Constructed wetlands treating highway runoff in the central Mediterranean region

Two free water surface (FWS) and two subsurface flow (SSF) pilot-size constructed wetlands treating highway runoff (HRO) were monitored over a period of two years (September 2005-August 2007). One FWS and one SSF were designed with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12h, named FWS12 and SSF12, respectively, with each one capable of treating a maximum HRO of 12.6 m(3) d(-1). The other couple, named FWS24 and SSF24, respectively, was designed with an HRT of 24h, with each receiving a maximum HRO of 6.3 m(3) d(-1). The influent flowed from a highway section with a total surface 2752 m(2) on the island of Crete, Greece, in the heart of the South-Central Mediterranean region. Influent and effluent were monitored for COD, TSS, total N (TN), NO(3)(-) and total P (TP) concentrations. Furthermore, removal efficiencies were examined for heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) for both years, while polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) were examined for the period between September 2006 and August 2007. The influent had a two-year average COD value of 101 mg l(-1), whereas the mean values for TSS, TN, N-NO(3)(-) and TP were 203, 4.30, 1.25 and 4.17 mg l(-1), respectively. For Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn the respective two-year mean influent concentrations were 56, 114, 49 and 250 microg l(-1). Mean concentration of total PAHs in runoff (summation operator PAHs, 16 compounds) were 12.01 microg l(-1). The performance among the four beds was not significantly different according to ANOVA analysis followed by Tukey test (at p<0.05) for almost all the above physicochemical parameters, suggesting that all systems performed in a similar way. All studied systems, achieved a mean of two-year removal efficiencies of 47% for COD, 89% for TSS, 49% for TN, 58% for N-NO(3)(-), 60% for TP, 47% for Cu, 23% for Ni, 33% for Pb, 61% for Zn and 59% for summation operator PAHs (16 compounds).     

Laboratory study highlights the key influences of stormwater sediment thickness and bioturbation by tubificid worms on dynamics of nutrients and pollutants in stormwater retention systems

In urban area, the accumulation of polluted stormwater sediments (SWS) in retention ponds may be a source of dissolved pollutants and nutrients for the aquatic ecosystems. Our objective was to quantify the influence of the thickness of SWS layer and the occurrence of tubificid worms on organic matter processing (O(2) uptake and fluxes of NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-), PO(4)(3-), and dissolved organic carbon between sediment and water), releases of 17 PAHs and 4 heavy metals, and microbial characteristics. Results showed that oxidation of SWS organic matter (O(2) and NO(3)(-) uptakes) and releases of nutrients were significantly increased by the quantity of accumulated SWS and the worm bioturbation. Releases of acenaphtene and naphthalene from sediments were significantly increased by the thickness of the SWS layer. In contrast, tubificid worms did not promote the mobilization of pollutants. In conclusion, biological activities and stormwater sediment characteristics need to be assessed to quantify the fate of pollutants and nutrients in stormwater retention ponds.     

长江经济带省会城市用水效率分析

提高水资源使用效率是落实最严格水资源管理制度和水生态文明建设的重要内容。长江经济带是我国重要经济和生态走廊,也是我国正大力打造的经济新支撑带,分析各省会城市用水效率对缓解人水矛盾,促进水生态文明城市建设,推动长江经济带发展具有重大意义。基于2011-2013年长江经济带11个省会城市面板数据,利用超效率DEA模型和Malmquist指数测度各城市用水效率,并用Tobit模型检验其影响因素。①超效率DEA分析结果显示,长江经济带11个省会城市的水资源利用效率总体情况较好。分城市看,武汉、昆明、杭州、贵阳和成都水资源利用效率相对较高,上海和重庆水资源利用效率相对较低。2012年最严格水资源管理制度的实行,证明水资源利用效率受政策因素驱动迹象明显。②Malmquist指数分析结果显示,长江经济带11个省会城市整体水资源利用效率呈衰退趋势;而较低的技术效率变化和纯技术效率是制约长江经济带整体水资源利用效率的关键因素。省会城市中,杭州、合肥、长沙和贵阳TFP值排名靠前,长沙、上海、南昌和杭州技术进步最快;武汉用水效率衰退趋势最为明显和严重,合肥、长沙、杭州的用水效率提升较快。③Tobit回归结果表明,人均GDP、人均水资源量和第三产业比重对水资源利用效率影响较大且呈正相关关系。因此,从以上研究结果可以得出提升水资源利用效率的关键是在切实落实最严格水资源管理制度基础上,积极改进生产技术,普及节水工艺,大力发展第三产业,优化产业结构,最终形成制度、技术和结构的综合节水模式。     

基于压力论的城市生态环境质量定量评价模型及应用

本文从压力源-压力流-压力汇的角度构建城市生态环境质量评价指标体系,并对上海闵行区的生态环境质量进行了评价,结果表明闵行区城市生态环境质量的压力源虽然逐年来有所增加,但是其城市生态环境质量的支持力则呈现逐年增大的趋势,故闵行区城市生态环境质量总体向较为理想的趋势在发展。     

PM2.5 concentration declining saves health expenditure in China

● Monthly hospitalization expenses are sensitive to increases in PM_2.5 exposure. ● The increased PM_2.5 causes patients with CHD and LRI to stay longer in the hospital. ● The impact of PM_2.5 on total expenses for stroke is greater in southern China. ● Males may be more sensitive to air pollution than females. Air pollution has been a severe issue in China. Exposure to PM_2.5 has adverse health effects and causes economic losses. This study investigated the economic impact of exposure to PM_2.5 pollution using monthly city-level data covering 88.5 million urban employees in 2016 and 2017. This study mainly focused on three expenditure indicators to measure the economic impact considering lower respiratory infections (LRIs), coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke. The results show that a 10 µg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 would cause total monthly expenses of LRIs, CHD, and stroke to increase by 0.226%, 0.237%, and 0.374%, respectively. We also found that LRI, CHD, and stroke hospital admissions increased significantly by 10%, 8.42%, and 5.64%, respectively. Furthermore, the total hospital stays of LRIs, CHDs, and strokes increased by 2.49%, 2. 51%, and 1.64%, respectively. Our findings also suggest heterogeneous impacts of PM_2.5 exposures by sex and across regions, but no statistical evidence shows significant differences between the older and younger adult subgroups. Our results provide several policy implications for reducing unequal public health expenditures in overpolluted countries.     

Ambient halocarbon mixing ratios in 45 Chinese cities

During this study 158 whole air samples were collected in 45 Chinese cities in January and February 2001. The spatial distribution of different classes of halocarbons in the Chinese urban atmosphere, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Halon-1211, and other chlorinated compounds is presented and discussed. Most of these compounds were enhanced compared to background levels. However, the mean enhancement of CFCs was relatively small, with CFC-12 and CFC-11 increases of 6% (range 1–31%) and 10% (range 2–89%), respectively, with respect to the global background. On the contrary, strongly enhanced levels of CFC replacement compounds and halogenated compounds used as solvents were measured. The average Halon-1211 concentration exceeded the background of 4.3 pptv by 75% and was higher than 10 pptv in several cities. Methyl chloride mixing ratios were also strongly elevated (78% higher than background levels), which is likely related to the widespread use of coal and biofuel in China.     

The urban growth, size distribution and spatio-temporal dynamic pattern of the Yangtze River Delta megalopolitan region, China

As one of the six megalopolitan regions in the world, the Yangtze River Delta is one of the most populated and developed regions of China. The spatial and temporal dynamic pattern of the urbanization process of the megalopolitan region is investigated. This work compared the spatial and temporal dynamic pattern of the urban growth for the five urban areas (Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi and Changzhou) in this region. During the 15 years, urban growth patterns were dramatically uneven over three 5-year periods. The size distribution of the five urban areas became more even with the rapid urbanization process. The patterns of urban expansion reflected policy adjustment and economic development throughout the time. Landscape metric analysis across concentric buffer zones was conducted to elucidate the area, shape, size, complexity and configuration of urban expansion. The study indicates the coalescence process occurred during the rapid urban growth from 1990 to 1995 and the moderate growth period from 2000 to 2005, but different urban growth period between 1995 and 2000. The urban growth pattern was coalesced for the Nanjing and Wuxi metropolitan areas and diffused for Shanghai, Suzhou and Changzhou. This approach indicates that the coalescence process was the major growth model for this region in the recent 15 years despite their different size, economic growth and population growth. The diffusion-coalesce dichotomy represent endpoints rather than alternate states of urban growth. This work will be beneficial in understanding the size distribution and urbanization process of the megalopolitan region in China.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soils along a rural-urban-rural transect: sources, concentration gradients, and profiles

This study reports concentrations of PBDEs in surface soil samples collected along a 140 km transect across Kuwait to assess the role of urban centers as sources of persistent organic pollutants to the surrounding environment. The ΣPBDE concentrations varied by a factor of ∼250 and ranged from 289 to 80,078 pg g⁻¹ d.w. The concentrations of PBDEs in Kuwait City were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than those collected from sites outside the city supporting the hypothesis that urban centers are sources of PBDEs. The congener profiles were dominated by BDE-209, accounting for 93% of the PBDEs in the soil samples. The concentrations of all congeners (except BDE-209) were highly correlated with percent organic carbon (%OC) (p > 0.05) when the data from Kuwait City was omitted from the analysis. These findings suggest that soil concentrations outside the urban centers were close to equilibrium with the atmosphere.     

城市土壤重金属污染研究现状与趋势

阐述了城市土壤重金属的主要来源、空间分布特征、化学形态与影响因素,以及对人体的健康风险与生物效应,指出今后的研究重点与趋势是建立城市土壤重金属污染概念和标准体系,研究其在环境中的迁移转化机制与规律及城市土壤重金属复合污染,发展判源分析新技术.     

“城考”中水环境质量指标的演替及发展

简述了“九五”-“十一五”期间城市环境综合整治定量考核(简称城考)中城市水环境功能区水质达标率指标的定义、内涵,监测指标内容及分类、指标权重及评价标准等因素的变化规律.指出,应重视环境质量指标选择与当前环境污染现状的衔接,补充重金属等环境优先污染物指标为水环境质量监测评价指标.提出了新的筛选原则和指标设计思路.