Is the bone tissue of ring-billed gulls breeding in a pollution hotspot in the St. Lawrence River,Canada, impacted by halogenated flame retardant exposure?

Bone metabolism is a tightly regulated process that controls bone remodeling and repair in addition to maintaining circulating calcium and phosphate levels. It has been shown that certain organohalogen contaminants may adversely impact bone tissue metabolism and structure in wildlife species. However, exceedingly few studies have addressed the bone-related effects of organohalogen exposure in birds. The objective of the present study was to investigate the associations between markers of bone metabolism and structural integrity, and concentrations of established and current-use halogenated flame retardants (FRs) in ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) nesting in a known FR hotspot area in the St. Lawrence River (Montreal, Canada). Bone metabolism was assessed using plasma calcium and inorganic phosphate levels, and alkaline phophatase activity, while bone (tarsus; trabecular and cortical sections) structure quality was examined using the percentage of bone tissue comprised in the total bone volume (Bv/Tv) and bone mineral density (BMD). Bv/Tv and BMD of the tarsus tended (not significant) to be positively associated with circulating calcium levels in male ring-billed gulls. Moreover, concentrations of FRs in male bird liver (brominated diphenyl ether (BDE)-154, -183, -201, and -209) and plasma (BDE-209) were negatively correlated with trabecular and cortical BMD of the tarsus. These correlative associations may suggest light demineralization of bone tissue associated with FR exposure in male ring-billed gulls. Present findings provide some evidence that bone (tarsus) metabolism and mineral composition may be impacted in high FR-exposed (mainly to PBDEs) ring-billed gulls breeding in the highly urbanized Montreal region.     

我国矿产资源国家所有权的价值考量

我国经济高速发展的同时,出现了矿产资源大量消耗和环境严重污染的问题。许多学者认为是矿产资源国家所有权惹的祸,极力倡导所有权改制。从理性的角度出发分析,出现这种现象并不是国家所有权惹的祸,而是国家所有权的管理体制不再适应今天市场化的要求,应从管理体制和竞争方面来加强矿产资源的管理。     

矿产资源经济区划的理论与方法

矿产资源经济区划是保护与合理开发利用矿产资源、实现资源优化配置和区域经济可持续发展的基础。本文依据经典的区位理论和地域分工理论,应用系统分析的方法,建立了矿产资源经济区划的一般程序,并归纳了定量分析中必要的技术手段和方法路线。     

我国矿产资源利用的环境问题及对策

矿产资源利用过程中靠成的环境问题是我国经济建设速发展所面临的一个现实问题本文全面地分析了矿产资源利用对环境影响的各个方面，分析了我国矿产资源环境问题的一些特点，提出了八个方面的对策建议。     

Utilization of red mud as catalyst in conversion of waste oil and waste plastics to fuel

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibilities of using a by-product (red mud) from alumina production as a catalyst for recovery of waste. The conversion of waste mineral oil (WMO) and waste mineral oil/municipal waste plastic (WMO/MWP) blends over red mud (RM), a commercial hydrocracking catalyst (silica–alumina), and a commercial hydrotreating catalyst (Ni–Mo/alumina) to fuel has been studied. The effect of the catalyst and the temperature on the product distribution (gas, liquid, and wax) and the properties of liquid products were investigated. In the case of hydrotreatment of WMO, the liquids obtained over RM at both 400° and 425°C had larger amounts of low-boiling hydrocarbons than that of thermal or catalytic treatment with hydrotreating catalyst. Gas chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the liquid products showed that RM had hydrogenation and cracking activity in hydrotreatment of WMO. In coprocessing of WMO with municipal waste plastics, temperature had an important effect as well as the amount of MWP in the blend and the catalyst type. The hydrocracking at 400°C produced no liquid product. In hydrocracking at 425°C, the product distribution varied with catalyst type and MWP amount. The commercial hydrocracking catalyst had more cracking ability in the conversion of WMO/MWP to liquid and gas fuel than RM. In the case of hydrocracking over RM, the largest amount of liquid having satisfactory quality was obtained only from the blend containing 20% MWP.     

略论清代自然资源的保护与利用

清代在水土资源、林木资源、矿产资源的保护与利用等方面采取了积极有效的措施，包括开垦土地、兴修水利、发展生态农业、植树造林、加强法制、设立环保机构等。     

WATER RESOURCES AND HUMAN HEALTH: THE VIEWPOINT OF MEDICAL GEOGRAPHY1

ABSTRACT: Medical geography studies both areal patterns of human health and disease and the environmental and cultural factors that contribute to such conditions. In such studies water resources are of major importance, not only because they are essential for life and their scenic beauty is of inspirational value, but also because they are involved, directly or indirectly, in more than 80 percent of all disease. The direct involvements result from various disease causing agents sometimes found in surface or ground water organic ones such as bacteria, worms, etc., which are known as pathogens, and inorganic ones such as trace elements and synthetic toxic chemicals. Surface waters may have indirect effects also, for they may serve as habitats or breeding places for organisms that do not themselves cause human disease but that serve as vectors or hosts for such pathogens. This paper will discuss these various roles of water resources in both endemic and epidemic disease occurrences and ways in which various human activities domestic, economic, recreational, or religious — increase or reduce our exposure to such diseases.     

Concentrations of inorganic elements in 20 municipal waters in Sweden before and after treatment – links to human health

The water chemistry of 20 municipal water treatment plants in southern Sweden, representing various bedrock situations, and water qualities, were investigated. Four water samples, raw and treated, were collected from each plant and analyzed by predominantly ICP-OES and ICP-MS at four occasions from June to December, 2001. The concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na, HCO₃ and a number of micronutrients, varied considerably in treated waters from the studied plants (ranges; Ca: 9.1–53.7 mg L⁻¹, Mg: 1.4–10.9 mg L⁻¹, K: 1.1–4.8 mg L⁻¹, Na; 5.4–75.6 mg L⁻¹, HCO₃: 27–217 mg L⁻¹). The elimination of Fe and Mn from raw water was efficient in all treatments investigated, giving concentrations in treated waters below the detection limits at some plants. Softening filters gave waters with Ca-concentrations comparable to the softest waters in this study. Adjustment of pH by use of chemicals like lye, soda or lime, modified the consumer water composition significantly, besides raising the pH. It was estimated that drinking water contributed to approximately 2.2–13% of the daily Ca uptake, if the gastrointestinal uptake efficiency from food and water was estimated to be around 50%. The corresponding figures for Mg was 1.0–7% and for F 0–59%. None of the studied elements showed any significant time trends in raw or treated waters during the follow-up period. The concentrations of potentially toxic metals such as Al, Pb and U were low and did not indicate risks for adverse health effects (ranges; Al: 0.5–2.3 μg L⁻¹, Pb: 0–0.3 μg L⁻¹, U: 0.2.5 μg L⁻¹).     

我国不同矿物气溶胶源区物质的物理化学特征

在我国不同的矿物气溶胶源区进行采样分析的结果表明,源区气溶胶物质的物理化学特性相差很大.黄土的颗粒最细,91%的黄土颗粒可以形成矿物气溶胶进行长距离输送;沙土较粗,只有15%的沙尘颗粒可以形成矿物气溶胶;2个煤灰样品的粒径差异较大,抚顺煤灰中＜74μm的颗粒高达39%,而呼和浩特煤灰只有7%.不同粒径颗粒的化学分析结果表明,微量元素在细颗粒上有较高的富集.黄土与沙漠土壤的细颗粒的化学性质十分相似,同煤灰的化学性质完全不同,其常量元素与A1的比值(E/Al)十分接近,而且与深海沉积物粘土中的比值(E/A1)     

有机肥料和无机肥料对土壤微量元素含量的影响

五年定位监测的田间试验结果表明，施用有机肥料对土壤铁、锰、铜、锌的消耗具有明显的补充作用，但对有效用的补充仍显不足．因此，土壤硼营养有可能成为作物产量的限制因子．长期单施正要素化肥的土壤有效态铁、锰、铜、锌、硼的含量均明显下降，下降量达3mg／kg以上，其中土壤有效态硼则有潜在缺乏的可能．