Source analysis and ecological risk assessment for heavy metals in the sediments of the Yangshan Deepwater Harbor in autumn and winter

Temporal and spatial variations of concentrations of heavy metals including mercury （Hg）, zinc （Zn）, lead （Pb）, arsenic （As）, copper （Cu）, and cadmium （Cd） in the sediments of the Yangshan Deepwater Harbor were determined based on 6 cruises in autumn and winter, respectively, from 2010 to 2013. The results demonstrated that the overall concentrations of heavy metals were low and distributed in uniform patterns. The concentrations of Hg, Zn, Pb, and Cd in autumn were significantly higher than those in winter with small fluctuations for As and Cu in terms of seasonal variations. Results of factor analysis showed that Pb, Cd, and Zn were derived from inland industrial and shipping discharges as well as the degradation of organic pollutants in marine environment. While agricultural pollutions, cargo shifting and construction debris from reclamation projects contributed to the sources of Cu, As, and Hg. Ecological risk assessment by Mean Sediment Quality Guideline Quotient （SQG-Q） revealed that the degree for eco-risk of the sediments was low-and-moderate in autumn, higher than that in winter. Hg and Cu were the dominant eco-risk factors. The results of Index of geoaccumulation （Igeo） showed that the whole sites of the sea area were barely influenced by Hg, As, Zn, and Pb, and the extents of Cd and Cu contaminations were in low grade. Contamination degree of all the six heavy metals could be ranked as the following： Cd〉Pb〉Zn〉Hg〉As. According to the results of integrated score of factor analysis, the contamination degree for heavy metals in sediments of the Yangshan Deepwater Harbor was low, despite sites No.5, No.4 and No.3, which were heavily contaminated compared with others.

Surface water quality and potential health risk assessments in Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan section of Xiangjiang River, China

The Changsha-Xiangtan-Zhuzhou City Group is a heavy industrial district and accepted as the serious pollution area in the Xiangjiang River basin.In this study,7 metals(Pb,Hg,Cd,As,Zn,Cu and Se)and the river water quality parameters including pH,dissolved oxygen(DO),Escherichia coli(E.coli),potassium permanganate index(CODMn),dichromate oxidizability(CODCr),five-day biochemical oxygen demand(BOD5),ammonia nitrogen(NH4+-N),total nitrogen(TN),total phosphorus(TP)and fluoride(F)in 18 sampling sites of the Changsha-Xiangtan-Zhuzhou section are monthly monitored in 2016,which is the year to step into the second stage of the“Xiangjiang River Heavy Metal Pollution Control Implementation Plan”.It is found that E.coli,TN and TP are the main pollutants in the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan section,and the pollution of heavy metal is not serious but As with potential risk to local people especially children should be concerned.In addition,Xiangtan city is mainly featured with heavy metal pollution,while Zhuzhou and Changsha city are both featured with other pollutants from municipal domestic sewage.

Distribution and pollution assessment of trace metals in seawater and sediment in Laizhou Bay

Selected trace metals （Pb, Cd, Cu, Hg） and arsenic in seawater and surface sediments of Laizhou Bay were determined, to evaluate their spatial distribution, pollution risk and potential ecological risk. Concentrations of the elements were 0.56-2.07, 0.14-0.38, 12.70-18.40, 0.014-0.094, and 1.13- 2.37 μg/L in the seawater and 8.94-32.2, 0.18-0.67, 4.51-30.5, 0.006-0.058, and 5.75-15.3 mg/kg in sediments for Pb, Cd, Cu, Hg and As, respectively. High concentrations of the trace metals and arsenic in seawater and surface sediments were generally observed near the fiver estuary. The pollution risk result of the elements showed that Cu was the prominent trace metal pollutant in seawater, followed by Hg, Pb, Cd and As. The metal complex pollution index in seawater was at a medium level. The most important trace metal pollutant in sediments was Cd, followed by As, Cu, Pb, and Hg. Our pollution assessment suggests that trace metal pollution in Laizhou Bay sediments was at a low level. The potential ecological risk was also low in surface sediment.

Changes of the Level of Liquidity in Time of the Financial Crisis： A Case of Polish Companies

The financial crisis undoubtedly exerted a pressure on the companies operating in Poland. Thus, it is important to undertake researches that reveal the paths and strength of the transmission of financial crisis with regard to the business entities. This paper presents partial results of the researches dedicated to the analysis of the impact of financial crisis on the financial situation of companies operating in Silesian Region in Poland. It analyses and discusses the general changes in the financial ratios that inform about the company＇s financial liquidity and the level of liquidity risk. As a research paper, it aims at justifying hypotheses about the changes of liquidity and liquidity risk in companies operating in Poland, Silesian Region within the period of 2006-2009. The tested hypotheses generally indicate the decrease of liquidity in the aftermath of crisis and a worse situation in the Silesian Region, as compared to the national level. The study is based on an application of a part of authors＇ self-developed method--the CFS Watch （Corporate Financial Situation Watch）, which consists of five analytical modules. In this study, one module is applied： the FLA Module （Financial Liquidity Analysis） with regard to financial liquidity and the level of liquidity risk. The research is based on the data collected by the Polish Central Statistical Office. The analysis of FLA Module is based on two samples of companies： companies operating in the Silesian Region （denoted as the MEPP sample）, and companies operating in Poland （denoted as the MAPP sample）. This allows developing a comparative analysis between regional and national dimension. The results of the study represent an interesting starting point for further comparative researches based on the analysis of the changes in the level of liquidity and liquidity risk of companies operating in different countries. It may form a base for finding similarities or differences in their financial situation in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The CFS Watch method in terms of the liquidity can be widely applied to make the results comparable.

Optimal Management Helps Reducing Risks for Potable-Water Resources in Albania

Albania is located on the eastern shore of the Adriatic and Jon Sea, south of former Yugoslavia, north of Greece, and west of Macedonia. It is divided into three agro-ecological zones based on climate, soils and vegetation： the fertile coastal plains, the intermediate hilly region, and the non-arable mountain zones. Annual rainfall varies from 800 to 2,000 mm in coastal areas to 1,600 to 2,000 mm in the hilly regions and up to 3,000 mm in the mountains. Rainfall is concentrated mainly in the winter, and less than 20 percent of annual rainfall occurs in the six-month period between April and September. Studies indicate that available sources of supply could provide more than enough to satisfy the country＇s overall water demand. In many cities, water availability at the source is about 500-700 litres per capita per day, but leaks and waste mean that only a small fraction of water produced is consumed. The paper research concludes that the Albanian government should： （1） Introduce and implement new anti-corruption laws to increase the market transparency; （2） Continue the ongoing institutional and economical reform to deliver better legal institutions and market efficiency; （3） Reduce anti-competitive practices such as government monopoly in some sectors and privatize all the strategic sectors; and （4） Urgently develop with the help of International Monetary Fund, new projects regarding infrastructure with clear the National Investment Promotion Agency from the bureaucratic procedures and further increase the budget to improve the whole internal infrastructure.

书法展厅——吕书庆书法

吕书庆一九五八年生于山西。字大真，号野鸣、瘦驴。太原师范学院文学院书法系副教授，中国书法史论与艺术研究所副所长，中国国家画院沈鹏精英班成员，中国书法家协会会员．中国书协新闻出版委员会委员，山西省书协草书委员会副主任，《中国书法》杂志编辑。