A Socio-Ecological Assessment Aiming at Improved Forest Resource Management and Sustainable Ecotourism Development in the Mangroves of Tanbi Wetland National Park, The Gambia, West Africa

Although mangroves dominated by Avicennia germinans and Rhizophora mangle are extending over 6000 ha in the Tanbi Wetland National Park (TWNP) (The Gambia), their importance for local populations (both peri-urban and urban) is not well documented. For the first time, this study evaluates the different mangrove resources in and around Banjul (i.e., timber, non-timber, edible, and ethnomedicinal products) and their utilization patterns, including the possibility of ecotourism development. The questionnaire-based results have indicated that more than 80% of peri-urban population rely on mangroves for timber and non-timber products and consider them as very important for their livelihoods. However, at the same time, urban households demonstrate limited knowledge on mangrove species and their ecological/economic benefits. Among others, fishing (including the oyster—Crassostrea cf. gasar collection) and tourism are the major income-generating activities found in the TWNP. The age-old practices of agriculture in some parts of the TWNP are due to scarcity of land available for agriculture, increased family size, and alternative sources of income. The recent focus on ecotourism (i.e., boardwalk construction inside the mangroves near Banjul city) received a positive response from the local stakeholders (i.e., users, government, and non-government organizations), with their appropriate roles in sharing the revenue, rights, and responsibilities of this project. Though the guidelines for conservation and management of the TWNP seem to be compatible, the harmony between local people and sustainable resource utilization should be ascertained.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-012-0248-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Genotoxicity of sediment extracts of the Berre lagoon (France)

To evaluate the genotoxic risk that contaminated sediment could constitute for benthic organisms, three contaminated (VA, VC and VN) and one uncontaminated (RN) sediment samples were collected in the Berre lagoon (France). Potentially bioavailable contaminants in sediments were obtained using sediment extraction with synthetic seawater adjusted to pH 4 or pH 6, simulating the range of pH prevailing in the digestive tract of benthic organisms. The genotoxic activities of these extracts were evaluated by three short-term bioassays: the Salmonella mutagenicity test using the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA102, the alkaline comet assay and the micronucleus assay on the Chinese Hamster Ovary cells CHO-K1. Results of the Salmonella mutagenicity assay detected a mutagenic response for RN extract at pH 6, and for VA extract at pH 4. Results of the comet and micronucleus assays detected low genotoxic/clastogenic activities for VA and VC extracts at pH 6 and higher activities for RN, VA and VC extracts at pH 4. To identify if metals (Al, Fe, Mn, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) were involved in these genotoxic activities, their concentrations were determined in the extracts, and their speciation was assessed by thermodynamic calculations. Results showed that extracts from sites VA, VC and VN generally presented the highest trace metal contents for both extractants, while the site RN presented lower trace metal contents but the highest Fe and Mn contents. Thermodynamic calculations indicated that Fe, Mn, As and in a lower extend Co, Ni and Zn were mainly present under free forms in extracts, and were consequently, more likely able to induce a genotoxic effect. Results globally showed no correspondence between free metal contents and genotoxic activities. They suggested that these positive results could be due to uncharacterized compounds, acting as direct genotoxic agents or enhancing the genotoxic properties of analyzed metals.     

Effect of inoculation methods on the composting efficiency of municipal solid wastes

Four types of inoculation methods were studied during the composting of municipal solid wastes and dry grass (MSWG). The methods included a control group as well as initial-stage, two-stage, and multi-stage inoculations. Fulvic acids were extracted from the composting materials and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The results showed that inoculation of microbes in MSWG enhanced the biodegradation of aliphatics, proteins, and polysaccharides. The inoculation also increased the molecular weight, humic- and fulvic-like compound content, as well as humification degree of the composting products. The inoculation of microbes in MSWG significantly improved composting process and efficiency. The improvement efficiency was in the order of initial-stage < two-stage < multi-stage inoculations. Inoculation of microbes based on composting organic matter composition and temperature enhanced composting efficiency.     

Extraction of raw sewage sludge containing iron phosphate for phosphorus recovery

The objective of the present study was to establish an alkali extraction technology for FePO₄-containing sewage sludge obtained from a wastewater treatment system that includes phosphorous removal by iron electrolysis. By clarifying the extraction properties of phosphorous, organic matter, and inorganic matter, conditions for alkali extraction were optimized. As a result, it was suggested that unheated phosphorous extraction would be superior for FePO₄-containing sewage sludge. And, extraction methods and sewage sludge properties were also compared, and the noteworthy result that extraction of metals can be suppressed to extremely low amounts with alkali extraction as compared with acid extraction was obtained. A new insight was also gained that, as compared with the use of incinerated ash reported in previous studies, alkali extraction was more efficient when raw sewage sludge was used.     

聚环氧琥珀酸萃取锰泥残渣中铬的研究

聚环氧琥珀酸(PESA)是一种具有无磷及非氮结构、环境友好型水溶性聚合物,且具有螯合多价金属阳离子的性能和可生物降解性的特征,选取其作为锰泥残渣中铬的螯合萃取剂,研究了不同pH、螯合萃取剂剂量、搅拌时间下PESA对铬的萃取率。结果表明:(1)最佳萃取条件为pH=4、PESA剂量30mg/g、搅拌时间60min;在最佳萃取条件下,铬的萃取率可达95%。(2)从结构上看,PESA是由醚基和羧基基团组成的高分子聚合物,羧基基团是与金属离子作用的主要官能团,它对Ca2+、Mg2+、Zn2+、Cr(Ⅲ)、Cr(Ⅵ)和Pb2+等有较强的螯合能力;从溶液的配位角度看,PESA与金属有较强的结合能力。因此,PESA对锰泥残渣中的铬有萃取作用。     

茶叶蛋白的研究现状分析及发展对策研究

茶叶中含有15%—30%的蛋白质,对生物体具有多种重要功能,但其中绝大多数是非水溶性蛋白质,难以直接被人体吸收。目前对茶叶蛋白的研究主要集中在提取工艺上,研究表明用复合法提取的效果最好。为了更好地利用茶叶资源,可通过对非水溶性蛋白改性(溶解性、吸水性、吸油性、乳化性、胶凝性等)来提高人体对茶叶蛋白的利用率,发挥茶叶蛋白的生物功能。     

Determination of antibiotics in sewage from hospitals, nursery and slaughter house, wastewater treatment plant and source water in Chongqing region of Three Gorge Reservoir in China

Sewage samples from 4 hospitals, 1 nursery, 1 slaughter house, 1 wastewater treatment plant and 5 source water samples of Chongqing region of Three Gorge Reservoir were analyzed for macrolide, lincosamide, trimethoprim, fluorouinolone, sulfonamide and tetracycline antibiotics by online solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results showed that the concentration of ofloxacin (OFX) in hospital was the highest among all water environments ranged from 1.660 μg/L to 4.240 μg/L and norfloxacin (NOR, 0.136-1.620 μg/L), ciproflaxacin (CIP, ranged from 0.011 μg/L to 0.136 μg/L), trimethoprim (TMP, 0.061-0.174 μg/L) were commonly detected. Removal range of antibiotics in the wastewater treatment plant was 18-100% and the removal ratio of tylosin, oxytetracycline and tetracycline were 100%. Relatively higher removal efficiencies were observed for tylosin (TYL), oxytetracycline (OXY) and tetracycline (TET)(100%), while lower removal efficiencies were observed for Trimethoprim (TMP, 1%), Epi-iso-chlorotetracycline (EICIC, 18%) and Erythromycin-H₂O (ERY-H₂O, 24%). Antibiotics were removed more efficiently in primary treatment compared with those in secondary treatment.     

Mobility of radium and trace metals in sediments of the Winterbeek: Application of sequential extraction and DGT techniques

For several decades, phosphate ores containing ²²⁶Ra as well as several trace metals have been processed in Belgium to produce calcium phosphate for use in cattle food. The waste water is discharged in two small rivers, the Laak and the Winterbeek.In this study, the levels of ²²⁶Ra and trace metals in surface water and sediments of the Winterbeek were investigated and the mobility of these compounds was assessed using DGT (Diffusive Gradient in Thin Films) and sequential extraction techniques.The concentrations of ²²⁶Ra and trace metals in water and sediment indicate a decreasing trend in inputs to the Winterbeek.The mobility of ²²⁶Ra, assessed by DGT, is related to the reductive mobilization of Fe. The sequential extraction technique shows that at some stations an important fraction of ²²⁶Ra is found to labile sediment phases.Diffusive ²²⁶Ra sediment fluxes, are however, relatively small and have only a minor contribution to the water column concentration of ²²⁶Ra.     

生物法-人工湿地组合工艺处理小城镇混合污水研究

为适应小城镇污水处理高效、低耗、管理简单的要求,开展了生物法(水解酸化/生物接触氧化)-人工湿地组合工艺(A/BCO-CW)处理小城镇片区混合污水的研究。结果表明,A/BCO系统在停留时间为3～6 h条件下,对悬浮物和有机物有高的去除效率,COD、BOD5和TSS去除率分别达到63.1%、67.7%和66.2%,避免了人工湿地堵塞和提高处理效率,减少了所需湿地面积44%。全年运行结果表明,在0.30～0.59 m/d水力负荷率下,垂直流-表面流-水平潜流人工湿地组合系统对COD、BOD5和TSS平均去除负荷达9.4、5.1和7.2 g/(m2.d)(42%、71.2%和85.2%);COD、BOD5去除速率常数为74.6±12.1 m/y、166±30.5 m/y,这些数值均处于文献中k值范围的高量程内。A/BCO-人工湿地系统对COD、BOD5和TSS具有好的处理效果,出水水质能够稳定达到《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838-2002)的IV类水标准,2种处理方法有效组合起来,所开发的低成本、高效率、可持续运行的城镇废水处理组合系统,将会在实际应用尤其是高有机负荷污水处理中发挥良好效用。     

采油废水回注处理技术的现状及展望

阐述了目前采油废水回注处理的技术及工艺现状,重点探讨了膜分离技术在采油废水回注处理中的研究及应用情况,分析了各技术存在的问题,并展望了采油废水回注处理技术的发展趋势。