Low levels of toxic elements in Dead Sea black mud and mud-derived cosmetic products

Natural muds used as or in cosmetics may expose consumers to toxic metals and elements via absorption through the skin, inhalation of the dried product, or ingestion (by children). Despite the extensive therapeutic and cosmetic use of the Dead Sea muds, there apparently has been no assessment of the levels of such toxic elements as Pb, As, or Cd in the mud and mud-based products. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis of eight toxic elements in samples collected from three black mud deposits (Lisan Marl, Pleistocene age) on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea in Jordan revealed no special enrichment of toxic elements in the mud. A similar analysis of 16 different commercial Dead Sea mud cosmetics, including packaged mud, likewise revealed no toxic elements at elevated levels of concern. From a toxic element standpoint, the Dead Sea black muds and derivative products appear to be safe for the consumer. Whatever the therapeutic benefits of the mud, our comparison of the elemental fingerprints of the consumer products with those of the field samples revealed one disturbing aspect: Dead Sea black mud should not be a significant component of such items as hand creams, body lotions, shampoo, and moisturizer.     

东、黄海沉积物中生物硅的分布及其环境意义

通过对1998年5月、2000年10月及2001年5月东、黄海海区3个航次采集的沉积物样品中生物硅(BSi)含量的分析,讨论了东海西北部、南黄海沉积物中BSi的分布、埋藏及其与水体初级生产力、硅藻丰度的关系.测定表明,调查海区表层沉积物中BSi的含量介于0.21%~0.70%,海区BSi的分布与水体初级生产力的变化一致.在长江口海区,BSi的积累与河口区水体中的叶绿素a、初级生产力有着密切的关系,近20年来长江口海区沉积物中BSi含量的变化记录了长江径流以及长江输送N、P、Si营养盐通量的年际变化.     

Effects of a brine discharge over soft bottom Polychaeta assemblage

Desalination is a growing activity that has introduced a new impact, brine discharge, which may affect benthic communities. Although the role of polychaetes as indicators to assess organic pollution is well known, their tolerance to salinity changes has not been examined to such a great extent. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of brine discharge over soft bottom polychaete assemblage along the Alicante coast (Southeast Spain) over a two year period. Changes in the polychaete assemblage was analysed using univariate and multivariate techniques. We compared a transect in front of the discharge with two controls. At each transect we sampled at three depths (4, 10 and 15 m) during winter and summer. We have observed different sensitivity of polychaete families to brine discharges, Ampharetidae being the most sensitive, followed by Nephtyidae and Spionidae. Syllidae and Capitellidae showed some resistance initially, while Paraonidae proved to be a tolerant family.     

Monitoring the formation of trihalomethanes in the effluents from a shrimp hatchery

Formation of trihalomethanes (THM) was monitored at the Laboratório de Camarões Marinhos (LCM) from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. THM could be present because chlorinated effluents from disinfection are discharged from the different hatchery rooms. THM quantification was done through an analytical methodology using Purge&;Trap coupled with a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. Relative standard deviation (RSD), limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the methodology corresponded to the ranges of 8–17%; 0.01–0.03 μg L^?1 and 0.03–0.08 μg L^?1, respectively. Linear working range was of 0.1–8.0 μg L^?1 for all compounds. Enrichment and recovery method was applied to evaluate possible matrix effects and the results varied from 71.2% to 107.9%. LCM was monitored between August and December, 2004. This study showed that THM did not increase with the increase in postlarvae production and also that the aquatic life and the surrounding environment were not affected.     

Groundwater Pollution Around an Industrial Area in the Coastal Stretch of Maharashtra State, India

The main objective of this paper is to examine pollution threat, especially to the groundwater resources, around Tarapur industrial area (also called the Tarapur MIDC area) located on the Arabian Sea Coast in Thane District of Maharashtra State, India and suggest remedial measures that may also be relevant to other industrial areas on the Indian Sea Coast. One hundred and thirty one samples were collected from various sources, such as dugwells, borewells, dug-cum-borewells, effluent sumps, drainage channels (effluent channels), creeks and ocean, for chemical analyses. These analyses show that the area in general is characterized by hard water and high salinity hazard, possibly due to its proximity and hydraulic connection with the sea. Although the potability of groundwater is questionable in certain pockets, it is good enough for irrigation purposes at present. Low pH value and high heavy metal contents in the adjoining Muramba creek water is a matter of great concern and may be attributed to the indiscriminate disposal of industrial effluents to the drainage channels connecting the creek. Muramba Creek is well connected with the Arabian Sea, and there are evidences of seawater intrusion around this creek. Because of the fact that Muramba Creek is highly polluted, and is hydraulically connected with the dugwells and borewells surrounding the creek, it cannot be ruled out that the groundwater around this creek is susceptible to contamination. Unless measures are not taken immediately to stop the indiscriminate disposal of the solid wastes and liquid effluents in open ground and drainage channels, and measures are not taken to maintain the appropriate pH values at the effluent treatment facilities before their disposal, the problem would indeed be formidable one day, and it will be too late then for the authorities to take care of the resulting maladies. Few suggestions have been given for controlling and managing the industrial pollution around the Tarapur MIDC area. These suggestions are relevant to other industrial areas situated on the 7,000 km long Indian Sea Coast.     

Impact of continental margins in the Mediterranean Sea: Hints from the surface colour and temperature historical record

The surface colour and temperature fields of the Mediterranean Sea, as appearing in time series, of basin-wide images available in the CZCS (1979–1985) and AVHRR (1982–1991) historical archives, differentiate between basin interior and continental margins affected by coastal patterns, river plumes, and mesoscale features. The original data were processed to apply calibration factors, to correct for atmospheric contamination, and to estimate chlorophyll-like pigment concentration and surface temperature. Composites were derived, as monthly and annual means, using a fixed equal-area projection with a 1-km² pixel grid. Enhanced pigment values and lower temperatures along the northern coastal areas (i.e. the Ligurian, Provençal and Balearic basins, as well as the Adriatic, and Aegean Seas) have been associated with the impact of runoff from continental margins (i.e. both a direct impact due to the sediment load and one induced on the planktonic flora by the associated nutrient load) and with vertical mixing due to the prevailing winds (i.e. the Mistral in the northwest, the Bora in the Adriatic, the Etesians in the Aegean). The pattern of increasing pigments and decreasing temperatures in seen to develop in the monthly images from the coastal zone towards the open sea from summer to winter, and then back from winter to summer. The southern coastal areas show different values, namely lower pigments and higher temperatures (except in areas where the data are altered by signal contamination). It is suggested that differences in geomorphology and meteorology of the basin margins have an impact on both water biogeochemistry and dynamics, influencing the biooptical and thermal properties of the various sub-basins, and of the entire Mediterranean region.     

Trace elements and stable isotopes (delta13C and delta15N) in shallow and deep-water organisms from the East China Sea

Trace elements (22) and stable isotope ratios (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) were analyzed in marine organisms from shallow (SW) and deep-water (DW) of the East China Sea to understand biomagnification and prey source of trace elements. In the benthic marine organisms from DW, δ¹⁵N values were negatively correlated with Ba, Cu, Ag, Mo, Sr, As, and Co concentrations. This may be due to the specific accumulation in lower trophic animals and/or the biodilution through the food web in DW. Relationships between δ¹⁵N and concentrations of Co, Cr, Bi, and Tl in fish and Ag, Bi, V, Hg, and Tl in crustaceans showed positive correlations, suggesting that trophic position was affecting the concentrations of those elements in phyla, with higher trophic animals retaining higher concentrations than the lower trophic animals. Positive correlations between δ¹³C and Rb were observed in marine organisms. Therefore, Rb may be a possible substitute of δ¹³C as tracer of prey source in the East China Sea although further investigation is required.     

长江口地区的盐水入侵灾害及变化趋势

本文在总结长江口地区现状盐水入侵时空变化规律的基础上,着重分析了在未来海平面上升、长江东线南水北调和三峡水利枢纽工程以及长江口北支综合整治等因素影响下,南支河段盐水入侵强度的变化趋势。     

南海北部沿岸近江牡蛎有机氯杀虫剂含量与食用安全性分析

于2008—2010年每年春季,在南海北部沿岸23个观测站分别采集成体近江牡蛎(Crassostrea rivularis),测定了牡蛎有机氯杀虫剂含量,并探讨了有机氯杀虫剂残留对牡蛎食用安全性的影响。结果表明,牡蛎有机氯杀虫剂平均含量(μg.kg-1,以湿质量计)高低依次为:DDTs 4.68(含量范围1.53～9.77)>硫丹2.58(nd～17.6)>氯丹1.12(nd～11.2)>三氯杀螨醇0.514(nd～4.42)>甲氧氯0.300(nd～2.66)>异狄氏剂0.229(nd～4.82)>环氧七氯0.182(nd～1.65)>异狄氏剂醛0.159(nd～1.16)>艾氏剂0.138(nd～1.72)>BHCs 0.130(nd～0.727)>狄氏剂0.095(nd～0.237)>七氯0.056(nd～0.531)。除异狄氏剂醛和硫丹外,其他杀虫剂含量明显低于澳大利亚、俄罗斯、欧盟、加拿大、日本和中国的水产品、畜禽肉中有机氯杀虫剂残留限量;硫丹含量低于澳大利亚和加拿大的限量,但少数牡蛎样本中硫丹含量略高于欧盟的限量,接近或超过日本的限量。经食用牡蛎而进入人体的α-BHC、β-BHC、γ-BHCp、p...     

南海北部海域底泥微生物的腐殖质还原性能研究

微生物的腐殖质还原过程自1996年发现以来,日益成为环境领域的一个研究热点。以南海北部海域的8个底泥为实验材料,利用蒽醌-2,6,-双磺酸（AQDS）为腐殖质模式物,初步探讨了南海北部8个底泥培养物对腐殖质的还原能力,并探讨了驯化后的8个底泥微生物对腐殖质的还原过程。结果发现：从南海北部深海海域到海陆交接的香港米浦红树林的8个底泥样品培养液均能很好的还原AQDS;驯化后的8个站点底泥微生物对腐殖质还原的能力有所不同,在48 h,E425站点培养液中的OD450只有0.74,其余7个站点培养液中的OD450都在2.0~3.0之间,推测其原因是8个站点中腐殖质还原微生物的数量具有明显差异,使得各站点的OD450差异很大。研究结果为认知腐殖质还原微生物的分布和探究腐殖质还原微生物在环境中的生态学意义提供重要的理论依据。