A Hydrologic Data Screening Procedure for Exploring Monotonic Trends and Shifts in Rainfall and Runoff Patterns

A thorough understanding of past and present hydrologic responses to changes in precipitation patterns is crucial for predicting future conditions. The main objectives of this study were to determine temporal changes in rainfall‐runoff relationship and to identify significant trends and abrupt shifts in rainfall and runoff time series. Ninety‐year rainfall and runoff time series datasets from the Gasconade and Meramec watersheds in east‐central Missouri were used to develop data screening procedure to assess changes in the rainfall and runoff temporal patterns. A statistically significant change in mean and variance was detected in 1980 in the rainfall and runoff time series within both watersheds. In addition, both the rainfall and runoff time series indicated the presence of nonstationary attributes such as statistically significant monotonic trends and/or change in mean and variance, which should be taken into consideration when using the time series to predict future scenarios. The annual peak runoff and the annual low flow in the Meramec watershed showed significant temporal changes compared to that in the Gasconade watershed. Water loss in both watersheds was found to be significantly increasing which is potentially due to the increase in groundwater pumping for water supply purposes.     

Environmentally significant photochemistry of chlorinated benzenes and their derivatives in aquatic systems†

The pollution of soil and aquatic environments by chlorinated aromatic pollutants (CAPs) such as polychlorobenzenes (PCBzs), polychlorophenols (PCPs), polychloro‐diphenyl ethers (PCDPEs), phenoxyacetic acids, etc., creates growing public anxiety. Phototransformation is an important process for pollutants in aquatic systems. This article extensively reviews the environmentally significant solution phase photochemistry of PCBzs as well as other CAPs derived therefrom. The paper includes photochemical fate of these CAPs at wavelengths >285 nm on the one hand and their photolysis in solution in aquatic systems on the other. In this article, photolytic reductive dechlorination and isomerization of PCBzs are reviewed together with the photoformation of several products including polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) from PCBzs. Recently developed phenomena of photoincorporation of PCBzs into humic model monomers is also described. This review also describes the environmental photochemistry of chlorobenzene derivatives, namely, α‐substituted p‐chlorotoluenes of the general structure p‐ClC₆H₄CH₂‐X (X = H, Cl, CN, COOH and OH), di‐through pentachlorophenols, PCDPEs (having Cl_1–5 contents) with and without o‐OH substituents, and 2,4‐di‐ and 2,4,5‐trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4‐D and 2,4,5‐T, respectively) as well as their esters and some formulations.     

Thermal,Rheological, Mechanical and Morphological Behavior of High Density Polyethylene and Carboxymethyl Cellulose Blend

In this study water soluble sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was blended with high density polyethylene (HDPE) by peroxide-initiated melt compounding technique. The compatibility of the blended polymers were carried out by silane crosslinking agent. A series of blends were prepared by varying the CMC contents up to a maximum of 50 phr. The physical properties of non-crosslinked and crosslinked blends were investigated in detail. FTIR analysis of crosslinked blend confirmed the presence of Si–O–Si and Si–O–C absorption peaks at 1050 and 1159 cm^?1. Thermal stability of crosslinked blends improved as compared to its non-crosslinked congener. Rheological study of crosslinked blends illustrated high complex viscosity and dynamic shear storage modulus. The tensile strength of virgin polyethylene was 8.1 MPa whereas the maximum tensile strength of 19.6 MPa was observed in crosslinked blend. Similarly lower deformation was observed in crosslinked blends under static load. Scanning electron microscopy of crosslinked formulations also showed strong adhesion between the polymers interface. The compatibility of HDPE and CMC is attributed to both free radical and condensation reactions.     

Cadmium adsorption and desorption behaviour on goethite at low equilibrium concentrations: effects of pH and index cations

The transport and bioavailability of cadmium is governed mainly by its adsorption-desorption reactions with minerals such as goethite--a common iron oxide mineral in variable charged and highly weathered tropical soils. Soil factors such as pH, temperature, solution Cd concentration, ionic strength and ageing affect Cd adsorption on goethite. The desorption behaviour of Cd from goethite at low concentrations is not fully understood. This study investigates the adsorption-desorption of Cd at low Cd concentrations (Cd adsorbed on goethite from 20 to 300 microM Cd solutions) in Na and Ca nitrate solutions of 0.03 M nominal ionic strengths. Synthetic goethite prepared by ageing a ferric hydroxide gel at high pH and room temperature was used for Cd adsorption and desorption studies. For desorption experiment 10 successive desorptions were made for the whole range of initial Cd concentrations (20-300 microM) in the presence of 0.01 M Ca(NO3)2 or 0.03 M NaNO3 solutions. Cadmium adsorption was found to be higher in Na+ than Ca2+ probably due to the competition of Ca2+ ions with Cd2+ ions for adsorption sites on the surfaces of goethite. The effect of index cation on Cd adsorption diminished with increase in pH from 5.0 to 6.0. Cadmium desorption decreased with increase in pH from 5.0 to 6.0 in both Na and Ca systems. After 10 successive desorptions with 0.03 M NaNO3 at the lowest initially adsorbed Cd approximately 45%, 20% and 7% of the adsorbed Cd was desorbed at pH 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0, respectively. The corresponding desorptions in the presence of 0.01 M Ca(NO3)2 were 49%, 22% and 8%, respectively. The Freundlich parameter, k, based on each progressive step of desorption at different adsorbed concentration increased with increasing desorption step, which may indicates that a fraction of Cd was resistant to desorption. Low Cd desorbability from goethite may be due to its specific adsorption and/or possibly as a result of Cd entrapment in the cracks or defects in goethite structure.     

Chemical fractionation and risk assessment of trace elements in sewage sludge generated from various states of Pakistan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the developing world, rapid urbanization and industrialization produces an enormous volume of wastes daily. This study was aimed to explore the...     

Industrialization,Freight Transport and Environmental Quality: Evidence from Belt and Road Initiative Economies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Belt and Road initiative has been proposed by China to initiate the cooperation among relevant countries in sector of energy and Trade. The...     

Exogenous melatonin reduces water deficit-induced oxidative stress and improves growth performance of Althaea rosea grown on coal mine spoils

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Coal mining activities are responsible for significant land degradation and often long-term irreversible effects on ecosystem functioning. To better...     

艾比湖流域地表水水质指标与水体指数关系研究

传统的水域水质监测手段不仅成本高,而且空间信息有限,难以对相关水域进行全面的监测与评价.利用遥感技术进行水域水质监测可克服这些局限.本文以新疆艾比湖流域为研究对象,结合2015年5月实测水质数据和从准同步Landsat OLI数据上提取的水体指数值,利用空间分析和多元统计方法进行分析.结果发现,水体指数EWI、AWEIsh、Vegetation index(VI)、NDWI、NWI、NEW与水质指标之间的相关性显著(0.55≤r≤0.88).因此,选用以上6种水体指数与水质指标进行回归分析并建立数学关系估算模型,发现模型均方根误差均较低.利用同期实测数据对估算模型进行精度验证,发现验证判定系数高,验证点的相对平均误差偏低,均方根误差偏小.与此同时,利用2015年10月的40个采样点对模型进行二次验证,发现验证的判定系数满足0.22R20.81,模型的均方根误差较低.在估算模型中,总磷(TP)、五日生化需氧量(BOD5)、悬浮物(SS)、pH、色度和浊度两期数据的验证判定系数R2在0.5以上,均方根误差较小.因此,利用艾比湖流域水体指数建立的TP、BOD5、SS、pH、色度和浊度估算模型具有较好的普适性.该研究不仅可以为干旱区湖泊的遥感识别奠定基础,而且可为遥感技术应用于地表水水质指标值的提取提供一定的科学依据.     

Association of textile industry effluent with mutagenicity and its toxic health implications upon acute and sub-chronic exposure

Complex industrial discharges pose certain risks to the ecosystem. This study was aimed at identifying acute and sub-chronic toxicological effects of the textile industry wastewater. The textile wastewater was evaluated for the metals and organic pollutants by atomic absorption spectrophotometer and GC-MS respectively. In vitro genotoxicity and mutagenicity were assessed by Comet assay in peripheral lymphocytes isolated from Ovis aries and Ames test in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA-100 and 102 respectively. Physiological and behavioral changes along with systemic toxicity were determined in Rattus norvegicus albinus following acute and sub-chronic exposure. High amount of heavy metals such as Cr, Pb, Hg, As, and Cd were detected in textile wastewater. Organic pollutants such as 25-deacetoxy cucurbitacin-b, E-14-Hexadecenal, 11-Tricosene, and phthalates were also found. In vitro genotoxicity assessment in lymphocytes showed statistically significant DNA damaging potential of textile wastewater. Textile wastewater also showed significantly higher (p? 0.05) mutagenic potential in Salmonella TA-100 and TA-102 strains than sodium azide and 2-amino anthracycline. Acute exposure of textile wastewater to Rattus norvegicus was associated with several physiological changes and behavioral symptoms. Sub-chronic exposure of textile wastewater in Rattus norvegicus instigated the degeneration and necrosis of epithelial cells in renal tubules, hydropic degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes, peri-bronchiolar infiltration and emphysema of the alveoli, and the degradation of myocardial cells. This study concludes that the textile wastewater may cause genotoxicity and mutagenicity, result in physiological and behavioral changes upon acute exposure, and inflict various pathological lesions upon sub-chronic exposure.     

Synthesis of magnetite-based nanocomposites for effective removal of brilliant green dye from wastewater

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study aims at evaluating the batch scale potential of cotton shell powder (CSP), Moringa oleifera leaves (ML), and magnetite-assisted...