Directions for combustion engine aerosol measurement in the 21st century

The Coordinating Research Council convened two Real-Time PM Measurement Workshops in December 2008 and March 2009 to take an intensive look at the current status and future directions of combustion aerosol measurement. The purpose was to examine the implications of parallel rapid developments over the past decade in ambient aerosol science, engine aftertreatment technology, and aerosol measurement methodology, which provide benefits and challenges to the stakeholders in air quality management. The workshops were organized into sessions targeting key issues in ambient and source combustion particulate matter (PM). These include (1) metrics to characterize and quantify PM, (2) the need to reconcile ambient and source measurements, (3) the role of atmospheric transformations on modeling emissions and exposures, (4) the impact of sampling conditions on PM measurement, and (5) the potential benefits of novel PM instrumentation. This paper distills the material presented by subject experts and the insights derived from the in-depth discussions that formed the core of each session. The paper's objectives are to identify areas of consensus that allow wider practical application of the past decade's advances in combustion aerosol measurement to improve emissions and air quality modeling, develop emissions reduction strategies, and to recommend directions for progress on issues in which uncertainties remain.     

Vermicomposting of source-separated human faeces by Eisenia fetida: effect of stocking density on feed consumption rate, growth characteristics and vermicompost production

The main objective of the present study was to determine the optimum stocking density for feed consumption rate, biomass growth and reproduction of earthworm Eisenia fetida as well as determining and characterising vermicompost quantity and product, respectively, during vermicomposting of source-separated human faeces. For this, a number of experiments spanning up to 3 months were conducted using soil and vermicompost as support materials. Stocking density in the range of 0.25-5.00 kg/m² was employed in different tests. The results showed that 0.40-0.45 kg-feed/kg-worm/day was the maximum feed consumption rate by E. fetida in human faeces. The optimum stocking densities were 3.00 kg/m² for bioconversion of human faeces to vermicompost, and 0.50 kg/m² for earthworm biomass growth and reproduction.     

Developmental toxicity of two common corn pesticides to the endangered southern bell frog (Litoria raniformis)

To examine the link between corn agriculture and the observed decline of the endangered southern bell frog (SBF), the effects of two corn crop pesticides on larval growth and development were investigated. Tadpoles were exposed to terbufos sulfone (10 μg/L), a major breakdown product of the insecticide terbufos, and the herbicide atrazine (25 μg/L) individually and as a mixture until the completion of metamorphosis. Atrazine did not interact synergistically with terbufos sulfone or result in significant effects on growth and development alone, although there was some indication of accelerated metamorphosis in the pilot study. Terbufos sulfone alone and as a mixture (terbufos/atrazine) significantly slowed larval development and ultimately delayed metamorphosis. The observed developmental effects from an environmentally relevant concentration of terbufos sulfone indicates a risk posed by this persistent degradation product to the endangered SBF, which breeds and develops in the rice bays adjacent to corn fields treated with pesticides.     

Remediation of metal-contaminated soils with the addition of materials--part I: characterization and viability studies for the selection of non-hazardous waste materials and silicates

Contamination episodes in soils require interventions to attenuate their impact. These actions are often based on the addition of materials to increase contaminant retention in the soil and to dilute the contaminant concentration. Here, non-hazardous wastes (such as sugar foam, fly ash and a material produced by the zeolitization of fly ash) and silicates (including bentonites) were tested and fully characterized in the laboratory to select suitable materials for remediating metal-contaminated soils. Data from X-ray fluorescence (XRF), N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) analyses revealed the chemical composition, specific surface area and the phases appearing in the materials. A pH titration test allowed the calculation of their acid neutralization capacity (ANC). The metal sorption and desorption capacities of the waste materials and silicates were also estimated. Sugar foam, fly ash and the zeolitic material were the best candidate materials. Sugar foam was selected because of its high ANC (17 000 meq kg⁻¹), and the others were selected because of their larger distribution coefficients and lower sorption reversibilities than those predicted in the contaminated soils.     

声凝并联合雾化预处理及其在过滤除尘中的应用

根据声凝并理论和雾化湿式除尘理论,建立了燃煤飞灰在声场联合雾化加湿作为预处理的过滤式除尘实验装置。分别在声场、雾化加湿、声场与雾化加湿相结合3种预处理条件下进行实验,确定合适的加湿量范围,得出不同条件下燃煤飞灰的去除效果。在声场联合雾化加湿条件下,分别研究了声压级和雾化加湿量对飞灰的去除率的影响。结果表明,声场和雾化加湿联合作用能有效提高燃煤PM2.5去除率。以声场联合雾化加湿作为预处理进行过滤除尘实验,结果表明,虽然对高效滤料的除尘效率提高作用有限,但是该预处理可减轻滤袋负荷,有效延缓压差增长,降低清灰频率。由于采用表面覆膜滤材,加湿量控制得当可避免产生"糊袋"现象。     

Estrogenic and androgenic activities in total plasma measured with reporter-gene bioassays: relevant exposure measures for endocrine disruptors in epidemiologic studies?

Measurements of estrogenic and androgenic activities in total plasma with Chemically Activated LUciferase gene eXpression (CALUX?) bioassays could provide biologically relevant measures for exposure to endocrine disruptors in epidemiologic studies. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of a variety of sources of potential endocrine disruptors on estrogenic and androgenic activities in total plasma measured by CALUX?. Plasma samples and interview data on sources of potential endocrine disruptors were collected from 108 men with different exposures profiles. CALUX? measurements (BioDetection Services) involved human U2-OS cell lines controlled by the estrogen receptor alpha and the androgen receptor. Mean differences (beta) in 17β-estradiol equivalents (EEQs) and dihydrotestosterone equivalents (AEQs) between exposure groups were estimated using general linear models. Mean plasma AEQs and EEQs were 9.1×10(-1)ng/ml and 12.0pg/ml, respectively. Elevated AEQs were found in smokers (beta 1.9 (95%CI 0.1-3.6)×10(-1)ng/ml) and heavy drinkers (1.4 (0.2-3.1)×10(-1)ng/ml), and in men occupationally exposed to disinfectants (1.6 (0.3-3.5)×10(-1)ng/ml) or welding/soldering fumes (1.4 (-0.2-2.9)×10(-1)ng/ml). Occupational exposure to pesticides, disinfectants, and exhaust fumes seemed to be associated with increased plasma EEQs: 1.5 (-0.2-3.2)pg/ml, 2.1 (0.2-3.9)pg/ml, and 2.9 (0.6-5.2)pg/ml, respectively. Moderate to high plasma dioxin levels, measured in a subgroup by the dioxin-responsive CALUX?, were accompanied by a 20% increase in AEQs. This is the first study in which CALUX? was used to assess hormone activities in total plasma. Although the results are not yet readily interpretable, they indicate that these measurements can be valuable for epidemiologic studies on endocrine disruptors and give direction for further research.     

智能无线防盗报警系统的设计

基于公用电话网,利用单片机和无线数据传输技术设计了智能无线防盗报警系统.系统在有警情发生时启动报警信号,并按预设的电话号码实现远程的自动拨号报警.实践证明,本系统结构简单、可靠性高、成本低,具有很强的实用价值和广阔的市场前景.     

格尔木水库效应地质灾害剖析与对策研讨

一、问题的提出正当许多城市因水资源开采失调而出现地下水位下降,甚至引起地面沉降和水资源枯竭等环境地质灾害之际,在青海省格尔木市却发生了地下水位呈大幅度上升的罕见现象。并酿成浸没灾害,引起国务院及社会各方面的关注。本文在剖析格尔木地下水位上升机理的基础上,认为其发生与发展,与特定的地质环境,特别是与水库的兴建有关,故将其称作水库效应地质灾害。格尔木市区地下水位上升,始于1977年9月山口水库(即乃吉里水库)兴建之后,在截至1983年的六年里,市区地下水位累计升高6.203米,年平均上升1米,     

石油工业废弃物处置及其生物治理趋势

鉴于我国石油工作者对石油工业废弃物的普遍关注，现在介绍生物治理的基本概念及ＳＰＥ石油工程师协会中有关含油污泥生物处置的途径及其突出优越性。生物液／固处理工艺（ＬＳＴ）是目前含油污泥处置现场最经济可行的处置方案。这种好氧的ＬＳＴ工艺过程，能够比较充分地代谢和降解石油污泥中的油和脂并大量除去多环芳烃类（ＰＡＨ）化合物及其它有机化合物，明显地降低了石油废弃物对人、畜的毒害程度。其工艺较简单，操作也简易，凡经此工艺处理后的废弃物不留残毒和后患，因此早已被世界上先进国家的炼油业视为处理含油污泥的有效选择了。石油工业废弃物的生物防治和生物降解工艺较大程度地领先于目前我国现场正在执行的各种处理含油废弃物的处理工艺。