Bacterial source tracking guides management of boat head waste in a coastal resort area

Fecal contamination of water bodies causes a public health problem and economic loss. To control such contamination management actions need to be guided by sound science. From 2007–2009 a study was undertaken to determine the sources of fecal bacteria contamination to the marine waters adjoining the Town of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, USA. The research effort included sampling for fecal coliform and Enterococcus bacteria, sampling for optical brighteners, dye studies, and use of molecular bacterial source tracking techniques including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and terminal restriction fragment polymorphism (T-RFLP) fingerprinting of the Bacteroides–Prevotella group. Of the 96 samples collected from nine locations during the study, the water contact standard for Enterococcus was exceeded on 13 occasions. The T-RFLP fingerprint analyses demonstrated that the most widespread source of fecal contamination was human, occurring in 38% of the samples, with secondary ruminant and avian sources also detected. Optical brightener concentrations were low, reflecting a lack of sewage line leakage or spills. A lack of sewer leaks and lack of septic systems in the town pointed toward discharge from boat heads into the marine waters as the major cause of fecal contamination; this was supported by dye studies. Based on these data, the Town initiated action to have the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declare the coastal waters (out to 3 nautical miles), the nearby Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and its tributaries a no-discharge zone (NDZ) to alleviate the human fecal pollution. The Town garnered supporting resolutions from other local communities who jointly petitioned the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. This State regulatory agency supported the local government resolutions and sent an application for an NDZ to the EPA in April 2009. The EPA concurred, and in February 2010 the coastal waters of New Hanover County, NC, became the first marine area on the U.S. eastern seaboard between Delaware and the Florida Keys to be declared a no-discharge zone.     

Nutrient release from bisulfate-amended phytase-diet poultry litter under simulated weathering conditions

Poultry litter generated on the Delmarva Peninsula is from phytase-modified bird diet and bisulfate amendment. To establish agronomic application rates in conservation tillage systems, bisulfate-amended phytase-diet poultry litter was investigated for its nutrient release kinetics and supply capacity under simulated weathering conditions. Delmarva poultry litter was packed in PVC columns (15 cm i.d. × 25 cm height) to a depth of 5 cm and leached intermittently with 600 mm of water for 190 days. Concentrations of various nutrients in leachate were analyzed and nutrient release kinetics were modelled. Poultry litter leachate contained high contents of dissolved organic carbon (DOC, 35–11,800 mg L^?1), nitrogen (N 6–2690 mg L^?1), phosphorus (P 45–225 mg L^?1), potassium (K 20–6060 mg L^?1), and other nutrients. Release of the nutrients occurred primarily in the starting 5 weeks and mostly followed a first order Exponential-Rise-to-Maximum model. Under the specified conditions, the poultry litter demonstrated a nutrient supply capacity of 11.7 kg N Mg^?1, 5.4 kg P Mg^?1, and 36.8 kg K Mg^?1. Release of the potentially plant-available N and K was nearly finalized within 190 days of leaching/weathering, but it would require two years for full release of the leachable P. The results indicate that with consideration of field conditions, surface application of bisulfate-amended phytase-diet Delmarva poultry litter at recommended 6.6 Mg ha^?1 to conservation tillage systems would largely provide P 25.0 kg ha^?1, N 106.6 kg ha^?1, and K 245.5 kg ha^?1 to seasonal crops.     

内蒙古农作物秸秆生物质热电产业发展优势探讨

开发和利用秸秆生物质能对促进社会经济的发展和改善生态环境具有重大意义.内蒙古是农作物秸秆资源蕴含丰富的省区,本文通过对内蒙古秸秆生物质资源现状分析的基础上,简单介绍了生物质热电产业状况和良好的政策环境,探讨内蒙古发展秸秆生物质热电产业的优势.     

Effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenols on newborn leucocyte telomere length: a prospective birth cohort study in China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Telomere length (TL) at birth is related to diseases that may arise in the future and long-term health. Bisphenols exhibit toxic effects and can cross...     

Biomonitoring of heavy metals in the feathers of House crow (Corvus splendens) from some metropolitans of Asia and Africa

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Urban-dwelling birds can be useful biomonitors to assess the impact of the urbanisation on both public and wildlife health. Widely distributed urban...     

三叶鬼针草生物量分配与化感作用对大气温度升高的响应

全球气候变暖已经成为不容置疑的事实,同时外来入侵植物对入侵地的生态环境造成严重的危害,外来入侵植物可能对温度升高做出积极地响应。文章研究了不同温度(22、26和30℃)处理对入侵植物三叶鬼针草(Bidens pilosa L.)种子萌发、幼苗生物量分配及化感作用的影响,探讨三叶鬼针草对全球气候变暖的响应策略。结果表明;温度为22和26℃比30℃有利于三叶鬼针草种子的萌发。温度升高显著增加三叶鬼针草的株高、生物量和叶面积,三叶鬼针草幼苗增加对茎和叶的生物量投资。同时相同浓度的三叶鬼针草水浸提液对马唐(Digitaria sanguinalis(L.)Scop)和牛筋草(Eleusine indica(L.)Gaertn)的化感作用随着温度升高而增强。研究表明:温度升高促进了三叶鬼针草的生长,改变生物量分配模式同时增强了对受体植物的化感作用。温度升高可能是促进三叶鬼针草入侵的生态环境因子之一,未来全球气温变暖可能使其入侵加剧。     

Characterization of residues from dismantled imported wastes

Residues from the imported wastes dismantling process create a great burden on the ambient environment. To develop appropriate strategies for the disposal of such residues, their characteristics were studied through background value analysis and toxicity leaching tests. Our results showed that the heavy metals concentrations in residues were high, particularly those of Cu (7180 mg kg^?1), Zn (2783 mg kg^?1), and Pb (1954 mg kg^?1). Toxicity leaching tests revealed a high metal releasing risk of such residues if they are disposed of in a landfill. However, the residues of imported wastes were also found to have some intrinsic metal recycling value.     

改性脲醛树脂絮凝浮选剂在污水处理中的应用

用尿素和甲醛作为主要原料合成脲醛树脂季胺盐和脲醛树脂叔胺盐。采用ＷＥＭＣＯ浮选模型机和自行设计的模拟现场充气浮选的气浮设备及现场污水对絮凝浮选剂除油、除悬浮物的性能进行了评价。另外，用核磁共振和红外光谱测定了脲醛树脂叔胺盐的结构，并用凝胶色谱法测定了其分子量。     

浅谈行业环境监测站的任务与作用

我国环境问题日趋严重，环境污染和生态破坏已成为社会发展的制约因素。然而，有些企业忽视环境保护工作，取消或合并环境监测站，削弱环境监测力量。针对这种情况，从行业环境监测站的任务、作用和不可取代性方面阐述了强化行业环境监测站建设的必要性。     

乡镇工业企业的职业安全卫生工作亟待加强管理

说明目前乡镇工业企业中职业安全卫生问题十分突出。据调查，厂矿工伤事故发生率为８．２３％，每千名职工的工伤发生率为２．６６人，每十万名职工的工伤死亡率为７．０２人。通过对事故的原因进行分析，提出了加强监督管理的建议。