Biological monitoring of environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in subjects living in the area of recycling electronic garbage,in Southern China

The study was undertaken to evaluate the environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in subjects living in the area of recycling electronic garbage in Southern China and research the influence of environment smoke tobacco (EST) to people through active and passive smoking. Urinary concentrations of 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydoxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene were determined in 141 randomly selected voluntary residents aged 13 to 81 years in two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-exposed groups, two control groups, and an EST research group. The concentrations of 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydoxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene in PAH-exposed groups are significantly higher (p?PAHs (PAHm) are significantly elevated through active and passive smoking, while the influence of EST to other PAHm is not statistically significant. 2-Hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydoxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene in the urine of smokers are, respectively, 3.9, 1.9, 1.4, and 1.9 times to those of nonsmokers. In nonsmokers, passive smokers excreted 1.1, 1.5, 1.9, and 1.5 times of 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydoxyfluorene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene compared to nonpassive smokers.     

Distribution and ecological risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides in surface sediments from the East Lake,China

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are ubiquitous pollutants, and their presence in urban lakes is a concern for human and ecological health. Surface sediments in the East Lake, China, were collected in winter 2012 and summer 2013 to investigate concentrations, distribution patterns, possible sources, and potential ecological risks of OCPs in this area. The total concentrations of 14 OCPs ranged from 6.3 to 400 ng g^?1 dry weight (dw) with an average concentration of 79 ng g^?1 dw. The mean values of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) (p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDD, and p,p’-DDT) were 36 and 7.6 ng g^?1 dw, accounting for 45 and 10 % of the total OCPs, respectively. The concentrations of OCPs in sediment samples collected in winter were significantly higher than those in summer, especially the HCHs, of which in winter were two times greater than summer. Composition analyses indicated that DDTs and endosulfan were mainly from historical contribution. Historical use of technical HCH and new input of lindane were probably the source of HCHs in the East Lake. Most sampling sites of HCHs and DDTs were found to have the potential ecological risk based on levels specified in the sediment quality standards.     

辉光放电等离子体氧化降解水中邻苯二甲酸二丁酯

研究了辉光放电等离子体降解水中典型的环境内分泌干扰物邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)及降解过程中过氧化氢(H2O2)的生成规律。考察了电解质种类、共存污染物(甲醇、叔丁醇)及催化剂等条件对DBP降解及H2O2生成的影响。结果表明,在硫酸钠溶液中DBP降解效率和H2O2生成速率最高;甲醇、叔丁醇等共存污染物对DBP降解和H2O2生成有抑制作用;Fe2+,Fe3+和Cu2+对DBP的降解有催化作用,其催化效果为Fe2+>Fe3+>Cu2+。用高效液相色谱、离子色谱及气质联用仪等仪器分析了降解中间产物,提出了可能的降解机理。     

Fenton氧化与铁炭微电解组合预处理DMF废水

对COD表征模拟废水中DMF去除率的可行性进行了探讨。在此基础上,分别对铁炭微电解、Fenton氧化-铁炭微电解和铁炭微电解-Fenton氧化组合工艺对DMF废水的处理效果进行分析,结果表明,Fenton氧化-铁炭微电解工艺的处理效果较好。在pH=5,反应时间为1 h,FeSO4·7H2O投加量为1 000 mg/L、H2O2投加量为2.67 mL/L和不曝气的最佳反应条件下,Fenton氧化-铁炭微电解工艺对实际废水和废液中COD的去除率分别达到66.67%和72.22%,从而验证了该工艺处理DMF废水的可行性。此外,Fenton氧化处理DMF废水过程实际上是将酰胺基团和羰基的不饱和双键氧化分解的过程。     

酸改性泥炭对含亚甲基蓝废水的吸附净化作用

采用稀硝酸对泥炭进行改性处理获得酸改性泥炭,并将其用于处理亚甲基蓝废水。考察初始溶液pH、接触时间、酸改性泥炭投加量和亚甲基蓝溶液初始浓度等因素对酸改性泥炭吸附效果影响。结果表明,初始溶液pH、接触时间、酸改性泥炭投加量和亚甲基蓝溶液初始浓度对酸改性泥炭吸附性能都有一定的影响。在最佳的反应条件下(接触时间为60 min,反应温度为35℃,初始溶液pH为7.12,酸改性泥炭投加量为2 g),亚甲基蓝去除率可达90.88%,其吸附较好地符合Freundlich和Langmuir等温方程,拟合相关系数均大于0.9。通过热力学计算发现,ΔG<0、ΔS>0,表明该吸附反应是自发的、吸热反应。且该吸附过程符合准二级动力学方程(R2=0.98)。     

Potential toxicity of amphenicol antibiotic: binding of chloramphenicol to human serum albumin

Antibiotics are widely used in daily life but their abuse has posed a potential threat to human health. To evaluate the toxicity of chloramphenicol (CAP) at the protein level, the interaction between CAP and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated by fluorescence, Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and molecular docking methods. Fluorescence data revealed that the fluorescence quenching of HSA by CAP was the result of the formation of CAP–HSA complex, and the binding constant was determined to be 3.196?×?10⁴ L mol^?1 at 310 K. The thermodynamic determination indicated that the interaction was driven by enthalpy change and entropy change together, where the multiple hydrogen bonds (CAP and the residues Arg 222 and His 242 of HSA) and van der Waals forces were the dominant binding force. The site marker competition revealed that CAP bound into sub-domain IIA of HSA. The binding of CAP induced the drastic reduction in α-helix conformation and the significant enhancement in β-sheet conformation of HSA. Molecular docking study further confirmed the binding mode obtained by experimental study. This work provides a new quantitative evaluation method for antibiotics to cause the protein damage.     

Carbon Sequestration Function of Check-Dams: A Case Study of the Loess Plateau in China

Check-dams are the most common structures for controlling soil erosion in the Loess Plateau. However, the effect of check-dams on carbon sequestration, along with sediment transport and deposition, has not been assessed over large areas. In this study, we evaluated the carbon sequestration function of check-dams in the Loess Plateau. The results indicate that there were approximately 11 000 check-dams distributed in the Loess Plateau, with an estimate of the amount of sediment of 21 × 10⁹ m³ and a soil organic carbon storage amount of 0.945 Pg. Our study reveals that check-dams in the Loess Plateau not only conserve soil and water but also sequester carbon.     

Heavy metal pollution in vegetables grown in the vicinity of a multi-metal mining area in Gejiu,China: total concentrations,speciation analysis,and health risk

A field survey was conducted to investigate the present situation and health risk of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in soils and vegetables in a multi-metal mining area, Gejiu, China. Furthermore, three vegetables (water spinach, potato, and summer squash) containing high metal concentrations were selected to further analyze metal speciation. The results showed that the average concentrations of five metals in soil exceeded the limiting values, and their bioavailable concentrations were significantly positively correlated to the total ones. Heavy metals in the edible parts of vegetables also exceeded the corresponding standards. The leaves of pakchoi, peppermint, and coriander had a strong metal-accumulative ability and they were not suitable for planting. Except the residue forms, the main forms of metals in the edible parts of three selected vegetables were ethanol-, NaCl-, and HAc-extractable fractions for As, Pb, and Cd, respectively; however, Cu was mainly presented as NaCl-extractable and Zn as HAc-extractable fractions. A high proportion of ethanol-extractable As showed that As bioactivity and toxic effects were the highest. Although the total and bioavailable Cd were high in soil, its speciation in vegetables was mainly presented as HAc-extractable fraction, which has a relatively low bioactivity. Lead and arsenic were imposing a serious threat on the local residents via vegetable consumption.     

Risk for estrogen-dependent diseases in relation to phthalate exposure and polymorphisms of CYP17A1 and estrogen receptor genes

Evidence has shown that polymorphisms of various genes known to be involved in estrogen biosynthesis and function are associated with estrogen-dependent diseases (EDDs). These genes include CYP17A1, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), and 2 (ESR2). Phthalates are considered estrogenic endocrine disruptors, and recent research has suggested that they may act as a risk factor for EDDs. However, extremely few studies have assessed the effects of gene–environment interaction on these diseases. We recruited 44 patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis, 36 patients with leiomyoma, and 69 healthy controls from a medical center in Taiwan between 2005 and 2007. Urine samples were collected and analyzed for seven phthalate metabolites using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Peripheral lymphocytes were used for DNA extraction to determine the genotype of CYP17A1, ESR1, and ESR2. Compared to controls, patients with leiomyoma had significantly higher levels of total urinary mono-ethylhexyl phthalate (ΣMEHP) (52.1 vs. 29.6 μg/g creatinine, p?=?0.040), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) (75.4 vs. 51.3 μg/g creatinine, p?=?0.019), and monoethyl phthalate (MEP) (103.7 vs. 59.3 μg/g creatinine, p?=?0.031). In contrast, patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis showed a marginally increased level of urinary MEHP only. Subjects who were homozygous for both the ESR1 C allele (rs2234693) and CYP17A1 C allele (rs743572) showed a significantly increased risk for leiomyoma (OR?=?19.8; 95 % CI, 1.70; 231.5; p?=?0.017) relative to subjects with other genotypes of ESR1 and CYP17A1. These results were obtained after adjusting for age, cigarette smoking, MEHP level, GSTM1 genotype and other covariates. Our results suggested that both CYP17A1 and ESR1 polymorphisms may modulate the effects of phthalate exposure on the development of leiomyoma.     

Reduction of Fusarium rot and maintenance of fruit quality in melon using eco-friendly hot water treatment

Significant losses in harvested fruit can be directly attributable to decay fungi and quality deterioration. Hot water treatment (HWT) has been demonstrated to be an effective and economic environment-friendly approach for managing postharvest decay and maintaining fruit quality. In this study, the effects of HWT (45 °C for 10, 15, 20, and 25 min) on in vitro growth of Fusarium oxysporum, in vivo Fusarium rot, and natural decay of melon were investigated. HWT inhibited spore germination and germ tube elongation of F. oxysporum. Protein impairment and ATP consumption triggered by HWT contributed to the inhibitory effect. Results of in vivo studies showed that HWT effectively controlled Fusarium rot and natural decay of melon. Correspondingly, HWT induced a significant increase in content of total phenolic compounds and lignin of melon. These findings indicate that the effects of HWT on Fusarium rot may be associated with the direct fungal inhibition and the elicitation of defense responses in fruit. Importantly, HWT used in this study had beneficial effects on fruit quality as well. HWT may represent an effective non-chemical approach for management of postharvest Fusarium rot.