Anatomical and physiological responses of Colorado blue spruce to vehicle exhausts

In order to examine whether the leaves of the Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) are damaged or not by traffic pollution, the traits of the anatomy and physiology of its leaves are investigated by exposure to vehicle exhausts in a laboratory experiment lasting 30 days. The results show that both the anatomical structures and physiological traits of the leaves are significantly affected by vehicle exhausts. The anatomical structures, including epidermis, cuticle, palisade, and spongy parenchyma are modified when exposed to the high concentrations (≥0.4 mg/m³) of vehicle exhausts. However, physiological traits such as total chlorophyll content are not changed when exposed to different concentrations of vehicle exhaust. Unlike the total chlorophyll content, the electrical conductivities increased, whereas the POD activities decreased when presented in vehicle exhausts. The present study indicates that the Colorado blue spruce changes its anatomical structures and physiological traits to avoid possible damage by vehicle exhausts.     

Three major nucleolar proteins migrate from nucleolus to nucleoplasm and cytoplasm in root tip cells of Vicia faba L. exposed to aluminum

Results from our previous investigation indicated that Al could affect the nucleolus and induce extrusion of silver-staining nucleolar particles containing argyrophilic proteins from the nucleolus into the cytoplasm in root tip cells of Vicia faba L. So far, the nucleolar proteins involved have not been identified. It is well known that nucleophosmin (B23), nucleolin (C23), and fibrillarin are three major and multifunctional nucleolar proteins. Therefore, effects of Al on B23, C23, and fibrillarin in root tip cells of V. faba exposed to 100 μM Al for 48 h were observed and analyzed using indirect immunofluorescence microscopy and Western blotting. The results from this work demonstrated that after 100 μM of Al treatment for 48 h, B23 and C23 migrated from the nucleolus to the cytoplasm and fibrillarin from the nucleolus to the nucleoplasm. In some cells, fibrillarin was present only in the cytoplasm. Western blotting data revealed higher expression of the three major nucleolar proteins in Al-treated roots compared with the control and that the B23 content increased markedly. These findings confirmed our previous observations.     

Knowledge-based system,equipped with cluster analysis for eco-material selection: an automobile structure case study

The aim of this study is to develop a material selection framework structured around a knowledge-based system (KBS). Specifically, a hybrid data mining technique is employed to extract knowledge from large datasets using cluster analysis techniques; the mined knowledge then serves as the inference logic within the KBS designed for material selection purposes. Cluster analysis results are used as a basis for the tree-based structure of the KBS where if–then rules are developed based on the general cluster properties; that is, inference logic is structured in a way such that it can predict general sustainability characteristics of the material as well as its exact mechanical, cost and physical properties. To develop the structure of the KBS, the selection structure employs sustainable material indices. Additionally, the proposed material selection model of the KBS is purposefully composed of material sustainability, functionality and cost indices. The constructed knowledge is then demonstrated for selecting automobile structural panels.     

多效唑对水仙观赏效果的影响

水仙对多效唑比较敏感,无论浸泡法或叶面喷施法都具有明显的矮化效应,但当浓度≥200mg·l-1时又会产生药害,也有碍观赏;叶面喷施法对水仙矮化效应不如浸泡法,开花期亦迟10·15d;浸泡法的最佳处理浓度是50 mg·l-1;叶面喷施法以浓100-200mg·l-1效应最好,但此法费工费时,操作不便,生产上最好不采用。     

The monitoring results of electromagnetic radiation of 110-kV high-voltage lines in one urban location in Chongqing P.R. China

To understand electromagnetic radiation field strength and its influencing factors of certain 110-kV high-voltage lines in one urban area of Chongqing by measuring 110-kV high-voltage line’s electromagnetic radiation level. According to the methodology as determined by the National Hygienic Standards, we selected certain adjacent residential buildings, high-voltage lines along a specific street and selected different distances around its vertical projection point as monitoring points. The levels of electromagnetic radiations were measured respectively. In this investigation within the frequency of 5–1,000 Hz both the electric field strength and magnetic field strength of each monitoring sites were lower than the public exposure standards as determined by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. However, the electrical field strength on the roof adjacent to the high-voltage lines was significantly higher than that as measured on the other floors in the same buildings (p < 0.05). The electromagnetic radiation measurements of different monitoring points, under the same high-voltage lines, showed the location which is nearer the high-voltage line maintain a consistently higher level of radiation than the more distant locations (p < 0.05). Electromagnetic radiation generated by high-voltage lines decreases proportionally to the distance from the lines. The buildings can to some extent shield (or absorb) the electric fields generated by high-voltage lines nearby. The electromagnetic radiation intensity near high-voltage lines may be mitigated or intensified by the manner in which the high-voltage lines are set up, and it merits attention for the potential impact on human health.     

Organochlorine pesticides in the dust fall around Lake Chaohu, the fifth largest lake in China

The residual levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the dust fall around Lake Chaohu were measured using gas chromatography mass spectrometry from April 2010 to March 2011. The fluxes, components, temporal–spatial variations, and sources of OCPs were also analyzed. Twenty-one types of OCPs were detected in the dust fall samples around Lake Chaohu, with a total concentration of 51.54?±?36.31 ng/g and a total flux of 10.01?±?13.69 ng/(m² day). Aldrin (35.3 %), endosulfan (39.1 %), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) (49.8 %), and isodrin (37.1 %) were the major OCPs in the spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. Both the residual level and the flux were higher in the spring than in other seasons and higher at the outer lake sampling sites than inner lake sampling site. The potential source of the hexachlorcyclohexanes in the dust fall may be recent lindane usage. The DDTs mainly came from historical dicofol usage, and a significant input of DDT was found during April and June. The presence of endosulfan may be due to the present use of technical endosulfan. The aldrin in the dust might be due to its occasional usage, and isodrin may be a result of long-distance transport from other countries.     

Quantitative tolerance values for common stream benthic macroinvertebrates in the Yangtze River Delta,Eastern China

Aquatic organisms’ tolerance to water pollution is widely used to monitor and assess freshwater ecosystem health. Tolerance values (TVs) estimated based on statistical analyses of species-environment relationships are more objective than those assigned by expert opinion. Region-specific TVs are the basis for developing accurate bioassessment metrics particularly in developing countries, where both aquatic biota and their responses to human disturbances have been poorly documented. We used principal component analysis to derive a synthetic gradient for four stressor variables (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, and % silt) based on 286 sampling sites in the Taihu Lake and Qiantang River basins (Yangtze River Delta), China. We used the scores of taxa on the first principal component (PC1), which explained 49.8 % of the variance, to estimate the tolerance values (TV_r) of 163 macroinvertebrates taxa that were collected from at least 20 sites, 81 of which were not included in the Hilsenhoff TV lists (TV_h) of 1987. All estimates were scaled into the range of 1–10 as in TV_h. Of all the taxa with different TVs, 46.3 % of TV_r were lower and 52.4 % were higher than TV_h. TV_r were significantly (p?<?0.01, Fig. 2), but weakly (r ²?=?0.34), correlated with TV_h. Seven biotic metrics based on TV_r were more strongly correlated with the main stressors and were more effective at discriminating references sites from impacted sites than those based on TV_h. Our results highlight the importance of developing region-specific TVs for macroinvertebrate-based bioassessment and to facilitate assessment of streams in China, particularly in the Yangtze River Delta.     

Residue levels of hexachlorocyclohexane and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in human milk collected from Beijing

Forty-eight human breast milk samples were collected from mothers in Beijing. The hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) (including α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, δ-HCH, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, o,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDT) contents of the samples were determined by gas chromatography/electron capture detection and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, and p,p′-DDT were detected at rates of 20, 100, 10, 100, 10, and 22 %, respectively. The average residue levels in the samples were 174.6 ng/g fat for β-HCH, 333.8 ng/g fat for p,p′-DDE, 6.57 ng/g fat for α-HCH, 7.67 ng/g fat for γ-HCH, 4.18 ng/g fat for p,p′-DDD, and 11.4 ng/g fat for p,p′-DDT. The results showed that the infants’ daily intake levels of HCH and DDT were 0.95 and 1.76 μg/kg body weight/day, respectively. Our result suggested that the total residue level of these organochlorine pesticides in breast milk from Beijing decreased and was lower than that from other coastal and heavy industrial cities in China. On the other hand, the levels of HCH and DDT were higher than those from some developed countries, but lower than those from other developing countries such as India.     

定型机油烟废气监测分析方法初探

定型机废气污染是当前环境投诉的热点之一,油烟污染是定型机废气的主要问题,我国尚无定型机废气监测分析的标准方法。本文参照《餐饮业油烟排放标准》（试行）（GB 18483-2001）中的方法,比较了餐饮业油烟废气和定型机油烟废气在成分、排放方式等方面的相同点和不同点,从采样方法、采样时间等对定型机油烟废气的监测分析进行了初探,确定了定型机油烟废气竣工验收参考的采样方法和时间等要素。     

石河子燃煤电厂重金属排放研究

选取石河子市典型燃煤电厂,对其燃煤烟气重金属排放浓度及飞灰、底渣、脱硫石膏重金属的富集进行定量分析。结果表明,烟气中各重金属排放浓度从高到低依次为Zn、Ni、Cr、Pb、Cu、Hg、Co、Cd、As。各重金属元素在飞灰中的富集程度较高,除Hg、Cd、Ni外,其他重金属元素在飞灰的富集因均值均大于5。其中,As在飞灰的富集因子均值为5.76。研究结果可为石河子重金属污染控制提供基础数据。