Epiphytic Lichens and Tree Leaves As Biomonitors of Trace Elements Released By Geothermal Power Plants

Leaves of the oak, Quercus cerris, and thalli of the epiphytic lichen, Parmelia caperata, from the Travale-Radicondoli geothermal area (central Italy) were analyzed for their trace elements (As, B, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Zn). the results showed that concentrations of arsenic and boron in leaf and lichen samples were higher than in remote areas. the mean concentrations of many trace elements were higher in lichens than in oak leaves, suggesting that these organisms can be used in similar biomonitoring studies. the levels of boron and manganese were higher in tree leaves, so that for these two elements, the higher plant foliage could constitute a better biomonitor than lichens. the correlations found between the concentrations of cadmium and manganese in leaves and lichens suggests foliar leaching and washing of the elements down the tree trunk, where lichens may intercept them.     

Trace Element Contaminants in Sediments From the Noaa National Status and Trends Programme Compared to Data From Throughout the World

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Status and Trends (NS&T) Programme has analyzed samples of surface sediment collected at almost 300 coastal and estuarine sites throughout the United States since 1984. the overall distributions for concentrations of each element are approximately lognormal allowing a definition of geometric means and of “high” concentrations as those exceeding the mean plus one standard deviation of the lognormal distribution. Those mean and “high” concentrations should be useful for comparing the NS&T data set and with other reports on sediment contamination. A world-wide data set, constructed from data in the literature, was summarized in an identical manner. It was found, after excluding locally extreme values, that the NS&T and world-wide data sets yielded very similar mean and “high” concentrations for Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Chromium was the sole element showing higher summary statistics in the NS&T data set, a result attributed to NS&T sampling in areas of naturally (not contaminated) elevated Cr content. It remains undetermined, however, why the world-wide data set, even with exclusion of “hot spots”, yielded higher means and “highs” for Cd, Hg, As, and Ag.     

The Reproductive Capacity of Plants in a Gradient of Chemical Environmental Pollution

The reproductive capacity of Taraxacum officinale s.l. (two morphological forms: T. off. f. dahlstedtii Lindb. fil. and T. off. f. pectinatiforme Lindb. fil.) under conditions of chemical environmental pollution was studied in years differing in weather conditions. The number of generative shoots in plants increased along the toxic load gradient, which led to an increase in the total number of seeds and the weight of filled seeds. The relative energy value of seeds was determined from the amount of plastic substances in them. The number of seeds was shown to increase at a considerably higher rate than the energy expenditures for the formation of each seed. A general principle was revealed that determines the energy expenditures for the formation of a normal seed in both T. officinale forms under different weather conditions and under the chemical pollution of the environment.     

Concentrations of inorganic elements in 20 municipal waters in Sweden before and after treatment – links to human health

The water chemistry of 20 municipal water treatment plants in southern Sweden, representing various bedrock situations, and water qualities, were investigated. Four water samples, raw and treated, were collected from each plant and analyzed by predominantly ICP-OES and ICP-MS at four occasions from June to December, 2001. The concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Na, HCO₃ and a number of micronutrients, varied considerably in treated waters from the studied plants (ranges; Ca: 9.1–53.7 mg L⁻¹, Mg: 1.4–10.9 mg L⁻¹, K: 1.1–4.8 mg L⁻¹, Na; 5.4–75.6 mg L⁻¹, HCO₃: 27–217 mg L⁻¹). The elimination of Fe and Mn from raw water was efficient in all treatments investigated, giving concentrations in treated waters below the detection limits at some plants. Softening filters gave waters with Ca-concentrations comparable to the softest waters in this study. Adjustment of pH by use of chemicals like lye, soda or lime, modified the consumer water composition significantly, besides raising the pH. It was estimated that drinking water contributed to approximately 2.2–13% of the daily Ca uptake, if the gastrointestinal uptake efficiency from food and water was estimated to be around 50%. The corresponding figures for Mg was 1.0–7% and for F 0–59%. None of the studied elements showed any significant time trends in raw or treated waters during the follow-up period. The concentrations of potentially toxic metals such as Al, Pb and U were low and did not indicate risks for adverse health effects (ranges; Al: 0.5–2.3 μg L⁻¹, Pb: 0–0.3 μg L⁻¹, U: 0.2.5 μg L⁻¹).     

Relationships among multiple trace elements in coastal Casuarina equisetifolia ecosystems on Hainan Island, South China

Forty-six trace elements in coastal Casuarina equisetifolia plant–soil systems at nine sampling sites on Hainan Island were analyzed using ICP-MS. The relationships among the trace elements of the same group or the same periodicity of the Periodic Table in the plants and soils were complex and no consistent patterns were found. More combinations of elements occurred with high positive correlation coefficients within the same periodicity than within the same group of the Periodic Table, and there were more high positive correlations in soils than in plants. However, there were many element combinations in Block d (transition elements) with high positive correlation coefficients in plants. Markedly high positive correlation coefficients between individual rare earth elements and Y and among Zr, Nb, Cd existed in both plants and soils. The dendrograms obtained by cluster analysis show that rare earth elements had very similar occurrence and distribution in both soils and plants. Thus, they behaved as a coherent group of elements both geochemically and biogeochemically. The transition elements were more coherent in plants than in soils.     

重金属Cd、Cu对小麦(Triticum aestivum)幼苗生理生化过程的影响及其毒性机理研究

对Cd、Cu单因子处理下小麦幼苗叶片和根系的SOD、POD酶活、可溶性蛋白含量以及叶片中叶绿素含量的变化进行了研究.结果表明,Cd、Cu胁迫下,小麦幼苗受到损伤的明显症状之一是叶片叶绿素含量下降;小麦植株叶片POD、SOD酶活能够被诱导而升高;重金属Cd、Cu对小麦幼苗根系的损伤较叶片大;重金属对小麦幼苗的毒害机理之一是抑制了蛋白质的生物合成;重金属引起的各个生化指标随着处理浓度和处理时间的变化远比有机污染物(如豆磺隆)简单.     

北京市大气PM2.5中矿物成分的污染特征

为了解北京市大气细粒子中矿物成分的浓度水平和污染特征,在清华园和车公庄进行了连续1a的PM_2.5累积周采样和全样品分析.Al、Si、Ca、Mg和Fe等地壳元素的周变化相似,最大周均浓度均出现在春季有强沙尘天气的一周;其季节变化显著,显示季节性的源排放以及气象条件对矿物成分的含量影响显著.土壤尘的季节平均浓度从夏季逐步上升,至次年春季达到最高(21.1 μg·m^-3),表明春季频繁发生的沙尘天气对土壤尘细粒子有重要贡献.大量的建筑活动可能大大增加了北京细粒子中Ca的负荷,应加强其排放控制.     

基于MMA7260QT的危险场所跌倒检测设备的研制

在石化企业生产过程中,如何正确检测判别跌倒行为已成为危险场所安全防护的关键,传统的判别方法已不适应石化行业特殊的工作环境和行为特点。通过对三轴加速度传感器MMA7260QT原理的研究,结合毒性气体传感器和无线传输技术,采用低功耗微处理器MSP430F249,研制了一种危险场所用跌倒检测设备。介绍了三轴加速度传感器MMA7260QT的结构和原理,给出了设备系统设计。根据石化行业危险场所特点,建立了跌倒模型,分析了三轴加速度传感器检测信息的处理,确定出跌倒判断阈值。实验结果表明,研制的设备跌倒检测准确,符合石化行业危险场所应用需求。     

土介质炸点痕迹反演爆源特征的研究

论述了土介质炸点痕迹特征参量及其控制影响因素,通过对国内外现有研究成果的再分析和有效利用,得到爆源特征与炸点痕迹特征参量之间的关系。在此基础上,建立利用土介质上的炸点痕迹反演爆源特征的方法,并实现编程计算。通过实例分析说明了该方法的可行性。     

高含硫化氢井场公众疏散能力分析方法研究

我国含硫气田存在含硫量高、周边人口稠密、地形复杂等危险因素,如何保证含硫气田周边居民安全疏散成为一个重要的急需解决的问题.针对高含硫气田开发过程面临的公众疏散能力问题,采用毒性负荷判别法作为疏散能力评估的准则,提出一套分析流程,并给出相应的改进措施,形成一整套的复杂地形下高含硫化氢井场公众安全疏散能力分析方法;通过对本方法在现场实际中的应用,在理论和实例分析基础上,发现对高含硫气田井场进行疏散能力评估是可行且非常必要的.