Pentachlorotoluene and pentabromotoluene: Results of a subacute and a subchronic toxicity study in the rat

Abstract

Pentachlorotoluene (PCT) and pentabromotoiuene (PBT) are environmental contaminants detected in the Great Lakes ecosystem. In view of the paucity of toxicity data and the potential for human exposure, a subacute (28 day) and a subchronic (91 day) study were conducted in the rat. In the subacute study, groups of 10 male and 10 female rats were fed the diet containing PCT or PBT at 0, 0.5, 5.0, 50 or 500 ppm for 28‐days. In the subchronic study, the group size was increased to 15, the dose levels were 0, 0.05, 0.5, 5.0, 50 and 500 ppm in the diet and the exposure period was 91 days. Growth rate and food consumption were not affected by exposure to either chemical in the subacute and subchronic study. Clinical observations revealed no abnormalities. Decreased hemoglobin was observed in female rats fed 5.0 ppm PCT and higher levels in the subacute (28 day) study. In the same study the hematocrit value and erythrocyte numbers of females fed 5.0 or 500 ppm PCT diets were significantly lower than the control. In both subacute and subchronic studies mild dose‐dependent histopathological changes were observed in the thyroid, liver and kidney of rats fed PCT and PBT diets. In general male rats were more susceptible than females to the treatment of PCT and PBT. Based on these data, it was concluded that the no observable adverse effect level for PCT was 50 ppm in the diet (3.5 mg/kg b.w./day) and that of PBT was 5.0 ppm (0.35 mg/kg b.w./day).     

Combined effects of mercury and hexachlorobenzene in the rat

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess the potential interactive effects of two Great Lakes chemical contaminants, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and mercury (HgCl₂). Groups of 10 female Sprague‐Dawley rats were administered by gavage single doses of HCB (400, 600 mg/kg b.w. in corn oil), HgCl₂ (10.0, 12.5 mg/kg b.w. aqueous) or combinations of both followed by observation for clinical signs of toxicity for 14 days. Five animals from treatment groups died before the termination of the study; one animal each in 600 mg HCB, 400 mg HCB + 10 mg HgCl₂, and 600 mg HCB + 10 mg HgCl₂, and two animals in 600 mg HCB + 12.5 mg HgCl₂. The surviving animals were necropsied at the termination of the study, and hematological, clinical chemistry, histopathological and tissue residue analyses were performed. Relative liver weights were increased in both low and high dose groups of HCB but not in animals treated with HgCl₂ alone. Co‐administration of HgCl₂ did not alter the HCB effects on the liver weight of the animals. Serum cholesterol levels were increased in all the groups receiving HCB but not HgCl₂. No interactive effects on other serum parameters were seen in animals administered with both chemicals. Mild to moderate morphological changes occurred in the liver, thyroid, thymus, ovary and bone marrow of rats exposed to HCB or HCB + HgCl₂, and in the kidney of HgCl₂ or HgCl₂ + HCB treated animals. More severe histological changes occurred in the groups receiving both chemicals. The histological effects appeared to be additive. It was concluded that co‐administration with HCB and HgCl₂ resulted in additive effects in some of the endpoints measured but no synergism or antagonism was observed.     

A two-dimensional inviscid model of the gravity-current head by Lagrangian block simulation

A two-dimensional inviscid model of the gravity-current head produced by the release of a relatively small volume of dense fluid from behind a tall lock gate is constructed by Lagrangian block simulation. Three numerical experiments are conducted for the lock’s height-to-length aspect ratios H/L _o  = 8, 4 and 2. The front speeds obtained by the simulations agree with the laboratory observation for a similar range of aspect ratios. The floor velocity in the wake behind these heads is found to be greater than their front speed. The high floor velocity is caused by the impingement of the coherent wake vortex on the floor. It is a condition that permits these gravity-current heads to maintain their structural integrity so that the fine sediments can travel with the head over long distances on the ocean floor. The structural coherence of the current head depends on the lock aspect ratio. The gravity-current head produced by the release from the lock with the highest aspect ratio of H/L _o  = 8 is most coherent and relatively has the greatest floor velocity and the least trailing current behind the head.     

低施磷水平下不同施肥对太湖地区黄泥土磷迁移性的影响

对太湖地区水稻土上长达13年的长期不同施肥处理的某试验田进行了土壤全磷、树脂磷和水溶性磷的测定分析.不同处理的年施磷量为0～53kg/(hm²·a),土壤全磷为0.3～0.5g·k^-1.根据土壤磷素的质量平衡,计算表明该水稻土存在的磷素流失量为2～8kg/(hm²·a),单施化肥下的流失量最大,为配施有机肥处理的2～4倍;水溶性磷的比率在0.2%～0.4%间,且不同施肥实践对其的影响不明显.但单施化肥有使亚表层树脂磷和水溶性磷含量提高的倾向.长期施用化肥配施大量鲜猪粪使树脂磷含量提高20～40 mg·kg^-1,但与长期施用化肥配施秸秆的处理一样没有发生在有机质增加下的磷活化而提高磷流失.这些说明本地区长期单施化肥的水稻土中可能存在强烈的磷流失,且水稻土磷流失并不以水溶解发生.为了防止水稻土磷的强烈水流失而加剧农业非点源污染,要避免长期单施化肥,而应坚持和推广配施适量有机肥.     

Determination of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in environmental samples

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O3/H2O2降解水中扑灭通效能研究

利用拟一级降解速率常数表征O3/H2O2对扑灭通(Prometon)的氧化效能,探讨了n(H2O2)/n(O3)、pH值、水质和碳酸氢根离子对去除的影响,对有机氧化产物进行了气相和液相质谱分析,以离子色谱法测定了反应过程中产生的NO3-,在此基础上对扑灭通降解途径进行了研究.结果表明,扑灭通初始浓度2 mg.L-1,反应温度25℃,O3投量13 mg.L-1时,最佳反应条件为n(H2O2)/n(O3)=0.7,体系pH为7～8;扑灭通在自来水中的去除效果好于纯水;HCO3-浓度>50 mg.L-1时,对扑灭通的氧化有明显的抑制作用.液质和气质的分析结果表明扑灭通并未开环,氧化过程中扑灭通三嗪环支链上的2个异丙基首先被氧化脱去,离子色谱检测到的NO3-是三嗪环支链胺基氧化的产物.     

Optimization of hydrogen distribution systems with pressure constraints

Hydrogenation units are often operated at high pressure, requiring the use of compressors which are one of the most expensive chemical processing equipment. Optimizing a hydrogen network should therefore take into consideration not only purity and flowrate constraints but also pressure requirements. In this paper, based on the hydrogen surplus diagram approach, the average pressure profiles of hydrogen sources and sinks are proposed through the introduction of a system’s minimum pressure drop Δp. Combined with the traditional purity profiles, whether a source can meet a sink either for hydrogen concentration or for pressure requirements can be determined intuitively. In cases where the pressure of a source is not sufficient for a sink, installing a hydrogen compressor or using another source with higher purity and pressure could be potential solutions. A cost equation is established to determine which of the two solutions is economically more viable. For different matching situations between sources and sinks, strategies for optimum placement of compression equipment within a given hydrogen network are proposed. A case study is used to illustrate the application and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Control of aliphatic halogenated DBP precursors with multiple drinking water treatment processes: Formation potential and integrated toxicity

The comprehensive control efficiency for the formation potentials(FPs) of a range of regulated and unregulated halogenated disinfection by-products(DBPs)(including carbonaceous DBPs(C-DBPs), nitrogenous DBPs(N-DBPs), and iodinated DBPs(I-DBPs)) with the multiple drinking water treatment processes, including pre-ozonation, conventional treatment(coagulation–sedimentation, pre-sand filtration), ozone-biological activated carbon(O_3-BAC) advanced treatment, and post-sand filtration, was investigated. The potential toxic risks of DBPs by combing their FPs and toxicity values were also evaluated.The results showed that the multiple drinking water treatment processes had superior performance in removing organic/inorganic precursors and reducing the formation of a range of halogenated DBPs. Therein, ozonation significantly removed bromide and iodide,and thus reduced the formation of brominated and iodinated DBPs. The removal of organic carbon and nitrogen precursors by the conventional treatment processes was substantially improved by O_3-BAC advanced treatment, and thus prevented the formation of chlorinated C-DBPs and N-DBPs. However, BAC filtration leads to the increased formation of brominated C-DBPs and N-DBPs due to the increase of bromide/DOC and bromide/DON.After the whole multiple treatment processes, the rank order for integrated toxic risk values caused by these halogenated DBPs was haloacetonitriles(HANs)》haloacetamides(HAMs) haloacetic acids(HAAs) trihalomethanes(THMs) halonitromethanes(HNMs) 》I-DBPs(I-HAMs and I-THMs). I-DBPs failed to cause high integrated toxic risk because of their very low FPs. The significant higher integrated toxic risk value caused by HANs than other halogenated DBPs cannot be ignored.     

PW_(12)/g-C_3N_4光催化降解甲基橙

采用浸渍法制备了磷钨酸(PW12)/g-C3N4复合光催化剂,并将其用于溶液中甲基橙的光催化降解,运用IR技术对使用前后的光催化剂进行了表征。表征结果显示,PW12和g-C3N4的结构未在浸渍负载中发生改变,且PW12和g-C3N4结合牢固。实验结果表明:最佳的PW12负载量(光催化剂中PW12的质量分数)为50%;光催化降解甲基橙的优化反应条件为初始甲基橙质量浓度5 mg/L、光催化剂加入量0.6 g/L、初始溶液p H=7;在优化条件下,分别采用紫外光、模拟太阳光、可见光照射120 min后,甲基橙的降解率分别为96.59%,82.23%,42.78%;该光催化剂固载良好,使用中不易发生溶脱,稳定性好,可重复使用。     

Cooling suits, physiological response, and task performance in hot environments for the power industry.

Heat stress on workers working outdoors in the power industry may result in fatigue and deterioration in task performance. This research collected and analyzed data on task performance of workers working indoors and outdoors with and without a cooling suit. The task performance was compared on the basis of heart rate, oxygen consumption, tympanic temperature, subjective responses, productivity, and error rates. Based on One-Way Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA) results, a significantly lower estimated working oxygen consumption was observed (p < .001) when the cooling suit was worn. The productivity was higher while workers wore the cooling suit as compared to no cooling suit (p = .011) whereas the error rates were significantly lower (p < .001). Also a significantly lower self-reported discomfort was observed in the neck and shoulders while working wearing the cooling suit (p = .004). This study concluded that wearing a cooling suit while working outdoors was associated with physiological benefits as well as improved task performance of the study participants.