Photostabilization of the herbicide bensulfuron-methyl by using organoclays

Photostable formulations of the herbicide bensulfuron-methyl [BSM, 2-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-carbamoylsulfamoyl)-o-toluic acid methyl ester] were achieved by adsorbing it on clays or on clays pre-adsorbed with the organic cation malachite green (MG). Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectra showed the existence of strong interactions between the pre-adsorbed MG and the herbicide. The photostabilization of BSM obtained with clay-MG was mainly due to pacification of clay surface by MG and a deactivation mechanism via energy transfer between the two organic molecules adsorbed on the surface of the clay.     

南京市不同功能区PM10中多环芳烃的污染特征

PM10是衡量大气环境质量好坏的重要指标之一;多环芳烃(PAHs)是具有强烈致癌性的有机污染物,大多吸附在粒径小于10 μm颗粒物上.利用长期定位实验采集了南京市两典型功能区--大厂地区和山西路的PM10样品,对其PAHs质量浓度进行了分析测定,研究了不同功能区PM10中PAHs的时空污染特性.研究结果表明:南京市PM10污染比较严重,其质量浓度变化范围在0.1157 mg·m-3～0.3913 mg·m-3之间;经分析PM10中16种优控多环芳烃(PAHs)发现,全年大厂地区的PAHs的质量浓度与山西路PAHs的质量浓度没有明显的高低之分;PAHs总质量浓度的空间变化不明显,时间变化也没有规律性;比较PM10与PAHs的月平均质量浓度变化趋势,两者之间的变化没有相关性,各自的质量浓度变化也没有规律性,分析其结果可能是由于PAHs的不稳定性造成的.     

再生铅冶炼行业典型工艺的铅污染物质流分析

将物质流分析应用于我国再生铅冶炼行业典型工艺(铅膏炼前预脱硫—还原熔炼—精炼)的铅污染研究,构建了再生铅冶炼过程的铅元素流图,并针对铅污染提出了应对措施。研究结果表明:再生铅典型工艺的铅直收率、铅回收率、铅废物循环利用率分别为85.38%,93.96%,97.57%;应重点监控的铅有组织排放依次为外排烟气、熔炼渣、脱硫石膏渣;针对外排烟气中铅烟尘的PM2.5占比高及铅烟尘活性较高易于释放的特点,应选用高效除尘器,进一步提高细烟尘的捕集率;铅无名损失的重点工序依次为熔炼工序、电解精炼工序、合金熔铸工序;冶炼烟尘返回熔炼炉时,应增加制粒工序,以降低熔炼炉的烟尘率。     

复合填料土壤渗滤系统处理农村生活污水的效果

为了加强农村生活污水综合治理,本研究以农村生活污水为研究对象,选择了以粉煤灰和腐熟牛粪作为填料配合土壤的2套不同装填方式的土壤渗滤系统,分别用于去除污水中的COD、总磷、总氮和氨氮。系统1对COD、总磷、总氮和氨氮的平均去除率分别为85.8%、98.1%、78.4%和93.7%,系统2的去除率分别为87.1%、96.0%、73.4%和95.5%。结果表明,两系统对污水中的污染物均有较好的去除效果。通过方差分析比较两系统的去除效果发现,装填方式对COD去除效果影响不大,而对总磷、总氮和氨氮的去除效果差异显著。但从污水处理效果综合比较,以分层装填方式的系统1对污染物的去除效果优于全混合装填方式的系统2。     

花背蟾蜍性腺抗氧化酶对稀土尾矿库污染胁迫的响应

本研究以花背蟾蜍(Bufo Raddei)作为实验动物,以某稀土尾矿库周边受污染的水域湿地为研究样地,以相对无污染的小白河黄河湿地自然保护区为对照样地。通过检测两地花背蟾蜍精巢和卵巢的脏器系数、MDA和GSH含量、SOD、GSH-Px、GST、CAT和GR活性、T-AOC等相关指标。研究花背蟾蜍性腺抗氧化酶对该稀土尾矿库污染胁迫的响应效应。结果显示:与黄河湿地相比,稀土尾矿库湿地复合污染对花背蟾蜍精巢和卵巢脏器系数的影响差异不显著。稀土尾矿库花背蟾蜍精巢和卵巢中MDA含量、GPx、GST和CAT活性显著高于黄河湿地(P0.05),而GSH含量表现出相反的趋势。精巢中T-AOC显著高于卵巢(P0.01),但相同组织在两地间差异不显著。结果表明该稀土尾矿库复合污染对花背蟾蜍精巢和卵巢抗氧化能力有一定的毒害效应,且精巢和卵巢对污染胁迫的响应有明显的差异性。在应对稀土尾矿库湿地复合污染胁迫时,精巢更倾向于调用SOD-CAT系统的抗氧化机制,而在卵巢内GSH系统发挥作用更大。     

The convergence of alternative food networks within “rural development” initiatives: the case of the New Rural Reconstruction Movement in China†

Rural sociologists and geographers have conceptualised different rural development trajectories including “the agri-industrial model”, “the post-productivist model” and “the rural development model”. Alternative food networks (AFNs) are increasingly recognised as a “forerunner” and a critical component of the emerging “rural development model” in the West. Meanwhile, Marsden and Franklin [2013. Replacing neoliberalism: theoretical implications of the rise of local food movements. Local Environment, 18 (5), 636–641] pointed out that there is a “local trap” in the current conceptualisation of AFNs that overemphasises their local embeddedness and heterogeneity. This “local trap” marginalises AFNs and, therefore, hinders their potential for transforming the industrialised conventional food system. The convergence and scaling-up of fragmented AFNs have been recognised as important ways to address this marginalisation issue and thus have attracted considerable attention. However, current studies of the convergence of AFNs focus mainly on the role of food-centred organisations without recognising the role of the emerging “rural development” initiatives in the convergence of AFNs. Based on in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and analysis of secondary data, this paper uses the New Rural Reconstruction Movement (NRRM), an emerging alternative rural development movement in China, as an example to illustrate how the NRRM opens up a novel space for the convergence of AFNs. We argue that the interrelationship between AFNs and rural development is indeed reciprocal. The NRRM, following the “rural development” trajectory, functions as a hub for the convergence and scaling-up of various alternative food initiatives. Strategies for achieving convergence include constructing a “common ground” for these initiatives, establishing national alliances and organisations, sharing knowledge and exchanging personnel among them.     

Characteristics and origins of air pollutants in Wuhan,China, based on observations and hybrid receptor models

To identify the characteristics of air pollutants and factors attributing to the formation of haze in Wuhan, this study analyzed the hourly observations of air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, O₃, and CO) from March 1, 2013, to February 28, 2014, and used hybrid receptor models for a case study. The results showed that the annual average concentrations for PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, O₃, and CO during the whole period were 89.6 μg m^?3, 134.9 μg m^?3, 54.9 μg m^?3, 32.4 μg m^?3, 62.3 μg m^?3, and 1.1 mg m^?3, respectively. The monthly variations revealed that the peak values of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, and CO occurred in December because of increased local emissions and severe weather conditions, while the lowest values occurred in July mainly due to larger precipitation. The maximum O₃ concentrations occurred in warm seasons from May to August, which may be partly due to the high temperature and solar radiation. Diurnal analysis showed that hourly PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and CO concentrations had two ascending stages accompanying by the two traffic peaks. However, the O₃ concentration variations were different with the highest concentration in the afternoon. A case study utilizing hybrid receptor models showed the significant impact of regional transport on the haze formation in Wuhan and revealed that the mainly potential polluted sources were located in the north and south of Wuhan, such as Baoding and Handan in Hebei province, and Changsha in Hunan province. Implications: Wuhan city requires a 5% reduction of the annual mean of PM_2.5 concentration by the end of 2017. In order to accomplish this goal, Wuhan has adopted some measures to improve its air quality. This work has determined the main pollution sources that affect the formation of haze in Wuhan by transport. We showed that apart from the local emissions, north and south of Wuhan were the potential sources contributing to the high PM_2.5 concentrations in Wuhan, such as Baoding and Handan in Hebei province, Zhumadian and Jiaozuo in Henan province, and Changsha and Zhuzhou in Hunan province.     

Brominated flame retardants in the hair and serum samples from an e-waste recycling area in southeastern China: the possibility of using hair for biomonitoring

Hair samples and paired serum samples were collected from e-waste and urban areas in Wenling of Zhejiang Province, China. The PBDE and DBDPE concentrations in hair and serum samples from e-waste workers were significantly higher than those of non-occupational residents and urban residents. BDE209 was the dominating BFRs in hair and serum samples from the e-waste area, while DBDPE was the major BFRs from the urban area. Statistically significant correlations were observed between hair level and serum level for some substances (BDE209, DBDPE, BDE99, BDE47, BDE28, and BDE17), although the PBDE congener profiles in hair were different from those in the serum. A statistically significant positive correlation between the PBDE concentrations and the working age, as well as gender difference, was observed in e-waste workers. Different sources of PBDEs and DBDPE in three groups were identified by principal component analysis and spearman correlation coefficient. Hair is suggested to be a useful matrix for biomonitoring the PBDE exposure in humans.     

Mercury enrichment in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> in response to elevated atmospheric mercury concentrations

Mercury enrichment in response to elevated atmospheric mercury concentrations in the organs of rape (Brassica napus) was investigated using an open top chamber fumigation experiment and a soil mercury enriched cultivation experiment. Results indicate that the mercury concentration in leaves and stems showed a significant variation under different concentrations of mercury in atmospheric and soil experiments while the concentration of mercury in roots, seeds and seed coats showed no significant variation under different atmospheric mercury concentrations. Using the function relation established by the experiment, results for atmospheric mercury sources in rape field biomass showed that atmospheric sources accounted for at least 81.81%of mercury in rape leaves and 32.29% of mercury in the stems. Therefore, mercury in the aboveground biomass predominantly derives from the absorption of atmospheric mercury.

Open image in new window

     

Proteomics and 1H NMR-based metabolomics analysis of pathogenic Vibrio vulnificus aquacultures isolated from sewage drains

Vibrio bacteria live in both marine and freshwater habitats and are associated with aquatic animals. Vibrio vulnificus is a pathogenic bacterium that infects people and livestock. It is usually found in offshore waters or within fish and shellfish. This study presents a comparative proteomic analysis of the outer membrane protein (OMP) changes in V. vulnificus proteins after stimulation with sewage from sewage drains. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by MALDI-TOF MS/MS, 32 protein spots with significant differences in abundance were identified and characterized. These identified proteins were found to be involved in various functional categories, including catalysis, transport, membrane proteins progresses, receptor activity, energy metabolism, cytokine activity, and protein metabolism. The mRNA expression levels of 12 differential proteins were further assessed by qRT-PCR. Seven genes including carboxypeptidase, hemoglobin receptor, succinate dehydrogenase iron-sulfur subunit, ATP synthase subunit alpha, thioredoxin, succinyl-CoA synthetase subunit, and alanine dehydrogenase were downregulated upon stimulation, whereas the protein expression levels HupA receptor, type I secretion outer membrane protein, glutamine synthetase, superoxide dismutase, OmpU, and VuuA were upregulated. ¹H NMR spectra showed 18 dysregulated metabolites from V. vulnificus after the sewage stimulation and the pathogenicity was enhanced after that.