Using Relative Risk to Compare the Effects of Aquatic Stressors at a Regional Scale

The regional-scale importance of an aquatic stressor depends both on its regional extent (i.e., how widespread it is) and on the severity of its effects in ecosystems where it is found. Sample surveys, such as those developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), are designed to estimate and compare the extents, throughout a large region, of elevated conditions for various aquatic stressors. In this article, we propose relative risk as a complementary measure of the severity of each stressor’s effect on a response variable that characterizes aquatic ecological condition. Specifically, relative risk measures the strength of association between stressor and response variables that can be classified as either “good” (i.e., reference) or “poor” (i.e., different from reference). We present formulae for estimating relative risk and its confidence interval, adapted for the unequal sample inclusion probabilities employed in EMAP surveys. For a recent EMAP survey of streams in five Mid-Atlantic states, we estimated the relative extents of eight stressors as well as their relative risks to aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages, with assemblage condition measured by an index of biotic integrity (IBI). For example, a measure of excess sedimentation had a relative risk of 1.60 for macroinvertebrate IBI, with the meaning that poor IBI conditions were 1.6 times more likely to be found in streams having poor conditions of sedimentation than in streams having good sedimentation conditions. We show how stressor extent and relative risk estimates, viewed together, offer a compact and comprehensive assessment of the relative importances of multiple stressors.     

环境监测机构中的层级管理制度

根据社会组织中客观存在的层级结构,描述了环境监测站的层级构成及其基本职能, 认识和合理利用层级管理制度有利于内设机构的设置、合理地配置其职能并确保机构高效 运行。     

ENHANCING FECAL COLIFORM TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD MODELS THROUGH BACTERIAL SOURCE TRACKING1

ABSTRACT: Surface water impairment by fecal coliform bacteria is a water quality issue of national scope and importance. In Virginia, more than 400 stream and river segments are on the Commonwealth's 2002 303(d) list because of fecal coliform impairment. Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) will be developed for most of these listed streams and rivers. Information regarding the major fecal coliform sources that impair surface water quality would enhance the development of effective watershed models and improve TMDLs. Bacterial source tracking (BST) is a recently developed technology for identifying the sources of fecal coliform bacteria and it may be helpful in generating improved TMDLs. Bacterial source tracking was performed, watershed models were developed, and TMDLs were prepared for three streams (Accotink Creek, Christians Creek, and Blacks Run) on Virginia's 303(d) list of impaired waters. Quality assurance of the BST work suggests that these data adequately describe the bacteria sources that are impairing these streams. Initial comparison of simulated bacterial sources with the observed BST data indicated that the fecal coliform sources were represented inaccurately in the initial model simulation. Revised model simulations (based on BST data) appeared to provide a better representation of the sources of fecal coliform bacteria in these three streams. The coupled approach of incorporating BST data into the fecal coliform transport model appears to reduce model uncertainty and should result in an improved TMDL.     

A RIFFLE STABILITY INDEX TO EVALUATE SEDIMENT LOADING TO STREAMS1

ABSTRACT: Riffles in moderately entrenched stream reaches with gradients of 2 percent to 4 percent that have received excessive sediment from upstream have a distinctly different and higher proportion of smaller mobile particles than riffles in systems that are in dynamic equilibrium. The mobile fraction on the riffle can be estimated by comparing the relative abundance of various particle sizes present on the riffle with the dominant large particles on an adjacent bar. Riffle particles smaller than the dominant large particles on the bar are interpreted as mobile. The mobile percentile of particles on the riffle is termed “Riffle Stability Index” (RSI) and provides a useful estimate of the degree of increased sediment supply to riffles in mountain streams. The RSI addresses situations in which increases in gravel bedload from headwaters activities is depositing material on riffles and filling pools, and it reflects qualitative differences between reference and managed watersheds. The RSI correlates well with other measures of stream channel physical condition, such as V and the results of fish habitat surveys. Thus, it can be used as an indicator of stream reach and watershed condition and also of aquatic habitat quality.     

数据包络分析(DEA)模型在清洁生产评价中的应用

清洁生产技术方案评价对于指导企业实施清洁生产有重要意义。将污染物产生量数据作为一种输入引入数据包络分析(DEA)模型，利用该模型对清洁生产技术方案中的投入、产出和污染物发生量进行有效性评价。分析不同方案相对效率值、目标改进值，发现最有效的清洁生产技术方案，达到经济效益和环境效益的统一。本研究为企业筛选和决策可实施清洁生产技术方案提供技术理论支持。     

Mapping Three‐Dimensional Water‐Quality Data in the Chesapeake Bay Using Geostatistics1

Abstract:  Data interpretation and visualization software tools with geostatistical capabilities were adapted, customized, and tested to assist the Chesapeake Bay Program in improving its water‐quality modeling protocols. Tools were required to interpolate, map, and visualize three‐dimensional (3D) water‐quality data, with the capability to determine estimation errors. Components of the software, originally developed for ground‐water modeling, were customized for application in estuaries. Additional software components were developed for retrieval, and for pre‐ and post‐ processing of data. The Chesapeake Bay Program uses the 3D mapped data for input to the Bay water‐quality model that projects the future health of the Bay and its tidal tributary system. In determining water‐quality attainment criteria, 3D kriging estimation errors are needed as a statistical measure of uncertainty. Furthermore, given the high cost of installing and operating new monitoring stations, geostatistical techniques can assist the Chesapeake Bay Program in the identification of suitable data collection locations. Following the evaluation, selection, and development of the software components phase, 3D ordinary kriging techniques with directional semi‐variograms to account for anisotropy were successfully demonstrated for mapping 3D fixed station water‐quality data, such as dissolved oxygen and salinity. Additionally, an improved delineation tool was implemented to simulate the upper and lower pycnocline boundary surfaces allowing the segregation of the interpolated 3D data into three separate zones for a better characterization of the pycnocline layer.     

SUBALPINE,COLD CLIMATE,STORMWATER TREATMENT WITH A CONSTRUCTED SURFACE FLOW WETLAND1

The Tahoe City Wetland Treatment System (TCWTS) was constructed in 1997 to treat stormwater runoff from 23 ha of commercial, highway, and residential land use in the Lake Tahoe Basin. This subalpine, constructed, surface flow wetland treatment system consists of two cells in series, with a design water surface area of about 0.6 ha. Water quality monitoring from October 2002 through September 2003 was conducted with autosamplers at the inflow and outflow sites during 24 sampling events, with a median duration of 53 hours, representing 42 percent of total inflow to this wetland during the year. Monitoring data indicate an improvement of 49 percent or greater in effluent concentrations of dissolved phosphorus, nitrate, orthophosphorus, and total suspended solids. On average, event mean concentrations of total phosphorus were reduced from a median 279 μg/l at the inflow to 94 μg/l at the outflow. Event mean concentrations of total nitrogen were reduced from a median 1,599 μg/l at the inflow to 810 μg/l at the outflow. Net nutrient retention for the sampling period was estimated at 3 g phosphorus (P)/m²/y and 13 g nitrogen (N)/m²/y. Almost 4,000 kg of suspended sediment was captured by this wetland system during the year.     

国内外油田含油污泥处理技术

通过对国内外各种含油污泥处理工艺技术的调查分析和对比,提出了适合国内实际的含油污泥处理技术方案。以离心分离技术为核心,辅之以调质、倾析等多种预处理技术和高温裂解、生物处理等后续处理技术的污泥综合处理工艺,适于我国现阶段的含油污泥处理。     

突发性环境污染事故应急监测准备与响应

突发性环境污染事故具有不确定性，因此要求应急监测准备工作常备不懈；应急监测准备和响应贯穿于事前、事发、事后几个阶段，包括日常准备、应急监测、结果发布、跟踪监测、经验总结等主要环节。     

山东省城市空气自动监测监控系统数据的应用设计和使用方法

山东省城市空气自动监测监控系统的主要功能是将全省城市自动监测站数据利用计算机网络、数据仓库等技术导入到环境监测数据仓库中，实现全省城市空气质量自动监测的统一监控和监测信息的自动管理和发布。本文简单介绍了系统控制中心端监测数据统计应用部分的功能设计和实现方法。