Determination of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in fish oils for feed ingredients by congener-specific chemical analysis and CALUX bioassay

The present research was intended to determine the suitability of the CALUX assay as a screening method for dioxins in fish oil used as a feed ingredient in Japan. Alteration of TEQ in fish oil according to newly proposed toxic equivalency factors (TEF) is also discussed. In the analysis, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in 41 fish oil samples were determined by using high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) and CALUX bioassay. The mean TEQ values derived from 1998 WHO-TEF of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs were 2.6 and 9.9 pg g(-1) (ww), respectively. The levels of TEQ derived from the recently re-evaluated 2005 WHO-TEF were slightly lower than those of the former in both groups. Notably, the contribution of mono-ortho DL-PCBs to total 2005 WHO-TEQ was considerably decreased compared to the case of 1998 WHO-TEQ, resulting from the reduction in its TEF values, while the non-ortho DL-PCBs contribution was increased. The mean TEQ determined by CALUX assay for PCDD/Fs was approximately three times higher, whereas DL-PCBs was approximately two times lower than WHO-TEQ determined by HRGC/HRMS; the sum of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs was very similar by both methods. The correlation coefficients of TEQ between the CALUX assay and HRGC/HRMS analysis were 0.84, 0.89, and 0.90 for PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs, and the sum, respectively. These results suggest that the CALUX assay is a very useful method for the screening of dioxin-related compounds in fish oils.     

In vitro effect of agriculture pollutants and their joint action on Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata acid phosphatase

Acid phosphatase plays important roles in algae metabolism such as availability and recycling of inorganic phosphate, autophagic digestive processes and fertilization. Chemicals released into the environment from agriculture activities may impair algae phosphatase activity. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro effect of twenty-four organic compounds and six metals used as pesticides, or present as contaminants in sewage sludge, on the acid phosphatase activity extracted from Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Results demonstrated that only the linear surfactant alkyl benzenesulphonate (LAS) and the heavy metals Hg(2+), Al(3+) and Cu(2+) markedly altered (50%) the enzyme activity. Join action inhibition studies indicated that Hg(2+) was more potent inhibitor than Al(3+) or LAS, and that the Hg(2+)+Al(3+) and Hg(2+)+LAS mixtures have, respectively, additive and slight antagonism effects. Copper, which demonstrated an activator effect when preincubated with the enzyme, behaved as a slight antagonist for the inhibitor effect of Hg(2+).     

Synthese und biochemisches Verhalten von Idebenon und verwandten Verbindungen

Syntheses of some metabolites of ubiquinone and of related compounds are described. Idebenone (QSA-10), a methyl-dimethoxy-benzoquinone bearing an omega-hydroxydecyl side chain in 3-position, restored the oxidation of succinate and of NADH in ubiquinone-depleted mitochondrial preparations and showed a stabilizing effect on lysosomal membranes and an inhibitory effect on cAMP-phosphodiesterase. It inhibited lipid peroxidation in canine brain mitochondria and in microsomes from canine brain and rat liver. Administered orally to rats, it increased the respiratory control index for glutamate and succinate oxidation but had no effect on the ADP/O2 ratio. Pharmacological effects of idebenon are also briefly discussed.     

EMF effects on microcirculatory system

Authors review the importance of studying the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on microcirculatory system, especially in respect of possibility that vasculature may have direct and indirect role in interaction of static magnetic fields (SMF). We outline the physiological importance of microcirculation and relatively new methods of evaluation technique in vivo and explain in details the local and/or whole body exposure effects of SMF with␣range of 0.3–180 mT, power frequency EMF with range of 0.1–30 mT and microwaves at 1.5 GHz with range 0.08–8 W/kg brain average specific absorption rate (SAR) on microcirculatory systems in different tissues in experimental animals.     

Japanese carbon storage in materials

The NEAT model (Nonenergy-use Emission Accounting Tables) has been developed in order to estimate CO2 emissions caused by so-called nonenergy use of fossil fuels. The model is based on material flow accounting. The model has been applied to a number of countries in order to validate and improve its use. This paper discusses the case study for Japan. The NEAT analysis suggests that emissions in 1996 were 23 Mt higher than previously estimated based on the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This quantity equals 1.9% of the total Japanese greenhouse gas emission. It is recommended to adjust the Japanese emission accounting practice and to apply more detailed emission estimation methods in future years. Given similar results for other countries it is also recommended to improve the IPCC guidelines.     

Investing in safety an analytical precautionary principle

PROBLEM: Governments and businesses must respond to increasing safety requirements and balance the associated costs with productivity and competing pressures. METHOD: A real options approach has been introduced for decision making in the private sector; this approach is adapted for regulatory decisions that can involve irreversible and uncertain safety impacts, social costs that differ from private costs, and differences in perception among the stakeholders. RESULT AND IMPACT ON INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT: The outcome is an economic decision gage that determines if it is optimal to invest in safety even if the estimated costs significantly exceed the estimated benefits. Applications potentially include safety decisions related to aviation, ground transportation, pipelines, nuclear facilities, natural disaster planning, and terrorism, among others.     

Evaluation and comparison of multimedia mass balance models of chemical fate: application of EUSES and ChemCAN to 68 chemicals in Japan

The European Union System for Evaluation of Substances (EUSES) and the ChemCAN chemical fate model are applied to describe the fate of 68 chemicals on two spatial scales in Japan. Emission information on the chemicals has been obtained from Japan's Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry and available monitoring data gathered from government reports. Environmental concentrations calculated by the two models for the four primary environmental media of air, water, soil and sediment agree within a factor of 3 for over 70% of the data, and within a factor of 10 for over 87% of the data. Reasons for certain large discrepancies are discussed. Concentrations calculated by the models are generally consistent with the lower range of concentrations that are observed in the environment. Agreement between modeled and observed concentrations is considerably improved by including an estimate of the advective input of chemicals in air from outside Japan. The agreement between the EUSES and ChemCAN models suggests that results of individual chemical assessments are not likely to be significantly affected by the choice of chemical fate model. Primary sources of discrepancy between modeled and observed concentrations are believed to be uncertainties in emission rates, degradation half-lives, and the lack of data on advective inflow of contaminants in air.     

壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚在MBR 与CASR 中的行为

对比研究了壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚(NPnEO, n 为1~4)在膜-生物反应器(MBR)和传统活性污泥反应器(CASR)中的去除效果和迁移行为.结果表明,在相同NPnEO 污泥负荷的条件下,采用不主动排泥的运行模式,2 种反应器均能有效去除NPnEO,去除率分别为99.2%和97.1%,MBR 的去除效果更稳定.前21d 中,2 种反应器中混合液NPnEO 浓度均呈现先增大后减小的趋势,但MBR 出水NPnEO 浓度小于其混合液浓度,而CASR 出水浓度则高于其混合液浓度;21d 后,2 种反应器混合液与出水浓度均趋于一致.活性污泥对NPnEO 具有吸附作用,但对去除NPnEO 的贡献很小;推测生物降解是去除NPnEO 的主导作用.     

Efficient depolymerization and chemical conversion of polyamide 66 to 1,6-hexanediol

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Polyamide 66 was efficiently depolymerized and chemically converted by treatment with supercritical MeOH in the presence of glycolic acid. The...