Arsenic, copper, and zinc contamination in soil and wheat during coal mining, with assessment of health risks for the inhabitants of Huaibei, China

Field studies were conducted to investigate arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) contamination in agricultural soils and wheat crops at two areas in Huaibei, China. Area A is in the proximity of Shuoli coal mine. In area B, three coal mines and a coal cleaning plant were distributed. The potential health risk of As, Cu, and Zn exposure to the local inhabitants through consumption of wheat grains was also estimated. The results showed that significantly higher (p?<?0.05) concentrations of As, Cu, and Zn were found in soils collected from area B than in those from area A. Arsenic concentrations in wheat sampled from area A were negatively correlated with the distance from the coal mine (p?<?0.001). Concentrations of Cu and Zn in wheat seedlings and grains collected from area B were significantly higher (p?<?0.05) than in those collected from area A, with the exception of Zn in wheat seedlings. Concentrations of Cu and Zn in most wheat grain samples were above the permissible limits of Cu and Zn in edible plants set by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization. The hazard index of aggregate risk through consumption of wheat grains was 2.3–2.4 for rural inhabitants and 1.4–1.5 for urban inhabitants. The average intake of inorganic As for rural inhabitants in Huaibei was above 10 μg day^?1. These findings indicated that the inhabitants around the coal mine are experiencing a significant potential health risk due to the consumption of locally grown wheat.     

Performance Characteristics of PM10 Samplers under Calm Air Conditions

ABSTRACT

The size range of airborne particles that is closely related to specific deposition regions in the human respiratory tract and excess lung burden of these deposited particles is associated with disease. Size-selective sampling, therefore, needs to be performed to assess the related health risks. Performance criteria applied to these samplers must be well characterized in order to provide accurate and reliable results. The PM₁₀ samplers that have been used in place of the total suspended particulate samplers for the collection of ambient air particles are more relevant to potential inhalation hazards. In order to be certified, a PM₁₀ sampler must meet reliable performance specifications, primarily the aerosol penetration test with liquid and solid particles in a wind tunnel (wind speeds of 2, 8, and 24 km/hr). This testing is intended to assure reasonable accuracy in aerosol measurements. However, the sampler performance under calm air conditions has not been well studied.

In the present study, the sampling heads of three devices—the Harvard impactor, the Personal Environmental Monitor (PEM), and the Sierra Andersen model 241 dichotomous sampler PM₁₀ inlet head—were tested for aerosol separation efficiency. With the consideration of bias and imprecision of the measurements, five specimens of each type of sampler were chosen for performance testing, repeating the tests 5 times for each specimen. An ultrasonic atomizing nozzle was used to nebulize potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate and dioctyl phthalate particles as the solid and liquid challenge aerosols, respectively. The aerosol number concentrations and size distributions upstream and downstream of the samplers were measured by using an aerosizer calibrated against a settling velocity chamber. The results showed that among the samplers tested, the dichotomous sampler PM₁₀ inlet head had the best fit to the PM₁₀ convention, while the other two samplers not only appeared to have a steeper separation-curve slope but also had significant particle bounce when challenged with solid particles. Analysis of variance also confirmed the superiority of the dichotomous samplers. Surface-coating with oil or grease greatly reduced the problem of particle bounce.     

Concentration and composition variations of metals in the outdoor PM10 of elementary schools during river dust episodes

Aeolian river dust can seriously affect the air quality in central Taiwan. The main purpose of this study was to assess the concentration variations of PM₁₀ and metals at different elementary schools during river dust episodes. River dust samples were taken from eight sites in the main bare soil areas of the Choshui River. PM₁₀ aerosols from four elementary schools in Yulin County were collected by means of high-volume samplers. Fifteen elements (Fe, Al, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, Ti, Ni, V, Cr, As, Pb, Cu, Co, and Cd) in the river dust and PM₁₀ were analyzed in this study. The coefficients of divergence (CDs) were obtained by comparing the metal compositions in PM₁₀ aerosols at the four schools on the sampling days with the mean metal contents in the river soil samples as reference. The CD values showed that metal compositions in the aerosols at high-exposure sites during river dust episodes were similar to those compositions in the river dust. The concentrations of PM₁₀ at the high-exposure schools during river dust episodes were much higher than those during non-river-dust episodes. This study also indicated that at the high-exposure sites, both the PM₁₀ and metal concentrations were higher than at the low-exposure and control sites, not only during the river dust episodes, but also after the river dust episodes. The concentrations of toxic metals (Ni, Cr, As, and Cd) at the high-exposure sites were about 11.3 times higher during the river dust episodes (189 ng/m³) than during non-river-dust episodes (16.7 ng/m³) and about 8.9 times higher during the same periods at the control site (21.3 ng/m³).     

Dietary antioxidants (selenium and N-acetylcysteine) modulate paraoxonase 1 (PON1) in PCB 126-exposed rats

Environmental pollutants polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), especially dioxin-like PCBs, cause oxidative stress and associated toxic effects, including cancer and possibly atherosclerosis. We previously reported that PCB 126, the most potent dioxin-like PCB congener, not only decreases antioxidants such as hepatic selenium (Se), Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione (GSH) but also increases levels of the antiatherosclerosis enzyme paraoxonase 1 (PON1) in liver and serum. To probe the interconnection of these three antioxidant systems, Se, GSH, and PON1, we examined the influence of varying levels of dietary Se and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and precursor for GSH synthesis, on PON1 in the absence and presence of PCB 126 exposure. Male Sprague–Dawley rats, fed diets with differing Se levels (0.02, 0.2, or 2 ppm) or NAC (1 %), were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of corn oil or various doses of PCB 126 and euthanized 2 weeks later. PCB 126 significantly increased liver PON1 mRNA, protein level and activity, and serum PON1 activity in all dietary groups but did not consistently increase thiobarbituric acid levels (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS), an indicator of lipid oxidation and oxidative stress, in liver or serum. Inadequate (high or low) dietary Se decreased baseline and PCB 126-induced aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) expression but further increased PCB 126-induced cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) expression, the enzyme believed to be the cause for PCB 126-induced oxidative stress. In addition, a significant inverse relationship was observed not only between dietary Se levels and PON1 mRNA and PON1 activity but also with TBARS levels in the liver, suggesting significant antioxidant protection from dietary Se. NAC lowered serum baseline TBARS levels in controls and increased serum PON1 activity but lowered liver PON1 activities in animals treated with 1 μmol/kg PCB 126, suggesting antioxidant activity by NAC primarily in serum. These results also show an unexpected predominantly inverse relationship between Se or NAC and PON1 during control and PCB 126 exposure conditions. These interactions should be further explored in the development of dietary protection regimens.     

高温滤袋的有效清灰强度

对Φ120 mm×1 000 mm氟美斯滤袋的最大侧壁压力峰值、除尘器运行阻力进行实验测试,并结合滤袋破损情况探究高温滤袋的有效清灰强度。结果表明,最大侧壁压力峰值在一定范围内对滤袋有较好的清灰效果且对滤袋的损伤较小。对粉煤灰而言,滤袋沿长度方向的平均最大侧壁压力峰值为876 Pa时的强度能满足除尘器的清灰要求,随着滤袋的最大侧壁压力峰值增大,除尘器清灰效果越好,当平均最大侧壁压力峰值超过2 713 Pa时,清灰效果仅轻微提升;且局部最大侧壁压力峰值大于5 282 Pa时滤袋破损,造成过度清灰。     

Partitioning of aromatic and oxygenated constituents into water from regular and ethanol-blended gasolines

Variability in gasoline-water partitioning of major aromatic constituents (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX)) and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) were examined for regular and ethanol-blended gasolines. By use of a two-phase liquid-liquid equilibrium model, the distribution of nonpolar solutes between fuel phase and water was related to principles of equilibrium. The models derived using Raoult's law convention for activity coefficients and liquid solubility is presented. The observed inverse log-log linear dependence of K_fw values on aqueous solubility, could be well predicted by assuming gasoline to be an ideal solvent mixture. Oxygenated additives (i.e., ethanol and MTBE), in the low percent range (below 5%), were shown to have minimal or negligible cosolvent effects on hydrocarbon partitioning. In the case of high fuel-to-water ratio (e.g., 1:1) or near contaminant source zone, the cosolvent effect of oxygenated gasoline with high content of ethanol (e.g., E85) will be environmentally significant.     

羧甲基纤维素抑尘剂的制备及其应用研究

以羧甲基纤维素、丙烯酸丁酯、甲基丙烯酸甲酯为原料,用溶液聚合法制备出一种环保软膜抑尘剂.探讨了添加甘油、辛癸基葡糖苷对抑尘剂吸水性能、润湿性能的变化以及m(甘油):m(辛癸基葡糖苷)以不同配比加入抑尘剂后对粉尘含水率的影响.经傅里叶红外光谱、X-射线衍射仪、扫描电子显微镜、透射电子显微镜对制备的产物进行结构表征和形貌的分析.对抑尘剂的性能:耐风蚀性、温度适应性进行了测试.结果表明:当m(甘油):m(辛癸基葡糖苷)为2:3,室温时粉尘含水率达15.8%、50℃粉尘含水率仍可达11.7%;经3 h(15 m/s)风速吹扫,粉尘损失率仅为2.3%.     

基于因子分析法研究太原市土壤重金属污染的主要来源

太原市土壤的研究还处于起步阶段,尚缺乏系统的研究和探讨.基于因子分析法分析研究太原市土壤重金属污染类型及污染来源,在面积性土壤测量基础上,采用城市土壤单点样采集方法,通过测试获得了城市表层土壤中重金属元素(As、Cd、Hg、Pb、Cr、Ni、Zn、Cu)的含量数据;应用统计数手段及处理软件,采用因子分析法对太原市土壤化探数据进行详细分析研究;结合太原市工企分布情况,对比因子分析中的六个主因子,进行整理分析;研究结果充分反映出太原市作为一个典型的重化工基地和燃煤城市的污染特点,表明太原市土壤重金属污染的主要来源有四个方面,即:工矿企业污染源,燃煤污染源,交通污染源,商业活动和居民生活污染源等.     

复合人工湿地对水源地库区水质净化效果分析

宁波皎口水库是水源地,皎口复合人工湿地位于皎口水库的进水口,采用多种水流方式复合,对提高水库水质及保障饮用水安全具有积极的作用。为了探明人工湿地在微污染地区的应用价值,对人工湿地水源地水质净化效能进行了研究。在1年的监测调查调查中,研究探讨了复合人工湿地及其不同模块在不同季节的净化效果。结果表明,该人工湿地对总氮和总磷的平均去除率分别可达到为34.7%和42.6%,对COD和TOC的平均去除率可达到28.5%和21.6%。COD、NH₄⁺-N和总磷出水平均浓度分别为2.193、0.215和0.021 mg/L,均达到 《地表水环境质量标准》（GB3838-2002）Ⅱ类水质标准。在比较不同模块去除效果方面,提出了具有填料的生态滤池更有利于磷的去除,而对于氮、有机物等营养元素,复合多级强化生物膜系统及营养盐集约式植物资源化系统则有较好的去除效果。