Effect of solution pH on aging dynamics and surface structural evolution of mZVI particles: H<Subscript>2</Subscript> production and spectroscopic/microscopic evidence

A microscale zero-valent iron (mZVI)-based in situ reactive zone is a promising technology for contaminated groundwater remediation. Estimation of mZVI aging behavior after its injection into the subsurface is essential for efficiency and longevity assessments. In this study, batch tests were conducted to investigate the effect of initial pH on mZVI aging dynamics, as well as the formation and evolution of aging products over 112 days. Results indicated that mZVI aging accelerated with decreasing initial pH. Corrosion rates of mZVI particles under pH 6.0 and 7.5 were approximately two orders of magnitude higher than those observed at pH 9.0. The morphological, structural, and compositional evolution of mZVI particles in three systems (pH = 6.0, 7.5, and 9.0) were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In acidic and neutral solutions, a thick passivation layer with loosely and unevenly distributed aging precipitates was observed, and Fe₃O₄ was the final aging precipitate. Nevertheless, in alkaline solutions, minute aging precipitates were detected on the mZVI surface at 112 day. Characterization results suggested that mZVI was oxidized via the Fe⁰–Fe(OH)₂–Fe₃O₄ route. These findings shed new light on mZVI aging mechanisms, particularly its physicochemical characteristics and the structural evolution of mZVI in field-scale groundwater remediation applications.     

Dynamics of copper and tetracyclines during composting of water hyacinth biomass amended with peat or pig manure

Composting is one of the post-treatment methods for phytoremediation plants. Due to a high potential of water hyacinth to accumulate pollutants, the physicochemical parameters, microbial activity as well as fates of copper (Cu) and tetracyclines (TCs) were investigated for the different amended water hyacinth biomass harvested from intensive livestock and poultry wastewater, including unamended water hyacinth (W), water hyacinth amended with peat (WP), and water hyacinth amended with pig manure (WPM) during the composting process. Pig manure application accelerated the composting process as evidenced by an increase of temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), NH₄-N, as well as functional diversity of microbial communities compared to W and WP treatments. Composting process was slowed down by high Cu, but not by TCs. The addition of peat significantly increased the residual fraction of Cu, while pig manure addition increased available Cu concentration in the final compost. Cu could be effectively transformed into low available (oxidizable) and residual fractions after fermentation. In contrast, less than 0.5% of initial concentrations of TCs were determined at the end of 60-day composting for all treatments in the final composts. The dissipation of TCs was accelerated by the high Cu concentration during composting. Therefore, composting is an effective method for the post-treatment and resource utilization of phytoremediation plants containing Cu and/or TCs.     

Risk assessment of heavy metals in soil of Tongnan District (Southwest China): evidence from multiple indices with high-spatial-resolution sampling

Assessment of heavy metal (HM) pollution in soil is critical for human health, ecological remediation, and soil conservation. In this study, statistical analyses and geochemical approaches such as enrichment factor (EF), the index of geoaccumulation (Igeo), and potential ecological risk index (RI) were used for characterization and risk assessment of soil HMs through a high-spatial-resolution 385 samples from Tongnan District, an important agricultural practice area in Chongqing Municipality in Southwest China. Igeo and EF indicated that Hg and Cd could be considered as low and moderate polluted, respectively, and others HMs were not a major concern. Comprehensive ecological risk information further demonstrated that the HMs have caused a moderate risk. Principal component analysis (PCA) extracted two principal components (PCs) with eigenvalue >1 explaining about 66.1% of the total variance in the HM data sets, demonstrating major source of anthropogenic activity, phosphate fertilizers, vehicle, and pesticides. These multi-index methods have the capacity of HM assessment in soil, which are useful for soil conservation and ecological remediation.     

The impacts of Robinia pseudoacacia litter cover and roots on soil erosion in the Loess Plateau,China

The impacts of vegetation on soil erosion are closely associated with the combined effects of above- and below-ground components. In this study, we explore the effects and contributions of Robinia pseudoacacia litter cover and roots on soil erosion. Experiment sites under natural conditions with vegetation cover, plant roots and bare ground plots were investigated for overland flow discharges of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0?L?s^?1 and slope gradients of 8.7%, 17.6%, 26.8%, 36.4% and 46.6%. Results indicate that litter cover and roots have a significant impact on sediment reduction; soil loss was reduced by about 57% and plant roots had a greater impact on the reduction of soil erosion than litter cover. The combination of litter cover and plant roots had a significant effect on decreasing K_r, increasing τ_c and consequently strengthening soil resistance capacity to erosion. When plants and roots existed on the slopes, K_r decreased by 81% and 66%, and τ_c increased by 319% and 246%, respectively, in comparison with bare slopes. These results illustrate the importance of high-forest in controlling soil erosion by quantifying the specific contributions of litter cover and plant roots in erosion reduction in the Loess Plateau.     

12种杀菌剂制剂对半闭弯尾姬蜂的急性毒性及安全性评价

采用试管药膜法测定了12种杀菌剂制剂对半闭弯尾姬蜂成蜂的急性接触毒性,结合安全性系数评价了供试药剂对半闭弯尾姬蜂的安全性。急性毒性测定结果表明,氟硅唑和啶菌噁唑对半闭弯尾姬蜂成蜂的接触毒性最高,LC50值分别为220.022和223.115 mg·L-1;其次为多抗霉素、丙森锌和戊唑醇,LC50值分别为436.496、472.358和638.638 mg·L-1;其余7种杀菌剂制剂嘧霉胺、啶酰菌胺、苯醚甲环唑、多菌灵、嘧菌酯、嘧菌环胺和异菌脲对半闭弯尾姬蜂成蜂的触杀毒性都较低,LC50值均大于1 000 mg·L-1。安全性评价结果表明,丙森锌和啶菌噁唑对半闭弯尾姬蜂成蜂具有高风险性,安全系数分别为0.16和0.42;嘧霉胺、多抗霉素、氟硅唑和戊唑醇为中等风险性,安全系数分别为1.43、1.56、2.20和3.23;其余6种杀菌剂制剂啶酰菌胺、苯醚甲环唑、多菌灵、嘧菌酯、嘧菌环胺和异菌脲对半闭弯尾姬蜂表现为低风险性,安全系数均大于5。结果显示:甾醇脱甲基抑制剂氟硅唑、戊唑醇和啶菌噁唑以及苯胺基嘧啶类杀菌剂嘧霉胺、有机硫杀菌剂丙森锌和抗菌素多抗霉素对半闭弯尾姬蜂成蜂具有急性毒性风险,在有害生物综合治理中应谨慎使用,特别是啶菌噁唑和丙森锌,以免对半闭弯尾姬蜂造成不良影响和危害。     

济南城市防洪现状及对策分析

2007年7月18日突然袭击的特大暴雨洪水,给济南市带来特大灾害.分析了造成济南"7.18"洪水的一些原因,论述了目前济南城市防洪的现状,提出了可能采取的应对济南城市防洪问题的一些对策,包括工程及非工程方面的措施.     

Concentrations of U,U, U,Th, Th,Th, Ra,Ra, Ra,Po, Pb and Pb in drinking water in Italy: reconciling safety standards based on measurements of gross α and β

Some important naturally occurring α- and β-radionuclides in drinking water samples collected in Italy were determined and the radiological quality evaluated. The mean activity concentrations (mBq L⁻¹) of the radionuclides in the water samples were almost in the order: 26 ± 36 (²³⁴U) > 21 ± 30 (²³⁸U) > 8.9 ± 15 (²²⁶Ra) > 4.8 ± 6.3 (²²⁸Ra) > 4.0 ± 4.1 (²¹⁰Pb) > 3.2 ± 3.7 (²¹⁰Po) > 2.7 ± 1.2 (²¹²Pb) > 1.4 ± 1.8 (²²⁴Ra) > 1.1 ± 1.3 (²³⁵U) > 0.26 ± 0.39 (²²⁸Th) > 0.0023 ± 0.0009 (²³⁰Th) > 0.0013 ± 0.0006 (²³²Th). The mean estimated dose (μSv yr⁻¹) to an adult from the water intake was in this order: 2.8 ± 3.3 (²¹⁰Po) > 2.4 ± 3.2 (²²⁸Ra) > 2.1 ± 2.1 (²¹⁰Pb) > 1.8 ± 3.1 (²²⁶Ra) > 0.94 ± 1.30 (²³⁴U) > 0.70 ± 0.98 (²³⁸U) > 0.069 ± 0.087 (²²⁴Ra) > 0.036 ± 0.044 (²³⁵U) > 0.014 ± 0.021 (²²⁸Th) > 0.012 ± 0.005 (²¹²Pb) > 0.00035 ± 0.00029 (²³⁰Th) > 0.00022 ± 0.00009 (²³²Th). It is obvious that ²¹⁰Po, ²²⁸Ra, ²¹⁰Pb and ²²⁶Ra are the most important dose contributors in the drinking water intake. As far as the seventeen brands of analysed drinking water were concerned, the committed effective doses were in the range of 2.81–38.5 μSv yr⁻¹, all well below the reference level of the committed effective dose (100 μSv yr⁻¹) recommended by the WHO. These data throw some light on the scale of the radiological impact on the public from some naturally occurring radionuclides in drinking water, and can also serve as a comparison for the dose contribution from artificial radionuclides released to the environment as a result of human practices. Based on the radionuclide composition in the analysed waters, comment was made on the new screening level for gross α activity in guidelines for drinking-water quality recommended by the WHO, 2004.     

Ethnicity,housing and personal factors as determinants of VOC exposures

Previous studies investigating effects of personal, demographic, housing and other factors on exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOC) have focused on mean or median exposures, and generally not the high exposures that are of great interest. This paper identifies determinants of personal VOC exposures on a quantile-specific basis using a nationally representative sample. The NHANES 1999–2000 VOC dataset was merged with personal, demographic, housing, smoking and occupation variables. Bivariate analyses tested for differences in geometric means and quantiles across levels of potential exposure determinants. Multivariate sample-weighted ordinary least-squares (OLS) and quantile regression (QR) models were then used to adjust for covariates. We identify a number of exposure determinants, most of which varied by exposure quantile. The most striking finding was the much higher exposures experienced by Hispanics and Blacks for aromatic VOCs (BTEX: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes), methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB). Exposure to gasoline, paints or glues, and having a machine-related occupation also were associated with extremely high BTEX and MTBE exposures. Additional determinants included the presence of attached garages and open windows, which affected exposures of BTEX (especially at lower quantiles) and MTBE (especially at higher quantiles). Smoking also increased BTEX exposures. DCB was associated with air freshener use, and PERC with dry-cleaned clothing. After adjusting for demographic, personal and housing factors, age and gender were not significant predictors of exposure. The use of QR in conjunction with OLS yields a more complete picture of exposure determinants, and identifies subpopulations and heterogeneous exposure groups in which some individuals experience very elevated exposures and which are not well represented by changes in the mean. The high exposures of Hispanics and Blacks are perplexing and disturbing, and they warrant further investigation.     

Plant Communities,Soil Carbon,and Soil Nitrogen Properties in a Successional Gradient of Sub-Alpine Meadows on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau of China

To assess the recovery trajectory and self-maintenance of restored ecosystems, a successional gradient (1, 3, 5, 15, and 30 years after abandonment) was established in a sub-alpine meadow of the eastern Tibetan Plateau in China. Plant communities and soil carbon and nitrogen properties were investigated and analyzed. Regression analyses were used to assess the models (linear or quadratic) relating measures of species richness, soil carbon and nitrogen properties to fallow time. We found that species richness (S) increased over the first 20 years but decreased thereafter, and aboveground biomass showed a linear increase along the fallow time gradient. The richness of different functional groups (forb, grass and legume) changed little along the fallow time gradient, but their corresponding above ground biomass showed the U-shaped, humped or linear pattern. Soil microbial carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) in the upper 20 cm showed a U-shaped pattern along the fallow time gradient. However, soil organic carbon (C_org) and total nitrogen (TN) in the soil at depth greater than 20 cm showed significant patterns of linear decline along the fallow time gradient. The threshold models of species richness reflected best the recovery over the 15 year fallow period. These results indicated that fallow time had a greater influence on development of the plant community than soil processes in abandoned fields in sub-alpine meadow ecosystem. These results also suggested that although the succession process did not significantly increase soil C, an increase in microbial biomass at the latter stage of succession could promote the decomposability of plant litter. Therefore, abandoned fields in sub-alpine meadow ecosystem may have a high resilience and strong rehabilitating capability under natural recovery condition.     

嗜碱细菌降解木质素的复合碳源共代谢研究Ⅰ——复合碳源组合方式及氮源的选择

研究在碱性液体培养条件 (pH =1 0 .5)下 ,不同碳源组合方式对嗜碱木质素降解菌产酶及降解麦草木质素的降解率的影响。研究结果表明 ,在蔗糖 (第一碳源 ) +麦草木质素 (第二碳源 )的组合方式下 ,并将硝酸铵作为氮源且碳氮比为 1 :1 .2时 ,该菌株的产酶及降解能力效果理想。