Air quality assessment along Dhanbad - Jharia road

Road ambient air pollution status along Dhanbad – Jharia road isstudied and presented in this article. The selection of this areais made considering the importance of the road in Dhanbad district and the nature of activities taking place along the road, which reflect that the portion of road upto Dhansar can be considered as having commercial areas on both sides and that from Dhansar to Jharia as having industrial areas on both sides.For the assessment of the ambient air quality along the road monitoring is done at the following five locations: Indian Schoolof Mines (ISM), main gate; Bankmore; Dhansar police check post; Dhansar opencast project agent office and a residential house beside the Rajapur opencast project. The location of ISM, maingate is specially chosen as this represents a commercial shoppingcomplexes and the situation can be compared with that at Bankmore. Monitoring of ambient air quality is done following thestandard procedure prescribed in IS: 5182. In addition the concentration of lead, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, cadmium metals in SPM is also monitored. The ambient air quality is monitored in the months of September and November 1999, respectively, to represent monsoon and winter seasons. The SPM concentration observed at all the five locations in the winterseason is more than the permissible limits for commercial andindustrial areas. However, in the monsoon season, the SPM concentration is higher than the permissible limit at the twocommercial locations, i.e., ISM gate and Bankmore, while it isless than the prescribed limit for industrial areas at the remaining three locations. At the ISM gate and Bankmore the SPM generation is mainly by vehicular traffic while at other three locations it was in addition due to mining and other activities.     

Contamination of Oxygen-Consuming Organics in the Yellow River of China

Contamination of oxygen-consuming organics (OCOs) was one of the most serious problems in the Yellow River of China. This study was conducted to analyze monitoring of the data on OCOs contamination for the river in 1980 and during 1992–1999 as well as examining the effect of suspended solids (SS) on chemical oxygen demand (COD_Mn) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) of river water. Several significant results have arisen from the study. First, COD_Mn and BOD₅ of the river water showed an increasing trend from the upper to the lower reaches of the mainstream. BOD₅ values of river water in 1992 were significantly higher than those in 1980 and showed an increasing trend during 1992–1999. Second, OCOs in river water of the mainstream was attributed mainly to point sources; the ratio of point to non-point sources of BOD₅ was about 2.81. The load from point sources showed an increasing trend during 1992–1998. In contrast, the load from non-point sources manifested a decreasing trend during this period; this was caused by the decreasing trend of SS content in river water. The total load of BOD₅ from point and non-point sources displayed an increasing trend during 1992–1998. Third, as the humic substances in SS can hardly be biologically oxidized in natural conditions but can be oxidized by chemical oxidants such as potassium permanganate, COD_Mn was not suitable for being regarded as a parameter reflecting the pollution degree of OCOs in river water with a high SS content.     

Risk assessment and binding mechanisms of potentially toxic metals in sediments from different water levels in a coastal wetland

The excessive accumulation of potentially toxic metals (Pb and Cd) in coastal wetlands is among the main factors threatening wetland ecosystems. However, the effects of water table depth (WTD) on the risk and binding mechanisms of potentially toxic metals in sediments remain unclear. Here, sediments from different WTD obtained from a typical coastal wetland were evaluated using a newly developed strategy based on chemical extraction methods coupled with high-resolution spectroscopy. Our findings indicated that the WTD of the coastal wetland fluctuates frequently and the average enrichment factor for Pb was categorized as minor, whereas Cd enrichment was categorized as moderate. High-resolution spectroscopy techniques also demonstrated that organic functional groups and partly inorganic compounds (e.g., Fe-O/Si-O) played a vital role in the binding of Pb and Cd to surface sediments. Additionally, mineral components rather than organic groups were mainly bound to these metals in the bottom sediments. Collectively, our findings provide key insights into the potential health effects and binding characteristics of potentially toxic metals in sediments, as well as their dynamic behavior under varying sediment depths at a microscale.     

Metal Concentration in Oyster, Crassostrea Gigas, and Sediment in Ann-Ping Mariculture Ground, Taiwan

This study was to assess the metal contamination in oyster tissue grown in the Ann-ping mariculture ground in Taiwan. the information generated from this work also revealed general metal pollution problem for Taiwan's oyster farmers. Oysters, Crassostrea gigas, and surficial sediments collected from ten locations in Ann-ping mariculture ground in Taiwan for metals concentration (Cu, Zn, Pd, Cd, Fe and Mn) were performed. Analytical results indicated that the yearly averaged oyster copper concentrations (μg g^-1, wet weight) in oyster soft parts from Ann-ping increased from 21.3±4.1 in 1993; 24.1±6.8 in 1994; 36.8±11.9 in 1995 to 43.9±23.1 μg g^-1, wet weight, in the 1996 raising season. the mean oyster copper concentration reached a level of 50 μg g^-1, wet weight, in December 1996. This increasing trend of metal concentration in oyster tissue indicates a potential pollution source which may pose a potential disaster as green oyster incidence, which occurred on the Charting coast in 1986, in Taiwan. Sediment samples in Ann-ping mariculture ground were also collected and examined. the seasonal variation of the copper concentration in surficial sediment from Ann-ping did not show an increasing trend as observed in oyster tissue.     

The Aging of America's Reservoirs: In‐Reservoir and Downstream Physical Changes and Habitat Implications

Reservoirs are important for various purposes including flood control, water supply, power generation, and recreation. The aging of America's reservoirs and progressive loss of water storage capacity resulting from ongoing sedimentation, coupled with increasing societal needs, will cause the social, economic, environmental, and political importance of reservoirs to continually increase. The short‐ and medium‐term (<50 years) environmental consequences of reservoir construction and operation are well known and include an altered flow regime, lost connectivity (longitudinal, floodplain), an altered sediment regime, substrate compositional change, and downstream channel degradation. In general, reservoir‐related changes have had adverse consequences for the natural ecosystem. Longer term (>50 years) environmental changes as reservoirs enter “old” age are less understood. Additional research is needed to help guide the future management of aging reservoir systems and support the difficult decisions that will have to be made. Important research directions include assessment of climate change effects on aging and determination of ecosystem response to ongoing aging and various management actions that may be taken with the intent of minimizing or reversing the physical effects of aging.     

Streamside Management Zones Compromised by Stream Crossings,Legacy Gullies,and Over‐Harvest in the Piedmont

Streamside management zone (SMZ) breakthroughs were identified and characterized to determine frequency and potential causes, in order to provide enhanced guidance for future water quality protection. Ten kilometers of SMZs were carefully examined for partial or complete breakthroughs. With partial breakthroughs the SMZ trapped sediment before it reached the stream, while complete breakthroughs appeared to have allowed sediment to have passed through with minimal restriction. A total of 41 breakthroughs occurred (33 complete, 8 partial) across 16 sites, averaging 1 complete breakthrough per 0.3 km of SMZ length. The most common complete breakthroughs were caused by stream crossings (42%), reactivation of legacy agricultural gullies (27%), and harvest related soil disturbances near/within SMZs (24%). Pearson correlations of site characteristics at breakthroughs indicated no strong relationships between breakthrough sites, representing the variable nature of these unique circumstances. Stream crossings are an intentional breakthrough for access purposes, but resulting environmental impacts can be reduced with best management practice implementation. Current recommendations for SMZs tend to work in most situations, yet further research is needed to identify causal factors and quantify breakthrough severity.     

风浪扰动对太湖水体中砷在水相-悬浮物相之间分配的影响

在太湖冬季不同风速下(0.8、1.8、2.7、3.2、4.0 m·s-1)采集了不同深度(水深0.1、1.0和1.8 m,分别记为上、中和下层)的水样,测定了水体和悬浮物中的砷含量及水质参数,计算了砷在两相之间的分配系数,以期了解在太湖生物活动最低的阶段,风浪扰动作用对砷在水相和悬浮物相之间分配的影响.结果显示,随着风浪作用的加强,水体总砷含量有所增加,相应的悬浮物总砷含量及砷的分配系数降低,说明风浪作用可以降低悬浮物吸附砷的能力,以至于促进砷从悬浮物中的释放,进而使水体中的溶解态砷增加.相关性分析及变化趋势比较分析发现,砷分配系数的降低与在风浪扰动的影响下悬浮物浓度和溶解氧的增加,以及叶绿素a浓度的下降有关.不同风速下各参数的垂向分布变化显示,风浪扰动对中下层的砷分配系数以及中层的悬浮物砷含量影响较大;风速变大时,中层溶解态砷含量升高,上层与下层溶解态砷含量降低;而风浪扰动作用对水体总砷的分层变化影响不大.悬浮物浓度、砷浓度及分配系数均在3~4 m·s-1风速下发生变化,且呈现与之前不同的分层特征.4 m·s-1可能是一个临界风速,在4 m·s-1以上的风速下风浪占主导作用,而4 m·s-1以下是湖流与风浪共同作用的结果.     

秦淮河干流沉积物磷形态沿程分布特征

应用化学连续提取法,分析了秦淮河干流14个表层沉积物样品的磷形态沿程变化特征及其影响因素.结果发现,秦淮河干流由上游至南京市区段,随城市化程度的提高,河流沉积物总磷和各种形态磷沿程增加的趋势十分明显.Ca-P和Fe-P平均含量分别占TP的26.8%和25.7%,是主要的磷形态.易吸附态磷(L-P)在TP中的比例最低,但在城区由于TP的高度富集,其含量均超过15 mg·kg-1.沉积物中的总磷含量在城区河段显著增加,但只有很少部分转化为稳定形态的磷,人口密集区生活污水等各种来源排放的磷仍然深刻影响着城市河流的水环境质量.随城市化程度的提高,秦淮河中下游沉积物样品中钙富集的趋势明显,与之相对应的是沉积物Ca-P含量均超过200 mg·kg-1,相关分析和通径分析结果表明,二者之间存在成因上的联系.钙的富集提高了沉积物的固磷能力,将上覆水体中的磷转化为钙结合态磷.城区河流沉积物中钙含量的升高,对于河流生态系统磷的迁移转化有重要影响.     

鄱阳湖悬浮颗粒物絮凝沉降典型藻类的动力学研究

为了探讨鄱阳湖水动力条件改变引起的悬浮颗粒物浓度变化可能导致的鄱阳湖浮游植物群落结构的变化,本文研究了鄱阳湖悬浮颗粒物絮凝沉降3种典型藻类的动力学过程.以铜绿微囊藻(蓝藻)、四尾栅藻(绿藻)和菱形藻(硅藻)为研究对象、鄱阳湖采集沉积物为悬浮颗粒物,使用混凝试验搅拌仪模拟动力学条件,在颗粒物投加量为20 mg·L-1时分别研究了静置沉降时间、扰动强度和扰动时间对颗粒物絮凝沉降藻细胞的影响.结果表明,絮凝沉降效率:蓝藻绿藻硅藻.在扰动强度为20 s-1、扰动时间为30 min时,0.5~4 h静置沉降时间均促进3种藻类的絮凝沉降.绿藻和硅藻的絮凝沉降效率随着静置沉降时间的延长而降低,前0.5 h的絮凝沉降效率最大;而蓝藻的絮凝沉降效率变化无明显规律.扰动时间和静置沉降时间均为30 min时,随着扰动强度在2~40 s-1增加时,3种藻的絮凝沉降效率逐渐增大.扰动强度为20 s-1、静置沉降时间为30 min时,5~60 min扰动时间均促进藻细胞的絮凝沉降,并且随着扰动时间的增加,絮凝沉降效率呈先增大后降低的趋势.30 min为蓝藻絮凝沉降的最佳扰动时间,絮凝沉降效率为12.56%;45 min为绿藻和硅藻絮凝沉降的最佳扰动时间,絮凝沉降效率分别为11.93%和7.54%.因此,水动力条件的改变可以引起悬浮颗粒物与藻类的絮凝沉降效率发生变化,从而对藻类的群落结构以及水华发生规律产生影响.     

重庆主城区次级河流表层沉积物重金属污染特征及风险评价

山地城市次级河流因季节性降雨容易导致沉积物中污染物形成"二次污染",沉积物可能具有重金属潜在生态风险.本文采集了重庆市主城区19条次级河流表层沉积物,分析了7种重金属元素(V、Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd和Pb)的污染水平,解析了重金属污染来源,并从流域层面评价次级河流表层沉积物重金属的潜在生态风险.结果表明,与背景值(中国土壤元素背景值)相比,除V外,其它6种重金属元素超标1.1~6.7倍.富集系数分析和主成分分析显示,沉积物中重金属V、Ni和Pb均未发生富集(富集系数小于1.5),且主要来源于自然源.Cd、Zn、Cu和Cr平均富集系数分别为6.63、2.31、1.90和1.40,均存在不同程度的富集;Cr、Zn和Cu主要来源于工业废水的排放.主城区次级河流表层沉积物重金属潜在生态风险指数RI值范围为77~382,均值为228,总体属于中等生态风险等级.空间分布上,重庆主城区西北部汇入嘉陵江的次级河流表层沉积物重金属表现出较高的生态风险,东南部汇入长江的次级河流表层沉积物表现为相对较低的风险.