An assessment of the risks associated with polychlorinated biphenyls found in the stomach contents of stranded Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and Finless Porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from Hong Kong waters

The risks to Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins and Finless Porpoises associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were assessed. Stomach contents from twelve stranded Humpback Dolphins and sixteen stranded Finless Porpoises were collected. Concentrations of total and isomer-specific PCBs in the stomach contents were determined using dual-column gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detectors (GC-ECD). Risks due to the PCBs were assessed in three scenarios, based on total PCBs (summation of 41 PCB congeners), total toxicity equivalency (TEQs) and PCB 118, using the toxicity reference values (TRVs) as the threshold effects benchmarks. The calculated risk quotients (RQs) showed that risks due to PCBs were generally low or negligible. Specifically, RQs from total TEQs and total PCBs for Finless Porpoises are below one, suggesting that PCBs should be a low risk for the Finless Porpoise in Hong Kong waters. However, the Humpback Dolphin has RQs larger than 1 for total TEQs and total PCBs when the 95th percentile data were used in the evaluation. This indicates that further investigation may be needed to examine more closely the potential impact of toxic contaminants in the habitat of the Humpback Dolphin.     

Ionic liquid-containing semipermeable membrane devices for monitoring the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water

Ionic liquid-containing semipermeable membrane devices (IL-SPMDs) were developed to monitor the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water. Uptake kinetics of naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene by layflat low-density polyethylene tubing (15 cm x 2 cm) filled with 0.5 ml 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid were studied in a laboratory continuous-flow system for the duration of 16 days. The device concentration factors were in the range of 830-7800 for the studied PAHs. The kinetic parameters of IL/water partition coefficients, analytes uptake rate constants and sampling rates were estimated using mathematical models. These parameters were used in the field experiment to estimate the concentrations of the PAHs in Lanzhou section of Yellow River in China, with the result in comparison with that obtained by triolein-SPMD.     

Potential contributions of clay minerals and organic matter to pentachlorophenol retention in soils

Sorption of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by pure minerals and humic acids were measured to obtain additional perspective on the potential contributions of both clay minerals and soil organic matter (SOM) to contaminants retention in soils. Four types of common soil minerals and two kinds of humic acids (HAs) were tested. The sorption affinity for PCP conformed to an order of HAs > K-montmorillonite > Ca-montmorillonite > goethite > kaolinite. Such a difference in sorption capacity could be attributed to the crucial control of HAs. Clay minerals also had their contribution, especially K-montmorillonite, which played an important, if not dominant, role in the controlling process of PCP sorption. By removing 80% (on average) of the organic carbon from the soils with H(2)O(2), the sorption decreased by an average of 50%. The sorption reversibility had been greatly favored as well. Considering the uncharged mineral fractions in soil before and after H(2)O(2)-treated, the main variation in sorption behavior of the soil might thus be related to the removed organic carbon and the reduced pH. This testified rightly the interactive effect of SOM and clay minerals on PCP sorption as a function of pH.     

Modeling the competitive effect of phosphate, sulfate, silicate, and tungstate anions on the adsorption of molybdate onto goethite

The mobility of Mo in soils and sediments depends on several factors including soil mineralogy and the presence of other oxyanions that compete with Mo for the adsorbent's retention sites. Batch experiments addressing Mo adsorption onto goethite were conducted with phosphate, sulfate, silicate, and tungstate as competing anions in order to produce competitive two anions adsorption envelopes, as well as competitive two anions adsorption isotherms. Tungstate and phosphate appear to be the strongest competitors of Mo for the adsorption sites of goethite, whereas little competitive effects were observed in the case of silicate and sulfate. Mo adsorption isotherm from a phosphate solution was similar to the one from a tungstate solution. The charge distribution multi-site complexation (CD-MUSIC) model was used to predict competitive adsorption between MoO(4)(2-) and other anions (i.e., phosphate, sulfate, silicate and tungstate) using model parameters obtained from the fitting of single ion adsorption envelopes. CD-MUSIC results strongly agree with the experimental adsorption envelopes of molybdate over the pH range from 3.5 to 10. Furthermore, CD-MUSIC prediction of the molybdate adsorption isotherm show a satisfactory fit of the experimental results. Modeling results suggest that the diprotonated monodentate complexes, FeOW(OH)(5)(-0.5) and FeOMo(OH)(5)(-0.5), were respectively the dominant complexes of adsorbed W and Mo on goethite 110 faces at low pH. The model suggests that Mo and W are retained mainly by the formation of monodentate complexes on the goethite surface. Our results indicate that surface complexation modeling may have applications in predicting competitive adsorption in more complex systems containing multiple competing ions.     

Methods for the preparation of a biodesulfurization biocatalyst using Rhodococcus sp

Several methods to prepare a biodesulfurization (BDS) biocatalyst were investigated in this study using a strain of Rhodococcus sp. 1awq. This bacterium could selectively remove sulfur from dibenzothiophene (DBT) via the "4S" pathway. DBT, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), sodium sulphate and mixed sulfur sources were used to study their influence on cell density, desulfurization activity, desulfurization ability, and the cost of biocatalyst production. In contrast to that observed from bacteria cultured in DBT, only partial desulfurization activity of strain 1awq was induced by DBT after cultivation in a medium containing inorganic sulfur as the sole sulfur source. The biocatalyst, prepared from culture with mixed sulfur sources, was found to possess desulfurization activity. With DMSO as the sole sulfur source, the desulfurization activity was shown to be similar to that of bacteria incubated in medium with DBT as the sole sulfur source. The biocatalyst prepared by this method with the least cost could remove sulfur from hydrodesulfurization (HDS)-treated diesel oil efficiently, providing a total desulfurization percent of 78% and suggesting its cost-effective advantage.     

潜流湿地处理生活污水时的强化策略

研究在潜流湿地处理生活污水时通过预处理强化、介质优化和工艺改进克服现有技术缺陷的可行性.改进方法包括化学强化预处理、预曝气、添加氮吸附介质、添加磷吸附介质、湿地高浸润线、中浸润线、低浸润线和动态浸润线运行.结果表明,化学强化预处理不仅可以除磷,而且削减湿地污染负荷可使后续湿地面积减小63%,但是不能有效脱氮.预曝气仅使氨氮去除率提高了1%.添加氮吸附介质的有效时间短,运行前3个月对NH₄⁺-N去除率为84%,5个月后下降到64%.添加磷吸附介质的有效时间较长,可维持数年.因此,脱氮过程只有通过基质微生物实现.稳态浸润线下对COD、NH₄⁺-N、TN、TP的去除率,高浸润线湿地为50%、21%、32%、-26%;中浸润线湿地为53%、48%、48%、-14%;低浸润线湿地为74%、96%、35%、22%.提出动态浸润线及序批式潜流人工湿地工艺(CBSW),其对COD、NH₄⁺-N、TN、TP去除率为67%、62%、53%、33%.CBSW实现了单级湿地内好氧/缺氧环境的交替出现,提高了脱氮能力,除污综合表现最佳.     

"中国地震动参数区划图编制"荣获2003年度国家科技进步二等奖

2004年2月20日,中共中央、国务院在北京隆重举行国家科学技术奖励大会。党和国家领导人胡绵涛等出席大会并为获奖代表颁奖。温家宝总理代表党中央、国务院在大会上讲话。     

铝电解含氟烟气干法净化技术应用

山东铝厂对80kA预焙槽含氟烟气系统进行了改造,将其湿法净化工艺改造成干法净化。介绍了干法净化技术的优点及工艺技术。改造后取得了明显的经济效益和环境效益。     

初论环境信息污染及预防

从SARS所引发的社会现象分析,首次从环境角度对信息污染进行探讨,提出了环境信息污染的含义及特征。并针对环境信息污染的潜在危害性,论述治理环境信息污染应以预防为主。建议政府和个人逐步通过建立“信息墙”,使信息更加有序、有条理,以此来预防和减少环境信息污染。     

Abusive supervision and work behaviors: The mediating role of LMX

We investigated the mediating role of the leader–member exchange (LMX) in the association of abusive supervision and employee work behaviors (task performance and organizational citizenship behaviors toward the organization and individuals). Using data collected from 366 supervisor–subordinate dyads, we found that LMX fully mediated the negative effects of abusive supervision on all three work behaviors. In addition, we conducted a supplementary study on the basis of the data collected from 54 supervisor–subordinate dyads from a garment company, and we found that LMX mediated the relationship between abusive supervision and employee objective future performance with interactional justice controlled. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.