Evaluation of water quality of the Qaraaoun Reservoir,Lebanon: suitability for multipurpose usage

The increased demand on water resources in Lebanon as a resultof: progressive urbanization, socio-economic growth, agriculturalactivities and development of industries is, according to the national authorities, a major critical factor by the year 2010.Political difficulties in earlier years imply a dearth of pertinent data. The objective of this study was to evaluate water quality of the Qaraaoun Reservoir of the Litani River andassess its feasibility for multi-purpose usage as one of the solutions to the aggravated water problems in Lebanon. Sampleswere collected from 18 sampling sites at several dates duringthe dry season. Parameters analysed were, pH, electrical conductivity, TDS, turbidity, alkalinity, Ca, Mg, TH, Cl^-, SO₄ ^2-, NH₃, NO₃ ^-,PO₄ ^3-, Fe, Al, Na, Zn, Cr, Cu and As. The reported data were in compliancewith WHO guidelines, USEPA regulation and EEC directives. Statistical analysis of the data defined three distinct environmental zones and water quality in the central, main zone satisfied most criteria. It is concluded that the reservoir water is fit for multipurpose uses, namely, drinking, domestic,recreational activities, irrigation, fisheries, livestock and industrial, and should be properly managed accordingly.     

Making performance-based chemistry work: how we created comparable data among laboratories as part of a Southern California marine regional assessment

Quality assurance procedures to ensure consistency among chemistry laboratories typically involves the use of standard methods and state certification programs that require laboratories to demonstrate their ability to attain generic performance criteria. To assess whether these procedures are effective for ensuring comparability when processing local samples with potentially complex matrices, seven experienced, state-certified laboratories participated in an intercalibration exercise. Each laboratory was permitted to use their typical methodology for quantifying PAH, PCB and DDT on shared samples collected from Santa Monica Bay and the Palos Verdes Shelf, two sites with a complex mix of constituents. In the initial intercalibration exercise, results from these laboratories differed by as much as an order of magnitude for all three chemical groups. Much, but not all, of the difference was attributable to differences in detection capability. A series of studies was conducted to identify the reasons for the observed differences, which varied among laboratories and included methodological differences, instrument sensitivity differences, and differing interpretations of chromatograms. Following these investigations and resulting modifications to laboratory procedures, the exercise was repeated. The average coefficient of variation among laboratories across all chemical parameters was reduced to less than 30%. Our results suggest that performance-based chemistry can produce comparable results, but the certification processes presently in place that focus on general laboratory procedures and simple matrices are insufficient to achieve comparability.     

Inter- and Intra-Annual Chemical Variability During the ice-Free Season in Lakes with Different Flushing Rates and Acid Deposition Histories

Quantifying chemical variability in different lake types is important for the assessment of both chemical and biological responses to environmental change. For monitoring programs that emphasize a large number of lakes at the expense of frequent samples, high variability may influence how representative single samples are of the average conditions of individual lakes. Intensive temporal data from long-term research sites provide a unique opportunity to assess chemical variability in lakes with different characteristics. We compared the intra- and inter-annual variability of four acidification related variables (Gran alkalinity, pH, sulphate concentration, and total base cation concentration) in four lakes with different flushing rates and acid deposition histories. Variability was highest in lakes with high flushing rates and was not influenced by historic acid deposition in our study lakes. This has implications for the amount of effort required in monitoring programs. Lakes with high flushing rates will require more frequent sampling intervals than lakes with low flushing rates. Consideration of specific lake types should be included in the design of monitoring programs.     

A Probabilistic Screening Model for Evaluating Pyrethroid Surface Water Monitoring Data

Synthetic pyrethroids have been detected in recent California surface water monitoring. Filtration is avoided during sample workup because pyrethroids are extremely hydrophobic, tending to sorb to most surfaces. The resultant analytical pyrethroid concentrations reflect both dissolved pyrethroid and pyrethroid associated with suspended sediment in the water column. Such “whole-water” analytical data are not directly comparable to aquatic acute toxicity effect concentrations measured in laboratory sediment-free water. Consequently, any potential aquatic toxicity risk is indeterminate. In this study a simple probabilistic model was developed to allow a screening-level assessment of pyrethroid whole-water monitoring data. The results suggest that water column toxicity of pyrethroids is possible in California's agriculturally-dominated tributaries, and indicate that additional monitoring to better characterize pyrethroid water-column concentrations are warranted. Model refinement will depend on future work that more firmly establishes the relationship between pyrethroid partitioning and bioavailability, and that addresses the potential influence of dissolved organic carbon on pyrethroid sorption and bioavailability.     

我国大气污染化学研究进展

本文综述了我国大气污染化学研究的概况。阐明了大气颗粒物（气溶胶）的表征研究，包括颗粒物的物理化学特性和环境化学行为；大气污染物的迁移、转化和归宿的规律，包括化学过程和大气化学模式的研究等。介绍了某些大气污染物的特殊分析测试方法和采样技术，对今后发展大气化学的展望和战略作了讨论。     

模拟水生生态系统中沉水植物对水体营养物质消减的影响

研究了模拟水生生态系统中沉水植物对水体营养物质消减的影响.在水体、底泥和沉水植物所组成的模拟生态系统中,沉水植物的生长对于水体中的营养盐浓度具有显著影响.沉水植物对水体营养盐浓度的影响通过多种途径实现,比如直接吸收、促进沉降吸附和促进硝化反硝化作用等.沉水植物的存在降低了模拟水生生态系统中水体营养盐的平衡浓度,同时温度对营养盐的归趋也有重要影响,温度的降低会减缓营养盐从水体中的去除,而温度升高,则会加速这一过程.     

无定型水合氧化锰应用于原水混凝处理的研究

以制备的无定型水合氧化锰对实验室配水进行了混凝试验研究,探讨了其在给水处理中应用的可行性;采用多种分析测试技术从粒子的化学组成、比表面积、界面官能团特征、粒子的物相等方面对该水合氧化锰粒子进行了表征.研究表明:该水合氧化锰粒子具有丰富的羟基化表面,比表面积为219.0411 m2/g,是一种无定型水合物,表现了优良的吸附污染物的界面特性;低投量(2 mg)的该水合氧化锰对于实验室配水具有优良的混凝性能,特别适用于高浊度原水的混凝处理.     

废物利用发展油田助剂

油田开发需要大量的化学助剂,由于昂贵的价格影响了成本。为减少耗资,吉林油田利用化工产品的下脚料和煤矸石等研制并合成了油田的化学助剂,例如增产剂、ＣＥＡ解堵剂、吗啉驱油剂、ＰＳ增油剂,以及堵水剂ＨＰＡＮ等。将其应用于生产,保护了生态环境,减少了环境污染,节省了大量资金。为油田废物再利用打开了极其广阔的应用市场。     

生态系统健康理论在流域水环境管理中应用研究的意义、难点和关键技术——代“流域水环境管理战略研究”专栏序言

系统总结了国际河流水环境管理的发展趋势,对国际上基于河流健康的水环境管理体系与关键技术进行了分析.针对我国河流生态环境的问题与管理现状,在借鉴国外管理经验和方法的基础上,以全国环境管理关键技术研究为契机,阐述了生态系统健康理论在我国流域水环境管理中应用的意义、用途和关键技术.