Blood mercury levels among fish consumers residing in areas with high environmental burden

Mercury is a ubiquitous, persistent toxicant found in the environment. In water, mercury bioaccumulates up the food chain and leads to high concentrations in fish. Consumption of contaminated fish is the major source of exposure to mercury in the US. The objective of this study was to enroll persons living in areas selected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to have high mercury concentrations and who consume at least 6 oz of locally caught fish per week to determine the feasibility of monitoring future trends among a population identified as highly exposed. Blood samples were collected at time of interview and analyzed for mercury. Participants (n = 287) were enrolled from North Carolina, Maryland, and South Dakota. Participants reported eating an average of five servings of fish per week. The overall geometric mean for total mercury was 0.75 μg L⁻¹, with North Carolina having the highest mean level (2.02 μg L⁻¹). Overall, 42% of the study population had levels greater than the US geometric mean 0.83 μg L⁻¹. The number of servings of fish consumed was not found to be associated with blood mercury levels. We were able to identify some persons with elevated mercury concentrations living in areas identified by EPA; however, identifying and monitoring a highly exposed population over time would be challenging.     

Partitioning of arsenic in soil-crop systems irrigated using groundwater: a case study of rice paddy soils in southwestern Taiwan

The accumulation of As in rice due to groundwater irrigation in paddy fields represents a serious health hazard in South and Southeast Asia. In Taiwan, the fate of As in long-term irrigated paddy fields is poorly understood. Groundwater, surface soil, and rice samples were collected from a paddy field that was irrigated with As-containing groundwater in southwestern Taiwan. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the source and sink of As in the paddy field by comparing the As fractions in the soils that were obtained by a sequential extraction procedure (SEP) with the As uptake of rice. The risks associated with eating rice from the field can thus be better understood. The concentration of As in groundwater varied with time throughout the growing seasons of rice, but always exceeded the permitted maximum (10 μg L⁻¹) for drinking water by the WHO. The As concentration increased with the concentration of Fe in the groundwater, supporting the claim that a large amount of As was concentrated in the Fe flocs collected from the internal wall of the groundwater pump. The results of the SEP revealed that As bound with amorphous and crystalline hydrous oxides exhibited high availability in the soils. The root of rice accumulated the largest amount of As, followed by the straw, husk, and grain. Although the As concentration in the rice grain was less than 1.0 mg kg⁻¹, the estimated intake level was close to the maximum tolerable daily intake of As, as specified by the WHO.     

植物-微生物联合修复石油-重金属复合污染土壤的研究

植物及微生物联合修复石油-重金属复合污染土壤具有很大的潜力。但重金属以不同形态存在关系到石油-重金属复合污染土壤生物修复过程中,植物、微生物的修复效率以及是否需要增加辅助工程解决重金属污染等问题,因此石油-重金属复合污染土壤修复过程中就必须考虑重金属有效态及形态的变化特征。     

Investigating incorporation and distribution of radionuclides in trinitite

Most of the surface explosions in nuclear tests have released radioactivity to the environment in the form of bulk glassy materials originating from the melting of sandy soil in the neighbourhood of ground zero. In view of clarifying issues concerning the mechanism of formation and the radiological impact of these materials, we investigated incorporation and volume distribution of radionuclides in a typical fragment of trinitite, the glassy substance generated following the first nuclear test (Trinity Site, New Mexico, 1945). Specific activities were determined by γ-spectrometry for the most significant fission and activation products. In particular, ¹⁵²Eu activity was used to estimate the original point of collection of the sample with respect to ground zero. After embedding in an epoxy resin, the sample was then sliced to perform cross-sectional β- and α-autoradiograph. α-spectrometry was also carried out on a fine powder obtained by surface abrasion. In the β-autoradiography, hot spots were distinguishable in the proximity of the blast side, over a 1000 times less intense background of sand activation products. Also α-contamination (from ^239+240Pu and ²⁴¹Am) was mostly concentrated within the superficial layer, in a fraction of only 20% of the overall volume of the sample, exhibiting a discontinuous, droplet-like distribution. This evidence would partially support a recent hypothesis on trinitite formation according to which most of the glass layer was formed not on the ground but by a rain of material injected into the fireball that melted, fell back, and collected on a bed of already fused sand.     

The Future of Baltic Sea Populations: Local Extinction or Evolutionary Rescue?

Environmental change challenges local and global survival of populations and species. In a species-poor environment like the Baltic Sea this is particularly critical as major ecosystem functions may be upheld by single species. A complex interplay between demographic and genetic characteristics of species and populations determines risks of local extinction, chances of re-establishment of lost populations, and tolerance to environmental changes by evolution of new adaptations. Recent studies show that Baltic populations of dominant marine species are locally adapted, have lost genetic variation and are relatively isolated. In addition, some have evolved unusually high degrees of clonality and others are representatives of endemic (unique) evolutionary lineages. We here suggest that a consequence of local adaptation, isolation and genetic endemism is an increased risk of failure in restoring extinct Baltic populations. Additionally, restricted availability of genetic variation owing to lost variation and isolation may negatively impact the potential for evolutionary rescue following environmental change.     

大气汞的来源及其浓度分布特征研究进展

大气汞是全球性的污染物,其来源有自然源和人为源,亚洲地区是最大的人为大气汞排放源,占全球人为排汞量的67％(质量分数),其中又以中国为最.燃煤和有色金属冶炼对中国大气汞排放的贡献最大.环境界面的释汞通量是全球大气汞预算的重要组成部分,也是目前的研究热点之一.综述了不同环境界面的释汞通量及其影响因素,并比较了不同地区大气...     

砷污染与生态环境的关系

砷为广泛存在于自然界中的一种元素,在环境中表现出复杂的地球化学性质,不同形态的砷在大气、土壤及水体中的迁移和富集受许多物理化学因素的制约,并产生毒害程度不同的环境效应。总结砷的来源、其在不同环境介质中的存在状态及砷污染对生态环境的影响,提出应在了解不同介质环境中砷的赋存状态后,采用不同的治理方法有效地去除砷,以最大程度地降低砷对人体健康及生态环境造成的危害。     

Microbial Contamination of Groundwater at Small Community Water Supplies in Finland

The raw water quality and associations between the factors considered as threats to water safety were studied in 20 groundwater supplies in central Finland in 2002-2004. Faecal contaminations indicated by the appearance of Escherichia coli or intestinal enterococci were present in five small community water supplies, all these managed by local water cooperatives. Elevated concentrations of nutrients in raw water were linked with the presence of faecal bacteria. The presence of on-site technical hazards to water safety, such as inadequate well construction and maintenance enabling surface water to enter into the well and the insufficient depth of protective soil layers above the groundwater table, showed the vulnerability of the quality of groundwater used for drinking purposes. To minimize the risk of waterborne illnesses, the vulnerable water supplies need to be identified and appropriate prevention measures such as disinfection should be applied.     

Mercury, lead and cadmium in human milk in relation to diet, lifestyle habits and sociodemographic variables in Madrid (Spain)

Background

Although breastfeeding is the ideal way of nurturing infants, it can be a source of exposure to toxicants. This study reports the concentration of Hg, Pb and Cd in breast milk from a sample of women drawn from the general population of the Madrid Region, and explores the association between metal levels and socio-demographic factors, lifestyle habits, diet and environmental exposures, including tobacco smoke, exposure at home and occupational exposures.

Methods

Breast milk was obtained from 100 women (20 mL) at around the third week postpartum. Pb, Cd and Hg levels were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Metal levels were log-transformed due to non-normal distribution. Their association with the variables collected by questionnaire was assessed using linear regression models. Separate models were fitted for Hg, Pb and Cd, using univariate linear regression in a first step. Secondly, multivariate linear regression models were adjusted introducing potential confounders specific for each metal. Finally, a test for trend was performed in order to evaluate possible dose-response relationships between metal levels and changes in variables categories.

Results

Geometric mean Hg, Pb and Cd content in milk were 0.53 μg L⁻¹, 15.56 μg L⁻¹, and 1.31 μg L⁻¹, respectively. Decreases in Hg levels in older women and in those with a previous history of pregnancies and lactations suggested clearance of this metal over lifetime, though differences were not statistically significant, probably due to limited sample size. Lead concentrations increased with greater exposure to motor vehicle traffic and higher potato consumption. Increased Cd levels were associated with type of lactation and tended to increase with tobacco smoking.

Conclusions

Surveillance for the presence of heavy metals in human milk is needed. Smoking and dietary habits are the main factors linked to heavy metal levels in breast milk. Our results reinforce the need to strengthen national food safety programs and to further promote avoidance of unhealthy behaviors such as smoking during pregnancy.     

燃煤电厂烟气汞排放控制研究现状及进展

燃煤电站汞污染已经成为继SO2污染之后的又一重大污染问题。燃煤烟气中汞污染的控制研究是目前重要的环保课题之一,开发高效、低成本、无二次污染的烟气脱汞技术已成为研究重点。综述了国内外相关方面的研究进展,并做了简要的分析与总结,对未来燃煤烟气汞污染控制技术的发展进行了展望。