Combined UV-biological degradation of PAHs

The UV-photolysis of PAHs was tested in silicone oil and tetradecane. In most cases, the degradation of a pollutant provided within a mixture was lower than when provided alone due to competitive effects. With the exception of anthracene, the larger pollutants (4- and 5-rings) were always degraded first, proving that UV-treatment preferentially acts on large PAHs and thereby provides a good complement to microbial degradation. UV-photolysis was also found to be suitable for treatment of soil extract from contaminated soils. The feasibility of UV-biological treatment was demonstrated for the removal of a mixture of phenanthrene and pyrene in silicone oil. UV-irradiation of the silicone oil led to 83% pyrene removal but no phenanthrene photodegradation. Subsequent treatment of the oil in a two-phases partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) system inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. was followed by complete phenanthrene biodegradation but no further pyrene removal. Totally, the combined process allowed 92% removal of the PAH mixture. Further work should focus on characterizing the photoproducts formed and studying the influence of the solvent on the photodegradation process.     

Analysis of Ah receptor pathway activation by brominated flame retardants

Brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) are used as additives in plastics to decrease the rate of combustion of these materials, leading to greater consumer safety. As the use of plastics has increased, the production and use of flame-retardants has also grown. Many BFRs are persistent and have been detected in environmental samples, raising concerns about the biological/toxicological risk associated with their use. Most BFRs appear to be non-toxic, however there is still some concern that these compounds, or possible contaminants in BFRs mixtures could interact with cellular receptors. In this study we have examined the interaction of decabromodiphenyl ether, Firemaster BP4A (tetrabromobisphenol A), Firemaster PHT4 (tetrabromophthalic anhydride), hexabromobenzene, pentabromotoluene, decabromobiphenyl, Firemaster BP-6 (2,2^′,4,4^′,5,5^′-hexabromobiphenyl) and possible contaminants of BFR mixtures with the Ah receptor. Receptor binding and activation was examined using the Gel Retardation Assay and increased expression of dioxin responsive genes was detected using the reporter gene based CALUX assay. The results demonstrate the ability of BFRs to activate the AhR signal transduction pathway at moderate to high concentrations as assessed using both assays. AhR-dependent activation by BFRs may be due in part to contaminants present in commercial/technical mixtures. This was suggested by our comparative analysis of Firemaster BP-6 versus its primary component 2,2^′,4,4^′,5,5^′-hexabromobiphenyl. Some technical mixtures of brominated flame-retardants contain brominated biphenyls, dioxins or dibenzofurans as contaminants. When tested in the CALUX assay these compounds were found to be equivalent to, or more active than their chlorinated analogues. Relative effective potency values were determined from dose response curves for these brominated HAHs.     

Investigation of hydrogeologic processes in a dipping layer structure: 2. Transport and biodegradation of organics

Numerical simulation tools have been used to study the dominating processes during transport of aromatic hydrocarbons in the unsaturated soil zone. Simulations were based on field observations at an experimental site located on a glacial delta plain with pronounced layered sedimentary structures. A numerical model for transport in the unsaturated zone, SWMS-3D, has been extended to incorporate coupled multispecies transport, microbial degradation following Monod kinetics and gas diffusive transport of oxygen and hydrocarbons. The flow field parameters were derived from previous work using nonreactive tracers. Breakthrough curves (BTC) from the hydrocarbon field experiment were used to determine sorption parameters and Monod kinetic parameters using a fitting procedure. The numerical simulations revealed that the assumption of homogeneous layers resulted in deviations from the field observations. The deviations were more pronounced with incorporation of reactive transport, compared with earlier work on nonreactive transport. To be able to model reasonable BTC, sorption had to be reduced compared to laboratory experiments. The initial biomass and the maximum utilisation rate could be adjusted to capture both the initial lag phase and the overall degradation rate. Nevertheless, local oxygen limitation is predicted by the model, which was not observed in the field experiment. Incorporation of evaporation and diffusive gas transport of the hydrocarbons did not significantly change the local oxygen demand. The main cause of the observed discrepancies between model and field are attributed to channelling as a result of small-scale heterogeneities such as biopores.     

Direct-push geochemical profiling for assessment of inorganic chemical heterogeneity in aquifers

Discrete-depth sampling of inorganic groundwater chemistry is essential for a variety of site characterization activities. Although the mobility and rapid sampling capabilities of direct-push techniques have led to their widespread use for evaluating the distribution of organic contaminants, complementary methods for the characterization of spatial variations in geochemical conditions have not been developed. In this study, a direct-push-based approach for high-resolution inorganic chemical profiling was developed at a site where sharp chemical contrasts and iron-reducing conditions had previously been observed. Existing multilevel samplers (MLSs) that span a fining-upward alluvial sequence were used for comparison with the direct-push profiling. Chemical profiles obtained with a conventional direct-push exposed-screen sampler differed from those obtained with an adjacent MLS because of sampler reactivity and mixing with water from previous sampling levels. The sampler was modified by replacing steel sampling components with stainless-steel and heat-treated parts, and adding an adapter that prevents mixing. Profiles obtained with the modified approach were in excellent agreement with those obtained from an adjacent MLS for all constituents and parameters monitored (Cl, NO(3), Fe, Mn, DO, ORP, specific conductance and pH). Interpretations of site redox conditions based on field-measured parameters were supported by laboratory analysis of dissolved Fe. The discrete-depth capability of this approach allows inorganic chemical variations to be described at a level of detail that has rarely been possible. When combined with the mobility afforded by direct-push rigs and on-site methods of chemical analysis, the new approach is well suited for a variety of interactive site-characterization endeavors.     

促进科技创新,提高衡阳果业竞争力

作者从WTO对果业的影响及现代果业科技创新的表现，揭示了衡阳果业技术创新的优势与存在的问题，并从健全科技创新制度，提高果业生产科技含量和农业信息化等方面提出了促进科技创新，提高衡阳果业竞争力的途径。     

网络音乐作品著作权的保护的几点建议

在数字作品著作权越来越频繁受到侵犯的今天,如何对其进行有效的保护,维护著作权人的利益,给法律提出了更高的要求.因此,来阐述与著作权保护相关的几个理论问题,提出对网络音乐作品保护的几点建议,以形成一个以保护音乐作品著作权人利益为宗旨的保护体制.     

雷州无瓣海桑群落7种元素的生物累积和循环

在雷州市附城镇岚北人工生态恢复的 7a生无瓣海桑群落生物量调查的基础上 ,对所采集的无瓣海桑进行了植物体各组分样品的灰分和元素含量测定与循环分析 ,结果表明 :无瓣海桑植物体不同组分的灰分含量范围为 2 .2 7%～ 2 6 .4 1% ,以细根的含量最高 ,枯枝的含量最低 .植物体各组分中 7种元素质量分数范围分别为K 0 .11%～ 1.5 6 % ,Na0 .11%～ 1.6 6 % ,Ca 0 .2 0 %～ 2 .6 6 % ,Mg 0 .15 %～ 1.5 9% ,Fe 0 .0 4× 10 -3 ～ 9.6 4× 10 -3 ,Zn 0 .0 5× 10 -4～ 1.0 3× 10 -4,Cu0 .16× 10 -5～ 1.5 0× 10 -5.其加权平均的富集系数为 0 .0 5～ 9.70 ,其中Ca >K >Cu >Na >Mg>Zn >Fe .群落现存生物量中的累积储量分别为K 10 9.76gm-2 ,Ca 138.89gm-2 ,Na 86 .5 7gm-2 ,Mg 81.0 7gm-2 ,Fe 13.139gm-2 ,Zn 0 .4 83gm-2 ,Cu 0 .10 8gm-2 .群落 2 0 0 1年的元素存留累积储量分别为Ca4 1.6 8gm-2 ,K 37.2 4gm-2 ,Mg 2 7.33gm-2 ,Na2 5 .5 6gm-2 ,Fe 4 .2 75gm-2 ,Zn 0 .188gm-2 ,Cu 0 .0 39gm-2 .2 0 0 1年归还量分别为Ca 2 8.5 9gm-2 ,K 16 .83gm-2 ,Mg 12 .0 7gm-2 ,Na 11.5 8gm-2 ,Fe 0 .916gm-2 ,Zn 0 .14 1gm-2 ,Cu 0 .0 2 6gm-2 .年吸收量分别为Ca 70 .2 7gm-2 ,K 5 4 .0 7gm-2 ,Mg 39.4 0gm-2 ,Na 37.1     

An empirical analysis of economic strategies for controlling air pollution

In evaluating current environmental protection policy, economists often note that current regulations are more costly than necessary to meet environmental quality standards. While the a priori case is strong that current regulatory approaches are resulting in higher-than-necessary costs to attain environmental standards, there is relatively little empirical evidence to support this claim. The purpose of this paper is to supply some of the missing evidence by presenting the results of one study that assesses some of the potential savings associated with implementing economic, rather than command-and-control, regulatory approaches to abate one type of air pollution in one region of the country. Specifically, the paper examines the costs of meeting a prospective short-term standard for nitrogen dioxide under a range of alternative emissions control strategies for stationary sources of nitrogen oxide emissions in the Chicago Air Quality Control Region. The alternative strategies that are considered range from those that might result under current regulatory policy to those that economic policy approaches (such as emissions charges or marketable permits) are designed to implement. The analysis shows that the most efficient program of emissions controls may be more than an order of magnitude less costly than current regulatory strategies, and that economic approaches have additional advantages over more conventional regulatory approaches.     

Critical load of sulfur deposition for ecosystemand its application in China

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Energy inputs in agricultural systems of China

An analysis of the energy inputs in corn, rice, sorghum, wheat, soybean, and millet in northeastern China indicates that most of the crops are produced with about one half the fossil energy inputs compared with those in the United States. The inputs of labor, however, are 10–100-fold greater than those in the United States. China also uses 85 to more than 500 h of horse power per hectare in producing its crop and this helps reduce the fossil energy inputs in crop production. A small increase in the use of machinery energy (3%) at appropriate times in the cropping systems could reduce labor inputs by about one third.