Development of a accelerated solvent extraction and gel permeation chromatography analytical method for measuring persistent organohalogen compounds in adipose and organ tissue analysis

A new analytical method has been developed for the quantification of 59 different persistent organohalogen compounds, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), PCB metabolites, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in biological organ tissues. The optimum extraction and cleanup procedures were examined using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), automated gel permeation chromatography (GPC) on Biobeads S-X3 and automated solid phase extraction (SPE) on silica-gel. The target compounds were divided into two fractions, non-polar compounds and more polar compounds, which in the latter fraction was subsequently methylated using diazomethane. Detection can be achieved by GC/MS in negative chemical ionization (NCI) mode. The average recoveries of the compounds spiked in swine liver, heart, kidney, and cattle adipose tissues were considered satisfactory, and it was confirmed that the method could be used in routine analysis.     

An examination of the physical properties,fate, ecotoxicity and potential environmental risks for a series of propylene glycol ethers

Propylene glycol ethers (PGEs) are comprised of mono-, di- and tri-PGEs and several of their acetate esters. The nature of the range of applications that use PGEs suggests that there is a potential for both intentional and unintentional entry of the materials into the environment. Selected physical/chemical properties, fate characteristics, aquatic toxicity data and calculated environmental concentrations were used to assess potential risks from the manufacture, handling, use, and disposal of PGEs. In general, the PGEs are low to moderately volatile, have high aqueous solubilities, low octanol-water partition coefficients (Kow), and bioconcentration factor values of <10, which indicate they are unlikely to accumulate in aquatic food chains. Both abiotic and biological degradation processes reduce environmental concentrations of PGEs. In air, vapor-phase PGEs react with photo-chemically produced hydroxyl radicals and have half-lives ranging from 5.5 to 34.4 h. A variety of ready and inherent biodegradation test methods, as well as tests that simulate biodegradation in wastewater treatment plants, surface water and soil have been conducted on PGEs. Significant aerobic biodegradation was generally observed, with a range of biodegradation half-lives on the order of 5-25 d. Acute aquatic toxicity studies with PGEs resulted in LC50 values ranging from approximately >100 to >20,000 mg/l for freshwater fish, the pelagic invertebrate Daphnia magna, green algae Selenastrum capricornutum (now called Pseudokirchneriella capricornutum) and bacteria. Level 3 multi-media modeling (EQC model of Mackay) was used to simulate regional-scale concentrations of PGEs in air, soil, water, and sediment. Toxicity thresholds were then compared with regional-scale water, soil and sediment concentrations to determine hazard quotients. Based upon this analysis, concentrations of PGEs are unlikely to pose adverse risks to the environment.     

Buffer zone widths for honeybees from ground and aerial spraying of insecticides

The relative field hazards of insecticides to honeybees have been estimated by considering intrinsic toxicity levels and field application rates. This approach is extended here to a consideration of buffer zones downwind of sprayed areas by estimating the distance at which bees would encounter an LD(50) dose from spray drift. 'LD(50) distances' are determined for both ground and aerial spraying of ground crops in Britain using published data on spray deposition under various weather conditions. For ground spraying at low wind speeds (< or =3 m s(-1)), this zone of risk is up to 5 m for the great majority of compounds. Aerial spraying in unstable atmospheric conditions appears to produce drift deposits of about the same order of magnitude as from ground spraying at wind speeds of about 4 m s(-1), with maximum LD(50) distances of < or =40 m for chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion and triazophos. For aerial spraying in stable atmospheric conditions these distances would be much greater. Pieris brassicae larvae are contrasted with honeybees in their relative sensitivities to insecticides and consequent LD(50) distances.     

Prediction of the vertical profile of ozone based on ground-level ozone observations and cloud cover

A number of statistical techniques have been used to develop models to predict high-elevation ozone (O3) concentrations for each discrete hour of day as a function of elevation based on ground-level O3 observations. The analyses evaluated the effect of exclusion/inclusion of cloud cover as a variable. It was found that a simple model, using the current maximum ground-level O3 concentration and no effect of cloud cover provided a reasonable prediction of the vertical profile of O3, based on data analyzed from O3 sites located in North Carolina and Tennessee. The simple model provided an approach that estimates the concentration of O3 as a function of elevation (up to 1800 m) based on the statistical results with a +/- 13.5 ppb prediction error, an R2 of 0.56, and an index of agreement, d1, of 0.66. The inclusion of cloud cover resulted in a slight improvement in the model over the simple regression model. The developed models, which consist of two matrices of 24 equations (one for each hour of day for clear to partly cloudy conditions and one for cloudy conditions), can be used to estimate the vertical O3 profile based on the inputs of the current day's 1-hr maximum ground-level O3 concentration and the level of cloud cover.     

Distribution of metals in grassland soils following surface applications of sewage sludge

In order to decide on a suitable sampling depth for grassland soil treated with sewage sludge and to assess implications for grazing animals, a field trial on two soils was designed to estimate the distribution of metals in grassland soil profiles following surface applications of sludge. Thus the sites represented permanent grassland where no form of cultivation had taken place. Soil cores were taken using specialised equipment to 30 cm depth and divided into seven sections. Movement from the soil surface to a depth of 10 cm was observed for all of the seven metals, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn, but most of the metal (60%-100%, mean 87%) remained in the upper 5 cm of soil. It was concluded that sampling to a depth of 5 or 7.5 cm would be most suitable for monitoring long-term grassland treated with surface applications of sludge.     

Natural attenuation of chlorinated solvents at Area 6, Dover Air Force Base: characterization of microbial community structure

A polyphasic approach based on cultivation and direct recovery of 16S rRNA gene sequences was utilized for microbial characterization of an aquifer contaminated with chlorinated ethenes. This work was conducted in order to support the evaluation of natural attenuation of chlorinated ethenes in groundwater at Area 6 at Dover Air Force Base (Dover, DE). Results from these studies demonstrated the aquifer contained relatively low biomass (e.g. direct microscopic counts of < 10(7) bacteria/g of sediment) comprised of a physiologically diverse group of microorganisms including iron reducers, acetogens, sulfate reducers, denitrifiers, aerobic and anaerobic heterotrophs. Laboratory microcosms prepared with authentic sediment and groundwater provided direct microbiological evidence that the mineralization of vinyl chloride and cis-dichloroethene as well as each step in the complete reductive dechlorination of tetracloroethene to ethene can occur in the Area 6 aquifer. Enrichment cultures capable of the oxidative degradation of cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) were obtained from groundwater across the aquifer demonstrating the possible importance of direct, non-cometabolic oxidation of cis-DCE and VC in natural attenuation. Culture-independent analyses based upon recovery of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed the presence of anaerobic organisms distributed primarily between two major bacterial divisions: the delta subdivision of the Proteobacteria and low-G + C gram positive. Recovery of sequences affiliated with phylogenetic groups containing known anaerobic-halorespiring organisms such as Desulfitobacterium, Dehalobacter, and certain groups of iron reducers provided qualitative support for a role of reductive dechlorination processes in the aquifer. This molecular data is suggestive of a functional linkage between the microbiology of the site and the apparent natural attenuation process. The presence and distribution of microorganisms were found to be consistent with a microbially driven attenuation of chlorinated ethenes within the aquifer and in accord with a conceptual model of aquifer geochemistry which suggest that both reductive and oxidative mechanisms are involved in heterogeneous, spatially distributed processes across the aquifer.     

关中平原降水氢氧稳定同位素特征及其水汽来源

为探究关中平原降水氢氧稳定同位素特征及其水汽来源,本研究选取关中腹地的杨凌站点次降水为研究对象,利用当地2015～2018年间的98场次降水样品及同期气象资料,分析该地区降水氢氧稳定同位素(δ~2H、δ~(18)O和δ~(17)O)组成特征及其影响因素,建立当地大气降水线和三氧同位素大气降水线方程,并利用δ~(18)O、d-excess和~(17)O-excess指标尝试探讨当地可能存在的降水水汽来源,定量描述海洋和内陆源水汽对区域降水的贡献.结果表明,杨凌地区降水氢氧稳定同位素存在明显的季节性变化,同位素组成雨季(5～10月)贫化,旱季(11月～次年4月)富集;当地大气降水线的斜率和截距分别为7.7和9.1,说明研究区降水受到一定程度的蒸发分馏影响;三氧同位素大气降水线斜率为0.528,介于海水平衡分馏斜率(0.529)与水汽扩散斜率(0.518)之间,表明研究区处于海洋气团向内陆干旱区迁移的路径上.综合分析δ~(18)O、d-excess和~(17)O-excess,发现研究区降水受到来自东南季风的暖湿气团和来自西风的干冷气团的共同贡献,其中约有55%～79%的降水水汽来源于海洋,主要集中于6～8月; 21%～45%的水汽来源于内陆和局地蒸发,主要集中于10月～次年4月. 5月和9月降水水汽来源复杂,可能受海洋水汽和内陆水汽的共同补给.     

水库热分层期沉积物中有机物特性及对好氧反硝化细菌脱氮的影响

本研究以水源水库热分层期沉积物中有机物为研究对象,在分析其相对分子质量分布和有机物荧光特性的基础上,探究了沉积物中有机物为碳源时,好氧反硝化细菌的脱氮效能、细菌生长及碳去除性能.结果表明：①水源水库在热分层期,沉积物中相对分子质量>100×10³的有机物所占比例较高;同时相比于不同月有机物的相对分子质量分布,7月时沉积物中相对分子质量大的有机物所占的比例最低（44.62%）,显示出较小的相对分子质量;②水源水库沉积物中有机物由陆地类腐殖质组分C1（250 nm,425 nm）、类色氨酸和氨基酸物质C2（230 nm/280 nm,322 nm）和传统微生物类腐殖质混合物C3（250 nm,340 nm）所组成,其中色氨酸和氨基酸类的物质（组分C2）所占比例较高,同时在7月时显示出较大的总荧光强度;③好氧反硝化过程中,5月有机物显示出较好的作为电子供体的特征,而7月的有机物却表现出较好的作为能源物质的性能,同时使得好氧反硝化细菌WGX-9显示出较高的氮去除特性;④相比于天然有机物、藻类有机物和实际水源水库水,沉积物中有机物作为碳源时可以较好地促进菌株WGX-9的好氧反硝化脱氮效能.本文阐明了水源水库热分层期沉积物中有机物特性及对好氧反硝化细菌的影响,将为微污染水体氮污染控制工程提供依据.     

典型水环境微生物源异嗅物研究进展

致嗅微生物主要包括放线菌、藻类和黏细菌等,广泛存在于水源水库、湖泊、溪流和海洋等典型水生态系统中,代谢产生的异嗅化合物痕量即可造成严重的异嗅味,威胁供水安全.目前,大量研究集中在异嗅化合物的有效控制上,投入使用的有物理和化学等方法,但存在问题,有待改进与完善,微生物法对环境友好,因此具有广阔的应用前景.本文从异嗅化合物的种类、生物源、检测方法、控制措施、影响因素及产嗅机制等方面的研究进行综述,并进行展望,讨论今后研究热点,旨在推进异嗅化合物的相关研究,保障城镇供水安全.     

中国耕地资源的区域差异与保护问题

采用土地整理工程手段建设基本农田,有助于实现耕地数量保护与质量提高,但必须遵循因地制宜的原则。论文根据自然地理区划和各地区的地貌特征,从分布特点、地类结构和利用水平等方面,对中国耕地资源的现状进行分析;针对自然条件和经济发展水平的区域差异,提出各地区耕地资源建设和保护的方向与重点。东部季风区应重点完善农田水利设施,改造现有中低产田,提高土地生产能力;西北干旱区不宜大规模开发,要着重发展农业节水技术,提高水资源利用率,防治土地退化;青藏高原区则应限制开垦。在土地整理与耕地资源建设中,因地制宜具体表现在生态保护、量力而行和重在效用3个方面。