Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in eight mollusc species along Tamilnadu coast, Bay of Bengal, India

Eight mollusc species and sediment samples collected from three different stations along Tamilnadu coast, Bay of Bengal, India were analysed for the levels of petroleum hydrocarbons to elucidate the status of the petroleum residues in mollusc meant for human consumption. The concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments along Tamilnadu coast varied from 5.04–25.5 g/g dw (dry weight). High concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons in the sediment of Uppanar estuary (25.5 1.45 g/g dw) was perhaps land and marine based anthropogenic sources of this region. The petroleum hydrocarbon residues in eight mollusc species collected from Uppanar, Vellar and Coleroon estuaries varied between 2.44–6.04 g/g ww (wet weight). Although the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons in sediment of the Uppanar region was markedly higher than the background, the petroleum hydrocarbon residues in mollusc collected from Uppanar estuary did not suggest bioaccumulation. The results signified that industrial growth has affected the aquatic environments and regular monitoring will help to adopt stringent pollution control measures for better management of the aquatic region.     

儒艮：就是传说中的“美人鱼”

在我国广东、广西、台湾等省沿海生活着一种海兽，叫儒艮。它的名字是由马来语直接音译而来的，也有人称它为“南海牛”。除我国外，儒艮还分布于印度洋，太平洋周围的一些国家，主要分布在红海，非洲东岸，孟加拉湾，亚洲东南沿海至澳大利亚。     

1991年孟加拉湾特大台风灾害

１９９１年４月２９日孟加拉国发生一次特大台风灾害，死亡１３８０００人，损失３０亿美元。事后，孟加拉国政府组织了详细的调配分析。指出平坦低下地形、漏头状海岸线、落后的社会制度、人民极端贫穷是特大灾害的基本原因。另外，人民因过去几次错误预报而不相信台风警报；海堤很差，许多人住在海堤以外，住房很坏，通讯条件落后等等，更加剧了这次灾难。本文介绍这镒台风灾害的形成背景和灾害程度，供我国防台工作的参考。