Phthalate exposure in pregnant women and their children in central Taiwan

Phthalate exposure was found to be associated with endocrine disruption, respiratory effects, reproductive and developmental toxicity. The intensive use of plastics may be increasing the exposure to phthalates in Taiwanese population, particularly for young children.We studied phthalate metabolites in pregnant women and their newborns in a prospective cohort from a medical center in Central Taiwan. One hundred maternal urine samples and 30 paired cord blood and milk samples were randomly selected from all of participants (430 pregnant women). Eleven phthalate metabolites (MEHP, 5OH-MEHP, 2cx-MEHP, 5cx-MEPP, 5oxo-MEHP, MiBP, MnBP, MBzP, OH-MiNP, oxo-MiNP, and cx-MiNP) representing the exposure to five commonly used phthalates (DEHP, di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP), DnBP, BBP, DiNP) were measured in urine of pregnant women, cord serum and breast milk after delivery, and in urine of their children. Exposure was estimated with excretion factors and correlation among metabolites of the same parent compound. Thirty and 59 urinary samples from 2 and 5 years-old children were randomly selected from 185 children successfully followed.Total urinary phthalate metabolite concentration (geometric mean, μg L⁻¹) was found to be higher in 2-years-olds (398.6) and 5-years-olds (333.7) than pregnant women (205.2). Metabolites in urine are mainly from DEHP. The proportion of DiNP metabolites was higher in children urine (4.39 and 8.31%, ages 2 and 5) than in adults (0.83%) (p < 0.01). Compared to urinary levels, phthalate metabolite levels are low in cord blood (37.45) and milk (14.90). DEHP metabolite levels in women’s urine and their corresponding cord blood are significantly correlated. Compared to other populations in the world, DEHP derived metabolites in maternal urine were higher, while phthalate metabolite levels in milk and cord blood were similar. The level of phthalate metabolites in milk and cord blood were comparable to those found in other populations. Further studies of health effects related to DEHP and DiNP exposure are necessary for the children.     

Removal of added nitrate in the single, binary, and ternary systems of cotton burr compost, zerovalent iron, and sediment: Implications for groundwater nitrate remediation using permeable reactive barriers

Recent research has shown that carbonaceous solid materials and zerovalent iron (Fe(0)) may potentially be used as media in permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) to degrade groundwater nitrate via heterotrophic denitrification in the solid carbon system, and via abiotic reduction and autotrophic denitrification in the Fe(0) system. Questions arise as whether the more expensive Fe(0) is more effective than the less expensive carbonaceous solid materials for groundwater nitrate remediation, and whether there is any synergistic effect of mixing the two different types of materials. We carried out batch tests to study the nature and rates of removal of added nitrate in the suspensions of single, binary, and ternary systems of cotton burr compost, Peerless Fe(0), and a sediment low in organic carbon. Cotton burr compost acted as both organic carbon source and supporting material for the growth of indigenous denitrifiers. Batch tests showed that cotton burr compost alone removed added nitrate at a greater rate than did Peerless Fe(0) alone on an equal mass basis with a pseudo-first-order rate constant k=0.0830+/-0.0031 h(-1) for cotton burr compost and a k=0.00223+/-0.00022 h(-1) for Peerless Fe(0); cotton burr compost also removed added nitrate at a faster rate than did cotton burr compost mixed with Peerless Fe(0) and/or the sediment. Furthermore, there was no substantial accumulation of ammonium ions in the cotton burr compost system, in contrast to the systems containing Peerless Fe(0) in which ammonium ions persisted as major products of nitrate reduction. It is concluded that cotton burr compost alone may be used as an excellent denitrification medium in a PRB for groundwater nitrate removal. Further study is needed to evaluate performance of its field applications.     

Quantifying public health benefits of environmental strategy of PM2.5 air quality management in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, China

In 2013,China issued "Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan(Action Plan)" to improve air quality.To assess the benefits of this program in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH)region,where the density of population and emissions vary greatly,we simulated the air quality benefit based on Ben MAP to satisfy the Action Plan.In this study,we estimate PM_(2.5) concentration using Voronoi spatial interpolation method on a grid with a spatial resolution of 1 × 1 km~2.Combined with the exposure-response function between PM_(2.5) concentration and health endpoints,health effects of PM_(2.5) exposure are analyzed.The economic loss is assessed by using the willingness to pay(WTP) method and human capital(HC) method.When the PM_(2.5) concentration falls by 25% in BTH and reached 60 μg/m~3 in Beijing,the avoiding deaths will be in the range of 3175 to 14051 based on different functions each year.Of the estimated mortality attributable to all causes,3117 annual deaths were due to lung cancer,1924 – 6318 annual deaths were due to cardiovascular,and343 – 1697 annual deaths were due to respiratory.Based on WTP,the estimated monetary values for the avoided cases of all cause mortality,cardiovascular mortality,respiratory mortality and lung cancer ranged from 1110 to 29632,673 to 13325,120 to 3579,1091 to 6574 million yuan,respectively.Based on HC,the corresponding values for the avoided cases of these four mortalities were 267 to 1178,161 to 529,29 to 143 and 261 million yuan,respectively.     

电沉积法处理电解锌漂洗废水的动力学研究

采用电沉积法处理电解锌漂洗工艺废水,以回收废水中的重金属资源。在不同实验条件下对电沉积反应过程中电沉积反应速率及其影响因素进行了研究,结果表明,电沉积回收重金属锌符合准一级动力学规律,当V=6 V时,速率常数k=0.0214。最佳实验条件为:槽电压V=6 V、电解时间为45~60 min、pH为2.5~3.5,反应过程中应充分搅拌。利用电沉积法处理电解锌漂洗废水,将重金属Zn2+还原为单质锌,处理废水的同时实现重金属资源的回收,在工业中有较好的应用前景。     

电催化氧化技术处理造纸废水的实验研究

通过邻苯二甲酸氢钾(KHP)溶液的电解实验研究了德国引进的金属铌掺硼金刚石膜电极(Nb/BDD)的电化学性质,并利用该电极处理装置处理了东莞某造纸厂造纸废水。考察了电解时间、电流强度及废水的pH值、电解质的浓度、电导率等参数对电化学降解效率的影响。结果表明,Nb/BDD具有优异的污水降解性能,在pH值为3.0,电流密度为37.23 mA/cm2,电压6.9 V,NaCl充当电解质质量浓度0.4 g/L的条件下,电解200 min,装置对再生纸造纸废水的COD的去除率接近70%,BOD/COD为0.4,比能耗为27.6(kW.h/kg)。     

江苏省沿江地区饮用水系统适应能力评估

在对饮用水系统适应能力界定的基础上,基于水源地、供水系统、用水系统、排污处理系统和社会系统等环节的适应性要素构建沿江城市饮用水系统适应能力评价指标体系和评价模型,并据此对江苏省沿江地区城市饮用水系统适应能力分异特征、类型及影响因素进行深入探讨。结果表明：长江南岸地区饮用水系统适应能力高于江北地区;从各子系统适应能力得分情况来看,需加大省辖市水源地的保护力度,合理规划港口、码头等的布设;加快江北地区供排基础设施的建设;培养经济发达地区的节水意识;提高全区的技术水平     

伊洛河流域河水来源及水化学组成控制因素

伊洛河是黄河中游南岸重要支流,由伊河和洛河在洛阳偃师汇合而成.流域上游矿产资源开采活动较多,下游城镇密集,工农业活动分布广泛.为探究不同类型人为活动对伊洛河流域河水水化学组成的影响,分别在丰水期(8月)和平水期(12月)采集伊洛河流域干流和支流河水样品,借助水体氢氧同位素组成和阴阳离子组成的时空分布特征,阐明水体来源以及水化学组成控制因素,说明人为活动的影响途径和方式.结果表明:①洛河干流河水丰水期和平水期δD和δ¹⁸O均值分别为-56‰和-7.9‰以及-55‰和-8.1‰,伊河干流河水丰水期和平水期δD和δ¹⁸O均值分别为-49‰和-6.9‰以及-53‰和-7.8‰,丰水期和平水期河水主要接受当地大气降水补给;②洛河及伊河干流河水水化学类型均为HCO₃-SO₄-Ca-Mg型,丰水期干流河水Ca²⁺和HCO^-₃当量浓度占比低于平水期,而丰水期SO₄^2-当量浓度占比则高于平水期,显示丰水期较多...     

Mercury uptake by Paspalum distichum L. in relation to the mercury distribution pattern in rhizosphere soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Paspalum distichum L. was tested to evaluate their phytoremediation capacity for Hg contaminated soil through analyzing the dissipation of Hg in soil...     

对重大危险源安全预警系统的探讨

阐述了安全预警技术和重大危险源安全预警系统的建立.重大危险源安全预警系统的建立,将对实现重大危险源安全监察工作信息化、科学化、现代化起到积极的推动作用.     

建筑电气火灾事故人员不安全行为风险评估

为量化分析建筑电气火灾事故中不安全动作造成的风险,本文运用事故致因"2-4"模型从火源产生、火灾发展、灭火3个环节进行事故直接原因分析;然后将各环节的不安全动作风险后果和发生概率设为随机变量,构建基于蒙特卡罗法的事故人员不安全行为风险评估模型,运用Crystal Ball 11.1软件分析模拟3个环节不安全动作风险,并对人员不安全行为的敏感性和不确定性进行分析;最后提出建筑电气火灾事故人员不安全动作风险预防措施.结果表明:火源产生环节行为风险最大,火灾发展环节行为风险最小;电器产品使用不当,违规存储、使用易燃易爆物品,未按规定维护保养消防器材设施这3种不安全动作对建筑电气火灾行为风险影响较大.