Impact of meteorology and energy structure on solvent extractable organic compounds of PM2.5 in Beijing, China

Twenty-eight PM2.5 samples collected in Summer (July 2002) and Winter (November 2002) at two sites in Beijing, China were analyzed using GC/MS to investigate the impact of meteorology and coal burning on the solvent extractable organic compounds (SEOC). The characteristics and abundance of the n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), n-fatty acids and n-alkanols were determined. Source identification was made using organic species as molecular markers. Semi-volatile compounds of alkanes and PAHs had much higher concentrations in winter than summer because of the large difference in the temperature between the seasons. Plant wax emission was a major contributor to n-alkanes in summer, but fossil fuel residue was a major source (>80%) in winter. The seasonal differences in the distribution of pentacyclic triterpanes clearly shows the impact of coal burning for space heating in winter. The yield of PAHs in winter (148 ng m(-3) at the urban site and 277 ng m(-3) at the suburban site) was six to eight times higher than that in summer and was found to be mainly from coal burning. Higher pollutant concentrations were measured at the suburban site than the urban site in winter due to the rapid expansion of the city limit and the relocation of factories from urban to suburban areas over the last two decades.     

Bestimmung von Nitrodiphenylaminen und verwandten Verbindungen im Sickerwasser einer Rüstungsaltlast

Goal, Scope and Background

Nitrodiphenylamines can be found at abandoned military sites where the explosive 2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-hexanitrodiphenylamine (hexyl) or diphenylamine as a stabilizer of smokeless powder was handled. Aim of the present study is the development of HPLC methods for the analysis of contaminants which can be expected in particular under aerobic conditions at premises which are contaminated by nitrodiphenyl-amines and related compounds.

Methods

A list of 13 compounds which can be expected at these explosives factories was deduced from literature studies. HPLC methods were developed for the analytes. Water samples from the unsaturated zone of a former hexyl-producing factory were collected by suction cups and the material was analysed according to these procedures to demonstrate the practicability of the new methods and to verify the existence of the postulated compounds in the environment of the former nitration plant.

Results and Conclusion

The new HPLC methods are suitable for the exploration of sites contaminated by nitrodiphenylamines. Beside some hexyl its intermediates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, 2,4-dinitrodiphenylamine und 2,2′,4,4′-tetranitrodiphenylamine were identified in the leachate water.

Recommendation and Perspective

It is advisable to include at least these 4 compounds in the examination of former hexyl-producing plants. Several unknown peaks were observed in the HPLC-chromatogram. It is recommendable to perform further investigations of the unidentified compounds to compile a final list of analytes for military sites polluted by nitrodiphenylamines.     

Overestimated role of sulfate in haze formation over Chinese megacities due to improper simulation of heterogeneous reactions

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Heterogeneous reactions involving aerosol water, i.e., haze chemistry, are responsible for high aerosol concentrations observed during severe haze events in...     

Adsorption of herring sperm DNA onto pine sawdust biochar: Thermodynamics and site energy distribution

● Adsorption of environmental deoxyribonucleic acid on biochar was studied. ● π−π interaction and electrostatic repulsion worked in the adsorption. ● Thermodynamics indicated the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic. Environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA), which includes antibiotic resistance genes, is ubiquitous in the environment. The interactions between eDNA and biochar, a promising material widely used in soil amendment and water treatment, greatly affect the environmental behavior of eDNA. Hitherto few experimental evidences are available yet, especially on the information of thermodynamics and energy distribution to explains the interactions between biochar and eDNA. This study investigated the adsorption of herring sperm DNA (hsDNA) on pine sawdust biochar, with a specific emphasis on the adsorption thermodynamics and site energy distribution. The adsorption of hsDNA on biochar was enhanced by an increase in the pyrolysis and adsorption temperatures. The higher surface area, stronger π−π interaction, and weaker electrostatic repulsion between hsDNA and biochars prepared at high pyrolysis temperatures facilitated the adsorption of hsDNA. The thermodynamics indicated that the adsorption of hsDNA on biochar was spontaneous and endothermic. Therefore, higher temperature was beneficial for the adsorption of hsDNA on biochar; this was well explained by the increase in E^* and F(E^*) with the adsorption temperature. These results are useful for evaluating the migration and transformation of eDNA in the presence of biochar.     

Exploring uncertainty of the change from ICD-9 to ICD-10 on acute mortality effects of air pollution

The change in ICD coding from ICD-9 to ICD-10 may produce inconsistencies and discontinuities in cause-specific mortality, thus impacting on effects estimates of air pollution on mortality. The current study was conducted in Wuhan, China. We examined the concordant rates and Kappa statistics using the mortality data from the year 2002 coded with both ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes and compared the estimated effects of air pollution using the Generalized Additive Model in R. We found high concordant rates (>99.3%) and Kappa statistics close to 1.0 (>0.98). Little difference was identified in the estimated effects of air pollution on daily cardiovascular, stroke, cardiac, cardiopulmonary, and respiratory mortality. This study provides evidence that, based on the wide definitions of cause-specific morality typically used in the studies of time-series air pollution mortality, the change in the ICD coding does not significantly affect the estimated effects of air pollution.     

Effects of organic acids on copper and cadmium desorption from contaminated soils

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of organic acids on Cd and Cu desorption from natural contaminated soils (NCS) with permanent contamination by metal smelters and from artificial contaminated soils (ACS) derived from an artificial amendment of Cd to three representative zonal soils in Central China. Results showed that the desorption of Cd in either NCS or ACS, with the increment of tartrate or citrate concentration in desorption solution, can be characterized as a valley-like curve. The presence of tartrate or citrate at a low concentration (< or =0.5 mmol/l) inhibited Cd desorption from these two types of soils, whereas the presence of organic acids at high concentrations (> or =2 mmol/l for citrate and about > or =15 mmol/l for tartrate) apparently promoted Cd desorption. The desorption curve of Cu by tartrate solution with different tartrate concentrations can also be characterized as a valley-like curve, while the desorption of Cu in the presence of citrate was directly enhanced with the increment of citrate concentration. With the enhancement of initial pH value from 2 to 8 in the presence of citrate, Cu desorption ratio decreased at the first stage, then increased, and then decreased again. A valley and a peak sequentially appeared in the Cd or Cu desorption curve with initial pH value increment. Compared with citrate, the desorption ratio of Cd or Cu from NCS or ACS was directly decreased in the presence of tartrate, with the enhancement of the pH value from 2 to 8. Cd or Cu desorption was clearly enhanced when the electrolyte concentration of KNO3 or KCl increased in the presence of 2 mmol/l tartrate. Moreover, a higher desorption ratio of Cd or Cu was shown with KCl electrolyte than with KNO3 electrolyte with the same concentration. Based on these observations, we suggest that bioavailabilities of heavy metal can be promoted with selected suitable types and concentrations of organic acid amendment and reasonable field condition.     

蒲河流域生态环境需水研究

以蒲河流域为例,以改善水环境为出发点,提出了一种以生态分区为前提,同时满足人类正常生产活动的生态环境需水估算模型。该模型从生态系统角度分析了蒲河流域现阶段存在的问题,比简单的水文模型更为符合蒲河流域的实际特点。在此基础上对蒲河流域进行生态分区,针对各生态分区对生态需水的需求不同,分别估算需水值。其中包括河道基本生态需水、河道蒸发需水,河道渗漏需水等。在考虑生态需求的同时,针对蒲河季节性河流且人工干扰严重的特点,对蒲河流域生态需水量值进行估算。计算结果表明,蒲河流域生态需水总量为4 53846万m³,并具有年内变化显著、受人类活动（污水排放量、人口密度等）影响各分区差距显著等特点,研究成果为今后季节性河流需水量的研究提供了依据     

滇池底泥微生物菌群对微囊藻毒素的生物降解

采用滇池水华蓝藻中提取提纯的微囊藻毒素（microcystins，MCs）作为微生物生长的碳源和氮源，从长期暴露于蓝藻水华的滇池底泥中，通过从含低浓度到高浓度MCs的逐步培养驯化，获得了高效降解MCs的微生物混合菌群，在初始MC-RR和LR浓度大约分别为50mg／L和30mg／L下，3d内可将MCs全部降解。进一步活性研究显示，不同含碳和含氮化合物虽然能够促进混合微生物菌群的生长，但对降解MCs却无明显的促进作用，说明MCs既可以作为微生物生长的碳源，又可以作为微生物生长的氮源，在富含有机物的天然水体中并不一定能够促进微生物对MCs的生物降解。     

扬水曝气技术在水源水质改善中的应用

扬水曝气技术是新开发的水质改善技术,用于混合上下水层、控制藻类生长、增加水体溶解氧、抑制底泥污染物释放.将该技术应用于某水源地,其提水效率达到同类设备--同温层曝气器的两倍;控制了水体表层的藻类数量,抑制了藻类的生长,将藻类叶绿素a含量降低了13.96%.扬水曝气技术的适用条件:用于控制藻类生长时,水深应不小于10 m;用于抑制底泥污染物释放时,水体应存在溶解氧小于1～2 mg/L的厌氧条件.