Exploration on the Reform of Ideological and Political Teaching of Environmental Chemistry Course

To carry out curriculum ideological and political education is to thoroughly implement the whole staff,the whole process,and all-round education.Taking the environmental chemistry course as an example,it introduces the feasibility of developing ideological and political education,and analyzes how to realize the integration of environmental chemistry courses and ideological and political education from the aspects of changing concepts,carefully designing teaching content,and playing the role of training courses and experimental courses.Integration has achieved certain results,providing reference and reference for environmental majors to carry out related courses ideological and political education.

News: JES Symposium at the 9^(th) National Conference on Environmental Chemistry

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Journal of Environmental Sciences（JES）,a special JES symposium was held at the 9th National Conference son Environmental Chemistry（NCEC）,in Hangzhou,China,on October 19-22,2017.More than 6100registrants participated in the conference.

State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry (SKLEAC) is under construction

A new State Key Laboratory named Environmental Aquatic Chemistry is establishing in the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It asso-ciates with other three Iaboratories in universities to make up an Joint State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control. They are supported by Chinese Government with the loan from World Bank for about 2.5 million US dollars and the same amount of RMB.

Assessment of Pesticide Contamination in Cidade Dos Meninos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Using Regional Screening Levels (RSL)

In the mid-20th century, the Malaria Institute in Brazil researched hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and other organochlorines in Cidade dos Meninos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After Malaria Institute closure, there was a 200-ton stock of chemicals compounds abandoned without any surveillance, which led to massive contamination of the nearby community by carcinogenic organochlorines. This article presents a new review of the Cidade dos Meninos’ case, analyzing the HCH and DDT contamination using a Haddon Matrix and Regional Screening Levels (RSL).

Metal-enriched nanoparticles and black carbon:A perspective from the Brazil railway system air pollution

Having a better understanding of air pollutants in railway systems is crucial to ensure a clean public transport.This study measured,for the first time in Brazil,nanoparticles(NPs)and black carbon(BC)on two groundlevel platforms and inside trains of the Metropolitan Area of Porto Alegre(MAPA).An intense sampling campaign during thirteen consecutive months was carried out and the chemical composition of NPs was examined by advanced microscopy techniques.The results showed that highest concentrations of the pollutants occur in colder seasons and influenced by variables such as frequency of the trains and passenger densities.Also,internal and external sources of pollution at the stations were identified.The predominance of NPs enriched with metals that increase oxidative stress like Cd,Fe,Pb,Cr,Zn,Ni,V,Hg,Sn,and Ba both on the platforms and inside trains,including Fe-minerals as hematite and magnetite,represents a critical risk to the health of passengers and employees of the system.This interdisciplinary and multi-analytical study aims to provide an improved understanding of reported adverse health effects induced by railway system aerosols.

Examining Adsorbent Charge Effect on Metal Removal from Contaminated Water

Heavy metal contaminated water sources can cause serious health problems for humans,animals,and plants.Heavy metals can lead to the decrease or loss of liver,kidney,and brain function.Objective:The aim of this research is to examine the effect of charge on adsorbents in the removal of metal cations.Study Design&Methods:Standard solutions of Ca,Cu,Pb,and Zn with concentrations of 1,000 ppm were treated with sodium carbonate and sodium phosphate with various charges.Then,the solutions were placed on a shaker for 24 h,centrifuged,and the supernatant was analyzed using ICP-AES(Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry).Results:The order of average metal removal by sodium phosphates is:dibasic(99.3%)>monobasic(96.5%)>tribasic(95.4%).The average metal removal by sodium carbonate and bicarbonate is 98.5% and 96.4% respectively.Conclusion:The adsorbent removability depends on the relationship between the charge present on the metal and the charge on the adsorbent.Thus,metal cations in this study with a+2 charge had a greater affinity for the adsorbent with-2 charged ligands,dibasic sodium phosphate and sodium carbonate.

Surface activity of a series of fluoroether betaine amphoteric surfactants: Oxygen roles

As PFOS, PFOA and their derivatives were banned according to the Stockholm Convention for their potential bioaccumulation and toxicity, people attempted to substitute the legacy fluorosurfactants with short-chain ones. Although short-chain alternatives can alleviate bioaccumulation, surface activity was compromised. Fluorine industry kept seeking for effective solution. In this work, we prepared and investigated a series of fluoroether betaine surfactants for their surface activity and spreading property. The role of oxygen on surface activity was discussed. We found that insertion of oxygen atoms into fluorinated chain could increase hydrophobicity and thus enhance surface activity. The contribution of one oxygen is approximately half of that of a difluoromethylene group by experience. Moreover, introducing oxygen diversified the structure to fill in the gap of surface activity between short and long fluorosurfactants. In summary, this work provided basic knowledge for molecular design.