A case study of spatial variation and enrichment of selected elements in ambient particulate matter around a large coal-fired power station in Central India

The dominant use of coal in power sectors has been associated with adverse environmental impacts. Ambient air monitoring for the two size fractions of particulate matter, respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) and non-respirable suspended particulate matter (NRSPM) in the downwind and upwind directions of a large coal-fired power station in central India, was carried out. Collected samples of ambient particulate matter were analysed atomic absorption spectrophotometrically for 15 elements. Spatial variability in elemental composition of RSPM and NRSPM and the degree of enrichment of these toxic metals in RSPM were investigated. A significant spatial variability for the elements in RSPM and NRSPM and higher degrees of enrichment of the elements were observed.     

Strategies for determining soil-loss tolerance

Excessive soil losses due to erosion or lateral displacement by machinery impair productivity. Some soil loss is tolerable, but not so much that plant productivity diminishes. Thus productivity is the dominant concern in determining soil-loss tolerance. The effects of soil loss on productivity, however, are difficult to determine. Therefore, two alternatives are discussed for determining the limits of soil loss, or soil-loss tolerance. These alternatives are the maintenance of soil organic matter and, for shallow and moderately deep soils, the maintenance of soil depth. They are not new strategies, but our rapidly increasing knowledge of the dynamics of soil organic matter and the rates of soil formation from bedrock or consolidated sediments warrants the reconsideration of these alternatives. Reductions in either soil organic matter or the depth of shallow or moderately deep soils will lead to declining productivity. Soil organic matter, considered to be a surrogate for productivity, is much easier to monitor than is productivity. Also, there are many computer models for predicting the effects of management on soil organic matter. Recently compiled data on rates of soil formation suggest that soil losses of 1 t/a (2.24 Mg/ha yr) are greater than the rate of replenishment by the weathering of lithic or paralithic material in all but very wet climates.     

Changes in the Biochemical Composition of Tetraselmis Suecia and Isochrysis Galbana During Growth and Decay

The variations of the biochemical composition of Tetraselmis suecica and Isochrysis galbana during growth and decay were determined. the content of chlorophyll a (Chl-a) of the cultures, as expected, slowly degraded into phaeopigments during decay, confirming that chlorophyll measurements do not always provide an accurate estimate of phytoplanktonic biomass and, consequently, may fail if used to measure the food availability of particulate matter for consumers. Measurements of total amounts of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, related to the nutritional value of particles in terms of caloric content, are shown to provide information on the readily available food for consumers, particularly during the blooms. the protein/carbohydrate, C/N and POC/Chl-a ratios were used to evaluate the differences between these two species during the growth and the decomposition processes. A comparison between experimental and field conditions was undertaken to implement our understanding of the growth and degradation processes of particulate organic matter of phytoplanktonic origin in the sea and its role on natural systems, during and after phytoplankton blooms.     

Effect of natural organic matter on arsenic release from soils and sediments into groundwater

Arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater has received significant attention recently. Natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to the worldwide occurrence of As contamination. As speciation is an important factor related to its toxic and mobile behavior. The release of As from soils and sediments into groundwater is governed by several geophysicochemical processes, of which, As sorption behavior is of principle significance. This review paper summarizes existing information regarding the effects of natural organic matter (NOM) on the fate and mobility of As species in the environment. NOM may enhance the release of As from soils and sediments into the soil solution, thereby facilitating As leaching into the groundwater. The main influencing mechanisms include competition for available adsorption sites, formation of aqueous complexes, and/or changes in the redox potential of site surfaces and As redox speciation. NOM may also serve as binding agents, thereby reducing As mobility. However, comparably little research has been performed on this aspect. Since most investigations have been done on purified minerals under laboratory conditions, further research involving various geological materials under natural environmental conditions is required. Development of proper geochemical conceptual models may provide means of predicting the role of NOM in arsenic leaching and/or immobilization.     

The role of humic substances in chromium sorption onto natural organic matter (peat)

To elucidate mechanisms of Cr³⁺ sorption onto the unaltered solid natural organic matter, the comparative studies of this ion binding from a solution at pH 4.0 onto three selected particle size fractions: 2000–1000 μm, 630–200 μm and 63–20 μm of markedly different HS content and structure, separated by a wet sieving from an overall sample of peat (Brushwood Peat Humus) were carried out. Comparable patterns of COOH groups and CEC_t confirmed that for cation exchange capacity were responsible mainly cations connected with COO⁻ functional groups. It was though found that aliphatic acids in the solid state did not take part in Cr³⁺ binding, thus the finest studied fraction 63–20 μm of the highest contents of functional groups showed the lowest sorption capacity for Cr³⁺, while similar patterns of sorbed Cr³⁺, soluble HS content and base CEC₀ indicated that these parameters were directly interrelated. The base ion exchange processes determined by CEC₀ (with Ca²⁺ as a predominant exchangeable cation) appeared to be not the major mechanisms responsible for Cr³⁺ sorption. For this metal, strong binding to insoluble large molecular weight organic pool two- to threefold prevailed over the ion exchange processes. Very low acid desorption indicated generally low mobility of Cr³⁺-organic compounds.     

放射性污染的危害及防护措施

环境巾的各种放射性污染都能影响人类健康。介绍了放射性污染性质、来源和特点,重点介绍了各种影响人类生活的放射性污染。和环境中的其他污染小同,它不易察觉,但容易在人体中积累,人们要关注放射性污染,对它有一个科学的认识,才能保护自身的健康。     

基于组合权物元分析模型的地下水水质评价

针对以往地下水水质评价中多采用单一权重法确定各评价指标权重的不足,提出基于主客观组合权重的权重计算模式,并运用权重风险度计算公式选出相对合适的组合权重,再与物元分析理念相结合,构建用于评价地下水水质的组合权物元分析模型。应用该模型对阜新新邱露天煤矿排土场淋溶水的地下水污染区的12个监测点水质进行综合评价。结果表明:研究区的1#～5#监测点水质均达到Ⅱ级以上,符合国家饮用水标准要求;6#～12#监测点水质均受到不同程度的污染,已不能饮用。评价结论与灰色关联分析法和模糊综合评价法所得结论基本一致。     

蔬菜施不同肥料对产量和土壤肥力的贡献

为控制施肥对蔬菜和土壤的负面影响，充分利用施肥对土壤肥力的保护功能，探讨蔬菜合理的有机肥施用量，在不同质地土壤上，田间试验小白菜、苦瓜、豇豆三种蔬菜施不同量有机肥，收获时测定其产量、品质及试验前后的土壤有机质质量分数。结果表明，(1)在施适量无机NPK的条件下，每造蔬菜的有机肥(禽畜粪便，下同)施用量，砂土上小白菜为4500kg／hm^2、苦瓜和豇豆为3000kg/hm^2；在壤土上，小白菜和苦瓜均宜施3000kg/hm^2，豇豆则宜施4500kg／hm^2；在粘土上，小白菜每造只宜施1500～3000kg／hm^2的有机肥。(2)有机肥必须与无机肥合理配合施用，才能获得最佳的产量和品质效果。(3)施有机肥3000-4500kg/hm^2 适量无机肥可使土壤有机质水平保持在种植蔬菜前的质量分数水平，该施肥量和方式不仅可使蔬菜高产、优质，还有利于保护土壤肥力。(4)对蔬菜产量的贡献，有机肥和化肥配合施用的处理对蔬菜产量的贡献最大，来自土壤的效应由小到大依次为有机肥和化肥配合施用→化肥→有机肥，进一步反映合理施肥有利于保护土壤肥力。     

刈割对香港草地干物质生产的影响

研究了刈割频率对香港草地于物质生产的影响。结果表明，刈割使干物质生产量下降，刈割频率越高生产量下降越大。禾本科植物受刈割影响比木本和非禾本科草本植物大，且停止刚割一年后生物量仍低于对照点。认为常年刈割是华南草地生产力下降的重要原因之一。     

长江口柱状沉积物中有机质C/N比的研究

对长江口四个站位沉积物中有机质的C／N比在垂向上的分布进行了研究，在影响沉积物中有机质C／N比的环境因素中，上覆水体的水深、盐度、密度以及浊度对其有一定的影响．在研究沉积物中有机质C／N比的分布及其影响因素的基础上，进一步估算了陆源输入和海洋自生有机碳在这四个站位沉积物有机碳中所占的比例，结果表明，海洋自生组分占沉积物总有机碳的比例分别为：53．57％(8号站位)、20．34％(11号站位)，12．28％(17号站位)和32．73％(26号站位)．