Airborne particulate matter and BTEX in office environments

Total suspended particulate (TSP), PM(2.5) and BTEX were collected in nine offices in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. Both indoor and outdoor aerosol samples were analysed for their weight, elemental composition, and water-soluble fraction. Indoor TSP and PM(2.5) concentrations ranged from 7-31 microg m(-3) and 5-28 microg m(-3), with an average of 18 and 11 microg m(-3), respectively. Of all the elements analysed in indoor TSP, more than 95% was represented by Al, Si, K, Ca, Fe, Cl and S, accounting for 12% of the TSP by mass. The other elements showed significant enrichment relative to the earth's crust. The water-soluble ionic fraction accounted for almost 30% of the sampled indoor TSP by weight, and was enriched by anthropogenic activities. It was shown that the indoor PM levels varied among the offices, depending on the ventilation pattern, location, and occupation density of the office. Indoor BTEX levels ranged together from 5-47 microg m(-3) and were considerably higher than the corresponding outdoor levels. It was observed that some recently constructed and renovated buildings were clearly burdened with elevated levels for toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes, while outdoor air was found to be the main source for BTEX levels at the 'older' offices.     

The relationship between typhoons' peripheral circulation and ground-level ozone concentrations in central Taiwan

Surface data of meteorological parameters (wind speed, wind direction, and mixing height) and air pollutant concentrations (O₃, NO, and NO₂) were collected for a 92-day period associated with typhoon formation in 2005. The influence of typhoons on O₃ concentration were defined by azimuth and distance from Taiwan, and Types A, B, and C correspond to typhoons less than 1,500 km from Taiwan and located between azimuths 45° and 135°, 135° and 225°, and 225° and 45°, respectively. Type D corresponds to typhoons more than 1,500 km from Taiwan. Titration reactions were conducted at three temporal phases: 2000–0700, 0800–1100, and 1200–1400 LST (Local Standard Time). The air pollution model (TAPM) was used to simulate wind fields and trajectories of air masses. It was determined that typhoon position affected O₃ concentration, temporal and spatial patterns of O₃ titration and vertical meteorological characteristics, which were not all at the statistically significant level.     

Indoor and outdoor air concentrations of BTEX and NO2: correlation of repeated measurements

Studies on health effects of air pollutants ideally define exposure through the collection of air samples in the participants' homes. Concentrations derived from these samples are then considered as an estimate for the average concentration of air pollutants in the homes. Conclusions drawn from such studies therefore depend very much on the validity of the measured air pollution concentrations. In this paper we analysed repeated BTEX and NO(2) measurements with a time period of several months lying between the two conducted home visits. We investigated the variability of their concentrations over time by determining correlation coefficients and calculating within- and between-home variances. Our population consisted of 631 homes of participants from two cohort studies within the framework of the German study on Indoor Factors and Genetics in Asthma. Air pollutants were measured using passive samplers both indoors and outdoors. The measured BTEX concentrations were poorly correlated, with Pearson's correlation coefficient r ranging from -0.19 to 0.27. Additionally, a considerable seasonal effect could be observed. A higher correlation was found for the NO(2) concentrations with r ranging between 0.24 and 0.55. For the BTEX, the between-home variance was bigger than the within-home variance, for NO(2) both variances were of about the same order. Our results indicate that in a setting of moderate climate like in Germany, the variability of BTEX and NO(2) concentrations over time is high and a single measurement is a poor surrogate for the long-term concentrations of these air pollutants.     

Atmospheric BTEX concentrations in the vicinity of the crude oil refinery of the Baltic region

Among chemical industries, petroleum refineries have been identified as large emitters of a wide variety of pollutants. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) form an important group of aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) because of their role in the troposphere chemistry and the risk posed to human health. A very large crude oil refinery of the Baltic States (200,000 bbl/day) is situated in the northern, rural part of Lithuania, 10 km from the town of Ma?eikiai (Lithuania). The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine of atmospheric levels of BTEX in the region rural and urban parts at the vicinity of the crude oil refinery; and (2) to investigate the effect of meteorological parameters (wind speed, wind direction, temperature, pressure, humidity) on the concentrations measured. The averaged concentration of benzene varied from 2.12 ppbv in the rural areas to 2.75 ppbv in the urban areas where the traffic was determined to be a dominant source of BTEX emissions. Our study showed that concentration of benzene, as strictly regulated air pollutant by EU Directive 2008/50/EC, did not exceed the limit of 5 ppbv in the region in the vicinity of the crude oil refinery during the investigated period. No significant change in air quality in the vicinity of the oil refinery was discovered, however, an impact of the industry on the background air quality was detected. The T/B ratio (0.50-0.81) that was much lower than 2.0, identified other sources of pollution than traffic.     

No relationship found between mercury and lead concentrations in muscle and scales of chub Squalius cephalus L.

We examined the relationship between muscle and scale mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) concentrations in chub Squalius cephalus L. from six riverine sites in the Czech Republic in order to determine whether scale analysis alone could provide a nonlethal and convenient method for prediction of heavy metal concentration in muscle tissue. Our results confirm tissue-specific heavy metal accumulation in chub, with Hg tending to accumulate primarily in muscle tissue and Pb in scales. We found no significant relationship, however, for concentrations of either Pb or Hg between muscle tissue and scales of chub. Our results indicate that scales cannot be used for predicting heavy metal contamination in muscle of chub and we recommend, therefore, that muscle biopsy methods continue as the preferred method of analysis.     

太湖微囊藻毒素与湖泊物理因素之间的关系

应用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)监测了太湖2001年的微囊藻毒素的周年变化,探讨了微囊藻毒素浓度(Microcystin-LR,MCLR)和水温、光照、悬浮质、溶解氧、风浪等湖泊物理因素之间的关系,显示微囊藻毒素在夏秋季节较高,但各采样点微囊藻毒素浓度的最高值及其变化趋势与各采样点所处地理位置,水动力学变化及样点周围水域藻类生长情况等有密切关系,从湖泊物理因素来看,微囊藻毒素浓度受风浪和水温的影响较大。     

顶空气相色谱法测定土壤中BTEX

本文采用顶空气相色谱法从土壤样品中分离挥发性有机物。应用该技术,苯、甲苯、乙基苯及二甲苯异构体（ＢＴＥＸ）均得到有效分离。该方法有较好的精密度（变异系数６５％,回收率８９～１０３％）和低的检出限（对于苯为０５ｎｇ／ｇ）。土壤样品中加入水或加热,可提高方法的灵敏度。     

Air formaldehyde and solvent concentrations during surface coating with acid-curing lacquers and paints in the woodworking and furniture industry

An investigation of contemporary exposure to formaldehyde and organic solvents has been carried out during surface coating with acid-curing lacquers and paints in the Norwegian woodworking and furniture industry over a period of 3 years. The investigation covered 27 factories of different sizes and with different types of production, and totally 557 parallel formaldehyde and solvent samples were collected. The formaldehyde concentration (geometric mean) was 0.15 ppm (range 0.01-1.48 ppm) with about 10% of the samples exceeding the Norwegian occupational exposure limit of 0.5 ppm. The solvent concentration as additive effect (geometric mean) was 0.13 (range 0.0004-5.08) and about 5% of the samples exceeded the Norwegian occupational exposure limit. The most frequently occurring solvents from acid-curing lacquers were n-butyl acetate, ethanol, ethyl acetate and 1-butanol, which were found in 88-98% of the samples. Toluene, n-butyl acetate and 1-butanol were the only solvents with maximum concentrations exceeding their respective occupational exposure limits. Curtain painting machine operators were exposed to the highest concentrations of both formaldehyde (geometric mean 0.51 ppm, range 0.08-1.48 ppm) and organic solvents (additive effect, geometric mean 1.18, range 0.02-5.08). Other painting application work tasks such as automatic and manual spray-painting, manual painting and dip painting, showed on average considerably lower concentrations of both formaldehyde (geometric means 0.07-0.16 ppm) and organic solvents (additive effect, geometric mean 0.02-0.18). Non-painting work tasks also displayed moderate concentrations of formaldehyde (geometric means 0.11-0.17 ppm) and organic solvents (additive effect, geometric mean 0.04-0.07).     

Long-term phenol, cresols and BTEX monitoring in urban air

This paper reports the results of a long-term monitoring of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX), phenol and cresols in the air of Padua during a wide period of the year 2007 using two radial passive samplers (Radiello system) equipped with BTEX- and phenol-specific cartridges. Two sites were monitored, one in the industrial area and one close to the town centre. Relevant pollution episodes have been observed during both the winter and summer periods. Benzene, together with toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes showed their maximum concentrations during the winter season, but the secondary pollutant phenol was higher than benzene for a large period of the year when the meteorological conditions blocked the pollutants in the lower layers of the atmosphere and solar radiation increased the benzene photo-oxidation process.     

乌梁素海氮磷浓度与叶绿素a时空分布关系研究

为了解乌梁素海的富营养状况,采用2005—2007年乌梁素海监测数据,对叶绿素a浓度与总氮、总磷浓度相关关系进行了研究,并对乌梁素海水体中叶绿素a浓度的时空分布进行分析。结果表明,乌梁素海叶绿素a浓度具有明显的时空分布特征,在时间上,5、10月份叶绿素a浓度偏高;在空间上,北部区〉南部区。     

Utilization of the solid sorbent media in monitoring of airborne cyclophosphamide concentrations and the implications for occupational hygiene

The main objective of the study was to evaluate the applicability of two solid sorbent media (Anasorb 708 and Strata X), the impinger filled with distilled water and PTFE filters for determination of airborne cyclophosphamide (CP) in the hospital working environment. For this purpose, air contamination of Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute (Czech Republic) was monitored using the sampling apparatus containing the samplers described above. In addition, the surface contamination was also determined using the wipe sampling technique. During the monitoring, contamination of three different workplaces (storage room, preparation room and outpatient clinic) was studied. Using Strata X solid sorbent tubes, airborne CP was determined in all (n = 5) samples collected at the outpatient clinic over a 5 day monitoring period (concentration range: 0.3-4.3 ng m(-3)). Other samplers (including PTFE filters) did not collect any detectable amount of CP (the limit of detection, LOD ≤ 0.1 ng m(-3)). Negative results detected at filter samples indicate that CP determined at Strata X samples was most probably of gaseous origin. Surface contamination ranged from <2 to 19, <8 to 418 and 133-15,500 pg cm(-2) at the storage room, preparation room and outpatient clinic, respectively. The study showed that evaporation of antineoplastic drugs should not be neglected, albeit the concentrations determined in our study are relatively low. Therefore, proper monitoring of airborne contamination should involve simultaneous sampling of both particle-bonded and gaseous phases. In this way, Strata X sorbent tubes seem to be an effective tool for the sampling of gaseous CP in the indoor air.     

城市典型气象条件与大气颗粒物污染之间的关系

针对城市气象与城市气候特点,分析了典型气象条件下颗粒物的变化趋势,分析了由城市气候现象产生的城市效应问题,为研究空气中颗粒物来源、变化趋势奠定了基础.     

综合污染指数评价与水质类别判定的关系

对水环境质量综合评价的定性、定量方法作了详细说明 ,并就综合污染指数评价方法与水质类别判定之间的相互关系、矛盾及总体的量化关系进行了分析 ;同时 ,对目前综合污染指数评价方法提出了改进意见。     

The relationship between water quality and caddisfly assemblage structure in fast-running rivers. The River Cadagua basin

An ordination of the River Cadagua basin has been made using trichopteran taxa as entities. Differences between headwater reaches and lower parts of the main river and its principal tributaries are chiefly based on the downstream substitution of the species of the genus Rhyacophila by species of the genus Hydropsyche. On the plane of the first two axes from a correspondence analysis, the first station of the River Cadagua appears to be separated from the other headwater sites due to the presence of a trichopteran assemblage being only at this place and composed of Rhyacophila tristis, Lype reducta and Tinodes assimilis. Sympatric species of the genera Rhyacophila and Hydropsyche coexisted at several places, although appearing alone at other sites and showing differential preferences for the highest or lowest sites. Thus, Hydropsyche pellucidula coexisted with Hydropsyche siltalai in the middle section of the rivers, but the former was distributed further downstream than the latter which, by contrast, occupied higher reaches.Among sites, differences in trichopteran assemblage structure are a result of both natural and antropogenic changes in the physico-chemical features of the water courses. Thus trichopteran diversity and coexistence of sympatric species increase downstream with increasing nutrient values, if the oxygen content of the water is near saturation level. However, Trichoptera disappear from sites with low oxygen content. Conductivity values do not seem to affect trichopteran distribution in natural waters, as values higher than 700 S cm were found at the headwater of the main river containing an assemblage characteristic of these sites.     

不同动力公交流动微环境BTEX的浓度水平及健康风险

用热解析气相色谱法采集分析不同动力公交车微环境中苯系物,研究了江南某旅游城市公交汽油车、柴油车、电车、液化天然气车、油电混合车空气中苯系物的浓度以及主要公交站台的苯系物的浓度。结果表明,公交车微环境中苯系物平均浓度从高到低依次为汽油车>柴油车>油电混合车>液化天然气车>电车,其中汽油车苯含量最高,为(21.02±9.51)μg/m3,各动力公交车的苯暴露对公交司机致癌风险为2.32×10-6～4.79×10-6,超过了美国EPA制定的人体致癌风险限值。     

Relations between sulphate,ammonia, nitrate,acidity and trace element concentrations in tree bark in The Netherlands

Bark flakes were sampled in a biomonitoring survey throughout The Netherlands. Tree species used were oak (65 samples) and non-oak (58 samples) (poplar, elm, willow). Bark elemental analysis was carried out for As, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Hg, K, La, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Th, and Zn. Furthermore, bark acidity, SO₄, NH₄ and NO₃ were determined. Further variables introduced into the data-set were DIST (closest distance to sea water) and the dummy variably OAK (tree species).Straightforward multivariate correlation analysis was performed to check the effects on bark metal retention of the non-metal pollutants SO₄, NH₄ and NO₃, and of bark acidity. The OAK variable served to identify species-specific metal and non-metal pollutant behaviour. The DIST variable was used to visualize geography(source)-related variations in bark metal and non-metal pollutant concentrations, and to account for the non-random distribution of OAK and non-OAK tree species.The results indicate that the non-oak and oak bark samples may be combined to form 123 samples containing data-set for As, Br, Cd, Ce, Co, Fe, La, Na, Sc, Sm, Th, Zn, NH₄, NO₄, SO₄ and acidity, but not for Rb, Cs, Se, K, Ni, Pb and Sb (species-specific) and for Ca and Hg (H⁺-dependent). In the presented data-set, bark sulphate, ammonia and nitrate could not be shown to significantly affect bark metal retention.     

The relationship between chemical elements in soil and whole blood,and fluorosis induced by coal-fired pollution

To study the relationship between chemical elements in soil and whole blood, and fluorosis induced by coal-fired pollution, ecological and case–control studies were carried out. We determined the concentrations of 11 chemical elements and pH values in soil in two fluorosis-affected counties in Chongqing, China, and analyzed the correlation between these values and prevalence of dental fluorosis. Ni, I, F, Hg, and pH values positively correlated with fluorosis prevalence (P?<?0.05); these soil parameters may be related to coal-fired pollution fluorosis. Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg, and Fe concentrations in whole blood, and fluoride levels in urine of residents in epidemic and non-epidemic areas were determined. Cu, Zn, Mg, and Fe levels of the children in the case group were lower than those of the children in the external control group; urine fluoride level in the children in the case group was higher than that of the children in the internal and external control groups (P?<?0.05). The levels of Mg, Fe, and urine fluoride were higher in the case adult group than in the internal adult control group (P?<?0.05). Anti-fluoride elements were deficient in endemic areas.     

Mercury concentrations in tidal marsh sparrows and their use as bioindicators in Delaware Bay, USA

National parks are used worldwide as a means to protect the ecological integrity of unique ecosystems. Dilek National Park in western Turkey is a protected habitat for several endangered and severely threatened species. Thirty-seven water and 59 sediment samples were collected and analyzed for pesticides at two different sampling depths. The park is contaminated with 16 different organochlorine pesticides, with more pesticides detected in sediments than in water. The most prevalent pesticides in the 30–60-cm depth were DDT (69.5% of the samples), heptachlor (62.3%), a-endosulfan (55% of samples), and endrin (37%). Lindane isomers were present, but at <30% of the sediment samples. These pesticides could be a long-term contamination source that enters the food web used by the very species the park is trying to protect.     

重庆市代表性城区冬季和夏季苯系物来源解析

2009—2010年冬季和夏季在重庆市某代表性城区对大气中苯系物进行观测,并应用苯与甲苯特征比值(B/T)和因子分析法对苯系物来源进行了分析。结果表明,2种源分析方法具有较好的一致性,涂料及溶剂的生产与使用以及机动车尾气和油品使用是该研究区域苯系物的主要来源,贡献率分别为59.3%和16.2%。不同功能区、不同季节,苯系物来源构成有所差异。除受汽车尾气影响外,夏季受涂料、溶剂等生产使用的影响也较大,尤其是投诉集中点位、混合区和工业区;冬季,投诉集中点位主要受涂料、溶剂等生产使用等影响,其他点位可能还受到燃烧源的影响。