Influence of Suwannee River humic acid on particle properties and toxicity of silver nanoparticles

Adsorption of natural organic matter (NOM) on nanoparticles can have dramatic impacts on particle dispersion resulting in altered fate and transport as well as bioavailability and toxicity. In this study, the adsorption of Suwannee River humic acid (SRHA) on silver nanoparticles (nano-Ag) was determined and showed a Langmuir adsorption at pH 7 with an adsorption maximum of 28.6 mg g⁻¹ nano-Ag. It was also revealed that addition of <10 mg L⁻¹ total organic carbon (TOC) increased the total Ag content suspended in the aquatic system, likely due to increased dispersion. Total silver content decreased with concentrations of NOM greater than 10 mg TOC L⁻¹ indicating an increase in nanoparticle agglomeration and settling above this concentration. However, SRHA did not have any significant effect on the equilibrium concentration of ionic Ag dissolved in solution. Exposure of Daphnia to nano-Ag particles (50 μg L⁻¹ and pH 7) produced a linear decrease in toxicity with increasing NOM. These results clearly indicate the importance of water chemistry on the fate and toxicity of nanoparticulates.     

Textural and chemical properties of swine-manure-derived biochar pertinent to its potential use as a soil amendment

Biochars have received increasing attention in recent years because of their properties pertaining to soil fertility and contaminant immobilization as well as serving as carbon sinks. In this work, a series of biochars were produced from dried swine manure waste by slow pyrolysis at different temperatures (i.e., 673-1073 K). The characterization of the resulting biochars was examined for its relevance to its potential use as soil amendment. It was found that the pore properties, ash contents and pH values of all swine-manure-derived biochars basically increased as temperature increased, while the yield and nitrogen/oxygen contents decreased with increasing temperature as a result of pyrolytic volatilization during pyrolysis. From the organic and inorganic elements analyses, the manure-derived biochar was rich in soil nutrients such as N, P, Ca, Mg, and K. Furthermore, the pore, surface and chemical properties were also consistent with the observations of the SEM-EDS, XRD and FTIR. This result suggested that the mesoporous manure-derived biochar could be used as an excellent medium to soil environment.     

微生物生理群在猪粪秸秆高温堆肥碳氮转化中的作用

在自制的强制通风静态堆肥反应箱中,猪粪与秸秆以鲜重7∶1的比例进行了堆肥化实验,在堆制的23 d里根据堆温变化分阶段采集堆肥样品,利用MPN法测定了堆料中纤维素分解菌和氮素微生物生理群的数量变化,同时测定了相应的碳、氮含量。结果表明,纤维素分解菌在稳定腐熟阶段较多,对于后期有机碳的降解和腐殖质含量的增大起了很大的作用,在堆制的23 d里,腐殖质增加了2.4%。整个堆制过程中,氨化细菌的数量最大且与氨气释放浓度和铵态氮含量呈显著正相关,都在高温期增加,降温期后减少,氨化细菌的数量在高温期的增加率远高于降温期后的减少率,而铵态氮在高温期的增加率远低于在降温后期的减少率,铵态氮总体上减少了74.1%;亚硝化细菌数量与硝态氮呈正相关;反硝化细菌数量在降温期上升幅度较大,堆制结束时为堆制初期的13倍,且与堆肥中硝态氮含量呈正相关;硝态氮含量增加了87.5%;堆肥后期硝态氮的增加可能与堆肥中存在能进行硝化作用的反硝化细菌有关。固氮菌数量在堆制结束时达堆制初期的2.61倍,主要在降温期增加较多,对堆肥中有机氮的形成起很大作用。     

微量元素对牛粪低温厌氧发酵的影响

为考察较低温度(<17℃)条件下添加微量金属元素对厌氧发酵产气量的影响,在发酵底物TS(含固率)为10%下采用10 L玻璃瓶作反应器,以牛粪为原料,向厌氧生物反应器中分别添加MnSO4、FeSO4·7H2O、电解锰渣,分析了厌氧消化系统运行过程中的产气量、COD(化学需氧量)和pH的变化。结果表明,锰元素能促进低温下牛粪的厌氧发酵,加速反应启动。当添加6 g MnSO4、100 g电解锰渣时,单位质量VS产气率分别为0.26 mL/g和0.64 mL/g,添加6 g FeSO4·7H2O与空白对照组均未见明显产气。     

Contribution of sociodemographic characteristics, occupation, diet and lifestyle to DDT and DDE concentrations in serum and adipose tissue from a Bolivian cohort

The organochlorine pesticide p,p′-Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was widely used in the early 1960s-70s for vector control in tropical and subtropical areas of South America. Due to its persistence, DDT has a high potential to bioaccumulate in the food chain and living organisms and is a major public health concern, especially in South America.The main purpose of the present study was to investigate predictors of serum and adipose tissue concentrations of p,p′-DDT and its main metabolite, p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE), in an adult cohort (n = 112) from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, using multiple linear regression models. These models explained 29.3-47.8% of the variability in adipose tissue concentrations of p,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE, respectively, and 32.9-47.0% of that in serum. Main exposure predictors included age, occupational class, residence, diet, smoking habit, and accumulated breastfeeding time.This is one of the few studies to explore predictors of human exposure to these chemicals using a multivariate approach in a South American population. Results show that predictors of human exposure to p,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDE in Santa Cruz de la Sierra may diverge from those found in other populations of the world, due to particular sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics of this region.     

A multi-agent simulation model for spatial optimisation of manure allocation

The EU Nitrate Directive has spurred many countries to regulate manure production and manure application. Farmers have three allocation options: spreading manure on their own land, transporting manure to other farmers' land or processing manure. The manure problem can be seen as an allocation problem. To better understand this allocation problem, we have developed the spatial mathematical programming multi-agent simulation (MP-MAS) model. This model has been applied in Flanders, Belgium, a region with a high concentration of livestock. The model evaluates the cost efficiency of policy intervention in the manure market through obliged processing. We propose to further optimise the policy using a regionally differentiated manure pressure indicator, which is directly derived from the dual outcome of the mathematical programme. This indicator increases transparency in the manure and processing market, leading to better decision support about location and type of manure processing.     

Soil type affects migration pattern of airborne Pb and Cd under a spruce-beech forest of the UN-ECE integrated monitoring site Zöbelboden, Austria

Anthropogenic trace element emissions have declined. However, top soils all over the world remain enriched in trace elements. We investigated Pb and Cd migration in forest soils of a remote monitoring site in the Austrian limestone Alps between 1992 and 2004. Large spatial variability masked temporal changes in the mineral soil of Lithic Leptosols (Skeltic), whereas a significant reduction of Pb concentrations in their forest floors occurred. Reductions of concentrations in the less heterogeneous Cambisols (Chromic) were significant. In contrast, virtually no migration of Pb and Cd were found in Stagnosols due to their impeded drainage. Very low element concentrations (<1 μg l⁻¹) in field-collected soil solutions using tension lysimeters (0.2 μm nylon filters) imply that migration largely occurred by preferential flow as particulate-bound species during intensive rainfall events. Our results indicate that the extent of Pb and Cd migration in soils is largely influenced by soil type.     

Deposition of reactive nitrogen during the Rocky Mountain Airborne Nitrogen and Sulfur (RoMANS) study

Increases in reactive nitrogen deposition are a growing concern in the U.S. Rocky Mountain west. The Rocky Mountain Airborne Nitrogen and Sulfur (RoMANS) study was designed to improve understanding of the species and pathways that contribute to nitrogen deposition in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). During two 5-week field campaigns in spring and summer of 2006, the largest contributor to reactive nitrogen deposition in RMNP was found to be wet deposition of ammonium (34% spring and summer), followed by wet deposition of nitrate (24% spring, 28% summer). The third and fourth most important reactive nitrogen deposition pathways were found to be wet deposition of organic nitrogen (17%, 12%) and dry deposition of ammonia (14%, 16%), neither of which is routinely measured by air quality/deposition networks operating in the region. Total reactive nitrogen deposition during the spring campaign was determined to be 0.45 kg ha⁻¹ and more than doubled to 0.95 kg ha⁻¹ during the summer campaign.     

Occurrence of PAH in the seasonal snowpack of the Eastern Italian Alps

PAH concentrations have been determined in 47 seasonal snowpack samples collected in the Valbelluna valley and in the Bellunesi Dolomites National Park, in the Italian North-Eastern Alps, during the winter of 2005. The ΣPAH concentration in high-altitude alpine sites (above 1700 m) was 32 ± 20 ng/kg while in valley bottom urban areas it was 165 ± 54 ng/kg with maximum values of 290 ng/kg. The GIS mapping technique was employed to produce a PAH spatial distribution. The urbanized Valbelluna valley, and in particular the SW part, had the highest accumulation of all PAH, with values an order of magnitude more than those in rural and alpine areas. This behaviour is consistent with urban air quality data, and is due to geo-morphological and meteorological factors such as the deeper shape of the valley at the position of the town of Feltre and the low altitude of the boundary layer during the winter season.     

Use of Composted Animal Manures to Reduce 1,3-Dichloropropene Emissions

Atmospheric emission of the soil fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) has been associated with the deterioration of air quality in certain fumigation areas. To minimize the environmental impacts of 1,3-D, feasible and cost-effective control strategies are in need of investigation. One approach to reduce emissions is to enhance the surface layer of a soil to degrade 1,3-D. A field study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of composted steer manure (SM) and composted chicken manure (CKM) to reduce 1,3-D emissions. SM or CKM were applied to the top 5-cm soil layer at a rate of 3.3 or 6.5 kg m^?2. An emulsified formulation of 1,3-D was applied through drip tape at 130.6 kg ha^?1 into raised beds. The drip tape was placed in the center of each bed (102 cm wide) and 15 cm below the surface. Passive flux chambers were used to measure the loss of 1,3-D for 170 h after fumigant application. Results indicated that the cumulative loss of 1,3-D was about 48% and 28% lower in SM- and CKM-amended beds, respectively, than in the unamended beds. Overall, both isomers of 1,3-D behaved similarly in all treatments. The cumulative loss of 1,3-D, however, was not significantly different between the two manure application rates for either SM or CKM. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of using composted animal manures to control 1,3-D emissions.