Origin of high particle number concentrations reaching the St. Louis, Midwest Supersite

Ultrafine particles are associated with adverse health effects. Total Particle Number Concentration (TNC) of fine particles were measured during 2002 at the St. Louis — Midwest supersite. The time series showed overall low level with frequent large peaks. The time series was analyzed alongside criteria pollutant measurements and meteorological observations. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify further contributing factors and to determine the association of different pollutants with TNC levels. This showed the strong contribution of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) to high TNC levels. The analysis also suggested that increased dispersion resulting from faster winds and higher mixing heights led to higher TNC levels. Overall, the results show that there were intense particle nucleation events in a SO₂ rich plume reaching the site which contributed around 29% of TNC. A further 40% was associated with primary emissions from mobile sources. By separating the remaining TNC by time of day and clear sky conditions, we suggest that most likely 8% of TNC are due to regional nucleation events and 23% are associated with the general urban background.     

城市社区农贸市场空气微生物及抗生素抗性基因研究

社区农贸市场活禽交易区是城市重要的人畜交叉感染区域,区内高存量的微生物和抗生素抗性基因(antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs)可通过粪便、冲洗水、空气等介质传播扩散。而空气介质中通过微生物气溶胶形式的传播途径,因其隐秘性、持久性的特点而对社区居民健康构成严重威胁。本文研究了深圳市某典型社区农贸市场内空气微生物及抗生素抗性基因。结果表明,活禽交易区可培养细菌浓度高达105CFU·m-3,远高于一般室内区域(103CFU·m-3),其中PM2.5精细颗粒物(0.65~3.3μm)中所含菌量占总菌量42%以上;活禽交易区空气介质中,抗生素抗性基因tet G、tet W、sul1和sul2检出率达70%以上,其绝对浓度在10~4~10~9copies·m-3之间;周边环境空气样品中,随着与活禽交易区距离的增加,空气微生物及抗生素抗性基因含量呈显著下降趋势。结果表明,农贸市场活禽交易区是微生物和抗生素抗性基因的一个重要储存库,活禽交易区空气会严重影响农贸市场及其外周边空气质量。     

Human Influence on the Spatial Structure of Threatened Pacific Salmon Metapopulations

Abstract: To remain viable, populations must be resilient to both natural and human‐caused environmental changes. We evaluated anthropogenic effects on spatial connections among populations of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss) (designated as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act) in the lower Columbia and Willamette rivers. For several anthropogenic‐effects scenarios, we used graph theory to characterize the spatial relation among populations. We plotted variance in population size against connectivity among populations. In our scenarios, reduced habitat quality decreased the size of populations and hydropower dams on rivers led to the extirpation of several populations, both of which decreased connectivity. Operation of fish hatcheries increased connectivity among populations and led to patchy or panmictic populations. On the basis of our results, we believe recolonization of the upper Cowlitz River by fall and spring Chinook and winter steelhead would best restore metapopulation structure to near‐historical conditions. Extant populations that would best conserve connectivity would be those inhabiting the Molalla (spring Chinook), lower Cowlitz, or Clackamas (fall Chinook) rivers and the south Santiam (winter steelhead) and north fork Lewis rivers (summer steelhead). Populations in these rivers were putative sources; however, they were not always the most abundant or centrally located populations. This result would not have been obvious if we had not considered relations among populations in a metapopulation context. Our results suggest that dispersal rate strongly controls interactions among the populations that comprise salmon metapopulations. Thus, monitoring efforts could lead to understanding of the true rates at which wild and hatchery fish disperse. Our application of graph theory allowed us to visualize how metapopulation structure might respond to human activity. The method could be easily extended to evaluations of anthropogenic effects on other stream‐dwelling populations and communities and could help prioritize among competing conservation measures.     

Using Coral Disease Prevalence to Assess the Effects of Concentrating Tourism Activities on Offshore Reefs in a Tropical Marine Park

Abstract: Concentrating tourism activities can be an effective way to closely manage high‐use parks and minimize the extent of the effects of visitors on plants and animals, although considerable investment in permanent tourism facilities may be required. On coral reefs, a variety of human‐related disturbances have been associated with elevated levels of coral disease, but the effects of reef‐based tourist facilities (e.g., permanent offshore visitor platforms) on coral health have not been assessed. In partnership with reef managers and the tourism industry, we tested the effectiveness of concentrating tourism activities as a strategy for managing tourism on coral reefs. We compared prevalence of brown band disease, white syndromes, black band disease, skeletal eroding band, and growth anomalies among reefs with and without permanent tourism platforms within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Coral diseases were 15 times more prevalent at reefs with offshore tourism platforms than at nearby reefs without platforms. The maximum prevalence and maximum number of cases of each disease type were recorded at reefs with permanently moored tourism platforms. Diseases affected 10 coral genera from 7 families at reefs with platforms and 4 coral genera from 3 families at reefs without platforms. The greatest number of disease cases occurred within the spatially dominant acroporid corals, which exhibited 18‐fold greater disease prevalence at reefs with platforms than at reefs without platforms. Neither the percent cover of acroporids nor overall coral cover differed significantly between reefs with and without platforms, which suggests that neither factor was responsible for the elevated levels of disease. Identifying how tourism activities and platforms facilitate coral disease in marine parks will help ensure ongoing conservation of coral assemblages and tourism.     

The Phytoecological Map as a Means for Evaluating the State and Anthropogenic Transformation of Vegetation

The methodological principles of making a phytoecological map reflecting the degree of anthropogenic transformation of the plant cover are described.     

Inorganic constituents of urban air pollution in the Lazio region (Central Italy)

A field study was carried out at six locations in the Lazio region (Central Italy) aimed at characterising atmospheric particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) from the point of view of the chemical composition and grain size distribution of the particles, the mixing properties of the atmosphere, the frequency and relevance of natural events. The combination of four different analytical techniques (ion chromatography, X-ray fluorescence and ICP for inorganic components, thermo-optical analysis for carbon compounds) yielded sound results in terms of characterisation of the air masses. During the first three months of the study (October-December 2004), many pollution events of natural (sea-salt or desert dust episodes) or anthropogenic nature were identified and characterised. More than 90% of the collected mass was identified by chemical analysis. The central role played by the mixing properties of the lower atmosphere when pollution events occurred was highlighted. The results show a major impact of primary anthropogenic pollutants on traffic stations and a homogeneous distribution of secondary pollutants over the regional area. An evaluation of the sources of PM and an identification of possible reliable tracers were obtained using a chemical fractionation procedure.     

Application of positive matrix factorization in characterization of PM(10) and PM(2.5) emission sources at urban roadside

The 24-h average coarse (PM₁₀) and fine (PM_2.5) fraction of airborne particulate matter (PM) samples were collected for winter, summer and monsoon seasons during November 2008-April 2009 at an busy roadside in Chennai city, India. Results showed that the 24-h average ambient PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations were significantly higher in winter and monsoon seasons than in summer season. The 24-h average PM₁₀ concentration of weekdays was significantly higher (12-30%) than weekends of winter and monsoon seasons. On weekends, the PM_2.5 concentration was found to slightly higher (4-15%) in monsoon and summer seasons. The chemical composition of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 masses showed a high concentration in winter followed by monsoon and summer seasons.The U.S.EPA-PMF (positive matrix factorization) version 3 was applied to identify the source contribution of ambient PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations at the study area. Results indicated that marine aerosol (40.4% in PM₁₀ and 21.5% in PM_2.5) and secondary PM (22.9% in PM₁₀ and 42.1% in PM_2.5) were found to be the major source contributors at the study site followed by the motor vehicles (16% in PM₁₀ and 6% in PM_2.5), biomass burning (0.7% in PM₁₀ and 14% in PM_2.5), tire and brake wear (4.1% in PM₁₀ and 5.4% in PM_2.5), soil (3.4% in PM₁₀ and 4.3% in PM_2.5) and other sources (12.7% in PM₁₀ and 6.8% in PM_2.5).     

中国不同尺度大气污染物排放清单编制工作综述

大气污染物排放清单的编制可以直观表现清单编制地区的污染源状况,为政府制定污染物防控措施提供科学依据。在查阅大量文献的基础上,从清单方法学、区域和城市排放、清单不确定性3个方面对中国大部分地区的大气污染物排放清单编制工作进行了汇总整理。提出了未建立符合我国国情的排放因子和活动水平数据库、排放清单分辨率和不确定性研究水平不高、缺少对不发达地区的清单编制等问题。建议统筹排放清单编制工作,保证基础数据的准确性,逐步建立主要污染物的清单编制技术指南,加强学科间和国际间合作,开拓排放清单新的研究方向。最后,对未来大气污染物排放清单的编制工作提出了展望。     

北京市某城市污水处理厂微生物气溶胶污染特性研究

以北京市某城市污水处理厂的格栅间、曝气池、污泥浓缩池和污泥脱水间为对象,研究不同功能区的空气微生物浓度、粒径分布及微生物组成.结果表明:(1)该污水处理厂4个功能区空气异养细菌浓度平均值为3.3×104cfu/m3,范围为1.0×102～4.3×105cfu/m3;真菌浓度平均值为6.1×103cfu/m3,范围为7.5×10～7.6×104cfu/m3.异养细菌和真菌浓度存在显著性差异,尤以曝气池上空最高,其次是污泥脱水间,浓度最低的区域为格栅间和污泥浓缩池.各功能区均存在不同程度的异养细菌和真菌污染.(2)该污水处理厂不同功能区逸散出的异养细菌分布比例最高的为第2～5级,真菌主要分布在第3～5级.4个功能区空气中粒径为2.10～4.70μm(第3、4级)的异养细菌和真菌粒子分别占到了总数的37％～40％和46％～56％,而粒径为0.65～2.10μm(第5、6级)的异养细菌和真菌粒子则分别占到了总数的30％～33％和31％～37％,说明该污水处理厂不同功能区内的空气微生物存在一定的健康风险,可能对人呼吸道构成感染威胁.(3)假单孢菌(Pseudomonas)为该污水处理厂不同功能区均检出的优势异养细菌,而优势真菌种属为毛霉(Mucor)和曲霉(Aspergillus).