Main particulate matter components in Saxony (Germany)

Aerosol filter samples have been collected nearby the industrialised basin of Leipzig in Saxony (Germany) at the research station Melpitz of the Institut für Troposphärenforschung e.V. (IfT). Time series (1992–1998) and a three year comparison (1995–1997) of two different aerosol filter sampling systems, the Sierra-Andersen-PM 10 high volume sampler (daily sample, PM 10 inlet) and the Rupprecht and Patashnik Co. Inc. Model Partisol 2000 (weekly sample, PM 10 and PM 2.5 inlet) are presented and discussed. The comparison of the different sampling systems and strategies yields small differences between the daily and weekly samples for mass and different ions, which may be influenced by sampling duration and flow rates. A general trend of change in aerosol composition was observed: Soot and Sulphate concentrations decreased whereas Nitrate and Ammonium concentrations increased. During summers the mass of coarse particles is higher than in other seasons. One reason could be found in the occurence of longer periods of dry ground surfaces enabling reemission of crustal and biological material. The time series have been integrated in a longer historical aerosol mass trend for Saxony and do show a good agreement. Since 1990 a significant downward trend in gravimetric mass concentration was found.     

Measurements of peroxyacyl nitrates (PANS) in Mexico City: implications for megacity air quality impacts on regional scales

Peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs) were measured using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC/ECD) in north central Mexico City during February–March of 1997. Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) was observed to exceed 30 ppb during five days of the study, with peroxypropionyl nitrate (PPN) and peroxybutryl nitrate (PBN) reaching 6 and 1 ppb maximum, respectively. Levels of total PANs typically exceeded 10 ppb during the period of measurement and showed a very strong diurnal variation with PANs maximum during the early afternoon and falling to less than 0.1 ppb during the evening hours. These levels of PANs are the highest reported values in North America (and the world) for an urban center, since levels of approximately 30 ppb were reported during the late 1970s in the Los Angeles area (South Coast Air Basin, Tuazon et al., 1978). Hydrocarbon measurements indicate that the levels of olefins, specifically butenes are significant in Mexico City. A time series taken of source indicator hydrocarbons taken before and during a Mexican National Holiday with reduced automobile traffic clearly show that mobile sources of butenes are as important as liquefied petroleum gas. Observations of 10–40 ppb C methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE) are consistent with MTBE/gasoline fuel usage as a source of isobutene and formaldehyde. Both these reactive species can lead to increased oxidant and PAN formation. The strong diurnal profiles of PANs are consistent with regional clearing of the Mexico City air basin on a daily basis. Estimates are given using a simple box model calculation for a number of key primary and secondary pollutant emissions from this megacity on an annual basis. These calculations indicate that megacities can be important sources of both primary and secondary pollutants, and that PANs produced in megacity environments are likely to contribute strongly to regional scale ozone and aerosol productions during long range transport.     

反硝化除磷的影响特性试验

采用SBR反应器（厌氧/缺氧/好氧工艺）,分别研究了乙酸盐及硝酸盐浓度变化对反硝化除磷的影响特性.试验结果表明,当进水COD浓度＞230 mg/L时,乙酸盐浓度的变化对释磷、除磷速率等影响并不显著.在硝酸盐浓度＜30 mg/L时,硝酸盐浓度越高,缺氧段除磷速率也就越高.在C/P＞23,C/N＞5条件下,SBR系统对磷、氮去除率在90%以上.     

Aerosol light-scattering in The Netherlands

The relation between the (midday) aerosol light-scattering and the concentrations of nitrate and sulfate has been assessed at a site near the coast of the North Sea in The Netherlands. Midday was selected for the measurements because this is the time at which the aerosol is most effective in the scattering of solar radiation. Automated thermodenuders were used for the hourly measurement of the concentration of nitrate and sulfate with a lower detection limit of 0.1 μ m⁻³. The site is operational since October 1993. The first-year average dry aerosol light-scattering (measured with an integrating nephelometer at a wavelength of 525 nm) was 0.71 × 10⁻⁴ m^1̄. In arctic marine air the aerosol light-scattering was a factor of 10 lower than the average value, in polluted continental air it was up to a factor of 10 higher. The ratio of the total aerosol light-scattering to the concentration of sulfate was 20 m² g⁻¹. The contribution of nitrate to the aerosol light-scattering was higher than that of sulfate in the winter and of about equal magnitude in the summer period. In November and December of 1993, the humidity dependence of the aerosol light-scattering was investigated. Two types of (continental) aerosol were found with respect to the humidity behavior. One type showed a significant increase in light-scattering at the deliquescence points of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate, with that of ammonium nitrate the most pronounced. The second type of continental aerosol did not show deliquescence, but followed the typical humidity dependence of aerosol in a supersaturated droplet state. In this latter aerosol type, nitrate dominated over sulfate. It was concluded from the study that the aerosol light-scattering in The Netherlands, in particular its humidity dependence, is governed by (ammonium) nitrate.     

Land Cover Changes as a Result of Environmental Restrictions on Nitrate Leaching in Dairy Farming

Nitrate leaching forms an important environmental problem because it causes pollution of groundwater and surface water, and adds to already problematic eutrophication. This study analyses the impact of reductions in nitrate leaching on land cover decisions of dairy farms, of which the activities make an important contribution to nitrate leaching. As the level of nitrate leaching depends on groundwater depth as well as on the supply of nitrogen, spatial variation in groundwater levels will cause a spatial variation in land cover under restrictions on nitrate leaching. A non-linear partial optimisation model for the economic and ecological aspects of the problem were used to show how land cover and dairy farms' financial balances change when nitrate losses are reduced. The model is spatially explicit, and describes nitrate leakage and yields of maize and grass as a function of groundwater depth, including the effects of various grazing systems. The model analyses the decisions of a risk neutral agent who minimises costs under the following constraints: (i) production, feed requirements and mass balances for fodder; (ii) constraints for nitrate leaching. Economic costs are attributed to increased costs of fodder and processing of manure when nitrate restrictions are tightened. An important result of the study is the variation in compliance costs and land cover for maize and grass production brought about by spatial variation in groundwater depth. While the effects are negligible for some shallow groundwater classes, it is extremely difficult in other classes – if not impossible – to obtain the EU standard of maximum admissible losses of 34 kg N ha^–1 at low costs. The study shows an important reduction in land cover by maize.     

A Global Overview of Atmospheric Acid Deposition Fluxes

This paper presents a summary of globalacid deposition flux data taken from a globalassessment report on acid deposition prepared forUNEP/WMO (Whelpdale and Kaiser, 1996). There is a largevariation in the spacial coverage and reliability ofmonitoring around the world. Many more stationsmeasure wet deposition than collect appropriate datafor estimating dry deposition. The widespread regionswith highest precipitation concentrations anddeposition fluxes of sulphate and nitrate coincideclosely with the regions of highest density ofSO₂ and NO_x precursor emissions occurringprimarily in the mid-latitude, northern hemispherebelt where a large fraction of the worlds fossilfuels is consumed. Organic acids in precipitation makea minor contribution to acidity (<20%) inindustrial regions, but in the rest of the world theyare of same order, or even exceed, inorganic acids.Less is known about dry deposition, but it appears topredominate near strong emission sources with wetdeposition predominating farther downwind. The molarratio of the N/S contribution to acidic deposition isclose to 1.0 over large areas of Europe and NorthAmerica, but is highly variable elsewhere, beinghighest in equatorial regions due to biomass burningand lowest near smelters and other large sources of SO₂.     

Comparison of Nitrate Levels in Raw Water and Finished Water from Historical Monitoring Data on Iowa Municipal Drinking Water Supplies

Nitrate contamination of water sources is a concern where large amounts of nitrogen fertilizers are regularly applied to soils. Ingested nitrate from dietary sources and drinking water can be converted to nitrite and ultimately to N-nitroso compounds, many of which are known carcinogens. Epidemiologic studies of drinking water nitrate and cancer report mixed findings; a criticism is the use of nitrate concentrations from retrospective drinking water data to assign exposure levels. Residential point-of-use nitrate data are scarce; gaps in historical data for municipal supply finished water hamper exposure classification efforts. We used generalized linear regression models to estimate and compare historical raw water and finished water nitrate levels (1960s--1990s) in single source Iowa municipal supplies to determine whether raw water monitoring data could supplement finished water data to improve exposure assessment. Comparison of raw water and finished water samples (same sampling date) showed a significant difference in nitrate levels in municipalities using rivers; municipalities using other surface water or alluvial groundwater had no difference in nitrate levels. A regional aggregation of alluvial groundwater municipalities was constructed based on results from a previous study showing regional differences in nitrate contamination of private wells; results from this analysis were mixed, dependent upon region and decade. These analyses demonstrate using historical raw water nitrate monitoring data to supplement finished water data for exposure assessment is appropriate for individual Iowa municipal supplies using alluvial groundwater, lakes or reservoirs. Using alluvial raw water data on a regional basis is dependent on region and decade.     

川中丘陵区典型小流域地下水硝酸盐污染分析

对川中丘陵区典型小流域地下水N素含量及形态分配的监测结果表明,硝酸盐(NO3--N)是该地区地下水N素存在的主要形态。川中丘陵区54.5%的地下水NO3--N含量超过世界卫生组织(WHO)饮用水准则规定的10mg.L-1标准,另有27.3%的地下水NO3--N含量接近这一标准,表明该区地下水已经大范围地受到NO3--N污染的威胁。土地利用状况可能是影响川中丘陵区地下水NO3--N含量的主要因素。降雨量和水井深度也影响该区地下水NO3--N含量。紫色土坡耕地NO3--N随壤中流向浅层地下水迁移,可能是造成该区地下水NO3--N含量较高的最重要原因。     

双波长标准加入法同时测定水中硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐

本文应用双波长标准加入法同时测定了硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐，在研究硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐紫外光谱的基础上，精确选择亚硝酸盐等吸收点波长２０２．５ｎｍ，２１６．５ｎｍ为测定波长。亚硝酸盐含量回归方程经推导得Ｃ＝－３．８４１＋１５６．６Ａ，相关系Ｒ＝１．０００。将该法用于合成样品及实际水样分析，所得结果较满意。     

低浓度下4个取代苯污染物与硝酸铅的混合对发光菌的联合毒性

多种污染物混合特别是低浓度下的混合对生物的联合毒性是生态毒理学研究的热点之一。选择了3类污染物苯酚、间甲基苯酚、苯胺、对硝基苯胺、硝酸铅,采用美国微板光度计测定了它们对发光菌青海弧菌-Q67(Vibrio-qinghaiensis sp.-Q67)的单一及联合毒性。应用非线性拟合技术模拟了这5种物质及其混合物的剂量-效应曲线,硝酸铅可用Logit模型模拟,其它4个物质能用Weibull模型准确描述,所有拟合相关系数在0.98以上,均方根误差在0.02以下。根据纯物质的EC50值,获得这5个物质的毒性强弱顺序:硝酸铅〉对硝基苯胺间甲基苯酚苯酚苯胺。混合实验设计了各物质在EC50、EC1、无观察效应浓度(no observed effect concentration,NOEC)比例的混合。用浓度加和(dose addition,DA)和独立作用模型(independent action,IA)对混合物毒性进行预测。IA基本准确预测了这5个物质在各自EC50混合的毒性。DA与IA模型都稍微过高地预测了以EC1及NOEC浓度比例混合的联合毒性,但都在毒理学实验容许的范围之内。这5个物质以NOEC混合时对测试生物Q67没有产生明显毒性,但是还不能判定这些物质在此浓度下混合是安全的。污染物在各自的NOEC浓度下混合是否对其它生物有潜在的威胁还需更多毒理学实验支持。