Estimation of bioaccessibility and potential human health risk of mercury in Chinese patent medicines

Mercury(Hg), mainly in cinnabar species, has been used in medicine for thousands of years in China, and worldwide concern has been raised on its toxicity. In this work, the amount of bioaccessible mercury in 16 Chinese patent medicines(CPMs) was measured by using an in vitro simulated digestion system, consisting of simulated gastric and intestinal fluid, to investigate the bioavailability of mercury in CPMs and evaluate its potential risk to human health. Total mercury and mercury in the gastrointestinal extracts were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). The levels of total Hg in 16 CPMs ranged from not detected to 11.89 mg/g, with a mean value of 1.13 mg/g, while the extractable Hg ranged from not detected to 4.37 μg/g, with a mean value of 0.42 μg/g.Mercury bioaccessibility varied significantly in the investigated CPMs, depending on the ingredient. Compared to the CPMs without cinnabar(2.5%–30.9%), the percentage of mercury in the gastrointestinal supernatants for CPMs with cinnabar was quite a bit lower(0.037%). By comparing with the Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives(FAO/WHO) safety guideline, the average daily intake dose(ADD) of Hg in the medicines was then calculated to access the risk of mercury to human health from taking CPMs.     

Regeneration of commercial selective catalyst reduction catalysts deactivated by Pb and other inorganic elements

The regeneration of commercial SCR(Selective Catalyst Reduction) catalysts deactivated by Pb and other elements was studied.The deactivated catalyst samples were prepared by chemical impregnation with mixed solution containing K_2SO_4,Na_2SO_4,CaSO_4,Pb(NO_3)_2and NH_4H_2PO_4.A novel method combining Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt(EDTA-2Na) and H_2SO_4solution(viz.catalysts treated by dilute EDTA-2Na and H_2SO_4 solution in sequence) was used to recover the activity of deactivated samples,and the effect was compared with single H_2SO_4,oxalic acid,acetic acid,EDTA or HNO_3 solutions.The surface structure,acidity and reducibility of samples were characterized by N_2adsorption–desorption,inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer(ICP-OES),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray fluorescence(XRF),H-2-temperature programmed section(H_2-TPR),NH3-temperature programmed desorption(NH3-TPD) and in situ DRIFTS.Impurities caused a decrease of specific surface area and surface reducibility,as well as Br?nsted acid sites,and therefore led to severe deactivation of the SCR catalyst.The use of an acid solution alone possibly eliminated the impurities on the deactivated catalyst to some extent,and also increased the specific surface area and Br?nsted acid sites and promoted the surface reducibility,thus recovered the activity partially.The combination of EDTA-2Na and H_2SO_4 could remove most of the impurities and improve the activity significantly.The removal of Pb should be an important factor for regeneration.Due to a high removal rate for Pb and other impurities,the combination of EDTA-2Na and H_2SO_4 solutions provided the best efficiency.     

Microcystin accumulation and biochemical responses in the edible clam Corbiculaleana P. exposed to cyanobacterial crude extract

We investigated the accumulation and effects of cyanobacterial crude extract(CCE)containing microcystins(MCs) on the edible clam Corbicula leana P. Toxic effects were evaluated through the activity of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes: catalase(CAT),superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione-S-transferases(GSTs) from gills, foot, mantle and remaining soft tissues. Clams were exposed to CCE containing 400 μg MC-LReq/L for10 days and were then kept in toxin-free water for 5 days. Clam accumulated MCs(up to 3.41 ± 0.63 μg/g dry weight(DW) of unbound MC and 0.31 ± 0.013 μg/g DW of covalently bound MC). Detoxification and antioxidant enzymes in different organs responded differently to CCE during the experiment. The activity of SOD, CAT, and GST in the gills and mantle increased in MC-treated clams. In contrast, CAT and GST activity was significantly inhibited in the foot and mostly only slightly changed in the remaining tissues. The responses of biotransformation, antioxidant enzyme activity to CCE and the fast elimination of MCs during depuration help to explain how the clam can survive for long periods(over a week) during the decay of toxic cyanobacterial blooms in nature.     

Estimating emissions from crop residue open burning in China based on statistics and MODIS fire products

With the objective of reducing the large uncertainties in the estimations of emissions from crop residue open burning, an improved method for establishing emission inventories of crop residue open burning at a high spatial resolution of 0.25°× 0.25° and a temporal resolution of1 month was established based on the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer(MODIS) Thermal Anomalies/Fire Daily Level3 Global Product(MOD/MYD14A1). Agriculture mechanization ratios and regional crop-specific grain-to-straw ratios were introduced to improve the accuracy of related activity data. Locally observed emission factors were used to calculate the primary pollutant emissions. MODIS satellite data were modified by combining them with county-level agricultural statistical data, which reduced the influence of missing fire counts caused by their small size and cloud cover. The annual emissions of CO_2, CO, CH_4,nonmethane volatile organic compounds(NMVOCs), N_2O, NO_x, NH_3, SO_2, fine particles(PM2.5),organic carbon(OC), and black carbon(BC) were 150.40, 6.70, 0.51, 0.88, 0.01, 0.13, 0.07, 0.43,1.09, 0.34, and 0.06 Tg, respectively, in 2012. Crop residue open burning emissions displayed typical seasonal and spatial variation. The highest emission regions were the Yellow-Huai River and Yangtse-Huai River areas, and the monthly emissions were highest in June(37%).Uncertainties in the emission estimates, measured as 95% confidence intervals, range from a low of within ±126% for N_2O to a high of within ± 169% for NH_3.     

Sulfate reducing bacterial community and in situ activity in mature fine tailings analyzed by real time qPCR and microsensor

Sulfate reducing bacteria(SRB) play significant roles in anaerobic environments in oil sands mature fine tailings(MFTs). Hydrogen sulfide(H2S) is produced during the biological sulfate reduction process. The production of toxic H_2S is one of the concerns because it may hinder the landscape remediation efficiency of oil sands tailing ponds. In present study, the in situ activity and the community structure of SRB in MFT and gypsum amended MFT in two settling columns were investigated. Combined techniques of H_2S microsensor and dissimilatory sulfite reductase β-subunit(dsrB) genes-based real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) were applied to detect the in situ H_2S and the abundance of SRB. A higher diversity of SRB and more H_2S were observed in gypsum amended MFT than that in MFT, indicating a higher sulfate reduction activity in gypsum amended MFT; in addition, the activity of SRB varied as depth in both MFT and gypsum amended MFT: the deeper the more H_2S produced. Long-term plans for tailings management can be assessed more wisely with the information provided in this study.     

滇池流域入湖河流丰水期大型底栖动物群落特征及其与水环境因子的关系

研究了滇池流域入湖河流丰水期大型底栖动物群落特征及其与水环境因子的关系.在滇池流域29条入湖河流2009年7～8月进行大型底栖动物群落调查,并在2008年9月～2009年8月进行逐月17项水环境指标监测,目的是阐明滇池流域入湖河流丰水期大型底栖动物群落特征,识别影响大型底栖动物群落特征的主要水环境因子,比较大型底栖动物群落Shannon-Weaver多样性指数与水环境质量评价空间分布格局的特点.滇池流域入湖河流丰水期共检出大型底栖动物3门7科8属(其中环节动物门4科5属,软体动物门2科2属,节肢动物门1科1属),群落结构以环节动物门的水丝蚓属(耐污生物)为优势属;TN、 NH⁺₄-N、 TP和DO是影响大型底栖动物群落特征的主要水环境因子,分别为2.03～32.00、 0.34～26.66、 0.09～3.20、 0.10～6.80 mg/L;大型底栖动物群落Shannon-Weaver多样性指数与水环境质量评价的空间分布格局一致,均为流域北部入湖河流(王家堆渠、新运粮河、老运粮河、乌龙河、大观河、西坝河、船房河、采莲河、金家河、盘龙江、大青河、海河、六甲宝象河、小清河、五甲宝象河、虾坝河、老宝象河、新宝象河和马料河)污染状况严重程度>流域南部入湖河流(淤泥河、老柴河、白鱼河、茨巷河、东大河、中河和古城河)>流域东部入湖河流(洛龙河、捞鱼河和南冲河).     

纳滤膜去除卡马西平的影响因素研究

主要研究了纳滤膜去除饮用水中卡马西平(CBZ)的影响因素.首先比较了膜NF270和NF90去除CBZ的效果,发现孔径较小的NF90对CBZ的去除效果远优于孔径较大的NF270.其次考察了CBZ初始浓度、pH值、离子强度和水温对去除率的影响.结果表明,pH值的降低,钙离子浓度的提高以及水温的提高会导致CBZ去除率的降低....     

实验室废液的处理

实验室分析过程产生的废液虽然量少但是直接排放会污染环境,有害人身安全和健康,所以必须对其进行有效处理后再行排放。     

制氧企业安全评价方法探讨

本文针对制氧行业的生产特点以及安全管理情况,对作业过程中存在的危险、有害因素进行了分析,综合运用安全检查表法(SCL)与故障模式、影响及危险度分析法(FMECA)对制氧企业安全现状进行了评价,并提出了相应的对策措施.结果表明:安全检查表法简便、易于掌握、较为实用;故障模式、影响及危险度分析法对评价人员的要求较高,但可得...     

冬期施工的安全管理与预防措施

室外日平均气温连续5天低于5℃即进入冬期施工期,冬季施工气温低,风、雪、冰冻等天气较多,危险因素增加,各类事故进入高发期,稍有不慎极易出现人身、火灾、爆炸、冻伤、中毒以及交通事故等。冬期施工过程中,抓好重点部位、重点环节的监控与事故预防尤为重要。