Spatial and temporal modeling of microbial contaminants on grazing farmlands

This paper introduces an integrated spatial and temporal modeling system developed mathematically for assessing microbial contaminants on animal-grazed farmlands. The model uses fecal coliform, specifically Escherichia coli, as an indicator of fecal contamination and describes the sources, sinks, transport processes, and fate of E. coli contaminants in catchments and associated streams. Spatial features include grazing location, land topography, distance to a nearby stream, and distance through the stream network to the outlet. Temporal features are population dynamics on the land surface, in flow, and on streambeds. The model applies the principles of conservation of mass balance on two different types of pools: grid cells on land surfaces and networked stream segments. The model aims to improve the prediction of the effects of different land management strategies on the fecal contamination of waterways. This is achieved by characterizing the movement of fecal contaminants from land to streams and in-stream mobilization. Processes of attenuation, diffusion, and transport govern the movement. Our study site is a hill land catchment with an area of 140 ha and is used exclusively for animal grazing. The model was calibrated with previous research results, and then tested using the data collected at the outlet of the catchment. The sensitivity of the model predictions was analyzed for different scenarios: effect of stock rate, attenuation rate, and flow volumes. The similar pattern between monitored and predicted E. coli concentration proved that the model captures the key features that control the population dynamics of fecal contaminants. Further experiments are required to expand the model's functionality for covering more mitigation options.     

Cadmium(II) removal from aqueous solutions by pre-treated biomass of marine alga Padina sp

In this study, the adsorption properties of a pre-treated biomass from marine alga Padina sp., a biomass collected from Surin Island, Thailand, for removal of cadmium(II) ions from aqueous solutions was investigated. Batch and column experiments were conducted to determine the adsorption properties of the modified biomass. At a pH of 5, the maximum removal capacity of the biomass is 0.53 mmol/g. The kinetics of cadmium(II) adsorption were fast with 90% of adsorption taking place within 35 min. This study demonstrated that the pre-treated biomass of Padina sp. could be used as an efficient biosorbent for the treatment of cadmium(II)-bearing wastewater streams.     

Effects of sample storage on biosolids compost stability and maturity evaluation

Compost stability and maturity are important parameters of compost quality. To date, nearly all compost characterization has been performed using samples freshly collected because sample storage can affect compost stability and maturity evaluation. However, sample preservation is sometimes necessary, especially for scientific research purposes. There is little information available on the effects of sample storage on compost stability and maturity. Samples of biosolids compost with different levels of stability and maturity were collected from four compost facilities in Florida (referred to as Register, Winslow, Sunset, and Meadow). Comparisons of CO2 evolution, seed germination rate, and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) were made between fresh samples with short storage at 4 degrees C for less than 1 wk and air-dried or frozen compost samples stored for 1 yr. The effects of storage (air-dry or frozen) on the measured parameters depended on compost stability and maturity and on the compost material source. Frozen storage reduced the peak CO2 evolution of Register samples by 12 to 29%, while accumulated CO2 evolution was reduced by 43 to 64% and 110 to 277% with air-dry and frozen storage, respectively. The storage effect on CO2 evolution with more stable compost was inconsistent. Storage did not affect compost phytotoxicity, except for samples from the Sunset facility. Air-drying reduced the WSOC by up to 35%, and freezing increased it by up to 34%, while both storage methods had no significant effect on samples of low WSOC. Despite all these variations, WSOC had a significant and consistent relation to CO2 evolution and seed germination rates with R2 of 0.78 and 0.57, respectively, regardless of storage methods.     

阵性泥石流运动与堆积的欧拉─拉格朗日模型──Ⅰ.理论

自然界中的泥石流具有突发性和非恒定性的特点。为了模拟典型泥石流现象,在流团模型的 基础上,进一步完善了基于欧拉─拉格朗日（Ｅ—Ｌ）观点的ＰＩＣ（Ｐａｒｃｅｌ　Ｉｎ　Ｃｅｌｌ）算法,细化了流元结 构,建立了能够模拟典型阵性泥石流发生、运动和堆积的准结构两相流模型。求解该模型不仅可以 模拟泥石流运动过程,而且可以对泥石流的堆积过程、停积形态、冲刷特征及泥石流中多组分颗粒 的分选特征进行定量描述。     

Sorption of tylosin on clay minerals

The equilibrium sorption of tylosin (TYL) on kaolinite and montmorillonite was measured at different solution pH using batch reactor systems. The results showed that all the sorption isotherms were nonlinear and that the nonlinearity decreased as the solution pH increased for a given clay. At a specific aqueous concentration, the single-point sorption distribution coefficient (K_D) of TYL decreased rapidly as the solution pH increased. A speciation-dependent sorption model that accounted for the contributions of the cationic and neutral forms of TYL fit the data well, suggesting that the sorption may be dominated by both ion exchange and hydrophobic interactions. The isotherm data also fit well to a dual mode model that quantifies the contributions of a site-limiting Langmuir component (ion exchange) and a non-specific linear partitioning component (hydrophobic interactions). X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that the interlayers of montmorillonite were expanded due to the uptake of TYL. TYL molecules likely form a monolayer surface coverage.     

Identifying riparian sinks for watershed nitrate using soil surveys

The capacity of riparian zones to serve as critical control locations for watershed nitrogen flux varies with site characteristics. Without a means to stratify riparian zones into different levels of ground water nitrate removal capacity, this variability will confound spatially explicit source-sink models of watershed nitrate flux and limit efforts to target riparian restoration and management. We examined the capability of SSURGO (1:15 840 Soil Survey Geographic database) map classifications (slope class, geomorphology, and/or hydric soil designation) to identify riparian sites with high capacity for ground water nitrate removal. The study focused on 100 randomly selected riparian locations in a variety of forested and glaciated settings within Rhode Island. Geomorphic settings included till, outwash, and organic/alluvial deposits. We defined riparian zones with "high ground water nitrate removal capacity" as field sites possessing both >10 m of hydric soil width and an absence of ground water surface seeps. SSURGO classification based on a combination of geomorphology and hydric soil status created two functionally distinct sets of riparian sites. More than 75% of riparian sites classified by SSURGO as organic/alluviumhydric or as outwash-hydric had field attributes that suggest a high capacity for ground water nitrate removal. In contrast, >85% of all till sites and nonhydric outwash sites had field characteristics that minimize the capacity for ground water nitrate removal. Comparing the STATSGO and SSURGO databases for a 64000-ha watershed, STATSGO grossly under-represented critical riparian features. We conclude that the SSURGO database can provide modelers and managers with important insights into riparian zone nitrogen removal potential.     

Arsenic chemistry in the rhizosphere of Pteris vittata L. and Nephrolepis exaltata L

This greenhouse experiment evaluated the influence of arsenic uptake by arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. and non-arsenic hyperaccumulator Nephrolepis exaltata L. on arsenic chemistry in bulk and rhizosphere soil. The plants were grown for 8 weeks in a rhizopot with a soil containing 105 mg kg(-1) arsenic. The soil arsenic was fractionated into five fractions with decreasing availability: non-specifically bound (N), specifically bound (S), amorphous hydrous-oxide bound (A), crystalline hydrous-oxide bound (C), and residual (R). P. vittata produced larger plant biomass (7.38 vs. 2.32 mg plant(-1)) and removed more arsenic (2.61 vs. 0.09 mg pot(-1) arsenic) than N. exaltata. Plant growth reduced water-soluble arsenic, and increased soil pH (P. vittata only) in the rhizosphere soil. P. vittata was more efficient than N. exaltata to access arsenic from all fractions (39-64% vs. 5-39% reduction). However, most of the arsenic taken up by both plants was from the A fraction (67-77%) in the rhizosphere soil, the most abundant (61.5%) instead of the most available (N fraction).     

我国畜禽集约化养殖环境压力及国外环境治理的启示

集约化养殖是我国畜禽产业发展的必然趋势,但畜禽集约化养殖带来的环境污染也日益严重。通过测算近10 a来的全国畜禽养殖废弃物产生总量及废弃物中氮、磷养分的排放总量,以欧盟畜禽耕地承载负荷为标准,建立畜禽粪便土地负荷警报值等级,分析得出我国全国及各区域畜禽养殖的环境压力:从近5 a全国层面看,以氮养分测算的耕地负载警报值在0.7左右,且2009~2011年的警报值已经超过07,畜禽氮养分的耕地负荷已经开始对环境产生污染威胁;而以磷肥测算的耕地负载警报值已经超过1,对环境造成了较严重的污染威胁。从2010年具体区域情况看,以氮养分测算的耕地负载警报值超过07的达到17个省份,其中河南、湖南、广东、四川污染较严重,北京的畜禽养殖氮养分环境污染已经到严重的程度;以磷养份测算的耕地负载警报值已有21个省份超过1,北京和广东的耕地负载警报值已接近3,磷养分的环境污染已很严重。最后,探讨了发达国家畜禽养殖环境压力及环境治理措施对我国的启示     

In situ ground water denitrification in stratified, permeable soils underlying riparian wetlands

The ground water denitrification capacity of riparian zones in deep soils, where substantial ground water can flow through low-gradient stratified sediments, may affect watershed nitrogen export. We hypothesized that the vertical pattern of ground water denitrification in riparian hydric soils varies with geomorphic setting and follows expected subsurface carbon distribution (i.e., abrupt decline with depth in glacial outwash vs. negligible decline with depth in alluvium). We measured in situ ground water denitrification rates at three depths (65, 150, and 300 cm) within hydric soils at four riparian sites (two per setting) using a 15N-enriched nitrate "push-pull" method. No significant difference was found in the pattern and magnitude of denitrification when grouping sites by setting. At three sites there was no significant difference in denitrification among depths. Correlations of site characteristics with denitrification varied with depth. At 65 cm, ground water denitrification correlated with variables associated with the surface ecosystem (temperature, dissolved organic carbon). At deeper depths, rates were significantly higher closer to the stream where the subsoil often contains organically enriched deposits that indicate fluvial geomorphic processes. Mean rates ranged from 30 to 120 microg N kg(-1) d(-1) within 10 m versus <1 to 40 microg N kg(-1) d(-1) at >30 m from the stream. High denitrification rates observed in hydric soils, down to 3 m within 10 m of the stream in both alluvial and glacial outwash settings, argue for the importance of both settings in evaluating the significance of riparian wetlands in catchment-scale N dynamics.     

天津环境保护的世纪回顾与前瞻

回顾２０世纪的环保工作,天津采取大思路、大举措、大成效的基本方针,走出了一条城市环境综合的成功之路,面对环保工作形势２大好、环境质量依然脆弱的态势,展望２１世纪的宏伟目标,应当采取“整体推进、阶段性重点突破”的方针,横下一条心,迎着困难上,创新开拓,团结拼搏,抓住重点,高起步,努力做到“年年都有新变化。五所发生大变化”,再创天津环境保护辉煌。