Influences of Cu or Cd on the neurotoxicity induced by petroleum hydrocarbons in ragworm Perinereis aibuhitensis

The ecotoxicological effects of heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons （PHCs） on ragworms are still vague. The relationships between toxicological indices （mortality and acetylcholinesterase （ACHE） activity） and concentrations of toxicants （Cu, Cd, and PHCs） were examined in the estuary keystone species Perinereis aibuhitensis in laboratory conditions. The results of single toxicant indicated that three toxicants had potentially physiological toxicity to P. aibuhitensis. The estimated 4-d and 10-d LC50 for Cu, Cd, and PHCs was derived from the relationships between mortality and toxicants concentrations. Notable changes in the morphological signs and symptoms of P. aibuhitensis exposed to PHCs were observed. The ACHE activity of P. aibuhitensis was more sensitive to the toxicity of PHCs than the others. The results of combined toxicants implied that the combined toxicity of Cu or Cd and PHCs to P. aibuhitensis was related to the concentration combination of toxicants. Compared to single PHCs treatment, the addition of Cu or Cd significantly mitigated the neurotoxicity of PHCs to ACHE activity in P. aibuhitensis, which showed an antagonistic effect.

Geochemical insights into contribution of petroleum hydrocarbons to the formation of hydrates in the Taixinan Basin, the South China Sea

Methane hydrate in the South China Sea (SCS) has extensively been considered to be biogenic on the basis of its δ13C andδD values.Although previous efforts have greatly been made,the contribution of thermogenic oil/gas has still been underestimated.In this study,biomarkers and porewater geochemical parameters in hydrate-free and hydrate-bearing sediments in the Taixinan Basin,the SCS have been measured for evaluating the contribution of petroleum hydrocarbons to the formation of hydrate deposits via a comparative study of their source inputs of organic matters,environmental conditions,and microbial activities.The results reveal the occurrence of C_(14)–C_(16) branched saturated fatty acids (bSFAs) with relatively high concentrations from sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRBs) in hydrate-bearing sediments in comparison with hydrate-free sediments,which is in accord with the positive δ^(13)C values of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC),increasing methane concentrations,decreasing alkalinity,and concentration fluctuation of ions (Cl^(-),Br^(-),SO_(4)^(2-),Ca^(2+),and Mg^(2+)).These data indicate the relatively active microbial activities in hydrate-bearing sediments and coincident variations of environmental conditions.Carbon isotope compositions of b SFAs (-34.0‰to -21.2‰),n-alkanes (-34.5‰to-29.3‰),and methane(-70.7‰to -69.9‰) jointly demonstrate that SRBs might thrive on a different type of organic carbon rather than methane.Combining with numerous gas/oil reservoirs and hydrocarbon migration channels in the SCS,the occurrence of unresolved complex mixtures (UCMs),odd-even predominance (OEP) values (about 1.0),and biomarker patterns suggest that petroleum hydrocarbons from deep oil/gas reservoirs are the most probable carbon source.Our new results provide significant evidence that the deep oil/gas reservoirs may make a contribution to the formation of methane hydrate deposits in the SCS.

Evolution of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil Polluted with Crude Oil Treated with a Natural Product

Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons contaminated/polluted soils has been recognized as an efficient, economic, versatile and environmentally good treatment. This method is limited by the microorganisms activity in degrading the spills hydrocarbons. Low solubility of the hydrocarbons involves low bioavailability to microorganisms. The main objective of this research is to increase biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by treating the crude oil polluted soil with the natural biodegradable product and bacterial inoculum. Biodegradation was quantified by total petroleum hydrocarbons （TPH） analyses. The paper presents data obtained in biodegradation process of an artificial polluted soil with 5% and 10% crude oil, treated with a natural biodegradable product and bacterial inoculum during two years of experiment. Biodegradation process takes time to rehabilitate and reuse of the soil in agricultural scopes.

Single and joint effects of petroleum hydrocarbons and cadmium on the polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis Grube

Using the concentration gradient and combined pollutant exposure method, the single and joint effects of petroleum hydrocarbons （PHCs） and cadmium （Cd） on polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis Grube, an ecologically keystone species in estuarine and coastal environment, have been investigated. The results indicate that the toxicity of PHCs to P. aibuhitensis is stronger than that of Cd to the organism. There are positive correlations between the mortality of worms and the exposed concentration of single Cd or PHCs in solution. Similarly, the accumulation of Cd or PHCs in worms increased with increasing Cd- or PHC-exposed concentrations. All the correlation relationships can be described using unitary quadratic equations （Y or Z = aX^2 ＋ bX ＋ c）. It is calculated, on the basis of these expressions, that the median lethal dose （LC50） ofP aibuhitensis exposed to a single Cd or PHCs is 793.4-13567.3 and 28.0-119.9 μg/L, respectively. The exposed time has some stimulative effect on the two pollutants and on the mortality of the worms. Thus, even a low concentration of a single Cd or PHCs may have strong toxic effects on the worms when the exposed time becomes longer. The accumulation of Cd or PHCs in worms differs with an increase in exposure time at the given exposed concentration of a single Cd or PHCs. Noticeably, the accumulation of PHCs in worms decreases with an increase in exposure time at the given high concentration of PHCs in solution. The joint effect of PHCs and Cd on P. aibuhitensis is very complicated and changes with the exposed concentrations of the two pollutants. At the given concentration of PHCs, the joint toxicity of the two pollutants on the worms changes from synergism to antagonism with an increase in Cd concentration. The accumulation of Cd in the worms significantly decreases with the addition of PHCs to exposure solution.

Microbial changes in rhizospheric soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons after bioremediation

Effects of bioremediation on microbial communities in soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons are a scientific problem to be solved. Changes in dominate microbial species and the total amount of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi in rhizospheric soils after bioremediation were thus evaluated using field bioremediation experiments. The results showed that there were changed dominant microorganisms including 11 bacterial strains which are mostly Gram positive bacteria and 6 fungal species which were identified. The total amount of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi increased after bioremediation of microbial agents combined with planting maize. On the contrary, fungi in rhizospheric soils were inhibited by adding microbial agents combined with planting soybean.

Responses of macrobenthic communities to patchy distributions of heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments:A study in China's Zhoushan Archipelago

This study conducted four cruises during 2014–2017 to investigate relationships between macrobenthic communities and sediment contaminations in sea area around the Zhoushan Archipelago.Fourteen sites were categorized into three groups:high total heavy metal contamination content(HHMC),high total petroleum hydrocarbon content(HTPH),and low content ratio of heavy metal contamination content to total petroleum hydrocarbon content(HMC/TPH)areas.Four main taxa of macrofauna(polychaetes,bivalves,gastropods,and crustaceans)were determined to respond to environmental factors differently.While tolerant polychaetes being the minimal impact by environmental factors,bivalves were threated by heavy metal pollutions in sediment.Additionally,body size distribution frequency demonstrated that macrofauna in the low HMC/TPH areas were less disturbed by contamination than those in the HHMC and HTPH areas.The result represented the presentation of sensitive species while tolerant species are usually considered as small size organisms.Overall,this study confirmed the hypothesis that the contamination levels of small-scale patches is indicated by the condition of macrobenthic communities.

Analysis of petroleum hydrocarbons in mangrove sediments of Red Sea of Yemen

A field work has been carried out to identify the occurrence of oil and oil products pollution in mangrove sediment from Red Sea of Yemen. The concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons is from 700ng/g at Kamaran Island station to 400 ng/g at Al-Hodiedah station, and the total organic carbon (TOC) in samples ranges from 0.07% at Dhubab station to 0.03% at Kamaran Island station. This pollution is as a result of localized oil pollution and/or heavy ship traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

An innovative classification system for ranking the biological effects of marine aromatic hydrocarbons based on fish embryotoxicity

Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution is a global concern,particularly in coastal environments.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) are regarded as the most toxic components of petroleum hydrocarbons.In this study,the biomonitoring and ranking effects of petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs on the marine fish model Oryzias melastigma embryos were determined in the Jiulong River Estuary(JRE) and its adjacent waters in China.The results showed that the levels of petroleum hydrocarbons from almost all sites met the primary standard for marine seawater quality,and the concentrations of the 16 priority PAHs in the surface seawater were lower compared with those in other coastal areas worldwide.A new fish expert system based on the embryotoxicity of O.melastigma(OME-FES) was developed and applied in the field to evaluate the biological effects of petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs.The selected physiological index and molecular indicators in OME-FES were appropriate biomarkers for indicating the harmful effects of petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs.The outcome of OME-FES revealed that the biological effect levels of the sampling sites ranged from level Ⅰ(no stress) to level Ⅲ(medium stress),which is further corroborated by the findings of nested analysis of variance(ANOVA) models.Our results suggest that the OME-FES is an effective tool for evaluating and ranking the biological effects of marine petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs.This method may also be applied to evaluate other marine pollutants based on its framework.

Basic principles of the whole petroleum system

This paper expounds the basic principles and structures of the whole petroleum system to reveal the pattern of conventional oil/gas-tight oil/gas-shale oil/gas sequential accumulation and the hydrocarbon accumulation models and mechanisms of the whole petroleum system.It delineates the geological model,flow model,and production mechanism of shale and tight reservoirs,and proposes future research orientations.The main structure of the whole petroleum system includes three fluid dynamic fields,three types of oil and gas reservoirs/resources,and two types of reservoir-forming processes.Conventional oil/gas,tight oil/gas,and shale oil/gas are orderly in generation time and spatial distribution,and sequentially rational in genetic mechanism,showing the pattern of sequential accumulation.The whole petroleum system involves two categories of hydrocarbon accumulation models:hydrocarbon accumulation in the detrital basin and hydrocarbon accumulation in the carbonate basin/formation.The accumulation of unconventional oil/gas is self-containment,which is microscopically driven by the intermolecular force(van der Waals force).The unconventional oil/gas production has proved that the geological model,flow model,and production mechanism of shale and tight reservoirs represent a new and complex field that needs further study.Shale oil/gas must be the most important resource replacement for oil and gas resources of China.Future research efforts include:(1)the characteristics of the whole petroleum system in carbonate basins and the source-reservoir coupling patterns in the evolution of composite basins;(2)flow mechanisms in migration,accumulation,and production of shale oil/gas and tight oil/gas;(3)geological characteristics and enrichment of deep and ultra-deep shale oil/gas,tight oil/gas and coalbed methane;(4)resource evaluation and new generation of basin simulation technology of the whole petroleum system;(5)research on earth system-earth organic rock and fossil fuel system-whole petroleum system.

Petroleum hydrocarbons and their effects on fishery species in the Bohai Sea, North China

Systematic studies on the changes in concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons （PHs） and their effects on fishery species in the Bohai Sea during 1974–2004 are presented. Changes in PHs concentrations were closely related to Yellow River runoff. Concentrations of PHs accumulated in fish and shrimp increased by about 0.712 mg/kg dry weight when trophic level of fish and shrimps increased by 1. Attention should also be paid to the high PHs concentrations in mollusks along the coastal waters of the Bohai Sea. Average concentration of PHs in the adjacent coastal waters of Tianjin City during 1996–2005 decreased the population growth rates of fish, crustaceans and mollusks in the Bohai Sea by 2.58%, 6.59% and 2.33%, respectively. Therefore, PHs have significantly contributed to the decline in fisheries in the Bohai Sea, and they must be reduced to realize the sustainable fisheries.

Distribution characteristics and source tracing of petroleum hydrocarbons in the northeastern South China Sea

In recent years,oil spills caused by human activities have occurred frequently,and the resultant oil pollution has received extensive attention worldwide.In this paper,a total of 50 water samples were collected from the northeastern part of the South China Sea,and total petroleum hydrocarbons(TPHs)and n-alkane content in the samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector(GC-FID)technology.The petroleum hydrocarbon characteristic indices,such as carbon predominance index(CPI)and terrigenous/aquatic ratio(TAR),were calculated to trace the source of petroleum hydrocarbons.The measured value of TPHs ranged from 121.31-603.02μg/L.For surface waters,the TPHs in the no rthern coastal waters and the central waters were higher than that in the far shore.For ve rtical waters,the TPHs sharply decreased at first,and then increased slowly and finally reached a steady state.The n-alkanes in the water samples were concentrated in C10-C38,and they were mainly from terrestrial higher plant.The waters in the near shore,mid-layer and deep sea showed a strong reducing terrestrial characteristic,while the surface waters in the open sea showed an obvious oxidizing endogenous characteristic.

Laboratory Design Criteria for Monitoring Biostimulated Bioremediation of a Crude Oil Contaminated Soil in Niger Delta Using Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon

The remediation of crude oil-impacted soil has always been a challenge in different soil environments and climatic conditions. Bioremediation technology has offered a breakthrough in restoring crude oil-impacted soil/sediment in muddy, dry soil and wetlands. Though, there have been varied environmental conditions that have hampered the success of the bioremediation process. This study has evaluated the effectiveness of a biostimulated bioremediation of crude oil-impacted soil using some design criteria—nutrient amendment (NPK fertilizer) and moisture content. Soil sample sets—A, B, C, D, E, F, and G were impacted with crude oil at a ratio of 10 g/kg and amended with varying amounts of nutrient 30, 60, and 80 g of N.P.K fertilizer. The medium for the inoculation of the nutrient was water and the volume of water applied varied from 30% to 80% saturation. The soil sample sets were harvested at an interval of 3 months for 180 days to determine the concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbon left in the soil. The analysis of the total petroleum hydrocarbon was achieved using a GC-FID with a capillary column and autosampler. Soil samples were extracted with mixed solvent dichloromethane and acetone at a 1:1 ratio. The total petroleum hydrocarbon results show that biostimulated bioremediation achieved better results in soil sample sets with low moisture content (30% water saturation) and moderate nutrient amendment. The biodegradation of the sample sets with high water saturation and a high nutrient amendment was slow with a higher amount of total hydrocarbon content at the end of the 180 days. The variability in the hydrocarbon degradation pattern of contaminated soil shows that biostimulated bioremediation achieved better results in soils with low moisture content than in soil environments with high water content (saturation). More so, nutrient overdosing of the substrate hampered the effectiveness of the remediation process.

Dynamic changes in microbial activity and community structure during biodegradation of petroleum compounds:A laboratory experiment

With 110-d incubation experiment in laboratory, the responses of microbial quantity, soil enzymatic activity, and bacterial community structure to different amounts of diesel fuel amendments were studied to reveal whether certain biological and biochemical characteristics could serve as reliable indicators of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in meadow-brown soil, and use these indicators to evaluate the actual ecological impacts of 50-year petroleum-refining wastewater irrigation on soil function in Shenfu irrigation area. Results showed that amendments of ~ 1000 mg/kg diesel fuel stimulated the growth of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, and increased the activity of soil dehydrogenase, hydrogenperoxidase, polyphenol oxidase and substrate-induced respiration. Soil bacterial diversity decreased slightly during the first 15 d of incubation and recovered to the control level on day 30. The significant decrease of the colony forming units of soil actinomyces and filamentous fungi can be taken as the sensitive biological indicators of petroleum contamination when soil was amended with 〉15000 mg/kg diesel fuel. The sharp decrease in urease activity was recommended as the most sensitive biochemical indicator of heavy diesel fuel contamination. The shifts in community structure to a community documented by Sphingomonadaceae within a-subgroup of Proteobacteria could be served as a sensitive and precise indicator of diesel fuel contamination. Based on the results described in this paper, the soil function in Shenfu irrigation area was disturbed to some extent.

Comparative Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil by Biostimulation, Bioaugmentation and Surfactant Addition

A bench-scale biopiling experiment was conducted to hydrocarbon bioremediation in a chronically contaminated soil compare the ability of different techniques to enhance petroleum After 195 days, 10%-32% removal of TPHs （total petroleum hydrocarbons） occurred in unamended soil （control）. Biostimulation by inorganic nutrient addition enhanced TPH removal （49%） confirming that bioremediation was nutrient limited and the soil contained a well-adapted hydrocarbonoclastic microbial community. The addition of organic amendments including green waste at 25% and 50% （w/w） and a commercial product called DaramendTM had a further biostimulatory effect （50%-66%, 34%-59% and 69%-80% TPH removal respectively）. Bioaugmentation using two commercially available petroleum hydrocarbon degrading microbial cultures with nutrients enhanced TPH removal in the case of RemActivTM （60%-69%）, but had a marginal effect using Recycler 102 （49%-55%）. The effect of a non-ionic surfactant in green waste amended soil was variable （52%-72% TPH reduction）, but its potential to enhance biodegradation presumably by promoting contaminant bioavailability was demonstrated. High degradation of artificially added polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） occurred after 106 days （75%-84%）, but significant differences between the control and treatments were unapparent, suggesting that spiked soils do not reflect the behavior of contaminants in genuinely polluted and weathered soil.

In-situ remediation of deep petroleum-contaminated soil injection

A computational fluid dynamics(CFD)numerical simulation and field experiment were used to investigate optimal operating parameters of high-pressure jet grouting equipment and clarify the boundary law of the injection area in the remediation process.The response surface optimization design results show that the optimal injection pressure is 30 MPa,rotation speed is 23 r/min,commission speed is 30 cm/min,and the optimal injection diameter is 147.3 cm.Based on the CFD numerical simulation,the ratio of the injection core,turbulent zone,and seepage zone is approximately 1∶4∶2.The distribution law of jet core,turbulence zone and seepage zone at different cross-sections under 30 MPa operating conditions is as follows:The jet core radius is approximately 100 mm,the turbulence zone is mainly distributed at 100 to 500 mm,the seepage zone is mainly distributed at 500 to 700 mm,the seepage zone could be completed within 2 h,and the proportion of the three boundary zones in the injection zone is similar to that of the numerical simulation.This study provides theoretical parameters and practical reference for the remediation of deep pollution via in-situ chemical oxidation in the Loess Plateau soil environment.

Effect of Mirabilis jalapa (Linn.) Growth on Microbial Community in Bioremediation of Petroleum-contaminated Saline-alkali Soil

Microbial biomass and species in the rhizosphere soil of Mirabilis jalapa（Linn.）（the saline-alkali soil contaminated by total petroleum hydrocarbon（TPH））were studied with the technology of phospholipid fatty acids（PLFAs） analysis,to explore the effects of Mirabilis jalapa（Linn.） growth on the structure characteristics of microbial communities and degradation of TPH in the petroleum-contaminated salinealkali soil.The result showed that compared with the CK soil without Mirabilis jalapa（Linn.）,the kind change rates of PLFAs were 71.4%,69.2% and 33.3% in spring,summer and autumn,respectively,and the degradation of TPH increased by 47.6%,28.3%,and 18.9% in the rhizosphere soil in spring,summer and autumn,respectively.Correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between the degradation of TPH and the soil microbial communities：77.8% of the microbial PLFAs showed positive correlation（the correlation coefficient r﹥0） with the degradation of TPH,and 55.6% of the PLFAs had high positive correlation with the degradation of TPH with a correlation coefficient r ≥0.8.In addition,the relative contents of SAT and MONO had high correlation with the degradation of TPH in the CK soil,and the correlation coefficients were 0.92 and 0.60,respectively;but in the rhizosphere soil,42.1% of the PLFAs had positive correlation with it,and only21.1% had high positive correlation with the degradation of TPH,the relative contents of TBSAT,MONO and CYCLO had moderate or low positive correlation with the degradation of TPH,and the correlation coefficients were 0.56,0.50 and 0.07 respectively.It was shown that the growth of mirabilis jalapa（Linn.） highly affected the microbial community structure and TPH degradation speed in the rhizosphere soil,providing a theoretical basis for the research on phytoremediation of petroleumcontaminated saline-alkali soil.

Phytoremediation of petroleum polluted soil

An experimental study of the rhizosphere effect on phytoremediation of petroleum polluted soil was carried out with three species of grasses, namely Pannicum, Eleusine indica （L.） Gaerth, and Tall Fescue. After a period of 150 days, this pot experiment showed that the rhizosphere of these three species accelerated the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons to different extents. The results showed that the number of microorganisms in the rhizosphere increased by three orders of magnitude. The induction of the plant rhizosphere and the coercion influence of petroleum changed the species and activity of microorganisms. The degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the rhizosphere was 3-4 times that in unplanted soil. The dehydrogenase activity in the rhizosphere was 1.61-2.20 times that in unplanted soil, but the catalase activity was 0.90-0.93 times that in unplanted soil, and soil moisture content increased by 5% compared with the unplanted soil.

Relationship between petroleum hydrocarbon and plankton in a mesocosm experiment

A mesocosm experiment was carried out from May 26 to June 1, 1998 at the location of 30'52'N, 122'36'E, the Changjiang Estuary, in order to measure the influence of petroleum hydrocar- bon to the ecosystem, furthermore, to estimate the environmental capacity. In the experiment, it is found that the petroleum hydrocarbon can, in some degree, enhance the growth of diatom, but inhibit the growth of dinoflagellate. In general, the petroleum hydrocarbon can inhibit the growth of both Phytoplankton and zooplankton, and can the inhibit the growth of total plankton (including phytoplankton and zooplankton) as well. A kinetic model was presented to estimate the uptake/release rate constants of petroleum hydrocarbon by plankton, and thereafter, the uptake and release rate constants (k1, k2), bioconcentration factor (BCF) as well as the petroleum bydrocarbon influenced influenced uptake and release rate constants of nutrients by phytoplankton (kup, krel) were obtained. The results imply that the bioconcentration of petroleum hydrocarbon by plankton is fairly large and petroleum hydrocarbon caused no significant influence on the uptake of N- NO3, but significant influence on that of P -PO4. In addition, the application of kinetic model for the bioconcentration of volatile organic toxic compound by organism suggests that the uptake of petroleum hydrocarbon by plankton was an important process for the environmental capacity of petroleum hydrocarbon.

Petroleum Hydrocarbon Degradation Potential of Soil Bacteria Native to the Yellow River Delta

The bioremediation potential of bacteria indigenous to soils of the Yellow River Delta in China was evaluated as a treatment option for soil remediation. Petroleum hydrocarbon degraders were isolated from contaminated soil samples from the Yellow River Delta. Four microbial communities and eight isolates were obtained. The optimal temperature, salinity, pH, and the ratios of C, N, and P (C:N:P) for the maximum biodegradation of diesel oil, crude oil, n-alkanes, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons by indigenous bacteria were determined, and the kinetics changes in microbial communities were monitored. In general, the mixed microbial consortia demonstrated wider catabolic versatility and faster overall rate of hydrocarbon degradation than individual isolates. Our experimental results demonstrated the feasibility of biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbon by indigenous bacteria for soil remediation in the Yellow River Delta.

Environmental Capacity of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Pollutants in Jiaozhou Bay, China: Modeling and Calculation

An environmental capacity model for the petroleum hydrocarbon pollutions （PHs） in Jiaozhou Bay is constructed based on field surveys, mesocosm, and parallel laboratory experiments. Simulated results of PHs seasonal successions in 2003 match the field surveys of Jiaozhou Bay resaonably well with a highest value in July. The Monte Carlo analysis confirms that the variation of PHs concentration significantly correlates with the river input. The water body in the bay is reasonably subjected to self-purification processes, such as volatilization to the atmosphere, biodegradation by microorganism, and transport to the Yellow Sea by water exchange. The environmental capacity of PHs in Jiaozhou Bay is 1500 tons per year IF the seawater quality criterion （Grade Ⅰ/Ⅱ, 0.05 mgLl） in the region is to be satisfied. The contribution to self-purification by volatilization, biodegradation, and transport to the Yellow Sea accounts for 48%, 28%, and 23%, respectively, which make these three processes the main ways of PHs purification in Jiaozhou Bay.