Estimated Variability of National Atmospheric Deposition Program/Mercury Deposition Network Measurements Using Collocated Samplers

The National Atmospheric Deposition Program/Mercury Deposition Network (MDN) provides long-term, quality-assured records of mercury in wet deposition in the USA and Canada. Interpretation of spatial and temporal trends in the MDN data requires quantification of the variability of the MDN measurements. Variability is quantified for MDN data from collocated samplers at MDN sites in two states, one in Illinois and one in Washington. Median absolute differences in the collocated sampler data for total mercury concentration are approximately 11% of the median mercury concentration for all valid 1999–2004 MDN data. Median absolute differences are between 3.0% and 14% of the median MDN value for collector catch (sample volume) and between 6.0% and 15% of the median MDN value for mercury wet deposition. The overall measurement errors are sufficiently low to resolve between NADP/MDN measurements by ±2 ng·l⁻¹ and ±2 μg·m⁻²·year⁻¹, which are the contour intervals used to display the data on NADP isopleths maps for concentration and deposition, respectively.     

Influence of urbanization and tourist activities on the water quality of the Potrero de los Funes River (San Luis – Argentina)

A study of the water quality of the Potrero de los Funes River (San Luis – Argentina) was carried out in order to evaluate the possible effect of the anthropogenic activities on the river developed in the homonymous town. Samples were collected during the period March 2000–November 2005 at three selected sampling sites (RP₁, RP₂ and RP₃). Different physicochemical and bacteriological parameters (turbidity, pH, conductivity, suspended solids, alkalinity, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, chlorides, nitrates, phosphates, sulphates, chemical oxygen demand (COD), 5-day biological oxygen demand (BOD₅), dissolved oxygen, total coliforms, Escherichia coli and total heterotrophic bacteria) were analysed according to the Standard Method for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. When comparing the values of total coliforms, E. coli, total heterotrophic bacteria, COD, BOD₅ and phosphates from the zone without anthropogenic influence (RP₁) and the urban zones (RP₂ and RP₃) an important variation in the parameters was observed. These results indicate that the urban activity produces a serious and negative effect on the water quality, thus constituting a sanitary risk and may have a major impact on the trophic status of the Potrero de los Funes dam. As case study, we report on the use of General Quality Index (GQI) to evaluate spatial and seasonal changes in the water quality of Potrero de los Funes River. Results revealed a significant degradation of the water quality at RP₂ and RP₃.     

巢湖污染现状与水质恢复措施

巢湖是属于国家"三河三湖"重点水污染防治流域之一。近年来,湖体营养过程加剧,生态环境受到明显损害,制约了流域社会经济的可持续发展。巢湖湖区水中高锰酸钾、总氮、总磷含量分别为4.9、2.48、0.227mg/L,水质类别为劣ⅴ类(重度污染);表层沉积物中总氮、总磷含量平均值为1065、587 mg/kg。要实现流域水资源的可持续利用,必须加快水污染综合治理。文章分析了巢湖污染现状,结合实际情况提出了治理对策。     

环境监测实验室质量监督之管见

阐述了环境监测实验室质量监督的重要性及加强质量监督的组织保证、制度建设、工作程序和如何发挥监督作用的思考,以期改善忽视质量监督的局面,进一步提高监测工作质量.     

空气污染指数模式的改进

我国目前以空气污染指数API报告各城市的环境空气质量。由于我国各地环境空气质量状况差异很大,该方法在报告城市空气质量时具有较大的片面性,不能综合反应污染状况。本文针对现行的API指数法进行了模式推算和改进,新的计算模式可更客观全面地反映城市空气质量。     

大气环境监测全过程质量控制研究

我国经济飞快的发展速度,不但丰富了人们的生活内容、方便了人们的生活,而且还在人们生活中产生了一些负面影响,大气污染问题已经引起了国家政府以及我国民众的一致关注,国家还为此制定并颁布了相关的整顿治理措施,在大气环境治理方面,大气监测是重要手段,本文对大气环境监测全过程质量控制问题展开分析研究。     

土壤监测质量保证与质量控制

质量保证与质量控制措施是土壤监测工作在具体开展过程中确保其监测结果准确性、代表性、全面性的重要措施,同时也是土壤监测工作在具体开展过程中的核心工作内容。在环境保护与可持续发展战略情况下,采取全面有效的质量保证与质量控制措施可以确保并优化土壤监测结果的真实性、准确性和全面性,对促进土壤监测工作的优化发展具有非常重要的意义。基于此,本文针对土壤监测工作开展过程中应当实施的各项质量保证与质量控制措施进行了分析总结。     

浅谈县级环境监测质量管理工作现状及对策

当前环保系统垂直改革稳步推进,县级环境监测质量管理工作也迎来新的机遇与挑战。从县级环境监测站质量管理工作现状着手,分析新形势下存在质量管理体系有效性缺乏、现场监测过程质量管理薄弱、质量管理意识尚待提高等问题。提出,应从加强体系建设、提高现场监测水平、强化考核培训力度等方面改进县级环境监测质量管理工作水平。     

Enhancing consultation practices on Air Quality Management in local authorities

Schedule 11 of the Environment Act 1995 underpins the requirement for consultation on air quality issues. The ongoing air quality review and assessment process represents one of the largest locally based science policy and communication initiatives ever undertaken in the UK. This paper outlines the practice of consultation and communication for Air Quality Management (AQM) and reviews the interaction between Environmental Health professionals, as the leading actor in the AQM process and other stakeholders involved in air quality consultation, including the public. Results are presented from a widespread questionnaire survey of English local authorities. Data indicate that the majority of air quality consultation has been carried out with statutory consultees (by sending the review and assessment reports) and the public (via websites and leaflets) in the form of information dissemination.     

Impact of increased collection rates and the use of commingled collection systems on the quality of recovered paper. Part 1: increased collection rates

The recovery and utilization of recovered paper have increased over past decades all over the world due to economic, environmental, and social issues. However, it is well known that an extended recovered paper collection is detrimental to its quality, either by the exploitation of lower quality sources such as households, or the spreading of commingled systems instead of selective collection systems. The influence of these two factors was assessed by analyzing the quality of different recovered paper grades used as raw material in a mill located in Madrid (Spain) producing newsprint and light weight coated paper from recovered paper. Part 1 of the paper deals with the impact of increased collection rates on the quality of recovered paper and Part 2 with the use of commingled collection systems. Results of Part 1 show that increased collection rates have a large impact on the quality of the recovered paper. The quality, measured as total unusable material and moisture contents, had deteriorated very rapidly in only 4 years (2005–2008) as a consequence of increased collection rates. Collection rates increased in Spain from 58.5% to 68.6% during this period, resulting in more than 50% increase of total unusable material and 25% of moisture content. The downgrading of the quality of recovered paper is one of the major threats for extending the current limits of paper recycling. Therefore, future challenge is to increase its availability but maintaining its quality.