Combined use of rapid bioassessment protocols and sediment quality triad to assess stream quality

Physical, chemical and biological conditions at five stations on a small southeastern stream were evaluated using the Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RBP) and the Sediment Quality Triad (SQT) to assess potential biological impacts of a municipal wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) on downstream resources. Physical habitat, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish assemblages were impaired at Stations 1 and 2 (upstream of the WWTF), suggesting that the degraded physical habitat was adversely impacting the fish and benthic populations. The SQT also demonstrated that Stations 1 and 2 were degraded, but the factors responsible for the impaired conditions were attributed to the elevated concentrations of polycylclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals (Mn, Pb) in the sediments. The source of contaminants to the upper reaches of the stream appears to be storm-water runoff from the city center. Increased discharge and stabilized base flow contributed by the WWTF appeared to benefit the physically-altered stream system. Although the two assessment procedures demonstrated biological impairment at the upstream stations, the environmental factors identified as being responsible for the impairment were different: the RBP provided insight into contributions associated with the physical habitat and the SQT contributed information on contaminants and sediment quality. Both procedures are important in the identification of physical and chemical factors responsible for environmental impairment and together they provide information critical to the development of appropriate management options for mitigation.     

The Precision of Precipitation Chemistry Measurements in the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN)

Precision estimates are presented for precipitation chemistry and depth measurements made by the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN). The estimates were made for daily measurements of ion concentration and precipitation depth as well as for weekly, 28-day, seasonal and annual precipitation-weighted mean concentrations and depths. The data on which the estimates are based were collected from collocated samplers at five CAPMoN sites during the period 1985 to 1993. The data pairs from the collocated samplers were used to calculate the between-instrument error defined as 1/2 times the difference between the paired sample concentrations (or depths). For all of the ion concentrations and depths, the between-sampler errors were found not to be normally distributed, but the normality of the distributions improved with the length of the (volume-weighting) time period considered. A set of quantitative measures of overall network precision were derived in absolute (mg L^-1) and relative (%) units. These included the Modified Median Absolute Deviation (M.MAD), the P90% probability values and the Coefficient of Variation (CoV). The latter, defined as the percent ratio of the M.MAD to the median concentration (or depth), represents the relative precision at the center of the error and concentration (and depth) distributions. Based on the CoV values, the relative precision of the CAPMoN measurements was very high (better than 4%) for SO ₄ ^2- , NO ₃ ^- , pH, H⁺, NH ₄ ⁺ , sample depth and standard gauge depth, and not as high (between 10 and <35%) for Cl^-, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and K⁺. The ions with the lowest median concentrations had the poorest relative precision since so many of the concentrations were at or near the analytical detection limit. Except for the sample and standard gauge depths, both the absolute and relative precision improved with the length of the precipitation-weighting period. Detailed statistical testing established that the precision of the daily measurements is dependent on a number of factors, the most dominant being sample depth and concentration, i.e., the absolute precision improves with increasing sample depth and decreasing concentration. The strength of these relationships diminished with the length of the precipitation-weighting period being considered. Laboratory-related sources of imprecision were found to account for less than 4% of the overall daily measurement imprecision for most species, while field-related sources of imprecision accounted for the balance. Specialized plots are shown which allow data users to estimate the absolute and relative precision at any concentration and depth value.     

胶体灭火剂试验研究

分析了用水灭火时存在的明显不足，引入了可改善水灭火性能，提高水灭火安全性和灭火效率的胶体灭火剂。对作为实验用火源的木垛尺寸，水和胶体的实验流量进行了理论分析和设计，设计和制造了可实现定量配比胶体火火剂的试验装置。利用自行设计的灭火实验装置，研究了胶体灭火剂和水对比的流动性能，抗燃性能和灭火性能。实验结果显示，胶体灭火剂在一定浓度范围内具有较好的流动性，不会提高胶体在管路中的流动阻力；与水相比，胶体灭火剂具有优异的抗燃和灭火效果。     

闪光烟火剂感度变化因素的实验研究

研究铝粉的粒度、形状和粘合剂的含量对闪光烟火药剂感度的影响。发现由铝粉和高氯酸钾配制的二元药剂对摩擦和冲击比较钝感，而对静电火花和火焰敏感；当加入粘合剂后，冲击感度和摩擦感度均明显提高。而静电火花感度和火焰感度均明显下降。粒度和形状对感度的影响是铝粉比表面积变化引起的；粘合剂对感度的影响是由于加入粘合剂后形成的微胶囊的脆性和硬度较大，且易藏有气泡，容易形成热点。     

辐射化学在环境激素研究中的应用

环境激素对地球生态系统带来严重威胁.大量难降解环境激素(如多氯联苯、二噁英)危害全球脆弱的生态环境,其直接后果之一就是人类乳腺癌等恶性疾病发病率急剧上升.因此,当今世界各国均十分重视环境激素的环境生物学机理研究.辐射化学作为一门高新技术,在环境激素污染物处理、降解机理与生命科学研究等方面可发挥重要作用,例如:同步辐射可用于直接观测溶液口的雌激素受体ER真实结构,脉冲辐解、激光光解和电子自旋共振用于研究环境激素活性瞬态粒子动力学等等.     

Streamwater chemistry and flow dynamics along vegetation-soil gradient in a subalpine Abies fabri forest watershed, China

Streamwater chemistry and spatial flow dynamics from a subalpine Abies fabri forest in an experimental watershed located in the east slope of Gongga Mountain were analyzed to gain insights into the gradient effect of primary community succession on the stream biogeochemical process. Results showed that high sand content (exceeding 80%) and porosity in the soil(exceeding 20% in A horizon and 35% in B horizon), as well as a thick humus layer on the soil surface, made the water exchange quickly in the Huangbengliu (HBL) watershed. Consequently, no surface runoff was observed, and the stream discharge changed rapidly with the daily precipitation. The flow trends of base ions in the stream water were influenced by the Abies fabri succession gradient. Ca^2 , HCO3^- and SO4^2,- were the dominant anions in the streamwater in this region. A significant difference of Ca^2 , HCO3^- and SO4^2- concentration exported between the succession stages in the watershed can be found. But they had the similar temporal change in the stream flow. Ca^2 , HCO3^- and SO4^2- showed significantly negative correlations with the daily precipitation and the stream discharge. Concentrations of Cl^- , Na^ , K^ , and Mg^2 were low in all streamwaters monitored and we observed no differences along the Abies fabri succession gradient. Low ratios of Na. (Na Ca) (range from 0.1 to 0.2) implied cations were from bedrock weathering (internal source process in the soil system) in this region. But, a variance analysis showed there were almost no differences between rainwater and streamwaters for Mg^2 , Na^ , K^ , and Cl^- concentrations. This indicated that they might be come from rainfall inputs(external source). The highly mobile capacity, rapid water exchange between precipitation and discharge, and long-term export lead to this observed pattern were suggested.     

Heavy metals in Jamaican surface soils

A regional survey of Jamaican surface soils has been conducted in which more than 200 samples were collected at a sample density of 1 per 64 km² across the island and analysed for total concentrations of 31 elements by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The aim of the survey was to begin the construction of a high-precision geochemical database to provide information on elemental levels in soils for application to environmental studies, agriculture, and human and animal health. Results on the regional scale are presented for As, Cd, Cu, Hg and Pb. Although Jamaican surface soils are enriched in several heavy metals compared with world soil means and crustal abundances, lead is of particular importance at this stage because of its occurrence in residential areas. Except for Cu, the distribution maps of these elements are highly correlated with bauxite which in Jamaica is associated with white limestone geology and residualterra rossa soils.     

煤中掺比伴生硫化物的自燃特性分析

为了深入探究矿井下伴生硫化物对煤自燃及着火燃烧特性的影响,向原煤中添加不同量的含硫物配制4种不同含硫量的煤样,通过TG实验、DSC测试和XRD分析,研究伴生硫化物对煤自燃及着火燃烧特性的影响规律;基于Coats-Redfern法计算煤中掺加不同伴生硫化物时煤燃烧阶段的活化能。研究结果表明:随着煤中掺比伴生硫化物的增多,煤的特征温度相应减小,而吸氧量、可燃和稳燃指数相应增大,原煤中混入伴生硫化物后更易自燃;随着煤中掺比伴生硫化物的增多,煤燃烧阶段的活化能降低,煤更易着火燃烧;伴生硫化物的主要成分为水绿矾、叶绿矾,这些物质在常温下遇水和氧气能够发生化学循环反应,反应放热促使了煤更易自燃;伴生硫化物在温度高于200℃以后整体表现为放热,在温度为565℃时达到放热峰值,这使得煤燃烧阶段的活化能降低,煤更易燃烧。     

Chromium speciation in the blood of metal-on-metal hip implant patients

The objective of this study was to determine the valence state of chromium (Cr) in the blood of individuals with Cr-containing metal hip implants. Serum and red blood cell (RBC) Cr concentrations from 52 patients with Cr-containing total hip arthroplasties were measured preoperatively and at 3, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Geometric mean and median pre-surgery serum Cr concentrations were consistently below 0.2 µg/L, while geometric mean and median pre-op RBC Cr concentrations were typically about four- to six-fold higher than the serum values. A significant 5- to 13-fold increase was found in the mean and median serum Cr concentrations three months post-surgery, with an 8- to 18-fold rise at 12 and 24 months, respectively. Steady-state serum concentrations were reached between 3 and 12 months. In contrast, there were no marked differences in mean and median RBC Cr concentrations pre- and post-surgery. Slope regression analysis for our data was similar to those reported for Cr(III) in spiked blood samples. The analysis showed that Cr released from hip implants preferentially distributed into serum and not RBC, indicating that the form of Cr present in blood of hip implant patients was in the form of non-toxic Cr(III). Our findings indicate that blood Cr concentrations Cr(III) associated with metal implants do not pose an adverse health risk to patients, which is in agreement with findings published by most investigators.     

宇宙环境中的某些化学问题

本文讨论了宇宙环境中的化学概况,特别是宇航环境化学和宇航适应问题。