The linear accumulation of atmospheric mercury by vegetable and grass leaves: Potential biomonitors for atmospheric mercury pollution

One question in the use of plants as biomonitors for atmospheric mercury (Hg) is to confirm the linear relationships of Hg concentrations between air and leaves. To explore the origin of Hg in the vegetable and grass leaves, open top chambers (OTCs) experiment was conducted to study the relationships of Hg concentrations between air and leaves of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The influence of Hg in soil on Hg accumulation in leaves was studied simultaneously by soil Hg-enriched experiment. Hg concentrations in grass and vegetable leaves and roots were measured in both experiments. Results from OTCs experiment showed that Hg concentrations in leaves of the four species were significantly positively correlated with those in air during the growth time (p?<?0.05), while results from soil Hg-enriched experiment indicated that soil-borne Hg had significant influence on Hg accumulation in the roots of each plant (p?<?0.05), and some influence on vegetable leaves (p?<?0.05), but no significant influence on Hg accumulation in grass leaves (p?>?0.05). Thus, Hg in grass leaves is mainly originated from the atmosphere, and grass leaves are more suitable as potential biomonitors for atmospheric Hg pollution. The effect detection limits (EDLs) for the leaves of alfalfa and ryegrass were 15.1 and 22.2 ng g^–1, respectively, and the biological detection limit (BDL) for alfalfa and ryegrass was 3.4 ng m^–3.     

Synthesis of iron composites on nano-pore substrates: Identification and its application to removal of cyanide

Two types of nano-pore substrates, waste-reclaimed (WR) and soil mineral (SM) with the relatively low density, were modified by the reaction with irons (i.e. Fe(II):Fe(III) = 1:2) and the applicability of the modified substrates (i.e. Fe-WR and Fe-SM) on cyanide removal was investigated. Modification (i.e. Fe immobilization on substrate) decreased the BET surface area and PZC of the original substrates while it increased the pore diameter and the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of them. XRD analysis identified that maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) and iron silicate composite ((Mg, Fe)SiO₃) existed on Fe-WR, while clinoferrosilite (FeSiO₃) was identified on Fe-SM. Cyanide adsorption showed that WR adsorbed cyanide more favorably than SM. The adsorption ability of both original substrates was enhanced by the modification, which increased the negative charges of the surfaces. Without the pH adjustment, cyanide was removed as much as 97% by the only application of Fe-WR, but the undesirable transfer to hydrogen cyanide was possible because the pH was dropped to around 7.5. With a constant pH of 12, only 54% of cyanide was adsorbed on Fe-WR. On the other hand, the pH was kept as 12 without adjustment in Fe-WR/H₂O₂ system and cyanide was effectively removed by not only adsorption but also the catalytic oxidation. The observed first-order rate constant (k_obs) for cyanide removal were 0.49 (±0.081) h⁻¹. Moreover, the more cyanate production with the modified substrates indicated the iron composites, especially maghemite, on substrates had the catalytic property to increase the reactivity of H₂O₂.     

生物标志物在水源地风险评价中的作用与展望

针对肿瘤高发区饮用水污染和南水北调水质的风险评价问题,提出了可用生物标志物检测水中的“环境诱变剂量”来作为评价水体中有毒有害污染物潜在遗传危害的综合指标。简要介绍了生物标志物在国内外的研究动态及其在环境监测、环境风险评价中的应用前景。     

Pollution of intensively managed greenhouse soils by nutrients and heavy metals in the Yellow River Irrigation Region,Northwest China

The present study aimed to assess the potential ecological risk of heavy metals and nutrient accumulation in polytunnel greenhouse soils in the Yellow River irrigation region (YRIR), Northwest China, and to identify the potential sources of these heavy metals using principal component analysis. Contents of available nitrogen (AN), phosphorus (AP), and potassium (AK) in the surface polytunnel greenhouse soils (0–20 cm) varied from 13.42 to 486.78, from 39.10 to 566.97, and from 21.64 to 1,156.40 mg kg^?1, respectively, as well as AP, soil organic matter (SOM) and AK contents tended to increase significantly at the 0–20- and 20–40-cm soil layers. Heavy metal accumulations occurred in the polytunnel greenhouse soils as compared to arable soils, especially at a depth of 20 cm where Cd, Zn and Cu contents were significantly higher than arable soil. Cd and As were found to be the two main polluting elements in the greenhouse soils because their contents exceeded the thresholds established for greenhouse vegetable production HJ333-2006 in China and the background of Gansu province. It has been shown that Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn at the 0–20-cm soil layer were derived mainly from agricultural production activities, whereas contents of Cr and Ni at the same soil layer were determined by ‘natural’ factors and As originated from natural sources, deposition and irrigation water.     

Natural and anthropogenic influences on a red-crowned crane habitat in the Yellow River Delta Natural Reserve, 1992–2008

This study aims to assess the relative importance of natural and anthropogenic variables on the change of the red-crowned crane habitat in the Yellow River Nature Reserve, East China using multitempopral remote sensing and geographic information system. Satellite images were used to detect the change in potential crane habitat, from which suitable crane habitat was determined by excluding fragmented habitat. In this study, a principal component analysis (PCA) with seven variables (channel flow, rainfall, temperature, sediment discharge, number of oil wells, total length of roads, and area of settlements) and linear regression analyses of potential and suitable habitat against the retained principal components were applied to explore the influences of natural and anthropogenic factors on the change of the red-crowned crane habitat. The experimental results indicate that suitable habitat decreased by 5,935 ha despite an increase of 1,409 ha in potential habitat from 1992 to 2008. The area of crane habitat changed caused by natural drivers such as progressive succession, retrogressive succession, and physical fragmentation is almost the same as that caused by anthropogenic forces such as land use change and behavioral fragmentation. The PCA and regression analyses revealed that natural factors (e.g., channel flow, rainfall, temperature, and sediment discharge) play an important role in the crane potential habitat change and human disturbances (e.g., oil wells, roads, and settlements) jointly explain 51.8 % of the variations in suitable habitat area, higher than 48.2 % contributed by natural factors. Thus, it is vital to reduce anthropogenic influences within the reserve in order to reverse the decline in the suitable crane habitat.     

基于权重敏感度分布研究太湖有机磷农药单一和复合风险

基于实验室能得到的有限毒性数据的物种敏感度分布法(species sensitivity distribution, SSD)很难充分代表特定区域生态系统的物种分布,需要采用考虑生物区系特征进行赋予权重的物种敏感度分布法(weighted species sensitivity distribution,WSSD)。基于太湖物种组成构建WSSD,使用最大累积率(maximum cumulative ratio, MCR)(含风险商法(hazard quotient, HQ))和概率风险评价法(probabilistic risk assessment, PRA)对太湖地区单一和混合有机磷农药的风险进行研究。结果表明,相对于传统SSD方法,加权SSD方法计算的风险商大,且5%生物受影响的概率更大。单一风险评价中,敌敌畏和乐果5%生物受影响的概率超过40%,需要优先控制;最大累积率表明,敌敌畏是复合风险的主要贡献者,单一风险评价中风险较小的马拉硫磷和对硫磷也对复合风险贡献较大,复合暴露风险评价是必要的,混合物的风险商>1,5%生物受复合暴露影响的概率高达90%,有机磷农药复合生态风险不容忽视。     

《生态文明理念和发展方略》述评

曲格平撰写的《生态文明理念和发展方略》重点阐述了生态文明的重要性,深刻揭示了生态文明的必然性,提出了中国生态文明建设的路径和发展方略,启示我们要更加深刻地认识生态文明的重要现实意义和历史必然性,进一步提高贯彻落实科学发展观的自觉性,努力开辟具有中国特色的人与自然和谐发展的道路,开创环保工作的"战略反攻"的新阶段,积极发展环境科技,培养大批高素质环保科技人才。     

活性炭和沸石对氨氮的吸附特性及生物再生

采用活性炭和沸石作为吸附材料,分别考察了这两种吸附材料对水体中氨氮的吸附特性及其生物再生性能。实验结果表明,活性炭和沸石对水体中氨氮的等温吸附符合Freundlich等温式,其拟合度分别为0.9783和0.9303;静态吸附结果表明活性炭和沸石均具有较好的氨氮吸附性能,24 h内沸石对氨氮的吸附能力为1.27 mg/g,高于活性炭的0.53 mg/g;动态吸附中沸石达到吸附饱和的时间为96 h,较活性炭达到吸附饱和的时间长,沸石显示出作为氨氮吸附剂的优越性;活性炭和沸石经过96 h的生物再生后吸附性能获得一定程度的再生,出水中氨氮浓度比未进行生物再生前分别降低17.31 mg/L和8.32 mg/L,且都在表面形成了稳定的生物膜。     

混凝沉淀法深度处理酒精废水

采用混凝沉淀法对酒精废水进行深度处理实验及放大应用研究。结果表明,混凝剂种类、投加量、pH值及沉降时间对处理效果都起着重要作用。通过正交实验确定最优化组合,即聚合硫酸铝投加量为60mg／L,pH为8．0左右,沉降时间为90min条件下,废水COD去除率达41．91％;浊度去除率达46．15％;NH3-N去除率达49．61％。混凝沉淀法处理酒精废水可有效减轻后续膜处理工艺负荷,有助于提高回用水质。     

Analysis of injury mechanism of the elderly and non-elderly groups in minor motor vehicle accidents

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the injury patterns of noncatastrophic accidents by individual age groups.

Methods: Data were collected from the Korean In-Depth Accident Study database based on actual accident investigation. The noncatastrophic criteria were classified according to U.S. experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for field triage guidelines of high-risk automobile crash criteria by vehicle intrusions more than 12 in. on occupant sites (including the roof) and more than 18 in. on any site. The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) was used to determine injury patterns for each body region. Severely injured patients were classified as Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) 3 or higher.

Results: In this study, the most significant injury regions were the head and neck, extremities, and thorax. In addition, the incidence of severe injury among elderly patients was nearly 1.6 times higher than that of non-elderly patients. According to age group, injured body regions among the elderly were the thorax, head and neck, and extremities, in that order. For the non-elderly groups, these were head and neck, extremities, and thorax. Severe injury rates were slightly different for the elderly group (head and neck, abdomen) and non-elderly group (thorax, head and neck).

Conclusions: In both age groups, the rate of severe injury is proportional to an increase in crush extent zone. Front airbag deployment may have a relatively significant relationship to severe injuries.