Heavy metals and couple fecundity, the LIFE Study

The effect of heavy metals at environmentally relevant concentrations on couple fecundity has received limited study despite ubiquitous exposure. In 2005-2009, couples (n = 501) desiring pregnancy and discontinuing contraception were recruited and asked to complete interviews and to provide blood specimens for the quantification of cadmium (μg L⁻¹), lead (μg dL⁻¹) and mercury (μg L⁻¹) using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Couples completed daily journals on lifestyle and intercourse along with menstruation and pregnancy testing for women. Couples were followed for 12 months or until pregnant. Fecundability odds ratios (FORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated adjusting for age, body mass index, cotinine, and serum lipids in relation to female then male exposures. FORs <1 denote a longer time to pregnancy. In adjusted models, reduced FORs were observed for both female cadmium (0.78; 95% CI 0.63-0.97) and male lead (0.85; 95% CI 0.73-0.98) concentrations. When jointly modeling couples’ exposures, only male lead concentration significantly reduced the FOR (0.82; 95% CI 0.68, 0.97), though the FOR remained <1 for female cadmium (0.80; 95% CI 0.64, 1.00). This prospective couple based cohort with longitudinal capture of time to pregnancy is suggestive of cadmium and lead’s reproductive toxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations.     

滤料负载粉尘层对气态汞脱除性能的实验研究

通过不同性能纤维滤料负载燃煤飞灰粉尘层,来模拟袋式除尘器滤袋表面粉尘附着层,进而研究袋滤器用不同性能纤维滤料和粉尘附着层对燃煤烟气中Hg0的联合脱除性能。在固定床实验系统上分别进行了不同纤维滤料和燃煤飞灰粉尘层,以及经实验优选得到的华博特滤料负载燃煤飞灰粉尘层脱除燃煤烟气中Hg0的实验研究。结果表明,燃煤飞灰粉尘层和华博特滤料对Hg0分别有一定的脱除作用,脱除效率可达35%和42.5%,它们对Hg0的脱除是物理吸附和化学吸附共同作用的结果;同时,华博特滤料负载燃煤飞灰粉尘层对Hg0的联合脱除效率受到吸附反应温度、入口汞浓度和烟气停留时间等因素的影响,最佳脱汞率可达64.4%;吸附反应温度越高,脱除效率越低;烟气停留时间越大,脱除效率越高;入口汞浓度的提高并不一定提高华博特滤料负载飞灰粉尘层的脱汞效果。     

飞灰-氢氧化钙/聚苯硫醚(PPS)滤料对烟气中单质汞的脱除

在汞固定床实验台上进行了飞灰-氢氧化钙和PPS滤料负载飞灰-氢氧化钙吸附单质汞,以及不同温度、气体成分对滤料负载吸附剂脱除汞影响的实验研究。实验结果表明,质量配比为2∶1的飞灰-Ca(OH)2吸附剂对Hg0的脱除效果最好,最高可达到34.5%左右,比纯飞灰条件下的脱除效率提高了近10%。120℃条件下,PPS滤料负载飞灰-Ca(OH)2吸附剂对汞的脱除率最高达72%,远高于滤纸薄膜上吸附剂的脱除率。随着温度升高,PPS滤料负载吸附剂的脱除效率降低。HCl、SO2和NO对PPS负载吸附剂脱除汞表现出不同程度的促进作用,HCl具有很强的促进作用,少量HCl足以大幅度提高脱除效果,SO2有一定的促进作用,NO的促进效果并不明显。     

Hg Vapor Emission from Broken Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) in an Acrylic Chamber

The United States Environmental Protection Agency/Environmental Response Team (US EPA/ERT), in collaboration with St. John's College, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Agra, India, is conducting a study to determine Hg vapor emission rates resulting from broken compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in a residential setting. The overall objectives of the study are to determine Hg vapor emission data and provide homeowners with cleanup procedures and disposal options for broken CFLs. Most of the currently available CFLs in the US market are manufactured in China for US companies. Several different types of CFLs were purchased from local stores and their Hg content was determined. Based on previous studies, such as the 2011 study by Singhvi and colleagues, five popular spiral CFLs were selected for emission studies in an acrylic chamber. This study found that Hg vapor emissions from CFLs may be significantly greater than those from beads of liquid Hg with weights comparable to the Hg content of the CFLs. The average 24-hour Hg loss into the atmosphere from CFLs broken on a plastic surface ranged from 0.6% to 22% of the bulb content, while that for CFLs broken on carpet ranged from 2.6% to 28%. Projections for a 12 foot × 9.33 foot × 8 foot (25.4 m³) room based on the chamber measurements in this study indicate that CFL breakage in some household settings may produce 24-hour Hg concentrations above the 2000 Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) minimum risk level (MRL) of 0.2 μg/m³, for typical air exchange rates. This study also indicates that Hg emission may not be proportional to exposed surface area based on experiments using liquid Hg with different surface areas.     

Ambient Air Particulates Bound Mercury Hg(p) Study Among Four Crops (Rice,White Cabbage,Arden Lettuce,and Gynura) at a Characteristic Sampling Site

The main purpose of this study was to monitor ambient air particulates and particulate-bound Hg (Hg[p]) compositions in different crops in the coastal zone in the Taichung, Taiwan, area at a sampling site during 2013 October to 2013 December. In addition, a direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80) was used to directly detect the concentration with measured results by the regression equation of Hg in the ambient air. The results indicated that: 1) the mean values of ambient air Hg(p) compositions in rice displayed no significant differences for weeks one, two, and three versus those of the other crops (white cabbage, Arden lettuce, and Gynura procumbens); 2) for white cabbage, the higher the humidity, the lower the average ambient air Hg(p) compositions that were obtained, a phenomenon that was also reflected on the crops of white cabbage and G. procumbens; 3) Arden lettuce displayed no significant differences in the leaf Hg(p) compositions during weeks one, two, and three; however, the stem portions displayed significant differences in Hg(p) compositions during weeks two and three; and 4) the Spearman statistical method showed the mean differences for ambient air Hg(p) at the Long-jing sampling site (coastal regions) with four different crops (rice, white cabbage, Arden lettuce, and Gynura) in central Taiwan. The results further revealed no significant differences in mean values.     

Cu、Pb、Cd、Hg亚致死浓度对三疣梭子蟹幼体的影响

为了解海洋重金属污染对三疣梭子蟹的危害,进行了Cu、Pb、Cd、Hg对三疣梭子蟹幼体影响的试验.结果发现,当Cu浓度为0.005mg·L-1(Cu渔业水质标准的1/2倍,简称1/2倍组,下同)以下时,蟹幼体能正常发育至2期幼蟹;Cu浓度为0.01 mg·L-1(1倍组)时蟹幼体也能发育至2期幼蟹,但在试验第19d全部死亡;Cu浓度为0.02 mg·L-1时(2倍组)蟹幼体仅发育至1期后就全部死亡;Cu浓度为0.04mg·L-1(4倍组)和0.08 mg·L-1(8倍组)时蟹幼体只能发育至大眼幼体就全部死亡.Pb浓度为0.025 mg·L-1(1/2倍组)、0.0125 mg·L-1(1/4倍组)时,蟹幼体能正常发育至2期幼蟹;Pb浓度为0.05 mg·L-1(1倍组)时蟹幼体能发育至2期幼蟹,但在试验的第20d全部死亡;Pb浓度为0.1 mg·L-1(2倍组)和0.2 mg·L-1(4倍组)时,幼体仅发育至1期幼蟹就全部死亡;Pb浓度为0.4 mg·L-1(8倍组)时,幼蟹仅只能发育至Z4就全部死亡.Cd浓度为0.00125 mg·L-1(1/4倍组)时,蟹幼体能正常发育至2期幼蟹;Cd浓度为0.0025 mg·L-1(1/2倍组)仅有1期幼蟹出现,至试验结束时虽未死亡,但未能变态为2期幼蟹;Cd浓度为0.005 mg·L-1(1倍组),仅只有1期幼蟹出现就全部死亡;Cd浓度为0.01mg·L-1(2倍组)、0.02 mg·L-1(4倍组)时,仅只能发育至大眼幼体就全部死亡;Cd浓度为0.04 mg·L-1(8倍组),幼体仅只能发育至Z4就全部死亡.Hg浓度为0.0005 mg·L-1(1倍组)时,三疣梭子蟹幼体均能正常发育至2期幼蟹;Hg浓度为0.001 mg·L-1(2倍组)只能发育至1期幼蟹就全部死亡;Hg浓度为0.002 mg·L-1(4倍组)、0.004 mg·L-1(8倍组)仅只能发育至Z4就全部死亡.以上结果说明,Cu浓度为0.005mg·L-1(1/4倍组),Pb浓度为0.025 mg·L-1(1/2倍组)、Cd浓度为0.00125 mg·L-1(1/4倍组)和Hg浓度为0.000125 mg·L-1(1/4倍组)以下进行三疣梭子蟹幼体培育比较安全.     

微波消解-ICP/MS法同时测定鱼肉中的砷和汞

采用微波消解处理鱼肉样品,用电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定样品中砷和汞。通过试验优化微波消解参数、酸体系及赶酸温度,用在线加入内标方法消除基体干扰及仪器漂移对测定的影响。方法在0μg/L～40. 0μg/L范围内线性良好,砷和汞的方法检出限分别为0. 002 mg/kg和0. 001 mg/kg,实际样品6次测定结果的RSD为5. 4%～15. 6%,加标回收率为90. 0%～110%。将该方法用于测定芹菜和扇贝标准物质,测定值在标准值不确定度范围内。     

大气汞的自然来源研究进展

大气汞在全球汞循环中占有极其重要的地位,对大气汞的研究是近15年来汞生物地球化学领域的热点,其中大气汞的来源又是大气汞循环演化过程研究的关键。大气汞的来源分为人为源和自然源。与人为汞源不同,大气汞的自然来源影响因素较多,对其认识的复杂性更强,进行准确的认识需进行大量的研究工作。本文综述了近十几年来大气汞自然来源的研究工作,对大气汞的各种自然来源及其影响因素进行了介绍,并对该领域未来的研究作了展望,希望能对以后的工作起一定的参考作用。     

王水消解蒸气发生-原子荧光光谱法测定土壤中的砷、锑和汞

对土壤的前处理进行了研究,通过一系列的实验验证,给出了土壤中砷、锑和汞的监测分析方法,采用王水消解,硫脲还原,蒸气发生连续进样,运用原子荧光光谱法进行测定,得到了令人满意的结果.     

Study on the simultaneous reduction of methylmercury by SnCl2 when analyzing inorganic Hg in aqueous samples

Mercury (Hg) is among the most concerned contaminants in the world. It has three major chemical forms in the environment, including Hg⁰, Hg^2 +, and methylmercury (MeHg). Due to their differences in toxicity, mobility, and bioavailability, speciation analysis is critical for understanding Hg cycling and fate in the environment. SnCl₂ reduction-atomic fluorescence spectrometry detection is the most commonly used method for analyzing inorganic Hg. However, it should be noted that MeHg may also be reduced by SnCl₂, which would result in the overestimation of inorganic Hg. In this study, the reduction of MeHg by SnCl₂ in both de-ionized (DI) water and four natural waters was investigated. The results showed that MeHg could be reduced by SnCl₂ in DI water whereas this reaction was hard to occur in tested natural waters. By investigating the effects of water chemical characteristics (dissolved organic matter, pH and common anions and cations) on this reaction, SO₄^2 ? was identified to be the dominant factor prohibiting SnCl₂ induced MeHg reduction in natural waters. SO₄^2 ? in natural waters was evidenced to be reduced to S^2 ? by SnCl₂ and the generated S^2 ? can complex with MeHg to form MeHgS^? which is hard to be reduced by SnCl₂. Findings of this study indicate that the effect of MeHg reduction by SnCl₂ on inorganic Hg analysis is negligible in natural waters; however, at simulated experimental systems without SO₄^2 ?, SO₄^2 ? should be added as protecting agents to prevent MeHg reduction when analyzing inorganic Hg if it would not cause any other unwanted effects.