Spatial distribution and seasonal variation of char-EC and soot-EC in the atmosphere over China

A previous study on PM_2.5 carbonaceous aerosols measured with the thermal optical reflectance (TOR) method in fourteen Chinese cities is extended by subdividing total EC into char-EC and soot-EC. Average char-EC concentrations show great differences between the fourteen cities and between winter and summer periods, with concentrations of 8.67 and 2.41 μg m^?3 in winter and summer, respectively. Meanwhile spatial and seasonal soot-EC variations are small, with average concentrations of 1.26 and 1.21 μg m^?3 in winter and summer, respectively. Spatial and temporal distributions of char-EC, similar to EC, are mainly influenced by local fuel consumption, as well as the East Asian monsoon and some meteorological factors such as the mixing height and wet precipitation. The small spatial and seasonal variation of soot-EC is consistent with its regional-to-global dispersion, which may suggest that soot carbon is not local carbon, but regional carbon. Char-EC/soot-EC ratios show summer minimum and winter maximum in all cities, which is in good agreement with the difference in source contributions between the two periods. As OC/EC ratio is affected by the formation of the secondary organic aerosol (SOA), char-EC/soot-EC ratio is a more effective indicator for source identification of carbonaceous aerosol than previously used OC/EC ratio.     

废铸砂作为建筑材料资源化再利用研究进展

废铸砂是铸造工业在金属制品的生产过程中次生出来的一种细颗粒固体废弃物。研究其作为一种资源进行合理再利用是当前处置废铸砂、保护生态环境的良好对策。本文对废铸砂的环境特征、物理性质及废铸砂作为建筑材料在多种建筑制品及工程中的资源化再利用进行了综述研究,涉及的再利用领域包括混凝土、热拌沥青混合料、低强度填料、水泥、路基、路堤、阻水帷幕（屏障）和衬垫。调查发现,次生于黑色金属（铁和钢）铸造生产线的废铸砂是一种无害固体废弃物,正确处置和科学利用,对环境不会产生二次污染,在以上建筑制品及工程中的应用能满足相关技术、性能要求,可以替代相关的材料进行资源化再利用。     

提高法律地位 强化征收力度 ——谈排污费费改税的必要性

阐述了我国排污收费制度的现状和发展趋势,针对当前排污费征收工作中遇到的问题,提出了排污费费改税的必要性。指出,在我国实行排污费费改税的条件已经具备,应当把排污收费制度的改革提高到作为我国社会经济可持续发展长期战略的一个组成部分的高度来认识和考虑。     

城市汽车尾气污染治理模式探讨

借鉴国内外 I/ M制度的经验 ,运用系统论、控制论的观点 ,创造性地提出有效治理城市汽车尾气污染应建立的六大体系 ,强调城市汽车尾气污染的控制应以尾气污染预前控制和过程控制为主 ,并以此构筑城市汽车尾气污染治理的新模式     

A GIS-based Study for Optimizing the Total Emission Control Strategy in Lanzhou City

A geographic information system (GIS)-based approach with spatial analysis advantages was developed to optimize the total emission control scheme on air pollution in Lanzhou, combined with Models-3 modeling system and a linear programming model. GIS system is mainly used for establishing a multifactor assessment model to quantitatively divide environmental functional zone, and also used for selecting control sites in linear programming model. The results show that most of the urban area belongs to the second type of function, which is 122.8 km² occupying about 76.5% and the third type of about 32.9 km² occupying 20.5%. To reach the air quality up to the national standard in the entire control area, some large-emission factories need to cut emissions from 19% to 27%. For small but low-emission height sources, the cut may be as high 40%. The improvement of the ecological environment is urgently needed for controlling the background particle pollution in Lanzhou city.     

Evaluation of potential habitat with an integrated analysis of a spatial conservation strategy for David's deer, Elaphurus davidians

How to assess the potential habitat integrating landscape dynamics and population research, and how to reintroduce animals to potential habitats in environments highly human disturbed are still questions to be answered in conservation biology. According to behavioral research on Elaphurus davidians, we have developed a suitability index and a risk index to evaluate the potential habitats for the deer. With these indices, we conducted two transect assessments to evaluate the gradient change of the target region. Then, taking rivers as border lines, we tabulated the forest areas, high grassland area and total area and then compared the forest and high grassland area in each subregion. Furthermore, we computed the land use transfer matrix for the whole Yancheng coast during 1987-2000. We also computed human modified index (HMI) in six subregions. Lastly with a geographical information system support we obtained the spatial distribution of the indices and evaluation of the whole potential habitats from a neighborhood analysis. The transect assessment showed that the suitability of the coastal area was higher than that of the inland area for the deer, while the southern area was higher than the northern. Landscape metrics and HMI analysis showed that different landscape patterns and different anthropogenic disturbance existed within the region, and the increasing human disturbance was the key factor causing the pattern dynamics. The evaluation of potential habitats showed that there was an estimated carrying capacity of no more than 10,000 for David's deer reintroduction into the natural area. Also the reintroduction strategy was discussed. This integrated approach linked the population research and the landscape metrics, and the dataset with different scale; thus, it is an approach likely to be useful for the protection of other large animal in a landscape highly disturbed by humans.     

Comparative and combined toxicities of toluene and methyl tert-butyl ether to an Asian earthworm Perionyx excavatus

An earthworm assay was used to assess the toxicity of two main gasoline components. Ecotoxicities of toluene and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) were compared for Asian earthworm Perionyx excavatus separately and in combination. Sum of toxic unit (TU) at 50% mortality for the mixture (LC50mix) was estimated from the dose (TU-based)-response relationships by the Trimmed Spearman-Karber method. Toluene was shown to be about five and two times more toxic to P. excavatus than MTBE in filter paper contact test and natural soil tests, respectively. This is primarily due to the adsorption of toluene to soil particles, leading to less bioavailability of toluene to the earthworm in soil. The combined effect of toluene and MTBE was investigated using toxic unit model, and it was found to be almost additive and synergistic responses to P. excavatus in filter paper contact test and soil tests, respectively. The combined effect of toluene and MTBE in filter paper contact test was not consistent with the results in soil toxicity tests. This phenomenon may be associated with the interaction of soil salts with pollutants. Treatment with toluene and MTBE also affected the behavior and morphology of P. excavatus. It indicates that the VOCs induce metabolic and functional damages in earthworms. Combined effects of gasoline components should be taken into account to soil risk assessment.     

汞胁迫对小麦幼苗抗氧化酶活性的影响

通过营养液培养实验,研究了小麦幼苗在遭受汞胁迫后,地上部及根系抗氧化酶活性的变化．试验表明:小麦幼苗受到汞胁迫后,地上部及根系的超氧化物歧化酶(ＳＯＤ)的活性均显著增加,过氧化氢酶(ＣＡＴ) 的活性也比对照有所增强,但不如ＳＯＤ酶变化迅速,表明ＳＯＤ酶活性是小麦幼苗遭受汞胁迫时比较敏感的生物标记物．但是,小麦幼苗地上部及根系的丙二醛(ＭＤＡ) 含量仍均比对照显著升高,表明小麦幼苗的膜系统受到了一定程度的破坏．试验同时还反映出,汞胁迫对小麦幼苗根系的影响强于对地上部的影响．     

Evaluation of the thermal/optical reflectance method for quantification of elemental carbon in sediments

The IMPROVE thermal/optical reflectance (TOR) method, commonly used for EC quantification in atmospheric aerosols, is applied to soils and sediments and compared with a thermochemical method commonly applied to these non-atmospheric samples. TOR determines elemental carbon (EC) by an optical method, but it also yields thermally defined EC fractions in a 2% O2/98% He oxidizing atmosphere at 550 degrees C (EC1), 700 degrees C (EC2), and 800 degrees C (EC3). Replicate TOR TC, OC, and EC values exhibited precisions of approximately +/-10% as determined from multiple analyses of the same samples. EC abundances relative to total mass concentrations were within the ranges reported by other methods for diesel exhaust soot, n-hexane soot, wood and rice chars, and coals, as well as for environmental matrices. A direct comparison with the chemothermal (CTO) method of Gustafson et al. for ten soil and sediment samples demonstrated that almost all of the OC and EC1 are eliminated, as is part of the EC2. The CTO soot carbon is bounded by the EC3 and EC2+EC3 fractions of the IMPROVE TOR analysis. It might be possible to adjust these fractions to obtain better agreement between atmospheric aerosol and soil/sediment analysis methods. Given its linking the EC measurement in the atmosphere to sediments, the TOR method will not only provide useful information on the explanation and comparison between different environmental matrices, but also can be used to derive information on global cycling of EC.     

Distribution and ecotoxicity of chlorotriazines in the Scheldt Estuary (B-Nl)

As part of the Endis-Risks project, the current study describes the occurrence of the chlorotriazine pesticides atrazine, simazine and terbutylazine in water, sediment and suspended matter in the Scheldt estuary (B-Nl) from 2002 to 2005 (3 samplings a year, 8 sampling points). Atrazine was found at the highest concentrations, varying from 10 to 736 ng/l in water and from 5 up to 10 ng/g in suspended matter. Simazine and terbutylazine were detected at lower concentrations. Traces of the targeted pesticides were also detected in sediments, but these were below the limit of quantification. As part of an ecotoxicological assessment, we studied the potential effect of atrazine on molting of Neomysis integer (Crustacea:Mysidacea), a resident invertebrate of the Scheldt Estuary and a proposed test organism for the evaluation of endocrine disruption. Following chronic exposure ( approximately 3 weeks), atrazine did not significantly affect mysid molting at environmentally relevant concentrations (up to 1 microg/l).