Temporal trends of hydrocarbons in sediment cores from the Pearl River Estuary and the northern South China Sea

Concentrations and fluxes of unresolved complex mixture of hydrocarbons (UCM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed for two ²¹⁰Pb dated sediment cores from the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) and the adjacent northern South China Sea (NSCS). Compound-specific stable carbon isotopic compositions of individual n-alkanes were also measured for identification of the hydrocarbon sources. The historical records of PAHs in the NSCS reflected the economic development in the Pearl River Delta during the 20th century. PAHs in the NSCS predominantly derive from combustion of coal and biomass, whereas PAHs in the PRE are a mixture of petrogenic and pyrogenic in origins. The isotopic profiles reveal that the petrogenic hydrocarbons in the PRE originate predominantly from local spillage/leakage of lube oil and crude oils. The accumulation rates of pyrogenic PAHs have significantly increased, whereas UCM accumulation has slightly declined in the NSCS in the recent three decades.     

Contribution of ambient ozone to Scots pine defoliation and reduced growth in the Central European forests: a Lithuanian case study

The study aimed to explore if changes in crown defoliation and stem growth of Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) could be related to changes in ambient ozone (O₃) concentration in central Europe. To meet this objective the study was performed in 3 Lithuanian national parks, close to the ICP integrated monitoring stations from which data on meteorology and pollution were provided. Contribution of peak O₃ concentrations to the integrated impact of acidifying compounds and meteorological parameters on pine stem growth was found to be more significant than its contribution to the integrated impact of acidifying compounds and meteorological parameters on pine defoliation. Findings of the study provide statistical evidence that peak concentrations of ambient O₃ can have a negative impact on pine tree crown defoliation and stem growth reduction under field conditions in central and northeastern Europe where the AOT40 values for forests are commonly below their phytotoxic levels.     

Determining metal origins and availability in fluvial deposits by analysis of geochemical baselines and solid-solution partitioning measurements and modelling

Metals in floodplain soils and sediments (deposits) can originate from lithogenic and anthropogenic sources, and their availability for uptake in biota is hypothesized to depend on both origin and local sediment conditions. In criteria-based environmental risk assessments, these issues are often neglected, implying local risks to be often over-estimated. Current problem definitions in river basin management tend to require a refined, site-specific focus, resulting in a need to address both aspects. This paper focuses on the determination of local environmental availabilities of metals in fluvial deposits by addressing both the origins of the metals and their partitioning over the solid and solution phases. The environmental availability of metals is assumed to be a key force influencing exposure levels in field soils and sediments. Anthropogenic enrichments of Cu, Zn and Pb in top layers could be distinguished from lithogenic background concentrations and described using an aluminium-proxy. Cd in top layers was attributed to anthropogenic enrichment almost fully. Anthropogenic enrichments for Cu and Zn appeared further to be also represented by cold 2 M HNO₃ extraction of site samples. For Pb the extractions over-estimated the enrichments. Metal partitioning was measured, and measurements were compared to predictions generated by an empirical regression model and by a mechanistic-kinetic model. The partitioning models predicted metal partitioning in floodplain deposits within about one order of magnitude, though a large inter-sample variability was found for Pb.     

Relationship between chromium(VI) resistance and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) concentration by some cyanobacterial isolates

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: Chromium(VI) resistance and its association with extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) concentration in cyanobacteria was investigated. Increased EPS concentration was associated with Cr(VI) resistance. The most resistant isolate, Chroococcus sp. H(4), secreted the most EPS (427 mg/L). MATERIALS AND METHODS: EPS concentration of the two most resistant isolates (Chroococcus sp. H(4) and Synechocystis sp. S(63)) was investigated following exposure to 15 and 35 ppm Cr(VI). The composition of EPS produced by Chroococcus sp. H(4) following exposure to 10 ppm Cr(VI) was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Control EPS was composed of glucose (99%) and galactronic acid (1%); in the presence of 10 ppm Cr(VI), EPS composition changed to glucose (9%), xylose (75%), rhamnose (14%), and galacturonic acid (2%). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Results indicated that (1) exposure to elevated concentrations of Cr(VI) affected the composition of EPS produced by Chroococcus sp. H(4), and (2) there was a correlation between Cr(VI) resistance and EPS concentration in some cyanobacteria.     

Indoor Air Quality at Rural and Urban Sites in Pakistan

In the developing world, the vast majority of people rely on solid biomass fuels for cooking and heating which results in poor indoor air quality. The present study determined indoor air quality in some rural and urban areas of Pakistan. Measurements were made of particulate mass (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1), number concentration and bioaerosols in different micro environments. PM10 concentrations of up to 8,555 μg/m³ were observed inside the kitchens where biofuels were used as energy source. Cleaning and smoking was identified as a major source of indoor particulate pollution and concentrations of more than more than 2,000 μg/m³ were recorded in the living room during these activities. Indoor number concentrations in Lahore were typically greater than those observed outdoors in European cites. At a rural site the highest Colony Forming Units (CFUs) were in the 0.5 μm–2 μm size fraction, while at the urban location CFUs were dominant for 2 μm–16 μm. It was observed that CFUs(Colony Forming Units) counts were higher inside living rooms than kitchens. It is important to note that women and children were exposed to extremely high levels of particulates during cooking. Overall, indoor air quality in Pakistan was poor and there is a dire need to take a serious step to combat with it.     

Accumulation, speciation and cellular localization of copper in Sesbania drummondii

Growth, accumulation and intracellular speciation and distribution of copper (Cu) in Sesbania drummondii was studied using scanning-electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The growth of seedlings was assessed in terms of biomass accumulation. The growth of the seedling was enhanced by 73.5% at a low Cu concentration (50 mg l⁻¹) compared to the control treatment. Additionally, seedling growth was inhibited by 18% at 300 mg l⁻¹ Cu with respect to the control. Copper concentration in roots and shoots was increased with increasing Cu concentration in the growth solution. The accumulation of Cu was found to be higher in roots than in the shoots. At a concentration of 300 mg l⁻¹ Cu, the roots accumulated 27,440 mg Cu kg⁻¹ dry weight (dw) while shoots accumulated 1282 mg Cu kg⁻¹ dw. Seedlings were assessed for photosynthetic activity by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters: F_v/F_m and F_v/F₀ values. Photosynthetic integrity was not affected by any of the Cu treatments. The X-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) studies showed that Cu was predominantly present as Cu(II) in Sesbania tissue. In addition, from the XAS studies it was shown that the Cu exists in a mixture of different coordination states consisting of Cu bound to sugars and small organic acids with some possible precipitated copper oxide. From the EXAFS studies, the coordination of Cu was determined to have four equatorial oxygen(nitrogen) ligands at 1.96 Å and two axial oxygen ligands at 2.31 Å. Scanning-electron microscopy studies revealed the distribution of Cu within the seedlings tissues, predominantly accumulated in the cortical and vascular (xylem) regions of root tissues. In the stem, most of the Cu was found within the xylem tissue. However, the deposition of Cu within the leaf tissues was in the parenchyma. The present study demonstrates the mechanisms employed by S. drummondii for Cu uptake and its biotransformation.     

于桥水库周边农业小流域氮素流失浓度特征

选择天津市水源地于桥水库周边2个典型的农业小流域进行了长期的氮素流失研究.结果表明,地表径流的总氮浓度以村庄和果园为最高,平均浓度在20 mg·L-1左右;农田次之,山坡最低,平均浓度低于10 mg·L-1.亚表层流中氮素流失在不同地点和不同降雨事件中浓度有较大差异,总体趋势以果园最高,村庄中菜园次之,农田最低.在流域出口处.曹各庄流域地表径流总氮浓度达到18.5 m8·L-1,桃花寺流域出口处浓度为5.9 mg·L-1,流域内不同景观格局和迁移廊道地貌的差异是造成2个流域氮素流失浓度差异的主要原因.曹各庄流域中主要污染源村庄离水库较近(约200 m),且道路型季节性河流等性质特征对污染物的滞留能力较弱,增加了氮素流失到受纳水体的风险;桃花寺流域的污染源村庄和果园离受纳水体较远(约1500 m),氮素在季节性河流迁移过程中被小石坝、植被过滤带和干塘等"汇"型结构所滞留.从而降低了向水体迁移的风险.     

基于最小二乘法的高抽巷CO浓度变化规律分析

我国许多煤矿的煤层同时具有高瓦斯和严重自燃倾向,在抽放瓦斯的同时,容易造成采空区遗煤自燃。因此,监测采空区指标气体的浓度变化对预防采空区自燃非常重要。本文采用最小二乘法对山西阳煤五矿8403工作面高抽巷CO浓度进行分析,拟合得出了高抽巷CO浓度变化曲线,并对拟合方法、拟合效果进行了分析。结果表明,用最小二乘法进行拟合是可行、有效的。结合现场实际条件,分析了高抽巷CO浓度偏高的原因和之所以选取分析高抽巷CO浓度来预测采空区自燃的原因。结果显示,分析高抽巷CO浓度变化可以较早地发现采空区自燃。最后,分析了CO浓度与CO2、O2浓度的相关性,验证了用CO浓度预测采空区自燃的准确性。     

基于FAHP的航空维修安全风险管理研究

航空维修对于保障飞行安全至关重要,如何进行航空维修安全风险管理是需要研究的问题.为此应用模糊层次分析法(FAHP),基于"人-机-环-管-接口"的理论,研究了影响航空维修安全的各种影响因素.利用三角模糊数并通过专家判断来构建三角模糊互补判断矩阵.按照层次结构模型和模糊层次分析法的步骤,对各影响因素进行了层次单排序和总排序,并把结果进行了分级和排序.结果表明,影响维修安全的主要因素为企业的规章制度、安全文化和维修人员的惯性违章等航空维修应该重点改善这3个因素并兼顾其他影响因素.研究表明,模糊层次分析法有助于确定安全风险管理的重点.     

区间数多属性决策在飞机一发失效应急程序方案优选中的应用

针对在飞机一发失效应急程序方案的选择中,很多定量因素难以精确量化的问题,将区间数多属性决策运用到飞机一发失效应急程序方案的优选中,构建了评价指标体系。此评价指标体系应用基于理想解的区间数多属性决策的相对隶属度法来选择最佳方案,该方法通过计算并查找现有方案的相对隶属度最大值来确定最佳方案。最后举例说明如何在实际中使用此方法。