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  • Houston posted an update 7 months, 2 weeks ago

    Perinatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) contributes to neurological disorders in offspring, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. The abnormal release of neuroactive metabolites in the tryptophan (TRP) and dopamine (DA) pathways is considered to be closely associated with some disorders. Thus, in this study, TRP and DA pathways in adult female mouse offspring were investigated when the pregnant mice were given either vehicle or BPA (2, 10, or 100 μg/kg/d) from day 6 of gestation until weaning. Then, the serum and brain samples of offspring were collected at 3, 6 and 9 months, and 12 neuroactive metabolites in the TRP and DA pathways were detected. The results showed that, in the TRP pathway, TRP levels decreased, whereas kynurenine (KYN) levels and TRP turnover increased in the brain. In the serum, TRP, KYN and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels decreased significantly. For the DA pathway, DA and DA metabolites, including 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) and homovanillic acid (HVA), reduced significantly in the brain and serum. DA turnover decreased dramatically in the brain but enhanced in the serum. The disturbance of these two metabolic pathways might be one of the potential mechanisms of BPA-induced neuropsychiatric disorders. Arsenic is easily evaporated with coal combustion, which not only causes serious environmental issues but also leads to the deactivation of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst. This study focused on the re-using of coal-fired fly ash for arsenic vapors in-situ retention before SCR catalyst in the furnace. Experiments were carried out to estimate the effects of typical fly ash compounds (Ca-, Fe-, and Al-bearing components) as well as acid gases (SO2/NO) on arsenic capture at temperatures of high-temperature furnace stage (900 °C) or SCR system entry stage (450 °C). The results demonstrated that, regardless of collection plants, all the ash samples showed certain capacity in arsenic vapors retention and the capture performance was enhanced at 900 °C than at 450 °C. Both physical and chemical adsorptions occurred for arsenic capture at low temperature, while chemical adsorption by effective mineral components dominated at high temperature. The role of Ca-compounds was more remarkable than Fe/Al-compounds and CaSO4/calcium silicates were identified as the key calcium compounds that acted on arsenic adsorption by fly ash. Insignificant effects were found regarding the acid gases (SO2 and NO) on arsenic retention by fly ash owing to the high resistance of CaSO4 and calcium silicates to acid gases. These findings provided reference for the in-situ retention of arsenic by reusing fly ash that enriched in specific compositions. Efficient elimination of U(VI) from uranium wastewater is an urgent task for sustainable nuclear energy and environmental protection. In this study, magnetic graphene oxide decorated graphitic carbon nitride (mGO/g-C3N4) nanocomposite was prepared and used for photocatalytic reduction of U(VI) in wastewater under visible LED light irradiation for the first time. The batch experiments indicated that the mGO/g-C3N4 (mGCN) nanocomposite could efficiently reduce U(VI) under visible LED light, and a high U(VI) extraction capacity of 2880.6 mg/g was obtained with an extraction efficiency of 96.02%. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses demonstrated that the soluble U(VI) was immobilized by transforming it to metastudtite ((UO2)O2·2H2O) by mGCN nanocomposite under visible LED light irradiation. This work indicated that the mGCN is a promising visible light catalyst for treatment of uranium wastewater. Registration of pesticides for use in Ghana is based on prospective environmental risk assessment (ERA) to assess the risks of future pesticide use on the environment. The present study evaluated whether pesticides currently used by Ghanaian farmers may harm the aquatic and terrestrial environment under day-to-day farm practice by performing a 1st tier ERA for terrestrial and aquatic environment and a 2nd tier ERA for the aquatic environment using existing scenarios and models. Results of the 1st tier risk assessment indicated that in the investigated regions in south Ghana, many pesticides might pose an acute risk to aquatic ecosystems adjacent to the treated fields while lambda cyhalothrin, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, dimethoate, mancozeb, carbendazim, sulphur, maneb and copper hydroxide may pose the highest chronic risks. Butachlor, dimethoate and carbendazim may pose acute risks to the terrestrial soil ecosystem, while glyphosate, chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, dimethoate, mancozeb, carbendazim, maneb, copper hydroxide and cuprous oxide may pose the highest chronic risks. Many insecticides and some fungicides may pose acute risks to bees and terrestrial non-target arthropods. The 2nd tier acute aquatic risk assessment showed that most risks were substantiated using species sensitivity distribution (SSD). Actual pesticide use was a factor of 1.3-13 times higher than the recommended label instructions, indicating a general practice of overdosing. The case study shows that the PRIMET model in combination with the SSD concept may offer pesticide registration authorities in Ghana a means to assess environmental risks associated with pesticide usage in a user-friendly and cost-effective manner. UNC8153 Water fluoridation is an important public health measure for the control of dental caries. Recent animal studies have shown that low doses of fluoride (F) in the drinking water, similar to those found in public water supplies, increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood glucose. In the present study we evaluated the effects of low-level F exposure through the drinking water on glucose homeostasis in female NOD mice. Seventy-two 6-week mice were randomly divided into 2 groups according to the concentration of F in the drinking water (0-control, or 10 mg/L) they received for 14 weeks. After the experimental period the blood was collected for analyses of plasma F, glucose and insulin. Liver and gastrocnemius muscle were collected for proteomic analysis. Plasma F concentrations were significantly higher in the F-treated than in the control group. Despite treatment with fluoridated water reduced plasma levels glucose by 20% compared to control, no significant differences were found between the groups for plasma glucose and insulin.

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