Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and other fluorochemicals in fish blood collected near the outfall of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Beijing

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were measured in zooplankton and five fish species collected from Gaobeidian Lake, which receives discharge from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Beijing, China. The mean total PFCs in five fish were in the order: crucian carp > common carp > leather catfish > white semiknife carp > tilapia. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) occurred at the greatest concentrations, with mean concentrations ranging from 5.74 to 64.2 ng/ml serum. Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) was the second dominant PFC in fish samples except for common carp in which perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) was dominant. A positive linear relationship (r² = 0.85, p < 0.05) was observed between ln PFOS concentrations (ln ng/ml) and trophic level (based on δ¹⁵N) if tilapia was excluded. The risk assessment showed that PFOS might not pose an immediate risk to fish in Gaobeidian Lake.     

The concentrations, distribution and sources of PAHs in agricultural soils and vegetables from Shunde, Guangdong, China

The concentrations, distribution and sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in 30 agricultural soil and 16 vegetable samples collected from subtropical Shunde area, an important manufacturing center in China. The total PAHs ranged from 33.7 to 350 μg/kg in soils, and 82 to 1,258 μg/kg in vegetables. The most abundant individual PAHs are phenanthrene, fluoranthene, chrysene, pyrene and benzo(b)fluoranthene for soil samples, and anthracene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene and chrysene for vegetable samples. Average vegetable–soil ratios of total PAHs were 2.20 for leafy vegetables and 1.27 for fruity vegetables. Total PAHs in vegetable samples are not significantly correlated to those in corresponding soil samples. Principal component analyses were conducted to distinguish samples on basis of their distribution in each town, soil type and vegetable specie. Relatively abundant soil PAHs were found in town Jun’an, Beijiao, Chencun, Lecong and Ronggui, while abundant vegetable PAHs were observed in town Jun’an, Lecong, Xingtan, Daliang and Chenchun. The highest level of total PAHs were found in vegetable soil, followed by pond sediment and “stacked soil” on pond banks. The PAHs contents in leafy vegetables are higher than those in fruity vegetables. Some PAH compound ratios suggest the PAHs derived from incomplete combustion of petroleum, coal and refuse from power generation and ceramic manufacturing, and paint spraying on furniture, as well as sewage irrigation from textile industries. Soil PAHs contents have significant logarithmic correlation with total organic carbon, which demonstrates the importance of soil organic matter as sorbent to prevent losses of PAHs.     

白云鄂博矿开发利用中放射性废渣对环境的污染及防治

包头境内的白云鄂博矿是一座资源丰富的大型矿山，已为我国大型钢铁稀土联合企业开采利用40余年，白云鄂博原矿平均伴生天然，在矿物资源的开发利用中，对环境造成放射性污染。本文从白云鄂博矿资源、资源特殊性，开发利用，放射性废渣及钍核素排放等方面进行论述，并提出防治控制管理措施。     

Measurement of air exchange rates in different indoor environments using continuous CO2 sensors

A new air exchange rate (AER) monitoring method using continuous CO₂ sensors was developed and validated through both laboratory experiments and field studies. Controlled laboratory simulation tests were conducted in a 1-m³ environmental chamber at different AERs (0.1-10.0 hr^-1). AERs were determined using the decay method based on box model assumptions. Field tests were conducted in classrooms, dormitories, meeting rooms and apartments during 2-5 weekdays using CO₂ sensors coupled with data loggers. Indoor temperature, relative humidity (RH), and CO₂ concentrations were continuously monitored while outdoor parameters combined with on-site climate conditions were recorded. Statistical results indicated that good laboratory performance was achieved: duplicate precision was within 10%, and the measured AERs were 90%-120% of the real AERs. Average AERs were 1.22, 1.37, 1.10, 1.91 and 0.73 hr^-1 in dormitories, air-conditioned classrooms, classrooms with an air circulation cooling system, reading rooms, and meeting rooms, respectively. In an elderly particulate matter exposure study, all the homes had AER values ranging from 0.29 to 3.46 hr??1 in fall, and 0.12 to 1.39 hr^-1 in winter with a median AER of 1.15.     

Effects of rare earth elements La and Yb on the morphological and functional development of zebrafish embryos

In recent years, with the wide applications and mineral exploitation of rare earth elements, their potential environmental and health effects have caused increasing public concern. Effect of rare earth elements La and Yb on the morphological and functional development of zebrafish embryos were studied. The embryos were exposed to La³⁺ or Yb³⁺ at 0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 mmol/L, respectively. Early life stage parameters such as egg and embryo mortality, gastrula development, tail detachment, eyes, somite formation, circulatory system, pigmentation, malformations, hatching rate, length of larvae and mortality were investigated. The results showed La³⁺ and Yb³⁺ delayed zebrafish embryo and larval development, decreased survival and hatching rates, and caused tail malformation in a concentration-dependent way. Moreover, heavy rare-earth ytterbium led to more severe acute toxicity of zebrafish embryo than light rare-earth lanthanum.     

Theoretical study on the reaction mechanism of ozone addition to the double bonds of keto-limonene

The reaction mechanism of ozone (O₃) addition to the double bonds of gas phase keto-limonene was investigated using ab initio methods. Two different possibilities for O₃ addition to the double bond were considered and two corresponding van derWaals complexes (Complex 1 and Complex 2) were found for 1-endo and 2-endo. The rate constants were calculated using the transition state theory at the CCSD(T)/6-31G(d) + CF//B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level. The high-pressure limit of the total rate constant at 298 K was 3.51 × 10^-16 cm³/(molecule sec), which was in a good agreement with the experimental data.     

河北及周边地区霾污染特征的模拟研究

应用MM5-Models-3/CMAQ空气质量模拟系统对河北及周边地区进行了区域尺度的模拟,并选取石家庄、邢台、北京、天津、太原、郑州6个代表性城市分析了该地区霾污染特征.首先,通过气象观测数据对2001—2010年10年间的霾天气进行了识别,就统计结果来看,该地区霾污染的季节变化非常显著,冬季最为严重,其次是夏秋季;5月份的发生频率则最低,其次是4月和6月.选取霾污染较为严重的2007年12月进行了模拟,在模拟时段内,霾日的平均PM2.5浓度是非霾日的1.6～3.1倍,霾的发生有很明显的区域同步性.霾日PM2.5的成分也有显著变化,硫酸盐、硝酸盐等二次颗粒物的百分比含量有明显的增加,说明该地区霾的出现与二次颗粒物的形成有非常密切的关系.     

铀矿区周边水体典型核素污染特征及风险评价

为研究铀矿区周边水体中典型放射性核素分布特征及其潜在的健康风险,对该地区周边浅层地下水及河水中放射性活度浓度进行分析测定.运用改进内梅罗综合污染指数法和健康风险评价模型对放射性污染及不同年龄段人群健康风险进行评估.结果表明,地下水与河水中放射性核素²³⁸U、²²⁶Ra、²³²Th活度浓度（地下水：0.012~0.102,0.013~0.036,0.002~0.033Bq/L,河水：0.001~0.066,0.013~0.034,0.001~0.013Bq/L）均未超过WHO饮用水水质准则规定的标准限值,但远远高于江西省水体背景值.河水中各核素活度浓度随水流流向呈递减趋势,地下水中各核素空间分布无明显规律性特征.河水中综合污染指数高于地下水,最高值分别为9.21和6.83,属严重污染和中度污染.健康风险评价结果表明,幼儿和少儿致癌风险要高于成人,幼儿终身致癌风险均超过ICRP最大可接受风险值5.0×10^-5,少儿和成年超标率为33.3%和16.7%,即使未超标但也高于USEPA推荐可忽略风险水平10^-6,具有潜在致癌风险.各核素致癌风险水平呈现为²²⁶Ra > ²³²Th > ²³⁸U,因而对于铀矿区周边饮用水中²²⁶Ra和²³²Th要更加重视研究.     

铝毒在不同作物上的差异及温度的影响

采用水培法研究了作物耐铝性差异及温度对作物铝毒的效应，结果表明，铝首先伤害根生长，抑制作物对养分的吸收和利用，其中对大麦和蕃茄的危害尤为明显，并导致出现缺素症。耐铝能力为水稻＞大豆＞大麦＞蕃茄，而它们的耐铝机理不完全相同。铝对作物的毒害因温度而异，作物在其最适生长温度范围内受铝伤害最明显。作物体内的铝含量有随铝处理浓度增高而增加的趋势，并明显受温度的影响。