Human biomonitoring of multiple mycotoxins in the Belgian population: Results of the BIOMYCO study

Mycotoxins are important food contaminants responsible for health effects such as cancer, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity or immunosuppression. The assessment of mycotoxin exposure is often based on calculations combining mycotoxin occurrence data in food with population data on food consumption. Because of limitations inherent to that approach, the direct measurement of biomarkers of exposure in biological fluids has been proposed as a suitable alternative to perform an accurate mycotoxin exposure assessment at individual level. For this reason, the BIOMYCO study was designed to assess mycotoxin exposure in Belgian adults and children using urinary biomarkers of exposure. Morning urine was gathered in a representative part of the Belgian population according to a standardised study protocol, whereby 155 children (3–12 years old) and 239 adults (19–65 years old) were selected based on random cluster sampling. These urine samples were analysed for the presence of 33 potential biomarkers with focus on aflatoxins, citrinin (CIT), fumonisins, trichothecenes, ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone and their metabolites using two validated LC–MS/MS methods.Nine out of the 33 analysed mycotoxins were detected whereby deoxynivalenol (DON), OTA, CIT and their metabolites were the most frequently detected. Deoxynivalenol-15-glucuronide was the main urinary DON biomarker and was found in all urine samples in the ng/mL range. Furthermore deoxynivalenol-3-glucuronide was quantified in 91% of the urine samples collected from children and in 77% of the samples collected from adults. Deoxynivalenol was detected in 70% and 37% of the samples of children and adults respectively. For the first time deepoxy-deoxynivalenol-glucuronide was detected in children's urine (17%). In the samples collected by adults, the prevalence was 22%. Whereas all these mycotoxins contaminated the urine samples in the ng/mL range, CIT and OTA were present in much lower concentrations (pg/mL). OTA contaminated 51% and 35% of the samples collected by children and adults respectively. CIT and its metabolite were present in 72% and 6% of children's urine, whereas they contaminated 59% and 12% of adult's urine. Finally, α-zearalenol and β-zearalenol-14-glucuronide were found in respectively one and two samples from adults. The exposure to DON, OTA and CIT was compared between subgroups and urinary mycotoxin concentrations differed significantly among age and gender. Based on the urinary levels, the daily intake of DON and OTA was estimated and evaluated whereby, depending on the used method, 16–69% of the population possibly exceeded the tolerable daily intake for DON and 1% for OTA.The BIOMYCO study is the first study whereby a multi-toxin approach was applied for mycotoxin exposure assessment in adults and children on a large-scale. Moreover, it is the first study that described the exposure to an elaborated set of mycotoxins in the Belgian population. Biomarker analysis showed a clear exposure of a broad segment of the Belgian population to DON, OTA and CIT. The risk assessment based on these data indicates a potential concern for a number of individuals whereby young children need special attention because of the relatively higher food intake per kg body weight.     

Evaluation of 38 years of radiological environmental data for the nuclear research facility in South Africa

Environmental monitoring has been conducted at the South African National Nuclear Research Facility (Necsa site) for the past 38 years. Included in this monitoring programme was the assessment of water, fish and sediment samples. The objective of this project was to review the data of these assessments to establish if the Necsa activities had any impact on the environment. An assessment of the management of discharge limits was included in the review. Fluctuations in the data reviewed can partly be ascribed to errors in sampling techniques and analysis methods, but mostly to external factors. Two main external factors identified during the review were: dilution effects based on the flowrate in the Crocodile River and the percentage of full capacity of the Hartbeespoort Dam, and the atmospheric fallout from nuclear weapons testing. In this project, the impact of these factors were investigated with the help of correlation coefficient calculations and graphs. It was concluded that the flowrate of the Crocodile River and percentage full capacity of the Hartbeespoort Dam did have an impact on the beta activity measured in water and fish samples, and the (nat)U activities measured in water samples. The measured fallout from nuclear weapons testing in the southern hemisphere also had an impact on the beta activity in water. The assessment of the environmental monitoring data also showed that accidental releases were measurable in the environment. The added routine impact to a member of the public downstream from Necsa was on average an annual dose of 0.54 microSv more than that to a person living upstream from Necsa, which is considered insignificant in international radiation protection norms. The conclusion can be made that the monitoring programme is successful in satisfying its main objective, which is to determine the effects of the discharges on the environment and the immediate population.     

From comparative risk assessment to multi-criteria decision analysis and adaptive management: recent developments and applications

Environmental risk assessment and decision-making strategies over the last several decades have become increasingly more sophisticated, information-intensive, and complex, including such approaches as expert judgment, cost-benefit analysis, and toxicological risk assessment. One tool that has been used to support environmental decision-making is comparative risk assessment (CRA), but CRA lacks a structured method for arriving at an optimal project alternative. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) provides better-supported techniques for the comparison of project alternatives based on decision matrices, and it also provides structured methods for the incorporation of project stakeholders' opinions in the ranking of alternatives. We argue that the inherent uncertainty in our ability to predict ecosystem evolution and response to different management policies requires shifting from optimization-based management to an adaptive management paradigm. This paper brings together a multidisciplinary review of existing decision-making approaches at regulatory agencies in the United States and Europe and synthesizes state-of-the-art research in CRA, MCDA, and adaptive management methods applicable to environmental remediation and restoration projects. We propose a basic decision analytic framework that couples MCDA with adaptive management and its public participation and stakeholder value elicitation methods, and we demonstrate application of the framework to a realistic case study based on contaminated sediment management issues in the New York/New Jersey Harbor.     

Traditional management and conservation of shea trees (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitellaria paradoxa</Emphasis> subspecies <Emphasis Type="Italic">nilotica</Emphasis>) in Uganda

Traditional practices are universally recognised as a basis for conservation of biodiversity. However, such practices are often not included in natural resource conservation policies. This study assessed local conservation practices of shea trees (Vitellaria paradoxa) within different farming systems in Uganda and developed conservation guidelines for the species. The assessment involved 300 respondents, 15 focus groups and 41 key informants. Content analysis was used to identify the most important management and conservation practices. Local uses were categorised on the basis of shea tree products while differences in conservation practices were analysed using the Friedman test. The results show that eight shea tree products are used for 36 different purposes. Respondents’ age significantly influenced their knowledge about the shea tree. Traditional conservation practices include on-farm retention during cultivation and the use of folklore (mainly taboos), customs and rituals. Traditional management practices include weeding, bush burning, pollarding and pruning. Based on the current management and traditional conservation practices, a framework for the conservation of shea trees is proposed for integration into conservation policy decisions.     

基于线性变换的水质综合评价方法

对于多个因子的水质综合评价存在很多不同方法,尚未形成公认的权威评价方法。因而,对水质综合评价方法进行探索有利于积累研究经验,丰富方法手段。在把数据向[0 1]区间标准化的基础上,通过线性空间变换,把水质样本数据与《地表水环境质量标准》(GB3838-2002)数据转换到同一线性空间。计算水质样本数据向量与5类水质划分等级标准数据向量的欧式距离,把欧式距离的最小值作为水质类别辨别的依据,最终得到水质的综合评价结果。借由已经公开发表的19个断面水质监测数据,运用大型工程计算软件Matlab 2010b进行计算,并与变权欧式距离模型、灰色聚类法、模糊综合指数法和BP神经网络法的评价结果相比较,符合性较好,验证了线性空间变换法应用于水质综合评价的科学性和合理性。方法可用于水质综合评价。在不对污染因子进行加权的情况下,基于线性变换的水质综合评价方法,获得的评价结果较轻。对于被评价为同一类水质的不同监测断面,可以借助"评价单元与5级水质标准的欧式距离矩阵",对评价单元水质差异进一步辨识。     

基于高斯过程回归模型的洪涝灾害损失预测研究——以重庆市为例

快速准确的预测洪涝灾害各项损失是开展洪涝灾害应急管理工作的基础,而预测技术和方法则是洪涝灾害损失预测的核心与关键。从灾害风险构成因素和数据易获取性2方面构建了洪涝灾害损失评估指标体系,分别从致灾因子、孕灾环境、承灾体和应急能力4个方面选取了13项损失评估输入指标,提出基于高斯过程回归模型的洪涝灾害损失预测方法,并应用于重庆市洪灾受灾人数、农作物受灾面积和直接经济损失的预测。实例表明,高斯过程回归方法对上文提到的3种损失情况预测结果的残差平方和分别为0.99、0.1、12.67,拟合精度分别达到99.85%、99.97%、96.1%,相较于多层感知器神经网络和支持向量机等方法更具优越性。     

Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris L.) of Bering Island, the Commander Islands: Age and Sex Composition of Dead Animals and Spatial Distribution

Animal censuses and assessment of mortality in the sea otter subpopulation of Bering Island (the Commander Islands) have shown that indices of seasonal mortality may be used as a criterion for estimating well-being of this animal group. In 1999, the subpopulation of Bering Island entered a phase of stabilization of its spatial, age, and sex structure, with the stabilization process proper taking approximately three years after a peak of mortality. Mortality in the course of this process proved to be relatively high in age groups older than eight years but insignificant among middle-aged reproductive animals. As the age and sex structure of the insular group varies during the year and in different coastal areas, the data obtained by collecting dead animals cannot be used for estimating the structure of the whole population.     

A review of traffic-related air pollution exposure assessment studies in the developing world

Exposure assessment studies in the developing world are important. Although recent years have seen an increasing number of traffic-related pollution exposure studies, exposure assessment data on this topic are still limited. Differences among measuring methods and a lack of strict quality control in carrying out exposure assessment make it difficult to generalize and compare findings between studies. In this article, exposure assessment studies carried out in the developing world on several traffic-related air pollutants are reviewed. These pollutants include particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition, it discusses advantages and disadvantages of various monitoring methods (ambient fixed-site monitoring, microenvironment monitoring, and personal exposure assessment using portable samplers) for these pollutants in exposure assessment studies. Also included in this paper is a brief introduction of standards for these pollutants in ambient air or in occupational settings established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The review ends with a summary of the limitations and gaps in recent studies and suggestions for future research in the developing world.     

畜牧业“碳排放”到“碳足迹”核算方法的研究进展

全球变暖趋势日益加剧,不仅影响农业可持续发展,而且威胁到人类生存。畜牧业碳排放因其在农业碳排放中乃至全球碳排放中占比较大而日益备受关注。准确核算畜牧业碳排放是制定切实可行的碳减排政策的前提,也为我国在气候变化下承担共同但有差别的减排责任提供话语权。本文基于研究范式的演进,对畜牧业碳排放到碳足迹核算方法的研究发展进行了系统梳理,研究表明,在学者的不断研究与质疑下,畜牧业碳排放到碳足迹的核算方法经历了从OECD核算法、IPCC系数法到生命周期法与投入-产出法的演变与完善,学术界认为区域异质性、养殖规模与管理方式均影响碳足迹;散养比规模化养殖产生更多的碳排放,舍饲比户外放牧排放更多的碳。畜牧业碳足迹核算能够更加全面地反映畜牧业全生命周期的碳排放情况,但由于研究假设、研究方法及研究样本等差异导致不同区域、不同畜产品的碳排放核算结果存在不确定性。运用生命周期法和投入-产出法对欧盟成员国畜牧业碳排放的核算结果基本一致,但运用IPCC系数法和全生命周期法对中国畜牧业碳排放核算中,牛、猪和羊的碳排放量排序结果不尽一致。鉴于核算结果的差异性,本研究对不同核算方法的起源、最早采用时间、特点、局限性等方面进行了归纳总结,并建议后续研究探讨基于生命周期评价的畜牧业碳足迹研究边界的延伸性,标准化畜牧业碳排放或碳足迹核算,避免学者重复核算畜牧业碳排放,以便深入展开畜牧业碳排放其他方面的研究。     

Phenogenetic monitoring of the weeping birch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> Roth.) in the Middle Urals: testing a new method for assessing developmental instability in higher plants

Variation of bilateral leaf structures in Middle Ural cenopopulations of the weeping birch (Betula pendula Roth.) growing in gradients of industrial pollution was studied to test the efficiency of a new method of population and individual phenogenetic monitoring allowing an indirect assessment of developmental destabilization by segregating the variance of total asymmetry (TA _R ²) into its additive components, the variances of fluctuating asymmetry (FA _R ²) and directional asymmetry (DA _R ²). The method was tested in the impact zones of two copper-smelting plants in the Middle Urals. The degree of impact was characterized by the index of technogenic pollution (ITP) reflecting the average total contents of 15 water-soluble pollutants in snow samples. The level of asymmetry was estimated from the numbers of denticles with incoming veins (dentovenal elements) on the left and right leaf margins. Spearman’s coefficient of rank correlation between the group values of variance in fluctuating asymmetry (FA _R ²) and corresponding ITP values reached r _S = 0.914 (p < 0.001), providing evidence that the method is highly appropriate for ecological indication of the phenogenetic response of trees to environmental pollution.     

Quality of currently available methodology for monitoring viruses in the environment

A variety of methods have been proposed, developed, and evaluated for detecting viruses, especially human enteric viruses, in water, wastewater, and other environmental samples, and continued developments and improvements have led to simpler and more reliable methodology. However, the use of currently available methods is still limited primarily to special circumstances, such as investigation of waterborne disease outbreaks, research studies on virus reductions by water and wastewater treatment processes and systems, especially reuse systems, and research monitoring and surveying of natural and treated waters. Widespread and routine virus monitoring is still not possible due to technical limitations and deficiencies of present detection methods and their relatively high cost. Although continued development of new methods and further improvement of existing methods is desirable, it is perhaps more important that current methods be systematically evaluated in carefully designed collaborative (round-robin) studies and quality assurance tests. Until virus detection methods are further improved and systematically evaluated, the establishment of virus standards for such materials as water and edible shellfish requiring routine monitoring appears to be unjustified.     

Application of enteric viruses for fecal pollution source tracking in environmental waters

Microbial source tracking (MST) tools are used to identify sources of fecal pollution for accurately assessing public health risk and implementing best management practices (BMPs). This review focuses on the potential of enteric viruses for MST applications. Following host infection, enteric viruses replicate and are excreted in high numbers in the hosts' feces and urine. Due to the specificity in host infection, enteric viruses have been considered one of the most accurate library-independent culture-independent MST tools. In an assessment of molecular viral assays based on sensitivity, specificity and the density of the target virus in fecal-impacted samples, human adenovirus and human polyomavirus were found to be the most promising human-specific viral markers. However, more research is needed to identify promising viral markers for livestock because of cross-reactions that were observed among livestock species or the limited number of samples tested for specificity. Other viral indicators of fecal origin, F+ RNA coliphage and pepper mild mottle virus, have also been proposed as potential targets for developing MST markers. Enhancing the utility of enteric viruses for MST applications through next generation sequencing (NGS) and virus concentration technology is discussed in the latter part of this review. The massive sequence databases generated by shotgun and gene-targeted metagenomics enable more efficient and reliable design of MST assays. Finally, recent studies revealed that alternative virus concentration methodologies may be more cost-effective than standard technologies such as 1MDS; however, improvements in the recovery efficiency and consistency are still needed. Overall, developments in metagenomic information combined with efficient concentration methodologies, as well as high host-specificity, make enteric viruses a promising tool in MST applications.     

Is it appropriate to composite fish samples for mercury trend monitoring and consumption advisories?

Monitoring mercury levels in fish can be costly because variation by space, time, and fish type/size needs to be captured. Here, we explored if compositing fish samples to decrease analytical costs would reduce the effectiveness of the monitoring objectives. Six compositing methods were evaluated by applying them to an existing extensive dataset, and examining their performance in reproducing the fish consumption advisories and temporal trends. The methods resulted in varying amount (average 34–72%) of reductions in samples, but all (except one) reproduced advisories very well (96–97% of the advisories did not change or were one category more restrictive compared to analysis of individual samples). Similarly, the methods performed reasonably well in recreating temporal trends, especially when longer-term and frequent measurements were considered. The results indicate that compositing samples within 5 cm fish size bins or retaining the largest/smallest individuals and compositing in-between samples in batches of 5 with decreasing fish size would be the best approaches. Based on the literature, the findings from this study are applicable to fillet, muscle plug and whole fish mercury monitoring studies. The compositing methods may also be suitable for monitoring Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in fish. Overall, compositing fish samples for mercury monitoring could result in a substantial savings (approximately 60% of the analytical cost) and should be considered in fish mercury monitoring, especially in long-term programs or when study cost is a concern.     

河流综合水质评价方法比较研究

为探讨综合水质评价结论的科学合理性,对典型的7种河流综合水质评价方法,包括单因子评价法、污染指数法、模糊评价法、灰色系统评价法、层次分析法、人工神经网络法、水质标识指数法,在归类分析其特性的基础上,针对代表性的评价样本,进行了综合水质评价比较研究。主要结论为：①单因子评价法以最差水质指标所属类别作为综合水质类别,评价结论表现为过保护;②污染指数法能够直观判断综合水质是否达到功能区目标,但是不能判断综合水质类别;③对模糊数学法、灰色系统评价法、层次分析法、BP人工神经网络法和水质标识指数法等5种典型评价方法,当综合水质为Ⅰ~Ⅴ类水情形时,这几种方法评价结论基本一致,证明这5种典型评价方法对Ⅰ~Ⅴ类水的评价结论具有科学合理性;④当综合水质为劣Ⅴ类水时,模糊数学法、灰色系统评价法、层次分析法、BP人工神经网络法的评价结论偏保守,而水质标识指数法解决了劣Ⅴ类水质的连续性描述问题,能够对劣Ⅴ类水进行科学合理评价,并对Ⅰ~Ⅴ类水、劣Ⅴ类水不黑臭、劣Ⅴ类水黑臭进行全面、科学合理的定性与定量评价.     

Air pollution assessment of toxic emissions from hazardous waste lagoons and landfills

The air quality impacts of hazardous waste disposal sites can be assessed on the basis of their contribution to each of the toxic contaminants. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the available methods of air quality assessment and their drawbacks. The need of air quality assessment is to assure that ambient concentrations of specific contaminants resulting from emissions will not exceed the acceptable levels for protection of public health and the ecosystem. Ambient concentrations of toxic contaminants are generally obtained by field measurements or air monitoring. However, field measurements and air monitoring of low-level toxic contaminants are costly and time consuming. As a result, most hazardous waste land disposal sites have not been adequately assessed. This paper describes current regulatory requirements in the United States for air quality assessment of hazardous waste land disposal sites. Emphasis is directed toward air quality assessment methodology. The paper also discusses emission predicting models based on the waste quantity and composition, scientific analysis of the waste conversion process together with meteorological conditions. The emission models are especially useful where emission cannot be reliably monitored or where a new disposal site is proposed.     

基于贝叶斯公式的湖泊富营养化随机评价方法及其验证

为了准确评价湖泊所处的营养状态,进而为湖泊富营养化的防治提供科学依据,提出了基于贝叶斯公式的湖泊富营养化随机评价方法。该法通过计算单个水质指标属于某个评价级别的概率,由最大似然分类原则确定单个水质指标的评价级别,并采用加权平均法推求湖泊富营养化多个水质指标的综合评价级别,具有方法简单、计算工作量小的特点。经全国30个湖泊实测水质资料的验证,随机评价方法与模糊评价方法和灰色评价方法相比较,有29个湖泊评价结果的差异小于等于一个级别,其比例为96.6％,说明这三种富营养化评价方法的计算精度相当。根据各项评价指标与叶绿素的相关系数,计算各项水质指标在富营养化评价中所占权重的方法,适用于浮游植物型湖泊,如果采取等权重方法,则适用于任何类型的湖泊。确定湖泊富营养化评价的水质指标个数和种类的选择具有不确定性,确定湖泊富营养化的评价级别和各个级别对应的水质标准浓度也具有不确定性,因此湖泊富营养化的评价方法具有不确定性。应采用多种途径对湖泊富营养化的评价方法进行研究,并取长补短,使评价结果更趋合理。     

Comparative estimations of 137Cs distribution in a boreal forest in northern Sweden using a traditional sampling approach and a portable NaI detector

Field-portable detectors have been frequently used in routine monitoring and hazard assessment studies. However, there have been few thorough attempts to evaluate their potential as an alternative to the traditional procedure of collecting samples and analysing them in the laboratory. Thus, in this study the two approaches were compared in terms of their utility for monitoring (137)Cs activity in the Ny?nget catchment in northern Sweden. The objectives were: (i) to determine the (137)Cs activity in soils associated with three types of vegetation, (ii) to map the geographical distribution of (137)Cs using the portable NaI detector connected to a GPS system (GDM-40), (iii) to identify (137)Cs anomalies in the catchment, and (iv) to compare the measurements obtained with the NaI detector and traditional sampling followed by laboratory analysis. Our results demonstrate that the GDM-40 has very good potential for making (137)Cs inventories and for detecting (137)Cs anomalies within large areas. The GDM-40 measurements identified differences between different hydrological areas that were not determined with the soil sampling method. The GDM-40 method is much faster than a traditional soil sampling method. However, soil sampling cannot be totally excluded because it is needed to calibrate the GDM-40. The agreement between the (137)Cs activity values obtained by the two approaches was 20% which is good in the field where so many factors vary.     

基于"压力-状态-响应"框架的长江上游防护林健康评价

长江上游防护林健康评价对提高防护林生态服务功能有着重要作用。基于“压力 状态 响应”分析框架,选取20项指标建立了长江上游防护林健康评价指标体系,并利用熵技术修正层次分析法确定评价指标体系的权重;运用等级赋分法对评价指标无量钢化,使不同区域的防护林健康评价结果具有可比性。利用健康指数法对官司河流域的主要防护林群落马尾松林、柏树林、栎树林、松柏混交林、桤柏混交林健康水平进行定量化研究。评价结果表明：官司河流域防护林综合健康指数为46.95,各种类型防护林健康指数从高到低依次为：栎树林(55.43)＞桤柏混交林(52.54)＞松柏混交林(50.84)＞柏树林(49.68)＞马尾松林(38.92)。研究结果对于长江上游防护林的空间配置与结构优化有一定的参考价值。     

中亚热带红壤区不同土地利用土壤田间持水量估测

田间持水量是衡量土壤保水性的重要指标,也是进行农田灌溉、作物水管理和水文模型的重要参数,但其测定繁琐而耗时,迫切需要一种简捷精确的估测方法。采集了50个来自稻田和旱地的1 m深原状土壤剖面样,然后基于土壤基本理化性质,利用多元逐步回归方法对土壤田间持水量进行模型预测。结果显示:(1)对于稻田土壤,田间持水量主要受容重和有机碳影响,而对于旱地则主要受土壤质地影响;(2)构建的田间持水量传递函数,对于稻田土壤预测精确度较高,调整的确定系数达到0.79,对于旱地则相对较弱。研究表明土地利用方式对田间持水量精确估测影响较大,利用土壤传递函数法对田间持水量的快速获取有一定参考价值。     

Characterization of DDT in factory effluent by thin-layer chromatography

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is shown as an effective, inexpensive, reliable, and less time consuming technique for simple and effective monitoring of persistent toxicant-like DDT in its manufacturing plant effluent. Aqueous untreated and treated grab and composit effluent samples were collected, extracted with a solvent and concentrated and chromatographed both for qualitative and quantitative analysis for p, p′-DDT and related compounds. This technique was successful and can form an effective, inexpensive method to be used by the developing countries, which have limited financial resources.