In vivo and in vitro metabolism of tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), by the freshwater planarian, Dugesia japonica

Cigarette smoke is a risk factor for human health, and many studies were conducted to investigate its adverse effects on humans and other mammals. However, since large amounts of cigarette products are produced and consumed, it is possible that tobacco chemicals can end up in aquatic environments through several routes, thus influencing aquatic organisms. In this study, the presence of tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), in aquatic environment was demonstrated. Since toxic effects on and distribution patterns of tobacco chemicals in aquatic organisms were rarely studied, after results of an acute toxicity pretest were obtained, experiment was conducted to investigate the bioaccumulation pattern of NNK and distribution patterns of its metabolites, mainly 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), in NNK-treated freshwater planarians, Dugesia japonica. Results from in vivo and in vitro studies showed that NNK was readily converted to NNAL through the carbonyl reduction in bodies of NNK-treated planarians. Tissue concentrations of both chemicals increased in time- and dose-dependent manners. Furthermore, we examined the end products of NNK/NNAL α-hydroxylation in NNK-treated planarians, but only 1-(3-pyridyl)-1,4-butanediol was detected, suggesting that NNK metabolism in planarians partially differs from that in mammalian systems. This is the first report on NNK metabolism in an aquatic organism and can be used as a foundation for developing freshwater planarians as a new in vivo model for the study of NNK toxicology in the future.     

Polymer coating of copper oxide nanoparticles increases nanoparticles uptake and toxicity in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are frequently used in a polymer-coated form, to be included in paints or fabrics for antimicrobial properties. Their application in antifouling paints may lead to the contamination of aquatic ecosystems. However, the toxicological risk of NPs in the environment is hard to evaluate due to a lack of knowledge on the mechanisms of NP interaction with biological systems. In this study, we investigated the effect of polymer coating on CuO NP toxicity in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by comparing bare and polymer-coated CuO NPs prepared from the same CuO nanopowder. Both CuO NP suspensions were toxic to C. reinhardtii after 6 h treatment to concentrations of 0.005-0.04 g L⁻¹. Bare and polymer-coated CuO NPs induced a decrease of Photosystem II activity and the formation of reactive oxygen species. Polymer-coated CuO NP was found to be more toxic than the uncoated CuO NP. The higher toxicity of CS-CuO NP was mainly associated with the increased capacity of polymer-coated CuO NP to penetrate the cell compared to bare CuO NPs. These results indicates that the high toxicity of polymer-coated CuO NPs in algal cells results of intracellular interactions between NPs and the cellular system.     

Pesticides and Essential Minerals Modify Endogenous Antioxidants and Cytochrome P450 in Tissues of Rats

Two experiments were conducted in male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (175–200 g) to determine changes in the activities of endogenous antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), cytochrome P450 (ethoxyresorufin deethylase; EROD) and concentrations of glutathione (GSH) in the blood, liver, and small intestinal mucosa (IM). In both experiments, six rats/group were fed diets based on the AIN-93M diet (Control) or the same modified to contain either 500 mg calcium (Low Ca), 7 mg Zn (Low Zn): 2 mg copper (Low Cu), 60 mg zinc (High Zn) or 12 mg copper (High Cu) in the following combination: Control, LCa/LZn, LCa/LZn/LCu, or HZn/HCu, with and without a pesticide mixture containing acephate, endosulfan, and thiram at 25% LD₅₀ for four or two weeks. Pesticides decreased feed intake and weight gain in all groups by 28%. Erythrocyte SOD was higher than control in the HZn/HCu group and in the LCa/LZn/LCu and HZn/HCu groups with pesticide (P# 0.05). Plasma GPX declined by more than 55% in all the groups with and without pesticides compared to the control. The LCa/LZn/LCu and HZn/HCu diets with and without pesticides reduced GPX in the IM by up to 88%, 40%, and 74%, respectively, than the control. Plasma GSH was about 20% higher than the control in most groups with and without pesticides in the diet. Liver and IM GSH were higher than the control in the HZn/HCu group, whereas IM GSH concentrations were lower than the control in the LCa/LZn and LCa/LZn/LCu groups (P#0.05). All three experimental diets with and without pesticides had a significant effect on liver EROD activity (P#0.05). The results indicate that endogenous antioxidants and EROD were independently modified by dietary zinc and copper levels and pesticides.     

Induced cytochrome P450 1A activity in cichlid fishes from Guandu River and Jacarepaguá Lake, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The induction of cytochrome P4501A-mediated activity (e.g. ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylation, EROD) has been used as a biomarker for monitoring fish exposure to AhR-receptor ligands such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs). In this study we found that hepatic EROD is induced in fish ("Nile tilapia", Oreochromis niloticus and "acará", Geophagus brasiliensis) from the Guandu River (7-17-fold) and Jacarepaguá Lake (7-fold), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since both cichlid fish are consumed by the local population and the Guandu River is the main source of the drinking water supply for the greater Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, pollution by cytochrome P4501A-inducing chemicals is a cause for concern and should be further investigated in sediments, water and biota. We additionally showed that EROD activity in the fish liver post-mitochondrial supernatant-simpler, cheaper and less time consuming to prepare than the microsomal fraction-is sufficiently sensitive for monitoring purposes.     

烤烟优质高产施肥技术研究初报

１９９７～１９９８年在广东省五华县的紫色土田进行了烤烟优质高产施肥试验。结果表明,在一定的氮磷施用量条件下,烤烟的产量、质量及产值都是随着施钾比例的提高而提高。在一定的配比下,烤烟的产量及产值在施氮 １６５ ｋｇ／ｈｍ~２以下均随施氮量的增加而提高;均价和优级烟率以中等氮水平（ １３５ ｋｇ／ｈｍ~２）的为最高。本文还提出烤烟的最佳施肥方案。     

Private capital: What impedes its entry into China's minerals industry

The paper commences with an analysis of the nature and status of private capital investment in the minerals industry in China. Based on the analysis, the authors examine the main barriers in terms of the mineral rights market, industry access and investment security that impede the participation of private capital into exploration and development of China's mineral resources. The discussion addresses how to encourage the participation of private capital into mining investment and it concludes that it is of significant importance to ensure the soundness of mineral rights market, impartiality of industry access, and security of mineral rights.     

三峡库区消落带下部区域土壤氮磷释放规律模拟实验研究

三峡库区消落带形成后其下部区域（145~155 m）由于长期处于淹没状态,其表层土壤将类似底泥状态,研究选择嘉陵江江底沉积物模拟其在好氧及厌氧淹水条件下N、P向上覆水体的释放规律。结果表明：土壤处于淹水期间,均向上覆水释放N、P,其中好氧状态下上覆水中TN以硝态氮为主,厌氧环境下上覆水中TN以氨氮形式为主;淹水前期,N、P释放速率均较快,随时间增加逐渐减缓,且在厌氧环境下TP释放能力较好氧环境强。好氧淹水中曝气量对上覆水中TN平衡浓度无显著影响,但对氨氮、硝态氮释放过程有影响,从而影响TN浓度变化;底泥状土壤落干过程对N素释放有正影响,对P素释放有负影响;在短暂的落干期间,如果进行农业利用,将增加库区水环境污染和水体富营养化的风险.     

稻鸭、稻鱼共作对稻田P素动态变化的影响

以稻鸭和稻鱼生态系统为研究对象,通过大田试验研究了稻田P的动态变化及转化规律,及其对环境的影响。结果表明,施P后土壤和田面水P含量立即达到最大值,一周后迅速降低。相对于空白（CK）,养鸭处理（RD）和养鱼处理（RF）田面水总P浓度、溶解P浓度、土壤速效P含量和水稻吸P量显著增加,而土壤全P含量有所增加。研究还表明,水稻吸P量与田面水溶解P、土壤速效P显著相关。对田面水P素径流流失的潜在环境效应分析表明,施P后的一周左右是控制P素流失的关键时期;由于养鸭养鱼能提高稻田P含量,在稻鸭、稻鱼共作期间,要注意避免农田排水和防止因降雨引起的田面水外溢。同时,由于鸭子和鱼能提高土壤有效养分含量,降低化肥的施用量,进而降低了化肥损失所造成的环境危害。     

生活小区生活污水除磷脱氮工艺改进研究

本文提出了生活小区生活污水处理工艺中的一种除磷脱氮技术改进方法，达到了预期效果；为我国城市(镇)小区生活污水处理提供了一个切实可行的处理方案。     

SBR工艺运行条件对好氧污泥颗粒化和除磷效果的影响

采用模拟配制生活污水,研究循序间歇反应器(SBR)工艺在不同运行条件下对好氧污泥颗粒化和生物除磷效果的影响.试验分别对进水中不同COD/TN比(11.79,18.85,20.72,24.66)、COD/TP比(27.85,44.53,48.93、58.25)、TN/TP比(4.00,2.36,1.54)、温度(22℃,15℃,8℃)和污泥龄(16d,10d,5d)作比较,发现进水中较高的COD/TN比(24.66)、COD/TP比(58.25)、温度(22℃)和较低的污泥龄(10d)对生物除磷和颗粒的形成有利;适当的TN/TP比(2.36)、接种污泥的选择是好氧颗粒污泥形成的关键.