Leakage of soluble microbial products from biological activated carbon filtration in drinking water treatment plants and its influence on health risks.

The application of ozone-biological activated carbon (O-BAC) as an advanced treatment method in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) can help to remove organic micropollutants and further decrease the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) level in finished water. With the increase attention to microbial safety of drinking water, a pre-positioned O-BAC followed by a sand filter has been implanted into DWTP located in Shanghai, China to increase the biostability of effluents. The results showed that BAC had high removal efficiencies of UV, DOC and disinfection by-product formation potential (DBPFP).

[Male reproductive toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls].

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants with estrogen-like effects that exist widely in the environment, and its male reproductive toxicity is arousing more and more attention. Studies indicate that different types of cells in the testis respond differently to PCBs exposure. This article presents an overview on the toxicity of PCBs to testicular germ cells, Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and male offspring.

Application of a new bioassay technique using goldfish for assessment of water toxicity.

There are a variety of chemicals in aquatic environment, so it is important to assess the toxicity. The biomarkers such as induction of DNA damage, micronuclei, vitellogenin, and hepatic P450 in fish are known to be effective for monitoring genotoxic and/or estrogenic chemicals. However, there is little study to use these biomarkers in same fish.

[PCBs concentrations in human milk collected from a polluted area--exposure risk for feeding infants].

Objective: To determine the concentration of PCBs and the distribution of dioxin-like compounds in human milk collected from a polluted area where discarded electronic equipment is dismantled, and to evaluate the risk for feeding infants.

Methods: The authors collected 20 and 12 milk samples from the polluted area and nearby town, respectively. Milk samples were analyzed for total PCBs (t-PCBs) by gas chromatography, and two mixed milk samples from the two areas were detected the distribution of dioxin-like compounds.