Urinary metabolomic profiling in rats exposed to dietary di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS)

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an omnipresent environmental chemical with widespread nonoccupational human exposure through multiple ways. Although considerable efforts have been invested to investigate mechanisms of DEHP toxicity, the key metabolic biomarkers of DEHP toxicity remain to be identified. The aim of this study was to assess the urinary metabonomics of dietary DEHP in rats using the technique of ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS). Fourteen female Wistar rats were divided into two groups and given increasing dietary doses of DEHP for 30 consecutive days. The urinary metabolite profile was studied using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) enabled clusters to be clearly separated. Eleven principal urinary metabolites were identified as contributing to the clusters. The clusters in the positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode were xanthurenic acid, kynurenic acid, nonate, N6-methyladenosine, and L-isoleucyl-L-proline. The clusters in the negative ESI mode were hippuric acid, tetrahydrocortisol, citric acid, phenylpropionylglycine, cPA(18:2(9Z, 12Z)/0:0), and LysoPC(14:1(9Z)). The urinary metabonomic changes indicated that exposure to dietary DEHP can affect energy-related metabolism, liver and renal function, fatty acid metabolism, and cause DNA damage in rats. The findings of this study on the urinary metabolites and metabolic pathways of DEHP may form the basis for future studies on the mechanisms of toxicity of this commonly found environmental chemical.     

Multiple copper adsorption and regeneration by zeolite 4A synthesized from bauxite tailings

Copper ions were first adsorbed by zeolite 4A synthesized from bauxite tailings, the desorption of Cu(II) using Na₂EDTA solutions was performed, and the recycling of zeolite 4A in adsorption and desorption was systematically investigated. It was observed that the Cu(II) removal efficiency was directly dependent on the initial pH value. The maximum removal efficiency of Cu(II) was 96.2% with zeolite 4A when the initial pH value was 5.0. Cu(II) was completely absorbed in the first 30 min. It was also observed that the desorption efficiency and zeolite recovery were highly dependent on the initial pH and concentration of Na₂EDTA in the solution. The desorption efficiency and percent of zeolite recovered were 73.6 and 85.9%, respectively, when the Na₂EDTA solution concentration was 0.05 mol L^?1 and the pH value was 8. The recovered zeolites were pure single phase and highly crystalline. After 3 cycles, the removal efficiency of Cu(II) was as high as 78.9%, and the zeolite recovery was 46.9%, indicating that the recovered zeolites have good adsorption capacity and can repeatedly absorb Cu(II).

     

Individual and combined inhibition of phenol and thiocyanate on microbial activity of partial nitritation

This study evaluated the individual and interactive effect of phenol and thiocyanate (SCN⁻) on partial nitritation (PN) activity using batch test and response surface methodology. The IC₅₀ of phenol and SCN⁻ on PN sludge were 5.6 and 351 mg L⁻¹, respectively. The PN sludge was insensitive to phenol and SCN⁻ at levels lower than 1.77 and 43.3 mg L⁻¹, respectively. A regression model equation was developed and validated to predict the relative specific respiration rate (RSRR) of PN sludge exposed to different phenol and SCN⁻ concentrations. In the range of independent variables, the most severe inhibition was observed with a valley value (17%) for RSRR, when the phenol and SCN⁻ concentrations were 4.08 and 198 mg L⁻¹, respectively. An isobole plot was used to judge the combined toxicity of phenol and SCN⁻, and the joint inhibitory effect was variable depending on the composition and concentration of the toxic components. Furthermore, the toxic compounds showed independent effects, which is the most common type of combined toxicity.

     

Distribution and controls of heavy metals and organic matter in the surface sediments of the Southern Yellow Sea,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Accurate and effective determination of the source of heavy metals is essential for the treatment of marine ecological environments. This article...     

Characteristics of PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>, CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and particle-number concentration in mass transit railway carriages in Hong Kong

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) levels, carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels and particle-number concentrations (PNC) were monitored in train carriages on seven routes of the mass transit railway in Hong Kong between March and May 2014, using real-time monitoring instruments. The 8-h average PM_2.5 levels in carriages on the seven routes ranged from 24.1 to 49.8 µg/m³, higher than levels in Finland and similar to those in New York, and in most cases exceeding the standard set by the World Health Organisation (25 µg/m³). The CO₂ concentration ranged from 714 to 1801 ppm on four of the routes, generally exceeding indoor air quality guidelines (1000 ppm over 8 h) and reaching levels as high as those in Beijing. PNC ranged from 1506 to 11,570 particles/cm³, lower than readings in Sydney and higher than readings in Taipei. Correlation analysis indicated that the number of passengers in a given carriage did not affect the PM_2.5 concentration or PNC in the carriage. However, a significant positive correlation (p < 0.001, R ² = 0.834) was observed between passenger numbers and CO₂ levels, with each passenger contributing approximately 7.7–9.8 ppm of CO₂. The real-time measurements of PM_2.5 and PNC varied considerably, rising when carriage doors opened on arrival at a station and when passengers inside the carriage were more active. This suggests that air pollutants outside the train and passenger movements may contribute to PM_2.5 levels and PNC. Assessment of the risk associated with PM_2.5 exposure revealed that children are most severely affected by PM_2.5 pollution, followed in order by juveniles, adults and the elderly. In addition, females were found to be more vulnerable to PM_2.5 pollution than males (p < 0.001), and different subway lines were associated with different levels of risk.     

京津冀产业碳排放强度变化及驱动因素研究

为探讨京津冀地区温室气体排放强度变化的影响因素,采用对数平均迪式分解模型及归因分析(LMDI-Attribution)方法,基于1996—2014年数据从细分行业角度进行研究。针对温室气体排放强度作产业结构、能源强度和排放因子三因素LMDI乘法分解,对温室气体排放强度变化的影响效应作归因分析,量化4个行业对分解因素影响效应的贡献,得到以下主要结论:1996—2014年京津冀地区温室气体排放强度主要呈现下降趋势,累计下降23.05%。其中,能源强度是温室气体排放强度下降的主导因素,其影响效应为-61.18%,对这一影响效应贡献最大的是工业,并且四大经济部门均通过能源强度在不同程度上使得温室气体排放强度有所减小,可见"阶梯电价"、"千家企业节能项目"、"十大重点节能项目"等相关政策在工业发展中对提高能源效率的作用明显。产业结构使得温室气体排放强度增加23.53%,其主要贡献者是工业,说明"工业产品出口退税率调整"等一系列政策的效果不明显;然而农业则使得温室气体排放强度降低,贡献值为3.09%。碳排放因子在1996—2014年间对温室气体排放强度的影响为60.47%,是京津冀地区温室气体排放强度增加的主要因素,说明京津冀地区的能源结构不合理。工业对这一效应的贡献最大为55.97%。可见,工业在京津冀地区的温室气体减排工作中起到最为关键的作用。     

周年磷肥旱季集中底施对玉-稻轮作磷肥效应的影响

春玉米-晚稻水旱轮作是近年来南方稻区种植制度变化下出现的新型两熟制模式。明确两季作物间磷肥的合理分配对玉-稻轮作作物产量与磷素利用效率的影响,对玉-稻轮作养分高效与高产协同实现,及丰富对水旱轮作前后季作物养分利用关系的认识具有理论意义。采用春玉米-水稻周年轮作田间试验,根据晚稻季磷肥前移至玉米季做底肥施用的比例及周年施磷量,设置7个磷肥施用处理,分别为两季作物均不施磷(P_0)、两季作物均按常规方法施磷(P_1)、1/3晚稻季磷肥前移(P_2)、2/3晚稻季磷肥前移(P_3)、全部晚稻季磷肥前移(P_4)、全部晚稻季磷肥前移且周年总施磷量减少15%(P_5)、全部晚稻季磷肥前移且周年总施磷量减少30%(P_6),分析了不同施磷处理作物产量、磷素吸收量及磷素利用效率的变化。与P_1相比,P_3与P_4处理显著提高了晚稻花后干物质的分配比例及晚稻产量,且其周年产量分别提高了4.87%和6.74%;P_5处理晚稻产量与P_1处理差异不显著,但P_6显著降低了晚稻产量。晚稻季磷肥前移施用明显促进了玉米及晚稻对磷素的吸收,显著降低了磷素的表观盈余量。与P_1处理相比,P_2、P_3、P_4处理两季作物周年土壤磷素依存率分别减少了11.63%、26.47%与22.08%。从磷肥利用效率看,P_4处理的磷肥周年累积回收效率、农学利用效率、偏生产力及磷肥产量贡献率均显著高于P_1处理,分别提高了102.46%、194.83%、6.73%与176.16%。与P_1处理相比,P_5处理周年磷肥产量贡献率及农学利用效率差异不显著,但分别提高了其磷肥回收效率与偏生产力32.56%和58.05%。玉米季施用的磷肥对晚稻有明显的后效作用,且比晚稻季施用磷肥具有更高的磷肥利用效率。所以在春玉米免耕复种晚稻时,可将晚稻季的磷肥全部前移至玉米季施用,并可减少15%周年施磷量。     

特朗普“去气候化”政策对全球气候治理的影响

美国特朗普政府宣布退出《巴黎协定》是当前全球气候治理中最受舆论关注的问题,对事态发展趋势的判断和事件影响的评估是最为亟需的。本文系统分析了特朗普政府上任后推行的一系列"去气候化"政策,以及其退出《巴黎协定》的主要动因和可能形式,同时量化评估了这些内政外交的"倒退"对美国实施国家自主贡献目标以及全球气候治理格局的实质影响,并据此提出了中国应对全球气候治理新形势变化的对策和建议。研究表明,特朗普政府"美国优先"的能源政策根植于复兴制造业和加大基础设施投资的经济利益动机,随着特朗普"去气候化"进程持续发酵,诸多气候政策面临存续风险,美国实施国家自主贡献将面临严峻挑战,"倒行政策"将有可能使美国温室气体排放出现反弹。如果不考虑中、高危气候政策,美国2025年温室气体排放也仅能相对2005年下降11.0%—14.9%,距离下降26%—28%的国家自主贡献目标相去甚远。同时,特朗普政府拒绝继续履行向发展中国家提供气候资金支持的义务,将有可能导致绿色气候基金拖欠资金总额上升117%,并进一步挫伤全球低碳投资的信心。没有美国的全球气候治理3.0时代将呈现出新的复杂特征,并不可避免地造成减排、资金和领导力缺口的持续扩大,也不排除后续会出现消极的跟随者,整体进程将可能进入一个低潮周期。虽然国际社会对中国引领全球气候治理充满期待,但中国仍应审慎对待,长远谋划应对气候变化的内政外交战略,而不应将"气候举旗"看作是一蹴而就的短期策略,对各种要求中国发挥"领导作用"的说法保持清醒头脑。在今后气候谈判中,美国仍有较大可能会二次"要价",中国作为排放大国的压力依然不容小觑,中美气候关系需要再定位。     

原铝生产流程温室气体排放主要影响因素的关联度分析

铝是国民经济建设和发展的关键基础材料,然而由其生产过程所产生的大量温室气体排放也逐渐成为政府关注的焦点。本研究计算了我国原铝生产不同年度的生命周期能耗和温室气体排放量,并分析了资源消耗和生产工序能耗等影响因素与温室气体排放的关联性。结果表明,在各年原铝生产的温室气体排放总量中,电力和阳极效应导致的排放所占比重分别为68.5%和7.9%,其他影响因素所占比重均低于6%;与温室气体排放关联度最高的3个影响因素依次是电耗、煤气燃烧和石灰石煅烧,其值分别为0.937、0.899和0.893;在目前铝电耗和阳极效应控制水平提升空间有限的情况下,降低煤气的消耗,提高石灰石的使用效率,是实现原铝生产温室气体减排的有效途径。     

DO浓度对间歇曝气单级自养脱氮系统N2O排放的影响

以单级自养脱氮系统为研究对象,采用有效容积为15 L的SBBR反应器,系统进水NH+4-N浓度约为360 mg/L,控制温度为(30±2)℃,采用间歇曝气方式运行,曝气段DO浓度从2.4~2.6 mg/L逐渐下降到0.9~1.1 mg/L,研究了单级自养脱氮系统的脱氮性能与N2O排放情况。结果表明,反应器曝气段DO浓度从2.4~2.6 mg/L下降到0.9~1.1mg/L,系统TN去除率均达到80%,但在相同运行时间内的TN去除率依次降低,NH+4-N平均反应速率从0.19 mg/(L·min)降低至0.05 mg/(L·min),NO-3-N累计产生量稳定于14.9~16.5 mg/L,NO-2-N浓度在反应器内未产生明显的积累。随着曝气段DO浓度的下降,最大N2O释放速率逐渐降低,N2O累计释放量从73.8 mg下降到61.0 mg,N2O转化率介于2.4%~2.9%。