Carbonaceous and inorganic composition in long-range transported aerosols over northern Japan: Implication for aging of water-soluble organic fraction

To better understand the influence of sources and atmospheric processing on aerosol chemical composition, we collected atmospheric particles in Sapporo, northern Japan during spring and early summer 2005 under the air mass transport conditions from Siberia, China and surrounding seas. The aerosols were analyzed for inorganic ions, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and the major water-soluble organic compound classes (i.e., dicarboxylic acids and sugars). SO₄^2? is the most abundant inorganic constituent (average 44% of the identified inorganic ion mass) followed by NH₄⁺ (21%) and NO₃^? (13%). Concentrations of OC, EC, and WSOC ranged from 2.0–16, 0.24–2.9, and 0.80–7.9 μg m^?3 with a mean of 7.4, 1.0, and 3.1 μg m^?3, respectively. High OC/EC ratios (range: 3.6–19, mean: 8.7) were obtained, however WSOC/OC ratios (0.23–0.69, 0.44) do not show any significant diurnal changes. These results suggest that the Sapporo aerosols were already aged, but were not seriously affected by local photochemical processes. Identified water-soluble organic compounds (diacids + sugars) account for <10% of WSOC. Based on some marker species and air mass back trajectory analyses, and using stable carbon isotopic compositions of shorter-chain diacids (i.e., C₂–C₄) as photochemical aging factor of organic aerosols, the present study suggests that a fraction of WSOC in OC is most likely influenced by aerosol aging, although the OC loading in aerosols may be more influenced by their sources and source regions.     

Seasonal change of PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs in the water of Ayase River, Japan: pollution sources and their contributions to TEQ

In Japan, Ayase River is one of the most polluted rivers by PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs, which are referred to as dioxins in this paper. The water samples of the river were collected once per month for a year, and dioxins were analyzed to examine the dioxin sources and their contributions to toxic equivalent (TEQ). The WHO-2006 TEQs ranged from 0.26 to 7.0 pg-TEQ L⁻¹ and the average was 2.7 pg-TEQ L⁻¹; eight of 12 samples exceeded the environmental quality standard in Japan (1.0 pg-TEQ L⁻¹). The TEQ value was high during the irrigation period from May to August. The most part of the dioxins in the river water existed in suspended solids (SS) and it seemed that the river received water with highly-dioxin-contaminated SS in the irrigation period. The homologue profiles of the water samples suggested that the dioxins were influenced by pentachlorophenol (PCP) and chlornitrofen (CNP) formulations which were widely used as herbicides for the paddy fields in Japan. According to TEQ apportionment estimated by using indicative congeners, the TEQ was mainly contributed by PCP. Moreover, it was also shown that the TEQ contributions of PCP and CNP formulations increased along with the increase of the total TEQ and the TEQ contribution was dominated by these herbicides during the irrigation period. Therefore, it was concluded that the herbicides-originated dioxins run off from the paddy fields into the river during the irrigation period and increased the dioxins level in the river water. The result from the principal component analysis was consistent with these conclusions.     

Behavior of benzene and 1,3-butadiene concentrations in the urban atmosphere of Tokyo,Japan

Benzene and 1,3-butadiene concentration profiles in the urban ambient air were generated to investigate their levels at two specified sampling locations, roadside and residential, in Tokyo, Japan. Air monitoring data for benzene and 1,3-butadiene were obtained from the Air Quality Monitoring Information of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Air samples were continuously obtained and analyzed every hour for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using an automated GC–MS system. The diurnal variations in benzene and 1,3-butadiene concentrations showed bi-modal patterns, which were considered to be related to the increasing and decreasing trends of vehicle emissions and vertical mixing depths in a day. The frequencies of occurrence of various benzene and 1,3-butadiene concentrations were examined. The results of each concentration showed log-normal forms with almost straight lines. The frequency distributions of both pollutants were confirmed to have a log-normal, rather than a simple normal, form. The relationship between benzene and 1,3-butadiene concentrations at both the roadside and residential site were examined. Separate observations of day and night trends revealed that photochemical decomposition showed a greater influence on the data in the residential site than that in the roadside site. These results were considered as direct evidences of photochemical decomposition of 1,3-butadiene in the atmosphere.     

Anthropogenic radionuclides in sediment in the Japan Sea: distribution and transport processes of particulate radionuclides

Distributions of anthropogenic radionuclides ((90)Sr, (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu) in seabed sediment in the Japan Sea were collected during the period 1998-2002. Concentration of (90)Sr, (137)Cs and (239+240)Pu in seabed sediment was 0.07-1.6 Bq kg(-1), 0.4-9.1 Bq kg(-1) and 0.002-1.9 Bq kg(-1), respectively. In the northern basin of the sea (Japan Basin), (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs ratios in seabed sediment were higher and their variation was smaller compared to that in the southeastern regions of the sea. The higher (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs ratios throughout the Japan Basin were considered to reflect production of Pu-enriched particles in the surface layer and substantial sinking of particulate materials in this region. In the southern regions of the Japan Sea (<38 degrees N), both inventories and (239+240)Pu/(137)Cs ratios in sediment were larger than those in the other regions. In the southern Japan Sea, observations suggested that supply of particulate radionuclides by the Tsushima Warm Current mainly enhanced accumulation of the radionuclides in this region.     

含感潮河流的海岸带海水入侵特性的调查研究

以太平洋附近3.2 km2的区域为调查对象。首先,通过区域内的19口地质调查井,确认了含水层由透水性不同的多层土质构成,含水层以下的不透水层总体上从海岸开始呈逐渐隆起的山丘状。其次,通过测量距海岸不同距离的10口井水铅直方向电导率,确认了咸淡水混合区域特征点和地下水面伴随着潮汐的波动而变化的规律。即,在同一位置不同季节,其变化的特征不同;同一季节不同位置的调查井,因所处位置的地质构造及与海岸、感潮河流距离的不同,其变化特征也不同,这与迄今为止的众多研究结果不同。此外,通过分布于区域内的36个电法探测点的探查和井水铅直方向电导率的调查认为,海水入侵虽然受到感潮河流的一定影响,但从整个调查区域来看海水仍以"楔状"向着内陆入侵。同时,针对调查区域的不透水层的特征建立的数理模型对以上的部分调查结果给出了定性解释。     

Biogeochemical model (BGC-ES) and its basin-level application for evaluating ecosystem services under forest management practices

It is important for humans to live in harmony with ecosystems. Evaluation of ecosystem services (ES) may be helpful in achieving this objective. In Japan, forest ecosystems need to be re-evaluated to prevent their degradation due to lack of forest management.In order to evaluate the effects of forest management on forest ES, we developed a process-based biogeochemical model to estimate water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles in forest ecosystems (BGC-ES). This model consists of four submodels: biomass, water cycle, carbon-nitrogen (CN) cycles, and forest management. The biomass submodel can calculate growth of forest biomass under forest managements.Several parameters of the model were calibrated using data from observations of evapotranspiration flux and quality of stream flow in forests. The model results were compared with observations of runoff water from a dam catchment site and with carbon flux observations.Our model was coupled with a basin-level GIS database of forests. Evaluations under various forest management scenarios were carried out for forests in a basin contained in the Ise Bay basin (Chubu region, Japan), where plantations (artificial forests) seemed to have degraded from poor forest management.Comparing our simulation results with those of forests without management in the basin, we found that the amounts of absorbed carbon and runoff were larger in managed forests. In addition, the volume of harvested timber was larger and its quality (diameter) was better in managed forests. Changes of ES within the various scenarios were estimated for their economic value and were compared with the cost of forest management.     

滨海地带地下水面与咸淡水界面伴随潮汐变化规律的研究(Ⅱ)数值仿真模拟的咸淡水界面伴随着潮汐波动的变化规律

采用二维数值仿真的手法,系统的探讨了存在于非平坦的不透水层上的海岸带含水层的天然地下水面、咸淡水界面伴随着潮汐波动而变化的规律.即伴随着潮汐的波动,天然地下水面和咸淡水界面振动的振幅及其之间的相位差的大小不但与不透水层的形状有关,而且还与天然地下水面的水力坡度、含水层的渗透系数及不透水层形状变动的幅度有关.     

Formation characteristics of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and coplanar PCBs in fly ash from a gasification–melting process of municipal solid waste

PCDDs/DF and Co-PCB (dioxin) formations were studied with ash from a newly developed gasification and melting process for municipal solid waste. Ash samples were heated in a laboratory-scale fixed-bed reactor. Emphasis was placed on the effects of the type and composition of ash, temperatures, gas residence time, and gaseous organic precursors. Investigations using macroscopic and homologue distribution analyses led to the following conclusion. The ash from the gasification–melting process had the ability to generate dioxins in flue gas. A possible carbon source is unburned carbon in the ash samples, although this was very low (less than 0.01%). An experimental result that the level of dioxins generated from preheated fly ash obtained from a conventional incinerator was much lower than that from nonheated fly ash supported this conclusion. Dioxin concentrations obviously showed temperature dependence and peaked at 350°C. Dioxins formed in a gasification–melting process ash were readily desorbed from the surface, probably because of the low carbon content of the ash. There was no experimental evidence that gaseous organic precursors fed to the reactor generated dioxins. Therefore, an organic precursor was not essential for the formation of dioxins. A good linear relationship obtained between PCDDs/DFs and gas residence time also supported the assumption. Received: February 14, 2000 / Accepted: June 30, 2000     

Special Issue: Statistical mathematics for ecological and environmental data

Environmental and Ecological Statistics -