CHO cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity analyses of disinfection by-products: An updated review

The disinfection of drinking water is an important public health service that generates high quality, safe and palatable tap water. The disinfection of drinking water to reduce waterborne disease was an outstanding public health achievement of the 20th century. An unintended consequence is the reaction of disinfectants with natural organic matter, anthropogenic contaminants and bromide/iodide to form disinfection by-products (DBPs). A large number of DBPs are cytotoxic, neurotoxic, mutagenic, genotoxic, carcinogenic and teratogenic. Epidemiological studies demonstrated low but significant associations between disinfected drinking water and adverse health effects. The distribution of DBPs in disinfected waters has been well defined by advances in high precision analytical chemistry. Progress in the analytical biology and toxicology of DBPs has been forthcoming. The objective of this review was to provide a detailed presentation of the methodology for the quantitative, comparative analyses on the induction of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of 103 DBPs using an identical analytical biological platform and endpoints. A single Chinese hamster ovary cell line was employed in the assays. The data presented are derived from papers published in the literature as well as additional new data and represent the largest direct quantitative comparison on the toxic potency of both regulated and emerging DBPs. These data may form the foundation of novel research to define the major forcing agents of DBP-mediated toxicity in disinfected water and may play an important role in achieving the goal of making safe drinking water better.     

The role of body size versus growth on the decision to migrate: a case study with Salmo trutta

In a population exhibiting partial migration (i.e. migration and residency tactics occur in the same population), the mechanisms underlying the tactical choice are still unclear. Empirical studies have highlighted a variety of factors that could influence the coexistence of resident and migratory individuals, with growth and body size considered to be key factors in the decision to migrate. Most studies suffer from at least one of the two following caveats: (1) survival and capture probabilities are not taken into account in the data analysis, and (2) body size is often used as a proxy for individual growth. We performed a capture–mark–recapture experiment to study partial migration among juvenile brown trout Salmo trutta at the end of their first year, when a portion of the population emigrate from the natal stream while others choose residency tactic. Bayesian multistate capture–recapture models accounting for survival and recaptures probabilities were used to investigate the relative role of body size and individual growth on survival and migration probabilities. Our results show that, despite an apparent effect of both size and growth on migration, growth is the better integrative parameter and acts directly on migration probability whereas body size acts more strongly on survival. Consequently, we recommend caution if size is used as a proxy for growth when studying the factors that drive partial migration in juvenile salmonid species.     

Transverse approach between real world concentrations of SO2, NO2, BTEX, aldehyde emissions and corrosion in the Grand Mare tunnel

With regard to automotive traffic, a tunnel-type semi enclosed atmosphere is characterized by a higher concentration of gaseous pollutants than on urban traffic roads and highlights the gaseous effluent species having an impact on material degradation. Therefore, a transverse approach between air quality and its consequences upon the longevity of materials is necessary, implying better knowledge of tunnel atmosphere and a better understanding of material degradation inside a tunnel for operating administration. Gaseous pollutant measurements carried out in a road tunnel in Rouen (Normandy) give the real world traffic concentrations of experimental exposure conditions. The sampling campaigns, achieved in summer and winter include SO₂, NO₂, BTEX and aldehyde analyses. Effluent profiles in the upward and downward tubes have been established. The current work shows that SO₂, NO₂, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal and butanal must be considered in the degradation process of materials in a stuffy environment. As regards NO₂, its concentration depends on the modification of the automotive fleet. The total aldehyde concentrations indicate no particular trend between the two bores. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal and acrolein species are the most abundant species emitted by vehicles and represent 90% to 95% of the total aldehyde emissions.     

Does weather shape rodents? Climate related changes in morphology of two heteromyid species

Geographical variation in morphometric characters in heteromyid rodents has often correlated with climate gradients. Here, we used the long-term database of rodents trapped in the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, USA to test whether significant annual changes in external morphometric characters are observed in a region with large variations in temperature and precipitation. We looked at the relationships between multiple temperature and precipitation variables and a number of morphological traits (body mass, body, tail, hind leg, and ear length) for two heteromyid rodents, Dipodomys merriami and Perognathus flavescens. Because these rodents can live multiple years in the wild, the climate variables for the year of the capture and the previous 2 years were included in the analyses. Using multiple linear regressions, we found that all of our morphometric traits, with the exception of tail length in D. merriami, had a significant relationship with one or more of the climate variables used. Our results demonstrate that effects of climate change on morphological traits occur over short periods, even in noninsular mammal populations. It is unclear, though, whether these changes are the result of morphological plasticity or natural selection.     

SO2污染对小鼠骨髓细胞微核的诱发作用

在SO2吸入慢性染毒条件下,小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞（PCE）的微核细胞率与微核率均显著增加,且雌雄差异显著。结果也表明,SO2对阳性致突变剂乌拉坦航发微核的作用有显著抑制效应。本研究模拟SO2空气污染,从整体水平直接证实了SO2是哺乳类细胞染色体断裂剂、SO2与阳性致突变剂的联合作用是复杂的结论。     

生物炭降解苯和甲苯混合废气性能研究

该研究以生物炭为过滤介质 ,探讨过滤塔降解气流中苯、甲苯的生物降解性能 .实验表明 ,在总有机负荷低于 3 5 0 g/ (h·m3)、停留时间 1 5～ 90s的实验条件下 ,滤塔对苯和甲苯混合气体有较好的降解性能 ,苯、甲苯的最大削减能力分别为 1 2 0 g/ (h·m3)和 1 5 0 g/ (h·m3) ,甲苯比苯更易被微生物降解 .滤塔中CO2 生成量随苯、甲苯降解量的增加而增加 ,但实验增长速率小于理论增长速率 .菌落分析表明 ,滤塔中微生物主要有真菌、杆菌、芽孢杆菌 ,其中芽孢杆菌为优势菌种 .根据吸附 生物降解机理 ,建立了VOCs去除模型 ,并予以验证 .     

草浆造纸中段废水的生物处理动力学

利用静态溶解氧消耗速率（OUR）试验模拟草浆造纸中段废水生物处理的生化反应过程,并运用Lawrence-McCarty模式进行了动力学分析。由OUR试验结果和小试研究结果建立的草浆造纸中段废水好氧生物处理的动力学方程为v=0.72S/(60.43 S）。将该动力学方程预测结果和实际工程的运行数据进行了比较,结果表明,动力学方程的比基质降解速率预测值高于实际工程的计算值,分析原因可能在于：实际工程中中段废水中的纤维素类悬溪物在生物处理装置的积累导致了污泥活性的降低。     

煤热解过程中无机有害元素的变迁规律

在自行设计的加压密闭快速热解反应器中研究了神华和义马煤中Na、K、Pb和Mn等无机有害元素在氮气条件下随温度（300℃-700℃)的变化规律,进一步考察了热解气氛（氮气、氢气和二氧化碳）、压力对神华煤中这4种元素逸出规律的影响。结果表明：Na、K、Pb和Mn等元素在半焦中的残留量随温度的升高而减少,减少量随煤种而异,如在700℃时,神华煤中Na、K、Pb和Mn的析出率分别是义马煤的3、4．2、1．4和2．4倍;低压快速加氢热解有利于这4种元素的逸出。Pb是挥发性最强的元素,与热力学计算结果一致。     

西安地区土壤CO2 释放量和释放规律

根据碱溶液吸收法,对西安地区不同植被条件下土壤CO2释放量进行了昼夜观测,观测资料显示,西安地区各月份土壤CO2释放量在一昼夜内具有明显的变化,从当日上午到次日上午,CO2释放量表现出由低变高再变低的规律,土壤CO2释放量变化与温度变化具有相同的特征,但释放量的变化具有滞后性,相对于温度的变化滞后4－6h左右,温度是决定土壤CO2释放量昼夜变化规律的主要因素,它的升高和降低分别造成了土壤CO2和放量的增加和减少,不同植被条件下,土壤CO2释放量不同,林地释放量大于草地,草地释放量大于裸地,夜间12h释放量大于白天12h释放量。     

The functionality of female reciprocal calls in the Iberian midwife toad (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alytes cisternasii</Emphasis>): female-female acoustic competition?

Female midwife toads (genus Alytes) emit highly variable reciprocal calls of unclear function prior to and during courtship. In some species, female-female competition, expressed as physical fighting, has been reported. Males of Majorcan midwife toads (Alytes muletensis) show phonotactic response to female calls, and females of Iberian midwife toads (Alytes cisternasii) respond differently according to the male call characteristics. In this study, I test the hypothesis of female-female acoustic competition as an additional function of female reciprocal calls. Playback tests indicate that female calls are not clearly involved in female acoustic competition in the Iberian midwife toad, therefore female calls could be directed at males rather than towards competitive females.