Outdoor fine and ultrafine particle measurements at six bus stops with smoking on two California arterial highways—Results of a pilot study

As indoor smoking bans have become widely adopted, some U.S. communities are considering restricting smoking outdoors, creating a need for measurements of air pollution near smokers outdoors. Personal exposure experiments were conducted with four to five participants at six sidewalk bus stops located 1.5–3.3 m from the curb of two heavily traveled California arterial highways with 3300–5100 vehicles per hour. At each bus stop, a smoker in the group smoked a cigarette. Gravimetrically calibrated continuous monitors were used to measure fine particle concentrations (aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm; PM_2.5) in the breathing zones (within 0.2 m from the nose and mouth) of each participant. At each bus stop, ultrafine particles (UFP), wind speed, temperature, relative humidity, and traffic counts were also measured. For 13 cigarette experiments, the mean PM_2.5 personal exposure of the nonsmoker seated 0.5 m from the smoker during a 5-min cigarette ranged from 15 to 153 µg/m³. Of four persons seated on the bench, the smoker received the highest PM_2.5 breathing-zone exposure of 192 µg/m³. There was a strong proximity effect: nonsmokers at distances 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m from the smoker received mean PM_2.5 personal exposures of 59, 40, and 28 µg/m³, respectively, compared with a background level of 1.7 µg/m³. Like the PM_2.5 concentrations, UFP concentrations measured 0.5 m from the smoker increased abruptly when a cigarette started and decreased when the cigarette ended, averaging 44,500 particles/cm³ compared with the background level of 7200 particles/cm³. During nonsmoking periods, the UFP background concentrations showed occasional peaks due to traffic, whereas PM_2.5 background concentrations were extremely low. The results indicate that a single cigarette smoked outdoors at a bus stop can cause PM_2.5 and UFP concentrations near the smoker that are 16–35 and 6.2 times, respectively, higher than the background concentrations due to cars and trucks on an adjacent arterial highway.

Implications: Rules banning smoking indoors have been widely adopted in the United States and in many countries. Some communities are considering smoking bans that would apply to outdoor locations. Although many measurements are available of pollutant concentrations from secondhand smoke at indoor locations, few measurements are available of exposure to secondhand smoke outdoors. This study provides new data on exposure to fine and ultrafine particles from secondhand smoke near a smoker outdoors. The levels are compared with the exposure measured next to a highway. The findings are important for policies that might be developed for reducing exposure to secondhand smoke outdoors.     

ABR处理硫酸盐有机废水的BP神经网络建模

通过厌氧折流板反应器(ABR)处理硫酸盐有机废水的实验数据对BP神经网络进行训练,建立了ABR处理硫酸盐有机废水的BPNN模型,通过测试对比,找出了较优训练函数为traingda,较优训练次数为1 900.利用分割连接权值法(PCW)对影响出水SO42-和COD的主要因素进行分析,结果显示进水COD、SO42-、pH、COD/SO42-和HRT对出水SO42-和COD均产生一定影响,其中进水pH对出水SO42-和COD的影响最大,相对重要性(RI)指数分别为30.79％和23.44％;并通过样本试验数据分别建立了对SO42-和COD去除率的限制因子仿真模型,为预测硫酸盐有机废水的厌氧处理过程提供指导.     

Fe3O4/Ag磁性纳米颗粒去除水中的铅离子

采用水相共沉淀法制备小尺寸磁性Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒,以没食子酸作为还原剂和表面修饰剂,还原Ag[(NH₃)₂]⁺制备出Fe₃O₄/Ag磁性纳米颗粒。研究该磁性纳米颗粒对水溶液中铅离子的吸附行为,研究结果表明,pH为7.0,吸附温度30℃时可得到最好的处理效果,铅的去除率可达99.7%以上,Fe₃O₄/Ag颗粒吸附行为符合二级动力学模型(R² > 0.99)。该磁性纳米颗粒经过多次再生处理后,仍具有很好的吸附效果,表明Fe₃O₄/Ag在水处理方面拥有良好的应用前景。     

水位波动带氮素迁移转化规律

为考察水位波动对非饱和-饱和土层中氮素迁移转化的影响,设计土柱实验装置Ⅰ和Ⅱ分别模拟水位稳定与波动两种情景,测定一个水位波动周期内地下水中NO₃^--N、NO₂^--N和NH₄⁺-N浓度变化情况。结果表明,柱Ⅱ水位第1次下降柱内1^#,2^#,3^#,4^#采样点NO₃^--N浓度均增大,增幅分别为6.5%、14.9%、15.33%和19.8%。水位上升时结果相反,分别降低17.3%、26.15%、50.29%和44.61%。第2次水位下降至初始位置4个采样点NO₃^--N浓度再次增大,幅度分别为7.1%、10.6%、13.89%和7.76%。铵态氮呈相反趋势不同程度的变化。水位波动柱Ⅱ连通水槽内总氮量增加显著高于柱I水槽,即水位波动有利于波动带地下水中氮素垂向迁移,加重波动带以下地下水硝酸盐污染。因此,水位波动对氮素迁移转化的影响不容忽视。     

UASB-SBR-絮凝工艺处理地沟油制生物柴油废水

采用UASB-SBR-絮凝工艺处理地沟油制生物柴油废水,考察了各个阶段的废水处理效果。实验结果表明：UASB稳定运行阶段进水COD约为15000mg/L时,COD去除率约为87%,出水COD在2500mg/L以下,出水挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）浓度为4~6mmol/L,最佳容积负荷为15.0kg/（m3·d）;采用SBR处理UASB出水,当容积负荷为1.5kg/（m3·d）时,出水COD在200mg/L以下,COD去除率在83%以上,ρ（NH₃-N）在5mg/L以下,TP约为25mg/L。向SBR出水中加入质量分数为5%的聚合氯化铝进行化学除磷,加入量为5mL/L,处理后废水TP为4~6mg/L。处理后废水的COD,ρ（NH₃-N）,TP均达到CJ343-2010《污水排入城市下水道水质标准》的A类要求。     

改性SiO2气凝胶对废水中Fe3+的吸附性能

制备了改性SiO₂气凝胶,考察了经不同类型、不同配比的改性剂改性的SiO₂气凝胶对模拟含Fe³⁺废水的吸附处理效果。实验结果表明：改性SiO₂气凝胶的最佳制备条件为三甲基氯硅烷（TMCS）作改性剂,V（TMCS）#x02236;V（正己烷）=1#x02236;5;当改性SiO₂气凝胶加入量为75g/L、吸附时间为4h、Fe³⁺质量浓度为10mg/L时,模拟含Fe³⁺废水的Fe³⁺去除率为98.32%,剩余Fe³⁺质量浓度为0.168mg/L;采用改性SiO₂气凝胶动态吸附处理流量为420mL/h、Fe³⁺质量浓度为100mg/L的模拟含Fe³⁺废水,吸附后废水中剩余Fe³⁺质量浓度仅为0.196mg/L。     

Pb and Cd binding to natural freshwater biofilms developed at different pH: the important role of culture pH

The effects of solution pH on adsorption of trace metals to different types of natural aquatic solid materials have been studied extensively, but few studies have been carried out to investigate the effect of pH at which the solid materials were formed on the adsorption. The purpose of present study is to examine this effect of culture pH on metal adsorption to natural freshwater biofilms. The adsorption of Pb and Cd to biofilms which were developed at different culture pH values (ranging from 6.5 to 9.0) was measured at the same adsorption pH value (6.5). The culture pH had considerable effects on both composition and metal adsorption ability of the biofilms. Higher culture pH usually promoted the accumulation of organic material and Fe oxides in the biofilms. The culture pH also affected the quantity and species of algae in the biofilms. The adsorption of Pb and Cd to the biofilms generally increased with the increase of culture pH. This increase was minor at lower pH range and significant at higher pH range and was more remarkable for Cd adsorption than for Pb adsorption. The notable contribution of organic material to the adsorption at higher culture pH values was also observed. The profound impacts of culture pH on adsorption behavior of biofilms mainly resulted from the variation of total contents of the biofilm components and were also affected by the alteration of composition and properties of the components.     

Photodegradation of the antimicrobial triclocarban in aqueous systems under ultraviolet radiation

This work aimed to investigate the effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the degradation of the antimicrobial triclocarban (TCC). We investigated the effects of several operational parameters, including solution pH, initial TCC concentration, photocatalyst TiO₂ loading, presence of natural organic matter, and most common anions in surface waters (e.g., bicarbonate, nitrate, and sulfate). The results showed that UV radiation was very effective for TCC photodegradation and that the photolysis followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The TCC photolysis rate was pH dependent and favored at high pH. A higher TCC photolysis rate was observed by direct photolysis than TiO₂ photocatalysis. The presence of the inorganic ions bicarbonate, nitrate, and sulfate hindered TCC photolysis. Negative effects on TCC photolysis were also observed by the addition of humic acid due to competitive UV absorbance. The main degradation products of TCC were tentatively identified by gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer, and a possible degradation pathway of TCC was also proposed.     

Cadmium accumulation, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in Pistia stratiotes L.

The aquatic plant Pistia stratiotes L. (water lettuce) was studied due to its capability of absorption of contaminants in water and its subsequent use in wetlands constructed for wastewater treatment. The effects of Cd on root growth, accumulation of Cd, antioxidant enzymes, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in P. stratiotes were investigated. The results indicated that P. stratiotes has considerable ability to accumulate Cd. Cadmium induced higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities than catalase activity, suggesting that SOD and POD provided a better defense mechanism against Cd-induced oxidative damage. The accumulation of Cd promoted MDA production.     

Degradation of bisphenol A in aqueous solution by persulfate activated with ferrous ion

Degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution was studied with high-efficiency sulfate radical (SO₄ ^?·), which was generated by the activation of persulfate (S₂O₈ ^2?) with ferrous ion (Fe²⁺). S₂O₈ ^2? was activated by Fe²⁺ to produce SO₄ ^?·, and iron powder (Fe⁰) was used as a slow-releasing source of dissolved Fe²⁺. The major oxidation products of BPA were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer. The mineralization efficiency of BPA was monitored by total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer. BPA removal efficiency was improved by the increase of initial S₂O₈ ^2? or Fe²⁺ concentrations and then decreased with excess Fe²⁺ concentration. The adding mode of Fe²⁺ had significant impact on BPA degradation and mineralization. BPA removal rates increased from 49 to 97 % with sequential addition of Fe²⁺, while complete degradation was observed with continuous diffusion of Fe²⁺, and the latter achieved higher TOC removal rate. When Fe⁰ was employed as a slow-releasing source of dissolved Fe²⁺, 100 % of BPA degradation efficiency was achieved, and the highest removal rate of TOC (85 %) was obtained within 2 h. In the Fe⁰–S₂O₈ ^2? system, Fe⁰ as the activator of S₂O₈ ^2? could offer sustainable oxidation for BPA, and higher TOC removal rate was achieved. It was proved that Fe⁰–S₂O₈ ^2? system has perspective for future works.