Estimation of thyroid doses and health risks resulting from the intake of radioactive iodine in foods and drinking water by the citizens of Tokyo after the Fukushima nuclear accident

The release of radioactive materials from the Fukushima nuclear power plant after the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011 poses health risks. In this study, the intake of iodine 131 (I-131) in drinking water and foods (milk, dairy products, and vegetables) by citizens of Tokyo was estimated. The effects of countermeasures (restrictions on the distribution of foods and the distribution of bottled water for infants) on reducing intake were also evaluated. The average thyroid equivalent doses without countermeasures from 21 March 2011 were 0.42 mSv in adults, 1.49 mSv in children, and 2.08 mSv in infants. Those with countermeasures were 0.28, 0.97, and 1.14 mSv respectively, reductions of 33%, 35%, and 45%. Drinking water contributed more to intake by adults and children than foods. The intake of I-131 within the first 2 weeks was more than 80% of the estimated intake, owing to its short half-life, indicating that rapid countermeasures are important in reducing intake. The average risks of cancer incidence and mortality due to I-131 for infants were estimated to be 3 × 10⁻⁵ and 0.2 × 10⁻⁵, respectively, lower than the annual risks of traffic accidents, naturally occurring radioactive material (potassium 40), and environmental pollutants such as diesel exhaust particles.     

Impact of genetic diversity and inbreeding on the life-history of Chironomus midges over consecutive generations

We report results of a multigenerational experiment with Chironomus riparius. Two strains with a high and a low level of genetic variability were exposed to a low, environmentally relevant TBT concentration of 80 μg Sn kg⁻¹ sediment dw nominally (time weighted mean, based on measured concentrations: 4.5 μg Sn kg⁻¹ sediment dw), and various life history traits as well as genetic diversity were monitored for eleven consecutive generations. While TBT effects are hardly visible in the outbred and genetically diverse strain, the inbred and genetically impoverished strain shows a clearly reduced population growth rate compared to the control. Moreover, the impoverished strain shows an increase in fitness over time. Analyses of variation at five microsatellite loci revealed that the level of genetic variation is strongly reduced in the inbred compared to the outbred strain. Moreover, genetic diversity increases over time in the inbred strain. This finding explains the observed increase in fitness in both inbred lineages (control and TBT exposed). The results document that inbreeding and the level of genetic diversity might be of crucial importance in populations under pollution stress. Furthermore, ecotoxicological bioassays have to consider genetic diversity if results between laboratories should be comparable. Our data provides evidence that genetic diversity strongly contributes to the survival of a population exposed to chemical pollution.     

Chlorinated and brominated organic contaminants in fish from Shanghai markets: a case study of human exposure

In the present study were two favorite edible fish species for local residents, i.e., mandarin fish and crawfish, collected from the Shanghai market and analyzed for selected organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs). Efforts were also made to identify the potential sources of these contaminants. Comparable concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and HBCDD were found in muscle tissue of mandarin fish from Guangdong (GDF), the Pearl River Delta and from Taihu Lake (TLF), the Yangtze River Delta. Levels of chlordanes, PCBs and PBDEs were about one magnitude lower in TLF compared to GDF. The concentrations of OCPs in the butter-like gland of the crawfish (CFB) were 2-5 times of those in the crawfish muscle (CFM) while concentrations of PCBs, PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs were comparable. The different patterns and levels of chlorinated and brominated organohalogen contaminants seen in mandarin fish from GDF and TLF indicates that different types of chemicals might be used in the two delta regions. The present study also shows a good correlation between the concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and pentachloroanisol (PCA) in fish for the first time. Fish consumption limits based on chemical contaminants with non-carcinogenic effects were calculated. The estimated maximum daily consumption limit for GDF, TLF, CFM and CFB were 1.5, 2.6, 3.7 and 0.08 kg, respectively, indicating no significant risk regarding the persistent organic pollutants measured in the present study.     

Evaluation of effects of exposure time on aquatic toxicity with zooplanktons using a reduced life expectancy model

Traditionally in toxicological studies time is not studied as quantifiable variable but as a fixed endpoint. The Reduced Life Expectancy (RLE) model which relates exposure time and exposure concentration with lethal toxic effects was tested previously using fish data. In this current paper the effects of exposure time on aquatic toxicity with zooplanktons and various toxicants were evaluated using the RLE model based on ambient exposure concentration. The model was evaluated by plotting ln LT₅₀ against LC₅₀ using toxicity data with zooplanktons from the literature for metal, metalloid and organic compounds. Most of the experimental data sets can be satisfactorily correlated by use of the RLE model, but deviations occurred for some data sets. Those data sets were satisfactorily fitted by a two stage RLE model. This model was based on two phases: one in the peripheral system and other in the central system. Both the single and two stage RLE model support the hypothesis that toxicity is time dependent and decreases in a systematic way with increasing exposure time. A calculated normal life expectancy (NLT) can be obtained from the single stage model and is in accord with reported NLT but those obtained from the two stage RLE model are in excellent agreement.     

外源硅对不同pH水田土壤吸附铅的影响

通过等温吸附实验,研究了加硅对2种不同pH水田土壤吸附铅特性的影响。实验中用硝酸中和硅酸钠的碱性,各处理间钠离子和硝酸根离子的差异以硝酸钠补齐,消除了因硅酸盐的加入改变体系pH及伴随离子对土壤吸附铅可能产生的影响。结果表明,在本实验条件下,Langmuir方程、Freundlich方程和Temkin方程都能较好地描述不同硅浓度条件下两种土壤对铅的吸附特征,但以Freundlich模型为最优;加硅促进了酸性土壤对铅的吸附,抑制了碱性土壤对铅的吸附。     

改性膨胀石墨对含铅废水吸附特性

采用微波法在1 000 W下微波膨胀60 s制备了膨胀石墨,以乙醇为分散剂,采用超声沉淀法制备了纳米氢氧化镁,同时将纳米氢氧化镁负载到膨胀石墨孔隙中,制备出一种新型吸附剂,并采用静态吸附的方法研究了该吸附剂对铅离子的吸附效果,实验证明当改性膨胀石墨的用量为0.035 g,铅溶液的pH=4,铅溶液初始浓度为300 mg/L,吸附温度为25℃时,该吸附剂对铅离子的去除率能达到48%,吸附容量能达到105 mg/g左右。同时该吸附反应能够较好地符合Lang-muir吸附等温式以及二级动力学模型。     

我国废铅蓄电池产生量与再生铅产能的讨论

废铅蓄电池是再生铅主要原料,铅蓄电池产量、进出口量、社会消费保有量,以及铅蓄电池消费使用领域与废铅蓄电池产生量有关。预测2015年废铅蓄电池产生量,并讨论我国再生铅产能规模,供再生铅产业结构调整与区域布局调整作参考。     

基于方波溶出伏安法的电化学传感器检测水体中痕量铅

基于方波溶出伏安法运用丝网印刷电极探索了一种利用电化学传感器检测水样中痕量铅的方法.得到了该检测方法的最佳参数:方波频率30 Hz,振幅80 mV,电位增量5 mV;0.5 mol/L的支持电解质(KCl);沉积电位-1.1 V,沉积时间400 s.在该优化条件下,在浓度为25 ～ 500μg/L范围内溶出峰电流与铅离子浓度呈良好的线性关系(R2=0.9945).对于几种其他金属离子的干扰实验结果表明,Mn2的存在严重抑制铅离子的峰电流.     

Oxidative stress,hematological and biochemical alterations in farmers exposed to pesticides

In this study, a cohort of farmers from the Mateur region in the North of Tunisia, were interviewed and examined for the biochemical effects of pesticides. We studied their haematological profile, lipid parameters, serum markers of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. We also evaluated the activities of Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and thiolactonase-paroxonase (PON). Moreover, lipid peroxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were determined. The duration of pesticide use and the farmers’ age were considered in the analysis. Our results revealed significant differences in some haematological parameters, in liver and kidney functions, in the lipidic status of the pesticide-exposed group. We also reported an increase in the index of incidence of cardiovascular risk in farmer populations. A significant decrease in AChE, BChE and PON levels was found among farmers. Lipid peroxidation, however, increased. The activities of SOD and CAT were remarkably elevated in farmer populations. There was a significant relation between changes in biological markers, the duration of pesticide use and the farmers’ age. This study indicates that a long-term exposure to pesticides may play an important role in the development of vascular diseases via metabolic disorders of lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress, inhibition of BChE and decrease in thiolactonase-PON levels.     

Measurements of surface contamination of spray equipment with pesticides after various methods of application

Abstract

A traditional method to determine operator dermal exposure is to quantify the amount of pesticide coming into contact with specific body regions and then to integrate the deposition density values with the total body surface. It is known that extremely high deposition values may occur in the hand region; however, the source of contamination is generally assumed to be direct splash or contact with the pesticide container. One of the parameters affecting operator/pilot exposure could be the transfer of pesticide residue, particularly in the case of pesticides with a longer half‐life, from contaminated surfaces of spray equipment by direct contact over extended periods. If the rate of skin absorption of pesticide is readily known, the expected values of daily dose for an operator or pilot may significantly rise due to the extended contact period. This study produced field data on the surface contamination of spray equipment used for ground and aerial applications. If field data on precise work practice (time‐motion) observations are incorporated, it may be possible to estimate the potential exposure of operator/pilot due to hand contact with contaminated surfaces.