En funktionskontroll har utförts av en nyinstallerad hydrologisk mätutrustning i Fyrisån som rinner genom Uppsala, där analyser av inhämtade vattenprover har jämförts med mätvärden från mätutrustningens sensorer. Genom en interkalibrering med en äldre mätstation har en avbördningskurva tagits fram till mätstationen vilket visade sig vara en enkel metod som gav tillförlitliga värden. De parametrar som sensorn loggar dygnet runt studerades i syfte att hitta samband mellan dessa och transporten av näringsämnen i Fyrisån, mellan fosfor och turbiditet kunde ett sådant samband anas. Fyrisåns vattenkemi speglar markanvändningen i avrinningsområdet där den kalkrika marken ger en förhöjd konduktivitet och jordbruksmarkerna tillför kväve. Då Fyrisån passerar Uppsala sker en ökning av lösta och suspenderade partiklar samt närsalter. Även årstidsvariationer gällande vattenkvalitén observerades där vattenstånd och turbiditet ökar vid nederbörd samt snösmältning. Konduktivitet visar på ett motsatt förhållande där konduktiviteten minskar vid ökat vattenstånd. / A functional assessment has been carried out for newly installed hydrological monitoring equipment in the river Fyris, in Uppsala, Sweden. Collected water samples were analyzed and compared with measured values from the measuring equipment's sensors. A rating curve was produced for the station by implementing an intercalibration with an older measuring station; this proved to be an easy method which yielded reliable values. The different parameters that the sensor registered every 30th minute were studied in order to find correlations between these and the transport of nutrients in the river Fyris. A correlation between phosphorus and turbidity was observed. The water chemistry in the river Fyris reflects the land use in the catchment area, and the elevated conductivity is caused by calcareous soils and nitrogen is derived from agricultural practices. When the river Fyris passes the city Uppsala an increase in dissolved and suspended particles and nutrients can be seen. Seasonal variations regarding the water quality can be observed as the water level and the turbidity increases during precipitation and snowmelt. The conductivity indicates an inverse relationship with decreasing values as the water level rises.

"Water behavior in pure silicalite and Dealuminated Zeolite Y (DAY), two highly hydrophobic zeolites, was investigated at different temperatures in the range 100-600 K by molecular dynamics simulations. The Compass forcefield was used to carry out the study. A full flexibility of water molecules and of the zeolite framework was considered. The results show that water behavior is more complex in silicalite than in zeolite DAY. Three different activation energies for water diffusion were obtained in silicalite in the range 250-600 K compared to two for DAY. The values of these activation energies are discussed in detail and are related to the hydrogen bond‘s strength and the zeolite structure. Moreover, from the radial distribution functions (rdfs), it is shown that water mostly exists in the gas phase at room temperature in silicalite whereas liquid water is observed in DAY in agreement with previous experimental observations. The self-diffusion coefficients of water and the rdfs are obtained as a function of temperature in order to explain the behavior differences of water in the two all-silica zeolites. The loading influence on the self-diffusion coefficients is also investigated for both crystals. The results are compared with previous experimental and theoretical studies."

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the groundwater around the Aitik copper mine- one of Europe’s largest copper mine located 15 km outside of Gällivare, Sweden - as well the placement of the groundwater pipes around the area. The study also included a survey of what kind of terms, regarding groundwater that may become relevant in the future for an activity of Aitik’s size and type. Monitoring data was analysed between the years 2014 – 2018 for the parameters; pH, SO4, Cd, Co, Cu, Zn, Ni and U. The correlation between the parameters where tested and the monitoring data where compared to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency criteria for groundwater as well to the groundwater chemistry from a reference area nearby, Liikavaara Östra. The result of the study shows that low pH raises the mobility of the metals Cd, Co, Cu, Zn and Ni. The result also indicates that SO4, Ni and Co are higher than the reference area but that the groundwater overall shows small signs of being affected by sulphide weathering. Therefore, metals can’t be excluded from originating from high background contents. The geographic analyse shows that the groundwater pipes are well placed in compared with the water flow direction and that two of the pipes can be excluded from sampling. Future terms regarding groundwater will likely regard protective measures and quantity restrictions. Still monitoring groundwater quality is very important to control environmental impact of the activity and to prevent deterioration of quality in the future.

Orientador: Eduardo Alves de Almeida / Banca: Sebastião Roberto Taboga / Banca: Sergio Ricardo Batlouni / Resumo: O Tebuthiuron (TBH) é um herbicida muito utilizado nas plantações de cana-de-açúcar do noroeste paulista. Contaminantes como o TBH podem chegar aos corpos d'água causando diversos danos aos organismos aquáticos, atuando como desreguladores endócrinos, afetando funções reguladas pelos hormônios. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial estrogênico e anti-androgênico do herbicida Tebuthiuron em machos de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus), por meio da avaliação histológica dos testículos, quantificação dos hormônios testosterona (T) e estradiol (E2) plasmático e análise da expressão de CYP19A1 no cérebro. Os animais foram expostos nas concentrações de 100 ng/Le 200 ng/L de TBH durante 25 dias. A expressão de CYP19A1 no cérebro aumentou 60%, que pode ter participado da transformação de andrógenos em estrógenos. Os níveis plasmáticos de testosterona (T) reduziram 75% ao passo que os níveis plasmáticos de estradiol (E2) aumentaram cerca 95%. Houve redução do diâmetro menor dos túbulos seminíferos e diâmetro menor do lúmen dos peixes expostos ao TBH nas duas concentrações. Como consequência da redução do diâmetro menor dos túbulos seminíferos e do lúmen, o índice gonadossomático (IGS) reduziu 30%. A frequência relativa de espermatócitos e espermátides aumentaram respectivamente 60% e 75% nos animais tratados em relação ao controle. A frequência relativa de espermatozoides liberados no lúmen das células do testículo dos peixes diminuiu 95% animais tratados em relação ao controle. Logo, o Tebuthiuron causa efeito estrogênico e anti-androgênico em machos de tilápia-do-nilo / Abstract: Tebuthiuron (TBH) is an herbicide widely used in sugarcane plantations of São Paulo northwest. Contaminants like TBH can reach the water bodies, causing extensive damage to aquatic organisms, acting as endocrine disruptors, and thus affecting functions regulated by hormones. The objective of this study was to evaluate the estrogenic and anti-androgenic potencials the Tebuthiuron herbicide on male of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), through the evaluation of histology of the testicles, plasmatic quantification of the hormones testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) and analysis of CYP19 in the brain. The animals were exposed to TBH concentrations of 100 and 200 ng/L for 25 days. The CYP19A1 expression in the brain increases 60% in animals exposed to 200 ng/L, such induction possibly caused the androgens transformation into estrogens. The plasmatic levels of testosterone (T) increased about 75% in animals exposed at 200 ng/L while the plasmatic levels of estradiol (E2) reduced about 95% in the fish treated at a concentration of 200 ng/L when compared to control group. The smaller diameter of the seminiferous tubules and smaller diameter of the fish lumen exposures to TBH in the two concentrations reduced. As a consequence of the reduction of the smaller diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the lumen, the gonadosomatic index (GSI) reduced by 30%. The relative frequency of spermatocytes and spermatids increased respectively 60% and 75% in the treated animals compared to the control. The decreased percentage of sperm released into the lumen were 95% in the treated animals compared to the control. Therefore, the contaminant tested cause estrogenic and anti-androgen effect in males in Nile tilapia / Mestre

Recent research has indicated that dissolved organic matter (DOM) may plan an important role in the ability of natural waters to complex metals. This research was conducted because the quantitative nature of this role is uncertain. Gas-liquid chromatography was used to study the hydrolyzable amino acids at twelve sampling sites on the Williamson River at monthly intervals for two years. The relative abundances showed little spacial or temporal variation. The two-year averages for total amino acids ranged from about 0.5 (mu)M to about 8 (mu)M. A separation technique was used to show that (GREATERTHEQ) 96% of the dissolved amino acids were associated with aquatic humus. Since it was found that amino acids contributed less than 1% to humic carbon and since a published report found that carbohydrates contributed less than 2% to humic carbon, this research provided the necessary data to conclude that DOM in the Williamson River is essentially aquatic humus. Humus complexation capacity is often operationally defined as amount of metal bound per unit weight of humus. This research has shown that the titrimetric methods commonly used to obtain this parameter underestimate its magnitude. However, it was shown that these methods can be combined with acidic functional group analyses to determine upper and lower limit for this parameter. For Williamson River humus, the range was 7.2 - 15.4 (mu)mols copper per mg humic carbon. Titrations of humus into a copper-oxalate metal-ion buffer enabled the determination of the copper-humus binding "constant" at humas : copper ratios found in the Williamson River, (LESSTHEQ) 4300. The binding "constant" was a variable and a function of pH. At a humus: copper ratio of 4300, the values of the function at pH 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, and 6.5 were: 3.0 x 10('6), 8.9 x 10('6), 3.0 x 10('7), and 1.7 x 10('8). Current models of metal-humus complexation, were shown to be inappropriate via rigorous mathematical examination and via application to computer-simulated titrations. A model, in which it is assumed that the concentrations of binding sites in humus are normally distributed with respect to the log of the metal binding constant for each site, is proposed. Application of this model to simulated titrations and to experimental data proved it to be superior to other current models.

In this thesis, the implementation and results of studies into the effect of pH on the kinetics of various iron transformations in natural waters are described. Specific studies include i) the oxidation of Fe(II) in the absence and presence of both model and natural organic ligands, ii) the complexation of Fe(III) by model organic compounds, and iii) the precipitation of Fe(III) through the use of both laboratory investigations of iron species and kinetic modeling. In the absence of organic ligands, oxidation of nanomolar concentrations of Fe(II) over the pH range 6.0 -- 8.0 is predominantly controlled by the reaction of Fe(II) with oxygen and with superoxide while the disproportionation of superoxide appears to be negligible. Oxidation of Fe(II) by hydrogen peroxide, back reduction of Fe(III) by superoxide and precipitation of Fe(III) have been shown to exert some influences at various stages of the oxidation at different pH and initial Fe(II) concentrations. In the presence of organic ligands, different effects on the Fe(II) oxidation kinetics is shown with different organic ligands, their initial concentrations and with varying pH. A detailed kinetic model is developed and shown to adequately describe the kinetics of Fe(II) oxidation in the absence and presence of various ligands over a range of concentrations and pH. The applicability of the previous oxidation models to describe the experimental data is assessed. Rate constants for formation of Fe(III) by a range of model organic compounds over the pH range 6.0 -- 9.5 are determined. Variation of rate constants for Fe(III) complexation by desferrioxamine B and ethylenediaminetetraacetate with varying pH is explained by an outer-sphere complexation model. The significant variation in rate constants of Fe(III) complexation by salicylate, 5-sulfosalicylate, citrate and 3,4-dihydroxylbenzoate with varying pH is possibly due to the presence of different complexes at different pH. The results of this study demonstrate that organic ligands from different sources may influence the speciation of iron in vastly different ways. The kinetics of Fe(III) precipitation are investigated in bicarbonate solutions over the pH range 6.0 -- 9.5. The rate of precipitation varies by nearly two orders of magnitude with a maximum rate constant at a pH of around 8.0. The results of the study support the existence of the dissolved neutral species Fe(OH)30 and suggests that it is the dominant precursor in Fe(III) polymerization and subsequent precipitation at circumneutral pH. Variation in the precipitation rate constant over the pH range considered is consistent with a mechanism in which the kinetics of iron precipitation are controlled by rates of water exchange in dissolved iron hydrolysis species.

<p>Denna avhandling behandlar den småskaliga rumsliga variationen av löst organiskt kol (DOC, engelsk term: dissolved organic carbon), dess koncentration, masstransport och karaktär, i bäckar inom två barrskogsbeklädda avrinningsområden (delavrinningsområden 0,01-78 km²). Provtagningen gjordes uppströms och nedströms varje bäckförgrening under sommarbasflöde. Koncentrationen av DOC varierade inom en tiopotens (4-66 mg/l), liksom flera andra kemiska parametrar. Vid riksinventeringen av vattendrag för 2000 i norra Sverige noterades en snarlik spännvidd. Enligt Naturvårdverkets bedömningsgrunder för sjöar och vattendrag återfanns alla tillståndsklasser för DOC och pH, samt mänsklig påverkansgrad till försurningen inom de två studerade områdena. Den specifika avrinningen (flöde per areaenhet) varierade kraftigt i källflödena och inverkade på deras bidrag till kemin nedströms. Vattenkemin och specifika avrinningen var stabila i delavrinningsområden större än 15 km². Det kan vara nödvändigt att provta så stora områden om generella värden för landskapet önskas, men källflödenas kemi kommer då inte att kunna karakteriseras, ehuru källflödena utgör den största delen av bäcksträckan och det akvatiska ekosystemet.</p><p>Nedströms är DOC-koncentrationen, och många andra kemiska parametrar, lika med summan av bidragen från källflödena och nedströms utspädning av inflödande vatten. Tillkommer gör processer inom bäcken och vattnets utbyte med botten/grundvatten (den hyporheiska zonen), men även DOC-förluster/transformationer vid vissa bäckförgreningar och sjöar. Ovanstående resonemang förklarade bäckvattenkemins minskande variation och vanligen lägre DOC-koncentrationer nedströms i ett landskapsperspektiv. Längs bäcksträckorna observerades ingen generell minskning av DOC-koncentration eller ändring av dess karaktär. Skillnaden i DOC-koncentration och relaterade parametrar mellan källflöden och nedströms styrdes i hög grad av vilka landskapselement (myrar, sjöar och skogsmark) som vattnet hade passerat innan det hamnade i bäckarna, samt samspelseffekter med den specifik avrinningen och platserna med DOC-förlust. Prognoser med multivariata modeller baserade på kartinformation testades men kunde inte förutsäga det rumsliga mönstret eller DOC-koncentrationen med erforderlig precision.</p><p>Lämpliga rutiner inom miljöövervakningen för att övervaka den rumsliga variationen av kemin i ytvatten saknas alltjämt. Vid planering av terrestra och akvatiska skötselåtgärder bör man beakta bäckvattnets naturliga kemiska variation.</p> / <p>This thesis quantifies the small-scale spatial variation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, fluxes and character in two boreal catchments (subcatchments 0.01-78 km²) using ”snapshots” of summer base flow where samples were taken upstream and downstream from every node in the stream network. An order of magnitude variation was found in DOC-concentrations, and many other chemical parameters. The range was similar to that found in all of northern Sweden by the national stream survey in 2000. According to the official assessment tools used in Sweden, the entire range of environmental status for DOC, pH and human acidification influence existed within these two study catchments. A large variability in specific discharge had a major impact on the contribution of headwaters to downstream chemistry. The water chemistry parameters were relatively stable at catchment areas greater than 15 km². Sampling at that scale may be adequate if generalised values for the landscape are desired. However the chemistry of headwaters, where much of the stream length and aquatic ecosystem is found would not be characterized.</p><p>Downstream DOC-concentrations, as well as many other chemical parameters, are the sum of headwater inputs, in combination with progressive downstream dilution by inflowing water with its own DOC-concentration and character. Superimposed upon this are in-stream and hyporheic processes, as well as discrete loci of DOC loss/transformation at lakes and stream junctions. At the landscape scale, this results in a decreased downstream variation in stream water chemistry and often, but not necessarily, lower average DOC-concentrations. Along stream reaches there was not a loss of DOC-concentration or a consistent change in character. While the importance of in-stream/hyporheic processes that consistently alter DOC-concentrations along the channel network cannot be ruled out, the differences between headwater and downstream DOC-concentrations and related parameters depend largely on the mosaic of landscape elements (mires, lakes and forest soil) contributing water to the channel network, combined with patterns of specific discharge and discrete loci of DOC loss. Assessment would be facilitated by map information that could predict spatial patterns. Multivariate models using maps, however, did not give satisfactory predictions.</p><p>Appropriate procedures for dealing with spatial variation in the environmental assessment of surface waters are not yet established. An awareness of stream water chemistry’s natural spatial variability should be considered when planning aquatic and terrestrial management.</p>

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2005. / Thesis documentation sheet inserted. Appendix reproduces four papers and manuscripts co-authored with R.K. Johnson. Issued also electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format; online version lacks appendix.

Investigations of radon in natural water and its relation to physical and chemical parameters are outlined in this thesis. In particular, a method for measuring 222Rn in water at low concentrations (~20 mBq.l-1) is described, followed by discussions concerning the design and its application to study both radon and parameters influencing radon levels in natural waters. A topic considered is the impact of fluoride and other aquatic parameters on radon in water. Moreover, variables such as uranium series radionuclides and stable elements in water, bedrock and sediment radioactivity and geology are investigated in two case studies. This was performed by employing radiometric-, chemical-, statistical- and GIS &amp; geostatistical- analyses. The general water chemistry and presence of some elements such as fluoride was observed to influence radon levels in water. Health aspects of radon in drinking water are discussed based on radiation dose assessments. The radiation doses are compared with and added to doses incurred from ingestion of uranium, radium and polonium isotopes in drinking water and inhalation of radon in air in order to estimate total exposures for different age categories. The results may have a potential for future epidemiological studies.

<p>The research was driven by a need to increase the knowledge base concerning wetland ecological responses, as well as to identify and evaluate the factors driving the functioning of the Franschhoek Trust Wetland. An ecohydrological study was undertaken in which vegetation cover, depth to groundwater, water and soil chemistry were monitored at 14 sites along three transects for a 12 month period. The parameters used include temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, chloride, bicarbonate, sulphate, total nitrogen, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and phosphorus. T-tests and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used to analyze trends and to express the relationship between abiotic factors and vegetation.</p>