劣Ⅴ类水质的河流长度超过80％,城市河流污染特征明显,主要污染指标为耗氧型有机污染物和氨氮,重金属污染较轻,悬浮物中的重金属占较大的比重;永定河水系枯水期氮污染较重,主要是硝态氮超标,以颗粒态磷为主要形式的磷污染较轻,重金属含量大都低于地表水Ⅲ类标准;潮白河水系水质较好,各水质指标除个别断面外大都满足中Ⅲ类水标准,重金属含量大都符合Ⅰ～Ⅲ类水标准。     

外源性稀土La和Ce对几种淡水微藻生长影响的研究

通过模拟培养实验,研究了不同质量浓度的稀土元素La3+和Ce3+对2种产地的微囊藻以及月牙藻增殖的影响.结果表明低质量浓度的La3+和Ce3+对2种微囊藻的刺激作用明显大于对月牙藻的刺激作用,说明稀土元素La3+和Ce3+在湖泊中的富集可能改变湖泊种群结构,有利于微囊藻在湖泊中形成优势种;高质量浓度的La3+和Ce3+对3种藻均有抑制生长的作用,当La3+和Ce3+的质量浓度为50.0 mg/L时,微囊藻的生长繁殖完全被抑制.     

新疆柴窝堡地区沉积物元素地球化学特征及其环境意义

通过对新疆柴窝堡地区湖泊沉积物和流域表层沉积物中元素含量的分析,研究了柴窝堡湖沉积物中元素的地球化学特征及其环境意义,并利用重金属潜在生态危害指数法对沉积物重金属的生态效应进行了简要评价。相关分析及主成分分析表明,柴窝堡流域Al、K、Na、Be、Ba、Ti、Ca、Mg、Sr等元素含量的变化主要受流域化学风化作用强度的影响,而Fe、Mn、Zn、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb、Co等重金属元素与黏土含量之间相关性显著,反映了自然与人类活动的影响过程。1950年前,人类活动影响弱,湖泊沉积物重金属元素主要受控于流域水动力条件;1950年后,流域人类活动的加强使得湖泊沉积物中重金属含量显著增加。利用聚类方法进行了湖泊沉积物与流域表层沉积物元素组成的比较分析,结果显示不同湖泊沉积物元素的组合特征反映了流域人类活动和自然作用的影响。最后,通过重金属潜在生态危害指数法对柴窝堡湖泊沉积物中Cu、Cr、Zn、Pb等4种重金属的潜在危害程度进行初步评价,其中以沉积物中Pb和Cu危害程度较高,但潜在生态危害程度尚属轻微。