Day-to-Day Particulate Exposures and Health Changes in Los Angeles Area Residents with Severe Lung Disease

ABSTRACT

We measured particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) exposures, home temperature, arterial blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and lung function in 30 volunteer Los Angeles area residents during four-day intervals. Continuous Holter electrocardiograms were recorded in a subgroup on the first two days. Subjects recorded symptoms and time-activity patterns in diaries during monitoring, and during a reference period one week earlier/later. All subjects had severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. PM₁₀ (24-hr mean) at monitoring stations near subjects’ homes averaged 33 μg/m³, and ranged from 9 to 84 μpg/m³. In longitudinal analyses, day-to-day changes in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ outside subjects’ homes significantly tracked concurrent station PM10 (r² = 0.22 and 0.44, respectively). Indoor and personal concentrations were less related to station readings (r² ≤ 0.1), but tracked each other (r² ≥ 0.4). In-home temperatures tracked outdoor temperatures more for lows (r² = 0.27) than for highs (r² = 0.10). These longitudinal relationships of subject-oriented and station PM measurements were generally similar to cross-sectional relationships observed previously in similar subjects. Among health measurements, only blood pressure showed reasonably consistent unfavorable longitudinal associations with particulates, more with station or outdoor PM than with indoor or personal PM.     

Replacing monocultures with mixed-species stands: Ecosystem service implications of two production forest alternatives in Sweden

Whereas there is evidence that mixed-species approaches to production forestry in general can provide positive outcomes relative to monocultures, it is less clear to what extent multiple benefits can be derived from specific mixed-species alternatives. To provide such insights requires evaluations of an encompassing suite of ecosystem services, biodiversity, and forest management considerations provided by specific mixtures and monocultures within a region. Here, we conduct such an assessment in Sweden by contrasting even-aged Norway spruce (Picea abies)-dominated stands, with mixed-species stands of spruce and birch (Betula pendula or B. pubescens), or spruce and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). By synthesizing the available evidence, we identify positive outcomes from mixtures including increased biodiversity, water quality, esthetic and recreational values, as well as reduced stand vulnerability to pest and pathogen damage. However, some uncertainties and risks were projected to increase, highlighting the importance of conducting comprehensive interdisciplinary evaluations when assessing the pros and cons of mixtures.     

Rapid determination of trace dicyandiamide in mussels from Zhejiang coast by ultra-fast liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with isotope internal standard dilution technique

In this study, a rapid and accurate ultra-fast liquid chromatography–tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UFLC–MS/MS) method coupled with the isotope internal standard dilution technique was established and validated to determine trace dicyandiamide (DCD) in mussels. The sample was extracted by acetonitrile, and chromatographic separations were performed on an Acquity UPLC BEH Amide column by using water–acetonitrile (9:91, v/v) as the mobile phase within 3 min. DCD was determined by using DCD-¹⁵N₄ as an internal standard. The results showed that the recoveries were between 96.2 and 103 % with relative standard deviations (RSDs) in the range of 0.6–6.0 %. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.05 μg/kg. This method can be applied to the routine analysis for the rapid and sensitive determination of trace DCD in mussels. Overall, the data reiterate the importance of investigating the presence of DCD in marine biological samples, which can act as food quality controls for human health.     

室外条件下蚯蚓协同微生物直接处理鲜鸡粪

选用赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)协同EM菌和硝化细菌直接进行室外条件下的鲜鸡粪处理实验,以菌剂接种量、缓冲层厚度、投放密度等为主要筛选参数,并对经蚯蚓消化处理前后的鸡粪冲淋水中氮磷的变化进行了取样检测.实验结果表明,室外条件下蚯蚓借助于微生物的协同作用可直接处理鲜鸡粪.当鲜鸡粪负荷为15 g/d时,在接种EM菌剂和硝化菌剂各10 mL,铺设4 cm厚度凹土缓冲层,蚯蚓投放密度为12条的条件下,鲜鸡粪被降解的效果最好.经过蚯蚓消化降解后的鸡粪水中TN浓度降低了20.34％,TN中无机氮含量增多,NH4+-N和N03--N所占TN比例分别增加了18.79％和37.96％;TP浓度降低了14.40％.     

纳滤处理炼化污水反渗透浓水

分别采用4种纳滤膜处理某炼化公司的反渗透浓水。在初始COD为57.8 mg/L、TOC为23.94 mg/L、ρ(Ca2+)为289.0 mg/L、ρ(Mg2+)为54.6 mg/L、ρ(SO42-)为327.7 mg/L、ρ(Cl-)为1 106.8 mg/L的条件下,经纳滤处理后COD去除率达60%以上,污水COD降至30 mg/L以下,TOC去除率为31.9%~85.5%,阳离子的去除率为33.9%~97.0%,SO42-的去除率为63.3%~97.6%,Cl-的去除率较低。膜A的膜孔分布密集,具有很高的通量,对有机物和无机盐的截留效果较差;膜B和膜C对有机物和二价离子的截留效果较好;膜D的膜孔分布稀松,膜通量最低,对有机物和无机盐的截留能力均较强,但随出水体积的增加,对无机盐的截留能力下降较为明显。4种纳滤膜的性能各异,可满足不同企业的需求,具有良好的应用前景。     

缺氧—好氧—催化臭氧氧化工艺处理石化厂含盐废水

采用缺氧—好氧—催化臭氧氧化工艺处理某石化厂的含盐废水。实验结果表明：在进水COD为200~350 mg/L的条件下,经生化处理后的出水COD稳定在50~60 mg/L,COD去除率稳定在75%左右;在臭氧投加量为4.5 g/L、V（催化剂Ⅱ）∶V（废水）=1.5∶1的条件下,进行连续催化臭氧氧化后出水COD稳定在20 mg/L以下,COD去除率大于70%,满足DB 61/224—2011《黄河流域（陕西段）污水综合排放标准》。表征结果显示,催化剂表面含有铜元素,比表面积为250.815 m²/g,吸水率为60.9%,经过滤可去除废水中残留的催化剂。     

活性染料K-2BP、KN-B和KN-R在椰壳活性炭上的脱色性能

开展椰壳活性炭对活性染料K-2BP、KN-B和KN-R的吸附脱色研究。发现K-2BP、KN-B和KN-R在该型活性炭上的吸附脱色率均随初始pH值的降低、温度的升高、染料初始浓度的降低、活性炭用量的增加以及NaCl盐度的增加而增加。在pH=7和T=25℃下,K-2BP、KN-B和KN-R在活性炭上的等温吸附规律符合Langmuir模型方程,最大饱和吸附量Qmax分别为263.15、256.41和250 mg/g,吸附自由能△G298 K分别为-10.632、-3.783和-2.805 kJ/mol;该条件下K-2BP、KN-B和KN-R的动力学吸附规律均符合准一级动力学吸附方程。等温吸附研究和吸附动力学研究均表明,相同条件下3种活性染料在该型活性炭上的吸附效果由高到低的顺序为:K-2BP>KN-B>KN-R。     

三效催化转化器催化剂硫中毒机理

在一种详细的表面反应机理中加入了包含贵金属催化剂与助催化剂的硫中毒基元反应,建立了新的三效催化转化器催化反应机理。利用该机理进行了稳态工况数值模拟,得到了各排气污染物起燃温度与转化效率随尾气中SO2浓度的变化情况。采用灰色关联分析了SO2浓度与各排气组分转化效率的关联度,结果表明,SO2浓度对C3H6与NOx转化效率影响最大。对三效催化转化器的催化剂活性设计具有重要的参考价值,并对其工况设计及优化提供了指导。