Cytotoxicity of the soluble and insoluble fractions of atmospheric fine particulate matter

Inhaled atmospheric fine particulate matter(PM_(2.5)) includes soluble and insoluble fractions,and each fraction can interact with cells and cause adverse effects.PM_(2.5) samples were collected in Jinan,China,and the soluble and insoluble fractions were separated.According to physiochemical characterization,the soluble fraction mainly contains watersoluble ions and organic acids,and the insoluble fraction mainly contains kaolinite,calcium carbonate and some organic carbon.The interaction between PM_(2.5) and model cell membranes was examined with a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation(QCM-D) to quantify PM_(2.5) attachment on membranes and membrane disruption.The cytotoxicity of the total PM_(2.5) and the soluble and insoluble fractions,was investigated.Negatively charged PM_(2.5) can adhere to the positively charged membranes and disrupt them.PM_(2.5)also adheres to negatively charged membranes but does not cause membrane rupture.Therefore,electrostatic repulsion does not prevent PM_(2.5) attachment,but electrostatic attraction induces remarkable membrane rupture.The human lung epithelial cell line A549 was used for cytotoxicity assessment.The detected membrane leakage,cellular swelling and blebbing indicated a cell necrosis process.Moreover,the insoluble PM_(2.5) fraction caused a higher cell mortality and more serious cell membrane damage than the soluble fraction.The levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS) enhanced by the two fractions were not significantly different.The findings provide more information to better understand the mechanism of PM_(2.5) cytotoxicity and the effect of PM_(2.5) solubility on cytotoxicity.     

Identification of potential electrotrophic microbial community in paddy soils by enrichment of microbial electrolysis cell biocathodes

Electrotrophs are microbes that can receive electrons directly from cathode in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). They not only participate in organic biosynthesis, but also be crucial in cathode-based bioremediation. However, little is known about the electrotrophic community in paddy soils. Here, the putative electrotrophs were enriched by cathodes of MECs constructed from five paddy soils with various properties using bicarbonate as an electron acceptor, and identified by 16S rRNA-gene based Illumina sequencing. The electrons were gradually consumed on the cathodes, and 25%–45% of which were recovered to reduce bicarbonate to acetic acid during MEC operation. Firmicutes was the dominant bacterial phylum on the cathodes, and Bacillus genus within this phylum was greatly enriched and was the most abundant population among the detected putative electrotrophs for almost all soils. Furthermore, several other members of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria may also participate in electrotrophic process in different soils. Soil pH, amorphous iron and electrical conductivity significantly influenced the putative electrotrophic bacterial community, which explained about 33.5% of the community structural variation. This study provides a basis for understanding the microbial diversity of putative electrotrophs in paddy soils, and highlights the importance of soil properties in shaping the community of putative electrotrophs.     

Density functional theory (DFT) studies of vanadium-titanium based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts

Based on density functional theory (DFT) and basic structure models, the chemical reactions on the surface of vanadium-titanium based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) denitrification catalysts were summarized. Reasonable structural models (non-periodic and periodic structural models) are the basis of density functional calculations. A periodic structure model was more appropriate to represent the catalyst surface, and its theoretical calculation results were more comparable with the experimental results than a non-periodic model. It is generally believed that the SCR mechanism where NH₃ and NO react to produce N₂ and H₂O follows an Eley-Rideal type mechanism. NH₂NO was found to be an important intermediate in the SCR reaction, with multiple production routes. Simultaneously, the effects of H₂O, SO₂ and metal on SCR catalysts were also summarized.     

Coupling mechanism of activated carbon mixed with dust for flue gas desulfurization and denitrification

To clarify the effect of coking dust, sintering dust and fly ash on the activity of activated carbon for various industrial flue gas desulfurization and denitrification, the coupling mechanism of the mixed activated carbon and dust was investigated to provide theoretical reference for the stable operation. The results show that coking dust had 34% desulfurization efficiency and 10% denitrification efficiency; correspondingly, sintering dust and fly ash had no obvious desulfurization and denitrification activities. For the mixture of activated carbon and dust, the coking dust reduced the desulfurization and denitrification efficiencies by blocking the pores of activated carbon, and its inhibiting effect on activated carbon was larger than its own desulfurization and denitrification activity. The sintering dust also reduced the desulfurization efficiency on the activated carbon while enhancing the denitrification efficiency. Fly ash blocked the pores of activated carbon and reduced its reaction activity. The reaction activity of coking dust mainly came from the surface functional groups, similar to that of activated carbon. The reaction activity of sintering dust mainly came from the oxidative property of Fe₂O₃, which oxidized NO to NO₂ and promoted the fast selectively catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO to form N₂. Sintering dust was activated by the joint action of activated carbon, and both had a coupling function. Sintering dust enhanced the adsorption and oxidation of NO, and activated carbon further promoted the reduction of NO_x by NH₃; thus, the denitrification efficiency increased by 5%-7% on the activated carbon.     

基于Landsat影像的赤峰市生态环境状况评估

根据国家生态环境状况评价技术规范,基于1990,2000,2010和2015年四期的遥感和地理信息数据对赤峰市生态环境状况进行评估.结果表明：赤峰市的生态环境变化状况可以分为3个阶段,即退化期（1990~2000年）,恢复期（2000~2010年）和平稳期（2010~2015年）.4a生态环境状况指数（EI）分别为70.58、61.21、67.63和68.35,生态环境状况整体为良.赤峰市1990~2015年生态环境状况变化度（△EI）为-2.23,略微变差.从退化时期到恢复时期,△EI由负变正,表明赤峰市生态环境状况在2000~2010年期间有所改善;从恢复时期到平稳时期,｜△EI｜变小,表明2010~2015年间生态环境状况变好趋势减缓.城市化进程和水资源短缺是赤峰市生态环境状况转好趋势减缓的主要原因,因此需要进一步开展生态保护工程,并合理利用地下水资源.     

秸秆还田方式对东北农田土壤NH3挥发和N2O排放的影响

秸秆还田是有效利用资源、增加土壤有机质含量和培肥地力的有效措施,但也会影响土壤NH₃挥发和N₂O的排放.探索不同秸秆还田方式对NH₃挥发和N₂O排放的影响对于减少土壤氮素损失和保护生态环境具有重要意义.采用田间小区试验,利用Los Gatos Research（LGR）超便携NH₃分析仪和密闭式静态箱-气相色谱法探究不同秸秆还田方式下土壤NH₃挥发和N₂O排放的特征,试验设4个处理（覆盖还田,即表面覆盖玉米秸秆,0~20和20~40 cm土壤分层扰动后填回,记为JG0-0;常规还田,即秸秆与0~20 cm土壤混合,20~40 cm土壤扰动后填回,记为JG0-20;深还田,秸秆与20~40 cm土壤混合,0~20 cm土壤挖出后填回,记为JG20-40;对照处理,即无玉米秸秆还田,0~20和20~40 cm土壤分层扰动后填回,记为CK）.结果表明:①相比于CK,不同秸秆还田方式均显著降低了土壤NH₃挥发量,增加了土壤N₂O排放量.与CK相比,JG0-0、JG0-20和JG20-40处理下土壤NH₃累积排放量分别减少了12.38%、9.87%和5.73%;土壤N₂O累积排放量分别增加了30.19%、82.82%和36.53%,其中JG0-0和JG20-40处理之间无显著性差异.②JG20-40处理下玉米产量显著高于其他处理,比CK增加了23.15%,JG0-0处理下玉米产量高于CK和JG0-20处理,但并未达到显著水平.③对于NH₃和N₂O这两种气体的总累积排放量,各处理间均达到显著性差异.与CK相比,JG0-0、JG0-20和JG20-40处理下NH₃和N₂O总累积排放量分别增加了16.67%、52.08%和22.92%.④不同秸秆还田方式下的氮素气态损失率均高于CK,JG0-0、JG0-20和JG20-40处理下氮素气态损失率分别比CK增加了17.50%、52.50%和22.50%.因此,综合考虑土壤NH₃挥发量、N₂O排放量和玉米产量等因素,JG0-0处理优于JG20-40、JG0-20处理.      

基于生态系统的海湾综合管理框架及调控策略

海湾是相对独立、完整的生态系统,具有优越的区位和资源优势,面临巨大的开发利用需求,开发与保护问题突出。基于生态系统的综合管理（ecosystem-based management,EBM）是当前国际资源与环境综合管理的主流范式,为解决生态环境危机提供了理论和方法支持。文章在分析海湾生态系统特征和面临的生态环境问题的基础上,根据EBM相关理论和实践,提出基于生态系统的海湾综合管理应该遵循的原则、目标、综合管理框架,以及开展陆海统筹的流域-海湾空间规划,开展基于陆域土地利用的流域-海湾污染物控制,维护海湾水动力条件和保护关键生境,开展流域-海岸-海湾尺度的生态修复,建立海湾综合管理体制机制等具体调控策略,以期为我国海湾综合开发与保护提供参考。     

大气污染特征研究及臭氧污染个例分析——以深圳市龙华区为例

根据深圳市龙华区观澜子站空气质量监测数据,对龙华区近年来空气质量状况、主要大气污染物浓度时间变化特征、气象条件和污染物浓度相关性,以及典型臭氧(O_3)污染过程进行了分析。结果表明龙华区空气质量以优良为主,空气质量指数(AQI)超标日中,O_3浓度超标天数最多,其次依次是PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)和二氧化氮(NO_2)。PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)和NO_2在秋冬季的浓度最高,春季次之,夏季最低;而O_3浓度则在夏秋季最高,春季次之,冬季最低。除O_3(日间浓度高于夜间浓度)以外,PM_(2.5)、PM10和NO_2晚间浓度高于日间浓度。此外,相关性研究表明,颗粒物污染以细颗粒物为主,O_3(8 h)和NO_2与颗粒物浓度均呈正相关性。由于地域差异的存在,O_3(8 h)和颗粒物浓度的相关性在不同地域表现也不同。同时,大气污染物浓度与气象条件和人为排放源的相关性较高。     

Nanoencapsulation of hexavalent chromium with nanoscale zero-valent iron: High resolution chemical mapping of the passivation layer

Solid phase reactions of Cr(Ⅵ) with Fe(0) were investigated with spherical-aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(Cs-STEM) integrated with X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy(XEDS). Near-atomic resolution elemental mappings of Cr(Ⅵ)–Fe(0) reactions were acquired. Experimental results show that rate and extent of Cr(Ⅵ) encapsulation are strongly dependent on the initial concentration of Cr(Ⅵ) in solution. Low Cr loading in nZⅥ(1.0 wt%) promotes the electrochemical oxidation and continuous corrosion of n ZⅥ while high Cr loading(1.0 wt%) can quickly shut down the Cr uptake. With the progress of iron oxidation and dissolution, elements of Cr and O counter-diffuse into the nanoparticles and accumulate in the core region at low levels of Cr(Ⅵ)(e.g., 10 mg/L). Whereas the reacted n ZⅥ is quickly coated with a newly-formed layer of 2–4 nm in the presence of concentrated Cr(Ⅵ)(e.g., 100 mg/L). The passivation structure is stable over a wide range of pH unless pH is low enough to dissolve the passivation layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) depth profiling reconfirms that the composition of the newly-formed surface layer consists of Fe(Ⅲ)–Cr(Ⅲ)(oxy)hydroxides with Cr(Ⅵ) adsorbed on the outside surface. The insoluble and insulating Fe(Ⅲ)–Cr(Ⅲ)(oxy)hydroxide layer can completely cover the n ZⅥ surface above the critical Cr loading and shield the electron transfer. Thus, the fast passivation of nZⅥ in high Cr(Ⅵ) solution is detrimental to the performance of nZⅥ for Cr(Ⅵ) treatment and remediation.     

基于视觉传达自然环境艺术设计研究

自然环境艺术是必行之路,而自然环境艺术最直接的体现就是自然园林的建设,身处在自然生态环境中,可以让人感到放松,缓解疲乏,在心理上给人一种慰藉。但是大多数自然园林的设计并不能百分百还原生态自然景观,会存在一定的矛盾,人为痕迹过重,视觉传达效果大打折扣。以自然环境艺术的代表——自然生态园林为例,从视觉传达角度,进行自然生态园林设计,并利用SD评估方法对自然生态园林设计效果进行分析,结果表明:基于视觉传达设计自然生态园林,视觉效果得到极大提高,会给人带来视觉愉悦感。