Spatial distribution of health risks for residents located close to solvent-consuming industrial VOC emission sources

Emissions derived from the consumption of organic solvents have been proven to be the primary industrial source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In conjunction with epidemiologic studies, water-based paints (WBPs) and solvent-based paints (SBPs) were selected as representatives of newly developed solvents and traditional solvents, respectively, to simulate the effects of consuming solvents emitted during industrial production. And non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to residents near emission sources were studied in detail. The results showed that the spatial distribution of health risks varied with meteorological conditions and type of emission source, and the prevailing wind direction strongly affected the distribution range and shape of the influenced area. The areas of influence maximized on heavy-polluting days for both WBP and SBP emission sources with the total span reaching 804 m and 16 km, respectively; meanwhile, the areas of influence for carcinogenic risk resulting from WBP emission sources were 1.2 and 2.3 times greater than those measured on fine and rainy days, respectively, and 1.8 and 2.9 times greater for SBP emission sources. Compared with WBPs, the total spans of negatively influenced regions resulting from SBP emission sources were 10.4, 12.5 and 19.9 times greater on fine, rainy and heavy-polluting days, respectively. Therefore, carcinogenic risk was the dominant health threat for populations residing close to solvent-consuming industrial emission sources. The findings suggest that newly developed solvents are capable of significantly reducing consequent health threats, nevertheless, they could still pose occasional threats to nearby residents under specific meteorological conditions.     

多溴二苯醚类化合物干扰人雌激素受体alpha活性机理的理论研究

基于分子对接方法探讨了多溴二苯醚(PBDEs)类化合物与人雌激素受体α亚型间的分子作用机理.对多溴二苯醚类化合物是否具有拟雌激素功能的研究得出:可通过对接打分值和化合物结构特征来推测PBDEs母体化合物是否具有拟雌激素活性;对HO-PBDEs,与氨基酸残基GLU53和/或ARG394形成氢键可能是影响其拟雌激素活性的重要因素;对MeO-PBDEs,疏水MeO-位于结合腔的疏水中部有利于拟雌激素活性.从结构及构象分析得出,邻位疏水基(Br-、MeO-)有利于PBDEs类化合物的拟雌激素活性.同时对多溴二苯醚类化合物是否具有抗雌激素功能的结合特征研究发现,表现出抗雌激素活性的部分PBDEs类化合物伸进通常被雌激素受体拮抗剂雷洛昔芬和4-羟基它莫西芬的烷基胺侧链占据的通道,而大多数未表现出抗雌激素活性的PBDEs类化合物的结合模式类似雌激素受体激动剂17β-雌二醇,位于结合腔,没有伸进通道.本研究从化合物结构及化合物在受体内结合的构象特征上解释化合物活性不同的原因,以期能够利用构象分析得到的结果进行筛选.     

基于风险场的区域突发性环境风险评价方法研究

在大尺度空间,风险源、风险受体和风险传播途径的多样性和相互作用的复杂性是区域环境风险评价的难点.同时,现有评价方法很少关注风险因子的释放规律,释放后在空间中的分布格局,以及风险受体受到损害的途径和程度.本文应用风险场理论,分析描述风险场形成和对风险受体作用的机制.结合南京化工园区实例进行环境风险源识别,采用集对分析等方法构建了各风险源产生的环境风险场,再分析处于风险场中的环境风险受体,最后得到区域环境风险水平分布,同时将其划分为5个等级.评价结果显示,位于风险源周围或河道下游的人口稠密、生态环境敏感地区环境风险值R≥6,风险水平处于极高、高等级,与园区现状具有较好的一致性.建议依据环境风险水平的分级、分类结果建立起以预防为主的环境风险管理体系.     

黄颡鱼黑色素细胞原代培养及迁移相关基因克隆分析

黑素皮质素受体-1(MC1R)在鱼体中对黑色素细胞的分化及迁移起主要的调控作用,而且在神经系统和免疫系统中表现出不同功能。本研究对黄颡鱼表皮黑色素细胞的培养条件进行探索,并在此基础上对MC1R基因进行克隆,为后续研究黄颡鱼黑色素异常的细胞及分子机理研究提供基础。结果表明,黄颡鱼表皮黑色素细胞在27 ℃培养条件下,72 h开始贴壁生长,培养基中添加20 %小牛血清培养效果比添加10%小牛血清好。MC1R基因克隆方面,黄颡鱼MC1R基因全长为936 bp,编码312个氨基酸,与剑尾鱼(Xiphophorus maculates)、孔雀鱼(Poecilia reticulata)、条斑星鲽(Verasper moseri)、海鲈(Dicentrarchus labrax)、大菱鲆(Psetta maxima)等5种鱼类MC1R基因的同源性分别为97%、96%、90%、90%、90%,系统分析结果显示,黄颡鱼MC1R基因在进化树上的位置与黄颡鱼的分类所处位置基本吻合。证明黄颡鱼表皮黑色素细胞原代培养的条件为：27℃,添加20% 小牛血清,所克隆基因为黄颡鱼MC1R基因。     

邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己)酯(DEHP)和邻苯二甲酸单乙基己基酯(MEHP)长期暴露对海洋青鳉(Oryzias melastigma)内分泌干扰效应的评价

为探讨邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己)酯(DEHP)和邻苯二甲酸单乙基己基酯(MEHP)长期暴露对海水生物的内分泌干扰效应及机制,将孵化后1周的海洋青鳉(Oryzias melastigma)分别暴露于DEHP(0.1 mg·L-1和0.5 mg·L-1)和MEHP(0.1 mg·L-1和0.5 mg·L-1)6个月。结果显示:DEHP显著增加了雌性和雄性海洋青鳉的肝指数,而MEHP只在高剂量时显著增加雄性青鳉的肝指数。对于雌性青鳉,DEHP暴露后肝脏雌激素相关基因ERα、ERβ、ERγ、VTG1、VTG2、ChgH和ChgL的表达水平显著上调,而对于雄性青鳉,DEHP暴露后,只有肝脏ERβ的表达水平显著上调。相比之下,MEHP暴露对雌性和雄性青鳉肝VTG和Chg基因表达无显著影响。DEHP激活了雌性和雄性青鳉的肝过氧化物增殖激活受体PPARα和PPARγ,而MEHP只在低剂量时上调了雄性青鳉PPARγ的表达。在雌性和雄性青鳉体内,VTG和Chg的表达与ERα和ERγ的表达显著相关,并且ER与PPAR也显著相关。研究表明,DEHP长期暴露可通过激活肝性激素受体调控肝雌激素响应基因(VTG和Chg)和过氧化物增殖激活受体(PPARα和PPARγ)的表达而对海洋青鳉产生内分泌干扰效应,并且显示出性别特异性。MEHP对海洋青鳉的内分泌干扰效应弱于DEHP。     

Source resolution and risk apportionment to augment the Bubble Policy: Application to a steel plant “bubble”

Source resolution and risk apportionment of emission source categories for risk reduction purposes can be used to enhance the Bubble Policy of the Clean Air Act. This is performed by incorporating receptor modeling techniques of factor analysis and chemical mass balances to assess noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic inhalation risks to a target population for certain pollutants coming from major emission source categories in a steel plant air shed. Source resolution, using factor analysis, statistically interprets a “source” from ambient data. By subsequently quantifying risks from identified metal emission sources using chemical mass balances and risk apportionment, a total additive risk from main source contributors in the steel plant is estimated. From this methodology, the Bubble Policy can be enhanced by targeting only main risk sources or by “risk-trading” with minor impact sources to reduce the total risk (if deemed significant) without arbitrarily reducing risk for all sources in an industrial source complex’s “bubble.”     

Influence of rice straw burning on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in agricultural county of Taiwan

Atmospheric particulate and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) size distribution were measured at Jhu-Shan (a rural site) and Sin-Gang (a town site) in central Taiwan during the rice straw burning and non-burning periods. The concentrations of total PAHs accounting for a roughly 58% (34%) increment in the concentrations of total PAHs due to rice-straw burning. Combustion-related PAHs during burning periods were 1.54–2.57 times higher than those during non-burning periods. The mass median diameter (MMD) of 0.88–1.21 m in the particulate phase suggested that rice-straw burning generated the increase in coarse particle number. Chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model analyses showed that the primary pollution sources at the two sites were similar. However, ricestraw burning emission was specifically identified as a significant source of PAH during burning periods at the two sites. Open burning of rice straws was estimated to contribute approximately 6.3%–24.6% to total atmospheric PAHs at the two sites.     

In vitro thyroid disrupting e ects of organic extracts from WWTPs in Beijing

It is generally known that there are many endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the e uents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Most research has focused on the occurrence of estrogenic or androgenic activities, while ignoring that there are environmental chemicals disrupting thyroid system, which is essential for growth and development in both humans and animals. In the present work, a two-hybrid yeast assay was conducted to evaluate the removal e ciencies of agonistic or antagonistic thyroid receptor (TR) mediated e ects in di erent treatment processes of three WWTPs located in Beijing. We found no TR agonistic, but TR antagonistic activities in all processes from the WWTPs. The TR antagonistic activities in organic extracts of water samples were then calibrated regarding to a known TR-inhibitor, amiodarone hydrochloride (AH). The observed concentration of TR disrupting substances ranged from 2.35 10??8 to 6.19 10??7 mol/L AH in Gaobeidian WWTP, 3.76 10??8 to 8.75 10??8 mol/L AH in Lugouqiao WWTP, and 4.80 10??9 to 2.55 10??8 mol/L AH in Beixiaohe WWTP. Of the three WWTPs, the removal rates were 92.7%, 42.2%, and 23.1% respectively. Industrial sewage may contain more TR disrupting substances compared with domestic sewage. The recipient waters were found to contain considerable concentrations of TR disrupting substances that may cause adverse e ects on the exposed organisms.     

In vitro thyroid disrupting effects of organic extracts from WWTPs in Beijing

It is generally known that there are many endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Most research has focused on the occurrence of estrogenic or androgenic activities, while ignoring that there are environmental chemicals disrupting thyroid system, which is essential for growth and development in both humans and animals. In the present work, a two-hybrid yeast assay was conducted to evaluate the removal efficiencies of agonistic or antagonistic thyroid receptor (TR) mediated effects in different treatment processes of three WWTPs located in Beijing. We found no TR agonistic, but TR antagonistic activities in all processes from the WWTPs. The TR antagonistic activities in organic extracts of water samples were then calibrated regarding to a known TR-inhibitor, amiodarone hydrochloride (AH). The observed concentration of TR disrupting substances ranged from 2.35 × 10-8 to 6.19 × 10-7 mol/L AH in Gaobeidian WWTP, 3.76 × 10-s to 8.75 x 10-s mol/L AH in Lugouqiao WWTP,and 4.80 × 10-9 to 2.55 × 10-s mol/L AH in Beixiaohe WWTP. Of the three WWTPs, the removal rates were 92.7%, 42.2%, and 23.1% respectively. Industrial sewage may contain more TR disrupting substances compared with domestic sewage. The recipient waters were found to contain considerable concentrations of TR disrupting substances that may cause adverse effects on the exposed organisms.     

利用唐鱼雌激素受体构建环境雌激素重组酵母测评系统的研究

利用唐鱼雌激素受体基因片段构建重组酵母,用以筛选环境雌激素类化学物质.实验先将唐鱼雌激素受体terα基因片段插入载体pGADT7中构建表达质粒p GADT7/TERα,同时将雌激素效应元件(ere)片段插入pMP206载体中构建报告质粒pMP206/ERE-Lac Z;然后把表达质粒和报告质粒共转化到酵母AH109中,经筛选成功构建了由唐鱼雌激素受体调控的表达lac Z基因的重组酵母AHpTERα/ERE.结果表明,所构建的重组酵母AHpTERα/ERE在不同浓度17β-雌二醇(E2)的诱导下,β-半乳糖苷酶的活性呈现出明显的剂量-效应关系,其EC50为(0.521±0.700)nmol·L-1.与DMSO对照组相比,重组酵母在17β-雌二醇诱导下有明显的β-半乳糖苷酶活性增强的现象.在不同浓度17α-乙炔基雌二醇(EE2)、壬基酚(NP)及其混合物、双酚A(BPA)、17β-雌二醇(E2)(阳性对照)的诱导下,重组酵母均呈现出剂量-效应关系,且灵敏度大小为E2EE2NPBPA.结果表明,本研究成功构建了重组基因酵母测评系统,初步判定该重组酵母可应用于环境雌激素的筛选.