A Procedure for NEPA Assessment of Selenium Hazards Associated With Mining

This paper gives step-by-step instructions for assessing aquatic selenium hazards associated with mining. The procedure was developed to provide the U.S. Forest Service with a proactive capability for determining the risk of selenium pollution when it reviews mine permit applications in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The procedural framework is constructed in a decision-tree format in order to guide users through the various steps, provide a logical sequence for completing individual tasks, and identify key decision points. There are five major components designed to gather information on operational parameters of the proposed mine as well as key aspects of the physical, chemical, and biological environment surrounding it — geological assessment, mine operation assessment, hydrological assessment, biological assessment, and hazard assessment. Validation tests conducted at three mines where selenium pollution has occurred confirmed that the procedure will accurately predict ecological risks. In each case, it correctly identified and quantified selenium hazard, and indicated the steps needed to reduce this hazard to an acceptable level. By utilizing the procedure, NEPA workers can be confident in their ability to understand the risk of aquatic selenium pollution and take appropriate action. Although the procedure was developed for the Forest Service it should also be useful to other federal land management agencies that conduct NEPA assessments, as well as regulatory agencies responsible for issuing coal mining permits under the authority of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and associated Section 401 water quality certification under the Clean Water Act. Mining companies will also benefit from the application of this procedure because priority selenium sources can be identified in relation to specific mine operating parameters. The procedure will reveal the point(s) at which there is a need to modify operating conditions to meet environmental quality goals. By recognizing concerns early in the NEPA process, it may be possible for a mining company to match operational parameters with environmental requirements, thereby increasing the likelihood that the permit application will be approved.     

Dynamics and Causation of Environmental Equity, Locally Unwanted Land Uses, and Neighborhood Changes

/ Why are some environmental risks distributed disproportionately in the neighborhoods of the minorities and the poor? A hypothesis was proposed in a recent study that market dynamics contributed to the current environmental inequity. That is, locally unwanted land uses (LULUs) make the host communities home to more poor people and people of color. This hypothesis was allegedly supported by a Houston case study, whereby its author analyzed the postsiting changes of the socioeconomic characteristics of the neighborhoods surrounding solid waste facilities. I argue that such an analysis of postsiting changes alone is insufficient to test the causation hypothesis. Instead, I propose a conceptual framework for analysis of environmental equity dynamics and causation. I suggest that the presiting neighborhood dynamics and the characteristics of control neighborhoods be analyzed as the first test for the causation hypothesis. Furthermore, I present theories of neighborhood change and then examine alternative hypotheses that these theories offer for explaining neighborhood changes and for the roles of LULUs in neighborhood changes. These alternative hypotheses should be examined when analyzing the relationship between LULUs and neighborhood changes in a metropolitan area. Using this framework of analysis, I revisited the Houston case. First, I found no evidence that provided support for the hypothesis that the presence of LULUs made the neighborhoods home to more blacks and poor people, contrary to the conclusion made by the previous study. Second, I examined alternative hypotheses for explaining neighborhood changes-invasion-succession, other push forces, and neighborhood life-cycle; the former two might offer better explanation.KEY WORDS: Environmental equity and justice; Locally unwanted lane uses; Siting; Market dynamics; Invasion-succession; Neighborhood changes     

Dynamic nano-Ag colloids cytotoxicity to and accumulation by Escherichia coli: Effects of Fe3+, ionic strength and humic acid

Released Ag ions or/and Ag particles are believed to contribute to the cytotoxicity of Ag nanomaterials, and thus, the cytotoxicity and mechanism of Ag nanomaterials should be dynamic in water due to unfixed Ag particle:Ag⁺ ratios. Our recent research found that the cytotoxicity of PVP-Ag nanoparticles is attributable to Ag particles alone in 3 hr bioassays, and shifts to both Ag particles and released Ag⁺ in 48 hr bioassays. Herein, as a continued study, the cytotoxicity and accumulation of 50 and 100 nm Ag colloids in Escherichia coli were determined dynamically. The cytotoxicity and mechanisms of nano-Ag colloids are dynamic throughout exposure and are derived from both Ag ions and particles. Ag accumulation by E. coli is derived mainly from extracellular Ag particles during the initial 12 hr of exposure, and thereafter mainly from intracellular Ag ions. Fe³⁺ accelerates the oxidative dissolution of nano-Ag colloids, which results in decreasing amounts of Ag particles and particle-related toxicity. Na⁺ stabilizes nano-Ag colloids, thereby decreasing the bioavailability of Ag particles and particle-related toxicity. Humic acid (HA) binds Ag⁺ to form Ag⁺-HA, decreasing ion-related toxicity and binding to the E. coli surface, decreasing particle-related toxicity. HA in complex conditions showed a stronger relative contribution to toxicity and accumulation than Na⁺ or Fe³⁺. The results highlighted the cytotoxicity and mechanism of nano-Ag colloids are dynamic and affected by environmental factors, and therefore exposure duration and water chemistry should be seriously considered in environmental and health risk assessments.     

福建省2005-2017年大气边界层SO2的时空变化特征

为研究近年来福建省SO₂污染的时空动态特征,利用臭氧观测仪（ozone monitoring instrument,OMI）卫星遥感反演的PBL（planetary boundary layer,大气边界层）SO₂柱含量数据,分析了2005-2017年福建省PBL SO₂柱含量的时空间分布特征.结果表明:①在长时间尺度上,PBL SO₂柱含量的变化趋势可分为2个时段,其中,2005-2011年PBL SO₂柱含量呈逐渐上升趋势,6 a增加了约0.027 DU,增长率约为6.12%;2011-2017年PBL SO₂柱含量呈下降趋势,7 a减少了约0.018 DU,下降率约为3.89%.②PBL SO₂柱含量呈明显的周期性变化特征,最小值和最大值分别出现在6月和12月,多年平均值分别约为0.383和0.555 DU.③PBL SO₂柱含量的3个高值区分别出现在沿海的福州市,厦门市、漳州市东部和泉州市西部,三明市和南平市部分地区,这3个高值区多年平均PBL SO₂柱含量分别约为0.505、0.495和0.485 DU.从城市尺度上来看,PBL SO₂柱含量最大值出现在厦门市,其多年平均值为（0.486±0.015）DU;其次为福州市,PBL SO₂柱含量多年平均值为（0.465±0.026）DU;最低值出现在漳州市,PBL SO₂柱含量多年平均值为（0.429±0.020）DU.④福建省PBL SO₂柱含量变化趋势在空间分布上存在明显的差异,不同时期、不同区域变化趋势不一致.2005-2011年PBL SO₂柱含量的变化范围为-0.13~0.18 DU,变化率范围为-25%~50%,PBL SO₂柱含量出现增长的区域主要是在高值区,如龙岩市西部、厦门市北部以及三明市东部等区域;2011-2017年PBL SO₂柱含量的变化范围为-0.13~0.15 DU,变化率范围为-29%~34%.2011-2017年福州市和厦门市PBL SO₂柱含量下降最为明显,减少了约0.10 DU,下降率约为25%.研究显示,卫星遥感估算的PBL SO₂柱含量具有一定的可靠性,可以用于区域SO₂污染的研究.      

某型飞机外翼5—8肋损伤原因分析及修复探讨

目的 分析某型飞机外翼5—8肋油箱区结构不同程度损伤的原因,制定修复方案。方法采用受载分析、有限元仿真计算、静力试验数据分析等强度计算方法分析损伤产生的原因,采用扫描电子显微镜和光学显微镜对磨痕形貌进行观测等失效分析,对损伤结构件开展失效模式分析,根据损伤原因及失效模式制定科学简便的修复方案,同时对损伤长桁采取的修补措施进行强度校核。结果 通过对外翼油箱充压破坏理论分析、有限元仿真计算、静力试验数据反推,并结合飞机实际损伤情况,得出油箱破坏理论分析危险薄弱部位与真实破坏情况一致的结论。有限元仿真计算最危险结构部位与实际结构首先发生破坏部位吻合,可作为深入制定修复方案及推测实际加载压力的依据。通过静力试验数据反推、结构实际损伤及有限元仿真计算结论得出,外翼5—8肋结构出现损伤时油箱施加压力约0.5 MPa,针对损伤制定了更换外翼油箱内部第5—8肋损伤结构和贴补加强损伤长桁的修理方案,经结构强度校核,满足设计要求。结论 分析认为外翼5—8肋油箱区结构损伤原因为油箱压力超过设计值导致结构过载断裂,采用贴补加强修理损伤长桁和更换第5—8肋损伤结构的修复方案能够满足强度设计要求,可指导同类飞机类似结构损伤故障的原因分析和修理,提醒同类飞机维修人员在飞机维护时应关注外翼油箱压力超压问题。     

8-氨基喹啉-5-偶氮-对苯酚荧光光度法测定微量铬(Ⅵ)

在盐酸介质中,铬(Ⅵ)与AQAPOH形成可被氯仿萃取的荧光化合物,其λex/λem=295nm/400nm.线性范围为0-1.0μg Cr(Ⅵ)/25ml(水相),检测限为0.7μg/L.除Mn(Ⅶ)外,常见金属离子无干扰,可在数千倍Cr(Ⅲ)存在下测定废水中微量铬(Ⅵ).初步探讨了荧光反应的机理.     

监测分析中结果的表达─兼谈环境监测标准化

对环境监测中的数据、统计、有效数字、修约，以及计量单位、结果表达、原始数据的记录等既平常又十分重要易被忽略的重要问题作了概述，这些问题的解决才能保证监测结果的准确性和可靠性．     

从城市规划角度浅议城市道路噪声污染问题解决途径

对兰州市近三年来交通噪声的特征在城市空间结构的背景上,以公众反映为尺度进行了分析评价,研究表明,(1)公众对不同城市空间结构上道路噪声反映均为起伏大、吵闹和一般不可接受;(2)部分区域噪声污染指标超标与早期规划有关;(3)近期道路规划和建设是噪声下降的主要原因;最后指出,基于规划基础上的环境问题规律性的研究和基于环境保护理念下的规划设计模式的研究将是今后环保专业和规划专业人员共同探讨的课题。     

环境监测机构体制改革设想

指出了环境监测机构存在的问题，提出环境监测机构体制改革应从3方面考虑：机构改革应实行垂直管理，政，事分开，职能改革应体现环境监测站以环境质量监测为基本职能；内部管理改革需建立以聘任制为基础的用人制度，岗位管理和竞争上岗制度，适当的分配激励机制。     

南京市建筑施工环境噪声的管理与对策

针对建筑施工环境噪声扰民问题投诉居高不下，提出环境监理部门要积极宣传环保法律法规，规范举报工作，认真受理投诉，以取得市民的理解与支持；严格审批夜间建筑施工，加大监管力度，做好对夜间施工现场的核查；加强行风建设，通过内强素质，提高自身的业务水平，监督与服务并重；拓展工作思路，加强与建工、公安、市容、市政供电等部门的合作，共同解决噪声扰民问题。