Presence of Torque Teno Virus (TTV) in Tap Water in Public Schools from Southern Brazil

Torque teno virus (TTV) was surveyed in tap water collected in schools from three municipalities located in the south of Brazil. TTV genomes were found in 11.7 % (4/34) of the samples. TTV DNA was detected in 10.5 % (2/19) of the samples collected at the city of Caxias do Sul and in 25 % (2/8) of the samples from Pelotas. Those cities have a low rate of sewage treatment. All samples from Santa Cruz do Sul, which has nearly 92 % of its sewage treated, were negative. These results suggest that the amount of sewage treated may have an effect on the detection rates of TTV DNA in drinking water in a given urban area, showing a mild negative correlation (r = ?0.76), when comparing the percentage of sewage treatment to the detection of TTV genomes. The detection rate of TTV was also compared with Escherichia coli, showing a strong correlation (r = 0.97), indicating that TTV may be a suitable marker of fecal contamination.     

试论天津市农业污染防治地方环境标准的制定

文章通过对当前天津市农业源污染现状的分析,阐明了天津市农业污染防治地方环境标准制定的意义与必要性。在研究了国家、环境保护部及地方关于农业源水环境污染防治标准制定现状的基础上,进一步结合天津市农业源污染的实际情况,有针对性地提出天津市农业污染防治地方环境标准研究与制定工作的具体建议,以及对标准实施方面的一些看法。     

呼和浩特市工业料堆扬尘排放清单研究

颗粒物污染是影响中国城市空气质量的首要因素。工业料堆扬尘是城市大气颗粒物污染的主要来源之一。本文通过对呼和浩特市建成区内典型行业风蚀、作业及交通运输扬尘进行采样分析,应用美国AP-42提供的模型,以2006年作为基准年,建立了呼和浩特市工业料堆排放清单。研究结果表明:呼和浩特市建成区内工业料堆扬尘排放量为TSP:5 305 t/a,PM10:1 012 t/a,PM2.5:267 t/a。从空间分布看玉泉区工业料堆扬尘排放量最大,其次是赛罕区。行业分布上排放最大的行业是建材工业,其次是电力热力工业,最少的是化工工业。在各行业类别的工业料堆排放量中,交通运输扬尘排放量是最大的。     

超临界反应的应用

采用环境友好的溶剂在超临界状态下进行的化学反应,能加快化学反应速率,提高反应的产率和选择性,方便地实现反应分离过程的一体化,该技术以其独特的优越性获得了广泛研究与关注。笔者简述了近年来超临界反应在石油化工、环境保护、生物柴油制备领域的应用。     

用H-Kappa方法反演龙门山断裂带及其邻区的莫霍面深度及波速比分布

利用龙门山断裂带及其邻近地区地震台站的远震波形记录,采用时间域迭代反褶积技术求取接收函数,并用多次反射波能量扫描求极大值和波形叠加反演的方法(H-Kappa方法)计算出台站下方的莫霍面深度和波速比。结果显示:莫霍面位于扬子地台西缘部分向西侧倾斜缓降,深度在40～48 km变化,地壳平均波速比值为1.81;都江堰、汶川、耿达一带处在龙门山推覆体范围之内的莫霍面起伏变化不大,深度在45 km左右,地壳平均波速比值为1.707 5;龙门山断裂带西侧的松潘—甘孜地块的平均地壳波速比为1.76,莫霍面深度南面部分比北面深约10 km,呈南深北浅状。     

安徽省TJ-Ⅱ型钻孔体应变同震效应分析

描述了安徽省地震局"十一五"期间安装的5套钻孔体应变仪的地质构造特点与钻孔岩芯物理特性,介绍了TJ-Ⅱ体应变仪的运行情况。通过对两次强震活动的同震效应分析,初步探讨了地理、地质构造条件不同的情况下,各观测井对记录应力活动能力强弱的反映。     

对规范环境监察执法工作的几点思考

结合环境执法工作实际,提出应对新形势下环境保护执法工作中存在问题的方法。     

Management strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on sea turtle’s terrestrial reproductive phase

Climate change poses a serious threat to sea turtles (Cheloniidae) as their terrestrial reproductive phase is only successful within a limited range of environmental and physical conditions. These conditions are likely to become less optimal as climate change progresses. To date, management and conservation of sea turtles has focused almost entirely on non-climatic stressors, due at least in part to practitioners not knowing what strategies to take and the feasibility and risks of potential strategies. To aid the management of sea turtles in a changing environment, we identified management strategies via a focus workshop and surveys to mitigate the impacts of climate change to the terrestrial reproductive phase of sea turtles. The effectiveness, ecological risks and potential social and logistical constraints associated with implementing each of the identified management strategies is discussed. Twenty management strategies were identified; strategies varied from habitat protection to more active and direct manipulation of nests and the nesting environment. Based on our results, we suggest a three-pronged approach to sea turtle conservation in light of climate change, where managers and researchers should: 1) enhance sea turtle resilience to climate change by mitigating other threats; 2) prioritise implementing the ‘no regret’ and ‘reversible’ management strategies identified here; and 3) fill the knowledge gaps identified to aid the trial and implementation of the potential strategies identified here. By combining these three approaches our collective toolkit of sea turtle management strategies will expand, giving us an array of viable approaches to implement as climate change impacts become more extreme.     

Coastal flooding,climate change and environmental justice: identifying obstacles and incentives for adaptation in two metropolitan Boston Massachusetts communities

We explored the possible future impacts of increased coastal flooding due to sea level rise and the potential adaptation responses of two urban, environmental justice communities in the metropolitan Boston area of Massachusetts. East Boston is predominantly a residential area with some industrial and commercial activities, particularly along the coastal fringe. Everett, a city to the north of Boston, has a diversified industrial and commercial base. While these two communities have similar socioeconomic characteristics, they differ substantially in the extent to which residents would be impacted by increased coastal flooding. In East Boston, a large portion of residents would be flooded, while in Everett, it is the commercial/industrial districts that are primarily vulnerable. Through a series of workshops with residents in each community, we found that the target populations do not have an adaptation perspective or knowledge of any resources that could assist them in this challenge. Furthermore, they do not feel included in the planning processes within their communities. However, a common incentive for both communities was an intense commitment to their communities and an eagerness to learn more and become actively engaged in decisions regarding climate change adaptation. The lessons that can be applied to other studies include 1) images are powerful tools in communicating concepts, 2) understanding existing cultural knowledge and values in adaptation planning is essential to the planning process and 3) engaging local residents at the beginning of the process can create important educational opportunities and develop trust and consensus that is necessary for moving from concept to implementation.     

Dimensional analysis and scaling in mechanical mixing for fabrication of metal matrix nanocomposites

For a successful enhancement of mechanical properties of metal matrix nanocomposites, a homogeneous nanoparticle dispersion and distribution in the solidified metal is required. Mechanical mixing can be used for initial break-up of agglomerates, and its study can be simplified with dimensional analysis. Using this technique, mixing time and vortex height were assessed while varying fluid properties, impeller angle, and angular speed. Three relevant dimensionless numbers were recognized: the Reynolds (Re), Froude and Galilei (Ga) numbers. Based on blade and impeller shaft angles, a modified Froude number (Fr*) was defined. These parameters were calculated experimentally, varying angular speed from 200 to 1000 rpm for three different impeller angles: 0°, 15° and 30°. This procedure was performed with three fluids: water, and two aqueous glycerin solutions (25% and 50% by volume). Digital images were taken and processed to measure vortex height. Mixing time was measured for water at 0° impeller angle, angular speed ranging from 200 to 1200 rpm. Results showed an optimal dimensionless mixing time with respect to Re. A linear relationship was found between dimensionless vortex height and Fr*. The first had a second order polynomial relationship with the product ReFr*, regardless of impeller angle. This relationship, together with the Ga, specific for each fluid, allows scaling the results to other fluids such as molten pure aluminum. This study allows experimenting in simpler systems that involve transparent fluids, room temperature and low cost, to then elaborate a prediction of vortex height in fluids where measurements are difficult and costly, such as molten metals.