In Brazil, sugarcane fields are often burned to facilitate manual harvesting, and this burning causes environmental pollution from the large amounts of soot released into the atmosphere. This material contains numerous organic compounds such as PAHs. In this study, the concentrations of PAHs in two particulate-matter fractions (PM2.5 and PM10) in the city of Araraquara (SE Brazil, with around 200,000 inhabitants and surrounded by sugarcane plantations) were determined during the sugarcane harvest (HV) and non-harvest (NHV) seasons in 2008 and 2009. The sampling strategy included four campaigns, with 60 samples in the NHV season and 220 samples in the HV season. The PM2.5 and PM10 fractions were collected using a dichotomous sampler (10 L min?1, 24 h) with Teflon? filters. The filter sets were extracted (ultrasonic bath with hexane/acetone (1:1 v/v)) and analyzed by HPLC/Fluorescence. The median concentration for total PAHs (PM2.5 in 2009) was 0.99 ng m?3 (NHV) and 3.3 ng m?3 (HV). In the HV season, the total concentration of carcinogenic PAHs (benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene) was 5 times higher than in the NHV season. B(a)P median concentrations were 0.017 ng m?3 and 0.12 ng m?3 for the NHV and HV seasons, respectively. The potential cancer risk associated with exposure through inhalation of these compounds was estimated based on the benzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalence (BaPeq), where the overall toxicity of a PAH mixture is defined by the concentration of each compound multiplied by its relative toxic equivalence factor (TEF). BaPeq median (2008 and 2009 years) ranged between 0.65 and 1.0 ng m?3 and 1.2–1.4 ng m?3 for the NHV and HV seasons, respectively. Considering that the maximum permissible BaPeq in ambient air is 1 ng m?3, related to the increased carcinogenic risk, our data suggest that the level of human exposure to PAHs in cities surrounded by sugarcane crops where the burning process is used is cause for concern. 相似文献
This work investigates the physical-chemical evolution during artificial aging in water of four commercialized sunscreens containing TiO2-based nanocomposites. Sunscreens were analyzed in terms of mineralogy and TiO2 concentration. The residues formed after aging were characterized in size, shape, chemistry and surface properties. The results showed that a significant fraction of nano-TiO2 residues was released from all sunscreens, despite their heterogeneous behaviors. A stable dispersion of submicronic aggregates of nanoparticles was generated, representing up to 38 w/w% of the amount of sunscreen, and containing up to 30% of the total nano-TiO2 initially present in the creams. The stability of the dispersion was tested as a function of salt concentration, revealing that in seawater conditions, a major part of these nano-TiO2 residues will aggregate and sediment. These results were put in perspective with consumption and life cycle of sunscreens to estimate the amount of nano-TiO2 potentially released into AQUATIC environment. 相似文献
Smith, Monica Lipscomb, Weiqi Zhou, Mary Cadenasso, Morgan Grove, and Lawrence E. Band, 2010. Evaluation of the National Land Cover Database for Hydrologic Applications in Urban and Suburban Baltimore, Maryland. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(2):429-442. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2009.00412.x Abstract: We compared the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) 2001 land cover, impervious, and canopy data products to land cover data derived from 0.6-m resolution three-band digital imagery and ancillary data. We conducted this comparison at the 1 km2, 9 km2, and gauged watershed scales within the Baltimore Ecosystem Study to determine the usefulness and limitations of the NLCD in heterogeneous urban to exurban environments for the determination of land-cover information for hydrological applications. Although the NLCD canopy and impervious data are significantly correlated with the high-resolution land-cover dataset, both layers exhibit bias at <10 and >70% cover. The ratio of total impervious area and connected impervious area differs along the range of percent imperviousness – at low percent imperviousness, the NLCD is a better predictor of pavement alone, whereas at higher percent imperviousness, buildings and pavement together more resemble NLCD impervious estimates. The land-cover composition and range for each NLCD urban land category (developed open space, low-intensity, medium-intensity, and high-intensity developed) is more variable in areas of low-intensity development. Fine-vegetation land-cover/lawn area is incorporated in a large number of land use categories with no ability to extract this land cover from the NLCD. These findings reveal that the NLCD may yield important biases in urban, suburban, and exurban hydrologic analyses where land cover is characterized by fine-scale spatial heterogeneity. 相似文献
Chemical defenses are thought to contribute to the invasion success and impacts of many introduced plants; however, for most
of these species, little is known about these compounds and how they vary in natural environments. Plant allelochemical concentrations
may be affected by a variety of abiotic and biotic factors, including soil nutrients and herbivores. Moreover, such quantitative
variation is likely to play an important role in species interactions involving these invasive plants. The purpose of this
study was to examine patterns of variation in iridoid glycoside concentrations of the invasive plant Linaria dalmatica (Plantaginaceae). We conducted a greenhouse experiment to investigate the effect of soil nitrogen availability on iridoid
glycoside concentrations. Results from this experiment showed that plant iridoid glycoside concentrations decreased with increased
nitrogen availability. Additionally, plants were collected from multiple field sites in order to characterize the influence
of population, soil nitrogen availability, and herbivore attack on iridoid glycoside variation. Results from field studies
indicated that plants demonstrated considerable seasonal variation, as well as variation within and among populations, with
iridoid glycoside concentrations ranging from approximately 1 to 15% dry weight. The relationship between soil nitrogen and
plant iridoid glycosides varied among populations, with a strong negative correlation in one population, a marginally significant
negative relationship in a second population, and no relationship in the remaining two populations. Additionally, we found
a negative relationship between iridoid glycoside concentrations and plant injury by an introduced biocontrol agent, the stem-mining
weevil Mecinus janthinus (Cucurlionidae). These results show that plant allelochemical concentrations can vary widely in natural environments and
suggest that levels of plant defense may be reduced by increased soil nitrogen availability and herbivore attack in this invasive
plant species. 相似文献
We sampled 92 wetlands from four different basins in the United States to quantify observer repeatability in rapid wetland
condition assessment using the Delaware Rapid Assessment Protocol (DERAP). In the Inland Bays basin of Delaware, 58 wetland
sites were sampled by multiple observers with varying levels of experience (novice to expert) following a thorough training
workshop. In the Nanticoke (Delaware/Maryland), Cuyahoga (Ohio), and John Day (Oregon) basins, 34 wetlands were sampled by
two expert teams of observers with minimal protocol training. The variance in observer to observer scoring at each site was
used to calculate pooled standard deviations (SDpool), coefficients of variation, and signal-to-noise ratios for each survey. The results showed that the experience level of
the observer had little impact on the repeatability of the final rapid assessment score. Training, however, had a large impact
on observer to observer repeatability. The SDpool in the Inland Bay survey with training (2.2 points out of a 0–30 score) was about half that observed in the other three basins
where observers had minimal training (SDpool = 4.2 points). Using the results from the survey with training, we would expect that two sites assessed by different, trained
observers who obtain DERAP scores differing by more than 4 points are highly likely to differ in ecological condition, and
that sites with scores that differ by 2 or fewer points are within variability that can be attributed to observer differences. 相似文献
The occurrence of broad-host-range (BHR) plasmid amplicons belonging to incompatibility (Inc) groups IncA/C, IncN, IncP, and IncW in two wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and effluent-receiving streams in Northwest Arkansas, Mud Creek and Spring Creek, was determined. Community DNA captured on filter membranes and plasmid DNA extracted from antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from Mud Creek was used for polymerase chain reaction at amplification of partial gene sequences specific to BHR plasmids. IncP plasmid amplicons were detected in effluent and downstream sites in both streams, while IncN and IncW plasmid amplicons were detected in Spring Creek in effluent and downstream but not upstream. IncA/C plasmid amplicons, in contrast, were detected at all sites, including upstream in most samples in Spring Creek and in one sample from Mud Creek. One IncP and two IncN were the only BHR plasmid amplicons found in 85 screened antibiotic-resistant E. coli isolates, and were detected only in isolates from effluent and downstream samples. Broad-host-range plasmids frequently carry antibiotic-resistance genes and can facilitate horizontal transfer of those genes. While BHR plasmids have been detected in WWTPs, WWTPs do not target these genetic elements for destruction. This study indicates that BHR plasmids are in WWTP effluent and are introducing BHR plasmids into streams. Additionally, species other than E. coli may be better targets as indicator bacteria for future studies of the impact of treated effluent on environmental dissemination of BHR plasmids. 相似文献
Channel changes from 1919 to 1989 were documented in two study reaches of the Merced River in Yosemite National Park through
a review of historical photographs and documents and a comparison of survey data. Bank erosion was prevalent and channel width
increased an average of 27% in the upstream reach, where human use was concentrated. Here, trampling of the banks and riparian
vegetation was common, and banks eroded on straight stretches as frequently as on meander bends. Six bridges in the upper
reach constrict the channel by an average of 38% of the original width, causing severe erosion. In the downstream control
reach, where human use was minimal, channel widths both decreased and increased, with a mean increase of only 4% since 1919.
Bank erosion in the control reach occurred primarily on meander bends. The control reach also had denser stands of riparian
vegetation and a higher frequency of large woody debris in channels. There is only one bridge in the lower reach, located
at the downstream end. Since 1919, bank erosion in the impacted upstream reach contributed a significant amount of sediment
(74,800 tonnes, equivalent to 2.0 t/km2/yr) to the river. An analysis of 75 years of precipitation and hydrologic records showed no trends responsible for bank erosion
in the upper reach. Sediment input to the upper reach has not changed significantly during the study period. Floodplain soils
are sandy, with low cohesion and are easily detached by lateral erosion. The degree of channel widening was positively correlated
with the percentage of bare ground on the streambanks and low bank stability ratings. Low bank stability ratings were, in
turn, strongly associated with high human use areas. Channel widening and bank erosion in the upper reach were due primarily
to destruction of riparian vegetation by human trampling and the effect of bridge constrictions on high flow, and secondarily
to poorly installed channel revetments. Several specific recommendations for river restoration were provided to park management. 相似文献
This paper describes new environmental policies and expanded administrative agencies which in recent years have been adopted by many governments faced with a continuing decline in the quality of their environments. In a number of developed and developing countries, devising a far reaching environmental policy for sustainable development of the natural resources sector is a national priority. Specific environmental policies may be classified according to objectives, timeframe, mechanisms for implementation, whether or not they are binding, and the nature of sanction. This paper provides some generalizations about certain features common to most environmental policies. In the first section an examination is made of some of the most pressing problems which environmental policies relating to natural resources seek to address. The second section discusses environmental policies themselves. The third section, which makes up the main body of the paper, assesses the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of mechanisms available for implementing environmental policies to promote sustainable development in the natural resources sector. 相似文献
Efficient, economical treatment of mercury-contaminated soils and industrial wastes requires a treatment process that reduces mercury content to near background levels (<1 ppm) and recovers the removed mercury in pure recyclable form without producing liquid, solid, or gaseous secondary wastes. This article reviews the results achieved using a medium-temperature thermal desorption process developed and commercialized by Mercury Recovery Services, Inc. (MRS) that has successfully achieved these goals. 相似文献