The quantification and effects of system pH value on the interactions between Pb(II) and the biopolymer in activated sludge were investigated. The biopolymer had two protein-like fluorescence peaks (Ex/Em = 280 nm/326–338 nm for peak A; Ex/Em = 220–230 nm/324–338 nm for peak B). The fluorescence intensities of peak B were higher than those of peak A. The fluorophores of both peaks could be largely quenched by Pb(II), and the quencher dose for peak B was about half of that for peak A. The modified Stern-Volmer equation well depicted the fluorescence quenching titration. The quenching constant (Ka) values for both peaks decreased with rising system pH value, and then sharply decreased under alkaline conditions. It could be attributed to that the alkaline conditions caused the reduction of available Pb(II) due to the occurrence of Pb(OH)2 sediments. The Ka values of peak B were bigger than those for peak A at the same system pH values. Accordingly, the aromatic proteins (peak B) played a key role in the interactions between metal ions and the biopolymer.
Soil is an important environmental medium that is closely associated with humans and their health. Despite this, very few studies
have measured toxicants in soils, and associated them with health risks in humans. An assessment of health effects from exposure to
contaminants in soils surrounding industrial areas of chemical production and storage is important. This article aims at determining
pollution characteristics of persistent toxic substances (PTS) in an industrial area in China to unravel the relationship between soil
pollution by PTS and human health. One hundred and five soil samples were collected and 742 questionnaires were handed out to
residents living in and around an industrial area around Bohai Bay, Tianjin in Northern China. Concentrations of organochlorine
pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in soil. Mann-Whitney U and binary multivariate nonconditional
logistic regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between health indicators of local residents and
contaminant levels. Odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI) for health incidences were also calculated. The average
concentrations of DDT (73.9 ng/g), HCH (654 ng/g) and PAHs (1225 ng/g) were relatively high in the industrial area. Residents living
in the chemical industry parks were exposed to a higher levels of PTS than those living outside the chemical industry parks. This
exposure was associated with a higher risk of breast cancer (OR 1.87, 95% CI 0.12–30.06), stomach cancer (OR 1.87, 95% CI 0.26–
13.41), dermatitis (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.05–2.80), gastroenteritis (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.94–2.68), and pneumonia (OR 1.05, 95% CI
0.58–1.89). 相似文献