Heavy metal pollution in China: Origin,pattern and control

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Heavy metal is among one of the pollutants, which cause severe threats to humans and the environment in China. The aim of the present review is to make information on the source of heavy metal pollution, distribution of heavy metals in the environment, and measures of pollution control accessible internationally, which are mostly published in Chinese. METHODS: Information from scientific journals, university journals and governmental releases are compiled focusing mainly on Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Partly Al, As, Cr, Fe, Hg, Mn and Ni a included also in part as well. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In soil, the average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are 0.097, 22.6, 26.0 and 74.2 mg/kg, respectively. In the water of the Yangtze River Basin, the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are 0.080, 7.91, 15.7 and 18.7 microg/L, respectively. In reference to human activities, the heavy metal pollution comes from three sources: industrial emission, wastewater and solid waste. The environment such as soil, water and air were polluted by heavy metals in some cases. The contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn even reach 3.16, 99.3, 84.1 and 147 mg/kg, respectively, in the soils of a wastewater irrigation zone. These contaminants pollute drinking water and food, and threaten human health. Some diseases resulting from pollution of geological and environmental origin, were observed with long-term and non-reversible effects. CONCLUSIONS: In China, the geological background level of heavy metal is low, but with the activity of humans, soil, water, air, and plants are polluted by heavy metals in some cases and even affect human health through the food chain. RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLOOK: To remediate and improve environmental quality is a long strategy for the polluted area to keep humans and animals healthy. Phytoremediation would be an effective technique to remediate the heavy metal pollutions.     

Performance Evaluation of Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plants for Rural Water Supply in a Developing Country – A Case Study

Performance evaluation of two reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants (DSP) at villages: Melasirupodhu (30 m³ day^-1) and Sikkal (50 m³ day^-1) in Ramanathpuram district,Tamil Nadu (India) were studied so as to bring out the state-of-art of their operation and maintenance (O&M). Detailedinformation on plant design and engineering, water quality,plant personnel, and cost of O&M was collected for a period ofthree years after commissioning of the two plants. Feed waterwas brackish, the TDS varied in the range of 6500–8500 mg L^-1 at Melasirupodhu and 5300–7100 mg L^-1 atSikkal villages. The product water quality was observed to begradually deteriorating as the salt rejection by the membranesdecreased with time. The salt rejection was 97–99% atthe time of commissioning of the plants, and came down to89–90% at the end of 3 years of operation. Product water TDS soonafter installation of the plants was excellent and within desirable limits of BIS. After three years of operation, few parameters exceeded the desirable limits, however, they were found to be within permissible limits of BIS. The analyses of thedata showed that both plants were operated only at 30–36% of the design capacity. Plant shut-down due to inadequate and erratic power supply, and plant break-down and inherent delay in repairs due to lack of adequate infrastructure were found tobe the major causes for the low utilization of the plants. Consequently the recurring cost of product water production enhanced to Rs. 25.0/m³ at Melasirupodhu and Rs. 17.5 m^-3 at Sikkal, as against the estimated cost of Rs. 15.0/m³ and Rs. 11.0/m³, respectively, as per the design. Over the years, the energy consumption for the product water output increased reflecting higher operational pressures needed with the aging of the membranes.     

城市生活垃圾中转站举升装置设计与应用

对地平式城市垃圾中转站的 3种举升装置进行了详细分析 ,指出了其存在的问题 ,提出了一种新型的链条式城市垃圾中转站举升装置 ,它结构紧凑 ,运行平稳可靠 ,成本低 ,噪音小 ,节能省电 ,是垃圾中转站新型优选产品 ,现已成功应用于环卫工程中     

Prenatal diagnosis of DHPR deficiency by direct detection of mutation

Prenatal diagnosis was requested by a family carrying a 3 base-pair insertion in the dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) coding region. A chorionic villus sample was obtained and fetal DNA was isolated directly from this. Diagnosis was performed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique, with a simple electrophoretic assay for the insertion. The fetus was found to be heterozygous for the insertion. This is the first time that prenatal diagnosis of DHPR deficiency has been performed by direct detection of the mutation.     

中美水源地管理体系的比较研究

以反映中美水源地管理水平的特大型城市上海、纽约为例，对两国水源地同管理体系中的政策法规，保护措施，土地规划使用，污染源控制等项目进行比较研究。分析中美水源地保护的技术水平，管理措施，经济手段等方面的差异，指出我国水源地管理工作在先进技术的应用。面源污染的控制，各方协调，公众参与，宣传教育，经济杠杆等方面均与国外存在一定差距。并对我国水源地的管理工作提出了建议。     

Exclusion of β-thalassaemia by biopsy and DNA amplification in mouse pre-embryos

Exclusion of β-thalassaemia in mice was undertaken by pre-implantation DNA diagnosis. Biopsies of approximately five cells were obtained from mouse pre-embryos. DNA prepared from this material was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enabling identification of the normal β-major globin gene in 11 out of 20 cases where it was known to be present. The expected negative result was obtained in 14 out of 16 homozygous thalassaemic embryos, with two false positives. Results are promptly available following PCR, thereby facilitating re-implantation of embryos which have had homozygous β-thalassaemia excluded. The mouse model illustrates a useful approach to pre-implantation diagnosis of genetic disease in the human.     

构建绿色城市平台 支持循环经济发展

论述了厦门市应当利用构建海湾型城市平台的契机，转变传统生产模式，打造产业生态链条，通过发展循环经济，建立循环型社会，走上可持续发展之路。提出了厦门市发展循环经济的对策建议。     

浅谈住宅小区管道分质供水系统

住宅小区分质供水是中国水工业领域新兴的产业,是创造节水型社会的重要手段.住宅小区安装分质供水工程主要应用的净水技术包括机械处理技术、活性碳处理技术、膜处理技术、消毒技术等.分质供水的管网布置方式及管材选用也具有不同的特点.     

短缺资源类型与供需趋势分析

短缺资源是指在一定时空范围和一定技术经济条件下,因需求量大于供给量而产生明显缺口的资源。按照短缺资源的分类,中国战略性短缺资源主要有石油、耕地和淡水,三者对国家安全和社会经济发展具有全局性和长远性影响。中国非战略性短缺资源主要有森林、富铁矿、铬铁矿、铜矿和钾盐等。随着经济的发展,人口的继续增长,从本世纪初到本世纪中叶,上述各种短缺资源的短缺数量增加,短缺程度趋于加剧。解决中国短缺资源的供需矛盾,需要从多种途径综合考虑:①多元化利用国外资源,弥补国内资源短缺;②建立战略资源储备体系,应付突发危机;③节约、替代和综合利用降低资源消耗;④强化资源保护,提高资源再生能力;⑤依靠科技进步,寻求解决短缺资源的新途径。     

A misdiagnosis of X-linked adrenoleucodystrophy in cultured chorionic villus cells by the measurement of very long chain fatty acids

A case is reported of a male fetus at risk of X-linked adrenoleucodystrophy who showed a normal cultured chorionic villus cell very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) profile but at birth exhibited grossly abnormal plasma and cultured fibroblast VLCFAs. Maternal contamination or a sample mix-up was excluded by chromosome analysis and analysis of polymorphic markers. This is the second report of a fetus affected with this disorder who showed normal cultured chorionic villus cell VLCFAs. It highlights the importance of a proper audit of all prenatal diagnoses to evaluate method reliability.