The occurrence and distribution of five groups of antibiotics were investigated in the surface sediments of the Yangtze Estuary over four seasons. Four tetracyclines (TCs), sulfaquinoxaline (SQ), enrofloxacin (EFC) and thiamphenicol (TAP) were detected in all the samples, while sulfamerazine (SM) and sulfathiazole (ST) showed the lowest detection frequency. The detection frequencies and antibiotic concentrations were generally higher in January and May, indicating that low flow conditions and low temperature might enhance the persistence of antibiotics in sediment. Antibiotic levels varied with location, with the highest concentrations being observed around river discharges and sewage outfalls. Furthermore, a positive correlation between the concentration of quinolones and TOC revealed the significant role played by TOC. The concentration of quinolones at Wusongkou exceeded the trigger value (0.10mgkg−1) of the Steering Committee of the Veterinary International Committee on Harmonization (VICH), which should be paid attention to in future studies.

A recent study demonstrated that 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) may have an adverse effect on the reproduction in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma), but the molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the protein expression profiles of male and female gonads of O. melastigma exposed to dietary BDE-47 at two dosages (0.65 and 1.30μg/g/day, respectively) for 21days. Extracted proteins were labeled with iTRAQ and analyzed on a MALDI TOF/TOF analyzer, as results, 133 and 144 unique proteins were identified in testis and ovary, respective, and they exerted dose- and sex-dependent expression patterns. In testis, among the 42 differentially expressed proteins; down-regulation of histone variants and parvalbumins implicated BDE-47 may disrupt the spermatogenesis and induce sterility in fishes. In ovary, 38 proteins were differentially expressed; the elevation of vitellogenins and apolipoprotein A–I expression indicated BDE-47 acts as an estrogen-mimicking compound and led to reproductive impairment in O. melastigma.

Metro rail has been introduced in Delhi in 2002 to provide alternative mode of public transportation. The introduction of metro rail has resulted in passenger ridership shift from road based transport to metro rail. In order to estimate the emissions (CO, HC, NOx, PM and CO2), metro rail ridership has been converted to equivalent number of on–road vehicles which otherwise would have been playing in the absence of mass rapid transit system. The emission estimation for the year 2006 and 2011 corresponding to the completion of phase I and phase II of Delhi metro rail has been made using emission and deterioration factor(s) for different category and vintage of vehicles. The sensitivity analysis has been carried out to assess the influence of different combination of input parameters such as modal shift, engine technology, and fuel type on emissions. In addition, CO2 emissions saved due to shifting of motor vehicle ridership to metro rail has been estimated and compared with the CO2 produced (off–site) due to electricity consumption by Delhi metro rail for its various operations. The findings indicate that present modal shift scenario does not yield CO2 benefits. However, it is expected that with the increase in metro ridership, changes in modal shift and energy conservation initiatives by Delhi metro, CO2 emission saving could be possible.

Hypoxia alters the oxidation–reduction balance and the biogeochemical processes in sediments, but little is known about its impacts on the microbial community that is responsible for such processes. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypoxia and the ubiquitously dispersed flame-retardant BDE47 on the bacterial communities in marine surface sediments during a 28-days microcosm experiment. Both hypoxia and BDE47 alone significantly altered the bacterial community and reduced the species and genetic diversity. UniFrac analysis revealed that BDE47 selected certain bacterial species and resulted in major community shifts, whereas hypoxia changed the relative abundances of taxa, suggesting slower but nonetheless significant community shifts. These two stressors targeted mostly different taxa, but they both favored Bacteroidetes and suppressed Gammaproteobacteria. Importantly, the impacts of BDE47 on bacterial communities were different under hypoxic and normoxic conditions, highlighting the need to consider risk assessments for BDE47 in a broader context of interaction with hypoxia.

Surface sediments were collected from five nearshore (wastewater discharges, aquaculture facilities and a seaport) sites in Bohai Bay and Laizhou Bay, China. The equilibrium partitioning (EqP) model and empirical sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) were applied to assess the potential metal toxicity in the collected sediments. The results show that, based on the EqP model, 35% of stations exhibited potential metal toxicity. Several metals (Cu, Ni and Cr) exceeded the empirical SQGs (9–93% of the time), however these guidelines may not be suitable for use in the Bohai Sea owing to the background concentrations. The EqP model is a more useful method for assessing potential metal toxicity in Bohai Sea sediment than the empirical SQGs. Additionally, we have provided new understanding about methods for assessing sediment metal toxicity in the Bohai Sea that may be useful in other coastal areas in China.

We examined if there is truth to the preconceptions that non-resident workers (including FIFO/DIDO’s) detract from communities. We used marine debris to test this, specifically focussing on littering behaviour and evidence of awareness of local environmental programs that focus on marine debris. Littering was most common at recreational areas, then beaches and whilst boating. Twenty-five percent of respondents that admit to littering, reported no associated guilt with their actions. Younger respondents litter more frequently. Thus, non-resident workers litter at the same rate as permanent residents, visitors and tourists in this region, within this study. Few respondents are aware of the environmental programs that operate in their local region. Awareness was influenced by a respondent’s residency (non-residents are less aware), age, and level of education. To address this failure we recommend that industries, that use non-resident workers, should develop inductions that expose new workers to the environmental programs in their region.

Concentrations of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in PM2.5 were measured at an urban (Valenzuela City, Metro Manila) and a rural (Angat, Bulacan) site in the Philippines from September 2011 to August 2012 by thermal–optical reflectance analysis following IMPROVE–A protocol. Results show that OC (8.00μg m−3) and EC (6.63μg m−3) levels in Valenzuela were 2–3 times higher than those in Angat (OC: 4.08μg m−3, EC: 2.29μg m−3). The total carbon contributions (OC+EC) to PM2.5 mass for the urban and rural site were 38.9% and 19.7% respectively. Compared to neighboring countries in Asia, the Philippine sites have intermediate OC concentrations and greatly elevated EC levels. These suggest the presence of highly inefficient combustion sources and highlight the need for the regulation of such emissions. Valenzuela was dominated by OC2, OC3, and EC1 (carbon fractions evolving at 280°C and 480°C in pure He phase and 580°C in He/O2 phase of the analysis, respectively) which points to vehicular, industrial, and cooking sectors as the possible main sources. While generally having lower concentrations and being less EC–dominated, Angat had remarkably higher levels of the EC2 fraction which suggests a unique EC source in the area. Conditional Probability Function (CPF) for Valenzuela OC and EC show similar results pointing towards the 30°, 150°, and 210° direction, indicating common sources for these species. Detailed survey of the surrounding area is needed to ascertain the identities of the sources present in these directions.

The effect of firework displays on ambient particulate pollution in a typical valley city in Northwestern China was evaluated based on high temporal resolution atmospheric particle size distribution (10–10 000nm) data and particle mass concentrations in different sizes obtained during 25th January – 24th February, 2013. Firework displays have significant impact on particle number concentrations in accumulation mode (100–1 000nm), especially in 200–500nm, as well as PM1 mass concentrations. The hourly mean number concentration in 200–500 nm and PM1 mass concentration during the peak hour of firework displays were 11 800.2±2 548.0cm–3 and 214.1±31.2μg m−3, which are approximately 6 times and 2 times of that before the festival, respectively, with a maximum10–min mean number concentration in size range 100–1 000 nm reaching 3.8×104cm−3 on the New Year's Eve (00:10 BT 10th February, 2013). It was estimated that local emissions and firework displays contributed 74.6% and 37.0%, respectively, to the number concentration of particles less than 1 000nm. On short–time scale, the contribution of firework displays on local particulate pollution is obvious and should not be ignored, especially on fine particulate pollution.

2D URANS CFD simulations were conducted to study the effect of short–time variations of wind velocity on mass transfer rate between street canyons and the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). A street canyon with a height–to– width ratio (aspect ratio) of three was considered as a case study. The study is of practical interest since it illustrates a skimming flow regime, the regime where pollutants are less effectively exchanged between the canyon and the above atmosphere, typically found in many urban areas in Mediterranean countries. Short–time variations of wind velocity magnitude were simulated assuming a sinusoidal function with average magnitude = 4m s−1; amplitude ±2m s−1 and period from 1 to 40 s, and subsequently with short–time averaged (0.1 s, 1 s and 10 s) real world data measured with an ultrasonic anemometer (50Hz). Mass transfer rate between the canyon and the ABL was evaluated as the rate of reduction of spatially averaged concentration of a passive pollutant, carbon monoxide (CO), in the street canyon. Results show that mass transfer rate increases with the frequency of short–time variations. In CFD studies pertaining to pollutant dispersion in street canyons, wind hourly average velocity is usually assumed as a reference value to simulate real world cases. Our results show that this input data must be completed with additional information about the extent of variation in wind intensity and its frequency in the hour.