Global gene expression and Ingenuity biological functions analysis on PCBs 153 and 138 induced human PBMC in vitro reveals differential mode(s) of action in developing toxicities

Several reports have indicated that low level of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure can adversely affect a multitude of physiological disorders and diseases in in vitro, in vivo, and as reported in epidemiological studies. This investigation is focused on the possible contribution of two most prevalent PCB congeners in vitro in developing toxicities. We used PCBs 138 and 153 at the human equivalence level as model agents to test their specificity in developing toxicities. We chose a global approach using oligonucleotide microarray technology to investigate modulated gene expression for biological effects, upon exposure of PCBs, followed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), to understand the underlying consequence in developing disease and disorders. We performed in vitro studies with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), where PBMC cells were exposed to respective PCBs for 48 h. Overall, our observation on gene expression indicated that PCB produces a unique signature affecting different pathways, specific for each congener. While analyzing these data through IPA, the prominent and interesting disease and disorders were neurological disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, as well as endocrine system disorders, genetic disorders, and reproductive system disease. They showed strong resemblances with in vitro, in vivo, and in the epidemiological studies. A distinct difference was observed in renal and urological diseases, organisimal injury and abnormalities, dental disease, ophthalmic disease, and psychological disorders, which are only revealed by PCB 138 exposure, but not in PCB 153. The present study emphasizes the challenges of global gene expression in vitro and was correlated with the results of exposed human population. The microarray results give a molecular mechanistic insight and functional effects, following PCB exposure. The extent of changes in genes related to several possible mode(s) of action highlights the changes in cellular functions and signaling pathways that play major roles. In addition to understanding the pathways related to mode of action for chemicals, these data could lead to the identification of genomic signatures that could be used for screening of chemicals for their potential to cause disease and developmental disorders.     

不同碳源对活性污泥反硝化能力的影响研究

针对城镇污水处理中碳源不足影响系统脱氮能力的问题,分别以乙酸钠、葡萄糖作为外源性碳源,考察其对活性污泥反硝化脱氮能力的影响。研究结果表明:在碳源投加量分别为50,100,200 mg/L条件下,单位(g)NO-3-N去除增量所需乙酸钠/葡萄糖的投加量分别为8.24 g/49.02g、9.62g/22.57g、—/21.07g。乙酸钠可用作城镇污水脱氮除磷过程中的高效外源性碳源,但从污水处理运行经济性来看,需根据系统实际需去除NO-3-N的量,合理确定碳源投加量。     

ICP-MS同时测定饮用水中25种元素的研究

采用电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)对饮用水中25种元素进行同时测定,并对其方法进行了研究.结果表明用ICP-MS同时测定饮用水中25种元素,其最低检出限为Th 1.238 E-5μg/L;其RSD%均小于5%;加标回收率介于98.94～100.4%之间,具有较高的灵敏度、精密度和准确,特别是对一些浓度低达ng/L级,但对人体健康却产生重要影响的超痕量组分,如Tl、Th、U等的测定,本法具有其它传统分析难以满足的优势.应用于直接测定元素浓度范围从ng/L-mg/L级的实际样品,具有快速、简便、准确等优点.     

基于卫星遥感数据(AOD)估算PM2.5的研究进展

雾霾天气的频繁出现,不断向人们警示中国大气环境污染的严重性.细颗粒物PM2.5作为空气质量评价指标之一,由于粒径小、为有毒性物质提供载体的特性,对人们的健康和生活产生很大的负面影响.近年来,PM2.5的相关研究引起了世界各国研究者的广泛关注,通过地基手段获得PM2.5质量浓度受到环境、地理等因素的限制,而利用卫星遥感技术估算地面PM2.5质量浓度,覆盖面广、估算精度可靠,对环境污染监测和治理具有重要意义.在综合了国内外关于气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)估算PM2.5文献的基础上,对AOD和PM2.5的数据源和估算的方法及手段作了简要介绍,分析总结了AOD与PM2.5相关性与PM2.5遥感估算的模型,并展望了未来PM2.5研究的发展方向.     

Preparation and characterization of Pd/Fe bimetallic nanoparticles immobilized on Al2O3/PVDF membrane: Parameter optimization and dechlorination of dichloroacetic acid

Using a liquid–solid phase inversion method, a hybrid matrix poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF) membrane was prepared with alumina(Al2O3) nanoparticle addition. Pd/Fe nanoparticles(NPs) were successfully immobilized on the Al2O3/PVDF membrane, which was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy(TEM). The micrographs showed that the Pd/Fe NPs were dispersed homogeneously. Several important experimental parameters were optimized, including the mechanical properties, contact angle and surface area of Al2O3/PVDF composite membranes with different Al2O3 contents. At the same time, the ferrous ion concentration and the effect of hydrophilization were studied. The results showed that the modified Al2O3/PVDF membrane functioned well as a support. The Al2O3/PVDF membrane with immobilized Pd/Fe NPs exhibited high efficiency in terms of dichloroacetic acid(DCAA) dechlorination. Additionally, a reaction pathway for DCAA dechlorination by Pd/Fe NPs immobilized on the Al2O3/PVDF membrane system was proposed.     

超声与碱预处理低有机质剩余污泥特性分析

以某城市污水处理厂低有机质剩余污泥（VSS/SS为0.42）为对象,通过实验研究了超声与碱（NaOH和CaO）预处理对其特性的影响,分析了加碱和未加碱时污泥上清液中pH值、ORP（氧化还原电位）、SCOD、TP和NH₃-N等随超声处理时间的变化规律。结果表明,在超声处理30～120 min范围内,超声加碱处理可使污泥上清液中ORP明显下降;超声加碱处理可明显提高污泥上清液中的SCOD释放量,且加NaOH比加CaO更为明显;NaOH加超声处理可促进污泥中TP的释放,但CaO加超声处理则与此相反;无论是否加碱,超声处理对污泥上清液中NH₃-N释放影响较小;超声加碱处理剩余污泥可明显改善污泥絮体,使其更为紧密。     

皂土对CuSO_4的吸附性能研究

研究了皂土对CuSO_4的吸附性能,考察了溶液初始pH、无机电解质NaCl、MgCl_2和AlCl_3及乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)和柠檬酸等因素对皂土吸附量的影响。实验结果表明:皂土对CuSO_4有很强的吸附能力;其吸附动力学曲线和吸附等温线分别符合准二级反应速率方程和Langmuir方程;饱和吸附量达29.85 mg/g;随溶液初始pH增大,吸附量增大;无机电解质NaCl、MgCl_2和AlCl_3以及EDTA和柠檬酸均可以抑制CuSO_4在皂土上的吸附。     

Degradation mechanisms of benzo[a]pyrene and its accumulated metabolites by biodegradation combined with chemical oxidation

A high degradation extent of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) should not be considered as the sole desirable criterion for the bioremediation of BaP-contaminated soils because some of its accumulated metabolites still have severe health risks to human. Two main metabolites of BaP, benzo[a]pyrene-1,6-quinone (BP1,6-quinone) and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (3-OHBP) were identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with standards. This study was the first time that degradation of both BaP and the two metabolites was carried out by chemical oxidation and biodegradation. Three main phases during the whole degradation process were proposed. Hydrogen peroxide-zinc (H(2)O(2)-Zn), the fungus - Aspergillus niger and the bacteria - Zoogloea sp. played an important role in the different phases. The degradation parameters of the system were also optimized, and the results showed that the effect of degradation was the best when fungus-bacteria combined with H(2)O(2)-Zn, the concentration range of BaP in the cultures was 30-120mg/l, the initial pH of the cultures was 6.0. However, as co-metabolites, phenanthrene significant inhibited the degradation of BaP. This combined degradation system compared with the conventional method of degradation by domestic fungus only, enhanced the degradation extent of BaP by more than 20% on the 12d. The highest accumulation of BP1,6-quinone and 3-OHBP were reduced by nearly 10% in the degradation experiments, which further proved that the combined degradation system was more effective as far as joint toxicity of BaP and its metabolites are concerned.