Airborne particulate matter and BTEX in office environments

Total suspended particulate (TSP), PM(2.5) and BTEX were collected in nine offices in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. Both indoor and outdoor aerosol samples were analysed for their weight, elemental composition, and water-soluble fraction. Indoor TSP and PM(2.5) concentrations ranged from 7-31 microg m(-3) and 5-28 microg m(-3), with an average of 18 and 11 microg m(-3), respectively. Of all the elements analysed in indoor TSP, more than 95% was represented by Al, Si, K, Ca, Fe, Cl and S, accounting for 12% of the TSP by mass. The other elements showed significant enrichment relative to the earth's crust. The water-soluble ionic fraction accounted for almost 30% of the sampled indoor TSP by weight, and was enriched by anthropogenic activities. It was shown that the indoor PM levels varied among the offices, depending on the ventilation pattern, location, and occupation density of the office. Indoor BTEX levels ranged together from 5-47 microg m(-3) and were considerably higher than the corresponding outdoor levels. It was observed that some recently constructed and renovated buildings were clearly burdened with elevated levels for toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes, while outdoor air was found to be the main source for BTEX levels at the 'older' offices.     

Analysis of indoor gaseous formic and acetic acid, using radial diffusive samplers

A diffusive sampling method for the determination of gaseous acetic and formic acids, using a radial symmetry diffusive sampler, has been optimised for a 7-day exposure time in this study. Sampling rate determinations were performed on data obtained from a dynamic exposure chamber, simulating the indoor conditions of an empty, closed, room, at room temperature and minimal wind speed. Analysis has been performed by means of ion chromatography. The sampling rates for formic acid concentrations of 128 microg m(-3) and 1248 microg m(-3) were determined to be 91.2 +/- 3.9 ml min(-1) and 111.6 +/- 2.8 ml min(-1), respectively. The acetic acid sampling rate was independent of the concentration in the range 160 microg m(-3)-1564 microg m(-3), and amounted to 97.3 +/- 3.1 ml min(-1). Experimentally determined sampling rates showed deviations of 3% for acetic acid, and 3-21% for formic acid, in relation to theoretically derived values. The blank values were as low as 1.69 +/- 0.07 microg for formic acid and 1.21 +/- 0.14 microg for acetic acid, and detection limits lower than 0.5 microg m(-3) could be achieved, which is an improvement of 98-99% compared to previously validated diffusive sampling methods. This study describes the first step of an extended validation program in which the applicability of these types of samplers for the measurement of organic acids will be validated and optimised for the environmental conditions typical for museum showcases.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water, sediment and soil of the Songhua River Basin, China

The Songhua River is the third largest river in China and the primary source of drinking and irrigation water for northeastern China. The distribution of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water [dissolved water (DW) and suspended particulate matter (SPM)], sediment, and soil in the river basin was investigated, and the associated risk of cancer from these PAHs was also assessed. The total concentration of PAHs ranged from 13.9 to 161 ng L^?1 in DW, 9.21 to 83.1 ng L^?1 in SPM, 20.5 to 632 ng g^?1 dw (dry weight) in sediment, and from 30.1 to 870 ng g^?1 dw in soil. The compositional pattern of PAHs indicated that three-ring PAHs were predominant in DW and SPM samples, while four-ring PAHs dominated in sediment and soil samples. The spatial distribution of PAHs revealed some site-specific sources along the river, with principal component analysis indicating that these were from pyrogenic sources (such as coal and biomass combustion, and vehicle emissions) and coke oven emission distinguished as the main source of PAHs in the Songhua River Basin. Based on the ingestion of PAH-contaminated drinking water from the Songhua River, cancer risk was quantitatively estimated by combining the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk assessment model and BaP-equivalent concentration for five age groups of people (adults, teenagers, children, toddlers, and infants). Overall, the results suggest that the estimated integrated lifetime cancer risk for all groups was in acceptable levels. This study is the first attempt to provide information on the cancer risk of PAHs in drinking water from the Songhua River.     

TCLP法对天津市农田重金属生态风险评价

TCLP法是用缓冲剂提取重金属的一种方法,该法评价重金属生态风险在美国已开展多年。利用TCLP法对天津市某农田土壤重金属进行生态风险评价,结果表明,在采集的23个样品中有效态铜、铅、锌、镉的含量范围为1.13~5.26、2.11~5.22、2.60~30.6、1.09×10-3~77.9×10-3mg/kg,普遍低于铜、铅、锌、镉在土壤中的总量(22.1~66.8、21.2~50.6、56.8~445、0.04~0.20 mg/kg)。镉的TCLP有效态与总量的差别最大。锌、铅存在轻微污染,污染率分别为21.7%、4.3%。     

Continuous electrocoagulation degradation of oily wastewater with Fe78Si9B13 amorphous ribbons

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The oily wastewater was treated by electrocoagulation with Fe78Si9B13 amorphous ribbons as anode and graphite plates as cathode under such processing...     

The effect of long-term freeze-thaw cycles on the stabilization of lead in compound solidified/stabilized lead-contaminated soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The solidification/stabilization (S/S) method is a common technique for the remediation of soils polluted by heavy metal. This study, thus, evaluated...     

Spatial correlation network and population mobility effect of regional haze pollution: empirical evidence from Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration in China

Based on relevant data from 2014 to 2018, we constructed a spatial network of haze pollution in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region by using a modified gravity model, explored the network structure characteristics and influencing factors of urban agglomeration with the SNA and the QAP method, and discussed the population mobility effect brought by haze pollution. The results showed that the PRD region has spatial correlation in terms of haze pollution. Guangzhou was in the central position of the spatial network, yet Shenzhen and Foshan played a connecting role in the network. Economic development, urbanization, and environmental protection had significant positive impacts on the haze pollution spatial network. The results of the double-threshold regression showed that the city’s status in the haze pollution network represented by centrality had a positive impact on population mobility.

     

Impact of eco-city construction on firm innovation in the case of China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - More and more scholars have paid attention to the importance of coordinated development between ecological environmental protection and economy....     

Dynamic of inorganic nitrogen and amino sugar to glucosamine addition in forest soils

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Amino sugars (AS) are routinely used as microbial biomarkers to investigate the dynamics of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) under different...     

环境基本法目的条款的修改动因与方向--兼论生态文明的内在统一性

百年工业文明发展范式对自然环境的持续作用,使人类面临环境与发展的双重危机。生态文明具有内在统一性,环境法制是生态文明的应有之义。环境基本法是环境法制的基石,目的条款是环境基本法的元点。旧的目的条款沿袭工业文明发展范式,将发展经济奉为圭臬,始终无法调和人与自然的内在矛盾。修改环境基本法目的条款,融入生态文明因子具有自内而外、自外而内、自上而下以及自下而上四个方面的动力因素。