[Source Apportionment and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Dust Around Bus Stops in Kaifeng City Based on APCS-MLR Model].

In order to reveal the influence of urban transportation systems on the quality of urban ecological environment, this study selected surface dust from bus stops, which is strongly disturbed by transportation, as the research object. The contents of eight heavy metals (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in the dust were determined through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-ASE). The spatial distribution characteristics and pollution levels of the eight heavy metals in the dust were analyzed using the geo-accumulation index method. A combined qualitative (correlation analysis and principal component analysis) and quantitative (absolute principal component scores-multiple linear regression model (APCS-MLR)) method was used to explore the sources of heavy metals in surface dust near bus stops. The spatial distribution characteristics of heavy metals from different sources were elucidated using the Kriging interpolation method. The health risk assessment model proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency was used to evaluate the human health risks. The results showed that the average values of ω(V), ω(Cr), ω(Co), ω(Ni), ω(Cu), ω(Zn), ω(Cd), ω(Pb), and ω(As) in the bus stop surface dust were 68.36, 59.73, 5.81, 19.34, 40.10, 208.32, 1.01, and 49.46 mg·kg-1, respectively. The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cr) in the dust were all higher than the background values in the surrounding dust, exceeding them by 3.37, 2.70, 2.01, 1.95, and 1.28 times, respectively. The order of the geo-accumulation index for the eight heavy metals was Cd > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr > V > Ni > Co, with Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb in the dust indicating mild pollution levels and the others showing no pollution. The source analysis results showed that Cr, Co, and Ni were natural sources, whereas Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd were traffic sources, and V was derived from a combination of industrial and natural sources. The APCS-MLR results indicated that the average contribution rates of the four sources were as follows:natural source (34.17 %), traffic source (29.84 %), industrial-natural mixed source (14.64 %), and unknown source (21.35 %). The spatial distribution map of the contribution rate of the traffic source was consistent with the trends of traffic volume and bus route density distribution. According to the health risk assessment, the cancer risk and non-cancer risk for children were both higher than those for adults. Cr was the main non-cancer factor, and Cd was the main cancer-causing factor. Natural and traffic sources contributed the most to non-cancer risk and cancer risk, respectively.

[Soil Heavy Metal Contamination, Sources, and Health Risk of Typical Drinking Water Sources in the Suspended Reach of the Lower Yellow River].

With the implementation of ecological protection and a high-quality development strategy in the Yellow River Basin, the environmental conditions around the Yellow River have attracted wide attention from scholars. In this study, the soil of drinking water sources(Heichi and Liuchi) in the typical suspended reach of the lower reaches of the Yellow River was selected as the research object. The geo-accumulation index and pollution load index were used to analyze the pollution characteristics of seven heavy metals(Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and As), and correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and absolute factor score-multiple linear regression(APCS-MLR) were employed to reveal the sources of soil heavy metals from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. The health risk assessment model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA) was used to analyze the impact of soil heavy metals on human health, and the contribution rate of pollution sources to health risks was analyzed by combining the APCS-MLR model. The results showed that the average values of ω(Cr), ω(Ni), ω(Cu), ω(Zn), ω(Cd), ω(Pb), and ω(As) in the soil around the water source were 60.27, 30.00, 35.14, 77.75, 0.38, 21.74, and 9.70 mg·kg-1, respectively. Except for As, the contents of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb were higher than the background values of soil elements in the fluvo-aquic soil area of the lower Yellow River, whereas the contents of Cu and Zn in the soil around Liuchi were significantly higher than those in Heichi. Both the geo-accumulation index and the single-factor index showed that the black pond and the willow pond were slightly polluted by heavy metals, and Cd was the main pollution factor. The pollution load index model showed that the number of non-polluted and mildly polluted samples in the study area accounted for 5% and 95% of the total samples, respectively, indicating that the study area was at a mild pollution level. The source apportionment showed that Cr, Ni, Cu, and As were mainly affected by parent materials. The analysis results of the APCS-MLR model showed that the soil pollutants in the study area were mainly from natural sources, traffic sources, agricultural sources, and unknown sources, and their contribution rates were 42.95%, 23.39%, 16.95%, and 16.71%, respectively. The health risk assessment showed that As was the main non-carcinogenic factor, and Ni was the main carcinogenic factor. The non-carcinogenic risk of heavy metals to adults and children was negligible, and there was a tolerable carcinogenic risk to the human body. For both adults and children, the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk contribution rates of the four pollution sources were:natural sources>unknown sources>traffic sources>agricultural sources, among which natural sources contributed the most to non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the characteristics, sources, and effects of soil pollution on human health around the water source area of the suspended reach of the lower reaches of the Yellow River, which is of great significance for the protection of water sources and provides theoretical support for the high-quality development of the ecological environment along the Yellow River.

[Pollution Characteristics and Source Analysis of Heavy Metals in Soils in Yellow River Cultural Park Based on APCS-MLR and PMF Receptor Model].

With open spaces and good ecological environments, urban parks have become the first choice for the leisure and entertainment of many people. Therefore, the quality of park soil environments has gradually attracted the extensive attention of scholars. In this study, we take the Yellow River Cultural Park, a typical human disturbance area in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, as the research area to discuss the characteristics and sources of heavy metal pollution in the soil. Thirty-three soil surface samples were collected from the Yellow River Cultural Park, and the contents of seven heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and As) were determined using an inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) and an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The geo-accumulation index and geo-statistics method were used. Meanwhile, the absolute factor analysis-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) receptor model and positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis model were employed to reveal the sources of soil heavy metals. The results showed that the average contents of heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, and As) in the surface soil of the study area were 4.62, 1.78, 1.41, 1.08, and 1.03 times higher than the background values of soil elements in the tidal soil area of the lower reaches of the Yellow River, respectively. Except for Zn, the contents of other elements were lower than the corresponding values of soil elements in different regions along the Yellow River Basin. Among the seven heavy metal elements, the coefficients of variation of Cd and As were greater than 50%, showing obvious spatial variability. The decreasing trend of the accumulation index of the seven elements was Cd>Zn>Cu>Ni>Pb>As=Cr, and the element Cd belonged to the middle pollution category, which was obviously accumulated in the surface soil. The spatial distribution of heavy metals in the soil differed:the high contents of Cr, Cu, and Ni were distributed in the southwest and northeast, and the high-value areas of Cd and Pb were consistent with the areas of human activity intensity. The high-value areas of Zn and As were located in the center of lacustrine sediments. The combined results of the APCS-MLR and PMF models suggested that the first pollution source of soil heavy metal elements in the Yellow River Cultural Park could have been a natural source, the second pollution source may have been a transportation source, and the third source of pollution was judged as a mixed source. Human activities such as transportation sources and mixed sources were the main sources of heavy metal soil pollution, and Cr, Cu, and Ni were affected by natural factors. The contribution rates of APCS-MLR were 46.67%, 24.11%, 16.12%, and 13.10%, respectively, and the contribution rates of PMF were 35.50%, 35.48%, and 29.02%, respectively. This research can provide a basis for improving the ecological environment quality of the park and improving the health level of the population and can also provide support for the ecological environment risk management and comprehensive management along the Yellow River.

[Effect of Yuyin Ruangan Granule on TGF-ß1 expression in hepatic fibrosis rats].

OBJECTIVES: To observe the preventive and therapeutic action of Yuyin Ruangan Granule (YRG, Traditional Chinese Medicine) in hepatic fibrosis rats model and its effect on transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) expression. METHODS: The Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 group (n=10), and the model of hepatic fibrosis rats was established by subcutaneous injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCL4), fed on high-fat diet and 20% ethanol for 6 weeks, to survey the effect and mechanism of YRG preventing hypatic fibrosis by detecting liver function (the activity of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), etc.) of liver fibrosis rats, liver fibrosis indicators (hyaluronic acid, Ⅲ procollagen, type IV collagen, laminin and hepatic pathology, etc.), and TGF-ß1 expression in liver tissue after 6 weeks treated with YRG through intragastric administration (q. d.). RESULTS: At the 7th week, fibrotic lesions appears distinctly in liver tissue of model group compared with control group (P<0.01), YRG of 6.2~28.8 g/kg could significantly decrease hepatic index, ALT and AST activities, content of hyaluronic acid(HA), Ⅲ procollagen (PCⅢ), type Ⅳ collagen(C-Ⅳ), laminin (LN) in serum, relieve liver fibrosis pathological changes and inhibit TGF-ß1 expression in fibrotic liver tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: YRG has significantly preventive effects on liver fibrosis rats model, and it may be one of its mechanisms to inhibit expression of TGF-ß1.

[Effects of combined administration of Radix Angelicae Sinensis and hydrocortisone on the therapeutic action in the murine asthma model].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Radix Angelicae Sinensis (RASI) and hydrocortisone combination on the murine asthma model and the mechanism. METHODS: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, blood stasis model group, asthma model group, HSS group, RASI group and RASI+HSS group (n=12). Ovalbumin (OVA) was used to replicate mice asthma model and hydrocortisone sodium succinate (HSS) to copy blood stasis model. Effects of RASI, HSS and their combination on hemorheology, anti-asthma (asthmatic behaviors, lung function, lung index and water content in lung tissue) were observed. and anti-asthma mechanisms The expression of relative cytokines, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was detected by ELISA and immunohistochemistry respectively. RESULTS: Eight g/kg RASI, 0.05 g/kg HSS and their combination could significantly relieve asthma behavioral indicators, improve lung function, reduce lung index and water content in lung tissue, decrease the levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and inhibit the high expression of HMGB1, TLR4 and NF-κB in lung tissue. The improvement of lung function and the decrease in level of relative cytokines (TNF-α、IL-1ßIL-6) were better in RASI+HSS group than those in RASI group and HSS group, and the inhibition of protein expression of TLR4 and NF-κB was also too. Combined administration of RASI and hydrocortisone could decrease serum thromboxane B2 (TXB2) content and blood viscosity, which were increased induced by hydrocortisone. CONCLUSIONS: Combined administration of RASI and hydrocortisone have obvious anti-asthma effects and one of the mechanisms is to inhibit protein synthetization of HMGB1, TLR4 and NF-κB.The combined administration of RASI and hydrocortisone has stronger improvement of lung function than that of RASI and hydrocortisone alone, and it may be related to the inhibition of TLR4 and NF-κB synthetization. The combined administration of RASI can alleviate abnormal changes of hemorheology induced by hydrocortisone in treatment of asthma.

[Preliminary pharmacodynamics study on antiasthmatic action of butylphthalide in guinea pig].

OBJECTIVE: To study the anti-asthmatic effects of butylphthalide in guinea pig. METHODS: This research included isolated tra-cheal smooth muscle and in vivo animal experiments. Antispasmodic effects of butylphthalide at the concentrations of 1, 10, 100 mg/L were observed through spasmodical tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pig induced by acetylcholine or histamine (n=10). After screened, the guinea pigs were divided into control group, model group, dexamethasone(DXM) group, high and low dose butylphthalide groups. The effects of butylphthalide on nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and asthmatic behaviors were observed on the asthmatic guinea pigs that were stimu-lated six times by the excitation fluid (1% ACh:0.05% Hist=1:1). RESULTS: Butylphthalide at the concentrations of 1、10、100 mg/L had an-ti-spasmodic effects on spasmodical tracheal smooth muscle of guinea pig (15.08 ±7.68、42.41 ±13.54、77.56 ±24.82 to acetylcholine, 19.40 ±7.60、56.84 ±11.72、76.35 ±19.40 to histamine), which showed a certain dose-effect relationship. Butylphthalide could prolong asth-matic incubation period (53.3 ±13.2、33.1 ±13.0), improve asthmatic behaviors, reduce NO in serum (78.71 ±19.40、84.75 ±20.97) and ET-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (24.30 ±5.80、28.50 ±6.31) (P < 0.05, 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Butylphthalide has some effects of anti-asthma and one of the mechanisms is to relieve abnormal increase of NO and ET-1.

[Compositions, Sources and Health Risks of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Surface Dusts from Driving-schools in a City of Henan Province, China].

The contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface dusts attracts great attentions due to their properties of threatening human health. Twenty-nine surface dust samples were collected from driving-schools in a city of Henan. Concentrations of 16 priority PAHs were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The health risks exposed to dust PAHs for three different scenarios (working for 5 a, 10 a and 20 a in driving-school) were estimated by the health risk assessment model (ILCRs). Source identification was analyzed by diagnostic ratio, composition analysis, and principal component analysis. The results showed that concentrations of the ∑PAHs in dusts ranged from 198.21 to 3400.89 µg·kg-1, with a mean of 908.72 µg·kg-1. Among individual PAHs, the contents of naphthalene (Nap), phenanthrene (Phe), anthracene (Ant) and fluoranthene (Flu) were higher, and the content of dibenzo[a, h]anthracene (DBA) was the lowest. The dominant compounds were 2-3 ring PAHs, which accounted for 55.79%, while the 4-6 ring PAHs accounted for 44.21%. The health risks exposed to PAHs in dust in three different scenarios were 9.27×10-8, 1.85×10-7, and 3.71×10-7 respectively; only sample J11 was with potential health risk in scenario 3, and the other samples were all without risks. Average daily doses by dermal contact of dust particles for the PAHs was the main exposure way. PAHs in dusts of driving-school were mainly originated from the combustion of fossil fuels and mixture combustion. The major sources of dust PAHs in farmland area driving-schools were natural gas and diesel combustion (56.44%), coal combustion (26.55%), gasoline combustion and the leakage (17.01%); dust PAHs in industrial area driving-schools were from mixture combustion (76.26%), gasoline combustion and the leakage (22.85%), coking and coal combustion (0.89%); and dust PAHs in mixed area driving-schools were from coal combustion (45.57%), natural gas and diesel combustion (45.41%), gasoline combustion and the leakage (9.02%). The concentrations and health risks of heavy metals in dusts were closely related to the surroundings around driving-schools and the previous land use status.

[Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution and its Health Risk of Surface Dusts from Parks of Kaifeng, China].

Fifty-two dust samples were collected from four parks [Longting Park (P(L)), Tieta Park (P(T)), Qingmingshanghe Park (P(Q)), Xiangguosi Park (P(X))] located in Kaifeng City, China. Concentrations of Hg and As in dusts were measured by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS), while Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cd were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). The heavy metal pollution of dust was assessed using Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and pollution load index (PLI). The health risk due to exposure to heavy metals in dust was assessed using the model recommended by USEPA. The non-carcinogen (HI) and carcinogen health risks (TCR) were also calculated to evaluate the potential risks to adults. The results showed that the average contents of Hg, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were much higher than those in control samples and the background values of fluvo-aquic soil in China. The samples were seriously polluted by Hg and Pb, besides, there was.moderate pollution, slight pollution of Cu and Zn, and no pollution of As, Cr and Ni. The PLI from the 4 Parks indicated that there was serious heavy metals pollution of dust in P(X), moderate pollution in P%, and slight pollution in P(T) and P(Q). The average HI of heavy metals in the four Parks was lower than one. The average HI decreased in the order of P(L) > P(X), > P(T) > P(Q), while the average TCR decreased in the order of P(L) > P(Q) > P(x) > P(T). The contribution rate of HQ(As) to HI was about 43.51% , and that of CR(As) to TCR was about 70.11%.

[Separation and identification of endophytic fungi from desert plant Cynanchum komarovii].

OBJECTIVE: The research aimed to investigate the entophytic fungal community of Cynanchum Komarrovii, including the biodiversity in different organs and the correlations with ecological environment. Endophytic fungi with patent bioactivity were also rapidly screened. METHOD: PDA medium was used to isolate and purify the endophytic fungi from C. komarovii living in Shaanxi and Ningxia district, respectively. The strains were identified based on the morphological characteristics of the fungi and similarity of 5.8S gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence. Pyriculaia oryzae model was applied to preliminarily screen the active fungi. RESULT: Ninety-four strains of endophytic fungi were isolated and identified to 9 species, 13 genera, 9 families and 6 orders, among them, 47 strains were from the plants living in Ningxia. And then, 5 of them were isolated from roots, 14 from branches, and 28 from leaves. They were identified belonging to 8 species, 9 genera, 5 families and 4 orders. Additionally, 47 strains were from the plants living in Shaanxi. 16 were isolated from the roots, 18 from branches, 13 from leaves. They were identified belonging to 5 species, 8 genera, 6 families and 4 orders. By preliminary screening, 18 strains of endophytes completely inhibited the germination of conidium, which showed a potential bioactivity for these fungi. Both N4 and S17 strains had stronger growth inhibition effect. CONCLUSION: Endophytic fungi from desert plant C. komarovii have the feature of diversity. Different geographical environment and type of organizations lead to the significant difference on the quantity and the species composition. Most of fungi in Ningxia C. komarovii distribute in leaves. However, most of those in Shaanxi C. komarovii distribute in stems and leaves. It also indicated that endophytes from C. komarovii had a strong antifungal activity.

Rapid determination of phenolic compounds in water samples by alternating-current oscillopolarographic titration.

A rapid, simple and sensitive method was demonstrated for the determination of phenolic compounds in water samples by alternating-current oscillopolarographic titration. With the presence of sulfuric acid, phenol could be transferred into a nitroso-compound by reacting with NaNO2. The titration end-point was obtained by the formation of a sharp cut in the oscillopolarographic with infinitesimal NaNO2 on double platinum electrodes. The results showed that phenol concentration had an excellent linear relationship over the range of 4.82 x 10(-6)-9.65 x 10(-3) mol/L, the RSD of the proposed method was lower than 1.5%, and the spiked recoveries of three real water samples were in the range of 95.6%-106.9%.