Seasonal temperatures have more influence than nitrogen fertilizer rates on cucumber yield and nitrogen uptake in a double cropping system

Two-year greenhouse cucumber experiments were conducted to investigate seasonal effects on fruit yield, dry matter allocation, and N uptake in a double-cropping system with different fertilizer management. Seasonal effects were much greater than fertilizer effects, and winter-spring (WS) cucumber attained higher fruit yields and N uptake than autumn-winter (AW) cucumber due to lower cumulative air temperatures during fruit maturation in the AW season. Fertilizer N application and apparent N loss under recommended N management (Nmr) decreased by 40-78% and 33-48% without yield loss compared to conventional N management (Nmt) over four growing seasons. However, there were no seasonal differences in N recommendations, taking into consideration seasonal differences in crop N demand, critical nutrient supply in the root zone and N mineralization rate.     

Non-microcystin producing Microcystis wesenbergii (Komárek) Komárek (Cyanobacteria) representing a main waterbloom-forming species in Chinese waters

It is well known that several morphospecies of Microcystis, such as Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Lemmermann and Microcystis viridis (A. Brown) Lemmermann can produce hepatotoxic microcystins. However, previous studies gave contradictory conclusions about microcystin production of Microcystis wesenbergii (Komárek) Komárek. In the present study, ten Microcystis morphospecies were identified in waterblooms of seven Chinese waterbodies, and Microcystis wesenbergii was shown as the dominant species in these waters. More than 250 single colonies of M. wesenbergii were chosen, under morphological identification, to examine whether M. wesenbergii produce hepatotoxic microcystin by using multiplex PCR for molecular detection of a region (mcyA) of microcystin synthesis genes, and chemical analyses of microcystin content by ELISA and HPLC for 21 isolated strains of M. wesenbergii from these waters were also performed. Both molecular and chemical methods demonstrated that M. wesenbergii from Chinese waters did not produce microcystin.     

In field arsenic removal from natural water by zero-valent iron assisted by solar radiation

An in situ arsenic removal method applicable to highly contaminated water is presented. The method is based in the use of steel wool, lemon juice and solar radiation. The method was evaluated using water from the Camarones River, Atacama Desert in northern Chile, in which the arsenic concentration ranges between 1000 and 1300 μg L⁻¹. Response surface method analysis was used to optimize the amount of zero-valent iron (steel wool) and the citrate concentration (lemon juice) to be used. The optimal conditions when using solar radiation to remove arsenic from natural water from the Camarones river are: 1.3 g L⁻¹ of steel wool and one drop (ca. 0.04 mL) of lemon juice. Under these conditions, removal percentages are higher than 99.5% and the final arsenic concentration is below 10 μg L⁻¹. This highly effective arsenic removal method is easy to use and inexpensive to implement.     

Modulation of steroidogenesis by coastal waters and sewage effluents of Hong Kong, China, using the H295R assay

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The presence of a variety of pollutants in the aquatic environment that can potentially interfere with the production of sex steroid hormones in wildlife and humans has been of increasing concern. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of extracts from Hong Kong marine waters, and influents and effluents from wastewater treatment plants on steroidogenesis using the H295R cell bioassay. After exposing H295R cells to extracts of water, the expression of four steroidogenic genes and the production of three steroid hormones were measured. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water samples were collected during the summer of 2005 from 24 coastal marine areas and from the influents and effluents of two major waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in Hong Kong, China. Samples were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE). H295R cells were exposed for 48 h to dilutions of these extracts. Modulations of the expression of the steroidogenic genes CYP19, CYP17, 3betaHSD2, and CYP11beta2 were determined by measuring mRNA concentrations by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR). Production of the hormones progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and testosterone (T) was quantified using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: Extracts from samples collected in two fish culture areas inhibited growth and proliferation of H295R cells at concentrations greater or equal to 10(5) L equivalents. The cells were exposed to the equivalent concentration of active substances in 10,000 L of water. Thus, to observe the same level of effect as observed in vitro on aquatic organisms would require a bioaccumulation factor of this same magnitude. None of the other 22 marine samples affected growth of the cells at any dilution tested. Twelve of the marine water samples completely inhibited the expression of CYP19 without affecting E2 production; inhibition of CYP17 expression was observed only in one of the samples while expression of CYP11beta2 was induced as much as five- and ninefold after exposure of cells to extracts from two locations. The expression of the progesterone gene 3betaHSD2 was not affected by any of the samples; only one sample induced approximately fourfold the production of E2. Although more than twofold inductions were observed for P and T production, none of these values were statistically significant to conclude effects on the production of these two hormones. While influents from WWTPs did not affect gene expression, an approximately 30% inhibition in the production of E2 and a 40% increase in P occurred for the exposure with influents from the Sha Tin and Stonecutters WWTPs, respectively. Effluents from WWTPs did not affect the production of any of the studied hormones, but a decrement in the expression of the aldosterone gene CYP11beta2 was observed for the Sha Tin WWTP exposure. No direct correlation could be established between gene expression and hormone production. DISCUSSION: Observed cytotoxicity in the two samples from fish culture areas suggest the presence of toxic compounds; chemical analysis is required for their full identification. Although effluents from WWTPs did not affect hormone production, other types of endocrine activity such as receptor-mediated effects cannot be ruled out. Interactions due to the complexity of the samples and alternative steroidogenic pathways might explain the lack of correlation between gene expression and hormone production results. CONCLUSIONS: Changes observed in gene expression and hormone production suggest the presence in Hong Kong coastal waters of pollutants with endocrine disruption potential and others of significant toxic effects. The aromatase and aldosterone genes seem to be the most affected by the exposures, while E2 and P are the hormones with more significant changes observed. Results also suggest effectiveness in the removing of compounds with endocrine activity by the WWTPs studied, as effluent samples did not significantly affect hormone production. The H295R cell showed to be a valuable toll in the battery required for the analysis of endocrine disrupting activities of complex environmental samples. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Due to the intrinsic complexity of environmental samples, a combination of analytical tools is required to realistically assess environmental conditions, especially in aquatic systems. In the evaluation of endocrine disrupting activities, the H295R cell bioassay should be used in combination with other genomic, biological, chemical, and hydrological tests to establish viable modes for endocrine disruption and identify compounds responsible for the observed effects.     

基于SWAT模型的流域面源污染模拟影响分析

针对流域面源污染模型往往忽略或简化河道内污染物变化过程的缺陷,探讨了河道水质模型对流域面源污染模拟的影响.以太湖流域浙西区的西苕溪流域为研究对象,选取具有一定物理机制的分布式面源污染模型SWAT模型,分别以激活和不激活其嵌套的河道水质模型QUAL2E,即SWAT模型与QUAL2E模型紧密耦合和松散耦合两种情况进行模拟,并比较了对TN及TP的模拟效果.结果表明,丰水期与平水期的模拟结果并没有显著差别;但在枯水期,由于水量较小,河道内污染物变化过程对模拟结果影响较大.同时引入QUAL2K模型,分析认为改进河道水质模型对提高SWAT模型模拟精度有一定的效果.     

垂直潜流人工湿地堵塞微观概念模型的提出

根据垂直潜流人工湿地发生堵塞的成因主要是基质层中不可滤物质积累的结论,在分析垂直潜流人工湿地堵塞物形态及成分粒径的基础上,首次提出了基质间不可滤物质积累微观概念模型的假设;并根据微观概念模型,在考虑生物膜、无机物积累等动态变化因素条件下提出基质间完全堵塞所需时间、基质表面发生雍水所需时间及基质渗透系数随时间变化的关系.     

家用洗衣粉中磷对斜生栅藻生长的影响

以洗衣粉中的有机磷为磷源,通过室内模拟的方法研究在不同磷浓度的水体条件下斜生栅藻的生长情况,以及磷对斜生栅藻的生长是否有毒害作用.通过显微计数测定藻细胞数目来探讨洗衣粉中磷对斜生栅藻生长的影响;同时分析了洗衣粉中磷对斜生栅藻96 h生长期中光合色素的影响.结果表明,洗衣粉中的磷除了促进藻生长外,其浓度过低或过高都会抑制藻的生长.由实验结果可得,磷对藻生长的富营养化作用和毒性作用取决于磷浓度的高低.     

蚯蚓生态滤池处理农村生活污水现场试验研究

对蚯蚓生态滤池处理太湖流域农村生活污水进行现场试验研究.通过对蚯蚓同化容量与污染负荷进行单因素分析,得出蚯蚓生态滤池处理农村生活污水的运行参数与运行方式,并据此进行连续运行试验.结果表明,在表面水力负荷1 m3/(m2*d)、湿干比(布水时间和落干时间之比)1∶3、蚯蚓负荷(以单位体积填料中蚯蚓的质量计)12.5 g/L的条件下,蚯蚓生态滤池处理农村生活污水具有可行性与高效性,单级系统的COD、总氮、氨氮和总磷的去除率分别在81%、66%、82%和89%左右.改进蚯蚓床填料、设计通风结构和采取适宜运行方式,是蚯蚓生态滤池成功应用于农村生活污水处理的三大重要因素.     

电动力学技术修复苯酚污染土壤的研究

用电动力学技术对苯酚污染砂土的修复进行了实验研究.探讨了苯酚污染砂土电动力学修复的可行性及在不同电场强度下苯酚的迁移特征和机制.研究了采用添加阴离子表面活性剂十二烷基苯磺酸钠(LAS)和控制液(柠檬酸和NaOH)等对迁移效果的影响,以及苯酚在砂土中的迁移和分布规律.实验结果表明,在电场作用下苯酚在砂土中发生富集.在电场强度为2.0V/cm时的苯酚富集效果明显,比在电场强度为0.5 V/cm时苯酚多增加30%,且向阳极的迁移距离增大了12 cm;在阴极添加不同浓度的LAS,苯酚在砂土中的富集效果不同,LAS浓度越大向阳极迁移得越快富集效果越明显,当LAS为0.046 0 mol/L时苯酚最高增加了143%;向阳极添加NaOH,苯酚在阳极区增加了136%,比向阴极添加柠檬酸的效果明显.     

CO2捕集回收技术研究

主要介绍了常用的胺化合物吸收法、钙基吸收剂法、金属氧化物法等CO2捕集回收技术的最新研究进展及存在的问题,综合对比了各种方法的优缺点:胺化合物吸收法吸收速率快,但再生能耗较高,因此开发"高效低耗"的复合吸收剂成为研究的重点;钙基吸收剂法在高温环境下对CO2的吸收有较好的效果,但吸收剂的碳酸化转化率及热稳定性是有待解决的关键问题;金属氧化物法具有高的CO2吸收效率,但成本较高.在此基础上,探索了CO2捕集回收技术改进工艺,提出改善吸收剂性能、开发高效低耗的CO2选择性吸收剂将成为今后CO2捕集回收技术的研究方向.