Influence of glyphosate and its formulation (Roundup) on the toxicity and bioavailability of metals to Ceriodaphnia dubia

This study examined the toxicological interaction between glyphosate (or its formulation, Roundup) and several heavy metals to a freshwater cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia dubia. We demonstrated that all binary combinations of Roundup and metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn) exhibited "less than additive" mixture toxicity, with 48-h LC50 toxic unit > 1. Addition of glyphosate alone could significantly reduce the acute toxicity of Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn (but not Hg and Se). The ratio between glyphosate and metal ions was important in determining the mitigation of metal toxicity by glyphosate. A bioaccumulation study showed that in the presence of glyphosate the uptake of some metals (e.g. Ag) was halted but that of others (e.g. Hg) was increased significantly. Therefore, our study strongly suggests that glyphosate and its commercial formulations can control the toxicity as well as the bioavailability of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems where both groups of chemicals can co-occur.     

污染土壤的微波辐照技术研究进展

简要介绍了土壤污染的状况,总结了国外学者对重金属和有机物两大类污染土壤所进行的微波修复工作,探讨了修复机理及影响因素,最后展望了微波修复污染土壤的研究重点.     

等离子体协同光催化去除模拟烟气中SO2的实验研究

近年来,低温等离子体技术以及纳米TiO₂光催化技术在烟气脱硫中的应用越来越引起人们的关注。利用填充床反应器将这2种技术有机地结合起来，进行了大量脱硫实验研究。研究结果表明，等离子体协同光催化去除烟气中的SO₂与单独采用等离子体技术相比，其SO₂的去除率可提高5%～20%。同时，探讨了等离子体协同TiO₂光催化剂的脱硫机理，分别研究了外加电压、气体流量和SO₂初始浓度等因素对脱硫效率的影响。实验结果表明，当SO₂初始浓度为800 mg/m³，输入电压为17.5 kV，气体流量为0.2 m³/h时，SO₂脱除率可以达到77.6%。     

一种新型国产高效除尘滤筒在船厂分段涂装车间的应用

国产除尘滤材是将聚酯纤维热轧成型 ,再涂敷高分子发泡制成。滤材硬挺、耐压、抗撕裂 ,内部结构稳定 ,粉尘过滤精度高 ,实现表面过滤 ,易清灰再生 ,使用寿命长 ,耐水、酸、碱 ,可广泛用于各工业领域的气体净化和粉尘处理。大连新船重工集团把国产除尘滤材制成的滤筒配置到厂内原有的除尘系统中 ,通过 1年多的使用 ,获得非常满意的除尘效果。从而证明国产滤料性能已达到国际先进水平。     

Modeling the quantum yields of herbicide 2,4-D decay in UV/H2O2 process

The photodecay of herbicide 2,4-D in a hydrogen peroxide-aided photolysis process was studied and modeled. The decay rate of 2,4-D was known to be low in the natural environment, but rate improvement was achieved in an H2O2/UV system. The 2,4-D decay quantum yields under ultraviolet (UV) light at 253.7 nm increased from 4.86 x 10(-6) to 1.30 x 10(-4) as the ratio of [H2O2]/[2,4-D] increased from 0.05 to 12.5. Apparently, in the presence of UV light, the decay rate of 2,4-D could be greatly improved as the concentration of hydrogen peroxide increased. However, the efficiency of 2,4-D photodecay was retarded if the concentration of H2O2 was overdosed, because the excess hydrogen peroxide consumes the hydroxyl radicals (HO*) in the solution, resulting in a much weaker oxidant HO2*. The decay of 2,4-D was also pH dependent. A ranking of acid (highest), base (middle) and neutral (lowest) was observed owing to the property change of reactants and the shifting of dominant mechanisms among photolysis, photohydrolysis and chemical oxidation. Two mathematical models were proposed to predict the quantum yield for various [H2O2]/[2,4-D] ratios and initial pH levels, in which very good correlation was found for the ranges of regular application.     

Toxicological assessment of chlorinated diphenyl ethers in the rat

Chlorinated diphenyl ethers are environmental contaminants that have been found in Great Lakes fish and birds. Because of their presence in the food chain, and potential for human exposure, the present short-term study was conducted to assess their toxicity. Groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were each given by gavage 2,2',4,4'6-pentachlorodiphenyl ether (CDE1), 2,2',4,4',5,6-hexachlorodiphenyl ether (CDE2) or 2,2',3,3',4,6'-hexachlorodiphenyl ether (CDE3) at dose levels of 0.04, 0.4, 4.0 or 40 mg/kg b.w./day for a period of 28 days. The control group received an equivalent volume of corn oil only (0.5 ml/100 g b.w.). Treatment with the three CDE congeners did not result in suppression of growth rate or food consumption. Increased liver weights were seen in the animals of both sexes fed 40 mg/kg CDE2, in males treated with 40 mg/kg CDE1, and in females with 40 mg/kg CDE3. Hepatic microsomal aminopyrine demethylase activity was significantly higher in the male rats administered 40 mg/kg CDE2, and aniline hydroxylase activity was elevated in the females following the same treatment. Serum glucose, calcium, protein and urea nitrogen of CDE1-treated males were higher than the control. Levels of uric acid, potassium and LDH of CDE3-treated females were also elevated. No hematological changes were observed. Histological examination revealed that the liver and thyroid were the target organs affected by CDE treatment but the morphological changes were mild even at the highest dose level. Changes in the liver consisted of nuclear vesiculation and increased cytoplasmic volume. Alterations in the thyroid were characterized by increased epithelial height and follicular collapse. Based on the data presented above, the 3 CDE congeners can only be considered moderately toxic in the rat.     

Risk factors for the severity of injury incurred in crashes involving on-duty police cars

Objective: This article explores the risk factors associated with police cars on routine patrol and/or on an emergency run and their effects on the severity of injuries in crashes.

Methods: The binary probit model is used to examine the effects of important factors on the risk of injuries sustained in crashes involving on-duty police cars.

Results: Several factors significantly increase the probability of crashes that cause severe injuries. Among those causes are police officers who drive at excessive speeds, traffic violations during emergency responses or pursuits, and driving during the evening (6 to 12 p.m.) or in rainy weather. Findings also indicate some potential issues associated with an increase in the probability of crashes that cause injuries. Younger police drivers were found to be more likely to be involved in crashes causing injuries than middle-aged drivers were. Distracted driving by on-duty police officers as well as civilian drivers who did not pull over to let a police car pass in emergency situations also caused serious crashes.

Conclusions: Police cars are exempted from certain traffic laws under emergency circumstances. However, to reduce the probability of being involved in a crash resulting in severe injuries, officers are still obligated to drive safely and follow safety procedures when responding to emergencies or pursuing a car. Enhancement of training techniques for emergency situations or driving in pursuit of an offender and following the safety procedures are essential for safety in driving during an emergency run by police.     

Degradation pathways of PCBs upon UV irradiation in hexane.

The photodegradations of eight individual PCB congeners (5, 31, 52, 77, 87, 126, 138, 169) in hexane have been investigated employing a mercury lamp. All degradation reactions of the above mentioned PCB congeners are of the pseudo first order. The principal products of PCB decomposition are the less chlorinated biphenyls, and no PCB-solvent adducts are found. Symmetrical and coplanar PCB congeners show lower photoreactivities. The reactivities of the chlorine atoms at various positions of PCB rings are generally in the order: ortho > meta > para. Photodechlorinations occur mainly on the more substituted rings, when the numbers of chlorine atoms on the two phenyl rings are unequal. During photodegradation, some coplanar PCB congeners are formed, which make the TEQ of solutions to decrease slowly or even to increase.     

Cu/Cr co-stabilization mechanisms in a simulated Al2O3-Fe2O3-Cr2O3-CuO waste system

• Cu and Cr can be mostly incorporated into CuFe_xAl_yCr_2−x−yO₄ with a spinel structure. • Spinel phase is the most crucial structure for Cu and Cr co-stabilization. • Compared to Al, Fe and Cr are easier to be incorporated into the spinel structure. • ‘Waste-to-resource’ by thermal process at attainable temperatures can be achieved. Chromium slag usually contains various heavy metals, making its safe treatment difficult. Glass-ceramic sintering has been applied to resolve this issue and emerged as an effective method for metal immobilization by incorporating heavy metals into stable crystal structures. Currently, there is limited knowledge about the reaction pathways adopted by multiple heavy metals and the co-stabilization functions of the crystal structure. To study the Cu/Cr co-stabilization mechanisms during thermal treatment, a simulated system was prepared using a mixture with a molar ratio of Al₂O₃:Fe₂O₃:Cr₂O₃:CuO= 1:1:1:3. The samples were sintered at temperatures 600–1300°C followed by intensive analysis of phase constitutions and microstructure development. A spinel phase (CuFe_xAl_yCr_2−x−yO₄) started to generate at 700°C and the incorporation of Cu/Cr into the spinel largely complete at 900°C, although the spinel peak intensity continued increasing slightly at temperatures above 900°C. Fe₂O₃/Cr₂O₃ was more easily incorporated into the spinel at lower temperatures, while more Al₂O₃ was gradually incorporated into the spinel at higher temperatures. Additionally, sintered sample microstructures became more condensed and smoother with increased sintering temperature. Cu / Cr leachability substantially decreased after Cu/Cr incorporation into the spinel phase at elevated temperatures. At 600°C, the leached ratios for Cu and Cr were 6.28% and 0.65%, respectively. When sintering temperature was increased to 1300°C, the leached ratios for all metal components in the system were below 0.2%. This study proposes a sustainable method for managing Cu/Cr co-exist slag at reasonable temperatures.     

低施磷水平下不同施肥对太湖地区黄泥土磷迁移性的影响

对太湖地区水稻土上长达13年的长期不同施肥处理的某试验田进行了土壤全磷、树脂磷和水溶性磷的测定分析.不同处理的年施磷量为0～53kg/(hm²·a),土壤全磷为0.3～0.5g·k^-1.根据土壤磷素的质量平衡,计算表明该水稻土存在的磷素流失量为2～8kg/(hm²·a),单施化肥下的流失量最大,为配施有机肥处理的2～4倍;水溶性磷的比率在0.2%～0.4%间,且不同施肥实践对其的影响不明显.但单施化肥有使亚表层树脂磷和水溶性磷含量提高的倾向.长期施用化肥配施大量鲜猪粪使树脂磷含量提高20～40 mg·kg^-1,但与长期施用化肥配施秸秆的处理一样没有发生在有机质增加下的磷活化而提高磷流失.这些说明本地区长期单施化肥的水稻土中可能存在强烈的磷流失,且水稻土磷流失并不以水溶解发生.为了防止水稻土磷的强烈水流失而加剧农业非点源污染,要避免长期单施化肥,而应坚持和推广配施适量有机肥.