Effects of heavy rainfall on the composition of airborne bacterial communities

Wet deposition scavenges particles and particle-associated bacteria from the air column, but the impact of raindrops on various surfaces on Earth causes emission of surface-associated bacteria into the air column. Thus, after rainfall, these two mechanisms are expected to cause changes in airborne bacterial community composition (BCC). In this study, aerosol samples were collected at a suburban site in Seoul, Korea before and after three heavy rainfall events in April, May, and July 2011. BCC was investigated by pyrosequencing the 16S rRNA gene in aerosol samples. Interestingly, the relative abundance of non-spore forming Actinobacteria operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was always higher in post-rain aerosol samples. In particular, the absolute and relative abundances of airborne Propionibacteriaceae always increased after rainfall, whereas those of airborne Firmicutes, including Carnobacteriaceae and Clostridiales, consistently decreased. Marine bacterial sequences, which were temporally important in aerosol samples, also decreased after rainfall events. Further, increases in pathogen-like sequences were often observed in post-rain air samples. Rainfall events seemed to affect airborne BCCs by the combined action of the two mechanisms, with potentially adverse effects on human and plant health.

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真菌漆酶介导自由基偶联和接枝反应在绿色化学中的应用

漆酶(p-苯二醇:分子氧氧化还原酶;EC 1.10.3.2)是自然界中普遍存在的一类胞外含铜多酚氧化还原酶.漆酶能够以环境中氧分子作为电子接受体,催化4个底物分子的单电子氧化形成4个相应的反应活性自由基或醌类中间体,随后这些活性中间体在酶促位点外发生步进式偶联反应,生成多种具有复杂结构的大分子C—C、C—O—C或C—N—C共价聚合产物.该反应过程中仅生成唯一副产物水,具有反应温和、底物广谱、催化效率高、操作可控和经济环保等优点.目前,真菌漆酶介导低分子有机物和高分子化合物的自由基偶联和接枝反应已经被应用于生物技术领域,该技术克服了传统物理化学方法存在的弊端,在保护人群健康和生态安全等方面具有广泛地应用前景和商业价值.本文详细地概述了真菌漆酶催化不同底物分子的自由基偶联和接枝反应在环境修复、生物监测、食品加工、纤维改性、纺织染色、制药行业和有机合成等绿色化学中的最新研究进展,旨在为开发和拓展真菌漆酶在绿色化学技术领域中的多功能应用提供科学的理论依据和技术指导.     

Ecological Change and the Challenges for Monitoring

Anthropogenic activities are changing the chemical composition of the global atmosphere. This results in changes to the physical properties as well, such as the radiation balance. These properties are important input variables for biospheric processes. This paper discusses a number of documented ecological changes that have occurred in response to the changing atmosphere. Much of the information has been derived from data collected at integrated monitoring sites. The changing atmosphere is expected to result in many more ecological changes to resources of economic as well as environmental value. Defining and understanding these changes will be necessary for managing sustainable development and poses major challenges for monitoring programs in general and for integrated sites in particular.     

工科有机化学教学目标与教学改革的探索

工科有机化学是面向工科专业开设的一门基础课,以往的教学只是按章节顺序详细介绍各类反应,内容多,难以记忆,而且各专业间差别不大.随着教改的不断发展,规定的教学时数愈来愈少,如何解决内容多与时间少的矛盾,如何体现专业特点成为我们急待解决的问题.我们主要从教学目标、教学内容、教学手段方面进行了一些尝试,取得了较好的效果.     

Chemical leasing: cooperative business models for sustainable chemicals management. Summary of research projects commissioned by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management

- Sustainable chemistry - Section editors: Klaus Günter Steinhäuser, Steffi Richter, Petra Greiner, Jutta Penning, Michael AngrickBackground, Aim and Scope Chemicals play a vital role in the day-to-day life of industrialised societies. Their use is not restricted to the chemical enterprises per se, but is a crucial part of production processes in a lot of industrial sectors. Traditional instruments of environmental policy (such as bans, restrictions) can only deal with the most hazardous substances. The Johannesburg Implementation Plan of 2002 calls for more sustainable patterns of production and consumption, and sets the year of 2020 as a goal to use chemicals in a way that human health and the environment are not endangered. Political instruments should not only gather more knowledge about the properties of chemicals, but should also stimulate the environmentally sound use of chemicals. Existing business models should therefore be reviewed in relation to this strategic approach to encourage marketing options with respect to the environmental focus.Main Features Business models were examined for their effects on the consumption of chemicals and amount of waste emissions in relation to their economic potential. Different possibilities for cooperation of supplier, user and disposal companies were elaborated and examined with a view to the specific situation in Austria.Results and Discussion A range of cooperative models – summarised under the term ‘chemical leasing’ - was identified, which can contribute to a more efficient use of resources. 12 main possible application areas (cleaning, lubrication, paint stripping and others) have been identified in Austria. If chemical leasing models were applied in these areas, the amounts of chemicals currently used could be reduced by one third (53,000 tonnes per year). Cost reductions of up to 15 % can be expected.Conclusion The application of chemical leasing models can contribute considerably to achieving more sustainable and resource-efficient patterns of production. The Austrian Ministry for Environment has therefore decided to subsidise the further practical implementation of these new service-oriented business models. Pilot projects in 4 enterprises, which are supervised by consulting companies, are currently being carried out. Recommendation and Outlook The experiences of the pilot projects will serve as valuable building blocks for the wider use of chemical leasing models. Furthermore, the UNIDO Cleaner Production Centres have expressed their clear interest and will examine the possibility to use chemical leasing as a part of their Cleaner Production Programmes.     

Monitoring Long-term Trends in Sulfate and Ammonium in US Precipitation: Results from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network

Data from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) indicate significant changes have occurred in precipitation chemistry and the chemical climate in the United States (US). A Seasonal Kendall Trend (SKT) analysis shows statistically significant increases in precipitation ammonium concentrations at 64% of 159 continental US NADP/NTN sites evaluated from Winter 1985 to Fall 2004 (Dec. 1984 – Nov. 2004). Sulfate decreases were widespread, with an SKT analysis indicating statistically significant decreases at 89% of sites evaluated. Ratios of chemical equivalent concentrations of ammonium to sulfate in precipitation have risen to the extent that ammonium now exceeds sulfate over more than half of the continental U.S. on a precipitation-weighted-mean annual basis. These trends in the concentrations of ammonium, sulfate, and other species have been accompanied by significant decreases in the frequency of acidic precipitation (pH < 5.0) in the last decade.     

成都市干性降落物与道路粉尘的化学组成对比研究

为了弄清大气中微粒子的化学组成的特征，我们自2001年12月在成都市采集了干性降落物和道路粉尘，并对其水溶性阴离子成分进行了比较。通过分析认为干性降落物对道路粉尘的化学组分有影响。同时道路混凝土的污染物亦可进入道路粉尘。     

CHEMISTRY OF MUD-WATER INTERFACE IN AN IMPOUNDMENT1

ABSTRACT: Lake Evergreen was investigated during the time of filling and thereafter for the change of water chemistry at the mud-water interface. The results show that aging or maturing occurs at the nascent stage of the impoundment history. There are many factors affecting concentration of chemical constituents at the interface. There are hydrologic changes such as wind and wave action, or water circulation which can influence all chemical parameters. There is also biological activity, which may involve changes in concentrations of silica, phosphate, alkalinity, pH, ammonium, Kjeldahl nitrogen, etc. An associated effect is the reduction of oxidation-reduction potential which in turn affects the concentration of manganese, etc. All these changes occur primarily in autumn. In late spring to summer, there are changes of nitrite and nitrate accompanied by changes in dissolved oxygen. A water chemistry model at the interface is illustrated.     

EFFECTS OF FOREST HERBICIDE APPLICATIONS ON STREAMWATER CHEMISTRY IN SOUTHWESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA1

ABSTRACT: The herbicide glyphosate was applied to portions of two watersheds in southwestern British Columbia to kill vegetation that was competing with Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir) plantations. This application had little significant effect on streamwater chemistry (K⁺, Na²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^-, NOs₃^-, NH₄⁺, PO4^3-, SO₄⁼, and SiO₂ concentrations, electrical conductivity, and pH) when vegetation cover in a watershed was reduced by 4%, but had significant (P>0.05) effects, which lasted for at least five years, when cover was reduced by 43%. In this case, most parameters increased in value following the application, with K⁺ and Mg²⁺ concentrations and pH values exhibiting the most prolonged increases and NO₃^- concentrations exhibiting the greatest percentage increases. Sulphate and dissolved SiO₂ concentrations decreased following the application. Streamwater chemical fluxes showed similar trends to concentrations except that changes in fluxes were less significant and no decreases were observed. Forest management induced losses of NO₃-N in streamwater during the first five post-treatment years in the study area decreased in the order: herbicide application (approximately 40 kg/ha) < clearcutting and slashburning (approximately 20 kg/ha) < clearcutting (approximately 10 kg/ha). In watersheds similar to those of the study area, herbicide application is likely to have a greater impact on streamwater chemistry, in general, than would clearcutting or clearcutting followed by slashburning.     

THE EFFECTS OF DEICING SALTS ON WATER CHEMISTRY IN PINHOOK BOG,INDIANA1

ABSTRACT: A five-year study was conducted to identify the effects of road salt intrusion on the water chemistry of Pinhook Bog following operation of an uncovered salt storage pile adjacent to the bog for ten years. A distinct pattern of elevated salt concentrations was observed in the interstitial waters of the surface peat that corresponded to observed alterations in the bog vegetation. Yearly mean salt concentrations as high as 468 mg/l sodium and 1215 mg/l chloride were recorded in the plant root zone of the peat mat. The salt concentrations decreased significantly each year from 1979 to 1981 throughout the impacted area. Some increases of a lesser magnitude occurred in 1982 and 1983. Analysis of salt movements suggested that vertical transport by water movement was responsible for concentration changes. The major declines in salt levels occurred in the spring following snowmelt and heavy precipitation events. Evapotranspiration during periods of drought resulted in the gradual increases in surface peat salt concentrations. Diverted highway runoff was shown to be the major continuing source of sodium chloride contamination and was the likely source of the elevated calcium, magnesium, potassium, bicarbonate, and pH levels also observed in the impacted area.