Monitoring Air Quality in Mountains: Designing an Effective Network

A quantitatively robust yet parsimonious air-quality monitoring network in mountainous regions requires special attention to relevant spatial and temporal scales of measurement and inference. The design of monitoring networks should focus on the objectives required by public agencies, namely: 1) determine if some threshold has been exceeded (e.g., for regulatory purposes), and 2) identify spatial patterns and temporal trends (e.g., to protect natural resources). A short-term, multi-scale assessment to quantify spatial variability in air quality is a valuable asset in designing a network, in conjunction with an evaluation of existing data and simulation-model output. A recent assessment in Washington state (USA) quantified spatial variability in tropospheric ozone distribution ranging from a single watershed to the western third of the state. Spatial and temporal coherence in ozone exposure modified by predictable elevational relationships ( 1.3 ppbv ozone per 100 m elevation gain) extends from urban areas to the crest of the Cascade Range. This suggests that a sparse network of permanent analyzers is sufficient at all spatial scales, with the option of periodic intensive measurements to validate network design. It is imperative that agencies cooperate in the design of monitoring networks in mountainous regions to optimize data collection and financial efficiencies.     

Trace Metal Concentration in Roadside Surface Soil and Tree Back: A Measurement of Local Atmospheric Pollution in Abuja, Nigeria

Cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc concentrations were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in surface soil and tree bark from different districts of Abuja, Nigeria, in order to determine the atmospheric trace metal input in the area.Elevated concentrations of some of the studied metals were observed in the soil and tree bark samples from the commercial/high traffic areas of the city compared to backgroundvalues. In soil samples, the average concentration of the metals were 0.6±0.4, 18.0±4.0, 281±39, 16±4 and66±23 g g^-1 dry weight for Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn, respectively, whilst the average concentrations in tree bark were 0.3±0.2, 12±4, 133±32, 13±3 and 61±10 g g^-1 dry weight for Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn, respectively. The trend in trace metal levels suggested that automobile emissions are a major source of these metals as the highest concentrations of Pb and Zn were recorded in the commercial areas of the city known for their high traffic densities. The levels of metal in the study area were relativelylow compared to levels found in some larger and older cities in various countries worldwide.     

Factors influencing Aerosol Characteristics over Urban Environment

Atmospheric aerosols are an important contributing factor to turbidity in urban areas besides having impact on health. Aerosol characteristics show a high degree of variability in space and time as anthropogenic share of total aerosol loading is quite substantial and is essential to monitor the aerosol features over long time scales. In the present study extensive observations of columnar aerosol optical depth (AOD), total columnar ozone (TCO) and precipitable water content (PWC) have been carried over a tropical urban city of Hyderabad, India. Significant variations of AOD have been observed during course of the day with low values of AOD during morning and evening hours and high values during afternoon hours. Spectral variation of AOD exhibits high AOD at smaller wavelengths and vice versa except a slight enhancement in AOD at 500 nm. Anomalies in AOD, particulate matter and black carbon concentrations have been observed during May, 2003. Back trajectory analysis of air mass during these episodes suggested variation in air mass trajectories. Analysis of the results suggests that air trajectories from land region north of study area cause high loading of atmospheric aerosols. The results are discussed in the paper.     

Atrazine and Alachlor Inputs to Surface and Ground Waters in Irrigated Corn Cultivation Areas of Castilla-Leon Region, Spain

The inputs of atrazine and alachlor herbicides to surface and ground waters from irrigated areas dedicated to corn cultivation in the Castilla-León (C-L) region (Spain) as related to the application of both herbicides were studied. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used for monitoring the atrazine and alachlor concentrations in 98 water samples taken from these areas. Seventy-nine of the samples were of ground waters and 19 were of surface waters. The concentration ranges of the herbicides detected in the study period (October 1997–October 1998) were 0.04–25.3 g L^–1 in the surface waters and 0.04–3.45 g L^–1 in the ground waters for atrazine, and 0.06–31.9 g L^–1 in the surface waters and 0.05–4.85 g L^–1 in the ground waters in the case of alachlor. The highly significant correlation observed between the concentrations of both herbicides in the surface waters (r = 0.89, p < 0.001) pointed to a parallel transport of atrazine and alachlor to these waters. A study was made of the temporal evolution of the concentrations of both herbicides, and it was found a maximum recharge of atrazine in the ground waters for April 1998 and of alachlor in October 1997 and October 1998. The temporal evolution of the concentrations of both herbicides in surface waters was parallel. The highly significant correlations observed between atrazine concentrations determined by ELISA and by HPLC (r = 0.92, p < 0.001) and between alachlor concentrations also determined by both methods (r = 0.96, p < 0.001) confirmed the usefulness of ELISA for monitoring both herbicides in an elevated number of samples. Using HPLC, the presence in some waters of the alachlor ethanesulfonate (ESA) metabolite was found at a concentration range of 0.52–4.01 g L^–1. However the interference of ESA in the determination of alachlor by ELISA was negligible. The inputs of atrazine and alachlor to waters found in this study, especially the inputs to ground waters, could pose a risk for human health considering that some waters, though sporadically, are even used for human consumption.     

Measurements of Ozone Concentrations in Zagreb

Ozone concentrations were measured in Zagreb at four sites from May 1999 to April 2001 in order to categorize the air quality with respect to ozone. In the summer of 2000, the ozone measurements were also extended to four sites in the suburbs of Zagreb. Methods of active and passive sampling with nitrite ion as a reagent were used. In the northern part of the town ozone was analyzed by an automatic device. Automatic device measurements in the years 1999 and 2000 showed that hourly averages of ozone concentrations did not exceed the Croatian recommended value of the 98th percentile (180 g m^–3). Over the two-year period, 24-h averages occasionally exceed 110 g m^–3 in city center and in the northern part of the town. Regardless of these isolated examples, ozone was well within acceptable concentrations. Ozone concentrations measured in summer 2000 were higher in the suburbs of Zagreb than in the city. The 98th percentile values higher than 110 g m^–3 were recorded at three sites.     

中国黄土元素背景值分异规律研究

报道了中国黄土中40个元素的背景值,并以F、Cr、Mn、Co、Ni、V、Cu、Zn、As、Se、Cd、Pb、Hg等13个元素为例,讨论了其在黄土高原的分布与含量。利用趋势面分析等数理统计方法,揭示了黄土中元素的某些环境地球化学特征及元素背景值的分异规律。结果表明,黄土的元素背景值具有三维的分异特征,黄土的质地及沉积的生物气候环境黄土是影响背景值分异的主要因素。为中国黄土的风成学说提供了佐证。     

不同地域天然伊利石表面酸碱特性的比较

利用电位滴定技术和恒定容量表面络合模式表征不同来源天然伊利石的表面酸碱性质。鉴于固体基质在酸量滴定过程中发生溶解，相应的滴定上清液被视为体系空白。考虑到水解铝、硅酸和伊利石表面活性位之间的表面络合或沉淀反应，提出两种表面质子反应模型。对其中的特例，还考虑了表面离子交换反应。模拟程序的拟合结果显示两种模型对水解伊利石体系的滴定行为均可获得满意的描述。相的的表面固有酸度常数表明样品的酸碱性质之间存在一些共性。     

再论含金硫化物矿物中能否存在负价金问题──答李九玲等同志

本文从讨论金属结合能何以具有表面化学位移的原因开始,从金属团簇的一般性质出发,论证了金属结合能自尺寸大于1nm的团簇到金属微粒再到块体金属具有连续过渡性;金属结合能与粒径R呈正相关;与1／R具线性负相关关系,认为金微粒或团簇具有1．1eV以上的结合能负位移是可能的。并指出李九玲等同志在“评<含金硫化物矿物中不可能存在负价金>”一文中引用的某些衬底材料上的金团簇呈现结合能正位移的数据是由于这些金困簇已与其衬底材料发生了键合作用造成的,它们不能作为否定金属结合能位移与粒径呈正相关的依据。同时,笔者从“化学结合金”在氰化过程中并未被氧化成正离子金判断,它不应是负价金。并由同质并能位移与粒径可具负相关关系推论,“化学结合金”应是合企硫化物矿物中可存在的少量微粒碲金矿、碲金银矿等中的正离子金。笔者强调在讨论企的价态问题时应采用Allred－Rochow电负性数据而非常用的Pauling电负性数据,并再次指出含金硫化物矿物中不可能有负价金存在。     

PHBV表面疏水改性用作吸油材料的研究

利用多种表面改性剂对生物可降解材料PHBV进行了表面改性实验研究，测定了不同改性剂改性后PHBV的吸油率以及温度对其吸油效果的影响，并探讨了改性机理，研究结果表明：不同改性剂对PHBV的改性效果有所差异，从疏水和吸油的共同效果来看，最佳疏水改性剂为添加量5％时的硅油，温度对未改性PHBV和改性PHBV的吸油率及吸油速度均有影响。     

重金属离子在腐殖酸表面的吸附——类颗粒表面吸附模型

本实验用伏安质子滴定法获得重金属离子(Cu~(2+)、Pb~(2+)、Cd~(2+))在腐殖酸表面吸附的实验数据,并基于这些数据提出重金属离子在腐殖酸表面的络合模型。模型中引入两个实验常数:反应系数α和竞争反应常数K_H。实验结果表明,这两个常数的实验值在一相当宽的起始溶液条件下基本稳定。基于这两个常数而获得的pH相关吸附等温线和实验数据相当符合。模型中采用了由电位滴定得到的腐殖酸表面羧基浓度作为最大表面基团浓度,并对其质子解离常数进行了表面电荷影响的修正。