Zhibo Lu

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in snow, lake, surface runoff water and coastal seawater in Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica.

The multi-matrices samples from snow (n=4), lake water (n=4), surface runoff water (SRW) (n=1) and coastal seawater (n=10) were collected to investigate the spatial distribution and the composition profiles of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica in 2011. All samples were prepared by solid-phase extraction and analyzed by using high performance liquid chromatography/negative electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/(-)ESI-MS/MS). 14 PFASs in snow, 12 PFASs in lake water, 9 PFASs in SRW and 13 PFASs in coastal seawater were quantified, including C(4), C(7), C(8), C(10) PFSAs, C(4)-C(9), C(11)-C(14), C(16) PFCAs, and FOSA. PFOA was detected in all samples with the highest concentration (15,096 pg/L) in coastal seawater indicating a possible influence of local sewage effluent. High concentration and mostly frequency of PFBA occurred in snow (up to 1112 pg/L), lake water (up to 2670 pg/L) and SRW (1431 pg/L) while detected in the range of method detection limited (MDL) in the coastal seawaters indicate that PFBA is mainly originated from atmospheric dust contamination and also affected by the degradation of their precursors. No geographical differences in PFOS concentrations (n=8, 18 ± 3 pg/L) were measured in all snow and lake water samples also suggests that PFOS could be originated from the degradation of their precursors which can transported by long-range atmospheric route, but in a very low level.

Occurrence and trends in concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in surface waters of eastern China

Spatial distributions of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were investigated in surface waters in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces of eastern China during 2011. A total of 39 samples of surface waters, including 29 rivers, 6 lakes and 4 reservoirs were collected. High performance liquid chromatography/negative electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/(-)ESI-MS/MS) was used to identify and quantify PFASs. Concentrations of PFAS were greater in Shanghai than that in Zhejiang Province. Concentrations of the sum of PFASs (∑PFASs) in Shanghai and Kunshan ranged from 39 to 212 ng L(-1), while in Zhejiang Province, concentrations of ∑PFASs ranged from 0.68 to 146 ng L(-1). Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the prevalent PFAS in Shanghai. In contrast, PFOA and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) were the prevalent PFASs in Zhejiang Province. Concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) ranged from <0.07 to 9.7 ng L(-1). Annual mass of ∑PFASs transported by rivers that flow into the East China Sea were calculated to be more than 4000 kg PFASs. Correlation analyses between concentrations of individual PFASs showed the correlation between PFHxA and PFOA was positive, while the correlation between PFHxA and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) was negative in Shanghai, which indicated that PFHxA and PFOA have common sources. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to identify important components or factors that explain different compounds, and results showed that PFHxA and FOSA dominated factor loadings.

Baseline values for metals in soils on Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica: the extent of anthropogenic pollution

Metal contents (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, and Zn) have been measured in 30 surface soils on Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica, yielding values (in milligrams kilogram−1) of 41.57–80.65 (Zn), 2.76–60.52 (Pb), 0.04–0.34 (Cd), 7.18–25.03 (Ni), 43,255–70,534 (Fe), 449–1,401 (Mn), 17.10–64.90 (Cr), 1,440–25,684 (Mg), 10,941–49,354 (Ca), 51.10–176.50 (Cu), 4,388–12,707 (Ti), 28,038–83,849 (Al), and for Hg (in nanograms gram−1) 0.01–0.06. Relative cumulative frequency analysis was used to determine the baseline values for the 13 metals. Compared with adjacent areas in Antarctica, Mg and Ni are significantly lower, but Cu is significantly higher than that of McMurdo Station. Enrichment factor analysis and the geo-accumulation index method were applied in order to determine the extent of anthropogenic contamination, and both show that Pb, Cd, and Hg have been significantly increased by human activities. Principal component analysis was used to identify the sources of metals in these soil samples.

Role of Renewable Energy Technologies for Rural Electrification in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nepal

E is a fundamental factor for significantly improving the lives of people in a relatively short period of time. The availability of stable and sustainable energy service is a good indicator of economic and social well being. UNDP in “A Review of Energy in National MDGs” confirmed that energy is the fundamental prerequisites for achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs) and access to energy, especially in the form of clean and affordable electricity that can help achieve substantial social and economic development. Developing countries like Nepal require considerable effort to provide this type of energy access to its rural people. Nepal lacks fossil fuel resources, but is blessed with hundreds of rivers and streams and sunny days throughout the year. Nepal can use these renewable energy (RE) resources for rural electrification and achieve its MDGs. RE technologies represent feasible solutions for providing sustainable and cost-effective electricity for rural communities in Nepal. Such energy access provides an essential platform for continued advancement toward achievement the MDGs and for sustainable development. Absence of clean electricity forces people to use more expensive, toxic, and polluting fuel like fossil fuels and biomass (wood fuel). Poorer people spend much of their daylight time collecting biomass fuel. Consequently, people are left with less time for education (like going to school and studying) or in engaging in income generating activities. Lack of electricity is also costly, since young people must use alternative options (like kerosene lamps or candle light to study) which are expensive and polluting. This is a major hindrance to achieving MDGs. Providing clean, sustainable energy is not only vital to alleviate poverty but also for dealing with environmental problems such as global warming (the seventh UN Millennium Development Goal). Thus there is a strong relationship between lack of clean electricity, persistent poverty, and environmental damage. Renewable energy technology such as solar, mini/micro hydro, wind, and biomass systems provide access to modern and sustainable rural electrification. These technologies are relatively cheaper, environmentally friendly, and easy to operate and manage by local people. Development of rural renewable energy is an effective way of reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development. Although the linkage between energy and MDGs is not obvious in all eight MDGs, the way in which energy services are produced and consumed affects all three pillars of sustainable developmenteconomic, social, and environmentaland therefore, all MDGs. Rural energy systems bring positive benefits such as better light, increased income, better education, better health, improved environment, and social harmony to the rural people. These technologies especially benefit rural women by helping to relieve them from drudgery, tiresome working hours, and indoor air pollution. Access to electricity also encourages them to participate in productive and income generating activities which can help improve their own and their family’s livelihood. The rural areas of Nepal are still deprived of grid electricity because of the difficult geographical terrain and scattered settlements; however, the accessibility of abundant renewable resources and lack of fossil fuels provide opportunities of REbased rural electrification in Nepal. Nepal has about 42 000 MW of economically and technically exploitable hydro power including over 100 MW of micro hydro power, 2100 MW of solar power, and 3000 MW of wind power. Similarly,, it is estimated that 1.1 million domestic biogas plants can be developed in the country. Rural electrification usually refers to the process of providing access to electrical power to rural households and communities. Renewable energy resources are the most viable and accessible sources to electrify these rural sectors. Micro hydro and solar photovoltaic (PV) are widely used renewable energies for rural electrification. However access to electricity is low and inequitable. 3 Nepal has been trying to achieve the MDGs by incorporating these goals in the Country Plans and annual programs since the 10th National Development Plan. As climate change has become an international priority agenda, environmental protection and conservation has gained importance. The

Distribution profiles of per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and their re-regulation by ocean currents in the East and South China Sea

We investigated the distribution of 17 individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in 42 surface water samples collected from the East and South China Seas (7.0-36.0°N, 110.0°N-123.0°E). Concentrations of 7 individual PFASs, including perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPA), perfluorohexanoate (PFHxA), perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA), were quantified in the East China Sea, but only concentrations of PFOA and FOSA were quantified in the South China Sea. The total concentrations of the 17 PFASs ranged from 181 to 2658pg/L in the East China Sea and from 62 to 494pg/L in the South China Sea. We also show that river fluxes and ocean currents had a strong influence on the distribution of PFASs in the East China Sea. Using ArcGIS 10.1, we show how ocean currents control the spatial distribution of PFOA in the central South China Sea.

Correction to: Risk exposure assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in drinking water and atmosphere in central eastern China

The original publication of this paper contains a mistake.

Study on Energy Consumption Status and Development Strategy of Metropolis in China: A Case Study of Shanghai

The rapid urbanization is an important driving force of rapid economic development and energy consumption growth in China. The aim of this paper is to study the mode of energy consumption and existent problem in metropoLis of China during the fast economic growth course. As an international metropoLis and the economic center of China, Shanghai is taken as a case to be studied in this paper. Characteristics of economic growth, social progress and energy consumption in Shanghai are studied, the existent problems are analyzed based on the contrast with other countries or regions. Finally the urban energy development strategies harmonious with economy and environment are discussed.

Health evaluation indicator system for urban landscape rivers, case study of the Bailianjing River in Shanghai

The River Bailianjing is an iconic landscape feature known to all residents in Pudong area and running through the Shanghai Expo 2010 Park. The river and its basin was a complex living ecosystem which supports a unique variety of flora and fauna several decades ago. However, as a result of unsuccessful pollution source control, sewage and first flow of the storm water is directly coming into the river in some catchment. The water quality of the river is seriously organically polluted now. The typical organic pollutants are COD, NH3‐N, TN and TP, which cause the extinction of the water plants and aquatic. Furthermore, the artificial hard river banks isolate the river course and the land, which damaged the whole ecological system totally. The nature of the River Bailianjing and its history has resulted in many government departments and authorities and non government organizations having jurisdiction and/or an interest in the river’s management. As a new tool to improve river management, the river health as...

Prospect of Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emission in China Based on Scenario Analysis

continually rapid economic growth and huge population cause a substantial increasing of energy demand in China, and coal-dominated energy structure have made China overtake the United States as the world’s biggest producer of energy-related CO2. Based on the projection of primary energy demand of China in the future, high, medium and low scenarios of carbon dioxide emissions are designed to forecast carbon dioxide emissions in China. Finally the forecasting result is compared with the similar prediction made by other research institutions, which provides basis for the further study on energy-related CO2 emission reduction measure in China.