Sensitivity of isolated eggs of pond snails: a new method for toxicity assays and risk assessment

The concentration of heavy metals in the environment is normally low. We here address whether using the development of isolated pond snail Radix auricularia eggs would provide a more sensitive endpoint and whether the gelatinous matrix of the egg mass surrounding the eggs indeed protects the snail embryos. In the present study, artificial removal of the gelatinous matrix of egg masses greatly increased the sensitivity of developing eggs to a heavy metal (cadmium). The sensitivity of isolated eggs to cadmium was determined using several convenient endpoints, including mortality, hatching rate, and heart rate, with an acute toxicity test and a subchronic test. In the acute toxicity test, a 96-h LC₅₀ value of 58.26 μg/L cadmium was determined. In the subchronic toxicity test, sublethal effects in terms of a significant reduction in hatching rate could be found in the 25-μg/L treatment, and a significant decrease of heart rate was observed in both treatments (5 and 25 μg/L). The high sensitivity of isolated eggs indicates that such tests can be efficient for toxicity assays and risk assessment, although one needs to keep in mind that the ecologically relevant measure of toxicity will be how eggs are affected when they are still inside the egg mass.     

Characterization of the monthly variation in (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan concentrations in university laboratories

We characterize the monthly variation in (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan concentration measured over the course of 1 year, and we evaluate the characteristics of size selection using a two-stage cyclone sampler. The (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan concentrations were measured in four bio-related laboratories. A total of 156 samples were collected using a new two-stage cyclone sampler. Analysis of (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan was performed using the kinetic Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. The study showed that airborne (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan concentrations were significantly higher in laboratory D (mean ± SD 1,105?±?1,893 pg/m³) and in the spring (5,458 pg/m³). The highest concentration of (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan occurred in the spring, particularly in May.     

Composition and source apportionment of PAHs in sediments at river mouths and channel in Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan

Fifty-eight sediment samples were collected in 2009 from the bottom of river mouths near Kaohsiung Harbor (Taiwan) and the harbor channel for the analyses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Concentrations of total PAHs varied from 39 to 30,521 ng g(-1) (dry weight); samples collected from the mouths of Love River, Canon River, Jen-Gen River, and Salt River showed the highest PAHs concentrations. This indicates that the major sources of sediment PAHs come from those polluted urban rivers and the harbor channel. In samples collected from the Salt River mouth, approximately 43% of the PAHs are identified as PAHs with 2 or 3 rings. However, samples collected from other locations contain predominantly PAHs with 4 rings (32 to 42%) or 5 and 6 rings (36 to 44%). Emissions from traffic-related sources and waste incineration contribute to the majority of PAHs found in most channel and river mouth sediments. However, coal/oil combustion is the main cause of high concentrations of PAHs observed in the Salt River mouth sediments. Principal component analyses with multivariate linear regression (PCA/MLR) have been used to further quantify the source contributions, and the results show that the contributions of coal/oil combustion, traffic-related and waste incineration are 37%, 33% and 30%, respectively.     

Determination of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in agricultural soils near a petrochemical complex in Guangzhou,China

The total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) pollution in regional agricultural soils was investigated. Seventy soil samples collected from surface layers (0–20 cm) and horizons of five selected pedons in the vicinity of a petrochemical complex in Guangzhou, China were analyzed, and the vertical variation and spatial variability of TPH were evaluated. The TPH concentration in top soils around the petrochemical complex ranged from 1,179.3 to 6,354.9 mg kg^− 1, with the average of 2,676.6 mg kg^− 1. Furthermore, significant differences between land-use types showed that the TPH concentration in top soils was strongly influenced by accidental spills. Both the TPH trends in pedons and the identified hot-spot areas also showed that the accidental explosions or burning accidents were mainly responsible for the pollution. The results reported here suggest that the regular monitoring and inspection shall be conducted for safety and to avoid or minimize the accidents, and the effective measures should be taken to remediate the contaminated areas and to assure that the important industrialization of Guangzhou area would not mean human health risks near the petrochemical complex.     

Investigation of organic pollutants in wastewater-irrigated soil and its DNA damage and oxidative damage on mice

This work aimed to determine the DNA and oxidative damage on mice by mixtures of organic contaminants in wastewater-irrigated soil, in order to assess their usefulness as markers for this kind of pollution. Wastewater-irrigated soil samples in the vicinity of an industrial area in Tangshan, China were collected, and soil irrigated by underground water satisfying drinking water standards was used as control group. Organic pollutants were extracted from the soil using ultrasonic oscillation, and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Meanwhile, DNA damage on mice was determined by the Comet assay after oral gavage with the extracts, and changes in total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase glutathione, GSH peroxidase (GSH-P_X) activity and malondialdehyde content in serum of mice were investigated. The number of categories and concentrations of organic compounds in the wastewater-irrigated soil is more than those in groundwater-irrigated soil, as identified by the GC-MS. The toxicity test of mice showed that compared with reagent control group, the activities of T-SOD and GSH-P_X decreased; the tailing rate of peripheral blood lymphocyte of mice increased and was more than that of the control group. This shows that mammalian toxicity end points can be used to determine the joint toxicity of organic pollutants in soil. When there is no means to identify each and every pollutant in soil, it is feasible to evaluate the combined effects of various pollutants to determine the extent to which the soil is polluted.     

Effects of coal spoil amendment on heavy metal accumulation and physiological aspects of ryegrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lolium perenne</Emphasis> L.) growing in copper mine tailings

Copper mine tailings pose many threats to the surrounding environment and human health, and thus, their remediation is fundamental. Coal spoil is the waste by-product of coal mining and characterized by low levels of metals, high content of organic matter, and many essential microelements. This study was designed to evaluate the role of coal spoil on heavy uptake and physiological responses of Lolium perenne L. grown in copper mine tailings amended with coal spoil at rates of 0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 20%. The results showed that applying coal spoil to copper mine tailings decreased the diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn contents in tailings and reduced those metal contents in both roots and shoots of the plant. However, application of coal spoil increased the DTPA-extractable Cr concentration in tailings and also increased Cr uptake and accumulation by Lolium perenne L. The statistical analysis of physiological parameters indicated that chlorophyll and carotenoid increased at the lower amendments of coal spoil followed by a decrease compared to their respective controls. Protein content was enhanced at all the coal spoil amendments. When treated with coal spoil, the activities of superoxide dismutases (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) responded differently. CAT activity was inhibited, but POD activity was increased with increasing amendment ratio of coal spoil. SOD activity increased up to 1% coal spoil followed by a decrease. Overall, the addition of coal spoil decreased the oxidative stress in Lolium perenne L., reflected by the reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the plant. It is concluded that coal spoil has the potential to stabilize most metals studied in copper mine tailings and ameliorate the harmful effects in Lolium perenne L. through changing the physiological attributes of the plant grown in copper mine tailings.     

长江三角洲城市群工业用水效率评价及时空差异研究

在水资源约束趋紧的背景下,选取长江三角洲城市群中26个城市2005~2014年的面板数据,运用SBM模型对工业用水效率进行测算,并基于可分解的泰尔指数分析长江三角洲城市群内部工业用水效率的空间差异。结果显示：（1）长江三角洲城市群工业用水效率水平整体偏低,在不考虑与考虑非期望产出的情况下,工业用水效率10a平均值分别为 0.591 8.和 0.519 7;（2）工业用水效率的地区内部差异是造成总差异的主要部分,并且有随时间递增的趋势,其中安徽省对于地区内部差异的贡献率最大,其次为浙江省,江苏省贡献率最低;（3）江苏省各城市工业用水效率虽然差异不大但整体水平较低,而上海市工业用水效率较高并处于稳步上升状态。因此,缩小地区内部差异是实现长江三角洲城市群工业用水效率整体上升的重要途径。     

我国三大城市群城镇化水平对碳排放的影响

在新型城镇化进程深入推进的背景下,选择我国城镇化发展水平较高的京津冀、长三角和珠三角三大城市群为研究对象,利用STIRPAT模型分析了三大城市群城镇化水平与碳排放之间的关系。结果表明：三大城市群城镇化水平与碳排放之间呈现出先下降后上升的“正U型”曲线关系;经济发展与碳排放之间存在着“倒U型”的曲线关系;人口总量和能源强度对碳排放存在显著的正向影响,产业结构对碳排放影响较小。在城镇化发展早期加快城镇化发展速度,而在城镇化发展到一定阶段后,控制人口规模,降低能源强度,均可实现减少二氧化碳排放的目标。     

基于可拓物元模型的安全经济开采评价指标体系的构建及应用

首先根据安全经济开采的内涵,建立以人员安全、设施设备安全、开采环境安全、安全投资和安全管理为主要制约因素的安全经济开采评价模型,并运用改进的层次分析法确定人员可靠度对安全经济开采水平影响最大,开采环境可靠度影响最小。其次,采用函数拟合法、专家打分法、标准化打分法量化安全经济开采水平指标,并将安全经济开采水平划分为3个等级。最后,运用可拓物元模型方法,得出某铁矿安全经济开采水平为二级,无重大经济损失,与实际吻合。