Molecular characterization and developmental expression patterns of thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) and their responsiveness to TR agonist and antagonist in Rana nigromaculata

Considering some advantages of Rana nigromaculata as an experimental species, we propose that this species, like Xenopus laevis, could be used to assay thyroid hormone（TH） signaling disrupting actions. To validate the utilizability of R. nigromaculata, we investigated the responsiveness of R. nigromaculata to a TH receptor（TR） agonist（T3） and antagonist（amiodarone） by analyzing expression, based on characterizing TR cDNA and developmental expression patterns. With high levels of identity with the corresponding genes in X. laevis, both TRα and TRβ in R. nigromaculata exhibited roughly similar developmental expression patterns to those of X. laevis, in spite of some species-specific differences. Both TRα and TRβ expression had greater changes in the liver and intestine than in the tail and brain during metamorphosis. T3 exposure for 2 days induced more dramatic increases of TRβ expression in stage 27 than in stage34 tadpoles but not in stage 42 tadpoles, showing that the responsiveness of R. nigromaculata to TH decreased with development and disappeared at the onset of metamorphic climax.Corresponding to greater changes of TRβ expression in the liver and intestine than in the tail and brain during metamorphosis, the liver and intestine had higher responsiveness to exogenous T3 than the tail and brain. Amiodarone inhibited T3-induced TRβ expression. Our results show that R. nigromaculata can be used as a model species for assaying TH signaling disrupting actions by analyzing TRβ expression, and intestine tissues at stage 27 are ideal test materials due to high responsiveness and easy accessibility.     

Ionic composition of submicron particles (PM1.0) during the long-lasting haze period in January 2013 in Wuhan, central China

In January 2013, a long-lasting severe haze episode occurred in Northern and Central China; at its maximum, it covered a land area of approximately 1.4 million km². In Wuhan, the largest city in Central China, this event was the most severe haze episode in the 21st century. Aerosol samples of submicron particles (PM_1.0) were collected during the long-lasting haze episode at an urban site and a suburban site in Wuhan to investigate the ion characteristics of PM_1.0 in this area. The mass concentrations of PM_1.0 and its water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIIs) were almost at the same levels at two sites, which indicates that PM_1.0 pollution occurs on a regional scale in Wuhan. WSIIs (Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^-, NO₃^- and SO₄^2-) were the dominant chemical species and constituted up to 48.4% and 47.4% of PM_1.0 at WD and TH, respectively. The concentrations of PM_1.0 and WSIIs on haze days were approximately two times higher than on normal days. The ion balance calculations indicate that the particles were more acidic on haze days than on normal days. The results of the back trajectory analysis imply that the high concentrations of PM_1.0 and its water-soluble inorganic ions may be caused by stagnant weather conditions in Wuhan.     

Fast increasing of surface ozone concentrations in Pearl River Delta characterized by a regional air quality monitoring network during 2006-2011

Based on the observation by a Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network including 16 monitoring stations, temporal and spatial variations of ozone(O3), NO2and total oxidant(Ox) were analyzed by both linear regression and cluster analysis. A fast increase of regional O3concentrations of 0.86 ppbV/yr was found for the annual averaged values from 2006 to 2011 in Guangdong, China. Such fast O3increase is accompanied by a correspondingly fast NOx reduction as indicated by a fast NO2 reduction rate of 0.61 ppbV/yr. Based on a cluster analysis, the monitoring stations were classified into two major categories – rural stations(non-urban) and suburban/urban stations. The O3concentrations at rural stations were relatively conserved while those at suburban/urban stations showed a fast increase rate of 2.0 ppbV/yr accompanied by a NO2 reduction rate of 1.2 ppbV/yr. Moreover, a rapid increase of the averaged O3 concentrations in springtime(13%/yr referred to 2006 level) was observed, which may result from the increase of solar duration, reduction of precipitation in Guangdong and transport from Eastern Central China. Application of smog production algorithm showed that the photochemical O3production is mainly volatile organic compounds(VOC)-controlled. However, the photochemical O3production is sensitive to both NOx and VOC for O3pollution episode. Accordingly, it is expected that a combined NOx and VOC reduction will be helpful for the reduction of the O3 pollution episodes in Pearl River Delta while stringent VOC emission control is in general required for the regional O3 pollution control.     

Quantitative method to determine the regional drinking water odorant regulation goals based on odor sensitivity distribution：Illustrated using 2-MIB

Taste and odor （T/O） in drinking water often cause consumer complaints and are thus regulated in many countries. However, people in different regions may exhibit different sensitivities toward WO. This study proposed a method to determine the regional drinking water odorant regulation goals （ORGs） based on the odor sensitivity distribution of the local population. The distribution of odor sensitivity to 2-methylisobomeol （2-MIB） by the local population in Beijing, China was revealed by using a normal distribution function/model to describe the odor complaint response to a 2-MIB episode in 2005, and a 2-MIB concentration of 12.9 ng/L and FPA （flavor profile analysis） intensity of 2.5 was found to be the critical point to cause odor complaints. Thus the Beijing ORG for 2-MIB was determined to be 12.9 ng/L. Based on the assumption that the local FPA panel can represent the local population in terms of sensitivity to odor, and that the critical FPA intensity causing odor complaints was 2.5, this study tried to determine the ORGs for seven other cities of China by performing FPA tests using an FPA panel from the corresponding city. ORG values between 12.9 and 31.6 ng/L were determined, showing that a unified ORG may not be suitable for drinking water odor regulations. This study presents a novel approach for setting drinking water odor regulations.     

低碳高氮污水处理应用技术研究

针对碳氮比小于7的污水,其碳源不能满足硝化与反硝化的要求这一问题,通过改变SBR工艺的运行方式、调解工艺参数等技术手段,使其能够达标处理此类工业废水,并通过某淀粉厂的工程实例进行了验证:采用改良的SBR工艺可以对低碳高氮污水进行有效的处理。     

新形势下污染源监督性监测工作存在的问题及应对措施

"十二五"以来,国家不断完善总量减排和污染源监测管理制度,出台了一系列新的文件和办法,强化了监测信息公开,严格了总量减排监测体系建设和运行管理考核。新形势下,对污染源监督性监测工作提出了新的工作要求,针对当前监督性监测工作中存在的一些问题,从标准核实、规范监测、信息公布、软件升级等方面提出了相应的措施和建议。     

影响实验室检测结果准确性的因素分析

环境监测实验室的检测结果直接为环境管理、污染治理等环保部门提供服务,因此检测数据的准确性十分重要。本文通过对影响环境监测实验室检测结果的因素人、机、料、法、环五个方面入手,详尽地研究这五个方面对检测结果的影响。     

雾霾重污染期间北京居民对高浓度PM2.5持续暴露的健康风险及其损害价值评估

开展短期内高浓度空气污染造成的人体健康风险评价以及健康经济损失研究,对推进城市大气污染防控,保证人民群众的健康水平具有重要的科学价值和实际意义.研究选择2013年1月发生的北京市雾霾重污染事件,采用泊松回归模型评价全市居民对10~15日高浓度PM2.5暴露的急性健康损害风险,并采用环境价值评估方法估算人群健康损害的经济损失.结果表明,短期高浓度PM2.5污染对人群健康风险较高,约造成早逝201例,呼吸系统疾病住院1 056例,心血管疾病住院545例,儿科门诊7 094例,内科门诊16 881例,急性支气管炎10 132例,哮喘7 643例.相关健康经济损失高达4.89亿元(95%CI:2.04~7.49),其中早逝与急性支气管炎、哮喘三者占总损失的90%以上.建议应针对不同人群不同健康终点的健康风险进行健康预警并开展及早医学干预,以降低类似空气重污染事件给居民健康带来的风险和损失.     

黄河口不同恢复阶段湿地土壤N2O产生的不同过程及贡献

采用时空替代法,选择黄河口生态恢复前后未恢复区(R0)、2007年恢复区(R2007)和2002年恢复区(R2002)的芦苇湿地为研究对象,分析了生态恢复工程对湿地土壤N2O产生不同过程与贡献的影响.结果表明,尽管不同恢复阶段湿地土壤N2O总产生量差异明显,但总体均表现为N2O释放.恢复区湿地土壤的N2O产生量大于未恢复区.N2O的产生主要以硝化作用和硝化细菌反硝化作用为主,而反硝化作用对N2O的产生有较大削弱作用,这与不同恢复阶段湿地土壤理化性质密切相关.非生物作用对N2O产生量贡献较大,这与黄河口为高活性铁区,Fe的还原作用关系密切.尽管黄河口不同恢复阶段湿地土壤N2O的产生是生物作用与非生物作用共同作用的结果,但由于非生物作用对N2O产生的影响较大,应受到特别关注.温度和水分对不同恢复阶段湿地土壤N2O产生过程的影响不尽一致,这与土壤微生物活性对温度和水分的响应差异有关.黄河口不同恢复阶段湿地土壤的N2O总产生量介于(0.37±0.08)～(9.75±7.64)nmol·(kg·h)-1,略高于闽江口互花米草湿地的N2O总产生量,但明显低于富氧森林土壤、草原土壤和闽江口短叶茳芏湿地的N2O总产生量.研究发现,黄河口生态恢复工程的长期实施明显促进了N2O的产生,因而下一步生态恢复工程应统筹考虑景观恢复与温室气体削弱这两方面因素.     

老化的生物质炭性质变化及对菲吸持的影响

将稻壳分别在350℃和550℃热解温度下制备成生物质炭,避光条件下恒温培养300 d,通过傅里叶变换红外光谱、扫描电镜和核磁共振等技术手段及平衡吸附实验,探究生物质炭老化前后的动态结构变化及对菲吸持作用的影响.结果表明,生物质炭老化过程中氧含量增加,含氧基团增多,对菲的非线性吸附行为显著增强.热解温度的不同决定了生物质炭老化过程中性质变化的差异,350℃热解的生物质炭,老化后极性增强,芳香性减弱,而550℃热解的生物质炭,老化后脂肪族碳类物质增加,羧基减少,芳香性增强,Langmiur预测的菲在350℃热解的生物质炭上老化前后的最大吸附量分别为3.57 mg·g-1、2.35mg·g-1,主要是老化后性质变化抑制了表面吸附作用,而550℃热解的生物质炭上老化前后的最大吸附量分别为0.42mg·g-1、4.17 mg·g-1,老化后吸附量的显著增加主要是生物质炭性质变化促进了对菲的分配作用与表面吸附作用.研究生物质炭在自然环境中的老化行为对环境污染物固定的稳定性有着重要意义.