Characterization of atmospheric aerosol (PM10 and PM2.5) from a medium sized city in São Paulo state, Brazil

Air pollution causes deleterious effects on human health with aerosols being among the most polluting agents.The objective of this work is the characterization of the PM_(2.5) and PM_(10) aerosol mass in the atmosphere.The methods of analysis include WD-XRF and EDS.Data were correlated with meteorological information and air mass trajectories(model HYSPLIT)by multivariate analysis.A morphological structural analysis was also carried out to identify the probable sources of atmospheric aerosols in the city of Sao Jose do Rio Preto,Brazil.The mean mass concentration values obtained were 24.54 μg/m~3 for PM_(10),above the WHO annual standard value of 20 μg/m~3 and 10.88 μg/m~3 for PM_(2.5) whose WHO recommended limit is10 μg/m~3.WD-XRF analysis of the samples revealed Si and Al as major components of the coarse fraction.In the fine fraction,the major elements were Al and S.The SEM-FEG characterization allowed identifying the morphology of the particles in agglomerates,ellipsoids and filaments in the PM_(10),besides spherical in the PM_(2.5).The analysis by EDS corroborated WD-XRF results,identifying the crustal elements,aluminosilicates and elements of anthropogenic origin in the coarse fraction.For the fine fraction crustal elements were also identified;aluminosilicates,black carbon and spherical particles(C and O) originating from combustion processes were predominant.The use of multivariate analysis to correlate air mass trajectories with the results of the morpho-structural characterization of the particulate matter allowed confirmation of the complex composition of the particles resulting from the combination of both local and long-distance sources.     

Effect of substituents in hydroxyl radical-mediated degradation of azo pyridone dyes: Theoretical approaches on the reaction mechanism

Understanding the degradation behavior of azo dyes in photocatalytic wastewater treatment is of fundamental and practical importance for their application in textile-processing and other coloration industries. In this study, quantum chemistry, as density functional theory, was used to elucidate different degradation pathways of azo pyridone dyes in a hydroxyl radical (HO^?)-initiated photocatalytic system. A series of substituted azo pyridone dyes were synthesized by changing the substituent group in the para position of the benzene moiety, ranging from strong electron-donating to strong electron-withdrawing groups. The effect of dye molecular structure on the photocatalytic degradation reaction mechanism was analyzed and quantification of substituent effects on the thermodynamic and kinetics parameters was performed. Potential energy surface analysis revealed the most susceptible reaction site for the HO^? attack. The calculated reaction barriers are found to be strongly affected by the nature of substituent group with a good correlation using Hammett σ_p constants and experimentally determined reaction rates. The stability of pre-reaction complexes and transition state complexes were analyzed applying the distortion-interaction model. The increased stability of the transition state complexes with the distancing from the substituent group has been established.     

Reactive uptake of NO2 on volcanic particles: A possible source of HONO in the atmosphere

The heterogeneous degradation of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) on five samples of natural Icelandic volcanic particles has been investigated. Laboratory experiments were carried out under simulated atmospheric conditions using a coated wall flow tube (CWFT). The CWFT reactor was coupled to a blue light nitrogen oxides analyzer (NO_x analyzer), and a long path absorption photometer (LOPAP) to monitor in real time the concentrations of NO₂, NO and HONO, respectively. Under dark and ambient relative humidity conditions, the steady state uptake coefficients of NO₂ varied significantly between the volcanic samples probably due to differences in magma composition and morphological variation related with the density of surface OH groups. The irradiation of the surface with simulated sunlight enhanced the uptake coefficients by a factor of three indicating that photo-induced processes on the surface of the dust occur. Furthermore, the product yields of NO and HONO were determined under both dark and simulated sunlight conditions. The relative humidity was found to influence the distribution of gaseous products, promoting the formation of gaseous HONO. A detailed reaction mechanism is proposed that supports our experimental observations. Regarding the atmospheric implications, our results suggest that the NO₂ degradation on volcanic particles and the corresponding formation of HONO is expected to be significant during volcanic dust storms or after a volcanic eruption.     

短期干旱胁迫对马尾松排放挥发性有机物的影响

为探究干旱环境对BVOCs排放的影响,应用动态封闭式采样系统和热脱附-气相色谱-飞行质谱仪,对短期干旱胁迫作用下马尾松的BVOCs排放进行了实验室测量,定量分析BVOCs排放速率和排放组成的变化.结果表明,干旱胁迫时异戊二烯的排放受到抑制,排放速率降低约50%;单萜烯和倍半萜烯的排放水平增强,排放速率分别为137.85和0.98μg/（m²·h）,是未受胁迫时的2.9和2.0倍.除反式-α-香柠檬烯外,干旱胁迫促进各单萜烯和倍半萜烯化合物的排放,是未受胁迫时的1.3~42.4倍,其中3-蒈烯排放的响应最敏感,α-葑烯、α-水芹烯和石竹烯的响应最弱.干旱胁迫时单萜烯和倍半萜烯的排放组成有所变化,但主导的化合物种类不变,单萜烯以α-蒎烯、香桧烯和β-蒎烯为主,占比分别为48%、17%和17%;倍半萜烯以石竹烯和长叶烯为主,占比分别为57%和34%.     

昆明市地下水污染防治现状与对策

文章以昆明市为例,分析了昆明市地下水水质现状及变化趋势,总结了地下水污染防治工作成效和存在问题。分析表明,由于长期未受到充分重视,昆明市地下水已呈现出污染加重的趋势。近年来,昆明市地下水污染防治取得了一定的成绩,但仍然存在监管能力不足、监测网络覆盖不全的问题。在此基础上提出了开展地下水环境状况调查评估、磷石膏堆场地下水污染防控与修复试点和进一步完善地下水环境监测网络的对策建议,为昆明市和其他南方城市做好地下水污染防治工作提供借鉴。     

亚慢性氟暴露致小鼠海马损伤的影响及分子机制研究

为探明亚慢性氟中毒致小鼠海马损伤及分子机制,选用ICR雄性小鼠140只,随机分为对照(C)、低氟(LF)、高氟(HF)、低氟(LF)+L钙离子通道激动剂(FPL)、低氟(LF)+L钙离子通道抑制剂(NIF)、高氟(HF)+激动剂(FPL)、高氟(HF)+抑制剂(NIF) 7组,分别饮用自来水、5、30 mg·L~(-1)氟化钠水溶液90 d,氟染毒第84 d分别腹腔注射生理盐水、FPL64176、Nifedipine7d.同时,采用开场行为及水迷宫检测学习记忆能力;通过HE切片染色观察海马形态结构;根据试剂盒说明检测脑组织谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)、总超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)酶活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量;利用RT-PCR和Western Blot法分别检测海马内凋亡相关分子CaMKⅡ和Bax、Bcl-2基因/蛋白表达.结果发现,HF组、LF+FPL组和HF+FPL组小鼠毛发粗糙,暴躁不安.LF、HF组小鼠自发活动、探究行为及空间学习记忆力显著下降(p0.05),海马细胞损伤,SOD、GSH-PX活性极显著下降(p0.01),CaMKⅡ基因/蛋白表达水平显著(p0.05)或极显著(p0.01)上调,Bax基因/蛋白表达水平显著(p0.05)或极显著(p0.01)上调,Bcl-2基因/蛋白表达水平显著(p0.05)或极显著(p0.01)下调,Bax与Bcl-2基因/蛋白表达水平比值显著(p0.05)或极显著(p0.01)上调;LF+FPL、HF+FPL处理加剧了上述基因/蛋白表达水平,LF+NIF、HF+NIF组可逆转上述基因/蛋白表达水平.结果提示,氟中毒致脑损伤与L型钙离子通道及下游相关分子表达异常密切相关,而L钙离子通道抑制剂(Nifedipine)能改善氟暴露造成的海马损伤.     

Mercury levels in human population from a mining district in Western Colombia

A biomonitoring study was carried out to examine the adverse impacts of total mercury in the blood(HgB), urine(Hg U) and human scalp hair(HgH) on the residents of a mining district in Colombia. Representative biological samples(scalp hair, urine and blood) were collected from volunteered participants(n = 63) to estimate the exposure levels of THg using a Direct mercury analyzer. The geometric mean of THg concentrations in the hair,urine and blood of males were 15.98 μg/g, 23.89 μg/L and 11.29 μg/L respectively, whereas the females presented values of 8.55 μg/g, 5.37 μg/L and 8.80 μg/L. Chronic urinary Hg(HgU)levels observed in male workers(32.53 μg/L) are attributed to their long termed exposures to inorganic and metallic mercury from gold panning activities. On an average, the levels of THg are increasing from blood(10.05 μg/L) to hair(12.27 μg/g) to urine(14.63 μg/L).Significant positive correlation was found between hair and blood urinary levels in both male and female individuals. Thus the present biomonitoring investigation to evaluate the Hg levels and associated health issues would positively form a framework for further developmental plans and policies in building an ecofriendly ecosystem.     

复合型道路抑尘剂在城市道路中的应用及经济分析研究

采用由多种可降解高分子材料组成的新型复合型道路抑尘剂喷洒酒泉市肃州区道路,研究喷洒前后城市道路扬尘中PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)和氮氧化物的变化及抑尘剂所带来的经济效益。结果表明,PM_(10)平均去除率为20%,喷洒后能迅速捕捉并吸附微粒粉尘,加速粉尘颗粒凝聚,最好去除效果高达40%;对PM_(2.5)和氮氧化物的去除效果约15%,没有PM_(10)显著;相对于传统洒水方式,喷洒道路抑尘剂可以节省30%经济用水,且对人体和环境无毒害。     

用广义λ—分布拟合空气污染数据

广义λ-分布是一个四参数可变通的概率模型,包括多种单变量分布,这一模型可用于表示空气污染浓度的频率分布。本文采用土耳其安卡拉每日的烟和SO_2监测数据,来证明广义λ-分布具有良好的拟合性质。这里还讨论了与分位数估计和拟合优度有关的一些结果,并与经典对数正态分布进行了比较。