Assessing heavy metal pollution in the surface soils of a region that had undergone three decades of intense industrialization and urbanization

Heavy metals in the surface soils from lands of six different use types in one of the world’s most densely populated regions, which is also a major global manufacturing base, were analyzed to assess the impact of urbanization and industrialization on soil pollution. A total of 227 surface soil samples were collected and analyzed for major heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) by using microwave-assisted acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Multivariate analysis combined with enrichment factors showed that surface soils from the region (>7.2?×?10⁴ km²) had mean Cd, Cu, Zn, and As concentrations that were over two times higher than the background values, with Cd, Cu, and Zn clearly contributed by anthropogenic sources. Soil pollution by Pb was more widespread than the other heavy metals, which was contributed mostly by anthropogenic sources. The results also indicate that Mn, Co, Fe, Cr, and Ni in the surface soils were primarily derived from lithogenic sources, while Hg and As contents in the surface soils were controlled by both natural and anthropogenic sources. The pollution level and potential ecological risk of the surface soils both decreased in the order of: urban areas?>?waste disposal/treatment sites?～?industrial areas?>?agricultural lands?～?forest lands?>?water source protection areas. These results indicate the significant need for the development of pollution prevention and reduction strategies to reduce heavy metal pollution for regions undergoing fast industrialization and urbanization.     

Disturbance of Dabao highway construction on plant species and soil nutrients in Longitudinal Range Gorge Region (LRGR) of Southwestern China

The disturbance of highway construction upon surrounding vulnerable ecosystems is a common threat in the Longitudinal Range Gorge Region of southwestern China. We evaluated the disturbance of highway on plant species richness and diversity and soil nutrients from adjacent to the highway to 300 m upslope and 100 m downslope in forests and grasslands by setting 12 belt transects in forests and grasslands (six belt transects and six control belt transects, respectively). The results showed that there were some significant variances in belt transects with respective control belt transects for species richness and diversity in both forests and grasslands. Species richness and diversity of trees were lower within a 50-m distance from the highway and more noticeable on the downslope portion. Species richness and diversity of shrubs and herbs appeared higher near highway edge. Both species richness and diversity of herbs were similar in forests. In addition, exotic species, such as Eupatorium adenophorum, were further from the road and more widely dispersed in grasslands. Soil nutrients except total potassium (TK) were lower in the downslope area adjacent to highway edge and showed a significant increase with increasing distance from the highway in both forests and grasslands. This indicates that grasslands acted as microhabitats for exotic species and are more easily to be invaded than forests, especially if disturbed. Once destroyed, plant species and soil nutrients will require a significant amount of time to be restored to control levels. This work illustrates that the effects extend considerably to distances upslope and downslope from the construction site. Given that these changes occurred relatively quickly, the study suggests that the environmental "footprint" grows far beyond the road and adjacent zone of disruption.     

The effects of using reprocessable material on the durability and mechanical properties of landfill leachate collection HDPE pipes

This paper investigated the durability and mechanical properties of landfill leachate collection HDPE pipes which had been made of different weight percent amounts of virgin and reprocessable HDPE compounds (VC and RC). Durability is reported base on the chemical properties, obtained through oxidative induction time (OIT) and melt flow index (MFI) measurements, at the temperature of 50 °C and over a period of 12 months immersion in a synthetic leachate. Mechanical properties are also described according to tensile and pressure tests which had been conducted on the pipes samples. All of the factors were examined had been affected by the addition of RC, but for the special combination the antioxidant depletion was significantly affected by the experimental aging condition and no important changes had been observed in the other pipe properties. The results from OIT tests indicate that the rate of antioxidant depletion is reduced by an increase in the weight percent amounts of RC, during the experimental aging condition. This reduction is probably attributed to the extraction of antioxidants from RC in their recovery process. Finally, although these results are related to the particular HDPE compound, antioxidant formulation and condition examined, but it can be said that the use of clean own reprocessable material for the production of landfill leachate pipes shall be permitted without limitations.     

Fluorine distribution in aquatic environment and its health effect in the Western Region of the Songnen Plain, Northeast China

Endemic fluorosis was investigated and studied in the west region of the Songnen plain, Northeast China in 2001–2002. The results showed that the fluorine distribution in aquatic environment was that the fluorine concentrations in the lake water and unconfined ground water were higher than that in the river water and confined ground water. The lake water (Alkali lake) is connected with unconfined ground water. In unconfined ground water, from the east and southeast areas to the west and the northwest areas of the plain, fluorine concentration fluctuated with high and low alternatively. The fluorine in the water comes from the weathering of rocks and minerals in the mountains and hills around the Songnen Plain. The main influence factors of the fluorine distribution in aquatic environment are discussed. Unconfined ground water containing high fluorine is used as drinking water. In this region, the fluorine concentration in drinking water is evidently correlated to the morbidity of dental and skeletal fluorosis. High fluorine concentration in drinking water has endangered human health.     

城市轨道交通火灾事故风险评估及对策措施

运用故障树安全评价的方法和火灾风险评估中的定量分析方法,以人员安全为出发点,对轨道交通运营过程火灾事故风险进行评估。并对重庆市轻轨2号线临江门车站进行紧急情况下人员疏散计算,判断轻轨临江门车站发生火灾等紧急事故时,能否确保乘客的人身安全。结合轨道交通现状给出相应对策措施,降低事故发生的可能性,确保乘客生命安全和财产不受损失。     

气相色谱／石墨炉（Ⅲ型）原子吸收光谱联用及汽油中铅化学形态分析的研究

本文研究了气相色谱／石墨炉（Ⅲ型）原子吸收光谱联用的工作条件对测定（Ｃ２Ｈ４）４Ｐｂ的影响,选择了分析条件并建立了其分析方法。该方法的最小检测量为８．６×１０－１１ｇ,回收率为１００．８～１１１．４％。已用于汽油中铅化学形态的分析,取得了满意的结果。     

中国竹林生态系统的碳储量

利用中国4次森林资源清查资料以及中国森林生态定位观测研究站(CFERN)的观测数据,估算了中国1977-2003年期间4个时期竹林生态系统的碳储量,并对其垂直分配结构特征、时空动态格局和贮碳潜力进行了分析.竹林的总碳储量结果为1977-1981年期间537.6Mt C,1984-1988年期问598.61Mt C,1994-1998年期间710.14 Mt C,1999-2003年期间837.92Mt C,期间浙江、江西、福建、湖南、广东和四川六省是中国竹林碳库的主要组成部分,占80.04%-83.13%.垂直分配结构基本相似,植被层占总碳储量的23.84%～24.49%,枯落物层占0.93%～0.96%,土壤层占的74.55%～75.23%.1999-2003年期间中国竹林生态系统碳素现存量为837.92 Mt C,10年后贮碳量将达到837.92 Mt C,并以C 54.81Mt·a-1.的平均积累速率递增.     

典型喀斯特地区土壤退化机理探讨:不同土地利用类型土壤水分性能比较

我国西南喀斯特生态脆弱区以土壤退化为核心的环境退化形势严峻.揭示土壤退化过程和退化机理,是认识喀斯特这个特殊环境的土地生态系统诸多环境退化问题的一个重要途径.本文选择黔中猫跳河流域上游长顺县广顺乡典型喀斯特景观为研究区,通过野外采样和实验室分析,对不同土地利用类型的土壤水分性能进行了比较研究,以探讨喀斯特地区土壤退化的过程与机理.结果表明,与基本无退化的本底林地相比较,草地土壤的水分性能明显变劣,表现为:土壤的持水能力下降,田间持水量和毛管持水量分别下降49.5%和56.2%;土壤供水能力降低,总有效含水量下降56.4%;土壤渗透性能减弱,150 min饱和渗水量减少70.1%.土壤的这些水分特征与土壤发生的强度和速度都有着非常密切的关系,草地土壤水分性能的这种退化将加剧土壤的侵蚀.可以认为,在西南典型喀斯特地区,土壤的水分退化是土壤退化的一个关键过程和因素.     

The research of below-cloud scavengingof rainwater in Guilin City

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Metabolic uncoupler, 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide addition for sludge reduction and fouling control in a gravity-driven membrane bioreactor

• Effects of metabolic uncoupler TCS on the performances of GDMBR were evaluated. • Sludge EPS reduced and transformed into dissolved SMP when TCS was added. • Appropriate TCS increased the permeability and reduced cake layer fouling. • High dosage aggravated fouling due to compact cake layer with low bio-activity. The gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (MBR)system is promising for decentralized sewage treatment because of its low energy consumption and maintenance requirements. However, the growing sludge not only increases membrane fouling, but also augments operational complexities (sludge discharge). We added the metabolic uncoupler 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) to the system to deal with the mentioned issues. Based on the results, TCS addition effectively decreased sludge ATP and sludge yield (reduced by 50%). Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS; proteins and polysaccharides) decreased with the addition of TCS and were transformed into dissolved soluble microbial products (SMPs) in the bulk solution, leading to the break of sludge flocs into small fragments. Permeability was increased by more than two times, reaching 60–70 L/m²/h bar when 10–30 mg/L TCS were added, because of the reduced suspended sludge and the formation of a thin cake layer with low EPS levels. Resistance analyses confirmed that appropriate dosages of TCS primarily decreased the cake layer and hydraulically reversible resistances. Permeability decreased at high dosage (50 mg/L) due to the release of excess sludge fragments and SMP into the supernatant, with a thin but more compact fouling layer with low bioactivity developing on the membrane surface, causing higher cake layer and pore blocking resistances. Our study provides a fundamental understanding of how a metabolic uncoupler affects the sludge and bio-fouling layers at different dosages, with practical relevance for in situ sludge reduction and membrane fouling alleviation in MBR systems.