Quantifying the contribution of activity patterns to PM_(2.5)exposure inequity between urban and rural residents by a novel method

PM_(2.5)pollution variations in different microenvironments would result in PM_(2.5)exposure inequity between rural and urban residents.In this study,the real-time PM_(2.5)exposure of urban and rural residents in China was examined based on portable PM_(2.5)sensors together with activity patterns derived from questionnaire surveys,with a focus on students and senior citizens who are sensitive to air pollution.The results showed that PM_(2.5)exposure varied significantly among different resident groups,with higher PM_(2.5)exposure of rural residents than those of urban residents.PM_(2.5)exposure peaks mostly occurred during(Accompanied)cooking activities owing to strong emissions.Sleeping and resting were the main activities that affected PM_(2.5)exposures of different resident groups,accounting for 60.7%-94.5%of total daily exposures.Furthermore,the long duration of sleeping makes it the predominant activity contributing to PM 25 exposure inequity.It is necessary to obtain point-to-point respiratory volume(respiratory rate)data when measuring real-time PM_(2.5)exposure data and incorporate respiratory volume(respiratory rate)into the analysis of PM_(2.5)exposure.For the first time,this study quantified the PM_(2.5)exposure inequality based on a novel method and can provide useful information for further studies on the exposure inequity.

Invasive Spartina alterniflora accelerates the increase in microbial nitrogen fixation over nitrogen removal in coastal wetlands of China

Salt marsh plants play a vital role in mediating nitrogen(N)biogeochemical cycle in estuarine and coastal ecosystems.However,the effects of invasive Spartina alterniflora on N fixation and removal,as well as how these two processes balance to determine the N budget,remain unclear.Here,simultaneous quantifications of N fixation and removal via^(15)N tracing experiment with native Phragmites australis,invasive S.alterniflora,and bare flats as well as corresponding functional gene abundance by qPCR were carried out to explore the response of N dynamics to S.alterniflora invasion.Our results showed that N fixation and removal rates ranged from 0.77±0.08 to 16.12±1.13 nmol/(g·h)and from 1.42±0.14 to 16.35±1.10 nmol/(g·h),respectively,and invasive S.alterniflora generally facilitated the two processes rates.Based on the difference between N removal and fixation rates,net N_(2)fluxes were estimated in the range of-0.39±0.14 to 8.24±2.23 nmol/(g·h).Estimated net N_(2)fluxes in S.alterniflora stands were lower than those in bare flats and P.australis stands,indicating that the increase in N removal caused by S.alterniflora invasion may be more than offset by N fixation process.Random forest analysis revealed that functional microorganisms were the most important factor associated with the corresponding N transformation process.Overall,our results highlight the importance of N fixation in evaluating N budget of estuarine and coastal wetlands,providing valuable insights into the ecological effect of S.alterniflora invasion.

In situ nitrogen removal processes in intertidal wetlands of the Yangtze Estuary

Estuarine and intertidal wetlands are important sites for nitrogen transformation and elimination.However,the factors controlling nitrogen removal processes remain largely uncertain in the highly dynamic environments.In this study,continuous-flow experiment combined with 15 N isotope pairing technique was used to investigate in situ rates of denitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation(anammox)and their coupling with nitrification in intertidal wetlands of the Yangtze Estuary.The measured rates varied from below the detection limit to 152.39μmol N/(m^2·hr)for denitrification and from below the detection limit to 43.06μmol N/(m^2·hr)for anammox.The coupling links of nitrogen removal processes with nitrification were mainly dependent on nitrate,organic carbon,sulfide,dissolved oxygen and ferric iron in the estuarine and intertidal wetlands.Additionally,it was estimated that the actual nitrogen removal processes annually removed approximately 5%of the terrigenous inorganic nitrogen discharged into the Yangtze Estuary.This study gives new insights into nitrogen transformation and fate in the estuarine and intertidal wetlands.