山东省2015年PM2.5和O3污染时空分布特征

利用中国环境监测总站的城市空气质量自动监测数据，分析了2015年山东省细颗粒物（PM_2.5）和臭氧（O₃）污染的时空分布特征，并初步探讨了其与气象要素的相互关系。研究发现：山东省PM_2.5年均质量浓度和年超标天数的空间分布均呈现由东部向西部递增的趋势，半岛地区的浓度最低，其他地区浓度均较高，年均质量浓度最大值出现在德州（101 μg/m³）。各城市PM_2.5的月均质量浓度均呈现出季节性变化，冬季最高，夏季最低。O₃-8h年均值和O₃年超标天数的空间分布与PM_2.5不同，半岛地区污染天数最少，其次为南部地区，中部地区和西北部地区污染最为严重并且各区域的城市之间O₃污染情况存在较大差异，具有明显的局地性特征。O₃质量浓度在春末夏初最高，超标现象主要出现在5—8月。分析各城市PM_2.5污染和O₃污染的协同性与差异性发现，虽然不同城市之间两者污染情况存在一定差异，但整体上看，山东省大气复合污染特征明显，全年有10个城市的PM_2.5和O₃同时超标天数都在20 d以上，并且该现象主要发生在夏季。夏季高温低湿的大陆气团控制更有利于O₃和PM_2.5叠加共存形成复合型污染。温度≥26℃时，O₃-8 h与PM_2.5日均质量浓度的相关系数为0.63，相对湿度≤60%时，两者相关系数为0.69。此外，当在大陆气团的控制下发生O₃污染时，相对湿度的提高更有利于PM_2.5浓度的增加。     

宜都市PM2.5与O3季节性分布特征及潜在源区分析

为了解宜都市PM_2.5与O₃的污染特征及潜在来源,利用宜都市2020年3月至2022年2月在线监测数据及气象数据,对宜都市PM_2.5与O₃质量浓度变化特征、气象影响因素及潜在源区进行了分析,结果表明:宜都市PM_2.5质量浓度冬高夏低,日变化呈双峰特征,O₃质量浓度夏高冬低,日变化呈单峰特征。高湿、静稳的气象条件以及较强偏北风作用下的区域污染传输对PM_2.5污染有重要影响,高温以及中湿度对O₃污染过程有重要作用。春、夏、秋季偏南方向气流轨迹占主导,且携带较高的污染物浓度,冬季来自湖北东北及西南方向的气流占比较高且携带的PM_2.5浓度较高;宜都市PM_2.5、O₃的潜在源区具有季节性差异,总体来看,主要分布在河南南部、湖北东部及湖南的北部区域。     

合肥市典型臭氧污染特征及成因分析

综合利用环境空气质量常规监测、挥发性有机物(VOCs)在线监测,以及后向轨迹聚类分析、权重潜在源区分析和正交矩阵因子分解法等多种监测分析方法,基于合肥市经历的一次典型臭氧(O₃)污染过程(2020年9月1—10日),系统分析了合肥市O₃污染的典型特征及成因。结果显示,此次污染过程的O₃小时平均浓度高达96 μg/m³,且O₃浓度波动较大,在9月6日13:00达到了224 μg/m³,呈现出快速生成、快速消耗的污染特征,并在夜间呈现出非典型的二次峰值过程。污染期间,合肥市基本处于VOCs控制区,芳香烃对O₃生成潜势的贡献最大(45.2%),其次是烷烃(31.8%)和烯烃(21.5%);污染阶段的VOCs主要来自机动车排放源(44.1%)、燃烧源(21.3%)、工业源(15.3%)、溶剂使用源(12.4%)和天然源(6.9%),累积阶段和污染阶段均受机动车尾气排放和溶剂使用的影响较大。此外,台风外围下沉气流和高温、低湿、低风速等气象条件是引发此次O₃污染过程的主要外因,而合肥市周边的高污染区域则是此次O₃污染过程的潜在外部源区。     

2016—2019年汾渭平原城市空气质量状况分析

基于2016—2019年全国城市环境空气质量国控监测点位自动监测数据，分析了汾渭平原城市空气质量状况。结果表明：2019年，汾渭平原优良天数比例为61.7%，略高于"2+26"城市，明显低于全国及其他区域，空气污染较重。2016—2019年，汾渭平原超标天数中PM_2.5、PM₁₀、O₃作为首要污染物的占比较高，PM_2.5、PM₁₀仍是影响汾渭平原空气质量的最主要污染物，O₃和NO₂的影响逐年升高。汾渭平原PM_2.5浓度呈夏季低、秋冬季高的特点，2019年与2016—2018年PM_2.5均值比较，1、2、4月分别偏高7.5%、36.7%、6.8%，其他月份均偏低，表明1、2、4月空气质量总体恶化，其他月份有所改善。汾渭平原O₃浓度呈夏季高、秋冬季低的特点，O₃浓度总体呈升高趋势，年平均升高10.3 μg/m³，临汾市年平均升幅最显著（26.7 μg/m³），不同百分位O₃浓度均呈升高趋势，且高百分位浓度升幅明显高于低百分位浓度，年平均升幅最高出现在第90百分位浓度。2016—2019年，O₃单项污染物超标导致优良天数比例损失分别为5.4个百分点、13.0个百分点、11.1个百分点和14.4个百分点，总体呈上升趋势，表明O₃超标对空气质量影响越来越显著。煤炭消耗量、生铁产量、粗钢产量的大幅升高对空气质量有一定影响，建议加大对相关企业污染物的排放量检查，确保超低排放或采取可行的清洁能源替代。温度与O₃浓度呈正相关，2017—2019年，温度大于25 ℃的天数中94.2%出现在6—8月，O₃-8h超标天数占全部超标天数的81.4%，因此应加强温度较高月份的O₃管控。     

滁州市一次持续性臭氧污染过程气象与传输特征分析

2019年6月8日至17日,安徽省滁州市发生一次持续性臭氧(O₃)污染过程,O₃浓度值超过国家二级标准浓度限值3%~45%。基于滁州市老年大学监测站点空气质量数据、滁州市气象站及全球资料同化系统(GDAS)气象数据,运用HYSPLIT后向轨迹模型、潜在源贡献因子(PSCF)和浓度权重轨迹(CWT)分析方法,研究污染发生时段的气象和区域传输特征。结果表明:①在此次O₃污染过程中,日最高温度的变化范围为25.5~34.7 ℃,风速整体小于4 m/s,风向以偏东风为主,午后的相对湿度在40%左右。在该时段内,滁州市基本处于均压场的控制之中,且受到锋面气旋外围下沉气流的影响,大气层结稳定。②O₃污染发生期间,滁州市主要受东南方向气流的影响,但来自山东省、安徽省北部和江苏省北部的气流的影响也不容忽视。6月9日夜间至10日上午的O₃浓度异常高值,与9日下午的气压异常低值及9日夜间的大气边界层高度异常高值密切相关。上述气压及大气边界层高度异常值的出现使得上风向高浓度O₃被输送至滁州。③此次污染过程的潜在贡献源区主要分布于安徽省东南部、江苏省中西部和浙江省北部等地。上述区域的加权潜在源贡献因子(WPSCF)值大于0.4,加权浓度权重轨迹(WCWT)值超过了100 μg/m³。今后,滁州市在O₃污染防控工作中应加强与上述区域的联防联控。     

工业园区和城区VOCs组成及化学活性的空间差异对清远大气臭氧污染分布的影响

工业化与城镇化交替演进使珠三角及其周边地区土地利用类型较为复杂。快速的城市化进程使城市建成区与大量村镇工业园区互相交错。这种变化势必会增加挥发性有机物(VOCs)在组分构成和空间分布上的复杂性,并对臭氧(O₃)污染的时空变化产生影响。为厘清这种排放的空间异质性特征及其对O₃污染分布的影响,分别选取可以代表清远市典型工业园区和城市建成区的站点开展观测研究。结果表明:工业园区和城市建成区VOCs浓度水平和污染特征有较大的空间差异,其中代表村镇工业园区的龙塘站VOCs日均浓度为30.42×10^-9,高于代表城市建成区的技师学院站(17.32×10^-9)。龙塘站二甲苯和甲苯的臭氧生成潜势(OFP)比技师学院站高57.6×10^-9,且该值相当于技师学院站排名前10位物种OFP的总和。气象分析表明:2个站点之间并非彼此的上、下风向,而是共同受到局地气团的影响。源解析结果表明:源排放是造成这种空间异质性的内因,其中交通源对技师学院的贡献更高,而工业相关排放源对龙塘的贡献更高。该研究进一步比较了周边站点O₃时间序列的一致性,并模拟2个站点的O₃生成速率。研究发现O₃在局地范围内变化较小,高VOCs排放的地点对局地O₃有较高的贡献,局地内不同地点的O₃生成过程也存在较大差异。据此,笔者提出O₃污染防控建议:短期内可通过技术手段和观测数据发现O₃污染的重要贡献点,并进行针对性的"散乱污"清理整治和涉VOCs行业综合整治,长期看应科学合理规划城市发展布局和产业布局,预留城市通风廊道,以有效减少O₃污染。     

衡水夏季典型时段VOCs污染特征及O3污染过程分析

选取臭氧（O₃）污染高发的7月为夏季典型月，采用自动观测设备，从前体物VOCs的浓度水平及O₃生成潜势（OFP），前体物、气象因素与O₃相关性等多方面研究了衡水市O₃污染影响因素，并剖析了一次典型的O₃污染过程，以期为衡水市夏季O₃污染防治提供科学参考。研究结果表明：衡水市VOCs主要组分浓度占比为烷烃 > 烯烃 > 芳香烃 > 乙炔，主要组分对总OFP的贡献为烯烃 > 芳香烃 > 烷烃 > 乙炔；O₃与前体物VOCs、NO₂存在负相关性，与温度存在正相关性；相对湿度低于48%时，O₃和相对湿度呈负相关性，相对湿度高于48%时，O₃和相对湿度呈正相关性；气团中VOCs化学组成稳定性较低，平均VOCs最大增量反应活性（MIR）较低，为4.855gO₃/gVOCs；衡水市7月2—4日重度污染过程受本地生成和区域传输叠加影响。     

典型生态功能区臭氧生成敏感性及气象驱动力解析——以千岛湖地区为例

千岛湖地区是我国重要的自然保护区,属于典型生态功能区。当前,臭氧(O₃)正频繁成为影响千岛湖地区空气质量的首要污染物,但对于与此相关的千岛湖地区O₃生成敏感性,研究人员目前仍未了解清楚。利用2019—2021年TROPOMI卫星观测数据,运用O₃生成敏感性指示剂方法,即甲醛对流层垂直柱浓度和二氧化氮对流层垂直柱浓度的比值(FNR),量化解析了千岛湖地区O₃生成敏感区的时空演化特征。结果表明,千岛湖地区FNR呈现逐年升高趋势,且显著高于杭州市主城区。千岛湖地区氮氧化物(NO_x)控制区逐年扩张,自2019年开始,由西南向东北逐步蔓延。截至2021年,NO_x控制区已基本覆盖整个千岛湖地区。千岛湖地区O₃生成敏感区在夏季基本属于NO_x控制区,在其他季节属于NO_x控制区或协同控制区。结合气象再分析数据发现,FNR与温度呈强正相关(r=0.8),与相对湿度呈较弱正相关,与风速和云液态水含量呈较弱负相关。当温度大于7.0 ℃、风速小于6.2 m/s、云液态水含量小于5.5×10^-5 g/m³、相对湿度大于57.5%时,O₃生成趋向于受NO_x控制。此外,与杭州市相比,千岛湖地区O₃生成对气象参数变化更为敏感。研究成果对我国典型生态功能区O₃污染防控具有重要的启示作用。     

基于特征指标的气象因子对PM2.5浓度的影响分析

以西安为研究区域,为探究气象因子对PM_2.5浓度的影响,采集2017-2019年空气质量与气象因子数据,改进k-Means聚类算法,形成严重污染、重度污染、中度污染、轻度污染共4个PM_2.5浓度与气象因子样本簇集。分析簇集数据分布,选择Spearman相关性分析方法,确定影响PM_2.5浓度的气象因子;定义PM_2.5凸显性条件,给出幅度特征FOA、浮动特征FOF和凸显特征FOH,构建三维空间,确定气象因子对PM_2.5影响的大小,进而建立气象因子对PM_2.5浓度的影响分析方法。比较多元线性回归和随机森林回归方法,结果表明:该方法提高了分析效率,且无需考虑因子选取和表达,能有效确定影响PM_2.5浓度的气象因子种类及影响程度。在低温、高湿、高压和相对静风的气象条件下,空气中颗粒物难以扩散和输送,使西安市PM_2.5浓度升高。严重污染、重度污染和中度污染中,PM_2.5浓度与相对湿度呈显著正相关,与风速、气温呈显著负相关,且影响大小依次为相对湿度>风速>气温;轻度污染中,PM_2.5浓度与相对湿度、气压呈显著正相关,与风速、气温呈显著负相关,且影响大小依次为气温>相对湿度>气压>风速。     

杭州秋冬季PM2.5污染特征分析

为研究杭州PM_2.5污染来源特征,利用2013—2019年杭州市PM_2.5监测数据和气象观测数据,分析了杭州市2013—2019年PM_2.5浓度变化,选取本地积累型和输入型2种PM_2.5污染过程,结合单颗粒气溶胶飞行时间质谱仪（SPAMS）和在线离子色谱数据,探讨杭州市PM_2.5化学组分和污染来源。结果表明：每年秋冬季（11月至次年3月）杭州以东北风、西北风及偏南风为主,风速低于4 m/s时,大气扩散条件差,受本地污染物积累影响,PM_2.5浓度容易出现超标;风速较大且为东北风和西北风时,受上游污染输入影响,易出现PM_2.5重度污染。本地积累型和输入型案例中,PM_2.5化学组分中占比最大的为NO₃^-、SO₄^2-和NH₄⁺;PM_2.5浓度上升过程中,二次NO₃^-和SO₄^2-转换率明显上升,其中NO₃^-上升更为显著,二次气溶胶污染严重。2次案例中,PM_2.5来源贡献占比前3位均为机动车尾气源、燃煤源和工业工艺源,其中本地积累型PM_2.5浓度上升阶段,机动车尾气源占比会明显上升;输入型案例中,输入阶段机动车尾气源占比显著上升,燃煤源贡献也小幅上升。     

A New Mathematical Approach in Environmental and Life Sciences: Gene–Environment Networks and Their Dynamics

An important research area in life sciences is devoted to modeling, prediction, and dynamics of gene-expression patterns. As clearly understood in these days, this enterprise cannot become satisfactory without acknowledging the role of the environment. To a representation of past, present, and most likely future states, we also encounter measurement errors and uncertainties. This paper surveys and improves recent advances in understanding the foundations and interdisciplinary implications of the newly introduced gene–environment networks, and it integrates the important theme of carbon dioxide emission reduction into the networks and dynamics. We also introduce some operational and managerial issues of practical working and decision making, expressed in terms of sliding windows, quadrants (modules) of parametric effects, and navigating (controlling) between such effects and directing them. Given data from DNA microarray experiments and environmental records, we extract nonlinear ordinary differential equations that contain parameters that have to be determined. For this, we employ modern (Chebychevian) approximation and (generalized semi-infinite) optimization. After this is provided, time- discretized dynamical systems are studied. A combinatorial algorithm with polyhedra sequences allows to detect the region of parametric stability. Finally, we analyze the topological landscape of gene–environment networks with its structural (in)stability. By embedding as a module and investigating CO₂ emission control and figuring out game theoretical aspects, we conclude. This pioneering work is theoretically elaborated, practically devoted to health care, medicine, education, living conditions, and environmental protection, and it invites the readers to future research.      

Assessing health consequences in an environmental impact assessment: The case of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

In this article a comprehensive approach for the evaluation of possible health effects in an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is described, illustrated with the example of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Unlike many EIAs, we estimated quantitatively the impact of aircraft-related pollution in terms of the number of affected people for aircraft noise annoyance, odour annoyance and hypertension. In addition, an analysis of health registry data on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and a short survey on annoyance and risk perception were carried out. The scope of a health impact assessment depends on the situation, available knowledge and data, concern in the population about the impact and the number of people concerned. It is important to pay attention to the perception of risks and concerns from all parties involved. Moreover, the results demonstrate that far more people outside the area for which standards apply were affected than inside.     

Contaminant Profiles of Two Species of Shorebirds Foraging Together at Two Neighboring Sites in South San Francisco Bay, California

The San Francisco Bay estuary isused by over one million shorebirds during springmigration and is home to several hundred thousandduring the winter. Most shorebird use occurs in thesouthern reach of the estuary (South Bay). Thereduced water circulation and discharge fromindustrial sources in the South Bay are responsiblefor the highest levels of some trace elements in theestuary. Wintering shorebirds have been found to havestrong site fidelity to areas as small as a fewkilometers in the South Bay, which may increase theirexposure to contaminants near local point sources. Inaddition, different shorebird species foraging at thesame site have been shown to have differentcontaminant burdens. Thus, our objectives were totest whether contaminant burdens differed by species,or whether contaminant burdens differed in shorebirdscollected at adjacent sites. We examined thecontaminant profiles of two species of shorebirds,long-billed dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus)and western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) thatforage together at two sites, Hayward and Newark,separated by 8 km in the South Bay. We usedmultivariate analysis of variance tests to compare thecomposition of 14 elemental analytes in their livertissues and estimated their molar ratios of Hg and Se. Composite samples were used for contaminant analysesbecause of the small body size of the shorebirds. Seven elemental analytes (Ag, Ba, Be, Cr, Ni, Pb, V)were below detection limits in a majority of thesamples so statistical analyses were precluded. Inthe measurable analytes (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Se, Zn),we found no significant intra-site differences ofcontaminant profiles for the two species. We pooledthe samples to examine inter-site differences andfound significant differences in contaminant profilesbetween shorebirds at the neighboring sites (P = 0.03). Shorebirds at Newark had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of As, Cd, and Se than those at Hayward. Dowitchers at Newark had concentrations of Hg and Se which were highly correlated (P < 0.003) in a mean molar ratio of 1:19, similar tothat reported in other birds. In the larger dowitcherspecies, we also examined exposure to 20organochlorine compounds. Organic analyses showedthat the dowitchers had been exposed to DDE, PCBs,dieldrin and trans-nonachlor, but with no significantdifferences in concentrations between Hayward andNewark (P > 0.05).     

土壤和底泥中砷、铬、锰测定的前处理技术

试验了土壤和底泥中砷的前处理技术，其目的是能对土壤、底泥中砷、铬、锰在一次前处理中制备成试液，比色法分析。试验表明，用Ｈ２ＳＯ４－Ｈ３ＰＯ４－Ｈ２Ｏ２进行前处理是可行的。方法简单、挥发酸雾少，用标准参考物质检验证明，分解完全，数据准确，有粒较好一致性。     

An investigation on biological stability of product water generated by lab-scale and pilot-scale distillation systems

Material Disposal Area G is the primary low-levelradioactive waste disposal site at Los Alamos NationalLaboratory, New Mexico, and is adjacent to Pueblo of SanIldefonso lands. Pueblo residents and Los Alamos scientists areconcerned about radiological doses resulting from uptake of AreaG radionuclides by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) andRocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus), then consumption ofdeer and elk meat by humans. Tissue samples were collected fromdeer and elk accidentally killed near Area G and were analyzedfor ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, total U, ²³⁸Pu, ^{239, 240}Pu,²⁴¹Am, and ¹³⁷Cs. These data were used to estimatehuman doses based on meat consumption of 23 kg y^-1. Humandoses were also modeled using RESRAD, and dose rates to deer andelk were estimated with a screening model. Dose estimates tohumans from tissue consumption were 2.9 × 10^-3 mSv y^-1and 1.6 × 10^-3 mSv y^-1 from deer and elk, respectively,and RESRAD dose estimates were of the same order of magnitude. Estimated dose rates to deer and elk were 2.1 × 10^-4 mGyd^-1 and 4.7 × 10^-4 mGy d^-1, respectively. Allestimated doses were significantly less than established exposurelimits or guidelines.     

Geochemical assessment of metal transport in glacial till during electrokinetic remediation

This paper presents the chemical speciation and retention behavior of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) prior to and after the electrokinetic remediation in glacial till soil. The speciation of the metals was predicted using the chemical speciation program MINEQL⁺. The simulations were performed for single-contaminant with only Cr(VI) or Ni, and multi-contaminants consisting of: (1) Cr(VI), Ni, and Cd; (2) Cr(III), Ni and Cd; (3) Cr(VI), Cr(III), Ni and Cd; (4) Cr(VI), Ni, and Cd with reducing agents; and (5) Cr(III), Ni, and Cd with oxidizing agent (Mn). The results showed that the speciation and distribution of cationic metals [Ni, Cd, and Cr(III)] in glacial till soil remain unaffected or slightly affected during electrokinetics. This is attributed to the high pH buffering capacity of the glacial till, leading the metals to precipitate in the soil prior to and after electrokinetics. This study showed that during electrokinetics, Cr(VI) existed as anionic complex and migrated towards the anode and the migration is maximum in case of a single-contaminant system. The study also showed that near the anode in the absence of any reducing and oxidizing agent, Cr(VI) mostly adsorbed, and some of Cr(VI) reduced to Cr(III) and migrated towards the cathode and finally precipitated due to high pH conditions. Ni and Cd remain adsorbed or precipitated due to the high pH conditions throughout the soil. Among the reducing agents, the sulfide had significant effect on the migration of metals compared to ferrous ions. While in the presence of oxidizing agent (Mn), no noticeable Cr(VI) was found in the soil sample indicating the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and the predominance of reducing conditions due to the presence of naturally occurring iron in the glacial till soil. Overall, this study provides a reasonable explanation of the speciation and distribution of chromium, nickel and cadmium during the electrokinetic remediation of glacial till soil.     

Biomonitoring of Lead, Zinc, and Cadmium in Streams Draining Lead-Mining and Non-Mining Areas, Southeast Missouri, USA

We evaluated exposure of aquatic biota to lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) in streams draining a Pb-mining district in southeast Missouri. Samples of plant biomass (detritus, periphyton, and filamentous algae), invertebrates (snails, crayfish, and riffle benthos), and two taxa of fish were collected from seven sites closest to mining areas (mining sites), four sites further downstream from mining (downstream sites), and eight reference sites in fall 2001. Samples of plant biomass from mining sites had highest metal concentrations, with means 10- to 60-times greater than those for reference sites. Mean metal concentrations in over 90% of samples of plant biomass from mining sites were significantly greater than those from reference sites. Mean concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd in most invertebrate samples from mining sites, and mean Pb concentrations in most fish samples from mining sites, were also significantly greater than those from reference sites. Concentrations of all three metals were lower in samples from downstream sites, but several samples of plant biomass from downstream sites had metal concentrations significantly greater than those from reference sites. Analysis of supplemental samples collected in the fall of 2002, a year of above-average stream discharge, had lower Pb concentrations and higher Cd concentrations than samples collected in 2001, near the end of a multi-year drought. Concentrations of Pb measured in fish and invertebrates collected from mining sites during 2001 and 2002 were similar to those measured at nearby sites in the 1970s, during the early years of mining in the Viburnum Trend. Results of this study demonstrate that long-term Pb mining activity in southeast Missouri has resulted in significantly elevated concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn in biota of receiving streams, compared to biota of similar streams without direct influence of mining. Our results also demonstrate that metal exposure in the study area differed significantly among sample types, habitats, and years, and that these factors should be carefully considered in the design of biomonitoring studies.     

Comparative studies on accumulation of Cr from metal solution and tannery effluent under repeated metal exposure by aquatic plants: its toxic effects

The present study demonstrates comparison of Cr accumulatingpotential by the plants of Najas indica Cham. (submerged),Vallisneria spiralis L. (rooted submerged) and Alternanthera sessilis R. Br. (rooted emergent) under repeatedmetal exposure and its effect on chlorophyll and protein concentrations. These plants were treated with different concentrations of Cr under repeated exposure in controlled laboratory conditions to assess the maximum metal accumulationpotential. The plants of V. spiralis accumulated significantly high amount of Cr under laboratory conditions incomparison to N. indica and A. sessilis. The maximumaccumulation of 1378, 458 and 201 g g^-1 dw Cr was found in the leaves of V. spiralis, N. indica and A. sessilis, respectively at 8 mg L^-1 after 9 day of Cr exposure. These plants have shown a decrease in chlorophyll andprotein concentrations with increase in Cr concentrations. In view of high accumulation of Cr in V. spiralis, the plantswere treated with different concentrations of tannery effluent collected from Common Effluent Treatment Plant, Unnao (UP). Theplants of V. spiralis treated with 100% tannery wastewatershowed the maximum accumulation (57.5 g g^-1 dw) of Cr in the roots after 10 days of exposure. The plants were foundeffective in removing Cr from solution and tannery effluent.     

Assessment of Air Quality After the Implementation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as Fuel in Public Transport in Delhi, India

Public transport in Delhi was amended by the Supreme Court of India to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) instead of diesel or petrol. After the implementation of CNG since April 2001, Delhi has the highest fraction of CNG-run public vehicles in the world and most of them were introduced within 20 months. In the present study, the concentrations of various criteria air pollutants (SPM, PM₁₀, CO, SO₂ and NO_x) and organic pollutants such as benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were assessed before and after the implementation of CNG. A decreasing trend was found for PAHs, SO₂ and CO concentrations, while the NO_x level was increased in comparison to those before the implementation of CNG. Further, SPM, PM₁₀, and BTX concentrations showed no significant change after the implementation of CNG. However, the BTX concentration demonstrated a clear relation with the benzene content of gasoline. In addition to the impact of the introduction of CNG the daily variation in PAHs levels was also studied and the PAHs concentrations were observed to be relatively high between 10 pm to 6 am, which gives a proof of a relation with the limited day entry and movement of heavy vehicles in Delhi.