Effect of composition and microstructure of humic acid on 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl sorption

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The fate and transport of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a class of persistent organic compounds, in soils was markedly affected by their...     

Against the current: rewiring rigidity trap dynamics in urban water governance through civic engagement

This paper investigates how the agency of local residents can affect persistent and unsustainable practices in urban water supply governance. Using a case study from Bangalore, India, we analyze a social–ecological trap which developed after a shift to external water provision paired with rapid urbanization. The reluctance of forsaking initial investments in infrastructure and competence, and the subsequent loss of the local network of lakes built for harvesting rainwater, reinforced dependence on external sources while undermining groundwater levels in the city. These feedbacks made water scarcity a structurally persistent feature of Bangalore. This situation started to change when local residents recently started organizing to preserve and restore Bangalore’s lakes. By entering collaborative management agreements with municipal authorities, these lake groups have restored and established effective protection of five lakes. Through a case study of this civic engagement we show that the lake restorations have the potential to counteract trap mechanisms by restoring ecological functions, and by reducing water scarcity as groundwater levels rise and authorities are relieved from maintenance and monitoring tasks. Importantly, these lake groups have also created opportunities for over a dozen similar groups to form across the city. This demonstrates that social movements can be an important source of change in social–ecological traps.     

Selenium for the mitigation of toxicity induced by lead in chicken testes through regulating mRNA expressions of HSPs and selenoproteins

Lead (Pb) is a toxic element and environmental pollutant. Pb toxicity and antagonistic effect of selenium (Se) on Pb have been deeply studied in mammals. The testis is one of the target organs of Pb in birds. The aim of this study was to investigate the mitigating effect of Se on Pb toxicity in chicken testes by determining messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of 5 heat shock proteins (HSPs) and 25 selenoproteins. Sixty male chickens (7-day-old) were randomly divided into the control group, the Se group, the Pb group, and the Pb + Se group, and were fed for 90 days. The feeding methods of chickens were as follows: The control group was fed drinking water and commercial diet (0.49 mg/kg Se). Lead acetate was added into the drinking water (350 mg/L Pb). Sodium selenite was added into the commercial diet (1 mg/kg Se). Multivariate correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to define the relationships among all the measured factors and the most important parameters that could be used as key factors, respectively. The results indicated that Se decreased the increase of mRNA expressions of all the HSPs and increased the decrease of mRNA expressions of all the selenoproteins induced by Pb in the chicken testes. HSP70 may be a biomarker of Pb poisoning in the chicken testes. Se alleviated Pb-induced toxicity in the chicken testes through regulating mRNA expressions of HSPs and selenoproteins.

     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ecotoxicological characterization of sediments from the Huaihe River, China

The distribution, source, ecological risk and ecotoxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of sediments from 7 sampling sites, named as Xinyang (XY), Huainan (HN), Bengbu (BB), Xuyi (XuY), Fuyang (FY), Mengcheng (MC) and Zhengzhou (ZZ), in the Huaihe River basin, China, have been investigated. The total concentrations of 16 USEPA priority PAHs ranged from 62.9 to 2232.4 ng g?1 dry weight (d.w.) with a mean concentration of 1056.8 ng g?1 d.w. Through the assessment of ecological risk, we found that the levels of PAHs in the Huaihe River should not exert adverse biological effects. The total benzo[a]pyrene toxicity equivalent (TEQ) values calculated for samples varied from 0.01 to 194.1 ng g?1 d.w., with an average of 65.9 ng g?1. The toxicity data were accordant with the chemical analysis results in this study. HN, BB and ZZ showed the greatest pollution extent both in the chemical analysis and the study of ecotoxicological effects.     

辽河源头区的水体现状及评价研究

通过单因子指数评价法、模糊综合评价法、水质指数评价法对辽河源头区2008年-2012年的水质进行评价,发现辽河源头区所受污染较为严重,其中氨氮、BOD5和COD超标严重,对水体水质的污染影响较大。三种评价标准中,单因子评价法过于严苛,忽略了不同评价因子之间的联系;模糊综合评价法缺少对超过地表水标准的水质类别的定位,不能确定首要污染物;水质指数评价法不仅能反应水质状况,还能确定水体的污染程度及首要污染因子,是较为理想的方法。     

基于环境约束的浙江省制造业行业结构调整优化研究

文章在综合评价浙江省制造业内部各产业污染排放强度的基础上,对浙江省制造业污染排放量进行了因素分解,并构建了基于污染排放程度系数和工业总产值的区域类型划分矩阵,将浙江省制造业划分为优先发展行业、结构优化发展行业、引导发展行业、推动发展行业和限制发展行业,对浙江省制造业内部各产业结构的调整优化提出了针对性建议。     

半干旱地区典型POPs硫丹环境多介质迁移归趋模拟研究——以兰州河谷盆地为例

以硫丹为研究对象,利用三级多介质逸度模型,对硫丹在半干旱的兰州河谷盆地大气、水体、土壤、沉积物和植物相中的浓度分布进行模拟研究;对硫丹在研究区环境多介质问的迁移通量进行分析,确定其在环境中的主要迁移过程;并结合实际监测数据,对模型的可靠性进行验证;此外,还对除常数之外的20个模型参数进行灵敏度分析,并对较高的模型灵敏度影响因素进行不确定性分析.研究结果表明:土壤、植物和沉积物相是硫丹在兰州河谷盆地环境污染的主要储库;大气平流输入和农药施用是研究区硫丹的主要输入源,沉积物降解和大气平流输出为研究区的主要消耗和输出途径;亨利常数、辛醇-水分配系数等化合物理化性质参数,以及沉积物、土壤有机碳含量等环境参数对模型的灵敏度影响比较显著;模拟浓度与实测浓度相差在一个数量级之内,吻合较好,表明建立的三级多介质逸度模型适用于半干旱的兰州河谷盆地α-硫丹和β-硫丹的环境多介质迁移及归趋行为模拟.     

培养条件下双酚A对稻田土壤微生物群落特征的影响

双酚A(bisphenol A,BPA)作为人工合成的典型环境激素分布极为广泛,然而不同浓度和土壤通气条件下BPA对土壤微生物群落(细菌、真菌)特征的影响鲜见报道.本文采用荧光定量PCR(fluorescence quantitative PCR)技术、聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis,DGGE)相结合的方法研究不同BPA浓度(0、0.25、0.50、1.00、2.00 mg·kg-1)和土壤通气条件(有氧和厌氧)对稻田土壤微生物群落特征的影响。结果表明,土壤通气条件一致情况下(有氧条件或者厌氧条件下),不同BPA浓度添加下微生物丰度指数差异显著,而微生物均匀度指数、香农维纳多样性指数及丰富度指数差异不显著;BPA浓度为0.50 mg·kg-1时,微生物基因丰度在厌氧条件下达到最大值,而在有氧条件下微生物基因丰度却达到最小值;双因素方差分析表明:BPA浓度、土壤通气条件及其交互作用对细菌基因丰度影响差异显著,而只有土壤通气条件对真菌基因丰度影响差异显著.结果表明相对于微生物多样性指数,丰度指数能更加灵敏地指示土壤微生物多样性的变化,BPA浓度为0.50 mg·kg-1时是影响土壤微生物基因丰度变化的一个临界值,相对于真菌基因丰度指数而言,细菌基因丰度指数对BPA添加浓度及土壤通气条件响应更加灵敏.     

Impact of rhizosphere microorganisms on arsenic (As) transformation and accumulation in a traditional Chinese medical plant

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Panax notoginseng is an important traditional medicinal plant, but the commercial value is threatened by root-rot disease caused by rhizosphere...     

Effects of biochar-based fertilizer on nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen losses via leaching and ammonia volatilization from an open vegetable field

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - It is essential for the sustainable development of agriculture to enhance nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of crop plants by increasing yield and...