Chromosome damage in individuals exposed to heavy metals†

Testing the mutagenic activity of environmental pollutants has become an important area of modern environmental science and prophylactic medicine. The most suitable method for short‐term mutagenicity testing on man, at present, are chromosome studies on somatic cells of exposed individuals. Mutation types analyzed by such studies are of high practical relevance as indicator system of genetic damage induced in man under in vivo conditions. A rather large series of such studies has been dedicated to the action of heavy metals on individuals contacted with these metals under therapeutic, ecological or occupational conditions or by intoxication. Lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, mercury, zinc and other metals as well as their compounds have been under study. Analyses of that kind, of course, are hampered by difficulties with the distinct estimation of the actual load as well as unclear conditions of exposition, e.g. simultaneous exposition to different metals.

Results obtained till now arouse some suspicion of a direct or indirect mutagenic activity in man by certain chromium and platinum compounds, arsenic, mercury, and combinations of lead with other heavy metals (cadmium, zinc, arsenic, antimony, etc.). Life style, above all smoking habits, well may act comutagenic. In most cases, however, mutagenic activity of metals and metal compounds apparently is clearly superposed by their toxic activity. In specific cases, chromosome studies also may contribute to discover sources of ecological exposition and to monitor occupational load by heavy metals.     

Serial variations of trace metal concentrations in aquatic insect Stenopsyche marmorata

Caddisfly larvae (Stenopsyche marmorata) instar V, periphyton, sediment and river water at a non‐contaminated upstream site, a metallic contaminated downstream site, and industrial wasterwater which caused the metallic contamination were collected once a month for 21 months. Nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) concentrations in these samples were measured. Significant serial variations of the 4 metal concentrations in the larvae showed a seasonal tendency at the upstream site but not at the downstream site. The larvae more clearly indicated the influence of industrial wastewater than periphyton. As the larvae of Stenopsyche marmorata could be collected throughout the year, this larva is useful for monitoring trace metal contamination in rivers.     

Mercury exposure in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients from Ganga plain region in India: A retrospective study

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive disorder that usually runs a fatal course within 2–5 years of onset, is characterized by loss of motor neurons in the cortex, brain stem, and spinal cord. In this study mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined in blood samples of 40 ALS patients, of whom 24 ALS patients were from the Ganga plain region and their metal levels were found to be significantly higher. In contrast, Hg levels in the 16 ALS patients from non-Ganga plain regions whose levels were similar to those of the control subjects. Mercury in stream water samples and freshly deposited stream sediment were determined in the locations of patients’ native residences along the Ganga plain region and metal levels were found to be higher than the threshold guideline values for Hg in stream waters recommended by WHO. The geo-accumulation index in selected sites of freshly deposited stream sediment ranged from moderate to highly polluted. The high levels of Hg observed in ALS patients may potentially alter the redox status of neuronal cell components and induce cell-death pathways.     

螯合剂和表面活性剂辅助金福菇修复重金属污染土壤

通过温室大棚盆栽试验,研究螯合剂和表面活性剂单独或复合处理辅助金福菇修复重金属污染土壤的效果.结果表明,单独添加EDTA(乙二胺四乙酸)时,高浓度的EDTA(E2,5 mmol kg-1)使金福菇的生物量比对照降低26%,子实体Pb、Cu和Cd的浓度分别比对照提高15～88倍、0.8～3.3倍和0.5～0.6倍.单独添加表面活性剂时,各处理生物量与对照没有显著差异,且重金属浓度变化幅度没有单独添加EDTA的处理大.低浓度的表面活性剂对金福菇吸收各种重金属的影响较小,而高浓度则影响较大,但与表面活性剂及重金属种类有关.共同添加EDTA和表面活性剂时,只有当EDTA和CTAB(溴化十六烷基三甲铵)共同添加时,EC2(EDTA:CTAB=1:1)和EC3(EDTA:CTAB=2:1)的生物量显著降低,其余处理与对照差异不明显.EC3的子实体Pb和Cu浓度达到所有处理中的最大值,分别为(1 533.61±131.34)、(1 786.11±328.33)mg kg-1.EDTA和SDS(十二烷基磺酸钠)浓度比为2:1(ES3)时,子实体Cd浓度达到最大值,为(50.56±11.55)mg kg-1.此外,还分析了不同处理的重金属总积累量和富集系数.结果显示,在螯合剂和表面活性剂辅助下,金福菇修复复合重金属污染土壤具有很大的潜能.     

北京官厅水库水体中挥发性有机物健康风险评价

为研究北京官厅水库水体中挥发性有机物对人体产生的潜在健康危害风险,从9个有代表性的采样点采集水样,用顶空气相色谱法测定了挥发性氯代烃的质量浓度,所检测的5种挥发性氯代烃的质量浓度总量为5.33～97.74 ng/L,同时讨论了其污染水平和分布特点.应用美国环境保护署(US EPA)的健康风险评价方法,对官厅水库水体中挥发性氯代烃通过食入和皮肤接触2种途径进入人体的危害进行了风险计算和初步评价. 结果表明:水库中各采样点的非致癌风险和致癌风险均未超标,从位于桑干河八号桥的6号采样点采集的水样中挥发性氯代烃的非致癌风险值达到10－4数量级,其余采样点的非致癌风险值均在10-5数量级;各采样点的致癌风险指数远远低于10－4的数量水平. 因此,初步认为目前官厅水库水体中挥发性氯代烃不会对人体产生明显的健康危害.      

福建省菜园土壤重金属的含量及其污染评价

采集了福建省26个县市158份菜园表层土壤样品,测定了土壤样品中重金属含量,采用单项及综合污染指数法对土壤重金属污染进行评价分析,并通过元素相关性分析和聚类分析,研究了菜园土壤重金属元素的赋存特征与区域分布.结果表明,福建省菜园土壤存在着不同程度的重金属污染,主要污染元素为Pb,Hg和Cd;元素相关性分析与聚类分析的结果表明:Cu,Zn,Ni和As具有伴随污染的特点,其污染源主要来自土壤母质和大量施用的农药和化肥;Cd,Pb和Hg在土壤中各聚成一类,说明它们在菜园土壤具有较独特的污染源,特别是Cd和Hg,其污染特征明显.而Pb和Cd虽有各自的污染源,但其污染具有一定的相关性.     

中国天然水体中五氯酚的浓度水平、管理及来源分析

五氯酚(PCP)属内分泌污染物,也是可对生物产生复合毒性的有机污染物。五氯酚及其钠盐曾被用作杀螺剂在我国血吸虫病流行疫区大范围长时间使用。为了解PCP在中国水环境中的污染现状,在阐述中国PCP的生产使用状况基础上,重点论述中国水环境介质中PCP的污染分布及影响因素。中国多地河流水环境中均存在PCP,其中沿长江流域的长江、洞庭湖、鄱阳湖PCP残留量较高,虽均在限值范围内,但PCP污染范围有从主要江河、湖泊等向沿海海域蔓延的趋势。PCP使用历史、用药区域类型、区域PCP消耗量等均会影响PCP的残留量,血吸虫病疫区PCP残留量明显高于对照区,在PCP及其钠盐显著减少使用后(2003年以后),施药历史仍然影响着水体介质中PCP的残留情况,PCP虽已停用,但其对环境所造成的不良影响还在持续。与国外研究相比,我国水环境介质中的PCP污染偏高且有上升趋势,这可能与部分区域近年来重现血吸虫病后施药控制有关。未来一段时期内有关PCP及其环境副产物在环境介质中的迁移转化规律、人群暴露评估、污染介质修复技术以及其替代品的研制都将是研究重点领域。     

Ecological risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in coastal sediments along the northern shores of the Bohai Sea (China)

The total concentrations of 16 United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)-listed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in coastal and estuarine sediments along the northern shores of the Bohai and Yellow Seas, China, at any study location varied from 0.236 to 8.34 nM g^?1 dry weight (dw). For a given PAH, concentrations varied by one to two orders of magnitude. Ecological risk assessments based on biota–sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) indicated that the potential ecological hazard of PAHs in the sediments was limited. The average total sediment PAH concentrations were less than the effects range low, indicating that PAHs currently present in the sediments were not harmful to aquatic organisms. The estimated PAH concentration in the aquatic organisms was 0.223 nM g^?1 and posed a limited threat to human health via biological concentration from sediment to harvest of the sea. Assuming no additional PAH inputs, 99% of the 16 PAH molecules currently present in the sediments would be degraded in 40 years.     

西藏土壤汞的分布特征及污染评价

为了解西藏地区土壤汞的污染水平与现状,采集西藏四区-市（拉萨、林芝、那曲、阿里、日喀则）耕地、冲积土、草地、荒地4 种类型的土壤,其中表层土壤54 个,剖面样品18 个.利用直接加热-金管富集-原子吸收法对土壤中汞含量进行分析,结果表明,西藏地区土壤中汞含量平均含量为0.026 mg·kg^-1,低于我国土壤中汞的背景值,与先前西藏土壤中汞的含量相近.部分样品中汞的含量较高,其中最大值为0.563 mg·kg^-1,可能与人为源点状污染有关.西藏土壤汞的分布具有显著的地势分布特征,土壤中汞含量从东南到西北逐渐降低.这与西藏的地势条件和人为活动有关.由于土壤中有机质与人为影响的差异,不同类型土壤中耕地土壤汞含量最高（0.051 mg·kg^-1）,冲积土最低（0.015 mg·kg^-1）,偏远地区荒地汞含量最稳定.西藏东南和西北地区土壤汞的垂直分布特征有明显的差异,西北低汞含量地区垂直分布特征主要表现为表层〉中层〉底层,而东南地区分布规律并不明显,人为翻动频繁和较复杂汞来源与迁移是造成都东南部耕地土壤和河滩土汞含量垂直分布的主要原因.以西藏土壤背景含量水平为单因子污染评价标准,结果显示西藏27.4%的土壤处于中度或重度污染,31.5%处于无污染状态,人为活动对西藏地区土壤中汞含量的升高有较大的贡献.     

典型汞污染地区食物汞含量及人体汞暴露健康风险

系统采集典型汞污染地区(铅锌冶炼、金矿冶炼和燃煤电厂)食物样品(大米、蔬菜和鱼肉) 409个,测定其总汞含量以评估当地居民食物摄入汞暴露的健康风险。结果显示:铅锌冶炼地区大米总汞含量的几何均值为5.99μg·kg~(-1)(3.02～30.7μg·kg~(-1)),仅有1个样品总汞含量超过我国大米汞限量标准(20μg·kg~(-1)),蔬菜和鱼肉总汞含量分别为0.646～5.44μg·kg~(-1)和1.80～26.4μg·kg~(-1),均未超过我国食品汞限量标准;金矿冶炼地区大米总汞含量的几何均值为4.46μg·kg~(-1)(3.13～8.67μg·kg~(-1)),蔬菜和鱼肉总汞含量分别为0.760～7.83μg·kg~(-1)和1.59～21.9μg·kg~(-1),所有食物均未超过我国食品汞限量标准;燃煤电厂地区大米总汞含量的几何均值为3.63μg·kg~(-1)(1.05～11.4μg·kg~(-1)),蔬菜和鱼肉总汞含量分别为1.12～3.78μg·kg~(-1)和2.24～12.3μg·kg~(-1),所有食物均未超过我国食品汞限量标准。铅锌冶炼、金矿冶炼和燃煤电厂3个地区居民通过食用食物(大米、鱼肉和蔬菜途径)总汞摄入量的均值分别为0.068、0.038和0.031μg·d~(-1)·kg~(-1),均未超出联合国粮农组织和世界卫生组织食品添加剂联合专家委员会(JECFA)推荐的人体安全总汞摄入量0.71μg·d~(-1)·kg~(-1);表明3个研究地区居民汞暴露的风险较低。大米汞摄入量占3个地区居民食物总汞摄入量的比例分别为77.2%、70.8%和71.4%,食用大米是当地居民汞暴露的主要途径。