Gas/particle partitioning of atmospheric PCDD/Fs in a satellite town in Eastern China

Gas/particle partitioning of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in ambient air was investigated in a satellite town in Eastern China from April 2007 to January 2008 comprehending large temperature variations (from 3 to 34 °C, daily average). Molecular weight, molecular structure and ambient temperatures are the three major factors that govern the gas/particle partitioning of atmospheric PCDD/Fs throughout the year. Generally, good agreements were obtained (except for winter) between measured particulate fractions and theoretical estimates of both the Junge–Pankow adsorption model and Harner Bidleman absorption model using different sets of subcooled liquid vapor pressure and octanol–air partition coefficient (K_oa), respectively. Models utilizing estimates, derived from gas chromatographic retention indices (GC-RIs), are more accurate than that of entropy-based. Moreover, during winter, the K_oa-based model using the GC-RIs approach performs better on lower chlorinated PCDD/Fs than that of -based. Furthermore, possible sources of mismatch between measured and predicted values in winter (3–7 °C) were discussed. Gas adsorption artifact was demonstrated to be of minor importance for the phenomena observed. On the other hand, large deviations of slopes (m_r) and intercepts (b_r) in logK_p vs. plots from theoretical values are observed in the literature data and these are found to be linearly correlated with ambient temperatures (P<0.001) in this study. This indicates that the non-equilibrium partitioning of PCDD/Fs in winter may be significantly influenced by the colder temperatures that may have slowed down the exchange between gaseous and particulate fractions.     

pH对沟渠沉积物截留农田排水沟渠中氮、磷的影响研究

通过摇瓶动态实验和箱体静止实验,研究了不同pH条件下沟渠沉积物对农田流失氮、磷的截留效应,分析了pH对氮、磷截留效应及其界面交换作用的影响.结果表明:在实验pH变化范围内,沟渠沉积物对NH 4-N的吸附量和NO-2-N的硝化量以及对TN的截留率都是随着pH的增加而增加;沟渠沉积物对总溶解性磷(TDP)的吸附量随着pH的增加而增加,TP的截留率在5 d前随pH的增加而增加,但在此后基本不发生变化;在不同的pH下,通过影响微生物的活动直接或间接影响氮的界面交换行为,同时pH通过影响沉积物的吸附作用和离子交换作用来影响磷在沉积物-水界面的交换行为.阐明pH对沟渠沉积物氮、磷截留效应的影响有助于掌握氮、磷在农田排水沟渠中的迁移转化机理,从而对控制农业面源污染具有重要的意义.     

象山港海域N、P污染特征及潜在性富营养化程度评价

根据2002年4～9月份象山港海域表层海水N、P营养盐监测基础资料,分析探讨了象山港海域在赤潮多发期N、P污染的时空变化特征,并利用潜在性富营养化评价模式,对整个象山港海域水质富营养化程度进行了评价。结果表明：在赤潮多发期,象山港海域水质N、P污染严重,表层海水DIN指标数倍于Ⅳ类海水最大允许值,明显呈现高N、低P的污染特征;由于受港湾季节性生态环境的演变和陆源径流的影响,象山港海域N、P污染存在明显的空间分异和时间变化特征。NO2-N含量也会因硝化细菌活动的加剧而增加;潜在性富营养化评价结果表明：在赤潮多发期,整个象山港海域由于P的限制,总体上处于潜在性富营养化阶段。     

厌氧/好氧SPNDPR系统实现低C/N城市污水同步脱氮除磷的优化运行

为了解同步短程硝化内源反硝化除磷(SPNDPR)系统的脱氮除磷特性,以低C/N城市污水为处理对象,采用延时厌氧(180 min)/好氧运行的SBR反应器,通过联合调控曝气量和好氧时间,考察了该系统启动与优化运行特性.结果表明,当系统好氧段曝气量为0. 8 L·min~(-1),好氧时间为150 min时,出水PO_4~(3-)-P浓度约为1. 5 mg·L~(-1)左右,出水NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N浓度由10. 28 mg·L~(-1)和8. 14 mg·L~(-1)逐渐降低至0 mg·L~(-1)和2. 27 mg·L~(-1),出水NO_2~--N浓度逐渐升高至1. 81 mg·L~(-1);当曝气量提高至1. 0 L·min~(-1)且好氧时间缩短至120min后,系统除磷、短程硝化性能逐渐增强,但总氮(TN)去除性能先降低后逐渐升高,最终出水PO_4~(3-)-P、NH_4~+-N分别稳定低于0. 5 mg·L~(-1)和1. 0 mg·L~(-1),好氧段亚硝积累率和SND率分别达98. 65%和44. 20%,TN去除率达79. 78%. SPNDPR系统内好氧段好氧吸磷、反硝化除磷、短程硝化、内源反硝化同时进行保证了低C/N污水的同步脱氮除磷.     

Some observations on copper yields and ore grades

The paper examines trends in the average copper content of mined ores over the years. It has tended to decline over the long term, but by no means evenly. US averages are not typical of global averages, at least in the past four decades. Those have been both higher, and less volatile than in the US. One reason for falling averages is a change in the type of deposit mined, with a rise in the share of relatively low grade porphyry deposits. The different nature of their deposits is reflected in marked differences in grades between the different continents. African and Australian average grades are higher than the global average, and changes in the share of Central Africa in global output have affected the global average grade. Yields are have been consistently lower in North America than elsewhere, and Latin American average grades have trended downwards, reflecting both the ageing of mines and the rising share of production from porphyry deposits. Typically the yield of mines declines over time as mining proceeds. The average copper content of ore deposits is usually below the average yield of the ore accessed in the early years of production. The initial grades of new mines have not declined over the past forty years, and there has been no perceptible tendency for the average grade of porphyry deposits brought into production to decline over time. There is no apparent correlation between average grade and deposit size, but mine operators tend to exploit economies of scale to offset low grades. The relationship between the annual percentage yields (the head grade) and the reserve grades of deposits is not static. In recent years head grades have fallen closer to reserve grades. The relationship may be affected by movements in metal prices. Although the evidence about the influence of prices is not clear-cut, it does suggest that prices and cut-off grades may be inversely related. As many ores contain other valuable metals besides copper, copper yields will sometimes be subordinated to the extraction of these other metals. Copper equivalent grades have not moved in the same way as copper grades alone.     

Enclave development and ‘offshore corporate social responsibility’: Implications for oil-rich sub-Saharan Africa

This paper critically reflects on the challenges of engaging, proactively, in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in oil-rich sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the region's oil production takes place in enclave-type environments offshore and in countries ruled by autocratic governments which generally exert minimal pressure on companies to embrace CSR. With companies having little sense of who to target in their local economic development policies and programs, there is always a possibility of ‘offshore CSR’ – recognized here as potentially-effective ideas for improving social welfare that linger within the enclave and never fully materialize – surfacing. The aim is to conceptualize and broaden understanding of the challenge of developing CSR programs in these settings, where there are no clear linkages to communities or local economies more generally.     

辉县市城区环境空气质量现状及污染防治对策

对辉县市城区2006—2011年间环境空气质量监测数据进行了评价,并对城区污染物浓度时空变化进行了分析。结果表明,辉县市城区大气污染主要表现为可吸入颗粒物污染严重,主要是能源结构不合理、锅炉废气污染严重、城区道路保洁方式落后等原因造成的,由此提出了合理规划城市布局、减少结构性污染等对策。     

Spatial and temporal small-scale variability of nitrogen mobilization in a forest ecosystem with high N deposition in NW-Germany

For conifer stands in NW-Germany with high DIN load (23-35 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹) and a long history of nitrogen export the risk of N mobilization were investigated. Ammonium is the most mobilized N species, pointing towards either conditions not favoring nitrification or, more likely - under the dominant aerobic conditions - a very high amount of ammonium in the forest floor. Independence of net nitrification and net ammonification from each other indicates the existence of two separate systems. The nitrifying system depends very much on biotic conditions - as a function of energy and moisture - and seems not to be directly related to N deposition. In contrast, for the ammonification system (Oe horizon) a correlation with the sum of ammonium deposition three months prior to sampling was found. However, the role of disturbance, i.e. nitrogen export, during the last centuries and the role of recovery of the N balance during the last 150 years is still not clear.     

Tissue S/N ratios and stable isotopes (δS and δN) of epilithic mosses (Haplocladium microphyllum) for showing air pollution in urban cities in Southern China

In urban cities in Southern China, the tissue S/N ratios of epilithic mosses (Haplocladium microphyllum), varied widely from 0.11 to 0.19, are strongly related to some atmospheric chemical parameters (e.g. rainwater SO₄²⁻/NH₄⁺ ratios, each people SO₂ emission). If tissue S/N ratios in the healthy moss species tend to maintain a constant ratio of 0.15 in unpolluted area, our study cities can be divided into two classes: class I (S/N > 0.15, S excess) and class II (S/N < 0.15, N excess), possibly indicative of stronger industrial activity and higher density of population, respectively. Mosses in all these cities obtained S and N from rainwater at a similar ratio. Sulphur and N isotope ratios in mosses are found significantly linearly correlated with local coal δ³⁴S and NH₄⁺-N wet deposition, respectively, indicating that local coal and animal NH₃ are the major atmospheric S and N sources.     

A new baseline model for estimating willingness to pay from discrete choice models

We show a substantive problem exists with the widely-used ratio of coefficients approach to calculating willingness to pay (WTP) from discrete choice models. The correctly calculated standard error for WTP using this approach is shown to be undefined. This occurs because the cost parameter's standard error implies some possibility the true parameter value is arbitrarily close to zero. We propose a simple yet elegant way to overcome this problem by reparameterizing the (negative) cost variable's coefficient using an exponential transformation to enforce the theoretically correct positive coefficient. With it the confidence interval for WTP is now finite and well behaved.