Rare earth elements in naturally grown fern Dicranopteris linearis in relation to their variation in soils in south-Jiangxi region (southern China)

Ferns (Dicranopteris linearis) and soils, sampled from four rare earth mining areas and one non-mining area locating in South-Jiangxi region, were chosen for analysis of 15 rare earth elements (REEs) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The fern samples were divided into 4 parts: root, stem, petiole, and lamina. The soils of the same sites were also sampled, and 4 soil layers were observed at the profile: A (0-20 cm depth), B (20-150 cm depth), C (150-400 cm depth), and D (rock). The distribution patterns and transportation characteristics of REEs of different soil layers and of different parts of D. linearis were studied. The results showed that in the soil layers, the sigma REE (the sum of the concentrations of 15 REEs) of A layer, as well as B layer were lower than that of C layer, but Ce was relatively concentrated in A layer. The sigma REE of different parts of D. linearis were lamina, root > stem > petiole. The REE distribution patterns of D. linearis root were similar to the total REE distribution patterns of the A layer of their host soils, especially to the soluble REE distribution patterns of the A layer of their host soils. The REEs were fractionated in their transportation in D. linearis. The abundances of heavy rare earth elements (HREEs, Gd to Lu and Y) in the stem, petiole, lamina are lower than those in the root.     

Phosphine and methane generation by the addition of organic compounds containing carbon-phosphorus bonds into incubated soil

Formation of phosphine and methane in anaerobic incubation systems was investigated under stirred and unstirred conditions. The PH3 and CH4 levels in the headspace, as well as the matrix-bound PH3 content in the stirred soil, significantly increased upon the addition of phosphonoacetic acid (P(O)(OH)2CH2COOH). Both the levels of matrix-bound PH3 and CH4 are positively correlated to the buffered dithionite fraction of reactive phosphorus in the soil samples, while a negative correlation was observed between matrix-bound PH3/CH4 levels and the reactive phosphorus fraction.     

Characterization of ambient volatile organic compounds at a landfill site in Guangzhou,South China

Ambient air monitoring was conducted at Datianshan landfill, Guangzhou, South China in 1998 to investigate the seasonal and horizontal variations of trace volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Twelve sampling points over the Datianshan landfill were selected and samples were collected simultaneously using Carbontrap(TM) adsorption tubes. Thirty eight VOCs were detected in the winter, whereas 60 were detected in the summer. The VOC levels measured in summer were alkanes, 0.5-6.5 microg/m(3); aromatics, 2.3-1667 microg/m(3); chlorinated species, 0.2-31 microg/m(3); terpines, 0.1-34 microg/m(3); carbonyl species, 0.3-5.6 microg/m(3) and naphthalene and its derivatives, 0.4-27 microg/m(3). Compared to the summer samples the VOC levels in winter were much lower (mostly 1-2 orders of magnitude lower). The aromatics are dominant VOCs in landfill air both in winter and summer. High levels of alkylbenzene and terpines such as methyl-isopropylbenzene (max 1667 microg/m(3)) and limonene (max 162 microg/m(3)) cause undesirable odor. The similar correlation coefficients of BTEX in summer and winter suggest VOCs emissions were from landfill site sources. The variation of BTEX ratio at landfill site is different from that in the urban area of Guangzhou. It shows that the ambient VOCs at landfill site were different from the urban areas.     

The effect of pH, ion strength and reactant content on the complexation of Cu2+ by various natural organic ligands from water and soil in Hong Kong

The complexation constants for copper associated with different natural organic ligands, including dissolved organic carbon (DOC) extracted from water, water soluble organic carbon (WSOC), fulvic acid (FA) and humic acid (HA) from soil, were determined and then compared based on discrete single site model. Both ion-selective electrode (ISE) and anodic stripping voltammetry were used to determine the content of free copper ions, while the relative number of complexation sites was estimated using a fluorescence quenching (FQ) at the same time. ISE proved to be the most applicable technique when the concentration of copper was above 10(-7) moll(-1). The logk values for two WSOC sample sites (Song Ziyuan and Xin Niangtan) were 4.64 and 4.66; higher than both the DOC and HA values yet lower than the FA values, which were unusually high due to unavoidable pollution from the cation exchange resin used during the purification process. Binding affinities between the copper ions and the organic ligands obtained from streams in Yong Wei (DOC) and Song Ziyuan (WSOC) were influenced by pH, ion strength, and reactant concentration. Values for logk increased with increases in pH (ion strength of 0.1 N). At pH 4, the logk values decreased with increases in the supporting electrolyte concentration and total copper ion additions.     

Environmental perceptions of Irish and Bavarian pupils: an empirical study

The present study deals with the evaluation of environmental/ecological perceptions of secondary school pupils. It has two major objectives. Firstly, to administer a measurement instrument to explore ecological/environmental perceptions for a sample of approximately 900 Irish secondary school pupils aged between 12 and 16 years. The operation and use of three subscales, environmental behaviour, utilization of nature and consideration for conservation, was based on a previous study undertaken in Bavaria, but its structure, dimensionality and reliability was further assessed using psychometric procedures. Secondly, the study monitored the differences in these dimensions between Irish and Bavarian pupils. Common items within the subscale structure were selected from both samples to form a truncated item selection and to function subsequently as the basis for the final factor analysis applied to the combined Irish–Bavarian sample. Comparisons on this basis indicated substantial differences in attitudes and environmental behaviour between pupils from both regions: the Irish sample favoured less conservational values, but more patronage for the utilization of nature and it revealed less willingness to take and plan action in individual environmental behaviour. In addition, the Irish sample disclosed a significantly greater gender difference in the two subscales.     

SAFE—A hierarchical framework for assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems

Sustainable development and the definition of indicators to assess progress towards sustainability have become a high priority in scientific research and on policy agendas. In this paper, we propose a consistent and comprehensive framework of principles, criteria and indicators (PC&I) for sustainability assessment of agricultural systems, referred to as the Sustainability Assessment of Farming and the Environment (SAFE) framework. In addition we formulate consistent and objective approaches for indicator identification and selection. The framework is designed for three spatial levels: the parcel level, the farm level and a higher spatial level that can be the landscape, the region or the state. The SAFE framework is hierarchical as it is composed of principles, criteria, indicators and reference values in a structured way. Principles are related to the multiple functions of the agro-ecosystem, which go clearly beyond the production function alone. The multifunctional character of the agro-ecosystem encompasses the three pillars of sustainability: the environmental, economic and social pillars. Indicators and reference values are the end-products of the framework. They are the operational tools that are used for evaluating the sustainability of the agro-ecosystems. The proposed analytical framework is not intended to find a common solution for sustainability in agriculture as a whole, but to serve as an assessment tool for the identification, the development and the evaluation of agricultural production systems, techniques and policies.     

城市小区气象与污染扩散数值模式建立的研究

建立了一个城市小区尺度模式。该模式为三维非静力高分辨，取κ-ε湍流闭合方案。除考虑空气动力学作用外，引入了作为城市特征的街区建筑物布局及其高度、朝向和对短波辐射的遮蔽以及不同地表利用类型等特征影响，用强迫-恢复法计算地面温度，同时加入了污染物平流扩散方程。模式经专门布置的实测资料验证并用其模拟了北京一个小区中的气象条件和污染物扩散特征。结果表明：模式能够较合理的地反映由于建筑物遮蔽造成的温度差异以及不同下垫面上的温度变化；能够较好地模拟实际气象条件下的气象要素场特征和不同建筑物布局和土地利用类型的气象要素场特征，风场与观测比较一致；NOx浓度的模拟基本上反映了小区整体污染物浓度的变化趋势和特征，与观测值有一定的可比性；模式对不同城市小区可有良好的模拟能力。     

低丘红壤区伏秋旱的成因、特征及抗旱体系的研究

本文全面分析了低丘红壤区伏秋旱的成因、特征和抗旱措施。结果表明,降水量超前于潜在蒸发量变化及红壤调控、供水力弱、有效水少,供需矛盾突出是伏秋旱的主因。其特征是频率和强度加大、干热同步、表土干旱。关键对策是建立开源节流为主体、降耗增效为两翼的抗旱技术体系。     

平衡分配法评价有毒金属沾污沉积物的应用研究

平衡分配法是近几年在国内开展的用于评价沉积物的一种研究方法，它主要运用平衡分配的原理，从污染物质的结合相入手，找出能够控制污染物质的主要因子，通过分析该主控因子的变化情况，判断沉积物中污染物质对环境的危害程度，该方法在一定程度上解决了传统沉积物质量评价方法不具有时空可比性的弊端。本试验是将平衡分配法评价有毒金属沾污沉积物的研究方法应用于锦州湾地区的沉积物评价，检验该方法的适用条件和可靠性。结果表明，该方法在厌氧沉积环境下具有较好的实用性和科学性，对目前沉积物质量评价是一个较好的补充方法。