Spatial character of polychlorinated biphenyls from soil and respirable particulate matter in Taiyuan, China

As one of China’s great metropolises, Taiyuan is affected by heavy chemical industry and manufacture of chemical products, and faces pollution from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the PCB concentrations in various environmental media in Taiyuan. We collected 15 soil samples, 34 respirable particulate matter (PM) samples (17 of PM_2.5 and 17 of PM₁₀) from urban areas of Taiyuan, and measured a total of 144 PCB congeners (including some coeluting PCB congeners). The total PCB concentrations were 51–4.7 × 10³ pg g⁻¹ in soil, 27–1.4 × 10² pg m⁻³ in PM_2.5 and 16–1.9 × 10² pg m⁻³ in PM₁₀. Of the PCB homologues, the dominant PCBs detected in the various media were all tri-CBs. Soil was relatively the most polluted media. Furthermore, principal-component analysis revealed that the major PCB source in Taiyuan may be associated with the main commercial PCB through long-range transmission. Toxic equivalency (TEQ) concentrations (based on ten dioxin-like PCBs) ranged from N.D. to 5.9 × 10⁻³ pg-WHO TEQ g⁻¹ in soil, 2.0 × 10⁻⁴–3.4 × 10⁻³ pg-WHO TEQ m⁻³ and 1.0 × 10⁻⁴–1.2 × 10⁻³ pg-WHO TEQ m⁻³ in PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, respectively. In previous studies, PCBs were not a severe component of contaminant in Taiyuan; however, this study suggested there is a potential threat of human exposure to PCBs for residents of Taiyuan.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) deposition to and exchange at the air-water interface of Luhu, an urban lake in Guangzhou, China

Urban lakes are vulnerable to the accumulation of semivolatile organic compounds, such as PAHs from wet and dry atmospheric deposition. Little was reported on the seasonal patterns of atmospheric deposition of PAHs under Asian monsoon climate. Bulk (dry + wet) particle deposition, air-water diffusion exchange, and vapour wet deposition of PAHs in a small urban lake in Guangzhou were estimated based on a year-round monitoring. The total PAH particle deposition fluxes observed were 0.44-3.46 μg m⁻² day⁻¹. The mean air-water diffusive exchange flux was 20.7 μg m⁻² day⁻¹. The vapour deposition fluxes of PAHs ranged 0.15-8.26 μg m⁻² day⁻¹. Remarkable seasonal variations of particulate PAH deposition, air-water exchange fluxes and vapour wet deposition were influenced by seasonal changes in meteorological parameters. The deposition fluxes were predominantly controlled by the precipitation intensity in wet season whereas by atmospheric concentration in dry season.     

Environmental and socioeconomic assessment of impacts by mining activities—a case study in the Certej River catchment,Western Carpathians,Romania

Background, aim and scope

In the region of the Apuseni Mountains, part of the Western Carpathians in Romania, metal mining activities have a long-standing tradition. These mining industries created a clearly beneficial economic development in the region. But their activities also caused impairments to the environment, such as acid mine drainage (AMD) resulting in long-lasting heavy metal pollution of waters and sediments. The study, established in the context of the ESTROM programme, investigated the impact of metal mining activities both from environmental and socioeconomic perspectives and tried to incorporate the results of the two approaches into an integrated proposition for mitigation of mining-related issues.

Study site

The small Certej catchment, situated in the Southern Apuseni Mountains, covers an area of 78 km². About 4,500 inhabitants are living in the basin, in which metal mining was the main economic sector. An open pit and several abandoned underground mines are producing heavy metal-loaded acidic water that is discharged untreated into the main river. The solid wastes of mineral processing plants were deposited in several dumps and tailings impoundment embodying the acidic water-producing mineral pyrite.

Methods

The natural science team collected samples from surface waters, drinking water from dug wells and from groundwater. Filtered and total heavy metals, both after enrichment, and major cations were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Major anions in waters, measured by ion chromatography, alkalinity and acidity were determined by titration. Solid samples were taken from river sediments and from the largest tailings dam. The latter were characterised by X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. Heavy metals in sediments were analysed after digestion. Simultaneously, the socioeconomic team performed a household survey to evaluate the perception of people related to the river and drinking water pollution by way of a logistic regression analysis.

Results and discussion

The inputs of acid mine waters drastically increased filtered heavy metal concentrations in the Certej River, e.g. Zn up to 130 mg L⁻¹, Fe 100 mg L⁻¹, Cu 2.9 mg L⁻¹, Cd 1.4 mgL⁻¹ as well as those of SO₄ up to 2.2 g L⁻¹. In addition, river water became acidic with pH values of pH 3. Concentrations of pollutant decreased slightly downstream due to dilution by waters from tributaries. Metal concentrations measured at headwater stations reflect background values. They fell in the range of the environmental quality standards proposed in the EU Water Framework Directive for dissolved heavy metals. The outflow of the large tailing impoundment and the groundwater downstream from two tailings dams exhibited the first sign of AMD, but they still had alkalinity.

Most dug wells analysed delivered a drinking water that exhibited no sign of AMD pollution, although these wells were a distance of 7 to 25 m from the contaminated river. It seems that the Certej River does not infiltrate significantly into the groundwater.

Pyrite was identified as the main sulphide mineral in the tailings dam that produces acidity and with calcite representing the AMD-neutralising mineral. The acid–base accounting proved that the potential acid-neutralising capacity in the solid phases would not be sufficient to prevent the production of acidic water in the future. Therefore, the open pits and mine waste deposits have to be seen as the sources for AMD at the present time, with a high long-term potential to produce even more AMD in the future.

The socioeconomic study showed that mining provided the major source of income. Over 45% of the households were partly or completely reliant on financial compensations as a result of mine closure. Unemployment was considered by the majority of the interviewed persons as the main cause of social problems in the area. The estimation of the explanatory factors by the logistic regression analysis revealed that education, household income, pollution conditions during the last years and familiarity with environmental problems were the main predictors influencing peoples’ opinion concerning whether the main river is strongly polluted. This model enabled one to predict correctly 77% of the observations reported. For the drinking water quality model, three predictors were relevant and they explained 66% of the observations.

Conclusions

Coupling the findings from the natural science and socioeconomic approaches, we may conclude that the impact of mining on the Certej River water is high, while drinking water in wells is not significantly affected. The perceptions of the respondents to pollution were to a large extent consistent with the measured results.

Recommendations and perspectives

The results of the study can be used by various stakeholders, mainly the mining company and local municipalities, in order to integrate them in their post-mining measures, thereby making them aware of the potential long-term impact of mining on the environment and on human health as well as on the local economy.

     

铜氰溶液的电子束辐照降解

研究了铜氰溶液中总氰初始浓度、pH、铜浓度等对总氰降解效率的影响,比较了KCN溶液和铜氰溶液的总氰降解率,初步推断了铜氰溶液在辐照过程中的降解机制.实验结果表明,在同样的辐照剂量下,随着总氰初始浓度的增加,总氰降解率降低,相应的总氰降解G值增大;铜浓度越低,总氰降解率越高;pH越小的铜氰溶液总氰降解率越高.电子束辐照KCN溶液和铜氰溶液的总氰降解反应属于表观一级反应.在相同的辐照剂量下,KCN溶液的总氰降解率比铜氰溶液要高得多.铜氰溶液的电子束辐照降解过程非常复杂,主要是铜氰络合离子逐步离解出的CN-与·OH的反应.     

重金属元素在冻土与融土中迁移的对比试验

随着寒区经济的发展,冻土地区的矿山开采活动不断加剧,随之产生的重金属污染问题也越来越严重.冻土地区生态环境脆弱,一旦受到破坏就很难恢复.针对此问题,室内模拟了尾矿矿渣在冻土与融土中的填埋及其对填埋场周边土体的影响,通过检测填埋场各处土壤的温度、含水量以及重金属元素的含量,发现温度和水分对重金属元素的迁移影响很大.土壤温度越低,重金属元素的迁移越慢;在温度梯度的作用下,重金属元素均随着水分从土体的暖端向冷端迁徙并聚集于冻结锋面.重金属元素在冻土中的迁移比融土中慢,表明冻土环境不利于重金属元素的迁移.在土壤质地、温度和含水量等相同的情况下,Zn的迁移性较强,Pb和Cu的迁移性相对较弱.     

丝素/SiO_2杂化膜固定化多酚氧化酶处理模拟含酚废水

粗马铃薯多酚氧化酶固定于丝素/SiO2杂化膜上,从而得到丝素/SiO2杂化膜固定化多酚氧化酶.并用于处理模拟含酚废水.丝素/SiO2杂化膜在水中的溶失率小于丝素膜在水中的溶失率.所得丝素/SiO2杂化膜固定化多酚氧化酶的最适宜pH为7.4.相对于游离多酚氧化酶.该酶具有较好的热稳定性、贮存稳定性及重复使用性.研究表明,丝素/SiO2杂化膜固定化多酚氧化酶有实际处理含酚废水的可能.     

GC/MS法测定润滑油基础油中多环芳烃

对润滑油基础油中多环芳烃的气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)测定方法进行了研究,探讨了样品的提取,固相萃取柱净化等前处理方法,同时也对仪器测定条件进行了优化.结果表明,在检测润滑油基础油中多环芳烃时,经优化的GC/MS法的加标回收率和精密度均达到较满意的水平.     

公路地表灰尘及径流中颗粒物附着重金属对比研究

对北京城区北三环上北太平桥以西约300 m处路段地表灰尘及径流中不同粒径颗粒物附着重金属载荷进行对比研究.结果表明:(1)随着颗粒物粒径的增大,地表灰尘中颗粒物附着重金属浓度总体上逐渐降低;地表灰尘中<40.00 μm颗粒物附着重金属浓度最高;重金属载荷分布集中度不强,但主要集中在地表灰尘中<300.00 μm的颗粒物L.(2)地表径流中大部分重金属附着在<125.00 μm颗粒物上;0.45～10.00 μm颗粒物附着重金属载荷最高;0.45～40.00 μm颗粒物附着重金属载荷平均为77.1%.(3)地表灰尘中<40.00 μm的颗粒物的潜在水环境风险不太突出,但是其实际水环境影响却起主导作用.(4)进入水体的小粒径颗粒物质量分数升高是地表灰尘和径流重金届载荷随颗粒物粒径分布不同的重要原因之一;大气湿沉降对小粒径颗粒物重金属载荷可能会有一定的影响.     

Ag/Cu合金触点废料回收铜粉的工艺研究

Ag/Cu合金触点废料含Ag量在30%(质量分数)以上,含Cu量在60%(质量分数)以上、含Sn量在2%(质量分数)以上.先将Ag/Cu合金触点废料中的Cu分离,然后采用葡萄糖预还原、水合肼再还原制得了粒径在0.3～O.6 pm的类球形超细铜粉(纯度≥99.9%).研究表明,适量聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)的加入有助于超细铜粉粒径均匀且形貌趋于一致;量佳反应温度为70℃;抗氧化剂苯并三氮唑可以有效防止超细铜粉的表面氧化.     

粗石英砂层厚度及倾角对核废物处置库顶盖毛细屏障效应的影响

毛细屏障作为核废物处置库顶盖的工程屏障之一,已经在国内外得到了广泛应用.采用箱体实验方法,研究了非饱和稳定流条件下粗石英砂层厚度和倾角对毛细屏障效应的影响.结果表明,随着粗石英砂层厚度的增大,水分的相对绕流量增大,毛细屏障效应增强;随着粗石英砂层倾角的增大,其表面积水减少,水的横向流动能力增强,毛细屏障效应增强.