Exposure and effects assessment of persistent organohalogen contaminants in arctic wildlife and fish

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) encompass an array of anthropogenic organic and elemental substances and their degradation and metabolic byproducts that have been found in the tissues of exposed animals, especially POPs categorized as organohalogen contaminants (OHCs). OHCs have been of concern in the circumpolar arctic for decades. For example, as a consequence of bioaccumulation and in some cases biomagnification of legacy (e.g., chlorinated PCBs, DDTs and CHLs) and emerging (e.g., brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and in particular polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA) found in Arctic biota and humans. Of high concern are the potential biological effects of these contaminants in exposed Arctic wildlife and fish. As concluded in the last review in 2004 for the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) on the effects of POPs in Arctic wildlife, prior to 1997, biological effects data were minimal and insufficient at any level of biological organization. The present review summarizes recent studies on biological effects in relation to OHC exposure, and attempts to assess known tissue/body compartment concentration data in the context of possible threshold levels of effects to evaluate the risks. This review concentrates mainly on post-2002, new OHC effects data in Arctic wildlife and fish, and is largely based on recently available effects data for populations of several top trophic level species, including seabirds (e.g., glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus)), polar bears (Ursus maritimus), polar (Arctic) fox (Vulpes lagopus), and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), as well as semi-captive studies on sled dogs (Canis familiaris). Regardless, there remains a dearth of data on true contaminant exposure, cause-effect relationships with respect to these contaminant exposures in Arctic wildlife and fish. Indications of exposure effects are largely based on correlations between biomarker endpoints (e.g., biochemical processes related to the immune and endocrine system, pathological changes in tissues and reproduction and development) and tissue residue levels of OHCs (e.g., PCBs, DDTs, CHLs, PBDEs and in a few cases perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs)). Some exceptions include semi-field studies on comparative contaminant effects of control and exposed cohorts of captive Greenland sled dogs, and performance studies mimicking environmentally relevant PCB concentrations in Arctic charr. Recent tissue concentrations in several arctic marine mammal species and populations exceed a general threshold level of concern of 1 part-per-million (ppm), but a clear evidence of a POP/OHC-related stress in these populations remains to be confirmed. There remains minimal evidence that OHCs are having widespread effects on the health of Arctic organisms, with the possible exception of East Greenland and Svalbard polar bears and Svalbard glaucous gulls. However, the true (if any real) effects of POPs in Arctic wildlife have to be put into the context of other environmental, ecological and physiological stressors (both anthropogenic and natural) that render an overall complex picture. For instance, seasonal changes in food intake and corresponding cycles of fattening and emaciation seen in Arctic animals can modify contaminant tissue distribution and toxicokinetics (contaminant deposition, metabolism and depuration). Also, other factors, including impact of climate change (seasonal ice and temperature changes, and connection to food web changes, nutrition, etc. in exposed biota), disease, species invasion and the connection to disease resistance will impact toxicant exposure. Overall, further research and better understanding of POP/OHC impact on animal performance in Arctic biota are recommended. Regardless, it could be argued that Arctic wildlife and fish at the highest potential risk of POP/OHC exposure and mediated effects are East Greenland, Svalbard and (West and South) Hudson Bay polar bears, Alaskan and Northern Norway killer whales, several species of gulls and other seabirds from the Svalbard area, Northern Norway, East Greenland, the Kara Sea and/or the Canadian central high Arctic, East Greenland ringed seal and a few populations of Arctic charr and Greenland shark.     

Treatment of textile dyehouse wastewater by TiO2 photocatalysis

The oxidative degradation of an actual textile dyehouse wastewater was investigated by means of photocatalysis in the presence of TiO2. The UV-A-induced photocatalytic oxidation over TiO2 suspensions was capable of decolorizing the effluent completely, as well as reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD) sufficiently (COD reduction generally varied between about 40% and 90% depending on the operating conditions) after 4 h of treatment. Two crystalline forms of TiO2, viz. anatase and rutile, were tested for their photocatalytic activity and anatase was found to be more active than rutile. The extent of photocatalytic degradation was found to increase with increasing TiO2 concentration up to 0.5 g/L TiO2, above which degradation remained practically constant, reaching a plateau. Furthermore, textile effluent degradation was enhanced at acidic conditions (i.e. pH = 3) and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. To assess catalyst activity on repeated use, experiments were performed where the catalyst was recovered and reused; after three successive uses, TiO2 had sufficiently retained its photocatalytic activity. Finally, the luminescent marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri was used to assess the acute ecotoxicity of samples prior to and after the photocatalytic treatment and it was found that ecotoxicity was fully eliminated following photocatalytic oxidation.     

浅析相变材料储能在空调中的应用前景

概述了相变材料储能在空调系统中的应用前景，分述了相变材料蓄冷装置在空调蒸发器侧，冷凝器侧，空气处理机内以及其它方面的应用状况。阐述了相变材料储能装置的优点，分析了相变储能方式与冰蓄冷，水蓄冷，蓄热方式的不同之处，并指出大规模使用这种储能装置，会带来可观的节能效益和环境效益。     

Degradation of Pb--EDTA complex by a H(2)O(2)/UV process

The degradation of PbEDTA in aqueous solution by a H(2)O(2)/UV process was studied. The effect of H(2)O(2) content, pH of the solution and the presence of nitrate were investigated. PbEDTA degradation by a H(2)O(2)/UV process was shown to be accompanied by simultaneous lead precipitation. PbEDTA was decomposed rapidly in acidic solutions while lead precipitation was achieved only when the pH of the solution was higher than 6. The presence of nitrate in significant amounts (0.04 M) inhibited remarkably the degradation of the complex and metal precipitation. The degradation of CdEDTA and ZnEDTA was also studied. It was found that the decomposition of metal-EDTA complex and metal removal by the H(2)O(2)/UV process depend greatly on the nature of the metal. CdEDTA and ZnEDTA were decomposed rapidly but metal precipitation was not achieved. The major by-products of the degradation of metal-EDTA complexes observed were nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), iminodiacetic acid (IDA), oxalic acid and nitrate.     

Photodegradation of estrone and 17beta-estradiol in water

The TiO(2)-assisted photodegradation of two natural female hormones, estrone (E1) and 17beta-estradiol (E2), was investigated in two UV-photo-reactors, followed by solid-phase extraction and analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The degradation of E1 and E2 in both reactors followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics. In reactor 1 (150W), 97% of compounds were degraded within 4h of irradiation. Even more rapid degradation was observed in reactor 2 (15W) where 98% of both compounds disappeared within 1h, due to the shorter wavelength of UV-light in reactor 2 (fixed at 253nm) than reactor 1 (238-579nm). The influences of different initial chemical concentrations, pH value, the presence of dissolved organic matter and hydrogen dioxide, and the catalyst concentration on the degradation rate of E1 and E2 in aqueous solutions were investigated. The results show that the extent of photo-induced degradation of E1 and E2 strongly depends on the water constituents in solution. The degradation rate was increased when pH value was increased from 2 to 7.6, beyond which the degradation rate started to decrease. The presence of humic acid enhanced the degradation of E1 and E2 in both reactors as a result of photosensitisation effect of humic acid chromophore. The degradation rate increased with an increase in H(2)O(2) concentration. The degradation rate was also enhanced by increasing catalyst concentration up to 2g/l. The findings therefore suggest that photocatalysis can be a very effective method of rapidly removing certain EDCs from water.     

Photocatalytic oxidation of DBP precursors using UV with suspended and fixed TiO2

French River water (Nova Scotia, Canada) was separated into six different natural organic matter (NOM) fractions, including hydrophobic acids, bases and neutrals and hydrophilic acids, bases and neutrals. The raw water, as well as each of the NOM fractions were analysed for disinfection by-product (DBP) formation potential before and after advanced oxidation with UV/TiO₂ to determine the efficacy of this treatment for the removal of DBP precursors. The UV/TiO₂ treatment was carried out with a nanostructured thin film (NSTF), coated with TiO₂ which is compared with the use of a TiO₂ suspension. For the raw river water, removals of total trihalomethane formation potential (TTHMFP) and total haloacetic acid formation potential (THAA₉FP) were found to be approximately 20% and 90%, respectively, with 50 mJ/cm² UV exposure and 1 mg/L TiO₂. For the fractionated samples, approximately 75% of both trihalomethane (THM) and haloacetic acid (HAA) precursors were found to be associated with the hydrophobic acid fraction. For this individual fraction the same UV/TiO₂ treatments exhibited approximately 20-25% removal of both TTHMFP and THAA₉FP, suggesting that the fractionation process may have affected the treatability of HAA precursors or may have altered the results of the oxidation processes.     

蓄能地板辐射采暖系统热性能的研究

利用相变传热理论，建立起分析热盘管置于封装相变储能材料层中的储能采暖地板热性能的理论模型，采用焓分析法，数值模拟贮热介质在曲边边界条件下、不同的热边界条件的作用，探索蓄能地板在不同的管间距布置、不同的地板覆盖层和不同供热工况等各种因素对储能地板热性能及蓄热效果的影响规律。     

利用人工模拟脉动风压计算高层建筑横风向风振动力反应时程

根据日本规范中提出的横风向脉动风力谱系数函数，利用人工模拟横风向脉动风压时程的方法，提出了一个矩形高层建筑横风向风振反应时程的计算方法供参考。采用Newmark法与Wilson-θ法计算了2栋建筑物顶部的横风向风振反应。计算结果表明，在横风向脉动风压的作用下，结构的风振反应以共振响应为主，非共振响应仅为次要的部分；这与谱分析法得出的结论是一致的；从而说明了计算结果的正确性。这对于正确估算结构的风振反应值，为高层建筑风振控制措施设计提供参考依据是有一定意义的。     

钢结构设计制图深度及表示方法

钢结构设计制图阶段的划分长期以来国家没有明确规定,参照国际通用做法和国内以往习惯,把钢结构设计制图分为钢结构设计施工图(简称设计图)和钢结构施工详图两阶段。设计图的深度和表示方法通过设计图样表达,图样包括设计总说明、结构布置图、节点图、构件图。钢结构施工详图内容包括根据钢结构设计规范的构造设计要求对节点构造进行补充设计和钢结构施工详图的设计总说明、锚栓布置图、结构布置图、安装节点图和构件详图。施工详图的深度和表示方法通过上述图样表达。     

Ru/Al2O3催化臭氧氧化降解邻苯二甲酸二甲酯活性研究

系统地考察了Ru/Al2O3催化剂对邻苯二甲酸二甲酯(DMP)溶液臭氧氧化过程的影响.结果表明Ru/Al2O3可以显著提高臭氧氧化的效果,反应120 min后对TOC的去除率可以由单独臭氧氧化的23.9%提高到71.6%.在试验考察的范围内,Ru的最佳负载量为0.1%;BET和XRD分析表明焙烧温度在600℃、催化剂粒径为0.5～1.0 mm时催化剂载体主要以γ-Al2O3形式存在,得到的催化剂具有较大的表面积、较多的表面活性位点,此时催化臭氧氧化的活性最高.通过单独臭氧氧化,单独臭氧氧化后再进行催化剂吸附,催化臭氧氧化的对比试验证明了Al2O3催化剂对体系TOC的去除主要是基于催化作用.