Comparison of three enzyme immunoassays for measuring 17beta-estradiol in flushed dairy manure wastewater

Natural steroidal estrogens are an environmental concern because low nanogram per liter concentrations in water can adversely affect aquatic vertebrate species by disrupting the normal function of their endocrine systems. There is a critical need to accurately measure estrogens in dairy wastes, a potential source of estrogens such as 17beta-estradiol, to assess the risk of estrogen contamination of agricultural drainage waters resulting from land application. Commercially available enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits have been used for measuring 17beta-estradiol in livestock manure, but it is not known if different EIAs provide similar results. We compared three EIAs by measuring 17beta-estradiol in two samples of flushed dairy manure wastewater (FDMW). The measured concentrations of 17beta-estradiol in FDMW differed according to the immunoassay used. The differences were attributed to a matrix interference associated with coextracted humic substances. Future research should develop methods that enable routine measurement of 17beta-estradiol in livestock wastes by more conclusive analytical techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.     

Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewaters: a review

Heavy metal pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems today. The treatment of heavy metals is of special concern due to their recalcitrance and persistence in the environment. In recent years, various methods for heavy metal removal from wastewater have been extensively studied. This paper reviews the current methods that have been used to treat heavy metal wastewater and evaluates these techniques. These technologies include chemical precipitation, ion-exchange, adsorption, membrane filtration, coagulation-flocculation, flotation and electrochemical methods. About 185 published studies (1988-2010) are reviewed in this paper. It is evident from the literature survey articles that ion-exchange, adsorption and membrane filtration are the most frequently studied for the treatment of heavy metal wastewater.     

水环境中挥发性有机物的监测方法

挥发性有机物具有种类多、含量少以及毒性大等特点,已成为我国水质监测优先控制污染物。本文叙述了近年来水中挥发性有机物在环境监测中的研究现状,主要介绍了4种预处理技术和两种分析方法,同时简单介绍了水环境中挥发性有机物的发展方向。     

Environmental management of oak wilt disease in central texas

Oak wilt disease, for which there is no known cure, is one of the most destructive tree killers in the United States today. This analysis reports on the patterns of disease transmission, along with the methods of treatment used to suppress the severity of the pathogen's attack on trees in central Texas. The practical problems inherent in the linkage between people and their relationship with this environmental disorder are addressed. The environmental controls implemented have application to other areas of the United States and western Europe, where tree species are subject to infections.     

Applications of time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy to the environmental biogeochemistry of actinides

Time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) is a useful means of identifying certain actinide species resulting from various biogeochemical processes. In general, TRLFS differentiates chemical species of a fluorescent metal ion through analysis of different excitation and emission spectra and decay lifetimes. Although this spectroscopic technique has largely been applied to the analysis of actinide and lanthanide ions having fluorescence decay lifetimes on the order of microseconds, such as UO , Cm, and Eu, continuing development of ultra-fast and cryogenic TRLFS systems offers the possibility to obtain speciation information on metal ions having room-temperature fluorescence decay lifetimes on the order of nanoseconds to picoseconds. The main advantage of TRLFS over other advanced spectroscopic techniques is the ability to determine in situ metal speciation at environmentally relevant micromolar to picomolar concentrations. In the context of environmental biogeochemistry, TRLFS has principally been applied to studies of (i) metal speciation in aqueous and solid phases and (ii) the coordination environment of metal ions sorbed to mineral and bacterial surfaces. In this review, the principles of TRLFS are described, and the literature reporting the application of this methodology to the speciation of actinides in systems of biogeochemical interest is assessed. Significant developments in TRLFS methodology and advanced data analysis are highlighted, and we outline how these developments have the potential to further our mechanistic understanding of actinide biogeochemistry.     

废印刷线路板处置和非金属回收利用研究进展

废印刷线路板的资源化处置一直是电子废弃物处理的热点和难点,目前有多种方法已经投入应用或者在研究阶段,这些方法在分离效率、回收率、操作简单性、本身环境友好性、有无二次污染等方面有不同的优缺点。目前主流的广泛采用的方法是分步处理,破碎后利用物理方法进行分选,得到的金属和非金属组分再分别进行进一步的回收利用。本文对近年来废印刷线路板的总体处置技术和物理分选后非金属的回收利用的研究进行了总结,并对将来的研究方向进行了展望,为废印刷线路板资源化再利用产业化发展提供参考。     

Streamflow Depletion Modeling: Methods for an Adaptable and Conjunctive Water Management Decision Support Tool

Groundwater pumping depletes streamflow, which can have significant ecological impacts depending on the magnitude of depletion relative to environmental flow needs. Streamflow depletion estimates from groundwater pumping have been quantified using both analytical and numerical methods, but are not routinely compared to environmental flow needs or used in practical water management tools. Decision support tools that incorporate groundwater dynamics are becoming increasingly necessary for water managers as groundwater regulations become more important in environmental policy, particularly concerning the preservation of environmental flow needs. We develop and apply methods for a web‐based decision support tool for conjunctive groundwater and surface water management, demonstrated using a case study watershed in British Columbia, Canada. Open‐source data are analyzed with a combination of spatial algorithms and previously developed analytical models, such that the tool can be applied to other regions. Streamflow depletion estimates are calculated in four regions in the largely undeveloped Bulkley Valley, British Columbia. Our transparent methodology has geographic and data input flexibility which is a significant improvement on currently existing water management tool methods.     

Calculating the detection limits of chamber-based soil greenhouse gas flux measurements

Renewed interest in quantifying greenhouse gas emissions from soil has led to an increase in the application of chamber-based flux measurement techniques. Despite the apparent conceptual simplicity of chamber-based methods, nuances in chamber design, deployment, and data analyses can have marked effects on the quality of the flux data derived. In many cases, fluxes are calculated from chamber headspace vs. time series consisting of three or four data points. Several mathematical techniques have been used to calculate a soil gas flux from time course data. This paper explores the influences of sampling and analytical variability associated with trace gas concentration quantification on the flux estimated by linear and nonlinear models. We used Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the minimum detectable fluxes (α = 0.05) of linear regression (LR), the Hutchinson/Mosier (H/M) method, the quadratic method (Quad), the revised H/M (HMR) model, and restricted versions of the Quad and H/M methods over a range of analytical precisions and chamber deployment times (DT) for data sets consisting of three or four time points. We found that LR had the smallest detection limit thresholds and was the least sensitive to analytical precision and chamber deployment time. The HMR model had the highest detection limits and was most sensitive to analytical precision and chamber deployment time. Equations were developed that enable the calculation of flux detection limits of any gas species if analytical precision, chamber deployment time, and ambient concentration of the gas species are known.     

Advanced in situ spectroscopic techniques and their applications in environmental biogeochemistry: introduction to the special section

Understanding the molecular-scale complexities and interplay of chemical and biological processes of contaminants at solid, liquid, and gas interfaces is a fundamental and crucial element to enhance our understanding of anthropogenic environmental impacts. The ability to describe the complexity of environmental biogeochemical reaction mechanisms relies on our analytical ability through the application and developmemnt of advanced spectroscopic techniques. Accompanying this introductory article are nine papers that either review advanced in situ spectroscopic methods or present original research utilizing these techniques. This collection of articles summarizes the challenges facing environmental biogeochemistry, highlights the recent advances and scientific gaps, and provides an outlook into future research that may benefit from the use of in situ spectroscopic approaches. The use of synchrotron-based techniques and other methods are discussed in detail, as is the importance to integrate multiple analytical approaches to confirm results of complementary procedures or to fill data gaps. We also argue that future direction in research will be driven, in addition to recent analytical developments, by emerging factors such as the need for risk assessment of new materials (i.e., nanotechnologies) and the realization that biogeochemical processes need to be investigated in situ under environmentally relevant conditions.     

Reducing life-cycle environmental impacts: An industry survey of emerging tools and programs

Corporate environmental practices have been evolving quite rapidly in recent years, as consumers express their preferences for environmentally friendly products and practices, as manufacturers look “upstream” and inquire into their suppliers' environmental practices due to liability and marketing concerns, and as company operating costs increase as a result of new environmental regulations. New corporate efforts are made to anticipate (rather than respond to) outside environmental pressures, to internalize costs, and to find strategic opportunities or competitive advantages based on company or product environmental performance. This article describes a survey and research project designed to explore one aspect of these evolving corporate practices—the use of analytical tools and associated programs, such as life-cycle assessment and design-for-environment—by companies to account for impacts throughout a product'S life-cycle.     

The role of analytical science in natural resource decision making

There is a continuing debate about the proper role of analytical (positivist) science in natural resource decision making. Two diametrically opposed views are evident, arguing for and against a more extended role for scientific information. The debate takes on a different complexion if one recognizes that certain kinds of problem, referred to here as “wicked” or “trans-science” problems, may not be amenable to the analytical process. Indeed, the mistaken application of analytical methods to trans-science problems may not only be a waste of time and money but also serve to hinder policy development. Since many environmental issues are trans-science in nature, then it follows that alternatives to analytical science need to be developed. In this article, the issues involved in the debate are clarified by examining the impact of the use of analytical methods in a particular case, the spruce budworm controversy in New Brunswick. The article ends with some suggestions about a “holistic” approach to the problem.     

Different formats of imprinted polymers for determining organotin compounds in environmental samples

Organotin compounds and their degradation products enter the environment mainly as a result of their use as biocides and antifouling paints. Analysis of these compounds in environmental samples has to be very sensitive and selective so that their concentrations corresponding to the low environmental target values can also be detected. Generally, analysis of a complex matrix leads to high interferences during the different process steps; clean-up procedures are recommended to overcome this problem. For the past many years, solid phase extraction by employing imprinted materials has been extensively used for many organic substances that are used for pre-concentration and clean-up purposes with excellent results. Here, we present three different imprinted polymers prepared via bulk, precipitation, and emulsion polymerization methods that use similar compositions. The synthesized polymer particles were characterized morphologically by employing scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. Binding properties were calculated using the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm. Depending on the properties of the materials, different analytical applications for complex matrices are proposed. These applications are mainly used on tributyltin and its degradation products for environmental analysis.     

A review of studies applying environmental impact assessment methods on fruit production systems

Although many aspects of environmental accounting methodologies in food production have already been investigated, the application of environmental indicators in the fruit sector is still rare and no consensus can be found on the preferred method. On the contrary, widely diverging approaches have been taken to several aspects of the analyses, such as data collection, handling of scaling issues, and goal and scope definition. This paper reviews studies assessing the sustainability or environmental impacts of fruit production under different conditions and identifies aspects of fruit production that are of environmental importance. Four environmental assessment methods which may be applied to assess fruit production systems are evaluated, namely Life Cycle Assessment, Ecological Footprint Analysis, Emergy Analysis and Energy Balance. In the 22 peer-reviewed journal articles and two conference articles applying one of these methods in the fruit sector that were included in this review, a total of 26 applications of environmental impact assessment methods are described. These applications differ concerning e.g. overall objective, set of environmental issues considered, definition of system boundaries and calculation algorithms. Due to the relatively high variability in study cases and approaches, it was not possible to identify any one method as being better than the others. However, remarks on methodologies and suggestions for standardisation are given and the environmental burdens of fruit systems are highlighted.     

关于建立我国环境大数据网格组织标准的若干思路

环保应用是一种典型的多行业、多类型的大数据综合业务应用.当前,仅我国环保应用的数据类型就高达几十种,来源于不同的数据生产部门,其组织管理的方式、标准、参考体系也各不相同,给环境大数据的快速形成与综合应用提出了挑战.本文从环境大数据的概念和需求开始,结合国内外技术发展的现状,讨论了发展建立我国环境大数据网格组织标准的必要性与优势;基于国家973 项目的 理论研究成果,提出了建立我国统一的空 、天、地一体化环境大数据网格组织标准的框架体系,并研究了基于网格框架的环境大数据形成制、应用思路、关键技术及实现方法; 最后,结合我国环境大数据与 信息技术发展的现状,提出了建立我国环境大数据网格组织标准体系的几点发展建议.     

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.     

Fate and movement of microorganisms in the environment

Summary This literature review indicates how little is known about the growth of introduced bacteria. The available data base is so sparse that one can only speculate on the environmental conditions and the physiological traits that are needed to permit bacterial growth. Although methods are available to label organisms so that their multiplication can be detected under natural conditions, those methods have not been used sufficiently often to provide a meaningful base of information to allow a definition of conditions that favor multiplication of particular species or the organisms that are likely to proliferate in particular environments. However, because methods exist to monitor microbial growth, and new and better methods can be developed easily, it should not be difficult—provided research funds are made available—to expand greatly the data base and provide adequate information to be used for predicting the behavior of genetically engineered organisms in nature.     

A Strategy for Prioritizing Threats and Recovery Actions for At-Risk Species

Ensuring the persistence of at-risk species depends on implementing conservation actions that ameliorate threats. We developed and implemented a method to quantify the relative importance of threats and to prioritize recovery actions based on their potential to affect risk to Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii). We used assessments of threat importance and elasticities of demographic rates from population matrix models to estimate the relative contributions of threats to overall increase in risk to the population. We found that urbanization, human access, military operations, disease, and illegal use of off highway vehicles are the most serious threats to the desert tortoise range-wide. These results suggest that, overall, recovery actions that decrease habitat loss, predation, and crushing will be most effective for recovery; specifically, we found that habitat restoration, topic-specific environmental education, and land acquisition are most likely to result in the greatest decrease in risk to the desert tortoise across its range. In addition, we have developed an application that manages the conceptual model and all supporting information and calculates threat severity and potential effectiveness of recovery actions. Our analytical approach provides an objective process for quantifying threats, prioritizing recovery actions, and developing monitoring metrics for those actions for adaptive management of any at-risk species.     

我国环境管理新进展及环境大数据技术应用展望

伴随着环境问题复杂性日益凸显和国家对生态环境保护的高度重视,传统环境管理和决策手段已经难以满足新时代环境治理需要。推动大数据技术及其应用是重要的国家战略,环境大数据技术是环境学科热门的技术研究领域之一,将促使我国环境管理逐渐向动态化、数字化、网络化和精细化转变。本文回顾了我国环境管理体系的历史阶段变化和新时期环境管理的需求,总结了大数据技术及其发展趋势和国内外环境大数据技术应用进展,从我国环境管理领域大数据技术应用的需求出发,提出了环境大数据技术应用前景和主要功能,包括环境数据采集与挖掘、多源数据处理与管理、大数据分析与应用和环境管理决策与支撑等。大数据技术作为解决复杂系统问题的重要手段,将在我国环境管理和综合决策中发挥重要作用。     

针铁矿对重金属Pb^2＋、Cd^2＋的吸附特征

本文采用平衡振荡法,主要探讨了重金属铅和镉在针铁矿上的环境行为。研究结果表明针铁矿对重金属有较强的吸附作用。在pH一定时,针铁矿对Pb^2＋和Cd^2＋的吸附率随着初始浓度的增加而增大。随着介质pH升高,针铁矿对Pb^2＋和Cd^2＋的吸附量与吸附率均增大,最大吸附率可达到99．71％和99．46％,而解吸量则随之降低。在高pH条件下,针铁矿对Pb^2＋和Cd^2＋的结合牢固,且与Pb^2＋的稳定度大于Cd^2＋。研究表明,环境中针铁矿对铅、镉等重金属的环境化学行为具有重要的影响。利用针铁矿处理含Pb^2＋和Cd^2＋的污水具有良好的应用潜力。