A study on pesticide runoff from paddy fields to a river in rural region--2: development and application of a mathematical model

A mathematical model was developed to predict the runoff of pesticides from paddy fields to a river in a rural region. The model comprises three submodels: (1) submodel for river flow, (2) submodel for pesticide behavior in paddy fields, (3) submodel for pesticide behavior in a river. The tank model was applied to predict the river flow and the paddy water. In order to reproduce the actual behavior of pesticides in paddy fields, the kinetics of the transport and reaction mechanisms of pesticides applied to paddy fields were considered in the model. The model was applied to the Kozakura River Basin where the detailed field survey was conducted. The model reflected well the runoff characteristics of pesticides obtained from the detailed field survey.     

Removal of pesticide mixtures in a stormwater wetland collecting runoff from a vineyard catchment

Wetlands can collect contaminated runoff from agricultural catchments and retain dissolved and particle-laden pesticides. However, knowledge about the capacity and functioning of wetland systems with respect to the removal of pesticides is very limited. Here we show that stormwater wetlands can efficiently remove pesticides in runoff from vineyard catchments during the period of pesticide application, although flow and hydrochemical conditions of the wetland largely vary over time. During the entire agricultural season, the inflowing load of nine fungicides, six herbicides, one insecticide and four degradation products was 8.039 g whereas the outflowing load was 2.181 g. Removal rates of dissolved loads by the wetland ranged from 39% (simazine) to 100% (cymoxanil, gluphosinate, kresoxim methyl and terbuthylazine). Dimethomorph, diuron, glyphosate, metalaxyl and tetraconazole were more efficiently removed in spring than in summer. More than 88% of the input mass of suspended solids was retained, underscoring the capability of the wetland to trap pesticide-laden particles via sedimentation. Only the insecticide flufenoxuron was frequently detected in the wetland sediments. Our results demonstrate that stormwater wetlands can efficiently remove pesticide mixtures in agricultural runoff during critical periods of pesticide application, although fluctuations in the runoff regime and hydrochemical characteristics can affect the removal rates of individual pesticides.     

Phosphorus purification in a paddy field watershed using a circular irrigation system and the role of iron compounds

In a paddy field watershed using a circular irrigation system, it was clear that the watershed tended to purify phosphorus by an analysis on the mass balance of pollutants. A reasonable hypothesis was that the phosphorus precipitation with iron compounds in a river may affect the purification. To verify this, an investigation on phosphorus and iron in the river water and sediments were conducted. Total iron (T-Fe) concentration in the river ranged from 3 to 10 mg/L, and the concentration increased with the river flowing down, whereas dissolved iron (D-Fe) concentrations tended to decrease. The concentrations of total phosphorus (T-P) and phosphate phosphorus (PO4-P) also tended to decrease as the river flowing down. From the analysis of mass balance, the study watershed was considered to be a substantial iron source, having 307 and 206 kg/ha of annual outflow loads. In the sediment of the river, T-P ranged from 834 to 2440 microg/g, and most of the inorganic compound was Fe-P. In addition, The Bray No.2 phosphorus (441-1030 microg/g) was much higher than in paddy soils. Therefore, the sediment contained a large amount of phosphorus and was fertile. From the results of laboratory-based experiments, it can be said that iron compounds in the river were sufficient for the precipitation of phosphorus. Since the accumulated sediment in the river was conventionally dredged up and transported to adjacent paddy fields, it was considered to be that this operation played a significant role in phosphorus resource recycling.     

Ammonia volatilization from a paddy field following applications of urea: rice plants are both an absorber and an emitter for atmospheric ammonia

Ammonia (NH(3)) volatilization from a paddy field following applications of urea was measured. Two lysimeters of Gray Lowland soil with a pH (H(2)O) of 5.7 were used for the experiment. Urea was applied at a rate of 50 kg N ha(-1) by incorporation as the basal fertilization (BF) and at rates of 30 and 10 kg N ha(-1) by top-dressing as the first (SF1) and second (SF2) supplemental fertilizations, respectively. Two wind tunnels per lysimeter were installed just after BF; one was transplanted with rice plants (PR plot), and the other was without rice plants (NR plot). Weak volatilization was observed at the PR plots after BF. By contrast, strong volatilization was observed at the PR plots after SF1 with a maximum flux of 150 g N ha(-1) h(-1); however, almost no volatilization was observed after SF2. The NH(3) volatilization loss accounted for 2.1%, 20.9%, 0.5%, and 8.2% of the applied urea at each application, BF, SF1, SF2, and the total application, respectively, for which only the net fluxes as volatilization were accumulated. The NH(3) volatilization fluxes from the paddy water surface (F(vol)) at the NR plots were estimated using a film model for its verification. After confirmation of good correlation, the film model was applied to estimate F(vol) at the PR plots. The NH(3) exchange fluxes by rice plants (F(ric)) were obtained by subtracting F(vol) from the observed net NH(3) flux. The derived F(ric) showed that the rice plants emitted NH(3) remarkably just after SF1 when a relatively high rate of urea was applied, although they absorbed atmospheric NH(3) in the other periods. In conclusion, rice plants are essentially an absorber of atmospheric NH(3); however, they turn into an emitter of NH(3) under excess nutrition of ammoniacal nitrogen.     

Some observations from a field survey of the Irpinia (Italy) earthquake of 23 November 1980

This paper reports a field survey carried out 4 months after the Irpinia earthquake of 23 November 1980. The factors influencing the scale of damage are noted and the correspondence between damage levels and ground motions recorded by the ENEL network of strong motion instruments is briefly discussed.     

Assessment of the influence of a cable TV channel on a local community: A case study of a small rural town in Japan

This article describes a study of how a cable TV channel, run by a small rural town in Japan, influences the awareness and behaviour of its residents. The study is based on a postal survey. Results indicate that the TV programmes increase residents interests in the community, communication among residents, and resident participation in public activities. They also show that such effects on the community are influenced by the usefulness of the programmes, viewing frequency, amount of community participation, and certain personal attributes of residents, such as gender, age and household type.Received: 2 May 2001, Accepted: 26 February 2003, JEL Classification: L82, R29, R58Kazufumi Ueno: I would like to thank 21st Century Research Organization for Human Care, formally the 21st Century Hyogo Project Association, for permission to use the survey data for this study.     

Evaluating demand management aspects of urban water policy—A field survey in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece

The objective of the paper is to investigate the attitudes and preferences of the residential water users of the city of Thessaloniki, in order to evaluate the demand management aspects of the urban water policy. A field survey has been conducted in the city of Thessaloniki and investigated among others the reliability of the utility’s services and infrastructure, the acceptability of various water demand options, the willingness to pay of the consumers and the level of public awareness. Straightforward comparisons with the results of a similar survey five years ago help extract useful remarks and conclusions concerning the shift of the urban water policy towards integrated and therefore more sustainable directions.     

Status of the indoor air chemical pollution in Japanese houses based on the nationwide field survey from 2000 to 2005

This paper describes the present state and the changes in indoor air pollution levels by Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in houses in Japan, as revealed through measurements of indoor VOC concentrations and investigations on the actual conditions in the residential environment by means of a questionnaire survey covering a total of more than 10,000 newly built houses over six years (from 2000 to 2005). The VOCs initially measured were formaldehyde, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene, followed by the subsequent inclusion of styrene and acetaldehyde.     

Fate of effluent organic matter and DBP precursors in an effluent-dominated river: A case study of wastewater impact on downstream water quality

The impact of treated wastewater discharges on downstream water quality was evaluated in an effluent-dominated stream in the Southwest USA. The fate and transport of effluent organic matter (EfOM) and disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors was studied. Nitrification and biodegradation were important mechanisms. Changes in DBP formation potential along the river appeared to correlate with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and organic nitrogen concentrations and specific ultraviolet absorbance. The mean oxidation state of carbon (MOC) decreased in value along the river. MOC decreases paralleled decreases in the biodegradability of residual DOC (i.e., lower biodegradable DOC/DOC ratio). The EfOM was biodegradable by up to 40 percent, both in the stream and in a laboratory reactor, and many DBP precursors (e.g., haloacetonitriles, certain nitrosamines) decreased in concentration. Alternatively, the DBP yields for trihalomethanes or haloacetic acids either remained the same or increased slightly, suggesting that these precursors were part of the recalcitrant organic matter (OM).     

Effects of wind on the transmission heat loss in duo-pitched insulated roofs: A field study

This article presents measuring results of the thermal performance of duo-pitched tiled woodframe roof designs. The roofs have been monitored in a test building, exposed to the outside climate. The experiment was part of a programme to study the hygrothermal performance of highly insulated envelope parts in situ, in order to investigate whether a good thermal quality (U = 0.2 W/(m² K)) is achievable with current residential construction practices in Belgium. The results show the effect of wind on the thermal performance of duo-pitched roofs. The measured thermal properties of the roof components are compared to the design values, and related to the wind speeds and directions registered near the test building. The established thermal effects are explained using tracer gas tests to show the pattern of wind driven air flow in the roofs.     

River restoration: what are we restoring to? a case study of the Ravensbourne river, London

State of the art techniques are now being developed to restore our rivers to improve their ecological and conservation value, as well as enhancing their amenity and recreation potential. This study focuses upon the restoration of a small section of the Ravensbourne River in a suburban park near London (Queen's Mead Recreation Ground), which was channelized in the 1970s for the purposes of flood control. As well as reviewing the current status and progress in river restoration, and the feasibility of carrying out such works, the paper asks “what are we restoring to"? Is it to a rural pre twentieth century river character, or are we creating a controlled version of nature? The history of the river is examined along with possible options for restoration. Finally, results from two public perception surveys are outlined which indicate substantial support for restoration. The paper also raises the question of whether the term 'restoration' is an appropriate one to use.     

Using the adaptive model of thermal comfort for obtaining indoor neutral temperature: Findings from a field study in Hyderabad,India

There is a dearth of thermal comfort studies in India. It is aimed to investigate into the aspects of thermal comfort in Hyderabad and to identify the neutral temperature in residential environments. This was achieved through a thermal comfort field study in naturally ventilated apartment buildings conducted during summer and monsoon involving over 100 subjects. A total of 3962 datasets were collected covering their thermal responses and the measurement of the thermal environment. The comfort band (voting within –1 and +1), based on the field study, was found to be 26–32.45°C, with the neutral temperature at 29.23°C. This is way above the indoor temperature standards specified in Indian Codes. It was found that the regression neutral temperature and the globe temperature recorded when voting neutral converged when mean thermal sensation of the subjects was close to 0. This happened during the period of moderate temperature when the adaptive measures were adequate. The indoor temperatures recorded in roof-exposed (top floor) flats were higher than the lower floors. The thermal sensation and preference votes of subjects living in top floors were always higher. Consequently, their acceptance vote was also lower. It was found that the subjects living in top floor flats had a higher neutral temperature when the available adaptive opportunities were sufficient. This was due to their continuous exposure to a higher thermal regime due to much higher solar exposure. This study calls for special adaptive measures for roof-exposed flats to achieve neutrality at higher temperature.     

A field study on 8 pharmaceuticals and 1 pesticide in Belgium: Removal rates in waste water treatment plants and occurrence in surface water

Only recently, attention has been drawn towards the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment. In recent years many reports have been made on the occurrence of the large, differentiated group of pharmaceuticals in waste water, surface water, ground water and in soil. In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of a previously developed LC-MS/MS method by evaluating in waste water and surface water samples from Belgium the occurrence of 8 pharmaceuticals and 1 pesticide (flubendazole, pipamperone, rabeprazole, domperidone, ketoconazole, itraconazole, cinnarizine, miconazole and propiconazole). Removal rates in five public waste water treatment plants were assessed. Introduction of several compounds into the aquatic environment by discharge of effluent could be demonstrated. For several compounds, the highest concentrations (up to 35.6 μg/l for pipamperone) were observed in the effluent of a WWTP receiving water from chemo-pharmaceutical and other industrial companies. The occurrence of these compounds in the aquatic environment was assessed by analyzing 16 surface water samples, taken from various locations. Four pharmaceuticals (flubendazole, pipamperone, domperidone and cinnarizine) could be detected in at least one sample at low concentrations (up to 26.4 ng/l). The pesticide propiconazole was found in comparable concentrations (up to 85.9 ng/l) as in effluent, suggesting potential introduction by direct seepage of water from rural grounds. The highest concentrations of flubendazole, pipamperone, domperidone, propiconazole and cinnarizine (up to 961.3 ng/l) were observed in a sample, taken near the discharge of a WWTP receiving water from chemo-pharmaceutical and other industries. An initial environmental risk assessment was done based on these results.     

Factors affecting the relationship between the NBOD values and the amounts of nitrogenous pollutants: A field study on the lee river

The relationship between the nitrogenous biological oxygen demand (NBOD) and the oxidizable nitrogenous pollutants in the Lee River has been determined to be dependent upon the hydrological conditions. When there is no water discharge (NWD) from the upper reservoir, this relationship is quite clear and definite, but under water discharge (WD) conditions, this relationship is ill-defined. Mean ratios of NBOD₅ to BOD₅ are 0.620 for the NWD case and 0.379 for the WD case, with maximum ratios of 0.944 and 0.643, respectively. Differences between these two cases are caused mainly by the variations of several factors such as concentration of oxidizable nitrogen compounds, an abundance of nitrifying organisms, pH and velocity and depth of water. The hydrological conditions play an important role in these variations.     

Formation and evolution of a successive landslide dam by the erosion of river: a case study of the Gendakan landslide dam on the Lancang River,China

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment - A landslide dam located on the Lancang River in Southwest China was used as a case to study the landslide formation and evolution process...     

Effect of age, gender, economic group and tenure on thermal comfort: A field study in residential buildings in hot and dry climate with seasonal variations

Energy consumption in Indian residential buildings is one of the highest and is increasing phenomenally. Indian standards specify comfort temperatures between 23 and 26 °C for all types of buildings across the nation. However, thermal comfort research in India is very limited. A field study in naturally ventilated apartments was done in 2008, during the summer and monsoon seasons in Hyderabad in composite climate. This survey involved over 100 subjects, giving 3962 datasets. They were analysed under different groups: age, gender, economic group and tenure. Age, gender and tenure correlated weakly with thermal comfort. However, thermal acceptance of women, older subjects and owner-subjects was higher. Economic level of the subjects showed significant effect on the thermal sensation, preference, acceptance and neutrality. The comfort band for lowest economic group was found to be 27.3-33.1 °C with the neutral temperature at 30.2 °C. This is way above the standard. This finding has far reaching energy implications on building and HVAC systems design and practice. Occupants’ responses for other environmental parameters often depended on their thermal sensation, often resulting in a near normal distribution. The subjects displayed acoustic and olfactory obliviousness due to habituation, resulting in higher satisfaction and acceptance.     

Comparative study of the Cd. Cu and Pb determination by AAS and by ICP-AES in river water : Application to a mediterranean river (Congost river, Catalonia, Spain)

The accuracy, precision, detection limit and rapidity in the determination of Cd, Cu and Pb in river water by AAS determination, previous extraction with APDC-MIBK system, is compared with direct determination method ICP-AES. Both methods show a similar detection limit and an analogous accuracy by the addition standard method. With a calibration curve only ICP-AES presents good accuracy, this technique is advantageous in long term precision and requires minimum sample preparation. The sample stability at different temperature conservation is studied. Finally both methods are applied to the determination of Cd, Cu and Pb in Congost river water.     

浙江省农村房屋使用情况调查研究分析——基于乐清市、景宁县、安吉县实地调查

农村住房始终是政府与农民关注的重点,尤其是城镇化不断推进、新农村建设加快的今天。改革开放后,随着农民收入的增加、政府在资金和政策上的支持,我国农村住房有了长足发展。本文将以农村住房为调查对象,重点分析农村房屋使用情况及其关系,分析其发展成因和存在的隐患,最后提出相关对策。     

人群散发对高校教室室内TVOC浓度动态影响的实测分析

随机选取南京某高校10间在室人员密集的教室,在其使用期间对室内总挥发性有机化合物(TVOC)和CO₂浓度、温湿度,以及室内人员数量和典型活动状况(如开关门窗)等进行了连续监测和对比分析。研究结果表明:冬、春、夏季测试教室室内TVOC质量浓度分别为(363.1±121.7),(218.4±11.5),(583.3±38.9)μg/m³;室内TVOC浓度变化与CO₂类似,总体呈现先上升后下降的趋势,并与室内人员数量变化呈强正相关性;室内TVOC浓度水平存在季节性差异。室内总源强度的估算结果表明,室内不同样本数量的人群散发强度与室内TVOC浓度变化类似,随着人数变化,呈现出先逐渐增大,然后趋于相对稳定,最后逐渐减小的趋势。     

A qualitative study on the regulations influence of the himreen reservoir on phytoplankton in the river Diyala,Iraq

The present investigation assessed the impact of the Himreen Reservoir on the phyto‐plankton composition in the river Diyala (a tributary of the river Tigris). Monthly samples of phytoplankton were collected from three stations; St. 1 (Upstream), St. 2 (Reservoir), St. 3 (Downstream), for the period March 1995 to February 1996. A total of 196 species were recorded. Results showed that there is a significant increase in the total species number in the Downstream station in comparison with the Upstream one. The application of similarity indices indicates that the Reservoir and Downstream station were most similar.