Nickel oxide nanoparticles exert cytotoxicity via oxidative stress and induce apoptotic response in human liver cells (HepG2)

Increasing use of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) necessitates an improved understanding of their potential impact on human health. Previously, toxic effects of NiO NPs have been investigated, mainly on airway cells. However, information on effect of NiO NPs on human liver cells is largely lacking. In this study, we investigated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated cytotoxicity and induction of apoptotic response in human liver cells (HepG2) due to NiO NPs exposure. Prepared NiO NPs were crystalline and spherical shaped with an average diameter of 44 nm. NiO NPs induced cytotoxicity (cell death) and ROS generation in HepG2 cells in dose-dependent manner. Further, ROS scavenger vitamin C reduced cell death drastically caused by NiO NPs exposure indicating that oxidative stress plays an important role in NiO NPs toxicity. Micronuclei induction, chromatin condensation and DNA damage in HepG2 cells treated with NiO NPs suggest that NiO NPs induced cell death via apoptotic pathway. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that following the exposure of HepG2 cells to NiO NPs, the expression level of mRNA of apoptotic genes (bax and caspase-3) were up-regulated whereas the expression level of anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 was down-regulated. Moreover, activity of caspase-3 enzyme was also higher in NiO NPs treated cells. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report demonstrating that NiO NPs caused cytotoxicity via ROS and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells, which is likely to be mediated through bax/bcl-2 pathway. This work warrants careful assessment of Ni NPs before their commercial and industrial applications.     

室内尘埃中铅的赋存形态与儿童血铅的相关性研究

有关室内尘埃中铅的赋存形态与儿童血铅的相关性研究尚未见报道。在对某地儿童血铅进行调查期间,发现当地儿童血铅浓度与室内尘埃中铅的水溶态、离子交换态、腐殖酸结合态、铁锰氧化态、强有机结合态和残渣态呈正相关,但不显著,无统计学意义。但与总铅浓度呈显著正相关(R=0.447,P=0.032),与铅的碳酸盐结合态呈高显著相关(R=0.537,P=0.008)。在此基础上,将儿童血铅分别与尘埃中铅暴露量、摄入量和潜在剂量进行相关分析,结果表明,儿童血铅与室内尘总铅摄入量和总铅潜在剂量正相关但无统计意义,与尘总铅暴露量显著相关(R=0.431,P=0.040),与碳酸盐态的暴露量(R=0.537,P=0.008)、摄入量(R=0.538,P=0.008)和潜在剂量(R=0.540,P=0.008)高度显著相关。提示在土壤和尘埃中铅的碳酸盐态含量较高的地区,碳酸盐态铅可能是造成儿童血铅超标的主要原因。     

大连市肿瘤发生率与居民血硒水平的研究

采用新极谱法测定大连市健康居民３００例和癌症患者５０例全血的硒含量,分别为１４６．５±５１．０μｇ／Ｌ（１４８．１±５０．２μｇ／Ｌ和１４４．７±５１．９μｇ／Ｌ）和１２２．７±５５．９μｇ／Ｌ是正态分布类型,均小于我国低硒地区１６０μｇ／Ｌ是     

Respiratory health of road-side vendors in a large industrialized city

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: The literature reports a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms associated with exposure to motor vehicle exhaust emissions and people exposed to vehicle emissions are at risk of reduced lung function and cardiovascular performance. Although the effect of traffic emissions is a known risk to respiratory health, retailers are often situated along major roads in a busy urban environment to maximise customers. Shop assistants in an air-conditioned environment should be less exposed to traffic fumes and their lung function should be better preserved compared to 'unprotected' vendors exposed directly to vehicle emissions. The lung function of these two groups of workers has not previously been compared. The aims of this study are to determine if there is a difference in the concentration of respirable particles of diameter less than 10 micrometers (PM10) inside and outside air-conditioned shops along a busy major road; and to compare the lung function parameters, blood lead levels and respiratory symptoms between road-side vendors directly 'exposed' to traffic fumes and vendors working in 'protected' air-conditioned shops along the same road. METHODS: Roadside vendors (n=33) and adjacent shop assistants (n=31) were recruited for the study in a district known to have high emissions and pollution measures. All subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire providing the frequency of their respiratory symptoms. Spirometry pulmonary function tests were conducted and exhaled carbon monoxide levels (ECO), oxygen saturation and blood lead levels (BLL) were measured. PM10 level was concurrently measured in the subject's working environment. Pulmonary function data and ECO levels collected from a cohort of university staff aged > or = 30 years (n=92) at a university campus were included for comparison. RESULTS: The concentration of particulate matter (PM10) at the roadside (210 +/- 70 microg/m3) was significantly higher than inside the shops (130 +/- 40 microg/m3). There was no difference in lung function parameters or BLL between the groups, however the forced vital capacity of both groups of vendors was significantly lower than a 'control' cohort of academic institution personnel (n=92). DISCUSSION: This study illustrated that while the level of pollution improved with air conditioning, this may not be sufficient to prevent respiratory consequences. Our data suggests that a reduction in occupational exposure is not enough to protect these workers. CONCLUSIONS: Air-conditioned work environment is insufficient to protect the respiratory system against the adverse effects of exposure to vehicle emissions. RECOMMENDATIONS: The overwhelming effect of exposure during travel to and from work and at home cannot be underestimated. More stringent guidelines to control pollution appear necessary to protect the respiratory health of both shop-keepers and road-side vendors and further studies to explore the effect on respiratory health of the exposure to pollutants associated with commuting to and from work are warranted.     

人外周血淋巴细胞彗星试验检测饮用水水质毒性研究

应用人外周血淋巴细胞彗星试验对无锡充山水厂、中桥水厂,常州西石桥水厂进出水及金坛市拟用水源地长荡湖湖心水样的生物毒性进行了研究．结果表明,各水样的有机浓集物均可对人外周血淋巴细胞DNA产生不同程度的损伤,存在一定的遗传毒性．试验结果与各水样水质污染状况基本一致．同时,季节变化以及常规水处理过程对水样的生物毒性也有影响．研究表明,彗星试验可有效地用于检测饮用水质有机浓集物遗传毒性．     

多氯联苯(PCBs)胁迫下鲫鱼肝脏EROD酶活性与血清性激素含量的相关性研究

以鲫鱼(Carassius auratus)为试验鱼类,研究其暴露于不同浓度的PCBs(多氯联苯)后鱼肝组织中EROD酶活性和血清性激素含量的动态变化,探讨了2者间的相关性。结果表明,鲫鱼在PCBs中暴露后,其肝脏组织中EROD酶被诱导,酶活性随PCBs浓度增大而增强,呈明显的剂量-效应关系;EROD酶活性随暴露时间延长而上升,10 d后达平衡;鲫鱼血清中睾酮含量随PCBs浓度增大和暴露时间延长呈下降趋势,但雌二醇含量则显著上升,表明PCBs对鱼类具有环境雌激素效应;在一定浓度范围内,EROD酶活性与血清睾酮含量呈负相关,与血清雌二醇含量呈正相关。因此可用鱼肝EROD酶和血清性激素含量的协同变化作为污染生物标志物来评价PCBs的早期污染生态效应。     

论生态安全

生态安全是指人类赖以生态和发展的生态环境处于健康和可持续发展状态，当代，人类生态系统处于脆弱状态。生态安全是区域和国家安全的重要组成部分。以国家安全、金融安全等具有同等重要的战略地位，我国生态安全正面临严峻的挑战，建立我国生态安全体系，十分紧迫。     

Mercury bioaccumulation in fish in an artificial lake used to carry out cage culture

As a global toxic pollutant,mercury(Hg)bioaccumulation within food chain could be influenced by human disturbance.Ten typical fish species were collected from Changshou Lake,an artificial lake used to carry out cage fish culture,to investigate the C/N isotopic compositions and Hg bioaccumulation in fish.The results showed that the total Hg(THg)and methylmercury(MeHg)levels in fish muscles((56.03±43.96)and(32.35±29.57)ng/g,wet weight),comparable with those in most studies in China,were significantly lower than the international marketing limit(0.5 mg/kg).Past human input for cage culture in this lake led to abnormal~(15)N enrichment in food chain,as the quantitative trophic levels based onδ~(15)N were different with that classified by feeding behaviors.This phenomenon subsequently demonstrated that it should be considered thoughtfully with respect to the application of the traditional method for understanding Hg bioaccumulation power by the slope of log_(10)[Hg]withδ~(15)N regression in specific water body(i.e.,Changshou Lake).In addition,no significant linear correlation between Hg and body weight or length of some fish species was observed,suggesting that the fish growth in the eutrophic environment was disproportionate with Hg bioaccumulation,and fish length or weight was not the main factor affecting Hg transfer with food web.The occurrence of human disturbance in aquatic system presents a challenge to a better understanding of the Hg bioaccumulation and biomagnification within the food chain.     

镉在鲤鱼组织内的蓄积及对血浆指标的影响

随着工业的迅速发展,水环境中的镉污染日趋严重,镉的蓄积性强,毒性高。为了进一步研究镉在鱼类不同组织内的蓄积及其对血浆指标的影响,以鲤鱼(Cyprinus carpio)为受试生物,设置3个浓度梯度,镉浓度分别为0(对照组)、5和50μg·L-1,试验周期为30d。结果显示,随着暴露时间的延长,染毒组鲤鱼鳃、肝胰脏和肾脏中镉蓄积量与对照组相比均显著升高(p<0.05),其中肾脏蓄积量最大,其次为肝胰脏和鳃,且50 μg·L-1染毒组各组织镉蓄积量显著高于5 μg·L-1染毒组(p<0.05);30d时,5和50 μg·L-1染毒组鳃、肝胰脏和肾脏中镉蓄积量分别为对照组的12.3和43.5倍、5.1和27.3倍、11.9和70.8倍;鲤鱼肌肉中仅检测到微量镉(0.02～0.04mg·kg-1),且暴露时间和镉暴露浓度不影响肌肉中镉的蓄积量。整个试验期间,各染毒组血浆中钙和磷含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量和谷草转氨酶(GOT)活性与对照组相比无显著差异(p>0.05)。研究表明,不同程度的水体镉污染均能造成鲤鱼各组织(肌肉除外)内较高浓度的镉蓄积,但对血浆指标无显著影响。     

Perfluoroalkane acids in human milk under the global monitoring plan of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (2008–2019)

● Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid highest in human milk. ● All other perfluoroalkane substances had median values of zero (101 samples). ● Branched PFOS recommended to be analyzed separately from linear isomer. ● PFOS and PFOA showed differentiated regional and income distribution. ● Human health risk assessment values not yet available at global level. Within the global monitoring plan (GMP) established by article 16 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) are recommended for analysis in core matrices to assess occurrence and changes geographically and with time. In 101 samples consisting of 86 national pools and 15 pools from States in Brazil obtained between 2008 and 2019, PFHxS was detected in 17% of the national pools and none in Brazil. PFOA and PFOS had a detection frequency of 100% and 92%, respectively. Other perfluoroalkane substances (PFAS) had either low detection frequencies and median values of zero (carboxylic acids C₄–C₁₁; except PFOA) or could not be quantified in any sample (sulfonic acids, C₄–C₁₀, and long-chain carboxylic acids, C₁₂–C₁₄). Correlation between PFOA and PFOS was moderately (r = 0.58). Whereas median values were almost identical (18.9 pg/g f.w. for PFOS; 18.6 pg/g f.w. for PFOA), PFOS showed larger ranges (< 6.2 pg/g f.w.–212 pg/g f.w.) than PFOA (< 6.2 pg/g f.w.–63.4 pg/g f.w.). It was shown that wealthier countries had higher PFOA concentrations than poorer countries. No difference in concentrations was found for samples collected in countries having or not having ratified the Stockholm Convention amendments to list PFOS or PFOA. The goal to achieve 50% decrease in concentrations within ten years was met by Antigua and Barbuda, Kenya, and Nigeria for PFOS and by Antigua and Barbuda for PFOA. In a few cases, increases were observed; one country for PFOS, four countries for PFOA.