Characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on lime spray dryer (LSD) ash using different extraction methods

In this study, traditional Soxhlet, automatic Soxhlet and ultrasonic extraction techniques were employed to determine the speciation and concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on lime spray dryer (LSD) ash samples collected from the baghouse of a spreader stoker boiler. To test the efficiencies of different extraction methods, LSD ash samples were doped with a mixture of 16 US EPA specified PAHs to measure the matrix spike recoveries. The results showed that the spike recoveries of PAHs were different using these three extraction methods with dichloromethane (DCM) as the solvent. Traditional Soxhlet extraction achieved slightly higher recoveries than automatic Soxhlet and ultrasonic extraction. Different solvents including toluene, DCM:acetone (1:1 V/V) and hexane:acetone (1:1 V/V) were further examined to optimize the recovery using ultrasonic extraction. Toluene achieved the highest spike recoveries of PAHs at a spike level of 10 microg kg(-1). When the spike level was increased to 50 microg kg(-1), the spike recoveries of PAHs also correspondingly increased. Although the type and concentration of PAHs detected on LSD ash samples by different extraction methods varied, the concentration of each detected PAH was consistently low, at microg kg(-1) levels.     

渤海湾两条河流及其近岸海域水体中DOM的光谱特征及影响因素

应用三维荧光光谱结合吸收光谱分析,研究了2019年夏季天津市大清河-独流减河水系和河北省黄骅市捷地减河及其河口区水体中溶解有机物（DOM）的空间分布特征、来源及其影响因素。紫外-可见光谱结果表明,研究区水体的SUVA₂₅₄与盐度有显著正相关关系;两条河流的下游水体中S_275-295均值均大于上游和中游。平行因子分析结果表明,两条河流均检测到两种类腐殖质组分C1（240,300/390 nm）和C3（260,335/477 nm）以及一种类蛋白质组分C2（225,275/339 nm）。在大清河-独流减河水系及其近岸海域水体中,这三种组分与盐度呈显著负相关关系,其中由于人为输入（TN和TP含量高,工业排污）影响导致C2与盐度的相关性弱于C1和C3。该水系水体在低盐度时C2的占比高于捷地减河,主要受到工农业废水输入与其支流子牙河汇入的共同影响,而捷地减河主要受农业废污水输入的影响。此外,自然因素（盐度、海水混合）和人为因素（人为输入、筑坝拦截）的不同导致渤海湾两条入海河流中有色溶解有机质（CDOM）的光学特性和混合行为出现显著差异。其中筑坝拦截导致独流减河坝前水体的CDOM平均分子量低于下游水体,并且增强了河口区陆源类腐殖质的去除作用。综上,三维荧光光谱结合平行因子分析能判别河流局部条件的差异对整体CDOM空间分布特征的影响,研究结果可为渤海湾地区河流及河口水体CDOM生物地球化学过程研究提供基础数据。     

CALIBRATION AND APPLICATION OF QUAL-II TO THE LOWER WINOOSKI RIVER1

ABSTRACT: A modified version of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's QUAL-II water quality simulation model is calibrated and applied to the Lower Winooski River, Vermont. The river flows through the metropolitan Burlington area and is impacted by several industrial and municipal point sources and by operation of hydropower facilities. Several structural modifications are made in the model to improve water quality simulations in rivers impacted by algal growth; these include the addition of organic nitrogen and organic phosphorus compartments and provision for algal uptake of ammonia and/or nitrate nitrogen. The model is interfaced with statistical programs which facilitate tabulation, display, and analysis of observed and predicted concentrations. The model is calibrated and tested against data from two intensive water quality surveys. Applications demonstrate the factors controlling water quality and sensitivities to point source waste management strategies and flow, as influenced by hydropower operations.     

Assessing the Effects of Natural and Anthropogenic Stressors in the Potomac Estuary: Implications for Long-Term Monitoring

Ecological conditions in the Potomac Estuary are affected by a variety of natural and anthropogenic stressors. Natural climatic factors combined with anthropogenic activities affect fluxes of material through Potomac River watersheds and cause changes in ecological conditions in the Potomac Estuary. A basic premise of this ongoing study is that effects of anthropogenic and natural stressors can be distinguished. The investigation involves: 1) analysis of existing data using time series methods, 2) retrospective modeling to link the response of estuarine water quality to changes in stressors, and 3) new measurements on sediment cores from the Potomac Estuary. Estuarine effects being considered include changes in the distribution and abundance of chlorophyll a, diatoms, dinoflagellates, ostracods, submerged aquatic vegetation, benthic fauna, dissolved oxygen, and foraminifera. Since current conditions may be due to the accumulation of effects over many years, our research considers variability and changes during the past century in the context of long-term changes during the past 500 years. The availability of large data sets from the past century, long-term information on variability in precipitation from tree ring data from the past 300 years, and paleoecological studies by other investigators in the Potomac Estuary and main stem of Chesapeake Bay make the Potomac Estuary an ideal place to develop methods to distinguish between effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors in estuaries, in the context of a varying, and perhaps changing, climate.     

Cytogenetic prenatal diagnosis and its relative effectiveness in the mersey region and North Wales

The relative effectiveness of cytogenetic prenatal diagnosis in the Mersey Region and North Wales is presented by estimating the percentage detection rates of Down's syndrome annually following amniocentesis from 1978–1984 inclusive. Tables indicating the percentage of screened pregnancies, types of chromosomal aberrations detected and the occurrence of Down's syndrome in mothers in age groups of five-year intervals are also presented. The average prenatal detection rate for Down's syndrome (estimated at the time of birth) was 15–15 per cent over the years 1978–1984 and was above 22 per cent for the last two years when 44–13 per cent of all pregnancies to mothers of 35 years and over were investigated.     

Fumarylacetoacetase activity in cultured and non-cultured chorionic villus cells,and assay in two high-risk pregnancies

We describe further development of the fumarylacetoacetase (FAA) assay for the prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinaemia type 1 using chorionic villus sampling (CVS). We have established a reference range for FAA activity in cultured villus cells and have confirmed previously reported data on the FAA activity in uncultured chorionic villus cells. This should allow confirmation of results using CVS, without the need for further invasive procedures. We report the FAA enzyme stability at −70°C, +4°C, and at room temperature, and we have shown no obvious difference in enzyme activity with gestational age. We have analysed cultured and non-cultured CVS activity of FAA in two pregnancies at risk of tyrosinaemia type 1. In both, the fetus was designated unaffected, and these results were confirmed postnatally.     

A new RFLP marker,SP282, at the btk locus for genetic analysis in X-linked agammaglobulinaemia families

X-linked agammaglobulinaemia is an inherited recessive disease in which the primary defect lies in the failure of pre-B cells to develop into mature circulating B cells, due to a defective B-cell cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase (btk). For this study we introduced a new RFLP marker, SP282, which is tightly linked to the XLA locus. In conjunction with the marker DXS178, SP282 was used to identify a carrier female and predict her male offspring to be normal. Subsequently the fetus was shown to have a normal number of circulating B cells, and at 2·5 years of age, the non-affected phenotype of the child was confirmed.     

The fate of trace metals during the metamorphosis of chironomids (diptera, chironomidae)

The fate of the trace metals zinc, cadmium and copper during the metamorphosis of chironomids was studied under field and experimental conditions. Field observations demonstrated a significant decrease in the trace metal body burden of larvae and imagines of Stictochironomus histrio Fabricius. No such difference were noted between successive developmental stages of Chironomus anthracinus Zett. The exuviae of both species contained small amounts of trace metals. Experiments, in which larvae of S. histrio and C. riparius Meigen were individually exposed, showed that larvae of both species accumulated substantial amounts of zinc and cadmium. For these metals, a transfer to pupae and imagines occurred. However, pupae had a lower body burden than larvae, and imagines a lower body burden than the pupae. Copper was also accumulated in the larvae, but it was excreted almost completely before the pupal stage. Elimination pathways of the trace metals during metamorphosis and the ecotoxicological consequences of trace metal transfer are discussed.     

Exudation of biologically-active metabolites in the sponge Aplysina fistularis

Specimens of the demosponge Aplysina fistularis forma fulva (Pallas) from the intertidal zone at La Jolla, California, USA, contain two antimicrobial metabolites, aerothionin (1) and homoaerothionin (2). Both metabolites are exuded into seawater. The rates of exudation into artificial seawater were measured under near in situ conditions (7.7x10^-4 g aerothionin min^-1 g^-1 dry weight of sponge) and in an aquarium (8.9x10^-3 g min^-1 g^-1) for undamaged sponges. Sponges responded to a simulated injury by exuding 10 to 100 times as much of these metabolites. The exudation of aerothionin and homoaerothionin may inhibit surface overgrowth by fouling organisms and tissue damage by mobile animals.Please address requests for reprints to Dr. J. E. Thompson