A summary of total mercury concentrations in flora and fauna near common contaminant sources in the Gulf of Mexico

Total mercury concentrations are summarized for environmental media and biota collected from near-coastal areas, several impacted by contaminant sources common to the Gulf of Mexico. Water, sediment, fish, blue crabs, oysters, clams, mussels, periphyton and seagrasses were collected during 1993–2002 from targeted areas affected by point and non-point source contaminants. Mean concentrations in water and sediment were 0.02 (±1 standard deviation = 0.06) μg l⁻¹ and 96.3 (230.8) ng g⁻¹ dry wt, respectively. Mean total mercury concentrations in fish, blue crabs, brackish clams and mussels were significantly greater than those in sediment, seagrass, colonized periphyton and oysters. Concentrations (ng g⁻¹ dry wt) averaged 23.1 (two seagrass species), 220.1 (oysters), 287.8 (colonized periphyton), 604.0 (four species of freshwater mussels), 772.4 (brackish clam), 857.9 (blue crabs) and 933.1 (nine fish species). Spatial, intraspecific and interspecific variability in results limited most generalizations concerning the relative mercury contributions of different stressor types. However, concentrations were significantly greater for some biota collected from areas receiving wastewater discharges and golf course runoff (fish), agricultural runoff (oysters) and urban stormwater runoff (colonized periphyton and sediment). Marine water quality criteria and proposed sediment quality guidelines were exceeded in 1–12% of total samples. At least one seafood consumption guideline, criteria or screening value were exceeded in edible tissues of blue crabs (6% total samples) and nine fish species (8–33% total samples) but all residues were less than the US Federal Drug Administration action limit of 1.0 ppm and the few reported toxic effect concentrations available for the targeted biota.     

Oxidative stress in duckweed (Lemna minor L.) caused by short-term cadmium exposure

The mechanisms of plant defence against cadmium toxicity have been studied by short-term exposure of Lemna minor L. (common duckweed) to concentrations of CdCl2 ranging from 0 to 500microM. High accumulation of cadmium was observed (12,320+/-2155microgg(-1) at 500microM CdCl2), which caused a gradual decrease of plant growth, increased lipid peroxidation, and weakened the entire antioxidative defence. Total glutathione concentration decreased significantly; however, the concentration of oxidized glutathione remained stable. The responses of four antioxidant enzymes showed that catalase was the most inhibited after CdCl2 exposure, ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase moderately, and glutathione reductase least. The total antioxidative potential revealed an induced antioxidative network at 0.1microM CdCl2 (137+/-13.2% of the control) and its reduction to only 47.4+/-4.0% of the control at higher cadmium concentrations. The possible application of the examined biomarkers in ecotoxicological research is discussed.     

Comparison of total mercury and methylmercury cycling at five sites using the small watershed approach

The small watershed approach is well-suited but underutilized in mercury research. We applied the small watershed approach to investigate total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) dynamics in streamwater at the five diverse forested headwater catchments of the US Geological Survey Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets (WEBB) program. At all sites, baseflow THg was generally less than 1ng L(-1) and MeHg was less than 0.2ng L(-1). THg and MeHg concentrations increased with streamflow, so export was primarily episodic. At three sites, THg and MeHg concentration and export were dominated by the particulate fraction in association with POC at high flows, with maximum THg (MeHg) concentrations of 94 (2.56)ng L(-1) at Sleepers River, Vermont; 112 (0.75)ng L(-1) at Rio Icacos, Puerto Rico; and 55 (0.80)ng L(-1) at Panola Mt., Georgia. Filtered (<0.7microm) THg increased more modestly with flow in association with the hydrophobic acid fraction (HPOA) of DOC, with maximum filtered THg concentrations near 5ng L(-1) at both Sleepers and Icacos. At Andrews Creek, Colorado, THg export was also episodic but was dominated by filtered THg, as POC concentrations were low. MeHg typically tracked THg so that each site had a fairly constant MeHg/THg ratio, which ranged from near zero at Andrews to 15% at the low-relief, groundwater-dominated Allequash Creek, Wisconsin. Allequash was the only site with filtered MeHg consistently above detection, and the filtered fraction dominated both THg and MeHg. Relative to inputs in wet deposition, watershed retention of THg (minus any subsequent volatilization) was 96.6% at Allequash, 60% at Sleepers, and 83% at Andrews. Icacos had a net export of THg, possibly due to historic gold mining or frequent disturbance from landslides. Quantification and interpretation of Hg dynamics was facilitated by the small watershed approach with emphasis on event sampling.     

高效降氰菌群的构建及降解特性

从筛选到的降氰菌中构建出了优于单一菌种降氰活性的复配菌群CNR.研究了该复合菌群的生长条件,探讨了温度、pH、接种量、氰化物初始浓度及降解时间等因素对CNR降氰的影响.研究表明,复配菌群CNR适应碱性环境,可降解高浓度氰化物(CN-11 000 mg/L),并对金属氰化物和脂肪族腈具有极强的降解能力.在有氧、pH 11、33 ℃和接种量10%条件下.含CN-11 000 ng/L培养液经60 h降解后,CN-1浓度降为0.49 mg/L,降氰率高达99.96%,达到国家一级排放标准.     

Incident, accident, catastrophe: cyanide on the Danube

It has been described as the worst disaster since Chernobyl. In January 2000, a retaining wall failed at the Aurul gold processing plant in Romania, releasing a wave of cyanide and heavy metals that moved quickly from one river to the next through Romania, Hungary, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, killing tens of thousands of fish and other forms of wildlife and poisoning drinking-water supplies. This paper examines how and why the chemical spill at Baia Mare occurred and how responses to it emerged from circumstances at the global, local and immediate levels. The spill demonstrates the importance of the flow of information in framing and interpreting disasters, suggesting that such an event can go unnoticed or be viewed as catastrophic, depending on the political, historical and personal struggles that lead to its publicity. The paper offers a framework for understanding why the spill was alternately perceived as an incident, an accident and a catastrophe based on changing perceptions of culpability.     

分段流动分析法测定水中总氰化物

水样预蒸馏后,经分段流动分析仪自动进样器进入分析模块对水中的总氰化物进行分析。通过试验,确定了最佳测定参数,方法检测限为0 002mg/L,对高低两个不同浓度的标准样品分析,测定值均在其保证值范围内,相对标准差<2 %,准确度和精密度均较好。循环周期约70s,每小时可测定50个样品,分析速度快,尤适于大批量样品的测定。     

白洋淀湿地土壤氮素空间分布特征研究

为了了解白洋淀湿地土壤氮素空间分布规律,于2011年4月在研究区内部耕地和芦苇地采集土样进行分析、研究。研究结果显示,湿地土壤氮素含量总体趋势随着土层的加深而减少;表层土壤全氮和碱解氮呈现出西北高、东南低的趋势。耕地土壤氮素含量和变异性均高于芦苇地,反映出人类活动对土壤氮素的空间分布有较大影响。相关性分析显示土壤有机质含量和含水量与氮素联系紧密,是影响其分布的重要因素。     

离子色谱法测定水中总硬度

水质硬度的测定方法很多,本研究选用离子色谱法和EDTA络合滴定法对地下水和地表水样品分别进行测定,结果表明离子色谱法相对于传统的EDTA络合滴定法有干扰小,对环境污染少的优点,但水质测定的国标方法中没有该方法,因此建议可用离子色谱法测定水质硬度。     

过硫酸钾氧化去除Cu (CN)32-中的氰污染物

近年来,氰化物污染问题日益严重,冶金工业、电镀工业中含有大量氰化物.采用常规的物化法难以对Cu(CN)_3~(2-)中的CN~-达到很好的去除效果,因此探索高效、环保的氰化物处理方法迫在眉睫.过硫酸钾作为一种绿色清洁氧化剂,目前被广泛应用于有机污染物废水的处理.采用均相过硫酸钾对Cu(CN)_3~(2-)中CN~-进行降解,并分析其降解机制,详细研究过硫酸钾投加量、铜氰络合比对CN~-去除率的影响.CN~-的去除率随着过硫酸钾量的增加而升高,当过硫酸钾量为2 mmol·L~(-1),反应时间为60 min时,CN~-的去除率可达89.6%;铜氰络合比的增加促进CN~-的降解.Cu~+被氧化为Cu~(2+)并且以氧化铜的形式存在于沉淀中.采用电子自旋共振波谱仪和自由基猝灭实验对反应过程中可能的自由基进行研究,结果表明在过硫酸钾氧化去除CN~-的过程中,既存在硫酸根自由基氧化途径,又存在非自由基氧化途径.     

硝酸体系微波消解-偏钼酸铵分光光度法测定固废中总磷方法的研究

固体废物经硝酸体系微波消解,其中难溶盐和含磷有机物分解形成正磷酸盐进入溶液,在酸性条件下,正磷酸盐与偏钒酸铵和钼酸铵反应,生成黄色的三元杂多酸,于波长420nm处进行比色测定.样品量为0.5g,定容体积50ml,使用3cm比色皿,方法检出限为1.1mg/kg,测定下限为4.4mg/kg,满足固废总磷的监测要求.