The Food Debate: Ethical versus Substantial Equivalence

Substantial equivalence (SE) has beenintroduced to assess novel foods, includinggenetically modified (GM) food, by means ofcomparison with traditional food. Besides anumber of objections concerning its scientificvalidity for risk assessment, the maindifficulty with SE is that it implies that foodcan be qualified on a purely substantial basis.SE embodies the assumption that only reductivescientific arguments are legitimate fordecision-making in public policy due to theemphasis on legal issues. However, the surge ofthe food debate clearly shows that thistechnocratic model is not accepted anymore.Food is more than physico-chemical substanceand encompasses values such as quality andethics. These values are legitimate in theirown right and require that new democraticprocesses are set up for transverse,transdisciplinary assessment in partnershipwith society. The notion of equivalence canprovide a reference scale in which to examinethe various legitimate factors involved:substance (SE), quality (QualitativeEquivalence: QE), and ethics (EthicalEquivalence: EE). QE requires that newqualitative methods of evaluation that are notbased on reductive principles are developed. EEcan provide a basis for the development of anEthical Assurance as a counterpart of QualityAssurance in the food sector. In France, asecond circle of expertise is being set up toaddress the social issues in food public policybeside classical risk assessment by the firstcircle of expertise. Since ethics is likely tobecome an organizing principle of the secondcircle, the equivalence ethical framework canprove instrumental in this context.     

Hazard identification and risk assessment procedure for genetically modified plants in the field--GMHAZID

The safe application of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) requires a risk assessment prior to their proposed use. Based on methods from the chemical industry, we developed a hazard identification procedure for the risk assessment of field tests with genetically modified plants. This risk assessment method, GMHAZID, is carried out in the form of guided brainstorm sessions. GMHAZID was tested with a case study for which a risk assessment had previously been made, and the results of the assessments were compared. The results showed that some new hazards potentially leading to uncontrolled spreading, in addition to those from the previous assessment, were identified using GMHAZID. GMHAZID also recognised some hazards leading to failures in the field experiments. We suggest that GMHAZID provides systematics, reliability, and transparency to the risk assessment procedure.     

Environmental risks of chemicals and genetically modified organisms: a comparison. Part II: Sustainability and precaution in risk assessment and risk management

The principles of precaution and sustainability require more consideration in the assessment of environmental risks posed by chemicals and genetically modified organisms. Instead of applying risk reduction measures when there are serious indications for damage, full scientific certainty is often waited for before taking action. The precautionary principle particularly should be applied in those cases in which the extent and probability of damage are uncertain, e.g. in the case of persistent chemicals which are additionally bioaccumulative or highly mobile. Based on these principles, environmental action targets for risks associated with GMOs and chemicals can be developed. Risk management not only includes statutory measures but also instruments designed to influence behaviour indirectly are important to achieve the goals. Particularly for risks of GMOs which provoke fear, risk communication is important. Some rules to which attention should be paid in communication with the public are presented.     

生物技术与生物安全

本文通过大量的实例介绍了国内外生物技术,特别是基因工程的进展。继而从伦理道德、对人类的健康和环境的影响等方面阐述了生物技术对人类生存安全可能带来的威胁。最后就生物安全的立法等问题提出了建设性意见。     

R-工程菌表达产物酯酶B1的纯化及其特性

为将酯酶B1应用于果蔬农药残留的降解,对其进行分离纯化,并对其酶学特性进行研究。R-工程菌在LB液体培养基中37℃震荡培养14 h,细胞经石英砂冰浴研磨破壁,粗提酶液经硫酸铵分级盐析、Sephadex G-50分子筛柱层析脱盐、DEAE-Sepharose FastFlow离子交换层析、Sephadex G-75分子筛柱层析得到凝胶电泳均一的酯酶B1。SDS-PAGE结果表明,该酶分子量为67 kDa。酯酶B1的纯化倍数为43.4,收率为2.94％。该酶的最佳作用条件是37℃、pH=7.O,常温(25℃)下,酯酶B1的半衰期为62 h,42℃时该酶仍然十分稳定。酶促反应动力学曲线采用双倒数法,37℃时最大酶促反应速度Vm=0.73 mg/(mL·min),米氏常数Km=3.89 mg/mL。酯酶B1活力强、在常温下反应速度快、稳定高,说明其用于果蔬农残降解在技术上是可行的。本文将酯酶B1纯化至电泳纯,因而工艺复杂、收率较低,但在实际应用中,只需进行粗分离,工艺简单,收率高达70％,因此,该酶的开发应用在经济上也是可行的。     

廊坊市人民医院废水处理运行与改造

文章分析了廊坊市人民医院的典型水质水量,介绍了该医院现有处理工艺组成和日常运行策略,分析了现有工艺存在的问题,技术改造与扩建的关键技术,并给出了推荐的技术改造与扩建工艺流程。分析结果表明,提高设计处理水量、增加一体化污水生物处理单元、增加污泥处理单元是廊坊市医院废水处理技术改造和扩建的有效手段。     

遗传稳定型六六六、甲基对硫磷降解基因工程菌的构建及特性研究

通过转座子介导同源重组的方法,将甲基对硫磷水解酶基因mpd导入到六六六降解菌BHC-A的染色体上, 构建了能同时降解六六六和甲基对硫磷的基因工程菌BHC-A-mpd. 对其生长特性和降解特性的研究表明, 工程菌在LB培养基中的生长特性与原始菌株没有差别, 生长至对数期A600nm值都可达到2.5;对六六六的降解特性和原始菌株相同, 可在10h内将5mg/L的六六六完全降解. mpd基因在BHC-A-mpd中稳定表达,BHC-A-mpd可以降解多种有机磷类农药.该基因工程菌的构建为六六六和甲基对硫磷复合污染环境的生物修复奠定了基础.     

固定化GEM/CAS串联工艺强化处理阿特拉津废水

考察了固定化基因工程菌强化处理(GEM)/传统活性污泥处理(CAS)串联工艺对阿特拉津废水的处理效果,水力停留时间(HRT)对处理效果的影响,基因工程菌的生长和流失情况.结果表明,当HRT为4～24h,阿特拉津初始浓度为20mg/L,以实际生活污水为碳源时,串联工艺均可以实现对高浓度高负荷的阿特拉津生物强化处理.水力停留时间为24h时,固定化细胞反应器(串联工艺A段)的处理效果最好,阿特拉津平均去除率为96.64%,出水浓度为0.56ms/L.水力停留时间为12、8和4h时,平均去除率分别为88.59%、89.79%、88.61%.反应器在以上4个HRT时, COD平均去除率分别为72.76%、64.59%、66.16%和65.84%. 在整个反应过程中,没有出现大量工程菌流失的现象,同时在固定化颗粒的表面以及浅层均观察到了大量工程菌菌体,固定化颗粒的表面还出现了生物膜和菌胶团,反应结束时,颗粒形态完好,强度满足本工艺条件下长期使用的需求.     

转基因作物对鱼类的生态毒理效应研究综述

转基因作物潜在的健康和环境风险一直以来颇受争议,转基因作物加工成动物饲料后可能会诱导动物产生免疫应激反应,影响动物的生长发育、繁殖等。鱼类是水生脊椎动物的代表,已广泛应用于水环境的监测,但目前转基因作物对鱼类的饲用安全性研究还相对较少。文章基于转基因作物作为鱼饲料原料对鱼类生态毒理学效应的研究现状,综述了转基因作物对鱼的生长表现、生理生化、脏器功能及发育、组织病理以及行为活动等方面的生态毒理学效应,分析了当前研究中存在的问题,并对今后的研究趋势进行了探讨。