Publications by authors named "Guoying Sheng"

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furans (PBDD/Fs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furans (PCDD/Fs) in the environment are closely related to their precursors, brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). However, their change trends following the regulation of BFRs and OCPs remain incompletely characterized. Here, we examined PBDD/Fs and PCDD/Fs in sediments from a historical hotspot for both BFRs and OCPs, namely the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China.

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Incomplete understanding of the sources of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) leads to large uncertainty in both air quality management and in climate change assessment. Chemical reactions occurring in the atmospheric aqueous phase represent an important source of SOA mass, yet, the effects of anthropogenic emissions on the aqueous SOA (aqSOA) are not well constrained. Here we use compound-specific dual-carbon isotopic fingerprints (δC and ΔC) of dominant aqSOA molecules, such as oxalic acid, to track the precursor sources and formation mechanisms of aqSOA.

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Extremely high levels of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) are frequently found in the serum of occupationally exposed groups, such as e-waste dismantlers and firefighters. However, the metabolism of BDE-209 in the human body is not adequately studied. In this study, 24 serum samples were collected from workers at a typical e-waste recycling workshop in Taizhou, Eastern China, and the occurrence and fate of these higher brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated.

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Severe pollution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and their brominated analogues (PBDD/Fs) was frequently reported for the waters located near unregulated e-waste recycling areas. However, the migrations of these high-level dioxins via waterways and their potential threats to the lower reaches were seldom investigated. In this study, we analyzed PCDD/Fs and PBDD/Fs in 27 surficial sediments collected from the Lian River encompassing the Guiyu, China e-waste recycling zone, and investigated their distributions, sources, migration behaviors and risks.

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Nine amine species in atmospheric particles during haze and low-pollution days with low and high relative humidity (RH) were analyzed in urban Guangzhou, China. The mean concentrations of total measured amines (Ʃamines) in fine particles were 208 ± 127, 63.7 ± 21.

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Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) share similar toxicities and thermal origins, e.g., municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI).

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Dechlorane series flame retardants (DECs), e.g. Dechlorane plus (DP), have reportedly showed an increase in consumption since the phase-out of traditional brominated flame retardants (BFRs).

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Density (ρ) is one of the most important physical properties of aerosol particles. Owing to the complex nature of aerosols and the challenges of measuring them, effective density (ρ) is generally used as an alternative measure. Various methods have been developed to quantify the ρ of aerosols, which provide powerful technical support and understanding of their physical properties.

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The effect of the mixing state of black carbon (BC) on light absorption is of enduring interest due to its close connection to regional/global climate. Herein, we present concurrent measurements of both BC absorption enhancement (E) and the chemical mixing state in southern China. E was obtained by simultaneous measuring the light absorption coefficient using an aethalometer before and after being heated.

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A single particle aerosol mass spectrometry (SPAMS) was deployed to investigate the mixing state and chemical processing of Pb-rich particles in suburban Beijing. Based on a large dataset of mass spectra, Pb-rich particles were classified into Pb-O-Cl-N-S (55%), Pb-N (17%), Pb-N-S (15%), and Pb-EC (7%). Residual coal combustion, industrial activities, and meteorological conditions were identified as main factors regulating the variations of Pb-rich particles in the atmosphere.

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Spatiotemporal trends in pro-inflammatory (interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8) release after exposure to the water-soluble fractions of PM sampled in 10 large Chinese cities over 1 year were investigated. Chemical components (water-soluble ions, metal(loid) elements, water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), humic-like substances (HULIS), and endotoxins) in PM samples were measured, and the molecular structure of WSOC was also analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance. Changes in DNA methylation and gene expression of candidate genes were also evaluated to explore the potential mechanisms.

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We used a single particle mass spectrometry to online detect chemical compositions of individual particles over four seasons in Guangzhou. Number fractions (Nfs) of all the measured particles that contained oxalate were 1.9%, 5.

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e-Waste recycling using crude techniques releases a complex, yet incompletely characterized mixture of hazardous materials, including flame retardants (FRs), to the environment. Their migration downstream and the associated risks also remain undocumented. We examined 26 FRs (18 brominated (BFRs: 12 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners, plus 6 alternatives) and 8 organophosphate esters (OPEs)) in surficial sediments of the Lian River.

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To evaluate contamination by polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in market hens and human PBDE exposure via hen consumption in Guangzhou, hens were collected and their muscle, liver, fat, blood, yolk, and ingluvies tissues were analyzed for 13 PBDE congeners. The median highest concentration of ∑PBDEs was found in the ingluvies (5.30 ng/g lw), followed by the muscle (2.

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Exposure to metal(loid)s can lead to adverse effects on nervous system in children. However, little is known about the possible interaction effects of simultaneous exposure to multiple metal(loid)s on children's intelligence. In addition, relationship between blood lead concentrations (<100 μg/L) and the intelligence of children over 5 years needs further epidemiological evidence.

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A series of alkyl amides was detected and identified in the sedimentary record from an archaeological site at Yuchisi, Mengcheng, Anhui, China. The alkyl amides profiles change abruptly at the depth corresponding to the transition between two prehistoric cultures, which also corresponds to an abrupt change in the fatty acid ratio C/C. The different patterns of variation of the longer and shorter chain alkyl amides at the depth of the cultural transition may reflect differences in their response to external environmental changes, as well as different sources.

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A number of studies have reported on the exposure of e-waste dismantling workers to significantly high concentrations of halogenated organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Such exposure can have adverse health effects. However, little information on the metabolites of these contaminants exists.

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Two biomarkers, 5,9-dimethyl-6-isopropyl-2-decanone (1) and 4,9,11-trimethyl-6-isopropyl-2-dodecanone (2), were isolated from Chinese Maoming oil shale by silica gel column chromatography and preparative gas chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by using spectroscopic techniques.

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Light absorption properties of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) were investigated in the urban area of Guangzhou. The fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) and size-segregated samples were collected in September and December of 2014 and January of 2015.

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Triclosan (TCS), a frequently used antimicrobial agent in pharmaceuticals and personal care products, exerts liver tumor promoter activities in mice. Previous work showed high-dose TCS (1.25-10μM) induced global DNA hypomethylation in HepG2 cells.

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This study investigated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs), and dechlorane plus (DP) in air around three concentrated vehicle parking areas (underground, indoor, and outdoor) in a metropolitan of South China. The parking areas showed higher concentrations of PBDEs, PBDD/Fs, and DP than their adjacent urban area or distinct congener/isomer profiles, which indicate their local emission sources. The highest PBDE and DP concentrations were found in the outdoor parking lot, which might be related to the heating effect of direct sunlight exposure.

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The concentrations and distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) were investigated in 28 sediment samples collected from Taihu Lake, Eastern China. The results showed that all three classes of compounds were detected in 28 sediment samples but that PBDEs were the main contaminants in the study area. The total PBDE concentrations ranged from 3.

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The occurrence, distribution and main removal pathway of seven widely used organophosphate esters (OPs) in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) located in the Pearl River Delta were investigated. Their daily discharge load into the Pearl River via effluent was also estimated. All the target analytes were detected in wastewater, suspended particle and dewatered sludge, with tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) as the main components.

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As ubiquitous organic contaminants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were evaluated to explore the impacts of the water level fluctuating zone (WLFZ) on organic pollutant behavior and the retention mechanism of organic pollutants in the bank-WLFZ-water system of Hanfeng Lake in the Three Gorges region of China. The mean concentrations of total PBDEs were 103, 75.2, and 568 ng g(-1) dry wt for bank soils, WLFZ soils, and sediment samples, respectively.

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Forty surface sediment samples from the Hunhe River in Northeast China were evaluated for contamination by polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). The results showed that decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) was the predominant congener, accounting for >98 % of PBDEs in all sediment. The concentrations of BDE-209 and HBCD ranged from 3.

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