Joint action and lethal levels of toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene on midge (Chironomus plumosus) larvae

Aquatic ecosystems are vulnerable to the exposure with petrochemicals such as toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (o-, m-, and p-xylene) (TEX) and their adverse effects. Considering the widespread use, occurrence, and high toxicity of TEX, the aim of this work was to investigate the differential toxicity of TEX against midge (Chironomus plumosus) larvae and reveal the joint action of binary and ternary mixtures of TEX using the predictive concentration addition model. More importantly, this research can afford the basic toxicity data and scientific reference for the establishment of water quality criteria or benchmark, water pollution control, and aquatic risk assessment. Single and joint toxic effects of TEX on C. plumosus larvae were investigated using a semi-static bioassay, and the type of joint effects of TEX was ascertained. In the single toxicant experiments, the toxicity of the three pollutants could be sequenced as ethylbenzene > xylene > toluene. Specifically, LC_50s of T, E, and X after a 48-h exposure were 64.9, 37.8, and 42.0 mg/L, respectively. In the binary mixture experiments, the interaction between toluene and ethylbenzene, ethylbenzene and xylene, and toluene and xylene was largely in conformity with partial additive or additive effect as determined by isobologram representation and toxic unit models. In the ternary mixture experiments, the interaction was basically dependent on the use of additive index and mixture toxicity index methods. However, the antagonistic and synergistic actions were not significant. Thus, the tertiary mixture interaction could be regarded as additive action. The concentration addition model could successfully predict the joint action of TEX mixtures on C. plumosus larvae. Particularly, the additive action of TEX on C. plumosus larvae can be further recommended to evaluate water quality criteria of TEX.     

Temporal patterns of atmospheric mercury species in northern Mississippi during 2011–2012: Influence of sudden population swings

Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM) and particulate bound mercury (PBM) were measured on the University of Mississippi campus from July 2011 to June 2012. It is believed to be the first time that concentrations of atmospheric mercury species have been documented in northern Mississippi, and at a location with relatively large and sudden swings in population. The mean concentration (±1SD) of GEM was 1.54 ± 0.32 ng m⁻³; levels were lower and generally more stable during the winter (1.48 ± 0.22) and spring (1.46 ± 0.27) compared with the summer (1.56 ± 0.32) and fall (1.63 ± 0.42). Mean concentrations for GOM and PBM were 3.87 pg m⁻³ and 4.58 pg m⁻³, respectively; levels tended to be highest in the afternoon and lowest in the early morning hours. During the fall and spring academic semesters concentrations and variability of GOM and PBM both increased, possibly from vehicle exhaust. There were moderate negative correlations with wind speed (all species) and humidity (GOM and PBM). Backward air mass trajectory modeling for the ten highest peaks for each mercury species revealed that the majority of these events occurred from air masses that passed through the northern continental US region. Overall, this study illustrates the complexity of temporal fluctuations of airborne mercury species, even in a small town environment.     

Bioaccessibility of polychlorinated biphenyls in workplace dust and its implication for risk assessment

Human exposure to bioaccessible PCBs via indoor dust is limited around the world. In the present study, the workplace dust sample from commercial office, hospital, secondary school, shopping mall, electronic factory and manufacturing plant were collected from Hong Kong for PCBs analyses. Total PCBs concentrations ranged from 46.8 to 249 ng g⁻¹, with a median of 107 ng g⁻¹. Manufacturing plant showed the highest concentration among all of sampling sites. PCB 77 was found as the dominant congeners. The bioaccessibility of PCBs in small intestinal juice ranging from 8.3% to 26.0% was significantly higher than that in gastric condition, ranging from 4.8% to 12.4%. In addition, significant negative correlations (p < 0.05) were observed between K_OW and bioaccessibility for all workplace dust samples. Risk assessment indicated that the averaged daily dose of dioxin-like PCBs via non-dietary intake of workplace dust, considering the bioaccessibility of PCBs, were much lower than the TDI of dioxins (2.3 pg WHO-TEQ kg bw⁻¹ d⁻¹) established by Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.     

纳米钯?铝双金属对水中3-氯酚的脱氯降解研究

采用置换沉积法制备了纳米钯/铝双金属催化剂,氢解还原去除水相中难降解有毒有机物3-氯酚(3-CP),考察了溶液pH、钯负载量、纳米钯/铝双金属投加量、反应温度对脱氯效果的影响并解析相关反应机制。结果表明:(1)初始pH 3.0时,沉积液中93.25%(质量分数,下同)～96.67%的钯可有效负载于铝材上。(2)在pH为3.0、纳米钯/铝双金属投加量为2g/L、钯负载量为1.16%(质量分数)、反应温度为25℃下降解初始摩尔浓度为0.389mmol/L的3-CP,反应终了时脱氯率在99%以上。利用纳米钯/铝双金属降解氯代有机污染物具有高效低耗的优势,在实际应用上具有较好的前景。     

昆明市污水排水系统产甲烷规律的模拟实验研究

通过对昆明市餐饮和居民生活污水厌氧模拟实验研究,初步探讨生活污水中CH4的产生规律,实验结果表明,在自然条件下,餐饮和居民生活污水中产生的甲烷浓度最大值分别为1.63 mg/L和3.82 mg/L。并且将COD、硫酸盐、硫化物、TN的浓度变化与甲烷浓度变化进行Pearson简单相关性分析,结果表明,1/COD、COD/硫酸盐和1/TN与甲烷在置信度为0.01时极显著相关,硫化物与甲烷在置信度为0.05时不相关;COD、硫酸盐和TN浓度的变化对生活污水中甲烷的产生起关键性作用。对居民生活污水中甲烷产生规律进行温度和pH控制分析研究,实验结果表明,生活污水在25~30℃时,24 h内甲烷产生量最大值为8.6494 mg/L,明显大于其他温度段的甲烷产生量;在pH为7~8之间时,甲烷的产生量在24 h内达到的最大值为3.0477 mg/L,明显高于其他pH控制段的甲烷产生量。     

再生白土无污染生产技术的研究

用低浓度的废酸水对废白土进行活化,并采用洗涤水循环漂洗的方法,对再生白土无污染生产技术进行研究,以期循环利用废白土,保护环境,节约资源。结果表明：废酸水浓度为15％,固液比1：3,酸化时间3h时,再生白土脱色率为98．0％。     

浅谈外墙保温材料对建筑防火的影响

本文通过对几种外墙保温材料及国内外外墙保温技术的介绍,从中分析出引起建筑耐火极限降低的原因,找到在目前条件下,最适合外墙保温的材料及技术,以降低火灾的发生。     

基于人工神经网络理论的建筑物火灾安全评价研究

依据建筑物火灾危险性的影响因素,应用人工神经网络理论及系统安全方法,建立了建筑物火灾危险性的评价指标体系,该方法摆脱了评价过程中的随机性和参评人员主观上的不确定性及其认识上的模糊性等缺点,大大提高了准确性。为了验证评价模型的准确性,将该理论应用到某高校图书馆火灾危险性评价中,快速、准确地得到了安全评价结果,取得了满意效果,为建筑物防火设计以及安全管理提供了可行的依据。     

甲烷-煤尘复合火焰的传播与温度特征

为了揭示甲烷-煤尘复合体系的燃烧特征,利用高速摄像机、超细热电偶、显微镜头等对管道内甲烷-煤尘复合火焰的传播过程及其温度特征进行了试验研究.结果表明,随着煤尘浓度的增加,甲烷-煤尘复合火焰的最高温度及传播速度呈现先增大后减小的趋势; 对于甲烷-煤尘复合火焰,粒径较大的煤尘在较小的浓度达到最高温度,而粒径较小的煤尘则需要在较大的浓度达到最高温度.     

冬季自然通风对住宅室内空气品质的改善性能评价

为获得理想的自然通风方式,以改善寒冷地区住宅冬季室内空气品质、营造舒适的室内环境,采用现场实测和理论分析相结合的方法,对冬季自然通风中的室内外环境参数进行了测试,得到了室外环境参数、人工调节方式对室内环境参数及空气品质的影响特征; 针对舒适与健康的双重要求是寒冷地区住宅冬季通风的主要矛盾这一特点,分别采用临界温度、热舒适性、排污效率、人工调节便捷性等指标对不同方案的通风性能进行了评价.结果表明,采用18 ℃的临界温度可保证采暖所需的热能最低值,同时也有利于抑制甲醛、氨等的释放及挥发速率; 各房间的热舒适性均满足相关规范要求,即本文所列举的这4种方案在执行过程中并没有牺牲房间的热舒适性,只是稍微有些偏凉.方案6的排污效率最高,为88%,方案8次之,方案3最低.这与方案6中两进风口关于回风口对称布置,室内平均空气龄最短有关; 4种方案具有相同的人工调节便捷性.综合各方面因素,方案6为本文最佳通风方案.