Chemical characteristics, oxidative potential, and sources of PM2.5 in wintertime in Lahore and Peshawar, Pakistan

The chemical characteristics, oxidative potential, and sources of PM_2.5 were analyzed at the urban sites of Lahore and Peshawar, Pakistan in February 2019. Carbonaceous species, water soluble ions, and metal elements were measured to investigate the chemical composition and sources of PM_2.5. The dithiothreitol (DTT) consumption rate was measured to evaluate the oxidative potential of PM_2.5. Both cities showed a high exposure risk of PM_2.5 regarding its oxidative potential (DTT_v). Carbonaceous and some of the elemental species of PM_2.5 correlated well with DTT_v in both Lahore and Peshawar. Besides, the DTT_v of PM_2.5 in Lahore showed significant positive correlation with most of the measured water soluble ions, however, ions were DTT-inactive in Peshawar. Due to the higher proportions of carbonaceous species and metal elements, Peshawar showed higher mass-normalized DTT activity of PM_2.5 compared to Lahore although the average PM_2.5 concentration in Peshawar was lower. The high concentrations of toxic metals also posed serious non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to the residents of both cities. Principle component analysis coupled with multiple linear regression was applied to investigate different source contributions to PM_2.5 and its oxidative potential. Mixed sources of traffic and road dust resuspension and coal combustion, direct vehicle emission, and biomass burning and formation of secondary aerosol were identified as the major sources of PM_2.5 in both cities. The findings of this study provide important data for evaluation of the potential health risks of PM_2.5 and for formulation of efficient control strategies in major cities of Pakistan.     

The concentration and probabilistic risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in fillets of silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus): A global systematic review and meta-analysis

The contamination of fish type products such as silver pomfret fish fillets by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) has raised global health concerns. Related studies regarding the concentration of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish were retrieved among some international databases such as Scopus, PubMed and Embase between 1 January 1983 and 10 March 2020. The pooled (mean) concentration of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish was meta-analyzed with the aid of a random-effect model (REM). Also, the non-carcinogenic risk was estimated via calculating the 95th percentile of the total target hazard quotient (TTHQ). The meta-analysis of 21 articles (containing 25 studies or data reports) indicated that the ranking of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish was Fe (11,414.81 µg/kg wet weight, ww) > Zn (6055.72 µg/kg ww) > Cr (1825.79 µg/kg ww) > Pb (1486.44 µg/kg ww) > Se (1053.47 µg/kg ww) > Cd (992.50 µg/kg ww) > Ni (745.23 µg/kg ww) > Cu (669.71 µg/kg ww) > total As (408.24 µg/kg ww) > Co (87.03 µg/kg ww) > methyl Hg (46.58 µg/kg ww). The rank order of health risk assessment by country based on the TTHQ for adult consumers was Malaysia (2.500) > Bangladesh (0.886) > Iran (0.144) > China (0.045) > Pakistan (0.020) > India (0.015), while the corresponding values for child consumers was Malaysia (11.790) > Bangladesh (4.146) > Iran (0.675) > China (0.206) > Pakistan (0.096) > India (0.077). The adult consumers in Malaysia and children in Malaysia and Bangladesh were at considerable non-carcinogenic risk. Therefore, following the recommended control plans in order to reduce the health risk associated with the ingestion of PTEs via consumption of silver pomfret fish fillets is crucial.     

Bioaerosol emissions variations in large-scale landfill region and their health risk impacts

● The airborne bacteria in landfills were 4–50 times higher than fungi. ● Bioaerosols released from the working area would pose risk to on-site workers. ● The safe distance for the working area should be set as 80 m. Landfills are widely complained about due to the long-term odor and landfill gas emissions for local residents, while the bioaerosols are always neglected as another threat to on-site workers. In this study, bioaerosols samples were collected from the typical operation scenes in the large-scale modern landfill, and the emission levels of airborne bacteria, pathogenic species, and fungi were quantified and co-related. The corresponding exposure risks were assessed based on the average daily dose via inhalation and skin contact. It was found that the levels of culturable bacteria and fungi in all landfill samples were around 33–22778 CFU/m³ and 8–450 CFU/m³, and the active-working landfill area and the covered area were the maximum and minimum emission sources, respectively, meaning that the bioaerosols were mainly released from the areas related with the fresh waste operation. Acinetobacter sp., Massilia sp., Methylobacterium-Methylorubrum sp. and Noviherbaspirillum sp. were the main bacterial populations, with a percentage of 42.56%, 89.82%, 70.24% and 30.20% respectively in total bioaerosols measured. With regards to the health risk, the health risks via inhalation were the main potential risks, with four orders of magnitude higher than that of skin contact. Active-working area showed the critical point for non-carcinogenic risks, with a hazard quotient of 1.68, where 80 m protection distance is recommended for on-site worker protection, plus more careful protection measures.     

辽宁省淡水鱼类体内多溴联苯醚和六溴环十二烷的富集特征及健康风险评估

分析了辽宁省4个典型城市淡水鱼类中多溴联苯醚（PBDEs）和六溴环十二烷（HBCDs）的富集特征,并进行了健康风险评估。结果表明：淡水鱼类体内PBDEs和HBCDs检出率均为100%,PBDEs和HBCDs的平均质量分数分别为9.73 和21.81 ng/g（脂重）。PBDEs中的单体BDE 183、BDE 209和BDE 153在辽河流域不同鱼类的同源种中占优势,分别占PBDEs的26.8%～40%,17%～44%和14%～22%。在HBCDs的3种同系物中,α-HBCD是主要的单体,其相对贡献率为45.15%~84.71%。辽河流域的工厂企业生产活动对淡水鱼类产生了影响,居民通过消费水产品摄入PBDEs和HBCDs。健康风险评估结果显示：PBDEs和HBCDs的健康风险指数均＜1,说明当地水产品中PBDEs和HBCDs的非致癌风险处于可接受水平。     

秦山岛周边海域大型底栖动物群落健康状况评价

2015年8月,对秦山岛周边的10个站位进行大型底栖动物定量调查。采用生物多样性指数法和丰度生物量比较法对大型底栖动物群落健康状况进行评价。结果显示,共鉴定大型底栖动物7大类31种,其中软体动物、环节动物各10种,节肢动物5种,脊索动物和棘皮动物各2种,纽虫类和腔肠动物各1种;密度优势类群为软体动物,占总密度的35.00%,生物量优势类群为脊索动物,占总生物量的49.35%;优势种分别为红狼牙虾虎鱼(Odontamblyopus rubicundus)、棘刺锚参(Protankyra bidentata)、内卷原盒螺(Eocylichna involuta)和微角齿口螺(Odostomia subangulata)。大型底栖动物密度为站位St.6最大,为115 ind./m²,St.2最小,为20 ind./m²,平均值为70 ind./m²;生物量St.3最大,为197.25 g/m²,St.9最小,为2.56 g/m²,平均值为54.04 g/m²。秦山岛受污染压力、人为活动干扰和生境限制能因素影响,多样性偏低,优势种为耐污的软体动物、脊索动物和棘皮动物,但其主要为K对策种类,大型底栖动物群落受到了轻度干扰,但群落结构仍较为稳定。     

喷射火对输油管道热影响实验平台设计与验证*

为研究油气并行管道中,天然气管道喷射火对相邻输油管道内流体与管壁的热影响,设计并搭建天然气喷射火对输油管道热影响实验平台。实验平台由环道及冷却系统、火焰系统、控制及数据采集系统3个部分组成。完成平台搭建并验证环道系统气密性后,以0#柴油为介质,开展验证实验。研究结果表明:火焰系统工作可靠且可控,冷却系统能够将柴油温度控制在初馏点以下,数据采集系统能够正常采集油品压力、温度、流量、管壁温度、火焰温度等预定数据,实验平台具备一定可行性与安全性。实验平台可进行在不同管道规格及材质、火灾形式、油品介质及流速条件下的热影响实验。实验平台结合材料性能进行测试,可研究喷射火对管材性能的影响,为油气并行管道的安全运行提供相关实验依据。     

区域土地利用变化对生态环境影响定量评估——以铜川市城郊区为例

区域土地利用变化对生态环境的影响,是地理学全球变化研究的重要内容,而生态服务价值则是目前生态学、生态经济学研究的热点问题。研究利用研究区地形、土壤、植被数据和近10年来每年的气候、土地利用数据,运用生态服务价值测算模型,计算了1994~2003年铜川市城郊区历年的生态服务价值,并模拟了无土地利用变化情景下的生态服务价值,提出了土地利用变化环境效应指数,并尝试性地运用该指数定量评价了城郊区土地利用变化对生态环境的影响。结果表明:①由于气候变化、人类活动尤其是土地利用变化等原因的影响,城郊区生态服务价值年际间变化很大,1994~2003年期间,在不考虑水域生态服务功能情况下（基于水域面积年际变化极小考虑）,城郊区生态服务价值在4.77×108~1.56×10⁹元间波动;②模拟了无土地利用变化情景下的生态服务价值,结果表明每年基于无土地利用变化情景下的生态服务价值明显低于基于土地利用变化情景下的生态服务价值;③运用土地利用变化环境效应指数计算模型计算了土地利用变化环境效应指数,结果表明都大于1,从1994年到2003年期间,土地利用变化环境效应指数除个别年份略有波动外,整体呈增加趋势,反映了土地利用变化对城郊区生态环境的影响是积极的。     

雾灵山典型林分枯落物和土壤水文效应

通过标准地调查、枯落物持水能力测定、土壤物理性质及持水能力测定和入渗实验对雾灵山5种林分类型枯落物和土壤水文效应做了初步研究,结果表明:1)华北落叶松林(Larix principic-rupprechtii)枯落物储量最大,为45.73 t·hm~(-2);核桃楸林(Juglans mandshurica)最大持水量最高,为118.73 t·hm~(-2),相当于11.87 mm的水深;华北落叶松林有效持水量最大,为112.68t·hm~(-2),相当于11.27 mm的水深.2)5种不同林分类型土壤层持水能力相差很大,山杨林(Populus davidiana)的有效持水量最大,为122.80t·hm~(-2),相当于12.28 mm的水深,利用幂函数对土壤入渗速率与入渗时间进行拟合,结果显示相关系数都在0.94以上.     

Medical geochemistry research in Spišsko-Gemerské rudohorie Mts., Slovakia

This study presents an assessment of the potential impact of geological contamination of the environment on the health of the population in Spišsko-Gemerské rudohorie Mts. (SGR Mts.). The concentration levels of potentially toxic elements (mainly As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sb, and Zn) were determined in soils, groundwater, surface water, and stream sediments as well as in the food chain (locally grown vegetables). A medical study included some 30 health indicators for all 98 municipalities of the study area. The As and Sb contents in human fluids and tissues were analyzed in one municipality identified to be at the highest risk. Based on element content, environmental and health risks were calculated for respective municipalities. Out of 98 municipalities 14 were characterized with extremely high environmental risk and 10 were characterized with very high carcinogenic risk from arsenic (groundwater). Extensive statistical analysis of geochemical data (element contents in soils, groundwater, surface water, and stream sediments) and health indicators was performed. Significant correlations between element contents in the geological environment and health indicators, mainly cancer and cardiovascular diseases, were identified. Biological monitoring has confirmed the transfer of elements from the geological environment to human fluids and tissues as well as to the local food chain.     

Characterization of Santa Catarina (Brazil) coal with respect to human health and environmental concerns

The current paper presents the concentration, distribution, and modes of occurrence of trace elements of 13 coals from south Brazil. The samples were collected in the state of Santa Catarina. Chemical analyses and the high ash yields indicate that all studied coals are rich in mineral matter, with SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ dominating as determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Quartz is the main mineral species and is associated with minor levels of feldspars, kaolinite, hematite, and iron-rich carbonates. The contents of trace elements, including As, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Mn, Be, V, U, Zn, Li, Cu, Tl, and Ni, in coals were determined. A comparison of ranges and means of elemental concentrations in Santa Catarina, Brazil, and world coals shows that the ranges of most elements in Santa Catarina coal are very close to the usual worldwide concentration ranges in coal.