A conceptual framework: Redefining forest soil's critical acid loads under a changing climate

Federal agencies of several nations have or are currently developing guidelines for critical forest soil acid loads. These guidelines are used to establish regulations designed to maintain atmospheric acid inputs below levels shown to damage forests and streams. Traditionally, when the critical soil acid load exceeds the amount of acid that the ecosystem can absorb, it is believed to potentially impair forest health. The excess over the critical soil acid load is termed the exceedance, and the larger the exceedance, the greater the risk of ecosystem damage. This definition of critical soil acid load applies to exposure of the soil to a single, long-term pollutant (i.e., acidic deposition). However, ecosystems can be simultaneously under multiple ecosystem stresses and a single critical soil acid load level may not accurately reflect ecosystem health risk when subjected to multiple, episodic environmental stress. For example, the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina receive some of the highest rates of acidic deposition in the eastern United States, but these levels are considered to be below the critical acid load (CAL) that would cause forest damage. However, the area experienced a moderate three-year drought from 1999 to 2002, and in 2001 red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) trees in the area began to die in large numbers. The initial survey indicated that the affected trees were killed by the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm.). This insect is not normally successful at colonizing these tree species because the trees produce large amounts of oleoresin that exclude the boring beetles. Subsequent investigations revealed that long-term acid deposition may have altered red spruce forest structure and function. There is some evidence that elevated acid deposition (particularly nitrogen) reduced tree water uptake potential, oleoresin production, and caused the trees to become more susceptible to insect colonization during the drought period. While the ecosystem was not in exceedance of the CAL, long-term nitrogen deposition pre-disposed the forest to other ecological stress. In combination, insects, drought, and nitrogen ultimately combined to cause the observed forest mortality. If any one of these factors were not present, the trees would likely not have died. This paper presents a conceptual framework of the ecosystem consequences of these interactions as well as limited plot level data to support this concept. Future assessments of the use of CAL studies need to account for multiple stress impacts to better understand ecosystem response.     

Elimination kinetics of perfluorohexanoic acid in humans and comparison with mouse,rat and monkey

Major fluorinated chemical manufacturers have developed new short-chain per- and polyfluorinated substances with more favorable environmental, health and safety profiles. This study provides the first evaluation of the elimination half-life of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) from the blood of humans. PFHxA biomonitoring data were obtained from a recently published study of professional ski wax technicians. These data were analyzed to provide estimates of the apparent half-life of PFHxA from humans, and comparisons were made with kinetic studies of PFHxA elimination from mice, rats and monkeys. The apparent elimination half-life of PFHxA in highly exposed humans ranged between 14 and 49 d with a geomean of 32 d. The half-lives of PFHxA in mice, rats, monkeys and humans were proportional to body weight with no differences observed between genders, indicating similar volumes of distribution and similar elimination mechanisms among mammalian species. Compared to long-chain perfluoroalkyl acid analogs, PFHxA is rapidly cleared from biota. The consistent weight-normalized elimination half-lives for PFHxA in mammalian species indicates that results obtained from animal models are suitable for establishment of PFHxA benchmark dose and reference dose hazard endpoints for use in human risk assessments.     

Antioxidants in Hot Pepper: Variation Among Accessions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pepper (Capsicum spp.) germplasm collection contains several thousand members or accessions. Many of these species and cultivars have not been analyzed for their concentrations of ascorbic acid, capsaicin, and total phenolic compounds, which are important antioxidants having a number of benefits for human health. The objective of this investigation was to select candidate accessions of hot pepper having high concentrations of ascorbic acid, capsaicin, free sugars, and total phenols for use as parents in breeding for these compounds. Seventeen accessions of pepper from the core Capsicum germplasm collection (four accessions of Capsicum chinense; five accessions of C. baccatum; six accessions of C. annuum; and two of C. frutescens) were field grown and their mature fruits were analyzed for their antioxidant composition. Concentrations of these compounds tended to be higher in C. chinense and C. baccatum, than in C. annuum and C. frutescens. Across all accessions the concentration of total phenols was correlated with ascorbic acid (r = 0.97) and free sugars (r = 0.80). Concentrations of total phenols (1.4, 1.3, and 1.3 mg g^?1 fruit) and ascorbic acid (1.6, 1.2, and 1.3 mg g^?1 fruit) were significantly greater in PI-633757, PI-387833, and PI-633754, respectively, compared to other accessions analyzed. Total capsaicinoids concentrations were greatest (1.3 mg g^?1 fruit) in PI-438622 and lowest (0.002 mg g^?1 fruit) in Grif-9320. The great variability within and among Capsicum species for these phytochemicals suggests that these selected accessions may be useful as parents in hybridization programs to produce fruits with value-added traits.     

Persistence and mobility of 2,4-D in unsaturated soil zone under winter wheat crop in sub-tropical region of India

The present study was undertaken to determine the persistence and mobility of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in unsaturated soil zone under real field conditions for the wheat crop in Roorkee, India. Three experimental plots were chosen in the agricultural field itself to represent the real field conditions in the study area and the potential movement and persistence of herbicide 2,4-D was investigated under three different irrigation treatments. The presence of herbicide along with soil water content was determined in soil at different depths at a temporal scale. The movement of the herbicide was also simulated numerically by solving the coupled soil water content movement and mass transport equations using HYDRUS-1D. The measured soil water content trends and the 2,4-D concentration profiles showed a good agreement with the numerically simulated results. The maximum effect of the herbicide was primarily retained up to 15 cm of the soil profile. The current existing dosage of 0.5 kg ha⁻¹ of pesticide was found to be safe to avoid soil contamination as no residue of 2,4-D was traced at the end of the wheat crop season in any of the plots. Higher concentrations of 2,4-D were also simulated numerically and the simulated results showed that the safe dosage of pesticide application would depend on irrigation treatments.     

Mechanism of lead immobilization by oxalic acid-activated phosphate rocks

Lead (Pb) chemical fixation is an important environmental aspect for human health. Phosphate rocks (PRs) were utilized as an adsorbent to remove Pb from aqueous solution. Raw PRs and oxalic acid-activated PRs (APRs) were used to investigate the effect of chemical modification on the Pb-binding capacity in the pH range 2.0-5.0. The Pb adsorption rate of all treatments above pH 3.0 reached 90%. The Pb binding on PRs and APRs was pH-independent, except at pH 2.0 in activated treatments. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the raw PRs formed cerussite after reacting with the Pb solution, whereas the APRs formed pyromorphite. The Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that carbonate (CO₃^2-) in raw PRs and phosphate (PO₄^3-) groups in APRs played an important role in the Pb-binding process. After adsorption, anomalous block-shaped particles were observed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data further indicated that both chemical and physical reactions occurred during the adsorption process according to the binding energy. Because of lower solubility of pyromorphite compared to cerussite, the APRs are more effective in immobilizing Pb than that of PRs.     

改性粉煤灰处理含铬(Ⅵ)地下水的实验研究

用硫酸改性的粉煤灰作为吸附剂,处理含铬(Ⅵ)为5mg/L地下水,最佳条件为:pH=2,液固比10000:3,25℃下反应3h。处理后水样铬(VI)浓度0.03mg/L,满足(GB/T 14848-93)《地下水环境质量标准》。在不改变原水pH条件下,增加粉煤灰用量,水样中铬(VI)浓度也可由5mg/L降至0.05mg/L。同时,吸附剂对铬(VI)的吸附符合Freundlich和Langmuir等温线。     

基于最优分割理论的酸雨监控点位的分类研究

Fisher最优分割法是用离差平方和来表示同类样本之间的差异程度,通过简便的计算步骤和作图,确定最优分类数,使同类样本间的差异最小,各类别样本间的差异最大,并用F检验法检验最优分类数的合理性。文章根据Fisher最优分割法的理论内涵,研究其应用于酸雨环境监测优化布点的可行性。以漳州市沿海区域监测点为研究实例,用Fisher最优分割法确定最优的分类情况和最优的优化布点方案。结果表明,原布设的9个监测点用Fisher最优分割法优化为3个典型点位,可客观地反映漳州市酸雨控制区的整体污染状况和污染趋势,该方法理论内涵直观、计算简便、重复性好,对环境质量监测有重要的意义。     

载银活性炭活化过硫酸钠降解酸性橙7

采用硝酸氧化的颗粒活性炭浸渍制备Ag/GAC活化剂,利用N₂吸附、 SEM、 FT-IR及XRD对Ag/GAC进行表征,得出Ag成功负载于颗粒活性炭上,并以Ag/GAC在常温常压下活化过硫酸钠(PS)产生硫酸根自由基(SO^－4 ·)降解偶氮染料酸性橙7(AO7). 考察了Ag负载量、 PS浓度、 Ag/GAC投加量、 初始pH对AO7降解效果的影响. 结果表明,当Ag负载量为12.7 mg ·g^-1、 n(PS) :n(AO7)为120 :1、 Ag/GAC投加量为1.0 g ·L^-1,降解180 min后AO7降解率达95.0%以上. 初始pH对Ag/GAC活化PS降解AO7有较大影响,pH为5.0时降解效果最优. 通过紫外可见光谱、 气相色谱-质谱(GC/MS)对AO7降解过程进行了探讨,在降解过程中AO7的偶氮键和萘环结构均被破坏,并检测出主要降解产物有邻苯二甲酸和乙酰苯.     

废塑料再生企业排污河道沉积物酞酸酯污染特征与生态风险评价

为研究酞酸酯(PAEs)的环境行为及其生态风险,特选择有近30年废塑料处理历史的莱州市沙河镇珍珠河流域为研究对象,采集了26个0～10 cm表层沉积物样品与8个10～30 cm底层沉积物样品,采用GC-MS测试了被USEPA列为优先控制污染物的6种PAEs含量,分析其污染水平、空间分布、表层与底层沉积物中PAEs含量差异并进行生态风险评价.结果表明,表层沉积物中酞酸酯总含量(∑_6PAEs)范围为nd～39.36 mg·kg~(-1),平均含量为10.42 mg·kg~(-1);DEHP含量范围为nd～35.90 mg·kg~(-1),平均含量为9.46 mg·kg~(-1),占∑_6PAEs的90.8%.底层沉积物中酞酸酯总含量(∑_6PAEs)范围为nd～97.11 mg·kg~(-1),平均含量为21.64 mg·kg~(-1);DEHP含量范围为nd～93.9 mg·kg~(-1),平均含量为20.4 mg·kg~(-1),占∑_6PAEs的94.1%.底层沉积物中DEHP与DnOP的贡献率较表层高,但表层沉积物中各类PAEs及∑_6PAEs含量高于底层沉积物.在空间特征上,PAEs与废塑料处理产业集中区域密切相关,同时显示出与河道动力学相关的不均衡性.生态风险评价显示,该地PAEs污染具有较大的不可接受的生态风险.