Mechanism of Deca-BDE-induced apoptosis in Neuro-2a cells: Role of death-receptor pathway and reactive oxygen species-mediated mitochondrial pathway

Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) is a prevalent polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congener known to have neurotoxicity. Effects of BDE-209 on Neuro-2a cells were performed in the present study and the possible apoptotic pathway was discussed. Results indicated that BDE-209 induced Neuro-2a cell apoptosis, increased the protein expression of Fas and Fas-associated death domain-containing protein (FADD) and activated the caspase-8 and -3 activities in a concentration-dependent manner, inferring the death-receptor pathway was involved in the apoptotic process. Meanwhile, BDE-209 exposure increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and decreased the cellular mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) which led to cytochrome C released to the cytoplasm. The intracellular caspase-9 was elevated simultaneously, which caused downstream caspase cascade and triggered cell apoptosis. Moreover, BDE-209 exposure increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in a concentration-dependent manner and the addition of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), known as ROS scavengers, obviously reduced the apoptotic rate and a positive relationship was observed between the degree of apoptosis blocking and the loss of MMP and ROS production. We thus concluded that BDE-209 induced Neuro-2a cell apoptosis via the combination of the death-receptor signaling pathway and the mitochondrial signaling pathway. The elevated ROS production was considered to magnify the intracellular apoptosis signal and played a crucial role in apoptosis of Neuro-2a cells induced by BDE-209.     

Cover features and new Associate Editors of the Journal of Environmental Sciences

正We are very pleased to announce that five Associate Editors have joined the editorial team of the Journal of Environmental Sciences(JES).Professors/Drs.Yong Cai,Paul Lam,Jonathan Martin,Michael Plewa,and Po Keung Wong bring a wealth of expertise in environmental sciences.As preeminent scientists in their chosen areas of research,they have made outstanding contributions to the discipline of environmental     

砷-菲对蜈蚣草根部不同碳基团的影响

采用离体鲜根实验和固态13C核磁共振技术(13C-NMR)研究蜈蚣草根部对砷和菲的吸收特征及根部碳基团的影响作用.结果表明,蜈蚣草根部在无蒸腾作用的条件下能够有效地吸收砷和菲,添加菲能够促进离体鲜根对砷的吸收,添加砷也可提高菲的吸收,与对照相比,菲提高了15%~53%.蜈蚣草离体鲜根中以烷氧基C为主,羧基C比例最低,且主要为羧酸、酯和酰胺类羧基C,添加砷和菲会显著增加蜈蚣草离体鲜根中羧基C的比例.蜈蚣草离体鲜根为应对砷和菲的胁迫形成了分子结构更为稳定和复杂的芳香类有机质,从而提高离体鲜根的抗性和适应性.     

燃煤机组超低排放改造对汞的脱除效果研究

燃煤烟气中汞污染的控制是目前重要的环保课题之一,燃煤电厂利用现有的脱硝、脱硫、除尘设备去除汞,文章分析燃煤电厂烟气净化设备超低排放改造后汞的排放水平,说明现有废气处理设施超低排放改造,既能有效降低烟尘、二氧化硫、氮氧化物排放浓度,也有利于汞的去除,燃煤机组超低排放改造后汞的排放浓度远低于现行0.03 mg/m3的限值;通过分析燃煤电厂现有烟气净化设备对汞的协同去除效果和脱除汞的原理,提出了未来燃煤烟气汞污染控制措施的建议.     

基于粒子群算法的城市垃圾中转站的空间布局研究

随着城市化的进程,垃圾处理设施成为影响城市化质量的重要指标。依据人们实际所关注的垃圾处理设施的总成本和负效应两个因素,在前人研究的基础上,建立了垃圾收运多目标模型,使得总成本和负效应最优化。根据模型设计了粒子群算法,该算法属于智能算法,且精度高,收敛快,在许多领域也得到广泛应用。用设计的粒子群算法并结合案例求出了Pareto最优解,给出三种决策方案,验证了模型和算法的有效性和可行性,为决策者提供了一种理论参考。     

Simultaneous preconcentration of cadmium and lead in water samples with silica gel and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new method that utilizes pretreated silica gel as an adsorbent has been developed for simultaneous preconcentration of trace Cd(II) and Pb(II) prior to the measurement by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The effects of pH, the shaking time, the elution condition and the coexisting ions on the separation/preconcentration conditions of analytes were investigated. Under optimized conditions, the static adsorption capacity of Cd(II) and Pb(II) were 45.5 and 27.1mg/g, the relative standard deviations were 3.2% and 1.7% (for n = 11), and the limits of detection obtained were 4.25 and 0.60 ng/mL, respectively. The method was validated by analyzing the certified reference materials GBW 07304a (stream sediment) and successfully applied to the analysis of various treated wastewater samples with satisfactory results.     

Research on the evolvement of morphology of coking coal during the coking process

The evolvement of morphology and structure of the coal with different metamorphic degrees during coking process in the vertical furnace was investigated by infrared Image detector. Moreover, the temperature distribution in the radial direction and the crack formation were also studied in heating process. The results show that the amount of crack and the shrinkage level of char decrease with the coal rank rising. In addition, the initial temperature of crack formation for char increases with the coal rank rising.     

铝穹顶储罐雷击损伤及燃爆风险研究

针对铝穹顶储罐雷击问题,开展了回击后长持续时间雷电流分量作用下的铝合金板烧蚀损伤试验研究,分析了铝穹顶储罐损伤及油气燃爆风险。结果表明:当直流分量为164 C时,2 mm铝板发生穿孔,铝穹顶储罐存在雷击燃爆风险;当直流分量≤157 C时,未穿孔,背面温度最高为480℃,存在燃爆风险,铝穹顶储罐存在雷击燃爆风险;当直流分量196 C时,4 mm铝板发生穿孔;当直流分量为196 C时,6 mm铝板未发生穿孔,背面温升为125℃,小于205℃,铝穹顶储罐不存在雷击燃爆风险。     

pH过程控制对铁炭微电解-Fenton影响中试研究

采用铁炭微电解-Fenton联合工艺处理制药废水生化出水,探讨了初始pH对微电解过程COD降解速率、出水中Fe2+和Fe3+变化规律以及后续Fenton氧化效果的影响,为优化联合工艺提出了微电解反应pH过程控制的理论。采用pH过程控制时,微电解对COD降解速率大大提高,降解过程基本符合零级反应动力学,同时可大大提高Fe2+和Fe3+浓度及总铁析出量。试验结果表明:当初始pH=2.5,以3.0L/h连续性投加稀硫酸100 min,曝气微电解反应2 h,出水再投加1.0mL/L的H2O2进行Fenton氧化2 h,出水COD总去除率可达85.6%;采用pH过程控制可将微电解出水ρ(Fe2+)浓度从48.6 mg/L提高至149 mg/L,COD降解速率从10.9 mg/(L·h)提高至23.8 mg/(L·h)。     

Spatiotemporal variations of ambient air pollutants and meteorological influences over typical urban agglomerations in China during the COVID-19 lockdown

To investigate the air quality change during the COVID-19 pandemic, we analyzed spatiotemporal variations of six criteria pollutants in nine typical urban agglomerations in China using ground-based data and examined meteorological influences through correlation analysis and backward trajectory analysis under different responses. Concentrations of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂ and CO in urban agglomerations respectively decreased by 18%–45% (30%–62%), 17%–53% (22%–39%), 47%-64% (14%–41%), 9%–34% (0%–53%) and 16%-52% (23%–56%) during Lockdown (Post-lockdown) period relative to Pre-lockdown period. PM_2.5 pollution events occurred during Lockdown in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebe (BTH) and Middle and South Liaoning (MSL), and daily O₃ concentration rose to grade Ⅱ standard in Post-lockdown period. Distinct from the nationwide slump of NO₂ during Lockdown period, a rebound (～40%) in Post-lockdown period was observed in Cheng-Yu (CY), Yangtze River Middle-Reach (YRMR), Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD). With slightly higher wind speed compared with 2019, the reduction of PM_2.5 (51%–62%) in Post-lockdown period is more than 2019 (15%–46%) in HC (Harbin-Changchun), MSL, BTH, CP (Central Plain) and SP (Shandong-Peninsula), suggesting lockdown measures are effective to PM_2.5 alleviation. Although O₃ concentrations generally increased during the lockdown, its increment rate declined compared with 2019 under similar sunlight duration and temperature. Additionally, unlike HC, MSL and BTH, which suffered from additional (> 30%) air masses from surrounding areas after the lockdown, the polluted air masses reaching YRD and PRD mostly originated from the long-distance transport, highlighting the importance of joint regional governance.