Health benefits of improving air quality in the rapidly aging Korean society

Korea is experiencing an extraordinarily rapid demographic transition. We investigated the short-term association between air pollution and mortality and assessed the impact of improved air quality on mortality in a rapidly aging city, Seoul, Korea.The generalized additive model (GAM) was used to estimate the relative risks (RR) of mortality associated with changes in air pollution. The time trends, seasonal variations, day of the week effects, and weather effects were controlled in the models. To estimate the health benefits, we used the US Environmental Protection Agency's BenMAP.For people 0–64 years of age, elderly people (65+ years), and all age groups, an increase of 10 μg/m³ in PM₁₀ was associated with increases in daily death counts of 0.27% (95% CI: 0.04–0.50), 0.45% (95% CI: 0.27–0.64), and 0.37% (95% CI: 0.23–0.52), respectively. For ages 0–64 years, elderly people, and all age groups, a 10 ppb increase in 1-hour maximum ozone concentration resulted in an increased risk of daily death counts of 0.28% (95% CI: − 0.19–0.74), 0.96% (95% CI: 0.46–1.47), and 0.81% (95% CI: 0.35–1.26), respectively.For elderly people, it was estimated that the health benefits of attaining the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality guidelines (AQGs) for PM₁₀ (24-hour average 50 μg/m³) would suggest an annual reduction of 964 (95% CI: 564–1366) premature deaths, and 329 (95% CI: 159–500) premature deaths could be prevented annually in 2015 from attaining the WHO's guidelines for ozone (8-hour average 100 μg/m³).The rapid increase of the elderly population has major consequences and implications for society and public health. This study showed that elderly people are at higher risk for the acute mortality effects of air pollution. Therefore, cleaner air will substantially contribute to improved public health in Seoul, given the growing concern about the adverse effects of air pollution for elderly people.     

煤炭地下气化特征污染物迁移行为探测

煤炭地下气化潜在的地下水污染风险,是煤炭地下气化产业化的关键技术及瓶颈技术。采用直接钻探法对我国首个钻孔式地下气化炉进行了燃空区探测,并对不同气化区域的煤、岩、半焦、灰渣样品进行了取样。开展了探测样品的浸出实验,研究了浸出液中特征气化污染物及污染指标挥发酚、氨氮及COD的迁移范围及迁移特征,探讨了污染物的迁移路径。研究结果表明,特征污染物的迁移主要发生在中心气化区内,挥发酚及氨气在煤层顶板内发生了垂直向上的迁移,煤层顶板垮落带及裂隙带是污染物迁移的主要通道。污染物向底板岩层渗透迁移的倾向极低。在气化边界区域,煤层顶板内没有形成污染物迁移通道,未发现污染物向围岩的迁移。气化煤田的科学选址是煤炭地下气化地下水污染防治的重要环节。     

Identifying pathways of exposure to highway pollutants in great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) road mitigation tunnels

Road mitigation tunnels are increasingly deployed for amphibians but very little is known about chemical pollution in such schemes. We assessed pollution pressures associated with road runoff at a major great crested newt mitigation scheme in England. Sediments and waters in the mitigation system were analysed for major physico‐chemical parameters, trace metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons and compared to a nearby reference site. Seven out of eight tested metals including copper, zinc, lead and iron were in significantly greater concentrations in the tunnels than at a reference site and at environmentally significant concentrations. Water samples also exhibited elevated concentrations of aluminium and chromium and occasionally extreme alkaline pH associated with leaching of portlandite in tunnel cements. High conductivity values in waters and sediments corresponding with seasonal de‐icing salt application were also apparent. The study highlights the potential pollutant pressures for amphibians associated with large‐scale urban development and road mitigation schemes.     

Effects of thermodynamics parameters on mass transfer of volatile pollutants at air-water interface

A transient three-dimensional coupling model based on the compressible volume of fluid(VOF) method was developed to simulate the transport of volatile pollutants at the air-water interface. VOF is a numerical technique for locating and tracking the free surface of water flow.The relationships between Henry's constant, thermodynamics parameters, and the enlarged topological index were proposed for nonstandard conditions. A series of experiments and numerical simulations were performed to study the transport of benzene and carbinol. The simulation results agreed with the experimental results. Temperature had no effect on mass transfer of pollutants with low transfer free energy and high Henry's constant. The temporal and spatial distribution of pollutants with high transfer free energy and low Henry's constant was affected by temperature. The total enthalpy and total transfer free energy increased significantly with temperature, with significant fluctuations at low temperatures. The total enthalpy and total transfer free energy increased steadily without fluctuation at high temperatures.     

Decreasing trends in total suspended solids and cumulative effects of nonpoint source projects in the Cuyahoga River Watershed,OH

Using the US EPA’s Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS), we test if completion of best management practices (BMPs) through the Clean Water Act Section (4)319 National Nonpoint Source Program was associated with a decreasing trend in total suspended solids (TSS) load (metric tons/year). The study area chosen had 21 completed projects in the Cuyahoga River watershed in northeastern Ohio from 2000 to 2018. The 4319 projects ranged from dam removal, floodplain/wetland restoration to stormwater projects. There was an overall decreasing trend in TSS loads. We identified three phases of project implementation and completion, where phase 1 had ongoing projects, but none completed (2000–2004). The steepest decrease in loads, identified as phase 2 (2005–2011), was associated with completion of low-head dam modification and removal projects on the mainstem of the Cuyahoga River. A likely decreasing trend was associated with projects completed in the tributaries, such as natural channel design restoration and stormwater green infrastructure (phase 3). Pairing sediment reduction estimates from projects with the river’s flow normalized TSS loading trend, we estimated that the 4319 effort may account for a small fraction of the TSS load reduction. Other stream restoration projects (non-4319) have also been done in the Cuyahoga watershed by other organizations. However, trying to compile these other projects is challenging in larger watersheds having multiple municipalities, agencies, and nonprofits doing restoration without better coordinated record keeping and monitoring. While a decreasing trend in a pollutant load is a desirable water quality outcome, determining what contributed to that trend remains difficult.     

上海海域污染源分析及控制对策

为了研究陆源污染对上海海域的影响,分析长江入海污染物通量的季节变化、黄浦江与长江对上海海域污染的贡献率、上海海域主要污染物的时空分布特征。结果表明:污染物随季节基本呈规律性变化,长江入海污染物对海域污染的贡献远大于黄浦江,长江和黄浦江对上海海域影响最大的污染物是TP;上海市主要污水排放系统对上海海域的N、P污染有很大贡献。最后提出控制上海海域污染形势的对策建议。     

排污河道对沿岸地下水水质的影响

为了阐明排污河道对地下水水质的影响程度和影响范围 ,以石家庄市排污河道氵交河为例 ,进行了河道污水对沿岸地下水污染机理的专题研究。通过此次研究 ,找出了污染物在地下水中的扩散规律 ,确定了河道污水对地下水环境的影响范围 ,为防污、治污提供了科学的理论依据。     

青岛市生态居住区雨水综合利用

通过对于青岛市某居民小区两次典型降雨后形成径流雨水中的COD、SS、NH3-N和TP的分析,发现在初雨期2mm产生的径流中,4项污染物指标的污染程度最大,应舍弃不用;初雨期后可通过清浊分流方法在居民小区内对雨水进行回收利用。通过对居民区的年杂用水量与可收集雨水量的比较,上游汇水量可以满足区内的用水需求,雨水综合利用方案实施后可节约自来水2万t/a以上,具有良好的社会效益和经济效益。     

珠江三角洲工业水污染负荷削减目标的探讨

节水减污是通过调控社会水循环过程的方式,实现珠江三角洲水环境状况改善的重要措施.珠江三角洲节水减污的战略目标为:①在2010年实现工业用水零增长,工业废水中COD排放量降至1990的水平;②在2020年使工业废水排放量降至1990的水平,工业废水中COD排放量降至1980的水平.基于上述目标,运用广东省环境统计数据和珠江流域水资源综合规划的调查数据,探讨了2010年和2020年珠江三角洲工业水环境负荷削减目标的定量方案.研究结论对于制定珠江三角洲水环境总体规划有着重要意义.     

实施流域水功能区限制纳污制度细部工作

文章就当前如何深入落实和有效实施流域水功能区限制纳污制度,在流域执行层面怎样做好谋划整体、做实载体和求真具体3个重要环节的细部工作,进行了深度分析思考,切合实际地提出了有针对性的思路对策和具体做法,有助于实践中的借鉴和运用。