Evaluation of potential toxic effects of occupational inhalation exposure to licorice root dust

Licorice, a plant indigenous to southern Europe, the Middle East, and northern China, exhibits several pharmacological properties, including estrogenic, anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, and anti-tussive activities. Prolonged use of licorice is known to produce headaches, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, edema, lethargy, dyspnea, sodium retention and loss of potassium in humans. However, to date, the potential adverse health effects due to occupational inhalation exposure of licorice root dust remains unknown. This study was, therefore, undertaken to address this issue. In this cross-sectional study, individuals (30 workers) occupationally exposed to licorice root dust at a licorice producing plant in Shiraz, Iran were recruited. Similarly, 30 healthy male unexposed employees at a telecommunications industry, with identical demographic and socioeconomic status, without any past or current exposure to licorice dust or habitual ingestion of this compound, served as the referent group. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured. Further, individuals underwent electrocardiography, clinical examination and blood chemistry tests. To assess the extent to which subjects were exposed to licorice root dust, atmospheric concentrations of this compound were also measured in the plant. There were no differences in age, weight, height and duration of exposure to licorice dust or length of employment between exposed and referent groups. Atmospheric measurement of licorice dust showed that concentration exceeded the permissible limit of 5 mg m^?3. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures of exposed subjects were significantly higher than those of the referent group. Similarly, blood analysis revealed that serum concentrations of potassium and platelet counts were significantly lower in exposed subjects than in referent individuals. Questionnaire data demonstrated that symptoms such as headaches, lethargy, and vertigo were more common in exposed subjects. No abnormal changes were noted in the electrocardiographs of exposed or referent subjects. Our findings provide evidence that inhalation exposure to high concentrations of licorice dust is associated with an increased prevalence of headache, lethargy, and vertigo, as well as hypertension and hypokalemia. None of these changes resulted in increased morbidity and mortality in exposed workers.     

氯丹和灭蚁灵污染场地土壤对陆生生物的毒性效应

为向污染土壤的监测、生态毒理诊断及修复提供方法和数据,以氯丹、灭蚁灵污染场地土壤为供试土壤,测定了氯丹、灭蚁灵复合污染对蚯蚓的急性毒性效应以及对小麦、小白菜、玉米和水稻4种植物种子发芽率和根伸长抑制率的影响.结果表明,蚯蚓对本场地污染响应十分敏感,处理d 3高浓度组开始出现死亡,此后死亡率随污染物浓度增大而上升,d 14部分高浓度组死亡率达到100%;同一浓度下,氯丹和灭蚁灵对4种植物种子根伸长抑制率均显著大于对种子发芽的抑制率,植物的根生长比种子发芽对有机污染物的毒性更为敏感.4种植物种子对污染场地土壤的敏感性为小麦>小白菜>水稻>玉米.氯丹和灭蚁灵对蚯蚓的毒性要大于对这几种植物的毒性,蚯蚓对氯丹和灭蚁灵的响应更加敏感.因此,蚯蚓作为指示生物,其急性毒性试验可作为氯丹和灭蚁灵污染场地的诊断指标,诊断周期以14 d为宜.     

桑树幼苗对缺铁环境的生理反应

为揭示桑树Morus alba L.对缺铁环境的响应机制,对桑树幼苗在缺铁环境下对难溶性铁的吸收、根系的铁还原活性、活性还原物质的分泌及根际的酸化作用进行了探讨。缺铁培养12 d后,桑树地上部铁含量和叶片叶绿素含量显著降低而叶片丙二醛含量显著增加。缺铁植株可吸收利用难溶性Fe2O3。在缺铁环境下可观察到根际的明显酸化,培养液的pH也随着缺铁处理时间的延长（1、3、4、5、6、7 d）而降低。而且,缺铁处理显著提高根系铁还原酶活性而显著降低根际Eh值。缺铁处理6、7 d后株均活性还原性物质的分泌量为（20.37±0.73）、（37.49±0.30）μmol·d^-1,显著高于加铁处理的株均分泌量[（11.89±0.46）、（12.32±0.30）μmol·d^-1]。此外,在缺铁环境中植株根冠比（0.25±0.06）也显著高于加铁处理（0.14±0.02）。这些结果说明,缺铁诱导的根际酸化、根系还原作用、还原物的分泌及根系的生长可能是桑树幼苗吸收利用难溶性铁的生理响应机制。     

植物根系分泌物研究方法评述

根系分泌物是植物与土壤微环境进行物质、能量和信息交流的重要媒介,对根系分泌物数量、种类的研究是植物营养、化感作用、环境修复等研究领域的重要内容。目前,根系分泌物研究中应用的收集方法主要有溶液培收集、土培收集、基质培收集和连续性根系分泌物收集系统等;分离纯化方法主要有树脂法、衍生化与萃取法、层析法和分子膜与超速离心法;检测方法有生物活性测定方法和仪器分析方法。文章结合实例综合论述了这些根系分泌物收集、分离纯化以及测定的方法,为研究者找到合适的根系分泌物研究方法提供参考。     

航电电源板层间CAF短路失效机理及退化时间分析

目的 掌握CAF失效机理MTTF分析方法,以便于在实际案例中实施工程优化决策,从而降低故障危害风险和寿命周期总费用。方法 以某航电电源母板CAF失效为例,基于CAF失效机理的物理化学变化时间特性模型算法,建立电压、介质间距和MTTF变化关系,以辅助工程优化决策。结果 基于仿真计算数据,形成对特定范围产品的改进和处置决策,从而限制失效危害风险的进一步扩散,降低了产品生命周期维护费用,并提升了客户满意度。结论 掌握装备常见失效机理和采取适宜的应对措施,是持续改进装备可用性、可靠性和环境适应性的必要条件。     

生物炭添加对湿地植物菖蒲根系通气组织和根系泌氧的影响

在处理污水的潜流人工湿地中,湿地植物容易受到缺氧胁迫.尽管菖蒲(Acorus calamus L.)是一类对缺氧条件具有显著抵抗能力的湿地植物,但菖蒲的生理响应并不能完全消除湿地长期缺氧带来的胁迫.生物炭添加能够缓解菖蒲体内超氧化物和过氧化物的积累,显著降低膜脂过氧化程度,但生物炭对缓解缺氧胁迫的具体机制尚不清晰.因此,本研究通过在温室内构建5种不同的生物炭湿地,采用植物生态学分析方法,将植物根系通气组织、根孔隙度和根系泌氧相结合,研究菖蒲根部组织对生物炭添加的响应机制.结果表明,通过在传统潜流人工湿地中添加生物炭,有利于菖蒲形成根系通气组织,增大根孔隙度,生物炭投加量与根孔隙度具有显著正相关关系.在湿地中添加生物炭将利于O_2通过通气组织传输至地下部分,并以根系泌氧(radial oxygen loss,ROL)的形式扩散至根际,显著提高根系泌氧量.与其它光强相比,在3 000μmol·(m~2·s)~(-1)条件下,菖蒲泌氧能力较强,生物炭投加比例对植物ROL的影响不显著.     

电磁辐射环境的潜在致突变水平

通过蚕豆根尖细胞微核试验,对微波通信基站和广播电台周围环境电磁辐射水平进行监测,了解了不同电磁辐射强度与蚕豆根尖细胞微核率之间的关系。指出较强电磁辐射水平对蚕豆根尖微核率的形成具有显著影响,电磁辐射环境可能存在潜在的致突变危险。建议国家有关部门应尽快对有关场所中的电磁辐射环境,以及对公众健康影响的问题作深入研究,制定可操作性法规,并明确界定有关场所可执行的标准,使建筑物高层电磁辐射环境污染得到有效地控制和管理。     

Types of Ectomycorrhiza as Pollution Stress Indicators: Case Studies in Slovenia

Mycorrhiza is the main spatial and temporal linkage between different constituents in a forest ecosystem. The functional compatibility and stress tolerance of ectomycorrhizal types is species specific, and therefore the information on the ectomycorrhizal community structure can add to the understanding of processes in forest ecosystems and can also be applied as tools for bioindication of pollution stress in forest soils. We have studied the effects of pollution (N and S) on trees and forest soils by: (1) quantification of ECM types diversity as in situ indicators in forest stands, (2) determination and quantification of pollution-sensitive or -insensitive ECM types as passive monitors, (3) root growth and development of ECM on nonmycorrhizal spruce seedlings, planted at the studied sites (active monitors), and (4) ECM infection (a bioassay based on mycorrhizal inoculum potential) of seedlings in an experimental set-up as ex situ testers. ECM species richness for Norway spruce trees (Picea abies) showed higher values in unpolluted sites than in polluted ones, while the differences were not significant for European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica). As pollution-sensitive or -insensitive ECM species in spruce forests, we suggest Hydnum rufescens (sensitive) and Paxillus involutus (unsensitive). Mycorrhizal potential in Norway spruce seedlings as a bioassay for soil N and S pollution was effective, and is suggested as an additional, standardized and widely comparable system in bioindication of soil pollution.     

几何法测定生物栅中美人蕉根系面积

设计了1种测定生物栅中水生植物根系面积的方法.通过分别测定美人蕉(Canna indica)3级根平均直径和2级根平均直径计算得到植物根系总面积.这种方法比常用的不分级测定植物根系直径及表面积的方法准确度高1个数量级,可以应用于大根系植物的根系测定.研究结果表明,生物栅装置中美人蕉根系总面积39.4 m2,3级根系面积是2级根系的22.2倍,而体积比接近2:1,3级根和2级根平均直径比小于1:10.应用生物栅技术处理富营养化水体时,表面积占绝对优势的3级根系在对氮、磷等元素的吸收,作为微生物附着的重要载体及加强植物与填料的固着能力,改善根系与填料的空间结构等方面起重要作用.     

干旱区土壤小麦根系界面Cd行为的环境影响研究——以甘肃省白银市区耕作灰钙土为例

通过大田环境-土壤-作物系统Cd行为的环境影响研究,初步发现,共存元素Cd、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn对Cd元素在土壤-作物根系界面行为的影响表现为正效应,其影响顺序为Cd>Pb>Cu>Zn>Ni;pH值、粘粒、粗粉粒含量与根系Cd含量呈负相关;磷和砂粒含量与根系Cd含量呈正相关;细粉粒、粗粘粒、有机质和CEC