Non-microcystin producing Microcystis wesenbergii (Komárek) Komárek (Cyanobacteria) representing a main waterbloom-forming species in Chinese waters

It is well known that several morphospecies of Microcystis, such as Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Lemmermann and Microcystis viridis (A. Brown) Lemmermann can produce hepatotoxic microcystins. However, previous studies gave contradictory conclusions about microcystin production of Microcystis wesenbergii (Komárek) Komárek. In the present study, ten Microcystis morphospecies were identified in waterblooms of seven Chinese waterbodies, and Microcystis wesenbergii was shown as the dominant species in these waters. More than 250 single colonies of M. wesenbergii were chosen, under morphological identification, to examine whether M. wesenbergii produce hepatotoxic microcystin by using multiplex PCR for molecular detection of a region (mcyA) of microcystin synthesis genes, and chemical analyses of microcystin content by ELISA and HPLC for 21 isolated strains of M. wesenbergii from these waters were also performed. Both molecular and chemical methods demonstrated that M. wesenbergii from Chinese waters did not produce microcystin.     

Modulation of steroidogenesis by coastal waters and sewage effluents of Hong Kong, China, using the H295R assay

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The presence of a variety of pollutants in the aquatic environment that can potentially interfere with the production of sex steroid hormones in wildlife and humans has been of increasing concern. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of extracts from Hong Kong marine waters, and influents and effluents from wastewater treatment plants on steroidogenesis using the H295R cell bioassay. After exposing H295R cells to extracts of water, the expression of four steroidogenic genes and the production of three steroid hormones were measured. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water samples were collected during the summer of 2005 from 24 coastal marine areas and from the influents and effluents of two major waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in Hong Kong, China. Samples were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE). H295R cells were exposed for 48 h to dilutions of these extracts. Modulations of the expression of the steroidogenic genes CYP19, CYP17, 3betaHSD2, and CYP11beta2 were determined by measuring mRNA concentrations by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR). Production of the hormones progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and testosterone (T) was quantified using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: Extracts from samples collected in two fish culture areas inhibited growth and proliferation of H295R cells at concentrations greater or equal to 10(5) L equivalents. The cells were exposed to the equivalent concentration of active substances in 10,000 L of water. Thus, to observe the same level of effect as observed in vitro on aquatic organisms would require a bioaccumulation factor of this same magnitude. None of the other 22 marine samples affected growth of the cells at any dilution tested. Twelve of the marine water samples completely inhibited the expression of CYP19 without affecting E2 production; inhibition of CYP17 expression was observed only in one of the samples while expression of CYP11beta2 was induced as much as five- and ninefold after exposure of cells to extracts from two locations. The expression of the progesterone gene 3betaHSD2 was not affected by any of the samples; only one sample induced approximately fourfold the production of E2. Although more than twofold inductions were observed for P and T production, none of these values were statistically significant to conclude effects on the production of these two hormones. While influents from WWTPs did not affect gene expression, an approximately 30% inhibition in the production of E2 and a 40% increase in P occurred for the exposure with influents from the Sha Tin and Stonecutters WWTPs, respectively. Effluents from WWTPs did not affect the production of any of the studied hormones, but a decrement in the expression of the aldosterone gene CYP11beta2 was observed for the Sha Tin WWTP exposure. No direct correlation could be established between gene expression and hormone production. DISCUSSION: Observed cytotoxicity in the two samples from fish culture areas suggest the presence of toxic compounds; chemical analysis is required for their full identification. Although effluents from WWTPs did not affect hormone production, other types of endocrine activity such as receptor-mediated effects cannot be ruled out. Interactions due to the complexity of the samples and alternative steroidogenic pathways might explain the lack of correlation between gene expression and hormone production results. CONCLUSIONS: Changes observed in gene expression and hormone production suggest the presence in Hong Kong coastal waters of pollutants with endocrine disruption potential and others of significant toxic effects. The aromatase and aldosterone genes seem to be the most affected by the exposures, while E2 and P are the hormones with more significant changes observed. Results also suggest effectiveness in the removing of compounds with endocrine activity by the WWTPs studied, as effluent samples did not significantly affect hormone production. The H295R cell showed to be a valuable toll in the battery required for the analysis of endocrine disrupting activities of complex environmental samples. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Due to the intrinsic complexity of environmental samples, a combination of analytical tools is required to realistically assess environmental conditions, especially in aquatic systems. In the evaluation of endocrine disrupting activities, the H295R cell bioassay should be used in combination with other genomic, biological, chemical, and hydrological tests to establish viable modes for endocrine disruption and identify compounds responsible for the observed effects.     

氯苯嘧啶醇在水体中的光解机制研究

以太阳光为实验光源研究了氯苯嘧啶醇在水溶液中的光解,考察了pH、水体类型、溶解氧及卤素离子等对其光解的影响.结果表明,氯苯嘧啶醇在水溶液中的光解符合一级动力学方程,在不同水体中氯苯嘧啶醇光解的速率大小顺序为:重蒸水>水库水>湖水>池塘水;氯苯嘧啶醇光解的半衰期随着溶液pH的增大而延长,当pH为5、7、9、11时光解半衰期分别为5.00、6.86、7.45、7.53 h;3种卤素离子对氯苯嘧啶醇光解有很大的影响,均表现出强的猝灭作用,3种离子的猝灭能力的大小顺序为Ⅰ->Br->Cl-;溶解氧和三重态光猝灭剂山梨酸均对氯苯嘧啶醇在水中的光解没有影响,而三重态光敏剂丙酮则对其光解有较强的猝灭作用,表明氯苯嘧啶醇在水中的光解主要以直接光解为主,光解过程不经历三重态.     

固定化解脂耶氏酵母处理油脂废水研究

利用海藻酸钙包埋固定的解脂耶氏酵母(Yarrowia lipolytica)分别降解以色拉油为惟一碳源和以葡萄糖为惟一碳源的污水,结果表明,在最佳处理条件下,固定化细胞在50 h内,能较好地降解废水中浓度为2 000 mg/L的色拉油和浓度为2 000 mg/L 的COD,降解率都在80%以上;固定化细胞对色拉油、COD降解效率随着时间的延长而增加、随着底物浓度的增加而下降;与未固定菌株相比,固定化细胞有着更好的储存稳定性和可重复使用性,结果进一步提示固定化解脂耶氏酵母适于含油废水以及高COD含量的生活污水处理。     

类Fenton氧化技术去除榨菜生产废水COD的研究

研究了紫外光照射下类Fenton试剂对榨菜生产废水COD的去除,考察了光照时间、初始pH值、过氧化氢用量、FeCl₃·6H₂O用量等因素对榨菜废水中COD去除率的影响。结果表明,光照时间60 min,初始pH值3,H₂O₂（30%）的用量为理论值的120%,c₀(H₂O₂)∶c₀［Fe(Ⅲ)］=11.6∶1.0时,COD去除率效果为最佳,达到79%。当H₂O₂投加总量不变时,去除率随着投加次数的增多而增大。     

污泥果肥利用中重金属迁移特征研究

为了厦门城市污泥的安全利用,将石渭头污水处理厂污泥经过好氧堆肥后施用于柚子树,对重金属元素在土壤、树叶及果肉中的迁移特征进行了研究。结果表明：Cd在土壤中的富集能力强;重金属元素从土壤向树叶迁移累积能力比向果肉的大得多,污泥肥料不能用于叶类食用植物的施用;Cr向树叶、Ni向果肉的迁移累积能力强;泥肥的施用加重了土壤中Cd的污染,提高了Cr向树叶、Ni向果肉的迁移能力;污泥果肥利用需降低Ni的浓度,对污泥中含量较高的Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr和Cd需进行跟踪检测。     

蚯蚓富集猪粪中Cu、Zn的条件优化研究

为探讨利用蚯蚓吸收富集在猪粪中的Cu、Zn以减少其在猪粪中含量的技术途径,实验以赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetida)为生物反应器,采用L18(36)正交设计法,对蚯蚓吸收富集猪粪中Cu、Zn的最适条件进行了研究.结果表明,蚯蚓对猪粪中的Cu、Zn具有一定的吸收能力, 辅料类别、C/N、温度、湿度和蚯蚓密度均能影响蚯蚓对猪粪中Cu、Zn的吸收,综合考虑蚯蚓的生长及对猪粪Cu、Zn的吸收,以猪粪和玉米秸秆为饵料,C/N为22～30、温度为15 ℃、湿度为75%、接种密度为15尾/盆(100 g风干饵料中蚯蚓的生物量为2.29 g)的组合条件下,蚯蚓对猪粪Cu、Zn的吸收总量最高.     

umu试验菌种保存条件优化研究

研究了umu试验菌株(Salmonella typhimurimu TA1535/pSK1002)的菌种在普通冰箱中保存时其生长曲线和活性的变化,菌种经活化后可以得到稳定的活化生长曲线以及比较稳定的4-NQO活性曲线.通过菌种活化,使得umu试验菌种在普通冰箱中保存就能具有很好的活性和稳定性,极大地降低了保存难度,简化了菌种保存操作步骤,增加了试验的可重复性,有利于umu试验在实际环境样品检测中的应用.     

自来水厂不同净水工艺对持久性有机物的去除效果试验研究

以多环芳烃和有机氯农药作为有机物评价指标,对某自来水厂常规处理加深度处理工艺,即混凝-沉淀-过滤-炭吸附处理工艺的去除效果评价,并对几种深度处理技术展望.结果表明,检出多环芳烃和有机氯农药均未超出生活饮用水标准(2006)的限值.在研究的净水工艺中,深度处理工艺炭滤对多环芳烃和有机氯农药的去除效果较为理想.强化混凝、臭氧 活性炭和纳滤膜技术是水厂未来经济可行的处理工艺.     

污泥减量化与资源化研究进展

随着污水处理量增加,污泥的产生量也日益巨大.如何使污泥无害化、减量化和资源化已越来越受人们的关注.针对目前传统污泥处理与处置方法存在的问题,重点介绍了近年来污泥减量化和资源化的处理技术,并分析了新技术研究情况和应用前景,为污泥合理处理与处置提供参考.