MEHP induces pyroptosis and autophagy alternation by cathepsin B activation in INS-1 cells

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) is a primary metabolite of di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in the organism, which is a major component of...     

Volatile organic compounds concentration profiles and control strategy in container manufacturing industry: Case studies in China

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), important precursors of ozone (O₃) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), are the key to curb the momentum of O₃ growth and further reducing PM_2.5 in China. Container manufacturing industry is one of the major VOC emitters, and more than 96% containers of the world are produced in China, with the annual usage of coatings of over 200,000 tons in recent years. This is the first research on the emission characteristics of VOCs in Chinese container manufacturing industry, including concentration and ozone formation potential (OFP) of each species. The result shows that the largest amounts of VOCs are emitted during the pretreatment process, followed by the paint mixing process and primer painting process, and finally other sprays process. The average VOC concentrations in the workshops, the exhausts before treatment and the exhausts after treatment are ranging from 82.67–797.46 , 170–1,812.65 , 66.20–349.63 mg/m³, respectively. Benzenes, alcohols and ethers are main species, which contribute more than 90% OFP together. Based on the emission characteristics of VOCs and the technical feasibility, it is recommended to set the emission limit in standard of benzene to 1.0 mg/m³, toluene to 10 mg/m³, xylene to 20 mg/m³, benzenes to 40 mg/m³, alcohols and ethers to 50 mg/m³, and VOCs to 100 mg/m³. The study reports the industry emission characteristics and discusses the standard limits, which is a powerful support to promote VOCs emission reduction, and to promote the coordinated control of PM_2.5 and O₃ pollution.     

Selective elimination of chromophoric and fluorescent dissolved organic matter in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant

Effluent organic matter (EfOM) from municipal wastewater treatment plants potentially has a detrimental effect on both aquatic organisms and humans. This study evaluated the removal and transformation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant under different seasons. The results showed that bio-treatment was found to be more efficient in removing bulk DOM (in terms of dissolved organic carbon, DOC) than CDOM and FDOM, which was contrary to the disinfection process. CDOM and FDOM were selectively removed at various stages during the treatment. Typically, the low molecular weight (MW) fractions of CDOM and protein-like FDOM were more efficiently removed during bio-treatment process, whereas the humic-like FDOM exhibited comparable decreases in both bio-treatment and disinfection processes. Overall, the performance of the WWTP was weak in terms of CDOM and FDOM removal, resulting in enrichment of CDOM and FDOM in effluent. Moreover, the total removal of the bulk DOM (P < 0.05) and the protein-like FDOM (P < 0.05) displayed a significant seasonal variation, with higher removal efficiencies in summer, whereas removal of CDOM and the humic-like FDOM showed little differences between summer and winter. In all, the results provide useful information for understanding the fate and transformation of DOM, illustrating that sub-fractions of DOM could be selectively removed depending on treatment processes and seasonality.     

Inhibitor resistance and in situ capability of nanoparticle based gene quantification

We have demonstrated the preliminary results of the in situ monitoring capability of an inhibitor resistant gene quantification assay using magnetic bead (MB) and quantum dot (QD) nanoparticles (hereafter "MB-QD assay") for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 in environmental samples. The selectivity of the MB-QD assay was demonstrated via the discrimination of the target bacteria in the presence of nonspecific microbial populations. The effect of temperature on the assay was examined to evaluate the necessity of elevated temperature incubation. The reagents (i.e., particle complex and particle-DNA conjugate) were also shown to have a stability of at least 10 days without refrigeration, therefore enabling prior preparation and the subsequent storage of these reagents. In addition, it was found that the MB-QD assay was resistant to the presence of naturally occurring inhibitors (i.e., humic acids, Ca(2+)) and residual reagents from DNA extraction (i.e., surfactant, ethanol). Overall the results indicated that the MB-QD assay is potentially suitable for further development as an in situ bacteria monitoring method for working with inhibitor laden samples without requiring additional purification steps and elevated temperature processes.     

基于主成分分析法研究内蒙古环境质量的统计分析

生态环境问题一直以来制约着西部地区的经济发展,内蒙古作为以资源型开发为主要工业结构的自治区在这方面表现尤为突出。为了使内蒙古自治区借助实施西部大开发战略和开展生态环境建设的机会推进环境保护工作的进程,从环境污染和生态破坏角度运用主成分分析法评价内蒙古自治区2005年到2009年间环境质量。通过综合得分分析得出内蒙古环境质量逐年好转,而且环境质量整体优化速率逐年加快,通过主成分分析得到大气污染和工业污染是在不同领域影响自治区环境质量的主导因素,主要归因于内蒙古自治区工业结构以资源能源型为主、沙尘天气频繁出现以及追求经济快速增长所致的环境问题。     

Re-evaluating the asymmetric economic policy uncertainty,conventional energy,and renewable energy consumption nexus for BRICS

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Economic policy uncertainty has increased throughout the world since the previous few decades. Moreover, economic policy uncertainty significantly...     

山东省地下水硝酸盐溯源研究

针对山东全省农村地区进行地下水取样,采用离子交换色层法对地下水NO3--N质量浓度大于10 mg·L-1的地下水样品进行预处理,做溯源研究,同时采集当地植物、化学肥料、人畜粪便、土壤等样品,测定δ15N值,以针对山东地区,对现存的δ15N值数据库进行完善与补充,使本研究更具代表性与准确性。研究结果表明,如以研究区域整体为单位,有35.45%地下水样品的NO3--N来自于粪肥污染,有27.1%的地下水样品是受化肥污染,还有37.45%的地下水样品的NO3--N污染来自于化肥、粪肥以及生活污水的混合污染。作者还进一步分析了地下水中NO3--N平均质量浓度高于20 mg·L-1的烟台和潍坊,结果表明,烟台地区的地下水NO3--N污染有55.56%来自于粪肥污染,有5.56%来自于化肥污染,有38.88%来自于化肥、粪肥以及生活污水的混合污染;潍坊地区的地下水NO3--N污染有16.13%来自于粪肥污染,有48.39%来自于化肥污染,还有35.48%来自于化肥、粪肥以及生活污水的混合污染。     

污染土地价值评估问题探讨

工业化和城市化为人类福利的改善作出极大的贡献,也带来了大量的污染土地。污染土地是指含有能对人身健康、环境或其它目标产生直接或间接危害的污染物的土地。污染会影响土地的价值,因此,污染土地价值评估问题近年来受到关注。文章总结了污染土地价值评估的研究进展,对关键概念进行探讨和界定,依据我国常用的几种传统土地价值评估方法,探讨如何进行修正以适应污染土地的价值评估,并对污染清理费用、环境责任费用、污名等一些关键问题进行讨论,提出污染土地的价值损失中必须考虑几个方面的不确定性：（1）与工程措施有关的清理费用的不确定性;（2）当前和未来管制要求的不确定性;（3）市场对污染损害反应的不确定性;（4）随着时间变化,市场对污染损害反应的变化。最后结合实际,说明污染土地价值评估不仅要探索新方法,也要在增加和完善环境方面的立法、进一步完善技术标准、促进学科的相互交流和发挥行业组织的主导作用等方面加强。     

基于半焦的污泥调质与深度浓缩脱水

半焦具有孔隙发达、比表面积大、疏水性能强、热值高等特点,采用污泥重力浓缩脱水实验法考察了半焦投加量、粒度对污泥调质与浓缩脱水效果的影响.通过扫描电镜、红外光谱等现代分析手段探讨了基于半焦的污泥调质与深度浓缩脱水的机理.结果表明,当半焦粒度≤425 μm、半焦投加量为2.5 g/100 g污泥时,浓缩污泥上清液的浊度、COD、SS分别从污泥调质前的836 NTU、258.2 mg/L、630.1 mg/L降至调质后的14.8 NTU、38.2 mg/L、18.6 mg/L,达到国家污水综合排放二级标准;浓缩污泥的含水率由调质前的91.74％降至调质后83.71％;污泥静置重力浓缩过程中,经半焦调质后的污泥沉降速率明显增加,污泥在前20 min的平均沉降速率由调质前的2.49 mL/min提高至3.48 mL/min;半焦对污泥调质与深度脱水机理主要表现在半焦对污泥的吸附作用及半焦对污泥疏水性能的增强作用.可见,基于半焦的污泥调质不仅能显著地改善污泥的浓缩脱水性能,还能提高污泥的热值,为污泥的能源化利用创造了条件.     

生物滞留池用于城市雨水径流控制研究现状和展望

生物滞留池是一种采用分散方法,从源头削减雨水和控制污染物迁移的高效LID措施。从水文效应、水质处理及模型建立三方面回顾了国外生物滞留池的研究现状,对生物滞留池用于国内城市雨水径流控制展望如下:在满足水量负荷下对溶解性N和颗粒悬浮物去除的研究;生物滞留池长期运行稳定性研究,包括填料的二次污染和自然再生等;生物滞留池水力模型和水质模型的研究必须与理论研究相结合,以减少试验周期和优化试验参数。