Methods,fluxes and sources of gas phase alkyl nitrates in the coastal air

The daily and seasonal atmospheric concentrations, deposition fluxes and emission sources of a few C3–C9 gaseous alkyl nitrates (ANs) at the Belgian coast (De Haan) on the Southern North Sea were determined. An adapted sampler design for low- and high-volume air-sampling, optimized sample extraction and clean-up, as well as identification and quantification of ANs in air samples by means of gas chromatography mass spectrometry, are reported. The total concentrations of ANs ranged from 0.03 to 85 pptv and consisted primarily of the nitro-butane and nitro-pentane isomers. Air mass backward trajectories were calculated by the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model to determine the influence of main air masses on AN levels in the air. The shorter chain ANs have been the most abundant in the Atlantic/Channel/UK air masses, while longer chain ANs prevailed in continental air. The overall mean N fluxes of the ANs were slightly higher for summer than those for winter-spring, although their contributions to the total nitrogen flux were low. High correlations between AN and HNO₂ levels were observed during winter/spring. During summer, the shorter chain ANs correlated well with precipitation. Source apportionment by means of principal component analysis indicated that most of the gas phase ANs could be attributed to traffic/combustion, secondary photochemical formation and biomass burning, although marine sources may also have been present and a contributing factor.     

Airborne particulate matter and BTEX in office environments

Total suspended particulate (TSP), PM(2.5) and BTEX were collected in nine offices in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. Both indoor and outdoor aerosol samples were analysed for their weight, elemental composition, and water-soluble fraction. Indoor TSP and PM(2.5) concentrations ranged from 7-31 microg m(-3) and 5-28 microg m(-3), with an average of 18 and 11 microg m(-3), respectively. Of all the elements analysed in indoor TSP, more than 95% was represented by Al, Si, K, Ca, Fe, Cl and S, accounting for 12% of the TSP by mass. The other elements showed significant enrichment relative to the earth's crust. The water-soluble ionic fraction accounted for almost 30% of the sampled indoor TSP by weight, and was enriched by anthropogenic activities. It was shown that the indoor PM levels varied among the offices, depending on the ventilation pattern, location, and occupation density of the office. Indoor BTEX levels ranged together from 5-47 microg m(-3) and were considerably higher than the corresponding outdoor levels. It was observed that some recently constructed and renovated buildings were clearly burdened with elevated levels for toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes, while outdoor air was found to be the main source for BTEX levels at the 'older' offices.     

Analysis of indoor gaseous formic and acetic acid, using radial diffusive samplers

A diffusive sampling method for the determination of gaseous acetic and formic acids, using a radial symmetry diffusive sampler, has been optimised for a 7-day exposure time in this study. Sampling rate determinations were performed on data obtained from a dynamic exposure chamber, simulating the indoor conditions of an empty, closed, room, at room temperature and minimal wind speed. Analysis has been performed by means of ion chromatography. The sampling rates for formic acid concentrations of 128 microg m(-3) and 1248 microg m(-3) were determined to be 91.2 +/- 3.9 ml min(-1) and 111.6 +/- 2.8 ml min(-1), respectively. The acetic acid sampling rate was independent of the concentration in the range 160 microg m(-3)-1564 microg m(-3), and amounted to 97.3 +/- 3.1 ml min(-1). Experimentally determined sampling rates showed deviations of 3% for acetic acid, and 3-21% for formic acid, in relation to theoretically derived values. The blank values were as low as 1.69 +/- 0.07 microg for formic acid and 1.21 +/- 0.14 microg for acetic acid, and detection limits lower than 0.5 microg m(-3) could be achieved, which is an improvement of 98-99% compared to previously validated diffusive sampling methods. This study describes the first step of an extended validation program in which the applicability of these types of samplers for the measurement of organic acids will be validated and optimised for the environmental conditions typical for museum showcases.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water, sediment and soil of the Songhua River Basin, China

The Songhua River is the third largest river in China and the primary source of drinking and irrigation water for northeastern China. The distribution of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water [dissolved water (DW) and suspended particulate matter (SPM)], sediment, and soil in the river basin was investigated, and the associated risk of cancer from these PAHs was also assessed. The total concentration of PAHs ranged from 13.9 to 161 ng L^?1 in DW, 9.21 to 83.1 ng L^?1 in SPM, 20.5 to 632 ng g^?1 dw (dry weight) in sediment, and from 30.1 to 870 ng g^?1 dw in soil. The compositional pattern of PAHs indicated that three-ring PAHs were predominant in DW and SPM samples, while four-ring PAHs dominated in sediment and soil samples. The spatial distribution of PAHs revealed some site-specific sources along the river, with principal component analysis indicating that these were from pyrogenic sources (such as coal and biomass combustion, and vehicle emissions) and coke oven emission distinguished as the main source of PAHs in the Songhua River Basin. Based on the ingestion of PAH-contaminated drinking water from the Songhua River, cancer risk was quantitatively estimated by combining the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk assessment model and BaP-equivalent concentration for five age groups of people (adults, teenagers, children, toddlers, and infants). Overall, the results suggest that the estimated integrated lifetime cancer risk for all groups was in acceptable levels. This study is the first attempt to provide information on the cancer risk of PAHs in drinking water from the Songhua River.     

TCLP法对天津市农田重金属生态风险评价

TCLP法是用缓冲剂提取重金属的一种方法,该法评价重金属生态风险在美国已开展多年。利用TCLP法对天津市某农田土壤重金属进行生态风险评价,结果表明,在采集的23个样品中有效态铜、铅、锌、镉的含量范围为1.13~5.26、2.11~5.22、2.60~30.6、1.09×10-3~77.9×10-3mg/kg,普遍低于铜、铅、锌、镉在土壤中的总量(22.1~66.8、21.2~50.6、56.8~445、0.04~0.20 mg/kg)。镉的TCLP有效态与总量的差别最大。锌、铅存在轻微污染,污染率分别为21.7%、4.3%。     

中国城市污水处理厂污泥处理、处置问题探讨分析

明确了有关污泥处理、处置的术语和定义,通过对我国污水处理厂污水处理工艺与污泥处理、处置现状的调查分析,认为污水处理工艺与污泥处理和最终处置方式有关;同时对污水处理厂污泥处理、处置中土地利用问题和处理、处置费用问题进行探讨,并提出了相关建议.     

工业废气中氮氧化物的治理研究

对碱液吸收和活性炭吸附两级联合治理氮氧化物废气进行了实验研究,结果表明:对于氮氧化物进口浓度为7000～10 000 mg/m3的氮氧化物废气,氮氧化物的平均脱除率可以达到99%,出口浓度低于99 mg/m3;还进行了以硝酸溶液、双氧水溶液和高锰酸钾溶液为氧化剂湿法氧化碱吸收的实验研究,结果显示3种氧化剂都能显著提高氮氧化物的脱除率,其中以高锰酸钾溶液作氧化剂的脱除效果最好,其次是双氧水溶液.     

小型焚烧设施烟气中二噁英类的排放和控制

对中国典型的小型焚烧设施现状和二噁英类排放进行了初步调查研究,未经处理的小型垃圾焚烧设施烟气中二噁英类毒性当量(TEQ)大于6 ng/m3,小型火化机烟气中二噁英类TEQ大于5 ng/m3.设计并检验了布袋除尘器和活性炭滤布的二噁英类去除效果.仅使用布袋除尘器二噁英类去除率不高,布袋除尘器和活性炭滤布联用可以有效去除飞灰和气相中的二噁英类,去除率达到90%左右,可达到《生活垃圾焚烧污染控制标准》(GB 18485-2001)二噁英类排放标准.     

圆齿野鸦椿 Euscaphic konishii Hayata的生态生物学特性

圆齿野鸦椿 Euscaphis konishii Hayata是中国特有的常绿小乔木,为潜在的优良园林绿化、观果树种.文章对其树形与冠幅、叶片的形态解剖结构、光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔传导率、叶绿素含量、叶面积、生物量和生产力、植物营养元素等进行了系统的研究,研究表明:它属中性树种,种子较小,其光合曲线为单峰型,光合速率平均值为5.62μmol·m-2·s-1,蒸腾速率为3.6 mmol·m-2·s-1,其气孔导度较大,水分利用效率低,苗期需荫蔽,长大后则需一定光照.圆齿野鸦椿生物量较低,其一年生苗平均生物量是(42.35±8.93)g,为中等生长速度,其苗期根系不深,可用一般营养袋育苗.圆齿野鸦椿体内加权平均养分含量较低,需要生于土壤肥沃、酸性、疏松、排水透气好、营养条件较好的地方或进行施肥.若要大量开发圆齿野鸦椿资源,需要考虑它的这些生态生物学特征,在其苗期与生长期采取不同的栽培管理措施.     

Modelling tritrophic interactions mediated by induced defence volatiles

Many plant species defend themselves against herbivorous insects indirectly by producing and releasing induced volatiles to attract natural enemies of the herbivores. In this paper, we consider the recruitment of natural enemies attracted by plant-induced volatiles and introduce the An–Liu–Johnson–Lovett model into the Lotka–Volterra model in an attempt to add this missing vital link in tritrophic interaction. Increase in attraction strength of plant-induced volatiles to the natural enemy leads to high fluctuation amplitude of plant biomass and herbivore population. When the attack strength of natural enemies reaches a certain level, fluctuation amplitude of plant biomass and herbivore population will decrease and plant biomass will approach to its environmental carrying capacity. The simulation demonstrates that plant volatile compounds induced by insects have led to the introduction of a third tritrophic level, e.g., natural enemies, into the plant–herbivore system, resulting in the coexistence of plants, insects, and natural enemies during the evolution process.