Parental phenols exposure and spontaneous abortion in Chinese population residing in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River

Widespread use of phenols has led to ubiquitous exposure to phenols. In experimental animals, phenols increased resorptions, reduced live litter size and fetal body weights. However, there are limited epidemiological evidences of the relationships between exposure to phenols and pregnancy outcomes. We evaluated the associations between parental urinary levels of various phenols and spontaneous abortion in a Chinese population residing in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. A case-control study was conducted that included 70 case couples with medically unexplained spontaneous abortion and 180 control couples who did not have a history of spontaneous abortion and had at least one living child. Both parental urinary phenols were measured by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry including bisphenol A (BPA), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 2,3,4-trichlorophenol (2,3,4-TCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), 4-n-octylphenol (4-n-OP) and 4-n-nonylphenol (4-n-NP). Compared with the low exposure group, there was an increased risk of spontaneous abortion with high paternal urinary PCP concentration [odds ratio (OR) = 2.09, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.05–4.14], and maternal exposure to 4-n-OP and alkylphenol(s) also significantly increased the risk of spontaneous abortion (OR = 2.21, 95% CI, 1.02–4.80; OR = 2.81, 95% CI, 1.39–5.65, respectively). Our study firstly provides the evidence that paternal PCP exposure, maternal 4-n-OP and alkylphenol(s) exposure are associated with spontaneous abortion in humans.     

Factors influencing on the bioaccessibility of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in size-specific dust from air conditioner filters

Size-specific concentrations and bioaccessibility of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in dust from air conditioner filters were measured, and the factors influencing the PBDE bioaccessibility were determined. Generally, the PBDE concentrations increased with decreasing dust particle size, and BDE209 (deca-BDE) was generally the predominant congener. The bioaccessibility ranged from 20.3% to 50.8% for tri- to hepta-BDEs, and from 5.1% to 13.9% for BDE209 in dust fractions of varied particle size. The bioaccessibility of most PBDE congeners decreased with increasing dust particle size. The way of being of PBDE (adsorbed to dust surface or incorporated into polymers) in dust significantly influenced the bioaccessibility. There was a significant negative correlation between the tri- to hepta-BDE bioaccessibility and organic matter (OM) contents in dust. Furthermore, tri- to hepta-BDE bioaccessibility increased with increasing polarity of OMs, while with decreasing aromaticity of OMs. The tri- to hepta-BDE bioaccessibility significantly positively correlated with the surface areas and pore volumes of dust. Using multiple linear regression analysis, it was found that the OM contents and pore volumes of dust were the most important factors to influence the tri- to hepta-BDE bioaccessibility and they could be used to estimate the bioaccessibility of tri- to hepta-BDEs according to the following equation: bioaccessibility (%) = 45.05 − 0.49 × OM% + 1.79 × pore volume. However, BDE209 bioaccessibility did not correlate to any of these factors.     

Development and application of LC–APCI–MS method for biomonitoring of animal and human exposure to imidacloprid

Imidacloprid (IMI) is a relatively new neuro-active neonicotinoid insecticide and nowadays one of the largest selling insecticides worldwide. In the present study a LC–APCI–MS based method was developed and validated for the quantification of imidacloprid and its main metabolite 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-CINA) in urine and hair specimens. The method was tested in biomonitoring of intentionally exposed animals and subsequently applied for biomonitoring of Cretan urban and rural population.     

Changing effluent chemistry affect survival,growth and physiological function of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia nilotica</Emphasis> seedlings in northwestern region of India

Recycling and conservation efforts for water are the need of the day because of the lack of new water sources and the ever-increasing demand for drinking water. Seedlings of Acacia nilotica L. were irrigated with: canal water (T₁, control); municipal effluent (T₂); textile effluent (T₃); steel effluent (T₄); textile + municipal effluent in 1:1 ratio (T₅); steel + municipal effluent in 1:2 ratio (T₆); steel + textile in 1:2 ratio (T₈) and steel + municipal + textile in 1:2:2 ratio (T₇) with views to observe effluents effect on the seedlings and its adaptability and to recommend safe disposal of these effluents. Seedlings in T₆, T₇ and T₈ showed 50% lesser height and collar diameter than those in control. Seedlings in T₂ attained greatest height, collar diameter, numbers of branches and produced 140 g dry biomass seedling⁻¹. Highest concentration of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) and lowest concentration of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in the seedlings of T₄, T₆, T₇ and T₈ resulted in nutritional imbalance, mineral toxicity and reduction in photosynthetic (Pn) and transpiration (E) rates and caused seedling mortality. Seedlings of T₃ had highest sodium concentration and low concentration of Ca, Mg and micronutrients resulting in nutritional imbalance, augmented chlorosis and reduced gas exchange and biomass by half as compared to control. Increased growth, Pn and E and biomass in seedlings of T₅ over T₃ and survival period in T₆, T₇ and T₈ seedlings suggested a beneficial effect of effluents mixing. Unscientific disposal should be avoided and toxic concentration of metal ions␣may be reduced for long-term application and harmless disposal of effluents in afforestation and urban development.     

重庆气矿污染物排放现状及减排措施分析

重庆气矿在高压、高含硫、高产量条件下的天然气开发过程中,不可避免地会产生废水、废气、废渣、噪声等污染物,并对环境造成影响。为此,重庆气矿对污染物排放的种类、特点及现有治理措施和效果进行了分析,并对存在的问题提出了具体的防治措施。     

气相色谱法测定废水和废气中N′,N-二甲基甲酰胺

以气相色谱石英毛细管柱分离、ＦＩＤ检测,测定废水和废气中Ｎ′,Ｎ－二甲基甲酰胺（ＤＭＦ）。在１０ｍｇ／Ｌ～１８８１０ｍｇ／Ｌ范围内有良好的线性关系。检测限：废水为０５ｍｇ／Ｌ;废气为０８ｍｇ／ｍ３。样品测定的相对标准差为４％～８％,回收率在７６％～１１２％之间,精密度和准确度均较好     

原子荧光光谱法同时测定环境水体中痕量锡和锌

采用原子荧光光谱法同时测定环境水样中痕量锡和锌,优化了试验条件。锡在1.00μg/L～10.0μg/L、锌在20.0μg/L～200μg/L范围内线性良好,方法检出限锡为0.13μg/L,锌为1.76μg/L,锡和锌标准溶液测定的相对标准偏差分别为2.9%和4.0%,环境水样加标回收率锡为96.4%～106%,锌为92.0%～111%。     

巯基棉富集-毛细柱气相色谱法测定环境水中的甲基汞

用巯基棉富集-毛细柱气相色谱法对水中甲基汞进行测定,具有选择性强,回收率高,灵敏度高等优点。实际样品加标回收率达到85%以上,最低可检出0.6ng/L的浓度。研究结果表明,与填充柱法相比,毛细柱法对目标物的分离效果好,且不会发生柱中毒反应,避免了用氯化汞对色谱柱进行处理的步骤。论证了用甲苯代替苯做为萃取剂的可行性,证明用甲苯代替苯对测试结果没有显著影响,使用甲苯可以避免实验人员暴露于毒性较大的苯中的风险。     

微波-亚临界水萃取底泥中两种多氯联苯的研究

微波亚临界水萃取模拟土样中的2,3-二氯联苯和3,3′-二氯联苯,用气相色谱进行分析。与亚临界水萃取方法相比,该法缩短了萃取时间,分析物的萃取回收率有所提高。对微波亚临界水的萃取条件进行优化,确定了最佳萃取条件为时间20min、温度区段为210℃～225℃。方法对长江镇江段内江的底泥中的多氯联苯进行分析,测定结果与索氏提取-GC分析结果吻合,且不受底泥中腐殖质等有机物影响。     

官厅水库沉积物表层中的有机氯农药分布特征及风险评价

采用气相色谱法对北京市官厅水库沉积物表层中持久性有机氯农药(OCPs)的残留状况进行了调查,并对有机氯农药污染水平和生态风险作出评价。结果表明:沉积物中有机氯农药总含量为8.48 ng/g～24.40 ng/g,其中HCHs和DDTs的含量较高,分别为1.11 ng/g～7.73 ng/g和2.97 ng/g～10.52 ng/g,其组分特征为来自环境的残留。与沉积物风险评估低值(ERL)和风险评估中值(ERM)对比评价沉积物中有机污染物的风险程度,官厅水库沉积物表层中的有机氯农药存在一定的生态风险。