Simultaneous analysis of five taste and odor compounds in surface water using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

In this paper, a method using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed to simultaneously analyze five taste and odor compounds in surface water, i.e., 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), 2-isopropyl-3-methoxy pyrazine (IPMP), 2-isobutyl-3-methoxy pyrazine (IBMP), and trans-1,10-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol (geosmin, GSM). The mass spectrometry was operated in selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Three kinds of SPE columns and three eluting solvents were compared, the C18 column was chosen as optimum SPE column, and methanol was chosen as the optimum eluting solvent. It was found that the method showed good linearity in the range of 1–200 ng·L^-1 and gave detection limits of 0.5–1.5 ng·L^-1 for individual compounds. Good recoveries (93.5%–108%) and relative standard deviations (1.58%–7.31%) were also obtained. Additionally, concentrations of these taste and odor compounds in Jinan’s surface and drinking water were analyzed by applying this method, and the results showed that GSM and 2-MIB were the dominant taste and odor compounds in Jinan’s raw water.     

Effects of connectivity and spatial resolution of analyses on conservation prioritization across large extents

The outcome of analyses that prioritize locations for conservation on the basis of distributions of species, land cover, or other elements is influenced by the spatial resolution of data used in the analyses. We explored the influence of data resolution on prioritization of Finnish forests with Zonation, a software program that ranks the priority of cells in a landscape for conservation. We used data on the distribution of different forest types that were aggregated to nine different resolutions ranging from 0.1 × 0.1 km to 25.6 × 25.6 km. We analyzed data at each resolution with two variants of Zonation that had different criteria for prioritization, with and without accounting for connectivity and with and without adjustment for the effect on the analysis of edges between areas at the project boundary and adjacent areas for which data do not exist. Spatial overlap of the 10% of cells ranked most highly when data were analyzed at different resolutions varied approximately from 15% to 60% and was greatest among analyses with similar resolutions. Inclusion of connectivity or edge adjustment changed the location of areas that were prioritized for conservation. Even though different locations received high priority for conservation in analyses with and without accounting for connectivity, accounting for connectivity did not reduce the representation of different forest types. Inclusion of connectivity influenced most the outcome of fine-resolution analyses because the connectivity extents that we based on dispersal distances of typical forest species were small. When we kept the area set aside for conservation constant, representation of the forest types increased as resolution increased. We do not think it is necessary to avoid use of high-resolution data in spatial conservation prioritization. Our results show that large extent, fine-resolution analyses are computationally feasible, and we suggest they can give more flexibility to implementation of well-connected reserve networks.     

饮用水水源中半挥发性有机污染物监测方法的探讨

江苏省饮用水水源地水质中富含有机物质,这类化合物种类多、浓度高,在色谱分析中,容易与痕量半挥发性有机毒物形成共流物,干扰分析。根据四极杆质谱检测器和离子阱质谱检测器的工作原理,建立了54种半挥发性有机物的选择性离子监测和2级质谱法监测方法,确定了选择性离子监测方法所选的离子范围,2级质谱法监测所选的母离子、CID电压,对比了选择性离子监测和2级质谱法监测的检测限。在此基础上初步建立了将两种质谱监测相结合的方法,该方法在实际样品分析中简便准确,可有效减少前处理工作。     

远距离输送作用对南京大气污染的影响

为了研究近地层大气污染物远程输送对于南京地区的影响,结合南京北郊观测点的观测资料,对2008—2009年南京地区气团的后向轨迹进行了聚类分析,结果表明：O3质量浓度分布呈双峰型,分别于5—6月和8—10月达到了高峰,两年共计有36 d质量浓度超过了国家环境空气质量标准二级标准,其中两次峰值期间占81%和83%。NO2和SO2在冬季较其他季节质量浓度高。到达南京气流轨迹以东部气团（占总数37%）为主。在东部气团影响下,南京周边地区近地层O3、NO2和SO2质量浓度分别为99.5、54.0和76.6μg.m-3,大气污染物质量浓度均较高。从后向轨迹分析认为,与气团途经并携带了重污染的长三角地区近地层排放的气体污染物有关。相对于其他来向的气团,东部气团对于南京地区近地层的影响更重要。     

A Comparison of Aerial and Ground Level Measurements of 137Cs in the Marshall Islands

The purpose of this paper is to present and compare two independent sets of environmental gamma spectrometry measurements of¹³⁷ Cs collected nearly 14 years apart. One set of data was collected in 1978 by a contractor of the U.S. Department of Energy during an aerial radiological survey of the northern atolls of the Marshall Islands. That program used helicopter mounted sodium-iodide scintillation detectors; measurements were made from an altitude of 38 m. The second measurement program was conducted from early 1990 through late 1994 by the Republic of the Marshall Islands Government in a survey of the entire nation. This latter program used ground level in situ gamma spectrometry with high-purity germanium detectors. In this comparison, we highlight differences between the findings of the two studies and probable reasons for those differences, though we also discuss the effectiveness of the two techniques for monitoring the ionizing radiation environment. In the comparison of exposure rates from ¹³⁷Cs, fair agreement was noted after accounting for radioactive decay during the intervening years. Though the distributions were statistically different over their entire range, they were nearly identical above 1 R h^-1. There was considerable difference in the estimates of¹³⁷ Cs inventory; the difference was greater at low activity levels with the NaI measurements consistently larger than the in situ measurements. Reasons for this difference is attributed to three factors which differed between the two studies: (1) the assumed penetration of the cesium into the soil column, (2) the assumption of soil density, and (3) differences in the ability of the two different detector systems to reject interfering spectral contributions. Precise measurement of the lowest levels has implications for determining those atolls that exceeded the deposition of ¹³⁷Cs from global fallout. This issue is discussed in addition to a comparison of the findings from the two measurement programs.     

原子吸收光度法测定镉时铁的基体改进效应研究

用石墨炉原子吸收分光光度法测定环境废水中的痕量镉时,Mn、Cr、Ni、Cu、Co、Zn等共存元素干扰严重。用100mg／L的铁作为基体改进剂可消除上述共存元素的干扰,测定结果令人满意。     

铜山矿区周边农田土壤重金属来源解析及污染评价

为探明铜山矿区周边农田土壤重金属主要来源及污染程度,采集并测定了361个表层土壤（0～20 cm）样品重金属Ag、 Cu、 Pb、 Zn、 Mo、 Sb、 Ba、 As和Hg.利用PMF模型和IDW插值相结合的方法对研究区土壤重金属进行来源解析及空间分布特征分析.在传统物元可拓模型的基础上,引入Hakanson毒性响应系数修正权重系数对重金属污染水平进行评价,并将评价结果与Muller指数(I_geo)和Nemerow综合指数（P_N）进行对比.结果显示：（1）ω（Ag）、ω（Cu）、ω（Pb）、ω（Zn）、ω（Mo）、ω（Sb）、ω（Ba）、ω（As）和ω（Hg）均值分别为0.05、 19.32、 23.34、 62.89、 0.97、 0.87、 542.56、 8.88和0.07 mg·kg^-1,其中Zn和Hg均高出河南省土壤背景值,但低于农用地土壤污染风险管制值,研究区土壤9种重金属在空间上主要呈现岛状和片状分布.（2）修正权重系数的物元可拓模型评价结果显示,研究区仅有6.37%的表层土壤为清洁土壤,89.75%为尚...     

A review on analytical methods for pharmaceutical and personal care products and their transformation products

Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and corresponding transformation products have caused widespread concern due to their persistent emissions and potential toxicity. They have wide octanol-water partition coefficients (K_ow) and different ionization constants (pK_a) resulting in a poor analysis accuracy and efficiency. A suitable analytical method is the first prerequisite for further research on their environmental behavior to prioritize the substances. This study reviewed a full-scale analytical protocol for environmental samples in the recent ten years: from sampling to instrumental methods. Passive sampling techniques were compared and recommended for long-term continuous and scientific observation. A quick and effective sample extraction and clean-up method are highly required. Chromatographic methods coupled to mass spectrometry for determining PPCPs with a wide range of logK_ow (?7.53 to 10.80) were summed up. High-resolution mass spectrometry was confirmed to be a promising strategy for screening unknown transformation products, which would provide a nanogram level of detection limits and more accurate mass resolution. Screening strategies and mass change principles were summarized in detail. The recovery rate was important in multiple contaminants analysis identification and factors affecting the recovery rate of PPCPs were also discussed in this review, including sample matrix, target compounds characteristics, extraction method and solid-phase adsorbent. This review provides useful information for the selection of appropriate analytical methods and future development directions.     

Application of proteomics in environmental science

Proteomics involves the separation of proteins, identification of the amino acid sequence of the interested or target proteins, study of the function of the proteins, modification, structure and ultimate assignments to functional pathways in the cell. The proteomic investigations have contributed greatly to human diseases studies, new drugs discovery researches, and environmental science in recent years. This article provides a review on the development of the main proteomic technologies, including both the gel based and non-gel based technologies, and their applications in environmental science. Proteomic technologies have been utilized in the environmental stresses studies to analyze the induction or reduction of proteins at expression level and identify the target proteins to investigate their function in response to environmental stresses, such as high or low pH, oxidation stress, and toxic chemicals. Such protein responses are also helpful to understand the mechanisms of some cellular activities and the functions of some proteins.     

Criteria for equitable allocations: the heart of international water conflict

At the heart of most international water conflicts is the question of 'equitable' allocations, criteria for which are vague and often contradictory. However, application of an equitable water-sharing agreement along the volatile waterways of the globe is a prerequisite to hydropolitical stability. This article explores the question of equity measures for water-sharing agreements in the context of global hydropolitics and is divided into three parts. The Introduction provides a brief summary of the general principles of equitable allocations. The second part of the paper describes the practice of water resources allocations as exemplified in the Transboundary Freshwater Dispute Database - a computerized database of 149 treaties relating to international water resources compiled at Oregon State University; 49 of these treaties delineate specific water allocations. The third and fourth parts of the article contrast the principles and practice of water equity. It is noticeable how rarely the general principles are explicitly invoked, particularly the extreme principles of absolute sovereignty or absolute riverain integrity. Most treaties favor existing uses, and/or guarantees to downstream riparians. It is interesting that, while many international water negotiations begin with differing legal interpretations of rights, they often shift to a needs-based criteria for water allocations. Mostly, one is struck by the creativity of the negotiators in addressing specific language to each very specific local setting and concerns.