Ten-year emission characteristics of atmospheric pollutants from incineration of sacrificial offerings in China

The incineration of sacrificial offerings is a significant widely practiced custom that is also a kind of neglected air pollution source in China. Our results showed that the emission factors of particulate matter, SO₂, CO, NO_x, and VOCs emitted from the incineration of sacrificial offerings with purification systems were reduced by 95%, 19%, 9%, 82%, and 42%, respectively, compared with those without a purification system, revealing a significant effect of the flue gas purification system on reducing particulate matter and gaseous pollutants. The emission level of air pollutants from the incineration of sacrificial offerings remained stable before 2013 and then showed a remarkable decrease after the implementation of China´s Air Pollution Prevention Action Plan in 2013. The emissions of TSP (total suspended particulate), PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and NO_x in 2009 were 8222, 6106, 5656 and 15,878 ton, respectively, obviously higher than 3434, 2551, 2305 and 8579 ton in 2019. Such trend was affected by both the quantity of incineration and the installation rate of purification systems after the Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Crematory (GB 13801-2015) issued in China. Distinct spatial distribution of atmospheric pollutants from incineration of sacrificial offerings was found with higher in the east and south of China than the west and north of China, which is proportional to the regional economy and population. The maximum ground-level concentration typically occurred at 0.12-0.2 km from the pollution source, posing potential health risks to people entering and exiting funeral and burial sites and nearby residents.     

Seasonal to sub-seasonal variations of the Asian Tropopause Aerosols Layer affected by the deep convection, surface pollutants and precipitation

The Asian Tropopause Aerosols Layer (ATAL) refers to an accumulation of aerosols in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere during boreal summer over Asia, which has a fundamental impact on the monsoon system and climate change. In this study, we primarily analyze the seasonal to sub-seasonal variations of the ATAL and the factors potentially influencing those variations based on MERRA2 reanalysis. The ability of the reanalysis to reproduce the ATAL is well validated by CALIPSO observations from May to October 2016. The results reveal that the ATAL has a synchronous spatiotemporal pattern with the development and movement of the Asian Summer Monsoon. Significant enhancement of ATAL intensity is found during the prevailing monsoon period of July–August, with two maxima centered over South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. Owing to the fluctuations of deep convection, the ATAL shows an episodic variation on a timescale of 7–12 days. Attribution analysis indicates that deep convection dominates the variability of the ATAL with a contribution of 62.7%, followed by a contribution of 36.6% from surface pollutants. The impact of precipitation is limited. The ATAL further shows a clear diurnal variation: the peak of ATAL intensity occurs from 17:30 to 23:30 local time (LT), when the deep convection becomes strongest; the minimum ATAL intensity occurs around 8:30 LT owing to the weakened deep convection and photochemical reactions in clouds. The aerosol components of the ATAL show different spatiotemporal patterns and imply that black carbon and organic carbon come mainly from India, whereas sulfate comes mainly from China during the prevailing monsoon period.     

Effectiveness of Disinfectants Suitable for Inactivating SARS-CoV-2 at Cold-Chain Temperature

Food and Environmental Virology - To prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in cold-chain transportation in China, we developed specific cryogenic disinfectants. Carrier tests were performed against...     

10种典型重金属在八大流域的生态风险及水质标准评价

收集了10种典型重金属在我国八大流域水体中的暴露浓度和对水生生物的急性和慢性毒性数据,分别应用概率密度重叠面积法和联合概率分布法对重金属在各流域水体中的生态风险进行评估,并与现行水质标准的评估结果进行对比.结果显示,Cu和Zn在各流域水体中生态风险均较高,现行水质标准对水生生物Cu、Zn的暴露不能实施有效的保护;Hg和Ni现行标准对水生生物存在过保护的现象;Se、As和Sb在各流域水体中生态风险均较低,现行标准对水生生物保护程度适中.建议对现行水质标准适度修改,同时增强高风险重金属监测水平,以合理有效的保护我国水生态系统安全.     

铜陵市冬春季PM10和PM2.5中元素特征及来源分析

目的了解铜陵市颗粒物中的元素特征和主要来源。方法选择2014年冬季和春季的部分时段,在铜陵市国家环境空气监测站——新民污水处理厂(工业区)采集PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)样品,使用X射线荧光光谱(XRF)法进行元素的定量测试。采样期间,冬季的空气质量以良和中、轻度污染为主;春季以中度和重度污染天气为主,采样期间出现了明显的重污染。结果 PM_(2.5)和PM_(10)中S和Si元素的浓度均比其余元素高,P和Cu元素的浓度远低于其余元素。空气污染的指数越高,Fe、Mg、Al、Si则更易富集在PM_(10)上,而K、Cu、Na、Cl、S元素更易富集在PM_(2.5)上,Ca和P这两种元素在PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)上的富集程度相当。空气颗粒物中,富集最多的元素是K,其次为Fe和Mg;元素Cu、K、Cl在PM_(10)中的富集程度要高于PM_(2.5)。结论扬尘(包括地面扬尘和建筑尘)是PM_(10)的最大来源,其次是开采矿山和燃烧生物质,燃煤、炼铜等工企业排放贡献最小;对于PM_(2.5)而言,最大的来源是风沙、扬尘和开采矿山,其次是燃煤、燃烧生物质和其他的工企业排放,炼铜的贡献最小。     

海洋古pH重建的技术方法

重建海洋古pH对于海洋酸化进程研究具有重要意义。本文对海洋古pH反演的硅藻组合、硼同位素组成及B/Ca、brGDGTs及3-羟基脂肪酸等技术方法进行了归纳和总结。硅藻组合法系根据沉积物中保存的硅藻的种类和丰度重建水体的古pH,在湖泊研究中有较多成功的应用;硼同位素组成及B/Ca法基于海洋钙质生物中δ11B或B/Ca的变化重建海水pH,brGDGTs法是基于沉积物中brGDGTs的环化指数或异构化程度重建过去海水pH,3-羟基脂肪酸法是基于沉积物中3-羟基脂肪酸的支链比反演海洋古pH。这些海洋古pH的反演技术方法各有特点,就目前而言,仅硼同位素组成及B/Ca法是追溯海洋古pH变化较为成熟的方法。研发海洋古pH反演新技术方法至关重要,完善现有方法构建更加准确精密的海洋古pH重建指标体系任重而道远。     

Temporal–spatial distribution and diastereoisomer pattern of hexabromocyclododecane in the vicinity of a chemical plant

Hexabromocyclododecane(HBCD) is an effective brominated flame-retardant additive, which is mainly produced in the coastal area of China. This study collected soil samples from a HBCD production plant and its surrounding area in Weifang, Shandong Province, China, and analyzed the temporal–spatial distribution of HBCD and its diastereoisomers in soil. The analysis results showed that the concentration of HBCD in soil near the plant was much higher than normal values, with an annual average concentration reaching 5405 ng/g. Soils 1,2 and 4 km away from the plant were also analyzed, showing that the concentration of HBCD in soil decreased accordingly with the distance from the pollution sources. In order to investigate the effect of the season on HBCD content, the soil samples were collected in all four seasons of the year 2017–2018. According to variations in the wind direction, the concentration of HBCD in soil was also changed. The distribution trend showed that the concentration of HBCD in soil in the downwind direction of the prevailing wind was higher than that in the upwind direction. In addition, this work analyzed the distribution of HBCD in vertical soil sections. It was found that the concentration of HBCD decreased with depth in the soil vertical profile. Finally, the various diastereoisomer patterns in the soil compartments were examined, finding that α-HBCD and γ-HBCD were the predominant diastereoisomers in the soil of the study area.     

天津市典型区域PM2.5中水溶性离子污染特征

为了解天津市不同区域PM_2.5中水溶性离子污染特征,于2015年7月、10月及2016年1月、4月,在天津市南开区（简称“市区”）及武清区采集PM_2.5样品,结合气象因素、气态污染物研究,分析了样品中水溶性离子污染特征及来源.结果表明:①天津市市区及武清区PM_2.5中水溶性离子组分主要为二次离子（SO₄2-、NO₃-、NH₄+）;不同区域PM_2.5中二次离子各季节占比略有不同,市区为夏季（54.0%）>秋季（42.5%）>春季（41.3%）>冬季（40.7%）,武清区为夏季（53.0%）>春季（44.6%）>秋季（43.4%）>冬季（33.2%）.②冬季市区、武清区PM_2.5中水溶性离子组成差异较大,其他季节水溶性离子组成相似;夏季市区及武清区颗粒物呈酸性,其他季节均呈碱性,冬季武清区颗粒物碱性强于市区.③不同季节市区及武清区PM_2.5中SO₄2-均以（NH₄）₂SO₄形式存在,NO₃-冬季以NH₄NO₃形式存在,其他季节NO₃-主要以NH₄NO₃和HNO₃形式共存;市区Cl-主要以NH₄Cl、KCl和NaCl形式存在,武清区Cl-主要以NH₄Cl、KCl形式存在.④对市区及武清区来说,均相反应和非均相反应是SO₄2-重要生成途径,均相反应是生成NO₃-的主要途径.研究显示,代表一次排放的机动车源、燃煤源和二次无机粒子混合源对天津市PM_2.5中水溶性离子贡献率最高,工业源和扬尘源对市区的影响较大,农业源对武清区的影响较大.      

Thiocyanate-induced labilization of schwertmannite: Impacts and mechanisms

Schwertmannite is an amorphous iron(III)-oxyhydroxysulfate that forms in acid mine drainage(AMD) environments. The characteristic of high heavy metal adsorption capability makes schwertmannite a potentially useful, environmentally friendly material in wastewater treatment. Unstable schwertmannite is prone to recrystallization.Understanding the mechanisms that induce schwertmannite labilization and affect its capacity to remove heavy metals are of great environmental and geochemical significance.Thiocyanate(SCNˉ) is a hazardous pseudohalide that is also normally found in AMD.However, little is known about the impact of Fe(III)-binding ligand SCNˉ on schwertmannite stability and its subsequent capacity to bind trace elements. Here, we investigated the adsorption of SCNˉ on schwertmannite and subsequent mineral transformation to characterize this little-known process. The appearance of Fe2+indicated that the interactions between schwertmannite and SCNˉ may involve complexation and reduction reactions. Results showed that the majority of the adsorbed-SCNˉ was immobilized on schwertmannite during the 60-days transformation. The transformation rates of schwertmannite increased with increasing concentrations of SCNˉ. Goethite was detected as the dominant transformation product with or without SCNˉ. The mechanisms of SCNˉ-promoted dissolution of schwertmannite can be described as follows:(1) formation of Fe(III)–NCS complexes on the schwertmannite surface and in solution, a process which increases the reactivity of solid phase Fe(III);(2) the extraction of Fe(III) from schwertmannite by SCNˉ and subsequent schwertmannite dissolution; and(3) the formation of secondary minerals from extracted Fe(III). These findings may improve AMD treatment strategies and provide insight into the use and potential reuse of schwertmannite as a trace element sorbent.     

Brominated dioxins and furans in a cement kiln co-processing municipal solid waste

A field study and theoretical calculations were performed to clarify the levels, profiles, and distributions of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans(PBDD/Fs) in a cement kiln co-processing solid waste, with a focus on the PBDF formation mechanism.The raw materials contributed greatly to input of PBDD/Fs into the cement kiln. The PBDD/F concentrations in the raw materials were much higher than those in particle samples from different process stages in the cement kiln. The PBDD/F concentrations in the clinkers were1.40% of the concentrations in the raw materials, which indicated that the high destruction efficiencies for PBDD/Fs by cement kiln. PBDD/F distribution patterns in particle samples collected from different process stages indicated the cement kiln backend was a major site for PBDD/F formation. PBDFs with high levels of halogenation, such as heptabrominated furans(Hp BDF), were the dominant contributors to the total PBDD/F concentrations and accounted for 42%–73% of the total PBDD/F concentrations in the particle samples. Our results showed that co-processing of municipal solid waste in a cement kiln may influence the congener profile of PBDD/Fs, especially for the higher halogenated PBDD fraction. In addition, there were significant correlations between the decabromodiphenyl ether and heptabrominated furan concentrations, which is an indicator of transformation from polybrominated diphenyl ethers to PBDD/Fs. Theoretical calculations were performed and demonstrated that elimination of HBr and Br_2 from polybrominated diphenyl ethers were the dominant formation pathways for PBDD/Fs. These pathways differed from that for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs).