Influence of dissolved organic matter from corn straw on Zn andCusorption to Chinese loess

The interaction of Zn and Cu with dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a significant physicochemical process affecting their sorption as well as mobility in soil. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of DOM from corn straw on the sorption of Zn and Cu by loess through batch adsorption technique. The sorption isotherms of Zn and Cu could be well described by the Freundlich equation, and the partition distribution coefficient (k) in the presence of DOM was reduced by 86% for Zn and 58% for Cu, as compared to the control receiving no DOM, suggesting that DOM had a stronger inhibitory effect on Zn sorption than that of Cu. In addition, the sorption of metal increased with an increase in pH for loess, with maximum inhibition on metal sorption observed at pH > 7.6 for Zn and pH > 5.5 for Cu in the absence ofDOM but Cu sorption of DOM was suddenly decreased with an increase of pH at pH > 7.9 in the presence of DOM. At a DOM concentration of <200 mg L^?1, sorption of Zn and Cu was reduced by 46% for Zn and 32% for Cu with an increase in DOM concentration.     

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.     

Environmental fate of pesticides used in Australian viticulture V. Behaviour of atrazine in the soils of the south Australian Riverland

The transport of the s‐triazine herbicide, atrazine, through the red, calcareous earth soils of the South Australian Riverland was investigated. Small, undisturbed soil cores were extracted from the inter‐row topsoil of a vineyard adjacent to the River Murray, approximately 10 km south‐west of Overland Corner, South Australia. The vines were grown in a deep (1–4 m) reddish brown, strongly alkaline, sandy loam with a low organic carbon content (<2%). Atrazine concentrations in the leachate were dependent on application rate and soil type. High application rates on subsoil gave high rates of leaching for a longer time compared to the same application rate on topsoil and/or lower application rates on either topsoil or subsoil. Overall, 37–65% of the applied atrazine was detected in the leachate from subsoil cores, 14–25% in topsoil core leachates. Small amounts of atrazine (< 10% of applied dose) were found only in the top 2 cm of the core profiles. The results suggest that this herbicide is somewhat mobile in such strongly alkaline, sandy loam soils and that the irrigated soils of this region are likely to be prone to leaching of atrazine, and therefore that groundwater supplies in this area may be at risk of contamination through use of triazine herbicides.     

Increasing self-awareness among older drivers: The role of self-screening

Introduction

Self-screening by older drivers has shown considerable promise for increasing self-awareness about functional abilities associated with safe driving. The purpose of this study was to improve upon existing self-screening instruments by focusing entirely on “health concerns” that affect driving - that is, the symptoms that people experience due to medical conditions and the medications used to treat them - rather than the medical conditions or medications themselves.

Method

A computer-based, easy-to-use self-screening instrument for older drivers was developed to provide individualized feedback intended to increase self-awareness about declines in driving-related abilities, as well as suggestions for behavioral changes or safety tips to maintain safe driving, further evaluation from a physician/health professional, and vehicle modifications to help compensate for driving-related declines.

Results

This paper describes the development of the self-screening instrument and summarizes findings relative to increasing self-awareness among older drivers. This research represents an important first step in improving self-awareness among older drivers through self-screening.     

聚硅氯化铝混凝剂的形态及带电特性研究

以ＡｌＣｌ３·６Ｈ２Ｏ、ＮａＯＨ、盐酸和水玻璃为原料制备了不同碱化度（Ｂ）及不同Ｓｉ／Ａｌ摩尔比的系列聚硅氯化铝混凝剂（ＰＡＳＣ）,采用Ａｌ－Ｆｅｒｒｏｎ逐时络合比色法和微电泳技术研究了ＰＡＳＣ中铝的水解产物形态分布及铝的水解沉淀物的带电特性,考察了Ｂ及Ｓｉ／Ａｌ摩尔比对ＰＡＳＣ中铝水解产物形态分布及带电特性的影响情况,并与聚合氯化铝（ＰＡＣ）进行了比较,实验结果表明,Ｂ对ＰＡＳＣ的形态分布有较大     

Modelling the closure-related geochemical evolution of groundwater at a former uranium mine

A newly developed reactive transport model was used to evaluate the potential effects of mine closure on the geochemical evolution in the aquifer downgradient from a mine site. The simulations were conducted for the K?nigstein uranium mine located in Saxony, Germany. During decades of operation, uranium at the former mine site had been extracted by in situ acid leaching of the ore underground, while the mine was maintained in a dewatered condition. One option for decommissioning is to allow the groundwater level to rise to its natural level, flooding the mine workings. As a result, pore water containing high concentrations of dissolved metals, radionuclides, and sulfate may be released. Additional contamination may arise due to the dissolution of minerals contained in the aquifer downgradient of the mine. On the other hand, dissolved metals may be attenuated by reactions within the aquifer. The geochemical processes and interactions involved are highly non-linear and their impact on the quality of the groundwater and surface water downstream of the mine is not always intuitive. The multicomponent reactive transport model MIN3P, which can describe mineral dissolution-precipitation reactions, aqueous complexation, and oxidation-reduction reactions, is shown to be a powerful tool for investigating these processes. The predictive capabilities of the model are, however, limited by the availability of key geochemical parameters such as the presence and quantities of primary and secondary mineral phases. Under these conditions, the model can provide valuable insight by means of sensitivity analyses.     

Mobility and speciation of Cd,Cu,and Zn in two acidic soils affected by simulated acid rain

Through a batch experiment, the mobility and speciation of heavy metals(Cd, Cu, Zn) in two acidic forest soils from Hunan Province were studied. The results showed that the release and potential active speciation of Cd, Cu, and Zn in the tested contaminated red soil(CRS) and yellow red soil(CYRS) increased significantly with pH decreasing and ion concentrations increasing of simulated acid rain, and these effects were mainly decided by the pH value of simulated acid rain. Cd had the highest potential nsk on the environment compared with Cu and Zn. Cd existed mainly in exchangeable form in residual CRS and CYRS, Cu in organically bound and Mn-oxide occluded forms, and Zn in mineral forms due to the high background values.     

重金属化学活性评估方法准确性质疑--以煤矸石样品为例

重金属元素化学活性的大小是决定它们环境行为最主要的因素之一,我们曾分别用总量法,实验模拟法,环境地球化学法和化学形态分析法对煤矸石样品所含的重金属元素进行过环境影响分析,试图了解自然风化条件下这些有害元素潜在的生态环境效应,结果发现重金属元素的化学活性除了与它们在样品中含量的高低,赋存状态和化学形态等因素有关外,更主要地是取决于样品基质的组成和结构,由于大量有机质的络合和风化过程中生成的铁的胶体的吸附,从煤矸石释放出的重金属元素的化学活性受到明显限制,它们对环境的污染可能仅限于煤矸石堆周围有限的范围。     

基于人口视角的公共服务均等化改革

公共服务的利益分享和成本分担,最终都会落实到每一个人的身上,"人"是其中的一个重要影响因素.我国不同社会成员享有的公共服务水平存在着很大的不同,而且各自所承担的公共服务提供成本也有着较大的差距.本文立足于"人"这一基点,从三个方面剖析了我国公共服务非均等格局形成的原因:①长期存在的对"人"身份进行区分的传统及其在我国社会经济制度中的体现是我国公共服务非均等格局形成的根源;②人口流动性的缺乏为我国公共服务非均等格局的形成提供了某种便利;③巨大的人口规模以及农村人口占多数的人口结构等也加剧了我国公共服务非均等格局的程度.从"人"的角度看,我国推进公共服务均等化改革的基本思路是:彻底消除身份传统在公共服务体制中的影响,建立起无差别的公共服务供给制度和公平的公共服务成本分担机制;努力提高人口的流动性,并使社会经济改革与不新提高的人口流动性相适应;通过大力发展中小城镇等方式来适当调整人口结构.     

EDTA-enhanced phytoremediation of lead contaminated soil by Bidens maximowicziana

Phytoremediation is a potential cleanup technology for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated soils.Bidens maximowicziana is a new Pb hyperaccumulator,which not only has remarkable tolerance to Pb but also extraordinary accumulation capacity for Pb.The maximum Pb concentration was 1509.3 mg/kg in roots and 2164.7 mg/kg in overground tissues.The Pb distribution order in the B. maximowicziana was:leaf>stem>root.The effect of amendments on phytoremediation was also studied.The mobility of soil Pb and the Pb concentrations in plants were both increased by EDTA application.Compared with CK(control check),EDTA application promoted translocation of Pb to overground parts of the plant.The Pb concentrations in overground parts of plants was increased from 24.23-680.56 mg/kg to 29.07-1905.57 mg/kg.This research demonstrated that B.maximowicziana appeared to be suitable for phytoremediation of Pb contaminated soil,especially,combination with EDTA.