混合洗脱剂对土壤中重金属和多氯联苯的同步高效洗脱

针对电子垃圾拆解、焚烧场地周边污染土壤中的重金属和疏水性有机物的复合污染问题,对重金属和有机物同步高效洗脱方法进行了研究。将皂素、吐温-80和柠檬酸按照不同浓度配比组合并制成混合洗脱剂,采用批量平衡振荡的方法,研究其对Cu、Pb、Cd和多氯联苯(PCBs)复合污染土壤的洗脱效果,以及浓度配比、p H和洗脱时间对洗脱效果的影响,并找出最优的洗脱条件。结果表明:在混合洗脱剂中皂素、吐温-80和柠檬酸的浓度分别为12、10和5 g·L~(-1),p H值为5,批量平衡振荡洗脱时间为6 h的条件下,洗脱效果最佳,对Cu、Pb、Cd和PCBs的洗脱率分别为88.32%、82.75%、94.89%和80.56%,实现了复合污染土壤中重金属和疏水性有机物的同步高效洗脱。     

环境友好型淋洗剂对重金属污染土壤的修复效果

以广西某废弃铅锌冶炼企业重金属复合污染土壤为对象,采用土柱淋洗的方法,分别将自制的茶皂素、柠檬酸和EDTA 3种淋洗剂进行复合淋洗,并对复合淋洗的最佳配比、淋洗剂添加方式和淋洗时间进行研究,得到对环境友好且淋洗效果好的复合淋洗剂。最后,对淋洗前后土壤中Cu、Pb和Zn的赋存形态进行研究,探讨淋洗机理。研究结果表明,茶皂素和柠檬酸复合时对重金属Cu、Pb、Zn的去除率分别达到了77.00%、52.09%和58.66%,综合考虑淋洗效率以及经济环保等因素,选择将茶皂素和柠檬酸复合进行淋洗。复合淋洗实验结果表明,柠檬酸和茶皂素体积比为3∶1复合方式淋洗30 h,淋洗效果最佳,对重金属Cu、Pb和Zn的去除率分别达到82.77%、65.49%和78.12%。茶皂素和柠檬酸复合淋洗能有效的去除土壤中酸可提取态和有机结合态的重金属,氧化物结合态的Pb和Zn也有较大程度的降低,同时还发现,茶皂素和柠檬酸共同作用对残余态的Pb去除效果也较好,可达到50%以上。从茶籽饼中提取茶皂素与天然有机酸柠檬酸复合淋洗,用于修复污染面积小、污染浓度高且污染比较集中的重金属污染土壤,效果好且对环境友好。     

超声强化淋洗修复Pb、Cd、Cu复合污染土壤

针对传统淋洗法修复土壤中重金属效率较低的问题,研究了超声强化淋洗技术以提高重金属去除率。以铅(Pb)、镉(Cd)、铜(Cu)为目标污染物,在0.05 mol·L~(-1)柠檬酸、0.05 mol·L~(-1)EDTA和0.05 mol·L~(-1)皂角苷作为淋洗剂条件下,使用传统振荡、超声强化以及超声波加振荡3种不同的作用方式,对Pb、Cd、Cu的去除率进行比较,并对3种不同淋洗方式后Pb、Cd、Cu的形态变化进行了探讨。结果表明,当使用柠檬酸和皂角苷作为淋洗剂进行振荡淋洗时,重金属洗脱效果不理想。超声对于强化柠檬酸洗脱效果并不明显,而对于强化皂角苷洗脱重金属效果明显,平均去除率提高了120.47%。当淋洗剂为EDTA时,土壤样品在传统振荡2 h作用下,对Pb、Cd、Cu的去除率依次为50.33%、76.65%和47.35%,而在超声波30 min条件下对Pb、Cd、Cu的去除率依次为82.19%、83.31%和53.89%,平均去除率高出28.60%,可显著提高重金属去除率,缩短淋洗时间。但超声波30 min加传统振荡2 h相较于单纯超声强化效果提升不明显。通过对比3种淋洗方式后土壤中的Pb、Cd、Cu形态发现,酸可提取态的重金属在超声强化作用后有明显降低,同时超声强化对于铁锰氧化物结合态、有机物结合态和残渣态也具有较好的去除能力。因此,超声强化在化学淋洗中的应用具有一定的可行性,是一种简单、极快速去除污染场地中重金属Pb、Cd、Cu的增效手段。     

铅锌厂重金属污染土壤的螯合剂淋洗修复及其应用

为探讨螯合剂淋洗法在修复铅锌厂周边重金属污染土壤的修复效果及淋洗后土壤利用价值,研究采用振荡淋洗的方法比较了乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)、次氮基三乙酸三钠盐(NTA)、[S,S]-乙二胺-N,N-二琥珀酸三钠盐(EDDS)乙二醇-双-(2-氨基乙醚)四乙酸(EGTA)4种螯合剂对不同污染程度土壤中Cd、Cu、Zn、Pb的去除效果,并用BCR连续提取法分析了淋洗前后土壤重金属形态的变化,最后通过黑麦草盆栽实验及土壤酶分析,探讨了土壤经淋洗后的利用价值。结果表明,4种螯合剂中EDTA对Cd、Cu、Zn和Pb的去除率比其他螯合剂的去除率高,其中对高污染土壤4种重金属离子的去除率最大,分别为Cd 90.98%、Cu 42.10%、Zn 56.98%和Pb 52.03%,4种重金属中Cd的去除效果分别为EDTANTAEDDSEGTA;EDTA能有效去除酸溶态、可还原态土壤重金属,而对可氧化态和残余态土壤重金属作用效果不明显;EDTA淋洗土种植黑麦草后土壤脱氢酶、碱性磷酸酶和β-葡糖苷酶活性均高于NTA淋洗后土壤中酶活性。综合考虑淋洗效率、淋洗剂的成本和利用价值等因素,可以认为,采用EDTA和NTA淋洗修复重金属污染土壤具有一定的实用性,并以EDTA效果较佳。     

不同化学淋洗剂对复合重金属污染土壤的修复机理

化学淋洗技术是一种常用的重金属污染土壤修复技术,化学淋洗剂的选择尤为重要。以乙二胺四乙酸二钠(EDTA),柠檬酸(CA)和三氯化铁(FeCl_3)为化学淋洗剂,采用振荡淋洗法研究淋洗时间与淋洗剂浓度对Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd去除效果的影响,分析重金属污染土壤淋洗前后重金属形态与基本理化性质的变化。结果表明:3种化学淋洗剂对重金属的快速反应阶段基本在60 min内,在240 min达到淋洗平衡,对Pb和Cd的淋洗主要是非均相扩散过程;EDTA、柠檬酸和FeCl_3对重金属的去除能力依次为PbCdCuZn,CdZnCuPb与Pb≈CdCuZn,EDTA的淋洗效率最高,Cd的解吸能力最强;EDTA和FeCl_3可有效去除弱酸可溶态与可还原态重金属,柠檬酸能有效去除弱酸可溶态重金属,修复后的土壤仍有环境风险;3种淋洗剂修复后的土壤中总有机碳与粒径分布无明显变化,FeCl_3会酸化土壤。综合考虑,EDTA、柠檬酸和FeCl_3均为淋洗效果好的环境友好型化学淋洗剂,该研究成果可用于现场淋洗去除土壤中重金属的小试。     

EDTA/纳米羟基磷灰石联合修复重金属污染土壤

土壤淋洗可能导致残留重金属活化,采用淋洗/钝化联合修复重金属污染土壤可在一定程度上减少这一影响。研究了EDTA淋洗、纳米羟基磷灰石钝化及两者联合修复对土壤重金属洗脱率、TCLP浸出浓度、化学形态分布的影响,构建了涵盖土壤重金属残留量、生物有效性和生理毒性的环境风险评价方法,对淋洗、钝化及其联合修复进行了评价。结果发现,EDTA淋洗对Pb和Cu的洗脱效果较好,对Zn浸出浓度的削减率较高。当EDTA投加量为2 g·L~(-1)时,Zn的浸出浓度降低了70.40%。纳米羟基磷灰石对Pb和Zn具有较好的钝化效果,对Cu和Cd的钝化作用相对较弱。当纳米羟基磷灰石投加量为2%时,Pb浸出浓度削减率高达89.65%。淋洗/钝化联合修复大幅度降低了Pb和Cd的浸出浓度,降低了可还原态Cu残留量、可还原态和残渣态Cd残留量,以及弱酸提取态和可还原态Zn、Pb残留量。当EDTA和纳米羟基磷灰石投加量分别为1 g·L~(-1)和1%时,土壤重金属总环境风险削减率达到74.12%。EDTA对土壤中Cu和Cd的洗脱效果较好,后续钝化修复作用有限,Pb和Zn则可通过淋洗/钝化联合修复大幅度提高削减环境风险削减率。     

有机酸对成都平原镉污染土壤的淋洗效果

以成都平原某化工厂附近受Cd污染的2种土壤为对象,采用振荡淋洗技术,研究了有机酸在不同浓度、固液比、振荡时间和复合淋洗条件下对重金属Cd的去除效果。实验结果表明:柠檬酸和酒石酸对Cd含量为22.78 mg·kg~(-1)的SLT-01土壤具有更好的去除效果,分别达到73%和62%,而乙酸和草酸的去除能力较低;随着固液比的降低,有机酸对Cd的去除率逐步提高;随着时间的增加,Cd的去除率波动增加;柠檬酸和酒石酸复合淋洗并没有提高Cd的去除率;振荡淋洗前后土壤结构未发生明显变化。综合考虑土壤中Cd的去除效果和成本,选择柠檬酸作为最佳淋洗剂;最佳实验条件:溶液浓度为0.10 mol·L~(-1),固液比为1∶20,淋洗时间为8 h。     

淋洗对污染土壤重金属形态分布及生物可利用性影响研究

淋洗是一种快速高效的土壤重金属修复技术,淋洗条件的选择对不同土地利用类型的重金属污染修复具有重要意义。以Ni、Cu、Cd复合污染土壤为研究对象,在不同淋洗条件(液固比和pH)下考察6种淋洗剂(去离子水、模拟酸雨、柠檬酸、草酸、乙二胺四乙酸二钠(Na2EDTA)和氨三乙酸(NTA))对Ni、Cu、Cd的淋洗效果、形态分布及生物可利用性影响。结果表明:(1)当液固比5∶1mL/g时,柠檬酸、Na2EDTA、NTA表现出良好的淋洗效果,对建设用地土壤Ni、Cu、Cd的去除率分别达到84.53%、92.30%、56.00%以上。(2)淋洗后土壤中可交换态、可还原态Ni、Cu、Cd浓度均明显降低。(3)总体上,淋洗使残余指数升高、迁移系数降低,重金属离子在液固比20∶1 mL/g时生物可利用性最低。(4)根据实际污染土壤效果,pH 5.2的柠檬酸或pH 7.5的Na2EDTA在液固比20∶1mL/g时可降低农业土壤的风险;建设用地土壤使用液固比5∶1mL/g、pH 7.5的Na2EDTA或pH 7.5的NTA对3种重金属的去除率达80.43%以上。     

化学淋洗与生物质炭稳定化联合修复镉污染土壤

为探讨土壤淋洗与生物质炭稳定化联合修复技术对镉(Cd)污染黄棕壤修复效果的影响,研究通过振荡淋洗实验、BCR连续化学提取法和CaCl_2一次提取法,筛选确定污染土壤的最佳淋洗方案,并比较了淋洗修复、淋洗+稳定化修复技术对污染土壤中Cd生物有效性的影响。结果表明:3种淋洗剂的淋洗效率强弱顺序为EDTA-2NaHCl柠檬酸,最佳淋洗条件为0.12 mol·L~(-1)EDTA-2Na在固-液比1:4条件下振荡淋洗3 h,Cd的洗脱率为81.3%;淋洗后土壤中Cd的有效态(F1+F2)百分比减少了51.0%,显著降低了污染土壤的重金属总量及其环境风险;相比于单一淋洗修复技术,EDTA-2Na在添加体积(V_(添加))为最佳淋洗体积(V_(最优))的80%时,淋洗后再加入3%玉米秸秆炭稳定化15 d的联合修复技术能够将土壤中有效态Cd含量(CaCl_2-Cd)从8.13 mg·kg~(-1)降低到0.42 mg·kg~(-1)。因此,淋洗修复后施加玉米秸秆炭的联合修复技术,能够有效降低重金属污染土壤的生态环境风险,提高土壤环境质量。     

超声强化茶皂素对污染土壤中重金属去除效果的影响

利用超声强化茶皂素修复土壤重金属,研究了淋洗剂浓度、淋洗方式及淋洗时间对土壤中重金属Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd的修复效果及修复前后土壤重金属的形态变化。结果表明:茶皂素对土壤Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd的解吸率随着茶皂素浓度升高而增大,最大解吸率分别为48.60%、35.10%、28.10%和45.60%。单独采用超声导致低解吸率,而超声辅助振荡能增加重金属的解吸率(26.3%～61.6%)并缩短达到平衡状态的时间。双常数方程和Elovich方程均能较好描述3种淋洗方式下重金属的解吸动力学过程,重金属的解吸过程是非均相扩散。超声辅助作用下可以活化土壤中的重金属,并通过振荡减少重金属的酸提取态和可还原态,从而减少重金属可迁移性和生物可利用性。     

Patterns of volatile metabolites and nonvolatile trichothecenes produced by isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stachybotrys,Fusarium, Trichoderma,Trichothecium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Memnoniella</Emphasis>

We reported previously that trichodiene, a volatile trichothecene derivative, was produced by a Stachybotrys isolate, also known to produce highly cytotoxic, non-volatile, macrocyclic trichothecenes (satrotoxins). We investigated the relationship between the production of trichodiene and various non-volatile trichothecenes for several molds. Volatile metabolites were concentrated by adsorption on Tenax TA and analyzed by GC/MS, while non-volatile metabolites were separated by HPLC, derivatized and analyzed by GC/MS. Stachybotrys chartarum isolates producing macrocyclic trichothecenes secreted significantly larger amounts of trichodiene and other sesquiterpenes than isolates which only produced simple trichothecenes. The amounts of secreted trichodiene were relatively small in all cases. With the exception of Memnoniella, which excreted small amounts of sesquiterpenes, the other isolates produced varying amounts of sesquiterpenes, including trichodiene, as well as simple tricothecenes, no detectable trichodiene, but large amounts of griseofulvin derivatives. In Stachybotrys there is apparently a correlation between trichodiene and macrocyclic trichothecene production. In the remaining isolates, there was no simple relationship between trichodiene and non-volatile trichothecene synthesis. Trichodiene is produced in larger amounts by Stachybotrys isolates, which also produce satratoxins, but it will be difficult to utilize this metabolite to detect toxic isolates in buildings due to the relatively small amounts excreted.     

A History of Dry Cleaners and Sources of Solvent Releases from Dry Cleaning Equipment

Approximately 25, 000-35, 000 dry cleaning facilities currently operate in the U.S. The release of perchloroethylene and other solvents from these establishments represents a major source of soil and groundwater contamination. The manner in which dry cleaning solvents escape from dry cleaning plants is, for all practical purposes, identical for chlorinated and petroleum hydrocarbon solvents and is related to one of the following events: the catastrophic failure of a component of the dry cleaning system, the improper installation, operation or maintenance of the dry cleaning equipment or a combination of all of these causes. Acceptable customs, codes and regulations can also dictate what is authorized for operation of a dry cleaning facility in a particular community, geographic area during a particular time frame. Environmental litigation dealing with the origin of a solvent release from dry cleaners tends to focus on the design and manufacture of dry cleaning industry machines such as washers, washer extractors, tumblers, solvent filters, water separators, stills and spotting boards. A thorough analysis of the daily operations of dry cleaners often reveals that poor maintenance, failure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and the actions of the operator are the most likely causes of soil and groundwater pollution. In order to forensically evaluate the most probable origins of a solvent release and to examine issues regarding liability, a thorough understanding of the history of dry cleaning and a detailed analysis of the operation and maintenance of the dry cleaning equipment are necessary. The discovery of solvent plumes in the vicinity of dry cleaning plants may suggest that the solvent source is the dry cleaning plant; however, the presence of these plumes does not necessarily indicate that the dry cleaning equipment was defectively designed or manufactured. A thorough review of the type of equipment used over the life of the dry cleaning plant and verifiable solvent mileage records frequently indicates that operators of the plant have disposed of solvent and contaminated solids into the municipal sewer or on ground surfaces.     

Radionuclides and trace elements in fish collected upstream and downstream of Los Alamos national laboratory and the doses to humans from the consumption of muscle and bone

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine radionuclide and trace element concentrations in bottom‐feeding fish (catfish, carp, and suckers) collected from the confluences of some of the major canyons that cross Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) lands with the Rio Grande (RG) and the potential radiological doses from the ingestion of these fish. Samples of muscle and bone (and viscera in some cases) were analyzed for ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ^totU, ²³⁸Pu, ^239,240Pu, and ²⁴¹Am and Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cr, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Tl. Most radionuclides, with the exception of ⁹⁰Sr, in the muscle plus bone portions of fish collected from LANL canyons/RG were not significantly (p<0.05) higher from fish collected upstream (San Ildefonso/background) of LANL. Strontium‐90 in fish muscle plus bone tissue significantly (p<0.05) increases in concentration starting from Los Alamos Canyon, the most upstream confluence (fish contained 3.4E‐02 pCi g^‐1 [126E‐02 Bq kg^‐1]), to Frijoles Canyon, the most downstream confluence (fish contained 14E‐02 pCi g^‐1 [518E‐02 Bq kg^‐1]). The differences in ⁹⁰Sr concentrations in fish collected downstream and upstream (background) of LANL, however, were very small. Based on the average concentrations (±2SD) of radionuclides in fish tissue from the four LANL confluences, the committed effective dose equivalent from the ingestion of 46 lb (21 kg) (maximum ingestion rate per person per year) of fish muscle plus bone, after the subtraction of background, was 0.1 ± 0.1 mrem y^‐1 (1.0 ± 1.0 μSv y^‐1), and was far below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (all pathway) permissible dose limit of 100 mrem y^‐1 (1000 μSv y^‐1). Of the trace elements that were found above the limits of detection (Ba, Cu, and Hg) in fish muscle collected from the confluences of canyons that cross LANL and the RG, none were in significantly higher (p<0.05) concentrations than in muscle of fish collected from background locations.     

Malathion-induced sublethal toxicity on the intestine of cricket frog (Fejervarya limnocharis)

The effect of malathion [diethyl(dimethoxythiophosphorylthio)succinate] at sublethal concentration (0.006 ppm) on intestinal parameters of cricket frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) was studied for 24 hrs to 240 hrs of exposure and remarkable histopathological alterations were observed. The study on intestinal parameters revealed acute pathological conditions in the intestinal wall. The toxic effect became evident as the cytoplasm of the cells disintegrated and the cells became empty and vacuolated. The cell membranes were also ruptured. Degenerative changes of the absorptive surface (villi) of the intestine in the different periods of exposure were pronounced. Severe atrophic nature (necrotic mucosa) of the intestine began from 48 hrs onwards to 96 hrs of exposure.     

Radionuclides in deer and elk from Los Alamos national laboratory and the doses to humans from the ingestion of muscle and bone

Abstract

This paper summarizes radionuclide concentrations (³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸Pu, ^239,240Pu, ²⁴¹Am, and ^totU) in muscle and bone tissue of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) collected from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, New Mexico, lands from 1991 through 1998. Also, the committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE) and the risk of excess cancer fatalities (RECF) to people who ingest muscle and bone from deer and elk collected from LANL lands were estimated. Most radionuclide concentrations in muscle and bone from individual deer (n = 11) and elk (n = 22) collected from LANL lands were either at less than detectable quantities (where the analytical result was smaller than two counting uncertainties) and/or within upper (95%) level background (BG) concentrations. As a group, most radionuclides in muscle and bone of deer and elk from LANL lands were not significantly higher (p<0.10) than in similar tissues from deer (n = 3) and elk (n = 7) collected from BG locations. Also, elk that had been radio collared and tracked for two years and spent an average time of 50% on LANL lands were not significantly different in most radionuclides from road kill elk that have been collected as part of the environmental surveillance program. Overall, the upper (95%) level net CEDEs (the CEDE plus two sigma for each radioisotope minus background) at the most conservative ingestion rate (50 lbs of muscle and 13 lbs of bone) were as follows: deer muscle = 0.22 mrem y^‐1 (2.2 μSv y^‐1), deer bone = 3.8 mrem y^‐1 (38 μSv y^‐1), elk muscle = 0.12 mrem y^‐1 (1.2 μSv y^‐1), and elk bone = 1.7 mrem y^‐1 (17 μSv y^‐1). All CEDEs were far below the International Commission on Radiological Protection guideline of 100 mrem y^‐1 (1000 μSv y^‐1), and the highest muscle plus bone net CEDE corresponded to a RECF of 2E‐06, which is far below the Environmental Protection Agency upper level guideline of 1E‐04.     

Nitrogen leaching and acidification during 19 years of NH₄NO₃ additions to a coniferous-forested catchment at Gårdsjön, Sweden (NITREX)

The role of nitrogen (N) in acidification of soil and water has become relatively more important as the deposition of sulphur has decreased. Starting in 1991, we have conducted a whole-catchment experiment with N addition at Gårdsjön, Sweden, to investigate the risk of N saturation. We have added 41 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ as NH₄NO₃ to the ambient 9 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in fortnightly doses by means of sprinkling system. The fraction of input N lost to runoff has increased from 0% to 10%. Increased concentrations of NO₃ in runoff partially offset the decreasing concentrations of SO₄ and slowed ecosystem recovery from acid deposition. From 1990-2002, about 5% of the total N input went to runoff, 44% to biomass, and the remaining 51% to soil. The soil N pool increased by 5%. N deposition enhanced carbon (C) sequestration at a mean C/N ratio of 42-59 g g⁻¹.     

Leaching of seven pesticides currently used in cotton crop in Mato Grosso State—Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate the leaching of pesticides and the applicability of the Attenuation Factor (AF) Model to predict their leaching. The leaching of carbofuran, carbendazim, diuron, metolachlor, α and β endosulfan and chlorpyrifos was studied in an Oxisol using a field experiment lysimeter located in Dom Aquino – Mato Grosso. The samples of percolated water were collected by rain event and analyzed. Chemical and physical soil attributes were determined before pesticide application to the plots. The results showed that carbofuran was the pesticide that presented a higher leaching rate in the studied soil, so was the one representing the highest contamination potential. From the total carbofuran applied in the soil surface, around 6 % leached below 50 cm. The other pesticides showed lower mobility in the studied soil. The calculated values to AF were 7.06E-12 (carbendazim), 5.08E-03 (carbofuran), 3.12E-17 (diuron), 6.66E-345 (α-endosulfan), 1.47E-162 (β-endosulfan), 1.50E-06 (metolachlor), 3.51E-155 (chlorpyrifos). AF Model was useful to classify the pesticides' potential for contamination; however, that model underestimated pesticide leaching.     

Endosulfan in China 2—emissions and residues

Background, aim, and scope  Endosulfan is one of the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and also a candidate to be included in a group of new persistent organic pollutants (UNEP 2007). The first national endosulfan usage inventories in China with 1/4° longitude by 1/6° latitude resolution has been reported in an accompanying paper. In the second part of the paper, we compiled the gridded historical emissions and soil residues of endosulfan in China from the usage inventories. Based on the residue/emission data, gridded concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese soil and air have been calculated. These inventories will provide valuable data for the further study of endosulfan. Methods  Emission and residue of endosulfan were calculated from endosulfan usage by using a simplified gridded pesticide emission and residue model—SGPERM, which is an integrated modeling system combining mathematical model, database management system, and geographic information system. By using the emission and residue inventories, annual air and soil concentrations of endosulfan in each cell were determined. Results and discussion  Historical gridded emission and residue inventories of α- and β-endosulfan in agricultural soil in China with 1/4° longitude by 1/6° latitude resolution have been created. Total emissions were around 10,800 t, with α-endosulfan at 7,400 t and β-endosulfan at 3,400 t from 1994 to 2004. The highest residues were 140 t for α-endosulfan and 390 t for β-endosulfan, and the lowest residues were 0.7 t for α-endosulfan and 170 t for β-endosulfan in 2004 in Chinese agricultural soil where endosulfan was applied. Based on the emission and residue inventories, concentrations of α- and β-endosulfan in Chinese air and agricultural surface soil were also calculated for each grid cell. We have estimated annual averaged air concentrations and the annual minimum and maximum soil concentrations across China. The real concentrations will be different from season to season. Although our model does not consider the transport of the insecticide in the atmosphere, which could be very important in some areas during some special time, the estimated concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese air and soil derived from the endosulfan emission and residue inventories are in general consistent with the published monitoring data. Conclusions  To our knowledge, this work is the first inventory of this kind for endosulfan published on a national scale. Concentrations of the chemical in Chinese air and agricultural surface soil were calculated for each grid cell. Results show that the estimated concentrations of endosulfan in Chinese air and soil agree reasonably well with the monitoring data in general. Recommendations and perspectives  The gridded endosulfan emission/residue inventories and also the air and soil concentration inventories created in this study will be updated upon availability of new information, including usage and monitoring data. The establishment of these inventories for the OCP is important for both scientific communities and policy makers.