The acute effects of fine particles on respiratory mortality and morbidity in Beijing, 2004–2009

Recent epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown associations between particulate matter and human health. However, the estimates of adverse health effects are inconsistent across many countries and areas. The stratification and interaction models were employed within the context of the generalized additive Poisson regression equation to examine the acute effects of fine particles on respiratory health and to explore the possible joint modification of temperature, humidity, and season in Beijing, China, for the period 2004–2009. The results revealed that the respiratory health damage threshold of the PM_2.5 concentration was mainly within the range of 20–60 μg/m³, and the adverse effect of excessively high PM_2.5 concentration maintained a stable level. In the most serious case, an increase of 10 μg/m³ PM_2.5 results in an elevation of 4.60 % (95 % CI 3.84–4.60 %) and 4.48 % (95 % CI 3.53–5.41 %) with a lag of 3 days, values far higher than the average level of 0.69 % (95 % CI 0.54–0.85 %) and 1.32 % (95 % CI 1.02–1.61 %) for respiratory mortality and morbidity, respectively. There were strong seasonal patterns of adverse effects with the seasonal variation of temperature and humidity. The growth rates of respiratory mortality and morbidity were highest in winter. And, they increased 1.4 and 1.8 times in winter, greater than in the full year as PM_2.5 increased 10 μg/m³.     

Using biochar for remediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants

Soil contamination with heavy metals and organic pollutants has increasingly become a serious global environmental issue in recent years. Considerable efforts have been made to remediate contaminated soils. Biochar has a large surface area, and high capacity to adsorb heavy metals and organic pollutants. Biochar can potentially be used to reduce the bioavailability and leachability of heavy metals and organic pollutants in soils through adsorption and other physicochemical reactions. Biochar is typically an alkaline material which can increase soil pH and contribute to stabilization of heavy metals. Application of biochar for remediation of contaminated soils may provide a new solution to the soil pollution problem. This paper provides an overview on the impact of biochar on the environmental fate and mobility of heavy metals and organic pollutants in contaminated soils and its implication for remediation of contaminated soils. Further research directions are identified to ensure a safe and sustainable use of biochar as a soil amendment for remediation of contaminated soils.     

Causes of decreased reference evapotranspiration and pan evaporation in the Jinghe River catchment, northern China

This study focused on the changes of reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) and pan evaporation (ET_pan) to study the impacts of climate change on the hydrological cycle in the Jinghe River catchment. Based on the Penman–Monteith equation, the ET₀ was calculated. The temporal trend and spatial distribution of ET₀ and E_pan measured with a 20-cm pan were examined at the 14 stations during 1957–2005. The effects of meteorological factors on the variation of ET₀ were determined by analyzing the trends in themselves with comparison between original climate and detrended climate scenarios and then their sensitivity to ET₀. Both the ET₀ and E_pan showed remarkable decreasing trends from 1957 to 2005 and their decreasing rate was 40.9 and 17.7 mm per 10 years, respectively. Trend analysis of meteorological factors exhibited that the reduction in ET₀ and ET_pan was principally caused by both significant decreases in wind speed and sunshine hours. Furthermore, the decreasing trend of ET₀ was mainly dominated by the significant decrease in wind speed with high sensitivity, to a less extent, by the decrease in net radiation. Although relative humidity is one of the most sensitive variables, its effect on ET₀ was negligible because of its temporal constancy. The contribution of wind speed reduction to decreased ET₀ has increased from 50 to 76.1%, but net radiation, by contrast, decreased from 50 to 23.9%.     

Spatial distribution of perfluoroalkyl acids in the Pearl River of Southern China

An intensive campaign was conducted in September 2012 to collect surface water samples along the tributaries of the Pearl River in southern China. Thirteen perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs, C4–C11) and perfluorosulfonates (PFSAs, C4, C6–C8, and C10), were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography/negative electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/(-)ESI–MS/MS). The concentrations of total PFAAs (ΣPFAAs) ranged from 3.0 to 52 ng L⁻¹, with an average of 19 ± 12 ng L⁻¹. The highest concentrations of ΣPFAAs were detected in the surface water of the Dong Jiang tributary (17–52 ng L⁻¹), followed by the main stream (13–26 ng L⁻¹) and the Sha Wan stream (3.0–4.5 ng L⁻¹). Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were the three most abundant PFAAs and on average accounted for 20%, 24%, and 19% of ΣPFAAs, respectively. PFBS was the most abundant PFAA in the Dong Jiang tributary, and PFOA was the highest PFAA in the samples from the main stream of the Pearl River. A correlation was found between PFBS and PFOA, which suggests that both of these PFAAs originate from common source(s) in the region. Nevertheless, the slope of PFBS/PFOA was different in the different tributaries sampled, which indicates a spatial difference in the source profiles of the PFAAs.     

Effects of light, microbial activity, and sediment resuspension on the phosphorus immobilization capability of drinking water treatment residuals in lake sediment

Drinking water treatment residuals (WTRs), nonhazardous by-products generated in a drinking water treatment plant, can be reused to immobilize phosphorus (P) to control the internal P loading from lake sediments for eutrophication control. Reasonably, before practical application, it is essential to determine the P immobilization capability of WTRs in lake sediments under various conditions. In this work, laboratory scale experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of light, microbial activity, and sediment resuspension on the P immobilization capability of WTRs. The results suggested that absence of light, low microbial activity, and sediment resuspension can increase the internal P loading from lake sediments. WTRs can, however, reduce the internal P loading significantly. Further analysis demonstrated that WTRs can stabilize P, decreasing the P bioavailability in the sediments under varied conditions. WTRs also presented little undesirable effects on the dissolved oxygen levels and pH of overlying water. Therefore, light, microbial activity, and sediment resuspension have little effect on the P immobilization capability of WTRs in lake sediments.     

pH对活化前后废弃铁铝泥吸附不同种磷动力学的影响

实验研究了300℃热活化前后的给水厂废弃铁铝泥（R-FARs和H300-FARs）对正磷酸盐、聚磷酸盐和有机磷酸盐的吸附动力学特性,并考察pH对不同磷吸附动力学的影响。结果表明,pH对不同磷吸附动力学过程的影响趋势相似,即低pH有利于吸附。准二级动力学模型能够更真实地反映不同磷在R-FARs和H300-FARs的吸附动力学行为,由拟合结果可知焦磷酸盐和六肌醇磷酸盐的初始吸附速率相对较大,而甘油磷酸盐最小;且活化作用明显提高了不同磷的初始吸附速率,并减弱了pH对初始吸附速率的影响。不同磷的吸附速率受到液膜扩散、颗粒内扩散和吸附反应三者共同控制,其中吸附反应是主要的控制步骤。     

添加剂对炭黑颗粒润湿和沉降性能的影响

为提高湿式除尘装置对炭黑颗粒物的去除效率,通过向吸收液中添加复配表面活性剂以提高吸收液对炭黑的润湿性,投加絮凝剂使进入吸收液的炭黑颗粒发生凝聚和沉降,从而使吸收液得以循环利用。其中表面活性剂的复配以非离子表面活性剂月桂醇聚氧乙烯（9）醚（AEO-9）为主,与十二烷基苯磺酸钠（SDBS）、十六烷基三甲基溴化胺（CTAB）和壬酚基聚氧乙烯醚（TX-10）分别复配,筛选出复配效果最好的一组复配液;然后投加絮凝剂,探讨絮凝剂的加入对吸收液中炭黑颗粒物絮凝沉降的影响。结果表明,在AEO-9浓度为0．05mmol／L,TX-10浓度为0．09mmol／L时,吸收液的表面张力最小,为36．75mN／m;投加无机絮凝剂聚合氯化铝（PAC）浓度为100mg／L时,经15min沉降,炭黑的沉降率可达88．1％,上清液中悬浮颗粒的平均粒径为6．36μm。     

影响聚磷菌与聚糖菌竞争的关键因素研究进展

增强生物除磷（EBPR）是一种高效、经济的除磷工艺,然而在某些条件下聚糖菌的过量繁殖导致除磷效果恶化。文章阐述了影响聚磷菌和聚糖菌生长的关键因素,从而可以选择性的培养聚磷菌并使其处于竞争优势,这对于提高EBPR的除磷效果、增强工艺的稳定性具有重要的意义。     

图书馆书库清点方法初探

图书馆藏书大多存在实物与财产登记不符的状况,如情况较为严重则会影响到图书馆流通、采访等项工作的开展,因此适时进行书库清点具有重要意义。本文以中国环境管理干部学院图书馆的清点为实例,初步探讨了将条码作为清点切入点的书库清点工作的方法、步骤和注意事项。     

西昌市13种野生蘑菇中汞含量分析及安全性评价

地球生态系统汞的水平一般非常低,但某些大型真菌对汞的强烈积累则是例外.分析了采集于四川省西昌市未受汞污染地方生长的13种野生蘑菇99个样品子实体中汞的含量,用原子荧光法测定蘑菇和蘑菇采集地土壤中的汞含量.野生蘑菇的汞含量随蘑菇种类的不同而不同,双色牛肝菌积累汞的能力最强,质量比为0.99 mg Hg/(kg·dw),生物富集常数(BCF)达2.01.提出野生蘑菇对汞的积累明显受介质汞水平的影响.分析的汞含量与早期的文献数据报道进行比较,评价了法律规定的人体吸收汞水平和食用蘑菇对人体汞吸收量的贡献,指出人们在消费蘑菇时可能存在的风险和应对措施.