Toxicological assessment of chlorinated diphenyl ethers in the rat

Chlorinated diphenyl ethers are environmental contaminants that have been found in Great Lakes fish and birds. Because of their presence in the food chain, and potential for human exposure, the present short-term study was conducted to assess their toxicity. Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were each given by gavage 2,2',4,4'6-pentachlorodiphenyl ether (CDE1), 2,2',4,4',5,6-hexachlorodiphenyl ether (CDE2) or 2,2',3,3',4,6'-hexachlorodiphenyl ether (CDE3) at dose levels of 0.04, 0.4, 4.0 or 40 mg/kg b.w./day for a period of 28 days. The control group received an equivalent volume of corn oil only (0.5 ml/100 g b.w.). Treatment with the three CDE congeners did not result in suppression of growth rate or food consumption. Increased liver weights were seen in the animals of both sexes fed 40 mg/kg CDE2, in males treated with 40 mg/kg CDE1, and in females with 40 mg/kg CDE3. Hepatic microsomal aminopyrine demethylase activity was significantly higher in the male rats administered 40 mg/kg CDE2, and aniline hydroxylase activity was elevated in the females following the same treatment. Serum glucose, calcium, protein and urea nitrogen of CDE1-treated males were higher than the control. Levels of uric acid, potassium and LDH of CDE3-treated females were also elevated. No hematological changes were observed. Histological examination revealed that the liver and thyroid were the target organs affected by CDE treatment but the morphological changes were mild even at the highest dose level. Changes in the liver consisted of nuclear vesiculation and increased cytoplasmic volume. Alterations in the thyroid were characterized by increased epithelial height and follicular collapse. Based on the data presented above, the 3 CDE congeners can only be considered moderately toxic in the rat.     

Risk factors for the severity of injury incurred in crashes involving on-duty police cars

Objective: This article explores the risk factors associated with police cars on routine patrol and/or on an emergency run and their effects on the severity of injuries in crashes.

Methods: The binary probit model is used to examine the effects of important factors on the risk of injuries sustained in crashes involving on-duty police cars.

Results: Several factors significantly increase the probability of crashes that cause severe injuries. Among those causes are police officers who drive at excessive speeds, traffic violations during emergency responses or pursuits, and driving during the evening (6 to 12 p.m.) or in rainy weather. Findings also indicate some potential issues associated with an increase in the probability of crashes that cause injuries. Younger police drivers were found to be more likely to be involved in crashes causing injuries than middle-aged drivers were. Distracted driving by on-duty police officers as well as civilian drivers who did not pull over to let a police car pass in emergency situations also caused serious crashes.

Conclusions: Police cars are exempted from certain traffic laws under emergency circumstances. However, to reduce the probability of being involved in a crash resulting in severe injuries, officers are still obligated to drive safely and follow safety procedures when responding to emergencies or pursuing a car. Enhancement of training techniques for emergency situations or driving in pursuit of an offender and following the safety procedures are essential for safety in driving during an emergency run by police.     

Cu/Cr co-stabilization mechanisms in a simulated Al2O3-Fe2O3-Cr2O3-CuO waste system

• Cu and Cr can be mostly incorporated into CuFe_xAl_yCr_2−x−yO₄ with a spinel structure. • Spinel phase is the most crucial structure for Cu and Cr co-stabilization. • Compared to Al, Fe and Cr are easier to be incorporated into the spinel structure. • ‘Waste-to-resource’ by thermal process at attainable temperatures can be achieved. Chromium slag usually contains various heavy metals, making its safe treatment difficult. Glass-ceramic sintering has been applied to resolve this issue and emerged as an effective method for metal immobilization by incorporating heavy metals into stable crystal structures. Currently, there is limited knowledge about the reaction pathways adopted by multiple heavy metals and the co-stabilization functions of the crystal structure. To study the Cu/Cr co-stabilization mechanisms during thermal treatment, a simulated system was prepared using a mixture with a molar ratio of Al₂O₃:Fe₂O₃:Cr₂O₃:CuO= 1:1:1:3. The samples were sintered at temperatures 600–1300°C followed by intensive analysis of phase constitutions and microstructure development. A spinel phase (CuFe_xAl_yCr_2−x−yO₄) started to generate at 700°C and the incorporation of Cu/Cr into the spinel largely complete at 900°C, although the spinel peak intensity continued increasing slightly at temperatures above 900°C. Fe₂O₃/Cr₂O₃ was more easily incorporated into the spinel at lower temperatures, while more Al₂O₃ was gradually incorporated into the spinel at higher temperatures. Additionally, sintered sample microstructures became more condensed and smoother with increased sintering temperature. Cu / Cr leachability substantially decreased after Cu/Cr incorporation into the spinel phase at elevated temperatures. At 600°C, the leached ratios for Cu and Cr were 6.28% and 0.65%, respectively. When sintering temperature was increased to 1300°C, the leached ratios for all metal components in the system were below 0.2%. This study proposes a sustainable method for managing Cu/Cr co-exist slag at reasonable temperatures.     

低施磷水平下不同施肥对太湖地区黄泥土磷迁移性的影响

对太湖地区水稻土上长达13年的长期不同施肥处理的某试验田进行了土壤全磷、树脂磷和水溶性磷的测定分析.不同处理的年施磷量为0～53kg/(hm²·a),土壤全磷为0.3～0.5g·k^-1.根据土壤磷素的质量平衡,计算表明该水稻土存在的磷素流失量为2～8kg/(hm²·a),单施化肥下的流失量最大,为配施有机肥处理的2～4倍;水溶性磷的比率在0.2%～0.4%间,且不同施肥实践对其的影响不明显.但单施化肥有使亚表层树脂磷和水溶性磷含量提高的倾向.长期施用化肥配施大量鲜猪粪使树脂磷含量提高20～40 mg·kg^-1,但与长期施用化肥配施秸秆的处理一样没有发生在有机质增加下的磷活化而提高磷流失.这些说明本地区长期单施化肥的水稻土中可能存在强烈的磷流失,且水稻土磷流失并不以水溶解发生.为了防止水稻土磷的强烈水流失而加剧农业非点源污染,要避免长期单施化肥,而应坚持和推广配施适量有机肥.     

A two-dimensional inviscid model of the gravity-current head by Lagrangian block simulation

A two-dimensional inviscid model of the gravity-current head produced by the release of a relatively small volume of dense fluid from behind a tall lock gate is constructed by Lagrangian block simulation. Three numerical experiments are conducted for the lock’s height-to-length aspect ratios H/L _o  = 8, 4 and 2. The front speeds obtained by the simulations agree with the laboratory observation for a similar range of aspect ratios. The floor velocity in the wake behind these heads is found to be greater than their front speed. The high floor velocity is caused by the impingement of the coherent wake vortex on the floor. It is a condition that permits these gravity-current heads to maintain their structural integrity so that the fine sediments can travel with the head over long distances on the ocean floor. The structural coherence of the current head depends on the lock aspect ratio. The gravity-current head produced by the release from the lock with the highest aspect ratio of H/L _o  = 8 is most coherent and relatively has the greatest floor velocity and the least trailing current behind the head.     

进口废塑料环境保护管理研究

随着塑料资源的大量消耗,废塑料的利用引起了社会的高度重视。工艺简单,投入成本少,入行门槛低导致部分废塑料加工利用企业技术水平低、管理模式差、环境污染重。为规范进口废塑料行业,通过调研统计、实验分析、咨询论证和研究了进口废塑料环境保护管理规定,对进口废塑料企业的规模、设备、人员和管理等方面提出了要求,为进一步规范提升进口废塑料行业提供技术支撑。     

金属铁离子对农田土壤氮转化影响分析

以长春伊通河河谷阶地上部的农田土为研究对象,选用铁离子作为氮转化的一种影响因素,定性研究了不同浓度的铁离子对硝态氮、亚硝态氮、铵态氮三氮的变化影响。并且在建立方程组之后计算平衡常数,证明了铁的氧化作用,与实验所得相符合：铁促进铵态氮的吸附、促进硝化反应的进行。从实验和理论的角度说明了铁在三氮转化中起的作用,为进一步研究锰铁离子对氮转化的定量影响和氮素污染地下水的预测和定量评价提供科学依据。     

UV光解技术在采油（气）田脱水废气处理中的应用

采用UV高效光解净化设备,对采油（气）田TEG脱水工艺产生的废气深度净化、脱臭,其净化效率达99%;同时克服了废气成分复杂、浓度高、含水率高、环境温差大、防爆要求高等废气净化方法的限制性难题,并能广泛适用于多种行业的废气净化。     

Monitoring and identification of spatiotemporal landscape changes in multiple remote sensing images by using a stratified conditional Latin hypercube sampling approach and geostatistical simulation

This study develops a stratified conditional Latin hypercube sampling (scLHS) approach for multiple, remotely sensed, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images. The objective is to sample, monitor, and delineate spatiotemporal landscape changes, including spatial heterogeneity and variability, in a given area. The scLHS approach, which is based on the variance quadtree technique (VQT) and the conditional Latin hypercube sampling (cLHS) method, selects samples in order to delineate landscape changes from multiple NDVI images. The images are then mapped for calibration and validation by using sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS) with the scLHS selected samples. Spatial statistical results indicate that in terms of their statistical distribution, spatial distribution, and spatial variation, the statistics and variograms of the scLHS samples resemble those of multiple NDVI images more closely than those of cLHS and VQT samples. Moreover, the accuracy of simulated NDVI images based on SGS with scLHS samples is significantly better than that of simulated NDVI images based on SGS with cLHS samples and VQT samples, respectively. However, the proposed approach efficiently monitors the spatial characteristics of landscape changes, including the statistics, spatial variability, and heterogeneity of NDVI images. In addition, SGS with the scLHS samples effectively reproduces spatial patterns and landscape changes in multiple NDVI images.     

江苏省一次典型沙尘污染过程分析

2021年4月16日至4月18日江苏省经历了一次受沙尘影响的重污染过程.本次过程沙源地为蒙古国中南部及中国内蒙古中西部地区,在蒙古气旋后部西北大风影响下,沙尘气团自西北向东南影响了中国多个省市和地区.江苏省自16日起逐渐受到沙尘过程影响,苏北城市ρ(PM10)从凌晨开始迅速升高,浓度最高达569μg/m3,空气质量达严重污染级别.17日,受蒙古气旋后部冷高压带来的偏北风影响,沙尘气团位置明显南移,多数沿江城市PM10开始上升,空气质量达中度污染级别.至17日夜间,本次影响江苏省的沙尘过程基本结束.沙尘影响期间,江苏各市不仅ρ(PM10)浓度快速上升,同时ρ(PM2.5)/ρ(PM10)比值也明显下降,由受沙尘影响前的介于0.60～0.75之间迅速降至介于0.15～0.23之间.