Persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals in adipose tissues of patients with uterine leiomyomas and the association of these pollutants with seafood diet, BMI, and age

Background, aim, and scope  

Persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals can cause diseases in women, however, the relationships of these pollutants and uterine leiomyomas (UL), which are non-cancerous tumors of the uterus, are unclear. This study focused on the quantification of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and heavy metals in subcutaneous and visceral fat obtained from patients with UL and in subcutaneous fat of a control group of women without UL to determine if there were any correlations between concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals and the incidence of UL.     

Improved land cover and emission factors for modeling biogenic volatile organic compounds emissions from Hong Kong

This paper describes a study of local biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) emissions from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). An improved land cover and emission factor database was developed to estimate Hong Kong emissions using MEGAN, a BVOC emission model developed by Guenther et al. (2006). Field surveys of plant species composition and laboratory measurements of emission factors were combined with other data to improve existing land cover and emission factor data. The BVOC emissions from Hong Kong were calculated for 12 consecutive years from 1995 to 2006. For the year 2006, the total annual BVOC emissions were determined to be 12,400 metric tons or 9.82 × 10⁹ g C (BVOC carbon). Isoprene emission accounts for 72%, monoterpene emissions account for 8%, and other VOCs emissions account for the remaining 20%. As expected, seasonal variation results in a higher emission in the summer and a lower emission in the winter, with emission predominantly in day time. A high emission of isoprene occurs for regions, such as Lowest Forest-NT North, dominated by broadleaf trees. The spatial variation of total BVOC is similar to the isoprene spatial variation due to its high contribution. The year to year variability in emissions due to weather was small over the twelve-year period (?1.4%, 2006 to 1995 trendline), but an increasing trend in the annual variation due to an increase in forest land cover can be observed (+7%, 2006 to 1995 trendline). The results of this study demonstrate the importance of accurate land cover inputs for biogenic emission models and indicate that land cover change should be considered for these models.     

Effect of Moisture on the Pollutant Concentration Measurement

The effects of removing moisture from gaseous samples on the measurement of pollutant concentration were studied. Simple mathematical analysis was conducted to derive the formula for correcting the measured results. It was found that the error increases with increase in relative humidity or increase in temperature. The error may become significant under extreme conditions.     

Spatial distribution of ciguateric fish in the Republic of Kiribati

Ciguatera is food poisoning caused by human consumption of reef fish contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs). The expanding international trade of tropical fish species from ciguatera-endemic regions has resulted in increased global incidence of ciguatera, and more than 50 000 people are estimated to suffer from ciguatera each year worldwide. The Republic of Kiribati is located in the Pacific Ocean; two of its islands, Marakei and Tarawa, have been suggested as high-risk areas for ciguatera. The toxicities of coral reef fish collected from these islands, including herbivorous, omnivorous and carnivorous fish (24% [n = 41], 8% [n = 13] and 68% [n = 117], respectively), were analyzed using the mouse neuroblastoma assay (MNA) after CTX extraction. The MNA results indicated that 156 fish specimens, or 91% of the fish samples, were ciguatoxic (CTX levels >0.01 ng g⁻¹). Groupers and moray eels were generally more toxic by an order of magnitude than other fish species. All of the collected individuals of eight species (n = 3-19) were toxic. Toxicity varied within species and among locations by up to 10 000-fold. Cephalapholis argus and Gymnothorax spp. collected from Tarawa Island were significantly less toxic than those from Marakei Island, although all individuals were toxic based on the 0.01 ng g⁻¹ threshold. CTX concentrations in the livers of individuals of two moray eel species (Gymnothorax spp., n = 6) were nine times greater than those in muscle, and toxicity in liver and muscle showed a strong positive correlation with body weight. The present study provides quantitative information on the ciguatoxicity and distribution of toxicity in fish for use in fisheries management and public health.     

Environmental impact and human exposure to PCBs in Guiyu, an electronic waste recycling site in China

PCB levels in fish (collected from local rivers), atmosphere and human milk samples have been studied to determine the exposure levels of PCBs for local residents and e-waste workers in Guiyu, a major electronic waste scrapping center in China. The source appointment and correlation analyses showed that homologue composition of PCBs in 7 species of fish were consistent and similar to commercial PCBs Aroclor 1248. PCB levels in air surrounding the open burning site were significantly higher than those in residential area. Inhalation exposure contributed 27% and 93% to the total body loadings (the sum of dietary and inhalation exposure) of the local residents, and e-waste workers engaged in open burning respectively. Total PCB concentrations in human milk ranged from N.D. to 57.6 ng/g lipid, with an average of 9.50 ng/g lipid. The present results indicated that commercial PCBs derived from e-waste recycling are major sources of PCBs accumulating in different environmental media, leading to the accumulation of high chlorinated biphenyls in human beings.     

新型抗氧化膜材料PSAA的研制

对聚亚磺酰氨基酰胺(PSAA)作为新型抗氧化反渗透膜材料的可能性,以及聚合条件和成膜条件对膜性能的影响作了初步研究。     

Fetus in fetu—from prenatal ultrasound and MRI diagnosis to postnatal confirmation

We report a case of fetus in fetu presented as a complex intra-abdominal heterogeneous cystic lesion during ultrasound examination of the fetus at 25 weeks of gestation. Progressive growth of this mass was noted in the prenatal period. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging provided additional information to aid in the prenatal diagnosis. This allows proper counselling for the parents and helps to plan the postnatal management. Surgical excision was carried out in the early neonatal period and the diagnosis of fetus in fetu was confirmed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in soil and sediment from an electronic waste recycling facility

In this study samples of ten species of fish were analyzed for concentrations of organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cu). Fish were captured using electric fishing on ten sites along the Dr?me river (Rh?ne-Alpes region). Quantitative determination of the organochlorine and PCBs compounds was performed by gas chromatography-electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). The concentrations of heavy metals were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Samples contained detectable concentrations of lindane, PCBs, and heavy metals but at concentrations below the maximum residue limit (MRL). Non-parametric statistical analysis was performed to distinguish groups of sites with different levels of contamination. PCBs concentrations increased along the river with four groups of sites significantly different from each other. Cadmium concentrations were below the MRL. Lead contamination showed two groups significantly different and a repartition similar to PCBs. Copper contamination was correlated with the localization of vineyards. We assessed the potential effects of contamination the otter (Lutra lutra). The concentrations of all pollutants analyzed in fish sampled in this study are lower than the threshold values described in literature. The Dr?me river is relatively unpolluted river, and the establishment of otter populations should not be affected by pollution.