Review of information on pesticide residues in the Canadian environment

Summary Pesticide residues in soil, water, food, wildlife and other media have been analysed in several monitoring studies. The purpose was to establish the distribution of these residues across a defined area, ascertain their trend over a specific period and use the results to assess environmental compliance and safety. In the present review the availability of information on pesticide residues in various Canadian environmental components was sought. With the possible exception of localized pesticide contamination of some private water supply wells, ground and surface water, most analyses revealed concentrations below guideline limits. Only a few cases were reported of mishandling, misuse and poisoning from pesticides. Continuing surveillance programmes and in-depth and well-organized monitoring studies, with special focus on areas that are vulnerable to contamination, by both provincial and federal governments, are largely responsible for the encouraging results. This experience in the control of pesticide use and monitoring of residues in the environment should be of particular interest in developing countries.Dr A.Y. Sangodoyin is a senior lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Ibadan. He was recently involved in a study visit to the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G7, where his co-author Dr D.W. Smith is a member of staff in the Department of Civil-Engineering.     

用好氧-厌氧反复耦合固定床生物反应器处理肌苷生产废水

利用由多孔微生物载体构建的好氧-厌氧反复耦合固定床生物反应器进行了高浓度肌苷生产废水处理中试研究。连续84d的运行结果表明，当进水COD为1500-2700mg／L、水力停留时间为22．1h时，出水COD可维持在150mg／L左右，COD去除率达90％～95％。装置运行稳定后，未经沉淀的出水中的固体悬浮物质量浓度小于50mg／L，表明该反应器可避免剩余污泥的产生。中试结果验证了该反应器处理高浓度肌苷废水的可行性和优势，同时为装置放大提供了理论依据。     

石油开采含油废水处理技术的探讨

油田开发生产过程中产生和排放的含油废水含有多种污染物，对生态环境造成严重污染。对油田含油废水应用三段法治理工艺，混凝、沉淀、过滤综合处理油田含油废水，处理后的水质达到回注水水质要求，全部回注，研究探讨了高矿化度含油废水的治理。     

制动器用电磁体的另一种非对称磁路设计

为了获得更好地制动安全性及延长制动器寿命,针对相关文献中制动器用电磁体磁路的非对称设计方案的不足之处,提出了新的磁路形状设计,即采用开槽的方法来获得要求的非对称磁路,并对此作了理论分析。由于磁路形状复杂,采用Ansoft软件中Maxwell-3D对设计的电磁体进行磁场及其吸力的仿真计算。对仿真结果和理论分析作了对比。以此制作的样品试验结果表明,电磁体工作姿态平稳,未发现因卡死而出现摩擦力的大幅度波动。且磨损均匀,满足了工作寿命的相关要求,为电磁制动器安全制动、延长工作寿命提供了保证。     

在役化工装置安全评价模式的研究

根据在役装置安全评价的两类目的,分析现有在役化工装置安全评价模式中存在的不足;提出在役化工装置安全评价的一个新思路和新模式;给出了基于新模式的安全评价程序,并对该评价程序各个步骤及采用的评价方法组合进行了较为详细的讨论,其关键是建立评价指标体系。该评价模式既能查找出装置中存在的具体安全隐患,也能给出装置总的安全评价结论。同时指出,安全评价指标体系的建立和完善应成为安全管理的一项标准化、基础性工作。该评价模式的思路不仅适用于在役化工装置的安全评价,也适用于其他系统安全现状评价,是对进一步完善当前安全现状评价工作的一个有益尝试。     

Enzyme-Retted Flax Fiber and Recycled Polyethylene Composites

Municipal solid wastes generated each year contain potentially useful and recyclable materials for composites. Simultaneously, interest is high for the use of natural fibers, such as flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), in composites thus providing cost and environmental benefits. To investigate the utility of these materials, composites containing flax fibers with recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) were created and compared with similar products made with wood pulp, glass, and carbon fibers. Flax was either enzyme- or dew-retted to observe composite property differences between diverse levels of enzyme formulations and retting techniques. Coupling agents would strengthen binding between fibers and HDPE but in this study fibers were not modified in anyway to observe mechanical property differences between natural fiber composites. Composites with flax fibers from various retting methods, i.e., dew- vs. enzyme-retting, behaved differently; dew-retted fiber composites resulted in both lower strength and percent elongation. The lowest level of enzyme-retting and the most economical process produces composites that do not appear to differ from the highest level of enzyme-retting. Flax fibers improved the modulus of elasticity over wood pulp and HDPE alone and were less dense than glass or carbon fiber composites. Likely, differences in surface properties of the various flax fibers, while poorly defined and requiring further research, caused various interactions with the resin that influenced composite properties.     

SIMULATING THE IMPACT OF DRAINAGE DESIGN IN A COLD CLIMATE WITH ADAPT1

ABSTRACT: Surface and subsurface drainage make crop production economically viable in much of southern Minnesota because drainage allows timely field operations and protects field crops from extended periods of flooded soil conditions. However, subsurface drainage has been shown to increase nitrate/nitrogen losses to receiving waters. When engaging in drainage activities, farmers are increasingly being asked to consider, apart from the economic profit, the environmental impact of drainage. The Agricultural Drainage and Pesticide Transport model (ADAPT) was used in this study to evaluate the impact of subsurface drainage design on the soil water balance over a two‐year period during which observed drainage discharge data were available. Twelve modeling scenarios incorporated four drainage coefficients (DC), 0.64 cm/d, 0.95 cm/d, 1.27 cm/d, and 1.91 cm/d, and three drain depths, 0.84 m, 1.15 m, and 1.45 m. The baseline condition corresponded to the drainage system specifications at the field site: a drain depth and spacing of 1.45 m and 28 m, respectively (DC of 0.64 cm/d). The results of the two‐year simulation suggested that for a given drainage coefficient, soils with the shallower drains (but equal DC) generally have less subsurface drainage and can produce more runoff (but reduced total discharge) and evapotranspiration. The results also suggested that it may be possible to design for both water/nitrate/nitrogen reduction and crop water needs.     

Sustainability of Current Agricultural Practices in The Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Cameron Highlands is a mountainous region with steep slopes. Gradients exceeding 20^∘ are common. The climate is favourable to the cultivation of tea, sub-tropical vegetables and flowers (under rain-shelter). Crop production is sustained by high fertiliser and manure applications. However, agriculture in this environment is characterised by high levels of soil erosion and environmental pollution. A study on the sustainability of these agro-ecosystems was conducted. Results indicated that soil loss was in the range of 24–42 ton/ha/yr under vegetables and 1.3 ton under rain-shelter. Sediment load in the vegetable sub-catchment reached 3.5 g/L, 50 times higher than that associated with flowers under rain-shelter and tea. The sediments contained high nutrient loads of up to 470 kg N/ha/yr. The N, P and K lost in runoff from cabbage farms was 154 kg/season/ha, whereas in chrysanthemum farms it was 5 kg. In cabbage farms, the N, P, and K lost through leaching was 193 kg/season/ha. The NO₃–N concentration in the runoff from the cabbage farms reached 25 ppm but less than 10 ppm in runoff from rain-shelters. Inorganic pollution in the rivers was within the acceptable limit of 10 ppm. The sustainability of the agro-ecosystems is in the order of tea { > } rain–shelter ≫ vegetables.