Fungal levels in houses in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant evacuation zone after the Great East Japan Earthquake

Residences located within 20 km of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant were evacuated shortly after the Great East Japan Earthquake. The levels of airborne and surface fungi were measured in six houses in the evacuation zone in August 2012 and February 2013. Airborne fungal levels in all of the houses in the summer were higher than the environmental standard levels for residential houses published in Architectural Institute of Japan (>1000 colony-forming units [CFU]/m³). In two houses whose residents rarely returned to visit, fungal levels were extremely high (>52,000 CFU/m³). Although fungal levels in the winter were much lower than those in the summer, they were still higher than environmental standard levels in several houses. Indoor fungal levels were significantly inversely related to the frequency with which residents returned, but they were not correlated with the air exchange rates, temperature, humidity, or radiation levels. Cladosporium spp. and Penicillium spp. were detected in every house. Aspergillus section Circumdati (Aspergillus ochraceus group) was also detected in several houses. These fungi produced ochratoxin A and ochratoxin B, which have nephrotoxic and carcinogenic potential. The present study suggests that further monitoring of fungal levels is necessary in houses in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant evacuation zone, and that some houses may require fungal disinfection.

Implications: The results suggest that residents’ health could be at risk owing to the high levels of airborne fungi and toxic fungi Aspergillus section Circumdati. Therefore, monitoring and decontamination/disinfection of fungi are strongly recommended before residents are allowed to return permanently to their homes. In addition, returning to home with a certain frequency and adequate ventilation are necessary during similar situations, e.g., when residents cannot stay in their homes for a long period, because fungal levels in houses in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant evacuation zone were inversely correlated with the frequency with which residents returned to visit their houses.     

土壤中重金属镉锌铅复合污染的研究

采用吸附与解吸实验及盆栽试验，研究了在重金属镉、锌、铅复合污染条件下，棕壤对重金属的吸附、解吸规律，以及菠菜吸收重金属的特点。结果表明：棕壤对铅、锌的吸附分别符合Ｌａｎｇｍｕｉｒ、Ｆｒｅｕｎｄｌｉｃｈ方程，对镉的吸附用Ｌａｎｇｍｕｉｒ、Ｆｒｅｕｎｄｌｉｃｈ及Ｔｅｍｋｉｎ方程回归都不显。重金属被吸附后的解吸率顺序为：Ｚｎ〉Ｃｄ〉Ｐｂ。Ｐｂ＾２＋与吸附位结合的牢固程度较单一污染时大，而Ｃｄ＾２＋和Ｚ     

大辽河流域环境变化卫星遥感监测研究

将中巴地球资源一号卫星（CBERS—1）采集到的数据与地面监测站、数据传输与处理系统、地理信息系（GIS）相结合，可以实现对区域环境准确、客观、动态、简捷、快速的监测。在全球定位系统（GPS）支持下，对大辽河流域精选地面解译标志，开展野外实地调查及CBERS-1卫星数据遥感分析，在系统设计与开发中坚持规范化、完备性、可操作性、先进性原则的基础上，建立了可运行的环境动态监测调控信息系统。     

Residence time effects on phase transformation of nanosilver in reduced soils

Residence time effects on phase transformation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) (15–50 nm, with and without polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coating) were investigated in reducing soils using experimental geochemistry and synchrotron-based x-ray techniques. After 30 days of anaerobic incubation, a substantial fraction of PVP-coated AgNPs (15 nm) were transformed into Ag₂S and or humic acid (HA) complexed Ag(I), whereas only the HA fraction was dominant in uncoated AgNPs (50 nm). Several investigations recently reported that sulfidation of AgNPs to Ag₂S was the predominant mechanism controlling the fate of AgNP in soil–water environments. However, this investigation showed each AgNP underwent particle-specific chemical transformations to different end compounds after 30 days. Considering the small contribution of Ag(I) dissolution from all AgNPs (less than 5 %), we concluded that changes in solid-state chemical speciation of sorbed AgNPs was promoted by particle-specific interactions of NPs in soil chemical constituents, suggesting a critical role of soil absorbents in predicting the fate of AgNPs in terrestrial environments.     

草灌混播在边坡绿化防护中的应用

边坡绿化防护是对人工开挖建设形成的各种坡面进行生态修复以及防止水土流失的一项重要措施。草、灌木混播应用于边坡防护与修复,较之于单一的草被措施,更有利于形成立体的、多样的植被结构,对边坡的稳定和美化有更好的效果。     

State of mixture of atmospheric submicrometer black carbon particles and its effect on particulate light absorption

The state of mixture of light-absorbing carbonaceous particles was investigated in relation to light absorption properties using electron microscopic examinations, black carbon (BC) analyses of quartz filter by thermal/optical reflectance (TOR) method, measurements with two continuous light-absorbing photometers at a suburban site of Tsukuba, about 60 km northeast of Tokyo. The volume fraction of water-soluble material (?) in individual particles is important for assessing particulate light-absorbing and/or scattering of atmospheric aerosols. The values of ? in BC particles were evaluated by electron micrographs before and after dialysis (extraction) of water-soluble material. The mass absorption coefficient (MAC in units of m² g^?1) tended to increase with increasing the average ? in BC particles with the radius range of 0.05–0.5 μm. Thus, our results indicate that coatings of water-soluble material around BC particles can enhance the absorption of solar radiation. Moreover, the single scattering albedo (SSA) will increase because a large amount of coating material will scatter more light.     

Investigation of the properties of the accidental release and explosion of liquefied dimethyl ether at a filling station

Dimethyl ether (DME) has been focused as a substitute for diesel fuel, and a number of studies have investigated engines fueled with DME because DME has a low auto-ignition temperature and does not generate particulate matter (PM). Therefore, in the last few years, the construction of DME filling stations for trucks in Japan has been planned. The introduction of DME vehicles requires expansion of DME supply stations, which in turn requires the collection of safety data and the establishment of safety regulations. The present paper describes an experimental investigation of the hypothetical scenario in which liquid DME is accidentally released and an explosion occurs. In the present study, large-scale leakage and ignition of DME were investigated and flame propagation data was obtained. We also measured the overpressure of the blast wave and the heat flux from the fireball. When the ignition position is near the nozzle, the flame propagation velocity is higher. The overpressure from the DME fireball is stronger than that from DME/air mixture deflagration. In summary, these results provide safety data for safety management of DME filling stations.     

Conducting Polyaniline and Biofuel Cell

Structure design of a photosynthetic-based biofuel cell and the fabrication processes to make it have been explored and developed. Novel nanostructure and modified polyaniline have been used to enhance the performance of the biofuel cell. The mechanism of the electron transfer process and the electrocatalysis of polyaniline have been investigated. Photosynthetic-based biofuel cells with a mA/cm² current density have been demonstrated.     

Species-specific and female host-biased ectophoresy in the roundworm Caenorhabditis japonica

Caenorhabditis japonica is a bacteriophagous nematode species that was discovered on the semi-social burrower bug, Parastrachia japonensis, which demonstrates egg-guarding and provisioning behaviors. To understand the life history of C. japonica in relation to P. japonensis, we demonstrated the specificity of this association and fluctuations in nematode number on the insect throughout the year. C. japonica dauer larvae (DL), larvae in a nonfeeding diapause stage, were predominantly found as clumps on the adult female insects but rarely found on the male insects in all populations examined. This female-biased association was consistent throughout the year, but after the nymphs hatched, nematodes were not detected on the mother insects showing provisioning behavior. DL appeared on the nymphs, and the number of DL on the newly emerged female insects gradually increased thereafter. C. japonica has never been detected on other invertebrates collected from the P. japonensis habitat thus far. Our data suggest that the life cycles of C. japonica and P. japonensis are synchronized.     

紫外光-氯联用污水消毒削弱拖尾程度的实验研究

研究了紫外光-氯联用消毒工艺削弱二级出水氯消毒拖尾程度.考察了紫外光-氯使用顺序、pH、氯投量、紫外光剂量等因素对氯消毒大肠杆菌动力学曲线的影响.SS浓度对"拖尾现象"有显著影响,降低SS浓度能够有效提高拖尾区灭活率.紫外光-氯联用消毒能提高一级反应区的灭活速率1.08～1.25倍,并将拖尾区灭活率提高2～2.5个对数级,二者存在明显协同作用.UV/HOCl方式效果优于HOCl/UV方式.降低pH,提高氯投量将加快一级反应区消毒速度而更快进入拖尾区.紫外光剂量变化对拖尾区开始时间没有显著影响.