Heavy metal contents in whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) along a pollution gradient in a subarctic watercourse

Metallurgic industry is a source of serious environmental pollution related to the emission of heavy metals. Freshwater systems are focal points for pollution, acting as sinks for contaminants that may end up in fish and humans. The Pasvik watercourse in the border area between Finland, Norway and Russia is located in the vicinity of the Pechenganickel metallurgic enterprises, and the lower part of the watershed drains the Nikel smelters directly through Lake Kuetsjarvi. Heavy metal (Ni, Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb and Hg) concentrations in environment (water and sediments) and whitefish Coregonus lavaretus tissue (gills, liver, kidney and muscle) were contrasted between five lake localities situated along a spatial gradient of increasing distance (5-100 km) to the smelters. The heavy metal concentrations, in particular Ni, Cu and Cd, were highly elevated in Kuetsjarvi, but steeply declined with increasing distance to the smelters and were moderate or low in the other four localities. The study demonstrates that the majority of metal emissions and runoffs are deposited near the pollution source, and only moderate amounts of the heavy metal contaminants seem to be transported at further distances. Bioaccumulation of Hg occurred in all investigated tissues, and higher Hg concentrations in planktivorous versus benthivorous whitefish furthermore indicated that pelagic foraging is associated with higher levels of Hg biomagnification. Potential population ecology impacts of high heavy metal contaminations where mainly observed in whitefish in Kuetsjarvi, which showed depletions in growth rate, condition factor and size and age at maturation.     

Design and laboratory testing of a new flow-through directional passive air sampler for ambient particulate matter

A new type of directional passive air sampler (DPAS) is described for collecting particulate matter (PM) in ambient air. The prototype sampler has a non-rotating circular sampling tray that is divided into covered angular channels, whose ends are open to winds from sectors covering the surrounding 360°. Wind-blown PM from different directions enters relevant wind-facing channels, and is retained there in collecting pools containing various sampling media. Information on source direction and type can be obtained by examining the distribution of PM between channels. Wind tunnel tests show that external wind velocities are at least halved over an extended area of the collecting pools, encouraging PM to settle from the air stream. Internal and external wind velocities are well-correlated over an external velocity range of 2.0-10.0 m s?1, which suggests it may be possible to relate collected amounts of PM simply to ambient concentrations and wind velocities. Measurements of internal wind velocities in different channels show that velocities decrease from the upwind channel round to the downwind channel, so that the sampler effectively resolves wind directions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses were performed on a computer-generated model of the sampler for a range of external wind velocities; the results of these analyses were consistent with those from the wind tunnel. Further wind tunnel tests were undertaken using different artificial particulates in order to assess the collection performance of the sampler in practice. These tests confirmed that the sampler can resolve the directions of sources, by collecting particulates preferentially in source-facing channels.     

Exchangeable lead from prediction models relates to vetiver lead uptake in different soil types

Prediction models for exchangeable soil lead, published earlier in this journal (Andra et al. 2010a), were developed using a suite of native lead (Pb) paint-contaminated residential soils from two US cities heavily populated with homes constructed prior to Pb ban in paints. In this study, we tested the feasibility and practical applications of these prediction models for developing a phytoremediation design using vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides), a Pb-tolerant plant. The models were used to estimate the exchangeable fraction of Pb available for vetiver uptake in four lead-spiked soil types, both acidic and alkaline, with varying physico-chemical properties and that are different from those used to build the prediction models. Results indicate a strong correlation for predictable exchangeable Pb with the observed fraction and as well with total Pb accumulated by vetiver grass grown in these soils. The correlation coefficient for the predicted vs. observed exchangeable Pb with p < 0.001 was 0.999, 0.996, 0.949, and 0.998 in the Immokalee, Millhopper, Pahokee Muck, and Tobosa soil type, respectively. Similarly, the correlation coefficient for the predicted exchangeable Pb vs. accumulated Pb in vetiver grass with p?< 0.001 was 0.948, 0.983, 0.929, and 0.969 for each soil type, respectively. This study suggests that the success of a phytoremediation design could be assessed upfront by predicting the exchangeable Pb fraction in a given soil type based on its properties. This helps in modifying the soil conditions to enhance phytoextraction of Pb from contaminated soils.     

Matrix-bound phosphine and phosphorus fractions in paddy soils

Phosphine (PH(3)) is a natural gaseous carrier of phosphorus (P) in its geochemical cycles, and it might be important to the P balance of natural ecosystems. Paddy fields are thought to be one of the main sources responsible for the production and emission of PH(3) in to the environment. The relationships between matrix-bound PH(3) (MBP) and different P fractions, as well as selected metals were investigated to explore the possible production of MBP and its link to P cycle in the paddy soils. MBP range from 20.8 (-1) to 502 ng kg(-1) with an average of 145 ng kg(-1). Concentrations at the milk stage are significantly higher than at the jointing stage. The total P range from 333 mg kg(-1) to 592 mg kg(-1). Average P fractions decrease in the order: Ca-P (69.9%) > Organic P (16.5%) > occluded P (6.50%) > Fe-P (5.93%) > dissolved P (0.80%) > exchangeable P (0.32%) > Al-P (0.02%). Different levels of nitrogen fertilizer have little effect on the contents of MBP, P fractions and metals. A significant positive correlation between MBP and Ca-P (p = 0.002), as well as between MBP and Ca (p = 0.008) could be observed, suggesting that Ca-P mainly affects the production of MBP in the paddy soils. It is suggested that soil MBP is strongly linked to Ca-P fertilizer use because soil spiked with P-fertilizer produced an additional 758 ± 142 ng of MBP per kg of soil, compared to only 81.7 ± 12.3 ng of MBP per kg of unspiked soil. No correlations are found between MBP and other P fractions, or between MBP and Al, Fe and Mn.     

经济、能源、环境的综合评价模型

前言十年来,各国曾发生多起有关能源与环境问题。这种无秩序的不断增加的能源消费,廉价能源供给日益减少的经济发展比例,加重了环境污染。因此,对能源供给和环境保护的有关决策已介入了政治,这是所有发达国家而临困境所作出的必然结果。这结果产生了把环境政策和能源政策加以模型化,作为分析判断的尝试。为考查能源、经济与环境之间的相互关系,社会科学以及其他领域的专家共同完成了第一个模型,此模型揭示了能源,包含经济活动及其活动场所与环境之间相互作用,经济与环境具有极为密切的关系,环境也     

气体流中微细颗粒的高梯度磁过滤技术

本文系统地介绍了高磁分离处理气流中微粒的新技术,内容较充实、系统。全文分理论和实践两大部分,因篇幅所限,分两期连续刊出。     

电化学检测离子色谱法测定氰化物、硫化物、碘化物和溴化物

用离子色谱(IC)和通过银工作电极的电化学检测来分离和检测氰化物、硫化物、碘化物和溴化物。它们的检测性限分别为2PPb、30PPb、lOPPb和lOPPb。氰化物和硫化物能同时测定,以及还有其它能被IC测定的一般阴离子。包含在镉和锌络合物中的氰化物作为总游离氰化物被定量测定,而包含在镍和铜络合物中的氰化物只有一部分作为游离氰化物被测定。在金、铁或钴络合物中强键合的氰化物不被测定。虽然离子交换技术能容易地使氰化物或硫化物与大多数普遍的阴离子分离,但是它们通过一般的方法如电导法的检测是     

处理工业废水用的厌氧生物技术

在沼泽、稻田、海底沉积物、深海沟、温泉、树木、牛、猪、大晰蜴以及人体等各种生物中,很早就自然地发生了微生物制造甲烷的过程。最近十年中,人们对用厌氧生物技术处理工业废水和把死去的生物体变成甲烷的兴趣大大增加了。现在,人们的厌氧生物基础知识正在迅速增长。在近五年中人们对厌氧生物技术的研究出现了热潮,其中特别是对甲烷细菌的研究。在这方面美国及欧洲的微生物学者们已经做出了很大贡献。现在,试用这种方法处理各种工业废水,已做了大量研究工作。其成就表现在交付使用的用厌氧法处理工业废水的工业装置不断增加:目前在美国和欧洲已经超过60套(不包括     

矿区复田 恢复植被——美国北部草原露天煤矿矿区成功地恢复了草原植被

近年来,美国北部草原上露天煤矿的开采急剧增加,露天煤矿剥采后,应复田建立植被,保护水土,防止侵蚀。北部草原矿区复田以种植多年生草本植物为主。在本世纪七十年代初期,当该地区的煤矿加速被开采、矿区复田刚开始的时候,我们并没有复田种植的经验。很多地方早期的复田种植都失败了,当时人们产生了怀疑,争论复田种植能否成功然而,复田种植技术迅速地发展了,现在,先进的种植技术与管理经验使得矿区复田恢复植被的可能性大大增加了。一、自然植被北部草原的东部地区尽管气候潮湿,     

南非芬什金伯利岩中产出的两个含金刚石的橄榄岩捕虏体

<正> 尽管金刚石有重大的经济意义,并且每年回收大量金刚石,但其天然形成过程仍有争论。虽然假定大多数金刚石是岩浆成因的,并且与金伯利岩事件有联系,但是金伯利岩中某些捕虏体内金刚石的存在表明,至少有些金刚石是捕获晶。这种非同源成因的金刚石的比例是目前争论问题之一。