Chemistry,mineralogy and radioactivity in posidonia oceanica meadows from North-Western Sicily

This paper presents measurements of major, minor, metal trace elements and radionuclides in sediments and in Posidonia oceanica samples from north-western Sicily (Italy). The mineralogical and chemical composition of sediments were determined by X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence techniques, respectively. A flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to measure concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in P. oceanica samples and in sediments. Specific activities of selected radionuclides have been determined by high-resolution gamma spectrometry. Standard statistical analysis was used to assess correlations between different elements and different sample types.     

Phytoplankton photosynthetic activity and growth rates in the NW Adriatic Sea

Taxonomic composition, biomass, primary production and growth rates of the phytoplankton community were studied in two stations in the NW Adriatic Sea on a seasonal basis, in areas characterized by differing hydrological and trophic conditions. The main differences between the two stations were quantitative rather than qualitative, most phytoplankton species being common to both stations. The effects of differing nutrient concentrations and plume spreading were evident. Biomass and primary production rates were significantly higher in the coastal station (S1), and the phytoplankton distribution in the water column was markedly stratified in S1 and more even in the offshore station (S3). However, chlorophyll a specific production, potential growth rate and production efficiencies were very similar in both stations, even when phosphorus concentrations were limiting. A discrepancy between potential and actual growth rate was observed: as a feature common to both stations, comparisons between potential and actual growth rates revealed that little carbon produced by phytoplankton accumulated as algal biomass; therefore, very high loss rates were estimated.     

Heavy Metal Pollution in Sediment from the Eastern Adriatic Coast,Croatia

Abstract

Sediment samples were collected from the Adriatic Sea in areas near large coastal towns along the eastern Adriatic coast (Zadar, [Ncirc]ibenik, Split, Plo?e and Dubrovnik).

Considerable quantities of untreated effluents are discharged via freshwater runoff and a variety of industrial waste waters, significantly affecting the quality of marine sediments.

Distribution of some trace metals (Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, Zn, Mn, Cd, and Al) involved in problems related to metal pollution in Adriatic sediment were examined. Values are expressed as a total concentration of heavy metals of sediment dry weight.

Spatial distribution of some trace metal values in sediments and correlation of results for grain size effect were examined. the trace elements in marine sediments generally remain in the fine grained fraction, often in the silt-clay fraction. Higher values of heavy metals in some areas (Split, Sibenik) could be attributed to anthropogenic effects, i.e. to land-based activities. the main cause of higher values of some metals at open sea sites and in some coastal areas are probably caused naturally by sedimentation processes in those areas. Our results show that the sediments undoubtedly play a key role in determining the transport and ultimate fate of contaminants.     

Spatial Variations of Heavy Metals in the East China Sea Continental Shelf Surface Sediments

Surface sediments collected from continental shelf of the East China Sea were analyzed for heavy metals (iron, manganese, copper, zinc, lead, cadmium), carbonate, organic carbon contents, and grain sizes. the range of concentrations observed were iron: 0.3-1.3 wt%, manganese: 2.3-14 μmole/g, copper: 7.1-184 μmole/g, zinc: 0.16-0.77μmiole/g, lead: 15-98 μmole/g, cadmium: 0.17-3.9 μmole/g, carbonate: 3.6-87 wt%, sand: 10-100%, silt: 0-70% and clay: 0-50%.

A zonal distribution pattern of the heavy metals was found in the East China Sea Continental shelf sediments. High concentrations of most heavy metals, organic carbon and fine-grained sediments were observed in the inner shelf zone, especially those near the discharge of the Yangtze River. Concentrations of these heavy metals decreased from the inner shelf to the shelf break region. High concentrations of metals were also found in sediments near Taiwan. Iron concentrations decreased north-east of the central shelf region. High concentrations of cadmium were found in the shelf break region where biogenic carbonate is predominant. This study showed that biogenic carbonate in the East China Sea shelf break region and the terrigenous sediments from the Yangtze River and island of Taiwan were the major sources of heavy metals. Heavy metal concentrations were strongly influenced by the content of the coarse-grained quartz sand present in the sediments.     

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Pcbs) Pollution in Sea of Japan

Abstract

Deep waters of the Sea of Japan and surface waters of the Pacific Coast of Honshu and the northeast Sea of Japan were analysed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pollution. the ΣPCB concentrations in solution in the Sea of Japan (50–3000 m) were between 140 and 1230 fg dm_?3. the space-integrated surface water concentration near the Pacific coast of northern Honshu was 140 fg dm_?3and for the surface water of the Sea of Japan was 230 fg dm_?3. Based on these analyses four water masses were deduced in the Sea of Japan during the summer months. It is shown for the first time in the Sea of Japan that polychlorinated biphenyls are excellent chemical indicators of not only the anthropogenic pollution, but also water masses.     

Hydrographic and biological aspects of algal bloom in the Adriatic Sea in 1988

The interaction of hydrological, chemical and biological factors in a defined time may cause an excess bloom of phytoplankton in an ecosystem, which can persist over a long period or occur from time to time.

This phenomenon has been recorded from the northern Adriatic and coastal enclosed basins along the eastern Adriatic coast (Ka?tela Bay, Split) for a long time now.

During 1988 this phenomenon of increased production was recorded from almost the entire northern and middle Adriatic with some traces even in its southern part. Some preliminary results for that period point to the fact that this was caused very likely by exceptionally warm and dry weather, with no significant precipitations and wind. Such conditions affect horizontal and vertical stratification of water masses.

High photosynthetic radiation, increased quantities of alochthonous organic matter, either in the form of particulate or dissolved organic matter, either in the form of particulate or dissolved organic carbon (POC or DOC), influx of nutrients (via rivers, municipal sewage or upwelling) are the main causes of sudden bloom and rapid reproduction rate of phytoplankton species (Diatoms) to the large quantities to which the pollution of the entire coastal area is due.     

Behaviour of trace metals in surface sediments of the Black Sea

Early diagenetic processes control the behavior, and more specifically the dissolved‐solid phase distribution of heavy metals in sediments. The depth distribution of Co, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Fe in sediment were determined in box cores from the Black Sea. The sequential analyses results of these metals indicate contrasting behavior of Mn and Co during early diagenesis, consistent with their respective chemistries and particle‐associations. The profiles of extractable trace metals in the cores are clearly related to sediment type or depositional environment. Topmost sections of the profiles for these elements are generally similar, i.e. rapid decrease in concentration below the sediment surface.     

黄河三角洲北部悬浮体和颗粒有机碳的分布与影响因素

2008年12月对黄河三角洲北部及其毗邻海域悬浮体浓度(SSC)和颗粒有机碳(POC)进行了研究,并结合该海域水文资料,分析了该区冬季SSC和POC的空间分布特征和影响因素.结果表明,冬季研究区水体中的SSC变化范围较大(5~1064mg/L),表、底层的SSC高值区(>600mg/L)均呈条带状分布于废弃神仙沟-钓口三角洲附近海域,且随水深加大SSC快速降低(400μg/L)集中于近岸海域,渤海中部POC仅为20~50μg/L左右,但底层POC向渤海湾中部扩散范围比表层大.POC和SSC之间存在显著正相关关系,表明该海区近岸浅水区沉积物再悬浮是影响研究区POC空间分布的重要原因.冬季SSC和POC高值区与最大侵蚀区、波致底切应力>0.2N/m2的区域相对应,表明在冬季强海洋动力条件下,废弃神仙沟-钓口三角洲叶瓣前缘不仅是沉积物的“源”,也同样是颗粒有机碳的“源”.     

环渤海经济区海域船舶大气污染物排放特征

环渤海经济区是我国重点打造的7个跨省（区、市）的经济区域之一,也是我国北方大气污染控制重点区域和主要航运发展区域.随着陆上污染物减排力度的不断加强,环渤海经济区周边海域船舶大气污染日益受到各界关注.为分析环渤海经济区周边海域船舶大气污染物排放特征,采用船舶AIS（Automatic Identification System,自动识别系统）数据、国内外船舶登记注册数据,利用基于AIS的动力法计算了环渤海经济区周边海域船舶大气污染物排放清单.结果表明:2017年环渤海经济区船舶SO_x、NO_x、PM₁₀、HC和CO的排放量分别为26.18×104、41.12×104、3.48×104、1.13×104和2.66×104 t;船舶大气污染物排放主要在低速航行、巡航和系泊工况下产生,低速航行下SO_x、NO_x、PM₁₀、HC、CO的分担率较大,分别为45.56%、48.79%、46.55%、48.68%、47.00%,系泊工况下SO_x、NO_x、PM₁₀、HC和CO的排放量分别为5.06×104、6.86×104、0.67×104、0.19×104和0.51×104 t,因此,推进靠港船舶使用岸电等举措具有良好的减排效果.船舶使用硫含量（以质量分数计）为0.5%和0.1%的燃料油后,SO_x排放量分别减少81.47%和96.29%,可见船舶使用低硫油时SO_x减排效果显著.研究显示,禁止船舶在航行时使用高硫油、要求船舶靠港前换烧低硫油、提高港口岸电覆盖率、加大靠港船舶使用岸电力度是环渤海经济区周边海域船舶大气污染物减排的有效措施.      

Physiological testing of Mytilus galloprovincialis for the environmental assessing of coastal marine areas: a case study in Boka Kotorska Bay (the Adriatic Sea)

The aim of this work was to validate in the field certain measurement of the heart rate alterations of the bioindicator organism Mytilus galloprovicialis as a tool for ecotoxicological biomonitoring and assessment applications related to coastal and marine environment. The latter was determined by testing the mussels according to the method of functional loading (1-hour lowered salinity stress-exposure). The time of heart rate (HR) recovery (T_rec) and the coefficient of HR variation (CV_HR) in a group of tested animals were used as biomarkers for the assessment of their physiological state. It was found that the values of the biomarkers in mussels from our reference location were 1.3-1.5 times lower than in mussels from differently polluted coastal areas of the Bay. The study also included an investigation of the relationship between the mussel’s cardiac rhythm characteristics and the bioaccumulation of trace elements in their soft tissues, caused by chronic pollution. The conclusion was drawn that this approach to the physiological testing of mussels could be useful in developing a rapid and low-cost method for the assessment of the health of coastal ecosystems.