Visitor-induced changes in the chemical composition of soils in backcountry areas of Mt Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada

Balancing recreation and conservation is an important issue in Canada's parks and protected areas. Increased levels of visitation to parks, especially to backcountry areas, create undue pressure on natural resources, resulting in a variety of ecological impacts. This paper illustrates the issue of visitor-induced changes on the chemical composition of soils in Mt Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia. Soil samples were collected from dish wash stations and fire pits (disturbed sites) at seven campgrounds located along two popular backcountry trails, and were compared to samples obtained from adjacent undisturbed control sites. Analysis of soil samples suggest that the lower amounts of aluminum, potassium, magnesium and sodium in many of the 'disturbed' samples can be related to intense leaching in dish wash stations, and can be attributed to frequent disposal of waste water from washing and cooking activities. Soils in wash stations generally had higher phosphorus, copper and zinc contents as compared to controls. Soils in fire pits were elevated in copper, relative to controls. Results of this study support park regulations that waste water disposal and camp fires be restricted to designated areas. Informing the public of scientific studies helps them understand the consequences of their activities; this may help persuade them to observe park rules and regulations.     

A FINITE ELEMENT MODEL OF CONTAMINANT MOVEMENT IN GROUNDWATER1

ABSTRACT. Transient, two-dimensional solutions are developed which describe the movement and distribution of a conservative substance in a stream-aquifer system. The solutions are obtained by solving sequentially the groundwater flow and mass transport equations. A variational approach in conjunction with the finite element method is used to solve the groundwater flow equation. Galerkin's approach coupled with the finite element method is used to solve the mass transport equation. Linear approximated triangular elements and a centered scheme of numerical integration are employed to calculate the hydraulic head distribution and the concentration of solute in the flow region. The linear approximation used to define the concentration function within each element is not appropriate for cases involving steep concentration gradients. For such cases, higher order approximations are necessary to assure the continuity of gradients across interelemental boundaries. Numerical examples that illustrate the applicability of the model are presented.     

基于石墨烯构建的电化学传感器在环境监测中的应用

综述了基于石墨烯构建的电化学传感器在重金属、有毒气体、农药残留、酚类有机污染物等对环境造成一定危害的物质检测中的应用,并展望了石墨烯电化学传感器在环境监测领域中的发展。     

Synthesis of hydroxylated PCB metabolites with the Suzuki-coupling

An improved synthesis of hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which are structurally related to the major hydroxy PCB congeners identified in human plasma is described. The coupling of (chlorinated) aryl boronic acids with bromochloro anisoles using the standard conditions of the Suzuki coupling gave the desired hydroxylated PCB metabolites in good to excellent yields. The approach offers the advantage of high selectivity and good yields compared to conventional methods such as the Cadogan reaction and allows the use of less toxic starting materials.     

Potential allelopathic effect of Pinus halepensis in the secondary succession: an experimental approach

Summary. Recent economic and social changes in north Mediterranean regions have led to an important rural depopulation. Consequently, meadows developed on abandoned agricultural lands (characterized by high species richness) undergo reforestation. These former fields are mainly colonized by Pinus halepensis Miller, which is known to synthetize a wide range of secondary metabolites, among these, some could influence plant succession through allelopathy. The allelopathic potential of P. halepensis, was tested against two target species (Lactuca sativa L. and Linum strictum L.) with aqueous extracts obtained from different organs (root and needle) taking into account the individual age (±10, ±30 and > 60 years old). Root and needle extracts affected differently germination and growth of the two target species, the responses varying with concentration of extracts, age and organs tested. The strongest inhibitory effect was observed on the germination and growth of L. strictum, exposed to needle extracts of young P. halepensis (±10 years old), and root extracts of older P. halepensis (> 30 years old). These extracts contained several phenolic acids (e.g. 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and p-coumaric acid), which are known as allelochemicals and their concentrations vary with age and organ tested. Hence, P. halepensis could influence secondary succession through the release of potential allelochemicals in the environment by leaf leachates or root exudates.     

淄博市某城市污水处理厂运行效果分析

淄博市是我国重要的石油化工基地,工业废水与生活污水多混合排放到城市污水处理厂处理,污水成分复杂,处理难度大。根据淄博市某污水处理厂的长期运行数据,评价了悬浮性固体(SS)、化学需氧量(COD)、五日生化需氧量(BOD5)、氨氮(NH3-N)和总磷(TP)等水质指标的去除效果。结果表明:该厂实际水量高于设计水量,处于超负荷运行状态,且进水SS浓度较高,BOD5/COD2O工艺,设计停留时间较长,并将二沉池污泥部分回流到初沉池,提高对污染物去除效果,使出水SS、COD、BOD5、NH3-N和TP等指标达到一级A排放标准。进水中偶尔含有冲击性高浓度挥发酚,使污水厂硝化菌功能受抑制,出水NH3-N浓度异常升高,此时该厂通过投加活性污泥进行硝化菌接种,帮助系统尽快恢复正常运行;同时,高盐度工业废水会加速污水厂设备腐蚀。     

有机污染土壤植物修复机理的研究现状

综述了国内外有机污染土壤植物修复机理的研究现状,并从植物直接修复和植物增强的根际修复两方面具体介绍了植物修复有机污染土壤的机理。对今后有机污染土壤植物修复研究的重点作了展望。     

Preferences of six leaf beetle species among qualitatively different leaf age classes of three Salicaceous host species

Summary. As Salicaceous plants produce new leaves for a prolonged period of time, they expose a wide range of differentially aged leaves to herbivores during the growing season. In this work, I show that young leaves of three Salicaceous species, Populus tremula L., Salix phylicifolia L. and S. pentandra L., contain more nitrogen than conspecific old leaves. In P. tremula and S. pentandra young leaves also contained more low-molecular weight secondary compounds, phenolic glucosides. Leaves of S. phylicifolia did not contain phenolic glucosides in detectable amounts. Furthermore, in P. tremula and S. pentandra young leaves contained less polymeric digestability-reducing phenolics, condensed tannins, than old leaves. In S. phylicifolia, higher concentrations of condensed tannins were found in young leaves. In laboratory feeding trials with six leaf beetle species, young leaves of the studied plants were invariably preferred in all tested herbivore × host species combinations. In particular, it is remarkable that three leaf beetle species with known different overall relationships to phenolic glucosides equally preferred more glucoside-containing young S. pentandra leaves over conspecific old ones. Four beetle species were found to prefer young leaves of S. phylicifolia despite the higher content of condensed tannins in young leaves. These results indicate that the general preference of leaf beetles for young leaves of Salicaceous plants probably does not primarily result from variable distribution of secondary compounds. Apparently, the preference for young leaves is fundamentally due to variation in leaf nutritive traits, such as nitrogen content. Received 9 February 2001.     

手性污染物环境行为的对映体差异性

环境中手性污染物对映体选择性行为的研究历史不长 ,但由于手性化合物对映体生物活性的差异性 ,手性污染物在环境中的对映体选择性行为已愈来愈引起人们的关注。本文对近 10多年来手性污染物的环境行为研究进行全面评述