Chemical contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarker responses in fish from rivers in the Southeastern United States

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were collected from 13 sites located in the Mobile (MRB), Apalachicola-Flint-Chattahoochee (ARB), Savannah (SRB), and Pee Dee (PRB) River Basins to document spatial trends in accumulative chemical contaminants, health indicators, and reproductive biomarkers. Organochlorine residues, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-like activity (TCDD-EQ), and elemental contaminants were measured in composite samples of whole fish, grouped by species and gender, from each site. Mercury (Hg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were the primary contaminants of concern. Concentrations of Hg in bass samples from all basins exceeded toxicity thresholds for piscivorous mammals (>0.1 microg/g ww), juvenile and adult fish (>0.2 microg/g ww), and piscivorous birds (>0.3 microg/g ww). Total PCB concentrations in samples from the MRB, ARB, and PRB were >480 ng/g ww and may be a risk to piscivorous wildlife. Selenium concentrations also exceeded toxicity thresholds (>0.75 microg/g ww) in MRB and ARB fish. Concentrations of other formerly used (total chlordanes, dieldrin, endrin, aldrin, mirex, and hexachlorobenzene) and currently used (pentachlorobenzene, pentachloroanisole, dacthal, endosulfan, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane, and methoxychlor) organochlorine residues were generally low or did not exceed toxicity thresholds for fish and piscivorous wildlife. TCDD-EQs exceeded wildlife dietary guidelines (>5 pg/g ww) in MRB and PRB fish. Hepatic ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was generally greatest in MRB bass and carp. Altered fish health indicators and reproductive biomarker were noted in individual fish, but mean responses were similar among basins. The field necropsy and histopathological examination determined that MRB fish were generally in poorer health than those from the other basins, primarily due to parasitic infestations. Tumors were found in few fish (n=5; 0.01%); ovarian tumors of smooth muscle origin were found in two ARB carp from the same site. Intersex gonads were identified in 47 male bass (42%) representing 12 sites and may indicate exposure to potential endocrine disrupting compounds. Comparatively high vitellogenin concentrations (>0.35 mg/mL) in male fish from the MRB, SRB, and PRB indicate exposure to estrogenic or anti-androgenic chemicals.     

食源性致病沙门氏菌血清型生物标志物的研究

寻找食源性致病沙门氏菌(Salmonella)血清型生物标志物,是研发食源性致病微生物鉴定及监控技术的基础。本文基于代谢组学技术提取5种沙门氏菌血清型8株标准菌株胞内代谢产物,对各菌株进行胞内代谢轮廓分析,并构建指纹图谱和PCA分析。研究发现,各血清型之间的产物在种类和丰度上具有较大差异,其中肠炎沙门氏菌血清型的特异性产物为硫基乙酸和α-羟基-戊二酸,伤寒沙门氏菌血清型特有产物为N-乙酰基-天冬氨酸、2(1H)-嘧啶酮和L-苏糖酸,鼠伤寒沙门氏菌血清型特有产物为肉豆蔻酸甲酯和甘油醚葡萄糖苷,猪霍乱沙门氏菌血清型特有产物1,4-萘醌,亚利桑那沙门菌血清型特有产物为3-吡啶甲酸三甲酯;通过聚类分析和PCA分析可以明显区分这5种沙门氏菌血清型。因此以上特异性产物有望作为各自血清型的潜在生物标志物。     

Sewage sludge stabilisation with calcium hydroxide: effect on physicochemical properties and molecular composition

Raw primary sewage sludge (Wastewater Treatment Plant of Krotoszyn, SW Poland) and its mixtures with 3%d, 6%d, 9%d, 12%d and 24%d of calcium hydroxide were stabilised for 1 and 35 days. Changes of the sludge physicochemical properties and molecular composition, caused by alkaline agent in course of stabilisation process, are recognised. A basic physicochemical data on the sludge cake and filtrate after 1 and 35 days of stabilisation process are given. Soxhlet extracts from the sludge cakes stabilised for 35 days as well pyrolysis and pyrolysis in situ methylation (using tetramethylammonium hydroxide-TMAH) products of respective pre-extracted cake residues were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Increase of calcium hydroxide concentration in the sludge mixture causes enhanced ammonia release, preferential hydrolyses of fats and proteins from the sludge macromolecular network and transformation of free fatty acids contained in the sludge lipids, as well as these released hydrolytically, to their calcium salts. The sewage sludge stabilisation with calcium hydroxide has no effect on homological assemblage and content of unbound stanol and sterol compounds in the sludge lipids and these bound into macromolecular network. Biogenic n-alkanes and anthropogenic linear alkylbenzenes were detected as minor components in the lipids and pyrolytic products from the pre-extracted cake residue, respectively. The alkaline agent used for the sludge stabilisation accelerates equilibration of the process and reduces content of pathogenic microorganisms.     

Impact of a highly contaminated river on a more important hydrologic system: changes in organic markers

The Fensch River is a tributary of the Moselle River. It is a highly contaminated river that drains an industrial area. The objective of this preliminary study is to determine its impact on the Moselle River by analysing the extractable organic matter (EOM) coming from the sediments at the molecular scale. EOM is described in term of aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons and polar compounds. EOM coming from Fensch River sediments is mainly composed of anthropogenic molecules. Aromatic hydrocarbons are dominated by parent Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) underlining the pyrogenic origin of this fraction. Aliphatic hydrocarbons consist of diagenetic hopanes and a broad UCM that are characteristics of thermal mature organic matter. Upstream the confluence the EOM of the Moselle River is mainly from vegetal origin. It is composed of high molecular weight n-alkanes with an odd over even predominance, degredation products of phytol and stigmasterol. The occurrence of PAHs and diagenetic hopanes underlines that the Moselle River is already contaminated before the confluence. The Fensch River input drastically changes the EOM of the Moselle River. Amount of PAHs is doubled and the fingerprints of both aliphatic hydrocarbons and polar compounds highlight the combination of both natural and anthropogenic sources.     

皖南地区龙潭组海陆过渡相页岩地球化学特征及其意义

为探讨下扬子区上二叠统龙潭组海陆过渡相页岩地球化学特征及其地质意义,对皖南地区港地1井、昌桥剖面、稻山冲剖面的泥页岩样品系统开展了有机地球化学测试、矿物组成分析、氩离子抛光—扫面电镜观察等工作。结果表明：皖南地区龙潭组泥页岩TOC含量介于0.96%～9.54%之间(平均为5.11%),RO值介于1.23%～1.63%之间(平均为1.41%),处于有利的生气阶段,整体为一套非常好—极好的烃源岩。饱和烃气相色谱图单峰、双峰、多峰均有分布,主峰碳数较为分散,介于nC₁₅—nC₂₄之间,且单个样品低、高碳数饱和烃单体δ¹³C差值超过了3.5‰,明显高于单一来源饱和烃单体的δ¹³C变化(<1.6‰),反映龙潭组海陆过渡相泥页岩中的有机质母质具有低等水生生物和高等植物的混源特征,其中龙潭组下部以低等水生生物为主,龙潭组中部和上部以陆源高等植物为主。TOC与TS相关性、Pr/Ph值、Pr/nC₁₇—Ph/nC₁₈图解及黄铁矿形态及粒径,共同指示研究区龙潭组泥页岩形...     

Geochemical investigation of Yamama crude oils and their inferred source rocks in the Mesopotamian Basin,Southern Iraq

Ten oil samples from the Yamama reservoirs and ten extracts of purported source rocks from sixteen wells in the Mesopotamian Basin, Southern Iraq have been analyzed using GC, GC/MS and Stable Carbon Isotope. Yamama oils were non-biodegraded, moderate to higher maturity based on C₂₇Ts of range from 0.17 to 0.77and TAS3 of 0.3 to 0.63, marine carbonate and marl source rocks, deposited under saline, anoxic conditions. Two oil groups were investigated based on the results of the geochemical analysis. These oils have similarly biomarkers ratios to those of the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous source rocks in the Mesopotamian Basin.     

苏北盆地高邮凹陷泰州组瓦6井油源对比

高邮凹陷发现的油藏原油来自泰二段烃源岩的较少,仅瓦6井的原油可能来自泰二段烃源岩。通过对泰二段烃源岩,尤其对马5井,与瓦6井泰一段原油的地球化学特征进行对比分析,发现瓦6井原油Pr/Ph<1Pr/nC₁₇18,C_27,C₂₈, C₂₉呈倒三角形,即C₂₈最低,C₂₉最高,与泰二段烃源岩特征相似;另外,瓦6井原油的饱和烃色谱、萜烷及甾烷图谱等与泰二段烃源岩也呈现相同特征,但与阜宁组有明显区别。因此,分析认为瓦6井原油来自泰二段烃源岩,这一发现能为高邮凹陷泰州组油气提供新的勘探方向,具有一定的指导意义。     

Selenium in food and the human body: a review

Selenium levels in soil generally reflect its presence in food and the Se levels in human populations. Se food content is influenced by geographical location, seasonal changes, protein content and food processing. Periodic monitoring of Se levels in soil and food is necessary. Diet is the major Se source and approximately 80% of dietary Se is absorbed depending on the type of food consumed. Se bioavailability varies according to the Se source and nutritional status of the subject, being significantly higher for organic forms of Se. Se supplements can be beneficial for subjects living in regions with very low environmental levels of Se. Several strategies have been followed: (1) employment of Se-enriched fertilizers; (2) supplementation of farm animals with Se; (3) consumption of multimicronutrient supplements with Se. Nevertheless, detailed investigations of possible interactions between Se supplements and other food components and their influence on Se bioavailability are needed. Suppliers also need to provide more information on the specific type of Se used in supplements. In addition, research is lacking on the mechanisms through which Se is involved in hepatocyte damage during hepatopathies. Although Se potential as an antioxidant for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is promising, additional long-term intervention trials are necessary. As a result, indiscriminate Se supplements cannot be reliably recommended for the prevention of CVD in human beings. Some interesting findings reported an association of Se intake with a reduced prevalence and risk for prostate and colon cancer. However, random trials for other cancer types are inconclusive. As a final conclusion, the general population should be warned against the employment of Se supplements for prevention of hepatopathies, cardiovascular or cancer diseases, because benefits of Se supplementation are still uncertain, and their indiscriminate use could generate an increased risk of Se toxicity.