镇江东部地区土壤中多环芳烃的污染特征及来源解析

分析了镇江东部扬中地区土壤中16种优先控制的多环芳烃（PAHs）污染物的含量特征及污染水平。结果表明，该地区土壤的多环芳烃总量为2．4～49．9μg／Kg，其中荧蒽的含量最高，同我国其他地区相比，其污染水平比较低。5个采样点PAHs含量表明有两个点受工业企业影响，其他3个点具有类似的面源污染即地质成因来源。     

成都绕城高速两侧土壤重金属含量测定及健康风险评价

成都绕城高速公路属于成都市主要交通干线,为成都市带来巨大经济及社会效益,但是,也不可避免给环境带来污染。因此,研究成都绕城高速两侧土壤污染情况具有重要意义。采用"梅花点法"和"四分法"采集得到成都绕城高速公路两侧表层土壤(0~20cm)样品24个,电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测得土壤样品中铬(Cr)、镍(Ni)、铜(Cu)、锌(Zn)、砷(As)、镉(Cd)和铅(Pb)含量的平均值分别为46.81、192.48、28.24、111.79、4.74、2.79和51.68 mg/kg。讨论重金属分布特点,采用污染指数法对土壤重金属污染进行评价;应用美国环境保护局风险评价方法对成都绕城高速两侧土壤重金属通过直接摄入、皮肤接触和呼吸摄入3种途径进入人体的危害进行了风险计算和初步评价。结果表明:成都绕城高速公路两侧土壤未受到重金属污染(Ni除外),且7种重金属对人体均不存在明显健康风险。     

大连城市大气中多环芳烃的污染特征和毒性评价

通过对大连市工业区、居民区和城市背景区3种类型区域连续7个月大气样品的采集,分析PAHs在大气中的污染特征,并对其毒性进行评价。结果显示,城市工业区大气中PAHs含量最高,其次是居民区,城市背景区最低。3种类型采样点大气中PAHs的组成相似,菲是含量最多的物质,其次是荧蒽、芴和芘。16种PAHs基于苯并[a]芘的总毒性当量浓度为:工业区5.1 ng/m^3;居民区3.6 ng/m^3;城市背景区4.6 ng/m^3。3种类型功能区大气中PAHs的TEQ值都高于我国的《空气质量标准》(GB 3095-2012)中规定的大气中苯并[a]芘的年平均浓度(1 ng/m^3)或24 h平均浓度(2.5 ng/m^3)。     

台州地区电子垃圾拆解回收与重金属污染研究进展

对台州地区电子垃圾拆解回收过程中采用的工艺技术进行了分析,讨论重金属污染对环境的影响和人类健康的威胁。建议开发经济有效、环境友好的基于资源再利用的物理拆解回收方法,以解决电子垃圾拆解区重金属污染问题。     

准东煤矿开采区表层土中多环芳烃的污染及健康风险

在新疆准东煤矿开采区采集6个表层土样品,探讨研究区域表层土中PAHs的含量、主成分、来源及健康风险。结果显示:准东煤矿开采区表层土中PAHs主要以Phe、Fla和Ant单体为主,显示出富三环的特征;SPSS18.0软件分析显示,Bb F、Chr、Ba P、Pyr、Fla与主成分Phe的相关性比较大;研究区域表层土中PAHs主要来源于煤或木材的燃烧产物的排放、不完全燃烧及挥发;终生致癌风险评价结果显示,研究区域表层土中PAHs存在潜在健康风险,会对人体健康带来潜在影响。本研究对预防煤矿开采区土壤污染、指导煤矿开采区恢复期土壤的修复及安全处置具有重要意义。     

废旧电脑拆解工艺与资源化案例研究

以某再生资源公司的废旧电脑拆解为案例进行研究,介绍了工艺技术、拆解回收各种资源的数据。研究结果表明,我国废旧电脑人工拆解-破碎-冶炼相结合的工艺,是电子废弃物循环利用、资源高效回收、减少环境风险的较好工艺技术,符合固废处理的3R(替代、减少、优化)原则。     

农田土壤中多环芳烃的高效液相色谱法测定

采用快速溶剂提取(ASE)—凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)—高效液相色谱法测定农田土壤中的多环芳烃(PAHs)。优化了ASE的提取溶剂和GPC的净化时间,方法具有良好的精密度和准确度,拥有良好的线性范围和检出限。对济南市某农田土壤样品进行了测定,共检出5种PAHs,总浓度为26.8μg/kg,参照Maliszewska-Kordybach土壤中PAHs污染分级方法,属于无污染水平,同时参考荷兰土壤质量标准中10种PAHs标准限值,均未超标。     

四川古蔺磺厂工矿废弃地复垦区土壤中镉的赋存形式及生态风险

古蔺磺厂工矿废弃地复垦区土壤Cd污染严重,但水稻等农作物中Cd含量低。为探讨土壤Cd污染的原因、赋存形式以及生态风险,对复垦区内的硫铁矿、冶炼矿渣、选矿尾矿以及土壤等样品,采用扫描电镜(SEM)和X射线能谱(EDS)等方法,分析各类样品中的Cd元素含量及赋存形式。结果表明,造成复垦区土壤Cd污染的主要原因是土壤中含有较多的冶炼矿渣(可能还有黄铁矿),但Cd元素主要是以类质同象的形式赋存于闪锌矿(ZnS)之中。尽管土壤中Cd全量高,而有效量不高,因而农作物中镉元素超标率低。但在表生环境下,CdS与O_2、H_2SO_4反应可形成CdSO_4,从而使Cd~(2+)释放出来。CdSO_4溶解度大,能长期溶解在水中顺水迁移,危害下游的农作物食品安全,应引起高度重视。     

三峡库区典型次级支流表层沉积物中PAHs的分布特征及来源分析

本文表征了三峡库区典型次级支流(梁滩河)表层沉积物中18种多环芳烃(PAHs)的浓度,并对其分布特征和污染来源进行了探讨。18种PAHs的总浓度(∑18 PAHs)范围为198.5～4349 ng/g-dw(干重),平均浓度为1441ng/g,中值为1160 ng/g。与其他地区沉积物污染情况相比,梁滩河沉积物中PAHs浓度处于中等偏低的污染程度,支流污染程显著高于干流,流经城镇的右支污染程度显著高于流经农村或人口较少的左支和主干流。大部分采样点以高环(4～6环)PAHs污染为主。PAHs源解析结果表明,梁滩河表层沉积物中PAHs污染以燃烧源为主,主要源于化石燃料和生物质的不完全燃烧。沉积物中苯并[a]芘的毒性当量因子(TEF)值为39.38～384.37 ngTEQ/g,平均值110.94 ngTEQ/g。生态风险评价的结果表明,右支流的两个采样点R3和R4点沉积物中PAHs可能存在生物负效应影响,R4点的高风险可能与附近白市驿机场污染有关。     

典型农药场地阿特拉津污染风险评价与修复

对我国典型农药厂遗留场地的土壤和土壤气中阿特拉津浓度进行调查,发现阿特拉津浓度超过美国环保局第9区分局"区域筛选值"。污染物检出超标点主要是由生产过程中的污染排放或泄漏造成的,超标点位阿特拉津存在沿土壤垂直剖面向下转移的趋势。以口腔摄入和皮肤接触为暴露途径的健康风险评价的结果表明,该场地存在不可接受的致癌风险和超过安全值的环境风险。     

AN APPLICATION RUNOFF MODEL STRATEGY FOR UNGAGED WATERSHEDS1

ABSTRACT: Mathematical models for predicting watershed surface flow responses are available, most of which are elaborate nonlinear numerical surface and channel flow models linked with infiltration models. Such models may be used to make predictions for ungaged areas, assuming an acceptable fitting of the model to the topography and roughness of the real system. For some application purposes, these models are impractical because of their complexity and expensive computer solutions. A procedure is developed that uses a complex model of an ungaged area to derive a simpler parametric nonlinear system model for repetitious simulation with input sequences. The predicted flow outputs are obtained with the simpler model at significant savings of money and time. The procedures for constructing a complex kinematic model of a 40 acre (161,880 m²) reference watershed and deriving the simpler system model are outlined. The results of predictions from both models are compared with a selected set of measured events, all having essentially the same initial conditions. Peak discharges ranged from 3 to 118 ft³/sec (0.085 to 3.34 m³/sec), which includes the largest event of record. The inherent limitations of lumped systems models are demonstrated, including the bias caused by their inability to model infiltration losses after rainfall ceases. Computer costs and times for the models were compared. The derived simple model has a cost advantage when repeated use of a model is required. Such an applications hydrologic model has an engineering tradeoff of reduced accuracy, and lumping bias, but is more economical for certain design purposes.     

Conversion of temperate forests into heaths: Role of ecosystem disturbance and ericaceous plants

Fire and logging in nutrient-poor temperate forests with certain ericaceous understory plants may convert the forests into heaths. The process of disturbance-induced heath formation is documented by using examples ofCalluna in western Europe,Kalmia in Newfoundland, andGaultheria (salal) in coastal British Columbia. In a cool, temperate climate, rapid vegetative growth ofCalluna, Kalmia, and salal following disturbance results in increasing organic accumulation (paludification), nutrient sequestration, soil acidification, and allelochemicals. These are thought to be the main reasons to conifer regeneration failure in disturbed habitats. If continuation in forest is a land-use objective, then temperate forests with an ericaceous understory should not be logged unless effective silvicultural methods are devised to control the ericaceous plants and restore forest regeneration. Preharvest vegetation control may be considered as an option. Failure to control the understory plants may lead to a long-term vegetation shift, from forest to heathland, particularly in nutrient-poor sites. Successful methods of controllingKalmia andGaultheria, however, have yet to be developed. While theKalmia- andGaultheria- dominated heathlands are undesirable in Canada and the Pacific Northwest, a wide range ofCalluna heathlands of western Europe are being conserved as natural and seminatural vegetation.     

BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ESTUARINE/COASTAL POLLUTION1

ABSTRACT: Sustained interest in and concern about the health status of the aquatic environment has resulted in extensive research focused on (1) effects of pollution on survival, growth, and reproduction of resource species at all life stages; (2) diseases of fish and shellfish, as they may be related to pollution and as they may serve as indicators of environmental stress; and (3) contaminant body burdens in fish and shellfish - their effects on the aquatic animals and their potential effects on humans. Effects, lethal and sublethal, of pollutants on life history stages of fish and shellfish have been documented, as have impacts on local stocks in badly degraded habitats, but as yet there has been no adequate quantitative demonstration of effects on entire aquatic species - probably because of the difficulty in sorting out relative effects of the many environmental factors that influence abundance. Sublethal effects, especially those that result in disease, have been examined intensively, and some diseases and disease syndromes have been associated statistically with pollution. Other pollution indicators (biochemical, physiological, genetic, behavioral, and ecological) have also received some attention, as have body burdens of contaminants in aquatic species. Research, especially that conducted during the past decade, has done much to clarify the many pathways and toxic effects of contaminants on aquatic animals, and has also helped to identify mechanisms for survival of fish and shellfish in the presence of environmental changes caused by human activities.     

Using Paleo Reconstructions to Improve Streamflow Forecast Lead Time in the Western United States

In water stressed regions, water managers are exploring new horizons that would help in long‐range streamflow forecasts. Oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations have been shown to influence streamflow variability. In this study, long‐lead time streamflow forecasts are made using a multiclass kernel‐based data‐driven support vector machine (SVM) model. The extended streamflow records based on tree ring reconstructions were used to provide a longer time series data. Reconstructed data were used from 1658 to 1952 and the instrumental record was used from 1953 to 2007. Reconstructions for oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations included the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, and North Atlantic Oscillation. Streamflow forecasts using all four oscillations were made with one‐year to five‐year lead times for 21 gages in the western United States. This is the first study that uses both instrumental and reconstructed data of oscillations in SVM model to improve streamflow forecast lead time. SVM model was able to provide “satisfactory” to “very good” forecasts with one‐ to five‐year lead time for the selected gages. The use of all the oscillation indices helped in achieving better predictability compared to using individual oscillations. The SVM modeling results are better when compared with multiple linear regression model forecasts. The findings are statistical in nature and are expected to be useful for long‐term water resources planning and management.     

Urban ecological systems: scientific foundations and a decade of progress

Urban ecological studies, including focus on cities, suburbs, and exurbs, while having deep roots in the early to mid 20th century, have burgeoned in the last several decades. We use the state factor approach to highlight the role of important aspects of climate, substrate, organisms, relief, and time in differentiating urban from non-urban areas, and for determining heterogeneity within spatially extensive metropolitan areas. In addition to reviewing key findings relevant to each state factor, we note the emergence of tentative "urban syndromes" concerning soils, streams, wildlife and plants, and homogenization of certain ecosystem functions, such as soil organic carbon dynamics. We note the utility of the ecosystem approach, the human ecosystem framework, and watersheds as integrative tools to tie information about multiple state factors together. The organismal component of urban complexes includes the social organization of the human population, and we review key modes by which human populations within urban areas are differentiated, and how such differentiation affects environmentally relevant actions. Emerging syntheses in land change science and ecological urban design are also summarized. The multifaceted frameworks and the growing urban knowledge base do however identify some pressing research needs.     

Neighbourhood characteristics and urban gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area: staffing and voluntarism,food production,infrastructure, and sustainability practices

Urban gardens are important sources of sustenance for communities with limited access to food. Hence, this study focuses on food production in gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area in Northwest Ohio. We administered surveys to 150 garden managers from November 2014 to February 2015 in our attempt to better understand how neighbourhood racial composition and poverty levels are related to staffing and voluntarism, food production and distribution, the development of infrastructure, and the adoption of sustainability practices in urban gardens. The results from 30 gardens are presented in this paper. We used Geographic Information Systems to map the gardens and overlay the map with 2010 census data so that we could conduct demographic analyses of the neighbourhoods in which the gardens were located. Though the gardens were small – two acres or less – up to 46 varieties of food were grown in a single garden. Gardens also operated on small budgets. Food from the gardens was gifted or shared with friends, family, and neighbourhood residents. Gardens in predominantly minority neighbourhoods tended to have fewer institutional partners, less garden infrastructure, and had adopted fewer sustainable practices than gardens in predominantly White neighbourhoods. Nonetheless, residents of predominantly minority and high-poverty neighbourhoods participated in garden activities and influenced garden operations. Volunteering and staffing were racialised and gendered.     

Journalists' views of advertiser pressures on agricultural news

All major journalism ethical codes explicitly state that journalists should protect editorial copy from undue influence by outside sources. However, much of the previous research on agricultural information has concentrated on what information various media communicate (gatekeeping studies) or communication's role in increasing innovation adoption (diffusion studies). Few studies have concentrated specifically on organizational and structural constraints that might adversely affect agricultural journalists' ethical standards; those that have, focus largely on farm magazines. A study of newspaper reporters who cover agricultural news found that the most pressing ethical concern is the effect of advertiser (agri-business) pressure on editorial copy, and that their concerns in general parallel those of farm magazine writers and editors. The majority reported being in situations in which they might be exposed to advertiser pressure, including pressures to change or withhold editorial copy. Large minorities suggested that advertising pressures affect the overall environment in which agricultural journalists work, and more than one in ten said they allow advertiser pressures to influence editorial decisions. The newspaper reporters who cover agricultural beats showed slightly more resistance to advertiser pressure than did farm magazine editors in a parallel study.     

Definition Procedures Have Little Effect on Performance of Environmental Classifications of Streams and Rivers

Mapped environmental classifications are defined using various procedures, but there has been little evaluation of the differences in their ability to discriminate variation in independent ecological characteristics. We tested the performance of environmental classifications of the streams and rivers of France that had been defined from the same environmental data using geographic regionalization and numerical classification of individual river valley segments. Test data comprised invertebrate assemblages, water chemistry, and hydrological indexes obtained from sites throughout France. Classification performance was measured by analysis of similarity (ANOSIM). Geometric regions defined by a regular grid and without regard to environmental variables and a posteriori classifications based on clustering the test datasets defined lower and upper bounds of performance for a given number of classes. Differences in classification performances were generally small. The ANOSIM statistics for the a posteriori classifications were around twice that of all environmental classifications, including geometrically defined regions. The hydro-ecoregions performed slightly better for the invertebrate data and the network classification performed slightly better for the chemistry and hydrological data. Our results indicate that environmental classifications that are defined using different procedures can be comparable in terms of their ability to discriminate variation of ecological characteristics and that alleged differences in performance arising from different classification procedures can be small relative to unexplained variation. We conclude that definition procedures might have little effect on the performance of large-scale environmental classifications and decisions over which procedures to use should be based primarily on pragmatic considerations.     

Predicting deer-vehicle collisions in an urban area

Collisions with deer and other large animals are increasing, and the resulting economic costs and risks to public safety have made mitigation measures a priority for both city and wildlife managers. We created landscape models to describe and predict deer-vehicle collision (DVCs) within the City of Edmonton, Alberta. Models based on roadside characteristics revealed that DVCs occurred frequently where roadside vegetation was both denser and more diverse, and that DVCs were more likely to occur when the groomed width of roadside right-of-ways was smaller. No DVCs occurred where the width of the vegetation-free or manicured roadside buffer was greater than 40 m. Landscape-based models showed that DVCs were more likely in more heterogeneous landscapes where road densities were lower and speed limits were higher, and where non-forested vegetation such as farmland was in closer proximity to larger tracts of forest. These models can help wildlife and transportation managers to identify locations of high collision frequency for mitigation. Modifying certain landscape and roadside habitats can be an effective way to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.     

Biodiversity and biotechnology

The maintenance of biodiversity is urged from many quarters and on grounds ranging from aesthetic considerations to its usefulness, particularly for biotechnology. But regardless of the grounds for preserving biodiversity, writers are generally in agreement that it should be preserved. But, in examining the various references biodiversity, such as species diversity, genetic diversity, and habitat diversity, it is apparent that we cannot aim to preserve biodiversityas such, since there are a number of conflicts in any such undertaking. In preserving one aspect of biodiversity, we damage another aspect. Five arguments which attempt to ground our moral concern for biodiversity are reviewed and critiqued, not only for their consistency but also for their power to move us to action. The final section of the paper shows how conflicts in the values of personal and environmental health can impair ethical action and especially policy formation.An earlier version of this paper was read at the conference on Agriculture, Food, and Human Values: Tradition and Change, Orlando, Florida, October 7–9, 1987.