The influence of mariculture on mercury distribution in sediments and fish around Hong Kong and adjacent mainland China waters

To study the influence of mariculture on mercury (Hg) speciation and distribution in sediments and cultured fish around Hong Kong and adjacent mainland China waters, sediment samples were collected from six mariculture sites and the corresponding reference sites, 200-300 m away from the mariculture sites. Mariculture activities increased total mercury, organic matter, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur concentrations in the surface sediments underneath mariculture sites, possibly due to the accumulation of unconsumed fish feed and fish excretion. However, methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations and the ratio of MeHg to THg (% MeHg) in sediments underneath mariculture sites were lower than the corresponding reference sites. The % MeHg in sediments was negatively correlated (r = −0.579, p < 0.05) with organic matter (OM) content among all sites, indicating that OM may have inhibited Hg methylation in surface sediments. Three mariculture fish species were collected from each mariculture site, including red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) and snubnose pompano (Trachinotus blochii). The average MeHg concentration in fish muscle was 75 μg kg⁻¹ (wet weight), and the dietary intake of MeHg through fish consumption for Hong Kong residents was 0.37 μg kg⁻¹ week⁻¹, which was lower than the corresponding WHO limits (500 μg kg⁻¹ and 1.6 μg kg⁻¹ week⁻¹).     

西电东送生态补偿标准初探

西电东送南通道规模不断扩大,电力开发过程导致电力输出地生态环境受损,但西电价格却尚未充分体现生态环境成本,地区之间生态环境利益矛盾日益凸显,亟待生态补偿机制对各方利益关系进行协调.本文从输出地和输入地两个视角出发,综合生态环境损失价值与恢复治理成本两方面内容,对发电各环节的生态补偿进行了估算.输出地视角下,本文区分治理与否两种情况,分别计算生态补偿标准;结合已治理电容比例,计算生态补偿平均额度,并设计低、中、高三套补偿方案.其中,中方案为火电0.134元/kwh,水电0.019元/kwho输入地视角下,本文综合考虑了广东省的电源结构和排污所致边际损失,估算广东省环境收益(意愿支付的生态补偿上限)为0.39元/kwh.按照中方案,西电项目中广东省2010年需支付生态补偿费70.5亿元,而获得的生态环境收益则高达304.7亿元.     

人口长期均衡发展及其评价监测模型的构建与应用

在借鉴已有理论的基础上,界定了人口长期均衡发展的内涵,提出人口长期均衡包含人口内部均衡和人口外部均衡两个方面,人口内部均衡包括人口数量、人口质量和人口结构三个维度,人口外部均衡包括人口与经济、人口与社会、人口与资源、人口与环境四个维度;在此基础上构建了人口长期均衡发展的指标体系和评价模型,指标体系设定为三级,第一级包括人口内部均衡和人口外部均衡两个方面,第二级由人口数量、人口质量、人口结构等七个部分构成;第三级指标包括反映内部均衡的7个指标以及反映外部均衡的13个指标.并使用层次分析法确定了指标的权重;采用2000-2007年31个省级单位的数据对人口长期均衡发展评价模型进行了验证,并对人口总体均衡水平以及影响人口均衡发展的关键要素进行了实证分析.结果表明.北京、上海和浙江分列前三,人口均衡发展程度最高.从影响均衡程度的关键因素看.人口质量和人口结构是制约人口自身均衡的主要因素,人口与社会的均衡状况对人口与外部系统均衡制约最大,其次是人口与经济的均衡状况.     

岸边社区精明增长理论对中国沿岸城市发展的启示

2009年9月美国国家海洋和大气管理局依据精明增长原则提出了岸边社区精明增长理论及十大要素,与以往精明增长理论相比,它更多地融入了"水"因子的影响.对于每一个岸边社区来说,"水"因子的存在既是机遇又是挑战.根据岸边社区精明增长理论及要素制定的城市可持续发展规划,可以有效降低岸边社区特有自然灾害对其产生的影响,提高基础设施的利用效率并减少城市发展、经济发展对生态环境的损害.不仅生效予新兴岸边牡区,对于陷入经济发展麻烦具有较长历史的岸边社区也能够提供一个打破瓶颈的发展机遇.通过实践证明,这些要素更加适用于伴水而生的城市发展,能为岸边社区发展指出明路,帮助人们发更好地理解可持续发展的意义.岸边杜区精明增长理论在我国同样具有很强的适用性,凭借它在可持续发展应用方面的优势、在激活经济同时保护生态环境方面的独特性,其理论、方法与技术的融合能够有助于实现岸边社区的多元化目标,从而为我国沿岸城市发展提供启示.     

农业资源型技术创新三环模式及链接特性

本文将农业资源系统理论与农业技术创新学的理论与方法相结合,重点阐述了基于科技价值链的农业资源型技术创新三环模式及链接机制.农业资源型技术创新实质上就是以提高各类农业资源利用率为核心的农业技术改造和技术革新.农业资源型技术创新价值链是指从农业技术创新源到科技成果产业化开发的全过程中,由一系列相互独立、相互联系的创新主体链接起来的,使其科技开发价值不断增值的农业资源型技术创新链条集合体.其技术生命有机体在其发育成长的三个阶段形成了由相关功能节点链接而成的三个关键创新环,即研发创新环、孵化创新环和市场创新环,称为农业资源型技术创新三环模式.在农业资源型技术创新过程中,由各功能节点组配链接成链接单元,再由链接单元链接成关键创新环,进而构成三环模式链条集合体系统网络,这一"点→元→环→链→网"的逐级链接过程,表现出定向有序性、无限多样性、互利共生性和价值递增性等创新价值链接的规律性特性.     

Zinc accumulation and synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Physalis alkekengi L

A field survey and greenhouse experiments were conducted using Physalis alkekengi L. to investigate strategies of phytoremediation. In addition, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using P. alkekengi. P. alkekengi plants grew healthily at Zn levels from 50 to 5000 mg kg⁻¹ in soils. The plants incorporated Zn into their aerial parts (with mean dry weight values of 235-10,980 mg kg⁻¹) and accumulated biomass (with a mean dry weight of 25.7 g plant⁻¹) during 12 weeks. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles showed a polydisperse behavior and had a mean size of 72.5 nm. The results indicate that P. alkekengi could be used for the remediation of zinc-contaminated soils. Moreover, the synthetic method of synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles from Zn hyperaccumulator plants constitutes a new insight into the recycling of metals in plant sources.     

Tissue distribution of Dechlorane Plus and its dechlorinated analogs in contaminated fish: high affinity to the brain for anti-DP

Information on tissue distribution of Dechlorane Plus (DP) and its dechlorinated analogs in wildlife is scarce. DP isomers and two dechlorinated compounds, anti-Cl₁₁-DP and anti-Cl₁₀-DP, were examined in the muscle, liver, and brain tissues of two bottom fish species collected from an electronic waste recycling site, South China. The median levels of syn-, anti-, and anti-Cl₁₁-DP isomers in the tissues ranged 0.18-39.1, 0.22-52.9, and 0.01-5.63 ng/g wet wt, respectively. Anti-Cl₁₀-DP was only detected in one muscle sample of mud carp (0.01 ng/g wet wt), although it was consistently detected in the sediments (0.42-0.83 ng/g dry wt). Preferential distribution in liver relative to muscle was observed for syn-DP and anti-Cl₁₁-DP. However, a high persistent retention in the brain compared to the liver was observed for anti-DP, suggesting that this isomer can across the blood-brain barrier of fish, and may cause adverse effects to the nervous system in the exposed biota.     

Mercury distribution in seawater discharged from a coal-fired power plant equipped with a seawater flue gas desulfurization system

Background and purpose  

More and more coal-fired power plants equipped with seawater flue gas desulfurization systems have been built in coastal areas. They release large amount of mercury (Hg)-containing waste seawater into the adjacent seas. However, very limited impact studies have been carried out. Our research targeted the distribution of Hg in the seawater, sediment, biota, and atmosphere, and its environmental transportation.     

Biosorption of zinc and copper from aqueous solutions by two freshwater green microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus obliquus

Purpose

The objective of this study was to determine the removal of zinc and copper by two freshwater green microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus obliquus and to investigate changes of algal ultrastructure and photosynthetic pigment.

Methods

Algal cells were exposed for 8 days to different initial zinc or copper concentrations. Heavy metal concentrations were detected by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Algal growth, ultrastructure, and photosynthetic pigment were analyzed by a microplate reader, transmission electron microscope, and spectrophotometer, respectively.

Results

Low zinc and copper concentrations induced increase in algal growth, whereas application of high zinc and copper concentrations suppressed the growth of both algae. High metal concentrations also decreased the photosynthetic pigments and destroyed algal cell ultrastructure. The zinc removal efficiency by both algae increased rapidly during the first day and thereafter remained nearly constant throughout the experiment. The copper removal efficiency by both algae increased slowly during the whole experimental periods. In all cultures, the quantity of both metals removed intracellularly was much lower than the adsorbed quantity on the cell surface.

Conclusions

Both strains of the microalgae had proven effective in removing zinc and copper from aqueous solutions, with the highest removal efficiency being near 100%. In addition, C. pyrenoidosa appeared to be more efficient than S. obliquus for removing copper ions. On the contrary, S. obliquus appeared to be more efficient than C. pyrenoidosa for removing zinc ions.     

Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and hexabromocyclododecane in the atmosphere and tree bark from Beijing, China

Air samples in four seasons at one site and tree bark samples from four districts were determined to investigate seasonal variation and regional distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in Beijing, China. The total concentrations of PBDEs (∑PBDE) and HBCD (∑HBCD) were in the range of 57-470 and 20-1800 pg m⁻³ in the atmosphere, respectively. The ∑PBDE and ∑HBCD concentrations were significantly influenced by the total suspended particulate matter in atmosphere. The total concentrations of PBDEs and HBCD in tree bark samples were in the range of 99-3700 and 26-3400 ng g⁻¹ lipid weight. It was found that regional distribution of PBDEs and HBCD was related to the function of each district. In addition, the study found that weeping willow bark was an ideal atmospheric PBDEs and HBCD passive sampler. Finally, atmospheric levels of BDE-209 and HBCD at tree bark sampling districts were estimated via applying an established bark/air partitioning model, which had been verified by the measured concentrations in tree bark and atmosphere in Beijing.