Air pollution and hospital visits for acute upper and lower respiratory infections among children in Ningbo,China: A time-series analysis

Acute upper and lower respiratory infections are main causes of mortality and morbidity in children. Air pollution has been recognized as an important contributor to development and exacerbation of respiratory infections. However, few studies are available in China. In this study, we investigated the short-term effect of air pollution on hospital visits for acute upper and lower respiratory infections among children under 15 years in Ningbo, China. Poisson generalized models were used to estimate the associations between air pollution and hospital visits for acute upper and lower respiratory infections adjusted for temporal, seasonal, and meteorological effects. We found that four pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂) were significantly associated with hospital visits for acute upper and lower respiratory infections. The effect estimates for acute upper respiratory infections tended to be higher (PM_2.5 ER = 3.46, 95% CI 2.18, 4.76; PM₁₀ ER = 2.81, 95% CI 1.93, 3.69; NO₂ ER = 11.27, 95% CI 8.70, 13.89; SO₂ ER = 15.17, 95% CI 11.29, 19.19). Significant associations for gaseous pollutants (NO₂ and SO₂) were observed after adjustment for particular matter. Stronger associations were observed among older children and in the cold period. Our study suggested that short-term exposure to outdoor air pollution was associated with hospital visits for acute upper and lower respiratory infections in Ningbo.     

机械处理废弃印刷线路板

分析了废弃印刷线路板的特点，介绍了机械处理的方法，及国外机械处理废弃印刷线路板的实践和进展。     

用CBMN法评价饮用水处理流程中有机提取物的细胞毒性

利用ＣＨＯ细胞胞质分裂阻断微核（ＣＢＭＮ）法,对某自来水厂７个处理工艺流程水中的有机提取物的细胞毒性进行了评价。在实验剂量范围内,比较了各样品的含微核的双核细胞率（ＢＮＭＮ）、核分裂指数（ＮＤＩ）和胞质分裂阻断增殖指数（ＣＢＰＩ）,实验表明,源水加氯后比源水的细胞性增大,经机加池和煤砂滤池处理后的水样毒性较大,其中煤砂滤池水毒性最大,机加池水次之,经炭吸附后的水样比炭吸附前水样的毒性下降,管网水的     

A New Statistical Dynamic Analysis of Ecosystem Patterns

While phenomenological investigations of ecosystem patterns often fail to reveal underlying dynamic mechanisms, we highlight a universal principle for pattern formation in ecosystems. We consider ecosystems to be typical complex adaptive systems that seek an optimal process to obtain maximized flux under given constraints. An analysis of the optimal process reveals underlying microscopic dynamic mechanisms that induce complex patterns in ecosystems. We emulate ecosystem patterns using a Self-Organization Feature Map: an artificial neural network theoretical model by which evolution processes, structural classifications, and the fractal growth of ecosystem patterns can be simulated. The results help us analyze the formation and dynamics of ecosystem patterns, with attending implications for the classification, protection, and optimization of ecosystems.     

Control strategies of atmospheric mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants in China

Atmospheric mercury (Hg) emission from coal is one of the primary sources of anthropogenic discharge and pollution. China is one of the few countries in the world whose coal consumption constitutes about 70% of total primary energy, and over half of coals are burned directly for electricity generation. Atmospheric emissions of Hg and its speciation from coal-fired power plants are of great concern owing to their negative impacts on regional human health and ecosystem risks, as well as long-distance transport. In this paper, recent trends of atmospheric Hg emissions and its species split from coal-fired power plants in China during the period of 2000-2007 are evaluated, by integrating each plant's coal consumption and emission factors, which are classified by different subcategories of boilers, particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) control devices. Our results show that the total Hg emissions from coal-fired power plants have begun to decrease from the peak value of 139.19 t in 2005 to 134.55 t in 2007, though coal consumption growing steadily from 1213.8 to 1532.4 Mt, which can be mainly attributed to the co-benefit Hg reduction by electrostatic precipitators/fabric filters (ESPs/FFs) and wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD), especially the sharp growth in installation of WFGD both in the new and existing power plants since 2005. In the coming 12th five-year-plan, more and more plants will be mandated to install De-NO(x) (nitrogen oxides) systems (mainly selective catalytic reduction [SCR] and selective noncatalytic reduction [SNCR]) for minimizing NO(x) emission, thus the specific Hg emission rate per ton of coal will decline further owing to the much higher co-benefit removal efficiency by the combination of SCR + ESPs/FFs + WFGD systems. Consequently, SCR + ESPs/FFs + WFGD configuration will be the main path to abate Hg discharge from coal-fired power plants in China in the near future. However advanced specific Hg removal technologies are necessary for further reduction of elemental Hg discharge in the long-term.     

Lead Contamination of Urban Soils and Vegetation by Emissions from Secondary Lead Industries

The degree and extent of lead contamination of urban soils and vegetation in the vicinity of secondary lead industries are provided. These urban industries, a secondary smelter reprocessing lead from used batteries and scrap metal and a manufacturer of new storage batteries, were located near residential communities. Levels as high as 21,000 ppm of lead in the upper 5 cm of soil (based on air dried weight) and 3500 and 2700 ppm in willow foliage (not washed and washed, respectively, based on dry weight) were found adjacent to the secondary smelter, with the levels decreasing exponentially from the sources. The data on lead contamination of soils and vegetation at various distances and directions from the urban secondary lead industries were compared with levels of lead found in control urban and highway locations. In addition, arsenic levels in soil were examined as a tracer for the source of industrial lead emissions. High levels of lead found In both vegetation and soil in the vicinity of the urban industries reflected both historical and current emissions of lead in those areas. These studies were conducted for industrial abatement purposes; to assist medical related epidemiology studies; to define the areas of severe contamination for soil cleanup purposes; and to formulate guidelines for excessive levels of lead in soil and vegetation. Since lead in soil is persistent, concern arises with respect to pica for small children, contamination of edible vegetables grown in high-lead soil, and reentrainment of leaded particulate matter into the air.     

Pedological characteristics of Mn mine tailings and metal accumulation by native plants

In southern China revegetation and ecological restoration of many abandoned Mn tailings has become a major concern. To determine the major constraints for plant establishment and evaluate the feasibility of remediation, a comparative study was conducted on Mn tailings and rhizosphere soils at the boundary of the tailings pond. Both tailings and rhizosphere soils had neutral to slightly alkaline pH and normal electrical conductivity. They were both enriched with organic matter (6.8-9.2%), total N (1.77-5.94 g kg(-1)), available P (41.78-73.83 mg kg(-1)) and K (146.7-906.9 mg kg(-1)), suggesting the tailings were a nutrient rich substrate for revegetation. Mn tailings were clay textured, while rhizosphere soils were silty loam or clay loam. The compaction and anoxic nature of Mn tailings were considered to be the major constraints for plant establishment. Total Mn (31903 mg kg(-1)), Cd (119 mg kg(-1)), Cu (126 mg kg(-1)) and Zn (2490 mg kg(-1)) in tailings were all at phytotoxic levels, but did not differ significantly from those in rhizosphere soils. In both tailings and rhizosphere soils, percentages of water- and DTPA-extractable metals were less than 1% and 2% of the total metal pools, respectively. Sequential extraction revealed that the majority of Mn, Cu and Zn were associated with the residual fraction, while the majority of Cd occurred as Fe-Mn oxides. The natural succession of plants around Mn tailings formed a distinctive metal-tolerant plant community, mainly comprising nine species such as Cynodon dactylon and Humulus scandens and so on. All species studied could be good candidates for revegetation of Mn tailings.     

二元有机酸的络合萃取研究

研究了磷酸三丁酯（ＴＢＰ）和甲基异丁基酮（ＭＩＢＫ）对乙二酸,丙二酸,丁二酸和己二酸等二元有机酸的萃取及其影响因素。结果表明,萃取反应为中性络合萃取机理,有机相中生成１：２的萃合物;空腔效应,偶极作用和氢键等是影响萃取性能的主要因素;稀释剂,无机盐,温度及二元有机酸结构等对萃取性能都有重要影响。     

Influence of aeration modes on leachate characteristic of landfills that adopt the aerobic–anaerobic landfill method

As far as the optimal design, operation, and field application of the Aerobic–Anaerobic Landfill Method (AALM) are concerned, it is very important to understand how aeration modes (different combinations of aeration depth and air injection rate) affect the biodegradation of organic carbon and the transformation of nitrogen in landfill solid waste. Pilot-scale lysimeter experiments were carried out under different aeration modes to obtain detailed information regarding the influence of aeration modes on leachate characteristics. Results from these lysimeter experiments revealed that aeration at the bottom layer was the most effective for decomposition of organic carbon when compared with aeration at the surface or middle layers. Moreover, the air injection rate led to different nitrogen transformation patterns, unlike the lesser influence it has on organic carbon decomposition. Effective simultaneous nitrification and denitrification were observed for the aeration mode with a higher air injection rate (=1.0 L/min). On the other hand, the phenomenon of sequenced nitrification and denitrification could be observed when a low air injection rate (=0.5 L/min.) was employed. Finally, it is concluded that, for AALM, air injection with a higher air injection rate at the deepest layer near the leachate collection pipe tends to accelerate the stabilization of landfill waste as defined in terms of the enhancement of denitrification as well as organic carbon decomposition.     

SH抑尘剂固化建设场地类型土的抗雨蚀性能

经抑尘剂固化后的抗雨蚀性能是影响抑尘剂使用时效性的关键因素之一。以高分子材料——SH抑尘剂为研究对象,考虑建设场地扬尘来源(即建设场地类型土)、喷洒量、坡度、坡面形态及固化时间等因素,借助冲刷量、冲刷面破坏形态及冲刷颗粒物分布状态评价SH抑尘剂在仅固化建设场地类型土表层条件下的抗雨蚀效果。实验结果表明,SH抑尘剂可与表层土颗粒形成具有抗雨蚀能力的保护层。粉土、黏土、粉煤灰及碎石土经SH抑尘剂固化后,在暴雨强度下冲刷颗粒物少且呈散粒状,土样表面的整体完整性保持良好,无明显冲刷痕迹;SH抑尘剂对各种坡面形态及坡度均具有较好适应性,SH抑尘剂适用于场地土及裸露地表的固化;随SH抑尘剂喷量及固化时间的增加,固化土的抗雨蚀能力先增大后趋于平缓,从施工和经济角度,建议选取的SH抑尘剂喷量为1.2 kg/m2,固化时间为3 d。