Neural stem cell-based in vitro bioassay for the assessment of neurotoxic potential of water samples

Intensive agriculture activities, industrialization and growing numbers of wastewater treatment plants along river banks collectively contribute to the elevated levels of neurotoxic pollutants in natural water reservoirs across Europe. We established an in vitro bioassay based upon neural stem cells isolated from the subventricular zone of the postnatal mouse to evaluate the neurotoxic potential of raw wastewater, treated sewage effluent, groundwater and drinking water. The toxic potential of water samples was evaluated employing viability, proliferation, differentiation and migration assays. We found that raw wastewater could reduce the viability and proliferation of neural stem cells, and decreased the neuronal and astrocyte differentiation, neuronal neurite growth, astrocyte growth and cell migration. Treated sewage water also showed inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and migration. Our results indicated that relatively high concentrations of nitrogenous substances, pesticides, mercuric compounds, bisphenol-A, and phthalates, along with some other pollutants in raw wastewater and treated sewage water, might be the reason for the neuroinhibitory effects of these water samples. Our model successfully predicted the neurotoxicity of water samples collected from different sources and also revealed that the incomplete removal of contaminants from wastewater can be problematic for the developing nervous system. The presented data also provides strong evidence that more effective treatments should be used to minimize the contamination of water before release into major water bodies which may be considered as water reservoirs for human usage in the future.     

Evaluation of stem injection for managing giant reed (Arundo donax)

Giant reed is an emergent aquatic plant that may be weedy in riparian habitats. Two herbicides approved for controlling giant reed in the US are glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine) and imazapyr (2-[4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl)-5-oxo-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid). Foliar applications of these herbicides may be restricted in some areas, such as those, which are within the range of threatened or endangered species. We conducted two field experiments at sites in northern and central California. The first experiment evaluated the effects of three aquatic herbicides (glyphosate, imazapyr, and triclopyr [(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyl)oxy]acetic acid) injected into all of the stems within a giant reed (5 mL stem^?1). In this experiment, leaf chlorophyll content, the proportion of living stems, and the number of new stems produced during the year after treatment declined (>80%) following injection of either full strength glyphosate or imazapyr. The effects of injecting full strength triclopyr were considerably less. In a second experiment, different proportions (0, 10%, 25%, or 100%) of the stems within a plant were injected with full strength glyphosate. Results indicated that it was necessary to inject all of the stems within a clump to achieve the greatest reduction in the plant growth characteristics measured. These results imply that giant reed may be successfully controlled by injecting full strength glyphosate (5 mL stem^?1) into all of the stems within a clump. While labor intensive and thus potentially more costly this method, offers a new method for managing giant reed in sensitive sites where foliar spray applications may be restricted.     

A human embryonic stem cell-based in vitro model revealed that ultrafine carbon particles may cause skin inflammation and psoriasis

Air pollution has been linked to many health issues,including skin conditions,especially in children.Among all the atmospheric pollutants,ultrafine particles have been deemed very dangerous since they can readily penetrate the lungs and skin,and be absorbed into the bloodstream.Here,we employed a human embryonic stem cell(h ESC)-based differentiation system towards keratinocytes,to test the effects of ultrafine carbon particles,which mimic ambient ultrafine particles,at environment related conce...     

漳江口不同潮滩秋茄树干CH4传输速率与呼吸速率

树干对红树林湿地CH₄和CO₂的排放有重要影响.为研究红树林湿地温室气体排放机制及其影响因子,于2017年9月利用树干静态箱-气相色谱仪法,以漳江口秋茄（Kandelia obovata）红树林为研究对象,探讨不同潮滩（中、高潮滩）下秋茄树干CH₄传输速率和呼吸速率的特征.结果表明:①中潮滩秋茄树干CH₄传输速率[（91.19±16.63）μg/（m2·h）]显著大于高潮滩[（0.71±0.24）μg/（m2·h）]（P < 0.001）,而中、高潮滩秋茄树干呼吸速率无显著性差异（P>0.05）.②秋茄树干CH₄传输速率受土壤孔隙水的影响较大,与土壤孔隙水中c（CH₄）呈极显著正相关（P < 0.01）,与孔隙水中ρ（DON）呈极显著负相关（P < 0.01）.③秋茄树干呼吸速率与胸径大小呈极显著正相关（P < 0.01）,并呈极显著性幂函数回归关系（P < 0.001）,而树干CH₄传输速率不受胸径大小的影响.研究显示,与红树林湿地的空间异质性相比,植物特征对树干呼吸速率的影响更为显著;相反,对于树干CH₄传输速率,空间异质性的影响比植物特征的影响更为显著.      

地下水矿化度对黄河三角洲柽柳光合及耗水特征的影响

为了解黄河三角洲地下水浅埋区柽柳（Tamarix chinensis Lour.）对地下水矿化度的适应特征,运用叶片气体交换和树干液流技术,测定了地下水埋深为0.9 m时淡水、微咸水（3 g·L^-1）、咸水（8 g·L^-1）和盐水（20 g·L^-1）四种矿化度下柽柳的光合作用和水分利用等参数。结果表明：随地下水矿化度升高：（1）土壤水、盐含量和土壤溶液绝对浓度均逐渐升高。（2）叶片最大净光合速率和光饱和点在咸水下最高;表观量子效率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率、胞间CO₂浓度、树干液流速率等在微咸水下最高;以上指标均在盐水矿化度下最低。水分利用效率和气孔限制值在微咸水下最低,盐水下最高。在地下水埋深0.9 m时,咸水矿化度下柽柳光合效率高,光照生态幅宽,水分利用效率高,适于柽柳幼苗的生长。     

Effects of halobenzoquinone and haloacetic acid water disinfection byproducts on human neural stem cells

Human neural stem cells(h NSCs) are a useful tool to assess the developmental effects of various environmental contaminants; however, the application of h NSCs to evaluate water disinfection byproducts(DBPs) is scarce. Comprehensive toxicological results are essential to the prioritization of DBPs for further testing and regulation. Therefore, this study examines the effects of DBPs on the proliferation and differentiation of h NSCs. Prior to DBP treatment, characteristic protein markers of h NSCs from passages 3 to 6 were carefully examined and it was determined that h NSCs passaged 3 or 4 times maintained stem cell characteristics and can be used for DBP analysis. Two regulated DBPs, monobromoacetic acid(BAA) and monochloroacetic acid(CAA), and two emerging DBPs, 2,6-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone(2,6-DBBQ) and 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone(2,6-DCBQ), were chosen for h NSC treatment. Both 2,6-DBBQ and 2,6-DCBQ induced cell cycle arrest at S-phase at concentrations up to 1 μmol/L. Comparatively, BAA and CAA at 0.5 μmol/L affected neural differentiation. These results suggest DBP-dependent effects on h NSC proliferation and differentiation. The DBP-induced cell cycle arrest and inhibition of normal h NSC differentiation demonstrate the need to assess the developmental neurotoxicity of DBPs.     

Removal and recovery of uranium(VI) by adsorption onto a lignocellulosic-based polymeric adsorbent containing amidoxime chelating functional group

A new adsorbent (ABS) with amidoxime functional group was prepared through graft polymerization of acrylonitrile onto banana stem (BS) using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN)/HNO₃ initiator system, followed by treatment with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in alkaline solution. Infrared spectroscopy, surface area analyzer, thermogravimetry, and potentiometric titration were used for the characterization of the adsorbent. Effective removal of U(VI) ions was demonstrated at the pH range 4.0–6.0. The mechanism for the removal of U(VI) ions by ABS was based on complexation adsorption model. Equilibrium was achieved in approximately 3 h. The experimental kinetic data were analyzed using first-order, second-order, and Elovich kinetic models, and are well fitted with second-order kinetics. The temperature dependence indicates an exothermic process. U(VI) adsorption was found to decrease with increase of ionic strength. The Freundlich isotherm model fitted the experimental equilibrium data well. The adsorption efficiency was tested using synthetic nuclear industry effluents. The maximum adsorption capacity for U(VI) removal was found to be 80 mg g^-1 at 20°C. Adsorbed U(VI) ions were desorbed effectively, about 99% by 0.2 M HCl. Repeated adsorption/desorption cycles show the feasibility of the ABS for the removal of U(VI) ions from water and nuclear industry effluents.     

Enhanced adaptability of Sesbania rostrata to Pb/Zn tailings via stem nodulation

Sesbania rostrata is wellknown for its stem nodulation, but the roles of stem nodulation in root nodulation and adaptation of S. rostrata to Pb/Zn-enriched tailings environment has been poorly understood. We investigated the effects of inoculating (with stem nodule treatment) and non-inoculating (without stem nodule treatment) Azorhizobium caulinodans on the growth, root nodulation, and N fixation of S. rostrata grown on three different types of soil substrata: Pb/Zn tailings, garden soil amended tailings, ...     

淀山湖区域茭白种植模式氮、磷流失规律及负荷特征

在常规施肥条件下,通过大田小区径流试验研究了淀山湖区域特有的茭白-水稻轮作和茭白单作种植模式的氮、磷流失规律及污染负荷特征.结果表明,研究区氮、磷面源污染物排放主要集中在6-9月,排水TN平均质量浓度最高可达130.0 mg·L-1,以NH+4-N流失为主,主要来源于化肥施用;茭白生长期内,排水TP平均质量浓度为0.104～0.777 mg·L-1,以颗粒态磷为主,约占TP总量的73.5%～90.3%(除8月外).茭白-水稻轮作和茭白单作模式TN污染负荷分别为134.8和88.6 kg·hm-2·a-1,均高于太湖流域其他几种种植模式;而TP污染负荷则分别为1.52和1.06 kg·hm-2·a-1,低于太湖流域常见种植模式的平均水平.氮肥施用及氮素流失控制应作为淀山湖区域农业面源污染控制的重点.