Urban Air Pollution Patterns, Land Use, and Thermal Landscape: An Examination of the Linkage Using GIS

This article investigates the relationship of local air pollution pattern with urban land use and with urban thermal landscape using a GIS approach. Ambient air quality measurements for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, total suspended particles, and dust level were obtained for Guangzhou City in South China between 1981 and 2000. Landsat TM images and aerial photo derived maps were used to examine city's land use and land cover at different times and changes. Landsat thermal infrared data were employed to compute land surface temperatures and to assess urban thermal patterns. Relationships among the spatial patterns of air pollution, land use, and thermal landscape were sought through GIS and correlation analyses. Results show that the spatial patterns of air pollutants probed were positively correlated with urban built-up density, and with satellite derived land surface temperature values, particularly with measurements taken during the summer. It is suggested that further studies investigate the mechanisms of this linkage, and that remote sensing of air pollution delves into how the energy interacts with the atmosphere and the environment and how sensors see pollutants. Thermal infrared imagery could play a unique role in monitoring and modeling atmospheric pollution.     

Municipal solid waste management and short-term projection of the waste discard levels in Taiwan

Industrialization and urbanization result in significant changes in lifestyle. These lifestyle changes seem to lead to unsustainable consumption patterns and increase the generation of various kinds of environmental loads, especially the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW). Taiwan is a small island with scarce natural resources. The economic development in Taiwan has resulted in the generation of large amounts of MSW. As a result, the Taiwan Environmental Pollution Administration (TEPA) has produced regulations for waste minimization and has imposed several important policy measures that have successfully reduced the MSW discard rate in recent years and have established a public recycling network as a part of the MSW collection. Nowadays, the objective of the MSW policies in Taiwan is to develop a “zero-waste society.” This article aims to review the MSW management progress in Taiwan and to project future MSW discards up to 2011 based on the national plan and assumed scenarios for socioeconomic variables. According to the analysis results, a more sustainable consumption pattern can be proposed and the corresponding MSW management system can be planned so as to develop a low-waste-discard society.     

An examination of the effect of landscape pattern, land surface temperature, and socioeconomic conditions on WNV dissemination in Chicago

This paper developed an approach by the synthesis of remote sensing, landscape metrics, and statistical methods to examine the effects of landscape pattern, land surface temperature, and socioeconomic conditions on the spread of West Nile virus (WNV) caused by mosquitoes and animal hosts in Chicago, USA. Land use/land cover and land surface temperature images were derived from Terra’s Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer imagery. An analytical procedure using landscape metrics was developed, applying configuration analysis of landscape patterns in the study area. The positive reports of mosquitoes and animal hosts for WNV in fall, 2001–2006, were collected from the Cook County Public Health Department. Forty-nine municipalities were found to have WNV-positive records in mosquitoes and animal hosts in fall 2004. Socioeconomic data were obtained from the 2000 US Census. Statistical analysis was applied to WNV data in fall 2004 to identify the relationship between potential predictors and WNV spread. As a result, landscape factors, such as landscape aggregation index and the urban areas and areas of grass and water, showed strong correlations with the WNV-positive records. Socioeconomic conditions, such as the population over 65 years old, also showed a strong correlation with WNV-positive records. Thermal conditions of water showed a less but still considerable correlation to WNV-positive records. This research offers an opportunity to explore the effects of landscape pattern, land surface temperature, and socioeconomic conditions on the spread of WNV caused by mosquitoes and animal hosts. Results can contribute to public health and environmental management in the study area.     

Determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in fish samples from rivers and estuaries in Taiwan

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used extensively over the past two decades as flame retardants in many types of polymers, and have been found to be a class of contaminants of concern. Measurements of PBDEs in various environmental matrices from Sweden, Holland, Japan, North America, and elsewhere have been reported. We report data of PBDEs in fish samples taken from six rivers and three estuaries in Taiwan. Seven PBDE congeners were observed in all sixty samples. BDE-47 was found to be the dominant congener in all waters, and BDE-154 contributed more than BDE-99 and BDE-100. Nonetheless, BDE-154 and BDE-183 were the predominant congeners in some species studied. These results are somewhat different from those from other countries, where the pattern is typically BDE-47 > 99 >100 >154, 153, and is postulated to be due to the extensive use of octa-BDE rather than penta-BDE in Taiwan. The average concentration distribution across all samples of the sum of PBDE congeners ranged from 30.6 ng/g lipid to 281 ng/g lipid. The concentrations of PBDEs in fishes reported here are higher than those reported from European countries, but lower than those from the United States.     

Copper uptake by four Elsholtzia ecotypes supplied with varying levels of copper in solution culture

The effects of copper (Cu) on the yield and Cu uptake of three ecotypes of Elsholtzia splendens and one of Elsholtzia argyi were studied using solution culture. Three Cu concentrations were compared: 0.31 (control), 50 and 100 micromol L(-1). Although E. argyi took up more Cu in the aboveground parts, typical visual symptoms of Cu toxicity appeared when the plants grew in 50 and 100 micromol Cu L(-1). In contrast, plants from all three populations of E. splendens showed high Cu tolerance and substantial shoot Cu accumulation of 58-144 mg kg(-1). Shoot Cu concentrations were about 16-27 times higher than root Cu concentrations. Root-to-shoot ratio of the E. argyi ecotype was halved when Cu was supplied at a level of 100 mg L(-1) compared to the control (0.31 mg L(-1)) but the ratio increased by 6-47% in the three E. splendens ecotypes. The increase in root-to-shoot ratio in E. splendens may be a mechanism by which the plants can tolerate high Cu concentrations. There were few differences in morphology among the three E. splendens ecotypes in response to added Cu. The results are discussed in relation to the possible use of E. splendens as a pioneer species in the phytostabilization of Cu-contaminated soils.     

中国水利水电工程开发与区域可持续发展

本文论述了中国水利水电工程开发与区域可持续发展的关系,并提出了中国实现可持续的水利水电工程开发的主要对策。     

活性炭纤维在机动车尾气净化中的研究与应用展望

机动车尾气净化控制的一个难点在于冷启动阶段,此时由于温度较低,催化剂尚未完全起作用,导致排出的污染物浓度较高。阐述了活性炭纤维的基本特性,特别是其低温吸附与催化性能对NO和CO的转化作用,讨论了活性炭纤维作为机动车尾气净化材料所需的改性及方法,并展望了其应用前景。     

Watering techniques and zero-valent iron biochar pH effects on As and Cd concentrations in rice rhizosphere soils, tissues and yield

Zero-valent iron amended biochar (ZVIB) has been proposed as a promising material in immobilizing heavy metals in paddy fields. In this study, the impacts of pH of ZVIB (pH 6.3 and pH 9.7) and watering management techniques (watering amount in the order of CON (control, 5/72)>3/72>1–3/72>3/100>1/72, with 5/72, for example, representing irrigation given to 5 cm above soil surface in 72 hr regular interval) on As and Cd bioavailability for rice and its grain yield (Yield_BR) were investigated in a pot experiment. Brown rice As (As_BR) content was irrelative to the watering treatments, while significantly decreased (>50%) with the addition of both ZVIB materials. The diminutions of brown rice Cd (Cd_BR) content as well as the Yield_BR were highly dependent on both the soil amendment materials’ pH and watering amount. Among all the watering treatments, 3/72 treatment (15% less irrigation water than the CON) with ZVIB 6.3 amendment was the optimum fit for simultaneous reduction of As_BR (50%) and Cd_BR contents (19%) as well as for significant increment (12%) of the Yield_BR. Although high pH (9.7) ZVIB application could also efficiently decrease As and Cd contents in brown rice, it might risk grain yield lost if appropriate (e.g. 3/72 in our study) watering management technique was not chosen. Therefore, ZVIB would be an environmentally friendly option as an amendment material with proper selection of watering management technique to utilize As and Cd co-contaminated arable soils safely for paddy cultivation.     

Deactivation of Cu-SAPO-34 by urea-related deposits at low temperatures and the regeneration

Selective catalytic reduction(SCR) with urea catalyzed by Cu-SAPO-34 is an effective method to eliminate NO_x from diesel exhaust. However, urea-related deposits may form during cold-start and urban driving due to low exhaust temperatures. The activity of CuSAPO-34 at 175°C is significantly degraded by urea exposure, and 300°C is required for regeneration. Through in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(DRIFTS) and temperature-programmed hydrolysis studies, the dominant stable deposit at 175°C is identified as biuret, which can be eliminated at 300°C. The urea-derived deactivation and regeneration mechanisms of Cu-SAPO-34 were compared with those of anatase-supported catalysts.     

Improved activity and durability of Rh-based three-way catalyst under diverse aging atmospheres by ZrO2 support

The catalytic activity and durability of Rh/ZrO_2 catalyst were investigated compared with Rh/Al_2O_3 catalyst under diverse aging atmospheres, including lean, rich and lean–rich cyclic aging atmospheres, to simulate the real working conditions of three-way catalyst.Oxidation states and microstructures of rhodium species were investigated to correlate with the catalytic performance of the catalysts. The catalytic performance and durability of the Rh catalyst under diverse aging atmospheres were drastically enhanced by ZrO_2 support. ZrO_2 support was confirmed to be able to effectively inhibit rhodium sintering even under diverse aging conditions. It can also successfully keep Rh species in an active low-valence state on the surface of the catalyst. The superiority of ZrO_2 support compared to Al_2O_3 was verified by the Rh-based monolith catalyst.