Validation of Bacteroidales-based microbial source tracking markers for pig fecal pollution and their application in two rivers of North China

• Pig feces is the predominant excrement produced by animal husbandry in China. • The PF, Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan, and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan MST assays showed better performance. • The pig-specific MST assays can contribute to managing the pig fecal pollution. In China, pig feces is the predominant source of excrement produced by animal husbandry. Improper use or direct discharge of pig feces can result in contamination of natural water systems. Microbial source tracking (MST) technology can identify the sources of fecal pollution in environmental water, and contribute to the management of pig fecal pollution by local environmental protection agencies. However, the accuracy of such assays can be context-dependent, and they have not been comprehensively evaluated under Chinese conditions. We aimed to compare the performance of five previously reported pig-specific MST assays (PF, Pig-Bac1^SYBR, Pig-Bac2^SYBR, Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan, and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan, which are based on Bacteroidales 16S rRNA gene markers) and apply them in two rivers of North China. We collected a total of 173 fecal samples from pigs, cows, goats, chickens, humans, and horses across China. The PF assay optimized in this study showed outstanding qualitative performance and achieved 100% specificity and sensitivity. However, the two SYBR green qPCR assays (Pig-Bac1^SYBR and Pig-Bac2^SYBR) cross-reacted with most non-pig fecal samples. In contrast, both the Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assays gave 100% specificity and sensitivity. Of these, the Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assay showed higher reproducibility. Our results regarding the specificity of these pig-specific MST assays differ from those reported in Thailand, Japan, and America. Using the PF and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assays, a field test comparing the levels of pig fecal pollution in rivers near a pig farm before and after comprehensive environmental pollution governance indicated that pig fecal pollution was effectively controlled at this location.     

Metabolic uncoupler, 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide addition for sludge reduction and fouling control in a gravity-driven membrane bioreactor

• Effects of metabolic uncoupler TCS on the performances of GDMBR were evaluated. • Sludge EPS reduced and transformed into dissolved SMP when TCS was added. • Appropriate TCS increased the permeability and reduced cake layer fouling. • High dosage aggravated fouling due to compact cake layer with low bio-activity. The gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (MBR)system is promising for decentralized sewage treatment because of its low energy consumption and maintenance requirements. However, the growing sludge not only increases membrane fouling, but also augments operational complexities (sludge discharge). We added the metabolic uncoupler 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) to the system to deal with the mentioned issues. Based on the results, TCS addition effectively decreased sludge ATP and sludge yield (reduced by 50%). Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS; proteins and polysaccharides) decreased with the addition of TCS and were transformed into dissolved soluble microbial products (SMPs) in the bulk solution, leading to the break of sludge flocs into small fragments. Permeability was increased by more than two times, reaching 60–70 L/m²/h bar when 10–30 mg/L TCS were added, because of the reduced suspended sludge and the formation of a thin cake layer with low EPS levels. Resistance analyses confirmed that appropriate dosages of TCS primarily decreased the cake layer and hydraulically reversible resistances. Permeability decreased at high dosage (50 mg/L) due to the release of excess sludge fragments and SMP into the supernatant, with a thin but more compact fouling layer with low bioactivity developing on the membrane surface, causing higher cake layer and pore blocking resistances. Our study provides a fundamental understanding of how a metabolic uncoupler affects the sludge and bio-fouling layers at different dosages, with practical relevance for in situ sludge reduction and membrane fouling alleviation in MBR systems.     

N2 fixation in urbanization area rivers: spatial-temporal variations and influencing factors

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - While nitrogen (N2) fixation is an important process in nitrogen (N) biogeochemical cycling, supplying a significant portion of the N in natural...     

Effects of rainfall on surface environment and morphological characteristics in the Loess Plateau

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Slope failure is a one of major process that causes severe landform variation and environment variation, and slope failure has become a major hidden...     

Effects of reciprocal hybridization on cadmium accumulation in F1 hybrids of two Solanum photeinocarpum ecotypes

In this study, farmland and mining ecotypes of Solanum photeinocarpum (a potential cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator plant) were reciprocally hybridized each other, and the Cd accumulation characteristics of the F1 hybrids were studied. In pot experiments, higher biomasses and Cd extraction abilities were found for two S. photeinocarpum F1 hybrids than for the parents, but the Cd contents in various organs were lower in the hybrids than the parents. However, the differences between the Cd contents in the two hybrids were not significant. The antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) activities were higher for the S. photeinocarpum F1 hybrids than the parents. Less DNA methylation was found in the hybrids than the parents because more demethylation occurred in the hybrids than the parents. The biomass, Cd content, and Cd extraction ability effects in field experiments were similar to the effects in the pot experiments. It was concluded that reciprocally hybridizing different S. photeinocarpum ecotypes improved the ability of S. photeinocarpum to be used to phytoremediate contaminated land.

     

我国生态环境保护重大工程项目管理制度现状及存在的问题

生态环境重大工程项目是中国生态环境保护规划实施的重要抓手,工程实施与管理的科学性和可行性是提高资金使用效率和确保项目发挥环境效益的关键,因此,系统构建生态环境保护重大工程项目管理制度具有必要性和现实意义。结合国家现行政策,在实际调研的基础上,梳理了现有生态环境保护重大工程项目管理制度,分析了地方重大工程项目管理现状,识别了目前生态环境保护重大工程项目管理的存在问题,据此提出了完善生态环境保护重大工程项目制度的建议框架,以期为实现新时代生态环境保护目标提供支撑。     

场开挖爆破粉尘粒度分布特征杨房沟水电站料∗

通过分析杨房沟水电站料场开挖爆破粉尘的粒度分布特征,为改进爆破降尘工艺提供粉尘粒度学依据。在料场爆破区、工作平盘、出入沟、最终边帮等处采集粉尘样品,采用激光粒度分布仪测试粉尘样品的分散度;以粉尘粒度分布数据拟合分布函数,表明爆破粉尘的粒度分布函数呈现对数正态分布特征;与经典的罗森·拉姆勒(Rosin?Rammler)分布函数模型对比分析表明,对数正态分布函数用于描述爆破粉尘的粒度分布更加准确。基于对数正态分布函数模型,厘定爆破粉尘粒度分布参数,分析TSP、PM10、PM5、PM2.5及PM1粉尘占全尘的比例,定量表达爆破粉尘粒度分布特征。结果表明：杨房沟水电站料场爆破粉尘具有显著的对数正态分布特征;离爆破中心距离越远,粒度分布范围越窄,对人体有害粉尘占比越大;建议采用爆破粉尘捕捉吸附技术、掺和湿润性抑尘剂的水雾喷洒等降尘措施。     

基于GOCI数据的太湖叶绿素a浓度反演和蓝藻水华遥感监测

太湖蓝藻水华是广为关注的环境问题,迫切需要实现蓝藻水华的动态监测。利用静止轨道海洋水色遥感器(GOCI)遥感数据构建了太湖叶绿素a反演的三波段模型,使用归一化植被覆盖指数(NDVI)进行蓝藻水华监测,并进行了富营养化评价。结果表明:(1)三波段模型优于波段比值模型,可以用于GOCI遥感数据反演太湖叶绿素a浓度。(2)2019年6月3日太湖叶绿素a大致呈湖心和西部浓度低,北部和西南沿岸浓度高的空间分布;从10:15至15:15,叶绿素a浓度先升高后降低。(3)竺山湖和椒山周边水域水华聚集情况较为严重,是当天重度水华的主要发生区域;水华的时间变化规律同叶绿素a浓度变化规律一致。(4)对2019年4月和6月的GOCI遥感数据进行富营养化评价发现,太湖富营养化水平总体呈西部高东部低、北部高南部低、边缘高中间低的趋势;6月较4月富营养化水平明显加剧。     

浅埋富含水砂层盾构下穿敏感性建筑水平冻结+短钢箱接收技术∗

盾构始发与接收是盾构法隧道施工的关键风险点,以常州地铁1号线一期工程博爱路站-常州火车站区间下行线盾构接收工程为例,隧道下穿常州火车站站厅,隧道顶部距地下大厅结构底板仅3.75 m,受地面条件限制采用水平冻结加固方式。通过对冻结温度场、卸压孔压力及车站底板隆起进行跟踪监测与分析,结果表明:受地下水影响温度下降缓慢,车站底板因冻胀隆起较大,最大隆起处位于隧道端头中心线处约为46 mm,且底板隆起值与测点温度的变化密切相关;为防止温度低引起冻胀过大造成上部结构破坏,采取在冻结壁外围适度卸水进行卸压措施;在冻结壁交圈但厚度尚未完全达到冻结设计要求情况下,提出加装短钢箱装置进行盾构接收。实践表明,适度卸压水平冻结+加装短钢箱接收方式密封止水效果良好,安全可靠,可为今后类似工程提供可行技术。