应用自动识别与定量分析数据库筛查黄河和长江水中有机污染物

采用气质联用分析,并应用自动识别与定量分析数据库(AIQS-DB)对黄河下游和长江下游水样中近1000种有机污染物进行了筛查.结果表明,黄河下游山东段和长江下游江苏段水样分别检出95种和121种化合物,主要包括正构烷烃、多环芳烃、酚类、硝基化合物、酞酸酯类、农药和药物等.其中,黄河和长江水样中正构烷烃平均浓度分别为1806ng/L和720ng/L;16种优控PAHs平均浓度分别为27ng/L和30ng/L;6种优控PAEs的平均浓度分别为77ng/L和2166ng/L;黄河和长江水样分别检出9种和17种农药.黄河各采样点间污染物浓度差别较大,而长江采样点间浓度相差较小.研究表明,气质联用结合AIQS-DB可有效用于区域性污染物的筛查.     

Balance of NH3 and behavior of polychlorinated dioxins and furans in the course of the selective non-catalytic reduction of nitric oxide at the TAMARA waste incineration plant

Investigations were performed on the selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) of nitric oxide (NO) at TAMARA, the pilot-scale waste incineration plant of the Karlsruhe Research Center. Aqueous ammonia (NH₃) was injected into the combustion chamber as reductant. The influence of NH₃ on various inorganic and organic compounds in the flue gas was investigated. The concentrations of NO were reduced by up to about 90% by NH₃ injection. The concentrations of most of the other inorganic and organic compounds, including in particular PCDD and PCDF, did not change significantly.     

Sustainable design of sanitation system based on material and value flow analysis for urban slum in Indonesia

Material flow analysis (MFA) and value flow analysis (VFA) were applied to the sanitation system in an urban slum in Indonesia. Based on the results of the MFA and VFA, garbage and excreta disposal costs were evaluated to be 0.7% and 1.1%, respectively, of per capita income. Such value flows seem reasonable in light of the recognized affordability to pay (ATP) standard. However, current excreta disposal methods create negative impacts on downstream populations. Because such disadvantages do not go back to disposers, but passed to downstream, the current value flow structure does not motivate individual toilet users to install treatment facility. Based on current material and value flow structures, a resource recycling sanitation system scenario was examined. Based on VFA, an affordable initial cost for such a system was calculated; this was found to be comparable in price to a cheaper composting toilet that is currently available in the market.     

Integrated biogeochemical modelling of nitrogen load from anthropogenic and natural sources in Japan

This study proposed an integrated biogeochemical modelling of nitrogen loads from anthropogenic and natural sources in Japan. Firstly, the nitrogen load (NL) from different sources such as crop, livestock, industrial plant, urban and rural resident was calculated by using datasets of fertilizer utilization, population distribution, land use map, and social census. Then, the nitrate leaching from soil layers in farmland, grassland and natural conditions was calculated by using a terrestrial nitrogen cycle model (TNCM). The Total Runoff Integrating Pathways (TRIP) was used to transport nitrogen from natural and anthropogenic sources through river channels, as well as collect and route nitrogen to the river mouths. The forcing meteorological and hydrological data is a 30-year (1976–2005) dataset for Japan which were obtained by the land surface model, Minimal Advanced Treatments of Surface Interaction and Runoff (MATSIRO). For the model validation, we collected total nitrogen (TN) concentration data from 59 rivers in Japan. As a comparison result, calculated TN concentration values were in good agreement with the observed ones, which shows the reliability of the proposed model. Finally, the TN loads from point and nonpoint sources were summarized and evaluated for 59 river basins in Japan. The proposed modelling framework can be used as a tool for quantitative evaluation of nitrogen load in terrestrial ecosystems at a national scale. The connection to land use and climate data provides a possibility to use this model for analysis of climate change and land use change impacts on hydrology and water quality.     

Dispersal and persistence of genetically modified oilseed rape around Japanese harbors

Background, aim, and scope

The possibility of gene transfer from genetically modified oilseed rape (OSR) to its cultivated or wild relatives is of concern since its commercial cultivation, because of its potential weediness and impact on the environment. Introgression of modified genes can affect conservation of agricultural crops, because there are many cultivars and wild Brassicaceae that may cross with genetically modified OSR (Brassica napus) in Japan. Japan imports more than 2 million tons of OSR a year from Canada and other countries. Since volunteers of GM OSR were found around harbors in 2004, a lot of feral GM OSR was discovered in Japan. To consider the way how to keep domestic Brassicaceae from GM contamination, we surveyed and analyzed the dispersal and persistence of GM OSR around Japanese harbors. We present the cause and abundance of GM OSR in Japan by this paper.

Materials and methods

Survey of the feral OSR was performed several times a year at different seasons when domestic OSR either grows or does not around port areas. Detection of herbicide tolerance in feral B. napus was done by test papers that cross react with the modified gene product. Two kinds of herbicide tolerance (glyphosate and glufosinate) were tested.

Results

The feral B. napus were discovered around all 13 harbors that import rapeseeds from foreign countries. Genetically modified, herbicide-tolerant OSR were frequently found in the surveyed populations. Two kinds of herbicide-tolerant OSR (glyphosate- and glufosinate-tolerant) were discovered in a natural condition 40 km from port to an oil factory where 60,000 tons of OSR seed are processed a year. The cause of voluntary growth of OSR is seed spillage during transportation by trucks from harbors to oil factories and other processing facilities. Some of the feral OSR growing along the roadsides of transport paths exhibited perennial growth spilling their seeds around the places. Alteration of the generation of feral GM OSR was discovered for the first time in Japan as a result of this study. We studied the yearly change of feral OSR abundances focusing on Yokkaichi port over the 4 years since 2004. The rate of GM OSR increases year to year, and reaches nearly 90% in 2008.

Discussion

The possibility and consequences of gene transfer from the genetically modified OSR to domestic species (B. rapa and B. juncea) were discussed in relation to impact on domestic agriculture and on environments. Evolutional meaning of the gene transfer was also discussed with respect to the gene construct of GM OSR. This study shows the importance of another pathway of modified gene transfer to non-GM relative species by seed transportation in addition to pollen transfer from commercial cultivation of genetically modified OSR.

Conclusions and recommendations

We identified unintended dispersal and persistence of GM OSR around Japanese harbors that import OSR from Canada and other countries. Both glyphosate- and glufosinate-tolerant feral B. napus were discovered. The cause of volunteer OSR is spillage of the seeds during transportation by truck to oil factory. The feral GM OSR sometimes showed perennial growth in Japanese phonological conditions which are not observed for domestic Brassicaceae. In addition, we confirmed an alteration of generations by feral GM OSR in Japan. The possibility of cross pollination and GM gene introgression to domestic varieties can occur in these environments. To improve the situation, each responsible organization, company, administration, or government should establish measures how to stop the dispersal and persistence of GM OSR in nature. Also, the GM plant developers are responsible for revising this situation.     

The effect of the increase in urban temperature on the concentration of photochemical oxidants

An atmospheric dispersion model, where the inputs of meteorological field were calculated using a meteorological model, was used to reproduce the observed air pollution conditions for the typical fine day in summer period, especially the concentration of the photochemical oxidants. As well, the effects of an increase in the urban temperature and VOC emissions on the concentration of photochemical oxidants were also considered. The following conclusions were drawn.The observed air pollution levels were well modeled by the atmospheric dispersion model using in this study, although modeled NO levels were slightly lower than the observed levels. An analysis of the temperature data showed that a 1 °C increase in temperature leads to a maximal photochemical oxidant concentration of 5.3 ppb, which is an increase of 11%. Additionally, the effect on the photochemical oxidant concentration due to an increase in the vegetation-derived VOCs was more than double the effect due to an increase in the photochemical reactions. It was found that the temperature and photochemical oxidant concentration were linearly related up to a temperature increase of 3 °C. When the temperature increases up to 3 °C, the concentration of photochemical oxidants increases by 19 ppb. An analysis of the effect of vegetation-derived VOCs on photochemical oxidant concentrations showed that, the concentration of photochemical oxidants was 30 ppb higher in the afternoon by the effect of vegetation-derived VOCs, so even in metropolitan areas with relatively little vegetation, vegetation-derived VOCs have a strong impact on photochemical oxidant concentrations.     

Comparison of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish, vegetables, and meats and levels in human milk of nursing women in Japan

At present, little is known about the occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fish and food products sold in Japan. To investigate whether human exposure to PBDEs through the diet is significant, the concentrations of PBDEs were determined in fish and in meat and vegetables sold in two food markets in the city of Hirakata, Osaka prefecture. The concentrations of PBDEs in the breast milk of 12 primiparae nursing women at one month after delivery also were determined to ascertain the relationship between the levels found in the diet and levels in humans. sigma PBDE concentrations ranged between 21 and 1650 pg/g fresh weight in the edible tissues of five species of fish and one shellfish species. The highest concentrations were measured in yellow-fin tuna, followed by short-necked clam, salmon, yellowtail, mackerel and young yellowtail. Interestingly, sigma PBDE concentrations were not statistically significantly different in two cultured mackerel samples from Japan and mackerel collected from northern European waters. sigma PBDE concentrations in beef, pork and chicken meat (ranging between 6.25 and 63.6 pg/g fresh weight) and in three different vegetables (ranging between 38.4 and 134 pg/g fresh weight) were significantly lower than the concentrations in fish. In human milk, sigma PBDE concentrations ranged between 668 and 2840 pg/g lipid basis, which is comparable to the levels in populations of nursing women reported in Sweden and elsewhere. There was a strong positive relationship between PBDE concentrations in human milk and dietary intake of fish and shellfish, which was established in the women from responses to a questionaire on food consumption habits. The results of this study of food products commonly consumed in Japan and the levels found in nursing women raise a concern about low level PBDE contamination of fish and other foods intended for human consumption.     

太湖水温分层现象的监测与分析

水温是湖泊环境研究中的重要物理参数之一。湖泊中水温的状况及其分层现象将直接或间接的影响到湖库水环境中的各种物理、化学和生物过程。深水型湖泊的温度成层现象为众多学者所公认,也是研究热点之一,而浅水型湖泊的温度成层温差小、持续时间短,因此鲜有此方面的研究。本文以典型浅水湖泊－－太湖为研究对象,根据现场近3个月的监测资料,分析了太湖的水温结构,证明了太湖水温日成层现象的存在,并对太湖日成层现象发生规律及其影响因素做了初步的探讨。     

Courtship in fast water currents by a male stream goby ( Rhinogobius brunneus) communicates the parental quality honestly

The stream goby Rhinogobius sp. DA (dark color type) shows exclusive paternal care of the eggs. Males court females in the stream current and previous field observations suggest that females favor males that perform their courtship display in faster water currents, and that such males may have high parental ability because of good physical condition. To validate these observations we examined female choice under controlled laboratory conditions. Mate choice experiments indicated clearly that females preferred males that courted in the faster currents, whereas neither sexually different morphological traits, such as body size, nor the water current alone were important. The experiments with food supply treatments indicated that only males of high physical condition are able to court in the fast currents. Furthermore, males that courted in the fast currents achieved good egg survival, whereas males that were unable to court in the currents did not, due to cannibalism of their egg clutch. Thus, the maximum speed of the water current in which a male courts should be indicative of his quality and of the subsequent survival of eggs under his care. We conclude that Rhinogobius sp. DA females utilize the male courtship display in the water current as an honest indicator of parental quality.Communicated by K. LindströmAn erratum to this article can be found at     

Relationship between bottom characteristics and benthic organisms in the shallow water of Oppa Bay,Miyagi

An investigation was conducted to examine the species composition, abundance and biomass of benthic macrofaunal invertebrates in Oppa Bay, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, in August 1984. Among 212 species identified, nearly half (105) were Polychaetes. Usually five species, Ampharete sp. 1, Neosabellides sp. 1, Nephtys polybranchia, Chaetozone sp. 1, and Lumbrineris longifolia were numerically dominant. The faunal features of dominant species were clearly divided into two areas using two indicator species, Amphalete sp. 1 and Neosabellides sp. 1. The former species decreased in numbers in the area from the river to the bay mouth, while the latter increased. Sediments consisted of sand at the river mouth and in the northern bay; and of silt-clay in the central bay, bay mouth and southern part of the bay. Gradients of species diversity (H) were expressed as a function of distance by linear regression. The relationship was positive (r=0.812) from the river to the bay mouth accompanied by increasing depth; and negative (r=-0.906) from northern to southern parts of the bay in proportion to the increase of silt-clay in sediments.