RES3T-Rossendorf expert system for surface and sorption thermodynamics

This paper presents a digitized version of a thermodynamic sorption database, implemented as a relational database with MS Access. It is mineral-specific and can therefore be used for additive models of complex solid phases such as rocks or soils. An integrated user interface helps users to access selected mineral and sorption data, to extract internally consistent data sets for sorption modeling, and to export them in formats suitable for other modeling software. Data records comprise mineral properties, specific surface area values, surface binding sites' characteristics, sorption ligand information, and surface complexation reactions. An extensive bibliography is included, providing links not only to the above listed data, but also to background information concerning surface complexation model theories, evidence for surface species, and sorption experimental techniques.     

Heavy metals in soils and crops in Southeast Asia 2. Thailand

A reconnaissance soil geochemical and concomitant plant survey based on 318 soil (0-15 cm) and 122 plant samples was used for the assessment of heavy metal pollution of agricultural soils and crops of Thailand. Arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were determined in soils using aqua regia digestion, and in plants using nitric acid digestion. Organic carbon (C), pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and available phosphorus (P) were determined on the soil samples using appropriate procedures. Results indicated that concentrations of heavy metals varied widely among the different regions of Thailand. Regression analysis between the concentrations of metals in soil (aqua regia extractable) and edible plant parts indicated a small but positive relationship for Cd in all the plants sampled in the survey (R2 = 0.081, p < 0.001). There was also a positive relationship between soil and plant Cd concentrations in rice (R2 = 0.242, p < 0.010), and negative relationships for Zn in rice (R2 = 0.385, p < 0.001), and Cu (R2 = 0.355, p < 0.001) and Zn (R2 = 0.122, p < 0.026) in glutinous rice. Principal component analysis of the soil data suggested that concentrations of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni and Pb were strongly correlated with concentrations of Al and Fe, which is suggestive of evidence of background variations due to changes in soil mineralogy. Thus, the evidence for widespread contamination of soils by these elements through agricultural activities is not strong. On the other hand, Cd and Zn were strongly correlated with organic matter and concentrations of available and aqua regia extractable P. This is attributed to input of contaminants in agricultural fertilisers and soil amendments (e.g. manures, composts).     

面对向可持续发展挑战的广告业

某些公司使用基于消费者现有和潜在需求的市场开发和公关战略.另外一些公司则希望制造一个新的世界,提前应对这些趋势并启动新的举措.选择最有勇气路径的企业形成了汇总在下面的几条规则,这反映了他们对可持续发展标准的赞同.     

面对向可持续发展挑战的广告业

某些公司使用基于消费者现有和潜在需求的市场开发和公关战略.另外一些公司则希望制造一个新的世界,提前应对这些趋势并启动新的举措.选择最有勇气路径的企业形成了汇总在下面的几条规则,这反映了他们对可持续发展标准的赞同.     

Copper, Lead and Zinc Mobility and Bioavailability in a River Sediment Contaminated with Paint Stripping Residue

A river embankment sediment beneath a road bridge in South Australia had been surveyed on a previous occasion to a depth of 10 cm and found to contain high levels of copper, lead and zinc deposited during previous lead and zinc-based primer paint stripping operations prior to repainting the bridge. Since the river embankment is geologically different from the surrounding non-embankment soils, and a sufficient distance from the bridge along the river embankment could not be traversed, the geological background Cu, Pb and Zn fraction was established initially using a solid phase sequential extraction (SPSE) procedure. Assessment of the degree of contamination and extent of vertical mobility was then established. Copper was a minor contaminant and present predominantly as the geological background species. Lead was partitioned evenly between the oxalate soluble fraction and residual fraction to a depth of 30 cm with a decrease in total Pb concentration from 497 to 141 mg Pb kg^–1 while Zn was predominantly in the oxalate soluble fraction to a depth of 15cm with a decrease in concentration from 1013 to 150 mg Zn kg^–1. The reduced rate of nitrification and the lower total concentration of NO₃ ^–-N together with the higher respiratory quotient, combined with the lower microbial quotient, are indicative of microbial stress due to heavy metal toxicity. In the case of Pb and Zn paint stripping residues, these changes in indicators of microbial health are possibly the result of the greater abundance and hence possible bioavailabilty of organo- and chloro-Pb compared to organo- and chloro-Zn complexes.