Modelling Regional Land Change Scenarios to Assess Land Abandonment and Reforestation Dynamics in the Pyrenees(France)

Over the last decades and centuries,European mountain landscapes have experienced substantial transformations.Natural and anthropogenic LULC changes(land use and land cover changes), especially agro-pastoral activities,have directly influenced the spatial organization and composition of European mountain landscapes.For the past sixty years, natural reforestation has been occurring due to a decline in both agricultural production activities and rural population.Stakeholders, to better anticipate future changes,need spatially and temporally explicit models to identify areas at risk of land change and possible abandonment.This paper presents an integrated approach combining forecasting scenarios and a LULC changes simulation model to assess where LULC changes may occur in the Pyrenees Mountains,based on historical LULC trends and a range of future socio-economic drivers.The proposed methodologyconsiders local specificities of the Pyrenean valleys,sub-regional climate and topographical properties,and regional economic policies.Results indicate that some regions are projected to face strong abandonment, regardless of the scenario conditions.Overall, high rates of change are associated with administrative regions where land productivity is highly dependent on socio-economic drivers and climatic and environmental conditions limit intensive(agricultural and/or pastoral) production and profitability.The combination of the results for the four scenarios allows assessments of where encroachment(e.g.colonization by shrublands) and reforestation are the most probable.This assessment intends to provide insight into the potential future development of the Pyrenees to help identify areas that are the most sensitive to change and to guide decision makers to help their management decisions.

Frozen ground and periglacial processes relationship in temperate high mountains: a case study at Monte Perdido-Tucarroya area(The Pyrenees, Spain)

Seasonally frozen ground,mountain permafrost and cryogenic geomorphological processes are important components of the Pyrenean high mountains.This work presents the results of a study on the distribution of frozen ground in a marginal and paraglacial environment of temperate mountains.An inventory was made of landforms and indicators of frozen ground,and frozen ground was mapped accordingly.During 2014 and 2016 ground temperatures and thermal regimes were monitored,basal temperatures of snow-cover(BTS)were measured and a thermal map was drawn.Differential thermal behaviours were detected among different elevations and slope orientations.Periglacial processes are the most widespread,in which frost weathering and nivation,together with gelifluction and cryoturbation,are the most efficient processes;the latter two are generally linked to the presence of frozen ground.The fall in air and ground temperatures with altitude,slope orientations,and snowpack thickness and evolution determine ground thermal regimes.In the study area,three types of thermal regimes were established:climate-controlled,snowcover-controlled,and frozen ground-controlled.Seasonally frozen ground occurs across a broad range of elevation between 2650 and 3075 m asl,whereas possible permafrost only occurs above 2750 m asl.

Spatial distribution of morphometric parameters of glacial cirques in the Central Pyrenees(Aran and Boí valleys)

Glacial cirques are typical landscape features of mid-latitude mountain environments like the Central Pyrenees. Their morphology as well as their spatial distribution provides insights about past glaciers and climates. In this study, we examine the distribution, morphometrical and topographical characteristics of glacial cirques in two U-shaped glacial valleys located in the Central Pyrenees – the Aran and the Boí valleys. They are located in different aspects of this mountain range(north vs south) under different climatic influences that promoted distinct glaciation patterns during the late Pleistocene. The spatial mapping of these landforms was carried out using high-resolution imagery and field observations. We analysed the data of the morphometrical and topographical variables of the glacial cirques by using different statistical and geospatial methods in order tounveil the factors controlling their formation and development. A total of 186 glacial cirques were mapped in the study area, including 119 in the Aran and 67 in the Boí valleys. The local topography and microclimate conditions lead to substantial differences in both areas in terms of the morphology and dimensions of the cirques. Glacial cirques in Boí are distributed at slightly higher elevations than in Aran and they are also larger, though their dimensions decrease with elevation in both valleys. Aran cirques are mostly oriented NE, while Boí landforms do not show any prevailing aspect. Even though lithology does not control the distribution of the glacial cirques, some specific lithological settings may favour the development of larger cirques. In general, glacial cirques in the Aran and the Boí valleys show morphometrical properties similar to those reported in other mid-latitude mountain ranges.

Influence of Livestock Soil Eutrophication on Floral Composition in the Pyrenees Mountains

Livestock behaviour in the Pyrenees includes free grazing and a long resting period that provokes the accumulation of dung and urine in some places,so-called camping areas. The aims of this study were (i) to analyze any change in floral composition,and in nutritional and chemical contents of plants in a livestock camping area; and (ii) to relate the floral composition with soil chemical properties. In a linear transect,five sampling zones were established,from the centre of the camping area to the surrounding Nardus stricta-dominant pasture. The above ground plant biomass and the topsoil were sampled in each zone with 6 replicates per zone. Plant species were classified and weighed to calculate above ground biomass,nutritional and chemical contents,and Shannon diversity and evenness indices. Additionally,soils were sampled in two periods,at the beginning and at the end of grazing period. Soil available nutrients (nitrate,ammonium,phosphorus,potassium,calcium and magnesium),total nitrogen,organic carbon and pH were measured. Plant chemical contents (protein,lignin and others) were significantly related to the proportions of grasses,legumes and other plants; so,the protein content is positively correlated with legumes plant biomass while lignin content is negatively correlated with grasses. Both plant and soil nutrients increased linearly towards the centre of the camping area. However,the relationship among plant species richness,diversity and evenness relative to its position along the studied transect was bell-shaped. From the outskirts to the centre of the camping area,plants with low nutrient demand were progressively replaced by those with medium and high nutrients demand and by pioneers. Nardus stricta-dominant pasture has low plant diversity and plant nutrient content as well as a poor soil nutrient availability. The presence of the camping area introduced patches with more soil nutrients and new species in the large spatial scale. However at a small spatial scale,the strong soil nutrient concentration into the centre of the camping area reduced floral composition again. To ensure positive effects of camping areas on plant diversity,and to manage more effectively the nutrients returned to the soil,a reduction in the stocking rate should be pursued.

Glycine-β-cyclodextrin-assisted cometabolism of phenanthrene and pyrene by Pseudomonas stutzeri DJP 1 from marine sediment

Cometabolic degradation is currently an effective and extensively way to remove high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(HMW-PAHs).Unfortunately,due to low bio-accessibility and high biotoxicity,the cometabolic degradation rate of HMW-PAHs is limited.Glycine-β-cyclodextrin(GCD)was obtained through amino modification ofβ-cyclodextrin(BCD)and added to cometabolic system of phenanthrene(PHE)and pyrene(PYR)to assist PYR biodegradation.Results show that the addition of GCD(100 mg/L)effectively improved the removal rate of PYR(20 mg/L)by 42.3%.GCD appeared to increase the bio-accessibility and reduce the biotoxicity of PHE and PYR,and then promoted the growth of Pseudomonas stutzeri DJP1 and stimulated the elevation of dehydrogenase(DHA)and catechol 12 dioxygenase(C12O)activities.The phthalate metabolic pathway was accelerated,which improved the cometabolic degradation.This study provided a new reference for the cometabolic degradation of HMW-PAHs.

Determination of Benzo[a]pyrene in Edible Oil by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Fluorescence Detector (HPLC-FL)

In this study, an optimized high performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector (HPLC-FL) method for the determination of benzo[a]pyrene in edible oil was established. HPLC was performed with Thermo Fisher Scientific C18 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) as the chromatographic column and acetonitrile and water as the mobile phase, and the excitation wavelength and emission wavelength of fluorescence detector were 286 and 430 nm, respectively. The response was high, and the linear range was 0.5-10.0 ng/ml. The lowest limit of detection was 0.11 ng/ml, and the average recovery was 92.5%. This method is suitable for quantitative analysis of benzo[a]pyrene content in edible oil.

Distribution and space use of seed-dispersing rodents in central Pyrenees:implications for genetic diversity,conservation and plant recruitment

The function and conservation of many forest ecosystems depend on the distribution and diversity of the community of rodents that consume and disperse seeds.The habitat preferences and interactions are especially relevant in alpine systems where such granivorous rodents reach the southernmost limit of their distribution and are especially sensitive to global warming.We analyzed the community of granivorous rodents in the Pyrenees,one of the southernmost mountain ranges of Europe.Rodent species were identified by DNA with particular attention to the Apodemus species,which are prominent seed-dispersing rodents in Europe.We confirmed for the first time the presence of the yellow-necked mouse,Apodemus flavicollis,in central Pyrenees,a typical Eurosiberian species that reaches its southernmost distribution limit in this area.We also found the wood mouse,Apodemus sylvaticus,a related species more tolerant to Mediterranean environments.Both rodents were spatially segregated by altitude.A.sylvaticus was rare at high altitudes,which might cause the genetic differentiation between populations of the different valleys reported here.We also found other seed consumers like dormice,Elyomis quercinus,and voles,Myodes glareolus,with marked habitat preferences.We suggest that population isolation among valleys may increase the genetic diversity of rodents,like A.sylvaticus.We also highlight the potential threat that global warming may represent for species linked to high-altitude refuges at the southern edge of its distribution,like Apodemus flavicollis.Finally,we discuss how this threat may have a dimension in the conservation of alpine forests dispersed by these rodent populations.

Effect of snow on mountain river regimes： an example from the Pyrenees

The purpose of this study was to characterize mountain river regimes in the Spanish Pyrenees and to assess the importance of snow accumulation and snowmelt on the timing of river flows. Daily streamflow data from 9 gauging stations in the Pyrenees were used to characterize river regimes. These data were analyzed by hydrological indices, with a focus on periods when snow accumulation and snowmelt occurred. These results were combined with data on Snow Water Equivalent （SWE） （from measure- ments of depth and density of snow in the main river basins and also simulated by a process-based hydrological model）, snowmelting （simulated by a process-based hydrological model）, precipitation （from observations）, and temperature （from observations）. Longitude. and elevation gradients in the Pyrenees explain the transition of river regimes from those that mostly had low nival signals （in the west and at low elevations） to those that mostly had high nival signals （low winter runoff and late spring peakflow, in the east and at high elevations）. Although trend analyses indicated no statistically signifi- cant changes, there was a trend of decreased nival signal over time in most of the analyzed rivers. Our results also demonstrated that snow processes cannot explain all of the interannual variability of river regimes, because the temporal distribution of liquid precipitation and tempera- ture play key roles in hydrography.

Switch of phosphorylation to O-GlcNAcylation of AhR contributes to vascular oxidative stress induced by benzo[a]pyrene

Benzo[a]pyrene(B[a]P)is a food contaminant toxic for cardiovascular diseases.The nuclear translocation of Arylhydrocarbon receptor(AhR)plays an important role in B[a]P-induced oxidative stress and vascular diseases.We confi rmed that B[a]P promoted ROS production in vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)in vitro and in vivo,associated with the nuclear translocation of AhR.It is known that phosphorylation inhibits while dephosphorylation of AhR promotes nuclear translocation of AhR.However,from the posttranslational modifi cation level,the mechanism by which B[a]P activates and regulates the nuclear translocation of AhR is unclear.Co-immunoprecipitation results showed that cytoplasmic AhR was phosphorylated before B[a]P stimulation,and switched to O-GlcNAcylation upon B[a]P 1-h stimulation in VSMCs,suggesting there may be a competitively inhibitory relationship between O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation of AhR.Next,siRNAs of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase(OGT),O-GlcNAcase(OGA)and OGA inhibitor PUGNAc were used.SiOGT blocks but siOGA and PUGNAc promote B[a]P-dependent AhR nuclear translocation and oxidative stress.Ser11 may be the competitive binding site for phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation of AhR.Phosphorylation-mimic variant inhibits but O-GlcNAcylation of AhR promotes AhR nuclear translocation and oxidative stress.Our fi ndings highlight a new perspective for AhR nuclear translocation regulated by the competitive modifi cation between phosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation.

测定食品中苯并[a]芘的气相色谱—质谱法研究

研究了用气相色谱—质谱法测定食品中的苯并[a]芘的含量,该方法与荧光分光光度法比较具有可操作性强、准确度高和避免实验人员长时间受紫外线的照射等特点,可以定量测定苯并[a]芘的含量。并对特性基本相同的各种样品进行了加标回收检验,其回收率在85%以上,相关系数>0.9980,RSD<6.5%。

通过探针分子芘研究超临界CO2流体密度不均一性

近年来超临界CO2在环境地球科学领域应用广泛,在这些研究应用中,CO2流体在超临界状态下的溶剂化特性起到了十分重要的作用。在超临界高密度压缩区域里,体系温度和压力的稍许变化都会导致流体密度的突变,因此通过有效的探针分子研究超临界CO2流体的异常溶剂化行为具有重要的理论和应用价值。文中从新的角度运用荧光探针分子芘在温度308.15K和不同压力下研究超临界CO2性质,与以往采用的参照线方法有所不同,文中所提出的参照点模型手段引入序参量方法和新定义的溶剂化作用参量,测定近临界区超临界CO2流体局域密度增强的变化。文中同时讨论了3段密度区域模型(three-density regionmodel)、局域密度不均一性以及探针芘在超临界CO2中的分子间相互作用。将荧光探针分子研究的流体局域密度增强与热力学测试的流体等温压缩系数进行综合对比,有助于更好地从微观和宏观两方面理解超临界CO2的特性。

Pyrene分子(小片石墨晶体)的电子传导特性(英文)

利用量子理论中基于Green函数的tight-binding方法,对pyrene分子的电子传导和电子流分布进行了理论研究。在考虑到界面耦合和Hopping积分的情况下,得出了电子透射谱和流分布的模拟结果。结果显示透射与电子的能量紧密相关;谱的振荡特征是能级量子化的结果;流分布有着特定的方向,并且在每一个原子点上符合Kirchhoff量子流守恒定律。另外还发现了桥接pyrene分子的正负能开关特性。

Effects of Pyrene Stress on Growth and Physiological Indexes of Maize(Zea mays L.) Seedling

[Objective]The paper was to explore the effects of pyrene stress on growth and physiological indexes of maize seedling.[Method] The effects of different concentrations of pyrene（0,0.5,1.0,and 2.0 mg/L） on growth and several physiological indexes,such as chlorophyll content,malnodiadehyde（MDA） content of both leaves and roots of maize（Zea Mays L.） seedlings of Shixiang 1（sensitive variety） and Guangtian 3（tolerant variety） were studied by a hydroponic experiment.[Result]As the concentration of prene increasing within the test concentration range,the contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in Shixiang 1 first increased and then decreased;relative growth yield and absolute growth rate showed the decreasing trend;MDA contents in roots and leaves showed the increasing trend.Relative growth yield,absolute growth rate and chlorophyll a content in Guangtian 3 first increased and then decreased;chlorophyll b and MDA contents in roots showed the increasing trend;MDA contents in leaves showed the decreasing trend.Compared with control,chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents of Shixiang 1 significantly increased under pyrene concentration of 0.5-1.0 mg/L,which significantly decreased as the concentration of pyrene ≥2.0 mg/L;MDA contents in roots and leaves significantly increased as the concentration of pyrene ≥1.0 mg/L,while relative growth yield and absolute growth rate significantly decreased.Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents in Guangtian 3 significantly increased as the concentration of pyrene ≥1.0 mg/L.Pyrene concentration had significantly negative correlation with relative growth yield and absolute growth rate of Shixiang 1,while it had significant positive correlation with MDA contents in roots.Pyrene concentration had significant positive correlation with chlorophyll b and MDA contents in roots of tolerant variety Guangtian 3.[Conclusion]The study provided basis for the management measures of maize during its seedling stage.

Usingvery long-range terrestriallaser scanner to analyze the temporal consistency of the snowpack distribution in a high mountain environment

This study demonstrated the usefulness of very long-range terrestrial laser scanning(TLS) for analysis of the spatial distribution of a snowpack, to distances up to 3000 m, one of the longest measurement range reported to date. Snow depth data were collected using a terrestrial laser scanner during 11 periods of snow accumulation and melting,over three snow seasons on a Pyrenean hillslopecharacterized by a large elevational gradient, steep slopes, and avalanche occurrence. The maximum and mean absolute snow depth error found was 0.5-0.6 and 0.2-0.3 m respectively, which may result problematic for areas with a shallow snowpack, but it is sufficiently accurate to determine snow distribution patterns in areas characterized by a thick snowpack. The results indicated that in most cases there was temporal consistency in the spatial distribution of thesnowpack, even in different years. The spatial patterns were particularly similar amongst thesurveys conducted during the period dominated by snow accumulation(generally until end of April), or amongst those conducted during the period dominated by melting processes(generally after mid of April or early May). Simple linear correlation analyses for the 11 survey dates, and the application of Random Forests analysis to two days representative of snow accumulation and melting periods indicated the importance of topography to the snow distribution. The results also highlight that elevation and the Topographic Position index(TPI) were the main variables explaining the snow distribution, especially during periods dominated by melting. The intra-and inter-annual spatial consistency of the snowpack distribution suggests that the geomorphological processes linked to presence/absence of snow cover act in a similar way in the long term, and that these spatial patternscan be easily identifiedthrough several years of adequate monitoring.

Inhibitory effects of RRR-α-tocopheryl succinate on benzo (a) pyrene (B (a) P)-induced forestomach carcinogenesis in female mice

AIM To study the inhibitory effects of VES( RRR-α-tocopheryl Succinate, VES ), aderivative of natural Vitamin E, on benzo (a)pyrene (B (a) P)-induced forestomach tumor infemale mice.METHODS The model of B (a)P-inducedforestomach tumor was established according tothe methods of Wattenberg with slightmodifications. One hundred and eighty femalemice (6 weeks old) were divided into six groupsequally; negative control (Succinic acid),vehicle control ( Succinate + B (a) P), positivecontrol(B(a) P), high VES(2.5g/kg. b. w + B(a)P), Iow VES(1 .25 g/kg. b. w + B(a) P) ig as wellas VES by ip (20 mg/kg, b. w + B(a) P). Exceptthe negative control group, the mice wereadministrated with B(a)P ig. and correspondingtreatments for 4 weeks to study the anti-carcinogenetic effect of VES during the initiationperiod. The experiment lasted 29 weeks, inwhich the inhibitory effects of VES both ontumor incidence and tumor size were tested.RESULTS The models of B (a)P-inducedforestomach tumor in female mice wereestablished successfully. Some werecauliflower-like, others looked like papilla, evena few were formed into the ulcer cavities. VES at1.25 g/kg. b. w, 2.5 g/kg. b.w. by ig and 20 mg/kg. b. w. via ip could decrease the number oftumors per mouse (1.7 ± 0. 41, 1.6 ± 0.34 and 1.1±0.43), being lower than that of B(a)P group(5.4 ± 0.32, P＜0.05). The tumor incidence wasinhibited by 18.2%, 23.1% and 50.0%. VES at1.25g/kg.b.w., 2.5 g/ kg.b.w. by ig and20 mg/kg. b.w. via ip reduced the total volumeof tumors per mouse (54.8 ± 8.84, 28.4 ± 8.32and 23.9± 16.05), being significantly lower thanthat of B(a)P group (150.2±20.93, P＜0.01).The inhibitory rates were 63.5%, 81.1% and84.1%, respectively.CONCLUSION VES has inhibitory effects on B(a) P-induced forestomach carcinogenesis infemale mice, especially by ip and it may be apotential anti-cancer agent in vivo.

Biodegradation of benzo[a]pyrene in soil by Mucor sp.SF06 and Bacillus sp.SB02 co-immobilized on vermiculite

Two indigenous microorganisms, Bacillus sp. SB02 and Mucor sp. SF06, capable of degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） were co-immobilized on vermiculite by physical adsorption and used to degrade benzo[a] pyrene （BaP）. The characteristics of BaP degradation by both free and co-immobilized microorganism were then investigated and compared. The removal rate using the immobilized bacterial-fungal mixed consortium was higher than that of the freely mobile mixed consortium. 95.3% of BaP was degraded using the co-immobilized system within 42 d, which was remarkably higher than the removal rate of that by the free strains. The optimal amount of inoculated co-immobilized system for BaP degradation was 2%. The immobilized bacterial-fungal mixed consortium also showed better water stability than the free strains. Kinetics of BaP biodegradation by co-immobilized SF06 and SB02 were also studied. The results demonstrated that BaP degradation could be well described by a zero-order reaction rate equation when the initial BaP concentration was in the range of 10--200 mg/kg. The scanning electronic microscope （SEM） analysis showed that the co-immobilized microstructure was suitable for the growth of SF06 and SB02. The mass transmission process of co-immobilized system in soil is discussed. The results demonstrate the potential for employing the bacterial-fungal mixed consortium, co-immobilized on vermiculite, for in situ bioremediation of BaP.

Phytoremediation for phenanthrene and pyrene contaminated soils

Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with phenanthrene and pyrene was investigated using twelve plant species. Plant uptake and accumulation of these chemicals were evaluated. At the end of the experiment(45 d), the remaining respective concentrations of soil phenanthrene and pyrene in spiked vegetated soils, with initial phenanthrene of 133 3 mg/kg and pyrene of 171 5 mg/kg, were 8 71—16 4 and 44 9—65 0 mg/kg, generally 4 7%—49 4% and 7 1%—35 9% lower than their concentrations in the non vegetated soils. The loss of phenanthrene and pyrene in vegetated spiked soils were 88 2%—93 0% and 62 3%—73 8% of the added amounts of these contaminants, respectively. Although plant uptake and accumulation of these compounds were evident, and root concentrations and RCFs(root concentration factors; defined as the ratio of PAH concentrations in roots and in the soils on a dry weight basis) of these compounds significantly positively correlated to root lipid contents, plant uptake and accumulation only accounted for less than 0 01% and 0 23% of the enhanced loss of these chemicals in vegetated versus non vegetated soils. In contrast, plant promoted microbial biodegradation was the dominant mechanism of the phytoremediation for soil phenanthrene and pyrene contamination. Results from this study suggested a feasibility of the establishment of phytoremediation for soil PAH contamination.

Antioxidant responses to benzo[a]pyrene,tributyltin and their mixture in the spleen of Sebasticus marmoratus

It has been reported that there is an interaction between Benzo[a]pyrene （BaP）, a widespread carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and tributyltin （TBT）, an organometal used as an antifouling biocide. This study was therefore designed to examine the potential in vivo influence of BaP, TBT and their mixture on splenic antioxidant defense systems of Sebastiscus marmoratus. The fish were exposed to water containing environmentally relevant concentrations of BaP, TBT and their mixture. Spleens were collected for biochemical analysis after exposure for 7, 25, 50 d and after recovery for 7, 20 d. Cotreatment with BaP and TBT for 7 d potentiated the induction of glutathione peroxidase （GPx） activity by BaP or TBT alone. The cotreatment for 25 and 50 d resulted in inhibition of GPx activity, which was similar to the effect of TBT. Splenic glutathione S-transferase （GST） activities were significantly elevated in S. marmoratus exposed to BaP starting from 7 d and remained high up to 25 d. However, no further activity change was found with prolonged exposure. Cotreatment of BaP and TBT primarily inhibited the GST activity, which was similar to the effect of TBT. Cotreatment with BaP and TBT for 25 or 50 d potentiated the depletion of GSH （glutathione） by BaP or TBT alone. MDA （malondialdehyde） contents in spleen of S. marmoratus were not significantly altered compared with the control during the test period. Spleen, as an immune organ, is sensitive to exposure of BaP or TBT. It should have an effective mechanism to counteract oxidative damage. Antioxidative defense systems in spleen of S. marmoratus should be considered as potential biomarkers. Short-term exposure of BaP or TBT could result in induction of antioxidant defense system. A significant decrease of these indices, such as GSH, GST, GPx might indicate more severe contamination.

Photochemical behavior of benzo[a]pyrene on soil surfaces under UV light irradiation

The rates of photodegradation and photocatalysis of benzo [a]pyrene （BaP） on soil surfaces under UV light have been studied. Different parameters such as temperature, soil particle sizes, and soil depth responsible for photodegradation, catalyst loads and wavelength of UV irradiation blamed for photocatalysis have been monitored. The results obtained indicated that BaP photodegradation follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. BaP photodegradation was the fastest at 30℃ . The rates of BaP photodegradation at different soil particle size followed the order： less than 1 mm〉less than 0.45 mm〉less than 0.25 mm. When the soil depth increased from 1 mm to 4 ram, the half-life increased from 13.23 d to 17.73 d. The additions of TiO2 or Fe2O3 accelerated the photodegradation of BaP, and the photocatalysis of BaP follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. Changes in catalyst loads of TiO2 （0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% （wt）） or Fe203 （2%, 5%, 7%, and 10% （wt）） did not significantly affect the degradation rates. Both BaP photocatalysis in the presence of TiO2 and Fe2O3 were the fastest at 254 nm UV irradiation.

Phytotoxicity assessment of phenanthrene, pyrene and their mixtures by a soil-based seedling emergence test

Seedling emergence tests were conducted in a meadow brown soil using five plant species(i.e., Chinese cabbage, green onion, tomato, turnip and wheat) to determine the phytotoxicity of phenanthrene, pyrene and their mixtures. The soil was amended with up to 1000 mg/kg soil of phenanthrene or 600 mg/kg soil of pyrene. Seedling emergence and root growth were measured. The results indicated that root elongation was more sensitive than seedling emergence. Root length decreased with increasing phenanthrene or pyrene concentrations(p≤0 05). Phenanthrene was more phytotoxic than pyrene. The lowest observable adverse effect concentration(LOAEC) was 10 mg/kg for phenanthrene when tested with green onion, and 50 mg/kg for pyrene when tested with wheat. Among the five species, wheat was found to be the most sensitive. When amended jointly at or below their respective LOAEC, phenanthrene and pyrene produced a synergistic toxic effect.