Intraspecific variation in cadmium tolerance and accumulation of a high-biomass tropical tree Averrhoa carambola L.: implication for phytoextraction

Averrhoa carambola L., a high-biomass tropical tree, has recently been shown to be a strong accumulator of cadmium (Cd) and has great potential for Cd phytoextraction. In the present study, field studies and a controlled-environment experiment were combined to establish the extent of variation in Cd tolerance and accumulation at the cultivar level using 14 to 19 cultivars of A. carambola. The results indicated that all cultivars tested could accumulate Cd at high but different levels, and that Cd tolerance also varied greatly between these cultivars. It is confirmed that the high Cd tolerance and accumulation capacity are species-level and constitutional traits in A. carambola. However, no correlation was detected between tolerance index and accumulation of Cd in different cultivars, suggesting that the two traits are independent in this woody Cd accumulator. More importantly, cultivar Wuchuan Sweet (WCT) was shown to have the highest Cd-extraction potential; it yielded a high shoot biomass of 30 t ha(-1) in 230 d, and extracted 330 g ha(-1) Cd in the aerial tissues grown in Cd-contaminated field soil, which accounted for 12.8% of the total soil Cd in the top 20 cm of the soil profile.     

Spatial distributions and eco-partitioning of soil biogeochemical properties in the Everglades National Park

Large-scale ecosystem restoration efforts, such as those in the Florida Everglades, can be long-term and resource intensive. To gauge success, restoration efforts must have a means to evaluate positive or negative results of instituted activities. Edaphic properties across the Everglades landscape have been determined to be a valuable metric for such evaluation, and as such, a baseline condition from which to make future comparisons and track ecosystem response is necessary. The objectives of this work were to document this baseline condition in the southern most hydrologic unit of the Everglades, Everglades National Park (ENP), and to determine if significant eco-partitioning of soil attributes exists that would suggest the need to focus monitoring efforts in particular eco-types within the ENP landscape. A total of 342 sites were sampled via soil coring and parameters such as total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), total carbon (TC), total calcium, total magnesium, and bulk density were measured at three depth increments in the soil profile (floc, 0-10 cm, and 10-20 cm). Geostatistical analysis and GIS applications were employed to interpolate site-specific biogeochemical properties of soils across the entire extent of the ENP. Spatial patterns and eco-type comparisons suggest TC and TN to be highest in Shark River Slough (SRS) and the mangrove interface (MI), following trends of greatest organic soil accumulation. However, TP patterns suggest greatest storages in MI, SRS, and western marl and wet prairies. Eco-partitioning of soil constituents suggest local drivers of geology and hydrology are significant in determining potential areas to focus monitoring for future change detection.     

Traffic-generated noise pollution: exposure of road users and populations in Metropolitan Kuwait

This study was carried out in metropolitan Kuwait with a sound level meter to assess peak hour and off-peak hour noise level. In local/collector streets, noise ranged between 56.0 to 79.2 dBA and 55.3 to 76.4 dBA; in arterial streets, 62.3 to 89.2 dBA and 59.6 to 78.9 dBA; and in freeways, 66.7 to 94.8 dBA and 64.9 to 89.1 dBA during peak and off-peak hour respectively. Values were higher than their prescribed standards which may pose a significant impact on quality of life. Findings of this research have shown that the level of traffic-generated noise pollution in Kuwait urban area is high enough to adversely affect the human health and well-being of its residents. Over 1,400 subjects responded to a randomly administered survey that assessed the physical health, personal well-being, and mental health. People residing in neighborhoods exposed to higher noise levels have significantly higher stress and noise annoyance levels and also adversely affected their sense of well-being. In the responder analysis, those people living in quiet neighborhoods had significantly higher mean scores in general health (35 points higher, p < 0.05), sense of vitality (30 points higher, p < 0.05), and mental health (20 points higher, p < 0.05) when compared to the other group. In addition, the component scores of stress and noise sensitivity for the participants living in quiet neighborhoods had significantly lower values (30 points lower and 59 points lower, respectively) than that of the participants living in noisy neighborhood. With the rapid expansion of the infrastructures in metropolitan Kuwait, it is virtually definite that traffic noise will shortly assume a dangerous dimension, and will be a ground of escalating fear for both the public and liable policy-makers. The quality of life in metropolitan Kuwait will certainly be negatively affected.     

难降解有机废水处理新技术

介绍了光氧化法、超临界氧化和低温等离子体化学三种废水处理新技术的原理,国内外研究的现状和未来的发展前景,分析了这些新技术在优化污染物废水处理方面得到工业应用所必须解决的主要技术问题.     

石油化工厂区土壤中总石油烃分布的研究

为了进行石油化工厂区地下环境的现场评估，利用气相色谱法（EPA8015B）对其土壤中总石油烃（TPHs)进行了测定，测定结果以柴油范围的有机物（DRO）和润滑油范围的有机物（ORO）表示。结果表明：土壤各层DRO检出率在58％－72％之间，ORO检出率在82％－89％之间，大多数检出点位的DRO、ORO含量小于500mg/kg；个别点位的DRO、ORO高达30000mg/kg。     

HSE管理体系中的环境保护

环境是ＨＳＥ管理体系控制的要素之一，ＨＳＥ管理体系的建立过程中，在初始环境评审的基础上，抓住可持续发展和清洁生产等关系问题，才可以达到环境绩效与健康、安全表现的同步提高。     

碳纳米管电极原位产生过氧化氢及其对亚甲基蓝脱色效果简

将碳纳米管固定化制成多孔疏水性导电薄膜构建电化学阴极还原体系,实现过氧化氢在阴极的原位产生。电极特性研究表明,电极在较宽的电压范围内均具有较好的活性。考察了阴极电位、电极成分、氧气流量和电解质浓度对过氧化氢原位产生的影响,在优化条件下经过120 min后过氧化氢达到66.17 mg/L,并探讨过氧化氢原位产生的机理。在此基础上考察原位过氧化氢氧化工艺下对亚甲基蓝的脱色效果,并分析其脱色机理。     

River water quality and pollution sources in the Pearl River Delta, China

Some physicochemical parameters were determined for thirty field water samples collected from different water channels in the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone river system. The analytical results were compared with the environmental quality standards for surface water. Using the SPSS software, statistical analyses were performed to determine the main pollutants of the river water. The main purpose of the present research is to investigate the river water quality and to determine the main pollutants and pollution sources. Furthermore, the research provides some approaches for protecting and improving river water quality. The results indicate that the predominant pollutants are ammonium, phosphorus, and organic compounds. The wastewater discharged from households in urban and rural areas, industrial facilities, and non-point sources from agricultural areas are the main sources of pollution in river water in the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone.     

江汉平原中北部一次区域性暴雨的成因分析

利用常规气象资料和NCEP再分析客观物理量场、卫星云图、多普勒雷达回波产品资料,对2007年7月13日发生在江汉平原中北部的暴雨过程进行了诊断分析。结果表明,（1）高空低槽东移是影响此次强降水过程的主要大尺度环流背景;（2）低层低涡暖切变和低空急流是暴雨的直接影响系统;（3）有利的热力水汽条件和动力条件是强降水产生和维持的机制;（4）卫星云图上“人”字型、“V”字型云系和多普勒速度资料上的“逆风区”、风切变可作为判断强降水落区落点的依据。