In this work, the distribution of organic carbon, DNA and lipids in the sediments of Hongfeng Reservoir were described in addition to SO42? profile in pore water. The con- tents of organic carbon in the sediments range from 23.3 to 76.8 mg·g?1, with the peak value appearing at the depth of 8 cm bellow the sediments water interface (SWI), and tend to decrease gradually with sedimentation depth. The concentra- tions of SO42? decreased from 40.50 mg·L?1 to 12.00 mg·L?1 at SWI in top 4 cm sediment, and was kept at 12.0 mg·L?1 bel- low that depth. Newly produced organic carbon can be con- served as long as 14 years in the sediments. The contents of DNA were relatively high in top 9 cm surface sediments, as revealed by agarose gel images, close to those of organic car- bon and sulphate reduction index (SRI). This study shows that bacteria played an important role in organic matter degradation; SO42? is the primary electron acceptor under anaerobic condition in this reservoir; DNA in the lake sedi- ments can provide important information for the study of cycling of nutrient elements in the lake.
Wanshan mercury mine is the largest mercury deposit in Guizhou Province of China, but there were few reports on mercury toxic＂ effect in the mining area. In order to study the neurotoxicity of food from Wanshan mercury mine area and probe into the effect of food from Wanshan mercury miner area on the changes of brain oxidative damage and expression of c-fos gene. The rats were exposed to mercury contaminated food for 20 d. The content of malondialdehyde （MDA）, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, GSH-peroxidase （GSH-px） and Glutathione （GSH） in rat brain was measured, and the effect of mercury contaminated rice on the expression of c-los mRNA in rat brain and the expression of c-FOS protein in cortex, hippocampus were observed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and immunocytochemical methods. The results showed the levels of GSH, MDA, SOD and of GSH-dependent enzymes in the rat brain changed between exposure groups and control group; The mercury polluted rice induced significantly the expression of c-los mRNA; the c-FOS positive cells in hippocampus and cortex of exposure groups were significant different from control group （P〈0.01）. It could be concluded that oxidative stress signals could contribute to the induction of immediate early genes （IEGs）; free radicals and their by-products might not only cause oxidative damage, but also influenced gene expression; IEGs c-fos participated in the toxicity process of brain injury by mercury polluted food.
The average annual value of COD (chemical oxygen demand) fluxes of the Changjiang River (Yangtze River) and its main tributaries in the past decade (i.e., 1991–2000), has been evaluated. Based on the data from the Datong Hydrological Station (DHS), it was found that the Dongting Lake drainage basin contributed the greatest water discharge (35.8%) and COD flux (48.3%) among the main tributary drainage basins, followed by the Poyang Lake drainage basin with the contributions of 15.4% and 19.3%,respectively. By the end of the year of 2000, COD flux in the Changjiang River rose by almost 45% relative to that in the year of 1991, reaching about 1941000 ton/a at DHS. Statistical analysis revealed that industrial wastewater discharge, as well as COD in it, was found decreasing in the same period, due to the gradual reinforcement of environmental management. Moreover, correlation analysis indicated that non-point pollution from agriculture and increasing discharge of domestic sewages caused by rapid growth of population along the Changjiang River drainage valley should be responsible for the high COD. Furthermore, with the current trend of population growth and agricultural development in this basin, water quality of the Changjiang River, in terms of COD level, is going to deteriorate in the near future. Thus, the rational applications of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture and the proper treatment of domestic sewages before they are discharged would be the most concerned controlling parameters.
