Search

Abstract: The diurnal atmospheric phosphine (PH3) concentrations and fluxes at the water–air interface in Lake Taihu were reported. The results showed that the PH3 flux at the water–air interface ranged from −69.9±29.7 to 121±42ngm−2 h−1, with a mean flux of 14.4±22.5ngm−2 h−1. The fluxes were both negative and positive during the diurnal period, indicating that the lake can act as a sink and a source of PH3. In addition, the PH3 fluxes were positively correlated with water temperature, total soluble phosphorus and soluble reactive phosphorus, while they were negatively correlated with water redox potential. A similar diurnal variation curve of atmospheric PH3 concentrations was observed during all four seasons, with the maximum level occurring in early morning and the minimum appearing around midday. These findings suggest that light plays an important role in the elimination of atmospheric PH3. A significant positive correlation was also found between air temperature and atmospheric PH3 concentration. The mean flux of PH3 in Lake Taihu was higher than in other reported wetlands, with an estimated annual emission of PH3 to the atmosphere of 2.94×105 gy−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Important biogeochemical processes occur in sediments at fine scales. Sampling techniques capable of yielding information with high resolution are therefore needed to investigate chemical distributions and fluxes and to elucidate key processes affecting chemical fates. In this study, a high-resolution diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique was systematically developed and tested in a controlled sediment system to measure organic contaminants, antibiotics, for the first time. The DGT probe was used to resolve compound distributions at the mm scale. It also reflected the fluxes from the sediment pore-water and remobilization from the solid phase, providing more dynamic information. Through the fine scale detection, a reduction of re-supply was observed over time, which was concentration and location dependent. Compared to the Rhizon sampling method, antibiotic concentrations obtained by DGT probes were less than the pore-water concentrations, as DGT measures the labile fraction of the compounds. The DGT probe was also tested on an intact sediment core sampled from a lake in China and used to measure the distribution of labile antibiotics with depth in the core at the mm scale. The abuse of antibiotics and widespread of their residues influences the ecosystem, induces the generation of super-bacteria, and finally poses threat to human health. Sediments adsorbs pollutants from the aquatic environment, while may also release them back to the environment. We systematically developed DGT probe approach for measuring antibiotics in sediment in situ in high resolving power, it provides information at fine scale to help us investigate biogeochemical processes take place in sediment and sediment-water interface. [Display omitted] • Developed a new in situ high resolution sampling probe for studying antibiotics. • Resolving power reached the mm scale, better than conventional methods. • Vertical distribution of antibiotics in sediments and their transport were determined. • Antibiotics were detected in an intact sediment core using DGT probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]