RISK ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY FOR KARST AQUIFERS: (2) SOLUTE-TRANSPORT MODELING

Ground-water flow and solute-transport simulation modeling are major components of most exposure and risk assessments of contaminated aquifers. Model simulations provide information on the spatial and temporal distributions of contaminants in subsurface media but are difficult to apply to karst aquifers in which conduit flow is important. Ground-water flow and solute transport in karst conduits typically display rapid-flow velocities, turbulent-flow regimes, concentrated pollutant-mass discharge, and exhibit open-channel or closed-conduit flow. Conventional ground-water models, dependent on the applicability of Darcy`s law, are inappropriate when applied to karst aquifers because of the (1) nonapplicability of Darcian-flow parameters, (2) typically nonlaminar flow regime, and (3) inability to locate the karst conduits through which most flow and contaminant transport occurs. Surface-water flow and solute-transport models conditioned on a set of parameters determined empirically from quantitative ground-water tracing studies may be effectively used to render fate-and-transport values of contaminants in karst conduits. Hydraulic-flow and geometric parameters developed in a companion paper were used in the surface-water model, TOXI5, to simulate hypothetical slug and continuous-source releases of ethylbenzene in a karst conduit. TOXI5 simulation results showed considerable improvement for predicted ethylbenzene-transport rates and concentrations over qualitative tracing and analytical ground-water model results. Ethylbenzene concentrations predicted by TOXI5 simulations were evaluated in exposure and risk assessment models.     

Indoor and outdoor PM mass and number concentrations at schools in the Athens area

Simultaneous indoor and outdoor PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentration measurements were conducted in seven primary schools in the Athens area. Both gravimetric samplers and continuous monitors were used. Filters were subsequently analyzed for anion species. Moreover ultrafine particles number concentration was monitored continuously indoors and outdoors. Mean 8-hr PM₁₀ concentration was measured equal to 229 ± 182 μg/m³ indoors and 166 ± 133 μg/m³ outdoors. The respective PM_2.5 concentrations were 82 ± 56 μg/m³ indoors and 56 ± 26 μg/m³ outdoors. Ultrafine particles 8-h mean number concentration was measured equal to 24,000 ± 17,900 particles/cm³ indoors and 32,000 ± 14,200 particles/cm³ outdoors. PM₁₀ outdoor concentrations exhibited a greater spatial variability than the corresponding PM_2.5 ones. I/O ratios were close or above 1.00 for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 and smaller than 1.00 for ultrafine particles. Very high I/O ratios were observed when intense activities took place. The initial results of the chemical analysis showed that accounts for the 6.6 ± 3.5% of the PM₁₀ and for the 3.1 ± 1.4%.The corresponding results for PM_2.5 are 12.0 ± 7.7% for and 3.1 ± 1.9% for . PM_2.5 indoor concentrations were highly correlated with outdoor ones and the regression line had the largest slope and a very low intercept, indicative of no indoor sources of fine particulate . The results of the statistical analysis of indoor and outdoor concentration data support the use of as a proper surrogate for indoor PM of outdoor origin.     

A Call for Urgent Monitoring of Food and Water Security Based on Relevant Indicators for the Arctic

This perspective paper argues for an urgent need to monitor a set of 12 concrete, measurable indicators of food and water security in the Arctic over time. Such a quantitative indicator approach may be viewed as representing a reductionist rather than a holistic perspective, but is nevertheless necessary for actually knowing what reality aspects to monitor in order to accurately understand, quantify, and be able to project critical changes to food and water security of both indigenous and non-indigenous people in the Arctic. More relevant indicators may be developed in the future, taking us further toward reconciliation between reductionist and holistic approaches to change assessment and understanding. However, the potential of such further development to improved holistic change assessment is not an argument not to urgently start to monitor and quantify the changes in food and water security indicators that are immediately available and adequate for the Arctic context.     

磁性纳米铁对厌氧颗粒污泥特性及其微生物群落的影响

考察了磁性纳米铁(Fe3O4NPs)对厌氧颗粒污泥溶解性微生物产物(SMP)、疏松胞外聚合物(LB-EPS)、紧密胞外聚合物(TB-EPS)的影响,同时利用高通量测序技术对厌氧颗粒污泥内微生物群落结构的变化进行了分析.结果表明,在长期接触实验过程中,投加Fe3O4NPs的反应器对COD去除率为83.6%,与对照组相比降低了5.7%.对照组与实验组中厌氧颗粒污泥TB-EPS含量(以VSS计)分别为178.20 mg·g-1和138.24 mg·g-1,而SMP含量分别为34.88 mg·L-1和27.44 mg·L-1;同时投加Fe3O4NPs后,在LB-EPS三维荧光(EEM)光谱中,紫外光区类腐殖酸荧光峰消失,辅酶F420荧光峰强度有所降低.在长期接触实验后,甲烷杆菌属(Methanobacterium)所占比例从76.15%增至86.76%,而甲烷丝菌属(Methanothrix)所占比例从17.1%降至7.51%,Methanothrix对于Fe3O4NPs更为敏感;总细菌群落变化明显,其中变形菌门(Proteobacteria)所占比例从66.44%降至47.16%,放线菌门(Actinobacteria)所占比例从8.97%增至17.33%,拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)所占比例从8.07%增至17.74%,厚壁菌门和拟杆菌门比例的增加对有机物的厌氧水解过程发挥积极的作用.     

上海郊区家庭妇女PM2.5重金属组分暴露水平、来源与健康风险

为了解上海市郊区家庭妇女大气PM_(2.5)及重金属组分的呼吸暴露水平和潜在健康风险,于2017年2月至2018年6月使用SKC个体采样泵对松江区143位研究对象开展个体暴露监测,采用能量色散X射线荧光光谱法(ED-XRF)测定PM_(2.5)中13种无机元素的质量浓度.利用PMF源解析技术和美国环保署推荐的健康风险评价模型,对Ni、V、Cr、Mn、As和Pb的来源和暴露风险进行分析.结果表明,家庭主妇PM_(2.5)的年日均暴露浓度为40. 61μg·m-3,普遍高于周边环境监测站点的PM_(2.5)平均水平.Cr(Ⅵ)和As的致癌健康风险超过了可接受水平(10-6); V、Cr(Ⅵ)、Mn、Ni和As的非致癌风险处于安全水平,但5种元素的非致癌风险加和超出了安全阈值( 1). PM_(2.5)中10种无机元素(Al、Ti、V、Cr、Mn、Fe、Ni、Zn、As和Pb)的主要来源包括扬尘与室内源混合源(43. 8%)、工业冶炼尘(34. 6%)、燃煤(14. 5%)和燃油(7. 2%).根据源类的健康风险评价结果,应进一步加强工业冶炼和化石燃料燃烧综合防控.     

宁东基地大气PAHs污染特征及呼吸暴露风险

利用主动观测技术对宁东能源化工基地大气PM_2.5、PM_1.0和气相中的PAHs浓度水平、族谱特征、时空分布及来源进行研究,并基于该观测数据对居民呼吸暴露健康风险进行评估.结果表明,宁东基地大气PM_2.5、PM_1.0及气相中∑₁₆PAHs浓度范围分别为：17.95~325.12ng/m³、12.66~311.96ng/m³和26.33~97.88ng/m³,年均浓度分别为（99.42±117.48）ng/m³、（78.88±100.58）ng/m³和（57.89±47.39）ng/m³.宝丰基地冬夏季大气PM_2.5、PM_1.0和气相中∑₁₆PAHs浓度水平均明显高于英力特;宝丰和英力特基地冬季大气PM_2.5、PM_1.0中∑₁₆PAHs浓度水平均明显高于夏季浓度.宁东基地大气中∑₁₆PAHs的浓度水平要高于国内外其他城市,大气PAHs污染较为严重.源解析表明夏季宁东基地PAHs的主要排放源是工业煤燃烧和机动车尾气,冬季则主要来自工业煤燃烧和木材、薪柴等生物质燃烧排放.宁东基地人群暴露于大气PAHs可能会造成平均冬季每百万人中约有33~2628人罹患癌症,夏季每百万人中约有11~834人罹患癌症的风险.     

建筑小区内致病微生物暴露风险评价

利用数值模拟确定致病微生物浓度的时空分布,建立了基于瞬时浓度判据和积累浓度判据的污染物暴露评价模型,得到了建筑群内瞬时风险区域和人们在污染区域的最大停留时间。结果显示:瞬时风险区域面积基本与微生物生长曲线一致,即在2000s时达到最大,然后逐渐减小,至6000s后基本不变;最大停留时间与微生物的增长率有关,增长率大,最大停留时间变小。     

放射源使用中潜在照射危险的评价与控制浅述

文章介绍了潜在照射的主要来源及危害。结合实际应用中的具体情况,对其使用实践中可能导致的潜在危害作了简单的分析,并根据ICPLP的相关建议和国家相关的具体要求,提出在放射源应用领域潜在照射控制的主要原则和措施。     

广州市居民家庭室内灰尘中传统和新型阻燃剂与塑化剂的污染特征及健康风险评估

近年来,随着阻燃剂多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)和以邻苯二甲酸酯(PAEs)为代表的传统型塑化剂(LPs)的逐步禁用或限用,有机磷系阻燃剂(PFRs)等新型阻燃剂及替代型塑化剂(APs)的生产和使用呈逐年增长的趋势,其环境污染特征和人体暴露健康风险值得引起广泛关注.目前,灰尘已广泛用于室内环境中PBDEs、PFRs和LPs等半挥发性有机污染物(SVOCs)的污染特征评估,而关于室内灰尘中APs的污染特征则鲜有报道.本研究以广州市42户普通居民家庭为研究对象,采集家庭室内灰尘并分析了PFRs、PBDEs、LPs和APs的含量及组成特征.结果表明,PFRs、PBDEs、LPs和APs在室内灰尘中均有广泛检出,其含量分别为593.28～11531.56、13.45～27029.13、40494.83～1154497.16和15365.19～1013352.51 ng·g^-1.大多数家庭中,PFRs和部分APs在灰尘中的含量呈现高于PBDEs和LPs的特征,PFRs和APs等新型污染物的人体暴露健康风险需引起高度关注.采用暴露模型评估人体经灰尘摄入和皮肤接触对目标污染物的日均暴...     

Acute exposure to chemicals during ‘do-it-yourself’ activities: survey of enquiries to the Swedish Poisons Information Centre in 1996

In 1996 the Swedish Poisons Information Centre performed a follow-up study concerning poisonings related to ‘do-it-yourself’ activities. The study was supported by the National Institute of Public Health in Sweden. The objectives were to investigate and define monthly variations, route of exposure, type of products and, in particular, exposures to corrosives, age and sex groups, place of treatment, severity of symptoms, place of the accident, special risk products and risk situations. The Poisons Information Centre was contacted concerning 1609 cases, with a peak during the summer months. There was no or uncertain connection between exposure and symptoms in 117 cases. This means that 1492 cases were left to study. Inhalation and eye exposure were the predominant routes, followed by skin exposure and ingestion. Cleaning agents were the most common type of products involved. Of the 1492 cases included in the study 1033 were possible to follow up. Among these, 20–29 year olds and 30–39 year olds predominated, and there was a dominance for men. In total, 28% of those exposed were subject to medical attention, either in hospital or in outpatient clinics. According to the Poisoning Severity Score 78% had mild (grade 1) and 7% moderate (grade 2) symptoms. There were no severe intoxications and no deaths. Severity grade 2 occurred 3.6 times more often among those with exposures involving risk of corrosive damage than among others in the study population. Most accidents occurred in the home. Special risk products and risk situations were exposure to corrosive products, release of chlorine when mixing hypochlorite and acid, ‘fire-eating’, siphoning gasoline and diesel fuel, welding, and inhalation of carbon monoxide from exhaust gases. The Swedish Poisons Information Centre registered 1609 cases of poisoning accidents during ‘do-it-yourself’ activities, which means an average of four to five cases per day. Although this type of accidents is not uncommon, significant poisoning seems to be rare. Some special risk situations were identified.