Derivation of site-specific surface water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic ecosystems near a Korean military training facility

This study suggested the first Korean site-specific ecological surface water quality criteria for the protection of ecosystems near an artillery range at a Korean military training facility. Surface water quality (SWQ) criteria in Korea address human health protection but do not encompass ecological criteria such as limits for metals and explosives. The first objective of this study was to derive site-specific SWQ criteria for the protection of aquatic ecosystems in Hantan River, Korea. The second objective was to establish discharge criteria for the artillery range to protect the aquatic ecosystems of Hantan River. In this study, we first identified aquatic organisms living in the Hantan River, including fishes, reptiles, invertebrates, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and amphibians. Second, we collected ecotoxicity data for these aquatic organisms and constructed an ecotoxicity database for Cd, Cu, Zn, TNT, and RDX. This study determined the ecological maximum permissible concentrations for metals and explosives based on the ecotoxicity database and suggested ecological surface water quality criteria for the Hantan River by considering analytical detection limits. Discharge limit criteria for the shooting range were determined based on the ecological surface water quality criteria suggested for Hantan River with further consideration of the dilution of the contaminants discharged into the river.     

Water quality guidelines for chemicals: learning lessons to deliver meaningful environmental metrics

Many jurisdictions around the globe have well-developed regulatory frameworks for the derivation and implementation of water quality guidelines (WQGs) or their equivalent (e.g. environmental quality standards, criteria, objectives or limits). However, a great many more still do not have such frameworks and are looking to introduce practical methods to manage chemical exposures in aquatic ecosystems. There is a potential opportunity for learning and sharing of data and information between experts from different jurisdictions in order to deliver efficient and effective methods to manage potential aquatic risks, including the considerable reduction in the need for aquatic toxicity testing and the rapid identification of common challenges. This paper reports the outputs of an international workshop with representatives from 14 countries held in Hong Kong in December 2011. The aim of the workshop and this paper was to identify ‘good practice’ in the development of WQGs to deliver to a range of environmental management goals. However, it is important to broaden this consideration to cover often overlooked facets of implementable WQGs, such as demonstrable field validation (i.e. does the WQG protect what it is supposed to?), fit for purpose of monitoring frameworks (often an on-going cost) and finally how are these monitoring data used to support management decisions in a manner that is transparent and understandable to stakeholders. It is clear that regulators and the regulated community have numerous pressures and constraints on their resources. Therefore, the final section of this paper addresses potential areas of collaboration and harmonisation. Such approaches could deliver a consistent foundation from which to assess potential chemical aquatic risks, including, for example, the adoption of bioavailability-based approaches for metals, whilst reducing administrative and technical burdens in jurisdictions.     

Development and implementation of surface water quality standards for protection of human health in Korea

Current water quality standards for the protection of human health in Korea include 17 substances found in rivers and streams. Due to increasing concern over the release of hazardous chemicals into the aquatic environment, there has been a demand for additional water quality standards. Therefore, the Korean Ministry of the Environment plans to gradually increase the number of water quality standards to 30 substances, including 22 substances for protection of human health and 8 substances for protection of aquatic ecosystems by 2015. In this study, new water quality standards for protection of human health were established for 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, and hexachlorobenzene. We selected candidate hazardous chemicals, conducted a human health risk assessment to determine priority chemicals, established water quality standards based on technical analyses and comparison with domestic and developed countries’ water quality standards, and conducted an expert review. Water quality standards for protection of aquatic ecosystems will be derived in the near future. This study describes how the water quality standards for protection of human health were developed and implemented. Current status, recent expansion, and future plans for water quality standards in Korea are also covered.     

微生物燃料电池-零价铁耦合工艺的构建及除砷性能

为了更为有效地利用微生物燃料电池(MFC)所产电能并提高零价铁(ZVI)去除污染物工艺的效率,构建了微生物燃料电池-零价铁(MFC-ZVI)耦合工艺,并将其应用在三价砷水溶液的处理中。实验结果表明,在该耦合系统中,ZVI直接利用了MFC所产生的低压电能,铁腐蚀速率和除砷效率因此得到显著提高。实验所用MFC的最高稳定产电电压为0.52 V,电解过程中MFC的库伦效率为4.59%,以二价铁离子计算的电流效率为72.74%。反应结束后,溶液的pH值由反应前的8.0升高到8.5。两体系中铁氧化物产生量的差异以及铁氧化物形态分布的不同可能是导致其除砷效果不同的主要原因。     

红枫湖水体中叶绿素a的遥感监测

以地处贵州中部的红枫湖水库为研究区,2010年的ALOS影像为基础,利用B3、B4(三波段和四波段)的乘积影像研究红枫湖水库库区表面的叶绿素a分布情况。结果表明,库区水体叶绿素a浓度在空间分布上呈现自三岔河入水口到北湖逐渐降低,沿岸边向湖中心逐渐降低的态势。探讨了适宜该库区的水体叶绿素a的提取方法,并引入基于费歇尔准则的最优分割算法,利用计算机编程实现了该库区叶绿素a分布水平的最优分划。这一系列针对该库区水体叶绿素a提取、分析和监测的优化方法,对该水源地的污染监测和库区的生态治理有一定的参考价值。     

武汉城市圈土地利用碳排放效应分析及因素分解研究

土地低碳利用对减少土地利用碳排放,发展低碳经济,建设“两型社会”具有重要作用。以武汉城市圈为研究对象,估算了武汉城市圈1996～2010年土地利用碳排放量,分析了城市圈1996～2010年土地利用碳排放效应,利用LMDI模型对影响城市圈土地利用碳排放的因素进行了分解。研究表明：（1）1996～2010年武汉城市圈土地利用碳排放量由1996年的95282万t上升到2010年的4 55035万t,年均增长1182%,且上升幅度越来越大;（2）武汉城市圈居民点及工矿用地碳排放强度最大,耕地最小,不同土地利用方式碳排放强度及变化幅度存在一定差异;（3）城市圈各城市土地利用碳排放存在时空差异,时间上表现为碳排放增长速度和幅度的差异,空间上表现为各城市单元碳排放量的差异;（4）土地利用变化、经济发展水平提高、人口规模增加对城市圈土地利用碳排放存在正效应,能源效率提高和能源结构优化存在负效应     

济南市环境空气中PM_(2.5)的碳组成与特征分析

对济南市环境空气中PM2.5中碳组分污染特征的研究结果表明,济南市环境空气细颗粒物中碳主要以有机碳(OC)和元素碳(EC)的形式存在,二者浓度以冬季最高,且变化趋势相同;OC占总碳比例较高;冬季二次有机气溶胶(SOC)浓度最高,与污染源排放及气象条件有关。     

Photolytic degradation of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE)

The photolytic degradation of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), an alternative flame retardant to decabromodiphenyl ether, was investigated in a variety of matrixes (n-hexane, tetrahydrofuran, methanol/water, humic acid/water, and silica gel) by irradiation under ultraviolet light and in n-hexane under natural light. Photolytic degradation of DBDPE occurs in all the matrixes investigated within the irradiation period (<320 min). The degradation experiments showed varied reaction rates, dependent on the matrixes, with increasing half-lives (t_1/2) in the order of tetrahydrofuran (t_1/2 = 6.0 min) > n-hexane (t_1/2 = 16.6 min) > humic acid/water (30 < t_1/2 < 60) > silica gel (t_1/2 = 75.9 min) > methanol/water (t_1/2 > 240 min). The reaction in tetrahydrofuran, n-hexane, and silica gel matrixes can be described by the pseudo first order kinetics. Nevertheless, the matrixes have little effect on the degradation product distributions of DBDPE. A numbers of debrominated intermediates were identified. The degradation involves the initial formation of nona-BDPEs and the subsequent decomposition of these congeners to lower brominated congeners (octa- and hepta-BDPEs) within the irradiation time. To our knowledge, the present work is the first attempt to investigate the photolytic degradation kinetics and the identification of intermediates, as well as the degradation mechanism, during the degradation of DBDPE. Further research is needed to understand the photolytic degradation pattern of DBDPE in the natural environment.     

Efficient bio-deodorization of aniline vapor in a biotrickling filter: metabolic mineralization and bacterial community analysis

A biotrickling filter inoculated with commercial mixed microorganisms B350 was employed to treat N-containing odorous vapor - aniline. Results indicated no aniline could be detected when empty bed residence time (EBRT) was larger than 110s at inlet concentration of 0.30 g m(-3). The variation of inlet concentration did not change removal efficiencies when concentration is less than 0.21 g m(-3) at fixed EBRT 110s. Biodegradation mechanism of aniline was tentatively proposed based on identified intermediates and predicted biodegradation pathway as well as final mineralized products. Aniline was firstly biodegraded to catechol, and then to levulinic acid and subsequently to succinic acid. Finally, about 62% aniline carbon was completely mineralized to CO(2), while about 91% aniline nitrogen was converted into ammonia and nitrate. Bacterial community in biotrickling filter was found that at least seven bands microbes were identified for high efficiencies of bioreactor at stable state. In all, biotrickling filter seeded with B350 would be a better choice for the purification odorous gas containing high concentration aniline.     

多能场协同紫外光催化降解甲基橙的实验研究

以甲基橙为模拟废水,负载型纳米TiO2为光催化剂,在自制的多能场组合反应器中,初步研究了电场和超声场协同紫外光催化降解水中甲基橙的特点和规律。结果表明,在偏置电场电压为20 v,超声场声频为21.33 kHz、声强为0.375 W/cm2,紫外光波长为366 nm,功耗为O.25 W/mL,TiO2催化降解负荷为1.25 mL/cm2的条件下,对浓度为4 mg/L的甲基橙溶液分别处理30 min和90 min,脱色率分别可达91.67％和95.36％;比单一紫外光催化降解脱色率分别提高86.59％和86.79％。