Environmental Modeling and Methods for Estimation of the Global Health Impacts of Air Pollution

Air pollution is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to global health outcomes. A methodological framework for evaluating the global health-related outcomes of outdoor and indoor (household) air pollution is presented and validated for the year 2005. Ambient concentrations of PM2.5 are estimated with a combination of energy and atmospheric models, with detailed representation of urban and rural spatial exposures. Populations dependent on solid fuels are established with household survey data. Health impacts for outdoor and household air pollution are independently calculated using the fractions of disease that can be attributed to ambient air pollution exposure and solid fuel use. Estimated ambient pollution concentrations indicate that more than 80% of the population exceeds the WHO Air Quality Guidelines in 2005. In addition, 3.26?billion people were found to use solid fuel for cooking in three regions of Sub Saharan Africa, South Asia and Pacific Asia in 2005. Outdoor air pollution results in 2.7?million deaths or 23?million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) while household air pollution from solid fuel use and related indoor smoke results in 2.1?million deaths or 41.6?million DALYs. The higher morbidity from household air pollution can be attributed to children below the age of 5 in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia. The burden of disease from air pollution is found to be significant, thus indicating the importance of policy interventions.     

A pilot study on water pollution and characterization of multidrug-resistant superbugs from Byramangala tank, Ramanagara district, Karnataka, India

Urbanization and industrialization has increased the strength and qualities of municipal sewage in Bangalore, India. The disposal of sewage into natural water bodies became a serious issue. Byramangala reservoir is one such habitat enormously polluted in South India. The water samples were collected from four hotspots of Byramangala tank in 3 months. The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and bacterial counts were determined. The fecal coliforms were identified by morphological, physiological, and biochemical studies. The antibiotics sensitivity profiling of isolated bacteria were further carried out. We have noticed that a high content of BOD in the tank in all the 3 months. The total and fecal counts were found to be varied from 1.6?×?10⁶ to 8.2?×?10⁶?colony forming unit/ml and >5,500/100 ml, respectively. The variations in BOD and total count were found to be statistically significant at p?>?0.05. Many pathogenic bacteria were characterized and most of them were found to be multidrug resistant. Salmonella showed resistance to cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefixime, moxifloxacin, piperacillin/tazobactam, co-trimoxazole, levofloxacin, trimethoprim, and ceftazidime. Escherichia coli showed resistance to chloramphenicol, trimethoprim, co-trimoxazole, rifampicin, and nitrofurantoin while Enterobacter showed resistant to ampicillin, cefepime, ceftazidime, cefoperazone, and cefotaxime. Klebsiella and Shigella exhibited multiple drug resistance to conventional antibiotics. Staphylococcus showed resistance to vancomycin, methicillin, oxacillin, and tetracycline. Furthermore, Salmonella and Klebsiella are on the verge of acquiring resistance to even the strongest carbapenems-imipenem and entrapenem. Present study revealed that Byramanagala tank has become a cesspool of multidrug-resistant “superbugs” and will be major health concern in South Bangalore, India.     

Influence of elevated carbon dioxide and temperature on belowground carbon allocation and enzyme activities in tropical flooded soil planted with rice

Changes in the soil labile carbon fractions and soil biochemical properties to elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂) and temperature reflect the changes in the functional capacity of soil ecosystems. The belowground root system and root-derived carbon products are the key factors for the rhizospheric carbon dynamics under elevated CO₂ condition. However, the relationship between interactive effects of elevated CO₂ and temperature on belowground soil carbon accrual is not very clear. To address this issue, a field experiment was laid out to study the changes of carbon allocation in tropical rice soil (Aeric Endoaquept) under elevated CO₂ and elevated CO₂ + elevated temperature conditions in open top chambers (OTCs). There were significant increase of root biomass by 39 and 44 % under elevated CO₂ and elevated CO₂ + temperature compared to ambient condition, respectively. A significant increase (55 %) of total organic carbon in the root exudates under elevated CO₂ + temperature was noticed. Carbon dioxide enrichment associated with elevated temperature significantly increased soil labile carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and activities of carbon-transforming enzyme like β-glucosidase. Highly significant correlations were noticed among the different soil enzymes and soil labile carbon fractions.     

Variation of phytoplankton assemblages of Kongsfjorden in early autumn 2012: a microscopic and pigment ratio-based assessment

Phytoplankton species distribution and composition were determined by using microscopy and pigment ratios in the Kongsfjorden during early autumn 2012. Variation in sea surface temperature (SST) was minimal and matched well with satellite-derived SST. Nutrients were generally limited. Surface phytoplankton abundance ranged from 0.21?×?10³ to 10.28?×?10³ cells L^?1. Phytoplankton abundance decreased with depth and did not show any significant correlation with chlorophyll a (chl a). Column-integrated phytoplankton cell counts (PCC) ranged from 94.3?×?10⁶ cells m^?2 (Kf4) to 13.7?×?10⁶ cells m^?2 (Kf5), while chl a was lowest at inner part of the fjord (6.3 mg m^?2) and highest towards the mouth (24.83 mg m^?2). Biomass from prymnesiophytes and raphidophytes dominated at surface and 10 m, respectively. The contribution of Bacillariophyceae to biomass was low. Generally, heterotrophic dinoflagellates were great in abundance (12.82 %) and ubiquitous in nature and were major contributors to biomass. Various chl pigments (chl b, chl c, phaeopigments (phaeo)) were measured to obtain pigment/chl a ratios to ascertain phytoplankton composition. Phaeo were observed only in inner fjord. Chl b:a ratios and microscopic observations indicated dominance of Chlorophyceae at greater depths than surface. Furthermore, microscopic observations confirmed dominance of chl c containing algae throughout the fjord. The study indicates that pigment ratios can be used as a tool for preliminary identification of major phytoplankton groups. However, under the presence of a large number of heterotrophic dinoflagellates such as Gymnodinium sp. and Gyrodinium sp., pigment signatures need to be supplemented by microscopic observations.     

水环境中重金属铜暴露下青鳉鱼的行为响应

本研究采用生物行为传感器监测青鳉鱼重金属铜暴露下的行为数据,分析不同暴露浓度(20、10、5、1和0.1 TU)下青鳉鱼的行为响应。20、10、5、1和0.1 TU的暴露浓度下青鳉鱼对重金属污染的行为反应模式符合环境胁迫阈值模型,且不同浓度梯度重金属对青鳉鱼产生不同的行为毒性效应。通过本研究,利用重金属作用下青鳉鱼的行为变化来研究重金属环境胁迫导致的生物行为响应机制,从而得到重金属暴露下生物行为的实时变化过程和趋势,可对水环境生态系统质量进行综合评价。     

草莓蚜虫防治用药对蜜蜂的急性毒性与风险评价

为明确草莓蚜虫防治用药对蜜蜂的影响,按照《化学农药环境安全评价试验准则》和《化学品测试方法》要求测定了20%啶虫脒SP、10%氟啶虫酰胺WG和22%氟啶虫胺腈SC对意大利蜜蜂(Apis mellifera L.)的急性毒性,并采用危害商值(HQ)法进行了风险评价。急性毒性结果显示:20%啶虫脒SP、10%氟啶虫酰胺WG和22%氟啶虫胺腈SC对蜜蜂的急性经口毒性试验结果(48 h-LD50值)分别为4.47μg a.i.·蜂~(-1)、11.2μg a.i.·蜂~(-1)和0.0601μg a.i.·蜂~(-1),对蜜蜂的急性接触毒性试验结果(48 hLD50值)分别为11.0μg a.i.·蜂~(-1)、13.9μg a.i.·蜂~(-1)和0.643μg a.i.·蜂~(-1)。按《化学农药环境安全评价试验准则》中毒性等级划分标准,20%啶虫脒SP、10%氟啶虫酰胺WG和22%氟啶虫胺腈SC对蜜蜂的毒性等级分别为中毒、低毒和高毒。风险评价结果表明,22%氟啶虫胺腈SC对蜜蜂存在中等风险(HQ值为1 622),20%啶虫脒SP和10%氟啶虫酰胺WG对蜜蜂的风险为低风险,其HQ值分别为40.3和6.70。因此,草莓生产中可优先选用10%氟啶虫酰胺WG来防治蚜虫,20%啶虫脒SP次之。而使用22%氟啶虫胺腈SC时,应注意采取措施降低其对蜜蜂的毒性风险,以免造成危害。     

Economic analysis of best management practices to reduce watershed phosphorus losses

In phosphorus-limited freshwater systems, small increases in phosphorus (P) concentrations can lead to eutrophication. To reduce P inputs to these systems, various environmental and agricultural agencies provide producers with incentives to implement best management practices (BMPs). In this study, we examine both the water quality and economic consequences of systematically protecting saturated, runoff-generating areas from active agriculture with selected BMPs. We also examine the joint water quality/economic impacts of these BMPs-specifically BMPs focusing on barnyards and buffer areas. Using the Variable Source Loading Function model (a modified Generalized Watershed Loading Function model) and net present value analysis (NPV), the results indicate that converting runoff-prone agricultural land to buffers and installing barnyard BMPs are both highly effective in decreasing dissolved P loss from a single-farm watershed, but are also costly for the producer. On average, including barnyard BMPs decreases the nutrient loading by about 5.5% compared with only implementing buffers. The annualized NPV for installing both buffers on only the wettest areas of the landscape and implementing barnyard BMPs becomes positive only if the BMPs lifetime exceeds 15 yr. The spatial location of the BMPs in relation to runoff producing areas, the time frame over which the BMPs are implemented, and the marginal costs of increasing buffer size were found to be the most critical considerations for water quality and profitability. The framework presented here incorporates estimations of nutrient loading reductions in the economic analysis, and is applicable to farms facing BMP adoption decisions.     

改性荞麦壳对水溶液中Cu~(2+)离子吸附效果及机理

以柠檬酸对荞麦壳进行化学改性,改性后荞麦壳吸附剂对Cu2+的吸附量增加。研究了不同pH、吸附剂投入量、浓度和时间对吸附效果的影响。在pH值为5.5,Cu2+初始浓度50 mg/L,吸附剂投入量为1 g,吸附时间为120 min的条件下,Cu2+的吸附量达到较大值。通过用改性荞麦壳吸附剂对Cu2+的热力学吸附过程的分析,结果表明,改性荞麦壳吸附剂符合Langmuir吸附等温模式,改性荞麦壳吸附剂对Cu2+的吸附存在化学吸附,改性荞麦壳的最大吸附量可以达2.26 mg/g。研究改性荞麦壳吸附剂吸附Cu2+的动力学特性,吸附动力学行为可用准二级速率方程进行很好的描述,准二级吸附速率常数随温度升高而增大。准一级速率方程和颗粒扩散模型可以较好地描述吸附初始阶段,Cu2+浓度较高,颗粒内扩散;吸附后期,Cu2+浓度较低,受到颗粒外扩散的控制。总之,整个吸附过程可能是多种动力学机理共同作用的结果。     

曝气扰动对泥水界面硝化-反硝化性能的影响

采用自制河道模拟装置,探讨了曝气扰动深度为10、15、25和35 cm时泥水界面硝化-反硝化的耦合性能,目的为曝气治理黑臭河道装置的优化实施和解决"氮超标"难题提供参考。结果表明,随扰动深度增加,泥水界面紊动程度呈现先下降后增加的趋势,其中泥水界面处扰动深度为10 cm时流态最激烈(Re为3 044),扰动深度为25 cm时流态最平缓(Re为1 713);与静止对照工况对比,曝气扰动促进了NH+4-N的硝化转化,4种曝气条件稳定时上覆水氨氮浓度都在0.50mg/L以下,表明曝气有利于对底泥释放氨氮的控制;复氧速率与硝化速率随扰动深度的增加而减小;从总氮的控制角度来看,曝气扰动深度为25 cm时最有利于硝化-反硝化作用的耦合,上覆水总氮削减率达到51.5%,泥水界面硝化率与反硝化率分别达到(41.6±3.1)%和(32.1±0.7)%。     

In vitro brain acetylcholinesterase response among three inbred strains of mice to monocrotophos

Abstract

The strain differences in the neurotoxic potential of monocrotophos (HCP) were assessed by determining the inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in BALB/cAnN, DBA/2J and C57BL/6J in vitro. MCP being a competitive inhibitor for AChE, alters the Km values widely among these inbred strains. Comparatively least alterations in Km were found in BALB/cAnN and maximum in DBA/2J. Based on the Ki values DBA/2J was found to be the most sensitive strain to HCP inhibition followed by C57BL/6J and BALB/cAnN.