Temperature Effect on Migration of Zn and Cd Through Natural Clay

To investigate the effect of temperature on effective diffusion coefficients and retardation factors for Zn and Cd, combined diffusion and sequential extraction analyses were conducted at 15 ^˚C and 55 ^˚C. The effective diffusion coefficients of the metals increased up to ten times according to the increased temperature. On the other hand, the effect of temperature on the retardation factor depended on the retention mechanisms of the metals. The distribution coefficient for Zn, which was mainly partitioned in the carbonate phase, increased up to two times with the increase in temperature. On the other hand, the distribution coefficient for Cd, which was mainly partitioned in the exchangeable phase, was hardly affected by the temperature change. Results of combined diffusion and sequential extraction analysis showed that the effect of temperature on the heavy metals’ (Zn and Cd) migration through the compacted natural clay was influenced by the combined effects of the diffusion coefficient and the retardation factor. Additionally, we could also observe the change in retention mechanism for the metals with the change in pore water concentration.     

Cancer and Non-Cancer Health Risk from Eating Cassava Grown in Some Mining Communities in Ghana

Food crops such as cassava, cocoyam and other tuber crops grown in mining communities uptake toxic or hazardous chemicals such as arsenic, and cadmium, from the soil. Cassava is a stable food for Ghanaians. This study evaluated human health risk from eating cassava grown in some mining communities in Ghana such as Bogoso, Prestea, Tarkwa and Tamso, which are important mining towns in the Western Region of Ghana. The study evaluated cancer and non-cancer health effects from eating cassava grown in the study areas in accordance with US Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Assessment guidelines. The results of the study revealed the following: cancer health risk for Tamso, 0.098 (RME – Reasonable Maximum Exposure) and 0.082 (CTE – Central Tendency Exposure). This means that approximately 10 and 8 out of 100 resident adults are likely to suffer from cancer related cases by RME and CTE parameters respectively. For Prestea, we have 0.010 and 0.12, which also means that approximately 1 out of 100 and 10 resident adults out of 100 are also likely to suffer from cancer related diseases by RME and CTE parameters. The results of the study obtained were found to be above the acceptable cancer risk range of 1× 10⁻⁶ to 1× 10⁻⁴, i.e., 1 case of cancer out of 1 million or 100,000 people respectively.     

天津地区表层土中饱和烃的组成与分布特征

为揭示天津地区不同环境功能区表层土壤中饱和烃污染特征及其来源,分析了该地区几个具代表性的环境功能区表层土(0～25cm)中饱和烃化合物的组成和分布特征,重点讨论了正构烷烃和甾、萜烷烃类化合物的组成、分布及环境意义,比较了不同层次(亚层)(0～5cm,5～10cm,10～15cm,15～20cm,20～25cm)中这些化合物及相关的地球化学参数的变化规律。结果表明,不同采样点以及同一采样点的不同亚层之间正构烷烃的组成特征存在不同程度的差别,而甾、萜烷烃类化合物组成与分布特征均较为接近。正构烷烃以及甾、萜类地球化学参数综合分析揭示,不同采样点之间正构烷烃的来源多样,中低分子量的正构烷烃主要来源于石油等化石燃料,高分子量正构烷烃主要来源于高等植物蜡的分解产物,但甾、萜烷烃类化合物的来源是一致的,且主要来源于石油烃污染。不同采样点表层土中饱和烃的来源及污染程度均存在一定的差别,市区、油田附近、经济开发区以及近郊区受石油源影响较重,北部山区污染较轻,且主要来源于高等植物的降解。除个别采样点外,同一采样点不同亚层之间饱和烃的组成特征基本一致,表明污染源是一致的,主要来源由表层污染物往下迁移所致。     

Evaluation of ogawa passive sampling devices as an alternative measurement method for the nitrogen dioxide annual standard in El Paso, Texas

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) is a common urban air pollutant that results from the combustion of fossil fuels. It causes serious human health effects, is a precursor to the formation of ground level ozone, another serious air pollutant, and is one of the six criteria air pollutants established by the United States (U.S.) Clean Air Act (CAA). Ogawa Passive Sampling Devices (PSDs) for NO₂ were collocated and operated at six NO₂ Federal Reference Method (FRM) monitor locations in the El Paso, Texas area for the 2004 calendar year. Passive samples were taken at 2-week, 3-week, and 4-week intervals and compared against the continuously operating FRM monitors. Results showed that the collective NO₂ annual arithmetic mean for all passive monitors was identical to the NO₂ mean for all FRM monitors. Of the individual locations, three passive annual NO₂ means were identical to their corresponding FRM means, and three passive annual NO₂ means differed from their corresponding FRM means by only one part per billion (ppb). Linear correlation analysis between all readings of the individual NO₂ PSDs and FRM values showed an average absolute difference of 1.2 ppb with an r ² of 0.95. Paired comparison between high and low concentration annual NO₂ sites, seasonal considerations, and interlab quality control comparisons all showed excellent results. The ease of deployment, reliability, and the cost-savings that can be realized with NO₂ PSDs could make them an attractive alternative to FRM monitors for screening purposes, and even possibly an equivalent method for annual NO₂ monitoring. More tests of the Ogawa NO₂ PSD are recommended for different ecosystem and climate regimes.     

226Ra, 232Th and 40K analysis in soil samples from some areas of Malwa region, Punjab, India using gamma ray spectrometry

The activity concentrations of soil samples collected from thirty different locations of Malwa region of Punjab were determined by using HPGe detector based on high-resolution gamma spectrometry system. The range of activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in the soil from the studied areas varies from 18.37 Bq kg⁻¹ (Sangrur) to 53.11 Bq kg⁻¹ (Sitoguno), 57.28 Bq kg⁻¹ (Dhanola) to 148.28 Bq kg⁻¹ (Sitoguno) and 211.13 Bq kg⁻¹ (Sunam) to 413.27 Bq kg⁻¹ (Virk Khera) with overall mean values of 35 Bq kg⁻¹, 80 Bq kg⁻¹and 317 Bq kg⁻¹ respectively. The absorbed dose rate calculated from activity concentration of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K ranges between 8.47 and 24.48, 35.68 and 92.38, and 8.74 and 17.11 nGy h⁻¹, respectively. The total absorbed dose in the study area ranges from 58.08 nGy h⁻¹ to 130.85 nGy h⁻¹ with an average value of 79.11 nGy h⁻¹. The calculated values of external hazard index (H_ex) for the soil samples of the study area range from 0.35 to 0.79. Since these values are lower than unity, therefore, according to the Radiation Protection 112 (European Commission. Radiation Protection 112 1999) report, soil from these regions is safe and can be used as a construction material without posing any significant radiological threat to population.     

OFA系列石油定量分析仪使用探讨

通过分析现有OFA系列石油定量分析仪的使用对操作人员的职业危害,从试剂对人体的危害程度、对油气发出荧光的干扰程度、油气萃取灵敏度与萃取荧光效率、钻井液添加剂选择性进行对比实验提出了采用异丙醇代替正已烷作为萃取剂的可能性,并对工作台进行改造,将有害气体迅速排除,降低室内有害气体浓度,从而实现“绿色”操作的方法。     

平朔安太堡矿区复垦地土壤微生物与土壤性质关系的研究

调查安太堡大型露天矿区西排土场植被恢复与土壤微生物的关系.结果表明,土壤中微生物量与土壤中的水分、速效磷、土壤有机质、有效性氮和海拔高度有明显的关系.麦地、林地、草地的土壤中呈现出:细菌》放线菌》固氮菌》霉菌;撂荒地呈现为:细菌》放线菌》霉菌》固氮菌;裸地呈现出:细菌》放线菌》霉菌.细菌、放线菌和霉菌呈现麦地最高,裸地最低,固氮菌为林地高于其他样地.在撂荒地和裸地中,细菌占微生物总量的一半以上.麦地、林地、草地、撂荒地中的各种菌、速效磷、土壤有机质、有效性氮含量明显高于裸地中的含量.微生物总量和样地的海拔、样地土壤的含水率有明显的关系,土壤中的含水量直接影响微生物总量.微生物总量与速效磷含量和有机质含量成正比,有机质含量与有效性氮含量成正比.细菌与海拔呈极显著负相关,与其他几种养分指标呈极显著正相关,放线菌与海拔和速效磷呈极显著相关,与其他指标相关性不显著,固氮菌与几种养分指标相关性均不显著.按全国土壤养分划分标准,安太堡大型露天矿区复垦地等级不高,还需要用科学的方法加快复垦区土壤的恢复.     

UNIT HYDROGRAPHS – A COMPARATIVE STUDY1

ABSTRACT. Unit hydrographs derived by using two methods, linear programming and least squares, are compared. Test data comprise rainfall and runoff information from four storms over the North Branch Potomac River near Cumberland, Maryland. The mathematical bases of these methods for unit-hydrograph derivation are explained. The linear programming method minimizes the sum of absolute deviations, and the least squares method minimizes the sum of the squares of deviations. Computer subroutines are readily available for application of these methods. The unit hydrographs derived with the two methods are practically the same for storms 2 and 3, but differ somewhat for storms 1 and 4. However, the reconstituted direct surface runoff hydrographs are similar to those observed with the exception of the hydrograph for storm 4 which had a relatively more non-uniform rainfall excess of a considerably larger duration.     

经济新常态下的“十三五”环境压力预测

我国经济已经从高速增长转向中高速增长的新常态阶段,经济发展方式从规模速度型粗放增长转向质量效率型集约增长,产业结构从劳动密集型向资金密集型和知识密集型转换,经济发展动力从要素驱动、投资驱动转向创新驱动。经济新常态下,环境保护将迎来难得的历史机遇,同时也面临严峻的挑战。为了深入理解和准确把握经济新常态下我国"环境态"的发展特征,本文基于中长期环境经济预测模型定量测算了2020年我国社会经济、能源和水资源以及主要污染物排放趋势和特征。结果表明,"十三五"期间,我国能源和水资源消耗总量增长将趋缓,新增消耗量进入涨幅收窄期;产业转型升级加速将从源头上减轻新增污染减排的压力,主要大气和水污染物排放将进入高位平台期,排放强度将呈现高位回落。     

地铁地基液化变形的影响因素研究

研究了一些对地铁隧道抗震稳定有较大影响的因素。例如,地铁隧道的整体平均容重和地铁隧道的埋深,尽管它们对地基的孔隙水压力发展影响不大,但却对地铁隧道的震后残余变形影响相当显著。还有,砂性土中粘性土的含量多少对砂性土的动力行为有直接而显著的影响。最后,从能量的角度分析了输入不同地震波的地铁地基土层动力反应的差异。