Hg concentrations and related risk assessment in coral reef crustaceans, molluscs and fish from New Caledonia

There is a dramatic lack of data on Hg levels in marine organisms from tropical areas, and in particular from New Caledonia. For the first time, this study reports the total Hg concentrations in the tissues of several marine taxa from the New Caledonian lagoon. Seafood from both wild and farmed populations was considered. Hg concentrations varied over three orders of magnitudes according to factors including species, age (size/weight), trophic level, lifestyle and geographical origin. Taking into account the edible tissues, estimations of the amount of flesh that should be consumed by a 60-kg person to reach the Hg Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) reveal acceptable risk for Human health in general. However, a risk was clearly identified in one site of the lagoon (i.e. Grande Rade) where high Hg concentrations were measured. These concentrations were higher than values reported in the current literature.     

Fate of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in wastewater treatment plants - Conception of a database and first results

We created a database in order to quantitatively assess the occurrence and removal efficiency of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). From 117 scientific publications, we compiled 6641 data covering 184 PPCPs. Data included the concentrations of PPCPs in WWTP influents and effluents, their removal efficiency and their loads to the aquatic environment. The first outputs of our database allowed to identify the most investigated PPCPs in WWTPs and the most persistent ones, and to obtain reliable and quantitative values on their concentrations, frequency of detection and removal efficiency in WWTPs. We were also able to compare various processes and pointed out activated sludge with nitrogen treatment and membrane bioreactor as the most efficient ones.     

Part V—sorption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products

Background, aim, and scope  Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) including antibiotics, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and veterinary pharmaceuticals are emerging pollutants, and their environmental risk was not emphasized until a decade ago. These compounds have been reported to cause adverse impacts on wildlife and human. However, compared to the studies on hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) whose sorption characteristics is reviewed in Part IV of this review series, information on PPCPs is very limited. Thus, a summary of recent research progress on PPCP sorption in soils or sediments is necessary to clarify research requirements and directions. Main features  We reviewed the research progress on PPCP sorption in soils or sediments highlighting PPCP sorption different from that of HOCs. Special function of humic substances (HSs) on PPCP behavior is summarized according to several features of PPCP–soil or sediment interaction. In addition, we discussed the behavior of xenobiotic chemicals in a three-phase system (dissolved organic matter (DOM)–mineral–water). The complexity of three-phase systems was also discussed. Results  Nonideal sorption of PPCPs in soils or sediments is generally reported, and PPCP sorption behavior is relatively a more complicated process compared to HOC sorption, such as the contribution of inorganic fractions, fast degradation and metabolite sorption, and species-specific sorption mechanism. Thus, mechanistic studies are urgently needed for a better understanding of their environmental risk and for pollution control. Discussion  Recent research progress on nonideal sorption has not been incorporated into fate modeling of xenobiotic chemicals. A major reason is the complexity of the three-phase system. First of all, lack of knowledge in describing DOM fractionation after adsorption by mineral particles is one of the major restrictions for an accurate prediction of xenobiotic chemical behavior in the presence of DOM. Secondly, no explicit mathematical relationship between HS chemical–physical properties, and their sorption characteristics has been proposed. Last but not least, nonlinear interactions could exponentially increase the complexity and uncertainties of environmental fate models for xenobiotics. Discussion on proper simplification of fate modeling in the framework of nonlinear interactions is still unavailable. Conclusions  Although the methodologies and concepts for studying HOC environmental fate could be adopted for PPCP study, their differences should be highly understood. Prediction of PPCP environmental behavior needs to combine contributions from various fractions of soils or sediments and the sorption of their metabolites and different species. Recommendations and perspectives  More detailed studies on PPCP sorption in separated soil or sediment fractions are needed in order to propose a model predicting PPCP sorption in soils or sediments based on soil or sediment properties. The information on sorption of PPCP metabolites and species and the competition between them is still not enough to be incorporated into any predictive models.     

基于ASEB栅格分析法的旅游产品开发研究——以福建省湄洲岛为例

基于旅游体验理论为指导,在福建省湄洲岛旅游资源评价的基础上,运用ASEB栅格分析法对湄洲岛旅游产品开发进行了深度分析,提出产品谱系研究、创新旅游活动、联动开发文化旅游产品以及重点开发湄洲岛中部爱情旅游产品等对策.     

膜生物反应器中溶解性微生物产物特性的研究进展

溶解性微生物产物是制约生物处理出水达标和回用的主要污染物,处理工艺和操作条件的不同可能造成其特性差异。阐述了溶解性微生物产物的定义和产生机制,对膜生物反应器中溶解性微生物产物的组成、分子质量分布、亲水／疏水性、螯合性和毒性进行了概述,分析了影响其产生、特性和去除的因素。由于膜的截留作用使溶解性微生物产物在膜生物反应器中积累,容易引起膜污染。可以通过优化操作条件,减少溶解性微生物产物的产生,提高出水水质,有效地抑制膜污染。     

Economies of scale in global iron-making

In this paper, we investigate the presence of economies of scale in the global iron-making industry for integrated steel plants, iron making being the first stage in the steel-making process. Iron making depends on basic commodities, such as iron ore, coke and various forms of energy, required in the operation of the blast furnace, which can be classified as essential inputs and used in fixed proportions to produce iron. A generalized Leontief cost function is estimated using panel data for 69 integrated plants, such a specification being appropriate for technologies with essential inputs that are used in fixed proportions in production. A significant scale effect is observed due to the existence of fixed costs and a linear dependence of the cost function on production. Under a simple linear cost function, a rough estimate of the breakeven scale of plant, where costs equal revenue, is 4.5 Mt per year. Competitiveness, as measured by the ratio of plant average cost per tonne to best practice cost per tonne, can be shown to be positively related to the scale of production as well as the cost of essential inputs. Therefore, low-cost producers are also often producers with low raw material costs and production levels below the estimated breakeven scale of operation. Labor costs, although significant, are comparatively less important as a driver towards low costs.     

硫酸含汞问题的追踪研究

以辽宁省最大的硫酸生产企业（辽西某锌厂）为研究对象,剖析了硫酸含汞问题的来源,论述了该厂原料、中间产品、最终产品、车间内外环境汞的污染状况。并论述了使用该厂硫酸的十大企业的中间产品、最终产品的含汞状况,给出了厂内外环境受汞污染的测定结果,研究表明含汞硫酸污染问题是急待解决的重要问题。     

水环境中药品和个人护理用品污染现状及研究进展

综述了当前国内外药品和个人护理用品(PPCPs)在地表水、地下水和饮用水中的污染现状,介绍了水环境中PPCPs污染的危害及其预测、调查与检测方法。提出了我国水环境中PPCPs污染未来的研究方向,包括改进水处理工艺,提高PPCPs的去除效率;提升分析技术水平,拓宽PPCPs的检测种类;深入研究PPCPs产生的环境效应,重视其职业暴露的污染与危害;建立水环境中PPCPs的预测制度及风险评价体系。     

异戊醇低压热解的同步辐射真空紫外光电离质谱研究

作为新兴生物燃料,大分子醇类燃料在低压下的火灾安全基础迫切需要得到深入研究。热解过程作为火灾过程的初始阶段直接控制着火过程,火灾中碳烟颗粒的产生也依赖于热解反应,因此可燃物的低压热解研究在其低压火灾基础研究中具有重要意义。利用同步辐射真空紫外光电离质谱方法研究了异戊醇在0.2atm下的流动反应器热解,探测到了20余种热解产物,包括烯丙基自由基和C_4H_8O、C_5H_8、C_6H_6等同分异构体,并测量了其摩尔分数。基于实验结果,对燃料分解路径和主要产物的生成及消耗路径进行了探讨。与本组之前正戊醇热解实验的对比表明,由于存在支链结构,异戊醇在热解中比正戊醇更容易产生戊烯、丁烯和丙烯,但更少地产生乙烯。此外,异戊醇在热解中能够生成更多的丙炔和丙二烯等环状化合物前驱体,令其苯和1,3-环戊二烯的生成量更高,表明异戊醇比正戊醇更易于生成多环芳烃和碳烟。     

农药混配制剂环境风险评估现状与展望

本文综述了欧洲和美国农药混配制剂的环境风险评估方法。详细介绍了欧洲食品安全局(EFSA)评估体系中的2种方法,即,基础的"整体测试法"和近年来提倡的"基于组分的方法"。"基于组分的方法"的特点是以浓度加和模型(CA模型)作为默认假设进行初级评估,以独立作用模型(IA模型)等作为高级评估手段的农药混配制剂环境风险评估方法。此外,本文还介绍了模型偏差率(MDR)、毒性相似度及毒力单元(TU)等概念以及混配制剂风险评估流程。本文的目的旨在为建立我国农药混配制剂的环境风险评估方法体系提供参考。