Influence of soil moisture and land use history on denitrification end-products

We investigated the effects of recent moisture history on the relative production of N2O and N2 during denitrification in soil from cropped and successional ecosystems. The soils were pedogenically identical but had been managed differently for the past decade. Sieved soils were amended with nitrate, glucose, and water. Long-wet and short-wet incubations received 80 and 0%, respectively, of prescribed water 2 d before incubation and the rest just before incubation. The N2O and N2 production and N2O mole fraction (N2O/[N2O + N2]) were measured using acetylene inhibition. The N2 production and soil 15N enrichment were measured by 15N-gas evolution. The response of N2O mole fraction to moisture history differed by ecosystem. Mean N2O mole fraction in the successional system was about the same for long-wet and short-wet treatments (0.34 and 0.33, respectively). For the cropped system, however, the N2O mole fraction was 0.36 for the long-wet and 0.90 for the short-wet treatment. Thus, in the cropped system a much smaller proportion of end product was N2O if soil had been wet for 2 d. For N2 fluxes, the isotope method gave the same pattern (r = 0.92) but only about one-third the magnitude, suggesting that N2 derived from two distinct pools. Differences in response of N2O mole fraction for successional and cropped soils may be due to differences in microbial communities. Further knowledge of ecosystem differences with respect to N2O mole fraction and recent moisture history may improve modeled estimates of local and global N2O fluxes.     

Mercury levels and health parameters in the threatened Olrog��s Gull (Larus atlanticus) from Argentina

Mercury (Hg) exposure was investigated through feathers of Olrog's Gull and related to health parameters in adults (hematocrit, total plasma proteins, morphometric measures, sex) and chicks (hematocrit, total plasma proteins, immunoglobulins G and M) from a colony located in estuary of Bahía Blanca, Argentina. Mercury concentrations were 5.50 ± 2.59 μg g?1 (n = 44) in live adults, 1.85 ± 0.45 μg g?1 (n = 45) in live chicks and 1.81 ± 0.41 μg g?1 (n = 41) in dead chicks. Large differences were observed between live adults and live or dead chicks and small differences between live and dead chicks. In the adults, the sex of the birds was the variable that best explained Hg concentrations. Male birds had higher concentrations than females; this suggests that the clutch provides a sink for mercury during egg laying. Hg concentrations in both adults and live chicks were associated with higher hematocrits. This could be associated with upregulated erythropoiesis to compensate for increased rate of destruction of prematurely senescent, Hg-contaminated erythrocytes. Based on our results, on the levels of Hg pollution in the past in the study area, and on the dietary specialization of Olrog's Gull, we must be vigilant about potential negative effects of Hg pollution on this population and recommend continued monitoring on this threatened species.     

Magnetic fields of induction heaters in the framework of directive 2004/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.

The spectrum and the polarization of the magnetic flux density (B-field) of 6 induction heaters and 1 arc oven were measured by means of a PMM (Italy) spectrum analyser. The spectrum analysis showed that no substantial harmonics were observed while the polarization analysis revealed that the operator's exposure was non-homogeneous within a distance of 1.5 m from the heater. When the distance was larger, the body was homogeneously exposed. In general we can state that the B-field strongly varied between heaters and that exposure exceeded the occupational reference levels recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) (1998) and European Directive 2004/40/EC in 5 of the 7 heaters. Within the framework of the Directive some protection actions should be taken. Whereas mitigation of existing/old induction ovens is difficult, the design of new induction heaters and their housing should be based, among others, on electromagnetic reducing engineering concepts.     

资源-环境双重约束下的区域生态效率的时序特征——以广西壮族自治区为例

为了探讨资源—环境双重约束下我国生态赤字地区资源环境绩效水平,利用生态脆弱指数和资源环境绩效指数（REPI）对地处珠江三角洲的广西资源环境绩效进行了系统分析和比较研究。结果表明：尽管资源环境绩效水平从2000年的72.4上升为2007年的116.1,但趋势并不明显,资源环境综合绩效水平在全国的第24—26位徘徊。综合绩效指数、SO2排放绩效指数、工业固体废弃物排放绩效指数和生物资源指数呈现＂N＂型变动,水污染指数下呈＂∧＂变动态势,大气污染指数呈现＂W＂型剧烈变动,生态承载力处于超载状态,生态脆弱性趋势没有明显改变。资源消耗和污染物排放的下降态势并不稳定。1995—2007年,广西区域环境水平呈下降趋势,区域环境水平和资源转化效率呈剧烈变动的下降趋势,抗逆水平和生态保护指数有所提高,土地资源指数呈现下降态势,排放强度指数下降明显,生态脆弱指数保持恒定,气候变异指数呈波浪状变动,环境治理指数呈剧烈变动。广西面临生态环境的整体不稳定性和对外力干预敏感性的双重压力。广西应发挥地处泛珠三角的地缘优势和辐射＂东盟＂的区位优势,加大结构调整和制度创新力度,缩短目前资源密集型的发展阶段,改善生态效率和承载力,提升广西在泛珠江三角洲地区的综合竞争力。     

Comparison of Skimmed Milk and Lanthanum Flocculation for Concentration of Pathogenic Viruses in Water

Food and Environmental Virology - Concentration of viruses in water is necessary for detection and quantification of the viruses present, in order to evaluate microbiological barriers in water...     

Water desalination

A review is given on the most used commercial desalination processes. Novel developments in the field are described. In a short introduction criteria are presented for chosing conventional conveying methods or desalting processes to meet additional demand of water, depending on the existing water resources. Energy requirements for desalting and problems caused by the steep rise of oil prices are outlined.     

Dose assessment for marine biota and humans from discharge of (131)I to the marine environment and uptake by algae in Sydney, Australia

Iodine-131 reaches the marine environment through its excretion to the sewer by nuclear medicine patients followed by discharge through coastal and deepwater outfalls. ¹³¹I has been detected in macroalgae, which bio-accumulate iodine, growing near the coastal outfall of Cronulla sewage treatment plant (STP) since 1995. During this study, ¹³¹I levels in liquid effluent and sludge from three Sydney STPs as well as in macroalgae (Ulva sp. and Ecklonia radiata) growing near their shoreline outfalls were measured. Concentration factors of 176 for Ulva sp. and 526 for E. radiata were derived. Radiation dose rates to marine biota from ¹³¹I discharged to coastal waters calculated using the ERICA dose assessment tool were below the ERICA screening level of 10 μGy/hr. Radiation dose rates to humans from immersion in seawater or consumption of Ulva sp. containing ¹³¹I were three and two orders of magnitude below the IAEA screening level of 10 μSv/year, respectively.