Effects of repeated pesticide exposure on the peripheral and central nervous systems

This study was designed to compare organic farmers (comparison group) and pesticide-using farmers (pesticide group) in terms of neurobehavioral performance and sensorimotor function. The subjects were recruited in October 2004 from Chungnam Province and the neighboring Jeolla Province in western South Korea. Psychological assessment was carried out using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Bender Gestalt test. Neuroselective sensory nerve conduction threshold was measured at both left and right middle fingers by using an electrodiagnostic device to determine current perception thresholds (CPTs). Three independent CPT measurements were obtained from each test site by using sinusoidal stimuli at three frequencies. CPT testing showed no difference between the two groups. No significant differences were found in the large myelinated (2000?Hz stimulation; cutaneous touch, pressure), small myelinated (250?Hz stimulation; mechanoreceptive, pressure, temperature, fast pain) and small unmyelinated (5?Hz stimulation; polymodal nociceptive, temperature, slow pain, postganglionic sympathetic) C-fibers. Furthermore, there was no difference found between the pesticide and comparison groups in psychological variables, including intelligence quotient, orientation, memory, calculation, similarities, visual sensitivity, and psychomotor speed. In conclusion, chronic pesticide exposure has no apparent effect on either the peripheral or central nervous system in Korean farmers.     

Mutagenicity of diesel engine exhaust in the Ames / Salmonella assay using a direct exposure method

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mutagenic activity of diesel engine exhaust in the Ames/Salmonella assay using a direct aerosol exposure system. So, TA 98 and TA 100 strains, with or without added S9 mix, were exposed to diesel emissions after varying degrees of filtration. Variants of these two strains, deficient in nitroreductase (TA 98NR and TA 100NR) or over-expressing O-Acetyl Transferase (YG 1024 and YG 1029), were also exposed to total (unfiltered) diesel exhaust to highlight the putative mutagenicity of any nitro-PAHs present in these emissions. Mutagenic activity of the diesel exhaust was demonstrated on Salmonella typhimurium, strains TA 100 and variants TA 100 NR and YG1029. The use of a particle filter did not modify the genotoxicity of the diesel emissions, indicating a major contribution of the gas phase to the mutagenicity of these diesel emissions. The prominent role of the particulate-associated nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) claimed by some authors working on diesel exhaust organic extracts was not confirmed by our results with native diesel exhaust exposure. Our results show that the gas phase is potentially more mutagenic than the particles alone.     

Genotoxic effects of two different classes of insecticide in developing chick embryos

Pesticides provide considerable protection against pest population; however, rampant accumulation of these chemicals into varied habitats across the globe necessitates the need for a careful screening of each chemical due to toxic manifestations. In the current study, the genotoxic potential of two different classes of commercial insecticides – chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin combination and Spinosad, a naturalyte were compared. Rhode Island Red chick embryos were exposed to different doses of either of these insecticides individually, by in ovo treatment. Genotoxicity was then evaluated through micronucleus (MN) test and Comet assay. The combination insecticide exposure at low doses of 0.05 and 0.1 μg/egg induced DNA damage as evidenced by an increased tail moment in the Comet assay. Further, the presence of micronucleated erythrocytes and also various abnormal cells including dacryocytes, microcytes, erythroplastids, squashed/notched nuclei, and spindle-shaped erythrocytes in the blood smear consolidates indicate the presence of insecticide-induced genotoxicity. Spinosad, however, was found only mildly genotoxic but at a high dose of 1.5 mg/egg. The results indicate that usage of naturalyte insecticide may be a better option to minimize the harmful effects of chemical insecticides.     

Evaluation of the toxicity of tetrabromobisphenol A and some of its oxidation products using a micro-scale algal growth inhibition test

A micro-scale algal growth inhibition (μ-AGI) test using a common micro-plate based fluorometric detection was used to demonstrate the effects of humic substances (HSs) on the toxicity of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its oxidative decomposition products 2,5-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone (2,5-DBBQ), 2,5-dibromohydroquinone (2,5-DBHQ), 2,6-dibromobenzoquinone (2,6-DBBQ), and 2,6-dibromophenol (2,6-DBP) to Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. The EC₅₀ values were: EC_50(TBBPA) = 7 mg L^?1, EC_50(2,5-DBHQ) = 7 mg L^?1, EC_50(2,5-DBBQ) = 19 mg L^?1, EC_50(2,6-DBP) = 49 mg L^?1, and EC_50(2,6-DBBQ) = 13 mg L^?1. The toxicity of the chemicals was slightly lower in the presence of HA. The toxicity of TBBPA decomposed by a biomimetic catalytic system consisting of iron (III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (p-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin (Fe(III)-TPPS) and KHSO₅ was also evaluated using P. subcapitata and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.     

MESIP∗: Modelling environmental scenarios in ponds

MESIP is a fugacity model which can predict the fate of organic hydrophobic chemicals in aquatic ecosystems. In this paper a short introduction to the mathematical model is presented together with a more detailed listing of the required input data. Comparison of the calculated and measured fate of a fluorescent whitening compound in an artificial outdoor pond is shown     

多米诺事故情景下的区域环境风险评价

将多米诺效应纳入化工区环境风险评价中,采用扩展概率模型和蒙特卡洛模拟的方法计算多米诺事故的概率,运用大气和水扩散模型模拟污染事故的后果,进而利用地理信息系统分析在多米诺事故情景下的区域环境风险水平.结果表明,研究区域67.5%的风险源能引发二次事故,平均每个初始事故引发9.58次二次事故、17.21次三次事故.二次事故情景和三次事故情景下的区域环境风险值分别是一次事故的6.40倍和12.33倍,多米诺效应明显放大了区域环境风险值,应成为今后风险防范的重点.     

基于模拟植物生长算法的快线公共车辆优化调度研究

公共车辆的运营优化调度能够很好的减少城市交通拥堵,缓解交通压力,保证多方面的利益。对乘客高峰期快线公共车辆的调度进行了研究。首先运用了三元组α/β/γ方法对问题进行了描述,将乘客高峰期快线车辆的调度描述为一类以最小化制造期和平均等待时间为目标,具有先入先出原则和机器适用限制的流水车间动态调度问题。并在此基础上建立了相应的数学模型;接着,运用模拟植物生长算法进行了算法设计;最后,用实际数据进行了数值仿真,结果证明该研究具有较高的理论及现实价值。     

采空区气体分布规律及自然发火危险区域判定

〗采空区自然发火的防治是自燃矿井灾害防治的重中之重,选用薛村矿92118轻放工作面采空区为研究对象,现场布置测点,选取合适的采样仪器,对N2、O2、CO、CO2、CH4、C2H4、C2H6、C2H2气体进行实地采样分析,得出相应气体分布规律。并用流场模拟FEMLAB软件对其进行自然发火机理模拟,分析采空区漏风渗流速度场、流线、风速场和风压场情况,最后得出采空区自燃氧化危险区域和最易自然发火危险区域,结论合理。这对采空区采用注氮、堵漏风等措施提供了主要技术依据。     

气旋活动对福岛核污染物扩散影响的模拟研究

基于拉格朗日粒子扩散模式FLEXPART-WRF,根据Stohl推导的日本福岛第一核电站核事故(下称福岛核事故)发生后40 d内的137Cs排放量数据,对核污染物在中尺度区域的扩散传输进行数值模拟研究,并选取近5年3次典型气旋个例(北方气旋、南方气旋和缓慢移动气旋)进行敏感性试验,以分析不同气旋系统对污染物扩散的影响. 结果表明:福岛核事故发生后,受中纬度西风带影响,核污染物主要向东部太平洋方向扩散;核事故发生后的5 d,受北方气旋和日本南部局地中尺度气旋2次气旋过程的影响,核污染物对日本本土部分地区影响较大,但影响时间不长. 典型气旋个例的敏感性模拟试验结果表明:北方气旋和南方气旋均可使核污染物对日本本土造成一定的影响,但由于气旋移动速度较快,影响日本岛的时间较短,沉降量也较小;当出现缓慢移动气旋影响日本和周边地区时,可致污染物影响日本岛的时间延长,并直接进入东亚大陆.      

城市地表系统POPs多介质循环过程与模拟研究进展

城市地表系统(USS)是陆地表层系统的重要组成部分,而以不透水面覆盖为主要特征的城市土地利用/覆被变化(LUCC)时空过程,打破了系统原有自然地理格局与过程,影响不同介质和界面间的物质循环与能量流动,改变POPs等污染物的循环过程与机理,是城市环境变化和人地相互作用的指示器与重要驱动力,是城市生态环境规划与管理保护的关键依据.本文总结了城市LUCC对POPs多介质分布迁移的影响,包括单介质中POPs的时空分布特征和POPs多介质迁移累积过程;从城市POPs多介质归趋模拟和基于GIS的城市多介质归趋模拟等方面,讨论了城市POPs多介质循环过程归趋模拟的主要进展;展望今后研究中需要重点解决的科学问题:基于不透水面的城市LUCC信息精确提取及与POPs排放输入等相关数据的同化集成; POPs多介质多界面迁移、转化过程与城市LUCC的耦合机理;城市LUCC背景下POPs循环过程、机制的关键模型参数的构建与获取;基于GIS和城市POPs循环过程与机理的、具有高时空分辨率的城市多介质归趋模型(UMFM)的构建与应用.