Exposure of an anoxic and contaminated canal sediment: Mobility of metal(loid)s

A derelict canal contains an estimated 9800 tonnes of anoxic sediment with highly elevated concentrations of trace elements. Lack of maintenance, reduced water levels and vegetation colonization threaten the stability of pollutants by removing existing waterlogged reduced conditions. A column leaching study of the sediment under increasingly oxidized conditions showed reductions in As mobility but increased heavy metal concentrations. In a reduced state, As mobility was higher (as a consequence of enhanced Fe and organic carbon solubility) whilst heavy metal concentrations in leachates were lower (due to markedly higher pH). Over 10 contiguous wetting and drying cycles, the consequences were profound; all trace elements were continuously leached with enhanced flushing of Fe, As, Zn and Cu. This raises concern over possible mobilization of pollutants to the wider environment, including groundwater. Options for management to stabilize contaminants are discussed that point to the importance of limiting water flow through the sediment.     

How the redox state of tobacco 'Bel-W3' is modified in response to ozone and other environmental factors in a sub-tropical area?

This study intended to determine whether the redox state in plants of Nicotiana tabacum ‘Bel-W3’ fluctuates in response to the environmental factors in a sub-tropical area contaminated by ozone (São Paulo, SE - Brazil) and which environmental factors are related to this fluctuation, discussing their biomonitoring efficiency. We comparatively evaluated the indicators of redox state (ascorbic acid, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) and leaf injury in 17 field experiments performed in 2008. The redox state was explained by the combined effects of chronic levels of O₃ and meteorological variables 4-6 days prior to the plant sampling. Moderate leaf injury was observed in most cases. The redox state of tobacco decreases few days after their placement in the sub-tropical environment, causing them to become susceptible to oxidative stress imposed by chronic doses of O₃. Its bioindicator efficiency would not be diminished in such levels of atmospheric contamination.     

The impact of eutrophication on the biogeochemical cycling of mercury species in a reservoir: a case study from Hongfeng Reservoir, Guizhou, China

The mercury distribution and speciation in the water column were investigated from November 2003 to September 2004. The distribution and concentrations of total mercury (THg) and particulate mercury (PHg) showed that algae had a large capacity to bind mercury in late spring (e.g. in May). It is shown that dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) concentrations may also be affected by algae activities. The MeHg profile in the water column at a highly eutrophied site in Hongfeng Reservoir demonstrated that most of the MeHg was produced in the hypolimnion, whereas the MeHg profile pattern at another site with less eutrophication indicated that MeHg in water was largely ascribed to release from sediment. In September, the outflow of the reservoir was enriched with MeHg, which was 5.5 times higher than that in the inflows. The discharge of MeHg-concentrated water from the anoxic hypolimnion in the reservoir may pose a risk to downstream fauna.     

Hydrochemistry of urban groundwater, Seoul, Korea: the impact of subway tunnels on groundwater quality

Hydrogeologic and hydrochemical data for subway tunnel seepage waters in Seoul (Republic of Korea) were examined to understand the effect of underground tunnels on the degradation of urban groundwater. A very large quantity of groundwater (up to 63 million m³ year^− 1) is discharged into subway tunnels with a total length of 287 km, resulting in a significant drop of the local groundwater table and the abandonment of groundwater wells. For the tunnel seepage water samples (n = 72) collected from 43 subway stations, at least one parameter among pathogenic microbes (total coliform, heterotrophic bacteria), dissolved Mn and Fe, NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, turbidity, and color exceeded the Korean Drinking Water Standards. Locally, tunnel seepage water was enriched in dissolved Mn (avg. 0.70 mg L^− 1, max. 5.58 mg L^− 1), in addition to dissolved Fe, NH₄⁺, and pathogenic microbes, likely due to significant inflow of sewage water from broken or leaking sewer pipes.Geochemical modeling of redox reactions was conducted to simulate the characteristic hydrochemistry of subway tunnel seepage. The results show that variations in the reducing conditions occur in urban groundwater, dependent upon the amount of organic matter-rich municipal sewage contaminating the aquifer. The organic matter facilitates the reduction and dissolution of Mn- and Fe-bearing solids in aquifers and/or tunnel construction materials, resulting in the successive increase of dissolved Mn and Fe. The present study clearly demonstrates that locally significant deterioration of urban groundwater is caused by a series of interlinked hydrogeologic and hydrochemical changes induced by underground tunnels.     

熵析污水处理资源与能源化

熵为热力学第二定律中的抽象概念.按熵之理论,自然熵增和逆熵增维系着生态平衡.人类生产、生活过程中摄取资源并排放污/废水等熵增产物会促进物质熵增并破坏生态平衡,加速生物消亡.而缓释、甚至抵消这种“人为熵增”则乃实现蓝色发展目标的重要一环.如今,人为熵增所引发的自然物质熵变循环塌陷是不争的事实,“自然熵增”之原生态方法显然已不适合大规模处理城市污水,“加速熵增”的传统污水处理技术显然也已不合时宜,只有发展“逆熵增”的污水处理资源、能源化技术才是人间正道.通过对熵的具象化释义,揭示出传统污水处理技术以及污泥填埋方式为“加速熵增”过程,对人类可持续发展十分不利.只有模拟元素循环的自然的“逆熵增”过程,才能使得污水处理走向可持续发展水平.因此,污水资源化与能源化首当其冲,一定是未来污水处理的发展方向.只有通过人工缓释熵增(高效低耗污水处理技术)和促进逆熵增手段(资源与能源化技术)才能抵消人为熵增造成的影响,从而维持生态平衡.     

覆盖条件下旱作春玉米农田土壤细菌群落结构分析

秸秆和地膜覆盖会改变农田土壤碳氮循环等理化条件,而覆盖对参与碳氮循环的土壤微生物的影响还鲜有报道。本研究通过高通量测序,分析了黄土高原旱作玉米农田无覆盖、秸秆覆盖、地膜覆盖下土壤细菌群落组成,探讨了细菌介导的碳氮循环对覆盖的响应。结果表明秸秆覆盖增加了土壤细菌群落丰富度和多样性,且显著增加了分解纤维素的细菌(纤维弧菌属Cellvibrio)及介导固氮(根瘤菌属Rhizomicrobium、Chryseolinea)和硝化过程的细菌(亚硝化螺菌属Nitrosospira)丰度(p0.05);地膜覆盖增加了土壤细菌丰富度,但降低了细菌多样性,且显著增加了介导土壤硝化作用的硝化螺菌属Nitrospira的丰度(p0.05)。本结果为土壤中微生物介导的碳氮循环研究提供了理论依据。     

Evidence for coupled iron and nitrate reduction in the surface waters of Jiaozhou Bay

Iron and nitrate (NO₃^?) are dominant physiologically required nutrients for phytoplankton growth, and iron may also play a key role in the marine nitrogen cycle. In this study, we investigated the temporal and spatial distributions of dissolved iron (DFe) and Fe(II) in the surface waters of Jiaozhou Bay (JZB) from April 2 to July 26, 2017. High concentrations of DFe and Fe(II) predominantly occurred in nearshore and estuarine stations and concentrations were generally higher in April and May. The highest DFe concentration was observed along the coast of Hongdao (51.55 nmol/L) in May, while the lowest concentration was observed in the western coastal region (2.88 nmol/L) in April. The highest and lowest Fe(II) concentrations were observed in the Licun estuary (22.42 nmol/L) and outer bay (0.50 nmol/L) in May, respectively. We calculated the proportions of nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium in dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) as well as the ratio of Fe(II) to DFe in all four months. The mean Fe(II)/DFe ratio was 0.48 in April, 0.43 in May, 0.69 in June, and 0.32 in July. The mean ratio of NO₃^? to DIN was 0.78 in April, 0.54 in May, 0.20 in June, and 0.62 in July. NO₃^?/DIN continuously decreased in the first three months, while Fe(II)/DFe remained high, which suggests that the reduction of iron and nitrate occurred simultaneously in the surface waters of JZB.     

A model on the carbon cycling in Lake Taihu, China

A model of the carbon cycling in Lake Taihu was developed based on the previous developed model EcoTaihu Model, which couples the hydrology, the nutrient cycling and a number of biological processes. The carbon cycling model (abbreviated CCM) has in addition to the states variables of the EcoTaihu Model, the carbon in phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, macroplant, hydrogen carbonate carbon, carbonate carbon, dissolved carbon, abiotic organic carbon in water, organic carbon in sediment, soluble organic carbon in pore water, inorganic carbon in sediments, soluble inorganic carbon in pore water and pH. The calibration and validation of the CCM showed that the model results are in good accordance with the observations (from the period February17 to December. 5, 2003). It implies that the model can be used to assess the variation of the carbon dioxide flux at the water-air interface, and to find the pH value of the lake water as function of time. According to the model, the carbon dioxide flux at the water-air interface has clear, diurnal variations. Eutrophied water is a sink for the atmospheric carbon dioxide due to the phytosynthesis during the summer. Due to the terrestrial input of carbon to the lake, Lake Taihu is, however, a source of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The total annual flux is almost equal to the terrestrial input of carbon to the lake.     

松嫩平原玉米带土壤碳氮比的时空变异特征

土壤碳氮比(C/N)是土壤质量的敏感指标,是衡量土壤C、N营养平衡状况的指标,它的演变趋势对土壤碳、氮循环有重要影响.通过野外调查、采样和分析,运用地统计学方法和GIS技术,探讨1980～2005年松嫩平原玉米带土壤C/N的时空变化规律.结果表明,1980年和2005年土壤C/N的平均值分别为10.56和12.30.2...     

海河流域土壤中碳的分布特征

通过对海河流域土壤中碳及其形态含量的分析,研究了该区不同土壤类型的水平与垂直分布规律,普遍具有表层含量高于下层含量的垂直分布,盐化湖士>潮土>褐土含量的水平分耵特点;并探讨了影响其含量的地貌特征和施肥因素,具有西部丘陵地区含量分散,冲积淤积区元素富积,以及施用农家肥的蔬菜地含量增高的规律;并探讨了各形态间相互制约的相关牲;同时参照其它地区该元素含量,确立本区基本没受人为干扰的含量水平,在此基础上,作出该区土壤中总碳、无机碳、有机碳,有机质含量分布图。为研究本区碳的生物地球化学循环奠定基础。