Dynamic nano-Ag colloids cytotoxicity to and accumulation by Escherichia coli: Effects of Fe3+, ionic strength and humic acid

Released Ag ions or/and Ag particles are believed to contribute to the cytotoxicity of Ag nanomaterials, and thus, the cytotoxicity and mechanism of Ag nanomaterials should be dynamic in water due to unfixed Ag particle:Ag⁺ ratios. Our recent research found that the cytotoxicity of PVP-Ag nanoparticles is attributable to Ag particles alone in 3 hr bioassays, and shifts to both Ag particles and released Ag⁺ in 48 hr bioassays. Herein, as a continued study, the cytotoxicity and accumulation of 50 and 100 nm Ag colloids in Escherichia coli were determined dynamically. The cytotoxicity and mechanisms of nano-Ag colloids are dynamic throughout exposure and are derived from both Ag ions and particles. Ag accumulation by E. coli is derived mainly from extracellular Ag particles during the initial 12 hr of exposure, and thereafter mainly from intracellular Ag ions. Fe³⁺ accelerates the oxidative dissolution of nano-Ag colloids, which results in decreasing amounts of Ag particles and particle-related toxicity. Na⁺ stabilizes nano-Ag colloids, thereby decreasing the bioavailability of Ag particles and particle-related toxicity. Humic acid (HA) binds Ag⁺ to form Ag⁺-HA, decreasing ion-related toxicity and binding to the E. coli surface, decreasing particle-related toxicity. HA in complex conditions showed a stronger relative contribution to toxicity and accumulation than Na⁺ or Fe³⁺. The results highlighted the cytotoxicity and mechanism of nano-Ag colloids are dynamic and affected by environmental factors, and therefore exposure duration and water chemistry should be seriously considered in environmental and health risk assessments.     

Revealing the changes of bacterial community from water source to consumers tap: A full-scale investigation in eastern city of China

This study profiled the bacterial community variations of water from four water treatment systems, including coagulation, sedimentation, sand filtration, ozonation-biological activated carbon filtration (O₃-BAC), disinfection, and the tap water after the distribution process in eastern China. The results showed that different water treatment processes affected the bacterial community structure in different ways. The traditional treatment processes, including coagulation, sedimentation and sand filtration, reduced the total bacterial count, while they had little effect on the bacterial community structure in the treated water (before disinfection). Compared to the traditional treatment process, O₃-BAC reduced the relative abundance of Sphingomonas in the finished water. In addition, ozonation may play a role in reducing the relative abundance of Mycobacterium. NaClO and ClO₂ had different effects on the bacterial community in the finished water. The relative abundance of some bacteria (e.g. Flavobacterium, Phreatobacter and Porphyrobacter) increased in the finished water after ClO₂ disinfection. The relative abundance of Mycobacterium and Legionella, which have been widely reported as waterborne opportunistic pathogens, increased after NaClO disinfection. In addition, some microorganisms proliferated and grew in the distribution system, which could lead to turbidity increases in the tap water. Compared to those in the finished water, the relative abundance of Sphingomonas, Hyphomicrobium, Phreatobacter, Rheinheimera, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter increased in the tap water disinfected with NaClO, while the relative abundance of Mycobacterium increased in the tap water disinfected with ClO₂. Overall, this study provided the detailed variation in the bacterial community in the drinking water system.     

Metabolomic modulations in a freshwater microbial community exposed to the fungicide azoxystrobin

An effective broad-spectrum fungicide, azoxystrobin (AZ), has been widely detected in aquatic ecosystems, potentially affecting the growth of aquatic microorganisms. In the present study, the eukaryotic alga Monoraphidium sp. and the cyanobacterium Pseudanabaena sp. were exposed to AZ for 7 days. Our results showed that 0.2–0.5 mg/L concentrations of AZ slightly inhibited the growth of Monoraphidium sp. but stimulated Pseudanabaena sp. growth. Meanwhile, AZ treatment effectively increased the secretion of total organic carbon (TOC) in the culture media of the two species, and this phenomenon was also found in a freshwater microcosm experiment (containing the natural microbial community). We attempted to assess the effect of AZ on the function of aquatic microbial communities through metabolomic analysis and further explore the potential risks of this compound. The metabonomic profiles of the microcosm indicated that the most varied metabolites after AZ treatment were related to the citrate cycle (TCA), fatty acid biosynthesis and purine metabolism. We thereby inferred that the microbial community increased extracellular secretions by adjusting metabolic pathways, which might be a stress response to reduce AZ toxicity. Our results provide an important theoretical basis for further study of fungicide stress responses in aquatic microcosm microbial communities, as well as a good start for further explorations of AZ detoxification mechanisms, which will be valuable for the evaluation of AZ environmental risk.     

银川市冬季PM2.5重污染特征、来源与成因分析

近年来银川市冬季重污染过程频发,为明确银川市冬季PM_2.5重污染的特征,分析其主要来源及成因,于2016年12月-2017年1月在银川市选取3个采样点开展PM_2.5的样品采集与化学组分分析,利用CMB（化学质量平衡）模型对银川市冬季PM_2.5进行来源解析,对比分析了重污染日与非重污染日污染特征的差异.结果表明:①银川市冬季重污染日ρ（PM_2.5）[（181±33.6）μg/m3]是非重污染日的2.1倍;重污染日和非重污染日的ρ（NO₃-）/ρ（SO₄2-）均小于1,表明燃煤仍是银川市冬季PM_2.5的重要来源.银川市冬季PM_2.5中ρ（SOC）为（14.4±7.34）μg/m3,约占ρ（OC）的65.2%.②与非重污染日相比,重污染日人为源无机元素As、Pb、Cd和Zn质量浓度在ρ（PM_2.5）中的占比分别升高33.2%、18.4%、9.8%和2.9%,表明银川市冬季重污染主要受人为源贡献影响.③源解析结果表明,燃煤源、机动车尾气源、二次离子源和扬尘源是银川市PM_2.5的主要污染源,与非重污染日相比,重污染日机动车尾气源的贡献率明显降低.研究显示,银川市冬季重污染受人为源污染物排放的影响较大,燃煤源是银川市冬季PM_2.5的重要来源.      

基于TMVOC的地下水位波动带苯系物迁移转化模拟

为探究水位波动情况下苯系物的迁移转化规律,提高石油污染场地地下水污染治理精度,以西北某傍河石化场地为研究对象,基于TMVOC模型对特征污染物苯系物开展泄漏模拟,通过情景模拟比较水位波动对苯系物迁移转化的影响,并从污染分布、相间转化等方面,解析地下水位稳定和波动状态下苯系物迁移转化过程差异.结果表明:①TMVOC模型较好地模拟了水位波动状态下苯系物迁移转化过程.②相较于水位稳定状态下,水位波动作用下苯系物污染深度增加0.5 m,污染面积增加25%,总质量增加12 kg.③水位稳定和波动状态下苯系物"气-液-NAPL（Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids）相"占比分别为0.17%、2.03%、97.8%和0.04%、3.69%、96.27%.④NAPL相苯系物饱和度分布与苯系物质量分布呈正相关,水位波动造成NAPL相初始饱和度降低,且初始水位面以下NAPL相饱和度升高.⑤对于苯而言,水位波动状态下非饱和带中苯在液相中的质量是水位稳定状态下的1.11倍,饱和带为10.15倍.研究显示,水位波动显著地影响了苯系物的迁移转化过程,促进了苯系物的溶解,并使更多的苯系物残留在地下介质中.      

某垃圾焚烧厂投产前后周边土壤二英类化合物的分布

为研究垃圾焚烧厂运行对周边土壤二英类化合物（PCDD/Fs）含量的影响,采集了珠三角地区某垃圾焚烧厂投产前和投产后周边土壤样品,分析研究了该垃圾焚烧厂运行对周边土壤中PCDD/Fs含量和组分的变化.结果表明:①2012年（投产前）珠三角地区某垃圾焚烧厂周边土壤PCDD/Fs含量较低,范围为163~591 ng/kg（毒性当量范围为0.198~0.863 ng I-TEQ/kg,I-TEQ为国际毒性当量因子折算的毒性当量值）;2017—2019年（投产后）周边土壤PCDD/Fs含量范围为151~1.75×103 ng/kg（毒性当量范围为0.812~3.88 ng I-TEQ/kg）,与其他研究相比处于较低的水平.②投产后,距该垃圾焚烧厂较近（1.5 km）的采样点（S1）土壤PCDD/Fs含量逐年增长,在较远（5.2 km）但人口较密集的采样点（S3）土壤PCDD/Fs含量整体较高,但呈逐年下降趋势.③投产后,土壤中的17种PCDD/Fs单体组分中,毒性当量贡献率最高的单体为八氯二苯并二英（OCDD）和2,3,4,7,8-五氯二苯并呋喃（2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF）,二者毒性当量贡献率范围为15.7%~45.4%.④在同一采样点土壤PCDD/Fs单体组分年间差异不明显,但同一年份不同采样点差异明显.研究显示,目前该垃圾焚烧厂周边土壤PCDD/Fs含量较低,但仍需要长期监测其可能带来的风险.      

外加氮源影响下铁铝氧化物在土壤氮素转化中的作用

土壤中铁铝氧化物在团聚体稳定性和有机碳吸附方面具有重要作用,而氮添加对土壤氮循环影响的变化也可能与其有关,但是目前尚缺乏在氮循环方面的研究.为了探究铁铝氧化物在土壤氮素转化中的作用,选择福建省建瓯罗浮栲森林土壤为研究对象,采用选择性溶提技术准备不同的土壤——未经处理（T1）的土壤和去除游离态铁铝氧化物（T2）土壤、去除非晶质铁铝氧化物（T3）土壤、去除络合态铁铝氧化物（T4）土壤,在这些土壤中添加不同形态氮（40 mg/kg）——丙氨酸（氨基酸态氮,AA）、硫酸铵（铵态氮,AN）、硝酸钠（硝态氮,NAN）和亚硝酸钠（亚硝态氮,NIN）,进行室内培养试验,分析氮含量变化和氮素转化情况.结果表明:①与CK处理相比,AA和AN处理均增加了T1土壤中w（NH₄+-N）,NAN处理增加了w（NO₃--N）,但低于添加量,表明添加氨基酸和铵态氮均会促进氮矿化,添加硝态氮会增加NO₃--N的固定且抑制其硝化.②在CK处理下,与T1土壤相比,T2和T4土壤中w（NH₄+-N）、w（NO₃--N）和w（氨基酸）均降低,但T3土壤中w（NH₄+-N）和w（氨基酸）增加、w（NO₃--N）降低,表明土壤中游离态氧化铁铝和络合态氧化铁铝的存在有助于氮素矿化,非晶质氧化铁铝有助于硝化.③在不同氮处理下,各土壤的氮含量及其转化速率与CK处理规律相似.与CK处理相比,各氮处理均未显著增加T2和T4土壤中w（NH₄+-N）,且AA和AN处理均未影响T2、T3和T4土壤中w（NO₃--N）和w（氨基酸）.结果显示,氮添加并没有改变铁铝氧化物的作用,其中,矿化和氨化作用均表现为游离氧化铁铝>络合氧化铁铝>非晶质氧化铁铝,硝化作用表现为非晶质氧化铁铝>游离氧化铁铝>络合态氧化铁铝.因此,土壤铁铝氧化物的不同存在状态应该是调节氮素转化的重要土壤条件.      

餐厨垃圾生物有机肥对贫瘠黄褐土改良的研究

为了阐明餐厨垃圾生物有机肥改良贫瘠土壤的作用机制,以贫瘠黄褐土为研究对象,通过不施肥、长期（>5 a）施用化肥、中长期（5 a）施用少量餐厨垃圾生物有机肥和短期（1 a）施用大量餐厨垃圾生物有机肥4种施肥方式,分别记为CK组、CF组、LOF-5组和MOF-1组,对比分析不同施肥方式对土壤OM（有机质）、活性有机碳、营养元素和团聚体等的影响.结果表明:①施用餐厨垃圾生物有机肥可显著提高土壤OM、活性有机碳含量,其中,MOF-1组提高效果最显著,与CK组相比,w（OM）可提高173.29%,w（ROC）（ROC为易氧化有机碳）增加了39.17%,w（POC）（POC为颗粒有机碳）和w（DOC）（DOC为可溶性有机碳）分别是CK组的13.85和10.32倍.②中长期（5 a）施用少量餐厨垃圾生物有机肥可增加土壤中较大粒径团聚体的占比,且更有利于提高土壤团粒结构的稳定性,LOF-5组>2 mm粒级的团聚体占比是CK组的4.68倍;与CK组相比,LOF-5组MWD（平均重量直径）增加了100.00%,GMD（几何平均直径）增加了82.98%,>0.25 mm水稳定性团聚体质量占比（DR_0.25）增加了27.20%.③中长期（5 a）施用少量餐厨垃圾生物有机肥可增加土壤中w（TN）（TN为全氮）和w（AN）（AN为速效氮）,与CK组相比,LOF-5组w（TN）和w（AN）分别增加了77.42%和20.82%.施用餐厨垃圾有机肥也可同时增加土壤中w（AP）（AP为速效磷）和w（AK）（AK为速效钾）,MOF-1组增加效果较佳,w（AP）和w（AK）分别是CK组的9.43和3.39倍.研究显示,中长期（5 a）施用少量餐厨垃圾生物有机肥可提升土壤固碳能力,提高土壤养分利用的有效性,从而提升耕地土壤质量,减少化肥施用量,是我国贫瘠黄褐土改良的有效施肥模式.      

武当山夏季颗粒物数浓度谱分布特征及气团来源影响研究

为研究大气边界层中上层大气颗粒物的数浓度谱分布特征及气团来源的影响,于2018年6月利用3080型SMPS粒径谱仪对武当山14.6~660 nm颗粒物数浓度谱进行观测,分析和探讨了其数浓度谱分布及日变化特征,并结合后向轨迹、潜在源贡献因子法（PSCF）与浓度权重轨迹分析法（CWT）探讨对武当山颗粒物数浓度影响较大的外源输送路径和贡献源区.结果表明:①武当山大气颗粒物主要以爱根模态为主,平均数浓度为2 500个/cm3,积聚模态、核膜态平均数浓度分别为2 265、359个/cm3,3种模态数浓度分别占总数浓度的48.79%、44.21%、7.01%.②在新粒子生成日,核膜态数浓度于10:00开始上升,11:00—17:00的核膜态数浓度相对较高,约2 000个/cm3.新粒子生成日ρ（SO₂）与ρ（O₃）的日变化趋势均与核模态数浓度较为相似,表明SO₂和O₃参与光化学反应后的产物（硫酸及有机物）有利于新粒子的生成与增长.新粒子生成日风速、温度均大于非新粒子生成日,但相对湿度较低.③在东部及局地气团影响下大气颗粒物主要以积聚模态为主,数浓度分别为2 311和2 596个/cm3;核模态、爱根模态数浓度在受西北气团影响时最大,数浓度分别为806和3 078个/cm3.④潜在源区分析表明,影响武当山积聚模态数浓度的主要源区为十堰市本地及襄阳市,二者贡献值在840个/cm3以上.研究显示,武当山颗粒物主要以爱根模态为主,颗粒物数浓度日变化主要受大气边界层发展及山谷风的影响,较高的ρ（SO₂）与ρ（O₃）以及高温、低湿及较大的风速均有利于新粒子的生成,周边城市的区域性传输对武当山颗粒物的影响较大.      

长三角背景点夏季大气PM2.5中水溶性无机离子污染特征及来源解析

为研究长三角背景点夏季PM_2.5污染特征,于2018年5月30日—8月15日在上海市崇明岛对PM_2.5样品进行昼夜采集,并对其中水溶性无机离子(Cl-、NO₃-、SO₄2-、Na+、NH₄+、K+、Mg2+、Ca2+)进行了分析.运用PSCF(潜在源贡献)方法判别污染物排放源区,并结合PCA(主成分分析)和PMF(正交矩阵因子)源解析探究PM_2.5来源.结果表明:①观测期间崇明岛ρ(PM_2.5)平均值为(33±21)μg/m3,低于GB 3095—2012《环境空气质量标准》一级标准限值(35 μg/m3),但在部分时段存在显著超标现象,ρ(PM_2.5)最高值在120 μg/m3以上.②水溶性无机离子质量浓度平均值为(14±9.3)μg/m3,占PM_2.5的42.4%,其中SNA(SO₄2-、NO₃-、NH₄+三者统称)为主要离子,占水溶性离子总质量浓度的85.7%.③n(NH₄+)/n(SO₄2-)(NH₄+与SO₄2-的摩尔浓度比)显示,清洁期〔ρ(PM_2.5) < 15 μg/m3〕呈贫铵状态,过渡期〔15≤ρ(PM_2.5)≤35 μg/m3〕和污染期〔ρ(PM_2.5)>35 μg/m3〕均呈富铵状态;过渡期SNA主要以NH₄HSO₄和NH₄NO₃形式存在,而污染期则主要以(NH₄)₂SO₄和NH₄NO₃形式存在.④通过对两次典型污染事件进行离子相关性分析和PSCF分析发现,E1污染事件(5月30日—6月8日)为局地生物质燃烧型污染事件,E2污染事件(7月23日—8月1日)为区域传输污染事件.源解析结果进一步表明,两次典型污染事件期间气态污染物的二次转化对PM_2.5的贡献最显著,贡献率分别为62.8%和59.8%;其次是生物质燃烧,其贡献率分别为32.5%和20.1%;E2污染事件期间海盐源对崇明岛PM_2.5贡献率较高(16.6%),远超过E1污染事件期间对PM_2.5的贡献率(2.7%).研究显示,区域输送对崇明岛PM_2.5有显著贡献,二次颗粒物累积是崇明岛PM_2.5超标的主要原因.