Air Pollution Research Needs: Herbaceous and Ornamental Plants and Agriculturally Generated Pollutants

Effects of various air pollutants on economically important crops and ornamentals have been studied since before the turn of the century.

Summaries of this research on the effects of air pollutants, that have appeared in criteria documents developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, should be reviewed with respect to differences in plant susceptibility found in various regions of the country. These susceptibility differences are associated with variations in both environmental conditions and distribution of pollutants. Research efforts on air pollution injury to vegetation have often been poorly coordinated leaving many gaps in our knowledge. A better assessment of the impact of air pollution on vegetation is required to attain realistic controls for pollutants affecting agriculture. Research areas of major concern include: baseline information on effects of pollutants on agricultural productivity; dose-response information to support predictive mathematical models for acute and chronic studies of growth, yield, and quality effects; effects of pollutants interacting with other pollutants and with insects and plant diseases; mechanisms of pollutant action; genetic changes related to pollutant effects; effects of environmental stresses on plant response to pollutants; evaluation of plants including soil microbes as pollutant sinks; development of techniques to minimize pollutant effects; and, the effects of agricultural chemicals as air pollutants. There is a need for studies that consider the whole plant in its natural environment. Conceptual models interrelating pollutant effects and their interactions and ultimately mathematical models will be needed to develop an intelligent approach to land management. The effects of agriculturally produced pollutants on plants and other receptors must be identified and quantified.     

Environmental Conditions Affecting the Use of Plants as Indicators of Air Pollution

Effects of water reduction, chemicals, soil, and nutrient levels on the sensitivity of plants to air pollution are discussed.     

The Impact of Increased Recycle Rates on Markets in Florida

The State of Florida passed The Florida Solid Waste Management Act of 1988 mandating that county recycling programs be initiated by July 1, 1989. The legislation further expressed the goal that, at a minimum, recycling efforts reduce the amount of solid waste requiring final disposal or resource recovery by 30 percent by the end of 1994. This study was performed to determine the impact on recycle markets when the amounts of materials recycled from the municipal solid waste stream are increased by 30 percent in Florida.

The composition of the municipal waste stream was quantified in terms of the amounts of paper, plastic, metals, glass, and rubber. The effect of a 30 percent increase in the recycle rate of each class of material was calculated and compared to existing recycle rates in the State of Florida. It was determined that there are few capacity constraints on the increase in recycle rates for aluminum, steel (i.e., tin cans), and color separated glass. There are, however, serious constraints on increasing recycle rates for paper, plastics and rubber tires.     

长江中游城市群综合发展水平时空分异研究

区域可持续发展理念已被社会各界所接收,并逐步深入到社会发展计划及区域政策制定中。以区域差异分析为基础的区域格局优化是促进区域发展的核心内容。从经济发展、资源利用、环境保护、人口与公共服务和科技创新等5个方面选取23个指标,构建其监测评估指标体系综合分析长江中游城市群综合发展水平时空格局演变,有助于认清长江中游城市群综合发展格局形成的过程,出现的问题及产生的原因,从而制定相应的区域调控政策,这对于促进长江中游城市群内部区域之间协调发展及推进中部崛起战略具有重要的现实意义。基于2005年和2011年长江中游城市群37个地级市的统计数据,借助SPSS、GIS软件,采用全局主成分分析法评价分析其综合发展水平及时空分异,并对其成因进行分析。结果表明：区域综合发展分值有所提升,但增长潜力仍然很大;发展水平差异显著,且两极分化趋势明显;整体呈现出以武汉和长沙为中心,以南昌、合肥为副中心发展格局,但中心城市带动作用较弱,制约各城市群发展的因素各异。因此,未来长江中游城市群应努力提升区域经济发展总量的同时,转变经济产业结构,加强企业创新能力,寻求新的经济增长点。与此同时,应加大基础设施尤其是道路交通的投资强度;充分利用已有的地理区位及资源、科技人才优势发展第二、三产业,提高经济发展中资源的利用效率,降低能耗,保护环境;除此之外,还应加强区域宏观调控,注重城乡统筹发展,协调、平衡区域内部均衡发展,缩小区域之间及内部差异,促进技术转移和优势互补     

吸入甲醛对小鼠前脑NMDA-R基因转录的影响

通过测定小鼠前脑N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体(N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor,NMDA-R)的转录水平的变化,研究中低浓度甲醛暴露环境对小鼠中枢神经系统的影响.实验以昆明系小鼠为实验材料,经甲醛染毒后,立即脱颈处死并取其前脑组织提取总RNA,采用RT-PCR二步法对其中的NMDA-R亚基(Grinl,Grin2a,Grin2b)及管家基因β-actin进行扩增,通过光密度分析染毒前后基因转录水平的变化.实验结果表明,与对照组相比,0.5mg·m-3浓度的气态甲醛可使Grinl基因转录稍有上调,但无显著性差异;Grin2a基因转录上调且有显著性差异(p＜0.05),Grin2b基因略有下调但无显著性差异.3.0 mg·m-3浓度的甲醛可使Grinl基因转录上调并具有极显著差异(p＜0.01),且上调幅度明显大于0.5mg·m-3染毒组;Grin2a基因转录显著性上调(p＜0.05),但上调幅度小于0.5 mg·m-3染毒组;Grin2b基因转录显著性下调(p＜0.05).由此可见,低浓度甲醛(0.5 mg·m-3)的吸入对NMDA-R(除Grin2a外)的各亚基的影响较小.中等浓度甲醛(3.0 mg·m-3)的吸入对NMDA-R影响较大,这可能是持续性气态甲醛吸入对小鼠中枢神经系统产生影响的重要机制之一.     

基质组合方式对生活污水中磷的去除效果研究

研究了三种不同基质组合对生活污水中磷的去除效果。结果表明,柱1(天然蛭石-红壤-石灰石)对总磷和正磷酸盐的处理效果最好,去除率的均值分别达到了83%和85%,总磷出水浓度均值达到了污水综合排放标准中的Ⅰ类标准。同一基质组合不同污水去磷的去除效果研究表明,单一含P溶液的系统比生活污水的系统除磷效果好,主要原因可能在于离子竞争吸附及pH值的差异。     

氨氮浓度对MBBR工艺中微生物群落结构的影响

采用移动床生物膜反应器（moving bed biofilm reactor,MBBR）处理模拟废水,考察进水氨氮浓度（20,30,50,100,200 mg/L）对MBBR工艺处理效果的影响,并利用16S rDNA高通量测序技术,分析微生物群落结构变化。结果表明:氨氮浓度为30~100 mg/L时,氨氮浓度越小,越有利于氨氮的去除,对COD去除率影响较小。氨氮浓度为20,50,200 mg/L时,Ottowia为第1优势菌属,相对丰度分别为66.76%、34.40%、53.88%,而氨氮浓度为30,100 mg/L时,Ottowia优势地位被Arcobacter、Hydrogenophaga等取代,说明微生物群落结构发生波动性变化可能与各类起反硝化作用的菌属和Ottowia菌属争夺优势地位有关。与自养型硝化作用有关的菌属相对丰度稳定在0.3%左右,相对丰度受氨氮浓度影响不大,高浓度氨氮对硝化菌属产生的抑制作用,可能是对其微生物活性的抑制。通过研究发现,进水氨氮浓度对MBBR生物膜中的微生物群落结构有一定的影响。     

藻屑堆积对沉积物-水界面污染物的释放效应

为探索不同密度藻屑堆积对沉积物-水界面污染物的释放效应,设置了对照组(无藻屑添加)、2个藻屑添加组(分别为1倍组(加入0.06 g干藻,约6 g·m~(-2),以干重计)、20倍组(加入1.2 g干藻,约120 g·m~(-2),以干重计)),于(16±1)℃避光培养.结果表明,实验前4 d,20倍组藻屑分解耗氧剧烈并释放出大量溶解性有机质(DOM)及氮、磷营养盐.其中,溶解氧(DO)浓度迅速下降至1.4 mg·L~(-1)以下,上覆水中类色氨酸类物质荧光强度在第4 d最高(0.8 RU)且高于空白组,对荧光强度的贡献比例高达51.7%,为DOM的主要成分,说明藻屑分解释放大量类色氨酸物质.释放的溶解性无机氮(DIN)、溶解性总磷(DTP)以氨氮(NH_4~+-N)、正磷酸盐(PO_4~(3-)-P)为主要形态.随后实验阶段上覆水中SR值、E250/E360值降低,E253/E203值增加,说明藻屑在降解过程中腐殖化程度逐渐增加,取代基种类减少,导致释放的DOM以类腐殖质为主.因此,20倍组类色氨酸类物质逐渐被降解,导致荧光强度逐渐降低,类腐殖质荧光强度增加,对荧光强度的贡献比例高达62.7%.而对照组与1倍组污染物释放培养期间无显著性差异,DOM及氮、磷营养盐释放浓度均低于20倍组.因此,120 g·m~(-2)藻屑密度堆积情况下可造成水体明显缺氧至厌氧,导致大量氮、磷营养盐及溶解性有机物释放至上覆水中,成为水体富营养化的重要营养源.     

南极拉森北部冰架表面物质损失机制探讨

基于解密航片、光学遥感影像以及卫星雷达测高数据,完成一个较长时间序列的拉森A和B冰架的范围及表面高程变化监测.在此基础上,结合NCEP/NCAR夏季逐月平均气温数据和GPCP全球降水数据这两种气象数据来探讨拉森北部冰架表面物质平衡机制.结果表明：随着气温的升高,拉森A和B冰架自1968年以来总共消失了14 000km²的浮冰.当前,拉森A冰架已经完全消失,拉森B冰架仅存2 000km².伴随着冰架的持续崩塌与退缩,拉森北部冰架展现出高程持续降低的趋势,而且拉森A冰架的降低速度（-0.45m/a）明显高于拉森B冰架（-0.09m/a）.作为冰架表面物质平衡估算的两个主要参数,拉森A冰架的夏季平均气温从1968年的0.16℃升高到近期的0.84℃;拉森B冰架的夏季平均气温从1968年的0.04℃升高到近期的0.66℃.过去几十年的降水量变化对拉森北部冰架表面物质累积产生的影响很小,反倒是夏季温暖的降雨进一步加剧该地区的表面物质负平衡.对于持续崩塌与退缩型的拉森北部冰架来说,其高程降低除了受到冰架表面冰雪融化与再凝结导致的积雪致密化驱动外,还受到冰架后退导致的背向应力减少,进而导致的冰架物质输送加快的深刻影响.总之,在全球气候变暖的背景下,拉森A和B冰架的表面物质体现出越来越明显的负平衡趋势.