Development of a static test apparatus for evaluating the performance of three PM2.5 separators commonly used in China

PM_(2.5) separator directly affects the accuracy of PM_(2.5) sampling.The specification testing and evaluation for PM_(2.5) separator is particularly important,especially under China's wide variation of terrain and climate.In this study,first a static test apparatus based on polydisperse aerosol was established and calibrated to evaluate the performance of the PM_(2.5) separators.A uniform mixing chamber was developed to make particles mix completely.The aerosol concentration relative standard deviations of three test points at the same horizontal chamber position were less than 0.57%,and the particle size distribution obeyed logarithmic normal distribution with an R~2 of 0.996.The flow rate deviation between the measurement and the set point flow rate agreed to within ± 1.0% in the range of -40 to 50℃.Secondly,the separation,flow and loading characteristics of three cyclone separators(VSCC-A,SCC-A and SCC112) were evaluated using this system.The results showed that the 50% cutoff sizes(D_(50)) of the three cyclones were 2.48,2.47 and 2.44 μm when worked at the manufacturer's recommended flow rates,respectively.The geometric standard deviation(GSD) of the capture efficiency of VSCCA was 1.23,showed a slightly sharper than SCC-A(GSD = 1.27),while the SCC112 did not meet the relevant indicator(GSD = 1.2 ± 0.1) with a GSD = 1.44.The flow rate and loading test had a great effect on D_(50),while the GSD remained almost the same as before.In addition,the maintenance frequency under different air pollution conditions of the cyclones was summarized according to the loading test.     

Sources, distribution, and risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides in Nairobi City, Kenya

The distribution and sources of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in air and surface waters were monitored in Nairobi City using triolein-filled semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). The SPMDs were extracted by dialysis using n-hexane, followed by cleanup by adsorption chromatography on silica gel cartridges. Sample analysis was done by GC-ECD and confirmed by GC–MS. Separation of means was achieved by analysis of variance, followed by pair-wise comparison using the t-test (p≤ 0.05). The total OCPs ranged between 0.018 – 1.277 ng/m³ in the air and <LOD – 1391.000 ng/m³ in surface waters. Based on the results, the means of Industrial Area, Dandora and Kibera were not significantly different (p≤ 0.05), but were higher (p≤ 0.05) than those of City square and Ngong’ Forest. The results revealed non-significant (p≤ 0.05) contribution of long-range transport to OCP pollution in Nairobi City. This indicated possible presence of point sources of environmental OCPs in the city. The water-air fugacity ratios indicated that volatilization and deposition played an important role in the spatial distribution of OCPs in Nairobi City. This indicated that contaminated surface waters could be major sources of human exposure to OCPs, through volatilization. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) determined from inhalation of atmospheric OCPs were 2.3745  ×  10^?13 – 1.6845  ×  10^?11 (adult) and 5.5404  ×  10^?13 – 3.9306  ×  10^?11 (child) in the order: Dandora > Kibera > Industrial Area > City Square > Ngong’ Forest. However, these were lower than the USEPA acceptable risks, 10^?6 – 10^?4. This study concluded that atmospheric OCPs did not pose significant cancer risks to the residents.     

环境保护因素对落后地区旅游开发的促进作用研究

为了提高落后地区旅游开发的质量,分别从低碳环保旅游以及生态旅游两方面,研究环保因素对落后地区旅游开发的促进作用。提出低碳环保旅游,并分析低碳环保对落后地区旅游业可持续发展的意义,在落后地区旅游开发中实施低碳饮食、低碳住宿、低碳交通以及低碳能源的旅游开发模式。对中国落后地区生态旅游现状和意义实施研究,分析生态旅游对落后地区旅游开发的促进作用。最终给出了落后地区实现生态旅游开发的建议,构建落后地区低碳环保的新型生态旅游模式,实现落后地区旅游的可持续发展。     

Effect of daylight variations on the energy budgets of shallow-water corals

Energy budgets were determined for small pieces (nubbins) of the coralsPocillopora damicornis, Montipora verrucosa andPorites lobata living at a water depth of 3 m on the fringing reef of Coconut Island, Kaneohe, Hawaii. The budgets were determined for three different types of day: an ideal day with no cloud and an in situ daily integrated irradiance at 3 m of 14.385 E m^–2 d^–1; a normal day with sporadic cloud cover and daily irradiance of 11.915 E m^–2 d^–1; and an overcast day with daily irradiance of 6.128 E m^–2 d^–1. On the ideal day, the energy fixed in photosynthesis was more than that required for respiration and growth of both zooxanthellae and animal components of the association, and there was a predicted loss of between 19.3 and 32.4% of the energy fixed. On a normal day, the total photosynthetic energy fixation was lower and the excess was between 12.1 and 27.9% of the energy fixed. On the overcast day, however, in bothPocillopora damicornis andPorites lobata energy expenditure exceeded photosynthetic energy fixation and the budget was in deficit. Estimates of rate of mucus secretion on an overcast day were derived and, when incorporated into the energy budget, it was predicted that all three species would have a deficit budget, necessitating the catabolism of lipid reserves. From published values for lipid storage in these species it was calculated that the reserves would last from 28 d inPocillopora damicornis to 114 d inM. verrucosa. A model is suggested in which corals draw upon their extensive lipid stores on days of sub-optimal light, replenishing the reserves again when daily light levels are high, and finally excreting the excess energy fixed, as mucus-lipid when the lipid stores are replete.     

Mangrove forest structure and productivity in the Fly River estuary,Papua New Guinea

In April, July and August 1989 and February 1990, the delta region of the Fly River was surveyed to establish the aerial extent of mangrove forests, their species composition, tree densities and basal areas, and potential net primary production. Mangrove forests cover 87 400 ha, mainly on islands within the delta. Twentynine mangrove plant species were recorded, but there were only three major forest types in the delta.Rhizophora apiculata-Bruguiera parviflora forests (hereafterRhizophora-Bruguiera forests) predominated in regions where river water salinities were >10. These forests covered 31 500 ha and had mean total tree densities and basal areas of 2027 stems ha^–1 and 21 m² ha^–1, respectively. Forests of the palmNypa fruticans (hereafterNypa forests) covered 38 400 ha, mainly in regions where river salinities were ~1 to 10, and had mean total densities and basal areas of 4431 stems ha^–1 and 38 m² ha^–1, respectively. Forests dominated byAvicennia marina and/orSonneratia lanceolata (hereafterAvicennia-Sonneratia forests) predominated on accreting banks of sediment and covered 17 500 ha. In very low-salinity (< 1) regions there are large monospecific stands ofS. lanceolata. Mean total densities and basal areas forAvicennia-Sonneratia forests were 7036 stems ha^–1 and 22 m² ha^–1, respectively. Mean net primary productivity (kg C ha^–1 d^–1) was estimated to be 26.7, 27.1 and 19.0 forRhizophora-Bruguiera, Nypa andAvicennia-Sonneratia forests, respectively. Total daily net primary production by all mangrove forests was estimated at 2214 t carbon. Using assumptions based on work in tropical Australia, it was estimated that ~678 t carbon (or 31% of primary production) were exported daily from mangrove forests to the waters of the delta.Contribution No. 550 from the Australian Institute of Marine Science     

Temperature and metabolic rate in sedentary fish from the Antarctic,North Sea and Indo-West Pacific Ocean

Resting metabolic rate was measured in demersal stages of the teleostNotothenia neglecta Nybelin from the South Orkney Islands, Antarctica, from 1985 to 1987. The relationship between and body mass (Mb) conformed to the general relationship , wherea is a proportionality constant andb is the scaling exponent. (mg O₂ h^–1) was found to scale toMb ^{(0.82±0.011)} in the summer (November to April, 1.6 to 1 850 g,n=56) and toMb ^{(0.76±0.013)} in the winter (May to October, 0.9 to 1 850 g,n=57) (values ofb are means ± SD). Although the scaling exponents were significantly different (P<0.01), was similar in the juvenile stages of summer- and winter-caught fish matched for body mass. The effects of activity on oxygen consumption was studied using a Brett respirometer. Adult stages had a factorial aerobic scope for activity of 5.7, which is similar to that reported for demersal fish from temperate latitudes. The effects of temperature on resting metabolism was investigated in fish with similar sedentary lifestyles from the North Sea (Agonus cataphractus andMyoxocephalus scorpius) and the Indo-West Pacific (Paracirrhites forsteri, P. arcatus, Neocirrhites armatus andExallias brevis). Extrapolated values of for the tropical species approached zero at 5 to 10°C. For a standard 50 g fish, for the tropical species at 25°C was in the range 3.4 to 4.4 mg O₂ h^–1, compared with 1.3 mg O₂ h^–1 forNotothenia neglecta at its acclimation temperature. Thus, the maximum metabolic rate of sedentary tropical species at 24°C is likely to be 2 to 4 times higher than inN. neglecta at 0°C. This suggests that the energy available for sustained activity is significantly lower in cold- than in warm-water fish.     

Radionuclides and the birds at Ravenglass

Since 1983, concern has been expressed about the apparent decline in numbers of birds in the Ravenglass estuary in west Cumbria, particularly of the black-headed gull colony on the Drigg dunes, and suggestions have been made that this decline might be due to excessive radiation in the birds' food and their general environment. Twelve species of marine invertebrates from Ravenglass, most of them known to be important foods for birds, were analysed, and further samples were taken from sites along the west Cumbrian coast. None of these samples showed excessive contamination with any of the radionuclides analysed. Analysis of a sample of bird carcasses from the areas showed oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) and shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) to have some of the highest concentrations of (137)Cs in their tissues; yet their breeding success and populations were not affected. Black-headed gulls, on the other hand, were found to be feeding mainly inland, and were the least contaminated with radionuclides of all the birds at Ravenglass, yet this species and its breeding success were in decline. Calculations of the total dose equivalent rate to the whole body of the most contaminated black-headed gull amounted to 9.8 x 10(-4) mSvh(-1) (approximately equal to 8.4 x 10(-4) mGy h(-1), whole body absorbed dose rate), and the background exposure dose was of the order of 8.3 x 10(-4) mGy h(-1). As a minimum chronic dose of 1000 mGy day(-1) has been found necessary to retard growth of nestling birds, and 9600 mGy over 20 days of incubation to cause the death of 50% of embryos in black-headed gulls' eggs, the concentrations of radionuclides in the foods, body tissues and general environment were at least three orders of magnitude too low to have had any effect. The more likely cause of the desertion of the gullery was the combination of an uncontrolled fox population, the severest outbreak of myxomatosis amongst the rabbits since 1954 and the driest May-July period on record, all in the same year (1984).     

Dry aerial fallout of organochlorine insecticide residues in Delhi, India

Monitoring of airborne dust in Delhi during May to July 1985 revealed residues of DDT varying from 1.3 to 7.14 ng mg(-1) (4.06-22.31 ng m(-2) day(-1)) with an average of 3.32 ng mg(-1) (10.38 ng m(-2) day(-1)), and HCH which ranged from 0.46 to 2.35 ng mg(-1) (1.44-7.34 ng m(-2) day(-1)) with a mean of 1.16 ng mg(-1) (3.63 ng m(-2) day(-1)). The concentration of total DDT was almost 3 times greater than that of HCH.     

Black cherry growth response to ambient ozone and EDU

Field-grown black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) seedlings were treated with the antioxidant ethylenediurea (EDU) to evaluate height, diameter, and above-ground dry-weight biomass growth response to ambient ozone over four years. Nine blocks with 44 trees/block were used in a randomized complete block design with three foliar spray treatments: (1) 1000 ppm EDU mixed with a surfactant and water; (2) surfactant mixed with water; and (3) water only. In each growing season treatments were applied seven times at approximately 10-day intervals. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated significant (P< or =0.05) treatment and year effects for log-transformed height and diameter growth over the four-year period. After four years, EDU-treated trees were approximately 17% taller and stem diameters were 21% greater than non-EDU-treated trees. Total above-ground dry-weight biomass at the end of four years was 47% greater for EDU-treated trees compared to non-EDU-treated trees.