Assessment of estrogen disrupting potency in animal foodstuffs of China by combined biological and chemical analyses

Food has been documented as one of major routes for human exposure to environmental estrogens（EEs）, but information on the occurrence of EEs in animal foodstuffs is still scarce.This study analyzed estrogenic activity in 16 types of animal foodstuffs（n = 142） collected from four cities（Wuhan, Guangzhou, Wenzhou and Yantai） of China by combined yeast estrogen screen（YES） bioassay and chemical analysis. By bioassay, all samples＇ extracts were found to induce estrogenic activities and the bioassay-derived 17β-estradiol equivalent（EEQbio） ranged from 8.29 to 118.32 ng/g. In addition, the samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for further chemical analysis. 17β-Estradiol was found in all samples in this survey at levels of 0.44 to 15.04 ng/g.All samples had 33.1% detection rate of 17α-ethinylestradiol（EE2）, and the maximum concentration was 2.80 ng/g. Bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenols were detected in 83.8% and83.1% of samples, with concentrations up to 12.56 ng/g and 35.76 ng/g, respectively.However, the concentrations of estrone, diethylstilbestrol and 4-t-octylphenol were found to be below the limit of detection. A comparison of EEQbiomeasured from the YES assay and EEQchemcalculated from chemical analysis showed good correlation（R2= 0.84）. Based on the results, the YES assay can be used as a rapid pre-screening method for monitoring the levels of estrogenic activity in large numbers of animal foodstuffs, and chemical analysis used in combination can be used for the identification of specific EEs.     

上海市畜牧业污染控制与黄浦江上游水源保护

以地处黄浦江上游的松江、金山、青浦３区县为例,采用畜禽粪尿排泄系数,结合当地畜禽饲养量,估计１９９６年畜牧业污染物流失量为ＢＯＤ５５．５７万ｔ,氨氮０．８４３万ｔ,已成为区域内最大的有机污染源,对黄浦江上游水源保护区构成了严重威胁。分析了区域内畜牧业规模化集中饲养与分散饲养并存的特点,探讨了控制和治理污染的对策。     

红外分光光度法测定水中油类物质吸附方法的比较

吸附处理是红外法测定石油类的一个重要环节.通过实验对吸附柱法和振荡吸附法进行对较,结果表明动植物油质量浓度为0.560 mg/L～145 mg/L的水样,振荡吸附法吸附效率高于吸附柱法.振荡吸附法还具有操作时间短、硅酸镁耗量低、对操作人员危害性小、样品可批量分析的优点.     

Salem Revisited: Updating the MTBE Controversy

I am wronged. It is a shameful thing that you should mind these folks that are out of their wits.* *Statement of Martha Carrier (excerpt), hanged as a witch on 19 August, 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. In all, 20 innocent persons were executed in 1692 as a result of the hysteria attending the Salem witch trials. After the executions, the court was prohibited from "reliance on spectral and intangible evidence". No prosecutions were successful thereafter. See generally, The Salem Witch Trials 1692: A Chronology of Events , at www.salemweb.com/memorial This article provides background information regarding the emerging controversies involving methyl tert -butyl ether (MTBE) and litigation involving leaking underground storage tanks (USTs) in general. It examines (1) the administrative, legislative and litigation history of MTBE in the context of the Clear Air Act and state environmental statues; (2) the importance of applicable RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) deadlines regarding UST compliance in these cases; (3) the question of MTBE toxicity for personal injury claims; and (4) the scope of damages available in cases filed by plaintiffs who are not physically impacted by contamination. The authors conclude that the MTBE controversy does not appear to be a legitimate public health or environmental crisis, but rather is yet another speculative product of the American legal industry.     

Patterns of development and succession of vegetated hummocks in slacks of the Alexandria coastal dune field, South Africa

Dune hummocks (small aeolian dunes formed by sand deposition in and around pioneer plants) are the smallest vegetated dune unit; they occur along the entire South African coastline but are poorly studied. Structural properties and distribution of the two main hummock-forming plants:Arctotheca populifolia (a pioneer species with fast growth rate and rapid turnover) andGazania rigens (a later colonizer with slower growth) were investigated. A marked vegetation succession exists across the floor of the slack as a result of the migration of transverse dune ridges across the slack.Arctotheca hummocks were initiated on the newly exposed eastern margin of the slack, and were replaced about midway across the width of the slack byGazania hummocks. Hummocks increased in size with distance from the eastern side of the slack.Gazania hummocks attain a greater vegetation height, support a greater vegetation complexity and mass, and attain a larger maximum size thanArctotheca hummocks. Succession, defined as both the replacement of plant species as well as site modification within the plants over time, was evident. Since the growth form and dynamics determine (1) the ability of plants to trap wind-borne soil and detritus, (2) the shape of the hummocks, and (3) the habitat complexity available to spiders and insects, the ecology of the hummocks is probably determined largely by the vegetation characteristics of the hummock-forming plants.     

Atrazine is not readily mineralised in 24 temperate soils regardless of pre-exposure to triazine herbicides

Mineralisation of atrazine in soil has been shown to depend on previous exposure of the herbicide. In this study, 24 Danish soils were collected and screened for potential to mineralise atrazine. Six soils were chosen, because they had never been exposed to atrazine, whereas 18 soils were chosen because of their history of application of atrazine or the related compound terbuthylazine. None of the 24 soils revealed a mineralisation potential of more than 4% of the added atrazine within a 60 day timeframe. In an atrazine adapted French soil, we found 60% mineralisation of atrazine in 30 days. Cattle manure was applied in order to boost the microbial activity, and a 2-3% increase in the atrazine mineralisation was found in some of the temperate soils, while in the highly adapted French soil it caused a 5% reduction.     

水中矿物油和动植物油测定方法探讨

准确测定水中矿物油和动植物油含量对环境分析工作具有重要意义。通过实验证明 ,内径 17mm ,干法装柱的玻璃层析柱 ,具有节约洗脱剂、省时、回收率高的特点     

农牧交错区生态环境建设与可持续农业发展研究

我国北方农牧交错区的地理分布特点，决定了它在我国农业生态上举足轻重的地位。面对日益严峻的环境问题，加大农牧交错区生态环境建设力度对改善该区生态环境和实现农业可持续发展具有十分重要的作用。针对农牧交错区面临的主要生态问题，提出了该区生态环境建设及实现农业可持续发展的基本对策。     

光合细菌在环境领域的研究与应用进展

光合细菌是自然界中一类特殊的微生物,它可以借助光能进行营养物质的代谢和生长。随着近年来研究的逐步深入,发现光合细菌在环境领域的水体净化、脱氮除磷、生物质能化以及农牧业生产等相关领域都发挥着重要的作用。文章系统的介绍了光合细菌的分类和生理生化性质特征,并综述了光合细菌在环境及其相关领域的研究和应用进展,同时,结合目前已经广泛应用的技术手段提出了光合细菌在水污染控制等环境领域应用的一些新的技术设想和研究思路。     

Recovery of ammonia from poultry litter using flat gas permeable membranes

The use of flat gas-permeable membranes was investigated as components of a new process to capture and recover ammonia (NH₃) in poultry houses. This process includes the passage of gaseous NH₃ through a microporous hydrophobic membrane, capture with a circulating dilute acid on the other side of the membrane, and production of a concentrated ammonium (NH₄) salt. Bench- and pilot-scale prototype systems using flat expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes and a sulfuric acid solution consistently reduced headspace NH₃ concentrations from 70% to 97% and recovered 88% to 100% of the NH₃ volatilized from poultry litter. The potential benefits of this technology include cleaner air inside poultry houses, reduced ventilation costs, and a concentrated liquid ammonium salt that can be used as a plant nutrient solution.