Plutonium isotopes in forest soils collected in Nishiyama area, Nagasaki, were successfully determined by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after the treatment with a microwave decomposition system. The (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratios observed in the samples in the Nishiyama area were obviously lower than the range of the global fallout. The low ratios (minimum 0.032) observed in Nishiyama area indicated the influence of detonation of the Pu nuclear weapon in 1945. Since the area is contaminated also by global fallout, the (240)Pu/(239)Pu atom ratio can be more sensitive indicator of bomb-derived Pu than Pu activity concentration. 相似文献
Rainwater characteristics can reveal emissions from various anthropogenic and natural sources into the atmosphere. The physico-chemical characteristics of 44 monthly rainfall events (collected between January and December 2012) from 4 weather stations (Bamenda, Ndop plain, Ndawara and Kumbo) in the Bamenda Highlands (BH) were investigated. The purpose was to determine the sources of chemical species, their seasonal inputs and suitability of the rainwater for drinking. The mean pH of 5 indicated the slightly acidic nature of the rainwater. Average total dissolved solids (TDS) were low (6.7 mg/L), characteristic of unpolluted atmospheric moisture/air. Major ion concentrations (mg/L) were low and in the order K+ 〉 Ca2+ 〉 Mg2~ 〉 Na+ for cations and NO3 〉〉 HCO3 〉 SO] 〉 CI- 〉 PO3- 〉 F- for anions. The average rainwater in the area was mixed Ca-Mg-SO4-CI water type. The CI-/Na+ ratio (1.04) was comparable to that of seawater (1.16), an indication that N a+ and CI originated mainly from marine (Atlantic Ocean) aerosols. High enrichments of Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO2- to Na+ ratios relative to seawater ratios (constituting 44% of the total ions) demonstrated their terrigenous origin, mainly from Saharan and Sahelian arid dusts. The K+/Na+ ratio (2.24), which was similar to tropical vegetation ash (2.38), and NO3 was essentially from biomass burning. Light (〈 100 mm) pre-monsoon and post-monsoon convective rains were enriched in major ions than the heavy (〉 100 mm) monsoon rains, indicating a high contribution of major ions during the low convective showers. Despite the acidic nature, the TDS and major ion concentrations classified the rainwater as potable based on the WHO guidelines. 相似文献
Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) and willow ptarmigan (L. lagopus) are Arctic birds with a circumpolar distribution but there is limited knowledge about their status and trends across their circumpolar distribution. Here, we compiled information from 90 ptarmigan study sites from 7 Arctic countries, where almost half of the sites are still monitored. Rock ptarmigan showed an overall negative trend on Iceland and Greenland, while Svalbard and Newfoundland had positive trends, and no significant trends in Alaska. For willow ptarmigan, there was a negative trend in mid-Sweden and eastern Russia, while northern Fennoscandia, North America and Newfoundland had no significant trends. Both species displayed some periods with population cycles (short 3–6 years and long 9–12 years), but cyclicity changed through time for both species. We propose that simple, cost-efficient systematic surveys that capture the main feature of ptarmigan population dynamics can form the basis for citizen science efforts in order to fill knowledge gaps for the many regions that lack systematic ptarmigan monitoring programs.
In the present study, the distribution patterns of various metals were analyzed and compared using PM samples collected concurrently from three monitoring sites located in Korea (Seoul, Busan, and Jeju island) in December 2002. As these sites can represent metal pollution with different degrees of anthropogenic activities, their concentration levels were distinguished in a systematic manner in the order of Jeju, Busan, and Seoul. By comparing the present data sets with those measured previously from other locations in Korea and around the world, we attempted to diagnose the general status of elemental pollution on the Korean peninsula. Through an application of different statistical approaches, the major processes controlling elemental levels were assessed for each of the three study sites. The results indicated the importance of both crustal and anthropogenic sources in all sites with their relative roles varying significantly from each other. The results of the metal analysis data, when examined in relation to back trajectory analysis, confirmed that their concentration changes are affected quite sensitively with air mass movement patterns. The overall results of this study consistently indicated the contribution of a strong anthropogenic source area (e.g., China) to the observed metal concentration levels in the study area, but the strengths of such signals vary considerably across the Korean peninsula. 相似文献
Steroid estrogens such as estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) have been suspected to be the main contaminants, which can affect the endocrine system of animals. Many authors have investigated these chemicals in the domestic wastewater treatment plants (WTP). However, wastewater from industries producing steroid contraceptives has not got ample attention. From the environmental point of view, the four steroids are very significant because even very low concentrations (ng/L) can cause reproductive disturbances in human, livestock and wildlife. The main purpose of the present investigation was to develop an analytical method for the determination of the four steroid estrogens present in WTP of a pharmacy factory, mainly producing contraceptive medicine in Beijing, China. Analysis was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) system and liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The average recoveries from effluent samples ranged from 88% to 103% and the precision of the method ranged from 9% to 4%. Based on 0.5-L wastewater samples, the limit of quantification (LOQ) was determined at 0.7 ng/L for E1, 0.8 for E2, 0.9 ng/L for E3, and 0.5 ng/L for EE2 in influent, and 1.0 ng/L for E2 and EE2, and 2.0 ng/L for E1 and E3 in effluent. In the influent samples, average concentrations of 80, 85, 73 and 155 ng/L were determined for E1, E2, E3 and EE2, respectively, showing that they were removed in this WTP to the extent of 79, 73, 85 and 67%, respectively. 相似文献
The rapidly developing Asian countries may face threatening environmental contamination, that however remains largely unassessed.
We studied persistent trace elements in three wetlands, Poyang Lake, relatively unpolluted, and Tai Lake, and Pearl River
Delta, selected as hotspots of pollution in Central China. We adopted as indicator the Little Egret, a widespread colonial
waterbird, and during 1999 and 2000 we collected and analysed the same samples as for a parallel study we conducted in Pakistan,
e.g. eggs, body feathers of chicks, prey spontaneously regurgitated by the chicks, and sediments at the areas most used by
foraging egrets. The levels of trace-metals at our three study areas were similar, or within the range, of those found in
the few other studies for East Asia, with few exceptions. The concentrations of the various elements were below the threshold
that may affect the survival or reproduction of the birds, and even the highest concentrations relative to background, i.e.
Se in eggs, and Hg in feathers at Pearl Delta, do not pose toxic hazards. In sediments, the levels of trace elements were
lower than the critical levels assumed for contaminated soil, except for alarming high levels of As at Poyang. These results
do not confirm our expectation, that Poyang was relatively uncontaminated, while Tai and Pearl were polluted. Although trace
metal concentration differed significantly among the three study areas, these differences were minor and were not consistent
among elements and samples. The bioaccumulation ratios from sediments through prey, feather and egg, were consistent with
our previous findings for Pakistan. Only Hg exhibited high bioaccumulation, while Se and Zn had low accumulation, and the
other elements no accumulation. This reasserts that feathers of predators such as egrets, may be more sensitive indicators
of environmental contamination for the elements subject to bioaccumulation, whereas the sediments or the organisms low in
the food chain are better indicators for the other elements. 相似文献
Urban trees serve important environmental, social and economic functions, but similar to other natural endowments they are
not customarily depicted in monetary terms. The needs to augment protection, funding and community support for urban greening
call for proper valuation. Heritage trees (HTs), the cream of urban-tree stock, deserve special attention. Existing assessment
methods do not give justice to outstanding trees in compact cities deficient in high-caliber greenery, and to their social-cultural-historical
importance. They artificially separate evaluation from valuation, which should be a natural progression from the former. Review
of tree valuation methods suggested the formula approach to be more suitable than contingent valuation and hedonic pricing,
and provided hints on their strengths and weaknesses. This study develops an alternative formulaic expert method (FEM) that
integrates evaluation and valuation, maximizes objectivity, broadly encompasses the key tree, tree-environment and tree-human
traits, and accords realistic monetary value to HTs. Six primary criteria (dimension, species, tree, condition, location,
and outstanding consideration) branched into 45 secondary criteria, each allocated numerical marks. Each primary criterion
was standardized to carry equal weight, and a tree's maximum aggregate score is capped at 100. A Monetary Assignment Factor
(MAF) to consign dollar value to each score unit was derived from three-year average per m2 sale price of medium-sized residential flats. The applicability of FEM was tested on selected HTs in compact Hong Kong. The
aggregate score of a tree multiplied by MAF yielded monetary value, which was on average 66 times higher than the result from
the commonly-adopted Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers method. The computed tree values could be publicized together
with multiple tree benefits to raise understanding and awareness and rally support to protect HTs. The property-linked FEM
could be flexibly applied to other cities, especially to assess HTs in compact developing cities. 相似文献