DNA damage in mouse organs and in human sperm cells by bisphenol A

Abstract

The in vivo genotoxic potential of bisphenol A using the comet assay in mice and in human sperm cells in vitro without metabolizing enzymes was studied. Male mice were exposed by oral gavage to the following doses of bisphenol A (0 125, 250 and 500?mg/kg body weight). DNA damage was investigated in liver, kidney, testes, urinary bladder, colon and lungs cells. In testicular cells, a significant increase in DNA strand breaks was observed in the lowest, but not in the medium or highest dose groups. Histopathological investigation of the testicular samples did not show any treatment dose-related effects. No DNA strand breaks were observed in any of the other investigated tissues. In human sperm cells in vitro, bisphenol A did not induce DNA strand breaks.     

Determination of oxidative stress markers and serum cholinesterase among pesticide sprayers in southern Brazil

Small farmers generally spray pesticides manually and often do not use complete protective equipment. The standard test to detect pesticide exposure, which may be associated with toxicity, is the determination of serum cholinesterase, but in chronic exposure to low doses, this test is less sensitive. In this study, in a group sampled among pesticide sprayers without signs of intoxication, cholinesterase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), catalase (Cat), and superoxide dismutase (Sod) activities were analyzed. Cholinesterase activity was only slightly lower in the farmer group in relation to the control group. However, TBARS and Cat activities were 3-fold increased in the farmers in comparison to the controls. Sod activity was similar in both groups. The group of pesticide sprayers that did not use the complete protective equipment presented a significantly higher level of TBARS than the group that used the complete protective equipment. Therefore, the determination of TBARS and catalase can be useful to identify individuals that are chronically exposed to low doses of pesticides.     

Tissue distribution of antimony (Sb) in piglets orally given graded levels of Sb (V)

The potential risks from oral intake of soil antimony (Sb) depends mainly on the amount of metal ingested and its bioavailability. Relative bioavailability may be determined by comparing Sb present in soil to a reference compound, taking into account accumulation in different target tissues or excretion. However, due to the lack of scientific knowledge concerning the fate of Sb in the organism, there is a need to study the absorption and distribution of Sb in order to select target tissues for assessment of bioavailability of Sb in soils. Thus, 45 piglets were exposed to a soluble pentavalent antimony salt (KSb(OH)₆), for 15 days at concentrations ranging from 0–1600 µg Sb/kg body weight (BW) per day. Following the exposure period, blood, plasma, liver, spleen, kidneys, hair, bone, bile and urine were obtained to measure Sb concentrations by ICP-MS. Results showed that tissue Sb levels were dose-related. Higher Sb concentrations were found in urine, kidneys, hair, bone and liver. Sb(V) was not detectable in blood and plasma. In the case of highly contaminated soil with soluble forms of Sb in concentrations ranging from 200–1600 µg Sb/kg BW, kidneys, liver and spleen are the most reliable compartments to determine Sb bioavailability from soil. However, for the soils with lower levels of contamination and a low Sb bioaccessibility, urine may serve as a relevant compartment.     

人类活动对上海市生物多样性空间格局的影响

为了揭示人类活动对城市化地区生物多样性空间格局的影响及其景观生态学机制,文章将上海市作为研究对象,选择3个人类活动指标、3个主要类型生态系统的4个景观特征指标与8个生物多样性指标,探讨人类活动强度、野生动植物生境景观特征及生物多样性三者之间的相互关系。结果显示,人口增长和城市扩张对上海市生物多样性的空间格局产生了显著影响。在上海地区,人口密度较高、交通较为发达的区域,湿地和农田的景观连续性较低,生物多样性也较低,外来入侵物种丰度较高。这表明在快速城市化过程中,人类活动通过改变野生动植物栖息地景观质量来对区域生物多样性产生影响。本研究还显示,经济发展并非一定对生物多样性具有负面影响。因此,在保持经济发展的同时,通过优化产业结构与加强生物多样性管理,可实现对生物多样性有效保护。     

初秋季节毛竹林小气候及其人体舒适度的日变化

以无锡市惠山森林公园毛竹林和青山公园毛竹林为研究对象,对其林内和林缘的小气候日变化情况进行了定量化研究。结果表明：1）惠山森林公园与青山公园的相对湿度日变化皆呈先减后增趋势,均在13：00达到极值。林内相对湿度分别为67．6％、65．6％,林缘相对湿度分别为61．8％、63．4％;温度和综合舒适指数日变化皆呈先增后减趋势,也均在13：00达到极值,林内温度分别为28．2℃、27．5℃,林缘分别为29．8℃、28．9℃;林内综合舒适指数分别3．5、3．2,林缘综合舒适指数分别4．8、4．1。2）08：00～17：00林内人体舒适度高于林缘,其他时刻人体舒适度低于林缘。3）与密度较大的惠山森林公园竹林相比,青山公园竹林综合舒适指数降低了0．1～0．7,平均值为0．3,即密度较小的青山公园竹林调节城市小气候的功能最佳,为秋初时节人们户外活动提供了一个良好的选择。     

镉对血管内皮细胞损伤及其致动脉硬化的毒理学机制

采用人脐静脉内皮细胞体外培养和大鼠镉染毒实验,检测镉对人脐静脉内皮细胞和大鼠血清NO和ICAM-1分泌量,及大鼠主动脉病理改变的影响。结果表明,镉染毒可造成血管内皮细胞NO分泌量明显降低和ICAM-1分泌量明显升高,与镉染毒浓度剂量相关,体外细胞培养与活体动物实验的结果表现出一致性(P<0.05)。镉暴露可明显促进血管内皮细胞凋亡,主动脉HE染色见动脉硬化改变,各层均见较多ICAM-1阳性表达,主要存在于粥样斑块区。因此,过量镉摄入通过影响大鼠血管内皮细胞功能和结构促进动脉粥样硬化的形成。     

全氟化合物同分异构体的环境行为及毒性效应研究进展

以全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)和全氟辛烷羧酸(PFOA)为代表的全氟化合物(PFASs)是一类新型持久性有机污染物,目前已经在全球自然环境、野生生物及人群中广泛检出,其环境与健康问题已引起人们的高度重视。传统的电氟化法生产工艺使PFASs产品存在碳链同分异构体。这些PFAS的同分异构体可能具有不同的环境行为和毒理效应。随着分析方法的逐渐成熟,目前,国外的学者已经在该研究领域进行了一些探索性的研究,并取得了一定的进展,而我国在该领域的研究相对较少。以PFOS和PFOA为例,在介绍了PFAS同分异构体的来源、命名和世界各地生产厂家的异构体组成等基本信息的基础上,还系统介绍了环境介质中PFAS同分异构体的分析方法、环境迁移转化差异及源分析研究;生物和人体的生物累积性及毒理学差异等;并对目前存在的问题进行了讨论,为今后PFAS同分异构体的环境问题研究提供相应的参考。     

职业安全健康工作的核心是对人力资源的保护

随着经济和社会的发展,职业安全健康工作越来越受到党和国家领导人的重视。切实做好职业安全健康研究与管理工作是落实科学发展观的基本标志之一,而职业安全健康工作的核心是对人力资源的保护。因此我们要充分认识到加强职业安全健康工作的重要性、必要性和紧迫性,让广大劳动者实现"体面劳动"。一要加强职业安全健康监管,二要借鉴经验完善体制,三要加大相关职业安全健康科学技术研究。只有全面提升人力资源保护,贯彻落实"科技兴安"战略,加强人力资源管理,才能确保劳动者在劳动生产过程中的安全与健康。     

民航空管安全文化建设探析

根据民航空管安全发展的客观规律,在综合考虑践行空管持续安全理念、减少空管人为差错、建设空管安全管理体系的基础上,提出要实现我国民航的持续安全,就要构建并不断完善空管安全文化建设的有效手段和途径。对空管安全文化建设的途径展开了深入探索,并提出了相关建议和措施,包括开展技能竞赛等文化娱乐活动、建立管制员心理培训与辅导机制、提升管制员新技术适应能力等。空管安全文化的建设是空管发展的坚强后盾,有效手段和措施建设的推进将成为航空运行安全的有力保障。     

基于HAZOP分析的加氢装置工程设计方法

加氢装置属甲类火灾、爆炸危险生产装置。为了在设计阶段尽可能消除或控制潜在风险,本文总结了多套加氢装置HAZOP分析报告中的设备类别及其分析内容,提出了基于危险与可操作性(HAZOP)分析的加氢装置工程设计方法。在传统工程设计方法的基础上增加了参数敏感性工程设计方法,依据分析报告中的设计建议,利用ASPEN软件计算过程参数变化对目标参数的影响程度,确定参数稳定操作区域;建立了数据库管理界面实现了加氢装置工程安全设计经验知识的有序管理。应用基于HAZOP分析的加氢装置工程设计方法,有助于将安全隐患问题在设计阶段消除或加以控制,可为降低石化装置改造成本和提高装置的安全水平提供方法依据。