Developmental exposure to diuron causes splenotoxicity in male Sprague-Dawley rat pups

This study investigated whether perinatal exposure to diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-1-dimethylurea] might exert adverse effects on rat lymphoid organs. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to diuron at 500, 750 or 1250 ppm in the diet from gestational days (GD) 12-21 and during lactation. At postnatal day (PND) 42, male pups were euthanized and thymus, spleen, mesenteric lymph node and femur were collected for histopathological analysis. Food consumption and body weight gain were significantly reduced in dams exposed to 1250 ppm during gestation period. Also, Diuron at 750 and 1250 ppm produced: (1) increased relative spleen weight associated histologically with severe congestion in red pulp, (2) enhanced extramedullary hematopoiesis and hemosiderosis as well as (3) depletion of lymphoid follicles in white pulp. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a significant reduction in B lymphocytes (CD45RA+) in male pups but T lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+) were not markedly affected. Thus, data suggest that Diuron-induced maternal toxicity in dams exposed to high dose and perinatal exposure to this herbicide produced spleen toxicity as evidenced by a reduction in B lymphocyte number in male SD pups.     

Optimization of photo-Fenton process parameters on carbofuran degradation using central composite design

Carbofuran, one of the most toxic and biorefractory carbamate compounds, is widely used in insecticides in Taiwan (9-18% of total insecticides production per year). In the present study, a central composite design experiment was used to study the effect of photo-Fenton treatment on carbofuran solution and to optimize the process variables such as carbofuran concentration (1-100 mg L(-1)), H(2)O(2) dosage rate (0.25-6 mg L(-1) min(-1)) and Fe(3+) dosage (1-50 mg L(-1)), which influenced the efficiency of carbofuran degradation and mineralization. The results indicated that all the variables investigated in this study had significant roles in the degradation and mineralization of carbofuran in solution. The carbofuran degradation and mineralization efficiencies were increased with increase in H(2)O(2) dosage rate and Fe(3+) dosage, and with decrease in carbofuran concentration. Furthermore, optimum values of both H(2)O(2) dosage rate and Fe(3+) dosage were found to shift to higher values as carbofuran concentration increased. Based on the model obtained in this study, optimum H(2)O(2) dosage rate and Fe(3+) dosage were found to be 4 mg L(-1) min(-1) and 20 mg L(-1), respectively, for 51 mg L(-1) of carbofuran concentration. Under these conditions, carbofuran was completely removed within 30 min and coupled with 78% mineralization at the end of experiment.     

Exposure to heavy metals in blood and risk perception of the population living in the vicinity of municipal waste incinerators in Korea

Background, aim, and scope

The purpose of this study was to monitor and present the heavy metal concentrations in the blood of residents of areas near municipal waste incinerators (MWIs), who are more prone to environmental pollution. We also sought to compare and analyze the residents?? perception of environmental pollution as one of the factors affecting heavy metal concentrations in the blood using a survey about the perceived damage caused by the facilities. Since heavy metal levels in the blood can be affected not only by local environmental pollution but also by personal and occupational factors, heavy metal levels in the blood need to be verified and consistently monitored.

Methods

Residents who live within 300?m of MWIs in Seoul are acknowledged to be under indirect influence according to the Waste Disposal Act. A survey was given to 841 residents living within 300?m of a MWI from 2006 to 2009. The concentrations of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and mercury) in the blood were measured in the 841 surveyed residents and in 105 residents in reference areas. Additionally, the perception of the damage caused by municipal waste incinerators was investigated using scores from 1 to 5 on a Likert scale.

Results

The measurements of the heavy metal concentrations in the blood showed that the mean concentrations of lead, cadmium, and mercury were 43.1, 1.7, and 1.3?ug/L, respectively. The blood levels of lead and cadmium were slightly higher in the group of the subjects who had resided the longest near the municipal waste incinerators. When compared with the domestic investigation by the Ministry of Environment, the concentrations of lead and cadmium were a little higher, while that of mercury was a little lower. Overall, there was no significant difference in the distribution of heavy metal levels in the blood among age groups. Additionally, the investigation of the perceived damage from municipal waste incinerators showed that the subjects     

Assessment of waters and sediments impacted by drainage at the Young Dong coal mine site, South Korea

Introduction  

This study focused on the assessment of the geochemistry and hydrology of the Imgok Creek–Young Dong tributary for the design of a field coal mine drainage treatment system.     

Degradation of o-toluidine by fluidized-bed Fenton process: statistical and kinetic study

Background, aim, and scope  

The optimal conditions of o-toluidine degradation by fluidized-bed Fenton process were determined using Box–Behnken designs (BBD). The BBD can be used to find the optimal conditions in multivariable systems. The optimal conditions obtained by the design were further applied in the kinetic analysis of o-toluidine oxidation in fluidized-bed Fenton process.     

原位臭氧氧化污泥减量工艺的运行效能

采用ASBR/SBR原位臭氧污泥减量工艺,重点研究了原位臭氧氧化对SBR段污泥产率和出水水质的影响。两个相同的ASBR/SBR组合工艺同时运行,每隔3个周期向臭氧投加组SBR的曝气阶段原位间歇投加臭氧,臭氧投加量为0.027 g O3/g MLSS,连续运行40 d;对照组不投加臭氧作为对比。结果表明,原位臭氧氧化实现污泥减量约43.9%,臭氧投加组SBR段平均污泥产率系数为0.1447 g SS/g SCOD,而对照组为0.2580 g SS/g SCOD,投加组没有惰性污泥的累积,并且污泥沉淀性能得到改善。原位臭氧氧化对出水水质影响不大,投加组与对照组相比,臭氧投加3周期后的出水COD、NH4+-N、TN和TP平均值分别为47.8、0.76、14.1和6.4 mg/L,去除率分别下降了4%、2%、3%和7.7%,其中COD、NH4+-N和TN均能达到《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB18918-2002)一级A标准。     

响应面法优化超临界水氧化处理农药废水

在间歇式超临界水氧化系统中对草甘膦农药废水进行降解实验。选取温度、反应时间、过氧量3个量为因素量,总有机碳(TOC)去除率为响应量进行中心组合设计（CCD）。在实验的基础上,利用响应面分析法（RSM）对实验结果进行分析及参数优化：建立了TOC去除率与各个因素关系的二次多项式数学模型;分析了各个因素单独的及相互作用对TOC去除率的影响;优化结果表明,在温度483℃、反应时间29.2 min、过氧量148.4%的条件下,达到了最佳效果,此时TOC的去除率为100%。     

玉米深加工废水的混凝实验

在室温条件下,分别选用聚合氯化铝(PAC)、聚合氯化铝铁(PAFC)及三氯化铁(FeCl3)对玉米深加工废水进行混凝实验。综合考虑各种混凝剂对磷、COD以及SS的去除效果,最终选取PAC作为混凝剂。采用PAC和聚丙烯酰胺(PAM)作为复合混凝剂,对其去除效果做进一步研究,并确定了最佳投加量及pH值。实验结果表明,在PAC投加量25mg/L,PAM投加量0.5 mg/L,pH为8条件下,混凝效果最佳。磷、COD、SS去除率可分别达到90.1%、53.3%和88.2%,对应的出水质量浓度分别为0.41、26.8和2 mg/L。     

改进型波形潜流人工湿地处理猪场废水

提出了一种改进型波形潜流人工湿地(improved wavy subsurface flow constructed wetland,IW-SFCW)并研究了该湿地系统在5个水力停留时间(hydraulic retention time,HRT)(2、3、4、6和8 d)下对猪场废水的处理效果。结果表明,该湿地系统对猪场废水中各污染物有较好的去除效果。在水力停留时间为4 d,进水COD、TN、NH4+-N和TP浓度分别为511、120、110和10 mg/L左右时,该湿地系统对COD、TN、NH4+-N和TP的去除率分别为86.0%、54.4%、70.1%和91.6%。此外,该湿地系统对废水中COD、TP的去除效率随水力停留时间的延长逐渐提高,在HRT=8 d时去除效果最好,去除率分别达到92.7%和96.8%;但对TN、NH4+-N的去除率却随水力停留时间的延长出现先上升后下降的趋势,在HRT=4 d时去除率最高,分别为54.4%和70.1%。