Controlling microbiological interfacial behaviors of hydrophobic organic compounds by surfactants in biodegradation process

Bioremediation of hydrophobic organic compounds （HOCs） contanlinated soils involves several physicochemical and microbiological interracial processes among the soil-water-microorganism interfaces. The participation of surfactants facilitates the mass transport of HOCs in both the physicochemical and microbiological interfaces by reducing the interfacial tension. The effects and underlying mechanisms of surfactants on the physi-cochemical desorption of soil-sorbed HOCs have been widely studied. This paper reviewed the progress made in understanding the effects of surfactant on microbiological interlhcial transport of HOCs and the underlying mechanisms, which is vital for a better understanding and control of the mass transfer of HOCs in the biodegradation process. In summary, surfactants affect the microbiological interfacial behaviors of HOCs during three consecutive processes： the soil solution-microorganism sorption, the transmembrane process, and the intracellular metabolism. Surfactant could promote cell sorption of HOCs depending on the compatibility of surfactant hydrophile hydrophilic balance （HLB） with cell surface properties; while the dose ratio between surfactant and biologic mass （membrane lipids） determined the transmembrane processes. Although surfactants cannot easily directly affect the intracellular enzymatic metabolism of HOCs due to the steric hindrace, the presence of surfactants can indirectly enhanced the metabolism by increasing the substrate concentrations.     

An opinion on the distribution and behavior of chemicals in response to climate change,with particular reference to the Asia-Pacific region

There is a general lack of knowledge as regards the effects of climate change on pollutant behavior. This is particularly true of the Asia-Pacific Region (APR). This region has major significance in terms of global pollutant emission and also displays a wide variety of environments. This review presents the authors’ opinions on possible implications of climate change for pollutant behavior in the APR. Although differing responses can be expected across the region, there are clear implications as regards the short- and long-term behavior of pollutants. Effects can be predicted through modeling, but further data are required for model calibration. Nevertheless, it can be predicted that climate change will affect processes including global distillation of persistent organic pollutants, airborne transport of heavy metals, half-life of readily degradable pollutants, and eutrophication in water bodies. Particulates are expected to play a central role in mediating the effects of climate change, and successful predictive models will need to be based on particulate-mediated transport and behavior. Climate change also has the potential to cause an increase in the intensity and frequency of harmful algal blooms in aquatic environments throughout the region, with significant implications for supply of both food and drinking water.     

Chromium accumulation,transport and toxicity in plants∗

The predominant pathway for human exposure to chromium in non‐occupationally exposed individuals is via food with a daily intake of around 30–100 μgd^–1, with vegetables providing a major contribution. Unlike reports of chromium essentiality to man and animals, plants appear not to require chromium in spite of some early reports of a stimulatory growth effect.

Most reports on chromium in plants have been concerned with their growth on soils amended with sewage sludge, pF‐ash, tannery waste, or on ultra basic soils, which contain extreme concentrations of the element. Experimental studies with plants grown in hydroponic solution have often been undertaken at unrealistically high concentrations to examine the uptake of chromium in various forms, either as CrIII or CrVI at different pHs. In most cases, reports on chromium in plants deal with element concentrations and plant/soil relationships rather than detailed biochemical and physiological processes.

In general, chromium is largely retained in the roots of plants, although the oxidation state of chromium, pH, presence of humates and fulvates and plant species, affect plant uptake and transport. Leaves usually contain higher concentrations than grains. The uptake of CrIII is largely a passive process, whereas CrVI uptake is a metabolically mediated process via the sulphate pathway and is thus readily transported around the plant. The presence of a compound similar to trioxalate CrIII has been recorded while little chromium has been reported to be associated with cell organelles or soluble proteins.     

Cadmium in the terrestrial environment: Impact of long‐range atmospheric transport∗

Cadmium is supplied to Southern Norway in considerable amounts by atmospheric transport from other areas of Europe. This has caused a very marked increase of Cd levels in the natural environment in this area. Evidence of the main source areas is inferred from air concentration studies coupled to trajectory analysis. The extent of contamination is indicated from deposition studies and investigations of Cd in peat cores and surface soils, including soil profile distributions. The Cd content of vascular plants is substantially higher in Southern Norway than in areas farther north and further transfer in terrestrial food chains is occurring and may eventually lead to increased human exposure.     

Visions for the future of transport: Approaching consensus?

Many cities and national authorities have made substantial progress in developing transport strategies to reconcile environmental pressures with the increasing demand for travel. However, there is still some doubt as to what are the key ingredients of a successful strategy and progress in implementing such changes has been slow. Research is needed to better understand what are the essential ingredients to a balanced transport policy, the constraints, which are preventing these from being implemented, and the acceptability of such changes. This paper reports on the outcomes of a project funded under the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund research programme 'From Realism to Reality', which aims to identify the elements necessary for a successful transport policy in the UK into the 21st century, The project seeks to develop a vision for the transport system of the future through an understanding of the extent of the current problems in the transport sector and an examination of the range and effectiveness of options and instruments available to resolve them. The paper examines a range of visions that are currently in the public domain. Results show that there is a degree of consistency in the general aims and objectives of such visions, but that there is rather less consensus in the means proposed to achieve those aims.     

A method for quantifying bias in modeled concentrations and source impacts for secondary particulate matter

A method for quantifying source impacts for secondary PM_2.5 species is derived. The method provides estimates of bias in modeled concentrations. Adjusted concentrations match corresponding observations at monitored locations. Sources impacts on secondary species are estimated over the US for 20 sources. Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CMAQ) estimates of sulfates, nitrates, ammonium, and organic carbon are highly influenced by uncertainties in modeled secondary formation processes, such as chemical mechanisms, volatilization, and condensation rates. These compounds constitute the majority of PM_2.5 mass, and reducing bias in estimated concentrations has benefits for policy measures and epidemiological studies. In this work, a method for adjusting source impacts on secondary species is developed that provides estimates of source contributions and reduces bias in modeled concentrations compared to observations. The bias correction adjusts concentrations and source impacts based on the difference between modeled concentrations and observations while taking into account uncertainties at the location of interest; and it is applied both spatially and temporally. We apply the method over the US for 2006. The mean bias for initial CMAQ concentrations compared to observations is −0.28 (OC), 0.11 (NO₃), 0.05 (NH₄), and −0.08 (SO₄). The normalized mean bias in modeled concentrations compared to observations was effectively zero for OC, NO₃, NH₄, and SO₄ after applying the secondary bias correction. 10-fold cross-validation was conducted to determine the performance of the spatial application of the bias correction. Cross-validation performance was favorable; correlation coefficients were greater than 0.69 for all species when comparing observations and concentrations based on kriged correction factors. The methods presented here address model uncertainties by improving simulated concentrations and source impacts of secondary particulate matter through data assimilation. Secondary-adjusted concentrations and source impacts from 20 emissions sources are generated for 2006 over continental US.     

保守性离子在包气带层状土中运移规律研究

为研究溶质在多层层状包气带土中运移规律,选取5种颗粒配比不同的土样填装成由粗及细和由细及粗两分层顺序相反的土柱,通过室内试验研究保守性Br-在两种不同结构层状土中基本运移规律。研究得出:当土体表层遭受浓度为200 g/L Na Br一次性污染,在15 mm/12 h降雨强度下,Br-在第1、2层土体浓度经历快速上升段、峰值段、下降段3个阶段变化,第3、4、5层土体浓度经历上升段、平稳下降段。试验结束时,Br-在由粗及细的土柱中分布较均匀,在由细及粗的土柱中集中在表层;溶质穿透整个土柱的时间,由粗及细结构比由细及粗结构提前96 h。结果表明,在截污性能和延缓溶质向地下水补给方面,由细及粗结构均要优于由粗及细的结构。     

2013年12月初长江三角洲及周边地区重霾污染的数值模拟

运用WRF-CMAQ模型模拟了2013年12月1~9日长江三角洲及周边地区的一次重霾污染过程.初步探究灰霾天气下大气细颗粒物(PM2.5)的时空分布特征和区域输送过程,并定量研究了外部源区域输送和本地源对长江三角洲地区PM2.5的贡献.结果表明:模式能够合理再现灰霾天气下长江三角洲及周边地区PM2.5的时空分布特征和演变规律.静稳天气下大气细颗粒物仍然存在着显著的区域输送.污染期间来自安徽、山东南部、苏北地区的跨界输送对长江三角洲区域PM2.5的贡献率分别为3.5%~24.9%、0.14%~30.0%、0.03%~17.5%.整个污染期间本地贡献占49%左右,本地贡献和外地贡献基本相当.     

兰州地区典型有机污染物长距离迁移及其总持久性模拟

运用TaPL3模型研究了兰州半干旱地区典型有机污染物通过大气和水体的长距离迁移(LRT)及其总持久性(P_ov),讨论了LRT和Pov之间的关系. 以2,3,7,8-TCDD为例,分别利用灵敏度和蒙特卡罗方法对模型的关键参数和输出结果的不确定性进行了研究. 结果显示:2,3,7,8-TCDD,γ-HCH,BaP和HCB在兰州地区通过大气的特征迁移距离(CTD)分别为126,934,117和13 307 km,P_ov分别为1 421,1 082,1 413和3 949 d;通过水体的CTD分别为6 633,119 000,16 249和16 658 km,P_ov分别为1 584,1 551,2 711和4 428 d,且污染物的LRT和P_ov没有直接的联系. 同国外的研究相比,兰州地区的2,3,7,8-TCDD通过大气的CTD明显偏低,通过水体的CTD明显偏高,而P_ov都明显偏高.      

东北吉林地区云水化学航测研究

利用飞机航测于2007年夏季在东北吉林地区采集了24个云水样品,对云水的pH值与主要无机水溶性离子成分进行分析.结果表明,该地区云水呈酸性,平均pH值为4.93;主要离子成分依次为SO42- 109.7 meq/L, NH4+ 74.8 meq/L, Ca2+ 71.9 meq/L,和NO3- 51.4 meq/L; SO42-/NO3-的当量比为2.1,与龙凤山降水样品比值相当.云水离子浓度主要受天气形势及气团输送特征影响.集合后推气流轨迹分析表明离子浓度最高的云水样品主要受到华北地区污染输送的影响.对比同步采集的高空云水与地面降水样品,发现云下冲刷过程可对降水酸度起到一定的中和作用.