Chemical methods and phytoremediation of soil contaminated with heavy metals

The effects of chemical amendments (calcium carbonate (CC), steel sludge (SS) and furnace slag (FS)) on the growth and uptake of cadmium (Cd) by wetland rice, Chinese cabbage and wheat grown in a red soil contaminated with Cd were investigated using a pot experiment. The phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil with vetiver grass was also studied in a field plot experiment. Results showed that treatments with CC, SS and FS decreased Cd uptake by wetland rice, Chinese cabbage and wheat by 23-95% compared with the unamended control. Among the three amendments, FS was the most efficient at suppressing Cd uptake by the plants, probably due to its higher content of available silicon (Si). The concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and Cd in the shoots of vetiver grass were 42-67%, 500-1200% and 120-260% higher in contaminated plots than in control, respectively. Cadmium accumulation by vetiver shoots was 218 g Cd/ha at a soil Cd concentration of 0.33 mg Cd/kg. It is suggested that heavy metal-contaminated soil could be remediated with a combination of chemical treatments and plants.     

液化石油气轿车实际道路污染物排放特征

利用PEMS对国2技术LPG出租轿车和汽油轿车的实际道路排放进行测试,基于测试数据对LPG轿车排放特征进行解析,并与汽油轿车的排放因子进行对比分析.结果显示:速度和行驶模式对LPG轿车污染物排放影响明显;LPG轿车CO 2、CO、HC和NOx污染物的实测排放因子分别为(169.5±22.2)、(2.18±2.38)、(...     

纳滤工艺去除水中微量内分泌干扰物

主要研究了DL1210型纳滤膜去除水中邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)、邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯(DEHP)、乐果和莠去津的影响因素,考察了温度、pH值、初始浓度、跨膜压力(TMP)和运行时间对膜通量和截留率的影响。结果表明,纳滤工艺是去除水中微量DBP、DEHP、乐果和莠去津的有效方法,初始pH值和温度的升高会导致纳滤膜对DBP、DEHP、乐果和莠去津的截留率的降低,膜对DBP和DEHP的截留率随初始浓度的升高而降低,TMP和运行时间不会对膜通量和目标污染物的截留率造成显著影响。当初始pH为5、初始浓度为5μg/L、温度为5℃、TMP为0.4 MPa时,纳滤工艺对DBP、DEHP、乐果和莠去津的截留率达到最佳,分别为91.8%、89.8%、98.02%和77.6%,出水中DBP、DEHP、乐果和莠去津浓度分别为0.41、0.49、0.099和1.12μg/L。     

Multivariate statistical study of heavy metal enrichment in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary

The concentrations and chemical partitioning of heavy metals in the sediment cores of the Pearl River Estuary were studied. Based on Pearson correlation coefficients and principal component analysis results, Al was selected as the concentration normalizer for Pb, while Fe was used as the normalizing element for Co, Cu, Ni and Zn. In each profile, sections with metal concentrations exceeding the upper 95% prediction interval of the linear regression model were regarded as metal enrichment layers. The heavy metal accumulation mainly occurred at sites in the western shallow water areas and east channel, which reflected the hydraulic conditions and influence from riparian anthropogenic activities. Heavy metals in the enrichment sections were evaluated by a sequential extraction method for possible chemical forms in sediments. Since the residual, Fe/Mn oxides and organic/sulfide fractions were dominant geochemical phases in the enriched sections, the bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments was generally low. The 206Pb/207Pb ratios in the metal-enriched sediment sections also revealed the influence of anthropogenic sources. The spatial distribution of cumulative heavy metals in the sediments suggested that the Zn and Cu mainly originated from point sources, while the Pb probably came from non-point sources in the estuary.     

RuO_2-IrO_2/Ti阳极电催化降解偶氮染料甲基橙模拟废水

以自制Ti基Ru O2-Ir O2镀层形稳电极为阳极,采用电催化氧化处理偶氮染料甲基橙模拟废水。以硫酸钠为支持电解质,在自然p H条件下分别考察了电解时间、电极间距、电流密度和电解质浓度等因素对甲基橙去除率的影响,并分析其原因。实验结果表明,在自然p H、电极间距为1.0 cm、电流密度为30.0 m A/cm2、电解质硫酸钠浓度为20.0 g/L、电解1.0h,甲基橙去除率高达90.0%以上。因此,电催化氧化法作为一种高效、简便的染料废水处理技术,具有一定的应用潜力。     

Quantification of the Exposure–Lag–Response Association Between Air Pollution and Respiratory Disease Morbidity in Chongqing City,China

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - The health effects of air pollution on respiratory disease morbidity and mortality commonly vary with air pollutants’ intensity and latency after...     

Up-regulation of contractile endothelin receptors by airborne fine particulate matter in rat mesenteric arteries via activation of MAPK pathway

Fine particle matters (PM_2.5) is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Vascular hyper-reactivity plays an important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The present study was designed to investigate a hypothesis that PM_2.5 up-regulated endothelin receptors in mesenteric artery and the potential underlying mechanisms. Rat mesenteric arteries were cultured with PM_2.5. The artery contractile responses were recorded by a sensitive myograph. ET_B and ET_A receptor expressions of mRNA and protein were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results showed that ET_B receptor agonist, sarafotoxin 6c induced a negligible contraction in fresh artery segments, while ET_A receptor agonist, ET-1 induced an obvious contraction. After organ culture, the contraction curve mediated by ET_B and ET_A receptors were shifted toward the left. PM_2.5 1.0 μg/ml cultured for 16 h further enhanced ET_B and ET_A receptor-mediated contractile responses with a markedly increased maximal contraction. The organ culture enhanced ET_B and ET_A receptor mRNA and protein levels from fresh arteries, which were further increased by PM_2.5. The U0126 (MEK/ERK1/2 inhibitor) and SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) significantly attenuated both organ cultured-induced and PM_2.5-induced up-regulation of ET_B receptor. U0126 also suppressed organ culture-increased and PM_2.5-increased expressions of ET_A receptor. SB203580 only suppressed PM_2.5-induced enhanced expressions of ET_A receptor In conclusion, airborne PM_2.5 up-regulates ET_B and ET_A receptors of mesenteric artery via p38 MAPK and MEK/ERK1/2 MAPK pathways.

     

Effects of fuel types and fuel sulfur content on the characteristics of particulate emissions in marine low-speed diesel engine

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The emission of particulate matter from ships does great harm to human health and atmospheric environment. Sulfur emission regulations also affect...     

Characterizing interactions of socioeconomic development and environmental impact at a watershed scale

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Worldwide socioeconomic development has resulted in huge irretrievable environmental problems in various ecosystems. This study employed seven coastal...     

A living mechanical file: the burrowing mechanism of the coral-boring bivalve Lithophaga nigra

The burrowing mechanism of a coral borer, Lithophaga nigra, from Penhu island was studied from 1984–1985. Chemical analysis, behavioral observation, anatomy, functional morphology and electronmicroscopic data revealed that this organism is not a chemical borer, as previously believed, but a mechanical borer with a very specially modified internal organ and an external shell configuration that enables it to function as an extremely efficient regenerative mechanical file.