Ethnicity,housing and personal factors as determinants of VOC exposures

Previous studies investigating effects of personal, demographic, housing and other factors on exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOC) have focused on mean or median exposures, and generally not the high exposures that are of great interest. This paper identifies determinants of personal VOC exposures on a quantile-specific basis using a nationally representative sample. The NHANES 1999–2000 VOC dataset was merged with personal, demographic, housing, smoking and occupation variables. Bivariate analyses tested for differences in geometric means and quantiles across levels of potential exposure determinants. Multivariate sample-weighted ordinary least-squares (OLS) and quantile regression (QR) models were then used to adjust for covariates. We identify a number of exposure determinants, most of which varied by exposure quantile. The most striking finding was the much higher exposures experienced by Hispanics and Blacks for aromatic VOCs (BTEX: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes), methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB). Exposure to gasoline, paints or glues, and having a machine-related occupation also were associated with extremely high BTEX and MTBE exposures. Additional determinants included the presence of attached garages and open windows, which affected exposures of BTEX (especially at lower quantiles) and MTBE (especially at higher quantiles). Smoking also increased BTEX exposures. DCB was associated with air freshener use, and PERC with dry-cleaned clothing. After adjusting for demographic, personal and housing factors, age and gender were not significant predictors of exposure. The use of QR in conjunction with OLS yields a more complete picture of exposure determinants, and identifies subpopulations and heterogeneous exposure groups in which some individuals experience very elevated exposures and which are not well represented by changes in the mean. The high exposures of Hispanics and Blacks are perplexing and disturbing, and they warrant further investigation.     

Plant Communities,Soil Carbon,and Soil Nitrogen Properties in a Successional Gradient of Sub-Alpine Meadows on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau of China

To assess the recovery trajectory and self-maintenance of restored ecosystems, a successional gradient (1, 3, 5, 15, and 30 years after abandonment) was established in a sub-alpine meadow of the eastern Tibetan Plateau in China. Plant communities and soil carbon and nitrogen properties were investigated and analyzed. Regression analyses were used to assess the models (linear or quadratic) relating measures of species richness, soil carbon and nitrogen properties to fallow time. We found that species richness (S) increased over the first 20 years but decreased thereafter, and aboveground biomass showed a linear increase along the fallow time gradient. The richness of different functional groups (forb, grass and legume) changed little along the fallow time gradient, but their corresponding above ground biomass showed the U-shaped, humped or linear pattern. Soil microbial carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) in the upper 20 cm showed a U-shaped pattern along the fallow time gradient. However, soil organic carbon (C_org) and total nitrogen (TN) in the soil at depth greater than 20 cm showed significant patterns of linear decline along the fallow time gradient. The threshold models of species richness reflected best the recovery over the 15 year fallow period. These results indicated that fallow time had a greater influence on development of the plant community than soil processes in abandoned fields in sub-alpine meadow ecosystem. These results also suggested that although the succession process did not significantly increase soil C, an increase in microbial biomass at the latter stage of succession could promote the decomposability of plant litter. Therefore, abandoned fields in sub-alpine meadow ecosystem may have a high resilience and strong rehabilitating capability under natural recovery condition.     

嗜碱细菌降解木质素的复合碳源共代谢研究Ⅰ——复合碳源组合方式及氮源的选择

研究在碱性液体培养条件 (pH =1 0 .5)下 ,不同碳源组合方式对嗜碱木质素降解菌产酶及降解麦草木质素的降解率的影响。研究结果表明 ,在蔗糖 (第一碳源 ) +麦草木质素 (第二碳源 )的组合方式下 ,并将硝酸铵作为氮源且碳氮比为 1 :1 .2时 ,该菌株的产酶及降解能力效果理想。     

面波的尾波衰减经验关系和震级

从南京地震台DK - 1中长周期地震记录 ,取得地震面波的尾波地动双振幅A随尾波推移时间τ(自图上P波起算 )的衰减关系 ,并以MS(PEK)震级标度为基准 ,定义面波的尾波震级MSC=0 88lgAH+1 51lgτH+0 73 =0 86lgAZ+1 47lgτZ+0 76 ,尾波的多点测量改善了MSC的精度 ,震级标准差S=0 1 2。     

三峡库区消落带富营养化及其危害预测和防治

三峡水库蓄水运行后将出现一个落差达30 m的永久消落带。消落带是水域生态系统与岸上陆地生态系统的交替控制地带,该地带具有生物的多样性、人类活动的频繁性和生态的脆弱性,随着人类活动的影响,已成为湖岸带中生态最脆弱的地带。由于工业和生活用水污染以及水体自净能力下降,消落区富营养化相关物质（如氮和磷）污染会进一步加剧。因此,必须针对库区消落带地区的特殊情况,选择适当的模式对消落带进行超前环境整治和保护,实现三峡库区生态系统的恢复和重建。     

节能减排,政府先行

伴随着经济高速增长而来的环境危机和资源短缺,节能减排已成为席卷全球的新浪潮。新兴国家,诸如印度、中国和巴西等如此,即便是像挪威、卢森堡、德国等这样的发达国家同样也紧锣密鼓,力求在这轮低碳经济的竞争中占据有利地形。     

金属离子对有机垃圾两相厌氧系统中UASB处理效果的促进作用

在"水解溶出 UASB反应器"处理城镇有机垃圾的两相厌氧系统中,向UASB反应器进水中添加K、Mg、Fe、Co、Ni 5种金属离子的组合促进剂,通过对UASB反应器容积负荷、产气量、产甲烷量在添加组合促进剂前后的比较,研究了组合促进剂(K、Mg、Fe、Co、Ni)对有机垃圾浸出液厌氧消化过程的促进作用.试验结果表明,添加组合促进剂后,反应器的平均容积负荷从12.89 kg COD/m3·d提高到17.79 kg COD/m3·d;平均污泥负荷从0.82 kg COD/kg VSS·d提高到1.07 kg COD/kg VSS·d.此外,平均每千克COD产气量为392.5 L,比添加组合促进剂之前增大了6.4%;而平均每千克COD产甲烷量为297.5 L,比添加组合促进剂之前增大了10.5%.对于氨氮、挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)、pH及碱度来说,在添加组合促进剂之后则无大的变化.     

pH值和碳氮比对亚硝酸型反硝化影响的研究

利用序批式反应器中长期驯化好的以亚硝酸盐为主要基质的纯种污泥,做锥形瓶实验,分别研究pH和碳氮比对亚硝酸型反硝化的影响。结果表明,亚硝酸型反硝化适宜的pH范围在7.7～8.6,最佳pH值在8.2左右;碳氮比（C/N）大于1.94,可实现连续稳定的脱氮效果,起始亚硝氮比基质降解速率随C/N的增加而增加,大于3.11速率几乎不再增加,通过动力学分析,得出该实验条件下C/N的饱和常数Ks为9.36。     

我国华北地区湿地生态需水量研究探讨与应用实例

我国华北地区湿地通常处于缺水状态.当湿地分别为"资源型缺水"和"水质型缺水"时,目前常用的几种生态需水量估算方法的适用范围是不同的.水量平衡法是较通用的方法;而水量损失法和最低水位法主要适用于资源型缺水;物质平衡法和逐年环境改良法则主要应用于污染型缺水的情况.针对不同的情况可以选取相应的估算方法.本文应用不同估算方法,对河北保定白洋淀湿地和北京顺义杨镇湿地的生态需水量进行了估算,通过估算结果间的比较,反映出白洋淀湿地面临的污染问题更严重,而杨镇湿地更亟需解决的是资源型缺水问题,使其补偿措施更有针对性,能更好地协调人与湿地生态环境问的关系.     

双室和单室微生物燃料电池的研究及比较

微生物燃料电池(MFC)可分为双室和单室燃料电池.简述了双室和单室MFC的工作机制,综述了双室MFC中阳极(材料)、阴极(材料)、分割材料和单室MFC中"二合一"、"三合一"型以及无膜型电池的特点,比较并分析了双室和单室MFC在构型上的优缺点,以及两者在内阻、功率密度和库仑效率等方面产生差异的原因,展望了MFC的发展前景.