A Metamodeling Approach for Integrated Assessment of Air Quality Policies

A method is proposed to build integrated models (also called Metamodels) aimed at quantifying the economic efficiency of air quality policies. This Metamodeling approach is based on the coupling of two complementary models, that operate at different scales in space and time, and which represent the economic and the physical and chemical processes, respectively. The joint consideration of the physico-chemical and techno-economic structure of the pollution control problems permits a comprehensive evaluation of air pollution abatement strategies. The motivating pollution control problems include urban-regional air quality management through efficient energy and traffic control policies. A pilot study, exploiting data collected in the Geneva canton (Switzerland), is used to demonstrate the potential of the approach.     

monitoring bioaccumulation of contaminants in the belted kingfisher (ceryle alcyon)

The belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon), acommon piscivore in the eastern United States, hasbecome a common endpoint in ecological riskassessments (ERA) because of their high consumptionof potentially contaminated aquatic prey. Whilebioaccumulation data and biosurveys may be used tosupport conclusions of ERAs for kingfishers, thereare currently no published data on contaminantconcentrations in kingfishers. Additionally,methods available for collecting biological samples(e.g., feathers, eggs, food debris, etc.) fromkingfisher burrows can be detrimental to thereproductive success of the birds. We present amethod for obtaining samples from burrows during orfollowing the nesting season. The method wasapplied to kingfisher burrows on the Oak RidgeReservation (ORR) in eastern Tennessee. Feathers,eggshells, and nestlings were collected from burrows and analyzed. In addition, carcasses ofthree adult kingfishers found dead on the ORR wereanalyzed. Metals and radionuclides were accumulatedby both juvenile and adult birds. Body burdens ofcadmium, lead, and cesium-137 in adult birds were belowlevels associated with toxicity. Concentrations of selenium and mercury were observed at potentiallytoxic levels. Contaminants in eggshells andnestling feathers indicate exposure, however, thereis insufficient information to evaluate thetoxicological significance of this contamination.National Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed for the U.S. Department of Energy by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp. under contract DE-AC05-96OR22464     

土壤全氮的快速测定

本方法是过硫酸盐氧化消化样品的基础上测定土壤中全氮的光度法.采用碱性过硫酸钾溶液(0.37mol/L K_2S_2O_3,0.375N NaOH)消化土壤样品,然后用百里酚光度法进行测定,具有准确、灵敏、快速、简便等优点,适用于常规和大量样品的分析.     

基于亨利定律的水中臭氧浓度检测方法研究

为提高水中臭氧(O_3)浓度检测方法的普适性、准确性和便捷性,提出了一种新的非接触式的水中O_3浓度检测方法。基于亨利定律(Henry’s Law),采用电化学方法,建立空气中O_3浓度与水中O_3浓度的回归方程,从而推导出水中O_3浓度。实验结果显示,水体O_3传感器的检出限为0.02 mg/L,检测上限为0.40 mg/L,可决系数R~2为0.998 9,相对误差最大值为7.05%,相对标准偏差最大值为2.82%。实际样品检测显示,水体O_3检测传感器的检测结果与O_3快速测定试剂盒(DPD法)的检测结果完全吻合。该方法不但综合了智能传感器的小型化、网络化、实时测量等特性,而且结构简单、成本低、响应快,适用于水体中O_3浓度的快速检测。     

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of Patau's syndrome in a fetus with an abdominal wall defect by 72 hour culture of cells from amniotic fluid

A woman in the 32nd week of pregnancy was referred for investigation because of fetal abnormalities, including an abdominal wall defect, detected by ultrasonography. In view of the increased risk of chromosome abnormality, amniocentesis was performed to enable informed decisions about the management of the pregnancy and delivery to be taken. Cells from the liquor were inoculated into standard lymphocyte culture medium and incubated for 72 h. Slides with a high mitotic index and good quality metaphases, comparable to those from a blood culture, were obtained after harvesting. Cytogenetic analysis showed the karyotype to be 46,XY,—14,+t(13ql4q), which is consistent with Patau's syndrome. This technique appears to be an option for rapid karyotyping in cases of abdominal wall defect, where a chromosomal abnormality is suspected.     

Assessing the impact of pesticides on the environment

Pesticide use in agriculture can cause undesirable effects on humans and the natural environment. One of the objectives of integrated agriculture is the elimination or reduction of possible sources of environmental pollution such as pesticides. To achieve this objective, farmers need a method to assist them in estimating the environmental impact of pesticide use. This paper addresses a two-part question: what factors should be taken into consideration to assess pesticide environmental impact, and how can impact be quantified? As the environmental impact of a pesticide depends on its dispersion in the environment and on its toxicological properties, the literature on these topics is reviewed to address the first part of the question. To address the second part of the question, six recent approaches to assess the impact of pesticides on the environment are compared regarding choice, transformation and aggregation of input parameters. The use of simulation models to assess environmental impact is discussed.     

生物硝化池污水中硝化细菌的快速定量研究

实验采用聚合酶链式反应（PCR）技术与最大几率数法（MPN）相结合的MPN－PCR法对生物硝化池污水中的硝化细菌进行快速定量。所用的一对PCR引物是在对硝化细菌的16SrRNA基因进行系统比较的基础上设计合成的，可以扩增出大小为388bp的DNA片段。以从生物硝化池污水中抽提的含硝化细菌DNA的混合DNA为模板，进行PCR扩增并确定合适的扩增条件。运用MPN－PCR法进行定量检测的整个过程可在几小时之内完成。     

相关分析在大气优化布点过程中的成功演绎

通过相关指数在广东省城市大气环境监测省控站优化组筛选中的实践和探究,表明相关分析是个简单、实用、有效的方法,具有参考和应用价值。     

太湖流域水污染对太湖水质的影响分析

从太湖地区(苏州、无锡、常州、杭州、嘉兴和湖州)的污染物排放量、水质监测结果，以及工农业发展、人口变化、人民生活水平的提高、东太湖萎缩，底泥中营养物的变化和湖泊生态系统失衡的特点入手，分析了太湖流域水污染现状。结果表明，工业废水排放量高于城镇生活废水排放量；太湖湖体、环湖河流水质与省、市边界断面主要超标项目分别为：总磷、总氮和氨氮；水体水质演变是由工农业迅速发展、人口过度增加、污染防治措施相对滞后，以及太湖水生态系统失衡等原因造成的。     

脲酶抑制法检测环境样品中重金属离子研究

为探索利用脲酶快速检测环境样品中重金属离子的最佳条件，系统研究了重金属和缓冲液类型及其浓度对脲酶抑制率的影响。结果表明，不同浓度缓冲液中重金属离子浓度与脲酶抑制率呈显著的相关性，表现为随着重金属离子浓度的增加，脲酶抑制率也提高。缓冲液类型和浓度均能影响重金属对脲酶的抑制作用，其中磷酸缓冲液中，无论是Hg^2 还是Cu^2 对脲酶活性均有较强的抑制作用：在柠檬酸缓冲液中2种离子对脲酶的抑制作用存在显著差异。建立脲酶抑制检测技术的关键是选择合适的缓冲系统。此结果为脲酶抑制法在快速检测重金属离子中最佳检测条件的选择提供了理论依据。