Genetic susceptibility to nickel-induced acute lung injury

Human exposure to insoluble and soluble nickel compounds is extensive. Besides wide usage in many industries, nickel compounds are contained in cigarette smoke and, in low levels, in ambient particulate matter. Soluble nickel particulate, especially nickel sulfate (NiSO₄), has been associated with acute lung injury. To begin identifying genes controlling susceptibility to NiSO₄, mean survival times (MSTs) of eight inbred mouse strains were determined after aerosol exposure. Whereas A/J (A) mice were sensitive, C57BL/6J (B6) mice survived nearly twice as long (resistant). Their offspring were similarly resistant, demonstrating heritability as a dominant trait. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of backcross mice generated from these strains identified a region on chromosome 6 significantly linked to survival time. Regions on chromosomes 1 and 12 were suggestive of linkage and regions on chromosomes 8, 9, and 16 contributed to the response. Haplotype analysis demonstrated that QTLs on chromosomes 6, 9, 12, and 16 could explain the MST difference between the parental strains. To complement QTL analysis results, cDNA microarray analysis was assessed following NiSO₄ exposure of A and B6 mice. Significant expression changes were identified in one or both strains for >100 known genes. Closer evaluation of these changes revealed a temporal pattern of increased cell proliferation, extracellular matrix repair, hypoxia, and oxidative stress, followed by diminished surfactant proteins. Certain expressed sequence tags clustered with known genes, suggesting possible co-regulation and novel roles in pulmonary injury. Together, results from QTL and microarray analyses of nickel-induced acute lung injury survival allowed us to generate a short list of candidate genes.     

Humic acid enhanced remediation of an emplaced diesel source in groundwater. 1. Laboratory-based pilot scale test

The enhanced solubility of petroleum-derived compounds in humic acid solutions is the basis for a new groundwater remediation technology. In this unique pilot-scale test, a stationary contaminant source consisting of diesel fuel was placed below the water table in a model sand aquifer (1.2 x 5.5 x 1.8-m deep) and flushed with water at a flow rate of 2 cm/h over 5 years. At 51 days, laboratory grade humic acid was added to the water and maintained at a level of approximately 0.8 g/l. The addition of humic acid had only a small impact on the aqueous transport of the BTEX components, which were rapidly dissolved from the diesel, but had a large effect on the flushing of PAHs, including methylated naphthalenes (MNs). Binding to aqueous humic acid enhanced the solubilization of MNs two- to tenfold. During aqueous transport, biodegradation of the BTEX and PAHs occurred, limiting the lateral and longitudinal extent of the diesel contaminant plume in the model aquifer. It appears that through enhanced solubilization, the overall biodegradation rate of the MNs was increased. As the various MNs were depleted from the diesel source, the MN plume shrank and then disappeared.     

Subsoil TPH and other petroleum fractions-contamination levels in an oil storage and distribution station in north-central Mexico

Many oil industry related sites have become contaminated due to the activities characteristic of this industry, such as oil exploration and production, refining, and petro-chemistry. In Mexico, reported hydrocarbon spills for the year 2000 amounted to 185 203, equivalent to 6252 tons (PEMEX, 2000). The first step for the remediation of these polluted sites is to assess the size and intensity of the oil contamination affecting the subsoil and groundwater, followed by a health risk assessment to establish clean up levels. The aim of this work was to characterize the soil and water in a north-central Mexico Oil Storage and Distribution Station (ODSS), in terms of TPHs, gasoline and diesel fractions, BTEX, PAHs, MTBE, and some metals. Besides, measurements of the explosivity index along the ODSS were made and we describe and discuss the risk health assessment analysis performed at the ODSS, as well as the recommendations arising from it. Considering soils with TPH concentrations higher than 2000 mg kg⁻¹, the contaminated areas corresponding to the railway zone is about 12 776.5 m², to the south of the storage tanks is about 6558 m², and to the south of the filling tanks is about 783 m². Total area to be treated is about 20 107 m² (volume of 20 107 m³), considering 1 m depth.     

Distributions, cycling and recovery of amino acids in estuarine waters and sediments

Acid hydrolysis of estuarine water samples for the determination of amino acids (AAs) was tested and found to be effective at high (250 μM) nitrate concentrations when the anti-oxidant, ascorbic acid, was added to the samples. Hydrolysable AA concentrations were then determined in surface sediments collected from low and high salinity regions of the Tamar Estuary (UK) during winter 2003 and 2004, and in overlying water when simulated resuspension of sediment particles was performed. Concentrations of AAs in sediment samples comprised <50% of particulate nitrogen, fitting the paradigm that most sedimentary nitrogen is preserved within an organic matrix. When sediment samples were resuspended in overlying water (salinity 17.5), the rapid, measured increase in dissolved AA concentrations almost equalled the reported nitrate concentration in the lower estuary, with the subsequent decrease in the total dissolved AA levels suggested that bacterial uptake was occurring. Our data concur with previous studies on nitrogen desorption from sediments and suggest that an understanding of organic nitrogen cycling will be an important aspect of future effective estuarine management.     

提高柴油质量减少汽车排气污染

柴油机车应用于道路运输具有许多优点，但环境保护要求减少排气污染、颗粒排放污染至关重要，为此，强化柴油燃料规格是其主要的驱动力。本文介绍了美国，西欧和亚太地区柴油质量现状和趋势，分析了我国柴油燃料质量及其改进意见。     

典型室内空气污染现状研究

研究典型室内空气污染现状及其对人体健康的影响,探讨影响典型室内空气质量的主要因素及其室内外主要污染物的相关性,并提出一些改进措施,为深入分析典型室内外污染物相关性及其净化技术方法打下基础.     

1000kt／a柴油加氢改质装置清洁生产分析与评价

对石化公司在建的1000kt/a柴油加氢改质装置的清洁生产情况进行了综述和分析评价，为建成投产后的生产运行提供了依据。如何降低污染物的排放，保护环境，实现清洁生产，这是分公司实施可持续发展战略的重要措施。     

重庆降水研究的质量控制和质量保证

本文介绍重庆地区酸雨研究的质量控制程序。合理布点、采样,样品预处理和存贮条件的研究,严格的分析测试和质控检验,是获得可比可信分析质量的保证。     

Large inter annual variation in air quality during the annual festival ‘Diwali' in an Indian megacity

A network of air quality and weather monitoring stations was established under the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research(SAFAR) project in Delhi. We report observations of ozone(O_3), nitrogen oxides(NO_x), carbon monoxide(CO) and particulate matter(PM_2.5and PM_(10)) before, during and after the Diwali in two consecutive years, i.e., November 2010 and October 2011. The Diwali days are characterised by large firework displays throughout India. The observations show that the background concentrations of particulate matter are between 5 and 10 times the permissible limits in Europe and the United States. During the Diwali-2010, the highest observed PM_(10) and PM_2.5mass concentration is as high as2070 μg/m~3 and 1620 μg/m3, respectively(24 hr mean), which was about 20 and 27 times to National Ambient Air Quality Standards(NAAQS). For Diwali-2011, the increase in PM_(10) and PM_2.5mass concentrations was much less with their peaks of 600 and of 390 μg/m~3 respectively, as compared to the background concentrations. Contrary to previous reports,firework display was not found to strongly influence the NO_x, and O_3 mixing ratios, with the increase within the observed variability in the background. CO mixing ratios showed an increase. We show that the large difference in 2010 and 2011 pollutant concentrations is controlled by weather parameters.