Population Analysis of Sables in the Ural–Ob Region of the Species Range

An attempt at population analysis of sables in the Ural–Ob region of the species range was made with the use of vast biological material (craniometry, 1909 specimens; ecological structure, 2157 specimens; and coat color, 439169 pelts). Population groups in the region were mainly described on the basis of morphological, geographic, historical, and ecological criteria. Seven spatially separated population groups were found, which were named after the main rivers of their habitats: the Tavda–Konda–Sos'va, Dem'yanka, Salym–Yugan, Agan–Vakh, Kazym–Nazym, Nadym–Kunovat, and Pur–Taz groups. They distinctly differed from one another with respect to cranial measurements, coat color, and some structural demographic parameters. In some cases, morphological differences reached the subspecies level. The data obtained make it possible to revise the pattern of geographic variation within the species range.     

白银市土壤重金属污染源分析及防治措施

通过对白银市土壤调查结果进行评价分析,发现东大沟土壤重金属污染较为严重。同时对土壤重金属污染来源进行讨论,认为大面积土壤重金属来源主要是农民节流灌溉所引起的,小范围的土壤污染可能由于固体废弃物(如铬渣等)的堆存造成。其他污染源对土壤造成的污染较轻,但长期的污染物积累也会造成很大的污染。在此基础上提出防治重金属污染的措施。     

基层环境保护行政执法现状分析及对策研究

经过二十多年的努力,中国已基本形成较完善地环境保护法体系,但是,基层环境保护行政执法仍面临立法有空白、体制不顺、能力弱、手段落后等诸多问题。结合实际对基层环境保护行政执法工作中存在的问题进行分析,提高领导对环境保护工作的认识,规范环境保护行政执法行为,提高环境保护行政执法水平,抓好环境保护机构及能力建设,提高广大公众的环境意识和环境法制观念仍是目前解决基层环境保护行政执法工作中存在的问题的有效手段。     

连续测量大气·OH的化学电离飞行时间质谱仪的研制

搭建了一套化学电离飞行时间质谱仪用于连续测量大气·OH.该仪器采用了基于63Ni放射源的双管正交式结构大气压化学电离源电离大气中的·OH,最大程度地避免了试剂气体电离及滴定、转化反应间的相互干扰.63Ni放射源首先电离HNO3试剂气体得到试剂离子NO-3,·OH在反应管中与SO2反应最终转化为H2SO4,NO-3与H2SO4发生化学电离反应生成HSO-4离子,进入到质谱仪中进行检测,通过测量NO-3与HSO-4离子的强度,利用化学电离反应方程可直接计算出大气中OH的浓度.所研制仪器用于实验室内·OH的在线检测,在5 s内测得·OH的浓度为1.6×106个·cm-3,实验结果显示该仪器可用于原位连续测量大气中的超痕量自由基.     

The development of the fetal eye: In utero ultrasonographic measurements of the vitreous and lens

Our objective was to establish nomograms for fetal eye measurements from 12 weeks' gestation by using transvaginal and transabdominal high-resolution ultrasound techniques. A prospective cross-sectional study was performed on 450 normal singleton pregnancies between 12 and 37 weeks' gestation. Vitreous and lens circumferences were measured by transvaginal ultrasonography until 17 weeks, and by abdominal ultrasound between 18 and 37 weeks' gestation. Regression analyses were used to create nomograms, and several transformations were done to obtain linearity. Eye measurements of 12 fetuses at risk for ocular disturbances were plotted on the constructed nomograms. Linear relationships were fitted between vitreous (r²=0.79) and lens (r²=0.88) circumferences and gestational age. In addition, there was a significant correlation between these measurements and the biparietal diameter. Data of the fetuses at risk showed that disturbances in ocular growth were associated mainly with abnormal cerebral development. These normative data may be helpful in the prenatal diagnosis of suspected congenital syndromes that include, among their manifestations, ocular growth disturbances such as microphthalmos and anophthalmos.     

Project of an Air Quality Monitoring Network for Industrial Site in Italy

In this paper results concerning project of an atmospheric monitoring network applied to an area of south of Italy carried out using chemical measurement campaigns (for traffic emissions characterisation couple with diffusional simulation of industrial pollutant emissions will be presented. The area selected is characterised by an high concentration of high environmental impacting industrial activities, with also high concentration of urban settlement and vehicular traffic. A comprehensive definition of all the monitoring system to be installed in order to have a correct monitoring system for the all province will be described and discussed.     

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans in outdoor air of North‐Rhine‐Westphalia,Germany

Measurements of polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) in outdoor air of North‐Rhine‐Westphalia were carried out. Fifty‐six samples were taken at different sites in areas of different land use and emission structures. A special filter system allowed analysis of the gas and particle phases separately. It was found that higher chlorinated PCDD/PCDF (7 or 8 chlorine atoms) are collected on glass fiber filter and lower chlorinated PCDD/PCDF (tetra‐ and penta‐CDD/CDF) are absorbed on polyurethane foam. The following isomers were determined: OCDD, OCDF and 11 isomers with chlorine substitution in 2,3,7,8‐position as well as the sum of TCDD, PeCDD, HxCDD, HpCDD, TCDF, PeCDF, HxCDF, HpCDF and the sum of PCDD (4–8) and PCDF (4–8). No 2,3,7,8‐TCDD could be detected but 2,3,7,8‐TCDF was found at 15 sites. Mean concentration in the Rhine‐Ruhr‐District for the sum of PCDD (4–8) and PCDF (4–8) was 3.2pg/m³ and 5.5pg/m³ respectively. Detection limit for TCDD and PCDD/PCDF (5–8) was 0.1–0.2 pg/m³ and 0.005–0.015 pg/m³ respectively. There is no significant indication that 2,3,7,8‐chlorinated isomers of PCDD/PCDF are predominantly decomposed by photochemical reactions in outdoor air.     

Inter-laboratory comparison study on measuring semi-volatile organic chemicals in standards and air samples

Measurements of semi-volatile organic chemicals (SVOCs) were compared among 21 laboratories from 7 countries through the analysis of standards, a blind sample, an air extract, and an atmospheric dust sample. Measurement accuracy strongly depended on analytes, laboratories, and types of standards and samples. Intra-laboratory precision was generally good with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of triplicate injections <10% and with median differences of duplicate samples between 2.1 and 22%. Inter-laboratory variability, measured by RSDs of all measurements, was in the range of 2.8-58% in analyzing standards, and 6.9-190% in analyzing blind sample and air extract. Inter-laboratory precision was poorer when samples were subject to cleanup processes, or when SVOCs were quantified at low concentrations. In general, inter-laboratory differences up to a factor of 2 can be expected to analyze atmospheric SVOCs. When comparing air measurements from different laboratories, caution should be exercised if the data variability is less than the inter-laboratory differences.     

Monte Carlo based calibration of scintillation detectors for laboratory and in situ gamma ray measurements

The calibration of scintillation detectors for gamma radiation in a well characterized setup can be transferred to other geometries using Monte Carlo simulations to account for the differences between the calibration and the other geometry. In this study a calibration facility was used that is constructed from bricks of well-known activity concentrations of ⁴⁰K and of radionuclides from the ²³⁸U- and ²³²Th-series. Transfer of the calibration was attempted to a Marinelli beaker geometry with the detector inside a lead shield and to an in situ application with the detector positioned on a sand bed. In general this resulted in good correspondence (within 5-10%) between the activity concentrations derived using the transferred calibration and activities that were derived by independent measurements. Some discrepancies were identified that were attributed to coincident summing in the natural decay series and interference of radon.