Mercuric chloride effects on adult rat oval cells-induced apoptosis

In the present investigation, the toxicity of mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) was evaluated in adult oval cells isolated from rat utilizing the 2-acetylaminofluorene/partial hepatectomy technique. Isolated oval cells were incubated with 5 μM of HgCl₂ for 8 hr to elucidate in vitro cytotoxic responses. Recently, autophagic cell death was found in rat hepatocytes in vitro within 30 min of incubation with 5 μM of mercury (Hg) which triggered apoptosis and necroptosis in a time-dependent manner. Nuclear degradation occurred within 30 min of incubation and progressed with time until 8 hr. Apoptosis evidenced by activation of caspase-dependent pathway between 30 min to 8 hr of incubation was mediated via interchange of death domain signaling pathways. Receptor-interacting protein played a positive role to modulate the death domain receptors in the scenario of apoptotic death of oval cells until 6 hr. Autophagic marker proteins ATG12 and LC3B exerted a significant role in triggering apoptosis in 5 μM Hg-treated oval cells. No apparent expression of apoptosis-inducing-factor (AIF) and HMGB1 indicated absence of caspase-independent apoptosis and necrosis in the rat oval cells between 30 min and 8 hr. Thus a low concentration of Hg modulates programmed cell death in adult rat oval cells by altering expression of proteins involved in the molecular mechanisms of cellular functions.     

Combined effects of mercury and hexachlorobenzene in the rat

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess the potential interactive effects of two Great Lakes chemical contaminants, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and mercury (HgCl₂). Groups of 10 female Sprague‐Dawley rats were administered by gavage single doses of HCB (400, 600 mg/kg b.w. in corn oil), HgCl₂ (10.0, 12.5 mg/kg b.w. aqueous) or combinations of both followed by observation for clinical signs of toxicity for 14 days. Five animals from treatment groups died before the termination of the study; one animal each in 600 mg HCB, 400 mg HCB + 10 mg HgCl₂, and 600 mg HCB + 10 mg HgCl₂, and two animals in 600 mg HCB + 12.5 mg HgCl₂. The surviving animals were necropsied at the termination of the study, and hematological, clinical chemistry, histopathological and tissue residue analyses were performed. Relative liver weights were increased in both low and high dose groups of HCB but not in animals treated with HgCl₂ alone. Co‐administration of HgCl₂ did not alter the HCB effects on the liver weight of the animals. Serum cholesterol levels were increased in all the groups receiving HCB but not HgCl₂. No interactive effects on other serum parameters were seen in animals administered with both chemicals. Mild to moderate morphological changes occurred in the liver, thyroid, thymus, ovary and bone marrow of rats exposed to HCB or HCB + HgCl₂, and in the kidney of HgCl₂ or HgCl₂ + HCB treated animals. More severe histological changes occurred in the groups receiving both chemicals. The histological effects appeared to be additive. It was concluded that co‐administration with HCB and HgCl₂ resulted in additive effects in some of the endpoints measured but no synergism or antagonism was observed.     

A GFP-based bacterial biosensor with chromosomally integrated sensing cassette for quantitative detection of Hg(II) in environment

A mercury biosensor was constructed by integrating biosensor genetic elements into E. coli JM109 chromosome in a single copy number, using the attP/attB recombination mechanism of λphage. The genetic elements used include a regulatory protein gene (merR) along with operator/promoter (O/P) derived from the mercury resistance operon from pDU1358 plasmid of Serratia marcescens. The expression of reporter gene gfp is also controlled by merR/O/P. Integration of the construct into the chromosome was done to increase the stability and precision of the biosensor. This biosensor could detect Hg(II) ions in the concentration range of 100-1700 nmol/L, and manifest the result as the expression of GFP. The GFP expression was significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) for each concentration of inducing Hg(II) ions in the detection range, which reduces the chances of misinterpretation of results. A model using regression method was also derived for the quantification of the concentration of Hg(II) in water samples.     

中美淡水生物区系中汞物种敏感度分布比较

通过收集无机汞对中国与美国淡水水生生物的毒性数据,构建了脊椎动物(包括鱼类)、无脊椎动物(包括节肢动物和非节肢无脊椎动物)及所有物种对汞的物种敏感度分布(SSD:species sensitivity distributions)曲线,并在此基础上对中国和美国不同类别生物对汞的敏感性分布进行了分析.结果表明:中国与美国各类生物及所有物种对汞的SSD敏感性分布曲线没有显著差异.然而,中国淡水水生物种对汞短期暴露的HC5(hazardous concentration for 5% of the species)较美国淡水物种的阈值小,尤其是非节肢无脊椎动物,汞对美国非节肢动物的HC5值是我国对应物种的7.4倍.在保护95%的物种水平下,中国不同类别试验生物对汞的敏感性排序为无脊椎动物>脊椎动物,其中节肢动物>非节肢无脊椎动物>鱼类;而对应的美国生物对汞的敏感性排序无脊椎动物>脊椎动物,其中节肢动物>鱼类>非节肢无脊椎动物.另外,中美所有节肢动物对汞的敏感性要强于所有鱼类和所有非节肢无脊椎动物.所以在使用所有物种推导水质基准时应考虑其中各类别物种敏感度分布的影响,且需要注意采用美国淡水水生物种推导的水质基准可能会对我国淡水水生物种造成"保护不足".     

道南膜技术测定Ca(NO3)2溶液体系中汞的化学形态

虽然道南膜技术(DMT)已经成功用于土壤/溶液中多种重金属自由态离子浓度的测定,但DMT技术测定Hg的形态尚未解决.采用DMT测定Ca(NO3)2溶液体系中Hg化学形态.实验结果表明,Hg在阳离子交换膜内的吸附除静电吸附外还存在结合力更强的化学吸附,Hg在阳离子交换膜内扩散成为Hg跨膜传输受阻的主要因素,限制道南膜技术用于Hg形态测定.Hg2+和Hg(OH)2都表现出在阳离子交换膜上的强烈吸附,供端(Donor)Hg损失达50%以上.缩短试验时间至8h以内,可在一定程度上降低Hg吸附.计算结果表明,由于大量的Hg滞留在阳离子交换膜内,在计算受端(Acceptor)Hg浓度时引入滞留系数补偿供端Hg的损失,较好地预测了Ca(NO3)2溶液体系中Hg的化学形态.     

上海市大气总汞季节变化特征及与气象条件的关系

2008年到2010年对上海市西南部大气中总汞(TGM———Total Gaseous Mercury)的污染水平进行监测,结果表明TGM日均浓度为ND~57.23ng/m(3(7.79±3.29)ng/m)3。TGM呈现出一定的季节性变化特征,浓度最高的是秋季,然后依次是冬季、春季、夏季,平均浓度分别为(9.30±2.48)、(8.32±2.79)、(7.78±2.33)、(2.16±3.29)ng/m3。TGM浓度受东南风向影响最大,其次为西北和东北风向。在置信水平为95%的情况下,TGM浓度与日平均温度呈正相关性,而与日温差、相对湿度、日相对湿度差、风速无显著相关性。但TGM浓度分别与日均O3浓度和NO2浓度均呈显著正相关。利用HYSPLIT_4模型对TGM浓度高值与低值几天的空气气团来源轨迹进行反演,结果发现高低浓度日的气团来源略有差别,总体上看,冬季、春季和秋季受北方气团影响较大,夏季则受我国东部海域影响,具体的局部和长距离输送的贡献需要进一步研究。     

广州市“南肺”果园土壤H g和A s的形态分析

采用Tessier连续提取法、BCR连续提取法和Leleyter连续提取法,研究广州"南肺"果园土壤Hg和As的形态分布和生物可给性。结果表明,果园土壤Hg和As形态分布都以残渣态为主;3种方法的土壤生物可给性分析均表明,Hg和As生物可利用态的含量较少;生物不可利用态是主要形态,其次是潜在可利用态。     

青藏高原中汞的分布特征及影响因素——以典型海洋性冰川小流域为例

本研究以青藏高原典型海洋性冰川的雪冰-径流水为研究对象,分析讨论了雪冰-径流水中汞浓度变化趋势及控制因素.结果表明,贡嘎山冰川中雪、冰样品的THg浓度略高于全球背景值,而明永冰川以及米堆冰川的雪、冰、水样品均处于全球背景水平.3个冰川所有雪样、冰样、水样的THg浓度平均值分别为（4.78±5.99）ng/L、（1.72 ±1.15）ng/L、（1.31±0.91）ng/L.不同的环境介质中THg浓度变化总体表现为：雪 > 冰 > 水,其主要受颗粒汞沉淀作用及气态单质Hg挥发作用的控制.贡嘎山的径流水中THg浓度表现为六月最高（7.48±2.22）ng/L,十一月最低（1.39 ±0.27）ng/L.所有雪冰-径流水体系中HgP与THg存在极显著的正相关关系,雪中HgP/THg最高,其次为冰,最低为径流水.贡嘎山径流水中的HgP/THg及月均THg输出变化趋势受径流量和降雨量的影响.主成分分析表明了本研究区域雪冰中THg浓度主要受大气颗粒物沉降及季风传输的影响.此外,相比于其他2个冰川,贡嘎山冰川由于更加靠近人类活动密集区域,更易受到人类活动的影响.     

载铜氮化碳纳米片对单质汞的吸附脱除特性

用简易热剥离法合成了氮化碳纳米片（CNNS）,再通过等体积浸渍法将铜负载于CNNS表面合成了载铜CNNS吸附剂,用于低温下吸附脱除气态单质汞（Hg⁰）.利用氮气吸附-脱附、X射线衍射（XRD）、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、透射电子显微镜（TEM）、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）等手段对吸附剂进行表征.结果表明：CNNS对Hg⁰具有良好的吸附性能,吸附温度为120℃时,脱汞效率约为54.2%;载铜修饰可极大提高CNNS的脱汞活性,脱汞效率在40~240℃温度范围内均大于82.3%,这归因于铜与氮化碳间的紧密接触.煅烧温度对载铜CNNS的脱汞活性影响较大,最佳煅烧温度为200℃.通过载铜修饰可有效活化CNNS,提高其对Hg⁰的氧化能力,这可能归因于铜离子与氮化碳之间的莫特-肖特基电子转移效应.SO₂和水蒸气对载铜CNNS的脱汞性能有抑制作用.     

盐渍化环境下秸秆还田对稻米汞及甲基汞累积的影响

通过盆栽试验探讨了盐渍化环境下秸秆还田对土壤中总汞（THg）、甲基汞（MeHg）含量和转化以及对水稻吸收汞的影响.试验用土采集自天津典型污灌地区,人为添加不同梯度的盐分（0、0.2%、0.5% NaCl）及外源汞（0、5mg/kg~Hg（NO₃）₂）,秸秆还田按照0.1%进行处理.结果显示：1.秸秆还田促进稻田系统中无机汞的甲基化.与未添加秸秆的处理相比,秸秆还田后土壤MeHg含量提高了56.8%~76.8%,水稻MeHg含量增加了127%~171.6%.2.在轻度盐渍化稻田开展秸秆还田,会进一步提高稻田土壤中汞的甲基化水平,进而增加水稻籽粒中甲基汞含量.与不添加盐分处理相比,轻度盐渍化环境中（0.2% NaCl）,秸秆还田处理导致土壤MeHg含量提高了92.2%~101.2%,水稻籽粒MeHg含量增长了52.8%~132.1%.更高的盐渍化水平会抑制土壤汞甲基化趋势,水稻籽粒中甲基汞含量降低.在中度盐渍化环境中（0.5% NaCl）,秸秆还田导致土壤MeHg含量降低了57.9%~88.6%,水稻籽粒MeHg含量降低了72.9%~86.8%.以上研究结果表明,在盐渍化且汞污染稻田开展秸秆还田可能大幅度增加该地区汞食物链暴露风险,因此在中轻度盐渍化的污灌区,对秸秆还田等农艺措施需要格外慎重.