Concentrations and their ratio of (222)Rn decay products in rainwater measured by gamma-ray spectrometry using a low-background Ge detector

The concentrations and the concentration ratios of individual short-lived (222)Rn decay products ((214)Pb and (214)Bi) in rainwater were measured at Kumatori village (34.39 degrees N, 135.35 degrees E, approximately 70 m above sea level) in Osaka, Japan, by gamma-ray spectrometry using a low-background Ge detector. The dependence of the time variations of the concentrations and their ratios on rainfall rate was investigated. It was observed that the concentrations were negatively correlated with the rainfall rate in some rainfall events, and that there was no clear correlation in other rainfall events. The changes in the dependence of the concentration on the rainfall rate occurred after the passage of a cold front during a single rainfall event. The concentration ratios showed a weak negative correlation with the rainfall rate for most of the observed rainfall events. A scavenging model was designed in this study in order to explain the observation results. Based on the relationship between the concentrations of (214)Pb and (214)Bi in the rainwater and the rainfall rate for an individual rainfall event, the increase in the environmental gamma-ray dose rate from (214)Pb and (214)Bi deposited on the ground was calculated, and the calculated increase agreed well with that observed by the in situ measurement on flat ground.     

Levels and regional trends of persistent organochlorines and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Asian breast milk demonstrate POPs signatures unique to individual countries

Human breast milk samples collected in 2007–2008 from four countries, Vietnam (Hanoi), China (Beijing), Korea (Seoul) and Japan (Sendai, Kyoto and Takayama), were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), chlordane-related compounds (CHLs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Comparing with previous surveys, the present study indicates that the DDTs in breast milk from China and Vietnam had gradually decreased during the last decade, but were still 5–10 times higher than those in other nations. The ratios of p,p′-DDE/p,p′-DDT and o,p′-DDT/p,p′-DDT were higher in Beijing than in the other countries, suggesting that there is less fresh intake of commercial DDT products and a possible exposure to dicofol in China. CHL and PCB levels were relatively higher in mothers from Japan, whereas β-HCH and HCB were more common in Chinese women. In Japan, it is suspected that mothers in the urban/coastal area (Sendai) were more continuously exposed to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) than mothers in the rural/inland area (Takayama). In addition, OCP levels in primiparae were significantly higher than those in multiparae from Japan and Korea. These indicate that both parity and regional factors are major determinants of the levels of OCPs and PCBs in human milk. On the other hand, higher concentrations of PBDEs were observed in mothers' milk from Korea. The congener was dominated by BDE-47 (43–54%), followed by BDE-153 (23–33%) in all regions except for Beijing where BDE-28 (23%) was relatively abundant. In Japanese breast milk, regional and parity-dependent distributions were not observed for PBDEs. Among PBDE congeners, age-dependency was observed for BDE-153, which was negatively correlated (p < 0.05) to the age of mothers in Kyoto (17 participants were housewives), while it increased with age in Sendai (10 participants were clerks). No such correlation was seen for BDE-47, indicating that BDE-47 was ingested and assimilated via different kinetics or routes from BDE-153 in Japan.     

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and related compounds: The blood levels of young Japanese women

We investigated PCDDs and related compounds in the blood of young Japanese women, approximately 20 years of age, who had not yet had children, and discussed how the TEQ level of PCDDs and related compounds in their blood may affect the next generation. Means of total TEQ levels were 0.063 pg/g for whole blood basis and 21 pg/g for lipid basis. TEQ of PCDDs, PCDFs and coplanar PCBs accounted for about 43, 34 and 23% of the total TEQ in the whole blood basis, respectively. In the lipid basis, their values were about 44, 34 and 22%, respectively. Previously, we investigated PCDDs and related compounds levels in mother's breast milk, lymphocyte subpopulation and thyroid function of their children, and found negative correlations between the TEQ level of PCDDs and related compounds and CD4+/CD8+, and/or the TEQ level of PCDDs and related compounds and the T₄ level in 36 mothers and children. Of these cases, the average age was approximately 28 years. PCDDs and related compounds may be related to immunopathy, such as atopic dermatitis. The effects of PCDDs and related compounds on babies of young Japanese women are important and must be further evaluated.     

Bioethanol from sea lettuce with the use of crude enzymes derived from waste

The mid-gut gland of the scallop contains saccharification enzymes such as cellulase and amylase, and these enzymes have been disposed of together with the mid-gut gland after the removal of the adductor muscle, an edible part of the scallop. We used a drip from the mid-gut gland of the scallop, obtained by squeezing the gland, as an inexpensive enzyme mixture and tried to produce bioethanol from the glucans present in sea lettuce by the method of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with the use of baker’s yeast. The ethanol concentration attained was as high as 7.2 g/L, which corresponded to ~37% of the conversion of glucans in sea lettuce in the solid-state SSF. Furthermore, we ascertained that the drip and sea lettuce contain nutrients that are indispensable for maintaining the yeast activity, and, thus, the SSF did not require any additional nutrients, such as yeast extract or peptone, the use of which increases the cost of fermentation to a high level.     

Carbonization of johkasou sludge using batch-type equipment

The carbonization of dehydrated johkasou sludge was examined using batch-type equipment. Based on the temperature changes in the carbonization room and the gas combustion room, the carbonization process was divided into three phases: phase I, drying the sludge; phase II, thermal decomposition of the dried sludge; phase III, after phase II. The times required for phases I and II were strongly correlated with the amounts of water and solid matter, respectively, in dehydrated sludge. The reduction rate of the sludge on completion of phase I was about 90% on average, and the decomposition rate of solid matter increased with time during phase II or phase II plus phase III until it reached about 50%. TOC concentration of the eluate from the carbonized sludge was used as an index to evaluate the progress of the carbonization process, and the highest temperature in the carbonization room was recognized as an important operational factor. The specific surface area and pore volume of carbonized sludge were smaller than those of charcoals and activated carbons by 1–3 orders of magnitude and 1–2 orders of magnitude, respectively. No elution of heavy metals was observed from any of the carbonized sludges examined. The reduced amount of carbon in dehydrated johkasou sludge was estimated to be about 25% of the decomposed organic matter.     

Effect of 17beta-estradiol on the reproduction of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Estrogenic compounds such as 17beta-estradiol (E2) and its analogs are present in the aquatic environment and can adversely affect the reproductive systems of aquatic organisms. Although E2 has been detected at a maximum concentration of 64 ng/l in effluents of sewage treatment works (STWs), few reports address the associated effects on reproduction in fish. Therefore, we exposed adult medaka (Oryzias latipes) to mean measured E2 concentrations of 29.3, 55.7, 116, 227, and 463 ng/l for 21 d and assessed the effects on the egg number and fertility of paired medaka during the exposure period. In addition, we determined the hepatic vitellogenin (Vtg) concentration and histologically assessed the gonads of these fish. The number of egg produced and fertility of the paired medaka exposed to 463 ng/l E2 were significantly less compared with those of the control fish. Males in all treatment groups had developed testis-ova. Males treated with E2 concentrations = 55.7 ng/l contained relating great concentrations of hepatic Vtg. Therefore, although only the greatest E2 concentration tested in our study affected fecundity and fertility, effects of E2 were observed on induction of Vtg and testis-ova in male medaka exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of E2.     

Characteristic of organic aerosol in a remote area of Okinawa Island

A continuous investigation of aerosol pollutants in Cape Hedo, Japan was conducted from October 2005 to August 2006 by Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). This article focused on the analysis of long-range transport of organic aerosol from continental origin to the remote island. Based on the transport distance and air mass origin, four main air mass origins were considered, including North China, South China, Japan and Korea. Although the mass concentration and air mass origin were quite different during study period, the mass spectrum and size distribution of organic matter and oxidized organics were similar, which showed uni-modal distribution with modal diameter of around 500 nm. The loss rate of organics was (5.15 ± 0.55) × 10-⁶ s-¹ obtained by plotting the concentration against the transport time. Conversion rate of SO₂ to sulfate and oxidation rate of organics were (1.07 ± 0.15) × 10-⁵ and (1.09 ± 0.52) × 10-⁶s-¹, respectively.     

Contamination status and accumulation features of persistent organochlorines in pet dogs and cats from Japan

Concentrations of persistent organochlorines (OCs) such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), biphenyls, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and their metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, hexachlorobenzene, and chlordane compounds were determined in genital organs of pet dogs and cats and pet foods from Japan. Levels of OCs in dogs were relatively lower than those in cats, while residue levels in their diets were almost similar, implying that accumulation and elimination mechanisms of these contaminants are different between dogs and cats. When bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were estimated from concentrations of OCs in dogs, cats, and their diets, BCFs of all the OCs except PCDD/DFs exceeded 1.0 in cats. On the other hand, in all the dogs, BCFs of DDTs were below 1.0, suggesting that dogs do not bioconcentrate DDTs. Furthermore, BCFs of all the OCs except PCDD/DFs in dogs were notably lower than those in cats, suggesting that dogs have higher metabolic and elimination capacity for these contaminants than cats. When residue levels of OCs in livers, adipose tissue, and genital organs of two pet dogs were examined, hepatic sequestration of PCDD/DFs and oxychlordane was observed.