Distributional 234,238U, 226Ra, 210Pb and 210Po in soil

A soil profile from 0 to 90 cm was collected in an undisturbeded area of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Five centimeter increments of the profile were analyzed for ^234,238U, ²²⁶Ra, ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po. The factors affecting the activity distribution of these naturally-occurring radionuclides are discussed for this particular soil type.     

Summary of regulatory/policy/economic issues related to nitrogen

This is a summary of the two presentations from the session that dealt with the regulatory, policy and economic issues related to nitrogen compounds and the need to reduce their emissions. The papers were presented by Ronald Evans and Jan Willem Erisman. Information on ecological impacts of nitrogen species and atmospheric relationships are presented in other papers in this special issue. This summary provides an overview of the discussions from the above presentations.     

Some physical and chemical features of the variability of kd distribution coefficients for radionuclides

k_d distribution coefficients are widely used as a first approach to the understanding and determination of the eventual fate of metals and radionuclides released into the aquatic environment. For some radionuclides, k_d varies within a range of more than two orders of magnitude. Based on some physical and chemical aspects of the interactions between the dissolved and the particulate phases, some mathematical equations have been developed to explain some features of the observed k_d variability quantitatively. Thus, we have studied the decrease in particle size of k_d in the case of man-made radionuclides interacting with natural particles, and its increase in the case of naturally occurring radionuclides. For the latter, the dependence of k_d on the instantaneous water state has also been investigated. The study also shows the competition effects, particularly the dependence of k_d on pH and salinity. Finally, the effects produced by the size distribution of a given population of particles or the mixture of different populations, are also included. The present work provides for each situation, experimental support from literature data and/or modelling exercises.     

Overview of regulatory/policy/economic issues related to carbon dioxide

This is an overview of Session 2c dealing with the regulatory, policy and economic issues related to carbon dioxide and its impact on global climate change. The information is taken from the two papers presented in this session (the U.S. Perspective by Dennis Leaf and the European Perspective by Hans J.H. Verolme) and from the panel discussion that took place at the end of the session. The overview focuses primarily on the policy responses of both the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) to changes in global atmospheric pollution. To a lesser extent, the progress of policy responses to these changes is discussed. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been signed and ratified by over 180 countries. The UNFCCC contained no binding targets or timetables for emissions reductions. The Kyoto Protocol [United Nations. Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. UNEP.IUC/99/10. Chatlelaine, Switzerland: United Nations Environment Programme's Information Unit for Conventions, for the Climate Change Secretariat, 1997] to the UNFCCC did contain targets and timetables for reductions of greenhouse gases on the part of developed countries. The US has signed but not ratified the Kyoto Protocol. The US has experienced some movement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the part of various levels of government, as well as the private sector. The UK's commitment to reducing green house gases is laid down in the UK Climate Change Programme 2000. The UK is a member of the European Union (EU). In this context, an example of EU-wide progress, the voluntary agreement with car manufacturers to reduce CO(2) emissions in new vehicles, will be discussed. In addition, there will be some discussion on the UK CO(2) trading scheme that created the first market in the world in April 2001. Overall, the policy process is constantly informed by scientific research. In the case of climate change, much of this work is carried out under the auspices of international scientific panels.     

基于卫星降水的鄱阳湖流域旱涝分析及其可靠性检验

基于热带测雨卫星(TRMM)３B４２降水数据,通过Z 指数方法对鄱阳湖流域１９９８年１月~２０１０年１２月
旱涝的时空分布进行分析,并利用流域内１５个雨量站观测降雨数据同样采用Z 指数方法分析流域旱涝变化,与
TRMM 结果进行对比,检验其精度和可靠性.结果显示:TRMM 降水与地面雨量站观测降雨具有较高的一致性,
能正确反映流域的降水情况;其计算的Z指数在１９９８~２０１０年以０为中心呈锯齿状增大减小交替变化,所反映的
洪涝事件主要发生在４~６月,占全年的６０％左右,而干旱主要发生在９月~翌年１月份,其与鄱阳湖流域降水的
年内分布特征是一致的;同时,基于TRMM 降水反映的流域旱涝等级与降雨量的空间分布基本一致,TRMM 降水
能够用于流域旱涝的空间分布监测.     

Recent advances in SO2, NOx, and O3 personal monitoring

Since the air pollution as measured by stationary monitoring stations is a poor indicator of the population exposure, personal monitors are indispensible to health effects studies. This article reviews the current research on the development of personal monitors. Although most of the analytical methods reviewed in this study appear to be sensitive to the levels of the target pollutants NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ generally encountered in indoor and outdoor air, they lack the desired performance characteristics for a personal monitoring device, such as user safety and ease of operation, weight, and maintenance. Electrochemical transducers/sensors, which have not yet been exploited, are attractive candidates for the application to personal monitoring. This technique has an added feature of generating real-time measurements. A few research models and commercially attractive devices that can be used in field studies are included.     

Buffer capacity of seawater at high pCO2

Measurements of the variation of the carbon dioxide partial pressure in water were performed up to pCO₂ and CO₂ using 6.000 ppm. The consistent data so far obtained were compared with calculated pCO₂ using the Lynan constants. A plot of the experimental and calculated data evidences that comparisons are only possible by using varying carbonate alkalinity.     

Combinatorial bio/chemical analysis of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in waste recycling, feed/food, humans/wildlife and the environment.

The present review describes international activities using bioassays/biomarkers in combination with chemical analysis to measure the effects of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) in the environment. The above authors reviewed already the state-of-art bioanalytical detection methods (BDMs) for dioxins and DLCs [Environ Int (2001)]. The aim of this study will be to review applications of these bioassays/biomarkers to evaluate potential dioxins and DLCs. The present literature study lists relative potencies (REPs) of polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PXDD/Fs; X = Cl, Br, F), their thio analogues polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes (PCDTs) and thianthrens (PCTAs), polyhalogenated biphenyls (PXBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and other Ah receptor agonists measured by several biodetectors (Tier 3 screening). The authors will discuss some examples of the applications of some of these biodetectors in biomonitoring programmes and recently occurred dioxin crisis in feed/food. The diagnosis of the biopotency of these pollutants in technical processes like thermally treated waste, waste water treatment, landfill leachate treatment, commercial PCB-mixtures, the release into the environment (soil, air and water) and the final intake into wildlife and humans will be reviewed.     

Determination of 99Tc, 63Ni and 121m+126Sn in the marine environment

Four artificially produced radionuclides (${}^{99}\text{Tc, t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 2·15 × 10}{}^5\text{y;}{}^{63}\text{Ni, t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 93 y}$ and ${}^{\mathrm{121m+126}}\text{Sn, t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 55·5 y}$) have been analyzed in sediments and organisms from the marine environment. The samples were obtained from the vicinities of nuclear energy facilities, at sites of nuclear weapon tests and at sites remote from both of these locales. The activities of these nuclides per unit dry weight are remarkably similar at the first two of the above areas but are usually detectable only with difficulty, if at all, in the third area. Techniques for sample treatment and measurement are given.     

129I/127I, 129I/137Cs and 129I/99Tc in the Norwegian coastal current from 1980 to 1998

Discharges of the nuclides 129I, 137Cs and 99Tc from the nuclear reprocessing facilities at Sellafield (UK) and La Hague (France) are very useful as oceanic tracers. On the basis of 129I/127I, 137Cs and 99Tc measurements in archived seaweeds, the ratios of 129I/127I, 129I/137Cs and 129I/99Tc have been estimated in seawater at two locations (Utsira and Kiberg) in the Norwegian Coastal Current from 1980 to 1998. These ratios, which vary up to two orders of magnitude over this period, are potentially very interesting for determining "transit times" in the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans. While the long-term trends in these ratios are quite clear, measurements in monthly and bimonthly samples show considerable structure. Further studies are required to determine the exact origin of this structure, which may be a limiting factor in the time resolution that can be obtained with these parameters.     

Optimum design and evaluation of hybrid solar/wind/diesel power system for Masirah Island

This paper addresses the requirements of electrical energy for an isolated island of Masirah in Oman. The paper studied the possibility of using sources of renewable energy in combination with current diesel power plant on the island to meet the electrical load demand. There are two renewable energy sources used in this study, solar and wind energy. This study aimed to design and evaluate hybrid solar/wind/diesel/battery system in terms of cost and pollution. By using HOMER software, many simulation analyses have been proposed to find and optimize different technologies that contain wind turbine, solar photovoltaic, and diesel in combination with storage batteries for electrical generation. Four different hybrid power systems were proposed, diesel generators only, wind/diesel/battery, PV/diesel/battery, and PV/wind/diesel/battery. The analysis of the results shows that around 75 % could reduce the cost of energy by using PV/wind/diesel hybrid power system. Also, the greenhouse emission could be reduced by around 25 % compared with these by using diesel generators system that currently utilize in the Masirah Island. The solar/wind/diesel hybrid system is techno-economically viable for Masirah Island.     

Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assays of exhaust from diesel and gasoline powered motor vehicles

Motor vehicle exhaust from prechamber injection diesel and gasoline powered passenger cars, sampled during US FTP 1973 test cycles and comprising both particulate matter and compounds condensable at ambient temperature, has been assayed for mutagenicity in the Salmonella/microsome test. Mutagenic components were to a large extent active in the absence of the mammalian microsomal preparation. The mutagenicity of both particulate matter and condensate from diesel exhaust and condensate from gasoline exhaust was decreased in the presence of the microsomal preparation whereas the mutagenicity of particulate matter from gasoline exhaust was enhanced by microsomal activation. A comparison between the investigated diesel and gasoline exhaust samples shows that the mutagenic effect in the Salmonella test of the diesel exhaust is more than ten times higher than that of the gasoline exhaust. Fractionation with respect to polarity indicates that the mutagenic components mainly are distributed in neutral aliphatic, aromatic, and oxygenated fractions. Tests for mutagenic monofunctional nitroarenes by an anaerobic assay indicate that such compounds at most are marginally present in the exhaust samples as compared with their presence in airborne particulate matter collected in an urban environment.     

A study on the correlation between 13C/12C variations in tree rings and the growth pattern of trees

A specimen of Araucaria angustifolia from the south of Brazil was analyzed for ¹³C/¹²C variations in the cellulose of the tree rings. Those data, when compared with the growth pattern of the tree, showed a good correlation (r = ? 0.72) over a period of 200 years. A collection of six European trees was analyzed for the same effect and, although the expected inverse relation is evident from the graphical representation, the correlation coefficients are small. This is certainly due to the large scatter of δ¹³C data from those trees.