Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and other fluorochemicals in fish blood collected near the outfall of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Beijing

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were measured in zooplankton and five fish species collected from Gaobeidian Lake, which receives discharge from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Beijing, China. The mean total PFCs in five fish were in the order: crucian carp > common carp > leather catfish > white semiknife carp > tilapia. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) occurred at the greatest concentrations, with mean concentrations ranging from 5.74 to 64.2 ng/ml serum. Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) was the second dominant PFC in fish samples except for common carp in which perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA) was dominant. A positive linear relationship (r² = 0.85, p < 0.05) was observed between ln PFOS concentrations (ln ng/ml) and trophic level (based on δ¹⁵N) if tilapia was excluded. The risk assessment showed that PFOS might not pose an immediate risk to fish in Gaobeidian Lake.     

Aminobenzenesulfonamide functionalized SBA-15 nanoporous molecular sieve: A new and promising adsorbent for preconcentration of lead and copper ions

A rapid method for the extraction and monitoring of nanogram level of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions using uniform silanized mesopor (SBA-15) functionalized with aminobenzenesulfonamide groups and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) is presented. Aminobenzenesulfonamide functionalized SBA-15 was synthesized according to procedure in the literature and the presence of organic groups in the silica framework was demonstrated by FT-IR spectra. The functionalized product showed the BET surface area 110 m²/g and pore diameter 5.1 nm, based on adsorption-desorption of N₂ at 77 K. The effect of several variables such as (amount of adsorbent, stirring time, pH and presence of other ions in the medium) has been studied. Lead and copper were completely extracted at pH greater than 3 after stirring for 10 min. The maximum capacity of the adsorbent was found to be 191.3 ± 1.4 and 155.0 ± 1.0 μg of lead and copper ions/mg functionalized SBA-15, respectively. The preconcentration factor of the method was found to be 200. The detection limit of the technique was 3.4 and 0.4 ng/mL for Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺, respectively. The applications of this methodology for real samples were examined by various water type, black tea and pepper samples.     

洞庭湖平原典型水稻土氮素固持动态及氮的残留形态

以洞庭湖平原2个典型水稻土（红黄泥和紫潮泥）为对象,采用¹⁵N示踪技术,研究了淹水培养条件下稻草+硫铵配施（S+¹⁵NA）和单施硫铵（¹⁵NA）土壤微生物和粘土矿物对化肥氮的固定与释放及氮的残留形态.结果表明,淹水培养条件下B_N（SMBN）总体变化趋势是在培养前期达到峰值,而后逐渐下降,最后趋于稳定.固定态铵在整个试验期间变化相对较小,但也随培养时间的延长而减少.淹水培养条件下, B_N 以原有B_N为主.标记底物B_N的比例红黄泥为0.30%～6.67%;紫潮泥为1.00%～3.47%.微生物同化的标记底物硫铵氮的比例红黄泥为0.15%～20.65%,紫潮泥为2.06%～15.93%;有机无机配施处理(S+¹⁵NA)均大于单施化肥(¹⁵NA),红黄泥S+¹⁵NA处理平均为6.78%,高于红黄泥¹⁵NA处理;紫潮泥S+¹⁵NA处理（10.78%）也高于紫潮泥¹⁵NA处理.粘土矿物对标记底物氮的固定率,红黄泥为2.48%～10.57%,紫潮泥为12.55%～30.04%.红黄泥S+¹⁵NA处理平均为7.14%,低于红黄泥¹⁵NA 处理;紫潮泥S+¹⁵NA处理（21.53%）也低于紫潮泥¹⁵NA处理.淹水培养条件下底物硫铵氮的残留率均大于30%,有机无机配施处理提高了无机氮的残留率.红黄泥底物氮的残留形态主要为酸解有机氮（>72%）,而紫潮泥以酸解有机氮(44.0%～53.2%)和固定态铵(35.2%～37.5%)为主,两种土壤底物氮矿质氮形态残留在10%～20％之间.研究表明土壤对外源无机氮的固定与释放是一个动态的过程,施肥方式和土壤粘土矿物组成对该过程有重要影响.化肥和秸秆配合施用能增强微生物对无机氮的同化,降低土壤粘土矿物对无机氮的固持.有机无机配施处理在降低化肥氮损失的同时提高了酸不溶性氮态的残留率,降低了无机氮形态(固定态铵和矿质氮)的残留.     

地下水NH4+-15N同位素测试技术进展

本文根据铵离子的物理化学性质,建立了各种测试分析技术.传统的NH4+_-15N同位素测试过程包括样品中NH4+的收集、转化为适于质谱分析的气态N2以及用15N同位素质谱进行分析.其中NH:的收集方法较多,包括蒸馏法、扩散法、离子交换柱法和沸石萃取法等.适于质谱分析气态N2的转化方法可分为化学湿法和干燃烧法.笔者就同位素分析测试过程中NH4+的收集、转化及15N测试各个步骤加以总结,分析各自方法的优缺点和适用范围,寻求问题的解决途径.并评述了最近出现的色谱-质谱联合分析法和叠氮法.最后对地下水NH4+-15N同位素测试技术的发展进行了展望,以期能够更广泛地应用于环境和水文地质领域.     

Adsorption performance of CMK-3 and C-FDU-15 in NO removal at low temperature

CMK-3 and C-FDU-15 samples were synthesized using hard-templating and evaporationinduced self-assembly(EISA) methods,respectively.The pore structures of CMK-3 and CFDU-15 as well as commercial activated carbon were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction,field emission scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,and N_2 adsorption–desorption.Adsorption of NO was investigated by means of thermogravimetric analysis,temperature-programmed desorption of NO + O_2,and in situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.The results show that the CMK-3 and C-FDU-15 materials possessed ordered and uniform structures.The coadsorption capacity of NO and O_2 decreased in the sequence CMK-3(88.6 mg/g) C-FDU-15(71.7 mg/g) AC(25.3 mg/g).There were two main adsorption species on CMK-3 and CFDU-15:nitrite and nitrate.Nitrite is converted to nitrate easily.However,the adsorption species were more complex on AC,with nitrite being the main species.Moreover,CMK-3 and C-FDU-15 exhibit excellent regeneration efficiency compared with AC.The excellent NO adsorption performance of CMK-3 and C-FDU-15 was associated with their ordered mesoporous structures and high surface areas.The research provides more options for NO adsorption in the future.     

Linking permit markets multilaterally

We formally study the determinants, magnitude and distribution of efficiency gains generated in multilateral linkages between permit markets. We provide two novel decomposition results for these gains, characterize individual preferences over linking groups and show that our results are largely unaltered with strategic domestic emissions cap selection or when banking and borrowing are allowed. Using the Paris Agreement pledges and power sector emissions data of five countries which all use or considered using both emissions trading and linking, we quantify the efficiency gains. We find that the computed gains can be sizable and are split roughly equally between effort and risk sharing.     

Temporal changes in Ohio amniocentesis utilization during the first twelve years (1972–1983), and frequency of chromosome abnormalities observed

The history of amniocentesis utilization in the seventh largest state of the United States is documented from its inception in 1972 through the first half of 1984. Amniocentesis utilization ratios for Ohio residents aged ⩾35 have increased from 0.21 per cent (19/9091) in 1972 to 23.4 per cent (1655/7531) in 1983, representing an average annual growth rate of 43.1 per cent. Of the amniocenteses performed from January 1, 1978–July 1, 1984, 71 per cent were referred for advanced maternal age (⩾35), 15 per cent for maternal anxiety (30–34), 10 per cent for family history or previous child with a genetic defect, and 4 per cent for other reasons. Between 1978-1983 utilization by women 45 years of age was only 20 per cent higher than women 35 even though their risk of giving birth to a Down syndrome child was about one order of magnitude higher. In addition, various factors were tested as to whether they affected utilization of amniocentesis by women ⩾35 during 1978 1983. A strong correlation of +0.89 existed between county population size and utilization ratios. No difference in utilization was found between whites and nonwhites, regardless of county population size. When utilization ratios were compared separately between Protestants, Catholics and other religions in Ohio's most populated county, no statistical differences were found. From 1978–July 1, 1984, the frequency of all cytogenetically abnormal chromosome results observed in Ohio amniocenteses to women ⩾35 was 2.48 per cent (187/7536). Of these, 2.15 per cent (162/7536) had unbalanced karyotypes. Future maximum amniocentesis utilization for women ⩾35 is estimated at 60–70 per cent.     

The impact of prenatal diagnosis on the occurrence of chromosome abnormalities

From the public health point of view, several formal attempts have been made to measure the impact of prenatal diagnosis (PND) on the incidence of Down's Syndrome (DS), but the results have varied widely. The impact of PND (reduction in the birth rate of chromosomally abnormal neonates) is related to utilization rates but quantitative estimates of this have not been established. In a three-year (1981–1983) total population study from Queensland, Australia, we present results to measure the impact of a voluntary PND programme on the birth incidence of DS, and also other chromosomally abnormal births. Utilization rates for the PND service were 15·5 per cent in that population of mothers 35 years and over. Numbers and rates of all cases of chromosomal abnormalities are presented, subclassified by type of diagnosis–-either by PND or by clinical diagnosis after birth. For the total population, 7·3 per cent of cases of DS were detected prenatally, and 15·4 per cent of all chromosome abnormalities. (A method for measuring the impact of PND is described.) Using this in conjunction with our demographic data, we estimate that with a 15 per cent utilization rate of PND by older mothers, 14 per cent of DS births can be prevented in this age group, or a 5 per cent overall reduction can be achieved if mothers of all ages are considered. One index–-the ratio of the percentage of DS births which are preventable compared with the population utilization rates of PND–-has potential for widespread use. Queensland data for this ratio is 0·34, a figure consistent with that from other studies. Thus a 3·5 per cent drop in the overall DS birth rate may be expected for each 10 per cent increase in the utilization rates of PND for mothers of 35 years and over. A diagram is presented which may serve as a model for improved data collection and better impact estimates in the future.     

Chromosome analysis of multipronuclear human oocytes after in vitro fertilization

Multipronuclear human eggs are frequent after in vitro fertilization. Their chromosome analysis can provide useful information. Before cleavage it can confirm the suspected poly-ploidy. Among the cleaved multipronuclear eggs it provides an estimation of the incidence of the possible return to diploidy. Ninety-four multipronuclear eggs were fixed at the first, second, or third cleavage according to the air-drying method of Tarkowski with or without colchicine exposure: 60 were successfully analysed. Twelve were stopped before cleavage (six without colchicine treatment and six with colchicine treatment). They were polyploid, confirming the cytological observation. Forty-eight eggs cleaved and were stopped by colchicine treatment and karyotyped. Seventeen eggs (35 per cent) had produced diploid embryos. Mosaicism was frequent (15 cases, 31 per cent). Triploidy was not frequent (8 eggs, 17 per cent). Haploidy constituted the remaining cases (8 eggs, 17 per cent). Our data indicate that the initial count of pronuclei is a reliable test. Multipronuclear one-cell oocytes were confirmed to be polyploid. Furthermore, the developmental capacity of the multipronuclear oocytes is variable. Most of them cleaved. However, many multipronuclear oocytes led to diploid cleaving eggs.     

Trisomy 18 in chorionic villus sampling: Problems and consequences

Among 1547 patients undergoing first-trimester prenatal diagnosis, 100 fetal chromosome aberrations were detected. Thirteen of these involved chromosome 18. In two structural abnormalities of chromosome 18, the aberration could be excluded in amniotic fluid cells and two healthy infants were born. Trisomy 18 was not confirmed in amniotic fluid cells in three trisomy 18 mosaics. In eight non-mosaic trisomy 18 first-trimester diagnoses, the diagnosis was excluded by amniotic fluid cells or fetal cultures in four, and confirmed in the remaining four. Diagnosis of chromosome 18 aberrations in the direct preparation should be confirmed in the long-term culture of the chorionic villus sample or by amniotic fluid cultures.