Biodegradation of mono-alkyl phthalate esters in natural sediments

Mono-alkyl phthalate esters (MPEs) are primary metabolites of di-alkyl phthalate esters (DPEs), a family of industrial chemicals widely used in the production of soft polyvinyl chloride and a large range of other products. To better understand the long term fate of DPEs in the environment, we measured the biodegradation kinetics of eight MPEs (-ethyl, -n-butyl, -benzyl, -i-hexyl, -2-ethyl-hexyl, -n-octyl, -i-nonyl, and -i-decyl monoesters) in marine and freshwater sediments collected from three locations in the Greater Vancouver area. After a lag period in which no apparent biodegradation occurred, all MPEs tested showed degradation rates in both marine and freshwater sediments at 22 °C with half-lives ranging between 16 and 39 h. Half-lives increased approximately 8-fold in incubations performed at 5 °C. Biodegradation rates did not differ between marine and freshwater sediments. Half-lives did not show a relationship with increasing alkyl chain length. We conclude that MPEs can be quickly degraded in natural sediments and that the similarity in MPE degradation kinetics among sediment types suggests a wide occurrence of nonspecific esterases in microorganisms from various locations, as has been reported previously.     

Determination of phenolic and steroid endocrine disrupting compounds in environmental matrices

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE: Many pollutants have received significant attention due to their potential estrogenic effect and are classified as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). EDCs comprise many classes of organic compounds. The development or optimization of analytical protocols for the simultaneous determination of EDCs in environmental samples is an analytical challenge because these compounds exhibit different physicochemical characteristics, they occur in the aquatic environment in relatively low concentrations and, furthermore, environmental samples are considered as complex matrices. The aim of this study is the development of analytical methods for the simultaneous determination of phenolic and steroid EDCs in aqueous and solid samples. The target compounds are 4-nonylphenol, 4-octylphenol, their ethoxylate oligomers (mono- and di-ethoxylates of nonylphenol and octylphenol), bisphenol A, the estrogens (estriol, estrone, 17beta-estradiol, 17alpha-estradiol) and the synthetic steroids (mestranol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Solid phase extraction employing Oasis HLB cartridges and different elution solvents was used for the recovery studies of the target compounds from various types of water samples (ultrapure water, artificial seawater, river water and seawater). Ultrasonic assisted extraction was applied for the recovery of the target EDCs from the solid samples. The recoveries were assessed using various solvents for the extraction and the elution of EDCs from different SPE cartridges used for clean up. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after derivatization with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide was employed for the determination of these compounds. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The recovery rates of three elution solvents (methanol, acetone and ethylacetate) for the extraction of target EDCs from artificial seawater were assessed after preconcentration on SPE cartridges. Acetone showed better recoveries and was further tested for its extraction efficiency in different water types (river water, seawater). Ultrasonic assisted extraction was used for the recovery of target EDCs from solid matrices. Acetone, methanol, mixture of acetone-methanol (1:1) and ethylacetate were used as extraction solvents. Ethylacetate and the mixture of acetone-methanol (1:1) exhibited better extraction efficiencies. An additional clean up step was necessary for sediment samples. Different SPE cartridges were employed for clean up of the extracts (Oasis HLB, C18, Florisil, silica, combination of silica and alumina). Florisil cartridges were finally used. The proposed methods were further validated on the determination of target EDCs in field collected samples (river water, seawater, wastewater, total suspended solids and sediments) from the major area of Thessaloniki, Greece. CONCLUSIONS: Efficient and accurate integrated methods for the simultaneous determination of alkylphenols (nonylphenol, octylphenol), their ethoxylate oligomers (mono- and di-ethoxylate of nonylphenol and octylphenol), bisphenol A and steroids (estriol, estrone, 17beta-estradiol, 17alpha-estradiol, mestranol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol) in aqueous and solid samples were developed. The proposed methods were applied for the determination of the target compounds in representative environmental samples in the area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: This study confirms the occurrence of selected EDCs in inland and marine waters in the area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. Since there is no previous data on the occurrence of the target EDCs in the major area, an extended survey is in progress to evaluate the occurrence and fate of these compounds.     

城市内河生物修复及其对底泥氮素转化影响的实验研究

对在城市内河底泥有机质与有机氮含量高的特殊环境下进行水体修复的可行性与修复方法进行了探讨.富含高有机氮的城市内河底泥是氮素的重要释放源,采用向水体曝气可以有效地促使总氮与NH3-N的降解,与未曝气相比,10 d后曝气条件下二者的去除率分别达到81%和92%;此时再以土著水生植物进行修复可以显著地提高水体修复的效果、稳定性与修复成功率,并使总氮、NH3-N维持在1 ms/L和0.5 ms/L以下.但应避免城市内河有效光辐射的减少对水体修复影响.     

输变电工程建设的环保要求及其变化趋势分析

从环境敏感区的保护、公众参与、土地占用、施工期环境影响、景观协调性等方面对输变电工程规划、设计和建设过程中的环保要求以及变化趋势进行了较为全面的分析,对输变电工程规划、选址、选线、施工阶段等环节提出环境保护方面的意见和建议.     

山东半岛城市群城市就业结构变动特征分析

通过对山东半岛城市群就业结构的分析,揭示出山东省城市就业结构的一般规律。从对城市群各城市的分析来看,第一产业的就业人员占据较大比重,城市化水平较低。第二产业的从业人员比重较稳定,第三产业的就业比重总体上升,但其中的传统性行业的就业比重趋于下降而新兴行业比重提高。     

Analysis of a gas-phase partitioning tracer test conducted in an unsaturated fractured-clay formation

The gas-phase partitioning tracer method was used to estimate non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), water, and air saturations in the vadose zone at a chlorinated-solvent contaminated field site in Tucson, AZ. The tracer test was conducted in a fractured-clay system that is the confining layer for the underlying regional aquifer. Three suites of three tracers were injected into wells located 14, 24, and 24 m from a single, central extraction well. The tracers comprised noble gases (traditionally thought to be nonsorbing), alkanes (primarily water partitioning), perfluorides (primarily NAPL partitioning), and halons (both NAPL and water partitioning). Observations of vacuum response were consistent with flow in a fractured system. The halon tracers exhibited the greatest amount of retardation, and helium and the perfluoride tracers the least. The alkane tracers were unexpectedly more retarded than the perfluoride tracers, indicating low NAPL saturations and high water saturations. An NAPL saturation of 0.01, water saturation of 0.215, and gas saturation of 0.775 was estimated based on analysis of the suite of tracers comprising helium, perfluoromethylcyclohexane and dibromodifluoromethane, which was considered to be the most robust set. The estimated saturations compare reasonably well to independently determined values.     

HPLC法测定水和废水中的醛酮类化合物

将水样用1mol／L柠檬酸缓冲液调节至酸性(pH=3),其中醛酮类化合物与2,4-二硝基苯肼(DNPH)发生衍生化反应,生成稳定的化合物——腙,经C18固相萃取小柱富集、乙腈淋洗后,用带有二极管阵列检测器的高效液相色谱仪(HPLC)经32 min完成15种醛酮类化合物定性、定量分析。当测定样品为100mL时,检测限均为μg／L级,其中丙酮最高为16μg／L,丁醛最低为1.1μg／L,一般在2μg／L～6μg／L之间。     

中国资源型城市经济转型问题与战略探索

资源型城市经济性转型正面临着重大的经济、社会和资源环境问题：①城市产业结构属于资源型、粗放型的传统初级产业结构。技术水平与效益低下；②就业和社会保障压力巨大；③资源濒临枯竭。环境污染和生态问题严重；④机制体制问题突出。创新能力不足。资源型城市的经济成功转型需要战略创新。具体战略包括：发展目标创新——社会福利均等化、经济持续发展、生态环境整治与社会经济协调发展的三大效益目标；循环经济发展战略一多元化产业结构优化。构建生态产业体系。转变传统增长方式；资源替代与产业替代战略；科技创新战略——依靠高新技术的后发优势战略；生态城市战略；机制体制创新战略等。     

不同pH条件下沉积磷释放到水体中化学行为的模拟研究

通过室内模拟湖泊沉积物在不同pH条件下，研究释放到水体中各种磷形态的迁移转化行为，结果表明：碱性条件和酸性条件下，水体磷的时空变化由于其释放机制的不同，其迁移转化行为各不相同，同时，pH值的变化对水体中各种磷的相互转化没有明显的作用，各种磷形态的浓度变化，在很大程度上取决于水体中总磷的浓度。研究结果对认识沉积磷在环境条件变化时，磷在沉积物和水体体系中的迁移转化有重要的意义。     

干旱河谷地区农业产业结构的调整对环境及经济的影响分析--以汉源地区为例

中国农业产业结构的调整，是中国改革开放、市场化发展的集中体现。本文以汉源地区为例，总结分析了典型的干旱河谷地带农业产业结构的调整情况，不仅促进了当地农村发展方式的根本转变、改善了农村经济、提高了农民收入，同时还解决了当地剩余劳动力的就地消化问题。本文指出了农业产业结构的调整可能对当地生态环境造成的影响，其中诸如不舍理用药用肥造成的水污染、土壤和农产品的硝酸盐污染以及土壤退化、大气污染等环境问题。需要在实践中更加审慎地调整农业产业结构。