A novel environmental indicator for monitoring of pesticides

The identification of an indicator for monitoring pesticides is a very effective analytical approach because it allows one to schedule and simplify the analytical routine. In this study, a new indicator has been designed, which has to be able to define a scale of priorities in the pesticides monitoring. A starting equation was developed involving the escaping tendency of a given substance from a phase (based on the Mackay model I level). The reliability of the indicator was tested by application to a model system, consisting of a defined and limited area, choosing water as matrix over a period of 6 years. A group of marker compounds was also defined to implement the predictive efficacy of the indicator. The results obtained by modeling were compared to those obtained by experimentation of the same model system. The indicator was subsequently and appropriately modified creating a new equation, including a kinetic factor, which considers the environmental degradation processes. The effect of the rectified indicator was consistent with the sales data list of compounds, when applied to the markers. The indicator developed in this study, tested as a model on specific area-phase-period (Province of Siena, water phase, 2000?C2006), is applicable to any other area-phase-period, adjusting the partition value of the Mackay model for the case under study.     

The terrain signatures of administrative units: a tool for environmental assessment

The quantification of knowledge related to the terrain and the landuse/landcover of administrative units in Southern Greece (Peloponnesus) is performed from the CGIAR-CSI SRTM digital elevation model and the CORINE landuse/landcover database. Each administrative unit is parametrically represented by a set of attributes related to its relief. Administrative units are classified on the basis of K-means cluster analysis in an attempt to see how they are organized into groups and cluster derived geometric signatures are defined. Finally each cluster is parametrically represented on the basis of the occurrence of the Corine landuse/landcover classes included and thus, landcover signatures are derived. The geometric and the landuse/landcover signatures revealed a terrain dependent landuse/landcover organization that was used in the assessment of the forest fires impact at moderate resolution scale.     

The development of a novel method for directional dust monitoring

Dust monitoring using sticky pads was popularised in the 1980s. The discolouration caused by dust adhering to white adhesive material was measured with a smoke stain reflectometer. This loss of reflectance was expressed as the percentage effective area coverage (EAC%) per day. EAC% can be used as a measure of nuisance caused by dust. EAC% may also be measured with a hand-held Sticky Pad Reader (SPR). Sticky pads can be mounted on flat or cylindrical surfaces to measure dust by deposition or in flux. An alternative method was developed in the 1990s that measured total dust coverage using computer-based scanning. DustScan used a transparent adhesive film wrapped around a vertical cylinder with magnetic north marked. The sticky pad was sealed with another transparent sheet before scanning at 50 dots per inch (dpi). Dust levels were assessed by comparing the grey-scale values of pixels in the exposed area with an unexposed reference area. Insects and other extraneous material could be ‘masked out’ from the computer analysis. Dust coverage was expressed as percentage absolute area coverage (AAC%). DustScan has subsequently been developed commercially. A limited trial indicated that monitoring periods of 7–14 days were preferred to avoid dust saturation of the sticky pad. A method for calculating EAC% has been developed and shown to have a high degree of correspondence with an SPR. A trial for the Minerals Industry Research Organisation (MIRO) made comparisons between DustScan and other dust monitoring methods. Dust nuisance limits based on AAC% and EAC% are proposed.par     

A yeast-based cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assay for environmental monitoring using novel portable instrumentation

An assay capable of simultaneously measuring both general toxicity and more subtle genotoxicity, in aqueous environmental samples, is described. The assay uses eukaryotic (yeast) cells, genetically modified to express a green fluorescent protein (GFP) whenever DNA damage, as a result of exposure to genotoxic agents, is repaired. A measure of the reduction in cell proliferation is used to characterise general toxicity producing familiar EC(50) and LOEC data. The assay protocol has been developed for proposed use in the field and hence employs dedicated, portable instrumentation, the development of which is described. A range of environmentally relevant substances has been evaluated using the assay, including solutions of metal ions, solvents and pesticides. Preliminary data comparing the yeast assay's response to that of a standard Daphnia test in the analysis of the toxicity of 34 varied industrial waste effluents are also presented. The sensitivity to a wide range of substances and effluents suggests the assay should be useful for environmental toxicity monitoring.     

江苏省环境监测现代化建设框架

介绍了江苏省环境监测现代化建设的背景,阐述了建设目标,并对具体建设内容进行了讨论。     

论中国环境监测的现代化建设

论述了在中国现阶段推进环境监测现代化的重要意义和历史机遇,指出了中国环境监测发展的现代化方向,阐述了中国环境监测现代化建设的内容,强调了科学监测的理念。     

Using statistical power analysis as a tool when designing a monitoring program: experience from a large-scale Swedish landscape monitoring program

The National Inventory of Landscapes in Sweden (NILS) is a large-scale, sample-based monitoring program that combines aerial photointerpretation with field inventory to follow landscape-scale biophysical conditions and changes. A statistical power analysis was conducted before the NILS program began in 2003 with the aim to determine an appropriate sampling effort and compare some design alternatives. The chosen sampling effort was then evaluated in a second power analysis conducted just before the first 5-year re-inventory rotation started. The latter power analysis revealed which magnitude of actual change might be detected within the future for different central monitoring variables. This article reports results from these power analyses and discusses our experiences in using power analysis as a tool for designing large-scale monitoring programs. The results showed that even quite small changes in the more common variables, such as land cover types and more common plant species, can be detected on the national scale. However, on the regional scale, or for less common variables, changes will be more difficult to detect. The power analyses have revealed the size level of changes that will be possible to detect. The results have also generated incentives for further improvements of NILS, e.g., input to the modification and revision of the variable content, flow and hierarchy, and incentives for launching other complementary monitoring programs connected to NILS. They have also created a basis for a better and more user-oriented communication of results from NILS to different stakeholders.     

The use of sensor arrays for environmental monitoring: interests and limitations

Continuous, in situ monitoring of air, water and land quality is fundamental to most environmental applications. Low cost and non-invasive chemical sensor arrays provide a suitable technique for in situ monitoring. Their ability and performance under realistic conditions is discussed in this paper. Published studies report promising results despite a number of limitations that are associated with both the technology itself and its application in ever changing ambient conditions. Early investigations include the analysis of single substances as well as odour and wastewater organic load monitoring. Reported applications typically highlight the sensitivity of the currently available sensors to changes in temperature, humidity and flow rate. Two types of approaches are recommended to deal with these effects: either working under fixed experimental conditions or measuring the external parameters to numerically compensate for their change. The main challenge associated with the use of non-specific sensor arrays lies in establishing a relationship between the measured multivariate signals and the standards metrics that are traditionally used for quality assessment of gas mixtures. For instance, odour monitoring requires calibration against olfactometric measurements while investigations of wastewater samples still need to be correlated with organic pollution parameters such as BOD, COD or TOC. On the other hand, results obtained in the field have demonstrated how sensor arrays can be readily used as simple alarm devices or as early warning systems based on a general air/water quality index.     

Review of environmental monitoring methods: survey designs

During the past decade and a half, environmental monitoring programshave increased in numberand importance. Large scale environmental monitoring programs often present design difficulties because they tend to measure many(sometimes hundreds) of parameters through space and time. Thispaper reviewed and summarized one important component of environmental monitoring programs, the statistical survey design. Survey designsused for long-term monitoring programs lasting multiple (3)occasions were reviewed, paying specialattention to those published after 1985. During this review, two key components of the overall survey design were identified. The first key component wasthe membership design. Groups of population units sampled the same occasionwere called panels here, and the membership design specified which units were members of which panels. The second component was the revisit design that specified when panels were to be revisited. Membership designs varied, butsome form of simple random or systematic design was popular.Among revisit designs, four basicpatterns were found in the literature and their relative strengths andweaknesses were summarized. To efficiently discuss revisit designs, anew unified short-hand notation was proposed and adopted.     

Multimedia environmental monitoring: 50 years at Hanford

Environmental monitoring has been an ongoing activity on the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington for almost 50 years. Objectives are to detect and assess potential impacts of Site operations on air, surface and ground waters, foodstuffs, fish, wildlife, soil and vegetation. Data from monitoring effects are used to calculate the overall radiological dose to humans working onsite or residing in nearby communities. In 1989, measured Hanford Site perimeter concentrations of airborne radionuclides were below applicable guidelines. Concentrations of radionuclides and nonradiological water quality in the Columbia River were in compliance with applicable standards. Foodstuffs irrigated with river water taken downstream of the Site showed radionuclide levels that were similar to those found in foodstuffs from control areas. Low levels of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr in most onsite wildlife samples and concentrations of radionuclides in soils and vegetation from on- and offsite locations were typical of those attributable to worldwide fallout. The calculated dose potentially received by a maximally exposed individual (i.e., based on hypothetical, worst-case assumptions for all routes of exposure) in 1989 (0.05 mrem/yr) was similar to those calculated for 1985 through 1988.In addition to monitoring radioactivity in fish and wildlife, population numbers of key species are determined. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) spawning in the Columbia River at Hanford has increased in recent years with a concomitant increase in winter roosting activity of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). An elk (Cervus elaphus) herd, established by immigration in 1972, is also increasing. The Hanford Site currently serves as a refuge for Canada goose (Branta canadensis), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and various plants and other animals, e.g., mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and coyotes (Canis latrans).     

中国环境监测科技发展需求分析

根据环境监测面临的形势和任务,通过分析环境监测科技发展现状和差距,提出中国环境监测科技的发展思路和未来10年应优先研究的13个重点领域、32个主题项目。     

环境监测技术的现状及发展趋势

根据日本环境质量标准发展的需求,结合欧洲新近实施的相关环境标准,分析了环境监测技术需求和发展方向.     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy application in environmental monitoring of water quality: a review

Water quality monitoring is a critical part of environmental management and protection, and to be able to qualitatively and quantitatively determine contamination and impurity levels in water is especially important. Compared to the currently available water quality monitoring methods and techniques, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has several advantages, including no need for sample pre-preparation, fast and easy operation, and chemical free during the process. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand the fundamentals of aqueous LIBS analysis and effectively apply this technique to environmental monitoring. This article reviews the research conducted on LIBS analysis for liquid samples, and the article content includes LIBS theory, history and applications, quantitative analysis of metallic species in liquids, LIBS signal enhancement methods and data processing, characteristics of plasma generated by laser in water, and the factors affecting accuracy of analysis results. Although there have been many research works focusing on aqueous LIBS analysis, detection limit and stability of this technique still need to be improved to satisfy the requirements of environmental monitoring standard. In addition, determination of nonmetallic species in liquid by LIBS is equally important and needs immediate attention from the community. This comprehensive review will assist the readers to better understand the aqueous LIBS technique and help to identify current research needs for environmental monitoring of water quality.     

The value of long-term environmental monitoring programs: an Ohio River case study

As a subset of environmental monitoring, fish sampling programs have been an important part of assessing the potential impacts of water withdrawals and effluent discharges on fish populations for many years. New environmental regulations often require that adverse environmental impacts to fish populations be minimized. Without long-term field data, population evaluations may incorrectly indicate adverse impacts where none exist or no impact where one is likely to occur. Several electric utility companies have funded the Ohio River Ecological Research Program, which has been in existence for over 40 years and consists of fish, habitat, and water quality studies at multiple power plant sites on the mainstem Ohio River. Sampling includes seasonal night-time electrofishing and daytime beach seining at three upstream and three downstream locations near each plant. The long-term nature of the program allows for the establishment of aquatic community indices to support evaluations of technology performance, the collaborative development of compliance metrics, and the assessment of fish population trends. Studies have concluded that the Ohio River fish community has improved in response to better water quality and that power plant fish entrainment and impingement and thermal discharges have had little or no measureable impact. Through collaboration and the use of long-term data, $6.3 million in monitoring costs have been saved during recent fish impingement studies. The ability to access a multiyear fish abundance database, with its associated data on age, growth, and fecundity, improves the quality of such evaluations and reduces the need for extensive field sampling at individual locations.     

Wipe sampling as a tool for monitoring aerosol deposition in workplaces

As a complement to traditional exposure assessment, monitoring deposition of aerosols can be a simple and quick screening method for identifying deposited aerosols. In this presentation examples of screening studies, based on wipe sampling in combination with adequate analytical techniques, are described. These screening methods are rapid, simple and easy to carry out. The examples given in this presentation show a broad applicability and the methods are proven useful for assessing aerosol distribution in the workplace as well as to identify target spots for more extensive assessment of a worker's exposure situation.     

Synthetic musks in environmental samples: indicator compounds with relevant properties for environmental monitoring

Synthetic musks (nitro and polycyclic musks) are a group of chemicals offering a wide range of important properties for environmental monitoring programs. They are produced as odorous chemicals and added to a wide variety of perfumes, toiletry products and other household products. As such, they are directly applied in cosmetic products or in washed textiles to the human body in considerable concentrations and accumulate owing to dermal resorption. In addition, synthetic musks also enter the environment via waste water treatment. Several polycyclic musks are chiral. By using chiral gas chromatographic methods, it is possible to determine the enantiomeric ratio and assess their bioavailability. Although an comprehensive quality assurance program must be followed during the analysis of synthetic musks in environmental samples, the determination of these compounds is not very demanding and can be carried out by a standard analytical laboratory specialising in trace analysis of organic pollutants. Owing to the pheromone-like behavior of some synthetic musks, the induction of receptors in olfactory systems should be investigated. For HHCB (1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[g]-2-benzopyran, e.g., Galaxolide), three-dimensional structural similarities with androstenone (5 alpha-androst-16-en-3-one), a mammalian steroid pheromone, were found, which support the hypothesis of HHCB as an artificial pheromone. Owing to their environmental abundance, their relation to human activities and their potential for pheromone-like environmental behavior, synthetic musks are especially valuable as future indicator chemicals for environmental monitoring.     

我国环境监测仪器向规范化方向发展刍议

从我国环境监测事业发展和建立社会主义市场经济体制的需要，论述了加速我国环境监测仪器规范化的必要和可行性，并阐述了具体实施意见。     

The lognormal distribution,environmental data,and radiological monitoring

The lognormal distribution has become a common choice to represent intrinsically positive and often highly skewed environmental data in statistical analysis. However the implications of its use are often not carefully considered. With an emphasis on radiological monitoring applications, this paper reviews what assuming lognormality means in terms of data analysis and interpretation. The relationship of using normal theory methods on log transformed data to multiplicative errors and hypothesis testing in the original scale is also discussed.Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy, DOE Contract No. DE-AC-07-76ID01570.