Evaluation of the Impact of Long-range Transport and Aerosol Concentration Temporal Variations at the Eastern Coast of the Baltic Sea

Ambient particles vary greatly in their ability to affect visibility, climate and human health. The fine fraction of aerosol is responsible for greater and wider effects on human health; thus, investigation of this fraction is very important. Continuous measurements of PM2.5 (particulate matter below 2.5 μm in size) concentrations at the Preila monitoring station started in 2003. During a period of 2 years, the episodes of high daily and semi-hourly concentrations of PM2.5 were measured. These episodes did not depend on the season or time of day. The substantial role of long-range transport of pollutants to these increases in concentration was shown using chemical and statistical analysis. It was found that most of the severe episodes occurred when air masses came from a specific site besides it was established that air masses of different origin were characterized by different mixing layer depth. Lower mixing depth was observed in air masses characterized by higher observed concentrations at the measuring site and vice versa. PM2.5 concentrations showed diurnal and seasonal variations whose pattern reflected the regional origin of the aerosol. The regional pollution level was evaluated by the statistical analysis of PM2.5 concentrations. The background annual average of PM2.5 mass concentration for the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea was 15.1 ± 0.8 μg m⁻³.     

Varying Stable Nitrogen Isotope Ratios of Different Coastal Marsh Plants and Their Relationships with Wastewater Nitrogen and Land Use in New England, USA

The stable nitrogen isotope ratios of some biota have been used as indicators of sources of anthropogenic nitrogen. In this study the relationships of the stable nitrogen isotope ratios of marsh plants, Iva frutescens (L.), Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin ex Steud, Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl, Spartina alterniflora Loisel, Ulva lactuca (L.), and Enteromorpha intestinalis (L.) with wastewater nitrogen and land development in New England are described. Five of the six plant species (all but U. lactuca) showed significant relationships of increasing δ ¹⁵N values with increasing wastewater nitrogen. There was a significant (P < 0.0001) downward shift in the δ ¹⁵N of S. patens (6.0 ± 0.48‰) which is mycorrhizal compared with S. alterniflora (8.5 ± 0.41‰). The downward shift in δ ¹⁵N may be caused by the assimilation of fixed nitrogen in the roots of S. patens. P. australis within sites had wide ranges of δ ¹⁵N values, evidently influenced by the type of shoreline development or buffer at the upland border. In residential areas, the presence of a vegetated buffer (n = 24 locations) significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the δ ¹⁵N (mean = 7.4 ± 0.43‰) of the P. australis compared to stands where there was no buffer (mean = 10.9 ± 1.0‰; n = 15). Among the plant species, I. frutescens located near the upland border showed the most significant (R ² = 0.64; P = 0.006) inverse relationship with the percent agricultural land in the watershed. The δ ¹⁵N of P. australis and I. frustescens is apparently an indicator of local inputs near the upland border, while the δ ¹⁵N of Spartina relates with the integrated, watershed-sea nitrogen inputs.     

Characteristic Air Temperature Distributions Observed in Summer and Winter in Urban Area in Japan

The air temperature distributions in August (summer) and December (winter) were measured in an approximately 15 × 15-km urban area in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, in order to study the spatial distribution of the air temperature and to propose effective measures against the heat island phenomenon. The air temperature was measured mainly by using thermometer shelters installed in an elementary school and a junior high school. The characteristic air temperature distribution depended on the season. The air temperature was higher inland than in the coastal region in August but was higher in the coastal region in December. The air temperature index indicated that the area where higher air temperatures would most likely appear was 5 to 10 km inland from the coast in August and around the coast in December. The seasonal air temperature distribution was presumably due to the strength of solar radiation and anthropogenic exhaust heat.     

Distribution and abundance of western gray whales during a seismic survey near Sakhalin Island, Russia

Exxon Neftegas Limited, operator of the Sakhalin-1 consortium, is developing oil and gas reserves on the continental shelf off northeast Sakhalin Island, Russia. DalMorNefteGeofizika (DMNG), on behalf of the Sakhalin-1 consortium, conducted a 3-D seismic survey of the Odoptu license area during 17 August–9 September 2001. A portion of the primary known feeding area of the endangered western gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is located adjacent to the seismic block. The data presented here were collected as part of daily monitoring to determine if there was any measurable effect of the seismic survey on the distribution and abundance of western gray whales. Mitigation and monitoring program included aerial surveys conducted between 19 July and 19 November using the methodology outlined by the Southern California High Energy Seismic Survey team (HESS). These surveys provided documentation of the distribution, abundance and bottom feeding activity of western gray whales in relation to seismic survey sounds. From an operations perspective, the aerial surveys provided near real-time data on the location of whales in and outside the feeding area, and documented whether whales were displaced out of an area normally used as feeding habitat. The objectives of this study were to assess (a) temporal changes in the distribution and abundance of gray whales in relation to seismic survey, and (b) the influence of seismic survey, environmental factors, and other variables on the distribution and abundance of gray whales within their preferred feeding area adjacent to Piltun Bay. Multiple regression analysis revealed a limited redistribution of gray whales southward within the Piltun feeding area when the seismic survey was fully operational. A total of five environmental and other variables unrelated to seismic survey (date and proxies of depth, sea state and visibility) and one seismic survey-related variable (seg3d, i.e., received sound energy accumulated over 3 days) had statistically significant effects on the distribution and abundance of gray whales. The distribution of two to four gray whales observed on the surface (i.e., about five to ten whales in total) has likely been affected by the seismic survey. However, the total number of gray whales observed within the Piltun feeding area remained stable during the seismic survey. M. W. Newcomer, Deceased.     

Sampling and Analysis of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) Traces in Indoor Atmosphere

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) are widely found in disinfectants used in hospitals. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) predominate in the disinfecting formulations. These compounds are strong irritants and can play a role in the induction of Occupational Asthma among the professionals of health and cleaning. In order to evaluate the potential health effect of these quaternary ammonium compounds to hospital employers, the development of an analytical method for their quantification in indoor air was developed. DDAC aerosols are trapped by adsorption on XAD-2 resin SKC tube. The air in hospital buildings was sampled using a constant debit Gillian pump at a flow of 1.0 l/min (+/-5%). Ion Chromatography (IC) was chosen for the analysis of DDAC especially for its high sensitivity and specificity. The Limit of Detection (LOD) by IC for DDAC is 0.56 mug/ml. Therefore the LOD of atmospheric DDAC is 28 microg/m(3) with an air volume of 100 l and a desorption volume of 5 ml. All DDAC air samples were lower than the LOD of the analytical method by IC. Under the standard conditions of use of the disinfecting solutions (Surfanios, Ampholysine Plus and Amphospray 41), the insignificant volatility of DDAC would not seem to be able to contaminate the indoor hospital atmosphere during the disinfection process. However, the DDAC can contaminate working atmospheres if it is put in suspension by aerosolisation.     

畜禽养殖污水生态处理及资源化利用方式的探讨

论述了畜禽养殖场污水的排放特征,并提出污水治理对策。同时阐述了不同类型人工湿地系统用于污水生态处理的优势,并对人工湿地应用畜禽养殖污水资源化的可行性进行分析介绍。     

汽车乘务舱空气污染物的净化措施研究

汽车乘务舱是乘务员(特别是驾驶员)接触最频繁、最密切的空间,其空气质量直接关系到舱内每个人的健康。文章对汽车乘务舱空气污染物的来源进行了分析,并通过对汽车乘务舱空气污染物的净化措施发展的研究,提出了将一种半导体光净化材料直接应用到汽车乘务舱中的净化措施。同时,针对我国北方夏冬两季温差较大的特点,提出了北方汽车乘务舱空气污染物净化的有效方法及措施。     

含苯胺类染料废水处理研究

染料中间体在生产过程中会产生含苯胺、氰化物等污染物的高浓度、高毒性有机废水,可生化性较差。本文设计了以萃取、吸附、氨吹脱为主的物理化学预处理方法,然后再以生化法处理的工艺流程。处理后污水可以达到国家二级排放标准。     

味精废水的预处理试验研究

针对味精废水的“五高二低”问题,对其进行了高速离心分离菌体、加石灰水中和沉淀SO24-、离子交换回收谷氨酸联合处理及絮凝沉降+石灰水中和沉淀处理等方法的试验研究,得出采用上述两种联合预处理后,能大部分去除废水中的SS、NH3-N、SO24-,可以满足后续生化处理的要求。在实际应用中如何选用,需结合经济效益与处理效果进行综合分析。     

连云港市大气污染物时间序列的长程相关性分析

运用R/S分析(Rescaled Range Analysis)方法对连云港市3个大气环境定位监测点近10年来的SO2、NOx和TSP序列数据进行了时间序列的长程相关性分析.结果表明,连云港市SO2、NOx和TSP月均值序列的Hurst指数在0.500～1.000,表现出明显的长程相关性,并且这种相关性程度的强弱随着城市功能区的不同而表现出一定的差异.研究结果对于认识连云港市城市大气环境质量变化过程和科学制定环保决策具有重要意义.