Tropical surface water quality studies: Implications for the aquatic fate of N-methyl carbamate pesticides

Water quality assessment was conducted on the Ruiru River, a tributary of an important tropical river system in Kenya, to determine baseline river conditions for studies on the aquatic fate of N-methyl carbamate (NMC) pesticides. Measurements were taken at the end of the long rainy season in early June 2013. Concentrations of copper (0.21–1.51 ppm), nitrates (2.28–4.89 ppm) and phosphates (0.01–0.50 ppm) were detected at higher values than in uncontaminated waters, and attributed to surface runoff from agricultural activity in the surrounding area. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen (8–10 ppm), ammonia (0.02–0.22 ppm) and phenols (0.19–0.83 ppm) were found to lie within normal ranges. The Ruiru River was found to be slightly basic (pH 7.08–7.70) with a temperature of 17.8–21.2°C. The half-life values for hydrolysis of three NMC pesticides (carbofuran, carbaryl and propoxur) used in the area were measured under laboratory conditions, revealing that rates of decay were influenced by the electronic nature of the NMCs. The hydrolysis half-lives at pH 9 and 18°C decreased in the order carbofuran (57.8 h) > propoxur (38.5 h) > carbaryl (19.3 h). In general, a decrease in the electron density of the NMC aromatic ring increases the acidity of the N-bound proton removed in the rate-limiting step of the hydrolysis mechanism. Our results are consistent with this prediction, and the most electron-poor NMC (carbaryl) hydrolyzed fastest, while the most electron-rich NMC (carbofuran) hydrolyzed slowest. Results from this study should provide baseline data for future studies on NMC pesticide chemical fate in the Ruiru River and similar tropical water systems.     

盐城市城区VOCs污染特征及来源解析

2020年4—9月通过离线采样研究了盐城市城区大气中的挥发性有机物（VOCs）浓度水平及组成特征、臭氧生成潜势、二次有机气溶胶生成潜势以及毒性效应等多效应评估和来源贡献。结果表明：盐城市城区VOCs平均体积浓度为35.09×10^-9,盐塘湖公园站点浓度最高;盐城市VOCs主要组分为含氧有机物（OVOCs）和烷烃。通过挥发性有机物多效应评估发现,关键物种为乙醛、对二乙苯、丙酮、甲苯和间/对二甲苯等。采样期间对VOCs浓度的主要贡献来源为二次生成、工业排放和交通排放。     

Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Air of Sina and Shahid Beheshti Hospitals and Patients' Houses

Food and Environmental Virology - Side by side air sampling was conducted using a PTFE filter membrane as dry sampler and an impinger containing a suitable culture medium as a wet sampler. Most of...     

N-methylcarbamate pesticides and their phenolic degradation products: hydrolytic decay,sequestration and metal complexation studies

We report on the rates of decomposition of a group of N-methylcarbamate (NMC) pesticides (carbaryl, carbofuran and propoxur) under pre-determined tropical field conditions. Rates of decomposition for three NMCs were determined at pH 7.08 and T?=?20?°C and pH 7.70 and T = 33?°C respectively, as follows: carbaryl (78?days and 69?days); carbofuran (143?days and 83?days) and propoxur (116?days and 79?days). Investigation on methods for removal of NMCs and their phenolic decomposition products shows that activated charcoal outperforms zeolite, alumina, diatomaceous earth, cellulose and montmorillonite clay in the removal of both NMCs and phenols from aqueous solution. Furthermore, metal complexation studies on the NMCs and phenols showed that Fe (III) forms a complex with isopropoxyphenol (IPP) within which the Fe:IPP ratio is 1:3, indicative of the formation of a metal chelate complex with the formula Fe(IPP)₃.     

重点行业VOCs自动监控存在的问题及建议

对全国范围内石化、化工、包装印刷、工业涂装4个重点行业的VOCs自动监控设施的安装、运行和管理等情况进行调研、分析。研究发现,重点行业VOCs自动监控设施存在覆盖率不足、规范化不够、监测结果比对难、管理应用少等问题,并提出了细化自动监控设施安装要求、规范仪器市场秩序、提高自动监控质量、完善自动监控技术规范和标准、强化以用促管等建议,旨在为规范指导VOCs自动监控设施的建设、运行和提高VOCs自动监控数据的质量提供技术支撑。