Biomonitoring seasonal variation of urban air polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using Ficus benghalensis leaves

Temporal and seasonal variations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in leaves of Ficus benghalensis were investigated in Varanasi city (India). Leaf samples were collected from six sites from urban area of Varanasi and from a control site. PAH extraction was done by sonication in dichloromethane-acetone and quantification by GC-MS. In January total leaf PAHs concentrations at all the urban sites were twice higher as compared to other season's viz. summer and rainy. In contrast, at the control site leaf PAHs concentrations showed lower values than urban sites. The maximum concentrations of total PAHs in winter were due to the medium molecular weight PAHs which increases with respect to both low and high molecular weight PAHs. The temporal variation of medium molecular weight PAHs was similar both at the urban and remote sites. These results support biomonitoring ability of Ficus benghalensis leaves to temporal variations in PAHs contamination.     

Spatial distribution of metals in soils in Baltimore, Maryland: role of native parent material, proximity to major roads, housing age and screening guidelines

We investigated the spatial distribution of heavy metal above-background (anthropic) contents of Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, V, and Zn in Baltimore City surface soils and related these levels to potential contaminating sources. Composite soil samples (0-10 cm depth) were digested using a nitric and hydrochloric extraction technique. Slightly more than 10% of plots exceeded United States Environmental Protection Agency screening guidelines for Pb. In a principal component analysis, the first component corresponded to Co, Cr, and Fe, which are constituents of local mafic rocks. The second component corresponded to Cu, Pb, and Zn which were significantly higher within than beyond a 100 m buffer of the major roads within the city; furthermore, Pb and Zn were higher in older residential lots.     

Modeling Urban Growth Effects on Surface Runoff with the Integration of Remote Sensing and GIS

A methodology is developed to relate urban growth studies to distributed hydrological modeling using an integrated approach of remote sensing and GIS. This linkage is possible because both studies share land-use and land-cover data. Landsat Thematic Mapper data are utilized to detect urban land-cover changes. GIS analyses are then conducted to examine the changing spatial patterns of urban growth. The integration of remote sensing and GIS is applied to automate the estimation of surface runoff based on the Soil Conservation Service model. Impacts of urban growth on surface runoff and the rainfall–runoff relationship are examined by linking the two modeling results with spatial analysis techniques. This methodology is applied to the Zhujiang Delta of southern China, where dramatic urban growth has occurred over the past two decades, and the rampant urban growth has created severe problems in water resources management. The results revealed a notably uneven spatial pattern of urban growth and an increase of 8.10 mm in annual runoff depth during the 1989–1997 period. An area that experienced more urban growth had a greater potential for increasing annual surface runoff. Highly urbanized areas were more prone to flooding. Urbanization lowered potential maximum storage, and thus increased runoff coefficient values.     

上海城市热岛效应的特征分析

根据上海市城区和郊区的６个Ｄａｖｉｓ自动气象观测仪，１９９８、１９９９年两年观测记录，分析了近年来上海市城市热岛的变化特征。结果表明：上海市全年出现城市热岛的概率为８５．１３％，大多数的热岛强度约为２～３℃，有时可以达到３～５℃，最大热岛强度可达７．３７℃；上海市城市热岛可分为Ａ、Ｂ两大类，Ａ类日变化较平稳，强度较弱，主要发生在春夏季节；而Ｂ类有明显的日变化，强度较大，基本上发生在秋冬季节，上海市     

两种垃圾处理设施挥发性恶臭气体的指纹谱

为研究垃圾转运、焚烧处理设施挥发性有机污染物排放现状,采用GC-MS(气相色谱质谱联用仪)方法分析了垃圾处理设施不同采样点臭气中物质组成及主要组分含量。在所采集的样品中定量分析了111种物质,从中筛选21种物质并根据其归一化浓度建立了各采样点的指纹谱图。结合物质嗅阈值和指纹谱分析,初步识别了不同处理设施采样点的典型恶臭污染物,其中垃圾转运站站内包括对二甲苯、间二甲苯、邻二甲苯、二甲基二硫醚,站外包括甲苯、乙苯、二硫化碳、甲硫醇;垃圾焚烧厂渣坑为甲硫醚,渗滤液为硫化氢。     

浅议城市发展规划中环境与经济的协调

针对当前城市的经济规划和环境规划是相互独立的两个规划，环境规划在城市发展规划中未能反映出春应有的地位，以可持续发展理论为基础，描述了城市发展规划中应引入的新观念，并较为系统地介绍了可持续发展模式的城市经济与环境相互协调发展的规划体系。     

北京市生活垃圾产生量的预测研究

分析了影响北京市城市生活垃圾产生量的因素,采用多元回归分析方法建立了城市生活垃圾年产生量的预测模型.并采用该模型,对2013-2015年北京市城市生活垃圾年产生量进行了预测.结果表明,未来2年北京市城市生活垃圾产生量呈缓慢上升趋势,预计到2015年北京市城市生活垃圾产生量将达到662.4t.     

以排污收费促进城市环境综合整治

分析了排污收费与城市环境综合整治的内涵与关系 ,指出排污收费是促进城市环境综合整治的重要手段 ,同时强调了必须加强环境监测等方面的工作。     

城市生活垃圾填埋场释放汞的形态初步研究

大气的人为汞释放源研究已经较为广泛,但国内外对垃圾填埋场这一潜在的大气汞释放源还没有重视,尤其是垃圾填埋场释放汞的形态研究较为缺乏。2003年11月下旬,对贵阳市一新建的生活垃圾填埋场排放气体中的总汞(TGM)、单甲基汞(MMHg)、二甲基汞(DMHg)进行了初步的研究。结果显示填埋半年、填埋一年与填埋两年的垃圾填埋场排气筒气体中总汞浓度分别为665.52±291.25ng/m3(n=305)、25.6±3.2ng/m3(n=13)、14.5±1.8ng/m3(n=28);填埋半年与填埋两年的垃圾填埋场排气筒气体中单甲基汞浓度分别为2.06±1.82ng/m3(n=11)、0.18±0.06ng/m3(n=2),二甲基汞浓度为9.45±5.18ng/m3(n=12)。这一结果初步说明垃圾填埋场不仅是大气总汞的释放源类型之一,也是大气中毒性更强的单甲基汞与二甲基汞的释放源之一。     

城市森林生态系统服务功能价值评估初探

城市森林为城市生态系统提供了多方面的服务功能。本文以大连市为例,对城市森林净化环境、涵养水源、固碳释氧、保护土壤等生态服务功能进行评估计算,并分析城市森林系统生态服务功能总价值的构成。