Intercropping can accelerate the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil.

Remediation of heavy metal (HM)-contaminated farmland has attracted much attention. Intercropping shows great potential in the remediation of HM-contaminated farmland and has been extensively studied. However, it remains uncertain how intercropping influences phytoremediation.

Cancer risk assessment of human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) via indoor and outdoor dust based on probit model.

In the present study, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor dust and outdoor dust including road and window dust around the traffic road in Hunan Province, China, were sampled and detected. The ∑PAHs in indoor dust ranged from 5007-24,236 ng g(-1), with a median of 14,049 ng g(-1). The ∑PAHs in road dust ranged from 3644-12,875 ng g(-1), with a median of 10,559 ng g(-1).

Concentrations, sources, and risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls in vegetables near a waste-incinerator site, South China.

Numerous studies have reported polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in soil, root, and aerial parts of vegetables. However, few studies have measured the contribution of PCBs bound to particles in air in relation to uptake by vegetables. In the present study, PCB concentrations were measured in five types of vegetables, soil, and settled air particle samples from two sites (at a domestic waste incinerator and at 20 km away from the incinerator) in Guangzhou, South China.

Risk assessment of arsenic and other metals via atmospheric particles, and effects of atmospheric exposure and other demographic factors on their accumulations in human scalp hair in urban area of Guangzhou, China.

Eighty-eight scalp hair samples were collected from Guangzhou (GZ) urban population (15-65 years) to investigate the accumulation of As and other metals (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hg and Pb). Demographic information, including body weight, height, age, gender, habits of smoking and drinking, types of drinking water, duration of stay in GZ, days of stay in GZ per year (days/year), and hours spent in indoor environment per day (h/day), were also recorded during hair sampling to refine the uncertainty of risk assessment derived from exposures to elements via dust and airborne particles. No significant non-carcinogenic risk was found.

Hair mercury levels and food consumption in residents from the Pearl River Delta: South China.

The Pearl River Delta (PRD) is located in the Southern part of China and is the main region for fish culture in Guangdong Province. In order to assess the potential health risks associated with dietary consumption of mercury, hair samples from 91 urban, town and fishing village residents, 37 species of fish, cereal, vegetables, and meat samples were collected. The average total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in hair were 1.

Effects of sulfate reducing bacteria and sulfate concentrations on mercury methylation in freshwater sediments.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is the most poisonous form of mercury (Hg) and it enters the human body primarily through consumption of Hg contaminated fish. Sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) are major producers of MeHg in anoxic sediments. The dsrAB gene was isolated from freshwater fish pond sediments.

Mercury biomagnification in the aquaculture pond ecosystem in the Pearl River Delta.

This is the first study to investigate the rate of mercury (Hg) biomagnification in the aquaculture pond ecosystem of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China, by analyzing total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations in various species of fish at different trophic levels (TLs). Species representing a gradient of trophic positions in the aquaculture pond food chains were chosen for analyzing THg and MeHg concentrations. In this study, there were two kinds of the aquaculture pond food chains: (1) omnivorous (fish feeds, zooplankton, grass carp [Ctenopharyngodon idellus], and bighead carp [Aristichthys nobilis]) and (2) predatory (zooplankton, mud carp [Cirrhina molitorella], and mandarin fish [Siniperca kneri]).

Mercury species of sediment and fish in freshwater fish ponds around the Pearl River Delta, PR China: human health risk assessment.

This study investigated total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in five species of freshwater fish and their associated fish pond sediments collected from 18 freshwater fish ponds around the Pearl River Delta (PRD). The concentrations of THg and MeHg in fish pond surface sediments were 33.1-386 ng g(-1) dry wt and 0.

The influence of mariculture on mercury distribution in sediments and fish around Hong Kong and adjacent mainland China waters.

To study the influence of mariculture on mercury (Hg) speciation and distribution in sediments and cultured fish around Hong Kong and adjacent mainland China waters, sediment samples were collected from six mariculture sites and the corresponding reference sites, 200-300 m away from the mariculture sites. Mariculture activities increased total mercury, organic matter, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur concentrations in the surface sediments underneath mariculture sites, possibly due to the accumulation of unconsumed fish feed and fish excretion. However, methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations and the ratio of MeHg to THg (% MeHg) in sediments underneath mariculture sites were lower than the corresponding reference sites.

Levels, seasonal patterns, and potential sources of organochlorine pesticides in the urban atmosphere of Beijing, China.

Air samples collected monthly on the roof of a building in Beijing were analyzed for the levels, seasonal patterns, and potential sources of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). A high-volume air sampler with polyurethane foam and quartz fiber filters was used to collect monthly samples from November 2005 to April 2009. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and DDT isomers were the most abundant organochlorinated pesticides in the Beijing atmosphere.

[Quality assurance/quality control for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalate esters in soils using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry].

A method for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalate esters (PAEs) in soil samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed. After extracted by accelerated solvent extraction or ultrasonic extraction by dichloromethane-hexane (1:1, v/v) and dichloromethane-acetone (1:1, v/v), respectively, the extracts were cleaned up by solid phase extraction and/or gel permeation chromatography. Quality control and quality assurance procedures were carried out with the methods of whole procedure blank, blank spike recovery, clean soil matrix spike recovery, and the comparison with reference materials.

Enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mariculture sediments of Hong Kong.

Surface and core sediments collected from six fish farms in Hong Kong and from reference sites were investigated for the enrichment and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Moderately high SigmaPAH16 levels (123-947 ng g(-1), mean: 450 ng g(-1)) were found in the surface aquaculture sediments. In comparison with the sediments from the reference sites, the average enrichment percentage of total organic carbon (TOC) and PAHs in surface sediments were 21.

Plasma concentration of malaria parasite-derived macrophage migration inhibitory factor in uncomplicated malaria patients correlates with parasitemia and disease severity.

Host macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of malaria infections. Several Plasmodium parasite-derived MIFs were identified to have the potential to regulate host immune response. However, the role of Plasmodium MIFs in the immunopathogenesis of malaria infection and the relationships between these mediators and inflammatory cytokines remained unclear.

Concentration and gas-particle partitioning of hexachlorobenzene in the ambient air before and after the Beijing Olympic Games.

Systematic studies of hexachlorobenzene in the ambient air before and after the Beijing Olympic Games were carried out during July 2007 to March 2009. Air samples were collected around 20th monthly on the roof of a building near the Olympic center. The average concentration of hexachlorobenzene was 264 pg x m(-3), which was higher in winter than other seasons.

Structural and functional comparison of MIF ortholog from Plasmodium yoelii with MIF from its rodent host.

Host-derived macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of malaria infection, especially in malarial anemia. Although two Plasmodium parasite-derived MIF orthologs, Plasmodium falciparum MIF and P. berghei MIF were identified recently, the crystal structure and the precise roles of Plasmodium-derived MIFs, particularly in combination with the host MIF, remain unknown.

Epitope mapping of monoclonal antibody 1B9 against plasmodium falciparum-derived macrophage migration inhibitory factor.

A homologue of mammalian macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified in Plasmodium falciparum (PfMIF). This parasite-derived cytokine and its antiserum were detected in the circulation of patients with malaria. Using a monoclonal antibody, designated mAb1B9, against PfMIF, we performed biopanning using two phage display peptide libraries to screen for the main sequence of the epitope recognized by the antibody.

Detection of Plasmodium falciparum derived macrophage migration inhibitory factor homologue in the sera of malaria patients.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor homologues have been identified from several genera of parasites, including Plasmodium, and have shown some functional similarities to the host molecule. It was hypothesized that MIF molecules can act as a regulator in host-parasite interaction in favor of parasites survival during malaria infection. Although there has been some progress in recent studies, the biological function of the malaria parasite-derived MIF is still far from clear.

[Cloning and expression of a homologue of human macrophage migration inhibitory factor from P. falciparum 3D7].

Objective: To clone and express a homologue of human macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) from P. falciparum 3D7--PfMIF.

Methods: The nucleotide sequence of PfMIF was found through blast P.

Immunogenicity of polyepitope libraries assembled by epitope shuffling: an approach to the development of chimeric gene vaccination against malaria.

Developing a polyepitope vaccine which contains diverse antigenic types is a promising strategy to cope with the problem of malaria variation and diversity. However, arranging the peptides to produce the most effective immunogenicity remains a hurdle. In an attempt to develop an effective complex antigenic gene vaccine, we constructed a polyepitope library by randomly assembling epitopes using the epitope shuffling technique.