Atmospheric SO2 Pollution and Acidity of Rain in Changchun China

It is mainly SO₂ that bring about acid rain in China. Changchun City, which is located in Northeast China, is a typical city that is polluted by SO₂ from coal combustion in winter. In winter, the daily mean concentration of atmospheric SO₂ is about 0.10mg/m³ and about 5 times as high as in summer, and the daily highest concentration usually appears in daybreak and nightfall. The monitored lowest pH value of rainwater was 4.8 in spring and the range of pH value of rain/snow was 5.2–6.0 in winter, 4.8–5.8 in spring, 5.4–6.4 in summer, 5.6–6.4 in autumn, and the annual mean pH value of rainfalls was 5.8 (1999–2000). Because the alkaline aerosol from soil, meteorological conditions etc., is unfavorable to acid rain formation, even though high SO₂ emission intensity existed in winter, the acid rain did not appear obviously. The aerosol character, climate conditions in Northeast China are important factors for the acid rain formation, although SO₂ emission is the original cause.     

Immediate Impact of the Flood (Bohemia, August 2002) on Selected Soil Characteristics

In August 2002 extreme floods affected Bohemia a part of the Czech Republic, along Vltava and Labe rivers. After the flood had culminated, soil samples of arable and meadow soil (flooded and control-non-flooded) have been collected in the surroundings of the cities of ?eské Budějovice (CB, South Bohemia, the Vltava river, the upper flood stream) and Ústí nad Labem (UL, the Labe river, the lower flood stream). Different parameters of arable soils have been affected more significantly than those of meadow soils. Soil texture e.g. has been shifted from sandy loam to loam (CB) and clay loam (UL). Organic carbon, total phosphorus and nitrogen contents have been increased as well as the content of some hazardous elements such as arsenic. A shift of soil pH from 6.1 to 4.8 has been noticed in CB and an opposite one from 5.1 to 7.1 was measured in UL. Available phosphorus decreased in CB by 56% while a four-fold increase was measured in UL. Chlorinated organic pesticides level was significantly reduced, but that of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) increased up to the maximum values of legal limits. The UL arable soil also became heavily contaminated by PAH. The CB arable soil demonstrated high microbial activity, while UL arable soil suffered under stress conditions in this respect. The flooded meadow soils became covered with a layer of drifted soil sediment, which retained enhanced content of the PAH's different hazardous elements, and, in addition, the soil aeration was reduced.     

Changes in the Abundance of Vascular Plants under the Impact of Industrial Air Pollution: A Meta-analysis

We applied a meta-analytic approach to improve an understanding of the effects of pollution on the primary productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. We identified 73 data sources reporting changes in the abundance of vascular plants (measured as the percentage of ground cover, biomass per unit area, canopy closure and stem basal area) around 75 polluters located in 18 countries (137 effect sizes). The overall effect was negative but varied among the vegetation layers and types of polluters. The strongest detrimental impact on productivity was due to non-ferrous smelters. The abundance of trees was decreased around both acidifying and alkalifying polluters, whereas the abundance of shrubs and field-layer vegetation decreased only near acidifying polluters. Overall, a decline of vegetation was observed in boreal and temperate forests but not in treeless biomes (deserts, tundra or grasslands). The magnitude of the detrimental effects on trees increased with the duration of the polluters?? impact around acidifying polluters but decreased around alkalifying polluters. Adverse effects on the field layer became more severe with increasing community productivity; in combination with the conclusions of previous meta-analyses, this result indicates that diverse and highly productive communities are likely to be the most susceptible to pollution impacts. In general, the pollution effects on the abundance of vascular plants were less detrimental than the effects on their growth and diversity, indicating that primary productivity in polluted ecosystems is maintained by the preferential growth of several pollution-tolerant species.     

Impact of sulfate nutrition on the utilization of atmospheric SO2 as sulfur source for Chinese cabbage

The ability of Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis) to utilize atmospheric sulfur dioxide (SO₂) as sulfur (S) source for growth was investigated in relation to root sulfate (SO ) nutrition. If seedlings of Chinese cabbage were transferred to a sulfate‐deprived nutrient solution directly after germination, plants became rapidly S‐deficient. Plant‐biomass production was decreased and the shoot‐to‐root ratio decreased. Sulfate deprivation resulted in a substantial decrease in total S, sulfate, organic‐S, and water‐soluble nonprotein thiol contents and in an increase in amino‐acid content of both shoot and root. The sulfate‐uptake rate of the root was strongly increased, whereas nitrate‐uptake rate was decreased. Upon resupply of sulfate, the onset of S‐deficiency symptoms was prevented, and growth was restored, whereas sulfate and nitrate‐uptake rates were quite similar to those of the sulfate‐sufficient plants. A 6‐day exposure to 0.12 µL L^–1 SO₂ of sulfate‐sufficient plants did not affect plant‐biomass production, shoot‐to‐root ratio, S and nitrogen (N) compounds of shoot and root, or sulfate and nitrate uptake by the root. Exposure of sulfate‐deprived plants to SO₂ resulted in enhanced total S, organic‐S, and water‐soluble nonprotein thiol contents of the shoot. The contribution of SO₂ as S source for biomass production depended on the duration of the sulfate deprivation. If Chinese cabbage was transferred to a sulfate‐deprived nutrient solution and simultaneously exposed to SO₂, then plants benefited optimally from the foliarly absorbed S. The development of S‐deficiency symptoms was prevented, and shoot‐biomass production was quite similar to that of sulfate‐sufficient plants. However, upon SO₂ exposure root‐biomass production was even higher than that of sulfate‐sufficient plants, whereas sulfate uptake was still enhanced. Evidently, upon SO₂ exposure there was no strict and direct shoot‐to‐root signaling in tuning sulfate uptake by the root and its transport to the shoot to the need for growth, via down‐regulation of sulfate uptake and normalizing shoot–to–root biomass partitioning.     

The Road Pollution Impact on Zea mays: Inductive Modeling and Qualitative Assessment

The present paper describes the results of experiments with measurements of heavy metals concentrations in soil, leaves and roots of Zea mays cultivated near the major road in the area Araxos, Greece. The chain of ecological interactions is decomposed into individual subsystems with sufficiently small number of data samples describing concentrations of elements. The GMDH-based regression models are obtained and analyzed to assess different aspects of interactions within the chain “soil–roots–leaves”. The paper also represents a qualitative assessment technique to simplify analysis of the results, as well as to generalize the modeling results for different subsystems to the whole system.     

Inhibitory effects of SO2 on biofiltration of aldehydes

Biofiltration is a suitable method for eliminating volatile biodegradable organic chemical from waste gases. However, if substances inhibiting microbiological activity are present in the waste gas, biofiltration efficiencies will be poor. Results are presented on inhibition of biofiltration by SO₂. Inhibition was observed first in a pilot scale experiment on odor abatement in a food processing factory. Then it was shown in laboratory scale experiments that SO₂. concentrations less than 10 ppm have no measurable effect. A concentration of 40 ppm results in 60% inhibition but original efficiency can be restored when the SO₂ supply is shut off. A concentration of 100 PPM of SO₂ results in complete and permanent inhibition.     

The Impact of Diesel Oil Pollution on the Hydrophobicity and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Efflux of Forest Soils

The contamination of soil with petroleum products is a major environmental problem. Petroleum products are common soil contaminants as a result of human activities, and they are causing substantial changes in the biological (particularly microbiological) processes, chemical composition, structure and physical properties of soil. The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of soil moisture on CO₂ efflux from diesel-contaminated albic podzol soils. Two contamination treatments (3000 and 9000 mg of diesel oil per kg of soil) were prepared for four horizons from two forest study sites with different initial levels of soil water repellency. CO₂ emissions were measured using a portable infrared gas analyser (LCpro+, ADC BioScientific, UK) while the soil samples were drying under laboratory conditions (from saturation to air-dry). The assessment of soil water repellency was performed using the water drop penetration time test. An analysis of variance (ANVOA) was conducted for the CO₂ efflux data. The obtained results show that CO₂ efflux from diesel-contaminated soils is higher than efflux from uncontaminated soils. The initially water-repellent soils were found to have a bigger CO₂ efflux. The non-linear relationship between soil moisture content and CO₂ efflux only existed for the upper soil horizons, while for deeper soil horizons, the efflux is practically independent of soil moisture content. The contamination of soil by diesel leads to increased soil water repellency.     

Dependence of SO2 integrated exposure rates on SO2 concentration,wind velocity,temperature, and relative humidity

Integrated exposure rates for SO₂ of a standardized physico-chemical receptor and corresponding SO₂ concentrations and meteorological variables have been measured at various sites in the state of Northrhine Westphalia, Germany from 1982 to 1986. The dependence of exposure rates and deposition velocities of the receptor on SO₂ concentration and meteorological variables has been investigated within the framework of various regression models. A contribution of prime importance to exposure rates of the product of SO₂ concentrations and the square root of wind velocities averaged over exposure time has been established. The model explains 87% of variation. Deposition velocities for this receptor turn out to be of the order of 1 cm s ^?1. A corresponding regression model between deposition velocities and the square root of wind velocities unexpectedly explains only a minor amount of variation of this quantity.     

Does SO2 fumigation change the chemical defense of woody plants: The effect of short-term SO2 fumigation on the metabolism of deciduous Salix myrsinifolia plants

The effect of a moderate increase in atmospheric sulphur dioxide on the production of phenolic secondary chemicals, soluble sugars and phytomass distribution within plants was investigated in six willow (Salix myrsinifolia Salisb.) clones. The plants were cultivated for 3 weeks under 0.11 ppm of SO₂ (300 μg m^?3). The production of salicin and chlorogenic acid was significantly reduced under increased SO₂. However, salicortin, 2′-O-acetylsalicortin, (+)-catechin and two unknown phenolics did not show any clear trend. The increase in SO₂ did not affect the glucose, fructose and sucrose contents. The final weight of the SO₂-treatment plants was significantly greater than that of the control plants: the leaf, stem and root phytomass was from 14 to 48% greater under increased SO₂. All the clones showed the same trend, although there was a significant variation in phytomass production. Our results indicate, although not consistently that even a short-term exposure of enhanced atmospheric SO₂ may change moderately the accumulation pattern of willow phenolics.     

Air Pollution and Lichen Physiology. Physiological Responses of Different Lichens in a Transplant Experiment Following an SO2-Gradient

Four lichen species, Parmelia sulcata Taylor, Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl., Cetraria islandica (L.)Ach., and Bryoria fuscescens (Gyelnik) Brodo andHawksworth were exposed during autumn and winter at differentsites of the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains), the Fichtelgebirge andcontrol sites. All lichens tested became visibly damaged withtime. Thallus bleaching started from the edges and went on tothe centre of the thallus. Sites of facilitated gas exchangelike the soralia of P. sulcata and the pseudocyphelles ofC. islandica became preferentially bleached. The sulfateconcentration increased with exposure time reaching 200% ofunpolluted controls. In contrast to coniferous trees (e.g. Picea abies), further exposure lead to a reduction in the S-concentration in the lichens, as sulfate and otherintracellular metabolites were leached from the thalli due tomembrane damage. The changes in the K-concentration proved tobe an excellent measure for membrane leakiness; it wascorrelated with time of exposure and with SO₂ concentrations at the different sites. Photosynthetic capacityand respiration were also strongly affected. Depending on theSO₂-dose, the Bryoria species were unable tophotosynthesize as early as 4–8 weeks after exposure, whereasCetraria and Hypogymnia showed clear reduction intheir ability to photoreduce CO₂ within 8–10 weeks ofexposure in the field. Parmelia sulcata was found to bethe most tolerant species. After 3–4 months, photosynthesis wasreduced by only 30%. The bioindicative value of theseobservations is discussed.     

SO2 and NOx Emissions from Kuwait Power Stations in Years 2001 and 2004 and Evaluation of the Impact of These Emissions on Air Quality Using Industrial Sources Complex Short-Term (ISCST) Model

Comprehensive emission inventories for 2001 and 2004 for Kuwait’s main power stations located at Al-Doha and Al-Subyia have been prepared. These inventories are inserted, in conjunction with meteorological data, into the Source Complex model for Short Term Dispersion (ISCST4.5) to predict ambient ground level concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) at selected receptors for years 2001 and 2004. The comparison of the results obtained for these 2 years show the influence of increase in emission rates due to urban and industrial growth. For model validation, computed results are compared with the measured daily average values of SO₂ and NOx collected at a fixed Kuwait Environment Protection Agency air quality monitoring station located at the roof of polyclinic in Rabia. Individual contributions of each power station to the highest predicted values are assessed. The five highest hourly, daily and annual ground level concentration values under prevailing meteorological conditions are compared for 2001 and 2004. It is found that the hourly mean concentrations are strongly influenced by the prevailing meteorological conditions. The effect of meteorological conditions has not been that dominant for the daily and annual mean values and the predicted values for 2004 are higher than 2001, simply corresponding to a high emission rates, especially in summer months. Top 50 daily average values of SO₂ show a slope of 0.806 for 2001 which means that the model predictions are 20% less than the observed levels. However, the predicted slope of SO₂ for 2004 is 0.96 and the model predictions are in very close agreement with the observed data.     

The Representative Day Technique in the Study of Photochemical Smog Pollution in Falconara Industrial Area

The issue of increasing tropospheric Ozone and, more in general, of photochemical smog is of growing in importance. It is, however, a problem of extreme complexity, involving both atmospheric diffusion processes and complex chemical reactions. We present a study carried out to examine the evolution of the Ozone concentration fields and the effects of meteorological conditions on atmospheric pollutant concentrations in an industrial zone, namely Falconara, located on the central Adriatic coast of Italy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the possibility of assessing the diurnal evolution of air pollutants by introducing the Representative Day technique in order to obtain information on chemical reactions and air pollution in poorly monitored areas. The use of the Representative Day allows the compilation of large amounts of data in a compact format that will supply meaningful information on the whole data set.     

太原市工业区不同下垫面降雨径流污染特征

[目的]揭示太原市工业区不同下垫面降雨径流的污染特征,为探明工业水体污染的来源以及工业水污染治理提供科学依据。[方法]基于研究区2类不同下垫面的降雨径流水质监测数据,计算场次降雨径流污染物的平均浓度(EMCs)。监测项目包括化学需氧量(CODcr),NH_3—N,NO_3~-—N,TN,TP,Cu和Zn。[结果]2种下垫面条件下降雨径流的CODcr,NH_3—N,NO_3~-—N,TN和TP的浓度均超出Ⅴ类国家地表水标准,重金属污染不明显;污染物负荷(EMC)与降雨历时呈现负相关关系,符合指数回归方程。[结论]研究区降雨冲刷效应显著,随着降雨历时的增加,污染物浓度趋于降低。同时,与国内其他城市工业区相比,太原市工业区的污染程度较轻。     

Study on Dry Deposition of SO2-NOX onto Loess

In order to obtain information on dry deposition of SO₂ onto loess in China, the effects of water vapor and NO₂ on SO₂ deposition-oxidation processes were investigated in laboratory measurements. The deposition velocities of SO₂ onto loess particles were 2.34–7.33 cm s^?1, were high in comparison with the other studies. Deposition of SO₂ onto the particles was decreased with exposed time and amounts of SO₂, but was influenced by adsorption of water vapor onto the particles. On the other hand, oxidation of SO₂ physically8 adsorbed was promoted by the coexistence of water vapor and NO₂. So, it was indicated that it was possible for water vapor and NO₂ in the atmosphere to play an important role in dry deposition for the deposition-oxidation interaction between SO₂ and loess particles.     

土地利用和农业管理对丹江流域非点源氮污染的影响

为研究土地利用和农业管理对流域非点源氮污染的影响,选择南水北调中线的重要水源地丹江流域作为研究区,应用SWAT模型模拟了流域地表水硝酸盐氮和氨氮负荷,揭示了土地利用变化和不同施肥灌溉措施对氮污染负荷的贡献。结果表明:(1)流域内全年氮污染分布不均,硝酸盐氮和氨氮污染较为严重的时段集中在每年7—9月,输出量分别为734.32,735.36 t,占全年硝酸盐氮和氨氮输出量的50%以上;(2)硝酸盐氮和氨氮的输出量具有较大的空间差异,自上游至下游逐渐加重,污染较为严重的子流域主要集中在丹凤县和商南县;(3)通过设置情景模拟,当坡度大于15°和25°的耕地退耕还林时,流域硝酸盐氮负荷分别减少59.83%和45.89%,氨氮负荷分别减少48.91%和35.78%。当流域内施肥量和灌溉量分别降低20%时,流域硝酸盐氮负荷分别减少3.63%和13.26%,氨氮负荷分别减少0.12%和15.65%;(4)耕地是流域氮污染的主要来源,降低流域施肥灌溉量和陡坡地退耕还林是控制流域非点源氮污染的关键。     

SO2 emission scenarios of Eastern China

Under the National Key Project in Eighth Five-year Plan, a study was carried out on forecasting SO2 emission from coal combustion in China, with a special emphasis on eastern area. 3 scenarios, i.e. “Optimistic”, “Pessimistic” and “Business as Usual” scenario were developed trying to cover changing scale of coal consumption and SO2 emission from 1990 to 2020. “Top-down” approach was employed, and coal consumption elasticity was defined to project future economic growth and coal consumption. SO2 emission scenarios were outlined, based on coal consumption, estimated sulfur content level and prospective SO2 control situation. Emission level for each 1° longitude × 1° latitude grid cell within eastern China was also estimated to show geographical distribution of SO2 sources. The results show that SO2 emission of China will increase rapidly, if current situation for energy saving and SO2 control is maintained without improvement; measures enhanced reasonably with economic growth could stop further increase of emission by 2010; realization of more encouraging objective to keep emission at even below 1990 level needs, however, more stringent options. Share of eastern China in country's total emission would increase until 2000, while general changing tendency would principally follow the scenarios of whole country.     

气候变化对中国北方玉米种植及物候的影响

通过分析北方地区玉米生产典型区1992—2012年40个有长时间序列记录站点的物候信息与年均温度及≥10℃有效积温之间的关系发现:随着年际之间气温波动,玉米自身进行着生育期的调整,年均温每升高1℃,玉米生育期大致缩短3～5 d;年均温11℃可能是春夏玉米的分界阈值,也可能是一年一作和一年两作两种种植方式的温度划分基线;东北和西北地区作物在1992—2012年间对气候变化响应程度强于华北地区,潜在适应性更强。通过本研究发现玉米物候对气候变化的响应规律,对于阐明玉米品种空间分布与气候变化的关系以及未来气候条件下玉米物候、品种及种植结构变化趋势具有重要意义。     

Multi-criteria Analysis of Air Pollution with SO2 and PM10 in Urban Area Around the Copper Smelter in Bor, Serbia

This work presents the results of 4 years long monitoring of concentrations of SO₂ gas and PM₁₀ in the urban area around the copper smelter in Bor. The contents of heavy metals Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, and As in PM₁₀ were determined and obtained values were compared to the limit values provided in EU Directives. Manifold excess concentrations of all the components in the atmosphere of the urban area of the townsite Bor were registered. Through application of a multi-criteria analysis by using PROMETHEE/GAIA method, the zones were ranked according to the level of pollution.     

工业区周边农田重金属污染评价及来源分析

以新疆北疆某工业区周边农田土壤为研究对象,采集0~20 cm土壤样品254个,测定了Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Hg、Pb、Cd共8种重金属含量。运用相关性分析和主成分分析探讨工业区周边农田土壤重金属的来源,运用GS+进行数据拟合,选取最佳模型,再进行克里格插值分析重金属的空间分布格局。结果表明,Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Hg、Pb和Cd的含量分别为45.00、28.53、55.66、73.57、13.39、2.17、15.38和0.50 mg kg~(-1)。测量的金属除Cr之外均超过土壤的背景值,只有Hg处于中度污染,其余元素都处于非污染,而研究区综合潜在生态风险程度为严重型。重金属空间分布表明,Ni、Zn、As、Hg和Pb在东部和南部含量较高。来源分析表明,Hg来源受研究区内工业活动的影响;Cr、Ni、Zn和Cd主要来自于化肥、农药和地膜等农业活动和土壤母质的共同作用;As、Hg和Pb主要来源是受研究区内工业活动的影响。