Distribution of chromium contamination and microbial activity in soil aggregates

Biogeochemical transformations of redox-sensitive chemicals in soils can be strongly transport-controlled and localized. This was tested through experiments on chromium diffusion and reduction in soil aggregates that were exposed to chromate solutions. Reduction of soluble Cr(VI) to insoluble Cr(II) occurred only within the surface layer of aggregates with higher available organic carbon and higher microbial respiration. Sharply terminated Cr diffusion fronts develop when the reduction rate increases rapidly with depth. The final state of such aggregates consists of a Cr-contaminated exterior, and an uncontaminated core, each having different microbial community compositions and activity. Microbial activity was significantly higher in the more reducing soils, while total microbial biomass was similar in all of the soils. The small fraction of Cr(VI) remaining unreduced resides along external surfaces of aggregates, leaving it potentially available to future transport down the soil profile. Using the Thiele modulus, Cr(VI) reduction in soil aggregates is shown to be diffusion rate- and reaction rate-limited in anaerobic and aerobic aggregates, respectively. Thus, spatially resolved chemical and microbiological measurements are necessary within anaerobic soil aggregates to characterize and predict the fate of Cr contamination. Typical methods of soil sampling and analyses that average over redox gradients within aggregates can erase important biogeochemical spatial relations necessary for understanding these environments.     

PROJECTION OF URBANIZATION EFFECTS ON RUNOFF USING CLARK INSTANTANEOUS UNIT HYDROGRAPH PARAMETERS1

ABSTRACT: To alleviate serious flooding problems brought upon by rapid urbanization in the Beargrass Creek watershed, located in Louisville, Kentucky, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers undertook a major flood study in 1973. In order to predict flood conditions in 1990, the year when the watershed was expected to undergo complete urbanization, trends in the Clark Instantaneous Unit Hydrograph (Clark IUH) parameters were utilized to determine the 1990 unit hydrograph and flood conditions. Based on the results from this flood study, this paper demonstrates the applicability of using projected Clark IUH parameters for modeling future runoff conditions in an urbanizing watershed. Values of these parameters, as estimated from maximum annual historical flood data, are used to develop regression models for predicting future Clark IUH parameters. Using the projected parameters, selected annual flood events since 1973 are simulated in order to verify the accuracy of these projections. Results show a close correspondence between the simulated and observed flood characteristics. Hence, the use of projected Clark IUH parameters is an appropriate procedure for modeling future runoff conditions in an urbanizing watershed.     

ROLE OF WATERSHED SUBDIVISION ON MODELING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITH SWAT1

Distributed parameter watershed models are often used for evaluating the effectiveness of various best management practices (BMPs). Streamflow, sediment, and nutrient yield predictions of a watershed model can be affected by spatial resolution as dictated by watershed subdivision. The objectives of this paper are to show that evaluation of BMPs using a model is strongly linked to the level of watershed subdivision; to suggest a methodology for identifying an appropriate subdivision level; and to examine the efficacy of different BMPs at field and watershed scales. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was calibrated and validated for streamflow, sediment, and nutrient yields at the outlet of the Dreisbach (623 ha) and Smith Fry (730 ha) watersheds in Maumee River Basin, Indiana. Grassed waterways, grade stabilization structures, field borders, and parallel terraces are the BMPs that were installed in the study area in the 1970s. Sediment and nutrient outputs from the calibrated model were compared at various watershed subdivision levels, both with and without implementation of these BMPs. Results for the study watersheds indicated that evaluation of the impacts of these BMPs on sediment and nutrient yields was very sensitive to the level of subdivision that was implemented in SWAT. An optimal watershed subdivision level for representation of the BMPs was identified through numerical simulations. For the study watersheds, it would appear that the average subwatershed area corresponding to approximately 4 percent of total watershed area is needed to represent the influence of these BMPs when using the SWAT model.     

Chronic effects of mercuric chloride on the activities of some enzymes in certain tissues of the fresh water murrel, Channapunctatus

Alterations in the activities of some enzymes in the brain, gills, intestine, kidney, liver and muscles have been examined in the fresh water murrel, $\text{Channa}$$\text{punctatus}$, after exposure to a sublethal concentration of mercuric chloride (3 μg/1) for 15, 30 and 60 days. The results revealed that after 15 days of exposure amino acid oxidase activity was elevated in brain and liver and inhibited in intestine. The activity of xanthine oxidase was increased in gills, and inhibited in kidney. Thirty days exposure produced significant inhibition in the activities of malate dehydrogenase in liver, glutamate dehydrogenase in gills and brain, aminoacid oxidase in gills, and xanthine oxidase in liver and intestine. In contrast, glutamate dehydrogenase in intestine, kidney and liver and aminoacid oxidase in brain and liver were elevated. After 60 days of treatment, a decrease in the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase was recorded in gills, intestine, kidney and liver. Hexokinase activity in kidney and liver, and malate dehydrogenase in all the six tissues were inhibited. Glutamate dehydrogenase activity in intestine, kidney and liver remained higher than in control fish. In brain, kidney and liver the activity of aminoacid oxidase was elevated, but in gills the enzyme activity decreased. Xanthine oxidase activity was inhibited in intestine and liver.     

熵权多目标决策等效数值法在大气环境质量综合评价中的应用

介绍了熵和熵权的概念与性质,在此基础上结合多目标决策模型建立熵权多目标决策等效数值评价方法,并对大气环境质量进行综合评价,评价结果表明,利用熵权多目标决策等效数值评价法进行大气环境质量综合评价是可行的。     

In vitro thyroid disrupting e ects of organic extracts from WWTPs in Beijing

It is generally known that there are many endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the e uents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Most research has focused on the occurrence of estrogenic or androgenic activities, while ignoring that there are environmental chemicals disrupting thyroid system, which is essential for growth and development in both humans and animals. In the present work, a two-hybrid yeast assay was conducted to evaluate the removal e ciencies of agonistic or antagonistic thyroid receptor (TR) mediated e ects in di erent treatment processes of three WWTPs located in Beijing. We found no TR agonistic, but TR antagonistic activities in all processes from the WWTPs. The TR antagonistic activities in organic extracts of water samples were then calibrated regarding to a known TR-inhibitor, amiodarone hydrochloride (AH). The observed concentration of TR disrupting substances ranged from 2.35 10??8 to 6.19 10??7 mol/L AH in Gaobeidian WWTP, 3.76 10??8 to 8.75 10??8 mol/L AH in Lugouqiao WWTP, and 4.80 10??9 to 2.55 10??8 mol/L AH in Beixiaohe WWTP. Of the three WWTPs, the removal rates were 92.7%, 42.2%, and 23.1% respectively. Industrial sewage may contain more TR disrupting substances compared with domestic sewage. The recipient waters were found to contain considerable concentrations of TR disrupting substances that may cause adverse e ects on the exposed organisms.     

In vitro thyroid disrupting effects of organic extracts from WWTPs in Beijing

It is generally known that there are many endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Most research has focused on the occurrence of estrogenic or androgenic activities, while ignoring that there are environmental chemicals disrupting thyroid system, which is essential for growth and development in both humans and animals. In the present work, a two-hybrid yeast assay was conducted to evaluate the removal efficiencies of agonistic or antagonistic thyroid receptor (TR) mediated effects in different treatment processes of three WWTPs located in Beijing. We found no TR agonistic, but TR antagonistic activities in all processes from the WWTPs. The TR antagonistic activities in organic extracts of water samples were then calibrated regarding to a known TR-inhibitor, amiodarone hydrochloride (AH). The observed concentration of TR disrupting substances ranged from 2.35 × 10-8 to 6.19 × 10-7 mol/L AH in Gaobeidian WWTP, 3.76 × 10-s to 8.75 x 10-s mol/L AH in Lugouqiao WWTP,and 4.80 × 10-9 to 2.55 × 10-s mol/L AH in Beixiaohe WWTP. Of the three WWTPs, the removal rates were 92.7%, 42.2%, and 23.1% respectively. Industrial sewage may contain more TR disrupting substances compared with domestic sewage. The recipient waters were found to contain considerable concentrations of TR disrupting substances that may cause adverse effects on the exposed organisms.     

苯并噻唑类污染物对青海弧菌Q67毒性效应

以青海弧菌Q67为指示生物,结合96微孔板高通量检测技术,测定了10种环境中常见苯并噻唑类污染物对发光菌的毒性效应。结果表明,10种苯并噻唑化合物均对发光菌具有毒性效应,其EC50在1.17×10-6~5.43×10-3mol·L-1之间。对其进行毒性效应排序,发现巯基取代氨基2羟苯基羧酸乙酯溴氟甲基氯甲硫基苯并噻唑。利用结构化学描述符和偏最小二乘法,构建了苯并噻唑类化合物对Q67发光菌毒性的定量构效关系模型(QSAR),结果发现,氢键供体数量(ND)和极性溶剂可及分子表面积(PSASA)对其毒性具有重要意义。本研究为苯并噻唑类污染物毒性效应评价及其环境风险评价提供了参考。     

水环境中2，4，6－三氯酚的光化学降解研究

研究了2,4,6－三氯酚（TCP）在水中不同存在形态、水体pH值、溶解氧、藻类对其光化学降解行为的影响。先用孔雀绿无色氰化物（MGLC）,计算天津海河、北排污河两个自然水体,底泥悬浮物引起的光分散衰减系数,再用RG.Zeep公式预测出天津海河水中TCP的光解速率高于天津北排污河。天津污水土地处理系统进口水中TCP的光解速率常数：在夏季,kd＝0.059（h^-1）;在冬季kd＝0.011（b^-1）;光解半衰期为19.8h^-1。实验结果为处理后污水的安全回用提供了科学依据。