Effect-based assessment of passive air samples from four countries in Eastern Europe

Although passive sampling has been previously used for the monitoring of volatile and semi-volatile contaminants in air, there are limited data on the use of this technique coupled with bioassays based on specific biological responses. Biological responses including those mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon (AhR) receptor as well as (anti-)estrogenicity and (anti-)androgenicity of samples from four Eastern European countries (Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, and Serbia) were determined. To address the potential differences of specific toxic potencies of pollutant mixtures in ambient air in Eastern Europe, each country was characterized by a single more remote location that served to determine regional background conditions and one location in more urbanized and industrialized locations, which were defined as “impacted” areas. Besides samples from Lithuania, a significant gradient in concentrations of AhR-mediated potency from background and impacted localities was observed. Greatest potencies were measured in samples from impacted locations in Romania and Slovakia. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that were quantified accounted for 3–33 % of the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents determined by use of the bioassay. No significant estrogenic potency was detected but anti-estrogenic effects were produced by air from two background locations (Lithuania, Slovakia) and three impacted locations (Lithuania, Romania, and Serbia). Anti-androgenic potency was observed in all samples. The greatest anti-estrogenic potency was observed at the background location in Slovakia. Anti-estrogenic and anti-androgenic potencies of studied air samples were probably associated with compounds that are not routinely monitored. The study documents suitability of passive air sampling for the assessment of specific toxic potencies of ambient air pollutants.     

Spatial distribution and human contamination quantification of trace metals and phosphorus in the sediments of Chaohu Lake,a eutrophic shallow lake,China

Distinguishing and quantifying anthropogenic trace metals and phosphorus accumulated in sediment is important for the protection of our aquatic ecosystems. Here, anthropogenic proportion and potential sources of trace metals and phosphorus in surface sediments of Chaohu Lake were evaluated based on the exhaustive geochemical data. The analysis shows that concentrations of major and trace metals, and phosphorus, displayed significant spatial diversity and almost all elements were over the pre-industrial background value, which should be related to the variations of sediment composition partially. Therefore, conservative element normalization was introduced and calculated enrichment factors (EFs) of the elements were referenced highlighting the human contamination. EFs of the major and trace metals, except Zn, Pb, and Cu, were all nearly 1.0, indicating the detrital origin. The EFs of Zn, Pb, Cu and phosphorus were 1.0–10.4, 1.0–3.8, 1.0–4.9, and 1.0–7.6, respectively, showing moderate to significant contamination. Higher EFs of Zn, Pb and Cu occurred in the mouth areas of Nanfei River and Zhegao River, and they decreased to the lake center in the northwest and northeast lake areas, respectively. We deduced that anthropogenic Zn, Pb, and Cu were mainly from urban and industrial point sources and the non-point sources of atmospheric deposition contributed little to their contamination. The EFs of phosphorus showed similar spatial degradation with that of Zn, Pb, and Cu. Moreover, higher EFs (>1) of phosphorus also occurred in other areas adjacent to the river mouths besides Nanfei River and Zhegao River. This indicated that the non-point agricultural source may also be responsible for the contamination of phosphorus in Chaohu Lake in addition to the urban sewage sources. Anthropogenic phosphorus was mainly concentrated in the speciation of NaOH-P, which had higher potential biological effects than the detrital proportion. Concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cu surpassed the threshold effect concentrations (TEC) of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines of freshwater ecosystems, especially in the contaminated northwest area of Chaohu Lake. This highlighted the contributions of anthropogenic contamination to the elevated potential biological effects of trace metals. Though there had been no obvious human contamination of Cr and Ni in Chaohu Lake, concentrations were all over the TECs, which may be due to higher background levels in the parent materials of soils and bedrocks in Chaohu Lake catchment.     

Assessment and sources of heavy metals in surface sediments of Miyun Reservoir, Beijing

Heavy metals concentrations in surface sediments from Miyun Reservoir were determined to evaluate the pollution and identify the sources. The average content of metals in sediments from Miyun Reservoir followed the order Al>Fe>Ti>Mn>V>Zn>Cr>Ni>Cu>Pb>As>Cd>Hg, and the most mean values were lower than the globe average shale. Heavy metals concentrations at the inflow area of Baihe were higher than those at the inflow area of Chaohe. Heavy metals pollution assessment was carried out by factor enrichment (EF), geoaccumulation index (I _geo), and potential ecological risk (RI). The EF values for all heavy metals except Hg, Cd, and Cr at several sites were lower than 3, suggesting low anthropogenic impact on the metals level. The I _geo values of Pb indicated that half of the sites were unpolluted to moderately polluted and mainly located in the Baihe area of the reservoir. The RI showed that heavy metals of Miyun Reservoir were low potential risk, however, Hg approached or belonged to moderate ecological risk at sites of M5, M7, and M13. Correlation analysis and principal component suggested that Ni, Cu, V, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ti, and Pb were derived from soil erosion in upper reaches of the reservoir, while Fe, Cd, Hg, As, and partial Pb originated from anthropogenic sources, particularly industrial mining and gold tailings.     

Concentrations of microcystins in tissues of several fish species from freshwater reservoirs and ponds

The aim of this study is to summarise the determination of concentrations of microcystins (MCs) in muscle and liver of freshwater fish species caught in stagnant waters of the Czech Republic. Within the years 2007–2009, 351 muscle samples and 291 liver samples of 16 freshwater fish species derived from four fishponds, and four water reservoirs were analysed. MCs were detected in 53 liver samples. The highest concentrations of microcystins were determined in liver samples of carnivorous fish species; 50.3 ng/g of fresh weight (FW) in perch (Perca fluviatilis) and 22.7 ng/g FW in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). MCs in liver were detected in other five fish species; asp (Aspius aspius), pike (Esox lucius), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Concentrations of MCs in liver of nine fish species (European bream, whitefish, tench, silver carp, European catfish, roach, chub, crucian carp and rudd) were below the detection limit of 1.2–5.4 ng/g FW for different MC congeners. However, the concentrations of MCs in all muscle samples were below the detection limit. The assessment of MCs concentrations might be influenced by the detection method used. Due to the concentrations of MCs being below the detection limit in muscle samples of all fish species analysed, it seems that there might be a low potential threat for human health in case of fish muscle consumption.     

齐齐哈尔市春季大气中PM2.5的污染特征分析

2013年4—6月分析了齐齐哈尔市大气PM2.5的浓度特征、元素组成、水溶性离子及其来源,并利用单颗粒分析技术获得了单颗粒的形貌、化学组成及粒度分布。结果表明,监测周期PM2.5日均质量浓度为34μg/m3,受气象条件影响显著。PM2.5单颗粒类型主要为烟尘集合体、飞灰和矿物颗粒,分别来源于煤炭燃料的燃烧、机动车尾气排放和扬尘。其中约90%的PM2.5颗粒粒径小于1.0μm,属大气细粒子。全样分析表明,PM2.5主要组成元素是Al、Fe、Ca、K、Mg和Na,而Zn、Cu和Pb因受到人为污染富集度较高。SO42-、NO3-和Cl-为PM2.5主要监测到的水溶性阴离子,NO3-与SO42-的质量浓度比说明了固定排放源对齐齐哈尔市春季大气PM2.5的贡献大于移动排放源。     

用氟离子电极测定土壤溶液中无机单核铝的实验验证

本文在Ａｌ－Ｆ体系中、验证了氟离子电极直接电位法测定和区分溶液中无机单核铝结果的可靠性。研究结果表明,氟离子电极直接电位法测定结果的相对误差在±５％以内。在非２５℃上,采用校正温度影响的平衡常数进行计算,结果与２５℃条件下无明显差别。     

水资源短缺条件下绿洲的建设和发展——以卡拉—铁干里克垦区为例

在水资源短缺条件下,垦区农业发展采取了多种经营,发展以棉花、水果和养鹿为主的高效特色农业,同时加强工程建设,进行水资源开源节流,强化管理和对绿洲的保护,这些已成为维持绿洲稳定和促进绿洲农业经济发展的关键措施。     

薄层离子交换树脂光度法测定水中痕量磷

利用积分球装置,交袁附磷钼蓝的阴离子交换树脂制成一薄层片,于７００ｎｍ长处测定吸光值,既保持了填充树脂光度法的高灵敏度,又提高了分析的精密性。     

低碳氮比进水AAO污水处理厂低碳运行

为探明低碳氮比进水条件下AAO污水处理厂的碳排放特征,提出可行的低碳运行策略,基于排放因子法对7座低碳氮比进水AAO污水处理厂(分为AAO组和AAO-MBR组)运行1a产生的碳排放进行核算与评价,对具有显著低碳表现的污水处理厂开展全流程分析剖析其碳减排途径.结果表明,电耗和N₂O排放是主要碳排放来源,分别贡献49.43%和25.75%的碳排放.AAO-MBR组以间接碳排放为主,电耗碳排放占至约60%,而AAO组生物作用导致的直接碳排放占主导. AAO组平均吨水比碳排放显著低于AAO-MBR组(0.47和0.79kgCO₂eq/m³),更具低碳运行潜力. 7座污水处理厂中,WWTP7各项比碳排放评价指标均为最低,意味着其最具低碳运行能力.充分利用进水碳源,多路径协同脱氮除磷同时精准控制溶解氧浓度避免过曝气是其大幅削减能耗和物耗,实现碳减排的关键路径.