An Analysis of Secondary Pollutants in Buenos Aires City

Air pollutant concentrations from a monitoring campaign in Buenos Aires City, Argentina, are used to investigate the relationships between ambient levels of ozone (O₃), nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) as a function of NO _x (=NO + NO₂). This campaign undertaken by the electricity sector was aimed at elucidating the apportionment of thermal power plants to air quality deterioration. Concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) were also registered. Photo stationary state (PSS) of the NO, NO₂, O₃ and peroxy radicals species has been analysed. The ‘oxidant’ level concept has been introduced, OX (=O₃ + NO₂), which varies with the level of NO _x . It is shown that this level is made up of NO _x -independent and NO _x -dependent contributions. The former is a regional contribution that equates the background O₃ level, whereas the latter is a local contribution that correlates with the level of primary pollution. Furthermore, the anticorrelation between NO₂ and O₃ levels, which is a characteristic of the atmospheric photo stationary cycle has been verified.The analysis of the concentration of the primary pollutants CO and NO strongly suggests that the vehicle traffic is the principal source of them. Levels of continuous measurements of SO₂ for Buenos Aires City are reported in this work as a complement of previously published results.     

Integrating Remote Sensing Approach with Pollution Monitoring Tools for Aquatic Ecosystem Risk Assessment and Managment: A Case Study of Lake Victoria(UGANDA)

Aquatic ecosystems around the world, lake, estuaries and coastal areas are increasingly impacted by anthropogenic pollutants through different sources such as agricultural, industrial and urban discharges, atmospheric deposition and terrestrial drainage. Lake Victoria is the second largest lake in the world and the largest tropical lake. Bordered by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, it provides a livelihood for millions of Africans in the region. However, the lake is under threat from eutrophication, a huge decline in the number of native fish species caused by several factors including loss of biodiversity, over fishing and pollution has been recently documented. Increasing usage of pesticides and insecticides in the adjacent agricultural areas as well as mercury contamination from processing of gold ore on the southern shores are currently considered among the most emergent phenomena of chemical contamination in the lake. By the application of globally consistent and comprehensive geospatial data-sets based on remote sensing integrated with information on heavy metals accumulation and insecticides exposure in native and alien fish populations, the present study aims at assessing the environmental risk associated to the contamination of the Lake Victoria water body on fish health, land cover distribution, biodiversity and the agricultural area surrounding the lake. By the elaboration of Landsat 7 TM data of November 2002 and Landsat 7 TM 1986 we have calculated the agriculture area which borders the Lake Victoria bay, which is an upland plain. This process has greatly enhanced nutrient loading to the soil, which is subsequently transported to the lake by rain or as dry fall. All the data has been insert in the Geographical information System (ARCGIS) to be upgraded and consulted. Heavy metals in fish fillets showed concentrations rather low except for mercury being higher than others as already described in previous investigations. In the same tissue, cholinesterases activity (ChE) as an indicator of insecticides exposure showed significant differences among fish species in both activity and sensitivity of selected inhibitor insecticides. This integrated approach aims at identifying and quantifying selected aquatic environmental issues which integrated with monitoring techniques such as contaminant concentrations and biological responses to insecticides exposure in fish populations will provide a scientific basis for aquatic zones management and assist in policy formulations at the national and international levels.     

Spatial Characterization and Prioritization of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil-Water Resources in Peri-Urban Areas of National Capital Territory (NCT), Delhi

Due to rapid industrialization and urbanization during last two decades, contamination of soils by heavy metals is on an increase globally. Lands under peri-urban agriculture are the worst affected. In NCT, Delhi about 14.4% of land area is chemically degraded. In order to take care of this problem, recently the Supreme Court of India ordered to shift various non-confirming (about 39,000 units) industries to regions outside NCT, Delhi. However in spite of this, there have been several reports and parliamentary debates on the phyto-toxicity and extensive accumulation of heavy metals in the region. Literature review revealed that the basis of these debates is a few studies on some point locations in/around Delhi. It was further observed that information on the distribution and extent of heavy metal pollution problem in the region was completely missing. The present study was thus basically aimed at assessing the spatial distribution/extent and type of heavy metal pollution in the study area, for enabling future designing of appropriate site-specific management measures by the decision makers.For this, detailed spatial information on bio-available heavy metal concentrations in the soils and surface/sub-surface waters of NCT (Delhi) was generated through actual soil/water surveys, standard laboratory methods and GIS techniques. The study showed that concentration of all micronutrients (viz. Zn: 0.05–0.18 ppm; Cu: in traces; Fe: 0–0.5 ppm; and Mn: 0–1.2 ppm) and most heavy metals (viz. Ni: 0–0.7 ppm; Pb: 0–0.15 ppm and Cd: in traces) in the surface/sub-surface irrigation waters were well within permissible limits. However Cr concentrations in irrigation waters of Alipur and Shahdara blocks were far above their maximum permissible limit of 1 ppm. It was further observed that Ni and Cr concentrations in the drinking waters of almost entire test area were far above maximum permissible levels of 0.02 and 0.01 ppm, respectively. Bio-available concentrations of several heavy metals (viz. Pb: 0.1–2 ppm; Cd: traces; Ni: 0.05–2 ppm and Cr: 0–0.4 ppm) in the study area soils were also observed to be well within the maximum permissible limits. However there were point Cu contaminations (5–10 ppm) in the sewage-sludge amended soils of vegetable growing areas near south Shahdara block. This was attributed to increased Cu availability due to oxidized acidic conditions generated by over-irrigation of agricultural lands. Available Mn concentrations in Kanjhawala, western Najafgarh and Alipur soils were also observed to be above maximum permissible limit of 10 ppm. This was observed to be mainly due to the geology (i.e. presence of Mn rich sedimentary rocks) and prevalence of reduced acidic conditions, due to paddy cultivation, in these areas. It was further observed that there is acute zinc (Zn) deficiency (< 0.6 ppm) in paddy growing soils of north Kanjhawala, Alipur and some parts of Najafgarh and Shahdara blocks due to extensive leaching of available Zn fractions to lower soil horizons. Similar available Zn deficiencies in high pH (8.5) soils of areas around Bamnoli village in E-Najafgarh block were also observed.     

Fruit Stones from Industrial Waste for the Removal of Lead Ions from Polluted Water

Lead, one of the earliest metals recognized and used by humans, has a long history of beneficial use. However, it is now recognized as toxic and as posing a widespread threat to humans and wildlife. Treatment of lead from polluted water and wastewater has received a great deal of attention. Adsorption is one of the most common technologies for the treatment of lead-polluted water. This technique was evaluated here, with the goal of identifying innovative, low-cost adsorbent. This study presents experiments undertaken to determine the suitable conditions for the use of peach and apricot stones, produced from food industries as solid waste, as adsorbents for the removal of lead from aqueous solution. Chemical stability of adsorbents, effect of pH, adsorbents dose, adsorption time and equilibrium concentration were studied. The results reveal that adsorption of lead ions onto peach stone was stronger than onto apricot stone up to 3.36% at 3 h adsorption time. Suitable equilibrium time for the adsorption was 3–5 h (% Pb adsorption 93% for apricot and 97.64% for peach). The effective adsorption range for pH in the range was 7–8. Application of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models show high adsorption maximum and binding energies for using these adsorbents for the removal of lead ions from contaminated water and wastewater.     

兽药抗生素对生态环境的混合毒性研究进展

抗生素是环境中普遍存在的污染物,畜牧水产养殖是其主要来源之一.环境中可能同时存在多种抗生素残留,因此单一药物的毒性评价难以反映抗生素对生态环境的影响,应探究其混合物的毒性效应.本文在总结大量文献的基础上,介绍了兽用抗生素的残留现状,总结了兽用抗生素对生态环境的混合毒性研究进展,讨论了兽用抗生素残留对土壤生物和水生生物的...     

用于控制太湖流域农村面源污染的透水坝技术试验研究

为了控制太湖流域农村面源污染,结合人工湿地原理和快速渗滤机理,开发了透水坝技术并进行了运行试验.该技术利用平原河网地区现有河道的容积来承受农村面源污染水量、水质的冲击负荷,通过控制透水坝的渗流量,拦蓄径流为后续的处理单元提供自流动力.4个月的运行结果表明,使用梯形渗流模型进行透水坝的渗流量计算比较准确,透水坝达到了拦蓄5天处理雨量为1400Om3的降雨径流的设计要求,同时透水坝的TN、TP去除率分别为15.59%和23.44%.     

黄河河口区域有机污染物的特征分析

对2004年采集于黄河河口区域的水样进行了检测分析共鉴定出有机污染物8类192种,包括VOCs33种、SVOCs159种;其中属美国列出的129种优先控制污染物的有62种,属我国列出的58种优先控制污染物的有33种,属GB3838-2002控制的有31种.定量出的VOCs有19种,主要包括卤代烃类和单环芳香族类,其质量浓度平均值分别为0.683和0.609 μg/L;定量出的SVOCs有69种,主要包括多环芳烃类、酯类、单环芳香族类、卤代烃类、酚类和农药类,其质量浓度平均值分别为0.458,1.011,0.367,0.121,0 220和0.045 μg/L,其中多环芳烃类、酯类和单环芳香族类的污染程度相对较高,分别超标2.857,0.288和0.001～1.543倍.      

重庆市大气污染物的空间统计分析

利用空间统计分析方法(spatial statistics analysis),借助GIS,分析了重庆市3种主要大气污染物TSP,SO₂和NO_x质量浓度在空间上的分布特点.研究表明,在"九五"期间和2002年2个时期,重庆市大气污染物在空间上均呈不均衡分布.整体上,SO₂的空间自相关性很强,属集中分布模式;TSP的空间自相关性较弱,属于随机分布模式;NO_x处于二者之间.局部相关性分析表明,大部分区县的大气污染物之间相关性较弱.此外,利用缓冲区和内插浓度表面法分析了2个时期的污染物质量浓度随离行政中心距离变化的趋势,发现ρ(TSP)和ρ(SO₂)在各地带内均有明显削减,而ρ(NO_x)削减不显著;ρ(SO₂)和ρ(NO_x)随距行政中心距离增大下降,但ρ(TSP)随距离增大而增加.3种污染物质量浓度都在离行政中心50～60 km的地带发生明显变化,由此得出目前重庆市大气污染物空间分布的特征距离为50～60km.      

福建省兴化湾大气重金属的干湿沉降

在兴化湾周围采集1年的大气颗粒物及降雨样品,测定分析了Cd,Pb,Zn和Cu 4种重金属的含量及其大气干湿沉降通量随季节的变化规律,并利用Pb同位素对大气颗粒物的来源进行了解析.结果表明:大气重金属的干沉降通量随季节变化不大,而湿沉降通量随季节变化明显.大气干沉降通量中,Cd,Cu随季节变化很小,而Pb,Zn有一定的季节变化,主要是因为降雨对大气颗粒物的去除作用.大气湿沉降通量中,所有重金属元素受降雨量影响显著,另外还与季节和风速有关.除Pb外,Cd,Zn和Cu的湿沉降通量均大于干沉降通量,说明湿沉降在大气对兴化湾重金属的输入过程中起主导作用.而Pb的输入则以颗粒态为主.根据Pb稳定同位素分析,兴化湾大气颗粒物中的重金属主要来源于工业活动.      

土地利用/覆盖变化对长江上游非点源污染影响研究

在国内外相关研究的基础上,利用输出系数模型,结合RS和GIS技术,对长江上游的非点源污染负荷进行了空间模拟和负荷估算.模拟结果表明,在不考虑流域损失的前提下,由于土地利用造成的非点源污染负荷TN总量从20世纪70年代的123万t下降至2000年的116万t,基本呈逐年减少的趋势,由土地利用造成的TP的变化趋势与TN基本相同,从70年代的3.7万t下降到2000年的3.5万t左右.就省份、土地利用类型和水系而言,四川省、种植用地和草地以及金沙江水系和嘉陵江水系对长江上游的非点源污染贡献较大.在非点源污染负荷强度上,重庆市和嘉陵江水系单位面积负荷最高,是今后应重点治理的地区.结果表明,该模型可以对长江上游这样的超大尺度空间的非点源污染进行较好的空间模拟.