Widespread contamination by tris(4-chlorophenyl)methane and tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol in cetaceans from the North Pacific and Asian coastal waters

For understanding global distribution, transport and behavior of tris(4-chlorophenyl)methane (TCPMe) and tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol (TCPMOH), the two newly identified microcontaminants, the present study determined their concentrations and other persistent organochlorines (OCs) in the blubber of nine species of adult male cetaceans collected from various locations in the North Pacific Ocean and coastal waters of some Asian countries, during 1985-97. Concentrations of TCPMe and TCPMOH were found to be highest in northern right whale dolphins, which may be attributable to wide distribution of this species, including some heavily polluted areas such as coastal California. Elevated residue levels of TCPMe and TCPMOH were observed in both off-shore and coastal species, suggesting widespread contamination of these compounds in the marine environment. Higher contamination of TCPMe and TCPMOH was found in cetaceans from temperate and cold waters than those from tropical regions. The latitudinal distribution of TCPMe and TCPMOH in cetaceans from the North Pacific and Asian coastal waters was similar to that of DDTs, suggesting less transportable nature of TCPMe and TCPMOH in the marine environment. Data on the occurrence of TCPMe and TCPMOH further indicated high bioaccumulation potential of these compounds, which was comparable to DDTs. Relative concentrations of TCPMe/TCPMOH in cetaceans were apparently higher than those observed in seals, suggestive of lower metabolic capacity for these compounds in cetaceans than in pinnipeds, which is similar to classic contaminants like polychlorinated biphenyls and DDTs.     

Baseline study of methane emission from open digesting tanks of palm oil mill effluent treatment

Anthropogenic release of greenhouse gases, especially CO₂ and CH₄ has been recognized as one of the main causes of global warming. Several measures under the Kyoto Protocol 1997 have been drawn up to reduce the greenhouse gases emission. One of the measures is Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) that was created to enable developed countries to cooperate with developing countries in emission reduction activities. In Malaysia, palm oil industry particularly from palm oil mill effluent (POME) anaerobic treatment has been identified as an important source of CH₄. However, there is no study to quantify the actual CH₄ emission from the commercial scale wastewater treatment facility. Hence, this paper shall address the CH₄ emission from the open digesting tanks in Felda Serting Hilir Palm Oil Mill. CH₄ emission pattern was recorded for 52 weeks from 3600 m³ open digesting tanks. The findings indicated that the CH₄ content was between 13.5% and 49.0% which was lower than the value of 65% reported earlier. The biogas flow rate ranged between 0.8 l min⁻¹ m⁻² and 9.8 l min⁻¹ m⁻². Total CH₄ emission per open digesting tank was 518.9 kg day⁻¹. Relationships between CH₄ emission and total carbon removal and POME discharged were also discussed. Fluctuation of biogas production was observed throughout the studies as a result of seasonal oil palm cropping, mill activities, variation of POME quality and quantity discharged from the mill. Thus only through long-term field measurement CH₄ emission can be accurately estimated.     

Metabolism of the herbicide chlortoluron by human cytochrome P450 3A4

Studies were carried out to investigate the metabolism of herbicide chlortoluron in the microsomal fractions and whole cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing human cytochrome P450 3A4. Both whole cells and microsomal fractions of yeast expressing human cytochrome P450 3A4 exhibited a typical dithionite-reduced, CO-difference absorbance spectrum with maximum absorbance at 448 nm. Chlortoluron produced a type I binding spectrum with cytochrome P450 3A4 with a K_s value of 200 μM. Chlortoluron was metabolised into four metabolites; hydroxylated-N-monodemethylated, hydroxylated ring methylated, N-didemethylated and N-monodemethylated products. Chlortoluron metabolism was absolutely dependent on NADPH and no metabolism was observed in control transformants.     

Dechlorination of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene in the sediment of Ise Bay

The relation between dechlorination activities of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and anaerobic microbial activity were studied in the sediment collected at three sites in Ise Bay in Japan. The degradation rate of spiked 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (3nmol ml⁻¹) ranged from 15 to 35 pmol day⁻¹ ml⁻¹ wet sediment and about 1/3 to 1/2 of degraded the trichlorobenzene was recovered as dechlorinated products. Among the dichlorobenzenes, the 1,2-isomer had the highest and 1,3-isomer had the lowest production rate. Comparing the three sampling sites, the trichlorobenzene degradation and dichlorobenzenes production rates were related to the sulfate reducing activity for the unit number of sulfate reducing bacteria. Production rates of dichlorobenzenes were completely inhibited by adding molybdate (20 mM), nitrate (60 mM), and formaldehyde solution (4 %). These results indicated that dechlorination activity in the Ise Bay sediment was supported by sulfate reduction activity in the sediment, and not supported by any other anaerobic microbial activity.     

Biodegradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in the presence of primary substrate by immobilized pure culture bacteria

In this study, pure strains that are capable of utilizing 2,4,6-trichlorophenol have been isolated from the mixed culture grown on substrates containing chlorophenolic compounds. Studies have been carried out on the capability of these isolated pure strains in suspended and immobilized forms to decompose 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. Additionally, the influence of primary substrates (e.g., phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 3-chlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol) on the decomposition of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by the isolated pure strains grown in immobilized form is also investigated. The results are: Through bacterial isolation and identification, three pure strains have been obtained: Pseudomonas spp. strain 01, Pseudomonas spp. strain 02 and Agrobacterium spp. Whether in suspended or immobilized forms, all strains have poor removal efficiencies of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. However, addition of 200 mg/l phenol will enable the immobilized Pseudomonas spp. strain 01, and Pseudomonas spp. strain 02 to achieve 65% and 48% removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, respectively. Addition of phenol will assist the immobilized Pseudomonas spp. strain 02 in achieving removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol but the removal efficiency is not good if the phenol concentration is too low. The optimum phenol concentration should be between 200 and 400 mg/l.     

Determination of 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol and bisphenol A in surface waters from the Haihe River in Tianjin by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring

The estrogenic pollutants 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), 4-nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) were determined in surface water samples from the Haihe River, Tianjin, China. The analytes were extracted and concentrated from 300 ml acidified water samples by liquid–liquid extractions using dichloromethane, derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride, and quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) with selected ion monitoring (SIM). Among the samples collected from 14 sampling sites, only one sample was found to have a relatively high concentration of BPA (8.30 μg l⁻¹) and NP (0.55 μg l⁻¹). The concentrations of OP, NP and BPA in the other samples were in the range of 18.0–20.2, 106–296 and 19.1–106 ng l⁻¹, respectively. Recoveries for OP, NP and BPA in the spiked water samples were all over 80%.     

Study on the fluorescence characteristics of bromadiolone in aqueous and organized media and application in analysis

The fluorescence spectroscopic behavior of bromadiolone (anticoagulant rodenticide), a substituted 4-hydroxycoumarin derivative, was investigated in water and in organized media like micelles and cyclodextrins. A detailed study on various photophysical parameters like fluorescence intensity (I_F), quantum yield (), lifetime (τ) and steady state fluorescence anisotropy (r) of bromadiolone in aqueous and in organized media was carried out. Bromadiolone in aqueous solution was observed to be in an aggregated state, thereby showing weak emission due to self-quenching. Marked enhancement of fluorescence intensity was observed in organized media like micelles and β-cyclodextrin. A preliminary investigation has been done to find out whether this enhancement of fluorescence can be used to develop a sensitive analytical method for determination of bromadialone in aqueous media. A linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity and concentration of bromadiolone was observed in the range of 0.15–7.9 μg ml⁻¹ in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and 0.5–26.4 μg ml⁻¹ in β-cyclodextrin medium. The lower detection limit was found to be 37 ng ml⁻¹ in presence of CTAB and 23 ng ml⁻¹ in β-cyclodextrin. Comparison with 4-hydroxycoumarin, an unsubstituted analogue, was made.     

全球和东亚地区CH4浓度时空分布特征分析

利用最新的AIRS卫星观测资料分析了2002年12月~2016年11月全球和东亚地区（70°~140°E,10°~55°N）CH₄浓度的时空变化分布特征.研究发现,2003~2016年,全球CH₄年平均浓度从1774.2×10^-9增加到1789.1×10^-9,年增长率约为1.1×10^-9/a;东亚地区CH₄年平均浓度从1811.5×10^-9增加到1841.0×10^-9,年增长率约为2.0×10^-9/a.在美国西南部、南美洲南部、澳大利亚东南部、中国青藏高原和东北地区等地上空,CH₄浓度增幅比较明显,而在北美洲的东北部上空,CH₄浓度出现负增长.北美洲东北部和俄罗斯东部等地上空CH₄浓度的变化与温度变化呈正相关;如在冬季,该地区温度与周围地区相比更低,同时CH₄浓度更低.本文利用近10a的卫星数据获得了CH₄浓度的垂直廓线,显示不同纬度带CH₄浓度均随着高度的升高逐渐减小,且高纬度地区CH₄浓度减小的最快.近年来,在低纬度地区对流层中低层CH₄浓度变化较为明显.在对流层低层（850hPa）,北半球CH₄浓度随着纬度增加逐渐变大;在南半球则随着纬度增加先减小后变大.而在平流层内,CH₄浓度在赤道处最大,且随着纬度的升高逐渐减小.此外,CH₄的浓度分布存在明显的季节变化：在北半球,大部分地区夏季CH₄浓度高于冬季（约20×10^-9~40×10^-9）,但在撒哈拉沙漠和中国新疆塔里木盆地等地区上空,冬季CH₄浓度高于夏季（约40×10^-9~60×10^?9）.在冬季,中国四川西部上空的CH₄浓度要比青藏高原上空高（约100×10^-9~120×10^-9）.     

分段进水两级A/O工艺对白酒废水的强化处理效果

为有效控制白酒废水中高质量浓度NH₄+-N对A/O系统冲击引起的出水水质超标问题,分析比较单级A/O工艺和分段进水两级A/O工艺[进水时间（以min计）分配比为7:3]对白酒废水的处理效果.结果表明:与单级A/O工艺相比,分段进水两级A/O工艺出水中ρ（NH₄+-N）、ρ（NO₂--N）、ρ（NO₃--N）和ρ（COD_Cr）均显著降低,其平均去除率分别提高了16.9%、43.2%、49.7%和8%.分段进水两级A/O工艺的二次进水能够为短程硝化反硝化的进行提供有效碳源和NH₄+-N等,为NO₂--N和NO₃--N等去除提供了有利条件;同时,它通过促进对系统内碳源的利用以及NO₂--N的去除,进一步降低了出水中ρ（COD_Cr）.此外,分段进水两级A/O工艺通过降低NH₄+-N和NO₂--N等污染物质量浓度,也能有效减弱其对氨氧化菌和亚硝酸盐氧化菌等微生物的抑制作用,为后续好氧阶段含氮污染物的去除奠定基础.但是,分段进水两级A/O工艺对白酒废水中PO₄3-的去除效果有限,这主要是因为第二阶段的NO₂--N存在使反应系统处于缺氧环境,同时在碳源不充足的情况下,导致聚磷微生物释磷不充分,降低了第二好氧段的吸磷动力.研究显示,分段进水两级A/O工艺能够有效强化白酒废水中三态氮和COD_Cr的降解去除.      

重庆远郊丰都雪玉洞流域大气无机氮湿沉降变化特征与来源分析

以重庆市远郊的丰都雪玉洞流域为研究对象,利用气象站和大气氮沉降仪获取2015年7月~2017年12月的大气降水、NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N等数据,通过NH_4~+-N/NO_3~--N比以及气团后向轨迹模拟探讨了流域大气无机氮湿沉降来源.结果表明:(1)在观测期内,流域DIN总沉降通量为21.37×103kg·a-1,单位面积沉降通量为14.25 kg·(hm~2·a)~(-1),其中NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N分别为7.72 kg·(hm~2·a)~(-1)和6.53 kg·(hm~2·a)~(-1),分别占DIN湿沉降量的54%和46%;(2)DIN湿沉降通量和浓度表现出明显的季节变化,春夏季DIN湿沉降量比秋冬季节高50%,而秋冬季湿沉降的DIN浓度比春夏季高30%;(3)NH_4~+-N/NO_3~--N介于0.29~2.27之间,雨季(4月~9月)NH_4~+-N/NO_3~--N1,旱季(10月~次年3月)NH_4~+-N/NO_3~--N1,表明流域雨季DIN湿沉降主要来源农业源,旱季主要来源于城市源;(4)流域雨季主要受东南风的影响,大气湿沉降的NH_4~+-N来源于当地与流域东南方向的农业源,旱季主要受西南风影响,大气湿沉降的NO_3~--N来源于流域西南方向的重庆市区和涪陵等城市源.