Aerosol characteristics and surface radiative forcing components during a dust outbreak in Gwangju, Republic of Korea

Atmospheric surface aerosol radiative forcing (SARF) ΔF, forcing efficiency ΔF_e and fractional forcing efficiency ΔFF_e evaluated from cloud-screened narrowband spectral and thermal-offset-corrected radiometric observations during the Asia dust outbreak episodes in Gwangju, Republic of Korea are reported in this study. Columnar aerosol optical properties (aerosol optical depth (AOD), τ _aλ, Angstrom exponent α, mass concentration of fine and coarse mode particles) were also reported for the station between January 2000 and May 2001 consisting of 211cloud-free days. Results indicate that majority of the AOD were within the range 0.25–0.45 while some high aerosol events in which AODs ≥ 0.6 were observed during the severe dust episodes. For example, AOD increases from annual average value of 0.34 ± 0.13 at 501 nm to values >0.60 during the major dust events of March 27–30 and April 7–9, 2000, respectively. The α _{501–870 nm} which is often used as a qualitative indicator of aerosol particle size had values ranging from 0.01 to 1.77. The diurnal forcing efficiency ΔDF_e at Gwangju was estimated to be −81.10 ± 5.14 W m ⁻²/τ _{501 nm} and −47.09 ± 2.20 W m ⁻²/τ _{501 nm} for the total solar broadband and visible band pass, respectively while the fractional diurnal forcing efficiency ΔFDF_e were −15.8 ± 0.64%/τ _{501 nm} and −22.87 ± 1.13%/τ _{501 nm} for the same band passes. Analyses of the 5-day air-mass back trajectories were further developed for Gwangju in order to classify the air-mass and types of aerosol reaching the site during the Asia dust episodes.     

Monitoring of Criteria Air Pollutants in Bursa, Turkey

The concentrations of criteria air pollutants such as CO, NO_x (NO + NO₂), SO₂ and PM were measured in the period of May 2001 and April 2003 in the city of Bursa, Turkey. The average concentrations for this period were 1115±1600 μg/m³, 29±50 μg/m³, 51±24 μg/m³, 79±65 μg/m³, 40±35 μg/m³, 98±220 μg/m³, for CO, NO, NO₂, NO_x, SO₂ and PM, respectively. Temporal changes in concentrations were analyzed using meteorological factors. Correlations among pollutant concentrations and meteorological parameters showed weak relations nearly in all data. Lower concentrations were observed in the summer months while higher concentrations were measured in the winter months. The increase in winter concentrations was probably due to residential heating. Pollutants were associated with each other in order to have information about their origin. NO_x/SO₂ ratio was also examined to bring out the source origin contributing on air pollution (i.e., traffic or stationary).     

Ozone and/or Water Stresses Could have Influenced the Betula ermanii Cham. Forest Decline Observed at Oku-Nikko, Japan

A serious forest decline of Betula ermanii Cham. has been observed at Mt. Mae-Shirane, Oku-Nikko, Japan, where high ozone (O₃) concentration and severe water deficiency have been measured. In order to consider the possibility whether O₃ and/or water stresses could have been the causes of the forest decline of B. ermanii, plant growth experiments were conducted in environment-controlled growth cabinets. Two-year-old seedlings of B. ermanii were exposed to either charcoal-filtered air (O₃ concentration <5 ppb) or 50 ppb O₃ (daily average, ranging between 20–100 ppb) for 123 days at 20.0/12.5 ± 1.0°C (day/night) and 70/80 ± 7% relative humidity (day/night). Simultaneously, seedlings were treated with three watering regime: 1.0 < pF < 1.8 (no water stress), 1.8 < pF < 2.5 (mild water stress) or 2.5 < pF < 3.0 (severe water stress). O₃ exposure significantly reduced the dry weights of leaf, root and the whole plant, while water stress significantly reduced the dry weights of each organ and the whole plant. Significant reductions of net photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance were also observed under O₃ and/or water deficiency treatments, while contents of RuBP carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), chlorophyll _a+b and some essential nutrient elements (N, P, K, Mg and Ca) were not markedly changed. It was suggested that the decrease in net photosynthetic rate induced mainly by stomatal closure was the major cause of the growth reduction under O₃ and/or water stresses. No significant interactions between O₃ and water stresses were observed in terms of the depression of dry matter production, which suggested that simultaneous stress treatments of O₃ exposure and water deficiency could affect the tree growth of B. ermanii additively.     

电力跨区域调配隐含的污染转移效应

为研究中国30个省/自治区/直辖市之间电力区域调配的污染物转移效应,构建了电力传输的污染转移模型,并以SO_2和NO_x为例对2006、2015年数据进行测算。结果表明,2015年电力行业SO_2、NO_x排放强度分别由2006年的4.03、2.18 g/(kW·h)下降到0.69、0.77 g/(kW·h)。2015年,16个电力净输入区通过电力跨区域传输的SO_2、NO_x转移量分别为47.8×10~4、53.0×10~4t,占这些地区电力行业SO_2、NO_x排放量的24.1%、24.2%;14个电力净输出区通过电力跨区域传输的SO_2、NO_x转移量分别为-54.6×10~4、-52.1×10~4t,占这些地区电力行业SO_2、NO_x排放量的26.5%、22.8%。研究结果对于分析区域物质流动所隐含的污染流动,全面认识区域污染物排放格局,制定合理的区域污染减排目标具有一定借鉴意义。     

Effects of temperature on the acute toxicity of cadmium to Corophium Insidiosum

This study aimed to optimise the methodology for the use of Corophium insidiosum in a bioassay. Taking into account that it would be suitable to execute the bioassay with organisms having a good sensitivity during the year and low mortality in control sediment, the influence of different temperatures (10–15–20 and 25°C) has been examined. C. insidiosum was collected during August, November 2005 and January 2006, in Mar Piccolo basin (Ionian sea). The results obtained show that this species mortality in the negative control sediment, ranged from 2.6 ± 0.6% at 10°C in August to 17 ± 2.2% at 20°C in November, at different temperatures tested. At 20°C there were significant differences in mortality among different months examined. Indeed no relationship among months was found at 15°C. Significant differences between August and November at 25°C, between November and January were not found at 10°C. The 96-h LC50 values found for cadmium at all temperature experimental conditions ranged from 2.11 mg/l (1.57–2.82) to 0.70 mg/l (0.54–0.93). The highest values were found at 10°C in November and January. The results showed that the optimal temperature for the bioassay seems to be between 15°C and 20°C. Even if, at 20°C the mortality differs significantly among organisms sampled.     

Water quality assessment: surface water sources used for drinking and irrigation in Zaria,Nigeria are a public health hazard

We assessed the quality and pollution status of source surface waters in Zaria, Nigeria by monitoring the nature, cause and extent of pollution in Samaru stream, Kubanni River and Kubanni dam over a period of 10 months, between March and December 2002. A total of 228 water samples was collected from 12 sites and analysed for a total of ten physicochemical and one bacteriological quality indicators, using standard methods. Aesthetic water quality impairment parameters were also observed. The mean values of most water quality parameters were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in both the stream and river than in the dam. There was no significant correlation between faecal coliform counts (FCC) and water temperature (in the range 15–33°C); pH (5.77–7.32); and turbidity (1.4–567 NTU). The high FCC ranged from 2.0 × 10¹ to 1.6 × 10⁶ MPN/100 ml and exceeded the WHO standards for drinking water and water used for fresh-produce irrigation, and correlated positively (P < 0.05) with conductivity (in the range 68–1,029 μS/cm); TDS (10.0–70.0 mg/l); TSS (10.0–70.0 mg/l); Cl (7.5–181 mg/l); PO₄⁻P (0.01–0.41 mg/l); NO₃⁻N (0.6–3.8 mg/l) and BOD₅ (0.1–14.9 mg/l). The main pollution sources were municipal wastewater, stormwater runoffs, the ABU sewage treatment plant, abattoir effluents and irrigation farms treated with chemical fertilisers. We conclude that these water bodies are potentially hazardous to public health and that proper sewage treatment and river quality monitoring are needed to warn against hazards to public health.     

Optimal conditions for three brood chronic toxicity test method using a freshwater macroinvertebrate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Moina macrocopa</Emphasis>

Freshwater cladocera such as Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia have been used extensively for freshwater toxicity test worldwide. However, these species may not be indigenous in certain geographical regions, which restrict the utility of these organisms as test species. In the present study, we investigated optimal culture and test conditions for an indigenous freshwater macroinvertebrate of Korea, Moina macrocopa. The culture conditions that were evaluated included water temperature (20°C and 25°C), rearing media (moderately hard water or MHW, with or without selenium supplementation, or Elendt M4), and food density (2.5 × 10⁷ and 5 × 10⁷ cells/mL of Selenastrum capricornutum), and their effects on the life history characteristics of M. macrocopa were determined. Population growth rate of M. macrocopa was maximized at 25°C with 5 × 10⁷ cells/mL of algal food density in MHW. A series of chronic three brood reference toxicant tests were conducted under the ideal culture conditions that were identified here, and the results of the tests indicated reliable reproducibility of the test protocol. Optimal culture and test conditions that were identified for M. macrocopa in the present study are suggested for evaluation of chronic toxicity of chemicals and industrial or municipal discharge.     

Quantifying Carbon Budgets Of Conifer Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Turkey

Abstact Aboveground biomass, aboveground litterfall, and leaf litter decomposition of five indigenous tree stands (pure stands ofPinus brutia,Pinus nigra,Cedrus libani,Juniperus excelsa, and a mixed stand ofAbies cilicica,P. nigra, andC. libani) were measured in an eastern Mediterranean evergreen needleleaf forest of Turkey. Measurements were converted to regional scale estimates of carbon (C) stocks and fluxes of forest ecosystems, based on general non-site-specific allometric relationships. Mean C stock of the conifer forests was estimated as 97.8± 79 Mg C ha⁻¹consisting of 83.0 ± 67 Mg C ha⁻¹in the aboveground and 14.8 ± 12 Mg C ha⁻¹in the belowground biomass. The forest stands had mean soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON) stocks of 172.0 ± 25.7 Mg C ha⁻¹and 9.2 ± 1.2 Mg N ha⁻¹, respectively. Mean total monthly litterfall was 376.2± 191.3 kg C ha⁻¹, ranging from 641 ± 385 kg C ha⁻¹forPinus brutiato 286 ± 82 kg C ha⁻¹forCedrus libani. Decomposition rate constants (k) for pine needles were 0.0016 forCedrus libani, 0.0009 forPinus nigra, 0.0006 for the mixed stand, and 0.0005 day⁻¹forPinus brutiaand Juniperus excelsa. Estimation of components of the C budgets revealed that the forest ecosystems were net C sinks, with a mean sequestration rate of 2.0 ± 1.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ranging from 3.2 ± 2 Mg C ha⁻¹forPinus brutiato 1.6 ± 0.6 Mg C ha⁻¹forCedrus libani. Mean net ecosystem productivity (NEP) resulted in sequestration of 98.4 ± 54.1 Gg CO₂ yr⁻¹from the atmosphere when extrapolated for the entire study area of 134.2 km²(Gg = 10⁹ g). The quantitative C data from the study revealed the significance of the conifer Mediterranean forests as C sinks     

Influence of coal-based thermal power plants on the spatial–temporal variability of tropospheric NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Bold">2</Emphasis></Subscript> column over India

The oxides of nitrogen—NO _x (NO and NO₂)—are an important constituent of the troposphere. The availability of relatively higher spatial (0.25° grid) and temporal (daily) resolution data from ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) onboard Aura helps us to better differentiate between the point sources such as thermal power plants from large cities and rural areas compared to previous sensors. The annual and seasonal (summer and winter) distributions shows very high mean tropospheric NO₂ in specific pockets over India especially over the Indo-Gangetic plains (up to 14.2 × 10¹⁵ molecules/cm²). These pockets correspond with the known locations of major thermal power plants. The tropospheric NO₂ over India show a large seasonal variability that is also observed in the ground NO₂ data. The multiple regression analysis show that the influence of a unit of power plant (in gigawatts) over tropospheric NO₂ (×10¹⁵ molecules/cm²) is around ten times compared to a unit of population (in millions) over India. The OMI data show that the NO₂ increases by 0.794 ± 0.12 (×10¹⁵ molecules/cm²; annual) per GW compared to a previous estimate of 0.014 (×10¹⁵ molecules/cm²) over India. The increase of tropospheric NO₂ per gigawatt is found to be 1.088 ± 0.18, 0.898 ± 0.14, and 0.395 ± 0.13 (×10¹⁵ molecules/cm²) during winter, summer, and monsoon seasons, respectively. The strong seasonal variation is attributed to the enhancement or suppression of NO₂ due to various controlling factors which is discussed here. The recent increasing trend (2005–2007) over rural thermal power plants pockets like Agori and Korba is due to recent large capacity additions in these regions.     

Ambient air quality of Lucknow City (India) during use of fireworks on Diwali Festival

The present study deals with the effect of fireworks on ambient air quality during Diwali Festival in Lucknow City. In this study, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO _x and 10 trace metals associated with PM₁₀ were estimated at four representative locations, during day and night times for Pre Diwali (day before Diwali) and Diwali day. On Diwali day 24 h average concentration of PM₁₀, SO₂, and NO _x was found to be 753.3, 139.1, and 107.3 μg m⁻³, respectively, and these concentrations were found to be higher at 2.49 and 5.67 times for PM₁₀, 1.95 and 6.59 times for SO₂ and 1.79 and 2.69 for NO _x , when compared with the respective concentration of Pre Diwali and normal day, respectively. On Diwali day, 24 h values for PM₁₀, SO₂, and NO _x were found to be higher than prescribed limit of National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), and exceptionally high (7.53 times) for PM₁₀. On Diwali night (12 h) mean level of PM₁₀, SO₂ and NO _x was 1,206.2, 205.4 and 149.0 μg m⁻³, respectively, which was 4.02, 2.82 and 2.27 times higher than their respective daytime concentrations and showed strong correlations (p < 0.01) with each other. The 24 h mean concentration of metals associated with PM₁₀ was found to be in the order of Ca (3,169.44) > Fe (747.23) > Zn (542.62) > Cu (454.03), > Pb (307.54) > Mn (83.90) > Co (78.69) > Cr (42.10) > Ni (41.47) > Cd (34.69) in ng m⁻³ and all these values were found to be higher than the Pre Diwali (except Fe) and normal day. The metal concentrations on Diwali day were found to be significantly different than normal day (except Fe & Cu). The concentrations of Co, Ni, Cr and Cd on Diwali night were found to be significantly higher than daytime concentrations for Pre Diwali (control). The inter correlation of metals between Ca with Pb, Zn with Ni and Cr, Cu with Co, Co with Mn, Ni with Cd, Mn with Cd, Ni with Cd and Cr, and Cr with Cd showed significant relation either at p < 0.05 or P < 0.01 levels, which indicated that their sources were the same. The metals Cu, Co, Ni, Cr and Cd showed significant (p < 0.01) association with PM₁₀. These results indicate that fireworks during Diwali festival affected the ambient air quality adversely due to emission and accumulation of PM₁₀, SO₂, NO _x and trace metals. ITRC Communication Number 2538     

Adsorption and degradation of sulfosulfuron in soils

Adsorption of sulfosulfuron was studied in two soils (topsoil from Alfisol and Inceptisol). The adsorption of sulfosulfuron was greater in topsoil collected from Alfisol than in Inceptisol. The soil sorption coefficient K and the soil organic carbon sorption coefficient K _oc are the basic parameters used for describing the environmental fate of the herbicides. In topsoil the calculated K values from Alfisol was 4.43 and in topsoil from Inceptisol was 2.00. K _c values were 6.06 in topsoil from Alfisol and 3.33 in topsoil from Inceptisol. The K _oc values were 886.36 in topsoil from Alfisol and 770.26 in topsoil from Inceptisol. Field experimental plots with no previous history of sulfosulfuron were selected and studied the degradation of sulfosulfuron in the topsoil collected from Alfisol and Inceptisol. The half-life of sulfosulfuron in topsoil from Alfisol: T ₁− 3.97 days and T ₂− 4.54 days; topsoil from Inceptisol: T ₁ − 4.68 days and T ₂ − 5.52 days. The degradation of sulfosulfuron followed first-order kinetics. The persistence of sulfosulfuron was found relatively longer in the Inceptisol than in Alfisol. The combination of degradation data (t _1/2 – soil) and organic carbon based sorption (K _oc) data of herbicides have been used to assess the pesticide environmental impact in soils through Gustafson Ubiquity Score (GUS). The GUS values were found to be 0.69 in topsoil from Alfisol and 0.83 in Inceptisol.     

CO2 Capture and Storage with Leakage in an Energy-Climate Model

Geological CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) is among the main near-term contenders for addressing the problem of global climate change. Even in a baseline scenario, with no comprehensive international climate policy, a moderate level of CCS technology is expected to be deployed, given the economic benefits associated with enhanced oil and gas recovery. With stringent climate change control, CCS technologies will probably be installed on an industrial scale. Geologically stored CO₂, however, may leak back to the atmosphere, which could render CCS ineffective as climate change reduction option. This article presents a long-term energy scenario study for Europe, in which we assess the significance for climate policy making of leakage of CO₂ artificially stored in underground geological formations. A detailed sensitivity analysis is performed for the CO₂ leakage rate with the bottom-up energy systems model MARKAL, enriched for this purpose with a large set of CO₂ capture technologies (in the power sector, industry, and for the production of hydrogen) and storage options (among which enhanced oil and gas recovery, enhanced coal bed methane recovery, depleted fossil fuel fields, and aquifers). Through a series of model runs, we confirm that a leakage rate of 0.1%/year seems acceptable for CCS to constitute a meaningful climate change mitigation option, whereas one of 1%/year is not. CCS is essentially no option to achieve CO₂ emission reductions when the leakage rate is as high as 1%/year, so more reductions need to be achieved through the use of renewables or nuclear power, or in sectors like industry and transport. We calculate that under strict climate control policy, the cumulative captured and geologically stored CO₂ by 2100 in the electricity sector, when the leakage rate is 0.1%/year, amounts to about 45,000 MtCO₂. Only a little over 10,000 MtCO₂ cumulative power-generation-related emissions are captured and stored underground by the end of the century when the leakage rate is 1%/year. Overall marginal CO₂ abatement costs increase from a few €/tCO₂ today to well over 150 €/tCO₂ in 2100, under an atmospheric CO₂ concentration constraint of 550 ppmv. Carbon costs in 2100 turn out to be about 40 €/tCO₂ higher when the annual leakage rate is 1%/year in comparison to when there is no CO₂ leakage. Irrespective of whether CCS deployment is affected by gradual CO₂ seepage, the annual welfare loss in Europe induced by the implementation of policies preventing “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system” (under our assumption, implying a climate stabilisation target of 550 ppmv CO₂ concentration) remains below 0.5% of GDP during the entire century.

Application of a Larval Medaka Assay to Evaluate the Fish Safety Level in Sagami River, Japan

Physico-chemical characteristics of some river and hand-dug well waters used for drinking and domestic purposes in the oil rich Niger Delta area of Nigeria were assessed using standard methods. The concentrations of the parameters in the river water samples ranged in the following order: pH (5.6–6.9), temperature (26.90–28.60°C), turbidity (23–63 NTU), electrical conductivity (52–184 μs/cm), DO (5.4–7.2 mg/l), BOD (21–57 mg/l), TDS (6.0–217 mg/l), PO₄ ³⁻ (0.19–1.72 mg/l), SO₄ ²⁻ (25–36.8 mg/l), NO₃ ⁻ (20.3–28 mg/l), Fe (6.07–15.71 mg/l), Zn (0.04–0.24 mg/l), Pb (0.01–0.17 mg/l), Ni (0.01–0.13 mg/l), Vn (0.01–0.20 mg/l) and Hg (0.001–0.002 mg/l). The concentrations of these parameters in the hand-dug well water ranged in the following order: pH (5.7–6.8) temperature (26–30°C), turbidity (134–171 NTU), electrical conductivity (160–340 μs/cm), DO (5.4–6.4 mg/l), BOD (13–34 mg/l), TDS (110–190 mg/l), PO₄ ³⁻ (0.84–1.84 mg/l), SO₄ ²⁻ (10.6–28.1 mg/l), NO₃ ⁻ (11.3–23 mg/l), Fe (13.17–16.31 mg/l), Ni (0.01–0.02 mg/l), Vn (0.01–0.04 mg/l) and Hg (0.001–0.004 mg/l). The concentrations of BOD, turbidity, NO₃ ⁻ and Fe in the water samples were above WHO and FMENV permissible limits for safe drinking water. The results suggest that the use of such waters for drinking and domestic purposes pose a serious threat to the health of the users and calls for the intervention of government agencies.     

Spatial analysis for spring bloom and nutrient limitation in Xiangxi bay of three Gorges Reservoir

The spatial and temporal dynamics of physical variables, inorganic nutrients and phytoplankton chlorophyll a were investigated in Xiangxi Bay from 23 Feb. to 28 Apr. every six days, including one daily sampling site and one bidaily sampling site. The concentrations of nutrient variables showed ranges of 0.02–3.20 mg/L for dissolved silicate (Si); 0.06–2.40 mg/L for DIN (NH₄N + NO₂N + NO₃N); 0.03–0.56 mg/L for PO₄P and 0.22–193.37 μg/L for chlorophyll a, respectively. The concentration of chlorophyll a and inorganic nutrients were interpolated using GIS techniques. The results indicated that the spring bloom was occurred twice in space during the whole monitoring period (The first one: 26 Feb.–23 Mar.; the second one: 23 Mar.–28 Apr.). The concentration of DIN was always high in the mouth of Xiangxi Bay, and PO₄P was high in the upstream of Xiangxi Bay during the whole bloom period. Si seems no obvious difference in space in the beginning of the spring bloom, but showed high heterogeneity in space and time with the development of spring bloom. By comparing the interpolated maps of chlorophyll a and inorganic variables, obvious consumptions of Si and DIN were found when the bloom status was serious. However, no obvious depletion of PO₄P was found. Spatial regression analysis could explained most variation of Chl-a except at the begin of the first and second bloom. The result indicated that Si was the factor limiting Chl-a in space before achieved the max area of hypertrophic in the first and second bloom period. When Si was obviously exhausted, DIN became the factor limiting the Chl-a in space. Daily and bidaily monitoring of Site A and B, representing for high DIN: PO₄P ratio and low DIN:PO₄P ratio, indicated that the concentration of Si was decreased with times at both site A and B, and the dramatically drop of DIN was found in the end monitoring at site B. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that Si was the most important factor affect the development of spring bloom both at site A and B in time series.     

成都双流国际机场大气污染物排放清单与时空分布特征

基于成都双流国际机场活动水平数据,采用排放因子法和计算模型等,编制了机场大气污染物排放清单,并完成了时空分配和不确定性分析,建立了高分辨率网格化排放清单。结果表明,成都双流国际机场标准起飞着陆(LTO)循环数为2.4×10~5次/a,CO、VOCs、NO_x、PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)、SO_2排放量分别为1.2×10~3、1.3×10~2、2.1×10~3、2.8×10、2.7×10、2.5×10~2t/a,且主要由飞机发动机排放;活动水平数据仅包括LTO循环数和地面保障设备两部分;污染物排放分布和跑道类型相关性较高;排放清单活动水平数据可靠性较高,而排放因子存在一定的不确定性。     

Spatial concentration distributions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in Patras, Greece, in a winter period

An economic and quick methodology for performing a preliminary spatial assessment of a city air quality with the purpose to identify locations and zones susceptible to high pollution levels is proposed. A Patras case-study is selected, regarding the air pollutants of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x). A total number of 451 samples of short duration, of which 225 were randomly picked in morning rush hours and 226 within evening rush hours, were collected from 50 locations of the major Patras area during a year period, when peaks of primary air pollutants usually occur. Concentration measurements at prescribed locations used to statistically calculate spatial average concentrations approximating 1-h mean values with mean probable errors less than 25.9% for SO₂, NO and NO_x and less than 15.5% for NO₂. Then iso-concentration contour diagrams plotted indicate high pollution zones and possibly appropriate locations for continuous or random monitoring according to the European Community (EC) Directives. The 1-h mean concentrations were in good correlation to the corresponding traffic rates and useful relationships are given (0.54 ≤ r ≤ 0.63). In addition, comparisons with data available for other cities, as well as with the limit and guide values provided by the EC and the World Health Organization (WHO) were given. The present data could be useful for the design and optimization of a city network of stations for monitoring air quality, for environmental impact assessments, future reference and comparisons due to city development needs, as well as for validating dispersion models.     

Dissipation kinetics of tetraconazole in three types of soil and water under laboratory condition

Laboratory experiment was conducted to understand the persistence behavior of tetraconazole in three soils of West Bengal (alluvial, red lateritic, and coastal saline) and also in water maintained at three different pH (4.0, 7.0, and 9.2) conditions. Processed soil samples (100 g) were spiked at two treatment doses: 2.5 μg/g (T₁) and 5.0 μg/g (T₂). Double distilled buffered water (200 ml) was spiked at two treatment doses: 1.0 μg/ml (T₁) and 2.00 μg/ml (T₂). The tetraconazole dissipation followed first-order reaction kinetics and the residual half-life (T _1/2) values in soil were found to be in the range of 66.9–77.2 days for T₁ and 73.4–86.0 days for T₂. The persistence increased in the order red lateritic > new alluvial > coastal saline. Interestingly, the red lateritic soil exhibited the lowest pH (5.56) and organic carbon (0.52 %) content as compared to other two soils. However, the dissipation of tetraconazole in case of water was not pH dependant. The T _1/2 values in water were in the range of 94 to 125 days. The study indicated the persistent nature of tetraconazole in soil and water.     

Heterogeneous Traffic Induced Effects on Vertical Dispersion Parameter in the Near Field of Roadways - a Wind Tunnel Study

The varying traffic parameters such as traffic volume, speed, shape and size, and terrain roughness conditions play a vital role on dispersion of pollutants in the near field of roadways. Simulation experiments were carried out in the Environmental Wind Tunnel (EWT) to evaluate the traffic induced effects on vertical dispersion parameter (σ _z ) for heterogeneous traffic conditions in the near field of roadways for evaluating the effect of variations in traffic volume, terrain roughness condition and approaching wind direction. The model vehicle movement system was fabricated and made operational in the EWT, which allowed the variation in traffic volume, speed and wind road inclination. Sixty-six hydrocarbon tracer experiments were performed to evaluate σ _z in the near field of roadways for variable traffic volume, three terrain roughness conditions and two approaching wind directions (i.e., 90° and 60°). The values of σ _z for heterogeneous traffic conditions were found to be higher for low roughness conditions in comparison to other two higher roughness conditions for various traffic volumes and approaching wind directions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Accumulation and tolerance characteristics of cadmium in Chlorophytum comosum: a popular ornamental plant and potential Cd hyperaccumulator

The effects on the growth, physiological indexes and the cadmium (Cd) accumulation in Chlorophytum comosum under Cd stress were examined by pot-planting. The results showed that the tolerance index (TI) of C. comosum were all above 100 in soil Cd concentration of 100 mg kg − 1. The O2·-_{2^{\bullet}}^{-} production rate and electrical conductivity of C. comosum were significantly positively correlated to Cd adding-concentration while the MDA content increased and had significant differences with the control. The activities of SOD, CAT, and POD all rose significantly in lower Cd concentration and the Cd threshold of them were around 10, 50 and 20 mg kg − 1, respectively. The Cd in C. comosum root and aboveground part reached 1,522 and 865·5 mg kg − 1, respectively, in Cd concentration of soil up to 200 mg kg − 1. For the advantages of high tolerance, high accumulation, and high ornamental value, C. comosum may have tremendous application value in the treatment of Cd-contaminated soils.     

垃圾渗滤液中微塑料分析的消解方法评价

微塑料(MPs)是近年来国内外关注度极高的新兴污染物,建立实际环境样品中MPs的分析方法是开展相关研究的基础.对于复杂污水样品而言,样品的消解过程至关重要,将极大地影响MPs的准确分析.选择垃圾渗滤液为典型复杂污水样品,采用样品浊度和色度变化、残余悬浮固体量、MPs在颗粒物中的占比为评价指标,对盐酸消解、30％过氧化氢...