Human impacts on methane emission from mangrove ecosystems in India

This study deals with the emission of methane in relation to changing environmental conditions and human impact, in three mangrove ecosystems of south India. Time-varying fluxes of methane adopting the close chamber technique were used to estimate CH₄ emission from an unpolluted site (Pichavaram mangroves) and two polluted sites viz. (1) Ennore Creek mangroves (affected by fertilizer effluents and crude oil discharges) and (2) Adyar estuary mangroves (affected by the discharges of organic and industrial wastes), covering monthly and seasonal variations. The results indicate annual average CH₄ emissions of 7.4, 5.02 and 15.4 mg m⁻² h⁻¹ from the sediment–water interface of the Pichavaram, Ennore Creek and Adyar estuary respectively. Emission characteristics obtained at Pichavaram mangroves represent a natural variability with changing physico-chemical factors, whereas the emission characteristics at Ennore Creek and Adyar estuary mangroves show anthropogenic influence. Several environmental factors such as oxygen availability, organic matter, soil physical and chemical properties, in addition to human-mediated interventions have been identified as influencing emission rates in the mangrove ecosystems. Preliminary CH₄ emission estimates for the mangrove ecosystems along the Indian sub- continent and the tropical and subtropical coastline of the world by linear extrapolation based on surface area range from 0.05 to 0.37 and 2.8 to 19.25 Tg CH₄ year⁻¹ respectively. Our results also highlight the impact of human activities on future emission of methane from the mangrove ecosystems. Received: 3 March 1999 / Accepted: 14 September 1999     

Field monitoring of volatile organic compounds using passive air samplers in an industrial city in Japan

Highly portable, sensitive, and selective passive air samplers were used to investigate ambient volatile organic compound (VOC) levels at multiple sampling sites in an industrial city, Fuji, Japan. We determined the spatial distributions of 27 species of VOCs in three campaigns: Mar (cold season), May (warm season), and Nov (mild season) of 2004. In all campaigns, toluene (geometric mean concentration, 14.0microg/m3) was the most abundant VOC, followed by acetaldehyde (4.76microg/m3), and formaldehyde (2.58microg/m3). The spatial distributions for certain VOCs showed characteristic patterns: high concentrations of benzene and formaldehyde were typically found along major roads, whereas high concentrations of toluene and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) were usually found near factories. The spatial distribution of PCE observed was extremely consistent with the diffusion pattern calculated from Pollutant Release and Transfer Register data and meteorological data, indicated that passive air samplers are useful for determining the sources and distributions of ambient VOCs.     

Estimation and characterization of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs from Chinese iron foundries

The iron foundry industry is considered to be a potential source of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). This study investigated the emission factors and total emission amounts of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) from iron foundries in China. The concentrations and the World Health Organization toxicity equivalents (WHO-TEQs) are presented and the congener profiles are discussed in this paper.In the present work, 26 fly ash samples were collected and tested to quantify the PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs generated by 14 plants of different scales, and five stack gas samples were collected from two (named as EFG and LFG) of those plants. The emission levels of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs indicated that hot-air cupolas had lower emissions than cold-air cupolas. When iron ore lump and sinter were used as raw material, the emission factors were about 250 ng TEQ t⁻¹ of product. However, if the raw material was scrap, the emission factors varied owing to the different contents of organic materials in the raw materials. It was found that the mean WHO-TEQ values of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs were 144 and 34.2 pg Nm⁻³ in stack gas and 20.0 and 1.58 pg g⁻¹ in fly ash. In multiple tests, it was estimated that the mean emission factors of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs were 365 and 10.9 ng WHO-TEQ t⁻¹ released to residue and 2719 and 555 ng TEQ t⁻¹ released to air. The total emission amounts of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs from Chinese iron foundries with cupola furnaces released to residue and air were 16.8 and 146 g WHO-TEQ in 2008, respectively.     

Emission characterization of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants from iron ore sintering process in China

Emission of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (Unintentional POPs), including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HxCBz) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCBz), were investigated in four typical iron ore sintering plants in China. The emission factors and annual mass releases of the Unintentional POPs were calculated. The results indicated that PCDFs contributed more than 60% to the overall toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) values, while the contribution of the dl-PCBs is relatively low, and only in the range of 8-9%. The dominant congeners of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs contributing most to the total TEQ were 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and PCB-126. With regard to the TEQ contributions, the most abundant homologues were PeCDFs and HxCDD/Fs, followed by PeCDDs and non-ortho dl-PCB, whereas HpCDD/Fs, OCDD/Fs and mono-ortho dl-PCBs almost made no contributions. Due to the massive use of recycled waste in the feeding materials, the average emission factor of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs of the four plants was 3.95 μg WHO-TEQ ton⁻¹. Based on the results, the annual release of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in 2007-2009 were estimated to be 2070 g, 2212 g, and 2307 g WHO-TEQ, respectively.     

常州市裸露地面风蚀扬尘排放清单及分布特征研究

以2014年为基准年,以常州市行政边界为研究区域,利用卫星遥感解译的土地利用类型和裸土面积信息,并通过国土、气象等部门提供的土壤类型、气象因子等相关资料获取本地化因子和参数,估算常州市行政区域内裸露地面土壤扬尘中颗粒物的年排放量。结果表明:常州市裸露地面主要分布在金坛市、溧阳市和武进区,市中心区域最少,裸露土地利用类型主要为农田、滩涂、裸露山体、荒地及未硬化或未绿化的空地等;2014年常州市行政区域内裸露地面风蚀扬尘中TSP、PM 10、PM 2.5的年排放量分别为62.66 t、5.63 t、0.24 t,其中,金坛市土壤起尘量最大,其次为武进区,再次为新北区、溧阳市,市中心区域土壤扬尘最少。     

Long Term Trends in Concentration of Major Pollutants (SO<Subscript>2</Subscript>, CO,NO, NO<Subscript>2</Subscript>, O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and PM<Subscript>10</Subscript>) in Prague – Czech Republic (Analysis of Data Between 1992 and 2005)

To assess the effect of changes in traffic density and fuels used for heating at the beginning of the 1990s, 1992–2005 monthly averages of PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, NO, CO and O₃ from Prague, the Czech capital, were analyzed together with long term trends in emissions of major pollutants, fuel consumption and number of vehicles registered in Prague. The data from all monitoring stations were retrieved from the database of the state automated monitoring system. Correlation coefficients between ambient monthly averaged temperature and all pollutants of concern showed distinct seasonal trends. The results showed that while SO₂ and to some extent also CO concentrations dropped namely in the first half of the analyzed period (1992–1997) as a result decreased fossil fuel consumption for local heating, the behaviour of other pollutant concentrations followed a different pattern. PM₁₀ concentrations decreased during the beginning of the 1990s but showed a sign of increase after 2000. Concentrations of ozone and NO₂ did not reveal any significant change throughout the whole studied period. It can be concluded that during the studied period traditional urban sources of pollution, such as coal and oil combustion, lost their importance but were simultaneously substituted by pollutants from automotive transport (namely PM and NO₂) making the problem of air quality even worse.     

电子受体类型对聚磷污泥胞外聚合物的影响研究

采用3种电子受体(硝氮、亚硝氮、氧),在SBR反应器中分别驯化了具有稳定除磷能力的聚磷污泥。对比研究了不同聚磷污泥胞外聚合物(EPS)的组分与含量,结合三维荧光光谱对EPS中有机物质进行分析。研究表明,以硝氮、亚硝氮为电子受体的聚磷污泥EPS平均浓度较为接近,分别为115.6mg/gVSS、133.5 mg/gVSS,由厌氧段至缺氧段,EPS总浓度有所下降。以氧为电子受体聚磷污泥的EPS平均浓度相对较高,为194.5 mg/gVSS,由厌氧段至好氧段,EPS总浓度略有升高。不同聚磷污泥的EPS组分均以胞外蛋白为主,占EPS总量的53%~65%,多糖与核酸占EPS总量28%~34%、5%~7%。三维荧光光谱显示3种聚磷污泥EPS均具有芳香结构蛋白质、可溶性代谢物的荧光峰,另外,以硝氮为电子受体的聚磷污泥还具有明显的腐殖酸类物质的荧光峰。研究结果表明电子受体对聚磷污泥EPS的组分、浓度、有机质类别有一定的影响。     

北京地区林木、植被排放碳氢化合物的定性监测

为了研究大气中碳氢化合物的天然来源,采用封闭式采样和气相色谱法,对北京的主要树种(杨树、柳树、松树、柏树等)以及草地和稻田(在水稻生长旺期)进行了碳氢化合物的排放情况调查。发现北京的杨树、柳树、槐树(落叶乔木)主要排放异戊二烯化合物;松树、柏树(针叶林木)排放萜烯类化合物;草地和稻田排放甲烷等低碳化合物。以上结果与国外工作结论近似。      

Investigation on the relationship between the fine particle emission and crystallization characteristics of gypsum during wet flue gas desulfurization process

The relationship between the fine particles emitted after desulfurization and gypsum crystals in the desulfurization slurry was investigated, and the crystallization characteristics varying with the operation parameters and compositions of the desulfurization slurry were discussed. The results showed that the fine particles generated during the desulfurization process were closely related to the crystal characteristics in the desulfurization slurry by comparison of their morphology and elements. With the higher proportion of fine crystals in the desulfurization slurry, the number concentration of fine particles after desulfurization was increased and their particle sizes were smaller, indicating that the optimization of gypsum crystallization was beneficial for the reduction of the fine particle emission. The lower pH value and an optimal temperature of the desulfurization slurry were beneficial to restrain the generation of fine crystals in the desulfurization slurry. In addition, the higher concentrations of the Fe^3 + ions and the F⁻ ions in the desulfurization slurry both promoted the generation of fine crystals with corresponding change of the morphology and the effect of the Fe^3 + ions was more obvious. With the application of the desulfurization synergist additive, it was beneficial for the inhibition of fine crystals while the thinner crystals were generated.     

Emission of intermediate volatility organic compounds from a ship main engine burning heavy fuel oil

Intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) are crucial precursors of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). In this study, gaseous IVOCs emitted from a ship main engine burning heavy fuel oil (HFO) were investigated on a test bench, which could simulate the real-world operations and emissions of ocean-going ships. The chemical compositions, emission factors (EFs) and volatility distributions of IVOC emissions were investigated. The results showed that the main engine burning HFO emitted a large amount of IVOCs, with average IVOC EFs of 20.2–201?mg/kg-fuel. The IVOCs were mainly comprised of unspeciated compounds. The chemical compositions of exhaust IVOCs were different from that of HFO fuel, especially for polycyclic aromatic compounds and alkylcyclohexanes. The volatility distributions of IVOCs were also different between HFO exhausts and HFO fuel. The distinctions in IVOC emission characteristics between HFO exhausts and HFO fuel should be considered when assessing the IVOC emission and related SOA formation potentials from ocean-going ships burning HFO, especially when using fuel-surrogate models.