Biochemistry and genetics of taste- and odor-producing cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are one of the principal sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which cause offensive taste and odor (T&O) in drinking and recreational water, fish, shellfish and other seafood. Although non-toxic to humans, these T&O compounds severely undermine public trust in these commodities, resulting in substantial costs in treatment, and lost revenue to drinking water, aquaculture, food and beverage and tourist/hospitality industries. Mitigation and control have been hindered by the complexity of the communities and processes which produce and modify T&O events, making it difficult to source-track the major producer(s) and the factors governing VOC production and fate. Over the past decade, however, advances in bioinformatics, enzymology, and applied detection technologies have greatly enhanced our understanding of the pathways, the enzymes and the genetic coding for some of the most problematic VOCs produced by cyanobacteria. This has led to the development of tools for rapid and sensitive detection and monitoring for the VOC production at source, and provided the basis for further diagnostics of endogenous and exogenous controls. This review provides an overview of current knowledge of the major cyanobacterial VOCs, the producers, the biochemistry and the genetics and highlight the current applications and further research needs in this area.     

Lithium in drinking water and the incidences of crimes,suicides, and arrests related to drug addictions

Using data for 27 Texas counties from 1978-1987, it is shown that the incidence rates of suicide, homicide, and rape are significantly higher in counties whose drinking water supplies contain little or no lithium than in counties with water lithium levels ranging from 70-170 micrograms/L; the differences remain statistically significant (p less than 0.01) after corrections for population density. The corresponding associations with the incidence rates of robbery, burglary, and theft were statistically significant with p less than 0.05. These results suggest that lithium has moderating effects on suicidal and violent criminal behavior at levels that may be encountered in municipal water supplies. Comparisons of drinking water lithium levels, in the respective Texas counties, with the incidences of arrests for possession of opium, cocaine, and their derivatives (morphine, heroin, and codeine) from 1981-1986 also produced statistically significant inverse associations, whereas no significant or consistent associations were observed with the reported arrest rates for possession of marijuana, driving under the influence of alcohol, and drunkenness. These results suggest that lithium at low dosage levels has a generally beneficial effect on human behavior, which may be associated with the functions of lithium as a nutritionally-essential trace element. Subject to confirmation by controlled experiments with high-risk populations, increasing the human lithium intakes by supplementation, or the lithiation of drinking water is suggested as a possible means of crime, suicide, and drug-dependency reduction at the individual and community level.     

Separating food and water deprivation in locusts: effects on the patterns of consumption, locomotion and growth

Abstract. In a factorial experiment, fifth-instar Locusta migratoria (L.) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) were given either dry food (lyophilized grass) and drinking water, food only, water only, or neither food nor water.Food consumption and insect weight were measured daily, and the behaviour of each locust was recorded for 5 h on each of four consecutive days and for 2.5 h on the fifth.Consumption declined progressively in locusts given food only, and those given water only were not observed to drink after the first day of food deprivation.The decline in food consumption on the first day was accounted for by a decrease in the average duration of feeds, which remained constant thereafter.The further decline in consumption over subsequent days was due to a progressive decline in the number of feeds.Although food availability did not slow weight loss relative to locusts given neither food nor water, the availability of water without food did.The proportion of time locomoting increased in all deprivation treatments, but the pattern of change across the five observation days differed markedly between treatments.Locusts given food but no water increased locomotion from 20% of the time budget (the value for controls) to 30% on the first day of deprivation, and by the second day had reached a plateau of approximately 65%.which was maintained until the experiment was terminated on day 5.In contrast, locusts given water but no food approached the 65% level of locomotion on the first day, which was stutistically greater than the 55% observed in those deprived of both food and water.This increase was due both to an increase in the number of locomotion bouts initiated and an increase in the average duration of locomotion bouts.On the second and third days, all deprivation treatments maintained locomotion at around 65%.By day 4, locomotion had decreased to approximately 15% in locusts deprived of both food and water, but not in those deprived of food only or water only.Unlike those given only food, locusts given only water showed a reduction in locomotion of c. 15% on the fifth day.     

Aluminum in Saudi children

Aluminum was determined in serum samples obtained from 533 Saudi female pupils aged 6–8 years who attended primary public school in Riyadh City, Capital of Saudi Arabia. The aluminum mean value was 23.21 ± 15.25 g 1^–1 in the range of 5.98–206.93 g 1^–1. Serum aluminum levels of pupils attending the Northern school area were higher than levels found in pupils from other school areas (Southern, Eastern and Central). Renal variables had no correlation with serum aluminum. On the other hand, a significant positive correlation was found between serum aluminium above 49.2 g 1^–1 and urea (r = 0.6, P < 0.002). Although 53% of the screened schools had aluminum in water above the European Union (EU) acceptable limit of 50 g 1^–1, there were no differences in aluminum in water between the four different school areas in Riyadh. Factors such as drinking water, diet and the use of aluminum utensils may have contributed to this result. As there is a bulk of literature which highlights the adverse developmental effects of aluminum on children and infants, it would be advantageous to establish regular aluminum monitoring.     

饮用水源保护区生态服务补偿研究与应用

饮用水源保护区是确保饮用水安全的重要屏障,目前迫切需要引入生态服务补偿机制作为饮用水源保护区限制型政策的必要补充.生态系统所提供的服务分别属于人类和自然两种价值系统,生态服务补偿的目的是在两种价值观发生冲突时,首先保障自然价值系统发挥其服务,同时对损失的人类价值给予补偿,以促进生态系统服务更好的发挥其功能.通过辨识服务的提供者和受益者及其所对应的价值系统,可以帮助制定生态服务补偿策略.据此确定饮用水源保护区生态服务补偿主要是对生态公益林提供的涵养水源和水土保持服务的补偿.以武夷山市饮用水源保护区为研究案例,将饮用水源保护者所付出的机会成本作为补偿标准,计算结果为897.7万元,补偿年限为2005～2020年.将补偿标准折合成水费,武夷山市需要在水费中加收0.07元/(t·a)的生态服务补偿费,但最终的水费增收额需要通过考虑补偿者的支付意愿来决定.     

典型亚热带热分层水库秋季细菌群落垂直分布

水库在我国东南沿海地区是重要的饮用水水源地,对地区经济发展和社会稳定起到重要作用。选择亚热带地区典型的热分层水库——福建莆田东圳水库,于2011年秋季稳定分层期,以水体温度的垂直变化特征为依据进行分层采样。应用PCRDGGE和克隆测序的方法研究浮游细菌群落的垂直分布特征,利用多元统计分析揭示细菌群落与热分层水体理化指标之间的关系。结果显示:溶解氧、电导率、叶绿素a、总氮、氨氮及硝氮在上下层水体中的分布有显著差异,下层缺氧区细菌的ShannonWiener指数和DGGE条带数明显高于上层好氧区,表明东圳水库热分层水体中存在明显的物理、化学及生物分层现象。测序结果表明β-变形菌可能是东圳水库中占优势的细菌类群,统计结果提示溶解氧是显著影响细菌群落组成的环境因子。热分层水体的物理化学分层与水体细菌群落结构密切相关,提示水库生态学研究应对水体热分层给予重视。     

Are There Health Risks from the Migration of Chemical Substances from Plastic Pipes into Drinking Water? A Review

Plastic pipes used to convey hot and cold drinking water are synthetic polymers containing numerous additives that enhance durability, impact strength, and toughness, and resist material degradation. Although some research studies have been conducted to evaluate the type and levels of chemical substances migrating from polymeric materials into drinking water, the potential adverse health effects associated with these compounds in potable water have not been described. This review evaluates the literature on the occurrence of regulated and unregulated substances in drinking water related to the use of plastic pipes, characterizes potential health hazards, and describes uncertainties associated with human health and exposure in need of further research. Of particular public health concern is the potential for sensitive populations to be exposed to short-term elevations in leachates during critical periods, and for co-occurring leachates targeting the same organ(s) and/or sharing a common mode of toxic action to have additive or synergistic effects. Contaminants are measured in the distribution system, not at the tap where human exposure actually occurs. For increased health protection, it is important to identify compounds that migrate from plastic pipes into drinking water and to better quantify human exposures and health hazards to these substances and their degradates.     

环凯食(饮)具大肠菌群检验纸片检测能力测试研究

研究以营养琼脂培养基的计数结果为基准,采用幅度卫生部食检所监制的两种不同厂家生产的食（饮）具大肠菌群检验纸片作为对照,对环凯食（饮）具大肠菌群检验纸片进行了检测能力测试研究,在测试中采用10cells/mL,50cells/mL和100cells/mL3个不同菌液浓度,环凯纸片的检测结果和营养琼脂平板计数结果基本一致。与其它两种纸片的检测结果无明显差异。完全可以用于食（饮）具大肠菌群的监督检验。     

饮用水氟污染控制原理与技术

天然地球化学过程导致全球范围内广泛存在地下水氟污染,饮用水氟超标人口达5亿.控制以高氟地下水为饮用水源的氟污染及其健康风险,成为饮用水质安全保障的核心问题之一.全世界在饮用水除氟方面做了大量努力,但成效十分有限.在此背景下,深刻认识氟污染形成机制与地球化学特征,结合地理信息、遥感等手段预测区域风险水平,优先考虑“更换水源”,仍是饮用水氟污染控制的重要策略.此外,在研究层面上,应以净水药剂、环境功能材料创新为基础,以混凝沉淀、吸附、膜分离为重要技术方向,开发适用于发展中国家或欠发达地区的高效、经济、方便、稳定的除氟关键技术和成套设备;在工程应用层面上,应加强饮用水除氟设施设计、建设、运行与监管,确保设施长期稳定运行,实现工程效益.