Predicted no-effect concentrations for mercury species and ecological risk assessment for mercury pollution in aquatic environment

Mercury (Hg) exists in different chemical forms presenting varied toxic potentials. It is necessary to explore an ecological risk assessment method for different mercury species in aquatic environment. The predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) for Hg(II) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in the aqueous phase, calculated using the species sensitivity distribution method and the assessment factor method, were 0.39 and 6.5 × 10^-3 μg/L, respectively. The partition theory of Hg between sediment and aqueous phases was considered, along with PNECs for the aqueous phase to conduct an ecological risk assessment for Hg in the sediment phase. Two case studies, one in China and one in the Western Black Sea, were conducted using these PNECs. The toxicity of mercury is heavily dependent on their forms, and their potential ecological risk should be respectively evaluated on the basis of mercury species.     

Predicted no-effect concentrations for mercury species and ecological risk assessment for mercury pollution in aquatic environment

Mercury (Hg) exists in different chemical forms presenting varied toxic potentials. It is necessary to explore an ecological risk assessment method for different mercury species in aquatic environment. The predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) for Hg(II) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in the aqueous phase, calculated using the species sensitivity distribution method and the assessment factor method, were 0.39 and 6.5 × 10^− 3 μg/L, respectively. The partition theory of Hg between sediment and aqueous phases was considered, along with PNECs for the aqueous phase to conduct an ecological risk assessment for Hg in the sediment phase. Two case studies, one in China and one in the Western Black Sea, were conducted using these PNECs. The toxicity of mercury is heavily dependent on their forms, and their potential ecological risk should be respectively evaluated on the basis of mercury species.     

Role of nitric oxide in the genotoxic response to chronic microcystin-LR exposure in human–hamster hybrid cells

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is the most abundant and toxic microcystin congener and has been classified as a potential human carcinogen (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying the genotoxic effects of MC-LR during chronic exposure are still poorly understood. In the present study, human–hamster hybrid (A_L) cells were exposed to MC-LR for varying lengths of time to investigate the role of nitrogen radicals in MC-LR-induced genotoxicity. The mutagenic potential at the CD59 locus was more than 2-fold higher (p < 0.01) in A_L cells exposed to a cytotoxic concentration (1 μmol/L) of MC-LR for 30 days than in untreated control cells, which was consistent with the formation of micronucleus. MC-LR caused a dose-dependent increase in nitric oxide (NO) production in treated cells. Moreover, this was blocked by concurrent treatment with the NO synthase inhibitor N^G-methyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA), which suppressed MC-LR-induced mutations as well. The survival of mitochondrial DNA-depleted (ρ⁰) A_L cells was markedly decreased by MC-LR treatment compared to that in A_L cells, while the CD59 mutant fraction was unaltered. These results provided clear evidence that the genotoxicity associated with chronic MC-LR exposure in mammalian cells was mediated by NO and might be considered as a basis for the development of therapeutics that prevent carcinogenesis.     

全氟辛烷基磺酸钾(PFOS)和纳米氧化锌(Nano-ZnO)复合暴露对斑马鱼下丘脑-垂体-甲状腺轴功能的影响

全氟辛烷基磺酸钾(PFOS)和纳米氧化锌(Nano-Zn O)广泛存在于环境中,但是它们复合暴露对水生生物的潜在毒性机制尚未明确。本文探讨PFOS和Nano-Zn O复合暴露对斑马鱼下丘脑-垂体-甲状腺轴(HPT轴)毒性的影响。将斑马鱼胚胎从孵化开始暴露于PFOS(0.2、0.4、0.8 mg·L~(-1))、Nano-Zn O(6.75、12.5、25 mg·L~(-1))、PFOS+Nano-Zn O(0.2+6.75、0.4+12.5、0.8+25 mg·L~(-1))溶液中15 d后,分析幼鱼的发育毒性,体内的甲状腺激素(甲状腺素(T4)和三碘甲状腺氨酸(T3)含量和与甲状腺有关基因(CRF、TSH、NIS、TG和TPO)的表达情况。结果发现复合暴露组与单独暴露组相比,前者显著诱导了幼鱼的畸形率,降低了幼鱼的存活率,并抑制了幼鱼的体长。复合暴露组显著增加了幼鱼体内T3含量,同时抑制体内T4的含量。与单独暴露组相比,复合暴露组显著诱导了CRF和NIS基因的表达,同时抑制了TSHβ和TG基因的表达。而TPO基因的表达水平在单独和复合暴露组中没有显著差异。本研究首次证明了PFOS和Nano-Zn O复合暴露对斑马鱼幼鱼甲状腺轴的干扰效果并对其进行了机制探讨。     

国内外生态厕所类型分析及其应用研究

本文通过对国内外不同类型生态厕所特点及应用效果的综合分析与比较，提出了适合城市地区使用的循环水型生态环保厕所。     

试述环境影响评价报告中的工程分析——以精细化工项目为例

以精细化工项目为例论述环境影响评价报告中工程分析的重要性,找出工程分析的难点,理清思路,确定工程分析的方法。     

Impact of socioeconomic and meteorological factors on reservoirs’ air quality: a case in the Three Gorges Reservoir of Chongqing (TGRC), China over a 10-year period

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The Three Gorges Dam’s construction and industrial transfer have resulted in a new air pollution pattern with the potential to threaten the...     

Inkjet Printing for Silicon Solar Cells

Inkjet printing of metal nanoparticles is an attractive method for front-side metallization of silicon solar cells. It is owing to noncontact, low-cost, low-waste, and simple process. In this work, we proposed the ink-jet printing and electroless technology to fabricate the seed layer and electrode layer, respectively. Furthermore, we used electroplating method to increase the electrode conductivity. In this way, the energy conversion efficiency up to 12.22% without AR coating can be obtained on 100?×?100 mm c-Si cell.     

Atmospheric emission of polychlorinated biphenyls from multiple industrial thermal processes

In this study, field measurements were conducted to estimate and characterize the atmospheric emission levels and profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from multiple industrial thermal processes. The emission levels and profiles of PCBs from five types of thermal processes at twenty-three plants were studied and compared with eight processes reported in our previous studies. Correlation analysis was preformed to identify a marker congener for emission of ΣPCB. A significant correlation was observed between congener CB-118 and ΣPCB (R² = 0.65 and p < 0.01), which suggests that CB-118 is a good marker congener for emission of ΣPCB. The profiles of PCBs emitted from the thirteen thermal processes were compared, and this information could be used for studying source–receptor relationships and identifying the specific sources of PCBs. To prioritize the sources for control, the concentrations of PCBs from thirteen industrial thermal sources were compared. The PCB concentrations from secondary zinc smelting and thermal wire reclamation were about one to three order magnitude higher than those of other sources, which suggests that these two sources be given priority in PCB source control. Finally, the atmospheric emission factors of PCBs from the thirteen industrial sources were summarized, and these data will be useful for developing an integrated emission inventory of PCBs.