Forms of Nitrogen (NO 3 - -N; NO 2 - -N and NH 2 CONH 2 -N) and their relations to A.O.U. in the Indian coastal waters of Arabian Sea

The distribution of three important dissolved forms of nitrogen, viz. nitrate, nitrite and urea in the surface and bottom water samples collected from 27 selected hydrographic profiles, in the Arabian Sea, along the west coast of India is described. Of the three forms, nitrate concentrations were the highest and comparatively higher concentrations were observed in the bottom water. Decomposition of organic matter resulting in the release of the thermodynamically stable nitrogen species, i.e. nitrate, may be the major factor resulting in higher nitrate concentrations at these depths, where the water is also characterized by low values of dissolved oxygen and temperature. The significant positive correlation between A.O.U. and nitrate of the bottom water samples emphasizes the role of oxidative decomposition of organic matter which plays an active role in reducing the oxygen concentrations below the theoretical values since at this depth ( , 200 m) the net production is taken to be zero. This is also evidenced by the negative correlation of nitrate with dissolved oxygen and temperature, for the bottom samples.     

Parental phenols exposure and spontaneous abortion in Chinese population residing in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River

Widespread use of phenols has led to ubiquitous exposure to phenols. In experimental animals, phenols increased resorptions, reduced live litter size and fetal body weights. However, there are limited epidemiological evidences of the relationships between exposure to phenols and pregnancy outcomes. We evaluated the associations between parental urinary levels of various phenols and spontaneous abortion in a Chinese population residing in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. A case-control study was conducted that included 70 case couples with medically unexplained spontaneous abortion and 180 control couples who did not have a history of spontaneous abortion and had at least one living child. Both parental urinary phenols were measured by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry including bisphenol A (BPA), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 2,3,4-trichlorophenol (2,3,4-TCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), 4-n-octylphenol (4-n-OP) and 4-n-nonylphenol (4-n-NP). Compared with the low exposure group, there was an increased risk of spontaneous abortion with high paternal urinary PCP concentration [odds ratio (OR) = 2.09, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.05–4.14], and maternal exposure to 4-n-OP and alkylphenol(s) also significantly increased the risk of spontaneous abortion (OR = 2.21, 95% CI, 1.02–4.80; OR = 2.81, 95% CI, 1.39–5.65, respectively). Our study firstly provides the evidence that paternal PCP exposure, maternal 4-n-OP and alkylphenol(s) exposure are associated with spontaneous abortion in humans.     

Effect of fatty acids and oils on photodegradation of azadirachtin‐A

Abstract

Azadirachtin‐A on exposure to UV‐light (254 nm) as a thin film on glass surface gave a isomerised (Z)‐2‐ methylbut‐2‐enoate product. Half‐life of azadirachtin‐A as thin film under UV light was found to be 48 min. Azadirachtin ‐A was irradiated along with saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, and fatty oils under ultra‐violet light as thin film. Saturated fatty acid increased the rate of photodegradation of azadirachtin‐A, whereas unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic, linoleic and elaidic acid reduced the rate of degradation. Castor, linseed and olive oil accelerated the rate of degradation, whereas neem oil showed no or little change in the rate of degradation of azadirachtin‐A. None of these fatty acids and fatty oils were effective in controlling the rate of degradation of azadirachtin‐A under UV‐light as thin film.     

Evaluation and validation of two different chromatographic methods (HPLC and LC-MS/MS) for the determination and confirmation of ochratoxin A in pig tissues

This study was undertaken to compare two different analytical methods for the determination and confirmation of ochratoxin A (OTA) in blood serum, kidney and liver of pigs. Sample clean-up was based on liquid-liquid phase extraction. The detection of OTA was accomplished with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined either with fluorescence detection (FL) or electro spray ionization (ESI+) tandem mass spectrometry (MS–MS). Comparative method evaluation was based on the investigation of 90 samples of blood serum, kidney and liver per animal originating from different regions of Serbia. The analytical results are discussed in view of the respective method validation data and the corresponding experimental protocols. In general, analytical data obtained with (LC–MS–MS) liquid chromatography electro spray tandem mass spectro metry detection offered comparable good results at the sub-ppb concentration level. The results indicate that the liquid chromatography electro spray tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was more specific and sensitive for the analysis and confirmation of ochratoxin A in pig tissues then high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method after methylation of OTA.     

循环式超声强化光催化降解双酚A

设计了一种循环式超声强化光催化反应器，以TiO2作为光催化剂，研究了超声功率、TiO2加入量、循环液流速和空气流量对双酚A(BPA)降解效果的影响。实验结果表明:超声与光催化过程在循环式超声强化光催化反应器中实现了较好的协同效应;在初始BPA质量浓度为20.0mg/L、超声功率为600W、TiO2加入量为7g/L、循环液流速为4.05×10-2m/s、空气流量为200mL/min的条件下，反应150min后，BPA降解率可达90.5%，溶液中剩余BPA质量浓度仅为1.8mg/L，反应240min后TOC去除率可达84.5%。     

废聚碳酸酯水解法制双酚A

以1,4-二氧六环为溶剂、NaOH为催化剂,采用废聚碳酸酯(PC)常压水解法制双酚A(BPA).对反应影响因素进行了研究.实验结果表明,在反应温度为100℃、反应时间为8h、m(NaOH):m(水+溶剂)=1:33、m(溶剂):m(PC)=4:1、m(水):m(PC)=1:1的最佳反应条件下,PC水解率大于98%,BPA收率大于95%.     

多孔镁铝复合氧化物对水溶液中Cr（VI）的吸附性能

摘要以镁盐、铝盐、纯碱和烧碱为原料制备了一种多孔镁铝复合氧化物（P—Mg3.1AlO4.6），其比表面积、平均孔径和总孔容分别为206．3m2／g、8．961nm和0．4208cm3／g。研究了这种多孑L材料对水溶液中cr（VI）的吸附性能，在25～45qC时，静态吸附量为82．32～141．7mg／g；当初始浓度100mg／L、流速5mL／min、床层高度10cm和pH=6时，半穿透时间、半穿透吸附量和饱和吸附量分别为406rain、49．28ing／g和51．30Ing／g；拟合参数及误差分析表明，cr（Ⅵ）在P—M敬。AIO4.6上的静态吸附过程符合Freundlich等温方程式和伪二级动力学方程，Yoon·Nelson模型能很好地预测cr（Ⅵ）在P—Mg3.1A104.6上的动态穿透曲线。     

Biodegradation of α and β Endosulfan in Soil as Influenced by Application of Different Organic Materials

Abstract

A laboratory pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of amending soil with four different sources of organic matter on the degradation rate of α and β endosulfan isomers. Poultry by-product meal, poultry manure, dairy manure, and municipal solid waste compost were cured, dried, ground (<1 mm) and thoroughly mixed with a calcareous soil at a rate of 2% and placed in plastic pots. Endosulfan was added at the rate of 20 mg kg^?1. The moisture level was kept near field capacity and the pots were kept at room temperature. Soil sub-samples, 100 g each, were collected from every pot at days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 43, and 57 for the measurement of endosulfan isomers. Endosulfan residues were extracted from the soil samples with acetone. The supernatant was filtered through anhydrous sodium sulphate, 5 mL aliquot was diluted to 25 mL with hexane, mixed well, and then two sub-samples from the filtrates were analyzed for α and β endosulfan isomers by gas chromatography. The results indicated that the half-life (T _½) of α-endosulfan in the poultry by-product meal treatment was 15 days compared to about 22 days in the other treatments. The T _½ of β-endosulfan was 22 days in the poultry by-product meal treatment and followed a bi-phasic pattern, 57 days in the municipal solid waste compost treatment and the extrapolated T _½ was about 115 days for the other three treatments.     

Risk assessment of xenoestrogens in a typical domestic sewage-holding lake in China

Release of domestic sewage leads to accumulation of xenoestrogens in holding waters, especially in closed or semi-enclosed waters such as lakes. In the study, the occurrence, distribution, estrogenic activity and risk of eight xenoestreogens were evaluated in Lake Donghu, China. Nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were identified as the main xenoestrogens ranging from tens of ng L⁻¹ (in the surface water) or ng g⁻¹ dw (in the suspended particles and sediment) to tens of μg L⁻¹ or μg g⁻¹ dw. The sum of 17β-estradiol equivalents (∑EEQs) ranged from 0.32 to 45.02 ng L⁻¹ in the surface water, 0.53 to 71.86 ng g⁻¹ dw in the suspended particles, and 0.09 to 24.73 ng g⁻¹ dw in the sediment. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was determined as the main contributor to ∑EEQs followed by NP. The risk assessment showed a higher risk in the surface water than in the suspended particles and sediment in such domestic sewage-holding lake.     

Algicidal activity of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bung on Microcystis aeruginosa—Towards identification of algicidal substance and determination of inhibition mechanism

The present study was to isolate and identify a potent algicidal compound from extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza and study the potential inhibition mechanism on Microcystis aeruginosa. Column chromatography and bioassay-guided fractionation methods were carried out to yield neo-przewaquinone A, which was identified by spectral analysis. The EC50 of neo-przewaquinone A on M. aeruginosa were 4.68 mg L⁻¹. In addition, neo-przewaquinone A showed relatively higher security on Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus obliquus, with the EC50 values of 14.78 and 10.37 mg L⁻¹, respectively. For the potential inhibition mechanisms, neo-przewaquinone A caused M. aeruginosa cells morphologic damage or lysis, increased malondialdehyde content and decreased the soluble protein content, total antioxidant and superoxide dismutase activity, and significantly inhibited three photosynthesis-related genes (psaB, psbD, and rbcL). The results demonstrated the algicidal effect of neo-przewaquinone A on M. aeruginosa and provided the possible inhibition mechanisms.