Influence of Relative Humidity and Ozone on the Sampling of Volatile Organic Compounds on Carbotrap/Carbosieve Adsorbents

By using a dynamic dilution system, the atmospheric measurement of 11 selected toxics VOCs (ethylene, acetylene, propene, 1-butene, 1,3-butadiene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m+p-xylene) from the list WHO of 1996 and TO-14 method of US EPA by preconcentration by thermal desorption (TD), analysis by gas chromatography (GC), identification and quantification with a flame ionisation detector (FID) was developed and validated in term of metrology, especially the techniques of sampling of these VOCs with adsorbents cartridges "Air Toxics" when used with an "UMEG sampler" equipped in the inlet with a nafion membrane. In particular the influence of climatic conditions (temperature and relative humidity) and the influence of chemical factors like ozone, on the representativity of sampling were studied. Experiments made with various humidities showed that the addition of a nafion membrane in the inlet of the sampling system was required. Without this membrane, losses of compounds were observed for RH >50%. With this membrane, storage for 2 weeks in a refrigerator, as for canisters, did not induce a loss of compounds. No significative decrease of concentrations of the studied VOCs after 14 days storage, which are known to react with ozone, were observed with an ozone concentrations of 55 ppb. One explanation is that nafion membrane, placed in the inlet of the sampler, will neutralize ozone before entering the sampling tubes. This observation is in accordance with literature which states that the sampling of VOCs on Carbotrap cartridges without ozone scrubber induce a loss of compounds.     

Integrated biomonitoring of air quality with plants and lichens: a case study on ambient ozone from central Italy

A biennial integrated survey, based on the use of vascular plants for the bioindication of the effects of tropospheric ozone together with the use of automatic analysers of ozone, as well as the mapping of lichen biodiversity was performed in the area of Castelfiorentino (Tuscany, central Italy). Photochemically produced ozone proved to be a fundamental presence during the warm season, with maximum hourly means reaching 114 ppb, exceeding the information threshold as fixed by EU: the use of supersensitive tobacco Bel-W3 confirmed the opportunity of carrying out detailed cost-effective monitoring surveys. The potential for didactical and educational implications of this methodology are appealing. Critical levels set up for the protection of vegetation have exceeded considerably. The comparison of biomass productivity in sensitive and resistant individuals (NC-S and NC-R white clover clones, in the framework of an European network) provided evidence that ambient ozone levels are associated with relevant reduction (up to 30%) in the performance of sensitive material; effects on flowering were also pronounced. The economic assessment of such an impact deserves attention. Mapping of epiphytic lichen biodiversity – which has been used to monitor air quality worldwide – was not related to ozone geographical distribution as depicted by tobacco response.     

Study of Trace Elements and Soot in Aerosols from a Coal-Fired Power Plant in Northern Vietnam

Two measurement campaigns were conducted in two sampling sites, An Thinh and Duy Minh, in northern Vietnam during the months of November–December 2000 and November 2001–February 2002 in order to investigate the extend of the particulate air pollution from the Pha Lai coal fired power plant. Fine particle samples were analyzed by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry and soot samples were analyzed by reflectometer. The result showed that high concentration of soot and elements mostly coincided with the air masses originating from the power plant. Sea spray aerosol was found to be the major source of chlorine at both sites. Ratios of specific elements and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that coal combustion was the main contributor to the air pollution at both sites. PCA also indicated that there were other sources responsible for the elements emission, probably the influence of long distance transport and Asian Brown Cloud.     

Real time remote monitoring of air pollutants and their online transmission to the web using internet protocol

Recent advances in both information and sensor technologies have enabled the development of Real Time Remote Monitoring (RTRM) capabilities for environmental management. An online and real time remote monitoring system for air pollution has been designed and installed at a traffic police station at Punjagutta in Hyderabad, India. The system is optimized using electrochemical sensors and a real time particulate matter analyzer. The system also monitors meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, barometric pressure, wind speed and wind direction. The system periodically monitors both pollution and meteorological parameters at pre- programmed intervals of hr during peak periods and 1 hr during non peak periods of the day and continuously uploads to a predestinated web site (www.appcb.org/home.htm) using File Transfer Protocol. The web site renders a quick, simple and graphical display of air pollution levels and meteorological parameters and their significance to humans. The present paper highlights design considerations of a pollution monitoring system, system hardware and software requirements and practical limitations and future directions for real time remote monitoring of air pollution.     

Competition between phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl for high-energy adsorption sites in a sediment

We determined the maximum amounts of added phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl sorbed onto high-energy adsorption sites in a sediment on bi-solute experiments. The bi-solute pairs were phenanthrene/chrysene and phenanthrene/2,5-dichlorobiphenyl. On the bi-solute sorption experiments, one solute was introduced and equilibrated with sediment prior to addition of the second solute. The values for the maximum amounts adsorbed onto high-energy sites revealed that, after equilibration of the first solute, still some high-energy sites could be occupied by the second solute. Phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl seem to share about 30% of the accessible high-energy adsorption sites in the sediment employed.     

The synergistic effect of air mass on outdoor performance for different PV module in India

The effect of air mass (AM) on the performance of multi-crystalline silicon (m-Si), amorphous silicon (a-Si), and hetero-junction with intrinsic thin layer (HIT)-technology-based photovoltaic (PV) modules are evaluated for representative day of four seasons during the year 2011 for composite climate of India. To find the best performing PV module technology with respect to AM at the site, annual energy yields and performance ratio against different AM bands (AM 1–4.5) are plotted. It is found that HIT modules perform better than m-Si and a-Si at each AM band. Annual energy yields for all three technologies decrease with increasing order of AM bands. The performance ratio for HIT and m-SI modules initially increases and then decreases with increasing order of AM bands. However, for a-Si modules, the performance ratio decreases with increasing order of the AM bands.     

一种新型铋基光催化剂的合成及其可见光催化性能

采用水热法合成铋基光催化剂Bi4VO8Br,通过X-射线粉末衍射、扫描电镜等手段对其进行表征.选择甲基橙为目标降解物来评价不同条件下合成的Bi4VO8Br在可见光下的光催化活性,发现pH 3、反应时间15 h、反应温度160℃为材料水热合成的最佳条件.考察了Bi4VO8Br在可见光及紫外光下对几种农药和增塑剂的光催化降解性能,显示了Bi4VO8Br对不易光解的含苯环有机物的可见光高活性.五氯酚的光催化过程影响因素优化结果表明,可见光和紫外光分别照射120 min和20 min,其降解率分别达到97％和99％,Bi4VO8Br表面上活性基团的捕获即空穴的氧化作用是主要反应原理.     

长江口区域水体半挥发性有机污染物健康风险评价

近年来长江口区域水体的有机物污染日渐严重.主要应用美国环境保护局(USEPA)的健康风险评价方法,并对其进行了一定的修改和补充,对长江口区域水体半挥发性有机污染物的健康风险进行了初步评价.结果表明:长江口区域水体半挥发性有机污染物的非致癌风险指数均小于1,其中单环芳香族类的非致癌风险值均在10-3数量级,卤代烃类的风险值在10-4数量级,均偏高于其他类物质;各类物质的致癌风险指数均在10-4数量级以下,其中六氯苯、双(2-氯乙基)醚和咔唑的风险指数相对较高,在10-5数量级.根据USEPA的建议值,初步认为目前长江口区域水体中单一半挥发性有机污染物不会对人体产生明显的健康危害.由于缺少相关的研究资料,因此各种有机污染物的联合健康效应评价尚无法进行.      

三峡库区水环境多环芳烃和邻苯二甲酸酯类有机污染物健康风险评价

为研究三峡库区水环境中持久性有机污染物(POPs)对人体健康产生的潜在危害风险,在介绍健康风险评价方法的基础上,建立了水环境健康风险评价模型,根据三峡库区水质监测资料对水源水主要持久性有机物多环芳烃和邻苯二甲酸酯类污染进行健康风险评价. 结果表明,在所评价断面中,长江和嘉陵江汇合的寸滩断面污染较严重,健康危害的风险相对较大. 水源水6种持久性有机污染物由饮水途径所致健康危害的个人年风险为2.79×10-10～4.44×10-13 a-1,按年风险大小依次为DEHP＞DBP＞Pyr＞NA＞FLA＞DEP;有机污染物对健康危害的年总风险仅为3.70×10-10 a-1,远低于国际辐射防护委员会(ICRP)推荐的最大可接受值(5.0×10-5 a-1). 三峡库区水体中6种POPs污染所致的健康危害年风险度目前还处于很低水平,但应引起管理部门的重视.      

土壤有机物污染控制标准制订的方法学研究

指出了中国现行土壤环境质量标准存在的问题.对日本和美国等发达国家的有机物污染土壤质量控制标准进行了分析.从土壤环境质量基准制订的方法学和污染控制标准的确定原则上,提出了制订中国土壤有机物污染控制标准的建议.