Estrogens in municipal wastewater and receiving waters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China: Occurrence and risk assessment of mixtures.

The potentially high release of estrogens to surface waters due to high population density and local livestock production in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region may pose adverse effects on reproductive systems of aquatic organisms. This study found that total measured concentrations of estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) were 468 ± 27 ng/L in treated wastewater and 219 ± 23 ng/L in river waters in this region. E2, E3 and EE2 were the predominant estrogens in river waters.

Spatial and seasonal variations of antibiotics in river waters in the Haihe River Catchment in China and ecotoxicological risk assessment.

Concentrations of widely used antibiotics were predicted to be the highest in the Haihe River Catchment across China previously, potentially resulting in high ecotoxicological risks in this region. As a result of growing usage and regulation of antibiotic use in animals, the pattern of use may have altered temporally for different antibiotics. It is important to monitor the occurrence of antibiotics within different categories for understanding their mass loading to the catchment and the potential ecotoxicological risks involved.

[UV-Visible Spectra Properties of DOM from Taizi River in Benxi City Section by Multivariable Analysis].

This study investigated the ability of ultra violet-visible (UV-Visible) spectroscopy to analyze the origin,compositions,structure and humification level of dissolved organic matter(DOM). Seven surface water samples were collected from the Benxi City section of mainstream in Taizi River. Nine indices (SUVA, /, /, /, , , /, / and /), deduced from elemental analysis and UV visible spectroscopy of DOM, were used to assess the humification degree.

[Chemical forms and distribution of phosphorus in the sediment profiles of the Daliaohe River systems].

The Daliaohe river system in China has been seriously affected by long-term intensive industrial, urban and agricultural activities. The objective of this study was to determine the total phosphorus (TP) content and forms of phosphate in the sediments and investigate geochemical relationships between P forms and mineral matrix elements and P bioavailability. Four sediment profiles were taken in the Daliaohe river systems.

[Use of dinoflagellates as a metal toxicity assessment tool in aquatic system].

Although dinoflagellates have been used to assess biological toxicity of contaminants, this method still lacks of corresponding toxicity assessment standard. This study appraised the toxicity of selected heavy metals to dinoflagellates based on the dinoflagellates bioluminescence with QwikLite developed by the United States Navy. The results show that single heavy metal biological toxicity is in the order: Hg2+ > Cu2+ > Cd2+ > As5+ > Pb2+ > Cr6+; Two, three and four heavy metal mixture experiments show synergism primarily, antagonism is in minority.

[Plasmid pJP4 mediated gene-augmentation in different systems and its effect on 2,4-D biodegradation].

With pJP4 plasmid carrying genetic engineering bacteria Pseudomonas putida SM1443 :: gfp2x (pJP4 :: dsRed) as the donor, horizontal gene transfer of pJP4 plasmid in 4 isolated pure strains was investigated, and effects of the donor bacteria inoculation on the removal of the target pollutant 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was studied through conducting gene augmentation in activated sludge, biofilm, aerobic granular sludge and river sediment system, respectively. Results showed that plasmid pJP4 could transfer from Pseudomonas putida SM1443 to a broad spectrum of bacteria. Inoculation of pJP4 plasmid carrying donor bacterium apparently promoted the degradation of 2,4-D for all the above four systems.

[Release and transform of lead from the glass of cathode ray tube (CRT) following its entrance in the soil].

The objective of this study was to investigate the release and transform Pb from the CRT glass following its entrance into the soil environment. A long-term incubation of soil mixed with CRT glass particles and sequential selective dissolution technology were used. Results indicated that the addition of CRT glass particle to the soil led to the increase in the total concentration of Pb in the soil from 28.

[Risk assessment of nitrogen and phosphorus export in upper reach of Daliao river watershed].

With the development of point pollution control, non-point source pollution has become an important environmental and water quality management problem. Land cover composition across a watershed is a dominant factor in controlling the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus exported from a watershed. Generally, urban and agricultural land covers are considered as principal sources of excess loads of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in receiving waters.

[Transport and bioavailability of Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni in surface sediments of Daliao River watersystem].

To understand the transport and bioavailability of heavy metals in the surface sediment of Daliao River system, nine samples of surface sediment were collected. Clay content, pH, and Eh of these sediment samples were measured. Total contents and chemical speciation of Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni in the sediment were determined.

[Contents, contamination and geochemical characteristics of metals in the sediment from Songhua River].

Geochemical behavior of major and trace elements in the sediment of the Songhua River was studied. 39 bottom sediment samples were collected from the Songhua River and total contents of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Zn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sc, V, Mn, Ti, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na and K in these samples were measured. The objectives of this study were to identify the contents and spatial variations of these metals in the sediment, investigate geochemical relationships among the elements, and develop baseline relationships between 9 trace metals and conservative reference element Sc to quantify the contamination of these 9 elements.

[High resolution measurement of concentrations and fluxes of heavy metals in pore waters by DGT].

Three sediment cores were collected from the Daliao River system in May 2006. The physico-chemical characteristics and heavy metal contents of sediment cores were analyzed. The vertical profiles of metals in pore water were measured by diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) and centrifugal methods separately.

[Distribution characteristics of organochlorine pesticides in river surface sediments in Song-Liao watershed].

With gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD), this paper analyzed 13 kinds of organochlorinae pesticides (OCP) in surface sediments collected from 22 sites of Song-Liao water system. The results showed that the total concentration of OCP varied from 3.06 to 23.

[Study on the treatment of aromatic hydrocarbon containing wastewater by an anaerobic filter reactor under denitrifying condition].

With benzene, naphthalene and biphenyl as the model aromatic hydrocarbon, the treatment of aromatic hydrocarbon containing wastewater by an anaerobic filter (AF) reactor operated in continuous mode and under denitrifying condition were conducted. With glucose as the supplemented carbon, the influence of C/N ratio on the degradation of organic compounds was also investigated. Results showed that the AF reactor could degrade these aromatic hydrocarbons effectively under above mentioned conditions.

[Effect of microorganism for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) sorption on surface sediments and soils].

Influence of microorganism for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) sorption on surface sediments and soils in Yellow River Delta was studied. The results indicated that phenanthrene and benzo[a]pyrene could be adsorbed or biodegraded by Bacillus subtilis, and 98% phenanthrene and 85% benzo[a]pyrene was eliminated by microorganism in adsorption process. Sorption isotherms of soils and sediments with and without microorganism were described by linear isotherm equation.

[Pollution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) in middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River].

Samples of water, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment in the Yellow River was analyzed. The total concentration of PAHs in the main river varies from 179 ng/L to 369 ng/L (sigma 15PAHs) in water, from 54 microg/kg to 155 microg/kg (sigma 13PAHs) in SPM dry weight, and from 31 microg/kg to 133 microg/kg (sigma 13PAHs) dry weight in sediment. The levels of PAHs in water of tributaries are higher than those in the corresponding sites in the main river, and concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene in most of the stations sampled are above drinking water standard.

Distribution patterns of nitrobenzenes and polychlorinated biphenyls in water, suspended particulate matter and sediment from mid- and down-stream of the Yellow River (China).

Samples of water, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment were collected from mid- and down-stream of the Yellow River. The distribution and concentration of 10 nitroaromatic compounds and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were extensively studied. The total concentration of 10 nitrobenzenes (SigmaNBs) varied from 0.

The patterns of Cd-binding proteins in rice and wheat seed and their stability.

The protein-binding forms of cadmium in polluted rice and wheat seeds and their stability were investigated using the methods of Sephadex chromatography. Three absorption peaks (F-I, F-II and F-III) were identified in Tris-HCl extraction of rice and wheat on Sephadex G 75. The Cd in the protein extracts from rice and wheat seeds was distributed mainly in the fractions of F-I and F-III.