An investigation of changes in water quality throughout the drinking water production/distribution chain using toxicological and fluorescence analyses

Changes in water quality from source water to finished water and tap water at two conventional drinking water treatment plants(DWTPs) were monitored.Beside the routine water quality testing,Caenorhabditis elegans-based toxicity assays and the fluorescence excitation–emission matrices technique were also applied.Both DWTPs supplied drinking water that met government standards.Under current test conditions,both the investigated finished water and tap water samples exhibited stronger lethal,genotoxic and reprotoxic potential than the relative source water sample,and the tap water sample was more lethal but tended to be less genotoxic than the corresponding finished water sample.Meanwhile,the nearly complete removal of tryptophan-like substances and newly generated tyrosine-like substances were observed after the treatment of drinking water,and humic-like substances were identified in the tap water.Based on these findings,toxic pollutants,including genotoxic/reproductive toxicants,are produced in the drinking water treatment and/or distribution processes.Moreover,further studies are needed to clarify the potentially important roles of tyrosine-like and humic-like substances in mediating drinking water toxicity and to identify the potential sources of these contaminants.Additionally,tryptophan-like fluorescence may be adopted as a useful parameter to monitor the treatment performance of DWTPs.Our observations provided insights into the importance of utilizing biotoxicity assays and fluorescence spectroscopy as tools to complement the routine evaluation of drinking water.     

褐煤脱水及水质净化研究

为实现褐煤提质并缓解褐煤产区缺水现状,采用微波及水热脱水方法对褐煤进行脱水改性并回收褐煤所脱水分.通过检测水分化学需氧量、氨氮、总磷、硬度、离子、有机化合物等各项指标,对褐煤中水分进行深入分析,并比较两种脱水方法的脱水、净化效果.结果表明微波方式脱水率可达70%~80%,除化学需氧量外,其它水质指标均符合工业用水标准,且杂质含量随微波功率增加而降低,利于净化回收.水热方式可有效改善褐煤煤质,脱水率最高可达87.44%,但各项水质指标均大大超出标准范围,且杂质含量在250℃工况下达到最大.两种冷凝水均检测到微量有毒金属元素、有毒致癌的多环芳烃及酚类化合物,将成为后续净化的主要脱除对象.     

亚致死剂量溴氰菊酯对麦穗鱼谷胱甘肽S-转移酶活性的影响

本文研究了麦穗鱼Pseudorasbora parva谷胱甘肽S-转移酶的组织分布以及亚致死剂量的溴氰菊酯对其比活力和组织分布的影响.结果表明肝胰脏、肠、鳃、卵巢、肾、脾脏、鳔、肌肉谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GSTs)活性分别占41.73%、14.31%、12.11%、10.10%、8.62%、5.23%、4.33%和3.58%.用溴氰菊酯亚致死剂量活体处理麦穗鱼120 h后,卵巢和肾GSTs的活性与对照组具有显著差异,活性提高1.85倍;肠和鳃的GSTs活性分别是对照组的1.40倍和1.44倍;对肝脏GSTs活性的诱导不显著.这表明溴氰菊酯对麦穗鱼不同组织部位诱导的时间效应和强度是不同的.     

Consumers’ intention-based influence factors of renewable energy adoption in Pakistan: a structural equation modeling approach

As the adoption of renewable energy (RE) is a complex and intricate procedure affected by a wide range of factors, it prompts traction among researchers to examine these influence factors. The aim of this study is to scrutinize the factors affecting consumers’ intention to adopt RE for household use in Pakistan. The current research has contributed through expanding the structural framework of the theory of planned behavior by incorporating three novel factors (perception of self-effectiveness, perception of neighbor’s participation, and belief about RE benefits) to have a deep insight into the factors that motivate or inhibit consumers to adopt RE. Outcomes are based on the primary data compiled from 353 households in the five main cities of Pakistan accompanying an inclusive survey. The state-of-the-art structural equation modeling was utilized to test and analyze the proposed hypotheses. The results signify that the influencing factors such as perception of self-effectiveness, awareness of RE, and perception of neighbor’s participation impart a positive effect on consumers’ intention to adopt RE, whereas cost of RE generation has an opposite effect. Interestingly, environmental concern and belief about RE benefits found to have neutral effects. Research results emphasize the need to enhance public awareness, reform policy structure, transform social norms, and highlight the benefits that RE provides, all through an integrative and coherent way.