Effects of Preparation Parameters on Properties of Soy Protein-Based Fiberboard

The effects of manufacturing parameters on mechanical properties of medium density fibreboard (MDF) bonded with modified soy protein-based glue were studied to find an appropriate manufacture technology. Physical properties of MDF made with different amount of wax emulsion were measured. Results indicated that water repellent had no obvious influence on physical properties of soy protein-based MDF boards. The fiberboards bonded with soy protein-based glue showed stronger water resistance properties than those bonded with urea–formaldehyde (UF) resins. Furthermore, the soy protein-based MDF boards had good quality [25.2% 24 h soak thickness swell (TS), 29.9 MPa modulus of rupture (MOR), 3130 MPa modulus of elasticity (MOE)], which met requirements of Chinese national standard. Practical processing parameters were obtained by orthogonal experiment, i.e., glue content 8.0%, hot-press temperature 200 °C, and hot-press time 150 s.     

1949年以来中国环境与发展关系的演变

从IPAT方程出发,发现了环境影响随着经济发展或时间的演变依次遵循三个"倒U型"曲线规律,即环境影响强度的倒U型曲线、人均环境影响的倒U型曲线和环境影响总量的倒U型曲线。根据此规律,可以将该演化过程划分为四个阶段即:环境影响强度高峰前阶段、环境影响强度高峰到人均环境影响量高峰阶段、人均环境影响量高峰到环境影响总量高峰阶段以及环境影响总量稳定下降阶段。在环境演变的不同阶段,主要驱动力存在着明显的差异。在环境影响强度高峰前阶段,资源消耗或污染物排放增长更多地由资源或污染密集型技术进步驱动;在资源消耗或污染物强度高峰到人均资源消耗或污染物排放高峰阶段,主要由经济增长驱动;而在人均资源消耗或污染物排放高峰到资源消耗或污染物排放总量高峰阶段以及总量高峰以后的发展阶段,则主要由节约高效技术或污染减排技术进步来驱动。实证分析表明,中国目前环境与发展关系基本上处于经济增长主要驱动的环境影响强度高峰向人均环境影响高峰过渡阶段,这同时意味着中国要在短期内实现人均环境影响和环境影响总量高峰的跨越是异常困难的。     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and their methoxylated metabolites in anchovy (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Coilia</Emphasis> sp.) from the Yangtze River Delta,China

Background, aim, and scope  

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their metabolites are toxic to animals, and concentrations of the PBDEs metabolites can exceed those of the parent materials. But no information was available on concentrations of PBDEs metabolites in the lower Yangtze River in the region around Jiangsu Province of China, which is heavily urbanized and industrialized area. The aims of this study were to determine whether PBDEs and their methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs) were accumulated in Coilia sp. in this area and to investigate the potential sources for these two kinds of brominated organic pollutants.     

厌氧消化过程中温度骤降对酸化活动抑制性的研究

对于厌氧消化过程的酸化阶段,反应器内温度的快速下降将对碳水化合物的分解和产酸活动产生明显抑制。当温度依次从30℃下降到25、20和15℃时,反应器内厌氧微生物数量呈缓慢减少趋势,受温度影响不大;但是,厌氧酸化过程却明显表现出受到每一次骤然降温的影响,其碳水化合物的平均去除率随温度骤降从92%依次降低为84%、72%和25%,且最低分别达到78%、52%和10%。研究还表明,随着温度的骤降,厌氧酸化活动将立即受到强烈抑制,并需要一定的时间来恢复以适应发酵温度的改变。     

Cornmeal-induced resistance to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin in enterococci

Triclosan is used as an antibacterial agent in household items and personal care products. Since this compound is found in maternal milk of humans and bodies of wild animals, there is growing concern among some consumer groups and scientific community that triclosan is adverse for humans and wild animals. In order to estimate adverse actions of triclosan, the effects of triclosan on intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration and cellular thiol content were studied in rat thymocytes by the use of flow cytometer with appropriate fluorescent probes. Triclosan at 1-3 μM (sublethal concentrations) increased the intensity of FluoZin-3 fluorescence (intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration) and decreased the intensity of 5-chloromethylfluorescein (5-CMF) fluorescence (cellular thiol content). Negative correlation (r = −0.985) between triclosan-induced changes in FluoZin-3 and 5-CMF fluorescences was found. Removal of external Zn²⁺ did not significantly affect the triclosan-induced augmentation of FluoZin-3 fluorescence, suggesting an intracellular Zn²⁺ release by triclosan. These actions of triclosan were similar to those of H₂O₂ and triclosan significantly potentiated the cytotoxicity of H₂O₂. Therefore, the results may suggest that triclosan at sublethal concentrations induces oxidative stress that decreases cellular thiol content, resulting in an increase in intracellular Zn²⁺ concentration by Zn²⁺ release from intracellular store(s). Since recent studies show many physiological roles of intracellular Zn²⁺ in cellular functions, the triclosan-induced disturbance of cellular Zn²⁺ homeostasis may induce adverse actions on the cells.     

Comparative assessments of VOC emission rates and associated health risks from wastewater treatment processes

With the growing concern regarding emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the relationship between the VOC emission rates and the associated public health risks has been rarely discussed. The objective of this study was to examine and compare the VOC emission rates and cancer and non-cancer risks by inhalation intake, using a municipal WWTP in China as an example, with respect to the effects of treatment technologies, VOC species, and seasonal variation. Given the treatment technology considered, the emission rates of VOCs in this study were estimated by means of mass balance or calculated on the molecular level. From the viewpoints of both emission rates and cancer and non-cancer risks, sedimentation was the treatment technology with the highest health risks to the workers. Slightly lower VOC emission rates and health risks than those for sedimentation were observed in anaerobic treatment. Although the aeration significantly enhanced the VOC emission rates in the aerobic treatment process, the associated health risks were limited due to the low VOC concentrations in the gas phase, which were likely attributed to the strong mixing and dilution with fresh air by aeration. Amongst the VOCs investigated, benzene was the VOC with both a relatively high emission rate and health risk, while trichloroethylene possessed a high emission rate but the lowest health risk. Without strong interfacial aeration and turbulence between the water and atmosphere, the effects of treatment technology and seasonal variation on the health risks might be connected to the VOC emission rates, while the effect of VOC species depended considerably on the respective cancer slope factors and reference concentrations; the employment of aeration provided a different conclusion in which the emission rates were enhanced without a significant increase in the related cancer risks. These findings can provide insight into future health risk management and reduction strategies for workers in WWTPs.     

水生植物酸碱预处理对厌氧发酵联产氢气-甲烷的影响简

采用酸碱预处理乌梁素海典型沉水植物龙须眼子菜和挺水植物芦苇，通过厌氧发酵动力学分析、还原糖变化及微观结构解析，研究酸碱预处理对水生植物厌氧发酵联产氢气-甲烷的影响。实验结果表明，酸碱预处理后水生植物厌氧发酵联产氢气-甲烷两阶段累积产气量、氢气及甲烷含量均显著提高，酸处理效果优于碱处理。采用0.5 mol/L HCl预处理龙须眼子菜效果最佳，最大氢气、甲烷含量分别达42.65%和52.82%，产氢气速率为4.118 mL/h，产甲烷速率最高达14.199 mL/h。芦苇经1 mol/L HCl预处理效果最佳，最高氢气、甲烷含量分别为32.22%和65.26%。扫描电镜微观结构分析表明，酸碱预处理可显著破坏芦苇、龙须眼子菜的纤维素结构，有效增加植物与微生物接触面积，有利于厌氧发酵联产氢气-甲烷工艺的快速启动和稳定运行。     

前置反硝化曝气生物滤池的挂膜启动研究

为了解前置反硝化曝气生物滤池(BAF)的启动规律,构建了小试规模的前置反硝化BAF,采用快速排泥、逐步增大水力负荷的策略考察了其启动过程中的污染物去除情况及启动特性。结果表明,在好氧柱水力负荷为2.04 m3/(m2·h),厌氧柱水力负荷为4.08 m3/(m2·h),回流比为100%,气水比为5.6∶1的情况下,前置反硝化BAF的启动需要49 d。启动过程中好氧池中硝化细菌的成熟是启动的关键。厌氧池中的反硝化细菌的成熟标志着启动的完成。启动完成后,前置反硝化BAF的出水COD、NH3-N及NO-3-N分别稳定在50、15和5 mg/L以下,满足国家一级A排放标准。     

Effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenols on newborn leucocyte telomere length: a prospective birth cohort study in China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Telomere length (TL) at birth is related to diseases that may arise in the future and long-term health. Bisphenols exhibit toxic effects and can cross...     

Particulate Emissions from Construction Activities

Abstract

Although it has long been recognized that road and building construction activity constitutes an important source of particulate matter (PM) emissions throughout the United States, until recently only limited research has been directed to its characterization. This paper presents the results of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 (particles ≤10 μm and ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter, respectively) emission factor development from the onsite testing of component operations at actual construction sites during the period 1998 –2001. Much of the testing effort was directed at earthmoving operations with scrapers, because earthmoving is the most important contributor of PM emissions across the construction industry. Other sources tested were truck loading and dumping of crushed rock and mud and dirt carryout from construction site access points onto adjacent public paved roads. Also tested were the effects of watering for control of scraper travel routes and the use of paved and graveled aprons at construction site access points for reducing mud and dirt carryout. The PM₁₀ emissions from earthmoving were found to be up to an order of magnitude greater than predicted by AP-42 emission factors drawn from other industries. As expected, the observed PM_2.5:PM₁₀ emission factor ratios reflected the relative importance of the vehicle exhaust and the resuspended dust components of each type of construction activity. An unexpected finding was that PM_2.5 emissions from mud and dirt carryout were much less than anticipated. Finally, the control efficiency of watering of scraper travel routes was found to closely follow a bilinear moisture model.