Arsenic species in electronic cigarettes: Determination and potential health risk

Human exposure to contaminants from electronic cigarettes(e-cigarettes) and the associated health effects are poorly understood.There has been no report on the speciation of arsenic in e-liquid(solution used for e-cigarettes) and aerosols.We report here determination of arsenic species in e-liquids and aerosols generated from vaping the e-liquid.Seventeen e-liquid samples of major brands,purchased from local and online stores in Canada and China,were analyzed for arsenic species using high-performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.Aerosols condensed from vaping the eliquids were also analyzed and compared for arsenic species.Six arsenic species were detected,including inorganic arsenate(iAs~Ⅴ),arsenite(iAs~Ⅲ),monomethylarsonic acid(MMA),and three new arsenic species not reported previously.In e-liquids,iAs~Ⅲ was detected in 59%,iAs~Ⅴ in 94%,and MMA in 47% of the samples.In the condensate of aerosols from vaping the e-liquids,iAs~Ⅲ was detected in 100%,iAsv in 88%,and MMA in 13% of the samples.Inorganic arsenic species were predominant in e-liquids and aerosols of e-cigarettes.The concentration of iAs~Ⅲ in the condensate of aerosols(median 3.27 μg/kg) was significantly higher than that in the e-liquid(median 1.08 μg/kg) samples.The concentration of inorganic arsenic in the vaping air was approximately 3.4 μg/m~3,which approaches to the permissible exposure limit(10 μg/m~3) set by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA).According to the Environmental Protection Agency's unit risk factor(4.3 × 10~(-3) per μg/m~3) for inhalation exposure to inorganic arsenic in the air,the estimated excess lung cancer risk from lifetime exposure to inorganic arsenic in the ecigarette vaping air(3.4 μg/m~3),assuming e-cigarette vaping at 1% of the time,is as high as1.5 × 10~(-4).These results raise health concerns over the exposure to arsenic from electronic cigarettes.     

Uranium speciation in coal bottom ash investigated via X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray photoelectron spectra

Similar to chromium contamination, the environmental contamination caused by uranium in radioactive coal bottom ash (CBA) is primarily dependent on the chemical speciation of uranium. However, the relationship between uranium speciation and environmental contamination has not been adequately studied. To determine the relationship between uranium speciation and environmental contamination, X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) analyses were performed to determine the uranium speciation in CBA exposed to different chemical environments and simulated natural environments. The leachability of the different forms of uranium in the CBA was studied via a simulated acid rain leaching experiment, and the results showed that 57.0% of the total uranium was leached out as U(VI). The results of a linear combination fit (LCF) of the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum revealed that in the raw CBA, the uranium mainly occurred as U3O8 (71.8%). However, in the iron-rich particles, the uranium mainly occurred as UO2 (91.9%) after magnetic separation. Magnetite is a ubiquitous ferrous-bearing oxide, and it was effective for the sorption of U(IV). The result of FeSO4 leaching experiment indicated that 96.57% of total uranium was reduced from U(VI) to U(IV) when infiltrated with the FeSO4 solution for 6 months. This result clearly demonstrated the changes in chemical valence of uranium in the coal ash and provided a conceptual principle for preventing uranium migration from ash to the surrounding soil and plants.     

小球藻对土壤-水稻系统砷化学形态转化的影响

为揭示绿藻对土壤-水稻系统砷形态转化的影响特征,系统分析了不同浓度小球藻共存条件下水稻土砷氧化还原与溶解释放行为的变化,并结合水稻培育试验,对小球藻影响水稻砷吸收与体内砷形态的发生机制进行探讨.试验设置对照组及小球藻浓度（以体积分数计）分别为1%、5%、10%的处理,研究了小球藻对溶液体系、淹水土壤体系和淹水土壤-水稻体系中砷的化学形态转化的作用.结果表明:加藻组使As（Ⅲ）溶液和淹水土壤E_h（氧化还原电位）与pH均普遍高于对照组.在As（Ⅲ）溶液体系中,加藻组As（Ⅲ）氧化转化率较对照组升高2.38%~4.95%,该作用在淹水土壤中得到印证,小球藻的共存使土壤孔隙水ρ[As（Ⅴ）]较对照组升高129.22%~221.41%,而ρ（甲基砷）出现显著下降（5.25%~53.31%）.水稻栽培试验进一步发现,小球藻明显促进土壤中晶体态铁铝氧化物向弱结晶与无定形铁铝氧化物结合态砷等的转化,导致水稻幼苗对砷的吸收积累量增加-3.4%~23.11%,推测这与小球藻作用下土壤孔隙水ρ（DOC）的增加密切相关.研究显示,尽管小球藻有利于提高淹水土壤体系E_h并加速As（Ⅲ）的氧化转化,但小球藻可能通过有机酸等分泌物的竞争吸附作用促进铁铝氧化物结合态砷的溶解释放,从而增加水稻砷吸收;淡水藻类对土壤-水稻体系砷吸收积累的风险值得引起高度关注,并需要在大田试验中进一步加以验证.      

Oxidation state specific analysis of arsenic species in tissues of wild-type and arsenic (+ 3 oxidation state) methyltransferase-knockout mice

Arsenic methyltransferase(As3mt) catalyzes the conversion of inorganic arsenic(i As) to its methylated metabolites, including toxic methylarsonite(MAs~Ⅲ) and dimethylarsinite(DMAs~Ⅲ). Knockout(KO) of As3 mt was shown to reduce the capacity to methylate i As in mice. However, no data are available on the oxidation states of As species in tissues of these mice. Here, we compare the oxidation states of As species in tissues of male C57BL/6 As3mt-KO and wild-type(WT) mice exposed to arsenite(iA s~Ⅲ) in drinking water. WT mice were exposed to50 mg/L As and As3mt-KO mice that cannot tolerate 50 mg/L As were exposed to 0, 15, 20, 25 or30 mg/L As. iA s~Ⅲaccounted for 53% to 74% of total As in liver, pancreas, adipose, lung, heart, and kidney of As3mt-KO mice; tri- and pentavalent methylated arsenicals did not exceed 10% of total As. Tissues of WT mice retained iA s and methylated arsenicals: iA s~Ⅲ, MAs~Ⅲand DMAs~Ⅲ represented 55%‐68% of the total As in the liver, pancreas, and brain. High levels of methylated species, particularly MAs~Ⅲ, were found in the intestine of WT, but not As3mt-KO mice,suggesting that intestinal bacteria are not a major source of methylated As. Blood of WT mice contained significantly higher levels of As than blood of As3mt-KO mice. This study is the first to determine oxidation states of As species in tissues of As3mt-KO mice. Results will help to design studies using WT and As3mt-KO mice to examine the role of iA s methylation in adverse effects of iA s exposure.     

水坝建设影响下澜沧江中游沉积物重金属形态分析及污染指数研究

采集了漫湾库区和大朝山库区25个采样断面的沉积物样品.每个库区均从上游到下游分为河流区、过渡区和湖泊区,研究了沉积物中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn元素的含量和赋存形态差异,利用次生相与原生相分布比值法(RSP)分析重金属元素的污染水平.结果表明,各库区从上游到下游沉积物中的重金属元素和碳氮元素均呈现出增加的趋势,而沉积物的中值粒径呈现出减小的趋势.漫湾库区的As、Cd、Zn元素平均含量均高于大朝山库区;大朝山库区的Cr、Mn、Ni、Pb元素平均含量均高于漫湾库区.在重金属赋存形态中,Cd和Mn元素以可交换态和残渣态为主;Cu、Pb以有机质态和残渣态为主;其余重金属元素均以残渣态为主.沉积物中的可交换态在有机碳的络合作用下转化成有机质态.在水坝建设的影响下沉积物中细颗粒和有机质含量明显上升,重金属在细颗粒物和有机质的共同作用下蓄积于坝前的沉积物中.PSR分析结果表明,在水坝运行影响下,各库区湖泊区和过渡区的污染水平均高于河流区.其中,Cd元素所有地区处于重度污染水平;Mn和Pb大部分区域处于中度污染水平;Cu元素大部分区域处于轻度污染水平;其余元素基本无污染.     

某冶炼厂周边土壤碳组分与铜形态的相关性

研究了浙江某冶炼污染区农田土壤有机碳组分与铜(Cu)形态的相关关系.结果表明,研究区土壤Cu形态含量为铁锰氧化物结合态残渣态碳酸盐结合态有机质结合态可交换态,其中铁锰氧化物结合态Cu和残渣态Cu含量分别占全量的39.55%和39.19%.土壤p H值和碳组分对不同形态Cu含量存在一定程度的影响,其中p H值与碳酸盐结合态Cu和铁锰氧化物结合态Cu均呈显著正相关;溶解性有机碳(DOC)含量与可交换态Cu呈极显著正相关;富里酸(FA)含量与可交换态Cu呈极显著正相关,与有机结合态Cu呈显著正相关;胡敏酸(HA)含量分别与可交换态Cu和有机结合态Cu呈极显著正相关.土壤DOC、FA、HA的动态变化对这些在移动性上存在差异的Cu形态间的相互转化会带来一定程度的影响,从而改变土壤Cu的迁移能力和生物有效性.     

Host acceptance behaviour of the small ermine moth Yponomeuta cagnagellus: larvae and adults use different stimuli

Summary. The sugar alcohol dulcitol is a strong feeding stimulant for larvae of the small ermine moth Yponomeuta cagnagellus. In this paper we tested the hypothesis that dulcitol also acts as an oviposition stimulant for this species. We found that the sugar-alcohol dulcitol was present on the surface of the host Euonymus europaeus. We also showed that (as yet unidentified compounds) can be systemically transferred (i.e. by uptake and transport via the vascular system) from E. europaeus, to the non-host Crataegus monogyna and stimulate oviposition. However, no evidence was found that this stimulatory activity was due to dulcitol. Systemic enrichment of C. monogyna with dulcitol did not induce oviposition on this plant. Neither was the application of pure dulcitol on artificial twigs effective. In addition it was shown that when dulcitol was removed from host plant extracts, oviposition stimulatory activity was retained in the fraction without dulcitol. Synergism between dulcitol and other stimulants could not be demonstrated, however, high concentrations of dulcitol in combination with the main stimulant(s) showed a trend towards enhanced oviposition. It is concluded that the sugar alcohol dulcitol can only play a limited role in adult host acceptance behaviour. The hypothesis that a host shift in the genus Yponomeuta from Celastraceae to Rosaceae might have been facilitated by the presence of small amounts of dulcitol in Rosaceae therefore needs to be restricted to larval feeding behaviour. Received 20 August 1999; accepted 6 December 1999     

贵阳酸雨中溶解态重金属质量浓度及形态分析

为了解酸雨地区雨水重金属的污染现状,季节性变化和形态分布特征,利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS)分析测试贵阳雨水中溶解态重金属的质量浓度,并在此基础上通过PHREEQC模型模拟雨水中重金属的形态分布特征.结果表明,贵阳雨水中溶解态重金属Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd质量浓度较低未出现超标现象,秋季和冬季雨水中Pd质量浓度较高超过国家标准.雨水中Co和Ni主要来源于地壳,几乎没有受到人为影响;Cu、Zn、Cd和Pb受到了不同程度的人为污染,且秋和冬季的污染比春季和夏季更为严重.贵阳雨水中溶解态重金属主要是以自由离子态、草酸络合物和硫酸根络合物的形式存在,它们分别占总溶解态重金属的47.27%~95.28%、0.72%~51.87%和0.50%~7.66%.溶解态重金属的形态主要受雨水酸化程度、酸化类型和阴离子配体的浓度控制.     

黄河中下游干流沉积物中重金属的赋存形态及其生态风险

在黄河中下游干流采集6个表层沉积物样品,采用Han和Banin连续提取法提取并采用ICP-MS和ICP-OES测定不同化学形态的Pb、Cu、Cd、Cr、Ni、Zn、Mn含量,在计算重金属富集因子、迁移系数、次生相和原生相分布比值的基础上,对重金属赋存形态、迁移能力、生物活性、污染状况和潜在生态风险进行了研究.结果表明,黄河中下游干流表层沉积物中重金属元素含量沿河流向先增加后降低,高含量点位出现在汜水汇入黄河后,支流的输入对黄河重金属含量具有较为明显的贡献.形态分析研究表明,Pb、Cu、Cr、Zn、Ni等5种重金属残渣态在其不同形态中有绝对优势,Cd可浸取态占明显优势,Mn的残渣态与可浸取态所占比例相当.富集因子分析表明,黄河中下游表层沉积物中重金属可分为3类:Cu、Cr、Mn基本无富集,Pb、Ni、Zn轻度富集,Cd中度到极高度富集;迁移系数研究表明黄河中下游表层沉积物重金属迁移系数和生物活性顺序为MnCdZnNiPbCuCr.次生相原生相比值法表明Cu、Cr、Ni、Zn无污染,Pb在3点位轻度污染,其它点位无污染,Mn在1、3、6点位轻度污染,其它点位无污染.综合各种评价方法,Cd是黄河中下游沉积物中污染程度最高的重金属,具有潜在生态风险,应引起重视.     

Phosphorus speciation and effects of environmental factors on release of phosphorus from sediments obtained from Taihu Lake,Tien Lake,and East Lake

Phosphorus is considered the primary nutrient limiting eutrophication. The release of phosphorus from sediments not only provides hydrophytes with essential nutrients, but can also produce entrophication in lakes. In this study, the sediment characteristics, phosphorus speciation, and environmental factors affecting phosphorus release from sediments from Taihu Lake, Tien Lake, and East Lake were investigated. The results indicated that phosphorus levels of sediments ranged from 647 ± 67 to 2343 ± 122 mg/kg. Inorganic phosphorus comprised the majority of total phosphorus. The main phosphorus speciation of sediments obtained from Taihu Lake and Tien Lake was Residual-P, and the main phosphorus speciation of sediment obtained from East Lake was NaOH-P. Phosphorus release occurred in acidic and alkaline conditions but more frequently under alkaline conditions. The amount of phosphorus released from the sediments increased as the disturbing intensity rose. In addition, less phosphorus was released in natural than anaerobic conditions. The amount of phosphorus released was elevated as temperature increased.