H and O isotopic differences in typhon and urban-induced heavy rain in Tokyo

Stable isotope ratios of hydrogen and oxygen of water are useful tracers of the hydrological cycle. For example, isotopes monitor the evapotranspiration in vegetated areas, local snow ice processes and stream water flow processes. δ¹⁸O and δD in rainwater reflect the processes of evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Heavy rains thus modify the stable isotope ratio of ground water, stream water and transpiration water vapor. However, the controlling factors of δ¹⁸O and δD are not clear. Here we analyzed the inorganic ion concentration and stable isotope ratio in 38 normal rainwater and 15 heavy rainwater samples were collected in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, during four years from October 2012 to December 2015. Results show a decrease in δ¹⁸O and δD values with the total rainfall amount, thus highlighting the amount effect. δ¹⁸O and δD volume-weighted mean values in typhoon heavy rain were higher than the values estimated from amount effect, whereas δ¹⁸O and δD volume-weighted mean values in urban-induced heavy rain were lower. Typhoon heavy rain has high Na⁺ ratio and stable isotope ratios, while urban-induced heavy rain has low Na⁺ ratio and stable isotope ratio.     

Evaluation of an electrolysis apparatus for inactivating antineoplastics in clinical wastewater

We recently reported a system for inactivating antineoplastics in which sodium hypochlorite is supplied by the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution. In this study, we designed an electrolysis apparatus for inactivating the cytotoxicity of antineoplastics in clinical wastewater using the system. The apparatus consists of an electrolysis cell with platinum-iridium electrodes, a pool tank, a circulating system for wastewater, a safety system for explosive gas and overflow, and an exhaust duct. The free chlorine concentration increased linearly up to 6500 mg l(-1), and pH also increased to 9.0-10.0 within 2h, when 0.9% sodium chloride solution was electrolyzed. We examined its efficacy with model and clinical wastewaters. The reciprocal of dilution factor for disappearance of cytotoxicity using Molt-4 cells was compared before and after electrolysis. In the model wastewater, that was 9.10 x 10(4) before electrolysis, and 3.56 x 10(2) after 2h of electrolysis. In the clinical wastewater (n=26), that was 6.90 x 10(3)-1.02 x 10(6) before electrolysis, and 1.08 x 10(2)-1.45 x 10(4) after 2h of electrolysis. Poisonous and explosive gases released by the electrolysis were measured; however, they were found to be negligible in terms of safety. The environmental load was evaluated by carbon dioxide generation as an index and it was found that the carbon dioxide generated by the electrolysis method was 1/70 lower than that by the dilution method with tap water. Moreover, the cost of the electrolysis method was 1/170 lower than that of the dilution method. This method was found to be both effective and economically valuable.     

Human intake of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin like PCBs in Japan, 2001 and 2002

PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin like PCBs (dioxin) surveillance results derived from regular environmental monitoring as well as other dioxin surveys by national and local governmental bodies in Japan were collected and analyzed. Several thousand data for air and soil in fiscal year 2001 (from 01/04/2001 to 31/03/2002) and 2002, water (from the sea, rivers and lakes), sediment (from the sea, rivers and lakes), ground water, aquatic organisms, purified water from water purification plants, raw water from water purification plants, human breast milk, and human blood in fiscal 2001, and total diet study (TDS) and various kinds of foodstuff in fiscal 1998-2002 were collected. Average human uptake of dioxin in Japan in fiscal 2001 was estimated at 1.68 pg-TEQ/kg-bw/day, while uptake in fiscal 2002 was estimated at 1.52 pg-TEQ/kg-bw/day. Diet accounted for more than 90% of the total intake. Contributions of inhalation and soil ingestion were relatively small. Age-group-specific contribution of various foodstuff to total dietary intake was also estimated. The estimates of intake through fish and shellfish accounted for approximately 45-70% of total dietary intake in each age group. Monte Carlo simulation was conducted, using the data of the air and soil concentrations in fiscal 2001 and the total diet study data in fiscal 1998-2001, in order to obtain information on the variability of dioxin intake; The estimated average, median, 5th percentile and 95th percentile of the intake distribution were 1.78, 1.69, 0.95 and 2.91 pg-TEQ/kg-bw/day, respectively. This study found that the average total intake estimates in Japan in both fiscal 2001 and 2002 were estimated to be below tolerable daily intake level (TDI) defined by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (i.e. 4 pg-TEQ/kg-bw/day). The 95th percentile of the dioxin intake distributions estimated with Monte Carlo simulation using the data of the air and soil concentrations in fiscal 2001 and TDS data in fiscal 1998-2001 was also below the Japanese TDI.     

Decomposition of trichloroethylene and 2,4-dichlorophenol by ozonation in several organic solvents

The effects of chemical characteristics of organic solvents on the decomposition rate constants of undissociative trichloroethylene (TCE) and dissociative 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) by ozonation were studied. The TCE and 2,4-DCP decomposition by ozonation in organic solvents followed to the first-order reaction kinetics with respect to TCE or 2,4-DCP concentration. The orders of the rate constants among organic solvents for undissociative TCE and dissociative 2,4-DCP were different indicating that the ozonation rates for undissociative and dissociative compounds were dependent on the chemical property of organic solvent. The decomposition of undissociative TCE by ozonation was a simple electrophilic reaction, which was dependent on acceptor number (AN) of the solvent. On the other hand, the decomposition of dissociative 2,4-DCP was dependent on by the dissociation of the compounds and would be dependent on donor number (DN) of the solvent. Finally, TCE in acetic acid was transformed to chlorinated intermediates and chloride ion and then these intermediates were continuously oxidized to chlorine gas.     

Acute toxicity of chlorophenols to earthworms using a simple paper contact method and comparison with toxicities to fresh water organisms

An acute toxicity test of chlorophenols on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) was performed using a simple paper contact method proposed by OECD testing guideline no. 207, that were applied as an earthworm toxicity test. The median lethal concentration, EC50, had significant correlation with logP(ow) (1-octanol/water partition coefficient) of the chemicals. The toxicity of chlorophenols on E. fetida was compared with toxicities for other species: an algae (Selenostrum capricornutum), a crustacean (Daphnia magna), and a fish (Oryzias latipes). It was found that the toxicity of chlorophenols was almost same for E. fetida and for fresh water organisms. These results suggest the possibility of drawing correlations between the effects of pollutants on living things in different environments, fresh water and soil.     

Strontium isotope constraints on the seasonal variation of the provenance of base cations in rain water at Kawakami, Central Japan

The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in monthly precipitation in the forested basin at Kawakami, central Japan, varied seasonally from 0.709 to 0.711 in spring to as low as 0.7062 ± 0.0004 in autumn over nine years from 1987 to 1995. The seasonal variation can be explained in terms of the mixing of three sources of Sr: sea salt (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr 0.70917), soluble eolian minerals originating from deserts in continental Asia ( 0.711), and biogenic materials growing on soils derived from the volcanic rock substrates in the vicinity ( 0.706). It is estimated that the contribution of sea-salt Sr into the Kawakami rain Sr is relatively constant (10 ± 5%) and that more than half of the Sr is of biogenic origin throughout the year except during spring rains when 50% of the Sr is due to the dissolution of Ca-minerals from Asian dusts. The dominant contribution of eolian components to spring rains is consistent with the high concentration of ³H, which is typical of air masses from Asia.     

Inactivation of antineoplastics in clinical wastewater by electrolysis

Wastewater from clinical institutions contains a considerable amount of toxic substances. Among the toxic substances, antineoplastics may induce carcinogenesis, teratogenesis, and the emergence of mutant microorganisms in the environment. Although the incineration or chemical treatments of disposed antineoplastics are recommended, a high energy during incineration and a careful quality control during chemical treatment are required. In this study, we determined the conditions for the electrolytic treatment of an antineoplastic, epirubicin hydrochloride (EH), using two platinum electrodes with a constant current of 100 mA. We analyzed the cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and antibacterial activity of electrolyzed EH and compared them with those of unelectrolyzed EH. Nearly 100% cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and antibacterial activity were eliminated and HPLC did not detect an EH molecule, in the case of electrolysis for 6 h. We also examined the biological cytotoxicities of electrolyzed irinotecan hydrochloride, vincristine sulfate, mitomycin C, paclitaxel, methotrexate and cisplatin, and found that 72.1-99.999% toxicity was eliminated by electrolysis under the same conditions. The biological toxicity of a mixture of these drugs was determined to be decreased by approximately 99% by electrolysis under the same conditions.     

Isolation and identification of beta-nitrostyrene from smoked chicken

Extraction and identification of beta-nitrostyrene from smoked chicken is described. Commercially obtained smoked chicken was homogenised and extracted with chloroform-methanol (2:1). The extracts were fractioned by silicic acid column chromatography. The purified extract using thin-layer chromatography was identified by a colour reaction (this qualitative method for some nitrated compounds is developed this time), high pressure liquid chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The concentration of beta-nitrostyrene in the smoked chicken was 94 ppb. The average recovery of added beta-nitrostyrene was 107%. However, the toxicity of this material was not tested in the present paper.     

Relationship between egg productivity and RNA/DNA ratio in Paracalanus sp. in the frontal waters of the Kurshio

The relationship between RNA/DNA ratio and egg productivity of adult Paracalanus sp. females was investigated in the frontal area of the Kuroshio current off Kinkazan Island and Boso Peninsula, Pacific coast of Japan in 1989 and 1990, respectively. In the Kuroshio front off Kinkazan Island, the RNA/DNA ratio of females in the surface layer ranged from 3.87 to 6.92 along a transect 8 miles across the front. In the Kuroshio front off Boso Peninsula, the RNA/DNA ratio varied between 5.15 and 7.27 for 32 h in the course of tracking a drifter launched in the front. The RNA/DNA ratio of the females in both frontal areas tended to increase together with ambient chlorophyll-a concentration, and the relationship fitted to Ivlev's formula (P<0.05). The number of eggs laid in filtered sea-water during 24 h (egg productivity) was also positively correlated with the ambient chlorophyll a concentration (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation (P<0.001) between RNA/DNA ratio and egg productivity, and RNA/DNA ratios accounted for about 70% of variation of the egg productivity. Judging from RNA/DNA ratios and female egg productivity in both frontal areas, relatively large physiological or reproductive changes could possibly occur in small temporal and spatial scales in association with change in phytoplankton abundance.