Effect of land use on methane flux from soil

The precise effects of natural and disturbed terrestrial systems on the atmospheric CH4 pool are uncertain. This study was conducted to quantify and compare CH4 fluxes from a variety of ecosystems in central Iowa. We investigated agricultural systems under different management practices, a hardwood forest site, native and restored prairies, and a municipal landfill. Flux measurements were obtained using a closed-chamber method, and measurements were compiled by sampling over the 1993 and 1994 growing seasons. In 1993, most of the agricultural sites were net CH4 producers with cumulative CH4 fluxes ranging from -0.02 to 3.19 g m(-2) over the 258-d sampling season, while the natural ecosystems were net CH4 consumers, with cumulative seasonal fluxes ranging from -0.27 to -0.07 g m-2 258 d(-1). In 1994, only the landfill and the agricultural site treated with broadcast liquid swine manure (LSM) were net CH4 producers, while the remainder of the natural and agricultural ecosystems were net CH4 consumers, with mean seasonal flux rates ranging from -0.43 to -0.008 g m(-2) 271 d(-1). We hypothesize that the differences in CH4 fluxes between the two years are due to differences in rainfall. To illustrate the integration between land use and CH4 flux, we computed an area-weighted soil CH4 flux for the state of Iowa. Our calculations yielded a net average soil CH4 flux of 139,000 Mg CH4 for 1993 and 1994.     

Preliminary measurements of aromatic VOCs in public transportation modes in Guangzhou,China

This study examined the exposure level of aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in public transportation modes in Guangzhou, China. A total of 40 VOC samples were conducted in four popular public commuting modes (subway, taxis, non-air-conditioned buses and air-conditioned buses) while traversing in urban areas of Guangzhou. Traffic-related VOCs (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene and o-xylene) were collected on adsorbent tubes and analyzed by thermal desorption (TD) and gas chromatography/mass-selective detector (GC/MSD) technique. The results indicate that commuter exposure to VOCs is greatly influenced by the choice of public transport. For the benzene measured, the mean exposure level in taxis (33.6 microg/m(3)) was the highest and was followed by air-conditioned buses (13.5 microg/m(3)) and non-air-conditioned buses (11.3 microg/m(3)). The exposure level in the subway (7.6 microg/m(3)) is clearly lower than that in roadway transports. The inter-microenvironment variations of other target compounds were similar to that of benzene. The target VOCs were well correlated to each other in all the measured transports. The concentration profile of the measured transport was also investigated and was found to be similar to each other. Based on the experiment results, the average B/T/E/X found in this study was about (1.0/4.3/0.7/1.4). In this study, the VOC levels measured in evening peak hours were only slightly higher than those in afternoon non-peak hours. This is due to the insignificant change of traffic volume on the measured routes between these two set times. The out-dated vehicle emission controls and slow-moving traffic conditions may be the major reasons leading elevated in-vehicle exposure level in some public commuting journeys.     

Mercury in the traditional diet of indigenous peoples in Canada

Traditional food of indigenous people in Canada, particularly fish and marine mammal meat, has mercury (Hg) concentrations exceeding the Canadian consumption guideline level of 0.5 microg/g. Health effects of Hg in traditional food are, therefore, a concern. We conducted contaminant exposure assessments in 28 indigenous communities in Canada. Hg exposure was greatest among communities with high use of marine mammals as food. Exposure among other communities was variable. Recent adoption of a lower intake guideline for women of reproductive age and by Health Canada may decrease the use of traditional food, and could result in other health problems, such as increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.     

Understanding the effects of the system parameters of an ultrasonic cutting fluid application system for micro-machining

Tool wear in micro-milling poses a serious limitation to increased production rate, and atomized cutting fluids have been shown to be quite effective in increasing tool life in micro-milling operations. A new compact cutting fluid application system has been designed and developed based on ultrasonic atomization. In order to understand the effects of the system input parameters on system performance, two performance measures have been defined in terms of spray characteristics and experiments have been performed to evaluate the system according to the defined performance measures. Based on the experimental results, the system parameters can be adjusted to obtain the desired spray characteristics, and areas of improvement on the design have been identified.     

超细粉煤灰对甲基橙的吸附性能和机理研究

以粉煤灰为原料,通过球磨制得超细粉煤灰,研究了其对水中偶氮染料甲基橙的吸附性能和机理。结果表明,在25℃,pH值为2,投加量为0.7g,反应时间为120min时,粉煤灰对甲基橙的去除率为79.4%,超细粉煤灰对甲基橙的去除率可达93.8%。随温度升高,吸附量降低,证明该吸附为放热过程,并计算不同温度下各热力学参数△G,△H和△S。对实验数据运用相关数学模型拟合,显示等温吸附平衡符合Freundlich吸附等温式,吸附过程动力学更适合二级吸附动力学模型。     

一个中小型中药厂生产废水处理运行实例

采用“水解（预处理）－ABR（厌氧）－UNITANK（好氧）”工艺处理中成药废水,电气控制部分采用可编程PLC系统。废水站全天24h全自动连续运行,无人值守。进水CODo约2000～5000ms／L,出水水质达到GB8978—1996《污水综合排放标准》一级排放标准。     

An overview of emissions trading and its prospects in Hong Kong

With the approval of the Chinese central government, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) decided to participate in a regional emissions trading (ET) pilot scheme in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. This scheme, instead of aiming to curb global warming, is geared mostly toward reducing air pollutant (that is, SO₂, NO_x, RSP, and VOCs) emissions by 20–55% by 2010, thus improving air quality in the region. Both the HKSAR and the Guangdong Provincial Governments will impose emission caps on their respective power plants in the region and allocate emissions credits to them. This study explores the background of this regional ET scheme and correlates it with the emissions reduction scenario to provide more details for assessing its applicability to Hong Kong and Guangdong Province. Although practicing ET in the PRD region presents many challenges, establishing an appropriate ET scheme is of paramount importance for Hong Kong, as well as other cities in the PRD region, to achieve a sustainable air quality.     

发展循环经济创建生态长沙

循环经济是一种以提高生态效率为核心、以遵循3R技术为原则、以两低一高为基本特征、符合可持续发展理念的经济增长模式.推行循环经济是实现社会-经济-环境系统可持续发展的必由之路.通过阐述循环经济内涵,并就长沙环境质量、资源供需情况、农业发展等方面作了分析,并且分析了长沙推行循环经济可能面临的问题,提出发展循环经济是长沙新的发展经济模式和实现经济、社会、环境协调发展的战略选择,并就此提出了建议.     

人为干预条件下油菜对镉、铬污染土壤的生物效应

采用盆栽模拟试验,研究了在强化剂乙二胺四乙酸钠(EDTA)、柠檬酸(CA)和钝化剂石灰存在的条件下,土壤存在单一Cd、Cr及复合Cd、Cr污染时,甘蓝型油菜“甘杂1号”(Brassica napus L.)对Cd、Cr的吸收富集效应.结果表明:1)1.6 mg/kg的Cd和170 mg/kg的Cr单一及复合污染能够促进油菜的生长;2)当Cd为1.6 mg/kg、Cr为170 mg/kg时,10 mmol/kg的EDTA和CA能够有效促进油菜对Cd、Cr的吸收富集,相比对照,无论是单一还是复合污染,其Cd、Cr累积量都有显著增加,但10 mmol/kg的EDTA和CA均抑制了油菜的生长,植株的叶面出现了不同程度的失绿、发黄、脱水、脱落等症状;3)当向污染土壤中添加1.5 g/kg钝化剂石灰时,油菜各部分Cd、Cr的质量比相比对照显著下降,但对油菜的正常生长没有显著影响;4)各部分Cd、Cr质量比随添加强化剂、钝化剂的不同,有明显的变化.研究表明,“甘杂1号”油菜对低浓度Cd、Cr单一及复合污染表现出一定的耐性和吸收能力.