Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in human serum and their relation with age,gender, and BMI for the general population of Bizerte,Tunisia

Human serum samples (n?=?113) from Bizerte, northern Tunisia, collected between 2011 and 2012 were analyzed for 8 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) including p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, dieldrin, and heptachlor and 12 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners. Concentrations of these residues in serum were determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detector and total cholesterol (CHOL) and triglycerides (TG) levels were evaluated by enzymatic colorimetric method. HCB, p,p′-DDE, PCB-138, PCB-153, and PCB-180, were the most abundant organochlorine compounds (OCs) detected in >95 % of the study subjects. The mean levels of p,p′-DDE and HCB in serum were 168.8 and 49.1 ng?g^?1 lipid, respectively. The sum PCBs concentrations ranged from 37.5 to 284.6 ng?g^?1 lipid in the samples, with mean and median value of 136.1 and 123.2 ng?g^?1 lipid, respectively. The PCB profile consisted of persistent congeners, such as PCB-138, PCB-153, and PCB-180 which contributed for approximately 82.7 % to the ∑PCBs. Statistical analysis showed that most OCs correlated significantly with age, considering all samples together or with gender differentiation. The present study shows that the levels of p,p′-DDE and ∑DDTs were significantly higher in females than in males (p?<?0.05), while PCBs levels were significantly higher in male (p?<?0.05) than in females. No statistically significant association was found between body mass index and concentration of any organochlorine pesticide or PCB congeners 153, 138, 180, or ∑PCBs.     

马尾松人工林凋落物产量、养分含量及养分归还量特性

通过文献收集法对亚热带马尾松人工林主要分布区凋落物产量、养分含量和养分归还量进行分析,以研究我国马尾松林主要分布区凋落物养分动态和区域特征,以期在区域尺度上为马尾松林生产经营和生态管理提供更全面和更具普遍性的参考。结果表明：不同地区马尾松人工林凋落物产量差异显著,并随林分龄级而异,10~20、20~30 a龄级马尾松林凋落物产量差异较0~10、30~50 a龄级马尾松林凋落物大,产量最高地区的10~20、20~30龄级林分分别是产量最低地区同一龄级的293、274倍,30~50 a生林分产量最高地区仅是最低地区的137、163倍;凋落物不同养分含量差异显著,三峡库区N元素含量较高,福建三明P、Ca、Mg元素较高,K元素则是贵州龙里较高;广西武宣23 a生林分N归还量是8 a生N归还量的345倍,K归还量则是1013倍。不同凋落物组织器官受环境影响的因素不同,不同林分对环境和立地因子的响应不同,因为气候对凋落物产量的影响具有滞后性,而在局部区域凋落物产量受环境因素影响较大;凋落物养分含量受林分土壤主要养分调节,凋落物养分归还量反映土壤养分的潜力,土壤养分通过马尾松的生长影响凋落物产量,说明马尾松林凋落物养分循环与土壤养分状况有很大关系,二者相辅相成、相互调节     

Effects of sewage sludge fertilizer on heavy metal accumulation and consequent responses of sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis>)

Use of sewage sludge, a biological residue produced from sewage treatment processes in agriculture, is an alternative disposal technique of waste. To study the usefulness of sewage sludge amendment for Helianthus annuus, a pot experiment was conducted by mixing sewage sludge at 2.5, 5, and 7.5 % (w/w) amendment ratios to the agricultural soil. Soil pH decreased whereas electrical conductivity, organic matter, total N, available P, and exchangeable Na, K, and Ca increased in soil amended with sewage sludge in comparison to unamended soil. Sewage sludge amendment led to significant increase in Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, and Zn concentrations of soil. The increased concentration of heavy metals in soil due to sewage sludge amendment led to increases in shoot and root concentrations of Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in plant as compared to those grown on unamended soil. Accumulation was more in roots than shoots for most of the heavy metals. Moreover, high metal removal for the harvestable parts of the crops was recorded. Sewage sludge amendment increased root and shoot length, leaves number, biomass, and antioxidant activities of sunflower. Significant increases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and in the glutathione, proline, and soluble sugar content in response to amendment with sewage sludge may be defense mechanisms induced in response to heavy metal stress.

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Graphical abstract Origin, fate and behavior of sewage sludge fertilizer

     

Biosorption of alpacide blue from aqueous solution by lignocellulosic biomass: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luffa cylindrica</Emphasis> fibers

The aim of the present work is to develop an effective and inexpensive pollutant-removal technology using lignocellulosic fibers: Luffa cylindrica, for the biosorption of an anionic dye: alpacide blue. The influence of some experimental parameters such as pH, temperature, initial concentration of the polluted solution, and mass of the sorbent L. cylindrica on the biosorption of alpacide blue by L. cylindrica fibers has been investigated. Optimal parameters for maximum quantity of biosorption dye were achieved after 2 h of treatment in a batch system using an initial dye concentration of 20 mg/L, a mass of 1 g of L. cylindrica fibers, and pH 2. In these conditions, the quantity of dye retained is 2 mg/g and the retention rate is 78 %. Finally, a mathematical modeling of kinetics and isotherms has been used for mathematical modeling; the model of pseudo-second order is more appropriate to describe this phenomenon of biosorption. Concerning biosorption isotherms, the Freundlich model is the most appropriate for a biosorption of alpacide blue dye by L. cylindrica fibers.     

Inhalation of two putative Gulf War toxins by mice

We employed our inhalation methodology to examine whether biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress would be produced in mice following inhalation of aerosols containing carbonaceous particles or the vapor of pesticides prevalent during the first Gulf War. Exposure to two putative Gulf War Illness toxins, fine airborne particles and the pesticide malathion, increased biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in Friend virus B (FVB) female mice. Mice inhaling particles 24 h before had increased lung lavage and plasma Leukotriene B4 (LTB₄) (a biomarker of inflammation) and PGF_2α (a biomarker of oxidative stress) levels, lung lavage protein and lung lavage lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. These changes were a function of particle density and exposure time. Compared to particle inhalation, mice inhaling malathion 24 h before had small increase in plasma LTB₄ and PGF_2α levels but no increase in lung lavage LTB₄, lung lavage protein, lung lavage LDH, and lung lavage alveolar macrophage (AM) levels compared to unexposed control mice. AM from particle-exposed mice contained phagocytosed particles, while AM from malathion-exposed mice showed no abnormalities. Our results indicate that inhaling particles or malathion can alter inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers in mice and raise the possibility that these toxins may have altered inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers in Gulf War-exposed individuals.     

Causal interactions between environmental degradation,renewable energy,nuclear energy and real GDP: a dynamic panel data approach

Renewable energy as well as nuclear energy are low carbon power that presents the life cycle emissions of greenhouse gases than fossil fuel energy. However, analyzing the relationship between the consumption of renewable energy, consumption of nuclear energy, CO₂ emissions and economic growth is crucial for the economic and energy policy decision; we address this question for developed countries. This paper deals with the relationships between nuclear energy, environmental degradation, real GDP and renewable energy. We apply a panel data model for a global panel consisting of nine developed countries during the period 1990–2013. The group studied consists of Canada, France, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the USA. The empirical findings suggest that: (1) a causal link between emissions and real income, (2) a unidirectional causality running from renewable energy to nuclear energy, (3) a unidirectional causal relationship running from capital to environmental degradation, (4) a unidirectional causal relationship running from income to nuclear energy consumption, since the growth hypothesis is valid, (5) a unidirectional causality running from capital to income, (6) no an outstanding role of renewable energy use in the contribution of CO₂ emissions.     

中国太阳能热水器成本分析方法与应用研究

太阳能热水器在中国已经商业化,是较为成熟的可再生能源利用技术。中国幅员辽阔,各地区自然、社会经济条件差异较大,其经济可行性需进一步分析。本文针对户用太阳能热水器,建立了基于有效利用热量的总成本现值分析方法、净成本现值分析方法,计算了中国27个省会城市(或直辖市)太阳能热水器热水供应成本和净成本现值为零的初始投资。结果表明,中国太阳能热水器热水供应成本地区间差异大,推广政策应当因地制宜;太阳能热水器与风电、光伏发电、生物质能发电相比成本较低,其大规模应用有利于以低成本实现既定的可再生能源目标;贴现率和生活电价对太阳能热水器初始投资选择影响显著;收入水平低是农村地区太阳能热水器应用的重要制约因素。本文的结论对中国太阳能热水器推广政策体系设计具有重要启示。     

Tax-free Financing of Pollution Control Facilities

Recent proposed Internal Revenue Service regulations, published on June 5, 1971 and implementing Section 103 (c) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, provide additional methods for financing pollution control equipment in unlimited amounts through the use of tax-exempt industrial development revenue bonds. Interest income on the bonds is exempt to the recipient from federal income tax under existing statutes and court decisions, except that such exemption is not generally available with respect to any bonds for any period during which the bond is held by a person who is a substantial user of a project financed with the proceeds of the bonds or a related person within the meaning of Section 103 (c) (7) of the Code. These proposed regulations implement the 1968 amendments to the Internal Revenue Code which authorize the issuance of tax-exempt bonds by local governmental agencies for pollution control improvements. The Legislature of Florida has recently enacted the Florida Industrial Development Financing Act, which creates the local governmental agencies contemplated by the federal legislation and significantly enlarges the power of local governmental agencies to issue industrial development bonds for pollution control.     

The roles of biological interactions and pollutant contamination in shaping microbial benthic community structure

Biological interactions between metazoans and the microbial community play a major role in structuring food webs in aquatic sediments. Pollutants can also strongly affect the structure of meiofauna and microbial communities. This study aims investigating, in a non-contaminated sediment, the impact of meiofauna on bacteria facing contamination by a mixture of three PAHs (fluoranthene, phenanthrene and pyrene). Sediment microcosms were incubated in the presence or absence of meiofauna during 30 days. Bioremediation treatments, nutrient amendment and addition of a hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium, were also tested to enhance PAH biodegradation. Results clearly show the important role of meiofauna as structuring factor for bacterial communities with significant changes observed in the molecular fingerprints. However, these structural changes were not concomitant with changes in biomass or function. PAH contamination had a severe impact on total meiofaunal abundance with a strong decrease of nematodes and the complete disappearance of polychaetes and copepods. In contrast, correspondence analysis, based on T-RFLP fingerprints, showed that contamination by PAH resulted in small shifts in microbial composition, with or without meiofauna, suggesting a relative tolerance of bacteria to the PAH cocktail. The PAH bioremediation treatments were highly efficient with more than 95% biodegradation. No significant difference was observed in presence or absence of meiofauna. Nutrient addition strongly enhanced bacterial and meiofaunal abundances as compared to control and contaminated microcosms, as well as inducing important changes in the bacterial community structure. Nutrients thus were the main structural factor in shaping bacterial community composition, while the role of meiofauna was less evident.     

Microbial community responses to bioremediation treatments for the mitigation of low-dose anthracene in marine coastal sediments of Bizerte lagoon (Tunisia)

Purpose

The main goals of this study were to investigate (1) the behavior of microbial communities in response to low-dose bioavailable anthracene addition in lightly contaminated sediment from Bizerte Lagoon and (2) the effects of bioremediation treatments on microbial biomass, activity, and community structure.

Methods

Sediment microcosms amended with 1 ppm anthracene were incubated in triplicate during 30 days. Biostimulation (addition of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer) and bioaugmentation (inoculation of a hydrocarbonoclastic bacterium) were used as bioremediation treatments. Bacterial biomass was estimated using flow cytometry. Sediment oxygen consumption was measured with oxygen microelectrodes. Bacterial community structure was assessed by molecular fingerprints (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism; T-RFLP) analysis.

Results

Anthracene contamination resulted in a significant reduction of bacterial abundance with an impact on cell integrity. Concomitantly, sediment oxygen consumption was strongly inhibited. Correspondence analysis on T-RFLP data indicated that bacterial community structures from anthracene-contaminated microcosms were different from that of the control. Interestingly, the changes observed in microbial biomass, structure, and activities as a result of anthracene contamination were not alleviated even with the use of biostimulation and combination of biostimulation and bioaugmentation strategy for anthracene bioremediation. Nevertheless, both treatment methods resulted in different community structures relative to the contaminated and control microcosms with the appearance of distinct populations.

Conclusion

Anthracene spiking severely affected microbial communities, suggesting dominance of nontolerant populations in this lightly-contaminated sediment. Although biostimulation and/or bioaugmentation treatments did not alleviate the anthracene toxic effects, the changes observed in microbial population and structure suggest that the proposed treatments might be promising to promote bacterial growth. Further works are still required to propose a more efficient strategy to stimulate biodegradation that takes into account the complex interactions between species for resource access.