Modulation of steroidogenesis by coastal waters and sewage effluents of Hong Kong, China, using the H295R assay

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The presence of a variety of pollutants in the aquatic environment that can potentially interfere with the production of sex steroid hormones in wildlife and humans has been of increasing concern. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of extracts from Hong Kong marine waters, and influents and effluents from wastewater treatment plants on steroidogenesis using the H295R cell bioassay. After exposing H295R cells to extracts of water, the expression of four steroidogenic genes and the production of three steroid hormones were measured. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water samples were collected during the summer of 2005 from 24 coastal marine areas and from the influents and effluents of two major waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in Hong Kong, China. Samples were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE). H295R cells were exposed for 48 h to dilutions of these extracts. Modulations of the expression of the steroidogenic genes CYP19, CYP17, 3betaHSD2, and CYP11beta2 were determined by measuring mRNA concentrations by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR). Production of the hormones progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and testosterone (T) was quantified using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: Extracts from samples collected in two fish culture areas inhibited growth and proliferation of H295R cells at concentrations greater or equal to 10(5) L equivalents. The cells were exposed to the equivalent concentration of active substances in 10,000 L of water. Thus, to observe the same level of effect as observed in vitro on aquatic organisms would require a bioaccumulation factor of this same magnitude. None of the other 22 marine samples affected growth of the cells at any dilution tested. Twelve of the marine water samples completely inhibited the expression of CYP19 without affecting E2 production; inhibition of CYP17 expression was observed only in one of the samples while expression of CYP11beta2 was induced as much as five- and ninefold after exposure of cells to extracts from two locations. The expression of the progesterone gene 3betaHSD2 was not affected by any of the samples; only one sample induced approximately fourfold the production of E2. Although more than twofold inductions were observed for P and T production, none of these values were statistically significant to conclude effects on the production of these two hormones. While influents from WWTPs did not affect gene expression, an approximately 30% inhibition in the production of E2 and a 40% increase in P occurred for the exposure with influents from the Sha Tin and Stonecutters WWTPs, respectively. Effluents from WWTPs did not affect the production of any of the studied hormones, but a decrement in the expression of the aldosterone gene CYP11beta2 was observed for the Sha Tin WWTP exposure. No direct correlation could be established between gene expression and hormone production. DISCUSSION: Observed cytotoxicity in the two samples from fish culture areas suggest the presence of toxic compounds; chemical analysis is required for their full identification. Although effluents from WWTPs did not affect hormone production, other types of endocrine activity such as receptor-mediated effects cannot be ruled out. Interactions due to the complexity of the samples and alternative steroidogenic pathways might explain the lack of correlation between gene expression and hormone production results. CONCLUSIONS: Changes observed in gene expression and hormone production suggest the presence in Hong Kong coastal waters of pollutants with endocrine disruption potential and others of significant toxic effects. The aromatase and aldosterone genes seem to be the most affected by the exposures, while E2 and P are the hormones with more significant changes observed. Results also suggest effectiveness in the removing of compounds with endocrine activity by the WWTPs studied, as effluent samples did not significantly affect hormone production. The H295R cell showed to be a valuable toll in the battery required for the analysis of endocrine disrupting activities of complex environmental samples. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Due to the intrinsic complexity of environmental samples, a combination of analytical tools is required to realistically assess environmental conditions, especially in aquatic systems. In the evaluation of endocrine disrupting activities, the H295R cell bioassay should be used in combination with other genomic, biological, chemical, and hydrological tests to establish viable modes for endocrine disruption and identify compounds responsible for the observed effects.     

Diffusion pollution from livestock and poultry rearing in the Yangtze Delta,China

BACKGROUND: The Yangtze Delta is one of the most developed regions in China and includes Shanghai, eight cities in Jiangsu province and eight cities in Zhejiang province. Meat consumption in this region has increased with economic growth, and most of the consumed meat is produced locally. The water quality of surface waters has deteriorated in recent years. An example was the huge blue-green algae bloom in Tai Lake in late May 2007, which affected millions of people's daily drinking water. However, animal husbandry is considered to be one of the main pollution sources. METHODS: Pollutants (NH3-N, total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN)) excreted by livestock and poultry, and the resultant COD (chemical oxygen demand) and BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), were estimated using two different methods based on different data sets. RESULTS: The number of livestock and poultry has remained stable in the Yangtze Delta over the four years from 1999 to 2002, with the average number of pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry being 21.1 M, 0.4 M, 7.7 M and 597.6 M, respectively. Pollutants in livestock and poultry excreta estimated by Method I were: 0.12 Mt NH3-N, 0.11 Mt TP and 0.29 Mt TN, resulting in COD and BOD of 1.34 Mt and 1.30 Mt, respectively, while the estimations based on Method II were: 0.18 Mt NH3-N, 0.15 Mt TP and 0.40 Mt TN, resulting in COD and BOD of 1.95 Mt and 1.80 Mt, respectively. DISCUSSION: Pollutants excreted annually by livestock and poultry in the Yangtze Delta are estimated to be: 0.17 Mt NH3-N, 0.16 Mt TP and 0.42 Mt TN, giving rise to a COD of 1.86 Mt and a BOD of 1.72 Mt. Approximately 25% of this pollution was estimated to enter water bodies, which means that the annual pollutant load is 43,700 t NH3-N, 39,400 tTP, 104,600t TN with a COD of 465,000 tand a BOD of 430,100 t. Pollutants from animal husbandry were similar in magnitude to those from industrial wastewater. Pigs produced the most pollution, followed by poultry, cattle and sheep. The pollution load from animal husbandry in the Yangtze Delta is about twice the average level of the whole of China. CONCLUSIONS: Domestic wastewater was the main pollution source in the Yangtze Delta, followed by pollution from raising livestock and poultry and from industrial wastewater. The pollution load in Shanghai and Jiaxing were the greatest, followed by 7 cities of Jiangsu province (except Suzhou) and other cities of Zhejiang province and Suzhou. Pigs and poultry produced about 90% of the total pollutants from animal husbandry. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: The local governments, especially in Shanghai and Jiaxing, should focus their attention on the pollution produced by livestock and poulrry. Controlling pollution from pigs and poultry will have the greatest impact in this region. Control of pollution will be facilitated by the development of large-scale livestock and poultry farming units and a shift away from small scale husbandry.     

宜宾附近金沙江、岷江和长江TP、BOD5和CODMn含量的季节性变化

本文报道了宜宾附近金沙江、岷江和长江2001~2005年TP、BOD5和CODMn含量的季节性变化,并初步分析了原因。研究表明,金沙江和岷江的TP和BOD5含量的季节性变化规律基本一致。金沙江和岷江的丰水期/平水期/枯水期的TP含量比值分别为1/0.74/0.43和1/0.59/0.73。两江TP含量丰水期高于平水期和枯水期,主要是由于丰水期含沙量高的缘故。金沙江和岷江的丰水期/平水期/枯水期的BOD5含量比值分别为1/0.84/1.45和1/1.30/3.38。岷江BOD5含量的丰水期/枯水期比值(3.38)远高于金沙江(1.45),可能是岷江中游成都平原和下游乐山-宜宾丘陵区人口稠密区的污染物排放量大的缘故。金沙江丰水期的BOD5含量高于平水期,可能和丰水期河水含沙量高、泥沙含有机物有关。金沙江和岷江CODMn含量的季节性变化差异较大。金沙江丰水期>平水期>枯水期,比值为1/0.74/0.43;金沙江的CODMn含量的季节性变化与TP一样,主要受含沙量的影响。岷江CODMn含量丰水期和枯水期高,平水期低,比值为1/0.74/1.08。岷江丰水期高与含沙量有关;枯水期高与河水污染严重有关。金沙江和岷江CODMn含量的季节性变化差异较大,金沙江丰水期/平水期/枯水期的比值为1/0.74/0.43;岷江为1/0.74/1.08.金沙江的CODMn含量的季节性变化与TP一样,主要受含沙量的影响。岷江丰水期和枯水期相当,可能是由于丰水期含沙量高,而枯水期流量小,河水污染严重。最后,比较了宜宾挂弓山断面和三峡库首朱沱断面的TP、BOD5和CODMn含量,朱沱断面的BOD5含量高于挂弓山断面,显然是宜宾-朱沱河段接纳了沱江等四川盆地支流汇入的大量污染物质的缘故。     

嘉兴农村不同土地利用方式下沟渠底泥中的氮磷形态分布特征

沟渠是农田氮、磷营养物质排入地表水体的通道. 对嘉兴大田、集约化菜地、集约化果园、集约化养殖场4种土地利用方式下的农村沟渠0～5 cm表层底泥氮、磷的形态分布特征进行了研究. 结果表明:67个沟渠底泥样品的w(全氮)为1 560～7 480 mg/kg,其中w(交换态氮)为31.15～704.38 mg/kg,占w(全氮)的1.29%～10.01%;交换态氮中以铵态氮为主,占w(交换态氮)的62.15%～100%. 沟渠底泥样品的w(全磷)为580～6 420 mg/kg,w(碳酸氢钠溶解磷)为19.53～359.72 mg/kg,占w(全磷)的2.05%～18.96%;w(水溶性磷)为0.29～18.88 mg/kg,占w(碳酸氢钠溶解磷)的1.11%～14.63%. 土地利用方式对沟渠底泥氮、磷的形态分布有显著影响(P<0.01),集约化养殖场沟渠底泥中的w(全氮), w(交换态氮),w(铵态氮), w(硝态氮), w(交换态氮)/w(全氮), w(全磷), w(水溶性磷), w(碳酸氢钠溶解磷)均显著高于其他土地利用方式. 底泥w(全氮), w(交换态氮), w(铵态氮)和w(硝态氮)两两间以及w(全磷), w(水溶性磷), w(碳酸氢钠溶解磷)两两间均在α0.01时显著相关,w(全磷)与w(碳酸氢钠溶解磷)的相关性(r0.81,P<0.01)好于与w(水溶性磷)的相关性(r0.51,P<0.01).      

Fenton氧化法预处理垃圾渗滤液试验研究

采用Fenton氧化法处理长沙市黑糜峰垃圾填埋场垃圾渗滤液原液,考察了影响COD去除率的各种因素,包括初始pH值、FeSO4·7H2O投加量、双氧水投加量、反应时间及投加方式等,试验结果表明:在初始pH值为3、FeSO4·7H2O投加量为0.5%、双氧水投加量为18 mL/L、反应时间为100 min、投加方式为3次投加的条件下,可使垃圾渗滤液原液的COD去除率达40%左右,并提高了生化比,为后续生物处理改善了条件.     

UV/H2O2光催化氧化法处理表面活性剂废水

采用UV/H2O2光催化氧化法处理含表面活性剂废水,考察了反应时间、体系pH值、表面活性剂初始浓度、H2O2投加量、表面活性剂的种类等因素对处理效果的影响,并初步探讨了表面活性剂降解的反应动力学.结果表明,当初始pH值为4、H2O2投加量为1mL/L,反应时间为20min时,表面活性剂DBS的去除率为96%,AOS的去除率为93%,且UV/H2O2体系中,表面活性剂DBS和AOS的降解反应均符合表观拟一级反应动力学特征.     

普光天然气净化厂投料试车H2S泄漏安全管理

普光气田天然气净化厂是中国石化集团公司"川气东送工程"的关键组成部分,在投料试车期间,富含高浓度H2S的原料气决定了净化过程中的泄漏中毒高风险,尤其在投料试车过程中,实时监测现场H2S气体浓度是试车安全管理的关键。介绍了天然气净化厂净化工艺,分析了试车安全风险;利用安全监测系统、GasFindIR红外成像仪、有毒挥发气体分析仪等先进仪器设备建立了实时安全管理监测方法,实时监测现场H2S气体浓度。结果表明,该方法在天然气净化厂投料试车阶段发现H2S气体泄漏及时,泄漏点定位准确,泄漏量检测精确,保证了普光气田天然气净化厂投料试车作业安全的顺利进行,为高含H2S气田投料试车作业的安全管理提供了参考。     

低铬油套管钢材在不同工况下的腐蚀规律研究

目的 研究低铬油套管钢材在不同腐蚀环境中的腐蚀特征。方法 采用高温高压动态反应釜对1Cr、3Cr这2种常用低铬油套管钢材进行纯CO2、CO2和低浓度H2S共存条件下的腐蚀试验。结果 温度在40~80 ℃条件下,各种钢材的腐蚀速率随着温度的升高而变大。加入低浓度H2S后,可以抑制CO2腐蚀,且随着温度升高,抑制性逐渐减弱。分析认为,在单独CO2环境以及CO2和低浓度H2S共存的环境中,1Cr、3Cr钢表面出现铬富集现象,形成的Cr(OH)3膜保护基底。同时,在CO2和低浓度H2S共存的环境中,1Cr、3Cr钢表面形成致密的FeS产物膜有助于保护基底,抵抗Cl^－侵蚀。结论 低Cr钢表面因铬的富集形成钝化膜,能有效抑制油套管的腐蚀速率,以上研究成果对CO2和低浓度H2S环境中的腐蚀理论以及油田油套管材料合理选择均有一定指导意义。     

循环式活性污泥法中厌氧生物选择区的运行条件研究

研究了循环式活性污泥法中厌氧生物选择区的停留时间、进水有机物浓度和系统中泥龄、曝气时间等运行参数对选择区内厌氧释磷以及有机物的吸收贮存的影响。结果表明，选择区停留时间lh，系统泥龄5d，曝气2h，进水有机物浓度COD／TP=60--70，选择器中释磷效果及微生物的吸附性能最优，可去除进水中78％的COD。而且污泥沉降性能良好，试验运行过程中，SVI一直保持在30--40ml／g左右。     

MDEA水溶液膜法天然气脱硫的试验研究

以新配和含有一定H_2S的MDEA溶液为吸收液,以聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)膜组件为接触器,通过对操作参数的调节和改变膜孔大小等方法对脱硫率和总传质系数进行研究。结果表明:气液压力差以及膜孔孔径的增加均有利于脱硫率和总传质系数的提升,即均有利于脱硫。降低进气流量和低气液比均对H_2S传质有积极作用。