Comparison on gestation and lactation exposure of perfluorinated compounds for newborns

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are worldwide present in the environment and the general population. Animal studies have shown developmental toxicity of these compounds. To investigate the PFCs exposure of neonates from mother during gestation and lactation, we analyzed twelve PFCs in matched maternal serum, cord serum and breast milk samples collected from 50 pairs of women and their newborns between June and July 2009 in Jinhu, China. Eight PFCs were detected in serum samples, and five of them were also detectable in breast milk. A significant intercorrelation between PFCs concentrations in matched maternal serum, cord serum and breast milk was observed (p<0.01, r=0.435-0.911). The median partition ratio was from 0.39:1 (PFDA) to 1.74:1 (PFTrDA) for seven PFCs through the placenta, and was from 0.02:1 (PFOS) to 0.09:1 (PFOA) for five PFCs through the lactation. A high transport efficiency of PFOA both through placental barrier and lactation was observed. The postnatal exposure of PFCs through lactation was higher compared to prenatal exposure, especially for PFOA.     

Study Progress and Trends of Strategic Environmental Assessment in China

Strategic environmental assessment （SEA） in China has developed rapidly since it was introduced into China in the 1990s. Chinese government promulgated the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of China （hereinafter referred to as the EIA Law） in 2002. In this law, it is stipulated clearly that regional and sector plans should be assessed. Through investigating materials and analyzing literatures, this article analyses the practical and academic study achievements of SEA in China that have been achieved since the EIA Law was implemented, probes into the current situation of the main level of SEA in China-plan EIA, then summarizes the development characteristics, and eventually, puts forward the development trends of SEA in China. The research conclusions can offer the foundations for comprehending systematically the progress of SEA in China.     

Characterization of livestock odors using steel plates, solid-phase microextraction, and multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry

Livestock operations are associated with emissions of odor, gases, and particulate matter (PM). Livestock odor characterization is one of the most challenging analytical tasks. This is because odor-causing gases are often present at very low concentrations in a complex matrix of less important or irrelevant gases. The objective of this project was to develop a set of characteristic reference odors from a swine barn in Iowa and, in the process, identify compounds causing characteristic swine odor. Odor samples were collected using a novel sampling methodology consisting of clean steel plates exposed inside and around the swine barn for < or =1 week. Steel plates were then transported to the laboratory and stored in clean jars. Headspace solid-phase microextraction was used to extract characteristic odorants collected on the plates. All of the analyses were conducted on a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry system where the human nose is used as a detector simultaneously with chemical analysis via mass spectrometry. Multidimensional chromatography was used to isolate and identify chemicals with high-characteristic swine odor. The effects of sampling time, distance from a source, and the presence of PM on the abundance of specific gases, odor intensity, and odor character were tested. Steel plates were effectively able to collect key volatile compounds and odorants. The abundance of specific gases and odor was amplified when plates collected PM. The results of this research indicate that PM is major carrier of odor and several key swine odorants. Three odor panelists were consistent in identifying p-cresol as closely resembling characteristic swine odor, as well as attributing to p-cresol the largest odor response out of the samples. Further research is warranted to determine how the control of PM emissions from swine housing could affect odor emissions.     

液膜分离技术及其在环境工程中的应用

液膜分离技术是用于混合物分离的一种新型有效的技术,液膜是由两个不混溶相形成乳液,然后将乳液在第三相(连续相)中分散而成。本文介绍了液膜的组成、类型与结构、液膜分离的机理和操作工艺流程。井以若干实例说明了该项新技术在环境工程水处理中的广泛应用。     

Dust Storm as an Environmental Problem in North China

Dust storms in north China, which are associated with land deterioration from increasing human pressures, have intensified over the past decades. Although synoptic meteorological conditions and sedimental environments dictate the occurrence of dust storms, their increase in frequency in north China due to human activities can be expected. Sand stabilization and control projects may be compromised by the pursuit of short-term economic returns and lack of systematic and integrated understanding of land degradation. Two actions are recommended as positive responses to escalating dust storms in north China. A policy of long-term ecologically sustainable development strategies is needed as well as a scientific research initiative combining biophysical and socioeconomic aspects.     

Assessment of opium-based farming systems: a case study in the Nahom area,Oudomxay Province in Northern Laos

SUMMARY

An interdisciplinary team of 10 completed an exploratory one-month survey of villages in Nahom, Oudomxay Province, Laos, an area representative of upland farming systems based on opium and shifting cultivation. The study included investigation of the physical and socioeconomic environments and assessment of the farming systems. Due to the relatively low population density, there is enough land for villagers to practice shifting cultivation with a one year cultivation cycle, followed by 10–12 years of fallow. The soil degradation commonly caused by shifting cultivation was not significant in this area and the soil fertility is still relatively high. However, most of the original forests had been cut down and used for shifting cultivation and some degradation of the vegetation has occurred, showing that the ecological sustainability has been threatened by prevailing practices. Thirty-six percent of the households had food supply problems for more than three months of each year. The extremely low return for labour from upland rice cultivation, only 5.64 kg per labour-day, was the critical factor that caused the food shortage. Because of poor technique, rice yield from paddy fields was also low, thus shifting cultivators have no enthusiasm to expand their paddy fields. Income from opium provided 80.5% of household income. Opium was extremely tempting to local people due to the very high return for labour, 5700 kip (US$6) per labour-day, low investment, and good labour availability (mostly during the off-season of rice cultivation). However, opium was also a ‘two-edged sword’. It did not bring real wealth, health and happiness but instead brings poverty, poor health and disappointment.     

基于城市可持续发展的生态绿地建设——以仪征市为例

寻求合乎社会目的与自然规律的城市发展之路，目前必须实施生态建设，加强城市生态系统的负反馈调节。城市生态绿地建设推进城市生态系统良性循环改善城市自身调节功能，使人与自然关系和谐统一，为城市可持续发展作必要的支撑，是城市基础设施建设的重要组成部分。本文以仪征市为例，着重探讨发展中工业城市生态绿地建设的一些主要问题。     

Pressure-assisted chelation extraction of lead from contaminated soil

Soil contamination by metallic elements including lead occurs frequently. Contaminant metals in soil pose a serious risk to public health and groundwater supplies. Extraction using chelants is seen as a remediation option; however, it is often hampered by access to the contaminants that are shielded by the soil matrix. We have developed a novel extraction technique that utilizes a mildly elevated pressure in consecutive cycles of compression and decompression along with a chelating agent for the soil slurry. Complete extraction of 3300 mg/kg of Pb from soil was achieved by 100 mM of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) in 10 min using 20 pressure cycles at 150 psi (10 atm). Extraction was studied according to pressure, number of pressure cycles, chelant concentration, solid content, pH, agitation, and use of consecutive washings. Heightened extraction is attributed to fracturing of the soil particles that leads to enhanced contaminant exposure to the chelating agent.     

Dynamic changes in functional gene copy numbers and microbial communities during degradation of pyrene in soils

This study investigates the dynamics of pyrene degradation rates, microbial communities, and functional gene copy numbers during the incubation of pyrene-spiked soils. Spiking pyrene to the soil was found to have negligible effects on the bacterial community present. Our results demonstrated that there was a significant difference in nidA gene copy numbers between sampling dates in QZ soil. Mycobacterium 16S rDNA clone libraries showed that more than 90% mycobacteria detected were closely related to fast-growing PAH-degrading Mycobacterium in pyrene-spiked soil, while other sequences related to slow-growing Mycobacterium were only detected in the control soil. It is suggested that nidA gene copy number and fast-growing PAH-degrading Mycobacterium could be used as indicators to predict pyrene contamination and its degradation activity in soils.     

杭州城市大气消光系数和能见度的影响因子研究

为了解杭州市能见度下降与大气污染之间的关系，在2001年5月至2002年5月对不同粒径的颗粒物（PM10、PM2.5）的质量浓度进行了观测，结合晴天天气条件下的大气能见度，推算污染物和水汽分子对大气的消光散射，发现细微颗粒物的散射消光特性对杭州市能见度下降起主要作用，并得到能见度与细微颗粒物浓度比值（PM2．5／PM10）的关系；分析了大气能见度和消光系数与PM2．5／PM10和相对湿度的相关系数。