Global Trend of Low-carbon Economy and China's Responses

Based on the analysis on the global economic crisis,climate change crisis and their mutual underlying reasons,the authors believe that low-carbon economy has become an inevitable choice to break through the dual crises,coordinate the economic development,and protect the global climate.The global trend of low-carbon economy finds expression in Green Recovery currently,while,in a long run,it will give rise to a new pattern of world competition in politics,economy,technology,trade and finance.The impact of the...     

Medical waste management in China: A case study of Nanjing

Medical waste management is of great importance due to its infectious and hazardous nature that can cause undesirable effects on humans and the environment. The objective of this study was to analyze and evaluate the present status of medical waste management in the light of medical waste control regulations in Nanjing. A comprehensive inspection survey was conducted for 15 hospitals, 3 disposal companies and 200 patients. Field visits and a questionnaire survey method were implemented to collect information regarding different medical waste management aspects, including medical waste generation, segregation and collection, storage, training and education, transportation, disposal, and public awareness.The results indicated that the medical waste generation rate ranges from 0.5 to 0.8 kg/bed day with a weighted average of 0.68 kg/bed day. The segregated collection of various types of medical waste has been conducted in 73% of the hospitals, but 20% of the hospitals still use unqualified staff for medical waste collection, and 93.3% of the hospitals have temporary storage areas. Additionally, 93.3% of the hospitals have provided training for staff; however, only 20% of the hospitals have ongoing training and education. It was found that the centralized disposal system has been constructed based on incineration technology, and the disposal cost of medical waste is about 580 US$/ton. The results also suggested that there is not sufficient public understanding of medical waste management, and 77% of respondents think medical waste management is an important factor in selecting hospital services.The problematic areas of medical waste management in Nanjing are addressed by proposing some recommendations that will ensure that potential health and environmental risks of medical waste are minimized.     

新疆哈密马庄山金矿区次火山岩及其地球化学特征

马庄山金矿区位于星星峡一卡瓦布拉克地块、古生代岛弧东段北侧活动大陆边缘，有多种火山宕、次火山岩和侵入岩，而与金矿成矿关系最为密切的是海西中、晚期次火山岩。该矿区次火山岩有花岗闪长斑岩、石英斑岩、花岗斑岩、隐爆角砾岩（简称花岗质岩）和辉绿岩。因此，在区域地质背景和矿区地质特征分析基础上，着重对次火山岩及其地球化学特征进行系统研究，结果认为．该矿区花岗质岩为高硅富钾贫铝钙碱性同熔（1）型花岗岩类，岩浆源区来自中下地壳；辉绿岩则为富钠碱性正常型基性岩类，岩浆源区来自下地壳。前者含Co、Pb、Zn、Sn、As、Bi、W、Mo、An、Ag、Tc等元素较高，有重要找矿前景；后者含Ba、Pb、Zn、Tl、As、Bi、Au、Ag、Tc等元素较高，也可为成矿提供物源。这些认识，对该区次火山岩特征、性质、成矿关系和构造背景，以及进一步找矿都有重要理论和实践指导意义。     

试论油气集输场站消防力量配置原则

从消防安全基本原理出发,分析了油田企业消防力量配置上的两大"误导"因素,论述了油田企业消防力量配置的基本构想,提出了5种典型场站消防力量配备原则。     

土地利用变化对贵州印江喀斯特小流域水体DIC含量及δ~(13)C_(DIC)的影响

以印江流域水体为研究对象,分别于2014年夏季和冬季采集印江河主干与支流表层水样品,测定并分析其基本物理化学参数、主量离子浓度和溶解性无机碳(DIC)含量及其碳同位素组成(δ~(13)C_(DIC)),结合流域内不同的气候条件和土地利用强度与方式等生态环境条件,对表层水体中DIC的来源及其时空变化特征进行探讨。结果表明:印江河流域表层水p H值呈中性到碱性,水化学组成主要受碳酸盐岩风化的控制,阳离子主要以Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)为主,阴离子主要以HCO-3为主,而且主量离子在冬夏季表现出较为显著的差异。印江河流域干、支流水体DIC和主量离子含量向下游总体呈现递增趋势,并随季节呈现夏低冬高的变化趋势,可能与研究区水体上游土地利用强度低而下游存在大量的农耕用地以及当地冬夏季降雨量差异有关。相比之下,印江河流域干流水体δ~(13)C_(DIC)均值为-10.39‰、支流水体δ~(13)C_(DIC)均值为-8.29‰,差异相对显著,反映了作为源头支流水体主要受碳酸盐岩风化影响,支流汇入干流水体过程周边土地利用强度增大、方式多样,影响较为明显。而且该流域干、支流水体δ~(13)C_(DIC)的季节性差异显著,支流水体DIC主要由于水-岩交换在冬季更加富集13C,而干流水体DIC则主要由于生物量效应在夏季相对富集13C,极有可能与当地土地利用强度和方式的季节性变化有关。     

Characteristics and recent trends of sulfur dioxide at urban, rural, and background sites in North China: Effectiveness of control measures

SO₂ measurements made in recent years at sites in Beijing and its surrounding areas are performed to study the variations and trends of surface SO₂ at different types of sites in Northern China. The overall average concentrations of SO₂ are (16.8 ± 13.1) ppb, (14.8 ± 9.4) ppb, and (7.5 ± 4.0) ppb at China Meteorological Administration (CMA, Beijing urban area), Gucheng (GCH, relatively polluted rural area, 110 km to the southwest of Beijing urban area), and Shangdianzi (SDZ, clean background area, 100 km to the northeast of Beijing urban area), respectively. The SO₂ levels in winter (heating season) are 4-6 folds higher than those in summer. There are highly significant correlations among the daily means of SO₂ at different sites, indicating regional characteristics of SO₂ pollution. Diurnal patterns of surface SO₂ at all sites have a common feature with a daytime peak, which is probably caused by the downward mixing and/or the advection transport of SO₂-richer air over the North China Plain. The concentrations of SO₂ at CMA and GCH show highly significant downward trends (-4.4 ppb/yr for CMA and -2.4 ppb/yr for GCH), while a less significant trend (-0.3 ppb/yr) is identified in the data from SDZ, reflecting the character of SDZ as a regional atmospheric background site in North China. The SO₂ concentrations of all three sites show a significant decrease from period before to after the control measures for the 2008 Olympic Games, suggesting that the SO₂ pollution control has long-term effectiveness and benefits. In the post-Olympics period, the mean concentrations of SO₂ at CMA, GCH, and SDZ are (14.3 ± 11.0) ppb, (12.1 ± 7.7) ppb, and (7.5 ± 4.0) ppb, respectively, with reductions of 26%, 36%, and 13%, respectively, compared to the levels before. Detailed analysis shows that the differences of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and wind direction were not the dominant factors for the significant differences of SO₂ between the pre-Olympics and post-Olympics periods. By extracting the data being more representative of local or regional characteristics, a reduction of up to 40% for SO₂ in polluted areas and a reduction of 20% for regional SO₂ are obtained for the effect of control measures implemented for the Olympic Games.     

Measurement of air exchange rates in different indoor environments using continuous CO2 sensors

A new air exchange rate (AER) monitoring method using continuous CO₂ sensors was developed and validated through both laboratory experiments and field studies. Controlled laboratory simulation tests were conducted in a 1-m³ environmental chamber at different AERs (0.1-10.0 hr^-1). AERs were determined using the decay method based on box model assumptions. Field tests were conducted in classrooms, dormitories, meeting rooms and apartments during 2-5 weekdays using CO₂ sensors coupled with data loggers. Indoor temperature, relative humidity (RH), and CO₂ concentrations were continuously monitored while outdoor parameters combined with on-site climate conditions were recorded. Statistical results indicated that good laboratory performance was achieved: duplicate precision was within 10%, and the measured AERs were 90%-120% of the real AERs. Average AERs were 1.22, 1.37, 1.10, 1.91 and 0.73 hr^-1 in dormitories, air-conditioned classrooms, classrooms with an air circulation cooling system, reading rooms, and meeting rooms, respectively. In an elderly particulate matter exposure study, all the homes had AER values ranging from 0.29 to 3.46 hr??1 in fall, and 0.12 to 1.39 hr^-1 in winter with a median AER of 1.15.     

Steady performance of a zero valent iron packed anaerobic reactor for azo dye wastewater treatment under variable influent quality

Zero valent iron (ZVI) is expected to help create an enhanced anaerobic environment that might improve the performance of anaerobic treatment. Based on this idea, a novel ZVI packed upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (ZVI-UASB) reactor was developed to treat azo dye wastewater with variable influent quality. The results showed that the reactor was less influenced by increases of Reactive Brilliant Red X-3B concentration from 50 to 1000 mg/L and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from 1000 to 7000 mg/L in the feed than a reference UASB reactor without the ZVI. The ZVI decreased oxidation-reduction potential in the reactor by about 80 mV. Iron ion dissolution from the ZVI could buffer acidity in the reactor, the amount of which was related to the COD concentration. Fluorescence in situ hybridization test showed the abundance of methanogens in the sludge of the ZVI-UASB reactor was significantly greater than that of the reference one. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that the ZVI increased the diversity of microbial strains responsible for high efficiency.     

Inhibitory effect of nitrobenzene on oxygen demand in lake sediments

Nitrobenzene is an important raw material and product,which presents a heavy threat to the ecosystem.The potential impacts of nitrobenzene on sediment oxygen demand (SOD) were studied in lake sediment ...