A Pilot Study on Using Urinary 1-Hydroxypyrene Biomarker for Exposure to PAHs in Beijing

To study whether the urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) could be the biomarker of atmospheric PAHs, a small-scale pilot study was carried out on the relation of 1-OHP vs PAHs with the traffic policemen in Beijing of smokers and nonsmokers to be subgroups in both the exposure and control groups. Both the PAHs and 1-OHP were analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ambient concentrations of PAHs were different at the different sites (the average sum of PAHs (TPAH) were 12.36, 16.27, 18.37 ng/m³ at the suburban residential, police station and high traffic area, respectively.), but considerably lower than the personal-exposure concentrations (the average TPAH were 65.84 and 47.28 ng/m³ for patrol cars and inspection station, respectively). Pyrene was correlated well with BaP and the summed PAHs (TPAH), with the correlation coefficients (R) of 0.79, 0.87 for ambient level and 0.92, 0.96 for personal exposure, respectively. The average of 1-hydroxypyrene of smokers and nonsmokers were 0.39, 0.15 μmol/mol creatinine in control group and 0.57, 0.33 μmol/mol creatinine in exposure group, respectively. The better correlation of pyrene to BaP and TPAH especially for personal exposure samples indicated that the probability of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene, the metabolite of pyrene, to be the biomarker of total PAH. Nonsmokers in the exposure and control groups had indistinguishable levels of 1-OHP, presumably because the ambient levels of pyrene were so similar (the average were 3.25, 3.20 ng/m³ at the police station and high traffic area, respectively.). Smokers in the control group had significantly higher 1-OHP than that of the nonsmokers, but showed indistinguishable differences in the exposure group. These results suggested that urinary 1-OHP could be a biomarker of PAHs only when the level of PAHs was at a relatively higher level. Smoking as an important influencing factor need to be controlled carefully.     

辽宁省大气可吸入颗粒物中重金属及多环芳烃污染特征研究

为全面了解辽宁省大气可吸入颗粒物污染状况,2004年在省内选取了5个城市进行分季节采样,并对颗粒物中重金属元素含量和美国优先控制的16种多环芳烃(PAHs)进行了定量研究。结果表明,大气PM10和PM2.5中重金属元素和PAHs污染较重,且冬季高于其它季节,重金属元素和PAHs主要富集在PM2.5及以下细小颗粒物中。     

南极大气气溶胶中铅同位素比值的研究

通过对电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)的工作条件和参数进行优化,建立了ICP-MS测定铅同位素比值的精确方法,测量了2007—2009年南极中山站采集到的气溶胶样品中208Pb/206Pb、207Pb/206Pb和206Pb/207Pb的比值。结果表明,南极大气气溶胶中铅同位素比值在逐年缓慢地发生线性变化,线性相关系数为0.996 2;气溶胶铅同位素示踪揭示南极附近国家(除南非)释放的铅可能成为南极大气中铅的重要来源。     

泰安市大气臭氧污染特征及敏感性分析

2018年5～7月对泰安市城区站点的臭氧及前体物进行在线监测,并基于特征比值法和光化学模型分析了臭氧及前体物的污染特征及臭氧生成对前体物的敏感性.结果表明,观测期间泰安市正遭受较为严重的臭氧(O₃)污染,臭氧浓度的日变化呈典型的单峰型变化,15:00左右出现最高值,氮氧化物(NO_x)和VOCs的日变化趋势整体呈现夜间高白天低的变化特征.由O₃生成效率(OPE)、VOCs/NO_x和H₂O₂/NO_z特征比值法及基于EKMA曲线的方法均得出观测期间泰安市大气O₃光化学生成偏向于NO_x敏感区及过渡区,削减NO_x和VOCs均对O₃生成具有控制作用.同时基于EKMA曲线的方法还得出在O₃前体物浓度减排时按照丙烯等效浓度(PE)与NO_x浓度比值为8∶3进行VOCs(PE)和NO_x削减可以达到O     

生物堆修复城市多环芳烃污染土壤的调控研究

土壤多环芳烃(PAHs)污染已成为一种严重的全球性城市环境问题。以通风时间、绿肥、无机营养剂和疏松剂含量为调控因素,利用现场规模的正交试验进行了生物堆修复城市多环芳烃污染土壤的调控研究。结果表明,所有生物堆处理对土壤PAHs的去除均有一定促进作用,75 d时平均降解率为30.63%~80.41%,且深层土壤降解率比表层土壤高8.55%;运行期间各调控因素对不同深度土壤PAHs降解的影响程度和作用规律各不相同,其中通风时间始终是主导因素,且通风时间越长,降解效果越好;生物堆的最佳运行条件总体上为通风时间3 h、绿肥3.5%、营养剂0.2%、疏松剂18%(表层土壤)或14%(深层土壤)。因此,利用生物堆修复城市PAHs污染土壤是有效的,且增加通风时间是提高其修复效率的优先调控方式。     

蛤蟆通河流域地下水化学特征及控制因素

为研究蛤蟆通河流域水化学特征及主要离子来源,2017年先后采集地下水样品59组,综合运用数理统计、Piper三线图、Gibbs模型和离子比等方法,分析了蛤蟆通流域地下水的水文地球化学特征,并探讨了蛤蟆通流域的水化学演化规律及主要离子来源.结果表明,该区地下水阳离子以Ca~(2+)为主,占阳离子总量的质量分数为22. 1%～72. 4%,平均为48. 7%;阴离子以HCO_3~-为主,占阴离子总量的质量分数为35. 3%～97. 5%,平均为80%; TDS介于93. 3～521. 1 mg·L~(-1),平均值为219. 1 mg·L~(-1),均为淡水;地下水类型以HCO_3-Ca、HCO_3-Ca·Mg和HCO_3-Ca·Na型水为主;地下水样品均分布在Gibbs模型左中部,说明该流域水化学离子组成受岩石风化作用控制;通过离子来源分析,该区主要离子来源于硅酸盐岩和碳酸盐岩的风化溶解.     

Variation in PAH inputs and microbial community in surface sediments of Hamilton Harbour: implications to remediation and monitoring

Variations in concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and microbial community indicators were investigated in representative highly contaminated and less contaminated surface sediment sites of Hamilton Harbour. Inputs of PAH to the upper 3cm of sediments up to four times the average upper sediment concentrations were observed. Associated PAH fingerprint profiles indicated that the source was consistent with the PAH source to the industrial region of the harbour. Increased PAH loadings were associated with decreased bacterial populations as indicated by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) concentrations. However, relatively minor impacts on overall community composition were indicated. Porewater methane concentrations and isotopic data indicated a difference in the occurrence of methane oxidation between the two sites. This study confirms temporally limited transport of contaminants from highly impacted regions as a vector for contaminants within the harbour and the impact on microbial carbon cycling and bed stability.     

A review of biochars' potential role in the remediation, revegetation and restoration of contaminated soils

Biochars are biological residues combusted under low oxygen conditions, resulting in a porous, low density carbon rich material. Their large surface areas and cation exchange capacities, determined to a large extent by source materials and pyrolysis temperatures, enables enhanced sorption of both organic and inorganic contaminants to their surfaces, reducing pollutant mobility when amending contaminated soils. Liming effects or release of carbon into soil solution may increase arsenic mobility, whilst low capital but enhanced retention of plant nutrients can restrict revegetation on degraded soils amended only with biochars; the combination of composts, manures and other amendments with biochars could be their most effective deployment to soils requiring stabilisation by revegetation. Specific mechanisms of contaminant-biochar retention and release over time and the environmental impact of biochar amendments on soil organisms remain somewhat unclear but must be investigated to ensure that the management of environmental pollution coincides with ecological sustainability.     

Derivation of predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC) for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol based on Chinese resident species

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) is a common chemical intermediate and a by-product of water chlorination and combustion processes, and is a priority pollutant of the aquatic environment in many countries. Although information on the toxicity of 2,4,6-TCP is available, there is a lack of information on the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) of 2,4,6-TCP, mainly due to the shortage of chronic and site-specific toxicity data. In the present study, acute and sub-chronic toxicity of 2,4,6-TCP on six different resident Chinese aquatic species were determined. PNEC values were calculated and compared by use of two approaches: assessment factor (AF) and species sensitivity distribution (SSD). Values for acute toxicity ranged from 1.1 mg L⁻¹ (Plagiognathops microlepis) to 42 mg L⁻¹ (Corbicula fluminea) and the sub-chronic no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) ranged from 0.05 mg L⁻¹ (Mylopharyngodon piceus) to 2.0 mg L⁻¹ (C. fluminea). PNECs obtained by the assessment factor approach with acute (AF = 1000, 0.001 mg L⁻¹) or chronic (AF = 10, 0.005 mg L⁻¹) toxicity data were one order of magnitude less than those from SSD methods (0.057 mg L⁻¹). PNEC values calculated using SSD methods with a 50% certainty for 2,4,6-TCP was less than those obtained by use of the USEPA recommend final chronic value (FCV) method (0.097 mg L⁻¹) and the one obtained by use of the USEPA recommend acute-to-chronic (ACR) methods (0.073 mg L⁻¹). PNECs derived using AF methods were more protective and conservative than that derived using SSD methods.     

Sediment-associated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal British Columbia, Canada: concentrations, composition, and associated risks to protected sea otters

Sediment-associated hydrocarbons can pose a risk to wildlife that rely on benthic marine food webs. We measured hydrocarbons in sediments from the habitat of protected sea otters in coastal British Columbia, Canada. Alkane concentrations were dominated by higher odd-chain n-alkanes at all sites, indicating terrestrial plant inputs. While remote sites were dominated by petrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), small harbour sites within sea otter habitat and sites from an urban reference area reflected weathered petroleum and biomass and fossil fuel combustion. The partitioning of hydrocarbons between sediments and adjacent food webs provides an important exposure route for sea otters, as they consume ∼25% of their body weight per day in benthic invertebrates. Thus, exceedences of PAH sediment quality guidelines designed to protect aquatic biota at 20% of the sites in sea otter habitat suggest that sea otters are vulnerable to hydrocarbon contamination even in the absence of catastrophic oil spills.