Ground-level ozone in the Pearl River Delta region: Analysis of data from a recently established regional air quality monitoring network

The ambient air quality monitoring data of 2006 and 2007 from a recently established Pearl River Delta (PRD) regional air quality monitoring network are analyzed to investigate the characteristics of ground-level ozone in the region. Four sites covering urban, suburban, rural and coastal areas are selected as representatives for detailed analysis in this paper. The results show that there are distinct seasonal and diurnal cycles in ground-level ozone across the PRD region. Low ozone concentrations are generally observed in summer, while high O₃ levels are typically found in autumn. The O₃ diurnal variations in the urban areas are larger than those at the rural sites. The O₃ concentrations showed no statistically significant difference between weekend and weekdays in contrast to the findings in many other urban areas in the world. The average ozone concentrations are lower in urban areas compared to the sites outside urban centers. Back trajectories are used to show the major air-mass transport patterns and to examine the changes in ozone from the respective upwind sites to a site in the center of the PRD (Wanqingsha). The results show higher average ozone concentrations at the upwind sites in the continental and coastal air masses, but higher 1 h-max O₃ concentrations (by 8–16 ppbv) at the center PRD site under each of air-mass category, suggesting that the ozone pollution in the PRD region exhibits both regional and super-regional characteristics.     

Prediction of the adsorption capability onto activated carbon of a large data set of chemicals by local lazy regression method

Accurate quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) models based on a large data set containing a total of 3483 organic compounds were developed to predict chemicals’ adsorption capability onto activated carbon in gas phrase. Both global multiple linear regression (MLR) method and local lazy regression (LLR) method were used to develop QSPR models. The results proved that LLR has prediction accuracy 10% higher than that of MLR model. By applying LLR method we can predict the test set (787 compounds) with Q²_ext of 0.900 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.129. The accurate model based on this large data set could be useful to predict adsorption property of new compounds since such model covers a highly diverse structural space.     

Distribution and fractionation of phosphorus, cadmium, nickel, and lead in calcareous soils amended with composts

Composts improve organic carbon content and nutrients of calcareous soils but the accumulation and distribution of phosphorus and heavy metals among various fractions in soil may vary under the south Florida conditions. The accumulation of P, Cd, Ni, and Pb with depth and the distribution of water soluble, exchangeable, carbonate, Fe-Mn oxides, organic and residual forms of each element were investigated in soils amended with municipal solid waste (MSW) compost, co-compost and biosolids compost and inorganic fertilizer (as control). Total concentrations of P, Cd, Ni, and Pb were higher in the 0-22 cm soil layers and decreased considerably in the rock layers. These elements were in the decreasing order of P > Pb > Ni > Cd. Amounts of water soluble and exchangeable forms of P, Cd, Ni and Pb were negligible at 0-22 cm soil depths except for Cd in the 10-22 cm depth. Amending calcareous soil with either organic or inorganic amendments rendered phosphorus, nickle and lead in the residual form followed by Fe-Mn oxides form in the 0-10 and 10-22 cm soil layers. Cadmium was predominantly in the Fe-Mn oxides fraction followed by the residual and carbonate forms in both soil layers. A significant positive correlation was found between various organic carbon fractions and organic forms of P, Cd and Pb in the surface soil layer. Soil amended with MSW compost had higher concentration of Cd in the organic fraction whereas, co-compost and MSW compost amended soil had higher concentrations of organic Ni fraction in the 0-10 cm soil layer.     

Ocean pollution from land-based sources: East China Sea, China

The environment of East China Sea (ECS) has been faced by huge stresses from anthropogenic activities and population growth in the Yangtze River drainage basin and the areas along the coasts. Improper use of natural resources and short-term economic objectives have resulted in severe environmental degradation in a fairly short time frame and the degradation has now reached a level where the health and well being of the coastal populations are threatened. The main pollutants are inorganic nitrogen, phosphate, oil hydrocarbons, organic matters and heavy metals. Nutrients cause eutrophication of the coastal waters and the estuarine area and very often stimulate the occurrence of red tides. The environmental pollution of Yangtze River basin directly impact on the state of the marine environment in the ECS. The ecosystem stability is maintained by a steady water discharge from the river, that mixes with the marine salty water in the estuary, and the sediment loads from the river that balance ocean erosion in the delta and its adjacent coastal area. The large-scale water transfer and dam constructions in the Yangtze River basin will change this basis. For the ECS the challenge is to reverse the negative processes taking place and to restore ecosystem balance. The main challenge is to integrate socioeconomic and environmental decision making in order to promote sustainable development. A better understanding of the driving forces in society that cause these environmental pressures is required in order to overcome these obstacles. International cooperation may be an important contributor to the progress and in particular provide access to financial, technological, scientific and human resource assistance.     

Leaching and uptake of heavy metals by ten different species of plants during an EDTA-assisted phytoextraction process

In a pot experiment, the potential use of 10 plant species, including six dicotyledon species and four monocotyledon species, was investigated for the EDTA-enhanced phytoextraction of Pb from contaminated soil. Mung bean and buckwheat had a higher sensitivity to the EDTA treatment in soils. In the 2.5 and 5.0 mmol kg(-1) EDTA treatments, the Pb concentrations in the shoots of the six dicotyledon species ranged from 1,000 to 3,000 mg kg(-1) of dry matter, which were higher than those of the monocotyledon species. The highest amount of phytoextracted Pb (2.9 mg Pb pot(-1)) was achieved in sunflowers, due to the high concentration of Pb in their shoots and large biomass, followed by corns (1.8 mg Pb pot(-1)) and peas (1.1 mg Pb pot(-1)). The leaching behavior of heavy metals as a result of applying EDTA to the surface of the soil was also investigated using short soil-leaching columns (9.0-cm diameter, 20-cm height) by the percolation of artificial rainfall. About 3.5%, 15.8%, 13.7% and 20.6% of soil Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd, respectively, were leached from the soil columns after the application of 5.0 mmol kg(-1) of EDTA. The growth of sunflowers in the soil columns had little effect on the amount of metals that were leached out. This was probably due to the shallowness of the layer of soil, the short time-span of the uptake of metals by the plant and the plant's simple root systems.     

Effects of four chlorobenzenes on serum sex steroids and hepatic microsome enzyme activities in crucian carp, Carassius auratus

Four chlorobenzenes (chlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, p-chloro-methylbenzene) were administrated to the crucian carps (Carassius auratus) by peritoneal injections in the laboratory for 30 days. Serum testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol concentrations were detected using radioimmunology assay (RIA), and the activities of two hepatic microsome enzymes, glutathione s-transferase (GST) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT), were measured using the modified methods as described by Habig and Owens. Results showed that the four chlorobenzenes caused significant increases in serum testosterone concentration in the crucian carps (P < 0.05) compared to the controls, but they caused no significant effect on 17 beta-estradiol level. All test chemicals caused a change in hepatic GST activity in crucian carps, with significant increases in enzyme activity (P < 0.05). Chlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene and p-chloro-methylbenzene resulted in a marked inhibition to UDPGT activity in crucian carp (P < 0.05) except 1,4-dichlorobenzene. The changes in hepatic microsome enzyme activities may have resulted in the alterations of serum sex steroids levels in the crucian carps. The results indicated that these four chlorobenzenes may result in the changes of endocrine functions and may affect the reproductive success of this and other species.     

3种大型海藻对含铅废水的生物吸附研究

运用批吸附技术研究了海带、裙带菜和条斑紫菜对水溶液中Pb2+的吸附特性。结果表明:pH是影响生物吸附的重要因素,海带和裙带菜吸附Pb2+的适宜pH在3~5之间,紫菜吸附Pb2+的最佳pH为4;在20~40℃范围内,3种海藻对Pb2+的生物吸附非常快,40 min达到吸附平衡,动力学数据符合准二级动力学模型;Langmuir和Freundlich模型成功地拟合了平衡数据。热力学分析表明吸附能够自发进行。红外光谱分析表明,羧基是海带和裙带菜吸附Pb2+的主要官能团。实验结果表明,用这3种海藻吸附剂对水溶液中Pb2+具有较好的吸附性能,海带和裙带菜的吸附容量相近,优于紫菜。     

活性半焦用于油田含油污水除油的研究

以经济廉价的半焦为原料,制备用于处理油田含油污水的吸附剂。采用高温焙烧活化、水蒸气活化、高压水热活化以及硝酸、氢氧化钾活化等方法对半焦进行活化处理,通过静态吸附实验测定除油率来评价活化效果,重点讨论了氢氧化钾活化条件对除油效果的影响。结果表明:KOH与半焦质量比为6∶1,80℃浸渍3 h,550℃焙烧1.5 h时,制备的活性半焦吸附除油效果最好,除油率可以达到75.6%;活性半焦对油的吸附符合Freund lich吸附方程。利用酸碱滴定法对样品表面酸碱官能团进行分析,发现KOH活化后半焦表面碱性亲油官能团明显增多;通过SEM对半焦的微观结构进行分析,发现KOH活化后半焦产生大量有利于吸附的孔结构。     

不同碳源和泥龄对反硝化聚磷的影响

在4个SBR装置(1#~4#)中,对4种不同比例的丙酸/乙酸合成废水采用厌氧/缺氧方式驯化富集反硝化聚磷菌(DPB),研究了碳源浓度和污泥龄对除磷的影响。实验结果表明:(1)厌氧段碳源COD浓度越高,释磷越充分,溶解性正磷酸盐(SOP)去除率越高;但当碳源COD浓度超过某个浓度值时,未反应完全的有机物残留于后续缺氧段对缺氧吸磷产生抑制作用。(2)污泥龄SRT=15 d时,活性污泥的性能较好,达到了较好的除磷效果。(3)在相同碳源浓度和相同的污泥龄下,随着丙酸/乙酸比例的提高,SOP的去除率逐渐的降低。说明在厌氧/缺氧环境下,碳源中丙酸比例的提高不利于系统中磷的去除。高乙酸含量的碳源更适合反硝化除磷系统。     

生物沸石滤池处理富营养化水体的挂膜实验

采用上向流生物沸石滤池处理富营养化水体,考察了挂膜阶段(前30 d)滤池对浊度、COD和TP等的去除效果,重点研究了系统中各形态氮素(NH4+-N、NO2--N、NO3--N和TN)的变化情况。结果表明,对于富营养化水体,生物沸石滤池对浊度、COD和TP的去除率分别约为80%、30%和24%;出水NH4+-N始终保持在0.5 mg/L以下,去除率在90%以上;NO2--N出现峰值(4.98 mg/L,第9 d),第13 d后即一直低于进水值;实验后期出水NO3--N与进水NH4+-N变化趋势基本一致,表明硝化生物膜已成熟,原位再生可行;生物沸石床内可能存在同步硝化反硝化现象。出水NO2-N浓度低于进水可作为生物沸石挂膜成功的一个标志。