Likelihood Ratio Analysis of Skin Cancer Prevalence Associated with Arsenic in Drinking Water in the USA

Several published studies have examined skin-cancer prevalence in regions of the USA that have concentrations of arsenic above the USA drinking-water standard. Those studies with adequate exposure and health outcome data did not report any skin cancer cases. Because the USA's arsenic concentrations are relatively low compared to some other countries and the study populations are small, the absence of reported skin-cancer cases could be due to an absence of risk in USA populations or random variability from a predicted risk. We used the current EPA arsenic cancer slope factor (CSF) model, which is derived from Taiwanese populations exposed to high levels of arsenic, to predict the expected number of skin cancers. We then conducted a likelihood ratio analysis, which showed that a null hypothesis (no additional skin cancer risk from arsenic) was approximately 2.2 times more likely than the hypothesis that ingested arsenic causes the predicted rate of skin cancers. Although based on small numbers, our analysis of USA populations indicates that the CSF derived from arsenic exposure in Taiwanese populations may be an overestimate when applied to USA populations.     

Effects of chitosan on growth of an aquatic plant (Hydrilla verticillata) in polluted waters with different chemical oxygen demands

Effects of chitosan on a submersed plant, Hydrilla verticillata, were investigated. Results indicated that H. venicillata could prevent ultrastructure phytotoxicities and oxidativereaction from polluted water with high chemical oxygen demand (COD). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in H. verticillata treated with 0.1% chitosan in wastewater increased with high COD (980 mg/L) and decreased with low COD (63 mg/L), respectively. Ultrastructural analysis showed that the stroma and grana of chloroplast basically remained normal. However, plant cells from the control experiment (untreated with chitosan) were vacuolated and the cell interval increased. The relict of protoplast moved to the center, with cells tending to disjoint. Our findings indicate that wastewater with high COD concentration can cause a substantial damage to submersed plant, nevertheless, chitosan probably could alleviate the membrane lipid peroxidization and ultrastructure phytotoxicities, and protect plant cells from stress of high COD concentration polluted water.     

自絮凝颗粒酵母酒精连续发酵过程精馏废液循环回用工艺的研究

以玉米粉双酶法制备的糖化液为底物,采用酵母细胞自絮凝形成颗粒作为细胞固定化方法在有效容积１．５ Ｌ小型悬浮床生物反应器中研究了不同酒精精馏废液循环比条件下的连续发酵工艺过程,并探讨了酒精精馏废液“全循环”的可行性．研究结果表明：虽然产生了比较强的副产物抑制效应,但该工艺能够稳定操作,为酒精发酵行业彻底解决废液污染问题提供了一条简便、可行的工艺路线     

癌症与土壤环境中Sn元素的关系

利用土壤环境资料中关于锡元素的32335个数据,癌死亡调查资料787080例,研究了胃癌、食管癌、肝癌、宫颈癌、肺癌、大肠癌、白血病、鼻咽癌、乳腺病死亡率与人鲜生活区土壤环境中锡元素的关系,结果表明。食管癌死亡率与生活区土壤中锡元素质量分数的相关性显著,肝癌、宫颈癌、鼻咽癌死亡率与生活区土壤中锻元素质量分数的相关性极显著,而胃癌、肺癌、大肠癌、白血病、乳腺癌死亡率与生活区土壤中锡元素质量分数的相共性下显著。     

一种耐酚菌种及其固定化细胞降解含酚废水性能的比较研究

通过对土壤及污水的采样、分离、纯化,得到了一种降解苯酚的菌种,经过一系列驯化实验,使其苯酚耐受能力达915 mg/L。在此基础上,利用正交实验,确定了该菌种固定化细胞制备的最优操作条件。之后,对游离细胞和固定化细胞的降解苯酚过程进行了动力学分析与比较。结果表明,2种类型细胞的降解苯酚过程均符合Monod模型,并且固定化细胞的降解效果明显高于游离细胞。      

固定化PSB细胞技术研究及应用

采用吸附法及聚集－交联固定化紫色非硫光合细菌混合菌株(PSB),用于处理印染废水及含酚废水。PSB在光照厌氧条件下,易于吸附在吸时性能强、表面粗糙、多孔的载体上,并能承受较强水力冲刷。聚集－交联PSB固定化细胞经解毒活化后,酶活性增高,脱氢酶活力高于自然细胞1～1．5倍,脱色速度增快30％。      

微囊藻粗毒素对叙利亚地鼠胚胎细胞的二阶段促癌作用研究

应用体外叙利亚金黄鼠胚胎细胞（SHE）二阶段恶性转化试验,村由太湖水中提取的微囊藻粗毒素（MRT）的促癌作用进行了研究。结果表明,微囊藻粗毒素可明显增强由低剂量3－甲基胆蒽（MCA）启动的细胞恶性转化作用,所形成的转化率明最高于阴性对照组（P0＜0.01）,并呈良好的剂量反应关系,但用微囊藻粗毒素作启动剂,以典型的促癌剂豆蔻酸乙酸大戟二萜醇酯（TPA）促进后未见恶性转化率升高。提示微囊藻粗毒素可能是环境中一种新的促癌剂,是饮致癌的重要因素之一。     

Impact of environmental and socio-economic stressors leading to unequal distribution of COVID-19 incidences in the state of Louisiana

Louisiana (LA) ranks fifth in the United States in cancer mortality rate. LA's infamous “cancer alley” is a well evidenced region near the southeast part of the Mississippi river surrounding the petrochemical hub of the state. LA has also experienced a high COVID-19 death rate and incidences compared to other states during the recent pandemic. In this study we analyzed publicly available datasets related to health and socio-economic parameters in LA to determine the factors triggering high incidences and deaths caused by COVID-19. Correlation analysis was performed to find the impact of different parameters on the outcome of COVID-19. Our analysis showed higher COVID-19 incidences in the parishes which are in and around the “cancer alley” with a correlation of r = 0.9. Interestingly, results also indicated a strong correlation (r = 0.9) between the death rates caused by asbestos toxicity to COVID-19 caused death rate. Furthermore, we found that office-administration related employment has a positive correlation to COVID-19 incidences in the “cancer alley.” However, we also found both white and black races are equally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the “cancer alley” region. In conclusion, our analysis strongly suggests that inhabiting “cancer alley” could significantly enhance the chances of getting affected by SARS-CoV-2 virus compared to other regions in LA.     

Should tobacco products’ waste be considered as hazardous in India?

Tobacco and its associated products are known to be harmful for health. Moreover, the waste emanating out of the production, processing, packaging, and consumption of these products is equally harmful for humans as well as other biotic/abiotic agencies. Taking into account the toxic nature of these waste products, it is necessary to have a well-defined approach to deal with this waste. Consideration of tobacco products’ waste as municipal solid waste has serious implications in the long-term as it results in dumping of these wastes mixed-up with domestic waste in landfills. With time, toxic components become part of the leachate which contaminates water and soil, further leading to the contamination in food chain. Therefore, many countries are now considering this waste under the hazardous category and evolving various measures to safely dispose it off. In the light of recent researches and policies, it is time to re-consider this important public health issue.     

大豆根边缘细胞对土荆芥组培根分泌物的响应

运用组织培养技术和悬空气培养法,研究了大豆根边缘细胞对土荆芥组培根分泌物的响应。结果表明：在土荆芥组培根分泌物作用下,随处理浓度的升高和处理时间的延长,边缘细胞数量和存活率持续下降。游离的根边缘细胞周围聚集了一些颗粒状物质,根边缘细胞可能螯合土荆芥根系分泌物。土荆芥根系分泌物能促进根冠果胶甲基酯酶活性上调,但是随着处理浓度增大和处理时间延长,这种促进效应降低。这些结果表明土荆芥组培根分泌物对大豆根边缘细胞具有一定的胁迫效应,根边缘细胞通过加速死亡并分泌一些活性物质螯合土荆芥根系分泌物,可在一定范围内缓解根系分泌物的毒害作用。