The Role of a Salt Marsh Plant on Trace Metal Bioavailability in Sediments. Estimation By Different Chemical Approaches * (7 pp)

Goal, Scope and Background The presence or absence of vegetation can condition sediment characteristics. The main aim of this work was to investigate the influence of the sea rush Juncus maritimus on metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) availability to organisms living on or in estuarine sediments, from Douro River (NW Portugal), by comparing the characteristics and chemical behaviour of rhizosediments (collected within the plant assemblage) and those of sediment (collected around the plant). In order to evaluate whether and how sediment characteristics condition the role of plants on metal availability, sandy and muddy sediments colonised by J. maritimus were studied in parallel. Methods Metal availability was estimated by enzymatic digestion with pepsin (ED), which may provide an estimate of metal availability to organisms living at estuarine sediments. Nevertheless, since no consensus exists yet on the most suitable methodologies to estimate metal bioavailability in sediments, two more conventional approaches, BCR sequential extraction (SE) and AVS/SEM model, were also used, in parallel, and the information these approaches provided was compared with that provided by ED. Total-recoverable metal contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after sediment digestion using a high-pressure microwave system. Results and Discussion Plants could concentrate metals around its roots and rhizomes. In addition, they were capable of oxidizing (release of oxygen by the roots) the anaerobic medium surrounding their roots in muddy sediment (reducing AVS). As sulphide oxidation renders metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) into more soluble forms, according to the AVS/SEM model, metals from muddy sites would be more available in rhizosediment than in sediment. The SE approach led to a similar conclusion. Nevertheless, the results provided by ED pointed at opposite conclusion, particularly for Cd and Zn, indicating less availability at rhizosediments than in the surrounding sediment. ED results were interpreted as a consequence of an enrichment of the rhizosediment in organic ligands exuded by the roots or liberated by dead plants. The effect of complexation of metals by organic compounds, which ED could not decompose/dissolve, seemed to overcome that caused by sediment oxidation. In general, a comparison of the information about metal availability by ED, SE, AVS/SEM, showed that it did not always match and in few cases it was even contradictory. Conclusion and Outlook Therefore, a thorough evaluation of the metal availability in sediments requires a combination of different chemical approaches, so as to take into consideration differences in ways of organism exposure (interstitial water and/or ingestion of sediment particles). - * The basis of this peer-reviewed paper is a presentation at the 9th FECS Conference on 'Chemistry and Environment', 29 August to 1 September 2004, Bordeaux, France.     

Open-path tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy for acquisition of fugitive emission flux data

Air pollutant emission from unconfined sources is an increasingly important environmental issue. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a ground-based optical remote-sensing method that enables direct measurement of fugitive emission flux from large area sources. Open-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (OP-FTIR) has been the primary technique for acquisition of pollutant concentration data used in this emission measurement method. For a number of environmentally important compounds, such as ammonia and methane, open-path tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (OP-TDLAS) is shown to be a viable alternative to Fourier transform spectroscopy for pollutant concentration measurements. Near-IR diode laser spectroscopy systems offer significant operational and cost advantages over Fourier transform instruments enabling more efficient implementation of the measurement strategy. This article reviews the EPA's fugitive emission measurement method and describes its multipath tunable diode laser instrument. Validation testing of the system is discussed. OP-TDLAS versus OP-FTIR correlation testing results for ammonia (R2 = 0.980) and methane (R2 = 0.991) are reported. Two example applications of tunable diode laser-based fugitive emission measurements are presented.     

Field method comparison between passive air samplers and continuous monitors for Vocs and NO2 in El Paso, Texas

This study evaluates the performance of Model 3300 Ogawa Passive Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Samplers and 3M 3520 Organic Vapor Monitors (OVMs) by comparing integrated passive sampling concentrations to averaged hourly NO2 and volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements at two sites in El Paso, TX. Sampling periods were three time intervals (3-day weekend, 4-day weekday, and 7-day weekly) for three consecutive weeks. OVM concentrations were corrected for ambient pressure to account for higher elevation. Precise results (< 5% relative standard deviation, RSD) were found for NO2 measurements from collocated Ogawa samplers. Reproducibility was lower from duplicate OVMs for BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers) VOCs (> or = 77% RSD for 2-day samples) with better precision for longer sampling periods. Comparison of Ogawa NO2 samplers with chemiluminescence measurements averaged over the same time period suggested potential calibration problems with the chemiluminescence analyzer. For BTEX species, generally good agreement was obtained between OVMs and automated-gas chromatograph (auto-GC) measurements. The OVMs successfully tracked increasing levels of VOCs recorded by the auto-GCs. However, except for toluene, OVM BTEX measurements generally exceeded their continuous counterparts with a mean bias of 5-10%. Although interpretation of the study results was limited due to small sample sizes, diffusion barrier influences caused by shelters that housed OVMs and differences in sampling heights between OVMs and auto-GC inlet may explain the overestimation.     

Structure-activity relationships for association of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates with activated sludge

Sorption of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) on sludge particles from wastewater treatment plants was studied. The effect of alkyl chain length and the water hardness were investigated. Sorption on sludge increases with increasing alkyl chain length in the LAS molecules. The results are interpreted in terms of a hydrophobic bonding mechanism being the critical micelle concentration a good index of the surfactant hydrophobicity. The increase in free energy of adsorption for the addition of successive methylene groups to the alkyl chain was estimated as 2.4 kJ/mol. Water hardness clearly enhances the sorption of LAS homologues on sludge and seems to promote cooperative sorption at high surfactant and calcium ion concentrations. An empirical equation was provided that allow to estimate the partition coefficient between aqueous and solid phases for LAS homologues as a function of the alkyl chain length and the water hardness.     

Study on the formation and transport of ozone in relation to the air quality management and vegetation protection in Tenerife (Canary Islands)

An experimental study on the formation and transport of ozone in ambient air was performed in Tenerife (Canary Islands) in order to investigate the processes affecting ozone levels and air quality. The special features of Tenerife (prevalence of the trade wind pattern (NE), orography and the specific location of the local ozone sources) permit to quantify the role of the ‘long-range transport from northern latitudes' versus the ‘formation and transport of ozone downwind of the main urban areas' of Tenerife. Levels of O₃, NO₂ and O_X were monitored in different types of environments to achieve this purpose. The results showed that: (1) upwind of the urban areas ozone is mainly transported from the ocean by trade winds, (2) local ozone titration (by NO) and ozone replenishment from the ocean are the main causes of ozone variations in urban and suburban areas, and (3) photochemical ozone production occurs downwind of the urban areas. Photochemical production causes daylight O₃ and O_X levels downwind of urban areas to be frequently (60% and 35% days/year, respectively) higher than upwind of the urban sites (O₃ and O_X excess frequently in the range 5–20 ppbv). Due to the above processes, different daily ozone cycles occur in short distances (<30 km), with maximum O₃ levels during daylight or night depending on the site. Ozone phytotoxicity was assessed by calculating the AOT40 index upwind and downwind of the main urban areas. The critical value for the 5-day-AOT40 index was simultaneously exceeded at the two sites (few times/year) during long-range transport events. During the additional exceedances of the critical value downwind of the urban area, relatively high 5-day-AOT40 values were recorded upwind of the urban site. Thus, long-range transport from northern latitudes may produce relatively high 5-days-AOT40 levels in the oceanic boundary layer. These results are important for the protection of the large number of endemic plants in the Canaries. The conceptual model discussed in this study may be qualitatively applied to other islands which possess features similar to those of Tenerife.     

大连长兴岛及毗邻海域环境质量评价

根据2002年7月大连市长兴岛生态建设研究现场调查资料，探讨了长兴岛及毗邻海域水质和沉积物要素分布特征，评价了海域环境质量和营养状况。结果表明，水质和沉积物中重金属含量在近岸呈上升趋势，其中，水质Hg、Zn、Pb最高量值分别超过一类标准的0．64、0．54、0．30倍，沉积物中Cu最高量值超一类标准的0．20倍。水质营养水平指数E为0．08，NQI为1．04，cN／cP为2．50。海域环境质量总体良好，介于清洁与较清洁级之间，岛西部环境质量优于北部及南部，海域处于贫营养状态。海岛陆源污染物是影响海域环境的主要因素。     

冶金煤气放散塔点火放散对邻近设施的热辐射影响分析

参照相关标准,推导得出冶金煤气放散塔点火放散对邻近设施的热辐射影响程度判定公式,并以北方某钢铁厂炼钢作业部转炉煤气放散塔点火放散为例,对具体问题进行了分析。结果表明:冶金煤气放散塔邻近设施接受到的最大热辐射强度与煤气的体积低发热值、质量流量呈正比例关系;与所在地全年最小空气湿度百分数、煤气放散塔火焰中心距离邻近设施的最小距离呈反比例关系。若L0,则说明邻近设施接受到的热辐射强度已超出允许范围,应采取相应控制措施。     

查干湖汇水区面源污染风险识别及管控

面源污染是我国流域面临的主要水环境问题,为了识别面源污染高风险区和潜在风险路径,实现流域水环境保护,以查干湖水质目标为约束条件,构建4类关键“源”景观.选取高程、坡度、土地利用类型、污染强度、距居民点距离、距公路距离、距铁路距离、距水体距离等8个评价因子构建阻力面,对查干湖汇水区面源污染风险区和风险路径进行识别,提出管控分区和治理措施.结果表明:①查干湖汇水区关键“源”景观有4类,分别为面源污染单位面积高负荷区、坡度>3°区域、污染传输通道和临湖区域,面积共126.33 km2.②查干湖汇水区面源污染高风险区即面源污染重点管控区,占汇水区总面积的27.10%,主要位于乾安灌区有字泡区域、查干湖及周边泡沼沿岸.区内现有耕地不再增加,同时对坡度较大的区域退耕还湿、退耕还草,并设置污染降解设施.③查干湖汇水区面源污染较高风险区即面源污染一般管控区,占汇水区总面积的20.23%.该区鼓励开展有机农业,发展生态旅游.④查干湖北岸和东南岸、库里泡周边设置一定宽度的植被缓冲带,汇水区设置生态降解渠道333.41 km,生态湿地节点9个.研究显示,污染排放强度是查干湖汇水区面源污染风险的主要威胁因素,需要重点加强查干湖汇水区乾安灌区有字泡、湖区北岸及东南岸的面源污染管控.      

空间环境下碳纤维/双马树脂基复合材料的性能演化及损伤机理

目的基于碳纤维/双马树脂基(CF/BMI)复合材料在航天结构材料中广泛的应用前景,研究其性能演化及损伤机理,为评估与预测其在空间环境下的服役性能及寿命提供理论依据。方法利用地面试验装置模拟不同的空间环境因素包括真空热循环、质子辐照和电子辐照,利用动态力学分析(DMA)、热重分析(TGA)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、热膨胀分析、原子力显微镜(AFM)和力学性能测试等手段系统地研究CF/BMI复合材料在空间环境下的性能变化及损伤行为。结果真空热循环能够引发复合材料产生脱气行为与界面脱粘效应,使其横向拉伸强度退化,弯曲强度和层间剪切强度受到热循环初期固化交联作用的影响,呈现先升高后降低的变化趋势。质子辐照导致材料表面层化学键断裂及碳化,使力学性能及热性能受到一定程度的损伤。电子辐照能够引发辐照交联和辐照降解作用,在较高束流量辐照下降解作用占据主导地位成为复合材料力、热性能退化的决定性因素。结论预期研究成果为CF/BMI复合材料在空间环境下的服役性能及寿命的评估与预测提供了必要的理论依据。     

Black carbon: the reverse of its dark side

The emission of black carbon is known to cause major environmental problems. Black carbon particles contribute to global warming, carry carcinogenic compounds and cause serious health risks. Here, we show another side of the coin. We review evidence that black carbon may strongly reduce the risk posed by organic contaminants in sediments and soils. Extremely efficient sorption to black carbon pulls highly toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, polybrominated diphenylethers and pesticides into sediments and soils. This increased sorption is general, but strongest for planar (most toxic) compounds at environmentally relevant, low aqueous concentrations. Black carbon generally comprises about 9% of total organic carbon in aquatic sediments (median value of 300 sediments), and then may reduce uptake in organisms by up to two orders of magnitude. This implies that current environmental risk assessment systems for these contaminants may be unnecessarily safe.