An Overview of Contaminant-Related Issues Identified by Monitoring in San Francisco Bay

The San Francisco Estuary Regional Monitoring Program for Trace Substances (RMP) began in 1993 and is sponsored by 74 local, state, and federal agencies and companies through their discharge or Bay use permits. The RMP monitors water, sediment, toxicity, and bivalve bioaccumulation at 25 sites in the Bay that are considered to represent "background" conditions. Several major environmental issues have been identified by the RMP. Polychlorinated biphenyls and mercury were often above water quality guidelines, and often occurred in fish tissues above U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) screening values. Concentrations do not appear to be decreasing, suggesting continuing inputs. Episodes of aquatic toxicity often occurred following runoff events that transport contaminants into the Bay from urbanized and agricultural portions of the watershed. Sediment toxicity occurred throughout the Bay, and has been correlated with concentrations of specific contaminants (chlordanes, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) at some locations; mixtures of contaminants were probably also important. Since the RMP does not monitor all ecosystem components, assessments of the overall condition of the Bay cannot be made. However, in terms of contamination, the RMP samples suggest that the South Bay, and North Bay sites are moderately contaminated.     

Environmental Monitoring Of Remedial Dredging At The New Bedford Harbor, Ma, Superfund Site

New Bedford Harbor (NBH), MA, is a Superfund site because of high polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in the sediment. From April 1994 to September 1995, a remedial dredging operation (termed the “Hot Spot”) removed the most contaminated sediments (PCB concentrations greater than 4000μg/g) from the upper harbor. During remediation, a monitoring program assessed the potential environmental impacts to NBH and adjacent Buzzards Bay. The monitoring program was developed with input from federal, state, and local authorities. Site-specific decision criteria were established to assess net PCB transport, water column toxicity, and PCB bioaccumulation in blue and ribbed mussels (Mytilus edulis and Geukensia demissa, respectively). The remediation was completed without exceeding PCB net transport or acute toxicity effects specified in the decision criteria. In addition, PCB bioaccumulation in mussels during this time period was not significantly greater than pre- or post-operational measurements. The results indicated that approximately 14000 cubic yards of highly PCB contaminated sediment were permanently removed with minimal environmental effects. The lessons learned during this operation, as well as previous pilot studies at the site, will be used to make full-scale remedial efforts in NBH more efficient and environmentally protective.     

NDL-PCBs in muscle of the European catfish (Silurus glanis): An alert from Italian rivers

The non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs) highly contribute to the PCB dietary intake of total PCBs. Most of the NDL-PCBs are assumed through ingestion of contaminated fish and fishery products. Therefore, it is important to quantify their presence in aquatic organisms to evaluate human risks associated with fish consumption. The European catfish is a top food-chain predator and is considered a reliable bio-monitoring tool reflecting the state of the environmental organic pollution. From 2006 to 2009, 54 European catfish were captured in four sites covering the area of the Po River (North Italy), and their muscles were analysed to determine the levels of 18 PCBs congeners. All samples presented detectable levels of 18 congeners and, on average, results showed an important presence of NDL-PCBs. The sum of the six congeners (28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180 IUPAC) was used as indicator of the total PCBs concentration. The 33% of the samples analysed exceeded the maximum levels of 125 ng g⁻¹ set by European regulations in fish. The values measured ranged from 19.7 to 1015.4 ng g⁻¹ (mean 135.6 ± 149.8 ng g⁻¹).     

Synthesis,separation and structure determination of 2,3,3'‐trichlorobiphenyl (PCB 20)† and 3,3’,4‐trichlorobiphenyl (PCB35)†

The combined synthesis and spectrometric characterization of 2,3,3'‐trichlorobiphenyl (PCB 20) and 3,3’,4‐trichlorobiphenyl (PCB 35) is described for the first time. By a combination of highly efficient column distillation and repeated recrystallizations it was possible to isolate the two products as reference materials with a purity exceeding 99%. X‐ray analysis of crystals of 2,3,3'‐trichlorobiphenyl positively identified the substitution pattern of the biphenyl moiety by chlorine atoms. The two phenyl rings are at an angle of 52°, while the relative disposition of the chlorine atoms on both rings is closer to anti than to syn.     

Dioxin concentration in human milk in Hebei province in China and Tokyo, Japan: potential dietary risk factors and determination of possible sources

Very limited information is available on body burdens and environmental levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) in mainland China. In the current studies, human milk samples were collected from 30 breastfeeding mothers in Shijiazhuang city (industrialized) and 11 in the Tanshan countryside (agricultural) of Hebei Province in northern China. An additional 20 samples were obtained from mothers in Tokyo, Japan. PCDDs, PCDFs, and dl-PCBs in human milk were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Our results show that arithmetic means for body burdens of PCDDs/Fs and dl-PCBs in Hebei were 3.6 and 1.9 pg TEQ g⁻¹ fat, respectively, which were only about one fourth of the levels in Japan. In addition, no difference was found in the chemical levels except dl-PCBs between the urban and rural areas. Based on the results of an in-person interview of the Chinese mothers using a 59-item questionnaire, freshwater fish consumption was found to correlate with the body burden of dioxins. Principal component analysis of dioxin congeners revealed that the patterns of dioxins in the Hebei urban and rural areas are quite similar; however, they are clearly different from those in Japan. Collectively, our results suggest that the lower body burdens of dioxin in Hebei may be due in part to the relatively slow industrialization and a lower consumption of marine foods. Finally, the results indicate that comprehensive monitoring of dioxins and dl-PCBs in humans as well as in the environment and foods is necessary in China.     

Modelling the dynamic air-water-sediment coupled fluxes and occurrence of polychlorinated biphenyls in a high altitude lake

The BIODEP model in terms of atmosphere-lake interactions was developed. The model was applied to an oligotrophic, dimictic high altitude lake (Lake Redo, Pyrenees) for a range of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners. High altitude lakes, which receive their contaminant inputs uniquely from the atmosphere through long-range atmospheric transport, provide ideal controlled environments for the study of the interactions between atmospheric depositional and water column biogeochemical processes. The BIODEP model was able to predict dissolved water concentrations and PCB accumulation in the lake sediment within a factor of 2. This shows that the BIODEP model captures the essential processes driving the sink of POPs in high altitude lakes and that POP occurrence in the lake is driven by direct atmospheric inputs with limited influence from the watershed. An important seasonal variability in water column concentrations is predicted which should have important implications in sampling strategies. Furthermore, it is shown that diffusive air-water exchange dominated the PCB dynamics in the lake, especially for the less chlorinated biphenyls.     

重选—磨细—酸浸联合工艺回收PCB中金属的研究

采用重介质分选选择性磨细酸浸联合工艺,利用磁铁矿重介质悬浮液,对粗碎后的PCB进行分选,再利用PCB中不同塑料可磨性的不同,将其进行选择性磨细,使PCB中所含金属成分与其他组分有效分离,采用酸浸工艺将各种金属成分转移到液相中,实现金属成分的高效回收。结果表明,在PCB的粒度小于等于2.5mm时,可使PCB中约55.26%的金属得到富集;86.08%的Au和89.21%的Ag被富集到磨细的粉末中,产品中的各种金属含量分别为:Au0.68kg/t,Ag0.91kg/t,Cu120.8kg/t,Al2.98kg/t,Sn28.02kg/t。当采用350mL浓H2SO4、浸出时间为8h,浸出温度为100℃条件下,对50g分选后的重组分进行酸浸时,可以使Au的回收率达到89.8%,Ag的回收率达到90.2%。与其他传统工艺相比,该工艺具有回收效率高、低污染、低能耗等特点,可以作为PCBs资源化的有效手段。     

BDE-209和PCB153在致大鼠肝细胞DNA蛋白质交联(DPC)上的拮抗作用

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)和多氯联苯(PCBs)都是为人熟知的持久性有机污染物,也同为室内半挥发性有机物(SVOCs)。由于二者结构类似,通常认为PBDEs具有和PCBs相似的毒性。染毒剂BDE-209和PCB153分别是PBDEs和PCB家族的主要同系物,并且同时存在于环境和人体组织中。实验以DNA蛋白质交联(DPC)为生物标志物研究BDE-209和PCB153单独及联合染毒的遗传毒性。对大鼠肝细胞在37℃下染毒1h。浓度设置如下:BDE-209(0、1、6.5、12μg.mL-1);PCB153(0、1、6.5、12μg.mL-1);BDE-209(3.25μg.mL-1)+PCB153(3.25μg.mL-1)。实验结果显示:与溶剂对照相比,测得DPC水平随BDE-209(或PCB153)浓度增大而显著增高(p<0.01);PCB153比BDE-209引起更高水平的DPC(p<0.05或p<0.01);联合染毒组的DPC水平显著低于PCB153组(p<0.01),但稍高于BDE-209组(p>0.05)。从以上结果可知,BDE-209和PCB153之间存在拮抗作用;BDE-209和PCB153具有遗传毒性,并且就致DPC作用而言,二者之间可能存在拮抗作用。     

基于远程医疗的血压监测系统硬件设计与电磁兼容分析

本文研究设计了袖带式电子血压监测系统,其中硬件部分主要由传感器信号采集模块,MCU控制模块和无线传输模块等组成。该系统具有低功耗、易携带、实时传输等特点。本文重点讨论了血压监测系统在PCB设计、排版布线及调试电路板过程中的电磁兼容问题,以及在器件选型方面的电磁兼容研究。测试结果表明该系统具有良好的电磁兼容性和实际应用价值。     

天津市区表层土壤中多氯联苯的污染特征

用GC/ECD分析、GC/MS验证的方法测定了天津市区41个表层(0~10 cm)土壤样品中84种PCB异构体. 结果表明:w(PCBs)为0.82~8.86 ng/g,平均值为3.56 ng/g,其中工业区>路边绿化带>公园. 7种PCB指示异构体的浓度(以w计)范围为0.08~2.05 ng/g,占总量的22.89%,与w(PCBs)具有较好的相关性(R=0.74,P<0.000 1). 5氯联苯和3氯联苯是主要的异构体,分别占总量的28.30%和22.14%. 浓度位居前10位的异构体分别是PCB31/28、PCB201、PCB6、PCB84、PCB92、PCB101、PCB16/32、PCB89、PCB180和PCB12/13. 主成分分析显示,国产变压器油与电容器油、Aro1242、Aro1248、Aro1254、A30和KC300以及现有工业的排放是天津市区表层土壤中PCBs的主要来源. 关键词:多氯联苯(PCBs); 表层土壤; PCB指示异构体; 异构体