Histological changes in the reproductive system of male rats exposed to cigarette smoke or electronic cigarette vapor

Abstract

The use of electronic cigarettes increases as a supposedly healthier form of nicotine consumption, but safety of vaping remains uncertain. In this study, we assessed whether the use of electronic cigarettes increases the risk of infertility in male rats. Malformations of sperm morphology were more frequent in nicotine-exposed groups than in the control group. Vacuolization of seminiferous epithelium, reduction of spermatogenesis, increased apoptosis of spermatogonia and spermatocytes, and acceleration of degeneration of testes were observed. The male reproductive organs are slightly less affected by vaping than by smoking. Nevertheless, in consequence both may lead to the reduction of fertility.     

Characterization of fulvic acids during olive mill waste composting (Elemental, Thermal and fluorescence analyses)

Elemental analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were applied to the study of fulvic acids isolated from different stages during olive mill waste composting. The fulvic extracted acids are characterized by a high nitrogen content and O/C ratio values that may result from the high degree of humification and the synthesis of more condensed humic complexes. This was confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy in the synchronous-scan mode by the decrease of shoulder intensities at intermediate wavelengths indicating the increase of polycondensation and conjugation of unsaturated structures and the greater uniformity of fluorophores. Fluorescence spectra in the emission, excitation and synchronous modes became simpler with compost maturation. This was confirmed by DSC results which proved the high degree of polycondensation of aromatic nuclei of fulvic acid molecules during olive mill waste composting.     

Variation in some chemical parameters and organic matter in soils regenerated by the addition of municipal solid waste

The organic fraction of a municipal solid waste was added in different doses to an eroded soil formed of loam and with no vegetal cover. After three years, the changes in macronutrient content and the chemical-structural composition of its organic matter were studied. The addition of the organic fraction from a municipal solid waste had a positive effect on soil regeneration, the treated soils being covered with spontaneous vegetation from 1 yr onwards. An increase in electrical conductivity and a fall in pH were noted in the treated soils as were increases in macronutrients, particularly N and available P and the different carbon fractions. Optical density measurements of the organic matter extracted with sodium pyrophosphate showed that the treated soils contained an organic matter with less condensed compounds and with a greater tendency to evolve than the control. A pyrolysis-gas chromatography study of the organic matter extracted with pyrophosphate showed large quantities of benzene both in the treated soils and control; pyrrole was also relatively abundant, although this fragment decreased as the dose rose. Xylenes and pyridine were present in greater quantities in the control and furfural in the treated soils. Three years after addition to the soil, the organic matter had a higher proportion of fragments derived from aromatic compounds and a smaller proportion derived from hydrocarbons. Similarity indices showed that, although the added and newly formed organic matter 3 yr after addition continued to differ from that of the original soil and to be more mineralizable, the transformations it has undergone made it more similar to the original organic matter of the soil than it was at the moment of being added.     

粉煤灰和煤矸石长期浸水后pH的动态变化

监测了不同粒径的煤矸石、粉煤灰及其不同配比的基质在水的长时间浸泡下，其pH的变化规律。并寻找出了适宜于作物生长的粉煤灰与煤矸石的最佳pH配比比例为4：1—8：1。为进一步就地取材，以废治废提供新的思路，可以减少煤矿区生态恢复的费用，具有很好的实际应用潜力。     

电子废弃物的再循环利用：企业、政府与公众的角色和责任

电子废弃物不仅种类繁多，而且成分复杂，含有多种有毒、有害物质，已成为固体废物中最大的重金属污染源。长期以来，由于对电子废弃物问题缺乏足够认识和有效管理，电子废弃物对人体健床及生活环境可能构成的危害常常被忽视。实现电子废弃物的再循环利用，关键是明确企业、政府和公众在电子产品设计、生产、消费、回收、处置和再利用整个过程中的相关责任。因此，解决电子废弃物的问题，首先要对相关行为主体的角色进行准确定位。     

我国石油炼制企业清洁生产措施分析

石油炼制工业是我国重要的能源和化工原料生产产业。随着生产负荷的提高，加工深度增加，原料变重变差，石油炼制工业的环境保护压力越来越大。针对石油炼制工业的生产特点，分析其污染源、污染治理现状以及目前存在的一些问题，提出了我国石油炼制企业的清洁生产措施。     

浅述黄土高原地区露天煤矿废弃地的复垦种植

根据近几年对黄土高原地区安太堡露天煤矿废弃土地复垦的系统研究,事实证明新垦土地可超越原有土地生产力及经济效益开发的可行性。认为本地区露天煤矿废弃土地的复垦战略目标应是:借助开矿土地再造的机会,通过科学设计、系统规划,实行大规模地营造农林可利用状态的土地,未来开辟为适宜现代集约经营农林基地;露天煤矿的土地复垦,同时亦应受到社会各方的关注,可在超越矿区范围之外筑坝造田,建设蓄水库等各项工程造福于社会。     

工业废弃物在煤燃烧过程中脱硫行为的研究

提出了采用工业废弃物作为煤燃烧高温脱硫剂和催化促进剂的思路，对催化促进脱硫的机理进行试验研究，在此基础上提出几种不同配方的脱硫添加剂，并进行详细的试验研究，最终在6t/h工业链条上取得50％左右脱硫率的结果。     

杭州市医院固体废物现状调查与处置对策

通过对抗州城区69家医院1999—2001年固体废物的来源、种类、产生量及处置现状的调查研究，分析了医院固体废物在收集、处置过程中存在的问题，提出了相应的对策。     

重庆工业废渣建材资源化状况及对策探讨

在对重庆市工业废渣进行广泛调查及掌握尽可能详细的资料的基础上 ,针对重庆市工业废渣的特点 ,提出了一些利用工业废渣的设想。