Level of environmental threat posed by horticultural trade in Cactaceae

Ornamental horticulture has been identified as an important threat to plant biodiversity and is a major pathway for plant invasions worldwide. In this context, the family Cactaceae is particularly challenging because it is considered the fifth most threatened large taxonomic group in the world; several species are among the most widespread and damaging invasive species; and Cactaceae is one of the most popular horticultural plant groups. Based on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and the 11 largest online auction sites selling cacti, we documented the international cactus trade. To provide an in‐depth look at the dynamics of the industry, we surveyed the businesses involved in the cactus trade in South Africa (a hotspot of cactus trade and invasions). We purchased seeds of every available species and used DNA barcoding to identify species to the genus level. Although <20% of this trade involved threatened species and <3% involved known invasive species, many species were identified by a common name. However, only 0.02% of the globally traded cacti were collected from wild populations. Despite a large commercial network, all South African imports (of which 15% and 1.5% were of species listed as threatened and invasive, respectively) came from the same source. With DNA barcoding, we identified 24% of the species to genus level. Based on our results, we believe that if trade restrictions are placed on the small proportion of cacti that are invasive and there is no major increase in harvesting of native populations, then the commercial trade in cactus poses a negligible environmental threat. However, there are currently no effective methods for easily identifying which cacti are traded, and both the illicit harvesting of cacti from the wild and the informal trade in invasive taxa pose on‐going conservation challenges.     

循环序批式活性污泥反应器的调试及运行

介绍了循环序批式活性污泥反应器的工艺流程及设计参数、调试和运行情况,分析探讨了系统运行中出现的一些问题。稳定运行期间的检测结果表明,反应器对COD和NH3-N具有较好的去除效果,平均去除率分别达到86.2%和92.1%,但对TP的去除率有待提高。     

Optimal Carbon Capture and Storage Policies

The IPCC recommends the use of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies in order to achieve the Kyoto environmental goals. This paper sheds light on this issue by assessing the optimal strategy regarding the long-term use of CCS technologies. The aim is to analyze the optimal CCS policy when the sequestration rate is endogenous, being therefore one specific tool of the environmental policy. We develop a simple growth model to identify the main driving forces that should determine the optimal CCS policy. We show that, under some conditions on the cost of extractions, CCS may be a long-term solution to curb carbon emissions. We also show that over time the social planner will choose to decrease the rate of capture and sequestration. We then derive the decentralized equilibrium outcome by considering the programs of the fossil resource-holder and of the representative consumer. Finally, we determine the optimal environmental policy, i.e. the carbon tax scheme, as well as the dynamics of the fossil fuel price needed to implement it.     

Performance of different composting techniques in reducing oestrogens content in manure from livestock in a Vietnamese setting

Steroid oestrogens (SE) are released by humans and animals into the environment. In the Mekong Delta animal excrement is directly discharged into surface water and can pollute the water. Only a few animal production sites are currently treating the excrement in either biogas plants or vermicomposting systems. The concentration of SE in manures from pigs and cattle was monitored in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Fresh cow faeces had an oestrogen concentration of 3.3 ng E2 eq/g dry weight. The SE concentration in effluent from biogas plants fed with animal manures was 341 ng E2 eq/L. Most of the SE were in the solid phase (77.9–98.7%). Vermicomposting reduced SE to 95% of the original input.     

Sequential extractions of selenium soils from Stewart Lake: total selenium and speciation measurements with ICP-MS detection

Different techniques have been employed in order to evaluate the most efficient procedure for the extraction of selenium from soil as required for speciation. Selenium contaminated sediments from Stewart Lake Wetland, California were used. A strong acid mineralization of the samples gives quantitative total selenium, which is then used to estimate recoveries for the milder extraction methods. The different extraction methodologies involve the sequential use of water, buffer (phosphate, pH 7) and either acid solution (e.g. HNO3 or HCl) or basic solutions (e.g. ammonium acetate, NaOH or TMAH). Pyrophosphate extraction was also evaluated and showed that selenium was not associated with humic acids. The extractants were subsequently analyzed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with UV (254 and 400 nm) and on-line ICP-MS detection; anion exchange chromatography, and ion-pair reversed phase chromatography with ICP-MS detection. For sequential extractions the extraction efficiencies showed that the basic extractions were more efficient than the acidic. The difference between the acidic and the basic extraction efficiency is carried to the sulfite extraction, suggesting that whatever is not extracted by the acid is subsequently extracted by the sulfite. The species identified with the different chromatographies were selenate, selenite, elemental selenium and some organic selenium.     

Cover features and new Associate Editors of the Journal of Environmental Sciences

正We are very pleased to announce that five Associate Editors have joined the editorial team of the Journal of Environmental Sciences(JES).Professors/Drs.Yong Cai,Paul Lam,Jonathan Martin,Michael Plewa,and Po Keung Wong bring a wealth of expertise in environmental sciences.As preeminent scientists in their chosen areas of research,they have made outstanding contributions to the discipline of environmental     

兰州市耕地“五毒”重金属的风险评价与归因分析

耕地土壤的重金属有可能通过食物链网迁移转化危害生态环境和人体健康.目前,人们对兰州市耕地土壤重金属的生态环境和人体健康风险还不够清楚,从而影响对其有效管控.因此,以兰州市耕地表层土壤为研究对象,采用潜在生态风险危害指数评价As、Cd、Cr、Hg和Pb共5种重金属的生态环境风险,以USEPA提出的健康风险模型和推荐的标准评估其人体健康风险,用地理探测器探究风险空间分异的主要影响因子,以便为研究区重金属污染风险的精准管控提供科学依据.结果表明,研究区耕地表层土壤重金属对生态环境风险主要为中风险（65.25%）,少部分为低风险（13.80%）和高风险（20.95%）,低风险区主要位于永登县东南部、榆中县中部和北部以及皋兰县西南部;中等风险区在三县五区均有分布;高风险区位于永登县北和东南部、城关区南部、七里河东北部、西固区东部和榆中县中部.5种重金属不同暴露途径的非致癌与致癌风险均为：经口摄入>皮肤接触>呼吸摄入,总体上儿童高于成人.但是,"五毒"重金属的非致癌风险HI均小于1,表明它们对当地居民不存在不可接受的非致癌风险.As的致癌风险分别大于1×10^-5（儿童2.04×10^-5）和小于1×10^-4（成人1.91×10^-5）,说明其对当地居民存在可接受的中等致癌风险,且儿童的大于成人.地理探测器分析表明,采样季平均降水量对As和Cd人体健康风险空间分异的影响最大,GDP对Cr风险空间分异的影响最大,距铁路距离对Hg和Pb风险空间分异的影响最大;交互作用探测表明,各因子之间均为双因子增强,除主导因子起作用外,pH值、坡度和海拔高度等其它因子也会增强主导因子对耕地土壤重金属风险空间分异的影响程度.     

电厂脱硫产物的处置和综合利用

本文通过对电厂脱硫产物成份的分析,并类比国外技术论述其贮存处置方法,脱硫产物综合利用的用途及合理性.     

国内首个MW级分布式能源系统烟囱合理性分析

介绍了分布式能源系统的构成、运行特点及技术发展情况,研究了国内首个MW级分布式供能系统工程的烟囱高度和形式,预测和分析了项目大气污染物对环境的影响,证明了该项目烟囱选择的合理性,为下阶段国内分布式能源系统烟囱选型奠定技术基础。     

土壤镉污染修复方法及生物修复研究进展

土壤镉污染主要由人为活动引起,镉在土壤环境体系中存在复杂多变的形态,文章介绍了土壤镉污染对生物体的危害性及其修复方法,综述了生物修复技术处理镉污染土壤的研究进展,并提出了展望。