Effect of methyl mercuric chloride treatment on haematological characteristics and erythrocyte morphology of Swiss mice

Effects of methyl mercuric chloride (MMC) on the blood parameters of Swiss mice (Mus musculus) were studied. The mice received an initial dose of MMC (24 mg kg(-1) body wt) as intraperitoneal injection followed by a second similar dose on the 14th day of the first dose administration. Significant (p < or = 0.001) decreases in haemoglobin content, red blood cell (RBC) count and haematocrit value were observed in the MMC injected mice when compared to the control mice. The effect of the second dose was severe, after which no significant recovery in the values of these parameters was observed. The result also showed a high degree of mercury accumulation in the blood of the MMC exposed mice. Interesting features were marked in the erythrocyte morphology of the exposed mice. An initial shrinkage followed by swelling of the cells was observed after each injection. The outline of the exposed cells was irregular with beak like or small finger like projections. Rupturing and disintegration of the erythrocyte membrane, leading to erythrolysis, were also noticed.     

Flue gas treatability studies: a tool for techno-economic control of industrial air pollution

Air pollution problems in developing countries have gained larger fraction in the last decade especially due to non functioning and non implementation of effective air pollutioncontrol devices in industries. In industrial wastewater management, adequate treatability studies are conducted to arrive at a techno-economic treatment option. However no suchstudies were done for reducing air pollution or emission fromindustries until now in India. Little information was availableabout such studies in other countries. This article provides information about a novel technique known asflue gas treatability studies and to undertake such studies, a pilot scale system is installed in Air Pollution Control Divisionof M/s National Environmental Engineering research Institute, NEERI, Nagpur-20, India. This study is a tool for techno-economicselection of air pollution control systems specially for small/medium scale industrial emissions.     

Seven suggestive quantitative trait loci influence hygienic behavior of honey bees

In 1964, Walter Rothenbuhler proposed a two-gene model to explain phenotypic variance in the remarkable behavior in which honey bee workers remove dead brood from their colonies. Rothenbuhler's model proposed that one locus controls the uncapping of brood cells containing dead pupae, while a second controls the removal of the cell contents. We show here, through molecular techniques and quantitative trait loci (QTL) linkage mapping, that the genetic basis of hygienic behavior is more complex, and that many genes are likely to contribute to the behavior. In our cross, we detected seven suggestive QTLs associated with hygienic behavior. Each detected QTL controlled only 9-15% of the observed phenotypic variance in the character.     

中科院-BP公司中国研究中心成立千万美元开展清洁能源研究

中国科学院作为我国自然科学领域最高的学术研究机构日前与世界上第二大石油公司BP国际有限公司签定《面向未来》清洁能源研究计划，双方将在天然气、氢能领域开展为期10年的基础性研究，BP国际有限公司将共资助1000万美元。为顺利开展研究，双方将以中科院大连化学物理所为基地联合建立“中科院-BP公司中国研究中心”。 该研究中心将是亚洲第一个、全世界第5个BP研究中心。该研究中心具有长期性、基础性、交叉性、国际性的特点。双方将根据双方共同的兴趣，确立课题，相关成果包括专利双方共享。同时该中心将开展与国内研究机构、BP…     

精心策划认真组织全面推行HSE管理体系

随着中国加入ＷＴＯ ,国内石化行业借鉴学习国外著名石油石化企业的先进管理手段 ,改善企业形象 ,降低运行成本以参与国际市场的竞争 ,已是势在必然。特别是《环境保护法》、《职业卫生法》、《安全生产法》的相继颁布、实施 ,标志着安全、环境、健康工作已经步入法制化管理的轨道 ,这无疑对企业的安全、环境、健康工作提出了更高的要求。为此 ,按照集团公司安全环保局的要求 ,天津石化公司暨天津分公司 (以下简称公司 )２００２年年初党政联席会议决定 ,借鉴国际上石油石化行业通行的ＨＳＥ一体化管理模式 ,建立和推行ＨＳＥ管理体系。１推…     

Modeling effects of traffic and landscape characteristics on ambient nitrogen dioxide levels in Connecticut

An integrated exposure model was developed that estimates nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) concentration at residences using geographic information systems (GIS) and variables derived within residential buffers representing traffic volume and landscape characteristics including land use, population density and elevation. Multiple measurements of NO(2) taken outside of 985 residences in Connecticut were used to develop the model. A second set of 120 outdoor NO(2) measurements as well as cross-validation were used to validate the model. The model suggests that approximately 67% of the variation in NO(2) levels can be explained by: traffic and land use primarily within 2 km of a residence; population density; elevation; and time of year. Potential benefits of this model for health effects research include improved spatial estimations of traffic-related pollutant exposure and reduced need for extensive pollutant measurements. The model, which could be calibrated and applied in areas other than Connecticut, has importance as a tool for exposure estimation in epidemiological studies of traffic-related air pollution.     

An ecological perspective on nanomaterial impacts in the environment

Growing concerns over the potential for unintended, adverse consequences of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the environment have generated new research initiatives focused on understanding the ecological effects of ENPs. Almost nothing is currently known about the fate and transport of ENPs in environmental waters, soils, and sediments or about the biological impacts of ENPs in natural environments, and the bulk of modern nanotoxicogical research is focused on highly controlled laboratory studies with single species in simple media. In this paper, we provide an ecological perspective on the current state of knowledge regarding the likely environmental impacts of nanomaterials and propose a strategy for making rapid progress in new research in ecological nanoscience.     

建立再生资源回收体系产业链条促进回收体系产业化发展

介绍了北京市海淀区再生资源回收体系产业化发展的经验。作为建设主体企业,海淀区物资回收公司合理规划、布局回收网点,疏通物流运输渠道,建设专业化分拣中心,开展厂商直挂业务,有效推进海淀区再生资源回收体系建设。     

Nutrient dynamics and tree growth of silvopastoral systems: impact of poultry litter

Fertilizing pastures with poultry litter has led to an increased incidence of nutrient-saturated soils, particularly on highly fertilized, well drained soils. Applying litter to silvopastures, in which loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) production are integrated, may be an ecologically desirable alternative for upland soils of the southeastern USA. Integrating subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) into silvopastures may enhance nutrient retention potential. This study evaluated soil nutrient dynamics, loblolly pine nutrient composition, and loblolly pine growth of an annually fertilized silvopasture on a well drained soil in response to fertilizer type, litter application rate, and subterranean clover. Three fertilizer treatments were applied annually for 4 yr: (i) 5 Mg litter ha(-1) (5LIT), (ii) 10 Mg litter ha(-1) (10LIT), and (iii) an inorganic N, P, K pasture blend (INO). Litter stimulated loblolly pine growth, and neither litter treatment produced soil test P concentrations above runoff potential threshold ranges. However, both litter treatments led to accumulation of several nutrients (notably P) in upper soil horizons relative to INO and unfertilized control treatments. The 10LIT treatment may have increased N and P leaching potential. Subterranean clover kept more P sequestered in the upper soil horizon and conferred some growth benefits to loblolly pine. Thus, although these silvopasture systems had a relatively high capacity for nutrient use and retention at this site, litter should be applied less frequently than in this study to reduce environmental risks.