Radioactivity in environmental samples: Calibration standards measurement methods,quality assurance,and data analysis

The numerous environmental radioactivity measurements made by and for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) include measurements on samples of water, urine, food, milk, and air filters. Calibration standards are listed which are available in the form of water solutions and soils for a wide range of radionuclides. Method validation procedures for U.S. EPA approval include protocol development and single-laboratory and multiple-laboratory evaluation for precision and accuracy. Interlaboratory comparison studies are conducted for both cross-check and performance evaluation samples and involve 295 federal, state, and local laboratories. For water samples, 80%–90% of the participating laboratories are within the control limits for most of the radionuclides measured; however, some problem areas exist, especially for radium-228 and strontium-89 and -90. For milk and food samples, more than 90% of the laboratories are within control limits for cobalt-60 and cesium-137 but some problems exist for the measurement of strontium-90, iodine-131, and potassium-40. For tritium, 91% of the laboratories are within the control limit for water samples and 87% are within the control limits for the urine samples. The laboratory performance for air filter samples shows some problems for gross beta, strontium-90 and cesium-137 measurements.     

Transfer factors of radioactive Cs,Sr, Mn,Co and Zn from Japanese soils to root and leaf of radish

Transfer factors (TFs) of some selected radionuclides from ten different Japanese soils to radish have been studied by radiotracer experiments. The geometric mean values of TFs (on a wet weight basis) of radioactive Cs, Sr, Co, Mn and Zn for edible parts of radish (tuber) were 0.0090. 0.029, 0.00094, 0.0034 and 0.067, respectively. TFs for leaf were higher than those for tuber. The geometric mean values of leaf/tuber ratios were 4.1 for Cs, 4.9 for Sr, 1.6 for Co, 11 for Mn and 1.9 for Zn. Most of the Cs TFs obtained for andosol, which is the most common arable soil in Japan, were higher than those for the other soils. This might be due to the high concentrations of organic matter and alophen in andosol. The obtained TFs were compared to reference values of IAEA Technical Report 364.     

Radiocaesium soil-to-plant transfer in tropical environments

In this work, soil-to-plant transfer factors of radiocaesium are predicted based on soil properties such as pH, organic matter content, exchangeable K+ and clay content valid for the tropical environments in Bangladesh, China and Japan, and using a previously published model. Due to insufficient data of soil properties in the selected regions, the average values of pH, organic matter content, exchangeable K+ and clay content were taken as the input model parameters within the ranges given for Asia. Nevertheless, a complete set of soil properties of Japanese soils was used to compare the measured and calculated TF values of radiocaesium for radish. The calculated TF values for radiocaesium are comparable with the measured values especially for leafy parts of a plant. However, calculated values for rice, an important crop in Asia are found to overestimate the measured values due to an overestimate of calculated CECs in soils in the selected regions. The empirical parameters used in the model need to be re-evaluated for the specific part of a plant and/or for a variety of different plants. Alternatively, a general conversion factor for each part of a plant and/or for a variety of different plants for a specific region is suggested for tropical environments.     

不同富营养状态下沼蛤的存活与行为特性研究

通过设计不同富营养状态下沼蛤的行为特性的控制实验,探讨了不同富营养状态下沼蛤的生存、运动和粘附特性。研究结果为:(1)富营养状态最优(贫营养)水质不适宜沼蛤的粘附,但是适宜其生存,因此移动距离最短,运动能力最差。轻度富营养水质适宜沼蛤的生存。富营养状态最差(重度富营养)不适宜沼蛤的生存,因此移动距离最远,能生存下来的沼蛤运动能力最强。(2)在不同营养盐浓度下的重度富营养状态水质中,沼蛤适宜在营养盐浓度较低的水体中生存,营养盐浓度越高越不适宜沼蛤生存;营养盐浓度越高越不适宜沼蛤粘附,营养盐浓度相对而言较低的水体适宜沼蛤粘附。(3)在不同藻浓度下的重度富营养水质中,沼蛤适宜在藻浓度较低的水体中生存,藻浓度越高越不适宜沼蛤生存;藻浓度越高越不适宜沼蛤粘附,藻浓度相对而言较低的水体适宜沼蛤粘附;低藻浓度水体相对而言更适宜沼蛤生存,因此移动距离最短,运动能力最差,高藻浓度水体不适宜沼蛤生存,因此移动距离最远,能生存下来的沼蛤运动能力最强。富营养状态是影响沼蛤生长、粘附和运动的关键要素,轻度富营养化状态最适宜沼蛤生长和粘附。水体中营养盐浓度和浮游植物浓度也是影响沼蛤生长、粘附和运动的关键要素,重度富营养化状态中营养盐浓度和浮游植物浓度越低,越适宜适宜沼蛤生长和粘附。     

Separation and measurement of thorium, plutonium, americium, uranium and strontium in environmental matrices

A technique for the isolation of thorium (Th), plutonium (Pu), americium (Am), uranium (U) and strontium (Sr) isotopes from various environmental matrices has been adapted from a previously published method specific to water samples (Maxwell, 2006). Separation and isolation of the various elemental fractions from a single sub-sample is possible, thereby eliminating the need for multiple analyses.The technique involves sample dissolution, concentration via calcium phosphate co-precipitation, rapid column extraction using TEVA™, TRU™ and Sr-Spec™ resin cartridges, alpha spectrometry for Th, Pu, U and Am and Cerenkov counting for Sr.Various standard reference materials were analysed and chemical yields are in the range of 70-80% for Th, Am, U and Sr and 50-60% for Pu. Sample sizes of up to 10 L for water, 5 g for dry soil and sediment and 10 g for dry vegetation and seaweed can be processed using this technique.     

长江口滩涂湿地景观变化对典型水鸟生境适宜性的影响

近年来在海平面上升、长江水沙变化、植被演替等自然因素以及促淤圈围工程、深水航道建设等人为因素的共同作用下，长江口滩涂湿地水鸟适宜生境发生了巨大变化。针对长江口滩涂湿地典型水鸟中的鸻鹬类(Charadriiformes)与雁鸭类(Anseriformes)，采用空间多样性指数、人为干扰度等指标研究1980～2010年长江口滩涂湿地景观变化对两类水鸟生境适宜性的影响。结果表明：两类水鸟的不适宜生境、边缘生境、次级生境面积均呈增长趋势，鸻鹬类共增加682 km2，雁鸭类共增加314 km2。而核心生境面积却呈不同的变化趋势，鸻鹬类减少136 km2，雁鸭类增加232 km2，但鸻鹬类和雁鸭类核心生境面积百分比均分别减少566%和194%。1980～2010年鸻鹬类生境适宜性综合评价指数由092下降到053，雁鸭类由089下降到070，鸻鹬类降幅大于雁鸭类。通过定量分析人为干扰度对水鸟生境的影响，发现鸻鹬类对人类干扰更加敏感，中等强度的人类干扰在一定程度上扩大了雁鸭类的适宜生境面积     

Derivation of a screening methodology for evaluating radiation dose to aquatic and terrestrial biota

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) currently has in place a radiation dose standard for the protection of aquatic animals, and is considering additional dose standards for terrestrial biota. These standards are: 10 mGy/d for aquatic animals, 10 mGy/d for terrestrial plants, and, 1 mGy/d for terrestrial animals. Guidance on suitable approaches to the implementation of these standards is needed. A screening methodology, developed through DOE's Biota Dose Assessment Committee (BDAC), serves as the principal element of DOE's graded approach for evaluating radiation doses to aquatic and terrestrial biota. Limiting concentrations of radionuclides in water, soil, and sediment were derived for 23 radionuclides. Four organism types (aquatic animals; riparian animals; terrestrial animals; and terrestrial plants) were selected as the basis for development of the screening method. Internal doses for each organism type were calculated as the product of contaminant concentration, bioaccumulation factor(s) and dose conversion factors. External doses were calculated based on the assumption of immersion of the organism in soil, sediment, or water. The assumptions and default parameters used provide for conservative screening values. The screening methodology within DOE's graded approach should prove useful in demonstrating compliance with biota dose limits and for conducting screening assessments of radioecological impact. It provides a needed evaluation tool that can be employed within a framework for protection of the environment.     

"循环经济"概念辨析

基于对循环经济在德国、日本产生和发展状况的考察和我国目前关于循环经济的着干代表性定义的分析，指出循环经济是相对于传统的“资源-产品-废弃物”单向流动的线形经济而言的，是建立在生态学规律之上的一种以“减量化、再利用、资源化”为原则。以资源（特别是物质资源）的节约和循环利用为核心，以低消耗、低排放、高效率为基本特征，以避免、减少、再利用、资源化、热回收、无害化处置作为处理废弃物的先后次序，构造上高度接近于“资源-产品-再生资源”反馈式闭路循环，符合可持续发展理念的经济增长模式，是解决我国资源环境与经济发展之间矛盾的重要途径之一。最后分析了循环经济与节约型社会、清洁生产、节约能源、资源综合利用等概念之间的分析，进而提出支持我国建设节约型社会的法律体系至少应当包括《循环经济与资源综合利用促进法》、节约型社会的基本目标、原则和法律制度。以此为基础，再考虑进一步制定针对包装物、电子垃圾、废旧汽车等的法律法规。     

Radon progeny dose conversion coefficients for Chinese males and females

The airway dimensions for Caucasian males have been scaled by multiplying by factors 0.95 and 0.88 to give those for Chinese males and females, respectively. Employing the most recent data on physical and biological parameters, the radiation doses to the basal and secretory cells due to alpha particles from 218Po and 214Po, homogeneously distributed in the mucous layer, have been calculated. The emission of alpha particles has been simulated by a Monte Carlo method. For both basal and secretory cells, the dose conversion coefficients (DCCs) for physical conditions of sleep, rest, light and heavy exercise, have been obtained for Chinese males and females for unattached progeny, and for attached progeny of diameters 0.02, 0.15, 0.25, 0.30 and 0.50 micron. For basal cells, the coefficients lie in the range 0.69-6.82 mGy/(Js/m3) or 8.7-86 mGy/WLM for unattached progeny and in the range 0.045-1.98 mGy/(Js/m3) or 0.57-25 mGy/WLM for attached progeny. The corresponding ranges for Caucasian males are 1.27-8.81 mGy/(Js/m3) or 16-111 mGy/WLM-1 and 0.05-2.30 mGy/(Js/m3) or 0.64-29 mGy/WLM. For secretory cells, the coefficients lie in the range 0.095-16.82 mGy/(Js/m3) (1.2-212 mGy/WLM) for unattached progeny and in the range 0.095-6.67 mGy/(Js/m3) (1.2-84 mGy/WLM) for attached progeny. The corresponding ranges for Caucasian males are 0.34-21.51 mGy/(Js/m3) (4.3-271 mGy/WLM) and 0.1-7.78 mGy/(Js/m3) (1.3-98 mGy/WLM). The overall DCCs calculated for a typical home environment are 0.59 and 0.52 mSv/(Js/m3) (7.4 and 6.5 mSv/WLM) for Chinese males and females, respectively, which are 80 and 70% of the value, 0.73 mSv/(Js/m3) (9.2 mSv/WLM), for Caucasian males.     

Strategies for coastal ecosystem management in India

Present paper highlights various coastal issues and management strategies in India for effective environmental management for the sustainable development. The priorities for coastal management were selected based on the available date and material related to various international and national conferences. On the basis of secondary data, various strategies are suggested for the prioritized issues. These strategies include institutional strengthening, capacity building, policy plan, management plans for areas highly degraded, education and awareness; all these issues are discussed under the ecosystem-based management framework which gives better direction and is crucial for India??s costal management.     

Toxicities and tolerances of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in a primary producer (Isochrysis galbana) and in a primary consumer (Perna viridis)

Studies on toxicities and tolerances of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the brown alga Isochrysis galbana and in the green-lipped mussel Perna viridis were conducted by short-term bioassays using endpoints growth production and mortality, respectively. The 5-day EC(50) and 24-h LC(50) of these heavy metals were determined in the brown alga and mussel, respectively. The EC(50) values calculated for the alga were 0.74 mg/l for Cd, 0.91 mg/l for Cu, 1.40 mg/l for Pb and 0.60 mg/l for Zn. The LC(50) values for the mussels were 1.53 mg/l for Cd, 0.25 mg/l for Cu, 4.12 mg/l for Pb and 3.20 mg/l for Zn. These LC(50) values were within the concentration ranges as reported by other authors who used P. viridis as the test organism. Based on these EC(50) and LC(50) values, the alga was most sensitive to Zn, followed by Cd, Cu and Pb while the mussel was most sensitive to Cu, followed by Cd, Zn and Pb. Differences in the trophic levels, metal handling strategies, biology and ecology of the primary producer (brown alga) and the primary consumer (mussel) are believed to be the plausible causes for the different toxicities and tolerances of the metals studied.     

Human–environment interactions: towards synthesis and simulation

Leaders of the PAGES Focus 5 programme ‘Past Ecosystem Processes and Human–Environment Interactions’ identify key issues for research on human–environment interactions for wider discussion. These include the need for long-term perspectives, the opportunities for maximising palaeoenvironmental research, the need for integration and regionalisation and the challenge of developing dynamic simulation models. A new organisational matrix for regional studies is outlined, based on a series of zonal/azonal regions and on the degree of human impact. Future priorities for palaeoenvironmental research include new studies in degraded human-dominated landscapes, highly-valued ecosystems and sites relevant to other IGBP Core Projects. Simulation of future human–environment interactions using modelling approaches that have been tested against long records lags behind global climate modelling, but cellular approaches for biogeophysical and multi-agent systems show promise.     

基于国民经济和人口发展目标的建设用地需求规模预测研究--以武汉市黄陂区为例

常用的建设用地需求量预测方法有回归分析法、灰色系统法。但这两种方法的共同点是根据历史统计数据预测未来建设用地需求规模。对国民经济和人口发展目标考虑较少。但建设用地规模与国民经济、人口之间的相关关系十分密切。必须针对国民经济和人口发展目标，分析建设用地效益和人均建设用地指标，确定国民经济和人口发展对建设用地的需求规模，结合基本农田保护、生态安全对建设用地规模和布局的制约。最终确定建设用地发展的合理规模。以武汉市黄陂区为例。在完全考虑国民经济和人口发展目标条件下。结合该区基本农田保护政策和生态安全等制约因素的影响。确定该区建设用地合理规模。     

Never smoker lung cancer risks from exposure to particulate tobacco smoke

The average particulate environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure of never and current smokers and the average lung cancer mortality rate for current smokers is estimated from empirical data. These estimates are used in a linear downward extrapolation of the lung cancer risk/mg of particulate ETS exposure for current smokers to calculate the average lung cancer risk for never smokers and the number of never smoker lung cancer deaths (LCD) in the U.S. in 1980 from exposure to particulate ETS. The estimated average daily inhaled particulate ETS exposure for never smokers is 0.62 mg/day for men and 0.28 mg/day for women. The average never smoker is estimated to retain 11% of the inhaled exposure, for a daily retained exposure of 0.07 mg for men and 0.03 mg for women. Other estimates are: a daily retained exposure for current smokers of 310 mg for men and 249 mg for women, a smoking-attributable lung cancer risk for current smokers in 1980 of 284 LCD/100,000 men and 121 LCD/100,000 women, and an annual retained-exposure lung cancer risk for never smokers of 0.64 LCD/100,000 men and 0.015 LCD/100,000 women. These risks and exposures estimate 12 lung cancer deaths among never smokers from exposure to particulate ETS: 8 among the 11.96 million male never smokers and 4 among the 28.85 million female never smokers in the U.S. in 1980. Conversely, between 655 and 3,610 never smoker lung cancer deaths are estimated from methods based on the average lung cancer risk observed in epidemiological studies of exposure to ETS. Three possible reasons for the discrepancy between the exposure and risk-based estimates are discussed: the excess risks observed in epidemiological studies are due to bias, the relationship between exposure and risk is supralinear, or sidestream tobacco smoke is substantially more carcinogenic than an equivalent exposure to mainstream smoke.     

Containment area sizing for disposal of dredged material

Procedures are given for containment area sizing for retention of suspended solids based on the settling characteristics of the dredged material. Separate sizing procedures for freshwater and saltwater sediments provide for determination of the respective surface area or detention time required to accomodate continuous dredged material disposal. Procedures are given for the laboratory testing required to obtain data for sediment characterization, containment area sizing, and estimates of storage capacity required. These procedures can also be used for designing containment areas for other slurries having high suspended solids concentrations. Settling tests performed in a 20-cm-diam column were found to be satisfactory for defining dredged material settling behavior. Settling behavior in the freshwater environment was best described by a flocculent settling test, while behavior in a saltwater environment was best described by a zone settling test. The same settling columns were used for both tests withonly minor procedural changes. Procedures are presented for designing new containment areas for suspended solids retention and for evaluating the suspended solids retention potential of existing containment areas during planned disposal activities.     

金头闭壳龟野外生存环境及资源现状调查

为弄清金头闭壳龟野外生存环境及资源现状，2008年7月20日至8月5日，对安徽省南部的黟县、泾县等地进行了调查。调查结果显示：黟县的清溪河和泾县的漕溪河、汀溪河和孤峰河的河流水质清新，未发生富营养化，水化指标范围：pH 5.5～7.0，水温24℃～29℃，DO 6.887～10.421 mg/L，硬度0.42～1.76 mmol/L，总磷0047～3.014 mg/L，亚硝酸盐氮0.009～0.104 mg/L，氨氮0.022～0.043 mg/L，除总磷和氨氮指标外，其他指标均符合Ⅰ或Ⅱ类水质标准；主要分布区域河流的浮游生物量较少，以绿藻门和硅藻门为主，其中绿藻门占浮游植物总属数的35%以上，硅藻门占浮游植物总属数的28%以上，主要分布区域河流底部有大量的螺蛳；2000~2008年，共捕获和销售金头闭壳龟约20只，野外生存量已不足100只。分析认为：金头闭壳龟资源已经处于极度濒危状态，野外生存环境已遭到严重的影响，但原产地的水质及饵料生物条件尚好，需进行连续的资源调查，积极开展人工繁殖，开展资源保护，筹建保护区，拯救这一濒危物种。〖     

21世纪前期长株潭城市群农业定位及发展途径

多个城市组合而成的城市群（或城市复合体）是区域经济发展的重要增长极，城市群区域农业的发展具有科技、经济、社会资源的多种优势。湖南的长沙、株洲、湘潭三市是我国南方最好的城市群建设地域之一。该区农业发展具有靠近农业科技发达地带、自然资源与条件优越、农业物质装备与原有生产基础良好和农产品市场容量及资金投入量大等优势。长株潭经济一体化后，该区域农业应成为湖南外向型农业基地、湖南高科技农业产业化基地、城郊都市农业基地和湖南农产品加工基地。相应的农业发展途径为：统一规划、统一部署、明确分工；建立和完善农业高科技园区体系，以农业高新技术的产业化带动全区农业的高效发展；调整发展重点，培植新的高效产业；建立农产品创汇基地，提高创汇能力；加快土地使用权流转，扩大农业经营规模，为科技成果产业化创造条件；加大农产品市场体系建设力度，促进全省农产品流通。     

近50年安徽省双季稻安全生产期变化特征

为进一步了解安徽省双季稻安全生产界限温度日期变化特征，以安徽省22个双季稻生产市(县)气象观测站1961～2017年日平均气温为基础，采用线性趋势法和Mann-Kendall非参数检验法，分析了安徽省沿江双季稻区早稻安全播种期、移栽期和晚稻安全齐穗期、成熟期及双季稻安全生长期日数、积温变化特征。结果表明:近50年安徽省沿江地区早稻安全播种期呈显著提前趋势(P<0.05)，其中薄膜育秧平均提前1.8 d/10 a，露天育秧提前1.5 d/10 a；早稻安全移栽期呈极显著提前趋势(P<0.01)，平均提前2.5 d/10 a；晚稻安全齐穗期、成熟期推迟趋势不显著(P>0.05)；安全生产期日数和积温增加显著(P<0.01)，平均增幅分别为2.6和62.7℃·d/10 a。安全生产期日数和积温增加对双季稻种植和品种选择具有积极作用，但晚稻采用直播、机插等栽种方式有遭遇低温冷害的风险。     

A model testing study for the transfer of radioactivity to fruit

This paper compares predictions of the foodchain model SPADE with experimental data for the transfer of (134)Cs and (85)Sr to strawberry plants following acute foliar and soil contamination. The transfer pathways considered in this exercise included direct deposition to fruit, leaf-to-fruit, soil-to-leaf and soil-to-fruit transfers. Following foliar contamination, the difference between predicted and measured radionuclide activity values varied between a factor of 0.5-10 for fruit and 4.5-7 for leaf. Following soil contamination, the difference between predicted and measured values varied between a factor of 3-74 for fruit and 32-44 for leaf. In all cases the difference between measured and predicted values was smaller for (85)Sr than (134)Cs. Measured and predicted activities were higher for leaf than fruit. Both measured and predicted (134)Cs concentrations in fruit and leaf are higher when deposition occurs at ripening than at anthesis. These results confirm the need for more data on fruit, even for Cs and Sr, to support models in predicting the transfer of radionuclides to fruit crops. Ongoing research projects funded by the UK Food Standards Agency aim to provide some data on radionuclide transfer to herbaceous, shrub and tree fruits, which will help improve radiological assessment models in order to provide better protection for consumers.