Dynamics of major air pollutants from crop residue burning in mainland China, 2000–2014

Based on satellite image data and China's Statistical Yearbooks(2000 to 2014), we estimated the total mass of crop residue burned, and the proportion of residue burned in the field vs.indoors as domestic fuel. The total emissions of various pollutants from the burning of crop residue were estimated for 2000-2014 using the emission factor method. The results indicate that the total amount of crop residue and average burned mass were 8690.9 Tg and4914.6 Tg, respectively. The total amount of emitted pollutants including CO_2, CO, NOx,VOCs, PM_(2.5), OC(organic carbon), EC(element carbon) and TC(total carbon) were 4212.4–8440.9 Tg, 192.8–579.4 Tg, 4.8–19.4 Tg, 18.6–61.3 Tg, 18.8–49.7 Tg, 6.7–31.3 Tg, 2.3–4.7 Tg, and8.5–34.1 Tg, respectively. The emissions of pollutants released from crop residue burning were found to be spatially variable, with the burning of crop residue mainly occurring in Northeast, North and South China. In addition, pollutant emissions per unit area(10 km ×10 km) were mostly concentrated in the central and eastern regions of China. Emissions of CO_2, NOx, VOCs, OC and TC were mainly from rice straw burning, while burning of corn and wheat residues contributed most to emissions of CO, PM_(2.5) and EC. The increased ratio of PM_(2.5) emissions from crop residue burning to the total emitted from industry during the study period is attributed to the implementation of strict emissions management policies in Chinese industry. This study also provides baseline data for assessment of the regional atmospheric environment.     

Levels of chemical and microbiological pollutants in the vicinity of a waste incineration plant and human health risks: temporal trends

In 2007, a program was initiated to monitor air levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and bioaerosols in the vicinity of a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) (Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain). To investigate the temporal trends of chemical and microbiological pollutants, four 6-monthly campaigns were performed. Air samples were collected at different distances and directions from the facility, as well as in reference sites. In general terms, the concentrations of microbiological agents were very similar to those found in urban zones worldwide. The seasonal evaluation of the results showed higher levels of gram-negative bacteria in winter, contrasting with the increase of the airborne amount of total bacteria in summer. On the other hand, the concentrations of VOCs (mean range: 7.6-18.2 μgm⁻³) were typical of suburban zones. The current exposure to those compounds should not mean additional health risks for the population living nearby.     

Sustainability, substance-flow management, and time, Part II: Temporal impact assessment (TIA) for substance-flow management

High-quality food and general good health are fundamental needs that have to be satisfied if society is to attain a high standard of living. Accordingly, a great deal of effort is expended in order to guarantee a high quality of food and ensure healthy living conditions. Among other things, these efforts entail massive substance flows. Significant substance flows are connected with the production and consumption of food and can be regarded from an economic, social, or environmental point of view. Substance flows are a part of both nature and the anthroposphere. This study demonstrates that food production at present is not linked to societal issues of production and sustainability; rather, it shows that a systematic approach and an analysis of issues and measures to be taken are required. This interconnectedness can be described as a timescape, in analogy to a landscape. For proper orientation in a landscape, a map is helpful, especially in combination with a compass. In the same way, we need a temporal orientation. Time scales serve as a compass to give orientation. A complete temporal analysis that includes all relevant temporalities provides the information that is encoded in a map. What has to be learned and exercised is the reading of such temporal maps. One method of doing this is temporal impact analysis (TIA). Temporal impact analysis brings issues that are not normally focused on into the foreground. It allows a better understanding of the implications of certain substance flows and the measures necessary for their management, and it provides an opportunity to develop a more sustainable management of substance flows.     

Temporal trends (2005-2009) of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PBDEs in rice hulls from an e-waste dismantling area after stricter environmental regulations

Primitive e-waste dismantling activities have been of increasing concern due to serious environmental and human health problems, and therefore authorities in China have strengthened the regulations on illegal e-waste recycling activities. In this work, we used rice hull as a passive sampler and investigated temporal trends of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in areas near e-waste recycling sites after the stricter regulations. Furthermore, the distribution patterns and composition profiles of these contaminants were also discussed. The average concentrations of the three groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in rice hulls have markedly decreased during the period of 2005-2009. Specifically, from 12.9 (average value in 2005) to 0.37 pg WHO-TEQ/g (dry weight, dw) (in 2009) for PCDD/Fs, 47.6 (2005) to 7.10 ng g⁻¹ dw (2009) for PCBs, and 2.51 (2005) to 0.89 ng g⁻¹, dw (2009) for PBDEs. The significant decrease of combustion markers 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,6,7,8HxCDF and PCB126, and the PCDD/PCDF ratio from 1:9 (2005) to 7:3 (2009) is likely a result of stricter regulations on open combustion activities. This study suggests that stricter control measures, strengthened laws and regulations and more environmental friendly techniques could be effective measures in reducing the release and formation of related POPs in typical e-waste dismantling sites, and these measures could further improve the quality of the environment and health of the local inhabitants.     

Can pine needles indicate trends in the air pollution levels at remote sites?

Data from ten years of integrated monitoring were used here to evaluate whether pine needles are a feasible tool for an assessment of long-term trends of the atmospheric contamination. Pine needles collected once a year were compared to high volume air samples collected for 24 h, every 7 days, and passive air samples integrated over 28-day periods. Results showed the same concentration patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) captured in needles and high volume samples. Passive air samplers were less efficient in sampling the particle-bound compounds. Theoretical air volume equivalent to each needle sample (V_EQ) was calculated as a ratio of the needle concentration over the mean air concentration. Results indicated different equivalent volumes for PAHs and organochlorines, possibly due to the faster degradation rates of PAHs in needles. The most important finding is that in the long term a needle monitoring gives very similar information on temporal trends of the atmospheric pollution as does a high volume air monitoring.     

基于GIS的鄱阳湖流域非点源吸附态污染物时空变化研究

鄱阳湖作为中国最大的淡水湖,国际重要湿地,其生态环境保护与可持续发展意义重大。基于GIS技术,以鄱阳湖流域为研究区域,利用3个时期多源数据,首先运用土壤流失方程估算鄱阳湖流域土壤侵蚀量,计算土壤侵蚀模数,然后根据泥沙输移比估算水体的泥沙负荷,最后采用颗粒态氮磷营养盐迁移经验模型定量研究鄱阳湖流域非点源吸附态污染物N、P负荷的时空变化规律。结果显示:吸附态氮磷污染负荷在空间分布上呈现出四周高、中间低的特点,相对较高的区域位于流域中、上游,这主要由于该区域多为山地陡坡;相对略低的区域位于流域的下游地区,这主要因为该区域平原和丘陵交错分布,土壤侵蚀强度较低。时间变化上,全流域单位面积N、P吸附态污染物负荷大都呈现先增加后减少的趋势,同时减少的幅度较增加的幅度大。     

淀山湖总氮和总磷的时空模拟分布

为了解氮磷在淀山湖的时空分布特征及变化规律,运用ELCOM-CAEDYM耦合模块分析了2008年淀山湖总氮和总磷浓度的时空变异。研究表明:模型较好地模拟了淀山湖上覆水中的总氮、总磷的时空分布,总氮、总磷质量浓度总体变化趋势与实测值相一致。淀山湖春冬季总氮的质量浓度要明显高于夏秋季,3月份是淀山湖总氮质量浓度最高的时候,千墩港是淀山湖总氮质量浓度最高的区域。淀山湖总磷的分布并未表现出季节上的规律性,空间分布整体呈现北高南低的趋势。     

Assessment of decadal changes in sediment contamination in a large connecting channel (Detroit River,North America)

Concentrations of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) and organic contaminants (PCBs, PAHs) were investigated in samples from the Detroit River (Great Lakes, North America) in 1999 and 2008/09 collected using a stratified random sampling design. Getis–Ord geospatial analysis was used to further establish locations of areas demonstrating significantly high and low contaminant concentrations in the river. Based on the stratified random sampling design, a majority of the examined metals and organic contaminants demonstrated little or no trends with respect to regional sediment concentrations and river-wide mass balances over the investigated time interval. The Getis–Ord analysis revealed local scales of contaminated and clean areas which did not conform to the original strata used in the geostatistical sampling design. It is suggested that geospatial analyses such as Getis–Ord be used in the design of future sediment quality surveys to refine locations of strata that can simultaneously address sediment recovery over system-wide, regional and local spatial scales.     

2000～2010年贵州省植被净初级生产力时空变化研究

为了探明贵州省植被净初级生产力(NPP)在2000~2010年的变化状况,以2000~2010年植被NPP数据为基础,运用ArcG IS和SPSS进行综合分析。结果表明:近11年间,草地、城镇用地、阔叶林、针叶林和湿地等面积呈增加趋势,而灌木林和农田则持续减少,其中农田面积变化尤为明显;2000~2010年贵州省植被NPP变化较大,NPP变化范围为778~889 g/(m2·a),平均值为828.1 g/(m2·a),NPP缓慢上升趋势;全省NPP分布有明显地域性差异,铜仁和六盘水为显著增加(P0.05),其余地州市增加缓慢(P0.05)。黔东南年均NPP最高((927±111)g/(m 2·a)),毕节最低((725±107)g/(m2·a))。NPP变化趋势为东南向西北方向递减,而往西北方向NPP波动程度明显;阔叶林和灌木林缓慢下降,而针叶林和针阔混交林则上升。NPP表现为针阔混交林阔叶林针叶林灌木林。