Characteristics of PM2.5 pollution in Beijing after the improvement of air quality

Following the implementation of the strictest clean air policies to date in Beijing, the physicochemical characteristics and sources of PM_2.5 have changed over the past few years. To improve pollution reduction policies and subsequent air quality further, it is necessary to explore the changes in PM_2.5 over time. In this study, over one year (2017–2018) field study based on filter sampling (TH-150C; Wuhan Tianhong, China) was conducted in Fengtai District, Beijing, revealed that the annual average PM_2.5 concentration (64.8 ± 43.1 μg/m³) was significantly lower than in previous years and the highest PM_2.5 concentration occurred in spring (84.4 ± 59.9 μg/m³). Secondary nitrate was the largest source and accounted for 25.7% of the measured PM_2.5. Vehicular emission, the second largest source (17.6%), deserves more attention when considering the increase in the number of motor vehicles and its contribution to gaseous pollutants. In addition, the contribution from coal combustion to PM_2.5 decreased significantly. During weekends, the contribution from EC and NO₃^? increased whereas the contributions from SO₄^2?, OM, and trace elements decreased, compared with weekdays. During the period of residential heating, PM_2.5 mass decreased by 23.1%, compared with non-heating period, while the contributions from coal combustion and vehicular emission, and related species increased. With the aggravation of pollution, the contribution of vehicular emission and secondary sulfate increased and then decreased, while the contribution of NO₃^? and secondary nitrate continued to increase, and accounted for 34.0% and 57.5% of the PM_2.5 during the heavily polluted days, respectively.     

Exposure of acid aerosol for schoolchildren in metropolitan Taipei

Metropolitan Taipei, which is located in the subtropical area, is characterized by high population and automobile densities. For convenience, most primary schools are located near major roads. This study explores the exposure of acid aerosols for schoolchildren in areas in Taipei with different traffic densities. Acid aerosols were collected by using a honeycomb denuder filter pack sampling system (HDS). Experimental results indicated that the air pollutants were significantly correlated with traffic densities. The ambient air NO₂, SO₂, HNO₃, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, and aerosol acidity concentrations were 31.3 ppb, 4.7 ppb, 1.3 ppb, 1.9 μg m⁻³, 18.5 μg m⁻³, and 49.5 nmol m⁻³ in high traffic density areas, and 6.1 ppb, 1.8 ppb, 0.9 ppb, 0.7 μg m⁻³, 8.8 μg m⁻³ and 14.7 nmol m⁻³ in low traffic density areas. The exposure levels of acid aerosols for schoolchildren would be higher than the measurements because the sampling height was 5 m above the ground. The SO₂ levels were low (0.13–8.03 ppb) in the metropolitan Taipei. However, the SO₄²⁻ concentrations were relatively high, and might be attributed to natural emissions of sulfur-rich geothermal sources. The seasonal variations of acid aerosol concentrations were also observed. The high levels of acidic particles in spring time may be attributed to the Asian dust storm and low height of the mixture layer. We conclude that automobile contributed not only the primary pollutants but also the secondary acid aerosols through the photochemical reaction. Schoolchildren were exposed to twice the acid aerosol concentrations in high traffic density areas compared to those in low traffic density areas. The incidence of allergic rhinitis of schoolchildren in the high traffic density areas was the highest in spring time. Accompanied by high temperature variation and high levels of air pollution in spring, the health risk of schoolchildren had been observed.     

Eutrophication of Lake Tasaul,Romania—proposals for rehabilitation

Background, aim, and scope  The reclamation of nonferrous metal-polluted soil by phytoremediation requires an overall and permanent plant cover. To select the most suitable plant species, it is necessary to study metal effects on plants over the time, thereby checking that metals remain stored in root systems and not transferred to aerial parts. In this purpose, the seasonal and annual variations of metal bioaccumulation, transfer, and phytotoxicity in Trifolium repens and Lolium perenne grown in a Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-contaminated soil were also studied. Materials and methods  The experimental site was located near a closed smelter. In spring 2004, two areas were sown with T. repens and L. perenne, respectively. Thereafter, the samplings of plant roots and shoots and surrounding soils were realized in autumn 2004 and spring and autumn 2005. The soil agronomic characteristics, the Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the surrounded soils and plant organs, as well as the oxidative alterations (superoxide dismutase [SOD], malondialdehyde [MDA], and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]) in plant organs were carried out. Results  Whatever the sampling period, metal concentrations in soils and plants were higher than background values. Contrary to the soils, the fluctuations of metal concentrations were observed in plant organs over the time. Bioaccumulation and transfer factors confirmed that metals were preferentially accumulated in the roots as follows: Cd>Zn>Pb, and their transfer to shoots was limited. Foliar metal deposition was also observed. The results showed that there were seasonal and annual variations of metal accumulation in the two studied plant species. These variations differed according to the organs and followed nearly the same pattern for the two species. Oxidative alterations were observed in plant organs with regard to SOD antioxidant activities, MDA, and 8-OHdG concentrations. These alterations vary according to the temporal variations of metal concentrations. Discussion  Metal concentrations in surrounded soils and plant organs showed the effective contamination by industrial dust emissions. Metals absorbed by plants were mainly stored in the roots. With regard to this storage, the plants seemed to limit the metal transfer to their aerial parts over the time, thereby indicating their availability for metal phytostabilization. Aerial deposition was another source of plant exposure to nonferrous metals. Despite the occurrence of metal-induced oxidative alterations in plant organs, both plant species seemed to tolerate a high metal concentration in soils. Conclusions  Taken together, these results indicated that T. repens and L. perenne were able to form a plant cover on highly Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-polluted soils, to limit the metal transfer to their aerial parts and were relatively metal-tolerant. All these characteristics made them suitable for phytostabilization on metal-contaminated soils. These findings also highlighted the necessity to take into account seasonal and annual variations for a future phytomanagement. Recommendations and perspectives  In this work, the behavior of plant species grown in metal-polluted soil has been studied during 2 years. Obviously, this time is too short to ensure that metals remain accumulated in the root system and few are transferred in aerial parts over the time. It is why regular monitoring should be achieved during more than a decade after the settlement of the plant cover. This work will be completed by the study of the T. repens and L. perenne effects on mobility of metals in order to evaluate the quantities of pollutants which could be absorbed by the biota and transferred to groundwater. Bioaccessibility tests could be also realized on polluted soils in order to evaluate the phytostabilization impacts on the exposition risks for humans.     

北江上游水环境重金属污染及生态毒性的时空变化

为了解北江中上游(翁源段)翁江及横石河沿岸地区水环境中重金属污染现状及其时空变化特征,分别于2013年8月(丰水期)和2014年3月(枯水期)采集两条河流及其周边地区不同点位的地表水及地下水,分析了水体中As、Cd、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn 6种重金属元素的含量及变化,并结合发光菌毒性测试方法对水体的生态毒性进行了评价.结果表明,横石河受重金属污染较翁江严重,丰、枯水期重金属Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb的平均浓度分别为1029.0、11086、36.200、114.00μg·L-1和444.20、8332.2、31.300、41.200μg·L-1,分别是地表水III类水质标准值的2.96、41.1、24.8、8.31倍和1.38、33.9、21.2、3.47倍;各重金属浓度最高值均出现在S1处,且该点位的水体明显呈酸性(p H=3.23),究其原因发现大宝山矿区是横石河水体重金属的主要污染源.生态毒性测试结果显示,不同时期横石河河水及沿岸地下水体对发光菌均产生了显著的毒性效应,其中,S1处水样丰、枯水期的抑制率分别高达100%和97.3%,为剧毒;而翁江仅丰水期时S12、S14处的河水水样表现出一定的低毒性.     

西南地区紫色水稻土活性碳库的季节动态

以西南大学农业部紫色土生态环境重点野外科学观测试验站试验田为研究对象,探讨了土壤有机碳(soil organiccarbon,SOC)、易氧化有机碳(readily oxidized carbon,ROC)、可溶性有机碳(dissolved organic carbon,DOC)和微生物生物量碳(microbial biomass carbon,MBC)的季节变化。结果表明,在油菜生长季,紫色水稻土SOC、ROC及MBC含量具有相似的季节变化特征,表现为在油菜生长初期和末期含量高,而在生长中期含量低;三者的含量均在生长末期达到最高,分别为16.20g.kg-1、3.58 g.kg-1及309.70 mg.kg-1.DOC含量的季节变化模态为单峰型,在植物生长中期达到最高值37.64 mg.kg-1.各活性有机碳组分的分配比例与其含量的季节变化趋势大致相同,ROC、DOC分配比例以及微生物商的季节变化范围分别为15.49%～23.93%、0.11%～0.32%和1.44%～2.06%.SOC及ROC含量主要取决于地下5 cm处温度、土壤N含量及pH值,MBC含量的主要影响因子为地下5 cm处温度、根系生物量及根系C、N含量,DOC含量主要受土壤水分含量的限制.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of Mo in the overlying water of a reservoir downstream from mining area

This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations of molybdenum (Mo) in the downstream water body of a Mo mine during three hydrologic periods (wet, dry and medium seasons). The physical properties in Luhun Reservoir reflected seasonal variations in different hydrological periods. The redox potential (ORP) and dissolved oxygen (DO) increased in the dry season. The concomitant decrease in temperature (T), conductivity (COND) and total dissolved solids (TDS) were lowest in the wet season. The pH value did not change significantly during the three hydrologic periods. The distribution of Mo in the dry season was high in upstream and low in downstream areas, which was significantly different from that of the wet and medium seasons. The total Mo concentration in wet (150.1 µg/L) and medium season (148.2 µg/L) was higher than that in the dry season, but the TDS (288.3 mg/L) and the percentage dissolved Mo (81.3%) in overlying water was lowest in the wet season. There was no significant relationship between the dissolved Mo and the total Mo with TDS. In the dry season, the mean total Mo concentration was 116.3 µg/L, which was higher than the standard limit value (70 µg/L) for drinking water (US EPA-United States Environmental Protection Agency recommended value 40 µg/L). Non-point source pollution is the main characteristic of mining area pollution, which was closely related to rainfall. Thus, the Luhun Reservoir contains substantial Mo pollution, which was a significant concern given that it is used as a source of drinking and irrigation water.     

洞庭湖出入湖污染物通量特征

采用2010年洞庭湖主要出入湖断面水质、水量监测数据,估算洞庭湖四水(湘江、资江、沅江、澧水)和三口(松滋口、太平口、藕池口)入湖及城陵矶出湖的污染物通量,分析洞庭湖出入湖污染物通量随时间的变化及空间来源组成. 结果表明,2010年洞庭湖经由四水和三口COD_Mn、NH₄+-N、TP入湖通量分别为44.47×104、67.49×103、15.03×103 t,城陵矶出湖通量分别为73.69×104、82.46×103、21.88×103 t. 时间分布上,受水情的影响,洞庭湖污染物入湖通量在年内分配不均,最高值出现在6—7月,三口输入的污染物通量变化与三峡水库下泄流量呈较显著相关;空间分布上,入湖污染负荷主要来源于四水水系(占总入湖污染负荷的82.82%~87.54%),湘江和沅江贡献较大,长江三口入湖量仅占12.46%~17.18%. 此外,与1999—2002年(三峡水库运行前)相比,2010年(三峡水库运行后)洞庭湖三口来水量减少了约1/3,经由三口输入的COD_Mn、NH₄+-N、TP入湖通量减少了49.27%~53.19%,但该变化特征仍需进一步论证. 除入湖河流外,洞庭湖区间径流及湖面受纳降水虽然亦同步影响洞庭湖污染物输入,但该部分污染物通量贡献相对较小. 洞庭湖的污染物控制仍应以强化主要入湖河流输入通量控制为主,并重点兼顾湖区面源污染的治理.      

九龙江河口区主要污染物时空变化特征

根据九龙江河口区近30年的历史监测资料和2010年2个航次的现场调查资料,分析了该海域表层海水中无机氮(DIN)、活性磷酸盐(DIP)、化学耗氧量(COD)和石油类浓度的年际变化特征和平面分布变化特征,并应用富营养状态指数(EI)对海水水质进行评价与分析.结果表明,近30年,DIN、DIP年均浓度持续上升,COD年均浓度呈“W”状小幅波动趋势,石油类年均浓度先缓慢增加再降低;DIN浓度平面分布呈由西至东递减的特征,不同年份的DIP浓度平面分布有所差别,而COD和石油类浓度平面分布呈由湾内、西海域向湾外递减的趋势;海水EI呈不断加速升高的趋势,海水水质富营养化程度急剧恶化;受九龙江径流影响,高富营养化海域主要分布在九龙江北、中、南港和南溪入海口附近.所得的主要污染物浓度年际变化特征和平面分布变化特征等将为实施入海污染物总量控制奠定坚实基础.     

2010年广州亚运期间空气质量与污染气象条件分析

利用2010年11月4日～12月10日广州地区NO2、O3、SO2、PM、能见度实测资料,区域空气污染指数RAQI及大气输送扩散特征参数,分析广州亚运期间空气质量与气象条件变化特征.结果表明,亚运期间空气质量比亚运前后好,能见度比亚运前后大,PM1和PM2.5浓度比亚运前后小,能见度与PM1和PM2.5有较好的反相关;亚运期间NO2和SO2日均值和小时均值均达到国家一级标准,PM10日均值和O3小时均值均满足国家二级标准,污染物得到较好的控制;广州地区SO2受本地源和外地源远距离输送叠加影响,NO2受本地源影响较大;广州周边城市NO2、SO2和PM10有向广州输送的潜势,而广州O3有向其周边城市扩散的潜势;亚运期间污染气象条件比亚运前后有利,亚运期间污染物浓度降低得益于政府实施的减排措施及良好的气象条件.     

Seasonal variation characteristics of hydroxyl radical pollution and its potential formation mechanism during the daytime in Lanzhou

Hydroxyl free radicals (OH radicals) play the main role in atmospheric chemistry and their involving reactions are the dominant rate determining step in the formation of secondary fine particulate matter and in the removal of air pollutants from the atmosphere. In this paper, we studied the seasonal variation characteristics of OH radicals during the daytime in Lanzhou and explored the potential formation mechanism of high concentration OH radicals. We found that the OH radicals in four seasons was 2.7 × 10⁶, 2.6 × 10⁶, 3.1 × 10⁶, and 2.2 × 10⁶ cm^?3, respectively. Since the rainfall was concentrated in summer, the wet deposition had a significant effect on removing OH radicals. Among the four pollutants (including ozone (O₃), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5)), the variation of OH radicals were closely related to ozone concentration especially in spring and summer. In autumn, the correlation between PM_2.5 and OH radicals were the closest among the observing pollutants and its formation mechanism was different conventional regeneration pathway. In Event 1, high concentration of ozone was the main source of OH radicals; under the high humidity condition, except for ozone, the multiple factors including VOCs, NO₂ and PM_2.5 interplayed and leaded to the Event 2.