Persistent organochlorine residues in soils from tropical and sub-tropical Asian countries

Soil samples from paddy fields, uplands, and urban areas (gardens and roadsides) collected from Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan were analysed to determine the residual levels of persistent organochlorine compounds such as DDTs, HCHs, and PCBs. DDT concentration in soil samples from Vietnam were found to be highest, with a mean value of 110 ng g(-1), and were followed by those in Taiwanese soils with a mean value of 20 ng g(-1). HCH concentrations were highest in soil samples from Vietnam (a mean value of 4.8 ng g(-1)) and were followed by those from Taiwan (a mean value of 1.4 ng g(-1)). Concentrations of PCBs were found to be highest in Taiwanese soil samples, with a mean of 95 ng g(-1). Interestingly, relatively high concentrations of PCBs in rural cultivated-soil samples from Vietnam were recorded with a mean value of 25 ng g(-1), probably suggesting PCB release from different kinds of weapons used during the Second Indochina war. The lowest concentrations of DDTs, HCHs, and PCBs were obtained in soil samples from Thailand, with mean values of 8.3 ng g(-1), 0.4 ng g(-1), and 2.7 ng g(-1), respectively.     

Fatty acids composition of Caenorhabditis elegans using accurate mass GCMS-QTOF

The free living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a proven model organism for lipid metabolism research. Total lipids of C. elegans were extracted using chloroform and methanol in 2:1 ratio (v/v). Fatty acids composition of the extracted total lipids was converted to their corresponding fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) and analyzed by gas chromatography/accurate mass quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry using both electron ionization and chemical ionization techniques. Twenty-eight fatty acids consisting of 12 to 22 carbon atoms were identified, 65% of them were unsaturated. Fatty acids containing 12 to17 carbons were mostly saturated with stearic acid (18:0) as the major constituent. Several branched-chain fatty acids were identified. Methyl-14-methylhexadecanoate (iso- 17:0) was the major identified branched fatty acid. This is the first report to detect the intact molecular parent ions of the identified fatty acids in C. elegans using chemical ionization compared to electron ionization which produced fragmentations of the FAMEs.     

Arsenic residue in residential area after cleanup of pesticide illegal dumping sources in Thanh Hoa province,Central Vietnam

In Vietnam, Nicotex's site is perhaps the most infamous case of illegal disposal of toxic pesticides near residential areas. In 2013, affected villagers discovered illegal burials of around 1,000 tons of expired pesticides in the Nicotex factory. Organic pesticides were detected in illegal burial areas (IBAs) around 60 times greater than acceptable levels, but no attention was paid to contamination of metals, metalloids, and other classes of organic contaminants, which could be co-contaminants in pesticide formulation. This study assessed the contaminants remaining in the IBAs and surrounding residential areas two years after the source removal conducted in 2014. Additionally, a preliminary health risk assessment from residual contaminants was performed. Nine classes of chemicals including parental pesticides, inorganic and organic degradation byproducts, and metals and metalloids, comprising 123 chemicals were quantified in soil, sediment, and water samples from Nicotex and surrounding residential areas. Although concentrations of organic pesticides were below acceptable levels, arsenic contamination in the soil in a Nicotex IBA named NCT5 and Nap village (NV) exceeded the acceptable level. The enrichment factor and log-probability plot indicate that arsenic enrichment at NV is not from natural sources but is associated with arsenic contamination in NCT5. Arsenic may be a co-contaminant in pesticide manufacturing or an arsenical pesticide, such as monosodium methanearsonate. Arsenic found in NV was toxic arsenate for which the preliminary risk assessment yielded an unacceptable excess carcinogenic risk (1 × 10^?4). While all attention was paid to investigate and treat contamination of organic pesticides, it turns out that arsenic is the major existing threat which poses an unacceptable cancer risk in good agreement with the high cancer rate claimed by villagers near Nicotex. This justifies the need for further investigation of the extent of the arsenic contamination and restoration of the contaminated land.     

锥头麻的化学成分研究

从锥头麻枝叶中分离到10个化合物:熊果酸(1)、2α,3β,19α三羟基12烯28乌苏酸(2)、羽扇豆醇(3)、β谷甾醇(4)、β胡萝卜苷(5)、大黄素8OβD吡喃葡萄糖苷(6)、5α,8α表二氧(22E,24R)麦角甾6,22二烯3β醇(7)、(2S,3S,4R,8E)2[(2′R)2′羟基二十四烷酰氨基]1,3,4三羟基8十八烷烯(8)、1OβD吡喃葡萄糖(2S,3S,4R,8Z)2[(2′R)2′羟基二十四烷酰氨基]3,4二羟基8十八烷烯(9)、1OβD吡喃葡萄糖(2S,3S,4R,8E)2[(2′R)2′羟基二十四烷酰氨基]3,4二羟基8十八烷烯(10),其中化合物9、10以混合物形式分离得到.应用波谱方法及与已知品对照的手段鉴定了它们的结构.图1表1参9     

Correction to: Water‑induced erosion potentiality and vulnerability assessment in Kangsabati river basin,eastern India

Environment, Development and Sustainability -     

西安地区旅游景点水体卫生细菌学调查及保护对策

以粪大肠菌和异养细菌总数做指标，对西安地区旅游景点水体的卫生细菌学状况进行了调查。结果表明，西安市区内旅游景点的人工湖、天然湖等大都受到不同程度的污染，而离市区较远、海拔较高的旅游景点则污染较轻。     

爵床的化学成分研究

为了研究爵床全草中具有血管紧张素转化酶抑制活性的化学成分,从爵床全草95%乙醇提取物中分离并鉴定了13个化合物:芹菜素(1)、槲皮素7-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖甙(2)、木犀草素7-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙(3)、洋芹素7-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙(4)、洋芹素7-O-新橙皮甙(5)、β-谷甾醇(6)、β-胡萝卜甙(7)、东莨菪素(8)、羽扇豆醇乙酸酯(9)、环桉烯醇(10)、木栓酮(11)、木栓醇(12)、积雪草酸(13).HPLC检测结果证明,该植物中还存在木犀草素(14)和槲皮素(15).其中化合物1、14和15为爵床中具有血管紧张素转化酶抑制活性的成分.图1表2参28     

Formation,antimicrobial activity,and biomedical performance of plant-based nanoparticles: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Because many engineered nanoparticles are toxic, there is a need for methods to fabricate safe nanoparticles such as plant-based nanoparticles. Indeed, plant...