Distribution and sources of phthalate esters in the topsoils of Beijing,China

Phthalate esters in the topsoil samples collected from Beijing were determined by derivatization and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry techniques. The results showed that diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutyl phthalate ester (DIBP), dibutyl phthalate ester (DBP), dibutyl (2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and dimethyl phthalate (DMP) were found in the topsoils. The total concentrations of the five phthalate esters varied from 2.30 to 24.71 μg g^?1. According to phthalate esters (PAEs) control standards in soil of the USA, the standard exceeding rates of DMP, DBP, and DEHP were 100 %, 100 %, and 4.84 % in soils of Beijing, respectively. The rate of DBP exceeding soil remediation standard was 12.9 %. Overall, concentrations of PAEs in Beijing were at a high level in China. The concentrations of DBP, DEHP, and DIBP were high, and the total concentrations of all the phthalate esters were higher in the areas with intensive human activities than in the other areas, which may be related to the use of phthalate compounds (such as the use of plastic products). The total and individual concentrations of phthalate compounds were relatively low in the areas that used plastic films compared with other samples due to the diffusion of atmospheric motion, categories, and amounts of plastic products and other factors. The greatest contributor may be the usage amount of plastic products in people’s daily lives.     

Occurrence of estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals concern in sewage plant effluent

The purpose of this study was to give a worldwide overview of the concentrations of typical estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals （EDCs） in the effluent of sewage plants and then compare the concentra- tion distribution of the estrogenic EDCs in ten countries based on the survey data of the estrogenic EDCs research. The concentrations of three main categories （totally eight kinds） of estrogenic EDCs including steroidal estrogens （estrone （El）, estradiol （E2）, estriol （E3） and 17a- ethynylestradiol （EE2））, phenolic compounds （nonylphe- nol （NP） and bisphenol A （BPA）） and phthalate esters （dibutyl phthalate （DBP） and dibutyl phthalate （2- ethylhexyl） phthalate （DEHP）） in the effluents of sewage plants reported in major international journals over the past decade were collected. The statistics showed that the concentration distributions of eight kinds of EDCs were in the range of ng·L^-1 to μg·L^-1. The concentrations of steroidal estrogens mainly ranged within 50.00 ng. L-1, and the median concentrations of El, E2, E3 and EE2 were 11.00, 3.68, 4.90 and 1.00 ng·L^-1, respectively. Phenolic compounds and phthalate esters were found at pg. L-1 level （some individual values were at the high level of 40.00 μg·L^-1）. The median concentrations of BPA, NP, DBP and DEHP were 0.06, 0.55, 0.07 and 0.88 μg·L^-1, respectively. The concentrations of phenolic compounds and phthalate esters in the effluents were higher than that of steroids estrogens. The analysis of the concentration in various ten countries showed that steroids estrogens, phenolic compounds and phthalate esters in sewage plant effluents were detected with high concentration in Canada, Spain and China, respectively.     

Screening of phthalic acid esters in raw materials,premixes and feed additives

Phthalates are animal carcinogens and may cause death or tissue deformities. Samples of feedstuffs collected in 2005 and 2006 from industrial feed manufacturers in the Czech Republic were analysed for contamination with phthalic acid esters (PAEs), specifically di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP). Samples of feed additives, premixes and raw materials were collected (year 2005, n = 26). For soybean oil, the total volume of phthalates measured (DBP + DEHP) reached a level of 131.42 mg kg⁻¹; for rapeseed oil, fish meal and animal fats, the levels measured were 15.00, 7.96 and 58.87 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The lowest level of DBP + DEHP was found in corn (2.03 mg kg⁻¹). Since phthalates were detected, samples of feed additives (n = 28) and raw materials (n = 28) were collected again in 2006. The highest levels of DBP + DEHP were found in raw materials containing fat. Phthalate levels in rapeseed oil samples ranged from 1.38 to 32.40 mg kg⁻¹ DBP + DEHP. For feed additives, contamination levels in vitamins and amino acids ranged from 0.06 to 3.15 and 1.76 to 4.52 mg kg⁻¹ DBP + DEHP, respectively. Here, we show that the levels of PAEs found in cereals such as wheat, barley and corn may be regarded as being alarmingly high, because cereals make up the largest proportion of compound feed of farm animals.     

Degradation of dibutyl phthalate in refuse from different phases of landfill by its dominant bacterial strain,Enterobacter sp. T1

A facultative bacterial strain isolated from municipal solid waste (MSW) obtained from a simulated landfill bioreactor was found to have the ability to use dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as its sole source of carbon and energy. Based on its morphology, physiochemical characteristics, and 16S rDNA sequence, the strain was identified as Enterobacter sp. T1. Evaluation of the degradation of DBP in refuse collected during the initial, acidic, and methanogenic phases of landfill before and after inoculation with Enterobacter sp. T1 revealed that the degradation fits first-order kinetic models for refuse from all phases. The removal rate of DBP in the refuse of the methanogenic phase increased from 59.3% to 74.5% when Enterobacter T1 was added. The half-life of DBP in refuse from the methanogenic phase that was inoculated with Enterobacter T1 decreased by 36.7% relative to uninoculated samples, and the intermediate products monobutyl phthalate (MBP) and phthalic acid were detected in all samples. These results provide new evidence for the potential of applying Enterobacter sp. for phthalic acid ester-polluted area remediation.     

邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)与卵清白蛋白(OVA)联合染毒对小鼠肺脏和脾脏组织氧化应激的作用

为研究邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(dibutylphthalate,DBP)单独染毒及与卵清白蛋白(ovalbumin,OVA)联合染毒对小鼠肺脏和脾脏组织氧化应激的作用,将BALB/c小鼠随机分为8组:(1)未处理对照组(生理盐水组);(2)0.5mg·kg-1DBP染毒组;(3)5.0mg·kg-1DBP染毒组;(4)50mg·kg-1DBP染毒组;(5)1.67mg·kg-1OVA单独染毒组;(6)0.5mg·kg-1DBP与1.67mg·kg-1OVA联合染毒组;(7)5.0mg·kg-1DBP与1.67mg·kg-1OVA联合染毒组;(8)50mg·kg-1DBP与1.67mg·kg-1OVA联合染毒组。未处理对照组和DBP染毒组每天按体质量给予生理盐水和DBP灌胃。2周后,测定肺脏组织活性氧物种(ROS)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)和丙二醛(MDA)含量以及脾脏组织ROS、GSH含量。结果显示,联合染毒组相较于其他组的肺脏组织各指标均有不同的显著性差异(P<0.05),联合染毒组的脾脏组织中ROS含量较其他组有显著差异(P<0.05),而GSH含量无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结果说明,DBP与OVA联合染毒能够增强肺脏组织的氧化应激作用,对于脾脏组织的氧化应激作用不明显;DBP在联合染毒中显示一定免疫佐剂效应。     

Bestimmung von Phthalsäureestern in Lebensmitteln, Frauenmilch, Hausstaub und Textilien

25 food samples, 5 mother’s milk specimens, 4 dust samples, and 16 textiles were analysed for phthalic acid esters. Phthalic acid esters were detected in all samples, with di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) being the most abundant phthalates. Raw milk samples revealed average concentrations of total phthalate of 0.1 mg/kg. Retail milk did not contain higher loads than raw milk, even storing samples until their “best-before” date did not result in elevated levels. Skimmed milk was less contaminated than whole milk. The higher concentrations of DEHP and total phthalates in cream samples are due to their higher fat content. With concentrations up to 1.54 mg/kg, ground hazelnuts, almonds, and nutmeg in plastic packagings showed relatively high levels. In infant food, only traces of DEHP and DBP could be found while other phthalic acid esters were not detectable. The mother’s milk samples also exhibited only low amounts of approx. 0.1 mg/kg, thus indicating that there is no accumulation of phthalate esters in the human body. Extraordinarily high concentrations were found in dust samples; with the levels ranging from 300 to 5370 mg/kg and DEHP being the major compound. This leads to the conclusion that the air path must play a considerable role in the transfer of phthalic acid esters. As dust contains considerable amounts of textile fibres, textiles were also included in the investigation. The phthalic ester levels in the textile samples ranged from 3.42 to 34.44 mg/kg. Therefore, the high phthalate contaminations of dust cannot be explained by textile fibres.     

Occurrence of endocrine disruptor compounds in the estuary of the Iberian Douro River and nearby Porto Coast (NW Portugal)

Previous studies in the Douro River estuary, based on occasional sampling, showed the presence of several estrogenic disrupting chemicals (EDCs). In sequence, we hypothesized that such type of pollution was more likely an enduring issue than an occasional phenomenon, and that it may even affect recreational beaches in each side of the estuarine mouth. Thus to conclude about the continuous influx of EDCs, water samples were taken twice a day, once per a week, from March to May of 2009, at four sites within the estuary and at two sites in the coastline. After solid-phase extraction, the extracts were prepared for GC-MS analysis of 11 reference EDCs. These embraced natural and pharmaceutical estrogens (17β-estradiol, estrone and 17α-ethynylestradiol) and xenoestrogenic industrial pollutants (4-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol, and their mono and diethoxylates and bisphenol A). Data showed the ubiquitous presence of potentially hazardous amounts of natural estrogens (particularly of estradiol, ca 5.5?ng?L^?1) and persistent organic pollutants such as nonylphenol mono (up to 550?ng?L^?1) and diethoxylate (up to 2000?ng?L^?1). It was concluded that the targeted area is continuously polluted by the assayed EDCs, and as a consequence, conditions exist for endocrine disturbance in the biota by chronic exposure to EDCs.     

The distribution of phthalate esters in indoor dust of Palermo (Italy)

In this work, phthalic acid esters (PAEs): dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and di-n-octyl phthalate in indoor dust (used as passive sampler) were investigated. The settled dust samples were collected from thirteen indoor environments from Palermo city. A fast and simple method using Soxhlet and GC–MS analysis has been optimized to identify and quantify the phthalates. Total phthalates concentrations in indoor dusts ranged from 269 to 4,831 mg/kg d.w. (d.w. = dry weight). The data show a linear correlation between total PAEs concentration and a single compound content, with the exclusion of the two most volatile components (DMP and DEP) that are present in appreciable amounts only in two samples. These results suggest that most of the PAEs identified in the samples of settled dust originate from the same type of material. This evidence indicates that, in a specific indoor environment, generally is not present only one compound but a mixture having over time comparable percentages of PAEs. Consequently, for routine analyses of a specific indoor environment, only a smaller number of compounds could be determined to value the contamination of that environment. We also note differences in phthalate concentrations between buildings from different construction periods; the total concentration of PAEs was higher in ancient homes compared to those constructed later. This is due to a trend to reduce or remove certain hazardous compounds from building materials and consumer goods. A linear correlation between total PAEs concentration and age of the building was observed (R = 0.71).     

The influences of different organic fractions in refuse on the sorption and bioavailability of dibutyl phthalate

The structure and composition of the organic matter in landfilled refuse might have an influence on the migration and transformation of dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Humic acid (HA) and humin (HU) were separated from aged-refuse to determine the influences of different organic fractions in the refuse on the sorption and bioavailability of DBP. The sorption kinetics and isotherms for the sorption of DBP to HA, HU, and whole refuse were determined. The results showed that the sorption constants (K) and nonlinearities decreased in the order HU?>?whole refuse?>?HA. The HA had lower K values than did the other refuse fractions, and it retarded the biodegradation of DBP over a short degradation period (48?h). Increasing the amount of HA present caused the amount of DBP that was biodegraded to decrease significantly, 81.3% of the DBP sorbed to HA being degraded in the original experiments after 48?h but 21.8% of the DBP being degraded when three times as much HA was used. Similar results were not observed when the amount of HU used was changed. These findings suggest that HA plays an important role in the biodegradation of DBP adsorbed by refuse.     

塑料增塑剂对凡纳滨对虾存活、生长和免疫的影响(Effects of Plastic Plasticizers on Survival, Growth and Immune Factors of Litopenaeus vannamei)

研究了塑料增塑剂邻苯二甲酸二甲酯(DMP)、邻苯二甲酸二乙酯(DEP)、邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)和邻苯二甲酸二辛酯(DOP)对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)存活、生长和免疫的影响.96h急性毒性实验表明,在助溶剂Tween20的安全浓度范围内,随着DMP、DEP、DBP和DOP水平的升高,凡纳滨对虾存活率呈下降趋势,24h、48h、72h和96h的LC50分别为40.33、35.29、25.48、19.14mg·L-1,30.52、23.45、16.96、15.38mg·L-1,7.51、6.97、6.57、6.06mg·L-1和6.85、5.87、5.01、4.47mg·L-1;DMP、DEP、DBP和DOP对凡纳滨对虾的安全浓度随塑料增塑剂碳链的增加呈下降趋势,分别为8.11、4.15、1.80和1.29mg·L-1.90d慢性毒性实验表明,凡纳滨对虾存活率、特定生长率、血清蛋白含量、血清酚氧化酶和超氧化物歧化酶活性均以对照组和0.0400mg·L-1助溶剂Tween20处理组最高,而且显著高于1/100倍DMP、DEP、DBP和DOP安全浓度处理组(p<0.05).     

Arsenic contamination in water,soil, sediment and rice of central India

Arsenic contamination in the environment (i.e. surface, well and tube-well water, soil, sediment and rice samples) of central India (i.e. Ambagarh Chauki, Chhattisgarh) is reported. The concentration of the total arsenic in the samples i.e. water (n=64), soil (n=30), sediment (n=27) and rice grain (n=10) were ranged from 15 to 825 μg L⁻¹, 9 to 390 mg kg⁻¹, 19 to 489 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.018 to 0.446 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. In all type of waters, the arsenic levels exceeded the permissible limit, 10 μg L⁻¹. The most toxic and mobile inorganic species i.e. As(III) and As(V) are predominantly present in water of this region. The soils have relatively higher contents of arsenic and other elements i.e. Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ga, Zr, Sn, Sb, Pb and U. The mean arsenic contents in soil of this region are much higher than in arsenic soil of West Bengal and Bangladesh. The lowest level of arsenic in the soil of this region is 3.7 mg kg⁻¹ with median value of 9.5 mg kg⁻¹. The arsenic contents in the sediments are at least 2-folds higher than in the soil. The sources of arsenic contamination in the soil of this region are expected from the rock weathering as well as the atmospheric deposition. The environmental samples i.e. water, soil dust, food, etc. are expected the major exposure for the arsenic contamination. The most of people living in this region are suffering with arsenic borne diseases (i.e. melanosis, keratosis, skin cancer, etc.).     

日常衣物中的邻苯二甲酸酯污染及其人体暴露风险

邻苯二甲酸酯(PAEs)作为一类内分泌干扰物,被广泛应用于工业生产。为了查明日常衣物中PAEs的污染状况,并评估其通过衣物的皮肤接触可能造成的人体暴露风险,本研究检测了日常生活中的新、旧衣服中7种典型PAEs的浓度,并通过实验模拟研究了衣料中PAEs向汗液的析出行为。结果表明,邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)和邻苯二甲酸二异辛酯(DEHP)分别是旧衣服和新衣服中的代表性PAE。旧衣服中DEHP的浓度显著高于新衣服;婴儿衣服中DEHP的浓度高于成人衣服。穿着和清洗过程中的二次污染可能对衣服中的PAEs有显著影响,衣服材质可能是影响旧衣服中PAEs浓度的重要因素。汗液会导致衣物中的PAEs析出,从而明显增加PAEs的人体暴露风险。     

垃圾渗滤液中典型内分泌干扰物质(EDCs)细胞毒性分析

垃圾渗滤液的人类健康风险评估日益受到人们重视,也成为研究热点。本文采用一种新型高级氧化技术UV-Fenton处理渗滤液,并用人体乳腺癌细胞(MCF-7)评估处理过程中渗滤液原液以及渗滤液中典型内分泌干扰物质(EDCs)的细胞毒性,对垃圾渗滤液中EDCs的细胞毒性和变化规律进行了研究。结果表明渗滤液中的邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)、双酚A(BPA)、壬基酚(NP)是产生细胞毒性的主要物质,其毒性大小为DBPBPANP。在同样的氧化降解过程中显示出不同毒性变化规律,通过GC-MS分析,结果显示UV-Fenton过程中产生了大量的中间产物,这也是引起毒性变化的主要原因。实验结果也说明垃圾渗滤液细胞毒性可以通过UV-Fenton过程有效去除。     

污水处理厂出水中抗雄激素样化合物控制的优先性研究

污水处理厂出水是环境中内分泌干扰物的重要来源之一。针对关注较少的抗雄激素样内分泌干扰物,在已有研究基础上,依据抗雄激素样化合物的抗雄激素样活性风险,建立了污水处理厂出水中抗雄激素样化合物控制的优先性排序方法。在污水处理厂出水中,共有147种疑似抗雄激素样化合物需要关注,主要为农药类,约占总数的60%。抗雄激素样活性风险排名前10%的化合物如下:邻苯二甲酸二丁酯、邻苯二甲酸二己酯、双酚A、溴螨酯、对叔辛基酚、腐霉利、烯菌酮、氯苯嘧啶醇、烯酰吗啉、杀螟松、十二烷基酚、敌草隆、咯菌酯、2-羟基-4'-甲氧基二苯甲酮、以及邻苯基苯酚。     

邻苯二甲酸二丁酯对蚕豆胚根细胞微核形成的影响及毒理机制

研究常用增塑剂邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(di-n-butyl phthalate,DBP)对农作物生长的影响,为农用地膜及其残留物的环境安全性评估提供实验依据。以蚕豆为试材,DBP处理浓度为0(CK)、9 mmol·L-1、18 mmol·L-1、27 mmol·L-1和36 mmol·L-1,培养24 h、48 h和72 h后,观测根尖细胞染色体结构变化,测试胚根抗氧化酶活性。结果显示:DBP暴露的蚕豆胚根生长速率减缓;随着DBP暴露时间延长,根尖正在进行分裂的细胞被阻断在有丝分裂前期的比例增加,微核率升高,出现多种类型的染色体畸变;DBP暴露的胚根超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)活性提高5.41%~29.68%,过氧化物酶(peroxidase,POD)活性随DBP浓度增加而递减,过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)活性显著降低14.00%~43.08%。结果表明,DBP对蚕豆胚根具有遗传毒性,且能够破坏纺锤丝的结构。     

Quantification of 17 endocrine disruptor compounds and their spatial and seasonal distribution in the Iberian Ave River and its coastline

The Ave River flows through the most urbanized and industrialized Porto district areas. Despite ovotestis was recently reported in male fish from the estuary, no data exist on the water levels of natural and pharmaceutical estrogens (17β-estradiol, estrone, and 17α-ethynylestradiol), xenoestrogenic industrial pollutants (4-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol and their mono and diethoxylates, and bisphenol A), phytoestrogens (formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, and genistein), and sitosterol. Absence of analyses applies to the river, estuary, and nearby coastline. Those compounds mimic the action of endogenous estradiol, being well-recognized endocrine disrupters (EDCs). To conclude about suspected influxes of estrogenic EDCs into the river and coastline, water samples were taken at eight sites every two months, during one year (2010), at low tide. Data showed ubiquitous presence of potentially hazardous amounts of estrogens (particularly ethynylestradiol, up to 10 ng L^?1), nonylphenol (up to 250 ng L^?1), and sitosterol (up to 6 μg L^?1), which helps explaining the ovotestis emergence in local fish. Also, because physicochemical parameters used in water quality evaluation, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and nitrites levels, were within legal limits – suggesting good quality – our study supports that assessment of human and environmental risks by targeting surface waters requires integrating EDCs monitoring in routine analyses.     

A survey of lead pollution in Chhattisgarh State, central India

Lead (Pb) is of major environmental concern due to its toxicological importance. The anthropogenic emission of Pb is at least 100 times higher than natural emissions. Soil and dust are significant sources of Pb exposure. Lead is generally immobile in soil and accumulates in the upper layers. Lead particles may enter homes via shoes, clothes, pets, and windows. Central India is rich in deposits of natural resource materials such as coal, pyrite, dolomite, and alumina that contain Pb and other heavy metals at the trace levels, and the substantial exploitation of these materials has tended to increased contamination of water and geological formations. Here we present data on Pb concentrations in the water, soil and sediment samples (n=158) collected from 70 locations in Chhattisgarh state, Raipur region. Lead concentrations in the surface water (n=44), groundwater (n=44), soils (n=60) and sediments (n=10) ranged from 6 to 1410, 3 to 52, 12.8 to 545, and 31 to 423 μg g⁻¹, with mean values of 305, 16, 102 and 190 μg g⁻¹, respectively. Most of the Pb fractions of >80% can be leached out with the chemical extractants EDTA, acetic acid, and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. Lead has accumulated in the soil clay fraction due to its relatively large surface area and decreases with increasing depth in the soil profile.     

Background levels of soil beryllium in several countries

Beryllium and aluminium contents in uncontaminated soils from six countries are reported. The means and ranges of beryllium in the surface soils were as follows: 1.43(0.20–5.50)g g^–1 in Thailand (n=28), 0.7 (0.31–1.03) g g^–1 in Indonesia (n=12), 0.99(0.82–1.32) g g^–1 in New Zealand (n=3), 0.58(0.08-1.68)g g^–1 in Brazil (n=16), 3.52(2.49–4.97)g g^–1 in the former Yugoslavia (n=10), and 1.56(1.01–2.73) g g^–1 in the former USSR (n=8). The mean and range of beryllium contents of the surface soils in Japan (1.17(0.27–1.95)g g^–1 n=27) are situated within the values of the soils from these countries except for the Yugoslav soils derived from limestones. The mean of the mean beryllium contents of the surface soils in all these countries is 1.42 g g^–1 which will be used as a tentative average content of beryllium in uncontaminated surface soils, except for the soils derived from parent materials high in beryllium content. The beryllium contents of the subsoils were higher than those of the surface soils in New Zealand and Yugoslavia as is the case with Japan. The correlation coefficient between the contents of beryllium and aluminium in all the soil samples (n=113) including surface soils and subsoils was 0.505 (p < 0.001).     

Bioavailable iron species in seawater measured by macroalga (Laminaria japonica) uptake

The bioavailability of iron in seawater filtered through a 0.025-m filter was investigated using ⁵⁹Fe-labeled iron uptake by the macroalga Laminaria japonica (Areschoug: Phaeophyta) (collected in the northern Japan Sea 1993) as an assay. About 80% of the iron in the 0.025-m filtered coastal seawater was soluble and/or small colloidal organically bound iron, associated with natural organic ligands forming complexes with ferric ion. After decomposition of the organic matter by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, 55% of the iron addition [or 0.6 nM, nearly the concentration of Fe(OH) ₂ ⁺ in equilibrium with amorphous hydrous ferric oxide in seawater at pH 8.0] in the 0.025-m filtered coastal seawater was taken up by the macroalga. Since the iron concentrations in the 0.025-m filtered coastal seawater are 0.1 to 2.0 nM and only 0.6 nM of the iron is likely available to biota over 1 to 2 d, we suggest that only small amounts of bioavailable iron exist in coastal seawater not affected by inflow from land and that a significant fraction of dissolved (<0.025 ) iron occurs in forms, such as organic iron complexes, other than the simple hydroxo-complex species predicted by thermodynamic models.