Spatial variability of soil heavy metals in the three gorges area: multivariate and geostatistical analyses

There is a growing concern about environmental contamination in the three gorges area. The objectives of this study were to investigate the spatial variability and the possible influence factors of seven heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) in the center of this area based on multivariate and geostatistical approaches. All analyzed heavy metals were below their background levels, except Cd. The average concentrations of the analyzed elements in topsoil (0-20 cm) were 5.83 mg As kg(-1), 0.21 mg Cd kg(-1), 78.79 mg Cr kg(-1), 21.53 mg Cu kg (-1), 0.049 mg Hg kg(-1), 24.12 mg Pb kg(-1), and 68.5 mg Zn kg(-1). The concentration of As was mostly due to parent materials, whereas the source of Pb was mainly due to vehicle exhaust. The high concentration of Cd was resulted from agricultural practices and parent materials. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, Hg, and Zn were associated with parent materials and human activities.     

Identification of sources of elevated concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an industrial area in Tianjin, China

The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by gas chromatography equipped with a mass spectrometry detector in 105 topsoil samples from an industrial area around Bohai Bay, Tianjin in the North of China. Results demonstrated that concentrations of PAHs in 104 soil samples from this area ranged from 68.7 to 5,590 ng g^???1 dry weight with a mean of ∑16PAHs 814 ± 813 ng g^???1, which suggests that there exists mid to high levels of PAH contamination. The concentration of ∑16PAHs in one soil sample from Tianjin Port was exceptionally high (48,700 ng g^???1). Ninety-three of the 105 soil samples were considered to be contaminated with PAHs (>200 ng g^???1), and 25 were heavily polluted (>1,000 ng g^???1). The sites with high PAHs concentration are mainly distributed around chemical industry parks and near highways. Two low molecular weight PAHs, naphthalene and phenanthrene, were the dominant components in the soil samples, which accounted for 22.1% and 10.7% of the ∑16PAHs concentration, respectively. According to the observed molecular indices, house heating in winter, straw stalk combustion in open areas after harvest, and petroleum input were common sources of PAHs in this area, while factory discharge and vehicle exhaust were the major sources around chemical industrial parks and near highways. Biological processes were probably another main source of low molecular weight PAHs.     

便携式气相色谱质谱测定水中挥发性有机物再现性和准确度研究

建立了便携式顶空-气相色谱-质谱（HS-GC-MS）测定水中挥发性有机物的方法。以水中苯系物、卤代烃和氯代苯等VOCs为研究对象,在同一实验室内,使用3台便携式HS-GC-MS模拟现场应急监测环境开展检测活动,研究测定结果的再现性和准确度。实验结果表明,检测结果的相对标准偏差为0.7%~13%;绝大多数目标化合物测定结果的回收率为80%~120%。综合来看,方法的精密度和准确度基本满意,能够满足应急监测工作的需要。     

常州地区植被排放VOC的估算研究

通过对2011年常州地区各类植物VOC排放因子,以及各类植被分布面积等数据统计分析,采用BEIS模型为参考的估算方法,建立起常州地区植被VOC的排放清单。结果表明,植被所排放VOC的变化规律既与植物本身有关又与气温和太阳辐射有关,区域内年植被VOC的总排放量为1．13×104 t。     

树状河流突发污染事故源强确定方法研究

源强确定在突发污染事故的预警与应急过程中极为重要。本文针对树状河流的特性,将污染源搜索和源强反算的方法结合起来构建了树状河流突发污染事故源强确定的一般方法,并利于假设的突发污染事故情形对方法就行了评估。结果表明,监测数据的误差对计算结果的影响很大,源强的计算结果相比事故的地点与发生时间更为敏感。     

Dissipation and residue of triforine in strawberry and soil

Two independent field trials were performed in Guangdong and Hubei, China in 2011 to investigate the dissipation and residue levels of triforine in strawberry and soil. A fast and simple method using gas chromatography with electron capture detector was developed and validated to determine triforine levels in strawberry and soil. The average recovery of triforine in strawberry ranged from 87.46 to 104.32 % with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.72 to 4.54 %; that in soil ranged from 83.82 to 103.01 % with an RSD of 3.89 to 4.36 %. The limit of quantification of the proposed method was 0.01 mg/kg for both strawberry and soil. The results suggest that the triforine dissipation curves followed the first-order kinetic. The half-lives of triforine in strawberry from Guangdong and Hubei were 3.58 and 4.42 days, respectively; those in soil were 3.53 and 4.10 days, respectively. The terminal residues of triforine in strawberry ranged from 0.032 to 0.264 mg/kg at preharvest intervals of 0.5, 1, and 3 days. These values are lower than the maximum residue limit of 1 mg/kg in strawberry set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.     

Risk assessment of trace elements in cultured freshwater fishes from Jiangxi province,China

The levels of trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) in eight species of cultured freshwater fishes from Jiangxi province were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. All the studied trace element levels in fish muscles from Jiangxi province did not exceed Chinese national standard and European Union standard, and they were often lower than previous studies. The calculated target hazard quotient values for all the studied trace elements in fish samples were much less than 1, suggesting that the studied trace elements in fish muscles from Jiangxi province had not pose obvious health hazards to consumers. As and Cd concentrations in northern snakehead were much higher than that in other fishes, demonstrating that this fish species could be valuable as a bioindicator of As and Cd in environmental surveys. In addition, the highest concentrations of Fe, Zn, and moderate contents of other essential trace elements in crucian carp indicated that crucian carp could be a good nutrient source of essential trace elements for human health.     

Spatial and seasonal characteristics of river water chemistry in the Taizi River in Northeast China

Anthropogenic activities have led to water quality deterioration in many parts of the world, especially in Northeast China. The current work investigated the spatiotemporal variations of water quality in the Taizi River by multivariate statistical analysis of data from the 67 sampling sites in the mainstream and major tributaries of the river during dry and rainy seasons. One-way analysis of variance indicated that the 20 measured variables (except pH, 5-day biological oxygen demand, permanganate index, and chloride, orthophosphate, and total phosphorus concentrations) showed significant seasonal (p?≤?0.05) and spatial (p?<?0.05) variations among the mainstream and major tributaries of the river. Hierarchical cluster analysis of data from the different seasons classified the mainstream and tributaries of the river into three clusters, namely, less, moderately, and highly polluted clusters. Factor analysis extracted five factors from data in the different seasons, which accounted for the high percentage of the total variance and reflected the integrated characteristics of water chemistry, organic pollution, phosphorous pollution, denitrification effect, and nitrogen pollution. The results indicate that river pollution in Northeast China was mainly from natural and/or anthropogenic sources, e.g., rainfall, domestic wastewater, agricultural runoff, and industrial discharge.     

Effects of pig manure containing copper and zinc on microbial community assessed via phospholipids in soils

Pig manure (PM) is widely used as an organic fertilizer to increase yields of crops. Excessive application of compost containing relatively great concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) can change soil quality. To clarify the effects of different rates of application and to determine the optimal rate of fertilization, PM containing 1,115 mg Cu kg^?1, dry mass (dm) and 1,497 mg Zn kg^?1, dm was applied to alkaline soil at rates of 0, 11, 22, 44, 88, and 222 g PM kg^?1, dm. Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were used to assess soil microbial community composition. Application of PM resulted in greater concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), NH₄ ⁺-N, NO₃ ^?-N, total carbon (TC), soil organic matter (SOM) but lesser pH values. Soils with application rates of 88–222 g PM kg^?1, dm had concentrations of total and EDTA-extractable Cu and Zn significantly greater than those in soil without PM, and concentrations of T-Cu and T-Zn in these amended soils exceeded maximum limits set by standards in china. Except in the soil with a rate of 11 g PM kg^?1, dm, total bacterial and fungal PLFAs were directly proportional to rate of application of PM. Biomasses of bacteria and fungi were significantly greater in soils with application rates of 44–222 g PM kg^?1, dm than in the soil without PM. SOM, TC and EDTA-Zn had the most direct influence on soil microbial communities. To improve fertility of soils and maintain quality of soil, rate of application should be 22–44 g PM kg^?1 dm, soil containing Cu and Zn.     

Water chemistry in 179 randomly selected Swedish headwater streams related to forest production,clear-felling and climate

From a policy perspective, it is important to understand forestry effects on surface waters from a landscape perspective. The EU Water Framework Directive demands remedial actions if not achieving good ecological status. In Sweden, 44 % of the surface water bodies have moderate ecological status or worse. Many of these drain catchments with a mosaic of managed forests. It is important for the forestry sector and water authorities to be able to identify where, in the forested landscape, special precautions are necessary. The aim of this study was to quantify the relations between forestry parameters and headwater stream concentrations of nutrients, organic matter and acid-base chemistry. The results are put into the context of regional climate, sulphur and nitrogen deposition, as well as marine influences. Water chemistry was measured in 179 randomly selected headwater streams from two regions in southwest and central Sweden, corresponding to 10 % of the Swedish land area. Forest status was determined from satellite images and Swedish National Forest Inventory data using the probabilistic classifier method, which was used to model stream water chemistry with Bayesian model averaging. The results indicate that concentrations of e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter are related to factors associated with forest production but that it is not forestry per se that causes the excess losses. Instead, factors simultaneously affecting forest production and stream water chemistry, such as climate, extensive soil pools and nitrogen deposition, are the most likely candidates The relationships with clear-felled and wetland areas are likely to be direct effects.