Modeling integrated urban water systems in developing countries: case study of Port Vila,Vanuatu

Developing countries struggle to provide adequate urban water services, failing to match infrastructure with urban expansion. Despite requiring an improved understanding of alternative infrastructure performance when considering future investments, integrated modeling of urban water systems is infrequent in developing contexts. This paper presents an integrated modeling methodology that can assist strategic planning processes, using Port Vila, Vanuatu, as a case study. 49 future model scenarios designed for the year 2050, developed through extensive stakeholder participation, were modeled with UVQ (Urban Volume and Quality). The results were contrasted with a 2015 model based on current infrastructure, climate, and water demand patterns. Analysis demonstrated that alternative water servicing approaches can reduce Port Vila’s water demand by 35 %, stormwater generation by 38 %, and nutrient release by 80 % in comparison to providing no infrastructural development. This paper demonstrates that traditional centralized infrastructure will not solve the wastewater and stormwater challenges facing rapidly growing urban cities in developing countries.     

Trends in passenger exposure to carbon monoxide inside a vehicle on an arterial highway of the San Francisco Peninsula over 30 years: A longitudinal study

This paper describes a long-term trend study of passenger exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) inside a vehicle traveling on an arterial highway in northern California. CO exposure was measured during four field surveys on State Route #82 (El Camino Real) on the San Francisco Peninsula in 1980–1981, 1991–1992, 2001–2002, and 2010–2011. Each field survey took at least 12 months. Fifty trips from each survey—for a total of 200 trips—were matched by date, day of the week, and starting time of the day to facilitate comparisons over three decades. The mean net CO concentration of each trip was obtained by subtracting the background CO level from the average CO concentration for the entire trip. The mean net CO concentration (0.5 ppm) for 2010–2011 was only 5.2% of that (9.7 ppm) for 1980–1981. For the 50 trips, the average travel time for the 1980–1981 period (39.6 min) was only 8.3% higher than during the 2010–2011 period (36.3 min). The estimated round-trip distance on the highway was held constant at 11.8 miles. The reduction in the mean net CO concentration was attributed to more stringent CO emission standards on new vehicles sold in California since 1980. The state’s cold-temperature CO standard implemented in 1996 appeared to reduce high CO concentrations that were observed during the late fall and winter of 1980–1981. In addition, the observed standard deviation in concentration fell from 3.1 ppm in 1980–1981 to 0.2 ppm in 2010–2011, and the range of the 50 mean net CO concentrations narrowed from 14.9 ppm in 1980–1981 to 1.1 ppm in 2010–2011, but the relative variability, as indicated by the geometric standard deviation, remained the same. These results have important scientific implications for regulatory policies designed to control air pollution from motor vehicles.

Implications: Many developing countries launched or expanded their mobile source emission control programs in the 1990s, yet many of them do not have adequate inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs. The El Camino Real study shows the long-term public health benefits of more stringent motor vehicle emission standards for carbon monoxide (CO) on new cars and of an I/M program (Smog Check) on the existing fleet in California. The study provides a protocol for conducting standardized field surveys of in-vehicle exposure on a periodic basis. Such surveys would enable developing countries to assess the progress of their mobile source emission control programs.     

A chemometric approach to the evaluation of atmospheric and fluvial pollutant inputs in aquatic systems: the Guadalquivir River estuary as a case study

To establish the quality of waters it is necessary to identify both point and non-point pollution sources. In this work, we propose the combination of clean analytical methodologies and chemometric tools to study discrete and diffuse pollution caused in a river by tributaries and precipitations, respectively.During a two-year period, water samples were taken in the Guadalquivir river (selected as a case study) and its main tributaries before and after precipitations. Samples were characterized by analysing nutrients, pH, dissolved oxygen, total and volatile suspended solids, carbon species, and heavy metals. Results were used to estimate fluvial and atmospheric inputs and as tracers for anthropic activities.Multivariate analysis was used to estimate the background pollution, and to identify pollution inputs. Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis were used as data exploratory tools, while box-whiskers plots and Linear Discriminant Analysis were used to analyse and distinguish the different types of water samples.     

人工河流沉积物中磷的分布特征及其形态研究：以肇兰新河为例

以黑龙江省肇兰新河流域为研究对象,在调查区域水质和沉积物基本理化性质的基础上,采用SMT化学提取方法分析流域内表层、柱状沉积物中磷形态及含量,明确了人工河流沉积物各形态磷的空间分布特征。结合上覆水与沉积物理化性质,探讨了影响人工河流沉积物磷形态及释放因素。结果表明,肇兰新河流域内水体TP均值为2.61 mg·L⁻¹,属于劣V类水体。沉积物的TP为692.91~2 197.87 mg·kg⁻¹,整体处于中度污染水平。沉积物中Fe/Al-P含量占比较高。通过相关性分析发现,上覆水中ORP是影响OP、Fe/Al-P迁移的重要环境因子,沉积物中TC、OM、Fe含量是影响OP含量的重要因素。作为一条典型人工河流,肇兰新河流域磷污染负荷严重,相比自然河流形态结构单一,缓冲能力和纳污能力较弱。本研究可为了解人工河流沉积物磷形态及其含量,并进行流域污染防控提供参考。     

Performance of some biotic indices in the real variable world: A case study at different spatial scales in North-Western Mediterranean Sea

The aim of this study was to analyse the variability of four different benthic biotic indices (AMBI, BENTIX, H′, M-AMBI) in two marine coastal areas of the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. In each coastal area, 36 replicates were randomly selected according to a hierarchical sampling design, which allowed estimating the variance components of the indices associated with four different spatial scales (ranging from metres to kilometres). All the analyses were performed at two different sampling periods in order to evaluate if the observed trends were consistent over the time. The variance components of the four indices revealed complex trends and different patterns in the two sampling periods. These results highlighted that independently from the employed index, a rigorous and appropriate sampling design taking into account different scales should always be used in order to avoid erroneous classifications and to develop effective monitoring programs.     

Toward Integrative Management Advice of Water Quality, Oil Spills, and Fishery in the Gulf of Finland: A Bayesian Approach

Understanding and managing ecosystems affected by several anthropogenic stressors require methods that enable analyzing the joint effects of different factors in one framework. Further, as scientific knowledge about natural systems is loaded with uncertainty, it is essential that analyses are based on a probabilistic approach. We describe in this article about building a Bayesian decision model, which includes three stressors present in the Gulf of Finland. The outcome of the integrative model is a set of probability distributions for future nutrient concentrations, herring stock biomass, and achieving the water quality targets set by HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan. These distributions can then be used to derive the probability of reaching the management targets for each alternative combination of management actions.     

退塘还湿生态修复效果评估——以天津七里海湿地为例

为筛选“退塘还湿”生态修复策略与技术方法,在天津七里海湿地选择腾退渔塘,开展了辅以先锋物种种植的人工强化恢复与自然保育恢复的“退塘还湿”生态修复对比实验。结果表明：恢复实验期间,人工强化恢复区与自然保育区共计调查到植物物种81种,其中自然保育区植物物种48种,强化恢复区植物物种77种;强化恢复区浮游植物、浮游动物、底栖生物的生物量分别为4.53~80.45、6.75~109.90、4.22~26.20 mg∙L⁻¹,其Shannon-Weiner指数也较为稳定,分别维持在2.58~3.13、1.55~1.82、0.29~0.58;实验期间,强化恢复区与自然保育区的湿生植物、挺水植物、浮游动植物及底栖动物的Shannon-Weiner指数和Pielou均匀度指数以及土壤微生物alpha多样性均无显著差异(P>0.05)。基于以上结果,对于塘堤原本就有芦苇等高等植物生长且距离天然湿地较近的鱼塘“退渔还湿”,建议采取自然保育的恢复方式。本研究结果可为华北地区腾退渔塘湿地修复提供参考。     

Application of the comet assay and detection of DNA damage in haemocytes of medicinal leech affected by aluminium pollution: A case study

This report describes an investigation of genotoxic effects in medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana) exposed to water and sediment of Lake Njivice (Krk Island, Croatia) contaminated by aluminium compounds. The levels of primary DNA damage in leech haemocytes and loss of DNA integrity caused by acute and chronic exposure to contaminated water and sediment were investigated using the alkaline comet assay. Genotoxic effects induced by acute exposure to contaminants were evaluated on leech haemocytes and blood cells of fish and mouse treated ex vivo. The effects of chronic exposure were assessed on haemocytes sampled from an animal kept under laboratory conditions on contaminated water and sediment for 180 days. The results indicate the DNA damaging potential of aluminium compounds present in an excess amount in tested samples.     

An integrated tool to assess the role of new planting in PM10 capture and the human health benefits: A case study in London

The role of vegetation in mitigating the effects of PM₁₀ pollution has been highlighted as one potential benefit of urban greenspace. An integrated modelling approach is presented which utilises air dispersion (ADMS-Urban) and particulate interception (UFORE) to predict the PM₁₀ concentrations both before and after greenspace establishment, using a 10 × 10 km area of East London Green Grid (ELGG) as a case study. The corresponding health benefits, in terms of premature mortality and respiratory hospital admissions, as a result of the reduced exposure of the local population are also modelled. PM₁₀ capture from the scenario comprising 75% grassland, 20% sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and 5% Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) was estimated to be 90.41 t yr⁻¹, equating to 0.009 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ over the whole study area. The human health modelling estimated that 2 deaths and 2 hospital admissions would be averted per year.     

北方滨海人工湿地水生生物群落重建效果评估——以天津临港湿地二期生态重建工程为例

为准确评估滨海人工湿地生态重建成效,科学指导工程改进方案,以重建近1年的天津临港湿地二期生态重建工程为例,通过调查重建前(2020年)和重建后(2021年)湿地水生生物群落组成变化,评价湿地生物群落重建效果。结果表明：经过近1年的生态重建,鱼类群落和底栖动物群落均得到不同程度恢复;鱼类的种类由重建前的未检出增加到10种,除泥鳅、梭鱼等增殖先锋物种未得以恢复外,其他增殖鱼类均长势良好;随着物理生境改善和先锋物种的直接投加,底栖动物数量由重建前的11种提高到重建后的28种,生物多样性明显提高;在类群组成上,底栖动物群落以自然恢复的摇蚊幼虫为主,人工投放的大型底栖物种恢复进程相对缓慢;鱼类增殖放流加剧了对浮游动物的捕食压力,造成浮游动物生物量降低和个体减小,进而导致浮游植物群落的快速响应和结构变化。基于上述研究结果,提出了水生生物群落重建优化调控建议。本研究成果可为北方滨海人工湿地重建提供借鉴。     

Impact of a proposed revision of the IESTI equation on the acute risk assessment conducted when setting maximum residue levels (MRLs) in the European Union (EU): A case study

ABSTRACT

Proposals to update the methodology for the international estimated short-term intake (IESTI) equations were made during an international workshop held in Geneva in 2015. Changes to several parameters of the current four IESTI equations (cases 1, 2a, 2b, and 3) were proposed. In this study, the overall impact of these proposed changes on estimates of short-term exposure was studied using the large portion data available in the European Food Safety Authority PRIMo model and the residue data submitted in the framework of the European Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) review under Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Evaluation of consumer exposure using the current and proposed equations resulted in substantial differences in the exposure estimates; however, there were no significant changes regarding the number of accepted MRLs. For the different IESTI cases, the median ratio of the new versus the current equation is 1.1 for case 1, 1.4 for case 2a, 0.75 for case 2b, and 1 for case 3. The impact, expressed as a shift in the IESTI distribution profile, indicated that the 95th percentile IESTI shifted from 50% of the acute reference dose (ARfD) with the current equations to 65% of the ARfD with the proposed equations. This IESTI increase resulted in the loss of 1.2% of the MRLs (37 out of 3110) tested within this study. At the same time, the proposed equations would have allowed 0.4% of the MRLs (14 out of 3110) that were rejected with the current equations to be accepted. The commodity groups that were most impacted by these modifications are solanacea (e.g., potato, eggplant), lettuces, pulses (dry), leafy brassica (e.g., kale, Chinese cabbage), and pome fruits. The active substances that were most affected were fluazifop-p-butyl, deltamethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin.     

基于污水处理厂提标改造需求的难降解工业废水处理工艺改进——以湖南省某城镇污水处理厂为例

以湖南省某城镇污水处理厂一期1.0× 104 m3·d-1提标改造工程项目为案例,针对其进水中工业废水占比高(达80％)、污染物浓度波动大、难降解有机物含量高等特点,在原水解酸化池+AAO+高效沉淀池+纤维转盘滤池工艺的基础上,通过现场中试实验,分析了以臭氧催化氧化+生物活性炭滤池(O3-BAC)作为提标改造主...