Long-term air monitoring of organochlorine pesticides using Semi Permeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) in the Alps

Atmospheric sampling of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was conducted using Semi Permeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) deployed in the Alps at different altitudinal transects for two consecutive exposure periods of half a year and a third simultaneous year-long period. Along all the altitude profiles, the sequestered amounts of OCPs increased in general with altitude. SPMDs were still working as kinetic samplers after half a year for the majority of the OCPs. However, compounds with the lowest octanol-air partition coefficient (K_oa), reached equilibrium within six months. This change in the SPMD uptake was determined for the temperature gradient along the altitude profile influencing K_oa, OCPs availability in the gaseous phase, and SPMD performance. In sum, it seems two effects are working in parallel along the altitude profiles: the change in SPMD performance and the different availability of OCPs along the altitudinal transects determined by their compound properties and concentrations in air.     

Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Atmospheric Air of Tamil Nadu,India, and Human Health Risk Assessment

This study analyzed the seasonal distribution and the possible sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmospheric environment of Tamil Nadu, India. Passive air sampling was performed at 32 locations during the period from April 2009 to January 2010, and PAHs were quantified using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Analysis showed that the concentrations of PAHs were in the range of 5–47.5 ng/m³ with uniform distribution in urban areas in all seasons. Pre-monsoon season showed the highest cumulative concentration of PAHs in both agricultural and coastal areas. Among PAHs, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene levels were found to be predominant in all the samples, contributing up to 36%, 35.5%, and 24.5% of total PAHs, respectively. The signature of the PAHs obtained through diagnostic ratio and principal component analysis revealed that diesel emissions was the probable source of PAHs in all locations. Based on Word Health Organization guidelines, the human lung cancer risk due to observed level of PAH concentration (i.e., PAHs exposure) is meager. However, the risk is predicted to be more in the coastal area during summer (18 individuals among 0.1 million people). To the knowledge of these authors, this report is the first on the seasonal analysis of PAHs using passive air sampling in India.     

Univariate Bayesian nonparametric binary regression with application in environmental management

In environmental management, we often have to deal with binary response variables whose outcome dictates the course of action. This paper introduces a nonparametric Bayesian binary regression model with a single predictor variable that is more flexible than the commonly used logistic or probit models. Due to the Bayesian feature, the model can be easily used to combine observed data with our knowledge of the subject to produce site-specific results. By using three examples, this paper shows the potential application of the model in the environmental management, and its advantages in terms of flexibility in model specification, robustness to outliers, and realistic interpretation of data.     

颗粒物再悬浮采样器研制与应用

研制了颗粒物再悬浮采样器,阐述了颗粒物再悬浮采样器的工作原理及系统结构。对颗粒物再悬浮采样器的PM10和PM2·5捕集效率以及采样时间进行了研究分析,选取了颗粒物再悬浮采样器合适的采样时间。     

湖泊沉积物-水界面系列采样装置的研制

介绍了系列采样装置,包括沉积物-水界面取样器,孔隙水隔气抽取装置和电渗析沉积物剖面切割工作台等。可对75m深水湖泊采集到30—90cm的沉积物术及10—30cm底层水样品,并可在野外现场分样和提取孔隙水。沉积物分样的厚度最小是0.1cm。整套装置重量轻、可拆卸、操作简便且便于野外运输。     

A passive air sampler for characterizing the vertical concentration profile of gaseous phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in near soil surface air

Air-soil exchange is an important process governing the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A novel passive air sampler was designed and tested for measuring the vertical concentration profile of 4 low molecular weight PAHs in gaseous phase (PAH_LMW4) in near soil surface air. Air at various heights from 5 to 520 mm above the ground was sampled by polyurethane foam disks held in down-faced cartridges. The samplers were tested at three sites: A: an extremely contaminated site, B: a site near A, and C: a background site on a university campus. Vertical concentration gradients were revealed for PAH_LMW4 within a thin layer close to soil surface at the three sites. PAH concentrations either decreased (Site A) or increased (Sites B and C) with height, suggesting either deposition to or evaporation from soils. The sampler is a useful tool for investigating air-soil exchange of gaseous phase semi-volatile organic chemicals.     

南宁市郊空气和大气干湿沉降物中多环芳烃的污染特征

采用空气被动采样器和大气干湿采样器分夏、冬季采集大气及其干湿沉降物样品,利用气相色谱-质谱联用仪测定16种多环芳烃(PAHs)优先控制污染物。结果表明:冬、夏季大气干湿沉降物中PAHs的平均值分别为581.06、174.59ng/(m2·d),冬季PAHs的组成以2～3环PAHs为主,夏季以4～6环PAHs为主;冬、夏季空气中PAHs的平均值分别为149.16、168.70ng/d,均以2～3环PAHs为主。大气干湿沉降物PAHs的沉降通量时空变化为:冬季,商住文教混合区农业区工业区;夏季,工业区农业区商住文教混合区;冬季大于夏季3.3倍。空气PAHs沉降通量的时空变化为:冬季,工业区商住文教混合区农业区;夏季,农业区工业区商住文教混合区;冬季略低于夏季。     

简易吸水式深水采样器的制作与应用

常用的直通式深水采样器不但价格较高,且使用不方便。本文介绍一种简单、实用的吸水式深水采样器,具有造价低廉、操作简单、方便实用的优点,尤其适用于河流湖库的深层水样采集,采水深度可达１００ｍ左右。     

复合膜过滤法采样检测空气中的微生物

以无机膜为支撑膜,以壳聚糖醋酸溶液为涂层溶液制成壳聚糖复合膜,用以采样和检测空气中的微生物.通过空气中细菌采样以及大肠杆菌噬茵体模拟采样实验来表征壳聚糖复合膜作为采样用膜的特性.通过和其他方法的对比实验表明,壳聚糖复合膜具有良好的截留微生物气溶胶的能力,复合过滤法是一种较准确的采样检测空气中微生物的方法.     

Representing mediating effects and species reintroductions in Ecopath with Ecosim

Ecosystem models play an important role in supporting ecosystem approaches to management. To improve the representation of how ecosystems work, ecosystem models should be able to represent mediating effects (e.g., habitat provision) that species provide to each other as well as species (re)introductions, both common situations that can strongly influence ecosystem dynamics. We examine how such processes can be incorporated into Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE), a widely used tool for represent aquatic ecosystems with the potential to support ecosystem-based management. We used the reintroduction of sea otters (Enhydralutris) to the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada as a case study. The model demonstrates how to account for benefits provided by kelp forests by contributing to primary production, increased feeding areas and food availability through prey retention. It also demonstrates how the reintroduction and range expansion of sea otters can be represented in Ecospace, and the implications of these options.