Estimated crop yield losses due to surface ozone exposure and economic damage in India

In this study, we estimate yield losses and economic damage of two major crops (winter wheat and rabi rice) due to surface ozone (O₃) exposure using hourly O₃ concentrations for the period 2002–2007 in India. This study estimates crop yield losses according to two indices of O₃ exposure: 7-h seasonal daytime (0900–1600 hours) mean measured O₃ concentration (M7) and AOT40 (accumulation exposure of O₃ concentration over a threshold of 40 parts per billion by volume during daylight hours (0700–1800 hours), established by field studies. Our results indicate that relative yield loss from 5 to 11 % (6–30 %) for winter wheat and 3–6 % (9–16 %) for rabi rice using M7 (AOT40) index of the mean total winter wheat 81 million metric tons (Mt) and rabi rice 12 Mt production per year for the period 2002–2007. The estimated mean crop production loss (CPL) for winter wheat are from 9 to 29 Mt, account for economic cost loss was from 1,222 to 4,091 million US$ annually. Similarly, the mean CPL for rabi rice are from 0.64 to 2.1 Mt, worth 86–276 million US$. Our calculated winter wheat and rabi rice losses agree well with previous results, providing the further evidence that large crop yield losses occurring in India due to current O₃ concentration and further elevated O₃ concentration in future may pose threat to food security.     

湖南省四水流域水沙周期特征及其影响因素分析

采用复小波变换和M K非参数检验的方法分析了湖南省四水流域主要控制站1951~2011年径流量与输沙量周期规律和突变特征。结果表明：(1)湖南四水径流量存在多个波动增加和波动减少的波动变化现象,但无显著变化趋势;而输沙量虽然有一定的波动,但总体上呈波动减少变化态势,而且下降趋势较显著;(2)湘潭站、桃江站和桃源站径流量和输沙量存在20~25 a的第一主周期,而石门站径流量和输沙量的第一主周期不具有一致性,径流量主周期为2 a,输沙量主周期为13 a,但其径流量和输沙量第二、三主周期变化规律相吻合,均为3~5 a的周期;(3)大量的水利工程建设是导致输沙量减少的主要原因,径流量的变化与降水的变化规律较为一致     

春季香溪河库湾CODMn时空分布及其影响因子初探

于2012年春季在香溪河库湾合理布置断面观测,分析水体高锰酸盐指数(CODMn)的时空分布特征,并对CODMn与水体中叶绿素a、溶解氧(DO)、水体垂向稳定系数、总氮(TN)和溶解性硅酸盐(D Si)进行相关分析,以期为香溪河流域有机污染的治理提供支持和指导。结果表明：春季香溪河库湾CODMn浓度变化范围为1.40～5.36 mg/L,4月CODMn均值明显高于3月和5月,为366 mg/L,整个春季CODMn浓度从下游至上游呈现明显增大的趋势。相关分析发现,春季水华暴发期间,CODMn与叶绿素a显著正相关(分别为072和074),而在未暴发水华的3月二者的相关性不显著。浮游植物和水体稳定系数是影响CODMn变化的主要因素。倒灌异重流使得高含氮、低CODMn浓度的长江干流水体进入库湾下游并稀释CODMn浓度。CODMn与DO在3月和5月的弱相关关系为香溪河CODMn特殊的分布特征提供了其它合理的解释,其分布特征受多种因素的共同影响。春季库湾上游有机污染趋于恶化,限制支流特别是上游污染物的排放是改善有机污染现状的有效途径     

水温分层对香溪河库湾浮游植物功能群季节演替的影响

三峡水库水环境问题近年来引起社会广泛关注,以浮游植物功能群为基础,通过对2010年1~12月香溪河库湾水温、浮游植物等进行跟踪监测,探究支流库湾浮游植物群落结构演替趋势及其影响因子。结果表明：香溪河库湾2010年共出现18个浮游植物功能群,其中B、X1、P、Y、X2、D、LO、J、MP、G是代表性功能群;水温分层的季节性发育和消失是浮游植物群落结构演替的主要影响因素;冬季以耐受水温及光照限制的CS/S策略藻种为主;春季弱分层时,CR/R策略藻种适宜生长;夏季汛期时,呈现CR/R/C/CS多种策略藻种混生格局,强分层时,适宜稳定生境的S型策略藻种占据优势;秋季分层被打破,群落结构演替为耐受频繁波动环境的R型群落格局占优势     

Steel slags in a landfill top cover – Experiences from a full-scale experiment

A full scale field study has been carried out in order to test and evaluate the use of slags from high-alloy steel production as the construction materials for a final cover of an old municipal landfill. Five test areas were built using different slag mixtures within the barrier layer (liner). The cover consisted of a foundation layer, a liner with a thickness of 0.7 m, a drainage layer of 0.3 m, a protection layer of 1.5 m and a vegetation layer of 0.25 m. The infiltration varied depending on the cover design used, mainly the liner recipe but also over time and was related to seasons and precipitation intensity. The test areas with liners composed of 50% electric arc furnace (EAF) slag and 50% cementitious ladle slag (LS) on a weight basis and with a proper consistence of the protection layer were found to meet the Swedish infiltration criteria of ?50 l (m² a)^?1 for final covers for landfills for non-hazardous waste: the cumulative infiltration rates to date were 44, 19 and 0.4 l (m² a)^?1 for A1, A4 and A5, respectively. Compared to the precipitation, the portion of leachate was always lower after the summer despite high precipitation from June to August. The main reason for this is evapotranspiration but also the fact that the time delay in the leachate formation following a precipitation event has a stronger effect during the shorter summer sampling periods than the long winter periods. Conventional techniques and equipment can be used but close cooperation between all involved partners is crucial in order to achieve the required performance of the cover. This includes planning, method and equipment testing and quality assurance.     

Formation of indoor nitrous acid (HONO) by light-induced NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> heterogeneous reactions with white wall paint

Gaseous nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) represents an oxidant that is present in relatively high concentrations in various indoor settings. Remarkably increased NO₂ levels up to 1.5 ppm are associated with homes using gas stoves. The heterogeneous reactions of NO₂ with adsorbed water on surfaces lead to the generation of nitrous acid (HONO). Here, we present a HONO source induced by heterogeneous reactions of NO₂ with selected indoor paint surfaces in the presence of light (300 nm?<?λ?<?400 nm). We demonstrate that the formation of HONO is much more pronounced at elevated relative humidity. In the presence of light (5.5 W m^?2), an increase of HONO production rate of up to 8.6?·?10⁹ molecules cm^?2 s^?1 was observed at [NO₂]?=?60 ppb and 50 % relative humidity (RH). At higher light intensity of 10.6 (W m^?2), the HONO production rate increased to 2.1?·?10¹⁰ molecules cm^?2 s^?1. A high NO₂ to HONO conversion yield of up to 84 % was observed. This result strongly suggests that a light-driven process of indoor HONO production is operational. This work highlights the potential of paint surfaces to generate HONO within indoor environments by light-induced NO₂ heterogeneous reactions.     

Indication of airborne pollution by birch and spruce in the vicinity of copper smelter

The aim of the study was determination of air pollution impact of the copper smelter in Bor and its surroundings (Serbia) by assessing the suitability of birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and spruce (Picea abies L.) for the purposes of biomonitoring and comparing it with previously published data from the same study area. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb and Mn in leaves/needles, branches, roots and soil were determined. Sampling was performed during 2009 in two zones with high load of air pollution due to copper mining and smelting activities, and one background zone. Metal accumulation and translocation was evaluated in terms of biological factors. In addition, plant enrichment factor was calculated. According to the results, plant foliage was not enriched through soil, which indicates absorption from the air, with both species acting as excluders of Cu, Pb, Zn and Mn. Leaves were more enriched with all the metals than needles, indicating a better response of birch to airborne pollution than spruce. Cluster analysis showed different level of pollution at the sites, while correlations between Cu and Pb obtained by Principal Component Analysis indicated their anthropogenic origin. Regarding previously published results, beside birch leaves, pine needles (which showed higher level of response to pollution compared to linden leaves) could be applied in air biomonitoring surveys near copper smelters.     

Effect of vermicast generated from an allelopathic weed lantana (Lantana camara) on seed germination,plant growth,and yield of cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba)

In perhaps the first-ever study of its kind, the effect of vermicompost, derived solely from an allelopathic weed, on the germination, growth, and yield of a botanical species, has been carried out. In test plots, the soil was treated with the vermicompost of lantana (Lantana camara) at the rates of 5, 7.5, and 10 t ha^?1, and cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) was grown on it. The performance of these systems was compared with the systems in which the soil was fortified with inorganic fertilizers (IFs) in concentrations equivalent to those present in the respective vermicompost (VC) treatments. Additionally, a set of control was studied in which the soil was used without fortification by either VC or IF. It was seen that up to 51.5 % greater germination success occurred in the VC treatments compared to controls. VC also supported better plant growth in terms of stem diameter, shoot length, shoot mass, number of leaves, and leaf pigments. The positive impact extended up to fruit yield. In addition, vermicast application enhanced root nodule formation, reduced disease incidence, and allowed for a smaller number of stunted plants. The results indicate that allelopathic ingredients of lantana seem to have been totally eliminated during the course of its vermicomposting and that lantana vermicompost has the potential to support germination, growth, and fruit yield better than equivalent quantities of IFs.     

Micropollutants in urban stormwater: occurrence,concentrations, and atmospheric contributions for a wide range of contaminants in three French catchments

This study aimed at: (a) providing information on the occurrence and concentration ranges in urban stormwater for a wide array of pollutants (n?=?77); (b) assessing whether despite the differences between various catchments (land use, climatic conditions, etc.), the trends in terms of contamination level are similar; and (c) analyzing the contribution of total atmospheric fallout (TAF) with respect to sources endogenous to this contamination. The studied contaminants include conventional stormwater contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Zn, Cu, Pb, etc.), in addition to poorly or undocumented pollutants such as nonylphenol and octylphenol ethoxylates (NPnEO and OPnEO), bisphenol A (BPA), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a wide variety of pesticides, and various metals of relevance (As, Ti, Sr, V). Sampling and analysis were performed using homogeneous methods on three urban catchments with different land use patterns located in three distinct French towns. For many of these pollutants, the results do not allow highlighting a significant difference in stormwater quality at the scale of the three urban catchments considered. Significant differences were, however, observed for several metals (As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Sr and Zn), PAHs, and PBDEs, though this assessment would need to be confirmed by further experiments. The pollutant distributions between dissolved and particulate phases were found to be similar across the three experimental sites, thus suggesting no site dependence. Lastly, the contributions of TAF to stormwater contamination for micropollutants were quite low. This finding held true not only for PAHs, as previously demonstrated in the literature, but also for a broader range of molecules such as BPA, NPnEO, OPnEO, and PBDEs, whose high local production is correlated with the leaching of urban surfaces, buildings, and vehicles.     

The amorphous Zn biomineralization at Naracauli stream,Sardinia: electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

An amorphous Zn biomineralization (“white mud”), occurring at Naracauli stream, Sardinia, in association with cyanobacteria Leptolyngbya frigida and diatoms, was investigated by electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Preliminary diffraction analysis shows that the precipitate sampled on Naracauli stream bed is mainly amorphous, with some peaks ascribable to quartz and phyllosilicates, plus few minor unattributed peaks. Scanning electron microscopy analysis shows that the white mud, precipitated in association with a seasonal biofilm, is made of sheaths rich in Zn, Si, and O, plus filaments likely made of organic matter. Transmission electron microscopy analysis shows that the sheaths are made of smaller units having a size in the range between 100 and 200 nm. X-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure data collected at the Zn K-edge indicate that the biomineral has a local structure similar to hemimorphite, a zinc sorosilicate. The differences of this biomineral with respect to the hydrozincite biomineralization documented about 3 km upstream in the same Naracauli stream may be related to either variations in the physicochemical parameters and/or different metabolic behavior of the involved biota.