Measurement of natural radioactivity in chemical fertilizer and agricultural soil: evidence of high alpha activity

People are exposed to ionizing radiation from the radionuclides that are present in different types of natural sources, of which phosphate fertilizer is one of the most important sources. Radionuclides in phosphate fertilizer belonging to ²³²Th and ²³⁸U series as well as radioisotope of potassium (⁴⁰K) are the major contributors of outdoor terrestrial natural radiation. The study of alpha activity in fertilizers, which is the first ever in West Bengal, has been performed in order to determine the effect of the use of phosphate fertilizers on human health. The data have been compared with the alpha activity of different types of chemical fertilizers. The measurement of alpha activity in surface soil samples collected from the cultivated land was also performed. The sampling sites were randomly selected in the cultivated land in the Midnapore district, which is the largest district in West Bengal. The phosphate fertilizer is widely used for large agricultural production, mainly potatoes. The alpha activities have been measured using solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD), a very sensitive detector for alpha particles. The results show that alpha activity of those fertilizer and soil samples varies from 141 Bq/kg to 2,589 Bq/kg and from 109 Bq/kg to 660 Bq/kg, respectively. These results were used to estimate environmental radiation exposure on human health contributed by the direct application of fertilizers.     

Benefit of suites of defensive behavior induced by predator chemical cues on anuran tadpoles, Hyla japonica

When predator chemical cues are present, low activity of prey is a commonly seen defensive behavior. However, few studies have explored the functional implications of the defensive behaviors and, thus, elucidated the possible linkages between behavioral responses and its consequences. In this study, we experimentally investigated how behavioral responses of Hyla japonica tadpoles to predator chemical cues affect vulnerability to a dragonfly nymph Anax parthenope julius. The frequency of tadpoles attacked by dragonfly nymphs was lower with chemical cues of predator was present than without chemical cues, and most of attacks occurred when tadpoles were mobile. When tadpoles were exposed to chemical cues, on the other hand, their swimming speed was quicker and swimming distance was longer, respectively, and the rates of being approached of the swimming tadpoles by dragonfly nymph was lower than those not exposed to chemical cues. We found that the tadpoles are induced by predator chemical cues not only to generally lower activity but also to swim in bursts as additional behavior and that the suite of their behavioral responses reduce the vulnerability against dragonfly nymph. Tadpoles can receive information about the predation risks by chemical cues and adjust their defensive behavior accordingly.     

多种方法测量全国辐射环境监测质量考核样对比研究

介绍了有源效率刻度法及实验室γ谱无源效率刻度系统(LabSOCS)在样品活度浓度分析中的原理,利用多型号低本底高纯锗γ谱仪,通过生态环境部辐射环境监测技术中心(下称技术中心)提供的沉降物考核样品,进行了两种分析方法的对比分析,对LabSOCS软件可靠性进行验证并对比不同型号探测器性能.两种方法所得核素活度浓度结果与技术...     

铜离子对中国花鲈幼鱼的毒性研究

为给中国花鲈(Lateolabrax maculatus)养殖提供污染生物学的理论数据,研究了中国花鲈幼鱼的铜离子中毒症状和半致死浓度(LC50);检测了幼鱼肝脏的谷胱甘肽(GSH)和丙二醛(MDA)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷丙转氨酶(GPT)和谷草转氨酶(GOT)活力;分析了铜离子胁迫对...     

复合载体对选择性催化还原催化剂低温脱硝性能的影响

采用浆液浸涂法在堇青石蜂窝陶瓷载体上涂覆Al2O_3-TiO_2-ZSM-5分子筛复合载体,并通过浸渍法负载活性组分Mn-Fe-Ce,制备了M/ATZ-CC选择性催化还原催化剂。考察了催化剂的低温脱硝活性和抗水性能,表征了催化剂的物性参数和氨-程序升温脱附性能。实验结果表明,M/ATZ-CC催化剂具有优异的脱硝活性和抗水性能,在反应温度为160℃、水蒸气加入量为10%(φ)、NO体积分数为0.1%、n(NH_3)∶n(NO)=1、O_2体积分数为3.0%、体积空速为3 000~10 000 h~(-1)的条件下,NO去除率在80%以上。表征结果显示,该催化剂的比表面积、孔径、弱酸酸量、中强酸酸量和总酸量得到了显著提高。     

The biochemical activity of soil contaminated with fungicides

Excess fungicides can pose a serious threat to the soil environment. Fungicides can lower the microbiological and biochemical activity of soil and lead to yield declines. Soils contaminated with fungicides have to be remediated to maintain the optimal function of soil ecosystems. This study evaluates the effect of neutralizing substances on soil enzymatic activity and the yield of Triticum aestivum L. in soil contaminated with fungicides. Sandy loam (Eutric Cambisols) with pH_KCl 7.0 was contaminated with an aqueous solution of Amistar 250 SC and Falcon 460 EC in the following doses: 0 (soil without fungicide – treated as a control), RD (dose recommended by the manufacturer) and 300?×?RD (dose 300-fold higher than the recommended dose). Soil was supplemented with bentonite and basalt meal at a dose of 10?g kg^?1 DM of soil (dry mass of soil). The fungicide dose recommended by the manufacturer did not induce changes in soil enzymatic activity or the yield of T. aestivum L. Our findings indicate that the tested fungicides can be safely applied to protect crops against fungal pathogens. However, when applied at the dose of 300?×?RD, the tested fungicides strongly inhibited soil enzymatic activity and disrupted the growth and development of spring wheat. Soil supplementation with bentonite and basalt meal improved the yield of T. aestivum L., and bentonite was more effective in reducing fungicide stress. The analyzed substances were not highly effective in restoring biochemical homeostasis in soil.     

Fe_3O_4-xTiO_2复合光催化剂的制备及其对染料废水的处理效果

采用共沉淀法制备了复合光催化剂Fe_3O_4-xTiO_2。运用XRD、SEM、TEM和UV-Vis DRS等技术对光催化剂进行了表征,并考察了其在太阳光下对茜素红模拟染料废水的光催化降解活性。实验结果表明,当TiO_2与Fe_3O_4的质量比为0.75、初始溶液p H为3.0时,茜素红去除率最高,光催化反应120 min后,茜素红去除率为100%。表征结果显示,Fe_3O_4-0.75TiO_2复合光催化剂不是核壳结构,而是Fe_3O_4和TiO_2的聚集体。Fe_3O_4-0.75TiO_2复合光催化剂重复使用5次后茜素红去除率几乎没有下降,活性稳定性极佳。     

甲苯二胺对厌氧微生物活性的影响

以相对产甲烷活性(RA)和COD去除率为指标,考察不同浓度甲苯二胺对厌氧污泥微生物活性的影响。实验结果表明:甲苯二胺质量浓度为0~150 mg/L时,RA接近100%甚至高于100%,COD去除率为91%~93%,与对照组无差别,对厌氧微生物几乎没有抑制作用;当甲苯二胺质量浓度为200~400 mg/L时,RA为75%~95%,COD去除率与对照组相比下降了2~6个百分点,属于轻度抑制;当甲苯二胺质量浓度高于400 mg/L时,RA在70%以下,COD去除率降至85%以下,属于中度抑制;且随着甲苯二胺质量浓度增大,RA减小、COD去除率减小,抑制作用增强。因此,为了防止甲苯二胺对厌氧污泥微生物活性的抑制,甲苯二胺质量浓度应控制在0~150 mg/L。     

含氯苯酚类化合物结构表征与毒性预测

将有机化合物中的不同非氢原子及非氢原子之间的关系参数化得到新的结构描述符,运用该描述符对部分含氯苯酚类化合物分子结构进行了参数化表征。采用偏最小二乘回归(PLS)方法构建了化合物结构与毒性(-lg IC50)之间的关系模型,模型的建模相关系数(R2)为0.948,"留一法"交互检验的相关系数(Q2)为0.922,标准偏差(SD)为0.184。结果表明结构描述符能较好地表征化合物分子结构特征,所建模型稳定性好、预测能力强,对于酚类化合物QSAR研究具有一定的参考价值。     

Atrazine,chlorpyrifos, and iprodione effect on the biodiversity of bacteria,actinomycetes, and fungi in a pilot biopurification system with a green cover

The use of biopurification systems can mitigate the effects of pesticide contamination on farms. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pesticide dissipation on microbial communities in a pilot biopurification system. The pesticide dissipation of atrazine, chlorpyrifos and iprodione (35 mg kg^?1 active ingredient [a.i.]) and biological activity were determined for 40 days. The microbial communities (bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi) were analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). In general, pesticide dissipation was the highest by day 5 and reached 95%. The pesticides did not affect biological activity during the experiment. The structure of the actinomycete and bacterial communities in the rhizosphere was more stable during the evaluation than that in the communities in the control without pesticides. The rhizosphere fungal communities, detected using DGGE, showed small and transitory shifts with time. To conclude, rhizosphere microbial communities were not affected during pesticide dissipation in a pilot biopurification system.