Pollution of a Tasmanian River by Mine Effluents. II. Distribution of Macroinvertebrates

The distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrates were studied in the South Esk River, Tasmania; a river subject to cadmium and zinc pollution as a result of mining. The groups most intolerant of cadmium-zinc pollution were the Crustacea, Mollusca and Annelida. Highly tolerant groups included aquatic Hemiptera and Arachnida, and larvae of leptocerid trichopterans. A drop in both species diversity and abundance occurred after floods in winter and was probably due to pulses of cadmium and zinc down the river and also to increased molar action of the unstable substrate.     

森林火灾污染物质释放及其影响研究进展

森林火灾是大气中气体污染物和颗粒物的重要来源,可对全球气候系统、大气环境以及生态系统产生重要影响,对全球温室气体和含碳颗粒物释放具有重要的贡献,是推动全球气候变化的重要因素。森林火灾释放污染物已成为区域乃至全球范围内重要污染源之一,这些污染物质与辐射、能见度以及温室效应等问题直接相关。准确地描述森林火灾释放的气体和颗粒污染物释放机理、释放总量、时空分布特征、不同尺度的扩散过程模拟,以及对区域大气环境的影响,对于量化森林火灾释放污染物总量及区域影响具有重要意义。基于森林火灾污染物质释放方面的国内外文献,从火灾释放的污染物质对环境的影响、森林火灾释放污染物定量化和传输路径监测的研究方法、污染物质的扩散和运输模型以及跨区域影响等几个方面进行了综述。森林火灾释放的CO、PM₁₀和PM_2.5对环境和人的生命安全造成巨大威胁,而且森林火灾释放的污染物质能够随气流长距离传输,不仅对当地的空气造成污染,污染物也能够随着气团进行长距离传输,并在传输过程与当地气溶胶混合,形成跨区域污染。森林火灾释放污染物扩散、传输模拟通过不同模型相互耦合完成,包括可燃物载量估算模型、可燃物消耗和释放模型、污染物扩散传输模型,以及污染物预测和可视化模型等。总结了国内外森林火灾释放污染物质主要研究方法,并展望了今后研究重点:目前我国关于森林火灾释放物质相关的研究尚不足以支撑我国森林火灾温室气体释放、污染物释放等方面的研究,并且我国目前还没有发展出适合于我国的森林火灾污染物释放模型,以及污染物扩散、传输系统。森林火灾排放因子库大多数引用国外研究结果,在一定程度上增加不确定性,缺乏森林火灾对区域大气环境影响的定量化研究。因此,今后我国应加强对森林火灾污染物质释放与影响的研究,尤其是污染物质扩散和传输模型的预测和可视化研究以及排放因子的测量。     

珠三角典型稻田生态沟渠型人工湿地的非点源污染削减功能

为了评价珠江三角洲地区农业非点源污染控制技术的开发与削减功能,本研究以珠海市斗门区上洲村典型稻田系统为例,提出了一种适应当地实际情况的生态沟渠型人工湿地构建技术,并进行了示范工程建设和防治效果评价。结果表明:该生态沟渠利用农田既有的排灌系统,经过适当改建而成;在满足原有排灌功能的前提下,对稻田排水径流中固体悬浮物(SS)、总磷(TP)、总氮(TN)、化学需氧量(CODCr)、铵态氮(NH4+-N)、生化需氧量(BOD5)的去除效率分别达到71.7%、63.4%、49.9%、26.6%、14.5%和11.6%;对营养型和颗粒态污染物质净化作用效果较好,对有机型污染物净化作用有限;其中对SS和TP的作用最为明显。该技术和工程成本效益良好,既减轻了稻田排水对附近水体的污染负荷,又增加了农田的景观效果。在珠三角及类似的经济发达而人地关系紧张的地区具有一定的推广价值。     

浑河河水及其沿岸地下水污染特征

选择沈阳地区重要河流浑河及其沿岸地下水进行定量分析,研究并探讨了包括无机物和有机物在内的水质综合污染特征。结果表明,浑河河水中氨氮、硝氮、亚硝氮和酚超过了地表水环境质量标准,最大超标倍数分别为15.8、1.5、82.4和1.8倍,检测出的11种卤代烃、氯苯和六六六等有机物均未超标。浑河沿岸地下水中氨氮、硝氮、亚硝氮、化学需氧量、酚和铅超过地下水质量标准,超标率分别为31.6%、10.5%、26.3%、36.8%、47.4%和26.8%,检测出的4种卤代烃和六六六等有机物均未超标。河水及其沿岸地下水中的污染物,尤其是有机污染物种类和浓度高值基本出现在城西的谟家—大祝断面之间。浑河水质主要受城市工业废水、居民生活污水排放的影响,沿岸地下水的污染来源包括工业生产或农村居民生活造成的地表污染物垂直入渗式的点源污染、浑河水侧向渗透补给式的线源污染以及农药化肥使用产生的面源污染,而有机污染物主要通过点源污染地下水。浑河各区段的使用功能、包气带岩性及沿岸水源地开采井布局等因素都为受污染的河水对沿岸几百米范围内的浅层地下水的补给提供了条件,造成浅层地下水的污染,对当地生态系统及人类健康构成潜在威胁。     

The ecological integrity of the Lower Olifants River,Limpopo province,South Africa: 2009–2015 – Part A: Olifants River main stem

The major rivers of the South African ‘Lowveld’ (low-latitude savanna) suffer numerous impacts from upstream economic activities. Whereas monitoring these rivers is required to detect biodiversity losses, record pollution events and devise mitigation strategies, current monitoring programmes are inadequate. In 2009, the South African Earth Observation Network initiated an intensive long-term research programme on the Lowveld reaches of the Olifants River. Physico-chemical parameters, aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish abundances were recorded at four Lowveld sites in the Olifants River. We review six years of this programme. The results suggest deterioration in the ecological condition of the Olifants River with no discernible improvement through protected areas. Trends could not be detected. The parameters measured, sampling methods and/or sampling frequency might be responsible for the limited trends observed, or alternatively the results simply reflect stable conditions despite on-going pollution. Real time monitoring and an expansion in the parameters monitored would add value to the monitoring programme.     

Effects of air pollution on biogenic volatiles and ecological interactions

Chemical signals play important roles in ecological interactions but are vulnerable to perturbation by air pollution. In polluted air masses, signals may travel shorter distances before being destroyed by chemical reactions with pollutants, thus losing their specificity. To determine which scent-mediated interactions are likely to be affected, we review existing literature to build a picture of what chemicals are commonly found in such interactions and the spatial scales at which interactions occur. We find that pollination, attraction of natural enemies of plant pests, aggregation pheromones, and mate attraction are likely to be affected. We review the scant literature on this topic and extend the hypothesis to include heretofore unexplored interactions. New research should investigate whether air pollution deleteriously affects populations of organisms that rely on scent plumes. Additionally, we need to investigate whether or not breakdown products created by the reaction of signaling chemicals with pollutants can provide usable signals, and whether or not there has been adaptation on the part of scent emitters or receivers to use either breakdown products or more robust chemical signals. The proposed research will necessarily draw on tools from atmospheric science, evolutionary biology, and ecology in furthering our understanding of the ecological implications of how air pollution modifies the scentscape.     

Air pollution and the lung: epidemiological approach

Epidemiological evidence has concurred with clinical and experimental evidence to correlate current levels of ambient air pollution, both indoors and outdoors, with respiratory effects. In this respect, the use of specific epidemiological methods has been crucial. Common outdoor pollutants are particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and ozone. Short-term effects of outdoor air pollution include changes in lung function, respiratory symptoms and mortality due to respiratory causes. Increase in the use of health care resources has also been associated with short-term effects of air pollution. Long-term effects of cumulated exposure to urban air pollution include lung growth impairment, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and probably the development of asthma and allergies. Lung cancer and COPD have been related to a shorter life expectancy. Common indoor pollutants are environmental tobacco smoke, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and biological allergens. Concentrations of these pollutants can be many times higher indoors than outdoors. Indoor air pollution may increase the risk of irritation phenomena, allergic sensitisation, acute and chronic respiratory disorders and lung function impairment. Recent conservative estimates have shown that 1.5-2 million deaths per year worldwide could be attributed to indoor air pollution. Further epidemiological research is necessary to better evaluate the respiratory health effects of air pollution and to implement protective programmes for public health.     

Algal biofilms on tree bark to monitor airborne pollutants

Algae are used in biomonitoring systems to detect water or soil pollution. So it is conceivable to establish a biomonitoring system for the detection of airborne pollutants (ozone and particulate matter (PM-10)) in urban habitats by algae. Autotrophic biofilms are widely present, cover nearly every exposed surface, especially tree bark and consist of a large variety of species of algae, cyanobacteria and fungi. To explore the diversity of green algae at different air pollution monitoring sites we choose trees with different structures of bark at three locations in and near Leipzig. We compared the measured levels of air pollution with the algal species and communities present. The sites differed in the quality and amount of airborne pollutants, among which we concentrated on ozone and particulate matter (PM-10). The collection sites were Leipzig-Centre, Leipzig-West and a forest area east of Leipzig (Collmberg). Autotrophic biofilms were collected, algae cultures established and taxonomic and morphological studies were carried out with light microscopy. Green algae were present on tree bark at all sites and forty-eight different algal species and cyanobacteria were isolated. Preliminary results suggested a correlation between pollutants and occurrence of some specific algal species and the specific algal assemblages at a given site. It is concluded that this could provide the basis for a biomonitoring system involving aero-terrestrial algae for the detection of airborne pollutants. Presented at the International Symposium Biology and Taxonomy of Green Algae V, Smolenice, June 26–29, 2007, Slovakia.     

Air Pollution and Respiratory Mortality in Los Angeles

An epidemiologic study in Los Angeles showed a regular statistical association between respiratory mortality and the spatial distributions of ozone and particulate matter. There was an irregular association of respiratory mortality with maximum temperature. These findings are consistent with those of other studies relating respiratory morbidity to oxidant and particulate air pollution, and suggest that these pollutants may be health hazards.     

Multiple cDNAs encoding the esk kinase predict transmembrane and intracellular enzyme isoforms.

A novel protein kinase, the Esk kinase, has been isolated from an embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell line by using an expression cloning strategy. Sequence analysis of two independent cDNA clones (2.97 and 2.85 kb) suggested the presence of two Esk isoforms in EC cells. The esk-1 cDNA sequence predicted an 857-amino-acid protein kinase with a putative membrane-spanning domain, while the esk-2 cDNA predicted an 831-amino-acid kinase which lacked this domain. In adult mouse cells, esk mRNA levels were highest in tissues possessing a high proliferation rate or a sizeable stem cell compartment, suggesting that the Esk kinase may play some role in the control of cell proliferation or differentiation. As anticipated from the screening procedure, bacterial expression of the Esk kinase reacted with antiphosphotyrosine antibodies on immunoblots. Furthermore, in in vitro kinase assays, the Esk kinase was shown to phosphorylate both itself and the exogenous substrate myelin basic protein on serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues, confirming that the Esk kinase is a novel member of the serine/threonine/tyrosine family of protein kinases.     

Role of Environmental Pollutants in Liver Physiology: Special References to Peoples Living in the Oil Drilling Sites of Assam

The populations residing near polluted sites are more prone to various types of diseases. The important causes of air pollution are the suspended particulate matter, respirable suspended particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. As limited information is available enumerating the effect of these pollutants on liver physiology of the population living near the polluted sites; in the present study, we tried to investigate their effect on liver of the population residing near the oil drilling sites since birth. In this study, a randomly selected 105 subjects (46 subjects from oil drilling site and 61 subjects from control site) aged above 30 years were taken under consideration. The particulate matter as well as the gaseous pollutants, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, were analyzed through a respirable dust sampler. The level of alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase enzymes in serum were measured by spectrophotometer. The generalized regression model studies suggests a higher concentration of respirable suspended particulate matter, suspended particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide lowers the alkaline phosphatase level (p<0.0001) by 3.5 times (95% CI 3.1-3.9), 1.5 times (95% CI 1.4 - 1.6) and 12 times (95% CI 10.74 -13.804), respectively in the exposed group. The higher concentration of respirable suspended particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide in air was associated with increase in alanine transaminase level (p<0.0001) by 0.8 times (95% CI 0.589-1.049) and by 2.8 times (95% CI 2.067-3.681) respectively in the exposed group. The increase in nitrogen dioxide level was also associated with increase in aspartate transaminase level (p<0.0001) by 2.5 times (95% CI 1.862 – 3.313) in the exposed group as compared to control group. Thus, the study reveals that long-term exposure to the environmental pollutants may lead to liver abnormality or injury of populations living in polluted sites.     

Nutrient remobilisation processes at the Tiber River mouth (Italy)

The processes affecting the in-sea diffusion of nutrients at the Tiber River mouth are strongly dependent on seasonal conditions. In summer, during the low-flow period, a two-layer structure is established and it is then possible to detect the occurrence of biological processes in the lower layer, at the sediment level. During these conditions, the mean concentrations of dissolved organic carbon, inorganic phosphorus and nitrogen increase in the lower saline layer above the theoretical dilution values and, in some cases, the concentrations are double those in the upper layer.During high flow periods, mixing between the river and sea water occurs in the coastal area away from the mouth, with the transport of pollutants being affected mainly by physico-chemical processes.This paper reports the results of surveys of the distribution of soluble and particulate nutrients in the Tiber River estuary, as a function of salinity. The role of biological regeneration processes is inferred from a comparison of the different behaviour of the pollutants in summer and winter.     

Application of Pb isotopic mapping to environment evaluation in China

Abstract

Quantitative criterion of Pb pollution sources and levels from Pb isotopic tracing must depend on the establishment of a natural Pb isotopic background. Lead isotopic mapping for Continental China and the neighborhood sea areas is being completed. Seven major isotopic provinces in the continent (Cathaysia, Indochina, Yangtze, North China, Northeast China, North Xinjiang and Tibet) have been identified. The Pb isotopic mapping in the South China Sea shows two depositing areas; sediments from the Red River is related to the Indochina geochemical province; sediments from the Pearl River system is related to the Cathaysia geochemical province. Pb isotopic evidence indicates that the major Pb pollution sources of aerosols in the Eastern China are from local Pb–Zn–Cu resource consumption in various industries. The Pb pollution from aerosols, eolian dusts, and acid leachable components in soils and sediments around the South China Sea shows two major sources: application of lead metal in various industries and automobile exhausts.     

The functional role of native freshwater mussels in the fluvial benthic environment

1. Freshwater mussels are the dominant consumer biomass in many fluvial systems. As filter feeding grazers, mussels can remove large amounts of particulate matter from the water column and transfer these resources to the substrate as biodeposits (agglutinated mussel faeces and pseudofaeces). Mussel biodeposits are a nutrient rich and easily assimilated food source and therefore may have significant relevance to benthic community structure. This study examines the functional role of Margaritifera falcata in the South Fork Eel River, California. 2. We addressed two main questions: (i) Do mussels increase benthic resources in this system? (ii) If so, does this alter macroinvertebrate community structure? 3. Measurements and enclosure experiments in the South Fork Eel River show that mussels can play a significant role in local food webs by increasing available fine particulate matter (both organic and inorganic) on the substrate. We document increased benthic macroinvertebrate biomass for predators and collectors (Leptophlebidae) in the presence of mussels, but only in late summer.     

Specific features of accumulation of Cu,Ni, Zn,Cd, and Hg in two whitefish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coregonus lavaretus</Emphasis> (L.) morphs inhabiting the Inari-Pasvik lacustrine-riverine system

The spatial regularities of the accumulation of heavy metals in two ecological morphs of whitefish of the Pasvik River (northern Fennoscandia) under long-term pollution have been investigated. It was revealed that the accumulation of priority pollutants (Ni and Cu) in fish declines the further you go from the source of pollution. The concentration of Hg in the tissues of fish from the Pasvik River was determined for the first time. It was found that metal accumulation depends on the ecological morphs of the fish, the natural conditions of the waterbodies, and the intensity of pollution. The specific features of heavy-metal distribution in the “bottom sediment-fish organism” system were determined. These may indicate the heterogeneity of the pollution processes of the Pasvik system of waterbodies.     

晋江流域水质污染与浮游动物四季群落结构的关系

报道了2003年2、4、6、8、10和12月在福建晋江流域15个样点进行浮游动物群落生态学调查研究的结果。采用种类组成、种群数量、优势种群、Margalef和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数等参数,初步比较了流域中各不同河段的水质状况,结果显示,流域受污染程度的顺序为东、西溪〈晋江干流〈南、北干渠。东溪、西溪上过度开发的梯级水电站对浮游动物群落结构和水质有明显的影响,加速了水体富营养化进程。     

Long-term Developments in Ecological Rehabilitation of the Main Distributaries in the Rhine Delta: Fish and Macroinvertebrates

Significant anthropogenic pressure in the Dutch part of the River Rhine is present from the 12th century. River engineering and water pollution were the main stress factors for flora and fauna. From the middle of the 20th century measures were taken to reduce water pollution. Recently, from 1987 onwards, these activities were put into a wider context of ecological river rehabilitation. Effects of improvements on fish and macroinvertebrates in the main distributaries in the Rhine delta are reviewed. The conclusions are that (a) most of the alterations in the Rhine delta are irreversible due to hard socio-economic boundary conditions (e.g. safety, navigation); (b) chances for the development of riverine biotopes have therefore to be found in the forelands and not in the main channels of the Rhine delta; (c) further reduction of pollutants, especially thermal pollution, is needed to help original species to colonise the Rhine delta again; (d) non-indigenous species clearly leave a mark on recolonisation possibilities of original species.     

An overview of the effects of urbanization on the quantity and quality of groundwater in South Asian megacities

One of the challenges facing megacities in South Asian developing countries in their attempts to realize so-called urban rejuvenation is groundwater conditioned by canal seepage and immense sewage loads. To understand the connection between groundwater pollutants and urbanization, numerous studies were reviewed, and data obtained from a variety of national and international organizations were analyzed. In Delhi and Dhaka, urbanization has lowered the groundwater level as a result of severe overextraction, and its dense population makes Delhi particularly vulnerable to groundwater pollution. In the coastal areas of Karachi and Mumbai, such pollution is magnified by the proximity of seawater as well as the increasing populations of these areas. Among the groundwater pollutants associated with urbanization, chlorides and nitrates are the chief anthropogenic toxins; thus, they are examined in this study. This paper concludes with policy recommendations for minimizing the impact of urbanization on groundwater.     

Assessment of Water Quality and Identification of Polluted Risky Regions Based on Field Observations & GIS in the Honghe River Watershed,China

Water quality assessment at the watershed scale requires not only an investigation of water pollution and the recognition of main pollution factors, but also the identification of polluted risky regions resulted in polluted surrounding river sections. To realize this objective, we collected water samplings from 67 sampling sites in the Honghe River watershed of China with Grid GIS method to analyze six parameters including dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N), nitrite nitrogen (NO₂-N), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Single factor pollution index and comprehensive pollution index were adopted to explore main water pollutants and evaluate water quality pollution level. Based on two evaluate methods, Geo-statistical analysis and Geographical Information System (GIS) were used to visualize the spatial pollution characteristics and identifying potential polluted risky regions. The results indicated that the general water quality in the watershed has been exposed to various pollutants, in which TP, NO₂-N and TN were the main pollutants and seriously exceeded the standard of Category III. The zones of TP, TN, DO, NO₂-N and NH₃-N pollution covered 99.07%, 62.22%, 59.72%, 37.34% and 13.82% of the watershed respectively, and they were from medium to serious polluted. 83.27% of the watershed in total was polluted by comprehensive pollutants. These conclusions may provide useful and effective information for watershed water pollution control and management.