我国城市住宅室内空气挥发性有机物污染特征

通过调研1990年以来我国城市住宅室内空气污染的研究资料,提炼城市住宅室内空气中挥发性有机物的浓度数据,总结甲醛、苯系物等常见住宅室内挥发性有机物的污染水平和分布规律,并且对主要由装修引起的污染物浓度与装修时间的关系进行了探讨. 分析发现,我国城市居民住宅室内普遍呈现以甲醛、苯、二甲苯等污染物为主的装修型污染,甲醛是首要污染物,ρ(甲醛)平均值为0.05～0.61 mg/m3,ρ(苯)、ρ(甲苯)、ρ(二甲苯)、ρ(乙苯)和ρ(TVOC)平均值分别为0.001~0.134、0.003~0.645、0.001~1.012、0.001~0.091和0.11~1.81 mg/m3. 新装修住宅室内空气中各种污染物均呈现较高的浓度水平,除甲醛外,其他挥发性有机物随着竣工时间的推移而快速下降.      

Seven years from the first application of polyaluminium chloride in the Czech Republic – effects on phytoplankton communities in three water bodies

This study determines the efficiency of polyaluminium chloride application on phytoplankton species as a consequence of five reservoir restorations in the Czech Republic during the years 2005 and 2008, including the first ever large-scale application. Although polyaluminium chloride has been used in water treatment plants across the world, information about its application toward cyanobacterial blooms in nature is poor. Although the application of polyaluminium chloride did not cause any fundamental long-term changes in the composition of phytoplankton species or phosphorus load, instead causing fast and acute removal of the phytoplankton community, it may act as an algicidal compound with fast removal efficiency. All treated water bodies described in our study remained unaffected by cyanobacterial blooms and the hygienic limit for the purposes of recreation was not exceeded in any particular season. This article should serve as notice of the advantages and disadvantages of polyaluminium chloride application, and also warn against the uniform usage of this chemical as a method of reducing phytoplankton species in all types of water bodies where cyanobacteria are present. Moreover, data about the effects on non-target (invertebrates) species and microcystin release from cyanobacterial cells are also mentioned.     

Effect of light and temperature on the population dynamics of two toxic bloom forming Cyanobacteria – Microcystis ichthyoblabe and Anabaena aphanizomenoides

The effect of light and temperature on the growth of Microcystis ichthyoblabe and Anabaena aphanizomenoides, isolated from the subtropical Oued Mellah lake, Morocco (33°30′N–07°20′W), were investigated in batch culture. Growth rates at 66 light–temperature combinations were determined and fitted with different mathematical models. The results show that the two Cyanobacteria grow at all light intensities and temperatures, except at 10 °C for A. aphanizomenoides, where the growth was strongly limited. The μ_max of M. ichthyoblabe increased with temperature from 0.56 d^?1 at 10 °C to 1.32 d^?1 at 35 °C. At all tested temperatures, a relative photoinhibition within the studied range of irradiance was observed and the photosensitivity was thermodependent. For Anabaena, the obtained μ_max ranged between 0.07 d^?1 at 10 °C and 1.46 d^?1 at 35 °C, and a weak photoinhibition was observed at 15 °C. The positive correlation between μ_max and I_opt (r²≥0.93) indicates a close interaction between light and temperature on the cyanobacteria growth. The results obtained in this work suggest that the growth of these two species is possible under low light and low temperature.     

Remobilization of selected metal ions from Nile sediment (Egypt) according to sequential extraction and metal–EDTA complex

River sediments are basic components of our environment, providing nutrients for living organisms and serving as sinks for deleterious chemical species. The metal contents may be remobilized and released back into waters with changes in environmental conditions, thus affecting living organisms and human activities. This paper aims to determine the effect of a synthetic anthropogenic chelating agent (EDTA) as industrial discharges on the remobilization of several metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in River Nile sediments (at Aswan and Mansoura cities) under different concentrations and pH values, and to investigate the influence of metal–EDTA complexes on this remobilization. For these purposes, sequential extraction and experiments on the effect of pH and metal EDTA complex were carried out on the two representative sediment samples south and north of the River Nile in Egypt. The results of sequential extraction show that most of metal contents present in the residual form (Cu, 11.36–72.34%; Pb, 29.64–66.67%; and Zn, 43.76–50.09% at Aswan and Mansoura, respectively). Non-residual fractions which may be available for the remobilization by EDTA represented anthropogenic (industrial, agriculture, and domestic discharges) and lithiopogenic (metals bound to Fe and Mn oxides) sources. A clear increase was detected for Cu and Zn remobilization from the increase in EDTA concentrations, in contrast, Cd independent of the EDTA concentration and slight influence on Pb content. The remobilization of metals as a function of pH exhibited. The metals were greatly remobilized under the complexing action of EDTA, showing that some of these elements were adsorbed on the sediments. The remobilization rate of metals was dependent upon the added metal–EDTA complex (with the exchange rate being in the order Ca–EDTA>Zn–EDTA>Cd–EDTA>Cu–EDTA>Pb–EDTA), due to the stability constant of the metal–EDTA complex. The results of these experiments showed that heavy metals are greatly remobilized under the complexing action of EDTA when it is present in excess, so all precautions should be taken to prevent any wastewater containing EDTA or any chelating agents discharging directly or indirectly via the River Nile stream because most EDTA remains in the aquatic phase. The ability of this portion to remobilize metals from sediments should be taken into account.     

Comparative in vitro metabolism of chloroxylenol,chlorophene, and triclosan with rat,mouse, and human hepatic microsomes

A number of studies have reported the presence of chlorinated phenols, commonly used as antiseptics, in the environment. Chloroxylenol, chlorophene, and triclosan are three such chemicals believed to have leached into water supplies through the wastewater treatment facilities. Understanding how these compounds are metabolized is important in determining the risks of chemical exposure. In this study, we compared the in vitro metabolism of these three chlorinated phenols with rat, mouse, and human liver microsomes. The structures of the metabolites formed during the microsomal reactions were identical when rat, mouse, and human liver extracts were used, but variations existed in the kinetics of the reactions.     

Dietary selenium fortification: a potential solution to chronic arsenic toxicity

Selenium (Se), an important micronutrient and antioxidant, also acts as an antagonist of arsenic (As). Se supplementation of diet was investigated in mitigating chronic As toxicity in mammals. Experiments were conducted to determine whether Se supplementation in As-exposed rats might (i) decrease As-induced lipid peroxidation in liver, (ii) increase blood antioxidant status, and (iii) reverse suppression of the secondary antibody response. Male Wistar rats were exposed to As (40 and 80?ppm) in drinking water and received challenge diets with three different levels of Se (deficient: <0.01?ppm, adequate: 0.15 ppm, and fortified: 0.6?ppm) for 16 weeks. Clinical variables including behavior, body weight, and food and water consumption were recorded weekly, and blood sample was collected monthly. Antioxidant status was assessed through glutathione sulfhydryl (GSH) levels in whole blood. Lipid peroxidation in the liver was evaluated using the malondialdehyde (MDA) assay. The antibody response was measured using keyhole limpet hemocyanin as an immunogen. Se deficiency significantly increased hepatic lipid peroxidation and suppressed antibody production relative to the Se-adequate and -fortified groups, confirming that Se deficiency exacerbates the damage produced by As exposure. Se fortification markedly elevated the blood GSH level in both As-exposed groups, indicating protective effects. At adequate Se levels, rats showed signs of counteracting As-mediated toxicity. However, Se fortification produced more pronounced benefits against As-induced toxicity, a pattern that was particularly notable in the 40?ppm As group.     

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activities of hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in recombinant yeast cells

Hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAH) with less than four rings are frequently found in the environment, whereas the toxicities associated with these compounds remain unclear. In this study, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)–ligand binding activities of OH-PAH were investigated by using a recombinant yeast assay system. The majority of the OH-PAH tested showed AhR–ligand binding activities, especially, when the hydroxylated derivatives of naphthalene were incubated with recombinant yeast. The structure–activity relationship between AhR activity and molecular weight or the octanol–water partition coefficient value of OH-PAH displayed significant correlations. These findings indicate that the site and number of hydroxy-groups substituted on PAH skeleton apparently influenced the AhR – ligand binding activity in the recombinant yeast assay.     

Photo- and electro-catalysis for solar disinfection of Escherichia coli-contaminated water using Ag–TiO2/graphite

A titanium dioxide film on a graphite substrate was synthesized by chemical bath deposition from TiCl₄ as precursor and with the surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as a linking and assembling agent. Silver was loaded on the TiO₂ film by electrodeposition at 0.025?A. Water contaminated with Escherichia coli was disinfected under sunlight irradiation by photolysis (Lys), photocatalysis (PC), photoelectrocatalysis (PEC), and electrocatalysis (EC). The highest rate constant, k, was achieved with EC; k was 5.1?×?10^?2 colony forming units (CFU) mL^?1?min^?1. However, auto-oxidation of Ag occurred during EC and PEC. Meanwhile, the rate constant of disinfection by means of PC was lower than EC and PEC, and k was 3.82?×?10^?2 CFU?mL^?1?min^?1. Nevertheless, the auto-oxidation of Ag in the Ag–TiO₂/graphite tablet did not occur during the disinfection process.     

The economic impact of the invasion of Acacia saligna in Israel

This paper illustrates the use of alternative, non-market valuation methods to estimate the economic value of ecological damage caused by the invasive plant Acacia saligna. We discuss the motivation to perform an economic valuation for bio-invasion in general and then examine the costs and benefits of conservation management programmes that reduce the risk of A. saligna invasion at the Nizzanim Long-Term Ecosystem Research (LTER) nature reserve in Israel. The study found that the annual mean willingness to pay (WTP) for containment or eradication of A. saligna was US$8.41 and US$8.83, respectively. The value placed on conserving the nature reserve was then compared to the cost of containment or eradication of the species, enabling a standard economic benefit–cost analysis. The result of this analysis showed that, using the most conservative method of valuation of the nature reserve, eradication of A. saligna gave a net benefit.     

Modelling global-scale potential grassland changes in spatio-temporal patterns to global climate change

Grassland is one of the most widespread vegetation types worldwide and plays a significant role in global carbon cycling. Understanding the sensitivity of grassland to climate change and the effect of climate changes on the grassland ecosystems is a key issue in global carbon cycling. One of the goals of this study was to evaluate the three net primary productivity (NPP)–climate models, i.e. the Miami model, the Schuur model and the classification indices-based model. Results indicated that the classification indices-based model was the most effective model at estimating large-scale grassland NPP. In this research, changes in the spatial pattern of global potential grassland from recent past (1950–2000) to future (2001–2050) A2a scenario were analysed with the integrated orderly classification system of grassland (IOCSG) approach in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. NPP was evaluated with the classification indices-based model. Results indicate that under recent past climatic conditions, the main parts of global grassland are the savanna and tundra and alpine grassland and will be converted into the savanna, steppe and semi-desert grassland in A2a scenario. As a whole, areas of grassland will increase by 31.76 million hectares. The classification indices-based model estimated a 12.40% increase of total NPP in grassland from recent past to A2a scenario. It will impose a new issue for future grassland researches to support sustainable development and to provide action relevant knowledge to meet the challenge of climate change.