Identification of risk factors for sub-optimal housing conditions in Australian piggeries: Part 2. Airborne pollutants

The concentrations of total airborne bacteria, respirable endotoxins, ammonia, and respirable and inhalable particles were monitored in 160 piggery buildings in Australia between autumn 1997 and autumn 1999. The overall mean airborne bacteria, respirable endotoxins, ammonia (NH3), and inhalable and respirable particle concentrations measured were 1.17 x 10(5) cfu m(-3), 33.1 EU m(-3), 3.7 ppm, 1.74 mg m(-3), and 0.26 mg m(-3), respectively. The characteristics of the buildings and management systems used were documented at the time of sampling. A multifactorial general linear model (GLM) statistical procedure was used to analyze the effects of housing and management factors on the concentrations of the airborne pollutants. Both airborne bacteria and respirable endotoxin concentrations were affected by building classification (type), and respirable endotoxin concentrations were positively correlated with increasing humidity. The concentrations of airborne bacteria increased as the level of pen hygiene (cleanliness) decreased. The NH3 concentrations were primarily affected by level of pen hygiene, building volume, pig flow management, and season. Building classification, pig flow management, season, building volume, ventilation rates, and temperature affected inhalable particle concentrations. Respirable particle concentrations were primarily affected by building classification, pen hygiene, pig flow management, season, ventilation rates, temperature, and humidity. These findings suggest that environmental improvement strategies (such as improved cleaning, ventilation, and temperature control) are likely to reduce airborne pollutant concentrations in pig buildings and in the environment, thus improving the health and welfare of both pigs and farm staff.     

Identification of risk factors for sub-optimal housing conditions in Australian piggeries: Part 1. Study justification and design

We undertook a literature search related to pig production facilities with two major aims: first, to review all the likely benefits that might be gained from air quality improvements; and second, to review previous research that had identified statistically significant factors affecting airborne pollutants and environmental parameters, so that these factors could be considered in a multifactorial analysis aimed at explaining variations in air pollutant concentrations. Ammonia, carbon dioxide, viable bacteria, endotoxins, and inhalable and respirable particles were identified as major airborne pollutants in the review. We found that high concentrations of airborne pollutants in livestock buildings could increase occupational health and safety risks, compromise the health, welfare, and production efficiency of animals, and affect the environment. Therefore, improving air quality could reduce environmental damage and improve animal and worker health. To achieve a reduction in pollutant concentrations, a better understanding of the factors influencing airborne pollutant concentrations in piggery buildings is required. Most of the work done previously has used simple correlation matrices to identify relationships between key factors and pollutant concentrations, without taking into consideration multifactorial effects simultaneously in a model. However, our review of this prior knowledge was the first important step toward developing a more inclusive statistical model. This review identified a number of candidate risk factors, which we then took into consideration during the development of multifactorial statistical models. We used a general linear model (GLM) to model measured internal concentrations, emissions, and environmental parameters in order to predict and potentially control the building environment.     

Identification of risk factors for sub-optimal housing conditions in Australian piggeries: Part 3. Environmental parameters

Between autumn 1997 and autumn 1999, we measured ventilation rates (using a CO2 balance method), air temperatures, and relative humidity (using self-contained dataloggers with built-in sensors) in 160 pig housing facilities in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia, in each case over a 60 h period. In some buildings, the internal air velocities above the animals were also recorded. While the monitoring instruments were being set up, a detailed questionnaire was used to collect data on major housing features and management factors. This information was statistically analyzed to quantify the effects of housing and management factors on the resulting environment conditions using a multifactorial analysis. The overall mean air temperature, relative humidity, internal air velocity, and ventilation rate were 20.3 degrees C, 58.9%, 0.12 m s(-1), and 663.9 m3 h(-1) 500 kg(-1) live weight, respectively, across all buildings. Internal building temperature and humidity were affected statistically by the type of insulation material used, the classification of buildings, and external climatic conditions. Ventilation rates were primarily affected by the type of ventilation system used, height (size) of ventilation openings, stocking density (kg m(-3)), and length, width, and height of buildings. These findings should aid the development of strategies for the industry to improve environmental control in piggery buildings.     

Dust levels and control methods in poultry houses

This article summarizes information from the papers and posters presented at the international symposium on "Dust Control in Animal Production Facilities", held in Aarhus (Denmark) on 30 May-2 June 1999. Dust concentrations in poultry houses vary from 0.02 to 81.33 mg/m3 for inhalable dust and from 0.01 to 6.5 mg/m3 for respirable dust. Houses with caged laying hens showed the lowest dust concentrations, i.e., less than 2 mg/m3, while the dust concentrations in the other housing systems, e.g., perchery and aviary systems, were often four to five times higher. Other factors affecting the dust concentrations are animal category, animal activity, bedding materials and season. The most important sources of dust seem to be the animals and their excrements. Further studies on the effects of housing systems on dust sources and their compounds are desired for development of a healthier working environment in poultry production facilities. Adjustment of the relative humidity (RH) of the air in a broiler house to 75% will have an effect on inhalable dust, but not on respirable dust. A slight immediate effect on the respirable dust was observed after fogging with pure water or water with rapeseed oil. In an aviary system, a 50 to 65% reduction of the inhalable dust concentration was found after spraying water with 10% of oil and pure water, respectively. To obtain a higher dust reducing efficiency, improvement of techniques for application of droplets onto dust sources will be desired.     

Airborne Endotoxins and Airborne Gram-Negative Bacteria in a Residential Neighborhood

Ambient outdoor concentrations of airborne endotoxins and airborne gram-negative bacteria were measured in a residential area. Further, the species composition of the airborne gram-negative bacterial flora was investigated. The results demonstrated that humans and other mammals are exposed to airborne endotoxins in the outdoor air, but at levels where a development of adverse health effects is unlikely. The total amount of inhalable endotoxins ranged from <3.0 EU/m³ to 27.8 EU/m³. Airborne gram-negative bacteria were detected only at low concentrations (maximum 7.9 cfu/m³). Most gram-negative bacterial isolates belonged to the family Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae. Furthermore, the results of this study suggest that soil and vegetation are potential sources of airborne endotoxins and airborne gram-negative bacteria in the outdoor air of this environment.     

国道和乡村道路条件下三轮汽车的排放特性

为了分析实际道路行驶时三轮汽车的排放特征,该研究利用车载排放测试系统(portable emission measurement system,PEMS)对国道和乡村道2种道路条件下的10辆三轮汽车的常规气态污染物和颗粒物进行了排放测试。结果发现:在2种道路条件下的3种行驶工况(加速工况、匀速工况和减速工况)中,三轮汽车在加速工况下的各项排放因子均高于其他工况;加速工况下,CO的平均排放因子高出匀速工况和减速工况的0.7倍和1.7倍;3种工况条件下,三轮汽车在乡村道上行驶产生的排放均高于国道;对比速度、加速度和排放速率等高线图发现,在不同道路条件下CO、HC和PM排放速率峰值出现在车速较低而加速度较大的区域;对比国道和乡村道上颗粒物数量浓度分布发现,2种道路条件的分布规律相似,以核模态和积聚模态颗粒为主;在乡村道上行驶时,粗粒子模态颗粒数量浓度高于国道上的。该研究成果为三轮汽车的排放控制提供了参考。     

Airborne antibiotic concentrations in a swine feeding operation

During the past 50 years, it has become common practice in the U.S. to add antibiotics to livestock feed to reduce disease and promote growth. Use of antibiotics in this manner has become the source of increasing controversy because overuse of antibiotics is suspected of leading to resistance in bacteria that cause human diseases. The purpose of this study was to measure airborne antibiotic concentrations in a swine production facility that routinely included antibiotics in feed. Samples were collected in a hog facility that included rooms devoted to farrowing, nursery, and growing operations. Analytical methods were developed to measure concentrations of the antibiotics tylosin and lincomycin in air samples. Tylosin was mixed in the feed in some of the rooms in the facility. While lincomycin was not added during this study, it had been used in this facility in the past and therefore was included in the analytical testing. Inhalable (n = 34), respirable (n = 37), and high-volume (n = 16) dust samples were collected on PVC filters over a two-month period. Tylosin concentrations were above the limit of quantification (LOQ) in 93% of the samples, while lincomycin concentrations were above the LOQ in only 9% of the samples (LOQ = 0.04 ng/sample). The average tylosin concentrations were 3, 18, and 49 ng/m3 in the respirable, inhalable, and high-volume samples, respectively. No occupational or environmental worker exposure criteria currently exist for antibiotics in air. The results of this study may be used to estimate potential swine production worker exposures and to further study the association between these exposures and health effects.     

Temporal variation of indoor air quality in an enclosed swine confinement building

Human health hazards can exist in swine confinement buildings due to poor indoor air quality (IAQ). During this study, airborne dust and ammonia concentrations were monitored within a working farrowing facility as indicators of IAQ. The purposes of this study were to assess the temporal variability of the airborne dust and ammonia levels over both a daily and seasonal basis, and to determine the accuracy of real-time sensors relative to actively sampled data. An ammonia sensor, aerosol photometer, indoor relative humidity sensor, and datalogger containing an indoor temperature sensor were mounted on a board 180 cm above the floor in the center of a room in the facility. Sensor readings were taken once every 4 minutes during animal occupancy (3-week intervals). Measurements of total and respirable dust concentrations by standard method, aerosol size distribution, and ammonia concentrations were taken once per week, in addition to temperature and relative humidity measurements using a thermometer and sling psychrometer, respectively. Samples were taken between September 1999 and August 2000. Diurnal variations in airborne dust revealed an inverse relationship with changes in indoor temperature and, by association, changes in airflow rate. Ammonia levels changed despite relatively stable internal temperatures. This change may be related to both changes in flow rates and in volatility rates. As expected, contaminant concentrations increased during the cold weather months, but these differences were not significantly different from other seasons. However, total dust concentrations were very low (geometric mean = 0.8 mg/m3) throughout the year. Likewise, ammonia concentrations averaged only 3.6 ppm in the well-maintained study site.     

生活垃圾混烧秸秆类生物质颗粒CO和NO的排放特性

选取典型秸秆类生物质颗粒掺混垃圾作为研究对象,利用自制燃烧试验平台,研究掺混比、温度、粒径及生物质种类等因素对垃圾掺混生物质颗粒燃烧过程中CO与NO释放规律的影响。试验结果表明:CO排放量随着混合燃料中棉花秆颗粒含量增加而减小;混合燃料中垃圾掺混量高于棉花秆颗粒时,焦炭氮燃烧峰值随棉花秆含量增加而增大,掺混量低于棉花秆颗粒时,焦炭氮燃烧峰值逐渐减小,掺混比为5:5时NO生成量最低。燃烧温度为850℃时CO生成量最低;NO峰值时间随温度升高向前偏移,排放量呈先增大后减小趋势,较高的反应温度有利于降低燃烧过程中NO生成量。随着燃料粒径减小,CO峰值浓度降低;存在粒径临界值(60~80目),当粒径小于临界值时,NO生成量随粒径减小而减小,大于临界值时,NO生成量随粒径增大而减小。垃圾混烧生物质颗粒后CO生成量显著降低;掺混同质量分数生物质颗粒试样中,生物质颗粒氮含量越高,混合燃料燃烧NO生成量越大。该研究可为实际生产中城市生活垃圾混烧生物质颗粒技术及污染物排放控制提供参考依据。     

A description of the standardized measurement procedures and recommended threshold limit values for biological hazards in Germany

On the basis of EU directives 89/391/EEC (to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work) and 2000/54/EC (on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work), biological hazards at work have to be assessed and preventive measures have to be introduced in all member states of the EU. In Germany, national legislation (Biological Agents Ordinance - BioStoffV and Technical Rules on Biological Agents, TRBA) and recommendations of workers' compensation boards define standardized methods for the assessment of airborne mold, bacteria, and endotoxins. This article describes policies and practices in Germany for measurement of airborne bioaerosols and for interpretation of measurements relative to the standards. As an example, methods and results of measurements in agriculture are shown. The standardized measurement procedures proved suitable for use in livestock buildings. The results of the exploratory measurements in different livestock buildings confirmed the often high concentrations of airborne biological hazards in agriculture that are reported in the literature.     

笼养肉鸡不同季节CH4和CO2排放研究

为研究规模化肉鸡场温室气体排放系数,给我国畜牧业温室气体清单编制和选择减排技术提供依据,选择山东某商业化肉鸡养殖场,对肉鸡生产过程中CO2和CH4的排放情况进行了研究。利用多功能气体分析仪对肉鸡舍CH4和CO2的浓度进行测定,肉鸡舍通风量测定则采用风机风量现场测定系统,根据不同季节连续5d测试结果计算提出肉鸡的CH4和CO2排放因子。结果表明：肉鸡在36-42d龄间的CH4和CO2的排放因子分别为（0．276＋0．19）g·d^-1·bird^-1（58．9＋37．2g·d^-1·AU^-1）,154．4＋45．7g·d^-1·bird^-1（33．5＋8．0kg·d^-1·AU^-1）,不同季节CH4排放因子存在显著差异,夏季最高为0．552g·d^-1·bird^-1,冬季最低为0．111g·d^-1·bird^-1,春季和秋季分别为0．187g·d^-1·bird^-1和0．254g·d^-1·bird^-1;CO2排放因子夏秋季节差异不显著,分别为186．8g·d^-1·bird^-1和179．8g·d^-1·bird^-1,但显著高于春季（163．4g·d^-1·bird^-1）和冬季（87．4g·d^-1·bird^-1）;分析表明,鸡舍通风量与CH4排放因子呈现显著线性相关关系,以CO2形式损失的碳（C）占总饲料碳（C）投入的56．1％,是碳（C）损失的主要部分,仅有占饲料碳（C）投入0．27％的碳以CH4形式损失。     

Active organic matter distribution in the surface 15 cm of undisturbed and cultivated soil

Summary Organic-matter dynamics near the soil surface influence plant nutrient supplies. To evaluate the effects of cultivation on active soil organic-matter distribution in the surface 15 cm, we measured total organic C, Kjeldahl N, microbial biomass C and N (chloroform fumigation), respirable C and mineralizable N (aerobic incubations) in 1-cm layers from 0–10 cm and in 2.5-cm layers from 10–15 cm in adjacent areas of undisturbed (shortgrass steppe) and cultivated (four years wheat-fallow rotation) Ascalon sandy loam soil (Aridic Argiustoll). The active organic matter was highly concentrated in the surface centimeter of undisturbed soil. In undisturbed soil, microbial biomass C and N concentrations were more than five times greater at 0–1 cm than at 2–15 cm. Respirable-C and mineralizable-N concentrations (20-day incubations) were 8 and 18 times greater at 0–1 cm than at 2–15 cm. Below 3 cm, the concentrations were equal in both cultivated and undisturbed soil. Cultivation reduced the average concentrations at 0-15 cm of microbial biomass C and N by 62% and 32%, and of respirable C and mineralizable N by 71% and 46%, by reducing the concentrations at 0-1 cm to levels comparable to the 2- to 15-cm layers of the undisturbed soil. Decreases after cultivation ensued from disrupting the surface 1-cm layer.     

半阶梯式笼养蛋种鸡舍冬季日间空气污染物排放特征

蛋鸡舍空气颗粒物、空气微生物和氨气等污染物的排放不但影响场区生物安全,更会造成环境污染问题。该文采用直线多点均匀采样新型系统,对北京地区某半阶梯式笼养蛋种鸡舍冬季空气颗粒物、微生物和氨气3种污染物的日间排放进行监测和分析,研究半阶梯式笼养蛋种鸡舍冬季日间空气污染物排放特征。结果表明,该蛋种鸡舍试验期间舍内温度保持在18.0~20.0℃;间歇性通风条件下,风机的开启时长和舍外温度具有正相关关系(P0.05,R2=0.883 7);在冬季8:00-18:00期间,空气颗粒物的排放质量浓度为0.5~0.8 mg/m~3,每只鸡排放量为1.0~1.5 mg/h;空气微生物的排放浓度为4.0~4.5 log10CFU/m~3,每只鸡排放量为4.3~4.8 log10 CFU/h;氨气排放浓度为7.6~14.3 mg/m~3,每只鸡排放量为8.1~13.7 mg/h。试验期间,舍外温度低于舍内温度,试验鸡舍通风量及波动范围小,空气颗粒物、空气微生物和氨气的排放浓度、排放量与舍外温度、通风量、舍内相对湿度之间均未发现相关关系(P0.05)。该研究结果可为中国蛋鸡舍空气污染物排放特征提供参考。     

Seasonal Variation of n-Alkanes and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Concentrations in PM10 Samples Collected at Urban Sites of São Paulo State, Brazil

Two campaigns were conducted in 2003 and 2004 at sites of different characteristics in São Paulo State. Atmospheric samples were collected twice a month during a 1-year campaign (an extensive campaign) from April 2003 to May 2004 at São Paulo City (SPA) site. The results showed that the pollutant concentrations were controlled not only by local source emissions but also through pollutant transport, both of which were dictated by the prevailing meteorological conditions. Chrysene, benzo(e)pyrene, and benzo(b)fluoranthene were the major compounds found, and diagnostic ratios indicated the multiplicity of sources: industrial, vehicular emission, and atmospheric transport. Intensive campaign (from July 15 to 30, 2003) samples showed higher cancer risk than those collected in the extensive campaign. Samples collected at the urban site (SPA) presented comparable values of PM₁₀ to the urban site influenced by sugarcane burning (Araraquara, ARQ). On the other hand, PAH average concentrations were higher at SPA than at other sites. In both campaigns, the highest value for dry atmospheric deposition flux was found in autumn and winter. Individually, BPe presented the highest deposition flux followed by BbF in the intensive campaign. It seems that during those periods, the dry deposition was the main airborne PAH removal mechanism. Diagnostic ratios suggested also vehicular emissions at the sites and photochemical reactions influencing in the atmospheric particulate matter composition. SPA and PRB samples presented higher cancer risk than ARQ in the intensive campaign.     

Total concentrations of heavy metals and occurrence of antibiotics in sewage sludges from cities throughout China

Purpose

A total of 58 dewatered sludge samples were collected from 58 sewage treatment plants (STPs) geographically located in 31 provincial cities of China; the concentrations of heavy metals and antibiotics were determined to monitor the pollutant levels on a large scale, and the pollutant concentrations in sludge samples from different sources of sewage sludge and different geographical regions were compared.

Materials and methods

All the samples were divided into two portions, one of which was air-dried for determination of heavy metals. The other portion was placed in a brown glass bottle and frozen at ?20 °C for antibiotics analysis. Total heavy metals were digested with aqua regia and determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Varian SpectrAA 220FS and Varian SpectrAA 220Z). The antibiotics were extracted with EDTA-sodium phosphate buffer with acetonitrile/Mg(NO₃)₂-NH₃?H₂O, v/v, 3:1 and analysed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and quantified by the isotope-labelled internal standard method.

Results and discussion

In all the sludge samples, zinc was the most abundant metal followed by copper, with relatively low concentrations of chromium, lead, nickel and cadmium. Only 20 % of samples exceeded the Chinese class A values of heavy metal standards for agricultural use (GJ/T309-2009). Sixteen different antibiotics were detected in all the sludge samples, and fluoroquinolones (FQs) and tetracyclines (TCs) were more abundant than sulfonamides (SAs). Concentrations of ∑FQs, ∑TCs and ∑SAs ranged from 1,569 to 23,825 μg kg^?1 (mean 8,274 μg kg^?1, dry weight), from 592 to 37,895 μg kg^?1 (mean 8,326 μg kg^?1, dry weight) and from 20.1 to 117 μg kg^?1 (mean 55.4 μg kg^?1, dry weight), respectively. Tetracyclines (except chlortetracycline) were significantly correlated with zinc and lead. No significant regional trends were observed in the concentrations of heavy metals and antibiotics in sludges.

Conclusions

Heavy metal concentrations are not the major factor restricting domestic and mixed flow sludge application, but the antibiotic concentrations in sludges are problematic; regulation of antibiotic use and establishment of standards to ensure safe handling of sludges are needed.     

Anthropogenic Vanadium-Chromium-Iron and Cerium-Lanthanum-Iron Particles in Settled Urban House Dust: CCSEM Identification and Analysis

There is continuing concern over the health threat posed by theinhalation of ambient, transition-metal-containing particulatematter. Here, we report on the collection of two types ofanthropogenic, airborne particles, composed of iron with vanadiumand chromium (FeVCr) and iron with the rare earth metals ceriumand lanthanum (FeCeLa), respectively. Bi-weekly deposition platesamples were collected on indoor window sills of residentiallocations in inner-city Syracuse, NY. Sampling was continuous ateach location for two months during the spring of 1999. Themetal-bearing particles were identified, analyzed, and sizedin situ on each deposition plate using computer controlledscanning electron microscopy (CCSEM). Approximately 17% of thoseanalyzed by CCSEM fell into the inhalable size fraction. Particle loading varied between locations and changed over time.This was probably a function of various factors affectingparticle deposition rates. Notwithstanding, the plate loadingsfor the FeVCr-bearing particles tended to peak during the middleof the sampling period, suggesting that a single source/processwas operating to produce the FeVCr particles. The large sizeattained by some of these particles (greater than 50 μm inaggregates) suggest that long range transport was probably notinvolved.     

Seasonal Variability in Stormwater Quality Treatment of Permeable Pavements Situated Over Heavy Clay and in a Cold Climate

Permeable pavements mitigate the impacts of urbanization on surface waters through pollutant load reduction, both by sequestration of pollutants and stormwater volume reduction through exfiltration. This study examined the non-winter water quality performance of two side-by-side permeable pavements in the Ohio snowbelt. The permeable interlocking concrete pavements were designed to drain impervious catchments 2.2 (large) and 7.2 (small) times larger than their surface area, were located over clay soils, and incorporated the internal water storage design feature. Nutrient reduction was similar to past studies—organic nitrogen and particulate phosphorus were removed through filtration and settling, while dissolved constituents received little treatment. Because of 16 and 32 % volume reductions in the small and large installations, respectively, nutrient loads were often significantly reduced but generally by less than 50 %. Aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, lead, chloride, and total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations and loads often increased after passing through the permeable pavements; effluent TSS loads were three- to five-fold higher than influent TSS loads. This was apparently due to seasonal release of clay- and silt-sized particles from the soils underlying the permeable pavement and inversely related to elapsed time since winter. The application of de-icing salt is thought to have caused deflocculation of the underlying soils, allowing particulates to exit with stormwater as it discharged from the underdrain of the permeable pavements. By autumn, both permeable pavements discharged metals and TSS concentrations similar to others in the literature, suggesting the de-icing effects lasted 3–6 months post-winter. Sodium may substantially affect the performance of permeable pavements following winter de-icing salt application, particularly when 2:1 clay minerals, such as vermiculites and smectites, predominate.     

Ozone Formation Potentials of Volatile Organic Compounds and Ozone Sensitivity to Their Emission in the Megacity of São Paulo, Brazil

In the present study, a three-dimensional Eulerian photochemical model was employed to estimate the impact that organic compounds have on tropospheric ozone formation in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP). In the year 2000, base case simulations were conducted in two periods: August 22–24 and March 13–15. Based on the pollutant concentrations calculated by the model, the correlation coefficient relative to observations for ozone ranged from 0.91 to 0.93 in both periods. In the simulations employed to evaluate the ozone potential of individual VOCs, as well as the sensitivity of ozone to the VOC/NO _x emission ratio, the variation in anthropogenic emissions was estimated at 15% (according to tests performed previously variations of 15% were stable). Although there were significant differences between the two periods, ozone concentrations were found to be much more sensitive to VOCs than to NO _x in both periods and throughout the study domain. In addition, considering their individual rates of emission from vehicles, the species/classes that were most important for ozone formation were as follows: aromatics with a kOH?>?2?×?10⁴ ppm^?1 min^?1; olefins with a kOH?<?7?×?10⁴ ppm^?1 min^?1; olefins with a kOH?>?7?×?10⁴ ppm^?1 min^?1; ethene; and formaldehyde, which are the principal species related to the production, transport, storage and combustion of fossil fuels.     

Carbon flux from decomposing 13C-labeled transgenic and nontransgenic parental rice straw in paddy soil

Purpose

Genetic modification of Bt rice may affect straw decomposition and soil carbon pool under flood conditions. This study aims to assess the effects of cry gene transformation in rice on the residue decomposition and fate of C from residues under flooded conditions.

Materials and methods

A decomposition experiment was set up using ¹³C-enriched rice straws from transgenic and nontransgenic Bt rice to evaluate the soil C dynamics and CH₄ or CO₂ emission rates in the root and non-root zones. The concentrations and stable carbon isotope compositions of the soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), CH₄, and CO₂ of the root and non-root zones were determined from 7 to 110 days after rice straw incorporation.

Results and discussion

Rice straw incorporation into soil significantly increased the SOC, DOC, and MBC concentrations and the CH₄ and CO₂ emission rates. The percentage of ¹³C-SOC remaining in the root zone was significantly lower than that in the non-root zone with rice straw decomposition. The DOC and MBC concentrations significantly increased in both the root and non-root zones between 0 and 80 days after rice straw incorporation. However, no significant differences were found after Bts (Bt rice straw added into soil) and Cks (nontransgenic Bt rice straw added into soil) incorporation in the root and non-root zones. This result may be attributed to the priming effects of sufficient oxygen and nutrients on straw degradation in the root zone.

Conclusions

Bt gene insertion did not affect the SOC, DOC, and MBC concentrations and the CH₄ and CO₂ emission rates in both the root and non-root zones. However, rice straw incorporation and root exudation significantly increased the SOC, DOC, and MBC concentrations and the CH₄ and CO₂ emission rates.     

厌氧流化床净化畜禽废水与产电性能

为实现从畜禽废水处理中回收能源,先后以厌氧沼液、低浓度畜禽原水及高浓度畜禽原水作为进水,利用厌氧流化床双室微生物燃料电池(anaerobic fluidized bed microbial fuel cell,AFB-MFC)进行微生物产电及有机物去除研究,重点考察氨态氮质量浓度及COD(化学需氧量)容积负荷对系统COD去除率及产电性能的影响。结果表明:以稀释后的沼液作为进水时,当氨态氮质量浓度达到387.6mg/L时,氨态氮对产电微生物产生明显的短期抑制,产电量下降7.0%,但经过5d的适应期后,系统产电恢复到原来的水平。以畜禽原水作为进水时,系统COD容积负荷在12d内由2.3kg/(m3·d)提升至14.9kg/(m3·d)时,COD去除率保持在74.5%～88.1%;随着容积负荷的提升,系统产电量上升,但上升幅度较小,最高输出电压为379.3mV,相应的面积功率密度为74.9mW/m2;由于进水pH值的差异,高浓度畜禽原水最高输出电压较低浓度畜禽原水低21.4mV;AFB-MFC系统内阻较低,仅为48.5Ω,此时功率密度为75.6mW/m2。本装置实现了畜禽废水的高效处理,同时获得电能,为其资源化处理提供新途径。