Resolving Trade and Environment Conflicts： A Focus on Sustainable Trade in China

This paper begins by analysing the mutual influence between international trade and the environment, and then proceeds to explore the environment and trade conflicts. On the basis of sustainable development theories and the above discussion, the article suggests taking sustainable trade as a solution to the existing conflicts. This paper aims to find the way to strike a balance between international trade and environment based on the present situation in China.     

就森林资源谈林副产品加工专业的发展前景

本文通过对国内外森林资源利用概况及我校林副产品加工专业的现状分析,阐述了该专业的发展前景。     

TiO2/Schwertmannite nanocomposites as superior co-catalysts in heterogeneous photo-Fenton process

The heterogeneous photo-Fenton reaction is an effective technique in combating organic contaminants for both soil and water remediation,and extensive studies have focused on enhancing its efficiency and reducing its costs.In this work,we developed novel photoFenton catalysts by simply milling commercially available TiO_2(P25)with Schwertmannite(Sh),a natural iron-oxyhydroxysulfate nanomineral.We expect that the photo-generated electrons from TiO_2could continuously migrate to Sh,which then could enhance the separation of electron-hole pairs on TiO_2and accelerate the reduction of Fe(III)to Fe(II)on Sh,leading to high degradation efficiency of the target organic contaminants.SEM and TEM results showed the distribution of TiO_2on Sh surface for the nanocomposites(TiO_2/Sh).Under simulated sunlight irradiation,the much higher content of Fe(II)was determined on TiO_2/Sh than on Sh via a common method in the iron ore,and the consumption of H_2O_2and the production of·OH were more significant in the TiO_2/Sh system than those in the TiO_2and Sh systems.These results well support our hypothesis that the photo-generated electrons could migrate from TiO_2to Sh on the composites,and can also explain the much higher degradation efficiency of Rhodamine B(RhB)in the TiO_2/Sh system.Besides,TiO_2/Sh had lower Fe dissolution as compared with Sh,and retained high catalytic stability after four repeated cycles.Above merits of the TiO_2/Sh composites,in combining with their simple synthesis method and low-cost property,indicated that they should have promising applications as heterogeneous photo-Fenton catalysts.     

菹草和伊乐藻对水-沉积物界面磷迁移转化的影响

冬季沉水植物普遍凋亡,死亡残体易造成湖泊二次污染.为探究冬季耐寒性沉水植物对水-沉积物界面各形态磷迁移转化的影响,选取根系特征不同的冬季耐寒性沉水植物菹草（Potamogeton crispus L.）和伊乐藻（Elodea nuttallii）作为研究对象,测定其冬季生长期间上覆水、间隙水和沉积物中各形态磷的含量,并监测环境因子的变化.结果表明:①菹草、伊乐藻组生长期间水-沉积物界面各形态磷含量总体呈下降趋势,并在一定时期维持较低水平,菹草对沉积物和间隙水磷的吸收效果优于伊乐藻,而伊乐藻对上覆水磷的影响大于菹草.②试验第30天后,菹草、伊乐藻组上覆水和间隙水各形态磷质量浓度均显著低于对照组（P < 0.05）,上覆水中ρ（TP）最低值分别为0.057和0.041 mg/L,间隙水中ρ（DTP）（DTP表示溶解性总磷）分别维持在0.270~0.505、0.384~0.507 mg/L之间.③试验结束时,菹草组沉积物中w（TP）、w（IP）（IP表示无机磷）和w（NaOH-P）（NaOH-P表示NaOH提取态磷）分别低至643.68、415.79和120.17 mg/kg,分别下降了16.54%、18.37%和35.82%,伊乐藻组分别低至700.39、457.87和145.29 mg/kg,分别下降了10.24%、11.17%和24.67%;菹草、伊乐藻植株体内TP质量分别增加了588.94和464.59 mg.研究显示,菹草、伊乐藻在生长期间均能有效吸收磷,同时改变了pH、E_h等环境因子,从而影响磷在水-沉积物界面的迁移及磷形态的转变.      

Profiles of and variations in aluminum species in PAC-MC used for the removal of blooming microalgae

Polyaluminum chloride modified clay (PAC-MC) is a safe and efficient red tide control agent that has been studied and applied worldwide. Although it is well known that the distribution of hydrolytic aluminum species in PAC affects its flocculation, little is known about the influence of particulars aluminum species on the microalgae removal efficiency of PAC-MC; this lack of knowledge creates a bottleneck in the development of more efficient MCs based on aluminum salts. The ferron method was used in this study to quantitatively analyze the distributions of and variations in different hydrolytic aluminum species during the process of microalgae removal by PAC-MC. The results showed that Al_a, which made up 5%–20% of the total aluminum, and Al_p, which made up 15%–55% of the total aluminum, significantly affected microalgae removal, with Pearson's correlation coefficients of 0.83 and 0.89, respectively. Most of the aluminum in the PAC-MC sank rapidly into the sediments, but the rate and velocity of settlement were affected by the dose of modified clay. The optimal dose of PAC-MC for precipitating microalgae was determined based on its aluminum profile. These results provide guidance for the precise application of PAC-MC in the control of harmful algal blooms.     

Mercury accumulation and dynamics in montane forests along an elevation gradient in Southwest China

Understanding atmospheric mercury (Hg) accumulation in remote montane forests is critical to assess the Hg ecological risk to wildlife and human health. To quantify impacts of vegetation, climatic and topographic factors on Hg accumulation in montane forests, we assessed the Hg distribution and stoichiometric relations among Hg, carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) in four forest types along the elevation of Mt. Gongga. Our results show that Hg concentration in plant tissues follows the descending order of litter > leaf, bark > root > branch > bole wood, indicating the importance of atmospheric Hg uptake by foliage for Hg accumulation in plants. The foliar Hg/C (from 237.0 ± 171.4 to 56.8 ± 27.7 µg/kg) and Hg/N (from 7.5 ± 3.9 to 2.5 ± 1.2 mg/kg) both decrease along the elevation. These elevation gradients are caused by the heterogeneity of vegetation uptake of atmospheric Hg and the variation of atmospheric Hg° concentrations at different altitudes. Organic soil Hg accumulation is controlled by forest types, topographic and climatic factors, with the highest concentration in the mixed forest (244.9 ± 55.7 µg/kg) and the lowest value in the alpine forest (151.9 ± 44.5 µg/kg). Further analysis suggests that soil Hg is positively correlated to C (r² = 0.66) and N (r² = 0.57), and Hg/C and Hg/N both increase with the soil depth. These stoichiometric relations highlight the combined effects from environmental and climatic factors which mediating legacy Hg accumulation and selective Hg absorption during processes of organic soil mineralization.     

Urinary concentrations of phenols, oxidative stress biomarkers and thyroid cancer: Exploring associations and mediation effects

Phenols have been shown to influence the cellular proliferation and function of thyroid in experimental models. However, few human studies have investigated the association between phenol exposure and thyroid cancer, and the underlying mechanisms are also poorly understood. We conducted a case-control study by age- and sex-matching 143 thyroid cancer and 224 controls to investigate the associations between phenol exposures and the risk of thyroid cancer, and further to explore the mediating role of oxidative stress. We found that elevated urinary triclosan (TCS), bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) levels were associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer (all P for trends < 0.05), and the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) comparing the extreme exposure groups were 3.52 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.08, 5.95), 2.06 (95% CI: 1.06, 3.97) and 7.15 (95% CI: 3.12, 16.40), respectively. Positive associations were also observed between urinary TCS, BPA and BPS and three oxidative stress biomarkers measured by 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 8-iso-prostaglandin F_2α (8-isoPGF_2α) and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-mercapturic acid (HNE-MA), as well as between urinary 8-isoPGF_2α and HNE-MA and the risk of thyroid cancer. Mediation analysis showed that urinary 8-isoPGF_2α mediated 28.95%, 47.06% and 31.08% of the associations between TCS, BPA and BPS exposures and the risk of thyroid cancer, respectively (all P < 0.05). Our results suggest that exposure to TCS, BPA and BPS may be associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer and lipid peroxidation may be an intermediate mechanism. Further studies are warranted to confirm the findings.     

A survey on heavy metal concentrations in residential neighborhoods: The influence of secondary water supply systems

Water quality deterioration often occurs in secondary water supply systems (SWSSs), and increased heavy metal concentrations can be a serious problem. In this survey, twelve residential neighborhoods were selected to investigate the influence of SWSSs on the seasonal changes in heavy metal concentrations from input water to tank and tap water. The concentrations of nine evaluated heavy metals in all groups of water samples were found to be far below the specified standard levels in China. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Zn increased significantly from the input water samples to the tank and tap water samples in spring and summer (p < 0.05), especially for the water samples that had been stagnant for a long time. Negative correlations were found between most of the heavy metals and residual chlorine (Fe, Cu, Zn, and As, r = -0.186 to -0.519, p < 0.05). In particular, a high negative correlation was observed between Fe and residual chlorine (r = -0.489 to -0.519, p < 0.01) in spring and summer. Fe and Mn displayed positive correlations with turbidity (r = 0.672 and 0.328, respectively; p < 0.05). In addition, Cr and As were found to be positively associated with some nutrients (NO₃⁻, TN, and SO₄²⁻; r = 0.420-0.786, p < 0.01). The material of the storage tanks had little influence on the difference in heavy metal concentrations. Overall, this survey illustrated that SWSSs may pose a chronic threat to water quality and could provide useful information for practitioners.     

Associations of bisphenol exposure with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a nested case–control study in Guangxi,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A growing number of epidemiologic studies have estimated the associations between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and gestational diabetes mellitus...