A Sensitivity Analysis of an Integrated Modelling Approach to Assess the Risk of Wind-borne Spread of Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus from Infected Premises

The sensitivity of an integrated model to assess the potential for wind-borne spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) to variations in key parameters controlling different physical and biological processes was evaluated. The estimated number of farms at risk is sensitive to the virus strain used and the accompanying effective contact rate. The C Noville strain increased the estimated number of exposed farms ranked as high and medium risk of being infected by a factor of 5, compared to the baseline, based on the O UKG 2001 strain. The inclusion of a model for biological ageing of the virus can also have a significant effect on the concentration patterns arising from transport and dispersion of the virus. Its inclusion has the practical advantage of markedly reducing the time required for the calculations. The estimated number of farms affected by exposure to high and medium virus concentrations is not grossly sensitive to attenuation caused by temperature or relative humidity effects. Changes in susceptibility to infection, as determined by the parameter θ in the exposure-risk model, does not change the configuration of the virus plumes, but it does change the distribution of farms at risk by risk category. These findings suggest that a good understanding of characteristics (excretion rates from infected animals, susceptibility of different species to infection, virus survival, etc.) of the virus strain involved in an FMD outbreak is necessary to provide a reliable assessment of the risk of wind-borne spread. In the event of an incursion of FMD, provision for laboratory studies on the virus will be an essential component of the disease response and should be factored into contingency plans.

Dynamics and Causation of Environmental Equity, Locally Unwanted Land Uses, and Neighborhood Changes

/ Why are some environmental risks distributed disproportionately in the neighborhoods of the minorities and the poor? A hypothesis was proposed in a recent study that market dynamics contributed to the current environmental inequity. That is, locally unwanted land uses (LULUs) make the host communities home to more poor people and people of color. This hypothesis was allegedly supported by a Houston case study, whereby its author analyzed the postsiting changes of the socioeconomic characteristics of the neighborhoods surrounding solid waste facilities. I argue that such an analysis of postsiting changes alone is insufficient to test the causation hypothesis. Instead, I propose a conceptual framework for analysis of environmental equity dynamics and causation. I suggest that the presiting neighborhood dynamics and the characteristics of control neighborhoods be analyzed as the first test for the causation hypothesis. Furthermore, I present theories of neighborhood change and then examine alternative hypotheses that these theories offer for explaining neighborhood changes and for the roles of LULUs in neighborhood changes. These alternative hypotheses should be examined when analyzing the relationship between LULUs and neighborhood changes in a metropolitan area. Using this framework of analysis, I revisited the Houston case. First, I found no evidence that provided support for the hypothesis that the presence of LULUs made the neighborhoods home to more blacks and poor people, contrary to the conclusion made by the previous study. Second, I examined alternative hypotheses for explaining neighborhood changes-invasion-succession, other push forces, and neighborhood life-cycle; the former two might offer better explanation.KEY WORDS: Environmental equity and justice; Locally unwanted lane uses; Siting; Market dynamics; Invasion-succession; Neighborhood changes     

铅锌矿区玉米中重金属污染特征及健康风险评价

以西南某铅锌矿区为研究区域,测定了92份玉米样品中Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr和Ni的含量,开展了矿区玉米籽粒中重金属污染特征及健康风险研究.应用单因子污染指数和内梅罗综合污染指数分析了重金属在玉米中的污染状况,采用健康风险评价模型评价了重金属对人体健康造成的风险,同时利用主成分分析法解析了重金属的主要来源.结果表明,玉米籽粒中Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr和Ni的平均含量分别为0.30、23.75、0.21、1.33和1.15 mg ·kg^-1;除重金属Zn外,其他4种重金属均超过我国食品卫生标准限值,研究区玉米籽粒中Pb、Cd、Cr和Ni的综合污染指数范围介于4.32~9.07之间,均属于重度污染,Zn的综合污染指数小于1;重金属通过玉米籽粒摄入引起的复合重金属污染对成人和儿童均存在健康风险,且对儿童造成的健康风险高于成人.玉米籽粒中5种重金属可以由2个主成分来反映,第一主成分主要支配Pb、Cd、Cr和Ni的来源,第二主成分支配Zn的来源.玉米籽粒重金属含量与土壤重金属含量之间没有明显相关性.     

沱江沉积物中有机氯农药分布特征及其与藻类有机质的关系和生态风险评估

使用气相色谱-质谱联用仪分析了长江支流沱江流域48个表层沉积物中有机氯农药（organochlorine pesticides,OCPs）的残留水平,探讨了其分布和组成特征及其与总有机碳（total organic carbon,TOC）、藻类有机质之间的关系,以及评估其生态风险.结果表明沱江流域表层沉积物中OCPs的总含量为3.17~127 ng·g^-1,其中六六六（hexachlorocyclohexane,HCHs）类农药的含量为2.83~86.0 ng·g^-1,滴滴涕（dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane,DDTs）类农药的含量为0.340~40.9 ng·g^-1.OCPs空间分布特点为：上游 < 中游 < 下游 < 支流.HCHs和DDTs的组成成分分析表明,沱江流域存在林丹输入的现象,主要来自于历史残留,这与绝大多数流域的DDTs的输入状况相似.OCPs含量与TOC、藻类有机质含量之间存在着极显著的正相关性关系,表明藻类有机质在TOC对沉积物中的OCPs分配中起更为重要的作用.生态风险评估表明,沱江流域表层沉积物的有机氯农药存在较大的生态风险,可能对河流的底栖生物及生态环境造成明显的影响.     

临沂市区主要大气污染物的污染特征及其对居民健康的影响

大气污染是全球性的公共环境健康问题.本研究基于临沂市区2015年6种大气污染物（PM_2.5、PM₁₀、SO₂、NO₂、CO、O₃）的逐日监测数据,分析了污染物的污染特征及其与气象因子的相关性,通过构建广义相加模型,模拟分析了单个污染物与居民呼吸、循环系统疾病门诊人次的暴露-反应关系.结果表明,PM_2.5和PM₁₀是临沂市区首要大气污染物,NO₂和SO₂次之,O₃和CO浓度较低;除O₃外,其它5种污染物之间呈显著正相关,与风速、温度、相对湿度3个气象因子呈负相关,浓度水平冬季高、夏季低;O₃与温度呈显著正相关.对于呼吸系统疾病,单个污染物每增加10 μg·m^-3（CO每增加0.1 mg·m^-3）的最大效应情况是：PM₁₀、SO₂、NO₂、CO均在当天（lag0）使得门诊人次分别增加0.36%、1.77%、1.29%、0.69%,PM_2.5和O₃分别在累积滞后6 d（lag05）和单日滞后3 d（lag3）使得门诊人次分别增加0.6%和1.07%;对于循环系统疾病,单个污染物每增加10 μg·m^-3（CO每增加0.1 mg·m^-3）的最大效应是：PM_2.5、PM₁₀均在累积滞后5 d（lag04）使得门诊人次分别增加0.72%、0.80%,SO₂、NO₂均在累积滞后6 d使得门诊人次分别增加3.55%、3.54%,CO和O₃则分别在当天和单日滞后3 d使得门诊人次分别增加0.77%、1.39%.对于呼吸、循环系统疾病,PM_2.5、PM₁₀、CO、O₃对男性的影响均大于女性,SO₂则反之;NO₂对男性呼吸系统和女性循环系统影响较大.大气污染物对少年（7~17岁）呼吸系统和对中年（41~65岁）循环系统影响较大.临沂市区6种大气污染物存在不同程度的污染,对居民呼吸、循环系统疾病均有不同程度的影响,且存在性别和年龄的差异.     

陆浑水库沉积物重金属空间分布特征及风险评价

为了解洛阳市饮用水水源地陆浑水库沉积物中重金属污染程度,采集32个点位的表层沉积物,分析6种重金属（Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn）的空间分布特征,并运用地累积指数法、潜在生态风险指数和聚类分析等方法对研究区重金属污染程度进行评价、生态风险评价及源解析.结果表明：Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn含量超过黄河流域河南段重金属土壤背景值,分别是其8.8、2.0、6.5、2.3倍,重金属存在明显富集,且主要污染集中于坝前区域.地累积指数法评价结果显示,Cd为强污染,Pb为中-强污染.潜在生态风险指数表明,陆浑水库沉积物重金属风险呈自上游至下游逐渐增强的趋势,总体处于高度生态危害,潜在生态风险指数均值达到312.94,其中Cd为主要贡献因子.富集系数法和聚类分析结果显示：Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn主要为人为源,Cr和Pb以自然源为主.总体而言,陆浑水库沉积物中重金属Cd和Pb污染相对较重,可能会对水库水环境构成威胁.     

固定源可凝结颗粒物稀释采样器的设计

固定污染源烟气排放进入大气环境后稀释降温,气相中部分饱和蒸气压较低的组分转化为可凝结颗粒物,这部分颗粒物在固定源烟气颗粒物监测中通常被忽略.为评价固定源可凝结颗粒物的排放情况,本文设计开发并评测了一套稀释采样器.稀释采样器稀释比在10：1~40：1范围内,混合停留时间为5~10 s.实验室评测结果表明,稀释气颗粒物背景值低（（~0.1±0.08） 个·cm^-3）,稀释采样器气密性良好,烟气和稀释气能够均匀混合,颗粒物损失较少,细颗粒物 （PM_2.5）损失在5%以下.本稀释采样器能模拟烟气与环境空气混合降温过程,可用于固定源可凝结颗粒物的测量.     

Dynamic nano-Ag colloids cytotoxicity to and accumulation by Escherichia coli: Effects of Fe3+, ionic strength and humic acid

Released Ag ions or/and Ag particles are believed to contribute to the cytotoxicity of Ag nanomaterials, and thus, the cytotoxicity and mechanism of Ag nanomaterials should be dynamic in water due to unfixed Ag particle:Ag⁺ ratios. Our recent research found that the cytotoxicity of PVP-Ag nanoparticles is attributable to Ag particles alone in 3 hr bioassays, and shifts to both Ag particles and released Ag⁺ in 48 hr bioassays. Herein, as a continued study, the cytotoxicity and accumulation of 50 and 100 nm Ag colloids in Escherichia coli were determined dynamically. The cytotoxicity and mechanisms of nano-Ag colloids are dynamic throughout exposure and are derived from both Ag ions and particles. Ag accumulation by E. coli is derived mainly from extracellular Ag particles during the initial 12 hr of exposure, and thereafter mainly from intracellular Ag ions. Fe³⁺ accelerates the oxidative dissolution of nano-Ag colloids, which results in decreasing amounts of Ag particles and particle-related toxicity. Na⁺ stabilizes nano-Ag colloids, thereby decreasing the bioavailability of Ag particles and particle-related toxicity. Humic acid (HA) binds Ag⁺ to form Ag⁺-HA, decreasing ion-related toxicity and binding to the E. coli surface, decreasing particle-related toxicity. HA in complex conditions showed a stronger relative contribution to toxicity and accumulation than Na⁺ or Fe³⁺. The results highlighted the cytotoxicity and mechanism of nano-Ag colloids are dynamic and affected by environmental factors, and therefore exposure duration and water chemistry should be seriously considered in environmental and health risk assessments.     

Development of a static test apparatus for evaluating the performance of three PM2.5 separators commonly used in China

PM_(2.5) separator directly affects the accuracy of PM_(2.5) sampling.The specification testing and evaluation for PM_(2.5) separator is particularly important,especially under China's wide variation of terrain and climate.In this study,first a static test apparatus based on polydisperse aerosol was established and calibrated to evaluate the performance of the PM_(2.5) separators.A uniform mixing chamber was developed to make particles mix completely.The aerosol concentration relative standard deviations of three test points at the same horizontal chamber position were less than 0.57%,and the particle size distribution obeyed logarithmic normal distribution with an R~2 of 0.996.The flow rate deviation between the measurement and the set point flow rate agreed to within ± 1.0% in the range of -40 to 50℃.Secondly,the separation,flow and loading characteristics of three cyclone separators(VSCC-A,SCC-A and SCC112) were evaluated using this system.The results showed that the 50% cutoff sizes(D_(50)) of the three cyclones were 2.48,2.47 and 2.44 μm when worked at the manufacturer's recommended flow rates,respectively.The geometric standard deviation(GSD) of the capture efficiency of VSCCA was 1.23,showed a slightly sharper than SCC-A(GSD = 1.27),while the SCC112 did not meet the relevant indicator(GSD = 1.2 ± 0.1) with a GSD = 1.44.The flow rate and loading test had a great effect on D_(50),while the GSD remained almost the same as before.In addition,the maintenance frequency under different air pollution conditions of the cyclones was summarized according to the loading test.     

Sources, distribution, and risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides in Nairobi City, Kenya

The distribution and sources of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in air and surface waters were monitored in Nairobi City using triolein-filled semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). The SPMDs were extracted by dialysis using n-hexane, followed by cleanup by adsorption chromatography on silica gel cartridges. Sample analysis was done by GC-ECD and confirmed by GC–MS. Separation of means was achieved by analysis of variance, followed by pair-wise comparison using the t-test (p≤ 0.05). The total OCPs ranged between 0.018 – 1.277 ng/m³ in the air and <LOD – 1391.000 ng/m³ in surface waters. Based on the results, the means of Industrial Area, Dandora and Kibera were not significantly different (p≤ 0.05), but were higher (p≤ 0.05) than those of City square and Ngong’ Forest. The results revealed non-significant (p≤ 0.05) contribution of long-range transport to OCP pollution in Nairobi City. This indicated possible presence of point sources of environmental OCPs in the city. The water-air fugacity ratios indicated that volatilization and deposition played an important role in the spatial distribution of OCPs in Nairobi City. This indicated that contaminated surface waters could be major sources of human exposure to OCPs, through volatilization. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) determined from inhalation of atmospheric OCPs were 2.3745  ×  10^?13 – 1.6845  ×  10^?11 (adult) and 5.5404  ×  10^?13 – 3.9306  ×  10^?11 (child) in the order: Dandora > Kibera > Industrial Area > City Square > Ngong’ Forest. However, these were lower than the USEPA acceptable risks, 10^?6 – 10^?4. This study concluded that atmospheric OCPs did not pose significant cancer risks to the residents.