Formation of dioxins during exposure of pesticide formulations to sunlight

Chlorinated pesticides can contain impurities of dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and their precursors, as a result of various manufacturing processes and conditions. As precursor formation of PCDD/Fs can also be mediated by ultraviolet light (UV), this study investigated whether PCDD/Fs are formed when currently used pesticides are exposed to natural sunlight. Formulations containing pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB; n = 2) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D; n = 1) were exposed to sunlight in quartz tubes, and the concentration of 93 PCDD/F congeners were monitored over time. Considerable formation of PCDD/Fs was observed in both PCNB formulations (by up to 5600%, to a maximum concentration of 57 000 μg ∑PCDD/F kg⁻¹) as well as the 2,4-D formulation (by 3000%, to 140 μg ∑PCDD/F kg⁻¹). TEQ also increased by up to 980%, to a maximum concentration of 28 μg kg⁻¹ in PCNB, but did not change in the 2,4-D formulation. Assuming similar yields as observed in the present study as a worst case scenario the use of PCNB in Australia may result in the formation of 155 g TEQ annum⁻¹, contributed primarily by OCDD formation. This warrants detailed evaluations on the contemporary release of PCDD/Fs to the environment after the use of pesticides. Changes in congener profiles (including the ratio of PCDDs to PCDFs (DF ratio)) suggest that pesticide sources of PCDD/Fs after sunlight exposure may not be recognized based on matching source fingerprints established from manufacturing impurities. These changes also provide preliminary insights into the possible formation routes and types of precursors involved.     

Emissions of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PAHs from legacy on-road heavy-duty diesel engines

Exhaust emissions of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furan (PCDD/F) congeners, tetra-octa PCDD/F homologues, 12 WHO 2005 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, mono-nona chlorinated biphenyl homologues, and 19 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from three legacy diesel engines were investigated. The three engines tested were a 1985 model year GM 6.2 J-series engine, a 1987 model year Detroit Diesel Corporation 6V92 engine, and a 1993 model year Cummins L10 engine. Results were compared to United States’ mobile source inventory for on-road diesel engines, as well as historic and modern diesel engine emission values. The test fuel contained chlorine at 9.8 ppm which is 1.5 orders of magnitude above what is found in current diesel fuel and 3900 ppm sulfur to simulate fuels that would have been available when these engines were produced. Results indicate PCDD/F emissions of 13.1, 7.1, and 13.6 pg International Toxic Equivalency (I-TEQ) L⁻¹ fuel consumed for the three engines respectively, where non-detects are equal to zero. This compares with a United States’ mobile source on-road diesel engine inventory value of 946 pg I-TEQ L⁻¹ fuel consumed and 1.28 pg I-TEQ L⁻¹ fuel consumed for modern engines equipped with a catalyzed diesel particle filter and urea selective catalytic reduction. PCB emissions are 2 orders of magnitude greater than modern diesel engines. PAH results are representative of engines from this era based on historical values and are 3-4 orders of magnitude greater than modern diesel engines.     

Long-term toxicology and carcinogenicity of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol

Carcinogenesis bioassays were conducted by giving 2,4,6-trichlorophenol [2,4,6-TCP] in feed to groups of 50 male and female Fischer rats and male B6C3F1 mice for two years. Dietary concentrations were 0 [20/group], 5000 [0.5%], or 10,000 [1%] ppm. Female mice began with 10,000 and 20,000 ppm but after 38 weeks were lowered due to reduced body weights to 2500 and 5000 ppm for 67 weeks; exposures averaged 5200 and 10,400 ppm. Adverse effects at two years were leukocytosis and monocytosis of peripheral blood and hyperplasia of bone marrow in both sexes of rats. In mice, liver toxicity, including individual liver cell abnormalities, focal areas of cellular alteration, and focal and nodular areas of hyperplasia were commonly present. Regarding carcinogenic activity, TCP caused leukemias/lymphomas in male rats, and possibly in female rats and female mice as well, and induced liver tumors in male and female mice. Using NTP categories of evidence indicates ‘clear evidence of carcinogenicity’ for male rats [hematopoietic system tumors]; ‘equivocal evidence of carcinogenicity’ for female rats [hematopoietic system tumors]; ‘clear evidence of carcinogenicity’ for male and female mice [liver tumors].     

城市水质实时监测系统设计与应用

针对目前大众普遍关心的城市饮用水质质量问题,设计完成了基于无线传感网的在线水质监测系统.系统采用CC2530和MSP430F1611二种MCU来实现水质检测感知节点功能,利用无线传感网的技术优势,结合多传感器前端检测,实现对城市水质多指标的实时监测.系统经过近1年实际使用,完全满足城市水质监测的需要,受到了用户的好评.     

Patience is a virtue: Problems of regulatory governance in the Indonesian mining sector

Mining investment in Indonesia has been at a standstill for a decade. Clearly. international mining companies regard the country as a high risk destination for capital. Yet Indonesia is one of the most highly mineralised countries in the world and has expressed a desire to increase investment in the sector in the coming years. As a first step in this direction the government has introduced a new mineral and coal mining law to replace the highly regarded Contract of Work system. The government argues that this new law will reinvigorate mining investment in the country. This paper suggests that the new mining law will do little to improve the situation. Indeed, it is unlikely that Indonesia will become a preferred destination for mining investment in the foreseeable future. Poor regulatory architecture, endemic corruption, and a lack of institutional capacity continue to be of concern to investors.     

Using exploration expenditures to assess the climate for mineral investment

Countries that rely on private investors to find and exploit their mineral resources need reliable indicators of their investment attractiveness. This study explores the use of exploration expenditures for this purpose, focusing primarily on Chile.     

飞灰中二英热脱附行为的研究

研究了垃圾焚烧产生的飞灰中二噁英在隔绝空气受热条件下的热脱附行为及规律.通过气相和固体残留中二噁英的含量分析,推测了二噁英在不同温度条件下可能发生的几种化学反应和物理变化,同时研究了17种有毒二噁英的热脱附效率和飞灰的最佳热脱附条件.PCDD/Fs在200℃和300℃下平均脱附率分别为96.2%和95.5%,而400℃下的平均脱附率高达99.7%.结果表明,在300℃加热条件下,飞灰中的PCDD/Fs主要发生脱氯降解反应.在400℃下,飞灰中发生大量的前体合成反应,使PCDD/Fs含量显著增加.     

新兴污染物BP-3和BP-4的好氧生物降解性能

采用欧洲经济合作与发展组织（OECD）的生物降解测试标准方法——301F测压呼吸计量法,考察了2-羟基-4-甲氧基二苯甲酮（BP-3）和2-羟基-4-甲氧基二苯甲酮-5-磺酸（BP-4）的好氧生物降解性能,并研究了降解动力学及共代谢现象。实验结果表明：BP-3和BP-4的可生物降解率分别为68.36%和41.34%;根据OECD快速降解性判定标准,BP-3划归为易快速降解物质,而BP-4为不易快速降解物质;两种物质的生物降解可用一级动力学描述,半衰期分别为1.986 d和2.806 d;根据欧盟法规《化学品的注册、评估、授权和限制》（REACH法规）,BP-3和BP-4均非持久性物质;与苯甲酸钠共存时,BP-3和BP-4的降解过程均表现出共代谢现象。     

钢铁工业废气中的二恶英

二恶英具有"三致"毒性,是一种迄今为止发现过的最具致癌潜力的物质,即使在浓度很低的环境中人体也会发生诸多病变,国际癌症研究中心早已将其列入人类一级致癌物。对于钢铁行业,其主要产生于烧结和电炉炼钢两大生产工序;结合二恶英的性质及产生机理,对烧结、电炉炼钢、高炉炼铁等生产工序二恶英的产生情况进行了简要介绍。     

航母舰载机用高强、高韧、耐蚀不锈钢

介绍了美国采用低成本、基于计算的材料设计技术,研制出既能取消有毒的防护涂覆工艺,又能作为结构载体用的Ferrium(R) S53高强、高韧耐蚀不锈钢.Ferrium(R) S53不锈钢可以"非正式地"替代通常用于制造航母舰载机结构部件的非不锈钢.美军在新的航母舰载机合金研制中借助QuesTek公司基于计算的材料设计工具,将显著地提升海军武器平台系统性能,改善系统安全性,减轻环境危害.