The Effect of Estrogens,River Water,and Treated Wastewater on Vitellogenin Induction of Japanese Medaka1

Abstract: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of estrogens on fish endocrine disruption in river water and treated wastewater. Endogenous estrogen estrone (E1), 17β‐estradiol (E2), river water, and treated wastewater were used for exposure tests on male Japanese medaka. Vitellogenin induction in male medaka was regarded as the endpoint of endocrine disruption. The effective concentrations of E1 and E2 on vitellogenin induction in medaka were evaluated by breeding medaka for 14 days in tanks with various concentrations of E1 or E2. Vitellogenin induction increased with elapse of time during exposure, with higher estrogen concentrations causing greater vitellogenin induction. According to the test results, the lowest observed effect concentrations (LOECs) of E1 and E2 were estimated to be 31.6 and 5.0 ng/l, respectively; and the E2 equivalent (EEQ) LOEC value of E1 was 5.2 ng‐E2/l, derived by multiplying the relative potency of E1 by that of E2 as estimated in this study. In continuous exposure tests using river water or treated wastewater, the estrogenic activity, an index of total estrogenic potential measured by yeast screen assay and expressed as EEQ, varied widely during the exposure tests, and significant vitellogenin induction was observed after several days of high levels of estrogenic activity in water. Vitellogenin concentration tended to significantly increase if EEQ exceeded the level of 5 ng‐E2/l. The threshold value was substantially the same as the results for E1 and E2 exposure tests of medaka. Consequently, EEQ over 5 ng‐E2/l was revealed to have the potential to cause endocrine disruption of male medaka. As estrogenic activity exceeding 5 ng‐E2/l was observed in some rivers in Japan, total estrogenic potential needs to be further decreased at wastewater treatment plants to prevent fish endocrine disruption.     

Assessing Impervious Surface Connectivity and Applications for Watershed Management1

Abstract: Although total impervious area (TIA) is often used as an indicator of urban disturbance, recent studies suggest that the subset of impervious surfaces that route stormwater runoff directly to streams via stormwater pipes, called directly connected impervious area (DCIA), may be a better predictor of stream ecosystem alteration. We evaluated the differences between TIA and DCIA in the Shepherd Creek catchment, a small (1.85‐km²), suburban basin in Cincinnati, Ohio. Imperviousness determinations were calculated based on publicly available geographic information system (GIS) data and parcel‐scale field assessments, and these direct assessments were compared to DCIA calculated from published, empirical relationships. Impervious and semi‐impervious area comprised 13.1% of the catchment area, with 56.3% of the impervious area connected. When summarized by subcatchments (0.26‐1.85 km²), TIA measured in the field (11‐23%) was considerably higher than that calculated from the National Land Cover Data Imperviousness Layer (7‐18%). In contrast, TIA calculated based on aerial photos was similar to TIA calculated from field assessments, thus indicating that photo interpretation may be adequate for catchment‐scale (>25 ha) TIA determinations. While these GIS data sources can be used to calculate TIA, on‐site assessments were necessary to accurately determine DCIA within residential parcels. There was a wide variation in percent connectivity across parcels, and, subsequently, DCIA was not accurately predicted from empirical relationships with TIA. We discuss applications of DCIA data that highlight the importance of parcel‐scale field assessments for managing suburban watersheds.     

The Controversy Over Natural Channel Design: Substantive Explanations and Potential Avenues for Resolution1

Lave, Rebecca, 2009. The Controversy Over Natural Channel Design: Substantive Explanations and Potential Avenues for Resolution. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 45(6):1519‐1532. Abstract: The controversy over Natural Channel Design (NCD) has perplexed, and sometimes paralyzed, the stream restoration community in the United States for more than a decade. Despite the high level of energy expended by participants on both sides, the content of the discussion has not advanced significantly. The two sides seem to be talking past each other, rather than engaging in constructive conversation. This paper attempts to start that conversation. Based on five years of primarily social science research, this paper explains the key components of the NCD approach, evaluates a number of the most common objections raised by its critics, offers a brief explanation for the widespread use of NCD, and concludes with suggestions about how to bring the controversy to a close.     

珠江三角洲两条主要河流沉积物中的典型内分泌干扰物污染状况

为了调查珠江三角洲河流沉积物中典型内分泌干扰物的污染状况,采用超声提取-衍生化-GC/MS法研究了双酚A（BPA）、雌酮（E1）、雌二醇（E2）、己烯雌酚（DES）、17α-乙炔雌二醇（EE2）、雌三醇（E3）等典型内分泌干扰物在珠江广州河段和东江东莞河段表层沉积物中的质量分数水平、分布特征,并对其来源进行了分析。结果显示,BPA在所有样品中均有检出,E1和E2的检出率分别为72%和61%,其质量分数（以干质量计）分别在14.3～429.5 ng.g-1之间（中值为79.5 ng.g-1）、〈1.3～10.9ng.g-1之间（中值为3.4 ng.g-1）和〈0.9～2.6 ng.g-1之间（中值为1.6 ng.g-1）;其余几种雌激素均未被检出。东江东莞河段沉积物中BPA的污染水平整体高于珠江广州河段,而天然雌激素的污染状况则是珠江广州河段更为严重。3种化合物的质量分数总体呈现出沿河口方向降低的分布特征,这可能与沿岸工业废水和生活污水不规则排放以及水动力条件有关。BPA、E1、E2的质量分数均与沉积物总有机碳（TOC）质量分数呈正相关,表明有机质是控制沉积物中内分泌干扰物分布的一个重要因素。     

Streamflow Response to Climate as Influenced by Geology and Elevation1

Mayer, Timothy D. and Seth W. Naman, 2011. Streamflow Response to Climate as Influenced by Geology and Elevation. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(4):724‐738. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00537.x Abstract: This study examines the regional streamflow response in 25 predominately unregulated basins to warmer winter temperatures and snowpack reductions over the last half century in the Klamath Basin of California and Oregon. Geologic controls of streamflow in the region result in two general stream types: surface‐dominated and groundwater‐dominated basins. Surface‐dominated basins were further differentiated into rain basins and snowmelt basins on the basis of elevation and timing of winter runoff. Streamflow characteristics and response to climate vary with stream type, as discussed in the study. Warmer winter temperatures and snowpack reductions have caused significantly earlier runoff peaks in both snowmelt and groundwater basins in the region. In the groundwater basins, the streamflow response to changes in snowpack is smoothed and delayed and the effects are extended longer in the summer. Our results indicate that absolute decreases in July‐September base flows are significantly greater, by an order of magnitude, in groundwater basins compared to surface‐dominated basins. The declines are important because groundwater basins sustain Upper Klamath Lake inflows and mainstem river flows during the typically dry summers of the area. Upper Klamath Lake April‐September net inflows have decreased an estimated 16% or 84 thousand acre‐feet (103.6 Mm³) since 1961, with the summer months showing proportionately more decline. These changes will exacerbate water supply problems for agriculture and natural resources in the region.     

Nonstationarity: Flood Magnification and Recurrence Reduction Factors in the United States1

Vogel, Richard M., Chad Yaindl, and Meghan Walter, 2011. Nonstationarity: Flood Magnification and Recurrence Reduction Factors in the United States. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(3):464‐474. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00541.x Abstract: It may no longer be reasonable to model streamflow as a stationary process, yet nearly all existing water resource planning methods assume that historical streamflows will remain unchanged in the future. In the few instances when trends in extreme events have been considered, most recent work has focused on the influence of climate change, alone. This study takes a different approach by exploring trends in floods in watersheds which are subject to a very broad range of anthropogenic influences, not limited to climate change. A simple statistical model is developed which can both mimic observed flood trends as well as the frequency of floods in a nonstationary world. This model is used to explore a range of flood planning issues in a nonstationary world. A decadal flood magnification factor is defined as the ratio of the T‐year flood in a decade to the T‐year flood today. Using historical flood data across the United States we obtain flood magnification factors in excess of 2‐5 for many regions of the United States, particularly those regions with higher population densities. Similarly, we compute recurrence reduction factors which indicate that what is now considered the 100‐year flood, may become much more common in many watersheds. Nonstationarity in floods can result from a variety of anthropogenic processes including changes in land use, climate, and water use, with likely interactions among those processes making it very difficult to attribute trends to a particular cause.     

珠江三角洲两条主要河流沉积物中的典型内分泌干扰物污染状况

为了调查珠江三角洲河流沉积物中典型内分泌干扰物的污染状况,采用超声提取-衍生化-GC/MS法研究了双酚A(BPA)、雌酮(E1)、雌二醇(E2)、己烯雌酚(DES)、17α-乙炔雌二醇(EE2)、雌三醇(E3)等典型内分泌干扰物在珠江广州河段和东江东莞河段表层沉积物中的质量分数水平、分布特征,并对其来源进行了分析。结果显示,BPA在所有样品中均有检出,E1和E2的检出率分别为72%和61%,其质量分数(以干质量计)分别在14.3～429.5 ng.g-1之间(中值为79.5 ng.g-1)、<1.3～10.9ng.g-1之间(中值为3.4 ng.g-1)和<0.9～2.6 ng.g-1之间(中值为1.6 ng.g-1);其余几种雌激素均未被检出。东江东莞河段沉积物中BPA的污染水平整体高于珠江广州河段,而天然雌激素的污染状况则是珠江广州河段更为严重。3种化合物的质量分数总体呈现出沿河口方向降低的分布特征,这可能与沿岸工业废水和生活污水不规则排放以及水动力条件有关。BPA、E1、E2的质量分数均与沉积物总有机碳(TOC)质量分数呈正相关,表明有机质是控制沉积物中内分泌干扰物分布的一个重要因素。     

Development and modelling of realistic retrofitted Nature-based Solution scenarios to reduce flood occurrence at the catchment scale

Decentralized Nature-based Solutions such as Urban Green Infrastructures (UGI) are increasingly promoted to reduce flooding in urban areas. Many studies have shown the effectiveness of flood control of UGI at a plot or neighbourhood level. Modelling approaches that extrapolate their flood reducing impact to larger catchment scales are often based on a simplistic assumption of different percentages of UGI implementation. Additionally, such approaches typically do not consider the suitable space for UGI and potential implementation constraints. This study proposes a scenario development and modelling approach for a more realistic upscaling of UGI based on empirical insights from a representative neighbourhood. The results from this study, conducted in the metropolitan area of Costa Rica, show that upscaling the full potential for UGI could significantly reduce surface runoff, peak flows, and flood volumes. In particular, the permeable pavement has the highest potential for flood reducing in public space while cisterns perform best at the property level. These results can guide the formation of policies that promote UGI.Supplementary InformationThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01493-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

中哈跨境河水质标准及评价方法对比研究

中哈跨境河流的水量与水质,是双方共同关注的重要问题。对比了中哈跨境河水质标准及评价方法的差异性。中国采用的是单因子水质评价方法,哈萨克斯坦采用的是综合评价方法。中国与哈萨克斯坦跨境河水质监测指标数不同,但相同指标的标准限值在同一数量级。讨论了综合评价法与单因子评价法优势与不足。指出中哈跨境河水质标准与评价方法的统一,是双方合作研究急需解决的问题。建议综合两个标准体系,组成双方共同的地表水标准限值指标体系。建议对两国执行的评价方法,采各家之长优势互补,对环境及人体健康有严重影响的毒理性指标,必须执行单因素评价方法,在此基础上,对其他指标进行综合评价。     

人工补水条件下的缺水河流生态修复综合评价方法

构建了人工补水条件下的缺水河流生态修复多目标综合评价指标体系,对生态修复中影响评价指标量化结果的因素进行了综合考虑,提出了包含主、客观因子并反映层次关系的综合权重确定方法,进而建立了一种人工补水条件下的缺水河流生态修复综合评价方法,以更好地解决多目标决策中的总目标量化问题.最后,以正在建设的永定河生态修复工程为例,通过构建典型的生态修复情景方案,对建立的评价指标体系进行应用,确定各评价指标的综合权重系数,并对构建的情景决策方案进行了综合评估,验证本文提出的评价指标权重综合调整的必要性,说明构建的人工补水条件下的缺水河流生态修复综合评价方法的合理性与可行性.结果表明,所提出的评价方法不仅对人工补水条件下的河流生态修复决策具有一定的实用价值,而且对其它类型生态修复多目标综合决策评价也具有借鉴意义.