Near-surface wetland sediments as a source of arsenic release to ground water in Asia

Tens of millions of people in south and southeast Asia routinely consume ground water that has unsafe arsenic levels. Arsenic is naturally derived from eroded Himalayan sediments, and is believed to enter solution following reductive release from solid phases under anaerobic conditions. However, the processes governing aqueous concentrations and locations of arsenic release to pore water remain unresolved, limiting our ability to predict arsenic concentrations spatially (between wells) and temporally (future concentrations) and to assess the impact of human activities on the arsenic problem. This uncertainty is partly attributed to a poor understanding of groundwater flow paths altered by extensive irrigation pumping in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, where most research has focused. Here, using hydrologic and (bio)geochemical measurements, we show that on the minimally disturbed Mekong delta of Cambodia, arsenic is released from near-surface, river-derived sediments and transported, on a centennial timescale, through the underlying aquifer back to the river. Owing to similarities in geologic deposition, aquifer source rock and regional hydrologic gradients, our results represent a model for understanding pre-disturbance conditions for other major deltas in Asia. Furthermore, the observation of strong hydrologic influence on arsenic behaviour indicates that release and transport of arsenic are sensitive to continuing and impending anthropogenic disturbances. In particular, groundwater pumping for irrigation, changes in agricultural practices, sediment excavation, levee construction and upstream dam installations will alter the hydraulic regime and/or arsenic source material and, by extension, influence groundwater arsenic concentrations and the future of this health problem.     

Terminal Proterozoic reorganization of biogeochemical cycles

The Proterozoic aeon (2,500-540 million years ago) saw episodic increases in atmospheric oxygen content, the evolution of multicellular life and, at its close, an enormous radiation of animal diversity. These profound biological and environmental changes must have been linked, but the underlying mechanisms have been obscure. Here we show that hydrocarbons extracted from Proterozoic sediments in several locations worldwide are derived mainly from bacteria or other heterotrophs rather than from photosynthetic organisms. Biodegradation of algal products in sedimenting matter was therefore unusually complete, indicating that organic material was extensively reworked as it sank slowly through the water column. We propose that a significant proportion of this reworking will have been mediated by sulphate-reducing bacteria, forming sulphide. The production of sulphide and consumption of oxygen near the ocean surface will have inhibited transport of O2 to the deep ocean. We find that preservation of algal-lipid skeletons improves at the beginning of the Cambrian, reflecting the increase in transport by rapidly sinking faecal pellets. We suggest that this rapid removal of organic matter will have increased oxygenation of surface waters, leading to a descent of the O2-sulphide interface to the sea floor and to marked changes in the marine environment, ultimately contributing to the Cambrian radiation.     

Of pH and Eh on release of nitrogen and phosphorus from sediments of West Lake

The effects of pH and Eh on release of nitrogen and phosphorus from sediments of West Lake under different conditions were investigated by simulation test. Results showed that the net flux of NH4^ -N re-lease from sediments increased with pH, but NO3^- -N showed negative-going release at all tested pH levels.The net flux of NH4^ -N release from sediments was higher under anaerobic or aerobic condition of the overly-ing water, but only under aerobic condition would net release of NO3^- -N occur. It was also shown that phos-phorus released was mainly in its inorganic form, higher pH and anaerobic conditions of overlying water greatly stimulated release of phosphorus. In situ measurement at several West Lake locations indicated that sediment resuspension induced by boat propeller stimulated nutrients release from sediment into overlying water.     

Efficient organic carbon burial in the Bengal fan sustained by the Himalayan erosional system

Continental erosion controls atmospheric carbon dioxide levels on geological timescales through silicate weathering, riverine transport and subsequent burial of organic carbon in oceanic sediments. The efficiency of organic carbon deposition in sedimentary basins is however limited by the organic carbon load capacity of the sediments and organic carbon oxidation in continental margins. At the global scale, previous studies have suggested that about 70 per cent of riverine organic carbon is returned to the atmosphere, such as in the Amazon basin. Here we present a comprehensive organic carbon budget for the Himalayan erosional system, including source rocks, river sediments and marine sediments buried in the Bengal fan. We show that organic carbon export is controlled by sediment properties, and that oxidative loss is negligible during transport and deposition to the ocean. Our results indicate that 70 to 85 per cent of the organic carbon is recent organic matter captured during transport, which serves as a net sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide. The amount of organic carbon deposited in the Bengal basin represents about 10 to 20 per cent of the total terrestrial organic carbon buried in oceanic sediments. High erosion rates in the Himalayas generate high sedimentation rates and low oxygen availability in the Bay of Bengal that sustain the observed extreme organic carbon burial efficiency. Active orogenic systems generate enhanced physical erosion and the resulting organic carbon burial buffers atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, thereby exerting a negative feedback on climate over geological timescales.     

Preservation of organic matter in sediments promoted by iron

The biogeochemical cycles of iron and organic carbon are strongly interlinked. In oceanic waters, organic ligands have been shown to control the concentration of dissolved iron. In soils, solid iron phases shelter and preserve organic carbon, but the role of iron in the preservation of organic matter in sediments has not been clearly established. Here we use an iron reduction method previously applied to soils to determine the amount of organic carbon associated with reactive iron phases in sediments of various mineralogies collected from a wide range of depositional environments. Our findings suggest that 21.5?±?8.6 per cent of the organic carbon in sediments is directly bound to reactive iron phases. We further estimate that a global mass of (19-45)?×?10(15)?grams of organic carbon is preserved in surface marine sediments as a result of its association with iron. We propose that these associations between organic carbon and iron, which are formed primarily through co-precipitation and/or direct chelation, promote the preservation of organic carbon in sediments. Because reactive iron phases are metastable over geological timescales, we suggest that they serve as an efficient 'rusty sink' for organic carbon, acting as a key factor in the long-term storage of organic carbon and thus contributing to the global cycles of carbon, oxygen and sulphur.     

An endogenous annual clock in the toxic marine dinoflagellate Gonyaulax tamarensis

Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Gonyaulax tamarensis (synonyms Protogonyaulax tamarensis and Alexandrium tamarense) cause outbreaks of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in coastal waters throughout the world. In the Gulf of Maine, episodes occur between April and November, a seasonality due in part to life-cycle alternations between motile, vegetative cells and resting cysts which overwinter in bottom sediments. Newly formed cysts have a mandatory 2-6 month dormancy period during which germination is not possible, but once mature, the resting state will continue if temperatures are unfavourable or oxygen is unavailable. We now report another factor controlling germination of cysts of G. tamarensis from deep coastal waters--an endogenous annual clock that can override an otherwise favourable environment for germination. Similar annual variability in germination has not been observed for cysts of this species from shallow estuaries. These results represent the first conclusive demonstration of an endogenous circannual rhythm in a marine plant. They are evolutionarily and ecologically significant because an endogenous annual clock can lead to the release of motile cells into deep and relatively invariant bottom waters at those times when temperature and light at the surface are suitable for growth. In shallow waters where seasonal variability is large and extends to bottom sediments, a strategy similar to that of the seeds of terrestrial plants would be more appropriate, namely a direct coupling between germination and the external environment.     

Arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris Vittata L. and its arsenic accumulation

An arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. (Chinese brake) was first discovered in China by means of field survey and greenhouse cultivation. Field survey showed that Chinese brake had large accumulating capacity to arsenic; the orders of arsenic content in different parts of the fern were as follows: leaves>leafstalks>roots, which is totally different from that of ordinary plants; bioaccumulation coefficients of the above ground parts of the fern decreased as a power function of soil arsenic contents. In the control of pot trials with normal unpolluted soil containing 9 mg/kg of arsenic, the bioaccumulation coefficients of the above ground parts and rhizoids of Chinese brake were as high as 71 and 80 respectively. Greenhouse cultivation in the contaminated soil from mining areas has shown that more than 1 times greater arsenic can be accumulated in the leaves of the fern than that of field samples with the largest content of 5070 mg/kg As on a dry matter basis. During greenhouse cultivation, arsenic content in the leaves of the fern increased linearly with time prolonging. Not only has Chinese brake extraordinary tolerance and accumulation to arsenic, but it grew rapidly with great biomass, wide distribution and easy adaptation to different environmental conditions as well. Therefore, it has great potential in future remediation of arsenic contamination. It also demonstrates important value for studies of arsenic physiology and biochemistry such as arsenic absorption, translocation and detoxification mechanisms in plants.     

煤燃烧过程中砷的析出规律

为降低煤中砷元素对大气造成的污染,采用煤燃烧实验研究了煤燃烧过程中砷的析出规律。研究结果表明,在煤燃烧过程中,随着燃烧温度的升高,煤中砷的释放率逐渐增大,残留到燃煤灰渣中的砷含量逐渐减少。在不同的燃烧温度下,燃煤灰渣量几乎没有改变,煤中砷的释放率却有较大的差异。燃煤排放的飞灰和烟尘以及粉煤灰的裸露堆放是环境砷污染的主要途径之一。     

Arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris Vittata L. and its arsenic accumulation

An arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. (Chinese brake) was first discovered in China by means of field survey and greenhouse cultivation. Field survey showed that Chinese brake had large accumulating capacity to arsenic; the orders of arsenic content in different parts of the fern were as follows: leaves>leafstalks>roots, which is totally different from that of ordinary plants; bioaccumulation coefficients of the above ground parts of the fern decreased as a power function of soil arsenic contents. In the control of pot trials with normal unpolluted soil containing 9 mg/kg of arsenic, the bioaccumulation coefficients of the above ground parts and rhizoids of Chinese brake were as high as 71 and 80 respectively. Greenhouse cultivation in the contaminated soil from mining areas has shown that more than 1 times greater arsenic can be accumulated in the leaves of the fern than that of field samples with the largest content of 5070 mg/kg As on a dry matter basis. During greenhouse cultivation, arsenic content in the leaves of the fern increased linearly with time prolonging. Not only has Chinese brake extraordinary tolerance and accumulation to arsenic, but it grew rapidly with great biomass, wide distribution and easy adaptation to different environmental conditions as well. Therefore, it has great potential in future remediation of arsenic contamination. It also demonstrates important value for studies of arsenic physiology and biochemistry such as arsenic absorption, translocation and detoxification mechanisms in plants.     

有机紫外吸收剂在海洋中的时空分布及其生态风险评价

以Web of Science数据库收录的65篇英文文献为研究对象，综合分析近15年来世界各海域海水、沉积物和海洋生物中多种有机紫外吸收剂(Organic Ultraviolet Absorbers，OUVs)的赋存特征和时空分布，并结合已有的毒理学数据，采用风险商(Risk Quotient, RQ)法评估海水中OUVs对海洋生物的生态风险。结果表明，从空间分布上看，近岸海域的OUVs浓度水平普遍高于离岸海域，这可能是由于人类活动对近岸海域的影响较大。从时间分布上看，夏季由于抗紫外线产品使用量增加，导致OUVs的释放量高于其他季节。风险评估结果表明，在全球范围内，二苯酮-3 (BP-3)、甲氧基肉桂酸乙基己酯(EHMC)、奥克立林(OC)、辛基二甲基对氨基苯甲酸(OD-PABA)、阿伏苯宗(AVO)和水杨酸异辛酯(EHS)分别在37.5%、87.0%、100.0%、44.4%、60.0%和60.0%的海域对海洋生物具有中高风险，而4-甲基苄亚基樟脑(4-MBC)在所有海域对海洋生物均无风险。该研究旨在评估OUVs在世界海洋中的污染状态，以期更好地从源头控制和管理OUVs及其对海洋生态环境的影响。     

煤矸石中砷的淋溶析出规律

为了得到煤矸石中砷的析出规律,采用模拟天然降水的淋溶实验法对其进行研究.结果表明,淋溶液的pH值对煤矸石中砷的淋溶析出量影响较大,淋溶液的酸性越强,煤矸石中砷的析出量越大.初始淋溶时,砷的析出量相对较大,随着淋溶量的增加,砷的析出量逐渐降低.裸露堆放煤矸石的淋溶是砷污染的重要途径和影响生态环境的重要因素.     

衣藻增殖、悬浮与沉降过程对水-泥 界面磷素动态的影响

为阐明水华过程藻群动态对水-泥界面磷素变化的影响,采集太湖梅梁湾水样和泥样,以莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)为对象,通过室内模拟实验(76 d),研究藻体增殖、悬浮与沉降过程水-泥界面不同形态磷素含量及碱性磷酸酶活性(APA)的变化。结果表明:衣藻快速增殖与悬浮导致水体pH与DO含量明显升高,总磷和无机磷浓度迅速降低,但底泥有机磷含量平均高出无藻处理1.5倍。此外,衣藻沉降期底泥水溶性磷含量明显降低,这是由于部分沉降在底泥表面的藻体继续存活并吸收利用了水溶性磷。上覆水APA在藻体大量沉降后平均高于增殖和悬浮期1～3倍。相比较而言,底泥APA在藻体快速增殖与悬浮期达到最高,此后,APA降低,但仍高于无藻处理2倍以上。因此,衣藻水华过程加速了水-泥界面磷素的释放,部分沉降至底泥表面的存活藻体吸收利用磷素进而增殖和再悬浮,这可能是富营养化水体水华反复和多次暴发的重要原因之一。     

沉积物团聚体稳定性和总磷释放特征

沉积物内源磷释放会对水体造成二次污染,研究表明沉积物团聚体的稳定性与水体污染关系密切。以秦淮河石头城的沉积物为研究对象,探究沉积物总磷释放与团聚体稳定性的关系以及影响总磷释放和团聚度的因素。结果表明,不同pH值的上覆水,沉积物总磷释放浓度最大可达0.91 mg·L-1,一定时间内团聚度下降最大幅度为27.27%;沉积物有机质含量越高（1.0%）,总磷释放浓度和团聚度最大下降幅度越小（分别为1.48 mg·L-1和62.84%）,;扰动强度越大（200 r·min-1）,总磷释放浓度和团聚度下降最大幅度越大（分别为2.32 mg·L-1和65.23%）。颗粒内扩散模型和Boxlucasl模型的拟合结果表明沉积物释放总磷过程中,总磷释放量越大,团聚度越小;颗粒物理吸附-解吸作用比沉积物颗粒的扩散作用强;有机质在沉积物释放总磷过程中起着重要作用,且对沉积物团聚度有着重大影响。     

厦门西港的淤积与治理

根据近30年来的调查与观测数据,并对比不同时期的海图资料,剖析了厦门西港淤积的原因。揭示了目前航道淤积的泥砂主要来自九龙江河口区及港内的浅滩和岸滩沉积物的再运动。进而提出了清滩造岛、红树林固滩等治理措施,以此增加纳潮量,减轻波流的掀沙量及其给航道造成的淤积,同时增加海岛面积,提高经济价值,增强生态功能。     

里运河底泥重金属空间分布特征

通过对淮安市里运河底泥的采样与分析,揭示了里运河底泥中镉、砷和硫化物的沿程分布特征、垂向分布特征和横向分布特征以及这些分布特征的形成原因.结果表明:各测点镉的质量分数均超过淮安市土壤环境背景值中镉的质量分数,最大质量分数是背景值的15.73倍;砷和硫化物的质量分数呈沿程降低趋势,但引河路和造纸厂断面砷的平均质量分数超过了淮安市土壤环境背景值中砷的质量分数,砷的最大质量分数为土壤三级标准中砷质量分数的2.45倍;硫化物在引河路断面污染突出,明显高于其他3个断面底泥的硫化物质量分数;重金属在垂向分布上表现为中部的黑泥层质量分数最高;在污染河段的同一断面,河岸的重金属污染程度一般比河中要高.     

Prokaryotic cells of the deep sub-seafloor biosphere identified as living bacteria

Chemical analyses of the pore waters from hundreds of deep ocean sediment cores have over decades provided evidence for ongoing processes that require biological catalysis by prokaryotes. This sub-seafloor activity of microorganisms may influence the surface Earth by changing the chemistry of the ocean and by triggering the emission of methane, with consequences for the marine carbon cycle and even the global climate. Despite the fact that only about 1% of the total marine primary production of organic carbon is available for deep-sea microorganisms, sub-seafloor sediments harbour over half of all prokaryotic cells on Earth. This estimation has been calculated from numerous microscopic cell counts in sediment cores of the Ocean Drilling Program. Because these counts cannot differentiate between dead and alive cells, the population size of living microorganisms is unknown. Here, using ribosomal RNA as a target for the technique known as catalysed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH), we provide direct quantification of live cells as defined by the presence of ribosomes. We show that a large fraction of the sub-seafloor prokaryotes is alive, even in very old (16 million yr) and deep (> 400 m) sediments. All detectable living cells belong to the Bacteria and have turnover times of 0.25-22 yr, comparable to surface sediments.     

An acidic protein aligns magnetosomes along a filamentous structure in magnetotactic bacteria

Magnetotactic bacteria are widespread aquatic microorganisms that use unique intracellular organelles to navigate along the Earth's magnetic field. These organelles, called magnetosomes, consist of membrane-enclosed magnetite crystals that are thought to help to direct bacterial swimming towards growth-favouring microoxic zones at the bottom of natural waters. Questions in the study of magnetosome formation include understanding the factors governing the size and redox-controlled synthesis of the nano-sized magnetosomes and their assembly into a regular chain in order to achieve the maximum possible magnetic moment, against the physical tendency of magnetosome agglomeration. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms is expected from studying the genes present in the identified chromosomal 'magnetosome island', for which the connection with magnetosome synthesis has become evident. Here we use gene deletion in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense to show that magnetosome alignment is coupled to the presence of the mamJ gene product. MamJ is an acidic protein associated with a novel filamentous structure, as revealed by fluorescence microscopy and cryo-electron tomography. We suggest a mechanism in which MamJ interacts with the magnetosome surface as well as with a cytoskeleton-like structure. According to our hypothesis, magnetosome architecture represents one of the highest structural levels achieved in prokaryotic cells.     

Pumping of nutrients to ocean surface waters by the action of propagating planetary waves

Primary productivity in the oceans is limited by the lack of nutrients in surface waters. These nutrients are mostly supplied from nutrient-rich subsurface waters through upwelling and vertical mixing, but in the ocean gyres these mechanisms do not fully account for the observed productivity. Recently, the upward pumping of nutrients, through the action of eddies, has been shown to account for the remainder of the primary productivity; however, these were regional studies which focused on mesoscale (100-km-scale) eddies. Here we analyse remotely sensed chlorophyll and sea-surface-height data collected over two years and show that 1,000-km-scale planetary waves, which propagate in a westward direction in the oceans, are associated with about 5 to 20% of the observed variability in chlorophyll concentration (after low-frequency and large-scale variations are removed from the data). Enhanced primary production is the likely explanation for this observation, and if that is the case, propagating disturbances introduce nutrients to surface waters on a global scale--similar to the nutrient pumping that occurs within distinct eddies.     

南黄海如东近岸海域的沉积物特征与输运趋势

2003年在南黄海如东近岸海域获取了表层底质样397个,进行粒度分析,获取粒度参数．分析结果表明,如东近岸海域的表层沉积物以砂质粉砂和粉砂质砂为主,其物源主要是古长江残留物质,受现代水动力作用改造并掺混一定数量的现代长江入海物质和江苏沿岸侵蚀的物质．采用粒径趋势进行分析,发现该海域深槽中的沉积物主要向外海输运,但在中部海洋沙、太阳沙以西存在一个沉积物汇聚中心．     

The use of fire at Zhoukoudian： evidence from magneticsusceptibility and color measurements

In order to provide direct evidence for the use of fire by humans at Locality 1,Zhoukoudian,we examine the burnt and unburnt sediments of newly excavated area in Layer 4 by detailed measurements of magnetic susceptibility,color,and diffuse reflectance spectrum.Results show that the magnetic susceptibility and redness of the burnt sediments are remarkably higher than those of other areas on the same level:up to*22 times for magnetic susceptibility and*3 times for redness of those of the adjacent unburnt sediments.Fine-grained(superparamagnetic/stable single-domain)magnetite and hematite grains make dominant contributions to the distinctly high values of magnetic susceptibility and redness in the burnt sediments.Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy results show that the burnt sediments contain more hematite than those of other areas and localities 2 and 3.High-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate that the burnt sediments have been heated above 700°C.Those changes in low-frequency magnetic susceptibility and redness are impossibly resulted from natural fires,thus most likely signaling the human activities of controlled use of fire.However,further work is needed to confirm whether or not these heat-affected sediments were produced in situ.