An exposure study with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in female European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris): toxicokinetics and reproductive effects

We exposed female European starlings to a pentabromodiphenyl ether (Penta-BDE) mixture through subcutaneous implants, and examined levels and profiles of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) together with reproductive effects. Sum PBDE levels increased significantly in the serum of the exposed females from 218 ± 43 to 23,400 ± 2035 pg/ml. Sum PBDE concentrations in the eggs of the exposed group ranged from 130 ± 12 to 220 ± 37 ng/g wet weight (ww). The profile in serum after egg laying was very similar to that in eggs. There were no detectable levels of HO-PBDEs in both serum and eggs. Fewer females of the exposed group initiated egg laying compared to the control group, although the difference was not significant. In addition, egg weight and volume were significantly higher in the exposed group. These results suggest that, at the investigated exposure levels (150 μg sum PBDEs/bird), PBDEs may have a negative effect on reproductive performance.     

Analytical developments and preliminary assessment of human exposure to organophosphate flame retardants from indoor dust

A new and efficient analytical method was developed and validated for the analysis of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) in indoor dust samples. This method involves an extraction step by ultrasonication and vortex, followed by extract clean-up with Florisil solid-phase extraction cartridges and analysis of the purified extracts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Method recoveries ranged between 76 and 127%, except for volatile OPFRs, such as triethyl phosphate (TEP) and tri-(n-propyl) phosphate (TnPP), which were partially lost during evaporation steps. The between day precision on spiked dust samples was <14% for individual OPFRs, except for TEP, tri-iso-butyl phosphate (TiBP) and tri (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP). Method limit of quantifications (LOQ) ranged between 0.02 μg/g (TnPP and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl phosphate (TCPP)) and 0.50 μg/g (TiBP). The method was further applied for the analysis of indoor dust samples taken from Flemish homes and stores. TiBP, TBEP and TCPP were most abundant OPFR with median concentrations of 2.99, 2.03 and 1.38 μg/g in house dust and of 1.04, 3.61, and 2.94 μg/g in store dust, respectively. The concentration of all OPFRs was at least 20 to 30 times higher compared to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). Estimated exposure to OPFRs from dust ingestion ranged for individual OPFRs between <1 and 50 ng/kg body weight for adults and toddlers, respectively. The estimated body burdens were 1000 to 100 times below reference dose (RfD) values, except for the scenario with high dust ingestion and high concentrations of TBEP in toddlers, where intake was only 5 times below RfD. Exposure of non-working and working adults to OPFRs appeared to be similar, but in specific work environments, exposure to some OPFRs (e.g. TDCPP) was increased by a factor >5.     

Effects of estrogen exposure in mussels, Mytilus edulis, at different stages of gametogenesis

Mytilus edulis were exposed to 17β-estradiol (E2) and the synthetic estrogens ethinyl estradiol (EE2) and estradiol benzoate (EB) for 10 days. Two exposures were performed to determine their effect on vitellogenin (VTG) and estrogen receptor 2 (ER2) mRNA expression at different stages of the reproductive cycle. Significant natural variation was not observed in VTG mRNA expression, though ER2 mRNA expression displayed significantly lower values during January, February and July compared with other times of the year. A significant increase in VTG and ER2 mRNA expression was observed in mussels exposed to estrogens at the early stage of gametogenesis. In contrast, mature mussels displayed no statistically significant change in the VTG or ER2 mRNA expression. The data presented suggests that the reproductive physiology of molluscs, in terms of VTG and ER2 mRNA expression, may be susceptible to damage by environmental estrogens at certain points in their gametogenesis process.     

Modeling and simulation of industrial water demand of Beijing municipality in China

Statistic and econometric regression models were established in this study to analyze and predict industrial water demand, water deficits, and their future uncertainty in Beijing—a Chinese city with a severe water stress problem. A forecasting model was selected based on a modeling evaluation by comparing predictions with observations. Four scenarios were designed to simulate and analyze the future uncertainty of industrial water demand and the water deficit of Beijing. The modeling results for industrial water demand suggested that Beijing industry would face a water deficit between 3.06 × 10⁸ m³ in 2008 and 2.77×10⁸ m³ in 2015, though its industrial water demand would decrease from 6.31×10⁸ m³ to 4.84 ×10⁸ m³ during this period of time. Results from simulated scenario illustrated that, due to the extreme water scarcity situation, industry in Beijing would still face a serious water deficit problem even with a very optimistic scenario for the future.     

Determination of arsenic content of some Romanian natural mineral groundwaters

Romania is one of the countries that have natural arsenic groundwater problems. This paper presents the results of a study of arsenic concentration monitoring in natural mineral waters collected from 23 sampling sites located in the northern, central, and western regions of Romania. The sampling sites are both natural springs and drilled wells. The graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used for arsenic content determination. The Piper??s classification principle was applied in order to find out the hydrochemical type of the analyzed waters. Depending on the concentration of arsenic, the water analyzed can be classified into three main categories: (1) mineral natural waters containing less than 10???g/L arsenic, (2) mineral natural waters containing arsenic at concentrations several times higher than the limit of 10???g/L but less than 100???g/L, and (3) mineral natural waters containing arsenic at concentrations of ten to a hundred times higher than the allowed limit of 10???g/L. The last-mentioned waters are of bicarbonatate sodium type and were sampled from seven sources only, being prohibited for human and animal use.     

紫色土地区水文特征对硝态氮流失的影响研究

采用人工降雨模拟的方法,研究水文传输途径对紫色土中NO3--N流失的影响.研究结果表明,在所有雨强中均观察到壤中流的存在.在小雨强长历时的降雨中壤中流的径流量大于大雨强短历时降雨;随着雨强的增大,壤中流的径流系数下降.在紫色土地区,氮素的流失途径不仅包括地表径流而且包括壤中流,并且壤中流是NO3--N的主要水文传输途径.无论是否受到施肥措施的影响,壤中流中NO2--N浓度均高于地表径流.在对照小区,壤中流中NO3--N平均浓度是地表径流的7倍以上;施肥后壤中流NO3--N平均浓度为26.07mg·L-1,是地表径流的20倍以上.在对照小区,壤中流NO3--N的流失量占流失总量的30%以上;在施肥小区,壤中流NO3--N流失量占总流失量的90%以上.在紫色土地区,土壤特征和降雨特征决定了该地区壤中流形式的普遍存在,而NO3--N以壤中流流失的特点与当地施肥习惯的耦合效应增大了该地区的NO3--N流失风险.