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Multivariate statistical analyses combined with geographically weighted regression (GWR) were used to identify spatial variations of heavy metals in sediments and to examine relationships between metal pollution and land use practices in watersheds, including urban land, agriculture land, forest and water bodies. Seven metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn and Fe) of sediments were measured at 31 sampling sites in Sheyang River. Most metals were under a certain degree enrichment based on the enrichment factors. Cluster analysis grouped all sites into four statistically significant cluster, severely contaminated areas were concentrated in areas with intensive human activities. Correlation analysis and PCA indicated Cu, Zn and Pb were derived from anthropogenic activities, while the sources of Cr and Ni were complicated. However, Fe and Mn originated from natural sources. According to results of GWR, there are stronger association between metal pollution with urban land than agricultural land and forest. Moreover, the relationships between land use and metal concentration were affected by the urbanization level of watersheds. Agricultural land had a weak associated with heavy metal pollution and the relationships might be stronger in less-urbanized. This study provided useful information for the assessment and management of heavy metal hazards in studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural inputs and anthropogenic influences on lakes and their catchments are reflected in the sediment record. In the present study, the extractable organic compounds from sediments in the Chaihe catchment of the Dianchi watershed were analyzed to characterize source inputs. Results show that the sediments are dominated by odd numbered n -alkanes ( n -C 16 – n -C 33 ), maximizing at n -C 17 , n -C 29 and n -C 31 . Aliphatic hydrocarbon may be composed of terrestrial plants and bacteria. The values of δ 13 C 27 , δ 13 C 29 and δ 13 C 31 of n -alkanes exhibit a range from − 33.27‰ to − 25.46‰, from − 35.76‰ to − 28.47‰ and from − 33.67‰ to − 27.42‰, respectively and three records strongly covary with depth, falling within the range of C 3 plants in the study area. An isotopic model revealed C 3 plant contribution to sedimentary organic matter (OM) ranging from 40.75% to 97.22%. The values of ACL 27–33 , CPI 27–33 , OEP, Paq, Pr/Ph, (C 27 + C 29 )/2C 31 , (C 21 + C 23 + C 25 )/3C 17 and n C 26 − / n C 27 + are consistent with the C 3 plant predominance. A constant CRS model gave the accumulation rates ranging from 2.69 to 8.46 mm a − 1 spanning 1885–2010. It was concluded that OM transport in the Chaihe catchment was influenced strongly by human activities resulting in enhanced eutrophication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, considerable progress has been made in the environmental application of nanotechnology. However, little is known about how nanomaterials might affect the cyanobacterial suppression potential of allelochemicals. In this study, a microcosm was employed to simulate and verify the effect of magnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (MFN) on the inhibitory influence of allelopathic hydroxybenzoic acid (p-Ha) on bloom-forming Microcystis aeruginosa. MFN had a hormetic effect on cyanobacterial growth. At a neutral concentration of 182 mg/L, MFN enhanced the algal suppression by p-Ha and decreased the IC 50 by half, which was significantly and positively associated with the amount of OH. Furthermore, adding MFN induced a stronger physiological response than treatment with only p-Ha. The cellular integrity was severely disrupted for the cyanobacterium M. aeruginosa. The total protein content decreased rapidly to inactivate the algae by limiting the amounts of extracellular microcystin and polysaccharide released. The modification of the effect of p-Ha by MFN was reflected by the intracellular NO content of M. aeruginosa. In addition, the typical radical scavengers ascorbic acid and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide decreased OH production to weaken algal suppression under the combined treatment with p-Ha and MFN. By contrast, the addition of Fe 3+ and increasing the light intensity triggered the generation of OH and strong cyanobacterial suppression. Thus, MFN could enhance the cyanobacterial control efficiency of p-Ha and decrease the input of allelochemicals in the field. These findings suggest a novel mode of allelochemical modification by nanomaterials as a promising cyanobactericide for harmful algal bloom management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)