Assessment of the quality of the air in the city of Palermo through chemical and cell analyses on Pinus needles

The influence of air pollution on the chemical composition of Pinus sp. needles was examined in polluted and control sites in and around the city of Palermo (Sicily). The chemical composition of needles indicated the extent of contamination of the trees, which were cytologically examined. Cell analysis was carried out on pine samples, including needles and pollens, from 15 different locations. Biostructural and spectrophotometric tests were performed. In particular, concentrations of toxic (Cd, Pb) and non-toxic metals (Fe,Cu, Zn) were determined, as well as injury caused by their accumulation in the needles. The more highly urbanised areas showed higher concentrations of metals (Pb, Cu. Zn, Fe); only the concentrations of Cd and Mn turned out to be constant in all the sites. Cell analysis revealed displasic cells and secondary metabolite accumulations in trees from polluted sites. These changes observed were most likely caused by the toxic effect of pollutants.     

我国《劳动保护产业》的市场需求趋势分析

首次对国内一些企业进行《劳动保护产业》市场需求趋势的调查分析，并参考了国外有关信息，得出了“个人防护用品”是占据该市场最大份额项目的结论。还提出了如以“个人防护用品”为龙头发展劳动保护产业时，需要注意的几个问题。     

Integrating lean principles and fuzzy bow-tie analysis for risk assessment in chemical industry

In this research, a framework combining lean manufacturing principles and fuzzy bow-tie analyses is used to assess process risks in chemical industry. Lean manufacturing tools and techniques are widely used for eliminating wastes in manufacturing environments. The five principles of lean (identify value, map the value stream, create flow, establish pull, and seek perfection) are utilized in the risk assessment process. Lean tools such as Fishbone Diagram, and Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) are used for risk analysis and mitigation. Lean principles and tools are combined with bow-tie analysis for effective risk assessment process. The uncertainty inherent with the risks is handled using fuzzy logic principles. A case study from a chemical process industry is provided. Main risks and risk factors are identified and analyzed by the risk management team. Fuzzy estimates are obtained for the risk factors and bow-tie analysis is used to calculate the aggregated risk probability and impact. The risks are prioritized using risk priority matrix and mitigation strategies are selected based on FMEA. Results showed that the proposed framework can effectively improve the risk management process in the chemical industry.     

Preparing for major terrorist attacks against chemical clusters: Intelligently planning protection measures w.r.t. domino effects

Chemical industrial areas or so-called chemical clusters consist of hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of chemical installations situated next to each other. Such areas can thus be seen as the summation of a large number of structures exhibiting danger to a certain degree for initiating or continuing accident domino effects or knock-on effects. In this article, an approach to investigate in a systemic way the vulnerability of each installation within the larger chemical cluster context, is developed. Our suggested method results in a prioritization of chemical installations with respect to their vulnerability for domino effects. The method can be used for intelligently designed protection of chemical industrial areas against terrorist attacks.     

Formation of disinfection by-products during sodium hypochlorite cleaning of fouled membranes from membrane bioreactors

•HAAs was dominant among the DBPs of interest. •Rising time, dose, temperature and pH raised TCM and HAAs but reduced HANs and HKs. •Low time, dose and temperature and non-neutrality pH reduced toxic risks of DBPs. •The presence of EPS decelerated the production of DBPs. •EPS, particularly polysaccharides were highly resistant to chlorine. Periodic chemical cleaning with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is essential to restore the membrane permeability in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). However, the chlorination of membrane foulants results in the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs), which will cause the deterioration of the MBR effluent and increase the antibiotic resistance in bacteria in the MBR tank. In this study, the formation of 14 DBPs during chemical cleaning of fouled MBR membrane modules was investigated. Together with the effects of biofilm extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), influences of reaction time, NaClO dosage, initial pH, and cleaning temperature on the DBP formation were investigated. Haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trichloromethane (TCM), composed over 90% of the DBPs, were increasingly accumulated as the NaClO cleaning time extended. By increasing the chlorine dosage, temperature, and pH, the yield of TCM and dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) was increased by up to a factor of 1‒14, whereas the yields of haloacetonitriles (HANs) and haloketones (HKs) were decreased. Either decreasing in the chlorine dosage and cleaning temperature or adjusting the pH of cleaning reagents toward acidic or alkaline could effectively reduce the toxic risks caused by DBPs. After the EPS extraction pretreatment, the formation of DBPs was accelerated in the first 12 h due to the damage of biofilm structure. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images showed that EPS, particularly polysaccharides, were highly resistant to chlorine and might be able to protect the cells exposed to chlorination.     

Bioinspired and biomimetic membranes for water purification and chemical separation: A review

•The history of biological and artificial water channels is reviewed. •A comprehensive channel characterization platform is introduced. •Rationale designs and fabrications of biomimetic membranes are summarized. •The advantages, limitations, and challenges of biomimetic membranes are discussed. •The prospect and scalable solutions of biomimetic membranes are discussed. Bioinspired and biomimetic membranes that contain biological transport channels or attain their structural designs from biological systems have been through a remarkable development over the last two decades. They take advantage of the exceptional transport properties of those channels, thus possess both high permeability and selectivity, and have emerged as a promising solution to existing membranes. Since the discovery of biological water channel proteins aquaporins (AQPs), extensive efforts have been made to utilize them to make separation membranes–AQP-based membranes, which have been commercialized. The exploration of AQPs’ unique structures and transport properties has resulted in the evolution of biomimetic separation materials from protein-based to artificial channel-based membranes. However, large-scale, defect-free biomimetic membranes are not available yet. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art biomimetic membranes and summarizes the latest research progress, platform, and methodology. Then it critically discusses the potential routes of this emerging area toward scalable applications. We conclude that an appropriate combination of bioinspired concepts and molecular engineering with mature polymer industry may lead to scalable polymeric membranes with intrinsic selective channels, which will gain the merit of both desired selectivity and scalability.     

Relations between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 and constituent concentrations

Factors impacting indoor-outdoor relations are introduced. Sulfate seems a fine tracer for other non-volatile species. Particulate nitrate and ammonium desorb during outdoor-to-indoor transport. OC load increases during the transport due to sorption of indoor SVOCs. Outdoor PM_2.5 influences both the concentration and composition of indoor PM_2.5. People spend over 80% of their time indoors. Therefore, to assess possible health effects of PM_2.5 it is important to accurately characterize indoor PM_2.5 concentrations and composition. Controlling indoor PM_2.5 concentration is presently more feasible and economic than decreasing outdoor PM_2.5 concentration. This study reviews modeling and measurements that address relationships between indoor and outdoor PM_2.5 and the corresponding constituent concentrations. The key factors in the models are indoor-outdoor air exchange rate, particle penetration, and deposition. We compiled studies that report I/O ratios of PM_2.5 and typical constituents (sulfate (SO₄^2-), nitrate (NO₃^-), ammonium (NH₄⁺), elemental carbon (EC), and organic carbon (OC), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn)). From these studies we conclude that: 1) sulfate might be a reasonable tracer of non-volatile species (EC, Fe, Cu, and Mn) and PM_2.5 itself; 2) particulate nitrate and ammonium generally desorb to gaseous HNO₃ and NH₃ when they enter indoors, unless, as seldom happens, they have strong indoor sources; 3) indoor-originating semi-volatile organic compounds sorb on indoor PM_2.5, thereby increasing the PM_2.5 OC load. We suggest further studies on indoor-outdoor relationships of PM_2.5 and constituents so as to help develop standards for healthy buildings.     

浅析被动式FTIR走航监测技术在废气监测中的应用

与传统的监测技术相比,走航监测技术具有监测范围大、响应快速、机动性强的特点,在工业园区及企业废气排放的监测监控、溯源定位方面应用较为广泛。被动式傅里叶红外(FTIR)走航监测技术可以动态、立体、实时地扫描周围一定空域气体中的污染物质。采用被动式FTIR走航监测车,对不同的工业园区企业进行监测,结果表明,被动式FTIR走航监测可对实时发现的超标或异常有毒有害、易燃易爆、异味因子排放装置进行及时的定位和溯源,为环保部门和企业对污染物进行进一步精细化管控提供了有力的科学依据。     

西南某化工园区周边区域环境空气中苯系物和卤代烃的污染特征及健康风险研究

于2020年8月和11月,在中国西南某化工园区周边6个采样点采集环境空气样品,对5种典型苯系物(苯、甲苯、乙苯、邻二甲苯、间/对二甲苯)和7种典型卤代烃(三氯甲烷、三氯乙烯、四氯化碳、四氯乙烯、三溴甲烷、一溴二氯甲烷和二溴一氯甲烷)进行研究,明确了区域典型苯系物和卤代烃(BSHs)的污染特征,并评估其对人体的健康风险。结果表明:化工园区周边环境空气中苯系物检出率均 60%,卤代烃中除三溴甲烷、一溴二氯甲烷和二溴一氯甲烷外,检出率均 50%。苯系物和卤代烃的平均质量浓度分别为4.14～11.19μg/m~3和0.30～10.86μg/m~3。BSHs的浓度夏季低于冬季,这可能与人为的季节性燃烧源有关。苯、四氯化碳和四氯乙烯超过国际WELL建筑标准v2,全年超标率分别为3.33%,8.33%和11.67%。BSHs的非致癌和致癌风险均为成人儿童,成人和儿童的非致癌总风险分别为1.87×10~(-2)和1.26×10~(-2),处于可接受水平;成人和儿童的致癌风险分别为1.76×10~(-3)和1.19×10~(-3),处于不可接受水平。     

淮北市叶菜类蔬菜中硝酸盐含量的调查

通过对淮北市近郊几个大的蔬菜生产基地叶菜类蔬菜中硝酸盐含量的分析,发现淮北市叶菜类蔬菜中硝酸盐含量普遍很高,且有超标状况存在。究其因,主要是化肥的过量使用,使蔬菜中的硝态氮不能及时还原,累积于体内。