Biological Activity in a Heavily Organohalogen-Contaminated River Sediment (8 pp)

Background, Aims and Scope Sediments of the Spittelwasser creek are highly polluted with organic compounds and heavy metals due to the discharge of untreated waste waters from the industrial region of Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany over the course of more than one century. However, relatively few data have been published about the chloroorganic contamination of the sediment. This paper reports on the content of different (chloro)organic compounds with special emphasis on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F), and chlorobenzenes. Existing concepts for the remediation of Spittelwasser sediment include the investigation of natural attenuation processes, which largely depend on the presence of an intact microbial food web. In order to gain more insight in terms of biological activity, we analyzed the capacity of sediment microflora to degrade organic matter by measuring the activities of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes involved in the biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. Furthermore, the detection of physiologically active bacteria in the sediment, particularly of those known for their capability to reductively dehalogenate organochlorine compounds, illustrates the potential for intrinsic bioremediation processes. Methods PCDD/F and chlorobenzenes were analyzed by gas chromatography(GC)/mass spectrometry and GC/flame ionization detection, respectively. The activities of hydrolytic enzymes were determined from freshly sampled sediment layers using 4-methylumbelliferyl (MUF) or 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin-conjugated model compounds and kinetic fluorescence measurements. Physiologically active bacteria from different sediment layers were microscopically visualized by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Specific bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. Results and Discussion The PCDD/F congener profile was dominated by dibenzofurans. In addition, the presence of specific tetra and pentachlorinated dibenzofurans supported the assumption that extensive magnesium production was one possible source for the high contamination. A range of other chloroorganic compounds, including several isomers of chlorobenzenes, hexachlorocyclohexane and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chloro-phenyl)ethane (DDT), was present in the sediment. Activities of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes showed a strong decrease in those sediment layers that were characterized by high contents of absorbable organic halogen (AOX), indicating disturbed organic matter decay. Interestingly, an abnormal increase of cellulolytic enzyme activities below the organochlorine-rich layers was observed, possibly caused by residual cellulose from discharges of sulfite pulping wastes. FISH revealed physiologically active bacteria in most sediment layers from the surface down to the depth of about 60 cm, including members of Desulfitobacterium (D.) and Sulfurospirillum. The presence of D. dehalogenans was confirmed by its partial 16S rRNA gene sequence. Conclusions Results of chemical sediment analyses demonstrated high loads of organochlorine compounds, particularly of PCDD/F. Several years after stopping the waste water discharge to Spittelwasser creek, this sediment remains a main source for pollution of the downstream river system by way of the ongoing mobilization of sediment during high floods. As indicated by our enzyme activity measurements, the decomposition potential for organic matter is low in organochlorine-rich sediment layers. In contrast, the comparably higher enzyme activities in less organochlorine-polluted sediment layers as well as the presence of physiologically active bacteria suggest a considerable potential for natural attenuation. Recommendations and Perspectives From our data we strongly recommend to explore the degradative capacity of sediment microorganisms and the limits for in situ activity towards specific sediment pollutants in more detail. This will give a sound basis for the integration of bioremediation approaches into general concepts to reduce the risk that permanently radiates from this highly contaminated sediment. Submission Editor: Dr. Henner Hollert (Henner.Hollert@urz.uniheidelberg.de)     

氢化物发生原子荧光法测定饮用水中的微量硒

氢化物发生原子荧光法测定饮用水中的微量硒时。仪器条件和试剂的浓度选择很重要。本文对条件的最佳化进行了实验。并对方法的精密度、准确度和检出限进行了讨论。     

Determination of arsenic in grain and soil by hydride nondispersive atomic fluorescence method

Quantity of trace arsenic in grain and soil was determined by hydride nondispersive atomic fluorescence method.Optimum conditions of measurement were selected in the experiment including the pH of the medium, reductive agent, the concentration and flowing velocity of KBH4, rate of carrier gas and atomized temperature. The reference sample of rice C was determined and the linear relationship of the calibration curve was plotted, indicating that the method was highly precise. In the experiment of recovery rate, the method was quite satisfactory.Based on the determination of hundreds of samples, it is proved that atomic fluorescence method is rapid, sensitive and low in interference. It is very efficient on determination of trace arsenic in soils and grains, especially in grains.     

An investigation of methods for enriching trophoblast from maternal blood

Trophoblast deportation is known to occur in normal human pregnancy, but it is not yet clear whether these cells routinely enter the maternal peripheral circulation and are available as a source of fetal DNA for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. To resolve this issue requires an efficient method of enriching trophoblast from maternal blood combined with a means to confirm its identity. Five different techniques were tested on ten retroplacental blood samples to determine the most sensitive and operator-efficient method. Lysis of red cells alone gave the best recovery of trophoblast but had to be discounted, together with Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, due to the very low purity and the excessive time required. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) of pre-enriched trophoblast resulted in the lowest recovery rate (8 per cent) despite a 3250-fold enrichment and a very high purity. Immunomagnetic beads (Dynabeads) coated with anti-CD 16 antibody proved to be the best method for the subsequent immunocytochemical characterization of deported trophoblast. However, IO beads coated with anti-CD45 antibody may be more useful for isolating trophoblast for prenatal diagnosis due to the high purity, enrichment (32-fold), and recovery rate (78 per cent) obtained with this method.     

多环芳烃的同步荧光光谱技术及其对尿样中多环芳烃的鉴别

荧光光谱技术是一种灵敏度高和选择性强的光度分析方法,特别是对广泛存在于环境中的多环芳烃类化合物(PAHs)是一种有力的痕量分析手段,但在复杂混合样品的分析中却受到不同程度的限制。1971年Lloyd提出了同步激发的想法,接着Jobn,Lloyd和Dinh等分别发表了PAH类化合物同荧光光谱技术的研究报告,Dinh使用这     

荧光光谱法研究丙酮与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用特征

在模拟动物体生理条件和不同温度下,用荧光光谱、三维荧光光谱、同步荧光光谱、紫外可见吸收光谱法等研究了丙酮(ACET)与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的相互作用,证实了丙酮有很强的猝灭BSA荧光强度的能力.分别用Sterr-Volmer方程、Lineweaver-Burk双倒数方程和热力学方程等分析和处理试验数据,得到了它们相互作用的生成常数KLV(平均值为7.073×106L·mol-1)、热力学参数(△Hθ、△Gθ和△Sθ的平均值分别为-3.982kJ·mol-1、-26.51 kJ·mol-1和73.31J·K-1)和结合位点数(平均值为1.266)等.这为研究ACET对BSA构象的影响、ACET的毒理效应和生物学效应提供了重要信息.     

氢化物发生一原子荧光光谱法测定气田废水中的痕量砷

采用氢化物发生－原子荧光光谱法测气田废水中的痕量砷。方法有取样量少，操作简单、灵敏度高、准确度高、重现性好等优点。砷的测定线性范围为1～200ng/mL，方法的检出限为0．0453ng/mL，相对标准偏差小于等于1．6％，加标回收率在96．0％～97．7％范围内。测定密码标样与气田废水中的痕量砷，获得了满意的结果。     

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy from uncultured amniotic fluid cells using five-colour fluorescence in situ hybridization

In this paper we describe the use of five-colour fluorescence in situ hybridization for prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy using uncultured amniotic fluid cells. The analysis is based on ratio mixing of dual-labelled probes and digital imaging for the detection and visualization of five different probes specific for the five target chromosomes, 13, 18, 21, X, and Y. A retrospective blind analysis of 30 coded uncultured amniotic fluid samples correctly detected fetal sex and five trisomy 21 cases. Multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization used in this way allows rapid and simultaneous detection of the most frequent aneuploidies.     

悬浮液进样原子荧光光谱法测定海洋沉积物样品中的痕量汞

研究了一种使用悬浮液进样原子荧光光谱法测定海洋沉积初中痕量汞的快速简便的方法。控制悬浮液的颗粒粒径在200目(d≤0.076mm)，用磁力搅拌器搅拌以保证悬浮液分散均匀稳定，以水溶液标准作标准曲线，该法方法的检出限为0．001μg/L，加标回收率为90．5％-103．4％，RSD为4．39％。将此法用于标准物质GBw07314、GBw08301、GSBZ50013—88、GSB50014—88和实验室外控样的分析，得到了满意的结果，证明该方法准确可靠。     

夏季太湖CDOM光学特性空间差异及其来源解析

为进一步探究夏季太湖CDOM（有色溶解性有机质）光学特性在空间分布上的差异性与其来源的关系,对其紫外-可见吸收及三维荧光光谱特性进行了分析研究,在此基础上进一步分析了CDOM吸尘系数及其荧光组分（C1、C2、C3、C4）强度和各水质参数间的相关性.结合主成分分析法探讨了CDOM的来源以及与各参数指标[ρ（DOC）除外]之间的来源关系.结果表明:CDOM吸收系数α（355）、S值（光谱斜率）变化范围分别为3.27~8.27 m-1和0.011~0.021 nm-1;太湖西部、北部及南部湖区CDOM丰度较大,S值较低,受陆源输入的影响较为明显.CDOM的三维荧光光谱揭示其中含有两种类蛋白质组分C1和C2以及类腐殖质组分C3和C4,并且以类蛋白质组分为主.此外,大部分采样点的荧光指数（FI）为1.70~2.01,自生源指数（BIX）大于1,腐殖化指数（HIX）小于0.6,r_（T/C）（荧光峰T与荧光峰C荧光强度比值）小于2,表明夏季太湖CDOM内源特性相对强烈.研究显示,除ρ（DOC）外,CDOM与其他水质参数在第一主成分上（贡献率为90.8%）均存在显著相关关系,说明各水质参数的来源存在相似性,并且受生物自生源影响更为显著.