Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water of Greater Québec Region (Canada): Occurrence, Variations and Modelling

The levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) – the main species of by-product from water chlorination – were monitored in thedistribution systems of the five major drinking water utilitiesof the greater area of Québec City in order to investigate andmodel their occurrence on a spatial and seasonal basis. Data forTHMs and other water quality and operational parametersassociated with their formation were generated through a 16 monthsampling program involving several sites representing variablewater residence times, from the plant to the system extremity.The results demonstrate that the differences in measured THMlevels between the five utilities are mainly due to the variablequality of raw waters, the type of water treatment process beingused and the type and levels of applied disinfectant. Dependingon the utility, average THM levels were from 1.3 to 2.5 timeshigher in the system extremities than in the water leaving thetreatment plant. Also, average levels of THMs measured in summerat the distribution system extremities were, depending on theutility, from 2.5 to 5 times higher than the average levelsmeasured in winter. The seasonal differences were found to besignificantly greater than those observed by others in waterutilities in the United States and Europe and are explained inlarge part by the considerable changes, over the year, in thequality and temperature of surface waters in Southern Québec. Forthe five utilities under study, multivariate regression modelswere developed in order to predict spatial and seasonalvariations of THMs. Both residual chlorine demand and temperaturewere found to be better, statistically, as predictors for THMoccurrence. The usefulness of the developed models for routineand long term water quality management, as well as for assessmentof human exposure to THMs, are also discussed.     

Benchmarking for best practice environmental management

Benchmarking of environmental performance to demonstrate theachievement of best practice environmental management is acomponent of a new form of licensing of industrialdischarges in Western Australia. The paper describes theapproaches to benchmarking for the critical environmentalissues for an alumina refinery and wastewater treatmentplant. It also describes the lessons learnt from thebenchmarking process on appropriate methods, the benefitsand difficulties in the benchmarking process, and changesthat would assist benchmarking for best practiceenvironmental management.     

Incorporating natural capital into economy-wide impact analysis: a case study from Alberta

Traditionally, decision-makers have relied on economic impactestimates derived from conventional economy-wide models. Conventional models lack the environmental linkages necessary for examining environmental stewardship and economic sustainability, and in particular the ability to assess the impact of policies on natural capital. This study investigatesenvironmentally extended economic impact estimation on a regionalscale using a case study region in the province of Alberta knownas the Foothills Model Forest (FMF). Conventional economic impactmodels are environmentally extended in pursuit of enhancingpolicy analysis and local decision-making. It is found that theflexibility of the computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelingapproach offers potential for environmental extension, with a solid grounding in economic theory. The CGE approach may be the tool of the future for more complete integrated environment andeconomic impact assessment.     

Competitive Retention of Lead and Cadmium on an Agricultural Soil

Lead and cadmium contamination of an agricultural soil has been studied using batch and column experiments. Thermodynamics of theretention phenomena may be represented by a Langmuir isotherm foran aqueous metal concentration up to 100 mg L^-1. First order kinetics with respect to the solid phase yield good predictabilityfor both batch and column experiments. Kinetics and thermodynamics of lead retention predominate over those ofcadmium. As a consequence, lead is preferentially retainedand can even displace sorbed cadmium. In the event of anspill involving both metals, cadmium would move further inthe soil and its aqueous concentration downstream could beeven higher than that of the influent solution, increasingpotential risks. A two-region model has been used to fit all the experimental results. Satisfactory predictions for column experiments are obtained with parameters which are consistent with those obtained for the batch experiments, for which sorption is described by a Langmuir isotherm including competitive retention.     

渤海大气气溶胶元素组成及物源分析

利用电感耦合等离子体-光发射光谱法(ICP-OES)分析了2000年夏季渤海大气气溶胶样品,给出了渤海气溶胶污染物浓度分布特点,结合气象资料和富集因子进行了元素物源分析.分析结果表明,辽东湾的污染程度高于其他海区,气溶胶中含量最高的元素是Zn(1638ng/m3),含量最低的是V(2ng/m3).渤海气溶胶中Pb、Zn、Cu和Ni等具有较高的富集因子.辽东湾Pb的富集因子达4000以上,Zn的富集因子普遍大于其他海区.Pb、Mn、Cu、V等含量的相对大小与同期北京的分析结果一致.综合分析表明,渤海大气严重受到陆地人为排放污染物的影响.     

城市大气中颗粒物的研究现状及健康效应

综述了大气尘(TSP、PM10、PM2.5)的研究现状,重点围绕TSP、PM10、PM2.5的物理特征、化学组成(有机组成、重金属元素的总含量及其各化学形态分布)及其源解析进行描述,也提及了大气颗粒物与健康的关系.     

地表水样品自然沉降时间对总磷测定结果的影响分析

地表水中总磷含量高低是评定水质优劣的一项重要指标,分析数据表明丰水期中总磷主要来源于泥沙中吸附的有机磷和无机磷,而溶解态磷含量较少;水样中总磷含量随着自然沉降时间的延长而逐渐降低.因此样品采集回来后样品的自然沉降时间是影响地表水中总磷测定结果的一个主要原因之一.     

还原蒸馏法分析硝基苯类化合物的探讨

由于还原偶氮比色法中锌渣、滤纸吸附对分析硝基苯类化合物有较大影响,文章采用还原后蒸馏的方法分析硝基苯类化合物,该法比滤纸过滤分析结果准确,精密性好,操作简单.     

大气中HONO来源的研究进展

由于亚硝酸(HONO)在大气中所扮演的重要角色如:OH自由基的前体物以及对臭氧和光化学烟雾形成的促进作用而引起科学界的广泛关注,然而对于大气中HONO的来源问题,特别是它的非均相形成过程目前尚未清楚.本文从HONO在大气中的重要意义及目前国际上对HONO来源的研究现状,特别是它的非均相形成机理进行了阐述;由于其在大气化学中的重要意义,提出我国开展大气HONO研究的重要性,并对其来源问题进行了讨论与展望.     

南京某县空气、土壤中多环芳烃的分布及来源

采用建立的采样及分析监测程序对南京某县空气、土壤中的多环芳烃进行了调查监测,探讨了多环芳烃在空气、土壤中的分布特征、相关性及可能的污染来源.