Using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to link urinary biomarker concentrations to dietary exposure of perchlorate

Exposure to perchlorate is widespread in the United States and many studies have attempted to character the perchlorate exposure by estimating the average daily intakes of perchlorate. These approaches provided population-based estimates, but did not provide individual-level exposure estimates. Until recently, exposure activity database such as CSFII, TDS and NHANES become available and provide opportunities to evaluate the individual-level exposure to chemical using exposure surveillance dataset. In this study, we use perchlorate as an example to investigate the usefulness of urinary biomarker data for predicting exposures at the individual level. Specifically, two analyses were conducted: (1) using data from a controlled human study to examine the ability of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to predict perchlorate concentrations in single-spot and cumulative urine samples; and (2) using biomarker data from a population-based study and a PBPK model to demonstrate the challenges in linking urinary biomarker concentrations to intake doses for individuals. Results showed that the modeling approach was able to characterize the distribution of biomarker concentrations at the population level, but predicting the exposure-biomarker relationship for individuals was much more difficult. The type of information needed to reduce the uncertainty in estimating intake doses, for individuals, based on biomarker measurements is discussed.     

锶在改性介质中的吸附规律及其影响因素研究

通过室内等温静态批量平衡吸附实验,采用2种常见的等温吸附方程(Freundlich方程、Langmuir方程)对锶在3种不同润湿性的石英砂中的吸附行为进行了回归拟合。结果表明,介质润湿性对锶的吸附会产生重要的影响,润湿性较强的亲水性石英砂的吸附性能明显优于疏水性石英砂;从Freundlich方程和Langmuir方程拟合结果来看,两者均具有理想的相关性,但普通石英砂和亲水性石英砂的等温吸附式更符合Langmuir方程,而疏水性石英砂采用Freundlich方程拟合的相关性更好。     

The negative effects of cadmium on Bermuda grass growth might be offset by submergence

Revegetation in the water-level-fluctuation zone (WLFZ) could stabilize riverbanks, maintain local biodiversity, and improve reservoir water quality in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (TGRR). However, submergence and cadmium (Cd) may seriously affect the survival of transplantations. Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a stoloniferous and rhizomatous prostrate weed displaying high growth rate. A previous study has demonstrated that Bermuda grass can tolerate deep submergence and Cd stress, respectively. In the present study, we further analyzed physiological responses of Bermuda grass induced by Cd-and-submergence stress. The ultimate goal was to explore the possibility of using Bermuda grass for revegetation in the WLFZ of China’s TGRR and other riparian areas. The Cd-and-submergence-treated plants had higher malondialdehyde contents and peroxidase than control, and both increased with the Cd concentration increase. All treated plants catalase activity increased with the experimental duration increases, and their superoxide dismutase also gradually increased with the Cd concentration from 1 day to 15 days. Total biomass of the same Cd-and-submergence plants increased along the experimental duration as well. Plants exposed to Cd-and-submergence stress showed shoot elongation. The heights of all treated plants were taller than those of the control. Leaf chlorophyll contents, maximum leaf length, and soluble sugars contents of all the Cd-and-submergence-treated plants were more than those of the untreated control. Although Cd inhibits plants growth, decreases chlorophyll and biomass content, and with the submergence induced the leaf and shoot elongation, more part of the Cd-and-submergence stress plants appeared in the air, exhibited fast growth with maintenance of leaf color, which guaranteed the plants’ photosynthesis, and ensured the total biomass and carbohydrate sustainability, further promoting Cd-and-submergence tolerance. The results imply that the negative effects of cadmium on Bermuda grass growth might be offset by submergence.     

菲污染土壤黑麦草/苜蓿间作修复效应

多环芳烃类化合物(PAHs)是环境中普遍存在的持久性有毒有机污染物,因具有强烈的"三致"作用,业已引起各国环境科学工作者的广泛关注,PAHs污染土壤的修复也已成为环境科学与工程领域的研究热点。以菲为PAHs的代表,研究了黑麦草/苜蓿间作对多环芳烃(菲)污染土壤的修复效应。通过温室盆栽模拟实验,观察到5 mg/kg和50 mg/kg污染水平没有明显抑制黑麦草和苜蓿的生长;黑麦草/苜蓿间作促进了植物对土壤菲的吸收,且间作体系根系富集系数大于单作;土壤中菲的可提取浓度随时间的延长逐渐减少,在菲重度污染土壤上,黑麦草/苜蓿间作修复效果明显优于单作,菲去除率可高达90.53%。因此,对于重度PAHs污染土壤该体系是一种有实际应用价值的间作修复体系。     

啤酒废水常温厌氧消化启动及运行实验

采用自行设计的复合式厌氧反应器在常温下对啤酒废水进行了厌氧发酵产沼气的实验研究,将进水COD控制在5 000 mg/L左右,采取逐步缩短HRT的方法来提高进水有机负荷,结果表明,启动运行41 d之后,产气量上升速度加快,反应器成功启动运行;在稳定运行过程中,随着负荷的升高,产气量呈阶梯式渐次上升,COD去除率保持在90%以上,出水pH值维持在7.0左右,TSS去除率达到60%以上,出水水质较好,说明该反应器具有较好的厌氧消化处理有机废水的能力。     

钛铁矿造孔核桃壳基活性炭的制备及其吸附性能

以核桃壳为原料,钛铁矿为造孔剂,制备钛铁矿造孔核桃壳基活性炭。实验结果表明：在氯化锌浓度为3mol/L、碳化时间为40min、碳化温度为400℃、钛铁矿加入量为5%的条件下,制得的钛铁矿造孔核桃壳基活性炭对苯酚、碱性品红、Pb²⁺的吸附量分别达到了156.80,181.35,35.84mg/g,比核桃壳活性炭分别提高了25.84%,18.59%,19.10%;钛铁矿作为造孔剂制备活性炭,可以降低碳化温度和缩短碳化时间,且对活性炭中孔的形成起促进作用,有利于对大分子物质和重金属的吸附去除。     

Spatial Distribution of Geobacteraceae and Sulfate‐Reducing Bacteria During In Situ Bioremediation of Uranium‐Contaminated Groundwater

Analysis of the physiological status of subsurface microbial communities generally relies on the study of unattached microorganisms in the groundwater. These approaches have been employed in studies on bioremediation of uranium‐contaminated groundwater at a study site in Rifle, Colorado, in which Geobacter species typically account for over 90 percent of the microbial community in the groundwater during active uranium reduction. However, to develop efficient in situ bioremediation strategies it is necessary to know the status of sediment‐associated microorganisms as well. In order to evaluate the distribution of the natural community of Geobacter during bioremediation of uranium, subsurface sediments were packed into either passive flux meters (PFMs) or sediment columns deployed in groundwater monitoring wells prior to acetate injection during in situ biostimulation field trials. The trials were performed at the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Rifle Integrated Field Research Challenge site. Sediment samples were removed either during the peak of Fe(III) reduction or the peak of sulfate reduction over the course of two separate field experiments and preserved for microscopy. Direct cell counts using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes targeting Geobacter species indicated that the majority of Geobacter cells were unattached during Fe(III) reduction, which typically tracks with elevated rates of uranium reduction. Similar measurements conducted during the sulfate‐reducing phase revealed the majority of Geobacter to be attached following exhaustion of more readily bioavailable forms of iron minerals. Laboratory sediment column studies confirmed observations made with sediment samples collected during field trials and indicated that during Fe(III) reduction, Geobacter species are primarily unattached (90 percent), whereas the majority of sulfate‐reducing bacteria and Geobacter species are attached to sediment surfaces when sulfate reduction is the predominant form of metabolism (75 percent and 77 percent, respectively). In addition, artificial sediment experiments showed that pure cultures of Geobacter uraniireducens, isolated from the Rifle site, were primarily unattached once Fe(III) became scarce. These results demonstrate that, although Geobacter species must directly contact Fe(III) oxides in order to reduce them, cells do not firmly attach to the sediments, which is likely an adaptive response to sparsely and heterogeneously dispersed Fe(III) minerals in the subsurface. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

粉煤灰两步水热法制备人工沸石

以粉煤灰为原料,采用两步水热法制备人工沸石。SEM、XRD、X射线荧光光谱分析结果表明:制得的人工沸石纯度较高,主要为Na-A型沸石和少量13X型沸石,主要化学成分为SiO2和Al2O3。说明采用两步法制备人工沸石克服了传统水热法杂质含量高的缺陷。采用人工沸石处理初始Mn2+质量浓度为50.00mg/L的模拟含锰废水,吸附125min后,Mn2+去除率达98.19%,模拟废水中剩余Mn2+质量浓度为0.90mg/L。     

The challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution through energy sources: evidence from a panel of developed countries

The objective of the study is to investigate the long-run relationship between climatic factors (i.e., greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural methane emissions, and industrial nitrous oxide emission), air pollution (i.e., carbon dioxide emissions), and energy sources (i.e., nuclear energy; oil, gas, and coal energy; and fossil fuel energy) in the panel of 35 developed countries (including EU-15, new EU member states, G-7, and other countries) over a period of 1975–2012. In order to achieve this objective, the present study uses sophisticated panel econometric techniques including panel cointegration, panel fully modified OLS (FMOLS), and dynamic OLS (DOLS). The results show that there is a long-run relationship between the variables. Nuclear energy reduces greenhouse gases and carbon emissions; however, the other emissions, i.e., agricultural methane emissions and industrial nitrous oxide, are still to increase during the study period. Electricity production from oil, gas, and coal sources increases the greenhouse gases and carbon emissions; however, the intensity to increase emissions is far less than the intensity to increase emissions through fossil fuel. Policies that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases can simultaneously alter emissions of conventional pollutants that have deleterious effects on human health and the environment.     

The potential of the flora from different regions of Pakistan in phytoremediation: a review

Soil and water quality is greatly affected by environmental pollution due to the increasing trend of urbanization and industrialization. In many developing countries, including Pakistan, the situation is more alarming as no preventive measures are still taken to tackle the problem. Although in developed countries, many techniques are used to remediate the environment including phytoremediation. It is the most eco-friendly technique in which plants are used to remove pollutants from the environment. Pakistan has also a great diversity of plants which could be used for the remediation of environmental pollutants. To our knowledge, few studies from Pakistan were reported about the use of flora for phytoremediation. According to recent literature, 50 plant species from Pakistan are studied for remediation purposes. In this review, the potential of different plant species for phytoremediation from Pakistan has been discussed along with their comparison to other countries to relate future perspectives.