Toxicity of cobalt-complexed cyanide to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss,Daphnia magna</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceriodaphnia dubia</Emphasis>

Background Cobalt cyanide complexes often result when ore is treated with cyanide solutions to extract gold and other metals. These have recently been discovered in low but significant concentrations in effluents from gold leach operations. This study was conducted to determine the potential toxicity of cobalt-cyanide complexes to freshwater organisms and the extent to which ultraviolet radiation (UV) potentiates this toxicity. Tests were also conducted to determine if humic acids or if adaptation to UV influenced sensitivity to the cyanide complexes. Methods Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Daphnia magna, and Ceriodaphnia dubia were exposed to potassium hexacyanocobaltate in the presence and absence of UV radiation, in the presence and absence of humic acids. Cyano-cobalt exposures were also conducted with C. dubia from cultures adapted to elevated UV. Results With an LC50 concentration of 0.38 mg/L, cyanocobalt was over a 1000 times more toxic to rainbow trout in the presence of UV at a low, environmentally relevant irradiance level (4 μW/cm² as UVB) than exposure to this compound in the absence of UV with an LC50 of 112.9 mg/L. Toxicity was immediately apparent, with mortality occurring within an hour of the onset of exposure at the highest concentration. Fish were unaffected by exposure to UV alone. Weak-acid dissociable cyanide concentrations were observed in irradiated aqueous solutions of cyanocobaltate within hours of UV exposure and persisted in the presence of UV for at least 96 hours, whereas negligible concentrations were observed in the absence of UV. The presence of humic acids significantly diminished cyanocobalt toxicity to D. magna and reduced mortality from UV exposure. Humic acids did not significantly influence survival among C. dubia. C. dubia from UV-adapted populations were less sensitive to metallocyanide compounds than organisms from unadapted populations. Conclusions The results indicate that metallocyanide complexes may pose a hazard to aquatic life through photochemically induced processes. Factors that decrease UV exposure such as dissolved organic carbon or increased pigmentation would diminish toxicity.     

Home range overlap of mothers and their offspring in the sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa

This paper reports a field investigation of interactions between juveniles and their mothers in the Australian sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa. In their first spring season, juvenile lizards maintain home ranges largely within the home range of their mother. Juvenile home ranges are significantly smaller than those of adult males and females, and juveniles move significantly less often and significantly shorter distances than adults. While siblings were never found together in the spring, they showed a significant tendency to be closer to each other than if they were randomly located in their home ranges. Juveniles and mothers were never found together, nor was there any evidence for any positive (or negative) spatial association. Nevertheless, the extended tolerance of home range overlap represents a greater degree of mother-offspring association than has been previously reported for other lizards. Despite this, the level of parental care can only be described as minimal. Received: 20 June 1997 / Accepted after revision: 29 December 1997     

某厂煤气洗涤塔煤气泄漏中毒事故分析

针对某钢铁厂煤气事故,使用定性分析的方法,对喷淋塔泄水作业的试验数据进行了分析,煤气泄漏造成人员中毒原因进行了论证,得出了一些结论,并据此分析煤气泄漏后可能导致人员死亡的范围,为今后采取控制措施提供依据。     

Detection, isolation, and identification of cadmium-resistant bacteria based on PCR-DGGE

This study focused on the screening of cadmium-resistant bacterial strains from Pb-Zn tailing. We investigated the diversity of microbial community inhabiting Dong-san-cha Pb-Zn tailing in Beijing, China, by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis （DGGE） of 16S rRNA gene of bacterial strain, and found two dominant strains in the DGGE profile. Using special culture media, we isolated two strong cadmium-resistant bacterial strains. On the basis of morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, BIOLOG, and 16S rDNA sequencing, the two strains were identified as Bacillus cereus and Enterobacter cloacae. Minimal inhibitory concentrations （MICs） of heavy metals for the bacteria were determined. E. cloacae showed higher MIC values for heavy metals and a larger range of antibiotic resistance than B. cereus.     

Releasing characteristics of phosphorus and other substances during thermal treatment of excess sludge

The releasing characteristics of phosphorus,nitrogen compounds,organics,and some metal cations during thermal treatment of excess sludge were investigated.It was found that during heating not only phosphorus,but also nitrogen compounds,organics,and some metal cations could be released in abundance.The maximum orthophosphate (ortho-P) release of about 90 mg/L in concentration was observed at 50℃in 1 h.Except for volatile fatty acids (VFAs),comparatively little total nitrogen (TN),total organic carbon (TOC),and metal cations were released at the same time.Such results might favor further process of phosphorus recovery.VFAs were considerably released only at 50℃.Acetic,butyric,and propionic acid were the most abundant components in turn and their releasing profiles exhibited good linear relationship with time (R~2=0.9977,0.9624,and 0.8908,respectively).The concentrations of Mg~(2 ) and K~ increased with time and temperature during thermal treatment,but Ca~(2 ) decreased.The release of Mg~(2 ) and K~ agreed well with TP release (R~2=0.9892 and 0.9476,respectively).Temperature in the experimental range had very little impact on the linear relationships, especially of Mg~(2 ).Moreover,the parameter of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) was found to be an important factor for thermal sludge treatment as the released ortho-P and total phosphorus (TP) at 50℃increased more than one-fold when MLSS was increased from 4000 to 8000 mg/L.     

On-line enrichment and determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric particulates using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence as detector

Seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric particulates were determinated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector using direction injection and an on-line enrichment trap column.The method simplified the sample pretreatment,saved time and increased the efficiency.With the on-line trap column,PAHs were separated availably even underground injecting 1.0 ml sample with relatively high column efficiency.The recoveries of the seven PAHs were from 85% to 120% for spiked atmospheric particulate sample.The limit of detection was 15.3-39.6 ng/L (S/N=3.3).There were good linear correlations between the peak areas and concentrations of the seven kinds of PAHs in the range of 1-50 ng/ml with the correlation coefficients over 0.9970.Furthermore,it also indicated that the method is available to determine PAHs in atmospheric particulates well.     

RUNOFF AND EROSION RESPONSE OF SIMULATED WASTE BURIAL COVERS IN A SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENT1

ABSTRACT: Control of runoff (reducing infiltration) and erosion at shallow land burials is necessary in order to assure environmentally safe disposal of low-level radioactive-waste and other waste products. This study evaluated the runoff and erosion response of two perennial grass species on simulated waste burial covers at Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). Rainfall simulations were applied to three plots covered by crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum(Fischer ex Link) Shultes], three plots covered by streambank wheatgrass [Elymus lanceolatus(Scribner and Smith) Gould spp. lanceolaus], and one bare plot. Average total runoff for rainfall simulations in 1987, 1989, and 1990 was 42 percent greater on streambank wheatgrass plots than on crested wheatgrass plots. Average total soil loss for rainfall simulations in 1987 and 1990 was 105 percent greater on streambank wheatgrass plots than on crested wheatgrass plots. Total runoff and soil loss from natural rainfall and snowmelt events during 1987 were 25 and 105 percent greater, respectively, on streambank wheatgrass plots than on crested wheatgrass plots. Thus, crested wheatgrass appears to be better suited in revegetation of waste burial covers at INEEL than streambank wheatgrass due to its much lower erosion rate and only slightly higher infiltration rate (lower runoff rate).     

On the Distribution of Reindeer in the Middle and Northern Urals

Russian Journal of Ecology -     

Fate and behavior of metal(loid) contaminants in an organic matter-rich shooting range soil: Implications for remediation

This study investigates the fate and behavior of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), antimony (Sb), and arsenic (As) in a shooting range soil. The soil samples were collected from the surface (0–15 cm) and the subsurface (15–40 cm and 40–55 cm) of a grassy and wood chip covered impact area behind a firing position. Optical microscopy images indicate significant amounts of corroded bullet fragments and organic wood chips in the surface soil. Analysis by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) showed that metallic Pb was transformed into lead oxides (litharge PbO and massicot PbO) and lead carbonates (hydrocerussite Pb₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂, cerussite PbCO₃, and plumbonacrite Pb₅(CO₃)₃O(OH)₂). Rietveld quantification indicated the surface soil contained 14.1% metallic Pb, 17.9% hydrocerussite, 5.2% plumbonacrite, 5.9% litharge, and 3.9% massicot on a dry weight basis, or a total of 39.7% Pb, far in excess of lead concentrations typically found in US shooting range soils. Metallic Cu (bullet jacket material) appeared stable as no secondary minerals were detected in the surface soil. As and Sb concentrations were on the order of 1,057 mg/kg and 845 mg/kg respectively. The elevated soil pH coupled with high organic carbon content is thought to have caused downward migration of metals, especially for Pb, since 4,153 mg Pb/kg was observed at a depth of 55 cm. More than 60% of Pb was concentrated in the coarse soil (> 0.425 mm) fraction, suggesting soil clean-up possible by physical soil washing may be viable. The concentrations of Pb, As, and Sb in the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) extracts were 8,869 mg/L, 6.72 mg/L, and 6.42 mg/L respectively, were above the USEPA non-hazardous regulatory limit (As and Pb) of 5 mg/L. The elevated Sb and As concentrations draw concern because there is historically limited information concerning these metals at firing ranges and several values exceeded local soil cleanup criteria. As the high Pb concentrations appeared to be linked to the presence of organic-rich berm cover materials, the use of wood chips as berm cover to prevent soil erosion requires reconsideration as a shooting range management practice.     

无线电引信抗箔条干扰综述

首先简要叙述了箔条干扰的发展状况。然后对无线电引信抗箔条干扰方法的研究现状进行了综述,介绍了基于频谱展宽、极化特征、多普勒差异、回波信号特征、距离像、稀疏表示等抗箔条干扰方法。最后总结了无线电引信抗箔条干扰技术面临的问题,并对其发展前景作了展望。