Polyorganosiloxanes (Silicones) in the aquatic environment of the Sydney region

1991 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
GE Batley ◽  
JW Hayes
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Estuarine Sediments ◽  
Surface Microlayer ◽  
Sediment Depth ◽  
Depth Profiles ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Wide Variability ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Chemical Indicator ◽  
Sewage Discharges

Polyorganosiloxanes, or silicones, common ingredients in a range of modern domestic and industrial formulations, have been detected in waters, surface microlayer samples, sewage discharges and estuarine sediments collected from the coastal zone near Sydney, New South Wales. High concentrations in sewage sludge (>100�g Si g-1) are not reflected in waters receiving a sewage discharge. However, the high affinity of hydrophobic silicones for large-surface-area clayey sediments leads to wide variability within a single waterbody, indicative of localized inputs. Furthermore, the fine structure of organosilicon sediment-depth profiles affords an excellent chemical indicator of a 1950 horizon, the approximate date of introduction of these compounds to Australia.

Seasonal fluctuations in mineral sulphur under subterranean clover pasture in southern New South Wales

Soil Research ◽  
1968 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
CH Williams
Keyword(s):  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Sulphate Content ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sulphate Sulphur ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Clover Pasture

Seasonal changes in sulphate sulphur were studied in a soil under subterranean clover pasture. Fluctuations in sulphate content were found to be similar to those in nitrate. Both sulphate and nitrate accumulated in the surface soil during summer, immediately after senescence of the pasture. High concentrations were maintained throughout the summer-autumn period and these decreased to low values in winter and spring. The higher values in summer probably resulted from mineralization of soil organic matter under favourable moisture and temperature conditions, and lack of plant uptake. Minor fluctuations were associated with partial leaching by rainwater. The low values in winter and spring were probably brought about by leaching and plant uptake, together with low rates of mineralization at low soil temperatures.

Heavy metals in cultivated oysters (Crassostrea commercialis = Saccostrea cucullata) from estuaries of New South Wales

1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
NJ Mackay ◽  
RJ Williams ◽  
JL Kacprzac ◽  
MN Kazacos ◽  
AJ Collins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Metal Levels ◽  
Zinc Cadmium ◽  
Copper Zinc ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Cadmium Lead ◽  
Production Areas

Results of a survey of metal levels in the Sydney rock oyster Crassostrea commercialis are reported. Concentrations of copper, zinc, cadmium, lead and arsenic in oysters sampled from the 19 important production areas in New South Wales are generally low, and in terms of the National Health and Medical Research Council recommendations for these metals there is little or no health risk to consumers. Evidence is presented which indicates that metal concentrations decrease with increasing age and wet weight of oysters. In oysters sampled from a single estuary, there is a gradient of increasing metal concentration with increasing distance upstream from the sea. Pollution may be the cause of the relatively high concentrations in oysters from this estuary, but further work will be required to verify this. The variability of metal concentrations in oysters is discussed, and a sampling method is suggested for future monitoring of metals in this species.

Occurrence of marcasite in an organic-rich Holocene estuarine mud

Soil Research ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard T. Bush ◽  
Roger McGrath ◽  
Leigh A. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Estuarine Sediments ◽  
Sediment Layer ◽  
Secondary Mineral ◽  
River Floodplain ◽  
North East ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sulfidic Sediment ◽  
Environmental Proxy ◽  
Brackish Environment

Substantial marcasite and pyrite were recently identified in the upper-most unoxidised Holocene clay–peat sediments at Bungawalbin Swamp, a coastal backswamp on the Richmond River floodplain, north-east New South Wales, Australia. Marcasite (FeS2), the mineral dimorph of pyrite, is considered a rare secondary mineral in estuarine sediments and its abundance at Bungawalbin Swamp is highly unusual. The morphology and distribution of marcasite in the sulfidic sedimentary profile was examined and compared with the palynological record. Marcasite, recognised by its distinctive platy morphology and disulfide composition, occurred exclusively within organic remnants in only the upper most 1 m of the sulfidic sediment layer. Pyrite occurred throughout the sulfidic profile. A dramatic change in the sedimentary conditions at Bungawalbin Swamp from a marine environment, characterised by the presence of avicenniaceae (i.e. mangrove), to a fresh–brackish environment correlates directly with the occurrence of marcasite. The occurrence of substantial marcasite may provide a valuable environmental proxy of fresh–brackish depositional swamp environments.

Correction - Variability of soil moisture in the black cracking clay soil of north-western New South Wales

1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (31) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
GD Towner
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
North West ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Biological Responses ◽  
Wide Variability ◽  
Soil Moisture Variability

Moisture content profiles were measured to a depth of four feet in a small bare plot on the black cracking clay soil of north-west New South Wales. The results show wide variability, and lead to the conclusion that a thorough investigation must be made on the soil moisture variability in this situation before designing any agronomic experiments measuring biological responses to moisture content.

Variability of soil moisture in the black cracking clay soil of north-western New South Wales

1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (31) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
GD Towner
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Clay Soil ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
North West ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Biological Responses ◽  
Wide Variability ◽  
Soil Moisture Variability

Moisture content profiles were measured to a depth of four feet in a small bare plot on the black cracking clay soil of north-west New South Wales. The results show wide variability, and lead to the conclusion that a thorough investigation must be made on the soil moisture variability in this situation before designing any agronomic experiments measuring biological responses to moisture content.

Analysis of data collected in a residue survey: copper and zinc concentrations in liver, kidney and muscle in Australian sheep and cattle

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 485 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Langlands ◽  
GE Donald ◽  
AJ Smith
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Long Tail ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Zinc Concentrations ◽  
Australian Sheep ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Analytical Laboratories

Samples of h e r , kidney and muscle were collected between 1975 and 1983 from 2797 sheep or cattle at 39 meatworks located in all Australian States and the Northern Territory on behalf of the Australian Bureau of Animal Health. The samples were analysed for copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) at government analytical laboratories. Mean values and proportions falling into various class intervals are presented. Hepatic Cu concentrations tended to be positively skewed with a long tail of observations with high concentrations. About 3% of ovine livers and 9% of bovine livers contained <2 mg Cu/kg freshweight when calculated on a national basis. This concentration was arbitrarily taken as the criterion of a low Cu status, and the proportion within States falling into this class ranged from about 1% in sheep from Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania to about 11% in Victoria. Proportions in cattle were highest in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, and were 13.6, 10.5 and 8.9% respectively. Correlations between Cu and Zn concentrations in the different tissues were low. Possible sources of bias in applying the results to predicting the number of Cu-deficient animals in the various States are discussed.

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