The lead content and isotopic composition of british coals and their implications for past and present releases of lead to the UK environment

More than 60 coal samples, predominantly from the principal coalfields of England and Wales (25) and Scotland (30), were analysed for lead by AAS and for stable lead isotopes by ICPMS. While the average lead content of Scottish coal, 23.9mg kg^–1, was more than double that of coal from England and Wales, 11.0mg kg^–1, the corresponding mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios (± 1 s.d.) were nearly identical, at 1.181±0.011 and 1.184±0.006, respectively. In the light of the lead isotopic signatures of British coals and of both indigenous (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb 1.17) and imported Australian (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb 1.04) lead ores, an approach based on estimated lead emissions from these sources and the deconvolution of the historical lead and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb records preserved in lake sediments, peat bogs and archival herbage material indicates that coal combustion became an increasingly significant contributor to atmospheric lead deposition in the UK during the period 1830–1930, especially after the onset of Englands decline as a major location of lead mining and smelting in the late19th Century. Since 1930 and the introduction of leaded petrol, the atmospheric ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio in the UK has been strongly influenced by carexhaust emissions of comparatively ²⁰⁶Pbdepleted lead of predominantly Australian origin, counterbalanced to some extent by coalcombustion emissions of lead, although these have fallen dramatically since the mid1950s. Nevertheless, with the introduction and substantial uptake of unleaded petrol in the UK during the last decade, even the declining releases from coal, along with contributions from other sources, are continuing to affect the atmospheric lead content and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio.     

Changes in nutrient content and stable isotope ratios of C and N during decomposition of seagrasses and mangrove leaves along a nutrient availability gradient in Florida Bay, USA

The decomposition of the mangrove Rhizophora mangle and the seagrass Thalassia testudinum was examined using litterbags along a natural gradient in nutrient availability. Seagrass leaves had a higher fraction of their biomass in the labile pool (57%), compared to mangrove leaves (36%) and seagrass rhizomes (29%); the overall decomposition rates of the starting material reflected the fractionation into labile and refractory components. There was no relationship between the N or P content of the starting material and the decomposition rate.

Nutrient availability had no influence on decomposition rate, and mass was lost at the same rate from litterbags that were buried in the sediment and litterbags that were left on the sediment surface. The dynamics of N and P content during decomposition varied as a function of starting material and burial state. N content of decomposing mangrove leaves increased, but seagrass rhizomes decreased in N content during decomposition while there was no change in seagrass leaf N content. These same general patterns held for P content, but buried seagrass leaves increased in P content while surficial leaves decreased. δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N changed by as much as 2‰ during decomposition.     

Geochronology and geochemistry of eclogites from the Mariánské Lázne Complex, Czech Republic: Implications for Variscan orogenesis

The Mariánské Lázn complex (MLC) is located in the Bohemian Massif along the north-western margin of the Teplá-Barrandian microplate and consists of metagabbro, amphibolite and eclogite, with subordinate amounts of serpentinite, felsic gneiss and calcsilicate rocks. The MLC is interpreted as a metaophiolite complex that marks the suture zone between the Saxothuringian rocks to the north-west and the Teplá-Barrandian microplate to the south-east. Sm-Nd geochronology of garnet-omphacite pairs from two eclogite samples yields ages of 377±7, and 367±4 Ma. Samples of eclogite and amphibolite do not define a whole rock Sm-Nd isochron, even though there is a large range in Sm/Nd ratio, implying that the suite of samples may not be cogenetic. Eclogites do not have correlated _Nd values and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Five of the eight eclogite samples have high _Nd values (+10.2 to +7.1) consistent with derivation from a MORB-like source, but variable ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7033 to 0.7059) which probably reflect hydrothermal seawater alteration. Three other eclogite samples have lower _Nd values (+ 5.4 to –0.8) and widely variable ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7033 to 0.7096). Such low _Nd values are inconsistent with derivation from a MORB, source and may reflect a subduction or oceanic island basalt component in their source. The MLC is an important petrotectonic element in the Bohemian Massif, providing evidence for Cambro-Ordovician formation of oceanic crust and interaction with seawater, Late Devonian (Frasnian-Famennian) high- and medium-pressure metamorphism related to closure of a Saxothuringian ocean basin, Early Carboniferous (Viséan) thrusting of the Teplá terrane over Saxothuringian rocks and Late Viséan extension.     

中国季风区降水构成对降水中稳定同位素的影响：以长沙为例

降水构成是指对流或平流降水量在总降水量中所占比例,不同的降水构成对降水稳定同位素的丰度会产生重要的影响。基于长沙地区实测的日降水稳定同位素数据和GNIP月降水同位素数据,对不同时间尺度、不同季节时段以及不同降水强度下降水构成对降水中稳定同位素影响的变化特征进行分析和比较,旨在揭示不同的降水构成对降水中稳定同位素影响的差异,深化对季风区降水形成过程中稳定同位素变化规律的认识。结果表明：云中对流强度的差异造成了不同季节对流降水量占总降水量的比例（convective precipitation fraction,CPF）与总降水量之间相关关系的差异。在日和月时间尺度下,在暖半年,CPF随总降水量的增大而减小,而在冷半年,CPF随总降水量的增大而增大。无论是在暖半年还是在冷半年,日时间尺度下长沙站降水中的δ¹⁸O随CPF增大不断偏正。在月时间尺度下,包括长沙站在内的中国季风区大部,降水中δ¹⁸O与CPF均呈正相关。由于不同季节对流活动的强度不同会造成降水构成的不同,也使得相对于暖半年,冷半年时段降水构成对降水中稳定同位素的影响要强于降水量效应的影响,因此在冷半年长沙地区δ¹¹⁸O—CPF线性回归方程的斜率随降水强度的增大而增大,而在暖半年,δ¹⁸O—CPF斜率随降水强度的增大而减小。     

岩溶流域地表水和地下水硝酸盐来源定量识别

选取岩溶地区花溪河流域典型农业区为研究对象,运用δ¹⁵N-NO₃^-,δ¹⁸O-NO₃^-和δ¹⁸O-H₂O同位素示踪技术和水化学分析方法,阐明了研究区地表水和地下水中硝酸盐的分布特征,并揭示其来源和形成过程,基于R语言下运行的贝叶斯模型（stable isotope analysis in R）,对研究区水体中各种硝酸盐来源的贡献比例进行了定量识别.结果显示：受碳酸岩盐风化的控制,流域内地表水和地下水的水化学类型以HCO₃-Ca型为主,硝酸盐在研究区水体中的空间分布特征受土地利用类型影响明显;在研究区水体硝酸盐形成过程中,硝化作用起主导作用,水体中的硝酸盐来源主要有化肥、降雨中的氨盐、土壤有机氮、粪便和污水,与地表水相比,地下水中硝酸盐受粪便和污水的影响较大;基于SIAR源解析模型分析,大气沉降、化肥、土壤有机氮和粪便污水对研究区地表水硝酸盐的贡献比例分别为3.97%、26.87%、36.80%和32.37%,对地下水硝酸盐的贡献比例分别为2.83%、13.96%、21.03%和62.18%.     

陕北黄土高原239+240Pu大气湿沉降历史重建

重建Pu同位素的大气沉降历史是开展Pu示踪应用以及核事故安全评价的重要基础。本研究根据东京年降水量和^239+240Pu年大气沉降数据,并结合经验模型对陕北黄土高原^239+240Pu年湿沉降通量进行初探。结果表明,1957~2005年间研究区^239+240Pu年湿沉降通量在0.000 2~4.116 7 Bq/m²之间,累计湿沉降通量为14.08 Bq/m²;通过与周边土壤剖面的Pu总量对比发现陕北黄土高原Pu同位素的干湿沉降比为1左右。在时间变化上,上世纪60年代初全球大规模核试验导致研究区1963年^239+240Pu湿沉降通量出现峰值,1964~2000年Pu湿沉降通量呈明显减小趋势,2001~2005年亚洲粉尘的地表再悬浮过程使得^239+240Pu年湿沉降通量有所增加。     

典型岩溶槽谷区土壤水δD和δ18O时空分布特征:以重庆市中梁山岩溶槽谷为例

为了揭示岩溶槽谷区土壤水氢氧同位素的时空分布特征,以重庆市北碚区中梁山为研究基地,于2017年5月和2017年9月收集降水及3种不同土地利用方式(耕地、草地和林地)不同深度的土壤水,利用稳定同位素技术研究不同土地利用方式下0~15 cm、15~45 cm土壤剖面的土壤水氢氧同位素时空变化特征.结果表明:(1)土壤水δD和δ~(18)O的平均值分别为-50.0‰±33.6‰和-7.9‰±4.3‰,其值均在大气降水线(LMWL)周围,说明降水是该区土壤水的主要补给来源;(2)土壤水δD和δ~(18)O具有明显的季节变化,5月(土壤水δD和δ~(18)O的平均值-19.4‰±6.8‰和-4.1‰±1.0‰)9月(土壤水δD和δ~(18)O的平均值-82.2‰±14.0‰和-11.9‰±2.2‰);(3)土壤水δD和δ~(18)O在不同土地利用方式下没有表现出明显差异;(4)土壤水δD和δ~(18)O随土壤深度呈梯度变化,5月耕地、草地和林地土壤水稳定同位素以垂直递减趋势为主,9月耕地和林地以递增趋势为主,草地以递减的趋势为主.     

Mercury bioaccumulation in aquatic biota along a salinity gradient in the Saint John River estuary

Although estuaries are critical habitats for many aquatic species, the spatial trends of toxic methylmercury(MeHg) in biota from fresh to marine waters are poorly understood. Our objective was to determine if MeHg concentrations in biota changed along a salinity gradient in an estuary. Fourspine Stickleback(Apeltes quadracus), invertebrates(snails,amphipods, and chironomids), sediments, and water were collected from ten sites along the Saint John River estuary, New Brunswick, Canada in 2015 and 2016, with salinities ranging from 0.06 to 6.96. Total mercury(proxy for MeHg) was measured in whole fish and MeHg was measured in a subset of fish, pooled invertebrates, sediments, and water. Stable sulfur(δ~(34)S), carbon(δ~(13) C), and nitrogen(δ~(15)N) isotope values were measured to assess energy sources(S, C) and relative trophic level(N). There were increases in biotic δ~(13)C and δ~(34)S from fresh to more saline sites and these measures were correlated with salinity.Though aqueous MeHg was higher at the freshwater than more saline sites, only chironomid MeHg increased significantly with salinity. In the Saint John River estuary, there was little evidence that MeHg and its associated risks increased along a salinity gradient.     

喀斯特坡地土壤硫同位素变化指示的土壤硫循环

用土壤硫形态连续提取方法分离测定了喀斯特坡地土壤总硫、有机硫、SO24-和FeS2的硫同位素组成及其含量.总体来看,土壤剖面表层各形态硫δ34S值FeS2最低,介于-6.86‰~-4.22‰,其次为SO24-(-2.64‰~-1.34‰),第三为总硫(-3.25‰~-1.03‰),最高为有机硫(-1.63‰~0.50‰),随土壤剖面加深各形态硫δ34S值均有增大的趋势.SO24-和FeS2的δ34S值深度分布具有共变性,这与SO24-异化还原有关;而总硫和有机硫的δ34S值随剖面加深而平行增大,则与有机硫循环有关.硫同位素组成可鉴别土壤硫源,同时SO24-异化还原和有机硫矿化有明显的硫同位素分馏,而硫化物氧化及SO24-同化基本不产生同位素分馏,则土壤各形态硫的硫同位素组成的垂直变化可以很好地记录与深度相关的硫循环过程.并且,通过对比各形态硫含量及其硫同位素组成的深度分布特征,也可以很好地判别土壤内部的SO24-和有机硫组分的迁移过程.     

Contribution of anadromous fish to the diet of European catfish in a large river system

Many anadromous fish species, when migrating from the sea to spawn in fresh waters, can potentially be a valuable prey for larger predatory fish, thereby efficiently linking these two ecosystems. Here, we assess the contribution of anadromous fish to the diet of European catfish (Silurus glanis) in a large river system (Garonne, southwestern France) using stable isotope analysis and allis shad (Alosa alosa) as an example of anadromous fish. Allis shad caught in the Garonne had a very distinct marine δ¹³C value, over 8‰ higher after lipid extraction compared to the mean δ¹³C value of all other potential freshwater prey fish. The δ¹³C values of European catfish varied considerably between these two extremes and some individuals were clearly specializing on freshwater prey, whereas others specialized on anadromous fish. The mean contribution of anadromous fish to the entire European catfish population was estimated to be between 53% and 65%, depending on the fractionation factor used for δ¹³C.