The Health and Ecological Impacts of Organochlorine Pesticide Pollution in China: Bioaccumulation of Organochlorine Pesticides in Human and Fish Fats

The levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the environment and foods have declined significantly in China since 1983, the year when their use in agriculture was officially banned. The levels today of these contaminants in soil, water, and agricultural products are well below 50 μg/kg in many parts of China. Yet in spite of such a decline, the current levels of pollution still pose a significant health risk to many people in China because OCPs are highly persistent and bioaccumulative substances. This preliminary study was conducted to monitor the levels of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) in human and fish fats from southeast China in an effort to corroborate the above health concern. The data reconfirmed that pollution by HCH and DDT, which are the major components of OCPs, is a serious ecological problem in the study region, and likely in other parts of China as well. The HCH contents in the human samples were between 0.25 and 2.20 mg/kg, with an average of 0.90 mg/kg. The DDT contents in these human samples were much higher, between 0.54 and 9.22 mg/kg with an average of 3.50 mg/kg. The major isomers found in the human samples were β-HCH and p, p′-DDE, representing 94.9 to 99.5% of total HCH and 72.3 to 96.7% of total DDT, respectively. The HCH and DDT content in the grass carp samples averaged 0.03 and 0.67 mg/kg, respectively. The levels of bioaccumulation reflected in these human and fish samples were considered substantial, particularly when residents in the study region continue to be exposed to the OCPs remaining so persistently in their environment. It is therefore important for the health authorities to launch a large-scale investigation into the potential health and ecological impacts of OCP pollution in China. The data also suggested that the current national standards might need to be lowered for the levels of OCPs in the environment in China.     

Probabilistic Environmental Risk Assessment for Dibutylphthalate (DBP)

In the risk assessment methods for new and existing chemicals in the European Union (EU), environmental “risk” is characterized by the deterministic quotient of exposure and effects (PEC/PNEC). From a scientific viewpoint, the uncertainty in the risk quotient should be accounted for explicitly in the decision making, which can be done in a probabilistic risk framework. To demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of such a framework, a sample risk assessment for an existing chemical (dibutylphthalate, DBP) is presented in this paper. The example shows a probabilistic framework to be feasible with relatively little extra effort; such a framework also provides more relevant information. The deterministic risk quotients turned out to be worst cases at generally higher than the 95th percentile of the probability distributions. Sensitivity analysis proves to be a powerful tool in identifying the main sources of uncertainty and thus will be effective for efficient further testing. The distributions assigned to the assess ment factors (derivation of the PNEC) dominate the total uncertainty in the risk assessment; uncertainties in the release estimates come second. Large uncertainties are an inherent part of risk assessment that we have to deal with quantitatively. However, the most appropriate way to characterise effects and risks requires further attention. Recommendations for further study are identified.     

Organochlorine contaminants in freshwater mussels; occurrence,bioaccumulation pattern,spatio-temporal distribution and human health risk assessment from the tributaries of River Ravi,Pakistan

The present study was conducted to investigate the bioavailable levels and human health risk of organochlorine contaminants (OCs), particularly organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in freshwater mussels from northern three tributaries of River Ravi, Pakistan that provides the pioneer data for the occurrence of POPs in the freshwater mussels from Pakistan. The Σ₂₃OCPs and Σ₃₅PCBs concentrations in mussels were ranged from 189.66–2049.40 ng/g and 25.81 to 135.38 ng/g, respectively. The comparison of current bioavailable levels of OCs with maximum residual limits (MRLs) established by Food and Agricultural Organization and European Union revealed that Σendosulfan (100%), ΣDDTs (93%), HCB (87%), β-HCH (77%), endrin (77%), γ-HCH (70%), heptachlor (67%), aldrin (67%), dielrin (67%), Chlordane (70%), α-HCH (40%), and WHO-TEQ (2005) values for PCB-126, PCB-169 and Σ₈DL-PCBs were exceeding the permissible limits. The human health risk assessment revealed the occurrence of substantial lifetime carcinogenic risk for OCPs and PCBs at both 50th and 95th percentile concentrations in freshwater mussels from the tributaries of River Ravi. Therefore, the freshwater mussels are recommended to be used in environmental toxicological studies to assess the bioavailable levels of pollution in hostile environment.     

Pollution assessment of organochlorine pesticides in urban agricultural soils of Jilin City,China

The content, source, and pollution level of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soils are necessary to assess potential risks to eco-environment and human health, and to target environment-friendly policies. A total of 50 surface soil samples were collected from urban vegetable fields of Jilin City and thirteen OCPs were analyzed. The concentrations were in the ranges of 3.16–48.35 ng·g^?1 for Dichloro-Diphenyl-Tricgloroethanes (DDTs, sum of o, p′-DDT, p, p′-DDT, p, p′-DDD, and p, p′-DDE), 4.37–44.77 ng·g^?1 for Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs, sum of α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, and δ-HCH), 1.19–13.17 ng·g^?1 for Chlordanes (sum of heptachlor, t-chlordane, and c-chlordane), 0.24–2.60 ng·g^?1 for aldrin, and nd–3.43 ng·g^?1 for dieldrin, respectively. The different compositions indicated that the residues of DDTs and HCHs originated mainly from the historical application, while chlordanes were mostly from recent input. On the basis of soil quality standards of China and the Netherlands, DDTs and chlordanes in this study were categorized as light pollution, and HCHs were classified as no pollution for the majority of soil samples. There are a variety of OCPs residues in urban vegetable soils of Jilin City, but it is still safe and suitable for agricultural production.     

宁波滩涂贝类养殖区沉积物中有机氯农药和多氯联苯残留及生态风险评估

利用GC-ECD对宁波市主要滩涂贝类养殖区表层沉积物中的多氯联苯(PCBs)和有机氯农药六六六(HCHs)、滴滴涕(DDTs)的残留量进行测定,研究其分布状况,并进行生态风险评估.结果表明:贝类养殖区表层沉积物中的总有机氯农药含量为0.80～32.40ng·g-1,多氯联苯含量为3.20～33.33 ng·g-1.HCHs主要来自远距离大气传输及历史残留,部分区域有DDTs输入,其来源可能是三氯杀螨醇的使用.大部分站位的p,p’-DDT和DDTs存在潜在的生态风险,其中墙头和西店海域的p,p’-DDT残留超过生物效应中值,对底栖生物毒害效应较高.大多数站位PCBs的生态风险较低.     

Equine Risk Assessment for Insecticides Used in Adult Mosquito Management

Since West Nile virus (WNV) was introduced to New York City in 1999, it has subsequently spread through the Americas, creating human and animal health risks. Our equine risk assessment focused on three pyrethroid insecticides (phenothrin, resmethrin, and permethrin), pyrethrins, and two organophosphate insecticides (malathion and naled). Piperonyl butoxide, a synergist commonly used in pyrethroids, was also assessed. The objective was to use deterministic and probabilistic risk assessment methodologies to evaluate health risks to horses from vector management tactics used for control of adult mosquitoes. Our exposure estimates were derived from the Kenaga nomogram for food deposition, AgDRIFT® for deposition onto soil and hair, AERMOD for ambient air concentrations, and PRZM-EXAMS for water concentrations. We used the risk quotient (RQ) method for our assessment with the RQ level of concern (LOC) set at 1.0. RQs were determined by comparing the exposure to no-observable-effect-levels. Acute deterministic RQs ranged from 0.0004 for phenothrin to 0.2 for naled. Subchronic deterministic RQs ranged from 0.001 for phenothrin to 0.6 for naled. The probabilistic assessment revealed estimates of deterministic acute and subchronic RQs were highly conservative. Our assessment revealed that risks to horses from adult mosquito insecticides are low and not likely to exceed the LOC.     

Integrated Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Surface Sediments of the Laizhou Bay and the Coastal Waters of the Zhangzi Island,China: Comparison among Typical Marine Sediment Quality Indices

The total concentrations and chemical forms of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the surface sediments of the Laizhou Bay and the surrounding marine area of the Zhangzi Island (hereafter referred to as Zhangzi Island for short) were obtained and multiple indices and guidelines were applied to assess their contamination and ecological risks. The sedimentary conditions were fine in both of the two studied areas according to the marine sediment quality of China. Whereas the probable effects level guideline suggested that Ni might cause adverse biological effects to occur frequently in some sites. All indices used suggested that Cd posed the highest environmental risk in both the Laizhou Bay and the Zhangzi Island, though Cd may unlikely be harmful to human and ecological health due to the very low total concentrations. The enrichment factor (EF) showed that a substantial portion of Cr was delivered from anthropogenic sources, whereas the risk assessment code (RAC) indicated that most Cr was in an inactive state that it may not have any adverse effect either. Moreover, the results of EF and geoaccumulation index were consistent with the trend of the total metal concentrations except for Cd, while the results of RAC and potential ecological risk factor did not follow the same trend of their corresponding total metal concentrations. We also evaluated the effects of using different indices to assess the environmental impact of these heavy metals.     

A Comparative Risk Assessment of Genetically Engineered,Mutagenic, and Conventional Wheat Production Systems

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties produced using modern biotechnologies, such as genetic engineering and mutagenic techniques, have lagged behind other crop species, but are now being developed and, in the case of mutagenic wheat, commercially grown around the world. Because these wheat varieties have emerged recently, there is a unique opportunity to assess comparatively the potential environmental risks (human health, ecological, and livestock risks) associated with genetically engineered, mutagenic, and conventional wheat production systems. Replacement of traditional herbicides with glyphosate in a glyphosate-tolerant (genetically engineered) wheat system or imazamox in an imidazolinone-tolerant (mutagenic) wheat system may alter environmental risks associated with weed management. Additionally, because both systems rely on plants that express novel proteins, the proteins and plants themselves may impose risks. The purpose of our study was to examine comparatively the multiple aspects of risk associated with different wheat production systems in the US and Canada using the risk assessment paradigm. Specifically, we used tier 1 quantitative and qualitative risk assessment methods to compare specific environmental risks associated with the different wheat production systems. Both glyphosate and imazamox present lower human health and ecological risks than many other herbicides associated with conventional wheat production systems evaluated in this study. The differences in risks were most pronounced when comparing glyphosate and imazamox to herbicides currently with substantial market share. Current weight-of-evidence suggests that the transgenic CP4 EPSPS protein present in glyphosate-tolerant wheat poses negligible risk to humans, livestock, and wildlife. Risk for mutated AHAS protein in imidazolinone-tolerant wheat most likely would be low, but there are not sufficient effect and exposure data to adequately characterize risk. Environmental risks for herbicides were more amenable to quantitative assessments than for the transgenic CP4 EPSPS protein and the mutated AHAS protein.     

渤海湾港口生态风险评估

以天津港为例,利用相对风险模型(RRM)对渤海湾港口生态风险进行评价。根据RRM,将天津港划分为北疆、南疆、东疆和临港等4个风险小区。在每一风险小区中,选取2种生境类型(滩涂和近海水体)、2种风险源(船舶运输和港口码头)和3种生态终点(底栖动物、浮游植物、浮游动物),以此计算生态风险值,根据风险值高低分为高、较高、中等、低和弱5个等级。评价结果表明,在两种风险源中,船舶运输风险相对较大;在生境中,近海水体的风险值远大于滩涂;在生态终点中,风险高低为底栖动物浮游植物浮游动物。天津港生态风险可以划分为3个等级:北疆为高风险区、南疆为较高风险区、东疆和临港均为中等风险区。     

Gene environment interaction in preterm delivery with special reference to organochlorine pesticide: a case control study

Objectives: To assess the Gene-Environmental interaction between maternal organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) level and CYP17 gene polymorphism with the risk of preterm delivery (PTD). Materials and methods: Maternal blood samples of hundred cases (n = 100) of PTD and of equal number of healthy controls were collected at the time of delivery. OCPs levels were estimated by Gas chromatography system equipped with electron capture detector and PCR-RFLP was used for polymorphic analysis of CYP17 gene. Results: Significantly (p < 0.05) higher levels of α-HCH, β-HCH, and γ-HCH were found in maternal blood samples of PTD cases as compared to controls. We did not found any significant difference in the frequency genotype distribution CYP17 gene in PTD cases as compared to controls. When gene environmental interaction between the CYP17 gene polymorphism and OCPs level was considered, a significant interaction was observed between ≥ 50th percentile of γ-HCH and CYP17 A1A1 (wild type) genotype. Conclusions: Higher levels of OCPs along with wild type state of CYP17 gene (A1A1) in women may be considered as an important etiological factor in ‘idiopathic’ PTD. The present study provides evidence that genetic variation and its interaction with the environmental exposure may increase the risk of PTD.     

Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Shenfu Irrigation Area in China and their Application for Determining the Optimum Land Use Model

In order to use contaminated soil safely, risk and use planning of contaminated soils by 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in Shenfu Irrigation Area (SIA) were investigated. The toxic equivalency factor (TEF) approach and the risk quotient (RQ) approach were used to assess the carcinogenic risk and ecological risk of PAHs in the current agricultural use, respectively, and the ecological risk of PAHs in SIA under residential, commercial, and industrial land uses which could be used in the future were also evaluated. The results were as follows: 95.9% of soils in SIA were heavily contaminated by PAHs; Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), Benzo[a]anthrancene (BaA), Benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), Benzo[k]fluoranthen (BkF), Benzo[g,h,i]perylene, Chrysene, Dibenz[a,h]anthracene (Dba), and Indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene (Ipy) were the dominated carcinogenic PAHs, and there were no carcinogenic concerns for 81.6% of SIA; Anthracene, BaP, Fluoranthene, Naphthalene, Phenanthrene, BaA, BbF, BkF, Dba, Ipyr and Pyrene were considered the major ecological risk drivers, and there were medium to high ecological risks in 56.3% of SIA under agricultural use. However, the ecological risk can be reduced markedly by changing the land use mode; under residential/parkland land use 65.1% of SIA faced low risk and the rest faced negligible risk, while all areas faced negligible risk under industrial/commercial usage. Based on the risk assessment results, an optimum land use model (both human health-based and eco-based in the SIA) was achieved and will be helpful for the local government to plan how to use the land under low risk in the SIA.     

基于土地利用变化的细河流域景观生态风险评估

以辽宁省细河流域为研究对象,利用1985、1995年和2005年3个时期的Landsat TM及2015年Landsat OLI遥感数据,进行了细河流域土地利用解译,定量分析了流域近30年来土地利用动态变化特征;根据景观生态学理论引入景观生态风险评价模型,将研究区划分为340个生态风险评价单元,基于地统计学和空间自相关方法,对1985—2015年细河流域景观生态风险时空分布特征及空间关联格局进行了评价。结果表明:(1)自1985年以来,研究区的6种土地利用类型皆发生了变化,其中建设用地由于林地和耕地的大量转入增加最明显。(2)1985—2015年流域高、较高和中生态风险区面积增加,且向流域南部转移;低、较低生态风险区面积减少,且向流域北部集聚;流域整体生态风险呈增高趋势。(3)研究区各时期景观生态风险呈现正的空间相关性,在空间上趋于集聚。人类活动干扰导致景观破碎,是影响该区域景观生态风险最重要的原因。     

光和噪声污染胁迫下城市生态斑块鸟类风险评价

为应对城市生态斑块光污染、噪声污染范围快速扩张和强度增加对鸟类带来的生态风险,探讨了将微观鸟类风险阈值与宏观光污染、噪声污染分布数据结合进行生态风险评价的全链条研究方法,具体包括：探究微观层面光、声污染胁迫下鸟类生态风险阈值,分别获得光污染对黄雀和栗鹀寤寐节律及声污染对画眉鸟退避行为的生态风险阈值,并提出由实验室环境中获得的鸟类光污染强度风险阈值推算室外夜间混合光环境中鸟类光污染强度风险阈值的方法;同时获取宏观光、声环境分布数据,其中光环境分布数据基于Luojia 1-01和Jilin 1-7B夜光遥感影像获得,声环境分布数据通过软件模拟、实测校核、ArcGIS属性赋予等系列操作获得;结合微观鸟类风险阈值和宏观光、声环境分布数据开展生态风险评价,以典型城市生态斑块为实例分析光污染和噪声污染胁迫下鸟类生态风险分布特征;搭建生态风险评价平台并进行鸟类生态风险可视化展现。该生态风险评价方法可为城市宏观区域光、声污染生态风险的快速评价提供科学规范的研究和技术范例。     

Ecological Risk Characterization in a Military Heavy Metals– and Explosives-Contaminated Site

Potential ecological risks of two heavy metals (Cu, Pb) and three explosives (TNT, RDX, HMX) were determined for a military gunnery range. Since a portion of the site will be submerged after the construction of a flood control reservoir, risk assessment of the site was conducted over two time points: at the current state and after the construction of the flood control reservoir. Terrestrial plants, terrestrial invertebrates, birds, mammals, and aquatic invertebrates were selected as affected ecological receptors at the study site. Potential noncarcinogenic risk was found only in one terrestrial site for Cu and RDX at both time points: For terrestrial plants, ecological hazard quotient (EHQ) by Cu was 1.22. For terrestrial invertebrates, EHQs for Cu and RDX were 1.38 and 6.47, respectively. EHQs in the aquatic environment increased to some extents after the reservoir construction, but the values were less than 1.0. A comparison between EHQs before and after the construction for the same site shows that the reservoir construction would not significantly increase the overall ecological risk, suggesting that the reservoir construction influenced the potential ecological risks at the study site, but the changes were acceptable. Uncertainties involved in the assessment process were identified and discussed.     

Chemical speciation and risks of heavy metals in sediment of urban wetlands in southeastern China

Dredging, remediation, and other management of sediment in polluted urban wetlands require the information of environmental risks associated with heavy metals (HMs). In this study, sediment samples collected from three typical wetlands in the urban area of Wenzhou City, China, were analyzed to evaluate their risks posed by five HMs. Sediments from an industrial area stored higher Cr and Cu but lower Cd and Pb than those from the residential and agricultural areas. The assessment by the pollution load index method indicated that all of the three study wetlands were polluted. An ecological risk index approach identified low risk for wetlands in forested and residential areas but high risk for wetlands in an industrial area as well as in mixed residential and agricultural area, which was also confirmed by the geo-accumulation index (I_geo) method. Furthermore, the ratio of the secondary phase and primary phase and risk assessment code methods recognized that Cd poses a high pollution risk. The results indicated that sediment pollution by HMs in urban wetlands is possibly a widespread problem in China and needs great attention.     

Treatments of Uncertainty and Variability in Ecological Risk Assessment of Single-Species Populations

The selection of the most appropriate model for an ecological risk assessment depends on the application, the data and resources available, the knowledge base of the assessor, the relevant endpoints, and the extent to which the model deals with uncertainty. Since ecological systems are highly variable and our knowledge of model input parameters is uncertain, it is important that models include treatments of uncertainty and variability, and that results are reported in this light. In this paper we discuss treatments of variation and uncertainty in a variety of population models. In ecological risk assessments, the risk relates to the probability of an adverse event in the context of environmental variation. Uncertainty relates to ignorance about parameter values, e.g., measurement error and systematic error. An assessment of the full distribution of risks, under variability and parameter uncertainty, will give the most comprehensive and flexible endpoint. In this paper we present the rationale behind probabilistic risk assessment, identify the sources of uncertainty relevant for risk assessment and provide an overview of a range of population models. While all of the models reviewed have some utility in ecology, some have more comprehensive treatments of uncertainty than others. We identify the models that allow probabilistic assessments and sensitivity analyses, and we offer recommendations for further developments that aim towards more comprehensive and reliable ecological risk assessments for populations.     

2000～2001年柘林湾浮游动物的群落结构及时空分布

20 0 0年 7月至 2 0 0 0 1年 7月的周年调查结果表明 ,粤东柘林湾浮游动物有桡足类 2 9属 5 7种 ,枝角类 3属 3种 ,及端足类、磷虾、糠虾、多毛类、毛颚类、被囊类、水母和各种浮游幼体。其中 ,强额拟哲水蚤 Paracalanuscrassirostris、短角长腹剑水蚤 Oithona brevicornis和鸟喙尖头 Penilia avirostris为优势种 ,合计占浮游动物总个体数的 6 2 .7%。浮游动物的种类数、生物量和总个体数都表现为湾外大于湾内的平面分布格局 ,周年变化基本上为单峰型 ,高峰期位于 6～ 1 0月份 ,最低谷位于冬季 1月份。因此 ,总个体数与水温成显著正相关关系。柘林湾是一个浮游动物相对丰富的海湾 ,年均生物量为 1 1 5 .7mg· dw / m3 ,总个体数达 6 .8× 1 0 3 ind/ m3 ,但群落结构的小型化趋势比较明显。回归分析结果表明 ,浮游动物总个体数与浮游植物密度成显著正相关关系。     

沈阳某冶炼厂废弃厂区的人类健康风险评价

以沈阳某冶炼厂废弃厂区重金属污染监测为依据,采用美国环保局最新的人类健康风险评价标准方法对沈阳某冶炼厂废弃地块污染土壤进行了评价,并且假设未来该土地利用类型为工业用地(Ⅰ)或休闲用地(Ⅱ).评价结果显示:工业用地(Ⅰ)和休闲用地(Ⅱ)的累积非致癌风险指数分别为2.65×10-2和3.67×10-2;工业用地(Ⅰ)和休闲用地(Ⅱ)由呼吸摄入Cd造成的潜在致癌风险指数分别为4.48×10-9和7.30×10-10,不会对在该地区工作和休闲的人们造成身体健康上的伤害;无论是工业用地假设还是休闲用地假设,由无机铜造成的人类健康风险在整个风险中所占的比例最大;由美国环保局的人类健康风险评价方法反推得出的冶炼厂地块未来为工业用地的土壤修复目标值均小于我国工业企业土壤环境质量风险评价基准值.     

Chlorpyrifos: Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment for Birds and Mammals in Corn Agroecosystems

A tiered risk assessment was conducted for the use of granular and liquid formulations of chlorpyrifos in corn agroecosystems in the U.S. The initial screening Tier I assessment suggested that under high-exposure scenarios the granular and some spray formulations present potential hazards to birds. Higher tiered probabilistic risk assessments were conducted separately for the granular and liquid formulations. The probabilistic assessment indicated that risk to birds from exposure to granular formulation is small and that this route of exposure would not be a significant source of mortality. Similarly, the assessment of potential exposure of birds to food items contaminated with chlorpyrifos showed that the risk from exposure via food was small, even if it was assumed that birds feed only on the treated fields. Although they have potentially greater sensitivity to chlorpyrifos, effects in nestling birds consuming food items from fields treated with granular chlorpyrifos were negligible. However, risks to young birds may be greater where the major source of food is from fields treated with liquid formulations of chlorpyrifos. A review of field studies showed that wildlife mortality incidents associated with use of either granular or liquid formulations of chlorpyrifos are not widely apparent in agroecosystems. Based on the multiple lines of evidence, we conclude that the presumption that chlorpyrifos use in corn agroecosystems will result in extensive mortality of terrestrial wildlife, particularly birds and mammals, is not supported by the scientific evidence.