北部湾盆地迈陈凹陷徐闻X1井油气地球化学特征

通过对北部湾盆地迈陈凹陷徐闻X 1井所产天然气和原油样品的系统分析,指出该井天然气甲烷含量低、重烃气体含量高、干燥系数低,属于原油伴生气,而乙烷和丙烷的碳同位素值小于-30‰,是典型的油型气;该井原油的三环萜烷系列呈C19>C20>C21>C23>C24>C25>C26的阶梯状分布,呈煤成油的特征,但丰富的C27甾烷的存在表明该原油属于典型的湖相原油,而非煤成油,其生物标志物组成的重要特征是富含各种重排构型化合物,表明该原油的烃源岩形成于浅水、弱还原的淡水沉积环境。     

Introduction of the land snail Eobania vermiculata as a bioindicator organism of terrestrial pollution using a battery of biomarkers

The present study aimed to enrich the group of sentinel organisms of terrestrial pollution biomonitoring, by investigating the efficacy of the land snail Eobania vermiculata. For this reason, a package of biomarkers was performed on land snails E. vermiculata collected from polluted areas in the field or treated with heavy metals in the laboratory. The biomarkers used were neutral red lysosomal retention assay of the haemocytes, acetylcholinesterase activity in the digestive gland and the haemolymph, and metallothionein content of the digestive gland. Moreover, the morphometric changes in the lysosomal system and the morphometric alterations of the neutral lipids were also investigated. In addition, the content of cadmium, lead and copper was evaluated in the digestive gland of the snails. The results revealed appreciable alterations in the biomarker values both in field- and laboratory-conditions, accompanied by significant correlations among the biomarkers. Therefore, this exploratory study suggests the utility of E. vermiculata as a sentinel organism for biomonitoring the biologic impact of terrestrial pollution, and supports the package's efficacy of the selected biomarkers.     

Organic geochemistry of Cretaceous Lamza and Chikila coals, upper Benue trough, Nigeria

Some biomarkers and other compounds in the aliphatic and aromatic fractions of the Lamza and the Chikila coals were characterized and used in assessing the source input, maturity, hence the hydrocarbon generative potentials of the coals. The samples exhibit a slight n-alkanes odd carbon preference (CPI ∼ 1), high pristane/phytane ratios and a dominance of 20S epimer of C₂₉ sterane. The ratio of C₃₀ αβ/(αβ + βα) sterane and 22S/(22S + 22R) C₃₁-homohopane gave values of 0.77-0.83 and 0.58-0.60, respectively. The low Ts/Tm ratios are in agreement with the calculated vitrinite reflectance, R_c (0.60-0.70%). The methylphananthrenes maturity derived parameters (1-MP/9-MP; MPR; MPI-1; R_c) revealed a very slight variation and a consistent order of samples maturity with the exception of the R_c values. All these together with some other hopanoid ratios, show that the organic matter is terrestrially derived, deposited in an oxic environment and at marginal maturity for hydrocarbon generation.     

Evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers in hepatocytes of grey mullet inhabiting natural and polluted estuaries

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of environmental contaminants on oxidative stress biomarkers in hepatocytes of Indian estuarine water grey mullet, Mugil cephalus collected from unpolluted Kovalam and polluted Ennore estuaries. Initially, a comparison was made between the general water chemistry and environmental pollutants like heavy metals to identify the ecotype of the estuaries. Biomarker responses and bioaccumulation of metals were determined along with histological studies of fish hepatocytes to assess contamination impact. Water chemistry data with higher temperature, salinity, pH, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and low dissolved oxygen and environmental pollutants with higher metal concentration (p < 0.05) were observed at Ennore than Kovalam indicating its polluted environment. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in lipid and protein oxidation markers, decrease (p < 0.05) in thiol status and antioxidant enzyme activities were observed in the Ennore fish hepatocytes compared to Kovalam counterpart. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in fish from Ennore. Hepatocytes from Ennore also featured extensive lipid-type vacuolation, increased size and membrane disruption. All the findings highlighted the value of oxidative stress biomarkers and membrane disruption as the sensitive parameters of environmental pollutant contamination and their importance in biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems. This is also the first such attempt reported at the cellular level from South India stressing the importance of biomarkers in biomonitoring programmes using fish hepatocytes as the model system.     

Onset of mucosal, dermal, and general symptoms in relation to biomarkers and exposures in the dwelling: a cohort study from 1992 to 2002

We examined the associations between biomarkers of allergy and inflammation, indoor environment in dwellings, and incidence and remission of symptoms included in the sick building syndrome (SBS) and changes in the home environment of 452 adults who were followed from 1992 to 2002 within the Uppsala part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). The 10-year incidence (onset) of general, mucosal, and dermal symptoms was 8.5%, 12.7%, and 6.8%, respectively. Dampness or indoor molds at baseline was a predictor of incidence of general (relative risk [RR] = 1.98), mucosal (RR = 2.28), and dermal symptoms (RR = 1.91). Women had higher incidence of general (RR = 1.74) and mucosal symptoms (RR = 1.71). Indoor painting increased the incidence of general symptoms (RR = 1.62). Bronchial responsiveness (BR), eosinophil counts in blood, total IgE and eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in serum at baseline were predictors of incidence of SBS. At follow-up, BR, total IgE, and C-reactive protein (CRP ) were associated with increased incidence of SBS. Moreover, subjects with doctor-diagnosed asthma at baseline had a higher incidence of general (RR = 1.65) and mucosal symptoms (RR = 1.97). In conclusion, female gender, dampness or indoor molds, indoor painting, and biomarkers of allergy and inflammation were associated with a higher incidence of SBS symptoms, in particular mucosal symptoms. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The focus in Sweden on indoor environment issues over the last few decades has resulted in improvements in dwellings, and reduced tobacco smoking, which could be beneficial for public health. Reducing dampness and molds in the dwelling place is another important way of reducing occurrence of SBS symptoms in the general adult population. The association between the incidence of SBS symptoms and clinical biomarkers of allergy and inflammation suggests a common etiology between inflammatory diseases, including asthma, rhinitis, and SBS. Lastly, good agreement between self-reported and clinically diagnosed atopy indicates that questionnaire data on atopy can be used in epidemiological studies.     

Assessment of dietary exposure to ochratoxin A in the UK using a duplicate diet approach and analysis of urine and plasma samples

The approach to assess exposure to ochratoxin A from the diet by the analysis of human plasma and urine samples has been developed. Composite duplicate diet samples from 50 individuals and corresponding plasma and urine samples were obtained over 30 days. Samples were analysed using sensitive methods capable of measuring ochratoxin A at 0.001ng g -1 in food, 0.1ng ml -1 in plasma and 0.01ng ml -1 in urine. Analysis of the foods indicated ochratoxin A levels contributing to an average intake in the range 0.26-3.54ng kg -1 bw day -1 over the 30 days. Ochratoxin A was found in all plasma samples and in 46 urine samples. The correlation between the plasma ochratoxin A levels and ochratoxin A consumption was not significant (95% confidence limit). However, a significant correlation was found between ochratoxin A consumption and the urine ochratoxin A concentration expressed as the total amount excreted. This new work offers the possibility of using ochratoxin A in urine as a simple and reliable biomarker to estimate exposure to this mycotoxin.     

成岩阶段微生物作用及其油气地质意义

成岩阶段微生物发育及其对有机质的改造对于生物甲烷聚集、优质烃源岩形成具有重要意义。在综合近年对沉积成岩过程相关的微生物作用研究的基础上,以柴达木盆地三湖坳陷第四系为例,论述了成岩阶段微生物在生物甲烷生成、有机质富集保存、可溶有机质生成等方面的作用。柴达木盆地三湖坳陷第四系生物标志化合物降解参数与产甲烷菌特征标志物的关系,指示原始沉积有机质降解与甲烷菌发育,是第四系沉积物中生物气聚集的关键因素;与细菌来源生物标志化合物相对丰度的关系,反映成岩阶段微生物发育改变了原始有机质性质;与氯仿沥青“A”转化率以及饱和烃相对丰度的关系,表明微生物发育是第四系沉积物中可溶有机质的重要来源。     

Application of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry to biomarker characterization in Brazilian oils

The variety of chemical classes present in oils, as well as possible co-elutions in conventional chromatographic separations, makes the identification of biomarkers a difficult task. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) is a powerful tool for overcoming these problems and limitations, since it (i) separates substances using two interconnected capillary columns containing different stationary phases and (ii) uses the fast data acquisition of time-of-flight analyser as a robust registry for GC × GC. In this work, biomarkers present in Brazilian oils were identified both individually and in groups by GC × GC-TOFMS much better than in previous works using one-dimensional GC. In the extracted ion chromatograms (EIC) for ions of mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) 191, co-elutions between tri- and pentacyclic terpanes were resolved in the second column. Noteworthy separation between the C30 hopane and C30R demethylated homohopane was observed. Overlap of hopanes with steranes in the m/z 217 EIC was eliminated. Besides hopanes, demethylated tri- and tetracyclic terpanes were identified and reported for the first time in Brazilian oil samples. These results indicate the superiority of GC × GC-TOFMS as a technique for separation and identification of biomarkers in oils.