Predicting the aquatic risk of realistic pesticide mixtures to species assemblages in Portuguese river basins

Although pesticide regulatory tools are mainly based on individual substances, aquatic ecosystems are usually exposed to multiple pesticides from their use on the variety of crops within the catchment of a river. This study estimated the impact of measured pesticide mixtures in surface waters from 2002 and 2008 within three important Portuguese river basins (‘Mondego’, ‘Sado’ and ‘Tejo’) on primary producers, arthropods and fish by toxic pressure calculation. Species sensitivity distributions (SSDs), in combination with mixture toxicity models, were applied. Considering the differences in the responses of the taxonomic groups as well as in the pesticide exposures that these organisms experience, variable acute multi-substance potentially affected fractions (msPAFs) were obtained. The median msPAF for primary producers and arthropods in surface waters of all river basins exceeded 5%, the cut-off value used in the prospective SSD approach for deriving individual environmental quality standards. A ranking procedure identified various photosystem II inhibiting herbicides, with oxadiazon having the relatively largest toxic effects on primary producers, while the organophosphorus insecticides, chlorfenvinphos and chlorpyrifos, and the organochloride endosulfan had the largest effects on arthropods and fish, respectively. These results ensure compliance with European legislation with regard to ecological risk assessment and management of pesticides in surface waters.     

Fabrication of ion doped WO3 photocatalysts through bulk and surface doping

Na⁺ doped WO₃ nanowire photocatalysts were prepared by using post-treatment (surface doping) and in situ (bulk doping) doping methods. Photocatalytic degradation of Methyl Blue was tested under visible light irradiation, the results showed that 1 wt.% Na⁺ bulk-doped WO₃ performed better, with higher photoactivity than surface-doped WO₃. Photoelectrochemical characterization revealed the differences in the photocatalytic process for surface doping and bulk doping. Uniform bulk doping could generate more electron–hole pairs, while minimizing the chance of electron–hole recombination. Some bulk properties such as the bandgap, Fermi level and band position could also be adjusted by bulk doping, but not by surface doping.     

Respective contributions of point and non-point sources of E. coli and enterococci in a large urbanized watershed (the Seine river, France)

Because the large rivers of the Seine watershed have a low microbiological water quality, the main sources of fecal contamination were investigated in the present study. The inputs of the point (wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effluents) and non-point sources (surface runoff and soil leaching) of fecal bacteria were quantified for Escherichia coli and intestinal enteroccoci used as bacterial indicators. In order to assess the contamination through non-point sources, fecal indicators abundance was estimated in samples collected in small streams located in rural areas upstream from all point sources; these small rivers were characterized by the land use of their watershed. Bacterial indicator numbers were also measured in effluents of WWTPs, some using classical treatment (settling followed by activated sludge process) and some using an additional disinfection stage (UV irradiation). These data were used to estimate the respective importance of each type of source at the scale of the whole Seine river watershed taking into account the land use and the population density. It shows the predominant importance of the point sources of fecal indicator bacteria at the scale of the whole watershed. In a scenario in which activated sludge treatment would be complemented with UV in all WWTPs located in this watershed, the non-point sources of fecal indicator bacteria would be dominant.     

The integrated project AquaTerra of the EU sixth framework lays foundations for better understanding of river-sediment-soil-groundwater systems

The integrated project "AquaTerra" with the full title "integrated modeling of the river-sediment-soil-groundwater system; advanced tools for the management of catchment areas and river basins in the context of global change" is among the first environmental projects within the sixth Framework Program of the European Union. Commencing in June 2004, it brought together a multidisciplinary team of 45 partner organizations from 12 EU countries, Romania, Switzerland, Serbia and Montenegro. AquaTerra is an ambitious project with the primary objective of laying the foundations for a better understanding of the behavior of environmental pollutants and their fluxes in the soil-sediment-water system with respect to climate and land use changes. The project performs research as well as modeling on river-sediment-soil-groundwater systems through quantification of deposition, sorption and turnover rates and the development of numerical models to reveal fluxes and trends in soil and sediment functioning. Scales ranging from the laboratory to river basins are addressed with the potential to provide improved river basin management, enhanced soil and groundwater monitoring as well as the early identification and forecasting of impacts on water quantity and quality. Study areas are the catchments of the Ebro, Meuse, Elbe and Danube Rivers and the Brévilles Spring. Here we outline the general structure of the project and the activities conducted within eleven existing sub-projects of AquaTerra.     

Distribution of uranium isotopes in surface water of the Llobregat river basin (Northeast Spain)

A study is presented on the distribution of ²³⁴U, ²³⁸U, ²³⁵U isotopes in surface water of the Llobregat river basin (Northeast Spain), from 2001 to 2006. Sixty-six superficial water samples were collected at 16 points distributed throughout the Llobregat river basin. Uranium isotopes were measured by alpha spectrometry (PIPS detectors). The test procedure was validated according to the quality requirements of the ISO17025 standard. The activity concentration for the total dissolved uranium ranges from 20 to 261 mBq L⁻¹. The highest concentrations of uranium were detected in an area with formations of sedimentary rock, limestone and lignite. A high degree of radioactive disequilibrium was noted among the uranium isotopes. The ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio varied between 1.1 and 1.9 and the waters with the lowest uranium activity registered the highest level of ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio. Correlations between uranium activity in the tested water and chemical and physical characteristics of the aquifer were found.     

Interactions Among the Copper Species and Forms in Sea Water/Sediments and Copper Bioaccumulation in Oysters

Abstract

Earlier papers indicated that the first incident of green discoloration in oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and the mass mortality observed in 1986 along the Taiwan Erhjin Chi coastal area were caused by the higher contents of total copper and copper species (mainly bioavailable and free ion) in sea water. the copper in sea water would be sorbed by suspended matter and transferred to sediments, and the copper in the sediments would also be desorbed to sea water. Processes of copper adsorption and desorption are the major factors influencing the contents of total copper and copper species in sea water and sediments. in this study, the Erhjin Chi sediments were mixed with sea water by a shaker technique. When the mixture was shaken for one hour, analogous to tidal mixing in estuaries, only copper desorption from sediments was observed. If the shaking time is increased for more than 3 hours, the copper released from the sediments was resorbed to the remaining solid phases. the higher the contents of mud (91.71%) and total copper (701 mg kg^?1) in sediments, the higher the copper desorption rate (1.86 ppm hr^?1) and copper adsorption rate (0.50 ppm hr^?1) were observed. in sediments containing lower mud (0.80%) and lower copper (43.5 mg kg^?1), the copper desorption and adsorption rates were 0.83 ppm hr^?1 and 0.22 ppm hr^?1, respectively. the interactions among the total copper and copper species in sea water and sediments, chemical and ecological parameters, and copper bioaccumulation in oysters in the Erhjin Chi estuarine and coastal area are also discussed.     

Entry and toxicity of organic pesticides and copper in vineyard streams: Erosion rills jeopardise the efficiency of riparian buffer strips

The present study was performed to characterise in-stream pesticide exposure within the Palatinate vineyard region in south-west Germany, evaluate the influence of buffer strip widths and identify mitigation measures for the relevant entry pathways. In-stream water and sediment samples that were taken at nine sampling sites of different buffer widths following intense rainfall, and edge-of-field runoff that were sampled in erosion rills were analysed regarding 28 active ingredients of pesticides including copper. In-stream samples contained a mix of 8 ± 4 pesticide compounds, resulting in total pesticide concentrations of 1.4-8.9 μg l⁻¹ for water and 16-670 μg kg⁻¹ dw for sediment. Following an exceptional rainfall event with a previous 34-day drought period, pesticide concentrations reached 7.0-83.4 μg l⁻¹. Fungicides were the most important pesticides found and were significantly correlated with the pesticide application frequency and rate. The calculated toxicity values per sample (TU_max) indicated that both organic pesticides and copper concentrations likely cause ecotoxicological effects in the field. The buffer strip width was of little importance for pesticide in-stream concentrations because pesticide entry occurred mainly via the field path network and erosion rills. Pesticide in-stream concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with the concentrations detected in erosion rills (R² = 0.56). As possible risk mitigation measures, we suggest the implementation of grassed field paths and vegetated ditches or wetlands.     

辽宁太子河沉积物重金属污染及潜在生态危害评价

为全面了解辽宁太子河底泥沉积物中重金属的污染特征,测试了太子河表层沉积物中重金属元素铜、铅、镉和锌的含量,并采用地积累指数法和潜在生态危害指数法评价了沉积物中重金属污染及其潜在生态危害程度。结果表明,辽宁太子河底泥沉积物中各种重金属元素的污染程度由强至弱依次为:Cd>Zn≥Cu>Pb;金属污染构成的潜在生态危害由强至弱依次为:Cd>Cu≈Zn>Pb,其中Cd的影响占绝对主导地位。     

水源水库污染底泥不同修复方法脱氮效果对比实验研究

总氮超标是大部分水源水库具有的共性水质问题.在外源污染得到有效控制,上游来水氮负荷较低的情况下,底泥內源氮释放对上覆水体水质影响巨大.因此,在泥水界面处对污染底泥进行合理修复以有效抑制底泥氮释放是解决总氮超标问题、控制水源水质的关键.本研究通过模拟实验对比研究了3种不同修复方法,即覆盖填料、投加功能微生物和投加铁粉在界面处的脱氮效果.结果表明,填料覆盖技术具有更明显的脱氮效果,对氨氮的平均抑制率为83%,最高时可达92%,对总氮的平均抑制率达73%,且效果稳定.     

小清河表层沉积物重污染区重金属赋存形态及风险评价

测定了小清河表层沉积物重污染区间隙水中重金属(Cu、As、Pb、Zn、Cr、Cd和Ni)的质量浓度,采用改进的BCR顺序提取法分析了沉积物中重金属的赋存形态,并分别基于美国水质基准(CCC、CMC)和风险评价编码法(RAC)、潜在生态风险指数法对间隙水和表层沉积物中重金属的毒性及生态风险进行评价.结果表明,小清河沉积物间隙水中的重金属基本不会对水生态系统产生毒性.除As外,表层沉积物中6种重金属的含量显著高于土壤背景值,呈现明显的累积效应.沉积物中Cu、As和Ni主要赋存于残渣态,Pb、Cr主要赋存于可氧化态和残渣态,Zn、Cd以酸可溶解态和可还原态为主.Cd、Zn、Cr和Pb的有效态含量高于残渣态,有较高的二次释放潜力.RAC的评价结果表明,沉积物中Cu、Pb、Cr和As处于无风险到低风险级,Ni处于低风险到中等风险级,Cd处于中等到高风险级,Zn处于中等到极高风险级,不同重金属RAC的平均值依次为CdZnNiAsCuCrPb.潜在生态风险指数法的评价结果表明,沉积物中除Cd有强~很强生态风险外,其他6种重金属均表现为低生态风险,RI值介于136.83~264.83,研究区采样点处于中等~强生态风险.