Pollutants and sperm quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Male fertility and semen quality have declined over recent decades. Among other causes, exposure to environmental and occupational pollution has been...     

A comprehensive review of climate adaptation in the United States: more than before, but less than needed

We reviewed existing and planned adaptation activities of federal, tribal, state, and local governments and the private sector in the United States (U.S.) to understand what types of adaptation activities are underway across different sectors and scales throughout the country. Primary sources of review included material officially submitted for consideration in the upcoming 2013 U.S. National Climate Assessment and supplemental peer-reviewed and grey literature. Although substantial adaptation planning is occurring in various sectors, levels of government, and the private sector, few measures have been implemented and even fewer have been evaluated. Most adaptation actions to date appear to be incremental changes, not the transformational changes that may be needed in certain cases to adapt to significant changes in climate. While there appear to be no one-size-fits-all adaptations, there are similarities in approaches across scales and sectors, including mainstreaming climate considerations into existing policies and plans, and pursuing no- and low-regrets strategies. Despite the positive momentum in recent years, barriers to implementation still impede action in all sectors and across scales. The most significant barriers include lack of funding, policy and institutional constraints, and difficulty in anticipating climate change given the current state of information on change. However, the practice of adaptation can advance through learning by doing, stakeholder engagements (including “listening sessions”), and sharing of best practices. Efforts to advance adaptation across the U.S. and globally will necessitate the reduction or elimination of barriers, the enhancement of information and best practice sharing mechanisms, and the creation of comprehensive adaptation evaluation metrics.     

深圳湾海域沉积物中酸可挥发性硫化物与重金属生态风险评价

测定了深圳湾海域10个站点表层沉积物中的AVS、TOC和同步浸提重金属(SEM)的含量,对AVS、SEM的平面分布及AVS与SEM和TOC的相互关系进行了分析。结果表明:深圳湾海域表层沉积物AVS含量范围为0.06～7.41μmol/g,平均值为2.51μmol/g;SEM含量范围为0.71～5.15μmol/g,平均值为3.06μmol/g;AVS与SEM的平面分布较一致,呈从湾顶到湾中向湾外逐渐递减的明显趋势。调查海域AVS与SEM和TOC间具有良好的线性相关性,大多数站点∑SEM-AVS的差值均0<(∑SEM-AVS)<5,说明该海域可能存在重金属的中等毒性生态风险。     

Time allocation between work and recreation and the associated injury risks among young people

PROBLEM: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between overall risk of injury and time use patterns between work and active recreation among adolescents and young adults. METHODS: Using a representative sample of 9,795 Canadians aged 15-24 years, a multivariate logistic regression on the likelihood of any medically attended injury was conducted, including sociodemographic, individual, and time factors. RESULTS: Young people who engaged in a combination of high work and high activity hours were twice as likely to sustain a medically attended injury compared to those who worked low hours, but did not participate in any recreational activity. Those respondents who were not in school had a 43% increase in injury risk compared to full-time students. SUMMARY: Our findings suggest that injury risk was not a simple function of fatigue and cumulative exposure time. Our findings suggest the importance of considering time use and the associated injury risk tradeoffs. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Relevant to state and federal work safety policy makers, our findings suggest the importance of understanding where youth might otherwise spend their time if constraint were placed on their employment opportunities, and the associated injury risk tradeoffs must be taken into consideration.     

水稻秸秆生物炭对耕地土壤有机碳及其CO2释放的影响

为探究生物炭自身稳定性及其输入土壤后对于土壤本体有机碳的影响,本研究模拟自然条件,分别将500℃和700℃裂解的水稻秸秆生物炭(RBC500和RBC700)以0%(空白土壤)、3%、6%和100%(纯生物炭)的比例添加至耕地土壤进行室内培养实验,观测总有机碳(TOC)与易氧化态碳(EOC)含量的变化及CO2排放特征.结果表明,与空白土壤处理相比,土壤TOC、EOC含量均随水稻秸秆生物炭添加量的增加而升高;相同添加量条件下,RBC500对土壤TOC与EOC增加的贡献均高于RBC700.各处理土壤TOC含量在前30 d内均降低(最大降幅为15.8%),并于培养后期趋于稳定;土壤EOC含量在培养初30 d内均降低,当生物炭添加比例为3%和6%时,RBC500使土壤的EOC含量降幅分别为72.4%和81.7%,大于RBC700的61.3%和69.8%;培养结束时,添加相同裂解温度生物炭的土壤EOC值相近.培养前期土壤中EOC含量的下降可能与生物炭中易分解组分引起的矿化作用有关.在130 d培养期内,CO2累计排放量大小顺序为:土壤+生物炭混合处理<纯土壤处理<纯生物炭处理,可见,生物炭的土壤处理可以减少土壤CO2的排放,最大减排率可达41.05%.在一个长的时间尺度内,生物炭的土壤处理有利于土壤碳的固定.生物炭施用于土壤可作为碳储存载体.     

东莞石马河流域水化学特征时空差异及来源辨析

石马河流域对东江饮用水源地城镇供水具有重要战略意义.为研究石马河水化学特征,分别于2012年2月、6月和11月采集石马河河水水样共39个,分析测定了水体主离子(K+、Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+、Cl-、SO2-4和HCO-3)及营养盐(PO3-4、NO-3和NH+4)浓度,探讨了水化学组成的时空差异、控制因素并对其来源进行了初步辨析.结果表明,水化学组成的时空差异显著,不同时期的河水TDS及营养盐平均浓度排序为11月2月6月;河水阴离子以HCO-3为主,2月和11月时,河水阳离子以Na++K+为主,为HCO-3-Na+水,6月时则以Ca2+为主,为HCO-3-Ca2+水;营养盐浓度在空间上的差异主要受人类活动导致N、P废水排放影响,3个时期的石马河出水口处(R7)N∶P为18.4,有利于浮游植物的生长,河道出现了富营养化的现象;Gibbs图显示,2月和11月的河水主离子受蒸发岩溶解的影响较为显著,而蒸发岩和碳酸盐岩风化共同控制6月的水化学组分;海盐沉降对石马河河水物质的贡献率较小;部分Na+、Mg2+、Cl-和SO2-4来自化肥的施用和工业废水的排放;NH+4-N、PO3-4-P和NO-3-N主要分别来源于家禽养殖废水和生活废水.     

Degradation and plant uptake of nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol-12-ethoxylate (NP12EO) in four contrasting agricultural soils

Nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPEOs) are surfactants found ubiquitously in the environment due to widespread industrial and domestic use. Biodegradation of NPEOs produces nonylphenol (NP), an endocrine disruptor. Sewage sludge application introduces NPEOs and NP into soils, potentially leading to accumulation in soils and crops. We examined degradation of NP and nonylphenol-12-ethoxylate (NP12EO) in four soils. NP12EO degraded rapidly (initial half time 0.3-5 days). Concentrations became undetectable within 70-90 days, with a small increase in NP concentrations after 30 days. NP initially degraded quickly (mean half time 11.5 days), but in three soils a recalcitrant fraction of 26-35% remained: the non-degrading fraction may consist of branched isomers, resistant to biodegradation. Uptake of NP by bean plants was also examined. Mean bioconcentration factors for shoots and seeds were 0.71 and 0.58, respectively. Removal of NP from the soil by plant uptake was negligible (0.01-0.02% of initial NP). Root concentrations were substantially higher than shoot and seed concentrations.     

Assessment of pesticide contamination in three Mississippi Delta oxbow lakes using Hyalella azteca

Three oxbow lakes in northwestern Mississippi, USA, an area of intensive agriculture, were assessed for biological impairment from historic and current-use pesticide contamination using the amphipod, Hyalella azteca. Surface water and sediment samples from three sites in each lake were collected from Deep Hollow, Beasley, and Thighman Lakes from September 2000 to February 2001. Samples were analyzed for 17 historic and current-use pesticides and selected metabolites. Ten-day H. azteca survival and growth (as length and dry weight) were measured to determine the degree of biological impairment. Maximum number of detectable pesticides in surface water from Deep Hollow, Beasley and Thighman Lakes was 10, 11, and 17, respectively. Maximum number of detectable pesticides in lake sediments was 17, 17, and 15, respectively. Bioassay results indicated no observable survival effects on H. azteca exposed to surface water or sediment from any lake examined and no growth impairment in animals exposed to lake sediments. However, growth was significantly impaired in surface water exposures from Deep Hollow Lake (2 sites) and Beasley Lake (1 site). Statistically significant relationships between growth impairment (length) and cyanazine, methyl parathion, λ-cyhalothrin, chlorfenapyr, and pp′DDE surface water concentrations in Deep Hollow Lake as well as trifluralin, atrazine, and methyl parathion in Beasley Lake were observed. Although pesticide frequency and concentrations were typically greater in sediment than surface water, bioassay results indicated decreased availability of these pesticides in sediment due to the presence of clay and organic carbon. Growth impairment observed in surface water exposures was likely due to complex interaction of pesticide mixtures that were present.     

Contaminant exposure in terrestrial vertebrates

Here we review mechanisms and factors influencing contaminant exposure among terrestrial vertebrate wildlife. There exists a complex mixture of biotic and abiotic factors that dictate potential for contaminant exposure among terrestrial and semi-terrestrial vertebrates. Chemical fate and transport in the environment determine contaminant bioaccessibility. Species-specific natural history characteristics and behavioral traits then play significant roles in the likelihood that exposure pathways, from source to receptor, are complete. Detailed knowledge of natural history traits of receptors considered in conjunction with the knowledge of contaminant behavior and distribution on a site are critical when assessing and quantifying exposure. We review limitations in our understanding of elements of exposure and the unique aspects of exposure associated with terrestrial and semi-terrestrial taxa. We provide insight on taxa-specific traits that contribute, or limit exposure to, transport phenomenon that influence exposure throughout terrestrial systems, novel contaminants, bioavailability, exposure data analysis, and uncertainty associated with exposure in wildlife risk assessments. Lastly, we identify areas related to exposure among terrestrial and semi-terrestrial organisms that warrant additional research.     

Challenges in quantifying biosphere-atmosphere exchange of nitrogen species

Recent research in nitrogen exchange with the atmosphere has separated research communities according to N form. The integrated perspective needed to quantify the net effect of N on greenhouse-gas balance is being addressed by the NitroEurope Integrated Project (NEU). Recent advances have depended on improved methodologies, while ongoing challenges include gas-aerosol interactions, organic nitrogen and N(2) fluxes. The NEU strategy applies a 3-tier Flux Network together with a Manipulation Network of global-change experiments, linked by common protocols to facilitate model application. Substantial progress has been made in modelling N fluxes, especially for N(2)O, NO and bi-directional NH(3) exchange. Landscape analysis represents an emerging challenge to address the spatial interactions between farms, fields, ecosystems, catchments and air dispersion/deposition. European up-scaling of N fluxes is highly uncertain and a key priority is for better data on agricultural practices. Finally, attention is needed to develop N flux verification procedures to assess compliance with international protocols.