Total and settling velocity-fractionated pollution potential of sewer sediments in Jiaxing,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Sewer sediments and their associated contaminant released along with wet-weather discharges pose potential pollution risks to environment. This paper...     

Possible particulate nitrite formation and its atmospheric implications inferred from the observations in Seoul,Korea

Simultaneous measurements of gaseous species and fine-mode, particulate inorganic components were performed at the University of Seoul, Seoul in Korea. In the simultaneous measurements, a certain level of nitrous acid (HONO) was observed in the gas-phase, indicating possible heterogeneous HONO production on the surface of the ambient aerosols. On the other hand, high particulate nitrite (NO^2?) concentrations of 1.41(±2.26) μg/m³ were also measured, which sometimes reached 18.54 μg/m³. In contrast, low HONO-to-NO₂ ratios of 0.007(±0.006) were observed in Seoul. This indicates that a significant fraction of HONO is dissolved in atmospheric aerosols. Around the Seoul site, sufficient alkalinity may have been provided to the atmospheric aerosols from the excessive presence of NH₃ in the gas-phase. Due to the alkaline particulate conditions (defined in this study as a particle pH >～3.29), the HONO molecules produced at the surface of the atmospheric aerosols appeared to have been converted into particulate nitrite, thereby preventing their further participation in the atmospheric O₃/NO_y/HO_x photochemical cycles. It was estimated that a minimum average of 65% of HONO was captured by alkaline, anthropogenic, urban particles in the Seoul measurements.     

Drowsy drivers: The effect of light and circadian rhythm on crash occurrence

Drowsiness has been recognized as a pervasive problem for drivers, with effects comparable to alcohol. Alcohol, however, has a clear legal limit for impairment; there are no comparable criteria to suggest sleepiness. Drowsiness has been associated with light and circadian rhythm. To investigate the joint effects of these factors on crash occurrence, along with other factors, single vehicle crashes reported in Ontario (1999–2004) were analyzed. Crashes occurring at four times of day, when light varies and circadian rhythm is low (2–5 a.m. and 2–4 p.m.) and with similar light conditions and higher circadian rhythm (9–11 p.m. and 10 a.m.–12 noon). Logistic regression was used to see how light and other factors are associated with single vehicle crashes occurring at times of low circadian rhythm, when drowsiness is more likely.Initial results indicated many circumstances associated with occurrence at these times: the age and sex of the driver and reported driver condition as well as weather. There is, however, an interaction between light and presumed alertness. In separate analyses for daytime and night time crashes most variables were significant for nighttime crashes but not for daytime events. The effects of alcohol and youth remained. A lack of light may exacerbate the effects of other factors at times of low alertness; this should be further investigated in controlled environments such as sleep laboratories and/or driving simulators.     

Optical and microphysical properties of severe haze and smoke aerosol measured by integrated remote sensing techniques in Gwangju,Korea

Aerosol optical and microphysical parameters from severe haze events observed in October 2005 at Gwangju, Korea (35.10°N, 126.53°E) were determined from the ground using a multi-wavelength Raman lidar, a sunphotometer, and a real-time carbon particle analyzer and from space using satellite retrievals. Two different aerosol types were identified based on the variability of optical characteristics for different air mass conditions. Retrievals of microphysical properties of the haze from the Raman lidar indicated distinct light-absorbing characteristics for different haze aerosols originating from eastern and northern China (haze) and eastern Siberia (forest-fire smoke). The haze transported from the west showed moderately higher absorbing characteristics (SSA = 0.90 ± 0.03, 532 nm) than from the northern direction (SSA = 0.96 ± 0.02). The organic/elemental carbon (OC/EC) ratio varied between 2.5 ± 0.4 and 4.1 ± 0.7.     

Estimation of the daily soil/dust (SD) ingestion rate of children from Gansu Province,China via hand-to-mouth contact using tracer elements

A total of 60 children (31 males and 29 females) between the ages of 3 and 12 years were randomly selected from Lanzhou City in Gansu Province, northwest China. Hand (soil/dust) SD samples from these children were collected using hand wipes. We determined the approximate amounts of hand SD and the concentrations of three tracer soil elements (Ce, Y, and V) in these samples. The approximate amounts of hand SD ranged from 42.28 to 173.76 mg, with a median value of 85.42 mg. In addition, the mean amounts of hand SD estimated using the concentrations of Ce, Y, and V in the samples were 4.63, 3.43, and 3.42 mg, respectively. The amount of hand SD varied greatly among the age groups: primary school children had more hand SD than kindergarten children, males had more hand SD than females, and children from rural areas had more hand SD than those from urban areas. The rates of daily ingestion of hand SD for kindergarten and primary school children were estimated to be 7.73 and 6.61 mg/day, respectively.     

起重机械作业人员职业适性检测指标研究

采用Ｄｅｌｐｈｉ法对起重机械作业人员职业适性指标进行了研究。咨询专家就各备择指标对工作重要性及发生事故的关系进行了评估。结果表明：专家积极程度与意见集中程度良好；事故重要性与工作重要性排序一致性良好，两者呈高度正相关。依据专家对“重要性”的排序，再通过专家会议与现场考证等方法，最终确定了起重机械作业人员职业适性检测指标体系。     

钛元素对水培大白菜生长的促进作用

文章选用凡尔赛营养液作为基础培养液,分别加入一种含钛植物生长促进剂和TiCl4溶液,以早熟五号大白菜为试验对象,基础培养液作为对照,考察钛元素对大白菜生长的影响及与其他营养元素之间的关系。结果表明:施加含有相同含钛量的植物生长促进剂与TiCl4溶液的大白菜中单株大白菜鲜重增幅分别为35.4%和23.1%;可溶性糖含量增幅为162.5%及118.8%;大白菜中硝酸盐含量的降低幅度分别为15.2%和13.8%;亚硝酸盐含量的降低幅度分别为36.4%和33.8%。同时,还测量了其他相关指标如株高、叶面积、叶绿素含量等。添加TiCl4的培养液与对照相比,在各项指标中都表现出优势,与添加植物生长促进剂的培养液相比,叶绿素、硝酸盐等指标相差不明显。     

Recovery of iron oxide and calcium chloride from an iron-rich chloride waste using calcium carbonate

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The ilmenite-chloride process has used for the production of TiCl4 from the ilmenite (FeTiO3) ore, which produces cyclone dust containing mostly...     

Propagation,deposition, and suspension characteristics of constant-volume particle-driven gravity currents

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - In this laboratory study, propagation behaviour, particle deposition patterns, and suspension characteristics of non-cohesive particle-driven gravity currents formed...     

Single and joint oxidative stress–related toxicity of sediment-associated cadmium and lead on Bellamya aeruginosa

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The biotoxicity of heavy metals in sediments toward benthic organisms has evoked great concern for the health of freshwater ecosystems. This study...