Levels and distribution patterns of short chain chlorinated paraffins in sewage sludge of wastewater treatment plants in China

Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are listed as persistent organic pollutant candidates in the Stockholm Convention and are receiving more and more attentions worldwide. In general, concentrations of contaminants in sewage sludge can give an important indication on their pollution levels at a local/regional basis. In this study, SCCPs were investigated in sewage sludge samples collected from 52 wastewater treatment plants in China. Concentrations of total SCCPs (ΣSCCPs) in sludge were in the range of 0.80-52.7 μg/g dry weight (dw), with a mean value of 10.7 μg/g dw. Most of SCCPs in the sludge samples showed a similar congener distribution patterns, and C(11) and Cl(7,8) were identified as the dominant carbon and chlorine congener groups. Significant linear relationships were found among different SCCP congener groups (r(2) ≥ 0.9). High concentrations of SCCPs in sewage sludge imply that SCCPs are widely present in China.     

Dioxin contamination in soils of Southern Vietnam

Dioxin is the common name for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and is abbreviated as PCDD/Fs. In the case of Southern Vietnam, is of high concern dioxin contamination in the areas affected by past-use chemical defoliants. Our study related to the zone considered as a "hot spot"--Bien Hoa Airbase and surrounding areas (Bien Hung Lake). Although the war ended over 30 years ago, the adverse effects on this territory still continue. Soil and sediment were selected for our research as they act as a sink for PCDD/Fs. The samples were taken and analyzed in CECOTOX laboratory following certified procedures. The total amounts of PCDD/Fs (2,3,7,8 related congeners) in the samples were converted into WHO-TEQ and compared with standard values proposed by Canadian environmental quality guidelines. The obtained data shows a relatively high risk (up to 20.4 times higher than (probable effect level) PEL value for sediment and 46 times higher than standard value for soil). The research is continuing on the assessment of dioxin transport in food chain. Moreover, considering the obtained data a complete solution should be found urgently to solve the problem of dioxin contamination in the studied areas.     

滴水湖水系表层沉积物中多氯联苯残留与风险评价

于2012年,每2个月采集一次上海人工滩涂湖泊——滴水湖水系表层沉积物,对其多氯联苯(PCBs)的残留水平进行了检测和分析.结果表明,研究期间闸外引水河和闸内引水河沉积物中7种PCBs的总量各月间变化较大,且总体呈上升趋势,而滴水湖沉积物中其总量四季变化幅度不大;空间分布上,闸外引水河[(844.74±687.62)ng/g]>闸内引水河[(516.83±645.45)ng/g]>>滴水湖[(81.63±72.18)ng/g].研究区PCBs组成以六氯联苯和七氯联苯为主,其次为五氯联苯和三氯联苯.采用主成分分析法对PCBs进行源解析,结果显示:PCBs污染源中进口电容器中PCBs的迁移占43%,油漆添加剂污染占33%;国产电容器和变压器污染占11%.生态风险评估表明,闸外引水河和闸内引水河沉积物PCBs对生物体的暴露有严重威胁;滴水湖沉积物PCBs对生物体的暴露有一定的潜在威胁.与国内外研究相比,闸外引水河和闸内引水河属于严重污染水平,滴水湖属于中等污染水平,相关部门应加强污染监管.     

Synthesis and application of insect attractants in Vietnam

Detrimental effects of synthetic pesticides on health, environment and organisms have necessitated the exploration of alternative strategies for insect control. The insect attractants represent an important link within these systems. In Vietnam, since 1970, methyleugenol and its analogues have been synthesized for mass trapping of the fruitfly Daccus dorsalis Hendel. This chemical reduced the damage on the oranges of many plantations in our country. In the period 1978–1980, for the first time some selected types of pheromones were tested. The trials verified and provided evidence of the occurrence of six species of moth in southeast Vietnam: Archips micaceanus, Archips seminubilus, Cadra caustella, Spodoptera exigua, Chysodeixis eriosoma and Parapoynx sp. The last decade has seen intense activity in the elaboration and application of some complex systems of fighting plant pests. Pheromones of moth and weevils have been prepared in the Institute of Agrochemistry and the Institute of Tropical Biology NCST: Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn, Heliothis armigera Hbn, Plutella xylostella Curt, Adoxophyes sp, Lyonetia clerckella, Trogoderma granarium, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Diabrotica undecimpunctata, Blattela germanica, Diprion, Neodiprion, Scolytus multistriatus, Scolytus scolytus, Lasioderma sericorne, Tribolium cofusum. Some synthetic aspects of these pheromones are described. The use of pheromone traps for monitoring and mass trapping the Scolytus multistriatus, Tribolium confusum, Plutella xylostella Curt, Heliothis armigera Hbn, Cylas formicarius elegantulus will be discussed.     

舟山近海水体和沉积物中多环芳烃分布特征

2012年,每两个月采集1次浙江省舟山近海水样及表层沉积物样品,检测16种多环芳烃(PAHs)含量.结果表明,舟山近海水体和沉积物中PAHs均存在显著的时空差异性,水体ΣPAHs浓度范围为382.3~816.9 ng·L-1,平均值为552.5ng·L-1;沉积物ΣPAHs含量范围为1017.9~3047.1 ng·g-1,平均值为2022.4 ng·g-1.空间分布上,水体ΣPAHs最大值和最小值分别出现在小洋山和燕窝山海域,而沉积物中分别出现在小洋山和朱家尖南沙海域.时间变化上,水体ΣPAHs最大值和最小值出现在10月和6月,而沉积物中分别出现在8月和6月.PAHs污染来源主要是油类排放和木柴、煤燃烧的共同叠加作用.结合PAHs的生物阈值,利用超标系数法评价舟山近海PAHs的生态风险,结果表明,ΣPAHs存在较低几率的潜在风险,但苊单体存在较高几率的潜在风险,二氢苊和芴可能存在生态风险.对水-沉积物界面PAHs的富集研究表明,舟山近海沉积物中富集了大量PAHs,富集系数(Kd值)岱山岛大于舟山本岛,并与沉积物的PAHs含量分布一致.     

Inactivation effect of pressurized carbon dioxide on bacteriophage Qβ and ΦX174 as a novel disinfectant for water treatment

The inactivation effects of pressurized CO2 against bacteriophage Qβ and ΦX174 were investigated under the pressure of 0.3–0.9 MPa, initial concentration of 107–109PFU/mL, and temperature of17.8°C–27.2°C. The optimum conditions were found to be 0.7 MPa and an exposure time of 25 min. Under identical treatment conditions, a greater than 3.3-log reduction in bacteriophage Qβ was achieved by CO2, while a nearly 3.0 log reduction was observed for phage ΦX174. The viricidal effects of N2O(an inactivation gas with similar characteristics to CO2), normal acid(HCl), and CO2 treatment with phosphate buffered saline affirmed the chemical nature of CO2 treatment. The pumping cycle, depressurization rate, and release of intracellular substances caused by CO2 were its viricidal mechanisms. The results indicate that CO2 has the potential for use as a disinfectant without forming disinfection by-products.     

Does tradeoff between financial and social indicators matters in environmental consideration: evidence from G7 region

The study tries to discover the impact of financial and social indicators’ growth towards environmental considerations to understand the drivers of economic growth and carbon dioxide emissions change in G7 countries. The DEA-like composite index has been used to examine the tradeoff between financial and social indicator matters in environmental consideration by using a multi-objective goal programming approach. The data from 2008 to 2018 is collected from G-7 countries. The results from the DEA-like composite index reveals that there is a mixed condition of environmental sustainability in G-7 countries where the USA is performing better and Japan is performing worse among the set of other countries. The further result shows that the energy and fiscal indicators help to decrease the dangerous gas emissions. Divergent to that, the human and financial index positively contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Fostering sustainable development is essential to successfully reduce emissions, meet established objectives, and ensure steady development. The study provides valuable information for policymakers.

     

Assessing Health Benefits of Controlling Air Pollution from Power Generation: The Case of a Lignite-Fired Power Plant in Thailand

The impact pathway approach (IPA) is used to estimate quantitatively the level of health effects caused by particulate matter (PM₁₀) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emission from a lignite-fired power plant located in the Mae Moh area in northern region of Thailand. Health benefits are then assessed by comparing the levels of estimated health impacts without and with the installation of the flue gas desulfurization (FGD) equipment. The US EPA industrial source complex model is used to model air pollution dispersion at the local scale, and the sector average limited mixing meso-scale model is used to model air pollution transport at the regional scale. The quantification of the health end points in physical terms is carried out using the dose–response functions established recently for the population in Bangkok, Thailand. Monetarization of these effects is based on the benefit transfer method with appropriate adjustment. Finally, it has been found that the installation of the FGD to control SO₂ emission at Mae Moh significantly reduces adverse health effects not only on the population living near the power plant but also all over the country. A FGD unit installed at the 300-MW power unit can result, on average, in 16 fewer cases of acute mortality, 12 fewer cases of respiratory and cardiac hospital admissions, and almost 354,000 fewer days with acute respiratory symptoms annually. In monetary terms this benefit is equivalent to US $18.2 million (1995 prices) per annum. This benefit is much higher than the annualized investment and operation costs of FGD (US $7.4 million/yr).     

Regimes of human and climate impacts on coastal changes in Vietnam

Vietnam is a tropical to subtropical country located on the eastern Asian coast where the Red (Song Hong) and Mekong rivers discharge into the sea. The catchments of these two transboundary rivers cover parts of six countries, and their water and sediment discharges greatly influence the coastal seas of Vietnam. The impact of human activities include changes in the supply and distribution of water, sediments, and nutrients; changes in the relationships and balance among dynamically interacting factors and processes; and changes in the quality of the coastal and marine environments due to the increased use and accumulation of pollutants and the loss of habitats. These impacts have resulted in increasing unpredictability and severity of coastal problems such as floods, erosion, sedimentation, and saltwater intrusion; environmental pollution; and the degradation of ecosystems, with accompanying decrease in biodiversity and fishery productivity.