New perspectives in ecotoxicology

The task of regulating potentially harmful chemicals in the environment is presently hindered by the lack of appropriate concepts and methods for evaluating the effects of anthropogenic chemicals on ecosystems. Toxicity tests at the molecular and physiological levels have been used successfully as indicators of adverse effects on test organisms and have been extrapolated to humans to establish a basis for risk assessment. However, laboratory measurements of effects upon individuals do not translate readily into potential effects upon natural populations, in part because natural populations interact with other populations and with the physical environment. Even more difficult to assess are the deleterious impacts of anthropogenic chemicals on ecosystems, because of effects on species interactions, diversity, nutrient cycling, productivity, climatic changes, and other processes.Effects on ecosystems resulting from chemical stresses are outside the realm of classical toxicology, and an ecosystem-level perspective is essential for the consideration of such effects; but the science that deals with ecosystem-level effects,ecotoxicology, is still developing. This article synthesizes the topics discussed at a workshop on ecotoxicology held by the Ecosystems Research Center at Cornell University. Topics covered include: the regulatory framework in which ecotoxicological research must be applied; ecosystem modification of toxicant fate and transport; how ecosystem composition, structure, and function are influenced by chemicals; methods currently available for predicting the effects of chemicals at the ecosystem level; and recommendations on research needs to enhance the state of the science of ecotoxicology.     

Chemical composition and size distribution of secondary organic aerosol formed from the photooxidation of isoprene

Photooxidation of isoprene leads to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). In this study, the chemical composition of SOA formed from OH-initiated photooxidation of isoprene has been investigated with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and a home-made aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Sampling particles generated in a home-made smog chamber. The size distribution of SOA particles was detected by a TSI 3321 aerodynamic particle size spectrometer in real time. Results showed that SOA created by isoprene photooxidation was predominantly in the form of fine particles, which have diameters less than 2.5 m. The obtained mass spectra of individual particles show that products of the OH-initiated oxidation of isoprene contain methyl vinyl ketone, methacrolein, formaldehyde, and some other hydroxycarbonyls. The possible reaction mechanisms leading to these products were also discussed.     

关中地区人为源大气污染物排放清单研究

首次以关中地区为研究对象,通过收集各排放源的活动水平数据,选取国内外研究中的排放因子,采用排放因子法“自上而下”建立了2011年关中地区人为源大气污染物排放清单.结果表明:2011年关中地区人为源SO2、NOx、CO、PM10、VOCs、NH3的排放量分别为400.254×103 t、342.412×103 t、2 731.302×103 t、573.193×103 t、350.523×1 03 t、323.312×103t.其中渭南是SO2、NOx、CO的主要排放城市,西安是VOCs的主要排放城市,咸阳是NH3的主要排放城市,咸阳、铜川同为PM10的主要排放城市;SO2、NOx、CO的主要排放源为工业用煤炭燃烧,VOCs的主要排放源为炼焦、涂料等工业生产过程,PM10的主要排放源为农田秸秆燃烧,NH3的主要排放源为农业化肥施用.清单的不确定性来自活动水平数据的不完善及排放因子缺乏本地特征两方面.为提高清单的可信度,将研究结果与其他排放清单进行比较,结果表明差异度较小.     

南京市大气气溶胶中酞酸酯的分布特征

利用分级采样器采样 ,高效液相色谱检测 ,研究了南京市春夏秋冬四季六大功能区 (工业区 ,交通区 ,文化区 ,商业区 ,园林风景区和居民生活区 )大气气溶胶中的酞酸酯 .结果表明 :南京市大气气溶胶中检出的酞酸酯有 :邻苯二甲酸二甲酯 (DMP)、邻苯二甲酸二丁酯 (DBP)和邻苯二甲酸二辛酯 (DEHP) ,其含量随功能区和季节而变化 ,平均浓度具有工业区 >居民区 >交通区 >商业区 >文化区 >园林风景区和秋、冬季浓度高于春、夏季的分布特征     

Assessments of natural and anthropogenic influences on water chemistry in the upper Nakdong River,South Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate what sources principally affect the chemical compositions in the catchment of the upper Nakdong River, South Korea where bedrock mostly consists of silicates as a natural factor. From October 7^th to 9^th, 2015, thirty-three water samples were collected, including samples from tributaries which run alongside mines. We analyzed the major anions, cations, trace elements and water isotopes of the samples and the analyzed data are divided into four groups by principle component analysis (PCA). We determined that most of the water samples are influenced by water-rock interactions when we consider the PCA results and the chemical weathering equation line. However, six samples have excess concentrations of sulfate and plot below the equation line. These samples were mostly from streams beside a zinc-cadmium smelter, which was also consistent with the PCA results. Samples near populated area could also be separated into a group via domestic pollution. Based on the PCA and chemical results, the chemical compositions of the river can be affected by two anthropogenic inputs: mine wastes and domestic contaminants.     

Seasonal variation of water-soluble inorganic ions in PM10 in a city of northwestern Turkey

The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of inorganic ions present in particulate matter smaller than 10 µm (PM₁₀), released into the environment by industrial, domestic and mobile sources in Duzce. To assess spatial variations, samples were collected from two sampling sites that had urban and suburban characteristics. Further, the process was carried out in two seasons to understand the seasonal variations. An ion chromatography device was used for analyzing the inorganic ion content in the collected samples. The highest levels of inorganic ion concentrations were measured at the urban sampling site during the winter campaign. Furthermore, the highest ion concentrations were measured for SO₄^2? ion at both sampling sites and during both seasons, while the lowest concentrations were measured for Br^?. Moreover, there were significant relationships between meteorological parameters and ion concentrations. A comparison of the cation and anion equivalence values using seasonal CE/AE (cation equivalence/anion equivalence) ratios showed that the aerosol matter had alkaline characteristics during both seasons. The mean value for the CE/AE ratios was 1.58 in winter and 2.06 in summer at the urban sampling site and 1.36 in winter and 1.52 in summer at the suburban sampling site. The interrelationships among the ions were determined by Pearson correlation analysis. Based on the correlation analyses, the ions emitted from common sources and those exposed to similar atmospheric conditions displayed strong correlations with each other.     

某沿海城市典型行业NMHCs排放特征及对二次污染物生成潜势研究

采用SUMMA罐采样、GC-FID技术分析了威海市渔具、造船和橡胶等6种典型行业代表企业废气中59种非甲烷碳氢化合物(NMHCs)组分及占比,并计算了各行业NMHCs的臭氧(O3)和二次有机气溶胶(SOA)生成潜势,提出了NMHCs治理建议.结果表明,涉及溶剂使用的渔具、造船、汽车制造业喷涂工序的NMHCs组分以芳香烃...     

Natural and Anthropogenic Factors Controlling the Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentrations and Fluxes in a Large Tropical River, India

Carbon studies in tropical rivers have gained significance since it was realized that a significant chunk of anthropogenic CO₂ emitted into the atmosphere returns to the biosphere, that is eventually transported by the river and locked up in coastal sediments for a few thousand years. Carbon studies are also significant because dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is known to complex the toxic trace metals in the river and carry them in the dissolved form. For the first time, this work has made an attempt to study the variations in DOC concentrations in space and time for a period of 19 months, and estimate their fluxes in the largest peninsular Indian river, the Godavari at Rajahmundry. Anthropogenic influence on DOC concentrations possibly from the number of bathing ghats along the banks and domestic sewage discharge into the river are evident during the pre-monsoon of 2004 and 2005. The rise in DOC concentrations at the onset of monsoon could be due to the contributions from flood plains and soils from the river catchment. Spatial variations highlighted that the DOC concentrations in the river are affected more by the anthropogenic discharges in the downstream than in the upstream. The discharge weighted DOC concentrations in the Godavari river is 3–12 times lower than Ganga-Brahmaputra, Indus and major Chinese rivers. The total carbon fluxes from the Godavari into the Bay of Bengal is insignificant (0.5%) compared to the total carbon discharges by major rivers of the world into oceans.     

Metal Extraction from Road Sediment using Different Strength Reagents: Impact on Anthropogenic Contaminant Signals

Washoff of road deposited sediment into storm drainsystems is one of the major contributors to nonpoint sourcepollution in urban fluvial networks. These sediments contain avariety of potentially toxic organic and inorganic contaminants.Road sediment from 13 locations in an urban (non-industrialized)drainage basin, and soil from 10 background (control) locationswere collected to assess total and labile fractions of Al, Co,Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Four digestions, of varying strength,were used to assess contaminant levels, these included: a totalfour-acid digestion, a microwave-assisted digestion withconcentrated nitric acid (USEPA Method 3051), a 0.5 M `cold' HCl,and a 0.05 M EDTA (pH 7). Road sediment data indicate that Al,Co, Fe, Mn and Ni were primarily lithogenic in origin, while Cu,Pb and Zn showed very significant anthropogenic signals, mostprobably from vehicle-related sources. Median Pb concentrationenrichment ratios for the EDTA extraction were about 42,indicating an extreme anthropogenic signal. The weak extractants(HCl and EDTA) are considered in this study to be superior intheir ability to characterize the degree of anthropogeniccontamination and should be utilized more widely in environmentalcontaminant studies.     

齐齐哈尔市春季PM2.5中水溶性离子特征分析

2014年4—6月,在齐齐哈尔大学设立采样点,采集PM2.5样品。采用离子色谱法测定其中的主要水溶性无机离子,分析主要组成及污染来源。结果表明,齐齐哈尔市春季PM2.5平均质量浓度为46μg/m3,水溶性无机离子平均质量浓度为20.67μg/m3,占PM2.5质量浓度的42.82%。齐齐哈尔市PM2.5中二次组分主要以酸式硫酸盐形式存在。来源分析发现,PM2.5主要来源于移动源(如汽车尾气)、生物质燃烧及垃圾焚烧、固定源(化石燃料燃烧)、土壤及建筑尘。