洱海沙坪湾湖滨带不同植被带中细菌分布特征

湖滨带是湖泊保护的重要屏障,其不同植被带中的细菌对入湖污染物降解起重要作用.为研究不同植被带中的细菌分布,以洱海沙坪湾湖滨带为研究对象,采用Illumina HiSeq高通量测序方法,对其中AG(乔草植被带)、EP(挺水植被带)、SP(沉水植被带)和UV(无植被带)的土壤或沉积物中的细菌多样性和群落结构进行研究.结果表明:湖滨带植被带中细菌种类丰富,共有54个门、106个纲、192个目、334个科和503个属被检测到,细菌的OTUs从高到低依次为EP(3 162个)、AG(2 926个)、UV(2 709个)和SP(2 427个),Shannon-Wiener多样性指数从高到低依次为EP(10.14)、AG(9.75)、SP(9.44) 和UV(9.26);湖滨带植被带中主要细菌类群是变形菌门(Proteobacteria)(AG,48.55%;EP,47.83%;SP,40.36%;UV,44.00%)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)(AG,19.30%;EP,5.31%;SP,5.67%;UV,6.30%)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)(AG,6.01%;EP,8.24%;SP,3.96%;UV,13.13%)和绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)(AG,3.98%;EP,8.91%;SP,8.95%;UV,7.59%),主要类群在不同植被带中占比不同;植被带类型对细菌的群落结构特征影响不大,但对细菌种群的多样性影响较大.典型对应分析(CCA)结果显示,w(TP)、pH和w(OM)(OM为有机质)是影响不同植被带细菌种群结构的主要环境因子.      

高效液相色谱法测定某钢铁厂地区大气颗粒物PM2.5中16种多环芳烃

建立了一种可变波长检测器(VWD)和荧光检测器(FLD)串联的高效液相色谱分析方法,检测了北京市某钢铁厂及其东门地区大气可吸入颗粒物PM_2.5中的16种EPA优控多环芳烃(PAHs)污染情况.在设定的色谱条件下,这16种PAHs得到完全分离.其中前10种PAHs采用VWD检测,后6种PAHs采用FLD检测.16种PAHs的检测限在0.29μg·L^-1(Bkf)～50.6μg·L^-1(Nap)之间,回收率在85.1%(Nap)～103.2%(Fla)之间,相对标准偏差在4.31%(Flu)～9.93%(Ind)之间.结果表明,该地区多环芳烃污染情况仍然非常严重.     

太湖竺山湾缓冲带两种人工草林土壤反硝化作用比较

在太湖竺山湾缓冲带选取两种人工草林(杨树灌木混合林和纯杨树林),对其林床地表径流、林下土壤水和林下地下水进行了为期1 a的观测,比较了土壤反硝化作用.结果表明:①两种人工草林林下土壤生化性质、w(有机碳)以及各形态氮质量分数在1 m深度内垂向剖面上的分布大致相同;②两种人工草林内地下水中的ρ(NO₃--N)在1 a之内都没有明显升高趋势,显示反硝化作用在土壤水的入渗过程中有效削减了NO₃--N,并阻止了其向地下水的迁移;③在垂直剖面上,两种人工草林土壤水中ρ(NO₃--N)在40 cm深度处出现峰值,同深度处的ρ(DO)(低至0.08 mg/L)、E_h(氧化还原电位,0~18 mV)也较低,说明40 cm深度附近可能发生了耦合的硝化-反硝化作用;④在垂直剖面上,两种人工草林土壤中反硝化势和反硝化菌数均在40 cm深度附近出现峰值,虽然杨树灌木混合林土壤反硝化势[2.1 mg/(kg·h)]是纯杨树林[1.1 mg/(kg·h)]的2倍,但两种人工草林土壤中实际的反硝化速率受ρ(NO₃--N)的限制,没有明显的差别.研究显示,两种人工草林土壤都在40 cm深度附近存在反硝化活跃带.      

Profile and removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals by using an ER/AR competitive ligand binding assay and chemical analyses

An estrogen receptor (ER)/androgen receptor (AR) ligand competitive binding assay (ER/AR-binding assay) and chemical analyses were used to evaluate the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) behavior of two municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (K and S). In the influents, estrone (E1), androsterone (A), androstenedione (AD), BPA (bisphenol A), NP (nonylphenol) and daidzein (DZ) were detected in high amounts with subsequent 24 h-average concentrations of 350, 1000, 29, 1300, 3900, and 5700 ng/L in K-WWTP and of 310, 620, 59, 1600, 2600, and 8400 ng/L in S-WWTP. The estrogenic (androgenic) activity as 17 -estradiol (E2) equivalents (EEQ) or testosterone (Te) equivalents (TEQ) was consequently 620 ng E2/L (570 ng Te/L) and 580 ng E2/L (800 ng Te/L) for the two WWTPs. The removal e ciencies of the above mentioned sole target chemicals were 51%–100% for K-WWTP and 55.6%–100% for S-WWTP. The removal e ciencies of EEQ were about 73% for both WWTPs, while the removal e ciencies of TEQ were 62.1% for K-WWTP and 98.4% for S-WWTP. In addition, chemical-derived EEQ were about 1.2%–52.4% of those by ER-binding assay for K-WWTP and the corresponding ratios were 1.3%–83.3% for S-WWTP, while chemical derived TEQ were less than 3% of values measured by the AR-binding assay for both WWTPs.     

Cadmium accumulation and tolerance of two castor cultivars in relation to antioxidant systems

To investigate the effects of Cd on tolerance and antioxidant activities of castor, two different castor（Ricinus communis L.） cultivars（Zibo No. 5 and Zibo No. 8） were used for a hydroponic experiment（0, 1 and 2 mg/L Cd） and a pot experiment using Cd-contaminated soil（34 mg/kg） with the addition of ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid（EDTA）. The results indicated that there were significant differences between the two cultivars with respect to Cd uptake in shoots（113–248 mg/kg for Zibo No. 5 and 130–288 mg/kg Zibo No. 8）, biomass tolerance indexes（64.9%–74.6% for Zibo No. 5 and 80.1%–90.9% for Zibo No. 8） in the hydroponic experiment and survival rates（0% for Zibo No. 5 and 100% for Zibo No. 8）determined by the addition of EDTA in the pot experiment, suggesting that Zibo No. 8 has higher tolerance than Zibo No. 5. Moreover, the castor cultivars have low bioconcentration factors（4.80% for Zibo No. 5 and 5.43% for Zibo No. 8） and low translocation factors（〈1%）.Consequently, Zibo No. 8 can participate in Cd phytostabilization in highly Cd-polluted areas. The results indicated that glutathione（GSH） as a non-enzymatic antioxidant, and antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase（SOD）, catalase（CAT） and guaiacol peroxidase（GPX）, were cultivar- and dose-dependent. The higher tolerance of Zibo No. 8compared with Zibo No. 5 can be attributed to the higher GSH levels in the root and higher GPX activity in the leaf.     

A land use regression for predicting NO2 and PM10 concentrations in different seasons in Tianjin region,China

Land use regression (LUR) model was employed to predict the spatial concentration distribution of NO2 and PM10 in the Tianjin region based on the environmental air quality monitoring data. Four multiple linear regression (MLR) equations were established based on the most significant variables for NO2 in heating season (R2 = 0.74), and non-heating season (R2 = 0.61) in the whole study area; and PM10 in heating season (R2 = 0.72), and non-heating season (R2 = 0.49). Maps of spatial concentration distribution for NO2 and PM10 were obtained based on the MLR equations (resolution is 10 km). Intercepts of MLR equations were 0.050 (NO2, heating season), 0.035 (NO2, non-heating season), 0.068 (PM10, heating season), and 0.092 (PM10, non-heating season) in the whole study area. In the central area of Tianjin region, the intercepts were 0.042 (NO2, heating season), 0.043 (NO2, non-heating season), 0.087 (PM10, heating season), and 0.096 (PM10, non-heating season). These intercept values might imply an area’s background concentrations. Predicted result derived from LUR model in the central area was better than that in the whole study area. R2 values increased 0.09 (heating season) and 0.18 (non-heating season) for NO2, and 0.08 (heating season) and 0.04 (non-heating season) for PM10. In terms of R2, LUR model performed more effectively in heating season than non-heating season in the study area and gave a better result for NO2 compared with PM10.     

山东省黄河故道区域土壤环境背景值研究

对山东省黄河故道土壤环境中的重金属元素、六六六、滴滴涕等难降解农药和有机质含量进行了研究,并分析了重金属元素的纵向分布、有机质和重金属含量的相关性、不同土地利用方式对土壤背景值的影响.结果表明,表层土壤中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr、Hg、As、Co、V、Mn、Cd和Ni的背景值含量分别为13.46、16.23、42.31、30.97、0.090、3.90、8.01、36.42、426.83、0.063和18.71mg·kg-1,有机质含量为0.74%,六六六和滴滴涕的检出率分别为100%和60%,含量低于土壤环境质量二级标准;11种土壤重金属元素背景值均低于土壤环境质量一级标准,其中10种重金属元素(Hg除外)土壤背景值低于全国水平、山东省及黄土高原地区土壤环境背景值,元素Hg在表层土壤存在富集现象, Cd有向下层迁移的趋势;元素Hg、Cd和有机质在0～20cm和20～40cm土层呈显著差异,其它元素无显著差异;不同土地利用方式下的土壤背景值无显著差异;有机质与Cu、As、Mn、Pb、Zn、Cr、Co、Ni等元素有极显著正相关性.     

硝化抑制剂双氰胺对菜地土壤N_2O排放的影响

采用原状土柱试验研究了施用硝化抑制剂双氰胺（DCD）对菜地（小白菜和辣椒）土壤N2O排放的影响.结果表明,施用DCD能显著降低菜地土壤N2O排放通量和排放总量,小白菜未施用DCD时施氮处理土壤N2 O排放总量为0.22 kg.hm-2,施用DCD后则显著减少至0.11 kg.hm-2,相当于减少了49.33%的土壤N2...     

Investigation on Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd fractions in the natural surface coating samples and surficial sediments in the Songhua River, China

Natural surface coating samples （NSCSs） from the surface of shingles and surficial sediments （SSs） in the Songhua River, China were employed to investigate the relationship between NSCSs and SSs in fractions of heavy metals （Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd） using the modified sequential extraction procedure （MSEP）. The results show that the differences between NSCSs and SSs in Fe fi＇actions were insignificant and Fe was dominantly present as residual phase （76.22% for NSCSs and 80.88% for SSs） and Fe-oxides phase （20.33% for NSCSs and 16.15% for SSs）. Significant variation of Mn distribution patterns between NSCSs and SSs was observed with Mn in NSCSs mainly present in Mn-oxides phase （48.27%） and that in SSs present as residual phase （45.44%）. Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd were found dominantly in residual fractions （〉48%）, and next in solid oxides/hydroxides for Zn, Pb and Cd and in easily oxidizable solids/compounds form for Cu, respectively. The heavy metal distribution patterns implied that Fe/Mn oxides both in NSCSs and SSs were more important sinks for binding and adsorption of Zn, Pb and Cd than organic matter （OM）, and inversely, higher affinity of Cu to OM than Fe/Mn oxides in NSCSs and SSs was obtained. Meanwhile, it was found that the distributions of heavy metals in NSCSs and SSs were similar to each other and the pseudo-total concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd in NSCSs were greater than those in SSs, highlighting the more importance for NSCSs than SSs in controlling behaviours of heavy metals in aquatic environments.     

国内外涂料制造工业挥发性有机物排放标准比较

VOCs（挥发性有机物）已成为中国大气污染防治的重点污染物,涂料的生产和使用是VOCs排放的重要固定源.美国、欧盟于20世纪90年代制定了涂料制造工业的VOCs排放标准,而中国自2010年起才开始管控VOCs的排放.通过对美国、欧盟和中国现行的涂料制造工业VOCs排放标准体系进行对比研究发现,中国涂料制造工业VOCs排放标准体系完整且严厉,由源头替代、工艺过程控制、排放限值、监控与管理等构成,但存在表征方法不明确、分析方法不准确、总量控制指标缺乏等问题.因此,基于优化VOCs全过程防控标准体系,提出以下4点建议:①强化源头VOCs排放控制,制定高固分涂料、水性涂料（油墨）各类涂料产品的VOCs含量限值,并配以相关分析方法;②加强VOCs工艺过程控制,在强调密闭要求的基础上,制定吸风罩捕集效率的统一判断标准;③选用TOC（有机碳）代替NMHC（非甲烷总烃）作为VOCs的表征指标,借鉴欧盟的逸散率制定排放绩效值,构建总量控制指标;④实施溶剂管理计划和PRTR（污染物释放和转移登记记录）,以实现VOCs减排的长效机制.      

First trimester screening for Down syndrome and assisted reproduction: no basis for concern

In pregnancies obtained after assisted reproduction the false-positive rate of second trimester Down syndrome (DS) screening is increased by 1.5–3-fold. This may cause an increase in the number of amniocenteses and the fetal loss rate. The present study for the first time examined whether assisted reproductive technologies affect the results of first trimester screening. The markers PAPP-A, free β-hCG and the nuchal translucency (NT) thickness were examined at 12–14 weeks' gestation. Screening markers in 47 in vitro fertilisation (IVF), 63 ovulation induction (OI) and 3026 spontaneously conceived singleton pregnancies were compared. The MoM (multiples of the median) value in the IVF pregnancies was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.85–1.22) for PAPP-A, 1.14 (95% CI: 0.95–1.37) for β-hCG and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.89–1.05) for NT; the MoM value in the OI pregnancies was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.76–1.05) for PAPP-A, 1.08 (95% CI: 0.93–1.25) for β-hCG and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.95–1.11) for NT. The first trimester marker values in assisted reproductive pregnancies and spontaneously conceived pregnancies were not significantly different. Estimated false-positive rates for a risk cut-off of 1:400 varied from 4.7% in IVF pregnancies to 5.1% in OI pregnancies. Therefore the false-positive rate in Down syndrome screening should be independent of the method of conception. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in tropical and subtropical regions (2000–2013)

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been successfully used for treating various wastewaters for decades and have been identified as a sustainable wastewater management option for developing countries. With the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being but are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems, the application of CWs has become more relevant. Such application is especially significant for developing countries with tropical climates, which are very conducive to higher biological activity and productivity, resulting in higher treatment efficiencies compared to those in temperate climates. This paper therefore highlights the practice, applications, and research of treatment wetlands under tropical and subtropical conditions since 2000. In the present review, removal of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solid (TSS) was shown to be very efficient and consistent across all types of treatment wetlands. Hybrid systems appeared more efficient in the removal of total suspended solid (TSS) (91.3%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (84.3%), and nitrogen (i.e., 80.7% for ammonium (NH)₄-N, 80.8% for nitrate (NO)₃-N, and 75.4% for total nitrogen (TN)) as compared to other wetland systems. Vertical subsurface flow (VSSF) CWs removed TSS (84.9%), BOD (87.6%), and nitrogen (i.e., 66.2% for NH₄-N, 73.3% for NO₃-N, and 53.3% for TN) more efficiently than horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) CWs, while HSSF CWs (69.8%) showed better total phosphorus (TP) removal compared to VSSF CWs (60.1%). Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) showed comparable removal efficiencies for BOD (70.7%), NH₄-N (63.6%), and TP (44.8%) to free water surface (FWS) CW systems.     

Application of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in tropical and subtropical regions (2000-2013)

Constructed wetlands(CWs) have been successfully used for treating various wastewaters for decades and have been identified as a sustainable wastewater management option for developing countries. With the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being but are also compatible with sustaining natural(environmental)systems, the application of CWs has become more relevant. Such application is especially significant for developing countries with tropical climates, which are very conducive to higher biological activity and productivity, resulting in higher treatment efficiencies compared to those in temperate climates. This paper therefore highlights the practice,applications, and research of treatment wetlands under tropical and subtropical conditions since 2000. In the present review, removal of biochemical oxygen demand(BOD) and total suspended solid(TSS) was shown to be very efficient and consistent across all types of treatment wetlands. Hybrid systems appeared more efficient in the removal of total suspended solid(TSS)(91.3%), chemical oxygen demand(COD)(84.3%), and nitrogen(i.e.,80.7% for ammonium(NH)4-N, 80.8% for nitrate(NO)3-N, and 75.4% for total nitrogen(TN))as compared to other wetland systems. Vertical subsurface flow(VSSF) CWs removed TSS(84.9%), BOD(87.6%), and nitrogen(i.e., 66.2% for NH4-N, 73.3% for NO3-N, and 53.3% for TN)more efficiently than horizontal subsurface flow(HSSF) CWs, while HSSF CWs(69.8%)showed better total phosphorus(TP) removal compared to VSSF CWs(60.1%). Floating treatment wetlands(FTWs) showed comparable removal efficiencies for BOD(70.7%),NH4-N(63.6%), and TP(44.8%) to free water surface(FWS) CW systems.     

我国淡水水生生物镉基准研究

研究了Cd对我国淡水水生生物的毒性效应,包括43种生物的急性毒性数据和14种生物的慢性毒性数据.同时,参照美国环境保护署（USEPA）颁布的水质基准计算方法,按照基准最大浓度（CMC）和基准连续浓度（CCC）计算了我国淡水水生生物的Cd基准.结果表明,我国淡水生物Cd基准的CMC值和CCC值分别为2.1 μg·L-1和0.23 μg·L-1,与美国淡水生物Cd的基准值有一定差别,研究结果为我国的Cd水质标准研究提供了参考依据.     

邻苯二甲酸酯暴露的大鼠尿液生物标志物研究

建立了检测尿液中邻苯二甲酸酯类化合物(PAEs)共同水解产物邻苯二甲酸(PA)的分析方法;通过雄性成年SD大鼠代谢试验,检测了邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)和邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯(DEHP)单独暴露、以及联合暴露条件下大鼠尿液中PA总量,并分析了PA与暴露总量之间的关系.结果显示,随着暴露剂量的增大,尿液中排出的PA总量也不断增大;DBP单独暴露、DEHP单独暴露以及两者联合暴露时尿液PAEs代谢物平均排泄总量占摄入量的百分比分别为65.04%、55.00%和38.35%;大鼠尿液中PA的摩尔总量与DBP、DEHP、以及两者联合暴露的摩尔量之间的相关系数分别为0.92(P<0.01)、0.56(P<0.01)、0.93(P<0.01).尿液水解后的PA能够反映PAEs类物质的总暴露水平,将来可能作为一种潜在的暴露生物标志物用于人群的PAEs暴露监测.     

A land use regression for predicting NO2 and PM10 concentrations in di erent seasons in Tianjin region, China

Land use regression (LUR) model was employed to predict the spatial concentration distribution of NO2 and PM10 in the Tianjin region based on the environmental air quality monitoring data. Four multiple linear regression (MLR) equations were established based on the most significant variables for NO2 in heating season (R2 = 0.74), and non-heating season (R2 = 0.61) in the whole study area; and PM10 in heating season (R2 = 0.72), and non-heating season (R2 = 0.49). Maps of spatial concentration distribution for NO2 and PM10 were obtained based on the MLR equations (resolution is 10 km). Intercepts of MLR equations were 0.050 (NO2, heating season), 0.035 (NO2, non-heating season), 0.068 (PM10, heating season), and 0.092 (PM10, non-heating season) in the whole study area. In the central area of Tianjin region, the intercepts were 0.042 (NO2, heating season), 0.043 (NO2, non-heating season), 0.087 (PM10, heating season), and 0.096 (PM10, non-heating season). These intercept values might imply an area’s background concentrations. Predicted result derived from LUR model in the central area was better than that in the whole study area. R2 values increased 0.09 (heating season) and 0.18 (non-heating season) for NO2, and 0.08 (heating season) and 0.04 (non-heating season) for PM10. In terms of R2, LUR model performed more e ectively in heating season than non-heating season in the study area and gave a better result for NO2 compared with PM10.     

Second-trimester prenatal screening markers for Down syndrome in women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Published studies have shown that some serum markers used in screening for Down syndrome tend to be lower among women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). On this basis, many screening programmes adjust the marker levels to take account of this difference. Recent studies suggested that the marker levels were not different, and so adjustment may no longer be needed, possibly because of better diabetic control. Data from a prenatal screening programme for Down syndrome were examined to see whether the median values of second-trimester screening markers were still reduced in pregnant women with IDDM. A total of 366 women with IDDM singleton pregnancies without Down syndrome were identified from the screening programme at Barts from 1989 to 2002. After allowing for maternal weight, the median multiples of the median (MoM) for IDDM-unaffected singleton pregnancies were as follows: 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.84–0.93) for alphafetoprotein (AFP), 0.95 (0.91–0.99) for unconjugated oestriol (uE₃), 0.90 (0.80–1.01) for total human chorionic gonadotrophin (total hCG), 0.98 (0.88–1.08) for free β-hCG, and 0.99 (0.89–1.10) for inhibin-A. The median levels for AFP and uE₃ were statistically significantly lower in pregnant women with IDDM. The other markers were not significantly different in women with and without IDDM. There remains a case for adjusting AFP and uE₃ levels in women with IDDM in prenatal screening programmes for Down syndrome. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predication of Fhhh potential in PTA wastewater treatment

Ebis is the intelligent environmental biotechnological informatics software developed for judging the effectiveness of the microorganism strain in the industrial wastewater treatment system(IWTS) at the optimal status. The parameter, as the objective function for the judgment, is the minimum reactor volume ( Vmin ) calculated by Ebis for microorganism required in wastewater treatment. The rationality and the universality of Ebis were demonstrated in the domestic sewage treatment system(DSTS) with the data published in US Aand China at first, then Fhhh strain‘s potential for treating the purified terephthalic acid(PTA) was proved. It suggests that Ebis would be useful and universal for predicating the technique effectiveness in both DSTS and IWTS.     

An approach for estimating net primary productivity and annual carbon inputs to soil for common agricultural crops in Canada

The current interest in characterizing, predicting and managing soil C dynamics has focused attention on making estimates of C inputs to soil more accurate and precise. Net primary productivity (NPP) provides the inputs of carbon (C) in ecosystems and determines the amount of photosynthetically fixed C that can potentially be sequestered in soil organic matter. We present a method for estimating NPP and annual C inputs to soil for some common Canadian agroecosystems, using a series of plant C allocation coefficients for each crop type across the country. The root-derived C in these coefficients was estimated by reviewing studies reporting information on plant shoot-to-root (S:R) ratios (n = 168). Mean S:R ratios for annual crops were highest for small-grain cereals (7.4), followed by corn (5.6) and soybeans (5.2), and lowest for forages (1.6). The review also showed considerable uncertainty (coefficient of variation for S:R ratios of ∼50% for annual crops and ∼75% for perennial forages) in estimating below-ground NPP (BNPP) in agroecosystems; uncertainty was similar to that for Canadian boreal forests. The BNPP (including extra-root C) was lower for annual crops (∼20% of NPP) than for perennial forages (∼50%). The latter was similar to estimates for relative below-ground C allocation in other Canadian natural ecosystems such as mixed grasslands and forests. The proposed method is easy to use, specific for particular crops, management practices, and driven by agronomic yields. It can be readily up-dated with new experimental results and measurements of parameters used to quantify the accumulation and distribution of photosynthetically fixed C in different types of crops.     

First-trimester biochemical screening for fetal chromosome abnormalities and neural tube defects

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated oestriol (UE3), intact human chorionic gonado-trophin (intHCG), and the free β subunit of chorionic gonadotrophin (FβHCG) were investigated in a series of 21 chromosomally abnormal and 14 open neural tube defect pregnancies ascertained from a series of 14 000 prospectively collected maternal serum samples at 6–14 weeks' gestation. In 16 cases of Down's syndrome, significant reductions were found for AFP (0.65 multiples of the normal median) and UE3 (0.67 MOM). IntHCG levels were unaltered (0.97 MOM) but a significant increase was found for FβHCG (1.96 MOM). Significant correlations were found for AFP and UE3 in the controls and for int HCG and FβHCG in both the control and the Down's syndrome pregnancies. In a group of five trisomy 18 pregnancies, median MOMs were for AFP 0. 71 , for UE3 0. 34 , for intHCG 0. 27 , and for FβHCG 0.15. None of 13 pregnancies with open neural tube defects at 8-13 weeks gestation had elevated maternal serum AFP levels, whereas matched second-trimester samples from the same pregnancies at 16-18 weeks gestation all had significantly elevated AFP levels. Thus, biochemical screening for chromosome abnormalities may be practicable in the first trimester using free β human chorionic gonadotrophin in combination with AFP and maternal age. However, a separate screening protocol using AFP at 15-18 weeks gestation would still be required for effective detection of neural tube defects.