Current status and historical variations of phthalate ester (PAE) contamination in the sediments from a large Chinese lake (Lake Chaohu)

The residual levels of phthalate esters (PAEs) in the surface and two core sediments from Lake Chaohu were measured with a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer (GC–MS). The temporal–spatial distributions, compositions of PAEs, and their effecting factors were investigated. The results indicated that di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were three dominant PAE components in both the surface and core sediments. The residual level of total detected PAEs (∑PAEs) in the surface sediments (2.146?±?2.255 μg/g dw) was lower than that in the western core sediments (10.615?±?9.733 μg/g) and in the eastern core sediments (5.109?±?4.741 μg/g). The average content of ∑PAEs in the surface sediments from the inflow rivers (4.128?±?1.738 μg/g dw) was an order of magnitude higher than those from the lake (0.323?±?0.093 μg/g dw), and there were similar PAE compositions between the lake and inflow rivers. This finding means that there were important effects of PAE input from the inflow rivers on the compositions and distributions of PAEs in the surface sediments. An increasing trend was found for the residual levels of ΣPAEs, DnBP, and DIBP from the bottom to the surface in both the western and eastern core sediments. Increasing PAE usage with the population growth, urbanization, and industrial and agricultural development in Lake Chaohu watershed would result in the increasing production of PAEs and their resulting presence in the sediments. The significant positive relationships were also found between the PAE contents and the percentage of sand particles, as well as TOC contents in the sediment cores.     

Use of historical and contemporary distribution of mammals in China to inform conservation

A systematic understanding of dynamic animal extinction trajectories for different regions in a nation like China is critically important to developing practical conservation strategies. We explored historical and contemporary changes in terrestrial mammalian diversity to determine how diversity in each of the 5 regions in China has changed over time and to examine the conservation potential of these regions. We used records from databases on Pleistocene mammalian fossils and historical distribution records (1175–2020) for Primates (as a case study) to reconstruct evolutionary and historical distribution trajectories of the 11 orders of terrestrial mammals and to predict their prospective survival based on the national conservation strategy applied. The results indicated that since the Pleistocene, 4–5 mammalian orders have been lost in the northeast, 3 in central China, 2 along the coast, and 1 in the northwest. In the southwest, all 11 orders were maintained. Contemporarily, the coast and southwest had the highest and second-highest species densities. The southwest region and southeastern sections of the northwest region were the most historically and contemporarily diverse areas, which suggests that they should be the first priority for protected area (PA) designation. The central and coastal areas should be secondarily prioritized. In these 2 regions, conservation should focus on human coexistence with nature. Less attention should be paid to the PA in the northeast and western northwest because in these areas ecosystems are depauperate and the climate is harsh. Conservation in these areas should focus principally on avoiding further human encroachment on natural areas. Article impact statement: Historical and contemporary patterns of extinction can be a basis for mammalian conservation strategies.     

The comparison of fossil carbon fraction and greenhouse gas emissions through an analysis of exhaust gases from urban solid waste incineration facilities

In this study, in order to understand accurate calculation of greenhouse gas emissions of urban solid waste incineration facilities, which are major waste incineration facilities, and problems likely to occur at this time, emissions were calculated by classifying calculation methods into 3 types. For the comparison of calculation methods, the waste characteristics ratio, dry substance content by waste characteristics, carbon content in dry substance, and ¹²C content were analyzed; and in particular, CO₂ concentration in incineration gases and ¹²C content were analyzed together. In this study, 3 types of calculation methods were made through the assay value, and by using each calculation method, emissions of urban solid waste incineration facilities were calculated then compared. As a result of comparison, with Calculation Method A, which used the default value as presented in the IPCC guidelines, greenhouse gas emissions were calculated for the urban solid waste incineration facilities A and B at 244.43 ton CO₂/day and 322.09 ton CO₂/day, respectively. Hence, it showed a lot of difference from Calculation Methods B and C, which used the assay value of this study. It is determined that this was because the default value as presented in IPCC, as the world average value, could not reflect the characteristics of urban solid waste incineration facilities. Calculation Method B indicated 163.31 ton CO₂/day and 230.34 ton CO₂/day respectively for the urban solid waste incineration facilities A and B; also, Calculation Method C indicated 151.79 ton CO₂/day and 218.99 ton CO₂/day, respectively.

Implications: This study intends to compare greenhouse gas emissions calculated using ¹²C content default value provided by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) with greenhouse gas emissions calculated using ¹²C content and waste assay value that can reflect the characteristics of the target urban solid waste incineration facilities. Also, the concentration and ¹²C content were calculated by directly collecting incineration gases of the target urban solid waste incineration facilities, and greenhouse gas emissions of the target urban solid waste incineration facilities through this survey were compared with greenhouse gas emissions, which used the previously calculated assay value of solid waste.     

煤粉炉掺烧干化污泥的污染物排放研究

结合某电厂420 t/h四角煤粉炉掺烧污泥项目的实验室分析测试,了解煤粉掺烧不同含水率不同比例的干化污泥条件下烟气中污染物和灰渣中重金属的排放特性。结果表明,在实验研究配比和燃烧的条件下,大部分重金属元素Pb、Cu、Cr和Ni残留在灰渣中,Zn、Cd部分残留在灰渣中,As、Hg和Se等易挥发元素释放到烟气中,在灰渣中的含量很小。掺烧污泥后,灰渣中的重金属含量较单烧单煤都有了一定幅度的升高,Zn的含量是单煤的2倍,其余重金属是单煤的1.1~1.2倍。3种不同的掺混比例之间的污染气体排放浓度基本相似。烟气中主要污染物及重金属浓度可以满足现行国家标准。与单烧单煤相比,CO、HCl以及其他有机气体排放浓度基本相同;NH3的排放浓度较单煤有所升高;SO2、NOx和CO2排放浓度略有降低;飞灰浓度有所升高。烟气中的重金属,Hg含量升高了30%,Pb含量约为单煤的4.3~4.8倍。以上研究结果可为环保达标和飞灰利用提供基础数据。     

电渗析在丙烯酸丁酯废水预处理中的应用

采用电渗析法预处理丙烯酸丁酯生产废水,可将废水中的有机酸盐浓缩回收,同时大大降低废水的污染物浓度.重点研究了淡水浓水初始体积比的影响,同时考察了电渗析过程中水的迁移.实验确定了淡水浓水的最佳初始体积比为5∶1,此时对COD为61 650 mg/L的废水,COD去除率可达99.5%,脱盐率在99.5%以上,同时可将废水的...     

A real-time monitoring and assessment method for calculation of total amounts of indoor air pollutants emitted in subway stations

Subway systems are considered as main public transportation facility in developed countries. Time spent by people in indoors, such as underground spaces, subway stations, and indoor buildings, has gradually increased in the recent past. Especially, operators or old persons who stay in indoor environments more than 15 hr per day usually influenced a greater extent by indoor air pollutants. Hence, regulations on indoor air pollutants are needed to ensure good health of people. Therefore, in this study, a new cumulative calculation method for the estimation of total amounts of indoor air pollutants emitted inside the subway station is proposed by taking cumulative amounts of indoor air pollutants based on integration concept. Minimum concentration of individual air pollutants which naturally exist in indoor space is referred as base concentration of air pollutants and can be found from the data collected. After subtracting the value of base concentration from data point of each data set of indoor air pollutant, the primary quantity of emitted air pollutant is calculated. After integration is carried out with these values, adding the base concentration to the integration quantity gives the total amount of indoor air pollutant emitted. Moreover, the values of new index for cumulative indoor air quality obtained for 1 day are calculated using the values of cumulative air quality index (CAI). Cumulative comprehensive indoor air quality index (CCIAI) is also proposed to compare the values of cumulative concentrations of indoor air pollutants. From the results, it is clear that the cumulative assessment approach of indoor air quality (IAQ) is useful for monitoring the values of total amounts of indoor air pollutants emitted, in case of exposure to indoor air pollutants for a long time. Also, the values of CCIAI are influenced more by the values of concentration of NO₂, which is released due to the use of air conditioners and combustion of the fuel. The results obtained in this study confirm that the proposed method can be applied to monitor total amounts of indoor air pollutants emitted, inside apartments and hospitals as well.

Implications: Nowadays, subway systems are considered as main public transportation facility in developed countries. Time spent by people in indoors, such as underground spaces, subway stations, and indoor buildings, has gradually increased in the recent past. Especially, operators or old persons who stay in the indoor environments more than 15 hr per day usually influenced a greater extent by indoor air pollutants. Hence, regulations on indoor air pollutants are needed to ensure good health of people. Therefore, this paper presents a new methodology for monitoring and assessing total amounts of indoor air pollutants emitted inside underground spaces and subway stations. A new methodology for the calculation of cumulative amounts of indoor air pollutants based on integration concept is proposed. The results suggest that the cumulative assessment approach of IAQ is useful for monitoring the values of total amounts of indoor air pollutants, if indoor air pollutants accumulated for a long time, especially NO₂ pollutants. The results obtained here confirm that the proposed method can be applied to monitor total amounts of indoor air pollutants emitted, inside apartments and hospitals as well.     

Microplastic pollution in freshwater systems in Southeast Asia: contamination levels,sources, and ecological impacts

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Plastics are synthetic polymers known for their outstanding durability and versatility, and have replaced traditional materials in many applications....     

2015年10月南京霾污染过程分析

为探讨南京秋季霾污染过程发生的主要影响因素,利用南京信息工程大学太阳光度计观测霾污染发生天气下AOD（aerosol optical depth,气溶胶光学厚度）数据,计算AE_440-1020（?ngstr?m Exponent,波长指数）以及a₂（光谱曲率）,结合CALIPSO（Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations）卫星气溶胶组分分析以及MODIS（Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer）火点数据,对2015年10月南京霾污染过程进行分析.结果表明:2015年10月出现的两次霾污染过程期间南京地区AE_440-1020均高于1.0并且a₂呈负值,其中10月16日AQI达到峰值（201）,AOD₅₀₀达1.51,AE_440-1020达1.37,a₂达-0.77;这两次较为严重的霾污染过程均主要由人为因素（工业污染、城市建设、生物质燃烧、汽车尾气排放等）产生的细粒子所致.后向轨迹分析发现,2015年10月16日南京地区霾污染天气发生的主要原因是区域型污染,同时受长距离输送影响,大量携带人为因素产生的细粒子以及少量沙尘等污染物的空气团途经内蒙古、山东等地到达南京,加剧了当日的污染程度;2015年10月23日南京地区霾污染天气的发生则主要受长距离输送影响,同时也受到区域型污染影响,加剧了当日的污染程度.研究显示,在稳定的气象条件下,较高的相对湿度、较低的地表风速、低混合层高度以及贴地逆温的出现是诱发霾污染天气产生的有利气象条件.      

基于PFC对含断续节理岩质边坡静力荷载下破坏形式的研究

在含断续节理岩质边坡的破坏中,阶梯状破坏尤其显著,是一种常见的失稳破坏形式。借助二维颗粒流软件(PFC2D5.0)进行简单地质结构模型下的边坡数值模拟,通过采用PFC软件中的人工合成岩体技术,研究了7种不同组合形式下含断续节理岩质边坡的破坏形式及其内部微观接触力场的演变规律。首先对PFC软件中采用的微观力学性质参数进行了验证模拟,通过对完整岩块进行双轴压缩试验和巴西劈裂试验的模拟,得出其应力-应变曲线和强度包络线,从而计算出完整岩块的内聚力、内摩擦角等宏观力学参数;然后通过对含裂隙的颗粒集合体进行直剪试验的模拟,得出其剪应力-剪切位移曲线以及峰值强度和残余强度与正应力的关系曲线,从而计算出裂隙的内聚力和内摩擦角;最后对含上述微观力学性质参数的边坡进行静力荷载下破坏形式的模拟,得出裂隙萌生前应力集中、裂隙萌生后应力释放,以及可将潜在滑动面上方的坡体位移分成4个区,即坡脚处最大位移区、坡肩处较大位移区、坡体内部较小位移区、坡体后缘最小位移区,并验证了萌生的裂隙一般会近垂直于岩桥向坡体表面扩展,切割潜在滑动面以上坡体。     

近代我国海潮灾害的时空特征与等级

本文根据相关历史资料,对近代我国海潮灾害的时空特征、灾害等级等进行了初步研究。据不完全统计,近代我国共发生海潮灾害147次,平均每年发生1.34次,以一般海潮灾害为主,在前期记载较多,后期较少;多在秋季爆发,且月份集中在6、7、8月,具有明显的季节性、普遍性、连续性和集中性等特征;我国的东海是海潮灾害的频发区。