铊的环境地球化学研究进展

铊（Tl）作为一种高毒害性的元素越来越受到人们的关注。大量含Tl矿物的开采和冶炼、化石燃料的燃烧等人类活动,导致Tl及其化合物进入环境,进而通过食物链进入生物体,从而对动植物特别是人类健康造成严重的危害。文章对铊在各环境介质中的存在、迁移、转化,以及Tl的生物效应研究进展进行了概述。Tl在岩石中的平均质量分数为0.5~10 mg.kg-1,在大气中的平均质量浓度为0.22~1.0 ng.m-3,在天然水体中的平均质量浓度为0.001~1.264μg.L-1,在土壤中的平均质量分数为0.01~3.0 mg.kg-1,在植物中的平均质量分数为0.02~0.25 mg.kg-1。大气中的铊可随大气迁移,导致全球Tl污染;土壤中Tl的迁移主要受pH影响,pH越小其迁移能力越强,而水中溶解态的铊迁移能力最强。植物对Tl具有较强的富集能力,而动物实验则表明Tl具有一定的致畸性,可能存在一定的致癌性,并且职业暴露是人体Tl中毒的主要原因。尽管有关有Tl的地球化学以及生态毒理学方面的研究取得了一定的进展,但有关Tl在环境介质之间的界面化学机理、Tl在分子水平上吸附机理、不同形态的Tl在生物体中的致毒代谢机理以及铊的同位素在环境介质中的变化等方面仍有待于进一步的研究。     

Genotoxicity assessment of human peripheral Lymphocytes induced by thallium(I) and thallium(III)

Thallium is a non-essential metal with a wide range of industrial uses. However, thallium is also a potential pollutant with high potential toxicity to humans. In the present study, we analyzed and compared the cellular and genotoxic effects of thallium in two main oxidation states by applying chromosome aberration assays to human peripheral lymphocytes. We observed that thallium(I) sulfate reduced the mitotic index at all tested concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, 50 and 100 μg/mL), whereas thallium(III) chloride was toxic at concentrations ≥1 μg/mL. Thallium(I) and thallium(III) treatment significantly increased structural chromosomal aberrations, with and without gaps, and increased the percentage of aberrant cells without gaps. Furthermore, satellite associations and numerical chromosomal aberration tests showed significant differences at a few of the tested concentrations. The satellite association test is related to aneuploidy. Thallium salts increased satellite associations when hyperploid cells were observed. Our results indicated that the two oxidation states of thallium induced toxicity in vitro – i.e. cyto/genotoxic (clastogenic and aneuploidogenic) effects.     

Environmental radon studies in Mexico

Radon has been determined in soil, groundwater, and air in Mexico, both indoors and outdoors, as part of geophysical studies and to estimate effective doses as a result of radon exposure. Detection of radon has mainly been performed with solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) and, occasionally, with active detection devices based on silicon detectors or ionization chambers. The liquid scintillation technique, also, has been used for determination of radon in groundwater. The adjusted geometric mean indoor radon concentration (74 Bq m⁻³) in urban developments, for example Mexico City, is higher than the worldwide median concentration of radon in dwellings. In some regions, particularly hilly regions of Mexico where air pollution is high, radon concentrations are higher than action levels and the effective dose for the general population has increased. Higher soil radon levels have been found in the uranium mining areas in the northern part of the country. Groundwater radon levels are, in general, low. Soil-air radon contributing to indoor atmospheres and air pollution is the main source of increased exposure of the population.     

水体中铊对泥鳅外周血红细胞的遗传毒性的时效性

铊(T1)是剧毒的重金属元素,会对生态环境和人体健康造成威胁.目前各国铊的环境安全标准存在差异.本文利用泥鳅红细胞微核技术,研究泥鳅Misgurnus anguillicaudatus红细胞微核率和核异常率与铊污染时间的关系,为该技术在铊毒理研究中的可行性和铊环境安全标准提供依据.结果表明:水体铊质量浓度为0.5μg·L~(-1)下,随处理时间的延长,泥鳅红细胞微核率、核异常率显著增加,并与时间呈显著的正相关,其中微核率、核异常率分别在处理24 h和48 h时达到最大值;随后两指标逐步下降,与时间呈显著的负相关.在此铊质量浓度和处理时间内,核异常率与微核率均显著高于空白无铊对照处理,表明水体铊质量浓度0.5 μg·L~(-1)对泥鳅血红细胞具有遗传毒性.     

Exposure assessment of particulate matter and blood chromium levels in people living near a cement plant

This study evaluates the effect of air pollution caused by cement plants on nearby residential areas and performs an exposure assessment of particulate matter (PM) and total Cr, Cr⁶⁺, Pb, and Al. Further, the blood Cr levels of residents exposed to PM released by cement plants are also assessed. Nine buildings (eight residential and one elementary school building) close to cement plants were selected for this study, which were located in Pyeongtaek port, in west of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. A total of 51 suspended particulate samples were collected at a flow rate of 2.0 L/min. Total Cr was more widely detected in residents’ houses and elementary schools. PM levels were higher at distances of 4.1 and 4.8 km than those at closer distances of 2.7 km. This was due to the influence of wind direction. The estimated mean blood level of Cr for the study participants was 3.80 μg/L, which is higher than levels estimated by other studies on Cr blood levels. Therefore, cement plants could cause an increase in total Cr and blood Cr levels in residential areas, and more continuous monitoring is necessary to better understand their impacts.     

High blood lead levels amongst Hinayana Buddhist monks: A possible effect due to daily exposure to joss stick and candle smoke

Lead (Pb) has no relevant biological functions and is one of the most toxic metals. Among several other heavy metals, monitoring of Pb is an important focus in occupational medicine. In exposure and risk evaluation, monitoring Pb biologically has several advantages over technical exposure assessment. In this study, a high blood level of Pb was found amongst Hinayana Buddhist monks, who constitute a new forgotten high-risk population. The high blood Pb levels amongst this population might be due to prolonged exposure to joss stick and candle smoke.     

云南部分蔬菜中氟积累特征及其成因初步分析

对云南蔬菜产区部分蔬菜进行了分析,发现氟残留量普遍超过了1 mg/kg。在所检测的蔬菜中,菠菜的水溶性氟平均含量最高,为13.18 mg/kg。就叶菜类不同组织器官来看,氟的分布是:叶中的氟残留量>根中的氟残留量>茎中的氟残留量(以干质量计算);就不同叶位来看,从老叶到幼叶氟残留量有逐渐下降的趋势。结合蔬菜产地的土壤分析结果,认为蔬菜中氟残留量不仅与土壤氟含量有关,而且还可能与施肥状况、蔬菜类别有关。文章还提出了减少蔬菜中氟残留量的对策。     

Chromium accumulation,transport and toxicity in plants∗

The predominant pathway for human exposure to chromium in non‐occupationally exposed individuals is via food with a daily intake of around 30–100 μgd^–1, with vegetables providing a major contribution. Unlike reports of chromium essentiality to man and animals, plants appear not to require chromium in spite of some early reports of a stimulatory growth effect.

Most reports on chromium in plants have been concerned with their growth on soils amended with sewage sludge, pF‐ash, tannery waste, or on ultra basic soils, which contain extreme concentrations of the element. Experimental studies with plants grown in hydroponic solution have often been undertaken at unrealistically high concentrations to examine the uptake of chromium in various forms, either as CrIII or CrVI at different pHs. In most cases, reports on chromium in plants deal with element concentrations and plant/soil relationships rather than detailed biochemical and physiological processes.

In general, chromium is largely retained in the roots of plants, although the oxidation state of chromium, pH, presence of humates and fulvates and plant species, affect plant uptake and transport. Leaves usually contain higher concentrations than grains. The uptake of CrIII is largely a passive process, whereas CrVI uptake is a metabolically mediated process via the sulphate pathway and is thus readily transported around the plant. The presence of a compound similar to trioxalate CrIII has been recorded while little chromium has been reported to be associated with cell organelles or soluble proteins.     

Evaluation of Scalp and Pubic Hair as Bioindicators for Estimating Exposure to Lead

Blood lead concentration is still most commonly used to assess the degree of exposure to environmental lead. However, blood lead levels are relatively transient and so tissues such as hair which store lead over longer periods need to be explored as bioindicators of lead toxicity. The results of such an investigation into hair are presented. These results indicate that there are significant differences in scalp-hair levels between the African, East Indian and Chinese racial groups in the multiracial adult population of Trinidad, West Indies. However, no significant differences were found for the pubic hair levels among the three races. The percentage of sulphur or the carbon: sulphur ratios in scalp hair did not influence the scalp-hair lead levels in the general population, although a significant difference in the carbon:sulphur ratios was observed between the African and East Indian racial groups.     

徐州市售蔬菜中多环芳烃污染与健康危害

为了分析徐州市蔬菜中多环芳烃(PAHs)的污染及其对人群的健康危害,本研究于2016年5月在徐州大型农贸市场和超市采集了当地居民经常食用的7种蔬菜样品,使用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)分析了蔬菜样品中的8种中低环PAHs。结果表明PAHs总含量为27.7~53.8 ng·g-1,其中2、3环分别占总PAHs的45.53%、45.65%。不同类型蔬菜中PAHs含量为:叶菜类>根菜类>果菜类。运用毒性当量法计算得到徐州市不同人群对PAHs的摄食暴露量为7.88~14.65 ng·d-1,引起的致癌风险在1.79×10-7~1.08×10-6范围内,处于低致癌风险水平,但是其健康影响仍不容忽视。     

Chromium Concentrations in Geobotanical Samples from West Pokot District, Kenya

The study analyses chromium concentration in plants growing around an area of chromite mineralisation, and proposes that the availability of chromium in plants could have adverse health effects when ingested by domestic animals and ultimately by the human population. This geoepidemiological attribute of geobotany has been observed in the form of chromium eczema in humans. The study was undertaken in the Sekerr Sub-location West Pokot District, which is located in the humid tropical region of the Republic of Kenya. As well as having natural vegetation cover, there are no sources of airborne pollutants in the area, which would vitiate trace element analysis in geobotanical research. The assay results show that the species Satureja abyssinica, Protea kilimandischarica, Ficus sycomorus, and Maerua subcordata have high chromium concentrations. These plants are generally browsed by domestic animals and are in turn eaten by humans. It is, therefore, proposed that a detailed analysis of chromium concentration in blood samples of both domestic animals and the human population be undertaken in order to assess its concentration levels in the population living in this geochemical environment.     

Thallium(I) and thallium(III) induce apoptosis in isolated rat hepatocytes by alterations in mitochondrial function and generation of ROS

Environmental metal toxins, generated through diverse anthropogenic activities, constitute one of the major contaminants that have led to global dispersion of these toxic metals in the ecosystem. Thallium is one of these widely dispersed metals that produce severe adverse effects on human and biological systems. The influence of thallium(I) and thallium(III) on the early events that trigger apoptosis signaling were examined in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. In addition, the role of oxidative stress, and mitochondria in the induction of apoptosis were also investigated. Incubation of thallium(I) and thallium(III) with isolated rat hepatocytes generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspases cascade, and appearance of apoptosis phenotype. Mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore sealing agents (cyclosporine A and carnitine) and ATP generators (L-glutamine, fructose, and xylitol) inhibited the activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis, indicating that both the cations activated apoptosis signaling via mitochondrial pathway. Pretreatment of hepatocytes with antioxidants (α-tocopherol or deferoxamine) also blocked caspase-3 activation induced by these cations, suggesting that oxidative stress may be directly involved in a mitochondrial MPT pore opening and activation of caspases cascade. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms that mediate thallium-induced apoptosis in isolated rat hepatocytes.     

The Influence of Potassium and Phosphorus in Predisposition of Tomato to Verticillium Wilt

The effects of varying the concentration of phosphorus and potassium independently in the growing medium of pot-grown tomato plants on their subsequent susceptibility in normal medium to vascular wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb. were studied. The degree of host invasion was measured by estimating the chitin component of diseased tissue. Different levels of potassium had little effect on the degree of invasion of inoculated stems, but this was considerably enhanced in plants raised in the absence of phosphorus. Root inoculated plants were particularly resistant when raised in nutrients totally lacking in potassium, and very susceptible when raised in the absence of phosphorus.     

Evaluation of impact of sewage irrigation on cytotoxicological potentialities of Chenopodium album in Allium assay

Chenopodium album is a weed commonly consumed by North Indian population as vegetable. Plants are known to accumulate toxins from their environment. Presently, the leaf homogenates of these plants growing in a tubewell irrigated field and a sewage irrigated field were evaluated for cytotoxicological effects in Allium root tip assay. Studies revealed that Chenopodium album was mildly mitodepressive in nature and was capable of inducing chromosomal aberrations. The leaf homogenate of the plants growing in sewage irrigated fields induced more quantum of aberrations than the plants from the control site. This has a direct bearing on consumability of sewage grown vegetables and fodder.     

Consumer safety evaluation after monitoring of endocrine disruptor pesticide residues: a case study of Thessaly,Central Greece

Abstract

A large number of pesticides used in agricultural practice has been characterized or suspected to be Endocrine Disruptors, with dietary intake to be the major route of consumer’s exposure. In the present study the safety to consumer after the consumption of pome fruits and fruiting vegetables originated from the area of Thessaly, Central Greece was assessed. Objective samplings of 110 samples were conducted in local retail markets in an effort to quantify potential residues of targeted pesticides, previously characterized as endocrine disruptors. For the determination of residues, a QuEChERs-based multiresidue method coupled with liquid and gas chromatographic systems was applied and fully validated in accordance with the European Unions’s requirements in apples and tomatoes in three fortification levels. Acceptable results were obtained for all the validation parameters studied and the limit of quantification of 0.01?mg/kg and limit of detection of 0.0033?mg/kg were achieved. Based on the determined results, the most frequently determined pesticide was chlorpyrifos with a maximum concentration of 0.32?mg/kg in tomato samples. Cypermethrin and dimethoate were also determined in tomatoes and aubergines. The EFSA PRIMo rev.3.1 model was applied for all positive samples and acute risk for consumers was confirmed only in the case of determination of chlorpyrifos in tomatoes.     

Nitrate content of vegetables commercially grown on land subject to inorganic or organic fertiliser

A relatively quick and simple spectrophotometric method of measuring nitrate concentrations in vegetables has been used incorporating a Cu−Zn couple to provide a nitrate-free reference sample. This technique has been used in a preliminary study of the nitrate content of carrots and cabbages commercially grown on soils treated with either inorganic or organic fertiliser and available through normal retail outlets. Although it cannot be concluded that the nitrate levels in the organically fertilised vegetables were lower than those grown using conventional inorganic fertiliser, it can be concluded that the precise conditions of cultivation and soil do affect the nitrate levels in carrots and cabbages grown commercially.     

Partitioning of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in human blood and milk

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are brominated flame retardants (BFRs) which have recently been detected in human blood and milk in the USA, and presently these PBDE levels are found to be the highest globally. On a population basis, individual blood and individual milk analyses show similar congener patterns and levels. Until now, there has not been a study comparing PBDE levels in milk and blood of the same individuals. This study is the first to report these levels for PBDEs, though partitioning between blood and milk has been done previously for dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Twelve congeners in 11 nursing mothers’ blood and milk were found and the data describe partitioning ratios between blood and milk. The data suggest it may be easier for smaller, less brominated congeners to move from blood to milk.     

Classification of occupations at risk in Thailand for lead exposure using blood lead levels as a biomarker

Lead (Pb) exposure is of particular concern because of the ongoing exposure of thousands of workers in industrial plants. Monitoring of Pb exposure among the at-risk workers is recommended and amongst various biomarkers, and it is well-established that blood lead (BPb) determination is utilized for biomonitoring. There are some previous reports on the BPb levels among several at-risk occupations in Thailand; however, there has been no comparison among these occupations with respect to metal levels in the blood. The aim of this study was to correlate at-risk occupations with Pb exposure and BPb levels. In order to compare between occupations, it was not possible to obtain a direct correlation as there are several confounding factors, especially for occupational conditions and lab measurement techniques. In this study, the exposure risk ratio from five previously available reports regarding BPb determination in at-risk occupations in Thailand is presented. Of interest, the high risk occupations are those in which individuals directly inhaled Pb in environmental ambient air. The cutoff median of exposure risk ratio was found to be 12.6 and this may be a useful value in determining whether exposed workers are at high risk in future studies.     

Phytotoxicity and uptake of chlorpyrifos in cabbage

Chinese cabbage, Brassica chinensis L., and cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata, are the main daily foliar vegetables of the vast majority of the population of eastern and southern China. Cabbages are also planted and consumed widely in other countries. The insecticide and acaricide chlorpyrifos is registered in many countries. Chlorpyrifos controls a variety of insects in plants and soils, and chlorpyrifos is extensively used in the Chinese market. Food poisoning due to the presence of organophosphorus pesticide residues in vegetables has been reported in China provinces. Plant uptake of pesticide residues in air, water, and soil is a source of pesticide residues in vegetables. Here, phytotoxicity and uptake of chlorpyrifos by Chinese cabbage and cabbage were studied in the laboratory using the batch technique. From 0 to 16 days after chlorpyrifos treatment, vegetables roots, stems, leaves, and culture water samples were collected, and the residues of chlorpyrifos in culture water, plant tissues were analyzed using GC-FPD. The results demonstrate that culture solutions with chlorpyrifos had no significant inhibitory effects on vegetable plant height. However, at 1.0 mg/l, it had significant inhibitory effects on the root length and fresh weight of Chinese cabbage. Then, at 10.0 mg/l, it had only significant inhibitory effects on the root length and fresh weight of cabbage compared to the control treatment. The disappearance rates of chlorpyrifos in solutions were in sequence as: nutrition solution with Chinese cabbage, nutrition solution with cabbage, pond water, nutrition solution. The results showed also that chlorpyrifos can be taken up by roots of Chinese cabbage and cabbage from water and subsequently translocated as a function of time. Uptake dynamics of chlorpyrifos from culture solutions by the two cabbage plants were similar.     

贵州万山汞矿地区耐汞野生植物研究

在贵州万山地区废弃汞矿堆和矿山附近,受长期高剂量汞暴露的影响经过的自然选择,该地区出现了一些能耐受汞毒性的生态型植物。对汞耐受及汞富集植物的筛选对于汞污染土壤的植物修复具有一定的现实意义。通过对万山梅子溪地区汞污染土壤及汞耐受植物采样调查发现,该区域采样土壤中汞的含量均在50 mg·kg-1以上,达到重度汞污染水平。对该地区野生植物的采样分析发现,蔷薇科植物悬钩子不仅数量较多,单株植物生物量较大,表现出很强的耐汞毒性的能力,而且植株内可以很大程度地富集汞,在其植株中汞的含量可达20 mg·kg-1左右,属于汞富集植物,另外发现野蒿对汞也具有较强的富集能力,其植株中汞的含量可达10 mg·kg-1以上。该类型植物的发现将为植物的汞耐受以及汞富集机理研究提供新的素材,为汞污染土壤的植物修复技术提供新的植物类型,也为进一步开发汞污染土壤处理技术提供了一种可能。