EGG PRODUCTION AND HATCHING SUCCESS IN NORTH ADRIATIC SEA POPULATIONS OF THE COPEPOD Acartia clausi

Egg production, fecal pellet production and hatching success are reported for Acartia clausi females sampled during three cruises in February 1997, 1998 and June 1997 at 20-24 stations along 4 transects in the North Adriatic Sea. Dramatically low hatching rates were recorded during both diatom bloom events in February as opposed to much higher rates during post-bloom conditions in June, even though A. clausi productivity during the bloom was apparently high. These results are discussed in the light of recent findings on the negative impact of diatoms on copepod reproductive potential.     

Sustainable Cellular Biocomposites from Natural Fibers and Unsaturated Polyester Resin for Housing Panel Applications

Increased environmental awareness and interest in long-term sustainability of material resources has motivated considerable advancements in composite materials made from natural fibers and resins, or biocomposites. In spite of these developments the lower stiffness and strength of biocomposites has limited their applications to non-load-bearing components. This paper presents an overview of a study aimed at showing that the shortcomings of biocomposites can be overcome through hybrid material designs and efficient structural configurations to make them suitable for load bearing structural components. Hybrid blends of natural and synthetic fibers can significantly improve the characteristics of biocomposites with minimal cost and environmental impact, and hierarchical cellular designs can maximize material efficiency in structural components. Periodic and hierarchical cellular plate designs made from natural fibers and unsaturated polyester resin were evaluated experimentally and analytically. Stiffness, strength, and dimensional stability of all-biocomposite and hybrid natural–synthetic material systems were evaluated through material tests while structural performance of cellular plate designs was assessed through flexural tests on laboratory-scale samples. The experimental results were correlated with analytical models for short-fiber composites and cellular structures. The results showed that biocomposites have adequate short-term performance and that they can efficiently compete with housing panels made from conventional structural materials.     

Simultaneous determination of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) by derivative stripping chronopotentiometry in Pittosporum tobira leaves: a measurement of local atmospheric pollution in Messina (Sicily, Italy)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the bio-accumulation of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) in Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) Aiton leaves sampled in different zones of Messina, in order to assess the level of atmospheric metal deposition in correlation with the traffic volume. Derivative stripping chronopotentiometry was used as a practical, precise and sensitive technique to determine simultaneously Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn levels in Pittosporum leaves. In the optimised electro-chemical conditions, detection limits lower than 0.05 microg kg(-1) were achieved, whereas the accuracy, expressed as obtained recoveries from certified materials, was in the range 93.5-102.7%. The obtained data provided evidence that Cd and Pb levels significantly decreased from high to low traffic density zones (p < 0.005, ANOVA), whereas Cu and Zn are accumulated by plants particularly from the soil and their contents is not related to the traffic volume.     

Experimental in situ chemical peroxidation of atrazine in contaminated soil

Lab-scale experiments of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO), were performed on soil contaminated with 100 mg kg(-1) of atrazine (CIET). The oxidant used was hydrogen peroxide catalysed by naturally occurring minerals or by soluble Fe(II) sulphate, added in aqueous solution. The oxidation conditions were: CIET:H2O2=1:1100, 2 PV or 3 PV reaction volume, Fe(II):H2O2=0, 1:22, 1:11. Stabilized (with KH2PO4 at a concentration of 16 g l(-1)) or non-stabilized hydrogen peroxide was used. The pH of the reagents was adjusted to pH=1 with sulphuric acid, or was not altered. Results showed that the addition of soluble Fe(II) increased the temperature of the soil slurry and the use of stabilized hydrogen peroxide resulted in a lower heat generation. The treatment reduced the COD of the soil of about 40%, pH was lowered and natural organic matter became less hydrophobic. The highest atrazine conversion (89%) was obtained in the conditions: 3 PV, Fe(II):H2O2=1:11 with stabilized hydrogen peroxide added in two steps. The stabilizer only increased H2O2 life-time significantly when soluble Fe(II) was added. Results indicate as preferential degradation pathway of atrazine in soil dechlorination instead of dealkylation.     

Analysis of aerosol particles and coarse particulate matter concentrations in Chillán, Chile, 2001-2003

Daily particle samples were collected in Chillán, Chile, at six urban locations from September 1, 2001, through September 30, 2003. Aerosol samples were collected using monitors equipped with a Sierra Andersen 246-b cyclone inlet on Teflon filters. Average concentrations of coarse particulate matter (PM10) for the 2001-2003 period ranged from 43.4 microg/m3 to 81.8 microg/m3 across the six sites. Annual PM10 concentration levels exceeded the European Union concentration limits. Mean PM10 levels during the cold season (April through September) were more than twice as high as those observed in the warm season (October through March). Average contributions to PM10 from organic matter, soil dust, nitrate (NO3-), elemental carbon, ammonium (NH4+), and sulfate (SO4(2-)) were 31%, 27%, 11%, 8%, 7%, and 5%, respectively. The chemical analyses indicated that carbonaceous substances were the most abundant components of PM10 in cold months, whereas crustal material was the most abundant component of PM10 during warm months. Higher concentration levels were observed in the downtown area suggesting a clear anthropogenic origin, whereas in the rural sites the source was mainly natural, such as resuspended soil dust associated with traffic on unpaved roads and agricultural activities.     

Levels and congener pattern of polychlorinated biphenyl and organochlorine pesticide residues in bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from the Straits of Messina (Sicily, Italy)

The aim of this study is to assess the accumulation of OCs and PCBs in Thunnus thynnus and to elucidate the suitability of this species as a bioindicator for monitoring contaminations of these compounds in the marine ecosystems of the Straits of Messina. This investigation was conducted on fat, liver and muscle samples of 14 T. thynnus collected during April 2004. Quantitative determination of OCs and PCBs in the various samples examined has been carried out using GC-ECD and GC-MS. The results obtained show the presence of low concentrations of p,p'-DDE and PCB congeners (138, 153 and 180) in all fat, liver and muscle samples caught in the Straits of Messina. Concentrations of p,p'-DDE and PCB congeners (138, 153 and 180) in all the samples examined were below MRLs (CE n. 97/41, 1999/65 and 1999/71).     

基于FDS的居民楼火灾烟气远距离传播过程研究

利用大涡模拟软件FDS对某居民楼火灾发生发展和烟气传播过程进行数值模拟,探讨烟气质量浓度在侧间-走廊建筑的分布情况。在不同房间的目标位置设置探测点,分析烟气质量浓度、CO体积分数分布。结果表明,距离火源位置最远的房间烟气质量浓度、CO体积分数最高且在短时间内达到致死浓度;烟气更容易在最远的房间聚集,在特定的时间段内,始终比其他房间的危险性要高。对于此类居民楼建筑火灾中的人员安全而言,最远端房间的危险性最高,火灾时要着重注意此区域的疏散。此外,在走廊顶棚上间隔适当的距离设置了挡烟垂壁,并且模拟了该工况下烟气质量浓度分布。结果表明,加入挡烟垂壁后走廊的烟气蔓延相对均匀,各个房间烟气质量浓度更为接近,最大烟气质量浓度也有明显降低,从而延缓了整个建筑达到危险状态的时间。     

基于数值模拟的城市中心区风环境研究

利用CFD软件对长沙市中心区典型区域的风环境进行了三维数值模拟研究。结果表明,城市建筑群布局不当会造成多方面不利影响:如建筑群内局部地区气流不畅,污染物难以扩散,影响市民身体健康;街道峡谷风使得行人行动不便,冬季热舒适感差;复杂的风环境可能造成建筑构件的损坏乃至脱落,对地面行人的安全造成威胁;建筑围护结构渗透风增加造成建筑能耗的增加。在城市规划和建设中,中心区风环境状况要引起足够的重视,在建设之前要进行风环境模拟与评估。     

纳米氧化镍颗粒对长牡蛎(Crassostreagigas)抗氧化防御体系的影响

纳米氧化镍(nNiO)作为一种广泛使用的纳米颗粒,其水生毒理效应研究还很有限。为探索n Ni O对海洋贝类的毒性机制,本研究将长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)置于不同浓度(0、1、10、100 mg·L~(-1))的n Ni O中暴露96 h,分别测定鳃和消化腺组织的丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)以及过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,并通过实时荧光定量PCR技术测定了鳃和消化腺中应激蛋白HSP70和AOX基因的表达变化。结果显示:在100 mg·L~(-1)n Ni O处理下,2种组织中MDA含量均显著性升高(P0.01),显示纳米颗粒造成了长牡蛎的脂质过氧化,并可能引起相应的氧化损伤。同时,n Ni O暴露也诱导了长牡蛎抗氧化酶(SOD、CAT和POD)活性的改变。其中,SOD和CAT活性在10 mg·L~(-1)浓度处理组达到最高,而POD活性在1 mg·L~(-1)浓度组即达最高值。在高浓度n Ni O(100 mg·L~(-1))胁迫下,3种抗氧化酶的活性均比低浓度(1和10 mg·L~(-1))处理组降低,表明抗氧化酶的保护作用在较低浓度暴露下更有效;而热激蛋白(hsp70)和交替氧化酶(aox)基因却分别在长牡蛎消化腺和鳃组织中上调表达(P0.01),并表现出一定的组织差异。说明高浓度纳米颗粒暴露中主要是应激蛋白发挥了作用。本文结果为纳米氧化镍对海洋双壳贝类的毒性机制研究及生态风险评估提供了基础数据。     

Environmental decentralization,environmental public service,and public health: evidence from 289 cities in China

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Effective supply of environmental public services (EPS) is important to guarantee the mitigation of residential pollution exposure risk. This study analyzes...