[Potential Risk and Distribution Characteristics of PPCPs in Surface Water and Sediment from Rivers and Lakes in Beijing, China].

Thirty-four water samples and twenty-three sediment samples from the urban rivers, ten water samples and five sediment samples from urban lakes were collected in Beijing. Ten PPCPs (acetaminophen, lincomycin, caffeine, trimethoprim, azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, diltiazem, tylosin, carbamazepine, fluoxetine) were extracted from water samples by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and from sediment samples by ultrasonic extraction, and then analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The ranges of geometric mean values were 0-655 ng·L-1 and 0-252 ng·L-1 in water samples from urban rivers and lakes,respectively. The range of detection ratio was 0-100% for 10 PPCPs in river water samples, caffeine was the dominant pollutant in water samples and the detection ratio was 100%, whereas sulfamethoxazole, diltiazem and tylosin were not detected in river samples. The range of detection ratio was 0-100% for 10 PPCPs in lake water samples. The detection ratios of acetaminophen, lincomycin, caffeine and azithromycin were 100%, whereas sulfamethoxazole, diltiazem, tylosin, carbamazepine were not detected in lake water samples. The ranges of geometric mean values were N.D.-1709 ng·g-1and N.D.-35.9 ng·g-1in sediment samples from urban rivers and lakes, respectively. The ranges of detection ratio were 4%-96% and 0-100% for 10 PPCPs in river and lake sediment samples, respectively. The detection ratio of trimethoprim was 96% and that of tylosin was 4% in river sediment, the detection ratio of diltiazem was 100% and caffeine, tylosin,carbamazepine were not detected. The concentrations of PPCPs in water and sediment samples from Yongyin River, Liangshui River, Tonghui River, Bahe River were higher than those in other rivers. The concentrations of PPCPs in water and sediment samples from Yongding River,Kunyu River were lower than those in other rivers. Further risk assessment results showed that the overall risk was not high in water of rivers and lakes and the RQ values were below 0.1, which showed low risk to microorganisms. But the condition was not the same in sediment from rivers and lakes. The RQ values of acetaminophen were between 0.1 and 1 in sediments from Yongyin River, Tonghui River, Bahe River. The RQ values of lincomycin were between 0.1 and 1 in sediments from Yongyin River, Wenyu River,Tonghui River, Hucheng River, Bahe River, Liangshui River, Houhai Lake. The RQ values of trimethoprim were between 0.1 and 1 in sediments from Yongyin River, Qinghe River, Wenyu River, Tonghui River Hucheng River, Bahe River, Liangma River, Liangshui River and Houhai Lake. The RQ values of azithromycin were between 0.1 and 1 in sediments from Liangma River, Liangshui River, which all showed medium risk to microorganisms in sediments. The RQ values of azithromycin exceeded 1 from Yongyin River, Qinghe River, Wenyu River, Tonghui River, Bahe River and Houhai Lake, which showed high risk to microorganisms in sediments.

[Pollution Characteristics of Chlorobenzenes in Organs of Fish from Typical Epidemic Areas of Schistosomiasis Prevalence].

Sixty-eight fish samples were collected from typical epidemic areas of schistosomiasis prevalence. The contents of 12 CB congeners in fish samples were measured using GC/MS technique. The results indicated that 1,3-DIC, 1,4-DIC, 1,2-DIC and HCB were the most predominant CB congeners in the samples from the studying area. The source of HCB was PCP (pentachlorophenol), which was used to control the schistosomiasis prevalence, used in study area. And DIC came from the degradation of HCB and the articles of daily use. The geometric average of CBs in muscle ranged from 2731.50 to 7811.23 ng·g-1 lipid weight, while the summarized concentration of CBs in fish gonads, brains, kidneys, livers ranged from 2557.89 to 4640.05 ng·g-1 lipid weight, 2423.18 to 3329.61 ng·g-1 lipid weight, 1628.05 to 4667.76 ng·g-1 lipid weight and 704.92 to 1086.96 ng·g-1 lipid weight, respectively. When compared to other studies in China and other countries, the concentrations of CBs in these fish samples were at a relatively high level.

[Spatial, Temporal Distribution Characteristics and Potential Risk of PPCPs in Surface Sediments from Taihu Lake].

Fourteen sediment samples from 15 river estuaries and six sediments from 6 drinking water resource were collected from Taihu Lake. Nine pharmaceutical and personal care products(PPCPs) in the sediments samples were measured by using the HPLC-MS/MS technique. The ranges of geometric mean values were 1.60-129 ng·g-1 and 1.36-22.0 ng·g-1, respectively. Caffeine was the dominant pollutant in fourteen sediments near the river estuary, the content of which covered 52% of amounts of 9 PPCPs. Lincomycin, trimethoprime, azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole and tylosin were the dominant pollutants in six sediments near the drinking water resource, the contents of which covered 79% of amounts 9 PPCPs. From the point of spatial distribution, the results of PPCPs in Zhushan bay and East of Yixing in the northwest and west of Taihu Lake showed higher concentration than those in other sample sites. From the composition, the origin of PPCPs was different. Municipal sewage, stock farming and aquaculture were the main sources of PPCPs in Taihu Lake. Pharmaceuticals of human use showed the dominant pollution in fourteen sediments near the river estuary and drugs of veterinary use showed the dominant pollution in six sediments near the water resource. The concentrations of PPCPs in fourteen sediments of river mouth showed high level. It suggested that PPCPs pollutants were discharged to Taihu Lake continuously. Further risk assessment results showed that the overall risk was not high except for some PPCPs compounds. The RQ exceeded 1 for acetaminophen, azithromycin and sulfamethoxazole in the surface sediments of 15 river estuaries and 6 water resources, which showed high risk. The RQ was between 0.01 to 0.1 for carbazepine in the surface sediments of 15 river estuaries and 6 water resources, which showed medium risk. The RQ was below 0.01 for caffeine, lincomycin, trimethoprim, diltiazem and tylosin in the sediments of 15 river estuaries and 6 water resources, which showed low risk.

[Distribution Characteristics and Potential Risk of CBs in Aquatic Organisms from Typical Epidemic Areas of Schistosomiasis Prevalence].

Eleven mollusca samples and 32 fish samples were collected from typical epidemic areas of schistosomiasis prevalence. The contents of 12 CB congeners in aquatic organism samples were measured using the GC/MS technique. The results indicated that 1,3-DIC, 1,4-DIC, 1,2-DIC and HCB were the most predominant CB congeners in the samples from the studying area. The geometric average of CBs in muscle of mollusca was 11 947 ng x g(-1) lipid weight. The summarized concentration of CBs in fish muscle ranged from 1 851 to 8 159 ng x g(-1) lipid weight. The highest concentration of CBs sum was detected in the catfish, while the lowest one was found in the crucian carp. The concentrations of CBs in fish samples were much higher than those reported in other countries, while in mollusca samples were at the same level. The estimated cumulative cancerigenic risks for the local residents consumed the aquatic organisms from the studying area were 1.49 x 10(-7) and 3.73-21.1 x 10(-7), respectively for mollusca and fish, both of which were acceptable.

Chronic exposure to pentachlorophenol alters thyroid hormones and thyroid hormone pathway mRNAs in zebrafish.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is frequently detected in the aquatic environment and has been implicated as an endocrine disruptor in fish. In the present study, 4-month-old zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to 1 of 4 concentrations of PCP (0.1, 1, 9, and 27 µg/L) for 70 d. The effects of PCP exposure on plasma thyroid hormone levels, and the expression levels of selected genes, were measured in the brain and liver. The PCP exposure at 27 µg/L resulted in elevated plasma thyroxine concentrations in male and female zebrafish and depressed 3, 5, 3'-triiodothyronine concentrations in males only. In both sexes, PCP exposure resulted in decreased messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone ß-subunit (tshß) and thyroid hormone receptor ß (trß) in the brain, as well as increased liver levels of uridine diphosphoglucuronosyl transferase (ugt1ab) and decreased deiodinase 1 (dio1). The authors also identified several sex-specific effects of PCP exposure, including changes in mRNA levels for deiodinase 2 (dio2), cytosolic sulfotransferase (sult1 st5), and transthyretin (ttr) genes in the liver. Environmental PCP exposure also caused an increased malformation rate in offspring that received maternal exposure to PCP. The present study demonstrates that chronic exposure to environmental levels of PCP alters plasma thyroid hormone levels, as well as the expression of genes associated with thyroid hormone signaling and metabolism in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and liver, resulting in abnormal zebrafish development.

[Distribution characteristics of PBDEs in surface sediment from the Three Gorges Reservoir of Yangtze River].

A total of 28 surface sediment samples (at the top 0-5 cm layer) were collected from the Three Gorges Reservoir of Yangtze River. The content of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments was measured with Varian GC-MS (NCI). The results showed that sigma26 PBDEs and BDE209 both had a low concentration in sediments, with a mass concentration of 35.24 pg x g(-1) and 11.92 pg x g(-1), respectively. Among the 26 PBDEs, BDE28, 47, 77 and 99 were the most predominant sigma26 PBDEs congeners. The highest concentrations of sigma26 PBDEs and BDE209 were detected in the sediment samples collected from Long River, with geometric mean of 146.07 and 502.63 pg x g(-1), respectively. A significant correlation was found between sigma26 PBDEs and BDE209, indicating that they might have the same pollution source. The concentrations of sigma26 PBDEs and BDE209 in the sediment were in the same order of magnitude with those reported on background levels in sediments of remote lakes in other countries, which shows the toxic biological effects on aquatic biota and potential risk due to sigma26 PBDEs and BDE209 contamination in sediments are negligible.

[Distribution characteristics and potential risk of PCBs in surface water from three tributaries of Yangtze River in different periods].

Eighty-one surface water samples were collected from 3 tributaries of the Yangtze River in different periods. Contents of 28 PCB congeners in surface water samples were measured using Varian CP3800/300 GC-MS/MS technique. PCB8, 18, and 28 are the most predominant PCB congeners in the samples from tributaries. The measured level of PCBs in the samples from the Tuo river, downstream of Ouchi River and Songlihongdao tributary were 1.96-2.59 ng x L(-1), 1.84-2.54 ng x L(-1) and 1.52-2.38 ng x L(-1). The average concentrations of PCBs in the samples were lower than USEPA criterion continuous concentration (14 ng x L(-1)), which were also in the same order of magnitude of those reported with lower levels in European and American countries. The estimated cumulative cancer risk for the local residents who drink water from tributaries were 0.15 x 10(-7)-0.26 x 10(-7), which shows that cancer risk are negligible due to PCBs contamination in these samples.

[Distribution characteristics and potential risks of phenols in the rainy season surface water from Three Gorges Reservoir].

Forty-seven surface water samples were collected from the main stream and 22 tributaries in area of the Three Gorges Reservoir, 15 phenolic compounds in these samples were analyzed using GC/MS. The results showed that the concentrations of phenolic compounds in the samples from the main stream and tributaries were 52.47 ng x L(-1) and 87.99 ng x L(-1), respectively. The concentrations of non-chlorinated phenols were higher than those of chlorinated phenols in the main stream and tributaries, and so the non-chlorinated phenols were the predominant compounds in these surface water samples. Phenol, o-cresol and 2-nitrophenol were the predominant compounds accounted for 79.1%, 3.7% and 3.6% in the samples from the main stream, respectively. Phenol, o-cresol, 2,6-dichlorophenol and 2-nitrophenol were the main compounds accounted for 77.5%, 5.4%, 3.8% and 2.2% in the samples from the tributaries, respectively. As compared the concentrations of phenol and 2-nitrophenol with the standard limits in The National Environmental Health Risk List, the levels of phenol and 2-nitrophenol were much lower than the standard limits, suggesting negligible risk of phenol and 2-nitrophenol in these samples.