Reagent elution combined with positive pressure filtration: A zero-discharge method for cyanide tailings remediation

At present, the cyanide gold extraction process is still the main technology for gold production. Generated cyanide tailings containing highly toxic substances exhibit potential environmental risks. These tailings are in urgent need of purification treatment, especially after being classified as hazardous waste. In this study, the impacts of elution methods, operating time, tailings/water ratios, reagent types on the elution rates of cyanide were investigated. Furthermore, the composite elution ...     

Mercury accumulation and dynamics in montane forests along an elevation gradient in Southwest China

Understanding atmospheric mercury (Hg) accumulation in remote montane forests is critical to assess the Hg ecological risk to wildlife and human health. To quantify impacts of vegetation, climatic and topographic factors on Hg accumulation in montane forests, we assessed the Hg distribution and stoichiometric relations among Hg, carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) in four forest types along the elevation of Mt. Gongga. Our results show that Hg concentration in plant tissues follows the descending order of litter > leaf, bark > root > branch > bole wood, indicating the importance of atmospheric Hg uptake by foliage for Hg accumulation in plants. The foliar Hg/C (from 237.0 ± 171.4 to 56.8 ± 27.7 µg/kg) and Hg/N (from 7.5 ± 3.9 to 2.5 ± 1.2 mg/kg) both decrease along the elevation. These elevation gradients are caused by the heterogeneity of vegetation uptake of atmospheric Hg and the variation of atmospheric Hg° concentrations at different altitudes. Organic soil Hg accumulation is controlled by forest types, topographic and climatic factors, with the highest concentration in the mixed forest (244.9 ± 55.7 µg/kg) and the lowest value in the alpine forest (151.9 ± 44.5 µg/kg). Further analysis suggests that soil Hg is positively correlated to C (r² = 0.66) and N (r² = 0.57), and Hg/C and Hg/N both increase with the soil depth. These stoichiometric relations highlight the combined effects from environmental and climatic factors which mediating legacy Hg accumulation and selective Hg absorption during processes of organic soil mineralization.     

Urinary concentrations of phenols, oxidative stress biomarkers and thyroid cancer: Exploring associations and mediation effects

Phenols have been shown to influence the cellular proliferation and function of thyroid in experimental models. However, few human studies have investigated the association between phenol exposure and thyroid cancer, and the underlying mechanisms are also poorly understood. We conducted a case-control study by age- and sex-matching 143 thyroid cancer and 224 controls to investigate the associations between phenol exposures and the risk of thyroid cancer, and further to explore the mediating role of oxidative stress. We found that elevated urinary triclosan (TCS), bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) levels were associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer (all P for trends < 0.05), and the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) comparing the extreme exposure groups were 3.52 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.08, 5.95), 2.06 (95% CI: 1.06, 3.97) and 7.15 (95% CI: 3.12, 16.40), respectively. Positive associations were also observed between urinary TCS, BPA and BPS and three oxidative stress biomarkers measured by 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 8-iso-prostaglandin F_2α (8-isoPGF_2α) and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-mercapturic acid (HNE-MA), as well as between urinary 8-isoPGF_2α and HNE-MA and the risk of thyroid cancer. Mediation analysis showed that urinary 8-isoPGF_2α mediated 28.95%, 47.06% and 31.08% of the associations between TCS, BPA and BPS exposures and the risk of thyroid cancer, respectively (all P < 0.05). Our results suggest that exposure to TCS, BPA and BPS may be associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer and lipid peroxidation may be an intermediate mechanism. Further studies are warranted to confirm the findings.     

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5/PM1.0) in Beijing, China: Variations and chemical compositions as well as sources

Particulate matter (i.e., PM_1.0 and PM_2.5), considered as the key atmospheric pollutants, exerts negative effects on visibility, global climate, and human health by associated chemical compositions. However, our understanding of PM and its chemical compositions in Beijing under the current atmospheric environment is still not complete after witnessing marked alleviation during 2013–2017. Continuous measurements can be crucial for further air quality improvement by better characterizing PM pollution and chemical compositions in Beijing. Here, we conducted simultaneous measurements on PM in Beijing during 2018–2019. Results indicate that annual mean PM_1.0 and PM_2.5 concentrations were 35.49 ± 18.61 µg/m³ and 66.58 ± 60.17 µg/m³, showing a positive response to emission controls. The contribution of sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium (SNA) played an enhanced role with elevated PM loading and acted as the main contributors to pollution episodes. Discrepancies observed among chemical species between PM_1.0 and PM_2.5 in spring suggest that sand particles trend to accumulate in the range of 1–2.5 µm. Pollution episodes occurred accompanied with southerly clusters and high formation of SNA by heterogeneous reactions in summer and winter, respectively. Results from positive matrix factorization (PMF) combined with potential source contribution function (PSCF) models showed that potential areas were seasonal dependent, secondary and vehicular sources became much more important compared with previous studies in Beijing. Our study presented a continuous investigation on PM and sources origins in Beijing, which provides a better understanding for further emission control as well as a reference for other cities in developing countries.     

Highly Oriented Thermoplastic Poly (vinyl alcohol) Films by Uniaxial Drawing: Effect of Stretching Temperature and Draw Ratio

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - With the advantages of excellent processability and biodegradability, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) becomes an environmentally friendly and biocompatible...     

Response of activity and community composition of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria to partial substitution of chemical fertilizer by organic fertilizer

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Nitrite oxidation as the second step of nitrification can become the determining step in disturbed soil systems. As a beneficial fertilization...     

省级环境管理部门基础信息网络建设实践与思考

阐述省级环境管理部门基础信息网络建设的重要性及建设应遵循的基本要求,结合实践,讨论设计和实际施工中出现的问题及解决办法,为环境管理部门基础信息网络建设提供有益参考。     

Bioremediation of oily sludge-contaminated soil by stimulating indigenous microbes

In situ bioremediation of oily sludge-contaminated soil by biostimulation of indigenous microbes through adding manure was conducted at the Shengli oilfield in northern China. After bioremediation for 360 days, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content was reduced by 58.2% in the treated plots compared with only 15.6% in the control plot. Moreover, bioremediation significantly improved the physicochemical properties of the soil in the treated plot. Soil microbial counts and community-level physiological profiling were also examined. Manure addition increased TPH degraders and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degraders in the contaminated soil by one to two orders of magnitude. The activity and biodiversity of soil microbial communities also increased markedly in the treated plot compared with that of the control. Finally, biotoxicity was used to evaluate the soils and a sharp increase in the EC50 of the soil after bioremediation was observed, indicating that bioremediation had reduced the toxicity of the soil.     

生活垃圾焚烧发电厂的环境风险评价

垃圾焚烧技术兼具环境效益和经济效益,环境风险评价的结论是该类项目选址的关键问题之一。在分析中国城市生活垃圾排放现状和生活垃圾焚烧项目环境风险的基础上,分析了二恶英风险事故的环境影响及环境防护距离的计算方法与传统卫生防护距离的差异,并以秦皇岛生活垃圾焚烧发电厂为实例进行了计算。结果表明:在不同工况下人体经呼吸每日最大摄入二恶英的量均远小于允许摄入量参考标准值,环境防护距离确定方法更为科学和人性化,有利于消除公众对此类建设项目的误解。     

基于污泥减量的鸟粪石回收低浓度氮磷影响因素研究

针对三峡库区城市污水氮磷浓度较低的特点,结合城市污水处理旁路污泥减量技术研究,探索了利用鸟粪石结晶沉淀法回收城市污水中氮磷的可行性及影响因素。研究结果表明:低氮磷浓度时,鸟粪石结晶回收氮磷的规律与国内外已有的针对高浓度氮磷的研究规律不同,当污泥厌氧减量池中磷酸盐质量浓度为30～60 mg/L(约为1～2mmol/L)时,在pH值为10.0～10.5,c(Mg2+)∶c(NH 4+)∶c(PO34-)为1∶1.6∶1,反应时间为25 min,搅拌强度在200 r/min的条件下,通过鸟粪石沉淀反应磷去除率可达50%～75%,氮的去除率最高可达51%。