International audience | This paper compares different vegetation types (coniferous and deciduous forest, grassed and pure heathland) in terms of input (throughfall deposition) and output (seepage flux) in a region with intermediate nitrogen load (+/-20 kg N ha(-1) y(-1) via bulk precipitation) in comparable conditions in north Belgium. Coniferous forest (two plots Pinus sylvestris and two plots Pinus nigra) received significantly higher nitrogen and sulphur throughfall deposition than deciduous forest and heathland. Grassed and pure heathland had significantly highest throughfall quantities of Ca2+ and Mg2+, respectively. The observed differences in throughfall deposition between the different vegetation types were not univocally reflected in the ion seepage flux. Considerable seepage fluxes of NO3-, SO42-, Ca2+ and Al(III) were only found under the P. nigra plots. We discuss our hypothesis that the P. nigra forests already evolved to a situation of N saturation, while the other vegetation types did not. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Departement_IRSTEA]MA [TR1_IRSTEA]QSA / HYDRECO | International audience | The concentrations of dissolved and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were monitored in waters of the Rhône River (France) every fortnight for a full calendar year, from June 1994 to May 1995. All flood events occurring over the course of the experiment were sampled at higher frequency to better quantify the impact of these extreme hydrological episodes on the annual export of PAHs to the Mediterranean Sea. This time-series indicates that more than 90% of the annual load of particulate PAHs is transported during flood episodes, with 77% discharged during the course of only one extreme flood event occurring in November 1994. During these intense events, riverine particles are depleted in PAHs while at low river discharge particles are PAH-enriched. Dissolved PAHs were less variable and less abundant than adsorbed PAHs, consistently with the low solubility of these compounds.

peer reviewed | The objective of this paper is to evaluate using tracer tests, the role of the granular media size on the hydraulic behaviour of small -scale pilot horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) gravel beds. The non-ideal flow was modelled by the tank-in-series model (TIS) using the moment analysis and Gamma distribution fitting using the Solver™ routine in Microsoft Excel™; the Plug Flow with Dispersion (PFD) model was also assessed. Tests were performed under a greenhouse in four identical pilot-scale gravel beds of 9:1:1 ratio, which received an equal, inflow of clear water. The influent flow rate was 40 L/day and the surface area of the pilot cells was 0.8 m². The pea gravel media used in the four beds were as follows: 3-5 mm, 6-8 mm, 8-10 mm and 10-12 mm. The tracer used was Potassium Bromide (KBr) with a concentration of 1 g Br/L, using a single-shot injection into the inlet distribution tubes. Tests were repeated three times, with identical materials and methods. Statistical differences were observed between replications. Water loss by evaporation of the unplanted gravel beds was of 11% for the smaller media size (3-5 mm) which is significantly different than the 4 to 5% obtained for the other media sizes. Tracer detention time, tracer peak time, volumetric and hydraulic efficiencies show all the same tendency which is a significant reduction with larger particles sizes. The two methods of calculation for the number NTIS by moment analysis and Gamma distribution fitting (using Solver™) are significantly different. The Gamma model increases the number of TIS with significantly higher values for smaller media sizes.

[Departement_IRSTEA]MA [TR1_IRSTEA]QSA / DYMECO | International audience | Goal, Scope and Background. The Gironde estuary is considered as a reference ecosystem with a large fish assemblage (75 species) and the presence of eleven diadromous species. However, geochemical studies and biomonitoring using oysters have shown high metal pollution levels. During the December 1999 hurricane, more than 5,000 young Siberian sturgeons (Acipenser baerii) accidentally escaped from a fish farm into the estuary, where this species had not been present until then. Methods. In 2002/2003, thirteen sturgeons were collected from the estuary and twelve were obtained from the fish farm, from the same initial batch. Analysis of five metals (cadmium, zinc, copper, lead, mercury) measured in the gills, muscle, liver and kidneys, revealed significantly higher levels of cadmium, lead and mercury in the sturgeon collected from the estuary compared with those from the fish farm. Results and Discussion. Metal analysis of the stomach contents of fish collected from the estuary and artificial food used in the fish farm indicated that dietary exposure might account for the differences observed. Nevertheless, metal concentrations in sturgeons that had spent about three years in the Gironde estuary may be considered low when compared with other species (mullets, eels) or with data in the literature regarding concentrations able to induce structural and functional perturbations in fish. As the introduced Siberian sturgeons live in the same place and feed on the same prey as the juveniles of the endangered A. sturio, our results indicate in the short term that this strictly protected species does not appear to be much affected by the polymetallic pollution in the Gironde estuary. Marked differences in the concentrations of three metals (Cd, Pb, Hg) were established in four organs (gills, liver, skeletal muscle, kidneys) of Siberian sturgeons between specimens that had accidentally escaped into the Gironde estuary (France) during the December 1999 hurricane and were collected in March/June 2003 and specimens from the same initial batch at the fish farm. Recommendations and Perspectives. Based on these results, a programme will be set up, with sampling campaigns carried out in the estuary every two years, with systematic monitoring of age in order to check the origin of individuals, in conjunction with sampling of sturgeon from the fish farm. This programme will complement other studies on several biological species representative of the main trophic levels in the estuary, especially the plankton component, benthic macroinvertebrates and oysters.

Phosphorus removal in constructed wetlands have received particular attention last decades by using specific materials promoting adsorption/precipitation mechanisms. Recent studies have shown interest in using apatite materials to promote P precipitation onto the particle surface. As previous trials were mainly done by lab experiments, this present study aims to evaluate the real potential of apatites to remove P from wastewater in pilots and a full-scale plant. Two different apatites have been studied in 1.5 m² pilots fed with wastewater from the outlet of a trickling filter. They were monitored to follow inlet/oulet flows, hydraulic gradient, meteorological conditions, pH, temperature, and redox potential. Treatment performances were evaluated by regular complete analysis (COD, BOD, SS, nitrogen and phosphorus forms, Ca) as well as PO4-P by a WTW online analyser. At the same time a full-scale experiment study have been done to point out P retention properties in real conditions over a 2 years period. P retention kinetics of two qualities of apatites are presented and discussed according to the temperature dependence. In this work apatite appears to have high retention capacity and is still an interesting way for P removal in constructed wetlands. However, other qualities of apatite must be studied for a better reliability of treatment.

International audience

Morocco is the first country producer of phosphate in the world with a real potential of contamination of the environment and individuals there living by fluorine either by phosphate deposits (hydrotelluric fluorosis) and phosphate manufacturing plants (industrial fluorosis). This survey was achieved on 86 dromedaries in a region of the Sahara (Boujdour and Laâyoune) characterized by the presence of phosphate. In addition, blood, soil, water and plant samples were collected for the dosage of fluorine that has been achieved by potentiometric method. The mean fluorine content was below 0.47 ppm, 513 ppm and 4.8 ppm in water, soil and plants respectively. The provinces of Boujdour and Laâyoune are unscathed zones opposite the sources of fluorine contamination, as water, vegetation and soil. The mean plasma fluorine concentration was below 0.06 ppm, thus, the camels of these regions seem therefore also free of fluorine chronic intoxication. However the increased values of fluorine levels in the soil, vegetables, and the plasma of camels in the region of Boujdour can let suppose that this area is close to a source of fluorine contamination. Indeed, the province of Boujdour is located unless 200 km of Boukraa where is situated a processing plant of phosphates. Thus, according orientation and the strength of the present dominant winds in the region of Boujdour, we can give out the hypothesis that by winds are brought in the region of Boujdour of the fluorine particles coming from the region of Boukraa. These winds carrying particles of fluorine eliminated by the factory and also by the extraction of soil particles by erosion. This hypothesis can be verified by a survey establishing a gradient of pollution by fluorine cleared by the deposit or the processing plant of the phosphates considering the direction and the strength of the dominant winds in these regions. (Résumé d'auteur)

In the desert, camel rearing is an important cultural fact. In the present paper, 240 Arabian camels from Emirates were sampled for the determination of trace elements and different heavy metals. The following elements were tested: copper, zinc, iron, aluminium, arsenic, boron, barium, cobalt, chromium, cadmium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, strontium and lead. The variation factors included age, sex and physiological status. On the average, the mineral contents were 190.3 µg/100 ml (iron), 60.1 µg/100 ml (copper), 44.0 µg/100 ml (strontium), 22.5 µg/100 ml (arsenic), 20.0 µg/100 ml (zinc), 19.7 µg/100 ml (selenium), 19.3 µg/100 ml (boron) and 14.6 µg/100 ml (barium). Other minerals like aluminium (3.7 µg/100 ml), molybdenum (2.9 µg/100 ml), chromium (2.0 µg/100 ml), nickel (1.8 µg/100 ml), lead (1.5 µg/100 ml), manganese (0.16 µg/100 ml), cobalt (0.08 µg/100 ml) and cadmium (0.07 µg/100 ml) were in very small concentration. Age, sex and physiological effects were assessed for some parameters. According to the lack of references in camel species, it is difficult to link those results to polluting context. But those data could contribute to understand the heavy metal status in camel confronted to pollution. (Résumé d'auteur)