Reproduction and growth of the freshwater prawn, Palaemon paucidens (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) in a lake of Korea

This study analyzed the reproduction and growth of freshwater prawn, Palaemon paucidens De Haan 1844 from Suk-dang lake(Korea). The analysis of the sex ratio showed a higher proportion of males than that of females. The average size of the eggs was 6.12 (+/-0.55) mm3 in the non-eyed stage (stageA) and 7.20 (+/-0.86)mm3 in the eyed stage (stage B). The reproductive output (RO) calculated with the dried-body weight of an incubating female and the weight of the eggs in dried condition was 26.97% (n = 17) of the average females weight. Incubating prawn appeared in April, and the gonadosomatic indices(GSI) showed the highest value during three months from January to March. Based on the month when there was a high proportion of incubating females with a high GSI, the estimated spawning season of P. paucidens was April. The maturity of the female was evaluated by the development of the ovaries and the existence of eggs. The average body length when 50% of the females in the group reached maturity was 8.55 (+/-2.74) mm. The analysis of the length-frequency distribution showed that the life span of P. paucidens ranged from 12 to 13 months. Females mature faster than males.     

Molecular markers of heavy metal toxicity--a new paradigm for health risk assessment

Last decade has witnessed increased interest in studies dealing with molecular markers of health and disease expression of genes. Specific toxicant "signatures" have been detected using genome base technologies such as microarrays. Further toxins have been classified on the basis of these signatures. Knowledge on these signatures has helped in the identification of novel drug candidates. This review discusses the gene expression studies recently made on arsenic, cadmium, mercury, chromium, lead, copper, nickel, manganese, and other essential elements. Toxicogenomics standards and their organizations have also been briefly described. Although this information can not be considered as complete, recent reports from different laboratories on bacteria, fish, laboratory animals and humans have been summarized. It is expected that toxicogenomics data presented in this review will be helpful in planning and excretion of human health risk assessment programs.     

Tritium levels in Chinese cabbage and radish plants acutely exposed to HTO vapor at different growth stages

To simulate an acute exposure of Chinese cabbage and radish plants to airborne HTO, the potted plants were exposed to HTO vapor under semi-outdoor conditions for 1h at different times from the early to late growth stages. The plants were grown outdoors and the plant tritium was measured at the end of an exposure (h(0)) and at harvest. The leaf tissue free water tritium (TFWT) concentrations at h(0) were considerably lower than estimated equilibrium concentrations. In the leaves of Chinese cabbage, the exposure at the earlier growth stage generally ended with a higher TFWT concentration. Such a tendency was not apparent either in the leaves or roots of radish. On the other hand, the earlier stage exposure gave rise to lower TFWT concentrations at the harvest of both crops. For the OBT (organically bound tritium), however, the same occurred only in the Chinese cabbage leaves. During the period between the exposure and harvest, the TFWT concentrations reduced by factors of up to 1.1 x 10(6) for the Chinese cabbage leaves and 1.3 x 10(4) for the radish roots. Based on the activity ratios of OBT to TFWT at harvest, it is estimated that OBT mostly contributes much more to the ingestion dose than TFWT does.     

Synthesis of surface sulfated BiWO with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Sulfated BiWO (SBiWO) was synthesized by an impregnation method to enhance the visible-light-driven photoactivities of BiWO (BiWO). The characterization results verified that sulfate anion mainly anchored on the catalyst surface greatly extended the visible-light-responsive range without destroying the crystal lattice. Moreover, the SBiWO-based photoactivities were evaluated with the removal of Malachite Green (MG) under UV-Vis irradiation emitted from two microwave-powered electrodeless discharge lamps (MPEDL_-2) and under visible light (λ > 420 nm). The results demonstrated that the kinetic constant was increased 2.25 times, varying from 0.1478 (BiWO) to 0.3328 min^-1 (SBiWO-1). Similar results were also obtained for the visible light-driven reaction. Furthermore, radical scavengers such as t-butanol restricted the visible-light induced degradation of MG over BiWO and SBiWO-1. This indicated that the sulfating process increased the generation of reactive oxygen species, which was further verified by molecular probe with salicylic acid. Thus, more blue-shifting at λ = 618 nm was observed over SBiWO. On the basis of the above results, the photocatalytic mechanism over the sulfated catalyst was also discussed.     

利用~(137)Cs示踪技术与土壤化学物质研究滇池流域土壤侵蚀

核素示踪技术研究作为一种新的土壤侵蚀研究方法,已经在土壤侵蚀研究中获得了极大应用,并在土壤侵蚀的沉积、侵蚀、运移研究上取得许多成果.采用放射性核素作为土壤示踪剂,可以很好的进行流域尺度的范围研究,且可靠性比较高,省时省力.云贵高原在处于我国的西南地区,是我国南方水土流失严重的地区之一.该地区缺乏较长时间的资料积累,仅通过短时间的测定,无法准确估算中长期(约50 a)的平均土壤侵蚀速率.文章应用137Cs示踪技术,并结合土壤有机碳、全氮等土壤化学物质,首次研究了云南省滇池流域土壤侵蚀的强度分异规律.1)山坡不同部位的土壤侵蚀速率大小顺序是:坡中部>坡下部>坡上部,坡位是影响土壤侵蚀的重要因素.2)土壤利用方式上看,非耕地(林地和撂荒地)的侵蚀速率小于耕地的侵蚀速率.同一种土地利用方式下,由于耕作措施与耕作方法的差异,也会直接影响到土壤侵蚀的速率大小.3)从土壤侵蚀模数来看,区域整体上属于轻度侵蚀.土壤平均侵蚀速率为1280.2 t·km-2·a-1,其中耕地的平均土壤侵蚀速率为1672.8 t·km-2·a-1,非耕地土壤平均侵蚀模数为1161.2 t·km-2·a-1.4)虽然是轻度侵蚀,但是随着土壤侵蚀的进行,土壤有机碳、氮等的流失,造成土地退化较为严重,这给当地的生态环境带来直接的危害:滇池土壤淤积,土壤中的有机质、化肥等物质也直接随土壤流入滇池,会导致水体富营养化和水质变差.     

Effects of NO2 and SO2 on selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides by ammonia

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) characteristics of NO and NO(2) over V(2)O(5)-WO(3)-MnO(2)/TiO(2) catalyst using ammonia as a reducing agent have been determined in a fixed-bed reactor at 200-400 degrees C. The presence of NO(2) enhances the SCR activity at lower temperatures and the optimum ratio of NO(2)/NO(x) is found to be 0.5. During the SCR reactions, there are some side reactions occurred such as ammonia oxidation and N(2)O formation. At higher temperatures, the selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia and the nitrous oxide formation compete with the SCR reactions. The denitrification (DeNO(x)) conversion decreases at lower temperatures but it increases at higher temperatures with increasing SO(2) concentration. The presence of SO(2) in the feeds inhibits N(2)O formation.     

Sequential soil washing techniques using hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide for remediating arsenic-contaminated soils in abandoned iron-ore mines

Sequential washing techniques using single or dual agents [sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions] were applied to arsenic-contaminated soils in an abandoned iron-ore mine area. We investigated the best remediation strategies to maximize arsenic removal efficiency for both soils and arsenic-containing washing solution through conducting a series of batch experiments. Based on the results of a sequential extraction procedure, most arsenic prevails in Fe-As precipitates or coprecipitates, and iron exists mostly in the crystalline forms of iron oxide. Soil washing by use of a single agent was not effective in remediating arsenic-contaminated soils because arsenic extractions determined by the Korean standard test (KST) methods for washed soils were not lower than 6mg kg(-1) in all experimental conditions. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that iron-ore fines produced mobile colloids through coagulation and flocculation in water contacting the soils, containing dissolved arsenic and fine particles of ferric arsenate-coprecipitated silicate. The first washing step using 0.2M HCl was mostly effective in increasing the cationic hydrolysis of amorphous ferrihydrite, inducing high removal of arsenic. Thus, the removal step of arsenic-containing flocs can lower arsenic extractions (KST methods) of washed soils. Among several washing trials, alternative sequential washing using 0.2M HCl followed by 1M HCl (second step) and 1M NaOH solution (third step) showed reliable and lower values of arsenic extractions (KST methods) of washed soils. This washing method can satisfy the arsenic regulation of washed soil for reuse or safe disposal application. The kinetic data of washing tests revealed that dissolved arsenic was easily readsorbed into remaining soils at a low pH. This result might have occurred due to dominant species of positively charged crystalline iron oxides characterized through the sequential extraction procedure. However, alkaline extraction using NaOH was effective in removing arsenic readsorbed onto the surface of crystalline minerals. This is because of the ligand displacement reaction of hydroxyl ions with arsenic species and high pH conditions that can prevent readsorption of arsenic.     

Fluoride-immobilized co-processing and resource utilization of aluminum-electrolyzed spent cathode carbon in brick-fired kiln

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Spent cathode carbon (SCC) is hazardous waste from the electrolytic aluminum industry due to its high levels of soluble fluoride, while brick-fired...     

氧化塘技术处理采油废水运转效果监测及分析

氧化塘技术是处理工业废水常用的方法之一。对桩西采油厂的氧化塘设置了5个监测点位,每月监测4～8次。由监测数据可知,氧化塘温度决定藻类、细菌和其他水生物优势种属的演替;COD的去除效果受季节影响较小;塘内水流受风向影响较大;对石油类物质的去除效果比较稳定;挥发酚的去除与季节有较大关联;硫化物的去除率很高。分析结果表明,该氧化塘运转状况良好,但应注意来水状况。