Review of the application of quantum dots in the heavy-metal detection

Heavy-metal contamination is a major concern, as excessive heavy metals produce environmental pollution, and the cumulative effects of heavy metals in vivo pose a major threat to human health. There is an urgent need for a rapid, sensitive, and efficient method for detecting heavy metals. Quantum dots (QDs) are in the category of semiconductor nanocrystals whose radii are less than or close to the exciton Bohr radius. QDs possess a potential in the biological and medical fields to function as a new type of fluorescent marker, because of their unique and tunable photophysical properties, which include broad excitation spectrum, narrow emission spectrum, tunable emission wavelengths, and negligible photobleaching. In recent years, QDs made significant progress in quantitative analysis by providing a new approach for determination of chemical content analysis. The aim of this study was to review the research progress of QD detection of heavy metals in water and consider the challenges and future outlook for QD-based sensors for heavy-metal ions.     

Chemical characterization and source identification of PM2.5 in Luoyang after the clean air actions

Luoyang is a typical heavy industrial city in China, with a coal-dominated energy structure and serious air pollution. Following the implementation of the clean air actions, the physicochemical characteristics and sources of PM_2.5 have changed. A comprehensive study of PM_2.5 was conducted from October 16, 2019 to January 23, 2020 to evaluate the effectiveness of previous control measures and further to provide theory basis for more effective policies in the future. Results showed that the aerosol pollution in Luoyang in autumn and winter is still serious with the average concentration of 91.1 μg/m³, although a large reduction (46.9%) since 2014. With the contribution of nitrate increased from 12.5% to 25.1% and sulfate decreased from 16.7% to 11.2%, aerosol pollution has changed from sulfate-dominate to nitrate-dominate. High NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio and the increasing of NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio with the aggravation of pollution indicating vehicle exhaust playing an increasingly important role in PM_2.5 pollution in Luoyang, especially in the haze processes. Secondary inorganic ions contributed significantly to the enhancement of PM_2.5 during the pollution period. The high value of Cl⁻/Na⁺ and EC concentration indicate coal combustion in Luoyang is still serious. The top three contributor sources were secondary inorganic aerosols (33.3%), coal combustion (13.6%), and industrial emissions (13.4%). Close-range transport from the western and northeastern directions were more important factors in air pollution in Luoyang during the sampling period. It is necessary to strengthen the control of coal combustion and reduce vehicle emissions in future policies.     

Ozone episodes during and after the 2018 Chinese National Day holidays in Guangzhou: Implications for the control of precursor VOCs

The impact of reducing industrial emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on ozone (O₃) pollution is of wide concern particularly in highly industrialized megacities. In this study, O₃, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and VOCs were measured at an urban site in the Pearl River Delta region during the 2018 Chinese National Day Holidays and two after-holiday periods (one with ozone pollution and another without). O₃ pollution occurred throughout the 7-day holidays even industrial emissions of VOCs were passively reduced due to temporary factory shutdowns, and the toluene to benzene ratios dropped from ∼10 during non-holidays to ∼5 during the holidays. Box model (AtChem2-MCM) simulations with the input of observation data revealed that O₃ formation was all VOC-limited, and alkenes had the highest relative incremental reactivity (RIR) during the holiday and non-holiday O₃ episodes while aromatics had the highest RIR during the non-pollution period. Box model also demonstrated that even aromatics decreased proportionally to levels with near-zero contributions of industrial aromatic solvents, O₃ concentrations would only decrease by less than 20% during the holiday and non-holiday O₃ episodes and ozone pollution in the periods could not be eliminated. The results imply that controlling emissions of industrial aromatic solvents might be not enough to eliminate O₃ pollution in the region, and more attention should be paid to anthropogenic reactive alkenes. Isoprene and formaldehyde were among the top 3 species by RIRs in all the three pollution and non-pollution periods, suggesting substantial contribution to O₃ formation from biogenic VOCs.     

基于熵权模拟评价模型的西安市水资源价值核算

区域水资源价值的准确核算是科学制定水价的基础。针对水资源价值核算体系的复杂性,本文基于熵权模拟评价模型,对西安市水资源价值核算进行研究。选取水资源数量、质量以及社会经济影响三个大类指标,构建了西安市水资源价值模糊评价模型,综合评价了西安市水资源价值,估算了居民用水价格。结果表明：西安市的水资源价格由2015年的10.46元?m^?3下降到2019年的10.33元?m^?3,水资源价格总体变化不大。实际水费支出仅占居民人均可支配收入的0.5%,远远低于设定的可承受指数（3%）,水价仍有部分提升空间。在不破坏水资源的公益性及保障性,不超过居民承受力的前提下,水价仍可做部分提升,从而促进市民节约水资源。本文基于对西安市水资源价值的分析,为西安市今后合理制定水价以及可持续发展提供参考。     

中德环保合作的高层往来

写在前面的话．本文完成于今年早些时候，但由于刊物在5月时更换出版单位，因而文章在实效性上略有欠缺，但访谈的内容是永久而实际的问题，在当今和未来都是可资借鉴的。     

用代处置手段加强危险废物的管理

代处置是危险废物管理的强制手段，是行政代执行的具体表现形式之一。行政代执行作为一项间接强制措施，在国外立法中已被广泛采用。本文从危险废物代处置的概念、条件、要求、程序等方面进行了分析，为环保部门运用代处置措施进行危险废物管理提供参考。     

听证、环保与公众参与--访美国加州能源委员会公共顾问玛格丽特·金(Margret.J.Kim)女士

前不久。美国加利福尼亚州能源委员会公共顾问玛格丽特．金女士来华参加有关环保与公众参与会议。会议期间。我刊记者对她进行了专访。就听证、公众参与及环境保护等一系列话题进行了深入探讨。金女士在委员会主要负责环境的决策。她曾负责起草环境影响评价的有关规章制度。[编者按]     

Water quality evaluation based on improved fuzzy matter-element method

For natural water, method of water quality evaluation based on improved fuzzy matter-element evaluation method is presented. Two important parts are improved, the weights determining and fuzzy membership functions. The coefficient of variation of each indicator is used to determine the weight instead of traditional calculating superscales method. On the other hand, fuzzy matter-elements are constructed, and normal membership degrees are used instead of traditional trapezoidal ones. The composite fuzzy matter-elements with associated coefficient are constructed through associated transformation. The levels of natural water quality are determined according to the principle of maximum correlation. The improved fuzzy matter-element evaluation method is applied to evaluate water quality of the Luokou mainstream estuary at the first ten weeks in 2011 with the coefficient of variation method determining the weights. Water quality of Luokou mainstream estuary is dropping from level I to level II. The results of the improved evaluation method are basically the same as the official water quality. The variation coefficient method can reduce the workload, and overcome the adverse effects from abnormal values, compared with the traditional calculating superscales method. The results of improved fuzzy matter-element evaluation method are more credible than the ones of the traditional evaluation method. The improved evaluation method can use information of monitoring data more scientifically and comprehensively, and broaden a new evaluation method for water quality assessment.     

Three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model for TMDL development of Lake Fuxian, China

Lake Fuxian is the largest deep freshwater lake in China. Although its average water quality meets Class I of the China National Water Quality Standard (CNWQS), i.e., GB3838-2002, monitoring data indicate that the water quality approaches the Class II threshold in some areas. Thus it is urgent to reduce the watershed load through the total maximum daily load (TMDL) program. A three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model was developed for Lake Fuxian, simulating flow circulation and pollutant fate and transport. The model development process consists of several steps, including grid generation, initial and boundary condition configurations, and model calibration processes. The model accurately reproduced the observed water surface elevation, spatiotemporal variations in temperature, and total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations, suggesting a reasonable numerical representation of the prototype system for further TMDL analyses. The TMDL was calculated using two interpretations of the water quality standards for Class I of the CNWQS based on the maximum instantaneous surface and annual average surface water concentrations. Analysis of the first scenario indicated that the TN, TP and COD loads should be reduced by 66%, 68% and 57%, respectively. Water quality was the highest priority; however, local economic development and cost feasibility for load reduction can pose significant issues. In the second interpretation, the model results showed that, under the existing conditions, the average water quality meets the Class I standard and therefore load reduction is unnecessary. Future studies are needed to conduct risk and cost assessments for realistic decision-making.