Insights into the phenomenon of an explosive growth and sharp decline in haze: A case study in Beijing

A severe haze episode occurred in winter in the North China Plain(NCP),and the phenomenon of an explosive growth and sharp decline in PM_(2.5)(particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter equal to or less than 2.5μm)concentration was observed.To study the systematic causes for this phenomenon,comprehensive observations were conducted in Beijing from November 26 to December 2,2015;during this period,meteorological parameters,LIDAR data,and the chemical compositions of aerosols were determined.The haze episode was characterized by rapidly varying PM2.5 concentration,and the highest PM_(2.5) concentration reached 667μg/m~3.During the haze episode,the NCP was dominated by a weak high-pressure system and continuously low PBL(planetary boundary layer)heights,which are unfavorable conditions for the diffusion of pollutants.The large increases in the concentrations of SNA(SO_4~(2-),NO_3~-and NH_4~+)during the haze implied that the formation of SNA was the largest contribution.Water vapor also played a vital role in the formation of haze by promoting the chemical transformation of secondary pollutants,which led to higher PM_(2.5) concentrations.The spatial distributions of PM_(2.5) in Beijing at different times and the backward trajectories of the air masses also indicated that pollutants from surrounding provinces in particular,contributed to the higher PM_(2.5)concentration.     

Investigating the impact of Glyoxal retrieval from MAX-DOAS observations during haze and non-haze conditions in Beijing

This study presents the Multi Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy(MAXDOAS) measurements for Glyoxal(CHOCHO) in Beijing, China(39.95°N, 116.32°E). CHOCHO is the smallest compound of di-carbonyl group. As a primary sink of CHOCHO, its photolysis with NOx(oxides of nitrogen) results in the production of tropospheric ozone. Therefore,the focus of CHOCHO DOAS measurements is increasing in trend. We did the measurements from 09 May 2017 to 09 September 2017. The study was conducted to compare different retrieval settings in order to reveal best DOAS fit settings for CHOCHO;furthermore, effect of haze and non-haze days on CHOCHO concentration was examined.The root mean square of residual and Differential Slant Column density(dSCD) error was reduced when measurements were done with lower wavelength limit around 432–438 nm and upper intervals around 455–460 nm. Thus, lower wavelength intervals around432–438 nm and upper intervals around 457–460 nm were best for the retrieval of dSCDs for CHOCHO. Meteorological conditions like haze or non-haze days did not have significant effect on DOAS fit parameters. The CHOCHO vertical column densities range from 1.33 E +14 to 9.77 E + 14 molecules/cm2 during the study period with average of 6.16 E +14 molecules/cm2. The results indicated that during haze days CHOCHO concentration was higher because of lower rate of photolysis and atmospheric oxidation potential. Our results did not show any significant weekend effect on CHOCHO atmospheric concentration.     

Bacterial community response to petroleum contamination in brackish tidal marsh sediments in the Yangtze River Estuary, China

The brackish tidal marsh in the Baimaosha area of the Yangtze River Estuary was severely contaminated by 400 tons of heavy crude petroleum from a tanker that sank in December 2012. The spill accident led to severe environmental damage owing to its high toxicity, persistence and wide distribution. Microbial communities play vital roles in petroleum degradation in marsh sediments. Therefore, taxonomic analysis, high-throughput sequencing and 16S rRNA functional prediction were used to analyze the structure and function of microbial communities among uncontaminated (CK), lightly polluted (LP), heavily polluted (HP), and treated (TD) sediments. The bacterial communities responded with increased richness and decreased diversity when exposed to petroleum contamination. The dominant class changed from Deltaproteobacteria to Gammaproteobacteria after petroleum contamination. The phylum Firmicutes increased dramatically in oil-enriched sediment by 75.78%, 346.19% and 267.26% in LP, HP and TD, respectively. One of the suspected oil-degrading genera, Dechloromonas, increased the most in oil-contaminated sediment, by 540.54%, 711.27% and 656.78% in LP, HP and TD, respectively. Spore protease, quinate dehydrogenase (quinone) and glutathione-independent formaldehyde dehydrogenase, three types of identified enzymes, increased enormously with the increasing petroleum concentration. In conclusion, petroleum contamination altered the community composition and microorganism structure, and promoted some bacteria to produce the corresponding degrading enzymes. Additionally, the suspected petroleum-degrading genera should be considered when restoring oil-contaminated sediment.     

Source apportionment of VOCs in a typical medium-sized city in North China Plain and implications on control policy

Characteristics of atmospheric VOCs (volatile organic compounds) have been extensively studied in megacities in China, however, they are scarcely investigated in medium/small-sized cities in North China Plain (NCP). A comprehensive research on possible sources of VOCs was conducted in a medium-sized city of NCP, from May to September 2019. A total of 143 canister samples of 8 sites in Xuchang city were collected, and 57 VOC species were detected. The average VOC concentrations were 42.6 ± 31.6 μg/m³, with 53.7 ± 31.0 μg/m³ and 32.1 ± 27. 8 μg/m³, in the morning and afternoon, respectively. Alkenes and aromatics contributed 80% of the total ozone formation potential (OFP). Aromatics accounted for more than 95% of secondary organic aerosol potential (SOAP). VOCs were dominated by the local emission with significant transport from the southeast direction. PMF analysis extracted 6 sources, which were combustion (33.1%), LPG usage (19.3%), vehicular exhaust & fuel evaporation (15.8%), solvent usage (15.2%), industrial (9.11%) and biogenic (7.51%), respectively and they contributed 33.4%, 17.6%, 12.9%, 18.6%, 9.28% and 8.22% to the OFP, respectively. Combustion and LPG usage were the dominant VOC sources; and combustion, solvent usage and LPG usage were the main sources of OFP in Xuchang city, which were different to megacities in China with a high contribution from vehicular exhaust, solvent usage and industry, suggesting specific control strategies on VOCs need to be implemented in medium-sized city such as Xuchang city.     

西藏日太阳总辐射估算模型的优化与时间尺度效应

根据2012～2014年拉萨站点的日太阳辐射观测数据,对3种日太阳总辐射估算模型(左大康、Prescoff和王炳忠等提出的估算模型)的估算结果和实际观测结果进行误差检验分析,结果表明:3种模型都通过了显著性检验,其平均绝对误差(MAE)分别为6.17 MJ/(m~2·d)、6.42 MJ/(m~2·d)和12.31 MJ/(m~2·d),均方根误差(RMSE)分别为1.60 MJ/(m~2·d)、1.65 MJ/(m~2·d)和2.78 MJ/(m~2·d),表明利用地理位置信息和日照时数的左大康估算模型对拉萨日太阳总辐射的估算效果优于Prescoff和王炳忠估算模型。利用左大康估算模型分别估算得到2015年拉萨、那曲和葛尔地区的日太阳总辐射值,并进行模型验证。通过分析拉萨1971～2015年的太阳总辐射变化和周期性特征,研究日太阳总辐射估算模型的时间尺度效应。按照11年和四季两种不同的时间尺度,利用线性回归法对日太阳总辐射估算结果和实际观测结果进行误差和相关性分析,得到经验参数a和b的值与时间尺度有一定关系。11年和四季两种时间尺度除夏季以外,其他时间拟合模型的精度均得到了提高。通过线性回归法得出45年的西藏日太阳总辐射优化估算模型,该模型估算日太阳总辐射的误差小于左大康模型,估算精度较高。     

城市总体规划的战略环境评价研究 --以河北省丰南市黄各庄镇为例

开展城市总体规划的战略环境评价可以将环境问题纳入到规划中进行综合分析，使规划遵循可持续发展的原则，并根据可持续发展的目标，协调各部门发展的关系。本文基于开发的评价程序，结合黄各庄镇总体规划的战略环境评价。尝试在规划层次上对城镇总体规划的战略环境评价进行探讨。     

全过程管理视角的上海市垃圾分类回顾与展望

为掌握分类投放全面推广对城市生活垃圾全过程管理的影响,系统回顾了上海生活垃圾分类的推行历程,从生命周期角度预测了不同分类水平下上海生活垃圾处理与处置的环境效应。上海垃圾分类经历了试点、推广、调整、强制推广4个阶段,指导思路从资源化主导转变为"减量化、资源化、无害化"并行,减量效果从调整阶段开始逐渐显现,其他垃圾热值提高。在模拟的8种场景中,当湿垃圾、可回收物、其他垃圾混合投放并处置时,总环境影响潜值最高,达到1.22×10-13 PET₂₀₀₀/t;湿垃圾、可回收物、其他垃圾分出量占比分别为30%、20%和50%时(上海市生活垃圾厌氧消化、焚烧和回收的最大处理能力分别占总处理能力的25%、60%和15%),可实现原生垃圾零填埋,并获得最佳环境效益,环境影响潜值降为8.13×10-14 PET₂₀₀₀/t。从生活垃圾全过程管理角度看,分类投放是前提条件,配套适当的处理处置设施才能更好地显现环境效益优势。     

Characteristics of ambient volatile organic compounds during spring O3 pollution episode in Chengdu, China

Surface ozone (O₃) has become a critical pollutant impeding air quality improvement in many Chinese megacities. Chengdu is a megacity located in Sichuan Basin in southwest China, where O₃ pollution occurs frequently in both spring and summer. In order to understand the elevated O₃ during spring in Chengdu, we conducted sampling campaign at three sites during O₃ pollution episodes in April. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compositions at each site were similar, and oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) concentrations accounted for the highest proportion (35%-45%), followed by alkanes, alkens (including acetylene), halohydrocarbons, and aromatics. The sensitivity of O₃ to its precursors was analyzed using an observation based box model. The relative incremental reactivity of OVOCs was larger than other precursors, suggesting that they also played the dominant role in O₃ formation. Furthermore, the positive matrix factorization model was used to identify the dominant emission sources and to evaluate their contribution to VOCs in the city. The main sources of VOCs in spring were from combustion (27.75%), industrial manufacturing (24.17%), vehicle exhaust (20.35%), and solvent utilization (18.35%). Discussions on VOCs and NO_x reduction schemes suggested that Chengdu was typical in the VOC-limited regime, and VOC emission reduction would help to prevent and control O₃. The analysis of emission reduction scenarios based on VOCs sources showed that the emission reduction ratio of VOCs to NO₂ needs to reach more than 3 in order to achieve O₃ prevention. Emission reduction from vehicular exhaust source and solvent utilization source may be more effective.     

Carbon and polymer-based magnetic nanocomposites for oil-spill remediation—a comprehensive review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Oil spills are a major contributor to water contamination, which sets off a significant impact on the environment, biodiversity, and economy....     

The impact of Bt maize expressing the Cry1Ac protein on non-target arthropods

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - From 2014 to 2016, individuals of the principal non-target arthropod (NTA) species in a field of Bt maize expressing the Cry1Ac protein (Bt38) were...