Zeolite/ZnAl-layer double hydroxides with different Zn/Al ratios and intercalated anions as the substrate of constructed wetlands: synthesis,characterization and purification effect of Hexavalent chromium

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The study aimed to synthesize novel zeolite substrates modified with four types of ZnAl-LDHs including Cl-LDHs(1:1), Cl-LDHs(3:1), CO3-LDHs(1:1), and...     

Data quality assessment for studies investigating microplastics and nanoplastics in food products: Are current data reliable?

● Data quality assessment criteria for MP/NPs in food products were developed. ● Data quality of 71 data records (69 of them only focused on MPs) was assessed. ● About 96% of the data records were considered unreliable in at least one criterion. ● Improvements need to be made regarding positive controls and polymer identification. ● A mismatch between MP/NPs used in toxicity studies and those in foods was recorded. Data on the occurrence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MP/NPs) in foods have been used to assess the human health risk caused by the consumption of MP/NPs. The reliability of the data, however, remains unclear because of the lack of international standards for the analysis of MP/NPs in foods. Therefore, the data quality needs to be assessed for accurate health risk assessment. This study developed 10 criteria applicable to the quality assessment of data on MP/NPs in foods. Accordingly, the reliability of 71 data records (69 of them only focused on MPs) was assessed by assigning a score of 2 (reliable without restrictions), 1 (reliable but with restrictions), or 0 (unreliable) on each criterion. The results showed that only three data records scored 2 or 1 on all criteria, and six data records scored 0 on as many as six criteria. A total of 58 data records did not include information on positive controls, and 12 data records did not conduct the polymer identification, which could result in the overestimation or underestimation of MP/NPs. Our results also indicated that the data quality of unprocessed foods was more reliable than that of processed foods. Furthermore, we proposed a quality assurance and quality control protocol to investigate MP/NPs in foods. Notably, the characteristics of MP/NPs used in toxicological studies and those existing in foods showed a remarkable discrepancy, causing the uncertainty of health risk assessment. Therefore, both the estimated exposure of MP/NPs and the claimed potential health risks should be treated with caution.     

内蒙古区域经济可持续发展与生态环境承载能力实证研究

通过设定三级分析指标,对经济发展与资源消耗、污染物排放、工业污染治理投资定量对比分析的基础上,研究1999年-2009年间内蒙古经济发展和环境现状。结果表明,近十年间内蒙古以化石能源消费为主的高耗能工业占主导地位,能源消费支撑了经济发展,二氧化硫减排压力依然艰巨。通过生态承载能力分析,内蒙古区域生态赤字呈逐年增加态势,生态压力指数加大,但处于可控状态,对地区生态影响最大的依然是农耕、农牧经济,化石能源和建筑用地人均生态足迹增幅最大,应引起高度重视。     

Application of enriched stable isotope technique to the study of copper bioavailability in Daphnia magna

The biokinetics of Cu in Daphnia magna, including dissolved uptake, assimilation and e ux, has been determined using a gamma 67Cu radiotracer methodology. However, this gamma emitting radioisotope is not readily available due to its very short half-life. In the present study, we employed a stable isotope tracer (65Cu) to determine the Cu biokinetics and compared our results to those determined using 67Cu. The dissolved uptake rate constant of 65Cu was 3.36 L/(g day), which is higher than that of 67Cu (1.32 L/(g day)). With increasing food concentrations from 2 104 to 1 105 cells/mL, the Cu assimilation e ciency (AE) decreased from 46% to 11%, compared to a decrease from 27% to 16% when determined using 67Cu. The e ux of Cu from Daphnia magna was quantified following both dissolved and dietary uptake. The e ux of waterborne Cu was comparable to that of dietborne Cu and the e ux rate constant (0.32–0.52 day??1) was higher than that determined by 67Cu (0.19–0.20 day??1). By considering di erent water properties and handling procedure between the two experiments, we believe that these di erences are reasonable. Overall, this study demonstrated that the enriched stable isotope tracer technique is a powerful tool to investigate metal bioavailability and maybe a good alternative to radioactive measurements.