中国193个城市规划区土壤微量元素污染与健康风险

随着城市化进程的加快,城市表层土壤微量元素含量发生了不同程度的变化,城市土壤污染所引发的环境问题进一步凸显.为了系统研究我国31个省（自治区、直辖市）193个地级以上城市规划区表层土壤13种微量元素的含量特征、污染水平和暴露风险,利用地累积指数（I_geo）和综合污染指数（IPI）对土壤微量元素的污染水平进行了评价,采用美国环保署（USEPA）推荐的健康风险评估方法量化了居民暴露于城市土壤的健康风险.研究结果显示：城市规划区表层土壤As、Be、Cd、Co、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Se、Tl、V和Zn等13个元素含量中位值分别是9.25、2.14、0.174、12.4、68.4、28.2、0.095、27.7、31.1、0.29、0.61、82.7和82.2 mg·kg^-1,相比于城市土壤背景值,Cd、Hg和Se是含量变化比较显著的元素.I_geo值表明城市规划区表层土壤污染最严重的是Hg,其次是Se和Cd,污染程度介于无污染至中度污染之间,其他元素无污染.综合污染指数IPI_N显示：全国有22个城市规划区土壤已达到重度污染,16个城市达到中度污染,湖南省株洲市是全国土壤污染最严重的城市.健康风险评估结果表明：郴州市、黄石市、株洲市、湘潭市和龙岩市等5个城市规划区土壤暴露对未成年人具有潜在非致癌风险,其中土壤Pb摄入是引发风险的主要因素.建议在综合污染已达中度到重度污染的城市开展详查,摸清土壤污染状况及污染地块分布,建立污染地块清单和优先管控名录,实施污染调控和修复治理.     

北京地区冬春PM2.5和PM10污染水平时空分布及其与气象条件的关系

北京2012~2013年的冬春多次出现雾霾天气,可吸入颗粒物(PM10)污染严重.而PM2.5作为PM10中粒径较小的部分,在PM10中所占比重越高,污染越严重.因此,本研究选取了能够覆盖北京所有区县的30个PM2.5和PM10的质量浓度监测点,对该地区的PM2.5和PM10污染特征进行分析,确定其空间差异特征和时间性变化特征.普通克里格插值(Original Kriging)法得到的北京地区冬、春季颗粒物浓度分布图显示,颗粒物浓度从北部山区到南部地区逐渐递增,在中心城区处,西部高于东部,且局部地区存在一定的城乡差异.颗粒物浓度月变化曲线呈单峰单谷型,1月最高,4月最低;逐日变化反映了PM2.5和PM10浓度具有较好的相关性,且受气象条件影响显著;日变化呈双峰趋势.本文选取日平均气温(℃)、相对湿度(%)、风速(风级)、降水量(mm)等气象因子,利用Spearman秩相关分析研究各个气象因子对大气PM2.5和PM10浓度的影响.北京冬季PM2.5和PM10的质量浓度分别与气温、相对湿度正相关,与风速负相关,风速和相对湿度是影响污染物质量浓度分布的主要因素.     

南京北郊冬春季气溶胶数浓度变化特征分析

使用APS-3321对2014年南京北郊冬春季0.5~20μm粒径段大气气溶胶数浓度进行了较长时间的连续观测,对其变化特征进行了分析.观测期间南京北郊冬、春季大气气溶胶平均数浓度分别为(364.8±297.8)个·cm~(-3)和(79.6±62.4)个·cm~(-3),细粒子(0.5~1.0μm)分别占整个观测粒径段数浓度的87.8%和86.6%,在不同时间段,数浓度变化很大.南京北郊数浓度具有明显的日变化特征,夜晚浓度高,白天浓度低,冬季07:00和春季09:00达到早高峰,冬季17:00和春季18:00数浓度开始迅速增加.数浓度粒径谱分布冬季为单峰型,峰值粒径在0.583~0.626μm之间,春季峰值粒径小于0.542μm,冬季峰值粒径大于春季.随着相对湿度的增加气溶胶数浓度不断增加,同时峰值粒径向较大粒径方向偏移,体现了吸湿增长对气溶胶粒径谱分布的影响.观测期间,霾天比例高达83.3%,随着霾污染加重,在小于2.0μm的粒径段数浓度显著增加且冬季更为明显;春季,细粒子比例随霾的加重而增加,但冬季由于气溶胶老化导致大粒径粒子浓度显著增大,重度霾天时,细粒子比例有所降低.对1月典型污染过程的分析表明,气团来源与地面风向存在很好的对应关系,苏北近距离污染输送和地面小风造成的污染物累积是此次重污染过程形成的重要原因.     

The UN/ECE International Programme on Mapping Critical Loads and Levels

Critical Loads and levels have played a centralrole in the successful development of effect-based emissionreduction strategies for Europe in the fields of acidification,eutrophication and ground-level ozone. The aim of theInternational Programme on Mapping Critical Loads and Levelsled by Germany, with participation of 24 countries, is todetermine critical loads and levels for forest, crops, naturalvegetation, soils, water and materials. The exceedances ofcritical loads and critical levels are used to quantify the riskfor environmental damage by air pollution and tosupport the development of optimised abatement strategies.     

Second-trimester prenatal screening markers for Down syndrome in women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Published studies have shown that some serum markers used in screening for Down syndrome tend to be lower among women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). On this basis, many screening programmes adjust the marker levels to take account of this difference. Recent studies suggested that the marker levels were not different, and so adjustment may no longer be needed, possibly because of better diabetic control. Data from a prenatal screening programme for Down syndrome were examined to see whether the median values of second-trimester screening markers were still reduced in pregnant women with IDDM. A total of 366 women with IDDM singleton pregnancies without Down syndrome were identified from the screening programme at Barts from 1989 to 2002. After allowing for maternal weight, the median multiples of the median (MoM) for IDDM-unaffected singleton pregnancies were as follows: 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.84–0.93) for alphafetoprotein (AFP), 0.95 (0.91–0.99) for unconjugated oestriol (uE₃), 0.90 (0.80–1.01) for total human chorionic gonadotrophin (total hCG), 0.98 (0.88–1.08) for free β-hCG, and 0.99 (0.89–1.10) for inhibin-A. The median levels for AFP and uE₃ were statistically significantly lower in pregnant women with IDDM. The other markers were not significantly different in women with and without IDDM. There remains a case for adjusting AFP and uE₃ levels in women with IDDM in prenatal screening programmes for Down syndrome. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN WATER: A STATISTICAL APPROACH1

ABSTRACT: A method to establish maximum contaminant levels or nondegradation standards for toxic substances in water is described. The method described is based on statistical outlier procedures which distinguish ubiquitous background levels of toxic substances from those concentrations significantly greater than background. Because this approach utilizes environmental data, it can calculate an interim maximum contaminant level which can help protect the public until sufficient health effects data are available to establish human health based maximum contaminant levels.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ether exposure to electronics recycling workers--a follow up study

Workers at an electronics recycling plant have previously been shown to have elevated serum levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) compared to referents without occupational PBDE exposure. Subsequent structural changes and industrial hygiene measures at the plant were applied to improve the work environment. The present study aims to assess the impact of these work environment changes on the occupational exposure to PBDEs.

Blood were drawn from the workers and analyzed at two different laboratories, and serum concentrations of several PBDE congeners were determined by GC/MS or GC/HRMS. Cross-sectional studies were performed prior to (in 1997; N = 19) and after (in 2000; N = 27) workplace improvements. Longitudinal studies were performed on twelve of the workers that were sampled at both occasions.

Even though the amount of processed goods had doubled in 2000 as compared to 1997, there was a significant decrease in the serum levels of BDE-183 and BDE-209. For BDE-209 the levels observed in year 2000 were even lower than in referents with no occupational exposure. In contrast to the decrease of higher brominated diphenyl ethers, the concentrations of BDE-47 did not significantly change. For BDE-153, the cross-sectional study indicated no change, whereas the longitudinal follow up indicated a significant increase.

This study shows that the industrial hygiene improvements clearly reduced the occupational exposure to BDE-183 and BDE-209 at the plant. Still, the levels of hexa- to nonaBDEs but not BDE-209 were elevated, compared to referents with no occupational exposure.     

Minimum Wet‐Season Flows and Levels in Southwest Florida Rivers1

Abstract: Regulation of river flows can result in decreased stage fluctuations and alteration of inundation patterns of floodplain wetlands. However, floodplain inundation has historically not been addressed in most minimum flow determinations. Florida law requires the water management districts of the state to establish minimum flows and levels to protect water bodies from significant harm associated with water withdrawals. The Southwest Florida Water Management District utilizes a 15% reduction in habitat criterion as a threshold for defining significant harm to freshwater segments of rivers. Utilizing a multi‐parameter approach and different habitat measures for seasonal flow periods, the District has recommended minimum flow compliance standards for the Alafia, Myakka and middle Peace rivers. For the high‐flow period, the District utilized a 15% reduction in the number of days of floodplain inundation (a temporal loss) as a significant harm threshold. This approach yielded allowable flow reductions of 8% for the Alafia and Peace rivers during the high‐flow season and a 7% allowable reduction of natural flows on the Myakka River. Comparison of changes in flows associated with temporal and spatial loss thresholds indicated that flow reductions required to effect a 15% spatial loss of habitat on the Alafia, Myakka and middle Peace rivers are higher than those that would yield a 15% temporal loss. This indicates that with respect to natural flow protection, the District’s consideration of temporal reductions in habitat for establishing minimum river flows for seasonal high‐flow periods is more conservative than the use of a spatial loss criterion.     

Measuring the Net Economic Value of Recreational Boating as Water Levels Fluctuate1

Abstract: The purpose of this article was to show how the value of recreational boating can be assessed and how that value can be linked to water levels. Data were gathered via a survey of recreational boaters to determine days boated and willingness‐to‐pay (net economic value) for boating on Lake Ontario and on the St. Lawrence River in 2002. Depth measurements were taken at marinas and yacht clubs, boat launch ramps, and private docks. Stage‐damage curves were used to pinpoint at what water levels and to what extent boaters would be impacted. Boaters recreated an estimated 1.3 million days in 2002 and spent an estimated US$178 million in New York counties bordering Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. The mean net economic value per day per boat (above current expenditures) was $69.36, with an estimated total net economic value of US$90 million. Using Lake Ontario as an example, the stage‐damage curves show that the overall negative impact would be small, between 245 and 248 ft. Maintaining water levels within that range for the entire boating season would be ideal for Lake Ontario boaters and associated businesses.