Aerosol size distributions in urban Jinan: Seasonal characteristics and variations between weekdays and weekends in a heavily polluted atmosphere

Aerosol size distributions, trace gas, and PM(2.5) concentrations have been measured in urban Jinan, China, over 6 months in 2007 and 2008, covering spring, summer, fall, and winter time periods. Number concentrations of particles (10-2,500 nm) were 16,200, 13,900, 11,200, and 21,600 cm(?-3) in spring, summer, fall, and winter, respectively. Compared with other urban studies, Jinan has higher number concentrations of accumulation-mode particles (100-500 nm) and particles (10-2,500 nm), but lower concentrations of ultrafine particles (10-100 nm). The number, surface and volume concentrations, and size distributions of particles showed obvious seasonal variation and are also influenced by traffic emissions. Through correlation analysis, traffic emissions are proposed to be a more important contributor to Atkien-mode and accumulation-mode particles than coal firing. Around midday, the presence of nanoparticles and new particle formation is limited to pre-existing particles from traffic emissions and the mass transport of particles from suburban and rural areas. Compared with other studies in urban areas of Europe and the USA, the variation of particle number concentration and related gas concentration in Jinan between weekdays and weekends is smaller and the reasons has been deduced.     

Assessment of heavy metals in some wild edible mushrooms collected from Yunnan Province, China

Eight heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) in 14 different wild-growing edible mushroom species (Coprinus comatus, Voluariella volvacea, Pleurotus nebrodensis, Hypsizigus marmoreus, Hericium erinaceus, Agrocybe aegerita, Lenfinus edodes, Collybia velutipes, Agaricus bisporus, Russula albida, Clitocybe conglobata, Pleurotus eryngii, Lepista sordida, and Pleurotus ostreatus) collected from Yunnan province, China, were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry after microwave digestion. All element concentrations were determined on a dry weight basis. The ranges of element concentrations for copper, zinc, iron, manganese, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and lead were 6.8-31.9, 42.9-94.3, 67.5-843, 13.5-113, 0.06-0.58, 10.7-42.7, 0.76-5.1, and 0.67-12.9 mg/kg, respectively. In general, iron content was higher than other metals in all mushroom species. The levels of zinc, cadmium, and lead in some edible mushroom samples were found to be higher than legal limits. The relative standard deviations were found below 10%. The accuracy of procedure was confirmed by certified reference material.     

Assessment of spatial distribution of soil loss over the upper basin of Miyun reservoir in China based on RS and GIS techniques

Soil conservation planning often requires estimates of the spatial distribution of soil erosion at a catchment or regional scale. This paper applied the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to investigate the spatial distribution of annual soil loss over the upper basin of Miyun reservoir in China. Among the soil erosion factors, which are rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length (L), slope steepness (S), vegetation cover (C), and support practice factor (P), the vegetative cover or C factor, which represents the effects of vegetation canopy and ground covers in reducing soil loss, has been one of the most difficult to estimate over broad geographic areas. In this paper, the C factor was estimated based on back propagation neural network and the results were compared with the values measured in the field. The correlation coefficient (r) obtained was 0.929. Then the C factor and the other factors were used as the input to RUSLE model. By integrating the six factor maps in geographical information system (GIS) through pixel-based computing, the spatial distribution of soil loss over the upper basin of Miyun reservoir was obtained. The results showed that the annual average soil loss for the upper basin of Miyun reservoir was 9.86 t ha(-1) ya(-1) in 2005, and the area of 46.61 km(2) (0.3%) experiences extremely severe erosion risk, which needs suitable conservation measures to be adopted on a priority basis. The spatial distribution of erosion risk classes was 66.9% very low, 21.89% low, 6.18% moderate, 2.89% severe, and 1.84% very severe. Thus, by using RUSLE in a GIS environment, the spatial distribution of water erosion can be obtained and the regions which susceptible to water erosion and need immediate soil conservation planning and application over the upper watershed of Miyun reservoir in China can be identified.     

Characteristics of particulate matter pollution in the Pearl River Delta region, China: an observational-based analysis of two monitoring sites

Two-year monitoring data (2006 and 2009), collected at the sub-urban site (WQS) and the background site (TH), were used to study the characteristics of Particulate Matter (PM) pollution in the Pearl River Delta region, China. Similar levels of PM(2.5) concentration measured at both sites seem to confirm that the fine particles have emerged as a major regional pollution issue. The seasonal variation of PM(2.5) concentration is associated with the regional monsoon circulations while the diurnal variation is related to land-sea breeze, traffic emissions and boundary layer development. Negative correlation was found in PM(2.5)-wind speed and PM(2.5)-humidity. Analysis of radiation, temperature and ozone suggests the existence of secondary aerosol formation. Transport effect may be another contributing factor to high PM pollution in the region, such as occasional long-distance dust intrusion and trans-boundary effects from upwind areas.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides in surface soils from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

Eighty eight surface soil samples were collected from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and metabolites (DDXs) and hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs). The measured concentrations were 51.8 ± 38.5 ng g(-1), 0.329 ± 0.818 ng g(-1), and 0.467 ± 0.741 ng g(-1) as means and standard deviations of PAHs, DDXs, and HCHs, respectively, which were 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than those reported for eastern China. Significant differences were also revealed among four sub-areas within QTP. PAHs detected in the samples from the remote sub-areas of T'ang-ku-la/Hoh Xil Mountains and along the Qinghai-Tibet highway in the west and northwest of QTP were 1 order of magnitude lower than those from Lhasa and east Qinghai. The differences in soil OCPs among the sub-areas were 2-7 times. Soil PAHs were significantly correlated with emission density and soil organic carbon content (SOC), while OCPs were correlated significantly with the population density and SOC. Based on the calculated backward air mass trajectories and geographical distributions of emission and population, it was revealed that PAHs and OCPs accumulated in the soils in the west and northwest QTP were primarily from long-range transport and may represent the background levels of East Asia. This part of QTP can also serve as an important receptor area for regional or even global long-range transport study. The elevated concentrations of PAHs and OCPs in Lhasa and east Qinghai were mainly from local sources, while PAHs from adjacent Lanzhou area also contributed considerably to the accumulation of PAHs in east Qinghai.     

Characterization of ambient black carbon and wood burning particles in two urban areas

Previously it has been suggested that certain organic aerosol components of wood smoke have enhanced ultraviolet absorption at 370 nm relative to 880 nm in two-wavelength aethalometer measurements. This enhanced absorption could serve as an indicator of wood burning particles. Two-wavelength (370 nm and 880 nm) aethalometer measurements were made at urban sites in Rochester, New York and Laredo, Texas from August 1 to December 31, 2009 and from December 23, 2007 to January 2, 2008, respectively. In Rochester, Delta-C (UVBC(370 nm)- BC(880 nm)) values were higher by a factor of 3 during the night than during the day in November and December when residential wood burning was common. In Laredo, particularly high Delta-C values were observed on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve and were attributed to biomass burning and firework emissions. Exponential decay was found to be a good estimator for predicting BC concentrations at different wind speeds regardless of wind directions.     

Origin, separation and identification of environmental nanoparticles: a review

The biogeochemical and ecological impacts of environmental nanoparticles (ENPs) are some of the fastest growing areas of research today. However, efficient separation and collection of ENPs in natural systems remains difficult. This review article is focused on experimental investigation of separation and identification of ENPs, including nanoparticles with size fractions in the range of <2000, 450 to 2000, 100 to 450 and 1 to 100 nm. An automated ultrafiltration device (AUD) was used successfully to overcome the problem of efficiently collecting ENPs in large quantities in red soils. A significant amount of hematite nanoparticles was present on the surface coating of kaolinite nanoparticles and aggregated hematite nanoparticles overlapping the edge of a kaolinite flake in a size range of 5 to 8 nm. Synchrotron XRD technique is more straightforward and powerful than conventional XRD with oriented specimens and random powder methods for identifying nanoparticles, crystallinity, and particle size in red soils, particularly for the illite, kaolinite, goethite and hematite nanoparticles. The AUD apparatus can be employed to efficiently collect large quantities of soil and related ENPs for investigation of their structural characteristics and surface properties, which have significant impact on weathering reaction pathways, catalysis, the fate of vital elements and environmental pollutants, and ecosystem restoration.     

Matrix-bound phosphine and phosphorus fractions in paddy soils

Phosphine (PH(3)) is a natural gaseous carrier of phosphorus (P) in its geochemical cycles, and it might be important to the P balance of natural ecosystems. Paddy fields are thought to be one of the main sources responsible for the production and emission of PH(3) in to the environment. The relationships between matrix-bound PH(3) (MBP) and different P fractions, as well as selected metals were investigated to explore the possible production of MBP and its link to P cycle in the paddy soils. MBP range from 20.8 (-1) to 502 ng kg(-1) with an average of 145 ng kg(-1). Concentrations at the milk stage are significantly higher than at the jointing stage. The total P range from 333 mg kg(-1) to 592 mg kg(-1). Average P fractions decrease in the order: Ca-P (69.9%) > Organic P (16.5%) > occluded P (6.50%) > Fe-P (5.93%) > dissolved P (0.80%) > exchangeable P (0.32%) > Al-P (0.02%). Different levels of nitrogen fertilizer have little effect on the contents of MBP, P fractions and metals. A significant positive correlation between MBP and Ca-P (p = 0.002), as well as between MBP and Ca (p = 0.008) could be observed, suggesting that Ca-P mainly affects the production of MBP in the paddy soils. It is suggested that soil MBP is strongly linked to Ca-P fertilizer use because soil spiked with P-fertilizer produced an additional 758 ± 142 ng of MBP per kg of soil, compared to only 81.7 ± 12.3 ng of MBP per kg of unspiked soil. No correlations are found between MBP and other P fractions, or between MBP and Al, Fe and Mn.     

First-trimester prenatal diagnosis of severe alpha-thalassemia

By means of chorion biopsy together with restriction endonuclease analysis of fetal DNA, first trimester diagnoses were successfully made in 33 fetuses at risk for Bart's hydrops fetalis. Seven pregnancies with Hb H or hydrops fetalis were therapeutically terminated before 4 months of gestation. Of the 26 pregnancies intended to continue, 18 have come to term with normal deliveries; one with threatened abortion was terminated at the end of the first trimester and, seven are progresssing normally.     

Contamination of Oxygen-Consuming Organics in the Yellow River of China

Contamination of oxygen-consuming organics (OCOs) was one of the most serious problems in the Yellow River of China. This study was conducted to analyze monitoring of the data on OCOs contamination for the river in 1980 and during 1992–1999 as well as examining the effect of suspended solids (SS) on chemical oxygen demand (COD_Mn) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) of river water. Several significant results have arisen from the study. First, COD_Mn and BOD₅ of the river water showed an increasing trend from the upper to the lower reaches of the mainstream. BOD₅ values of river water in 1992 were significantly higher than those in 1980 and showed an increasing trend during 1992–1999. Second, OCOs in river water of the mainstream was attributed mainly to point sources; the ratio of point to non-point sources of BOD₅ was about 2.81. The load from point sources showed an increasing trend during 1992–1998. In contrast, the load from non-point sources manifested a decreasing trend during this period; this was caused by the decreasing trend of SS content in river water. The total load of BOD₅ from point and non-point sources displayed an increasing trend during 1992–1998. Third, as the humic substances in SS can hardly be biologically oxidized in natural conditions but can be oxidized by chemical oxidants such as potassium permanganate, COD_Mn was not suitable for being regarded as a parameter reflecting the pollution degree of OCOs in river water with a high SS content.