Spatial distribution and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in the sediments of fishing ports along the coasts of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea.

More than 1,154 fishing ports are widely distributed in China's coastal areas. To date, however, few studies on the pollution and ecological risks of heavy metals in these fishing ports have been reported. In this study, the heavy metals of 148 sediment samples collected from 37 fishing ports along the coasts of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea were detected. The results showed that the average contents of Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd were 53.58 ± 44.53, 27.90 ± 18.10, 143.52 ± 74.72 and 0.28 ± 0.15 mg/kg, respectively. Based on the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and the potential ecological risk index (RI), we found that fishing ports were the most severely polluted by Cu, but Cd had the highest ecological risk, and most of fishing ports were in moderate potential ecological risk. The positive correlation between heavy metals and total organic carbon indicated that heavy metals in fishing ports were mainly affected by anthropogenic activities.

High dimethylsulfoniopropionate concentrations in the surface seawater over the marginal seas of China and the Northwest Pacific Ocean during May-July of 2021 following La Niña.

The total dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSPt) concentrations over the surface seawater of China's marginal seas and the northwest Pacific Ocean (NWPO) in May-July 2021 (during the recessional period of La Niña) were analysed. The results showed that the DMSPt concentrations in the marginal seas of China varied from 4.73 to 775.96 nmol L-1, with an average value of 111.42 ± 129.30 nmol L-1 (average ± standard deviation). It was 2-12 times higher than those previously measured in the same seas and in the NWPO in this study. Significant positive correlations between DMSPt, chlorophyll-a and surface seawater temperature (SST) were observed in the SYS, the ECS and the NWPO. Moreover, their abnormally high SST was related to La Niña. These results suggested that high phytoplankton abundance was caused by abnormally high SST following La Niña, which further promoted DMSPt concentration increases. However, the increase of DMSPt was also related to other factors such as nutrients.

The characteristics of CDOM structural composition and the effect on indirect photodegradation of sulfamerazine.

Sulfamerazine (SM) is a commonly used antibiotic and have been widely used to control various bacterial infectious diseases. The structural composition of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is known to be a major factor that influences the indirect photodegradation of SM, yet the influence mechanism remains unknown. In order to understand this mechanism, CDOM from different sources was fractionated using ultrafiltration and XAD resin, and characterized using UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The indirect photodegradation of SM in these CDOM fractions was then investigated. Humic acid (JKHA) and Suwannee River natural organic matter (SRNOM) were used in this study. The results showed that CDOM could be divided into four components (three humic-like components and one protein-like component), and terrestrial humic-like components C1 and C2 were found to be the main components that promote SM indirect photodegradation due to their high aromaticity. The indirect photodegradation of SM was much faster in low molecular weight (MW) solutions, whose structures were dominated by greater aromaticity and terrestrial fluorophores in JKHA and higher terrestrial fluorophores in SRNOM. The HIA and HIB fractions of SRNOM contained large aromaticity and high fluorescence intensities of C1 and C2, resulting in a greater indirect photodegradation rate of SM. The HOA and HIB fractions of JKHA had abundant terrestrial humic-like components and contributed more to SM indirect photodegradation.

[Determination of three exogenous plant hormone residues in bean sprout by high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry].

This study was aimed to the establishment of an analytical method for the determination of three exogenous plant hormone residues in bean sprout by high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The target compounds were gibberellins, 6-benzylaminopurine and parachlorophenoxyacetic acid. The QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) method was used for sample preparation. The analytes were extracted with a solution containing 1% (v/v, if not specified) acetic, 50% ethanol, 49% acetonitrile, and cleaned-up by dispersive solid-phase extraction with diatomite dispersant, then degreased by hexane. The three target compounds were separated on an Eclipse Plus C18 column (100 mm x 3.0 mm, 1.8 microm) with mobile phases A (water containing 0.1% formic acid) and B (methanol) by gradient elution within 15 min, and detected under negative electrospray ionization (ESI) mode. The quantitative analysis was carried out by extracting the peak area with accurate mass. The confirmatory analysis of the target compounds was performed with the qualitative fragments. The results showed that the limits of quantification (LOQs, S/N = 10) for the three target compounds were from 5.0 microg/kg to 10 microg/kg. The respective mean recoveries were found to be in the range of 79.1%-96.1%, and the RSDs were 5.7%-10.4%. It was applicable to the analysis of the three exogenous plant hormones in bean sprout samples. This method is simple, fast and efficient.

[Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution status in shellfish culture area of Sanggou Bay and effect on quality safety of shellfish].

Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in seawater, surface sediments and culture shellfish were investigated in shellfish culture area of Sanggou Bay from Jan. to Nov. in 2008. Investigation was conducted on the distribution and variation of petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in seawater and sediments in the shellfish culture area of Sanggou Bay, as well as on the levels and the differences in petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations among the shellfish species. In addition, the petroleum hydrocarbon pollution status in the three media was evaluated and the effects of accumulated petroleum hydrocarbon in shellfish on the food safety risk were discussed. The results indicated: 1) Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in seawater in the shellfish culture area of Sanggou Bay were in the range of 3.61 - 98.21 microg/L; the mean values of petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in sediments were in the range of 6.75-25.95 mg/kg; petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in culture shellfish were in the range of 2.14- 42.87 mg/kg; and petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in shellfish varied largely among different species, with the mean values in the sequence of clam Venerupis variegata > oyster > scallop; 2) Monthly petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in seawater and surface sediments varied significantly in Sanggou Bay shellfish culture area, with the highest and the lowest values of petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in seawater that occurred in July and in August, respectively, and with the highest and the lowest values of petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in surface sediments that occurred in September and in March, respectively; 3) According to the corresponding evaluation criteria, the petroleum hydrocarbon pollution status in surface sediments in Sanggou Bay shellfish culture area was unpolluted but the status in surface seawater was polluted. The culture shellfish was also polluted by petroleum hydrocarbon with different degrees among three species, namely, the pollution degree of clam Venerupis variegata and oyster was more serious than that of scallop Chlamys farreri; 4) The results of linear regression analysis showed that petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in shellfish had a significantly positive correlation with the concentrations in seawater, while the linear correlation between the concentrations in shellfish and surface sediments was not obvious; and 5) According to the pollution level of petroleum hydrocarbon in shellfish, the food safety risk of three culture shellfishes in Sanggou Bay was relatively low.