Application of biomarkers to assess the condition of European Marine Sites

A series of European Marine Sites has been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) in England. The aim of this study was to develop a practical methodology to assess the condition of SACs by applying a suite of biomarkers. Biomarkers were applied to the blue mussel Mytilus edulis and the shore crab Carcinus maenas from the Fal and Helford SAC (Cornwall). Individual biomarkers provided useful diagnostic information on the activity of certain classes of contaminants and an integrated Biomarker Response Index (BRI) was used to achieve a more holistic understanding of the condition of the SAC. The BRI indicated that the general health of both organisms was impacted in the upper part of the SAC (Fal Estuary) which correlated well with known chemical hotspots and sources of contamination. The BRI allows a pragmatic way to prioritise SAC sites that may require further investigative studies.     

Modeling Postfire Response and Recovery using the Hydrologic Engineering Center Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC‐HMS)1

Abstract: This paper investigates application of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Hydrologic Engineering Center Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC‐HMS) to a burned watershed in San Bernardino County, California. We evaluate the HEC‐HMS’ ability to simulate discharge in prefire and postfire conditions in a semi arid watershed and the necessary parameterizations for modeling hydrologic response during the immediate, and subsequent recovery, period after a wildfire. The model is applied to City Creek watershed, which was 90% burned during the Old Fire of October 2003. An optimal spatial resolution for the HEC‐HMS model was chosen based on an initial sensitivity analysis of subbasin configurations and related model performance. Five prefire storms were calibrated for the selected model resolution, defining a set of parameters that reasonably simulate prefire conditions. Six postfire storms, two from each of the following rainy (winter) seasons were then selected to simulate postfire response and evaluate relative changes in parameter values and model behavior. There were clear trends in the postfire parameters [initial abstractions (I_a), curve number (CN), and lag time] that reveal significant (and expected) changes in watershed behavior. CN returns to prefire (baseline) values by the end of Year 2, while I_a approaches baseline by the end of the third rainy season. However, lag time remains significantly lower than prefire values throughout the three‐year study period. Our results indicate that recovery of soil conditions and related runoff response is not entirely evidenced by the end of the study period (three rainy seasons postfire). Understanding the evolution of the land surface and related hydrologic properties during the highly dynamic postfire period, and accounting for these changes in model parameterizations, will allow for more accurate and reliable discharge simulations in both the immediate, and subsequent, rainy seasons following fire.     

Pilot sample risk analysis for underground coal mine fires and explosions using MSHA citation data

After three decades of sustained continuous improvement of mine safety performances in the US, mine disasters in 2006 and 2007 compromised an excellent record and presented new challenges and vulnerabilities for the underground coal mining industry. In the aftermath of the incidents, formal investigations and new scrutiny of mine safety by the US Congress and expert study groups followed. The US Congress passed the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act), which mandated new laws to address the issues, including those related to mine fires and explosions from which miners must be protected. The National Mining Association-sponsored Mine Safety Technology and Training Commission report highlighted the role of risk analysis and management in identifying and controlling major hazards, such as fires and explosions. In this paper an approach is given for analyzing the risks for fires and explosions based on the Mine Safety and Health Administration citation database. Using 2006 citation data and focusing on subsystem failures, the methodology is applied to a database for a pilot sample of underground coal mines stratified by mine size and state.     

排污总量核定中的主要问题及解决途径

排放污染物总量核定是排放污染物总量控制中的一项难度很大的基础工作。文章针对目前排污总量核定中存在的环境监测硬件投入不足、体系不完善、可操作性不强、法律效力不够和规范化管理不力等问题 ,提出了排污总量核定应形成一项基本的工作制度 ,应加强排污总量核定体系的运行和监督管理。     

三峡地区工业行业环境与经济行为特征分析

通过对三峡地区工业污染物产生强度和排放强度分析表明,三峡地区的产生强度和排放强度均高于东部先进水平和全国平均水平,指出了三峡地区的污染防治需从源头控制和末端治理双管齐下进行;引入"环境协调指数EHI(行业的经济贡献率与污染贡献率的比值)"分析行业的环境与经济行为特征,指明了三峡地区COD和氨氮相对污染重、经济效益差的行业.为区域产业结构调整提供了科学依据.     

环境质量评价的生物方法研究

环境质量的生物评价是以生物对环境污染的表现为基础的.环境质量评价的生物方法包括环境指示生物的选择,环境质量生物评价指标的确定和环境质量分类等3个步骤.论述了环境污染的生物表现,提出了选择环境指示生物的原则,给出了环境质量生物评价的3类指标,建立了环境质量4级分类体系.     

基于GIS的南京市典型蔬菜基地土壤重金属污染现状与评价

对南京市八卦洲蔬菜基地土壤中的铅、铬、铜和镉进行测定分析,利用不同的评价标准来评价其环境质量状况,同时借助GIS软件研究了污染指数的空间分布状况,并解析了其重金属污染的来源.结果表明,以自然背景值为评价标准,则蔬菜地土壤中的重金属都超过污染指标,其中镉为首要污染因子;以国标二级为评价标准,则除镉以外的三种重金属的单项污染指数值全都小于1,但其综合污染指数迭1.50,总体上属轻污染状况.南京化工因区、南京长江二桥和各种农业生产活动等可能是主要污染源.     

广西一个典型矿业镇环境中重金属污染分析

广西河池市是我国重要的有色金属基地.以该市一个典型的矿业镇作为研究对象,采集了该镇周围23个旱地土壤样品,并在镇里布设两个大气采样点采集了可吸入颗粒物(PM10)样品,运用ICP-MS分析了样品中20种金属元素的含量,采用地积指数法判定旱地土壤和可吸入颗粒物中污染元素及来源.结果表明,这些与人们生活密切的环境介质(旱地土,可吸入颗粒物)均受到了多种重金属元素的复合污染,其共同的污染元素有Cd、As、Sb、Pb、Xn、Cu,而其中致癌元素Cd和As污染最为突出.大气可吸入颗粒物与旱地土壤中各污染元素的污染强度排序相同,均为Cd＞As＞Sb＞Pb＞Zn＞Cu.经过现场调查和识别,污染源主要来自当地开放性运矿产生的扬尘所致.因此加强该地区矿石运输管理是保护该地区耕地和人群健康的需要.     

创新我国环境监测质量管理体系初探

在调研国内外环境监测质量管理模式的基础上,提出了强化环境监测统一监督管理,建立国家环境监测质量管理与技术中心、区域(流域)环境监测质量管理与技术中心,完善各级环境监测机构质量管理工作体系的设想.     

渭河干流(宝鸡段)表层沉积物Cu、Zn、Pb污染特征与评价

对渭河干流（宝鸡段）表层沉积物中重金属Cu、Zn、Pb含量进行了调查,用潜在生态危害系数法对其污染水平进行了评价,并与松花江（吉林市段）、淮河（江苏段）、长江（下游）、苏州河、珠江（广州段）5条河流表层沉积物中Cu、Zn、Pb的含量做了对比研究。结果表明,3种重金属元素平均含量均超出相应的土壤背景值,出现了一定程度上的富集;生态危害系数均〈40,属轻微生态危害。重金属含量水平在国内诸河中处于中间位置。