Synthesis of Environmental Evidence: Nitrogen Dioxide Epidemiology Studies

The use of meta-analysis Is becoming more common In the medical literature, but It Is not common in the environmental literature. Although meta-analysis cannot combine a group of poorly executed, conflicting studies to get an unequivocal answer, there are certain situations where it can be helpful. The Inability of studies to produce similar results may be a function of the power of the studies rather than a reflection of their quality. The literature on the effects of nitrogen dioxide on the odds of respiratory Illness in children is such an example. Three quantitative methods for the synthesis of this evidence are presented. Although the methods produce slightly different results, the conclusion from all three methods Is that the increase in the odds of respiratory Illness in children exposed to a long-term increase of 30 μg/m³ (comparable to the increase resulting from exposure to a gas stove) is about 20 percent. This estimated increase is not sensitive to the method of analysis.     

Comparison of the Particle Size Distribution of Heavy-Duty Diesel Exhaust Using a Dilution Tailpipe Sampler and an In-Plume Sampler during On-Road Operation

ABSTRACT

Originally constructed to develop gaseous emission factors for heavy-duty diesel trucks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) On-Road Diesel Emissions Characterization Facility has been modified to incorporate particle measurement instrumentation. An electrical low-pressure impactor designed to continuously measure and record size distribution data was used to monitor the particle size distribution of heavy-duty diesel truck exhaust. For this study, which involved a high-mileage (900,000 mi) truck running at full load, samples were collected by two different methods. One sample was obtained directly from the exhaust stack using an adaptation of the University of Minnesota's air-ejector-based mini-dilution sampler. The second sample was pulled from the plume just above the enclosed trailer, at a point ~11 m from the exhaust discharge. Typical dilution ratios of about 300:1 were obtained for both the dilution and plume sampling systems. Hundreds of particle size distributions were obtained at each sampling location. These were compared both selectively and cumulatively to evaluate the performance of the dilution system in simulating real-world exhaust plumes. The data show that, in its current residence-time configuration, the dilution system imposes a statistically significant bias toward smaller particles, with substantially more nanoparticles being collected than from the plume sample.     

Occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of a highly urbanized river system with special reference to energy consumption patterns

Sediment samples collected from downstream of the Dongjiang River, a highly urbanized river network within the Pearl River Delta of South China, were analyzed for 28 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Total concentrations of 28 PAHs, 16 priority PAHs designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the seven carcinogenic PAHs classified by the USEPA ranged from 480 to 4600, 100 to 3400 and 10 to 1700 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Principal component analysis-based stepwise multivariate linear regression showed that sediment PAHs were predominantly derived from coal combustion, refined fossil fuel combustion and oil spills, accounting for 37%, 32% and 23%, respectively, of the total loading. The levels of sediment PAHs remained steady from 2002 to 2008, during which fossil fuel consumption had doubled, probably reflecting efforts to control PAH emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Finally, use of natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas in automobiles should be encouraged to improve environmental quality.     

Persistent halogenated compounds in aquaculture environments of South China: implications for global consumers' health risk via fish consumption

This study examined the potential sources of persistent halogenated compounds (PHCs), including organochlorine pesticides, mainly DDXs (sum of o,p'- and p,p'-DDT, -DDD, and -DDE and p,p'-DDMU) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, to typical aquaculture environments of South China, determined the relative importance of gill diffusion and fish feeding for exposure of fish to these contaminants and assessed potential health risk for global consumers via consumption of fish from South China. Fish feed is generally a direct and important source of PHCs in both freshwater and seawater aquaculture. In addition, gill diffusion is the predominant uptake route for PHCs (except p,p'-DDMU, o,p'-DDD and -DDT) in farmed freshwater fish, whereas accumulation from the diet is the major route for farmed marine fish. Risks to health of global consumers via consumption of fish from South China are minimal. However, increased risk can be foreseen due to continuous use of brominated fire retardants and electronic waste importation to China.     

Lactate formation in Callianassa californiensis and Upogebia pugettensis (Crustacea: Thalassinidea)

The ability to accumulate lactate as a result of laboratory exposure to anoxia was examined in 2 species of mud-dwelling shrimp, the ghost shrimp Callianassa californiensis and the mud shrimp Upogebia pugettensis. Hemolymph lactate accumulated to a much greater degree in the mud shrimp, even though the overall levels of lactate dehydrogenase activity were similar in tissues of the two species. Carbohydrate reserves, estimated as glycogen, were not significantly depleted in muscle or midgut gland of either species as a result of anoxic stress. The results are discussed in relation to possible metabolic strategies employed to cope with the hypoxic environment of these crustaceans.     

A New Framework for the Assessment of Animal Welfare: Integrating Existing Knowledge from a Practical Ethics Perspective

When making an assessment of animal welfare, it is important to take environmental (housing) or animal-based parameters into account. An alternative approach is to focus on the behavior and appearance of the animal, without making actual measurements or quantifying this. None of these tell the whole story. In this paper, we suggest that it is possible to find common ground between these (seemingly) diametrically opposed positions and argue that this may be the way to deal with the complexity of animal welfare. The model will have to be acceptable for the different parties that will be affected by it and real benefits for the animal should result from it. This will be the basis of a practical ethical approach. All this can be condensed into a model that essentially is made up out of three basic elements: the classical welfare analysis with an existing welfare assessment tool, an assessment of the stockholder, and an implementation of the Free Choice Profiling technique. This new framework does not pretend to be a different or better animal welfare matrix; it is intended to integrate existing knowledge and to provide a practical tool to improve animal welfare. It identifies whether there are welfare problems on a farm, if present whether these problems are caused by the housing system or the stockholder, and what can be done to improve the situation.     

Determination of diazepam in aquatic samples by capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

In recent years growing attention has been paid toward the discharge, presence and potential adverse effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Using different existing analytical methods several studies have already identified a variety of drugs in waste-, surface- and drinking water. The monitoring of surface waters for drugs is of great importance because drugs are designed to be biological very active substances. A capillary LC/ES-MS-MS method has been developed that enables the sensitive and specific detection of diazepam in water samples up to 0.1 ng/ml (LOD). It requires neither multiple extraction steps, nor the use of large volumes of organic solvent. Applying this assay we have detected diazepam in 'in/effluent samples' collected in Belgium and demonstrated the applicability for water analysis without off-line pre-concentration of the analyte.     

Simplifying and improving the extraction of nitrate from freshwater for stable isotope analyses

Determining the isotopic composition of nitrate (NO(3)(-)) in water can prove useful to identify NO(3)(-) sources and to understand its dynamics in aquatic systems. Among the procedures available, the 'ion-exchange resin method' involves extracting NO(3)(-) from freshwater and converting it into solid silver nitrate (AgNO(3)), which is then analysed for (15)N/(14)N and (18)O/(16)O ratios. This study describes a simplified methodology where water was not pre-treated to remove dissolved organic carbon (DOC) or barium cations (added to precipitate O-bearing contaminants), which suited samples with high NO(3)(-) (≥ 00 μM or 25 mg L(-1) NO(3)(-)) and low DOC (typically < 17 μM of C or 5 mg L(-1) C) levels. % N analysis revealed that a few AgNO(3) samples were of low purity (compared with expected % N of 8.2), highlighting the necessity to introduce quality control/quality assurance procedures for silver nitrate prepared from field water samples. Recommendations are then made to monitor % N together with % O (expected at 28.6, i.e. 3.5 fold % N) in AgNO(3) in order to better assess the type and gravity of the contamination as well as to identify potentially unreliable data.     

珠江三角洲及南海北部海域表层沉积物中多溴联苯醚的分布特征

自珠江三角洲和南海北部海域采集了66个表层沉积物样品,以研究该区域中PBDEs的含量、分布、来源和在环境中的迁移.研究结果表明,东江和珠江是PBDEs的高污染区,含量为12.7～7361ng·g-1,其中BDE209平均含量为1199ng·g-1,是目前世界上已报道沉积物中含量最高的区域之一.在几乎所有被分析的样品中BDE209都是最主要的同系物.东江和珠江的PBDEs主要来自东莞和广州的本地排放,而西江的PBDEs主要通过大气的传播输入.另一个高污染区澳门水域被验证是珠江三角洲水体环境中有机污染物的“汇”.     

快速城市化区域表层土壤中杀虫剂的空间分布及风险评估

为探讨快速城市化区域杀虫剂的分布特征,19种被忽视的杀虫剂,即苯基吡唑类(氟虫腈)、氯丹、硫丹、九氯、六氯苯、七氯、狄氏剂、艾氏剂、异狄氏剂、甲氧滴滴涕及其代谢产物被用来分析在珠江三角洲(珠三角)及其周边区域229个土壤样品中的浓度水平和空间分布.结果表明,高浓度的杀虫剂主要集中在珠三角中心地区,而低浓度的杀虫剂则分布在珠三角周边区域,这个分布模式与国民生产总值和人口密度的分布相似,表明社会经济因素对杀虫剂的分布有一定的影响.此外,在城市化发展进程中,土地使用类型的转变也可能会导致原城镇农耕地变成现城市居民区,从而使得禁用农药在珠三角中心区域浓度高.来源分析表明在珠三角及其周边区域土壤存在工业氯丹的新输入源.氟虫腈由于半衰期比较短,在很大部分的土壤样品中转化成了氟虫腈砜和氟虫腈硫醚.对土壤中19种杀虫剂进行人体风险评估发现,6个在高人口密度区域收集的样品对人体有潜在的致癌或非致癌风险.因此这些被忽视的杀虫剂在将来环境研究中需要引起关注.