Exposure to phthalates: germline dysfunction and aneuploidy

Epidemiological studies continue to reveal the enduring impact of exposures to environmental chemicals on human physiology, including our reproductive health. Phthalates, a well characterized class of endocrine disrupting chemicals and commonly utilized plasticizers, are among one of the many toxicants ubiquitously present in our environment. Phthalate exposure has been linked to increases in the rate of human aneuploidy, a phenomenon that is detected in 0.3% of livebirths resulting in genetic disorders including trisomy 21, approximately 4% of stillbirths, and over 35% of miscarriages. Here we review recent epidemiological and experimental studies that have examined the role that phthalates play in germline dysfunction, including increases in apoptosis, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and impaired genomic integrity, resulting in aneuploidy. We will further discuss subject variability, as it relates to diet and polymorphisms, and the sexual dimorphic effects of phthalate exposure, as it relates to sex-specific targets. Lastly, we discuss some of the conserved effects of phthalate exposure across humans, mammalian models and nonmammalian model organisms, highlighting the importance of using model organisms to our advantage for chemical risk assessment and unveiling potential mechanisms that underlie phthalate-induced reproductive health issues across species.     

Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change: Methodological Issues

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) convened a Workshop on Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change in Costa Rica in 1998 that involved more than 200 expects and incorporated views from many research communities. This paper summarizes the recommendations from the Workshop and profiles the contributions to the advancement of methodologies for adaptation science.     

固定化聚铝的制备及在纸品加工废水处理中的应用

经水解尿素均匀沉淀 灼烧 ,在素瓷表面制备可能有共价结合的铝胶膜 ;铝胶薄膜载体与经复分解反应制得的氯化铝悬浊液共熟化 ,在其表面生成聚铝 ,经烧结进一步固化而制得固定化聚铝絮凝剂。经三级固定化絮凝剂床处理 ,纸品加工废水的COD、BOD、悬浮物、硫化物、色度等指标可分别降低 93 %、77%、97%、94%、80 %。     

Intrauterine manometry: Technique and application to fetal pathology

A technique is described for measuring pressure within the amniotic cavity and within fetal vessels and/or body compartments. Two saline-filled catheters were connected at one end to needles inserted during indicated invasive procedures and at the other to silicon strain gauge transducers. In 36 pregnancies with normal liquor volume, stable intra-amniotic pressure (IAP, range 1–14 mmHg) increased with gestation (r=0·48, p<0·01). In pregnancies complicated by severe oligohydramnios, IAP was ≤ 1 mm Hg and rose to normal levels with saline amnioinfusion. Raised IAP (range 17–26 mm Hg), found in pregnancies with gross polyhydramnios, fell with drainage of amniotic fluid. Subtraction manometry was used to determine supra-amniotic pressure within the intervillus space, umbilical vein, umbilical artery, abdominal and thoracic cavities, and the urinary tract in normal and/or pathological fetuses. Low intravesical and intrapelvicalyceal pressures (median 6·5, range 2–10 mmHg) were noted in fetuses with obstructive uropathies. Intrauterine subtraction manometry appears to be a useful tool in the understanding of fetal pathophysiology and may be of clinical benefit in the therapeutic drainage and infusion of amniotic fluid and in the assessment of certain fetal disease states.     

重归大自然——密西西比河之行

密西西比河是美国第一大河。它一路曲曲弯弯向着墨西哥湾蜿蜒流去．沿途形成广袤的洪泛平原,滋润着美国大陆41％的土地。水量也比美国其他河流都要多。密西西比河及其洪泛平原哺育着400多种野生动植物。北美地区40％的水禽都沿着密西西比河的路径迁徙。密西西比河对于美国。如同长江对于中国,无论从经济还是生物多样性保护等方面,其作用都是举足轻重。     

环境损害评估:国际制度及对中国的启示

随着全社会对资源环境稀缺性和环境价值认同的不断深入,世界各国从污染防治和生态环境保护实践中逐渐形成并健全了环境损害评估制度.环境损害评估的实践活动在科学研究层面对环境法学、环境经济学、环境科学、环境工程等相关学科的发展提出了新的挑战;在应用层面不断推动相关法律法规、技术方法、工作机制、程序导则的形成和完善.在比较分析美国、欧盟、日本等环境损害评估国际实践经验的基础上,明确了环境损害评估相关概念、内涵与范畴,系统梳理了各国相关法律法规、工作机制、技术导则、评估方法、资金来源以及沟通协调等制度内容.当前我国环境损害评估理论和实践都处于起步阶段,结合我国当前严峻的环境形势和社会经济发展阶段特征,借鉴国外先进经验,提出了我国环境损害评估的定位和发展方向,对探索适合我国国情的环境损害评估制度具有重要意义.     

Extremophiles: from abyssal to terrestrial ecosystems and possibly beyond

The anthropocentric term “extremophile” was introduced more than 30 years ago to describe any organism capable of living and growing under extreme conditions—i.e., particularly hostile to human and to the majority of the known microorganisms as far as temperature, pH, and salinity parameters are concerned. With the further development of studies on microbial ecology and taxonomy, more “extreme” environments were found and more extremophiles were described. Today, many different extremophiles have been isolated from habitats characterized by hydrostatic pressure, aridity, radiations, elevated temperatures, extreme pH values, high salt concentrations, and high solvent/metal concentrations, and it is well documented that these microorganisms are capable of thriving under extreme conditions better than any other organism living on Earth. Extremophiles have also been investigated as far as the search for life in other planets is concerned and even to evaluate the hypothesis that life on Earth came originally from space. Extremophiles are interesting for basic and applied sciences. Particularly fascinating are their structural and physiological features allowing them to stand extremely selective environmental conditions. These properties are often due to specific biomolecules (DNA, lipids, enzymes, osmolites, etc.) that have been studied for years as novel sources for biotechnological applications. In some cases (DNA polymerase, thermostable enzymes), the search was successful and the final application was achieved, but certainly further exploitations are next to come.     

碳气凝胶的制备及其对极性农药的吸附性能

以机械球磨联合TEMPO氧化对木浆纤维进行预处理,并通过高温热解制备碳气凝胶,对其形貌、元素组成、比表面积、孔径结构以及表面官能团进行表征分析,并以阳离子型吡虫啉（IMI）和阴离子型2,4-D为目标物评价其吸附性能.结果表明：经机械球磨联合TEMPO氧化改性显著增加碳气凝胶的孔和表面C=O官能团含量、比表面积及极性,降低其片层厚度和芳香性,其表面积可达2631m²/g.碳气凝胶对IMI和2,4-D的吸附均符合Freundlich模型.IMI在碳气凝胶上的主要吸附机制为阳离子/p/π-π电子供体-受体相互作用、氢键、孔填充作用、静电吸引作用等,而静电排斥作用是抑制2,4-D吸附的主要因素,且IMI和2,4-D最高吸附量分别可达437和286mg/g.因此,通过机械球磨联合TEMPO氧化改性制备碳气凝胶在吸附去除水体有机污染物领域具有潜在应用价值.     

生命价值：无需回避评估

治理环境污染的主要效益是健康效益，即降低发病率和死亡率，但治理污染要消耗稀缺资源（经济成本）。在涉及污染与健康的环境费用效益分析中，社会必须权衡经济收入与生命价值，估价生命价值有４种方法：人力资本法、工资隐含价格法，防护费用法和实验评价法，可以从不同途径评估中国人生命价值。     

Bacterial resistance to lead: Chemical basis and environmental relevance

Natural bacterial isolates from heavily contaminated sites may evolve diverse tolerance strategies, including biosorption, efflux mechanism, and intracellular precipitation under the continually increased stress of toxic lead (Pb) from anthropogenic activities. These strategies utilize a large variety of functional groups in biological macromolecules (e.g., exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and metalloproteins) and inorganic ligands, including carboxyl, phosphate and amide groups, for capturing Pb. The amount and type of binding sites carried by biologically originated materials essentially determines their performance and potential for Pb removal and remediation. Many factors, e.g., metal ion radius, electronegativity, the shape of the cell surface sheath, temperature and pH, are thought to exert significant influences on the abovementioned interactions with Pb. Conclusively, understanding the chemical basis of Pb-binding in these bacteria can allow for the development of effective microbial Pb remediation technologies and further elucidation of Pb cycling in the environment.     

Prenatal diagnosis for women aged 37 years and over: to have or not to have

Forty percent of pregnant women aged 37 years and over do not have prenatal diagnosis despite being eligible for a free test. The present study aimed to determine how often, and which, untested women were making a choice about this, how many declined an offer and why. A questionnaire was given to untested women, aged 37 years and over, at no less than 24 weeks gestation. A total of 375 (81.5%) women declined, 72 (16%) were not offered a test and 13 presented too late antenatally. There was a three-fold increased likelihood (OR 3.10 95% CI 1.44, 6.65) of no offer for urban non-English speaking background women, compared with the reference group (metropolitan, English speaking). Unpartnered women were also significantly less likely to receive an offer (OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.19, 8.46). Risk to the baby was the main reason for declining. When offered non-invasive prenatal screening, most decliners of prenatal diagnosis accepted, even those who declined because they were opposed to abortion. We estimate that overall 33% of older pregnant women were being offered and declining amniocentesis and/or chorion villus sampling (CVS). Only 6% were not offered a test, but this small proportion is over-represented by minority groups who must be given equal opportunity to make this choice. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intraplacental sonolucent spaces: Incidences and relevance to chorionic villus sampling

Detailed ultrasound examination of the placentae from 293 consecutive women requesting first-trimester chorionic villus sampling (CVS) showed evidence of intraplacental sonolucent spaces with varying density in 42.3 per cent of these placentae. Their presence, however, did not complicate the subsequent course of these women's pregnancies. Their prime significance relates to CVS, where inadvertent entry into these areas can lead to bleeding and contamination of the villus specimens with blood. A search for these spaces should be made before sampling, and when present, they should be avoided wherever possible.     

美国环境执法的实践经验及其对中国的启示

环境执法是环境管理的一项重要手段,对于打击环境违法行为解决环境问题具有重要作用。环境执法一直是美国环保局的中心工作,是年度预算的五大战略目标之一,也是2014—2018年战略规划的重点内容。从执法内容来看,美国环境执法具有联邦根基稳健、权力集中、机制体制保障有力、执法与守法内在统一、民事执法手段多样、刑事执法重在威慑等突出特点。当前,我国的环境执法正在走向逐步成熟的阶段,应充分借鉴先进经验,构建符合国家治理需要的综合执法体系,建议深化体制机制改革、形成全面的环境执法机制与体系,进一步加大区域联防联控力度,抓紧建立环境执法官制度,形成环境执法全覆盖。     

Nitrogen depositions to the Baltic Sea: Experimental and model estimates

Air pollution in the Baltic region is being monitored and assessed within the framework of the Helsinki Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment in the Baltic Sea. Measurements of inorganic nitrogen compounds in precipitation, and to a lesser extent in air, have been performed since the mid-1980s under the supervision of HELCOM's Expert Group on Air Pollution, EGAP. The purpose is to establish a basis for evaluating the airborne pollution load to the Baltic Sea. These data have been used to estimate deposition of nitrogen to the sea surface by using various methods of extrapolating coastal data on concentrations and precipitation amounts. These estimates are supplemented by model calculations with the EMEP models. Estimates for the period 1986–1990 show that the annual wet deposition fluxes vary from about 650 kg N km⁻² in the north to about 1100 kg N km ⁻² in the southern Baltic Sea, resulting in a total wet deposition of about 325 kT N yr⁻¹. Other authors have estimated dry depositions for 1980–1986 at about 60 kT N yr⁻¹. O the other hand, model calculations lead to a total dry and wet deposition of about 275 kT N yr⁻¹. The reasons for the deviations are discussed and used to infer methodological limitations.