Mapping nitrate leaching to upper groundwater in the sandy regions of The Netherlands, using conceptual knowledge

The European Community asks its Member States to provide a comprehensive and coherent overview of their groundwater chemical status. It is stated that simple conceptual models are necessary to allow assessments of the risks of failing to meet quality objectives. In The Netherlands two monitoring networks (one for agriculture and one for nature) are operational, providing results which can be used for an overview. Two regression models, based upon simple conceptual models, link measured nitrate concentrations to data from remote sensing images of land use, national forest inventory, national cattle inventory, fertiliser use statistics, atmospheric N deposition, soil maps and weather monitoring. The models are used to draw a nitrate leaching map and to estimate the size of the area exceeding the EU limit value in the early 1990s. The 95% confidence interval for the fraction nature and agricultural areas where the EU limit value for nitrate (50 mg/l) was exceeded amounted to 0.77–0.85 while the lower 97.5% confidence limit for the fraction agricultural area where the EU limit value was exceeded amounted to 0.94. Although the two conceptual models can be regarded as simple, the use of the models to give an overview was experienced as complex.     

Three-Dimensional Modeling of an Urban Park and Trees by Combined Airborne and Portable On-Ground Scanning LIDAR Remote Sensing

In this study, we confirmed the utility of airborne and portable on-ground scanning light detection and ranging (LIDARs) for three-dimensional visualization of an urban park and quantification of biophysical variables of trees in the park. The digital canopy height model (DCHM) and digital terrain model generated from airborne scanning LIDAR data provided precise images of the ground surface and individual tree canopies. The heights of 166 coniferous and broadleaf trees of 11 species in the park were estimated from the DCHM images with slight underestimation (mean error = −0.14 m, RMSE = 0.30 m). Portable on-ground scanning LIDAR provided images of individual trees with detailed features. Tree height and trunk diameter were estimated to be within 0.31 m and 1 cm, respectively, from the on-ground LIDAR images. We combined airborne and on-ground LIDAR images to overcome blind regions and created a complete three-dimensional model of three standing trees. The model allowed not only visual assessment from all viewpoints but also quantitative estimation of canopy volume, trunk volume, and canopy cross-sectional area.     

采用能力验证数据评估环境监测结果测量不确定度

测量不确定度评估是实验室检测能力的体现,能力验证是实验室质量控制的有效方法,对环境监测领域实验室采用能力验证数据进行测量结果不确定度评估方法进行了研究。依据Nordtest准则,根据实验室内再现性标准差和测量偏倚,评估了重铬酸钾法测定水中质量浓度为100 mg/L的化学需氧量测量结果的相对不确定度为6.00%。该评估方法避免了ISO GUM评定方法自下而上不确定度评估过程的繁琐,还充分考虑了实验室内外误差的来源,能够促进环境监测结果不确定度评定的一致性。     

对社会检测机构参与环境现场监测活动的管理

从现场监测方案的制订、现场负责人职责的转变、现场检测人员的能力保证与管理办法、奖惩制度的建立等4个方面,对当前社会检测机构参与环境现场监测活动的管理工作要点进行了阐述。指出,应由环境监测站制订现场监测方案,确定现场负责人,对现场检测人员进行监督、考核、纠正,并实施相应的奖惩手段,确保现场监测工作质量。     

环境湿度对PM2.5手工测量(重量法)的影响

为了解天平室环境湿度对PM_(2.5)手工称重的影响,利用滤膜自动称重系统,在45%、50%、55%3个环境相对湿度条件下对同一组滤膜进行称重。结果显示:45%、55%湿度条件下测量的大部分滤膜质量与50%基准湿度条件下滤膜质量绝对差值均超过0.04 mg,且随着滤膜质量即PM_(2.5)浓度的增加,绝对差值显著上升,难以满足手工称重规范中的要求。PM_(2.5)手工测量浓度在150μg/m~3以下时,3种湿度条件下测量结果的标准偏差保持在2μg/m~3范围之内,而PM_(2.5)手工测量浓度在150μg/m~3以上时,标准偏差超出2μg/m~3范围,且随着浓度升高,标准偏差显著增大,这会给PM_(2.5)的手工测量准确度带来较大影响,说明手工称量环境湿度±5%的允许变化范围并不适合PM_(2.5)平均浓度较高的国家和地区。     

基于移动终端设备的环境现场监测管理系统设计与应用

研究了基于移动终端设备的环境现场监测业务数据采集与管理,构建了面向现场监测业务需求的数据采集、存储和传输的业务流程管理,以及与实验室信息管理系统数据共享交互集成的现场监测业务管理和质量控制信息系统。以上海市环境监测中心的现场监测管理系统为例,展示了多媒体及GPS信息采集、仪器数据采集、监测结果录入、原始表单填报和监测布点等环境现场监测活动在移动终端设备上数据管理的具体应用实现。     

Estimate of the uncertainty in measurement for the determination of mercury in seafood by TDA AAS

An approach for the estimate of the uncertainty in measurement considering the individual sources related to the different steps of the method under evaluation as well as the uncertainties estimated from the validation data for the determination of mercury in seafood by using thermal decomposition/amalgamation atomic absorption spectrometry (TDA AAS) is proposed. The considered method has been fully optimized and validated in an official laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil, in order to comply with national and international food regulations and quality assurance. The referred method has been accredited under the ISO/IEC 17025 norm since 2010. The approach of the present work in order to reach the aim of estimating of the uncertainty in measurement was based on six sources of uncertainty for mercury determination in seafood by TDA AAS, following the validation process, which were: Linear least square regression, Repeatability, Intermediate precision, Correction factor of the analytical curve, Sample mass, and Standard reference solution. Those that most influenced the uncertainty in measurement were sample weight, repeatability, intermediate precision and calibration curve. The obtained result for the estimate of uncertainty in measurement in the present work reached a value of 13.39%, which complies with the European Regulation EC 836/2011. This figure represents a very realistic estimate of the routine conditions, since it fairly encompasses the dispersion obtained from the value attributed to the sample and the value measured by the laboratory analysts. From this outcome, it is possible to infer that the validation data (based on calibration curve, recovery and precision), together with the variation on sample mass, can offer a proper estimate of uncertainty in measurement.     

The use of a lacertid lizard as a model for reptile ecotoxicology studies--part 1 field demographics and morphology

At the European level, lacertid lizards have been proposed as potential model species for reptile ecotoxicology. We studied demographic and morphological aspects of natural field subpopulations of Podarcis bocagei inhabiting similar agricultural habitats which were either regularly exposed to pesticides, or not. Parameters examined in this study included population size and density, sex ratio, adult body size, fluctuating asymmetry in femoral pores and parasite prevalence. In general, we detected few statistically significant differences between the exposed and reference subpopulations. Although field situations are ecologically complex and factors other than pesticides may be acting, the absence of observable effects on field subpopulations is probably indicative that lizards are coping or compensating for this level of exposure.     

Does Divergence of Nutrient Load Measurements Matter for Successful Mitigation of Marine Eutrophication?

Successful implementation of an international nutrient abatement agreement, such as the Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP), requires consistent understanding of the baseline nutrient loads, and a perception of acceptable costs and fairness in targeted reductions of these base line loads. This article presents a general framework for identifying the implications of divergence between different nutrient load quantification approaches, with regard to both cost and fairness criteria outcomes, for the international agreement to decrease nutrient loads into the Baltic Sea as presented in the BSAP. The results indicate that even relatively small divergence in the nutrient load quantification translates into relatively large differences in abatement cost for different Baltic Sea countries. A robust result, irrespective of differences in nutrient load assessments, is a conflict between abatement cost effectiveness and fairness, with relatively poor countries facing heavy abatement cost burdens for cost-effective international load abatement.