Fraction characteristics of rare earth elements in the surface sediment of Bohai Bay, North China

Surface sediment samples were collected at 27 stations of Bohai Bay, North China. Sequential extractions were carried out in this study. REE were leached out from four labile fractions: Exchangeable (L1), bound to carbonates (L2), bound to Fe–Mn oxides (L3), bound to organic matter (L4), and the remainder was residual (R5). The total contents of REE fluctuate slightly in Bohai Bay, and are mainly concentrated in the middle region, showing relatively higher levels in the north than that in the south of Bohai Bay. Percentages of L1, L2, L3, L4, and R5 for REE suggest that the residual fraction accounts for the major component of REE, whereas Fe–Mn oxides also play important roles in combining labile REE. As the REE complex is not stabilized, the competition of complex could induce dissociation of the complex and redistribution of the REE in various environments. According to REE patterns and Y/Ho ratios of samples, REE are not anthropogenic or oceanic sources but riverine input, whereas suitable environment varieties can slightly affect the patterns and fractionations of REE. As powerful tracers for the variable of environment, higher anomaly of Eu and Ce in southern regions indicates a greater reduction in the condition of surface sediment in the south than that in the north of Bohai Bay.     

Comparative assessments of VOC emission rates and associated health risks from wastewater treatment processes

With the growing concern regarding emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the relationship between the VOC emission rates and the associated public health risks has been rarely discussed. The objective of this study was to examine and compare the VOC emission rates and cancer and non-cancer risks by inhalation intake, using a municipal WWTP in China as an example, with respect to the effects of treatment technologies, VOC species, and seasonal variation. Given the treatment technology considered, the emission rates of VOCs in this study were estimated by means of mass balance or calculated on the molecular level. From the viewpoints of both emission rates and cancer and non-cancer risks, sedimentation was the treatment technology with the highest health risks to the workers. Slightly lower VOC emission rates and health risks than those for sedimentation were observed in anaerobic treatment. Although the aeration significantly enhanced the VOC emission rates in the aerobic treatment process, the associated health risks were limited due to the low VOC concentrations in the gas phase, which were likely attributed to the strong mixing and dilution with fresh air by aeration. Amongst the VOCs investigated, benzene was the VOC with both a relatively high emission rate and health risk, while trichloroethylene possessed a high emission rate but the lowest health risk. Without strong interfacial aeration and turbulence between the water and atmosphere, the effects of treatment technology and seasonal variation on the health risks might be connected to the VOC emission rates, while the effect of VOC species depended considerably on the respective cancer slope factors and reference concentrations; the employment of aeration provided a different conclusion in which the emission rates were enhanced without a significant increase in the related cancer risks. These findings can provide insight into future health risk management and reduction strategies for workers in WWTPs.     

Removal of organic toxic chemicals using the spent mushroom compost of Ganoderma lucidum

The removal of the organic toxic chemicals di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), nonylphenol (NP), and bisphenol-A (BPA) by laccase obtained from the spent mushroom compost (SMC) of the white rot fungi, Ganoderma lucidum, was investigated. The optimal conditions for the extraction of laccase from SMC required using sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.0, solid : solution ratio 1 : 5), and extraction over 3 h at 4 °C. The removal of NP was enhanced by adding CuSO(4) (1 mM), MnSO(4) (0.5 mM), tartaric acid (20 mM), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS; 1 mM), and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT; 20 mg L(-1)), with ABTS yielding a higher NP removal efficiency than the other additives. At a concentration of 2 mg L(-1), DBP, DEHP, NP, and BPA were almost entirely removed by laccase after incubation for 1 day. The removal efficiencies, in descending order of magnitude, were DBP > BPA > NP > DEHP. We believe that these findings could provide useful information for improving the efficiency of the removal of organic toxic chemicals in the environment.     

高氯低COD值水样的无汞快速测定法

以硝酸银和硫酸铬钾代替硫酸汞来消除 COD 测定中的氯离子干扰,同时将重铬酸钾溶液的浓度降低为0.100 mol／L,并用硫磷混酸代替硫酸,该方法经过对标准样品和实际样品的测定,表现出对于测定氯离子含量低于25000 mg／L的高氯低 COD 值水样具有较好的准确度和精密度,同时可以实现银盐的回收再利用。     

广安市城区2010年上半年酸雨频率较高的成因分析

通过对广安市城区近几年及2010年上半年大气降水监测结果的分析,结合当地地形地貌、污染源排放等影响因素,初步分析了火电厂排污对广安市酸雨的贡献以及可能造成该市城区酸雨发生频率较高的原因,并提出了改善大气环境质量、缓解酸雨污染的对策建议。     

香烟燃烧排放的主流烟气中PAHs的含量检测研究

研究10种不同价格香烟燃烧烟气的多环芳烃(PAHs)含量特征,结果表明,每种香烟烟气都含有多环芳烃,但是含量差别较大,平均值为405.405ng/g。在检测出来的多环芳烃中,主要是以2,3环多环芳烃为主,占据的比例达到80%左右。因此香烟烟气中的多环芳烃应该引起人们的广泛关注。     

Investigating the spatial distribution of phototrophic picoplankton in a tropical estuary

We sampled extensively (29 stations) at the Klang estuarine system over a 3-day scientific expedition. We measured physical and chemical variables (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, dissolved inorganic nutrients) and related them to the spatial distribution of phototrophic picoplankton (Ppico). Multivariate analysis of variance of the physicochemical variables showed the heterogeneity of the Klang estuarine system where the stations at each transect were significantly different (Rao’s F _{18, 36}?=?8.401, p?<?0.001). Correlation analyses also showed that variables related to Ppico abundance and growth were mutually exclusive. Distribution of Ppico was best explained by the physical mixing between freshwater and seawater whereas Ppico growth was correlated with temperature.     

石家庄市冬季大气中VOCs污染特征分析

为弄清石家庄市冬季大气中VOCs的污染特征,采用美国环保局TO-15方法对石家庄市冬季大气中VOCs组成进行了定性和定量分析。在此基础上,进行了VOCs的月度变化分析、春节期间的变化分析,并进行了VOCs与空气质量指数AQI、PM2.5等之间的相关性分析;根据VOCs组成及变化情况和相关性,分析了其可能的来源。结果表明,石家庄市冬季大气中VOCs的质量浓度为145.7~1 410.7μg/m3,VOCs组分主要有丙酮、二氯甲烷、苯、乙酸乙酯、甲苯、1,2-二氯丙烷、三氯甲烷。春节期间,大气中VOCs的浓度有大幅的下降,比日常均值下降了40.9%。AQI较高时,大气中VOCs浓度有所升高。石家庄市冬季大气中丙酮、二氯甲烷、乙酸乙酯等主要来源于医药化工生产活动,苯、甲苯主要来源于煤燃烧。     

离子色谱法测定PM_(2.5)中硫酸根离子含量不确定度评议

准确测定大气颗粒物中水溶性组份对分析污染物来源及身体健康具有重要意义。本文采用离子色谱法测定PM2.5中硫酸根离子含量,并对测定的不确定度进行分析。分析过程不确定度来源是样品重复性测量引入不确定度,样品测量准确性引入不确定度和标准曲线的不确定度。应用不确定度评定理论,计算硫酸根离子的合成不确定度。结果表明,滤膜中硫酸根离子本底浓度高低与剪裁滤膜环节是不确定度的主要来源。为了提高分析的准确性,建议使用本底低的滤膜,并取整张滤膜进行分析。