环境空气中短链氯化石蜡研究进展

短链氯化石蜡(SCCPs)是碳链长度为10至13个碳原子的正构烷烃氯代衍生物。SCCPs具有持久性、生物累积性、长距离迁移能力、以及毒性作用。SCCPs已被《关于持久性有机污染物的斯德哥尔摩公约》增列为持久性有机污染物审查范围内,引起了全球关注。SCCPs在环境各介质及生物体内均有检出,近年来,在室内空气和灰尘中也检出了大量SCCPs,其已成为人体暴露的一个重要来源。本文就大气环境及室内空气与灰尘中氯化石蜡(CPs)的采样与分析方法、污染水平与来源,及人体暴露概况进行了综合阐释,以期为我国大气和室内环境中CPs的研究工作提供参考。     

饮水型砷中毒病区人群砷暴露量及尿砷的季节变化

地下水高砷暴露的健康危害是环境与健康领域面临的巨大挑战。水砷含量及暴露人群饮水量参数的季节性变化可能影响饮水砷暴露评估的准确性。本研究选择内蒙古饮水砷中毒病区为研究区,测定丰水期(2013年5月)和枯水期(2013年12月)居民饮用水和尿液各形态砷(三价无机砷iAs~(3+)、五价无机砷iAs~(5+)、一甲基砷MMA~(5+)和二甲基砷DMA~(5+)+)含量,研究砷暴露量和尿砷的季节变化。结果表明,丰水期水砷含量(134.4±25.8)μg·L~(-1)显著低于枯水期的(163.2±38.1)μg·L~(-1),且丰水期水中iAs~(3+)的含量(58.9±51.2)μg·L~(-1)也显著低于枯水期的(100.1±49.0)μg·L~(-1)。研究人群丰水期通过饮水的摄砷量为313.1μg·d~(-1),低于枯水期的378.6μg·d~(-1)。此外,丰水期居民尿液总砷含量(218.6μg·L~(-1))显著低于枯水期(283.1μg·L~(-1))。丰水期女性居民尿液iAs、MMA~(5+)和总砷含量随当季饮水iAs~(5+)含量的升高而显著降低,枯水期女性尿液MMA5+含量随当季饮水iAs~(3+)及iAs含量的升高而显著升高。可见,病区居民饮水砷暴露量与尿砷含量具有明显的季节差异性,饮水砷与尿砷的关系受饮水砷形态、季节变化及性别等因素影响。     

经皮肤暴露四溴双酚A对Wistar雄性大鼠的毒性效应

尘/土以及含阻燃剂产品的皮肤接触是四溴双酚A(TBBPA)重要的人体暴露途径。为研究TBBPA经皮肤亚慢性暴露毒性效应,选择无特定病原菌级别(SPF级)Wistar雄性大鼠作为受试生物,分别设空白对照组(K)、溶剂对照组(Z),以及20mg·kg~(-1)(A)、60 mg·kg~(-1)(B)、200 mg·kg~(-1)(C)、600 mg·kg~(-1)(D)共4个不同剂量的TBBPA暴露组,采用皮肤接触的方式连续暴露90 d。暴露期间观察大鼠状态并称重,于第91天解剖大鼠,分离主要脏器称重计算脏器系数,并对暴露皮肤进行组织病理学检查。研究发现,经皮肤暴露TBBPA后,90 d暴露期间不同实验组Wistar大鼠在表观形态、行动、进食方面无差异,TBBPA暴露导致大鼠体重略微降低,但各处理组间大鼠体重无显著差异;90 d暴露后不同剂量组间大鼠的器官脏器系数没有显著的剂量-效应关系,不同剂量组大鼠皮肤暴露区域均有一定程度的炎症细胞浸润及部分组织胶原间隙增宽。研究结果表明,TBBP A 90 d亚慢性皮肤暴露对Wistar大鼠无明显毒性效应。     

纳米银的生物分布及其影响因素研究进展

纳米银(AgNPs)以其独特的抗菌性能在生物医药和消费品中得到大量应用。然而,随着人类接触AgNPs的机会增多,AgNPs暴露的潜在危害也不容忽视。体内研究表明,AgNPs可以通过经口、呼吸、腹腔、静脉等途径进入机体,进而通过血液或淋巴液的流动分散到全身不同组织器官。而不同的暴露方式、暴露剂量、AgNPs粒径、表面包被和电荷以及暴露器官本身的特点可能对AgNPs在体内的分布与蓄积产生影响。因此,本文系统地总结了AgNPs进入生物体的途径及其在生物体内的组织分布,讨论了影响AgNPs体内生物分布和蓄积的因素。     

Chemical cocktail party in East Greenland: A first time evaluation of human organohalogen exposure from consumption of ringed seal and polar bear tissues and possible health implications

East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are among the mammals with the highest bioaccumulated concentrations of organohalogen contaminants (OHCs). Since Greenlanders in this region ingest significant quantities of adipose tissue from polar bears and also ringed seals (Pusa hispida), initial conservative estimates of the daily oral exposure to this chemical cocktail are thus presented. The tolerable daily intake was exceeded approximately five-fold for polychlorinated biphenyls and chlordane pesticides and metabolites, while the estimated daily toxic equivalent (TEQ) (based on the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-rho-dioxin toxicity equivalence factors) for East Greenland subsistence hunters was three- to ten-fold higher than the WHO ∑TEQ guidelines even though the estimations were conservative. The daily oral OHC exposure from polar bear and ringed seal blubber consumption is markedly high and needs to be reduced in order to remove this co-factor with respect to the influence on the development of chronic diseases. Furthermore, it is warranted that a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for Greenlander's exposure to OHCs is constructed and that risk quotients calculated to estimate the threats to health for East Greenland subsistence hunters.     

Air monitoring of solvent exposed workers with passive samplers in comparison to “biological monitoring (BM)"†

A study was performed comparing ambient air monitoring (AM) and biological monitoring (BM) in order to evaluate the reliability of passive sampling (PS) in occupational medicine.

Five groups of persons (total number = 188) exposed to tetrachloroethene, isopropanol, toluene, xylene and styrene at the workplace were examined.

AM was performed over several hours using one or two brands of passive samplers (Monitor 3500 and/or ORSA 5). BM includes the determination of the solvent and specific metabolites resp. in blood or urine samples taken at the end of workshift. On the basis of our results we recommend that PS can supply relevant data for the estimation of external exposure to several solvents like chlorinated‐ and aromatic‐hydrocarbons.     

Recent advances in arsenic mutagenesis and carcinogenesis†

Arsenic is ubiquitously distributed in nature and is released into the environment through non‐ferrous smelting operations, generation of power from coal, and agriculture.

Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidences of epidermoid carcinomas of the skin and lungs, and of pre‐cancerous dermal keratoses are significantly increased in human subjects exposed to arsenic compounds by oral or respiratory routes. The negative results obtained on animals treated with arsenicals suggest strongly that this metal is probably a cocarcinogen.

The results of the short‐term tests suggest that the cocarcinogenic properties of arsenic could be related to its ability to inhibit DNA repair.     

The international toxicity equivalency factor (I‐TEF) method for estimating risks associated with exposures to complex mixtures of dioxins and related compounds∗

The International Toxicity Equivalency Factor (I‐TEF) method of risk assessment is a revised interim procedure for assessing the risks associated with exposures to complex mixtures of chlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans (CDDs and CDFs). This updated scheme was developed by a working group of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society and has been officially adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Canada, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the Nordic countries, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Prior to the development of the I‐TEF method, at least ten slightly different schemes had been used throughout the world which complicated communication among scientists and regulatory agencies concerning the toxicological significance of complex mixtures of CDDs and CDFs. The I‐TEF approach facilitates risk communication internationally by reducing large volumes of analytical data into a single number‐International Toxicity Equivalents (I‐TEQ). As a result, the I‐TEF method represents an improvement in an already useful risk assessment/regulatory tool.     

Accomplishments of the NATO/CCMS pilot study on international information exchange on dioxins and related compounds∗

A project promoting the international exchange of information on chlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans (CDDs and CDFs) was conducted under the auspices of the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Initiated in 1985, the Pilot Study on International Information Exchange on Dioxins and Related Compounds was a three‐year effort to improve the state of the art of dioxin research, regulation, and technology by encouraging collaboration among interested countries and organizations. Participating nations included Canada, Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Numerous activities were accomplished to promote information exchange so that better informed decisions can be made concerning future research activities and resource allocations. Three major areas were addressed: Exposure and Hazard Assessment, Technology Assessment, and Management of Accidents. A total of 15 CCMS reports were published which summarize the achievements of the Pilot Study.     

Exposure to insecticides in the use of cold fog generators in greenhouses

The exposure of greenhouse workers to deltamethrin and dichlorvos was studied when low‐volume misters (LVM) were used for the application of these insecticides. Exposure to deltamethrin was mainly by skin contamination and the level of exposure was low. Exposure to dichlorvos was clearly higher than to deltamethrin both through skin and inhalation. These two insecticides are different from chemical structure and character dichlorvos being a highly volatile chemical. The re‐entry period for deltamethrin was calculated to be about ten hours and for dichlorvos two or three days.