Monitoring and evaluating the control effect of dust suppressant on heavy metals based on ecological and health risks: a case study of Beijing

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dust suppressant is widely applied to control the road dust pollution, while the unified statement on its control effect has not been obtained. To...     

Synthesis of a functional biomass lignin-based hydrogel with high swelling and adsorption capability towards Acid Red 73

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, sodium lignosulfonate (LS) was used as raw material. Acrylamide (AM) and acryloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride (DAC) were grafted...     

Rhodamine B dye staining for visualizing microplastics in laboratory-based studies

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In the recent years, microplastics have attracted much attention as new emerging environmental pollutants. Previously, several studies were performed...     

Materials selection for a dry atmospheric mercury deposits sampler.

In order to develop a sampler for measuring dry deposition rates for atmospheric mercury, suitable materials are needed that neither adsorb nor release mercury. In this paper, four materials (polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), Teflon and glass) were tested. Each of the materials was placed in a beaker containing mercuric solution under varied conditions for pH, preservative concentration, initial mercuric concentration, temperature, acid type and contact time of the material. The concentrations of the mercuric solutions were determined using the cold-vapor atomic absorption (CVAA) technique. The experimental results show that glass has the lowest absolute net adsorption rates (NARs) of 0.026-1.13 pg/m2 among the materials tested. Teflon, PVC and ABS have NARs ranging from 0.54 to 10.4 microg/M2 over an adsorption duration of one or two weeks. ABS has significantly higher adsorption rates for mercury than PVC and Teflon, indicating its inappropriateness as the material for building the sampler. Teflon and PVC will be the materials of choice for the sampler. The experimental results can also be used in establishing appropriate sampling conditions in the field.     

Blood-based biomarkers in the maternal circulation associated with fetal growth restriction

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with threefold to fourfold increased risk of stillbirth. Identifying FGR, through its commonly used surrogate—the small-for-gestational-age (SGA, estimated fetal weight and/or abdominal circumference <10th centile) fetus—and instituting fetal surveillance and timely delivery decrease stillbirth risk. Methods available to clinicians for antenatal identification of SGA fetuses have surprisingly poor sensitivity. About 80% of cases remain undetected. Measuring the symphysis-fundal height detects only 20% of SGA fetuses, and even universal third trimester ultrasound detects, at best, 57% of those born SGA. There is an urgent need to find better ways to identify this at-risk cohort. This review summarises efforts to identify molecular biomarkers (proteins, metabolites, or ribonucleic acids) that could be used to better predict FGR. Most studies examining potential biomarkers to date have utilised case-control study designs without proceeding to validation in independent cohorts. To develop a robust test for FGR, large prospective studies are required with a priori validation plans and cohorts. Given that current clinical care detects 20% of SGA fetuses, even a screening test with ≥60% sensitivity at 90% specificity could be clinically useful, if developed. This may be an achievable aspiration. If discovered, such a test may decrease stillbirth.     

生态农业是海南农业持续发展的必由之路

本文分析了海南农业生产的自然优势及当前存在的问题,指出了改变海南农业生产落后现状,必须充分利用海南光热水等自然优势,走多层次、多结构、多功能集约经营管理综合农业生产体——生态农业道路。     

海洋石油勘探开发溢油环境污染损害风险可保性研究

海洋石油勘探开发溢油污染是最为严重的海洋环境损害之一,其发生带来了巨额的赔偿、补偿。因此,开展海洋石油勘探开发溢油环境污染损害责任保险的专项研究十分重要,风险可保性作为确定保险标的的关键是研究的基础。本文运用法学及经济学理论,分析了海洋石油勘探开发溢油环境污染损害风险基于可保性“经典定义”存在的不足,以及基于可保性“现代定义”优化的可行性。同时,运用海洋数值模拟技术,选取渤海为示例海域,分析了溢油污染损害风险影响范围的可预测性,论证了海洋石油勘探开发溢油环境污染损害风险的可保性。     

氯化铜催化二噁英生成实验及指纹特性分析

氯化铜被认为是对二■英(PCDD/F)生成促进作用最强的金属催化剂,温度和氧气含量是影响其催化二■英生成的关键因素.本文选取250～550℃间8个不同温度点及0～20%间4种不同氧气含量,系统性地研究了温度和氧气含量对含氯化铜模拟飞灰(MFA)生成二■英的影响,并通过分析指纹特性探讨二■英的生成路径和机理.结果发现,290～350℃之间二■英生成量较高,且在290℃时二■英总量达到最大值;氧气含量为10%时二■英生成量达到最高.研究二■英同分异构体分布可从分子层面为研究其生成路径和机理提供重要信息,因此,本文分析了四至八氯代PCDD/F的全部异构体的分布.结果表明,在本文所选取的温度和氧含量范围内,温度对二■英生成路径的影响高于氧气含量.最后,重点讨论了2,3,7,8位氯取代的17种有毒异构体的分布随温度和氧气的变化情况及生成路径.利用主成分分析法(PCA)证实了氯化铜催化二■英从头合成过程中存在经由氯酚路径生成的异构体,并讨论了不同工况下氯酚路径对二■英生成的影响.     

环境流行病学研究中全血长期保存与RNA提取方法

RNA是在基因表达层面探究分子生物学机制的重要研究对象.由于RNA化学性质活泼、结构不稳定,并且内外源RNA酶无处不在,如何从环境流行病学研究收集到的全血样本中提取出高质量的总RNA是困扰研究人员的一大难题.本研究旨在建立一种能长期保存全血样本并从中提取出高质量总RNA的方法.通过将环境流行病学研究中采集到的少量新鲜全血立即与10倍体积的TRIzol试剂混匀后置于-80℃冰箱中,可保护RNA在长期保存过程中不发生降解.针对长期保存的全血-TRIzol混合体系,在经典的TRIzol一步法基础上,无需将全血样本分装至不含RNA酶的1.5 mL离心管,直接在较大操作空间(不含RNA酶的15 mL离心管)中进行总RNA相分离、沉淀、洗涤等操作,并在总RNA晾干前再增加离心并吸取少量残留液体操作,缩短自然晾干时间.本方法无需离心、分离血浆、裂解红细胞等繁杂的前处理步骤,极大地简化了操作步骤,减少了采样工作量,实现了对全血样本的低成本长期保存.通过增大操作空间、改进晾干操作,本方法显著提高了总RNA样本的完整性和纯度.使用本方法提取出保存一年的全血总RNA产率为(9.18±2.10)μg·mL~(-1),完整性指标RIN值和28S/18S分别为8.98±0.18和1.08±0.08,纯度指标OD_(260)/OD_(280)和OD_(260)/OD_(230)分别为2.18±0.04和1.70±0.00.保存两年的全血提取出总RNA的产率、完整性及纯度仍然可以满足下游实验要求.     

Effects of environmental contaminants on fertility and reproductive health

Recent research indicates that the human infertility rate is increasing. Although various reasons have been hypothesized for the growing infertility rate, environmental contaminants are potentially important causal agents associated with this change. Chemical contaminants are widespread throughout our environment and human exposure is virtually unavoidable. The overall contribution of environmental exposure to infertility is unknown, but studies involving occupational exposure, together with results from animal experiments, suggest that environmental contaminants may adversely affect fertility. We reviewed the adverse effects of environmental exposure on fertility and related reproductive outcomes. Environmental contaminants covered in this review include heavy metals, organic solvents, pesticides and endocrine disrupting chemicals. It is hoped that this review will highlight the need for further research in this area.