Subjective quality of life and schizophrenia: results from a large cohort study based in Chinese primary care.

INTRODUCTION: Much confusion exists between health-related QoL (HRQoL) scales and subjective QoL (SQoL) scales. One method to avoid confusion is use of a single question that asks What is your quality of life? or similar. This study explored the relationship between biopsychosocial factors and high SQoL, SQoL stability, and factors associated with improving SQoL. METHOD: We conducted a large cohort study of community-dwelling Chinese adults with schizophrenia, with two data points (2015-2016 (N = 742), 2017-2018 (N = 491)). Demographic and clinically related items and a comprehensive suite of published measures were collected. Direct logistic regressions were used to explore links between biopsychosocial factors and high SQoL and Improvement in SQoL across time. RESULTS: Sample at Baseline: Male = 62.3%; Med age = 38.5 years; Med Age at illness onset = 24 years; SQoL Mode = neither poor nor good. Three independent variables predicted high SQoL at T1. Contemporary age and the presence of clinically relevant symptoms had a negative relationship with high SQoL; insight had a positive relationship with high SQoL. SQoL changed significantly across time with a modest effect size. Age at illness onset was the single independent variable linked to improving SQoL favoring being older at the time of illness onset. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: SQoL can be high and changeable. While symptomology and illness insight may affect SQoL self-appraisals at single points in time, only age of illness onset was connected with improving SQoL. Thus, public health measures to delay illness onset are important. In addition, care about the distinction between HRQoL and SQoL in study design and choice of measures is necessary and will depend on the purpose and context.

Gene Polymorphisms and Expression of NRG1, DAOA, and DISC1 Genes in a Chinese Han Population with an Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis.

Purpose: Although there is previous evidence supporting that ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis transformation is associated with NRG1, DAOA, and DISC1 genes, there have been no relevant studies in the Chinese population. The objective of the current study was to explore the gene polymorphism and expression of NRG1, DAOA, and DISC1 genes in a Han population with UHR for psychosis in China. Methods: Eighteen UHR individuals, 61 first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia (FDR), 55 first-episode psychosis individuals (FEP), and 61 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in the study. The genotypes at four loci of the NRG1 gene, four loci of the DAOA gene, and two loci of the DISC1 gene were tested for all subjects, and mRNAs of NRG1 and DISC1 were examined and analyzed in a pairwise comparison among the four groups. Statistical analysis of genetics was performed using snpStats software. For the case-control association analysis, a single site association study, epistatic effect analysis, and haplotype analysis were used to explore the association of the above genes. Results: This study found that rs3918341 in the DAOA gene was associated with susceptibility to UHR by single site association analysis. Epistatic effect analysis results showed that the NRG1 gene interacted with the DAOA gene and DISC1 gene in the susceptibility to UHR. Haplotype association analysis showed that all haplotypes were not significantly associated with UHR. NRG1 mRNA was significantly downregulated in the UHR group compared with the HC group as well as the FEP group. Conclusion: Our preliminary results show that NRG1, DAOA, and DISC1 genes may play a role in psychosis onset, opening the way to the identification of prognostic biomarkers.

Meta-analysis of gender differences in transition prevalence among individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis.

Gender differences have been found in several areas of individuals at clinical-high risk for psychosis(CHR). Therefore the risk of transition to psychosis may differ between male and female CHR, but previous work has not systematically reviewed and analyzed gender differences in conversion rates.We performed a meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines including all studies that assessed CHR with reliable instruments and provided data on the transition from male CHR and female CHR to psychosis to understand the conversion rate conversion in male and female CHR. Seventy-nine article were identified.A total of 1250 out of 5770 in the male CHR individuals, and 832 out of 4468 in the female CHR individuals translated to psychotic disorders. Transition prevalence were 19.4%(95%CI:14.2-25.8%)at 1 year, 20.6% at 2 year (95%CI:17.1-24.8%),24.3% at 3 years (95%CI:21.5-27.4%),26.3% at 4 years or older (95%CI:20.9-32.5%) and 22.3% at all (95%CI:20.0-24.8%) in male CHR and 17.7% (95%CI:12.6-24.4%) at 1 years, 17.5% (95%CI:14.2-21.4%) at 2 year, 19.9%(95%CI:17.3-0.228%) at 3 years,and 0.267 (95%CI:22.1-31.9%) at 4 years or older follow-up,20.4% at all (95%CI:18.1-22.9%) in female CHR. There were differences between the two groups in the overall conversion, the 2-year, and the 3-year follow up transition prevalence, which were higher in men CHR than in female CHR. Future research characterizing male versus female CHR is needed with the expectation that interventions will be developed that are tailored to the respective gender, further reducing the rate of conversion to CHR.

VIRMA promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma, tumorigenesis, and metastasis by upregulation of E2F7 in an m6A-dependent manner.

The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification possesses new and essential roles in tumor initiation and progression by regulating mRNA biology. However, the role of aberrant m6A regulation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. Here, through comprehensive analyses of NPC cohorts from the GEO database and our internal cohort, we identified that VIRMA, an m6A writer, is significantly upregulated in NPC and plays an essential role in tumorigenesis and metastasis of NPC, both in vitro and in vivo. High VIRMA expression served as a prognostic biomarker and was associated with poor outcomes in patients with NPC. Mechanistically, VIRMA mediated the m6A methylation of E2F7 3'-UTR, then IGF2BP2 bound, and maintained the stability of E2F7 mRNA. An integrative high-throughput sequencing approach revealed that E2F7 drives a unique transcriptome distinct from the classical E2F family in NPC, which functioned as an oncogenic transcriptional activator. E2F7 cooperated with CBFB-recruited RUNX1 in a non-canonical manner to transactivate ITGA2, ITGA5, and NTRK1, strengthening Akt signaling-induced tumor-promoting effect.

Two-year cohort-up study of clozapine prescription in Chinese patients with schizophrenia treated in rural primary care.

Few studies have examined the clozapine in cohort studies of Chinese patients with schizophrenia in rural primary care. The objective of this two-year cohort study was to describe the usage of clozapine and investigate and identify the demographic, clinical correlations and risk variables which affect the use of clozapine in patients with schizophrenia. A random cluster sampling technique was used, and participants were collected from China National Psychiatric Management System (CNPMS). The variables for clozapine use in individuals with schizophrenia who had undergone a two-year follow-up were determined using the generalized estimating equation (GEE). In this study, 742 patients with schizophrenia were invited, and 491 completed the two-year follow-up study. Being married, more years of education, more waist circumference, using mood stabilizer, using anticholinergic, higher ITAQ (Insight and Treatment Attitude Questionnaire) scores were more significantly related to the use of clozapine. Older age of onset, using second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) except clozapine predicted a lower prevalence of using clozapine. The usage of clozapine was very common in patients with schizophrenia treated by primary care physicians, and was influenced by a variety of factors, including price of drugs, clinical factors, health regulations, and the characteristics of treatment environment. Further examination of the rationale and appropriateness of clozapine in primary care in China is necessary.

Correction to: Decreased sustained attention, processing speed and verbal learning memory in patients with insomnia in Chinese young and middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s41105-020-00262-0.].

Quality of life in patients with schizophrenia: A 2-year cohort study in primary mental health care in rural China.

Objective: Quality of life (QoL) has been always an important way to evaluate the outcomes of schizophrenia, but there have been few previous longitudinal studies and few in middle-income countries. This study aimed to explore the QoL in Chinese patients with schizophrenia treated in primary mental health care and the risk factors of QoL over time. Methods: Patients with schizophrenia treated in primary mental health care in rural/regional areas in Luoding, Guangdong, PR China, were evaluated with an extended questionnaire including the Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted including Generalized Estimated Equation analyses (GEE). Results: Four hundred and ninety-one patients with schizophrenia in primary care completed the 2-year follow up evaluation. The QoL physical, environmental, and social relationships domains showed improvement after the 2-year period, but the psychological domain did not. GEE results showed that earlier age of onset, older age, being employed, being unmarried, the thicker waist circumference, less use of clozapine or other SGAs, fewer hospitalizations, more frequent insomnia, more severe depressive and negative symptoms as well as worse treatment insight were independently associated with poor QoL in patients with schizophrenia. Conclusion: According to our results, to improve the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia in primary care, we should pay more attention to the treatment of depression, negative and insomnia symptoms of schizophrenia, the choice and dosage of antipsychotic medication and improvement in the treatment compliance. The combined use of educational and behavioral strategies may improve treatment adherence.

Correlates of Non-suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescent Psychiatric Patients in China.

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has attracted more and more attention from schools, mental health workers and even the whole society in China. The aim of this study was to explore influencing factors and clinical characteristics of NSSI in adolescent psychiatric patients in China, and provide valuable information for the intervention and treatment of NSSI. Methods: The sample included 157 adolescents, 114 were female (72.6%), aged 12-18 years (M = 15.39, SD = 1.81). Assessments were performed using Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, the Revised Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire, the modified version of Adolescents Self-Harm Scale, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Clinical characteristics were collected from electronic medical record system. Results: Adolescent patients with NSSI experienced more adverse life events including peer bullying, childhood trauma and romantic relationship trouble. They had more times of hospitalization, higher dosage of psychotic medication, and more severe depressive symptoms. Conclusions: It is very necessary to evaluate negative life events, including childhood trauma, peer bullying etc., in adolescent patients with NSSI. It has important clinical implications for evaluating the risk factors of NSSI and giving effective intervention treatment. Timely and effective treatment of these patients' depressive symptoms will also contribute to the relief of NSSI.

Prevalence and correlates of depressive and anxiety symptoms among adults in Guangdong Province of China: A population-based study.

AIMS: To examine the prevalence and health correlates of depressive and anxiety symptoms among adults living in Guangdong province of China with a large population and rapid urbanization. METHODS: The Guangdong Sleep and Psychosomatic Health Survey was conducted from September to November in 2019, which was a population-based study with a representative sample of adults aged 18-85 years. Multistage stratified cluster sampling was used. A total of 13,768 inhabitants were included and face-to-face interviewed using standardized assessment tools. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), respectively. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms were 8.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.0%-9.3%) and 6.0% (95%CI, 5.4%-6.5%) respectively. People who have never married, irregular diet rhythm, hardly exercise, poorer sleep, alcohol consumption, chronic diseases and being unemployment and retirement were more likely to suffer depressive and anxiety symptoms. Moreover, the prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher in those suffering from cardiovascular disease (Odds ratio[OR]:3.89, 95%CI: 1.77-8.54), chronic nephrosis (OR:3.89, 95%CI: 1.52-9.94), hyperlipidemia (OR:2.68, 95%CI: 1.57-4.59), anemia (OR:1.96, 95%CI: 1.33-2.89) and arthritis (OR:1.93, 95%CI: 1.17-3.16). The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was evidently greater within patients with cardiovascular disease (OR:3.15, 95%CI: 1.39-7.14), chronic nephrosis (OR: 2.89, 95%CI: 1.22-6.83), hyperlipidemia (OR:2.27, 95%CI: 1.20-4.29) and diabetes (OR:1.99, 95%CI: 1.15-3.44). CONCLUSIONS: Depressive and anxiety symptoms are commonly found in patients with chronic diseases. Given these adverse outcomes on health, health professionals should pay more attention to depressive and anxiety problems in health care for high-risk population.

Risk factors for violent behaviors in patients with schizophrenia: 2-year follow-up study in primary mental health care in China.

Objective: The consequences and impact of violent behavior in schizophrenia are often serious, and identification of risk factors is of great importance to achieve early identification and effective management. Methods: This follow-up study sampled adult patients with schizophrenia in primary mental health care in a rural area of southern China, in which 491 participants completed a comprehensive questionnaire at baseline and the 2-year follow-up. Sociodemographic, clinical and psychological assessment data were collected from all participants. Paired sample T-Tests and the McNemar Test were performed to examine changes over the follow-up period. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to analyze the risk factors for violent behavior. Results: The results showed that about two in five community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia reported violent behavior in the past year. At follow-up, participants were significantly less employed, had more times of hospitalization, more psychotropic medication, and severer depressive symptoms, but had better health-related quality of life than at baseline. Use of clozapine and better insight into medication decreased the possibility of violent behavior, while more severe positive symptoms, insomnia, as well as use of second-generation antipsychotics other than clozapine, antidepressants and mood stabilizers increased the possibility of violent behavior. Conclusions: Risk evaluation, prevention and management of violence in patients with schizophrenia are demanded in primary mental health care.

Individuals at ultra-high risk of psychosis and first-degree relatives of patients with schizophreniaexperience impaired family functionality and social support deficit in comparison to healthy controls.

AIM: The present study was designed to assess the role of family function and social support in the context of different phases of schizophrenia. METHODS: First-episode patients with experiences of schizophrenia (FEP), ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR), first-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with experiences of schizophrenia, and healthy controls (HC) (40 per group) were subjected to in-person clinical interviews. The results of these interviews were then used to gauge social support and family function using the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales (FACESII-CV). Data were analyzed through ANCOVA, correlation analysis and logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: We found that family function and social support showed a approximately gradual downward trend through the HC, FDR, UHR, and FEP groups but no significant differences were found in the family function of the FDR, UHR and FDR group. Logistic regression analyses indicated that UHR group patients exhibited decreased family support and family cohesion relative to members of the HC group, but had greater perceived social support than did members of the FEP group. Results for members of the FDR group were in line with those of members of the UHR group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that both UHR and FDR individuals experience impaired family functionality and social support which expanded the understanding of the psychological characteristics of the prodromal period of schizophrenia. Further explorations are warranted to develop optimal psychosocial interventions.

The role of anxiety and depression in the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality: A serial multiple mediation model.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity exacerbates poorer sleep quality, but potential underlying mechanisms of this association remain unknown. The present study aims to disentangle the pathways linking psychical activity to sleep quality through the serial mediation effect of anxiety and depression in a Chinese population. METHODS: Data analyzed were from Guangdong Sleep and Psychosomatic Health Survey, a cross-sectional population-based study with a representative sample of adult inhabitants aged 18-85 years living in Guangdong province, China. A total of 13,768 participants were included with the response rate of 80.4%. Singe and serial mediation analyses were conducted to examine whether anxiety and depression mediated the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality, independently and jointly. RESULTS: Both direct and indirect effects of physical activity on sleep quality were found. As predicted, anxiety and depression mediated the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality (B Anxiety = -0.17, 95% bootstrap CI: -0.20 to -0.15; B Depression= -0.25, 95% bootstrap CI: -0.28 to -0.21), respectively. In addition, serial mediation analyses indicated that the association of physical activity and sleep quality is mediated by anxiety and depression in a sequential manner (B = -0.13, 95% bootstrap CI: -0.15 to -0.11). LIMITATIONS: The primary limitation of the study is the cross-sectional design, which limits the causal inference ability. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the role of anxiety and depression as serial mediators of the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality. Thus, exercise-based programs focusing on improving sleep could benefit from a multi-faceted approach therapeutically targeting psychiatric disorders.

Relationship between sleep duration and sociodemographic characteristics, mental health and chronic diseases in individuals aged from 18 to 85 years old in Guangdong province in China: a population-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep is vital for maintaining individual's physical and mental health. Prior studies have reported close relationships between sleep duration and chronic diseases. However, in China, the prevalence of aberrant sleep duration and the associations between sleep duration and chronic conditions still merit studying in Guangdong province. This study aimed at examining the relationship between sleep duration and multiple dimensions of sociodemographic characteristics, mental health and chronic diseases in Guangdong province in China, with a large population-based data of individuals aged from 18 to 85 years old. METHODS: This study aimed at analyzing the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the population in Guangdong province. Multistage stratified cluster sampling was applied for this study. 13,768 participants from Guangdong province were interviewed with standardized assessment tools, including Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Basic socio-demographic information, mental health and chronic diseases information were collected. Self-reported sleep duration was classified as three types: short (< 7 h), normative (7-9 h) and long (≥9 h). RESULTS: The mean sleep duration was 6.75 ± 1.11 h. Short sleepers had a higher prevalence of chronic diseases, including anemia (6.2%, p = 0.024), gout (2.8%, p = 0.010), hyperlipidemia (3.9%, p = 0.003) and low back pain (5.6%, p = 0.020) than other types of sleeper. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that short sleepers were more likely to have low income level, have depressive symptoms, be ex- or current drinkers and be overweight. Anemia, hyperlipidemia and low back pain were all risk factors for short sleep, while malignant tumor was risky for long sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Low income level, drinking status, being overweight, and chronic conditions may be associated with aberrant sleep duration in Guangdong province general population. Short sleepers have a higher risk of suffering from anemia, hyperlipidemia, and low back pain, while long sleepers are more likely to have malignant tumor. Health professionals should value the sleep patterns in general health care and attach importance to conduct further epidemiologic surveys to explore the relationship between sleep duration and health.

Frequency and correlates of violence against patients with schizophrenia living in rural China.

BACKGROUND: Violence against patients with schizophrenia is very common, however it is rarely studied in China, especially in primary health care institutions of rural areas. Therefore, we investigated the frequency of violence against patients with community-living schizophrenia in rural China and examined its associated factors and impact on quality of life (QoL) and social function. METHOD: A survey was conducted among 487 patients with schizophrenia living in rural communities. Data about violent victimization experiences in the past 6 months, demographic information, and clinical characteristics were collected by questionnaires. RESULTS: We found that 92 (18.9%) of 487 subjects experienced at least one type of violent event in the past 6 months. Logistic regression analysis suggested that a history of conducting dangerous behaviors(OR = 1.702, P = 0.02, 95%CI: 1.05-2.73), higher Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (anxiety domain) score (OR = 1.15, P = 0.02, 95%CI: 1.01-1.304) and lower hospitalization rates (OR = 0.89, P = 0.04, 95%CI: 0.81-0.99) were significantly associated with violent victimization in patients with schizophrenia. Analysis of covariance showed the victims of violence tended to have worse social function in patients with schizophrenia living in rural communities of China (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with schizophrenia living in rural China had a high risk of being exposed to violence and violent victimization of patients with schizophrenia had adverse consequences for social function. More attention is needed for those patients experiencing violent events, because they are simultaneously possible to conduct dangerous behaviors.

Sexual dysfunction in Chinese rural patients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction is common in patients with schizophrenia, however it is poorly studied in China, especially in primary health care institutions in rural areas. We investigated the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and its correlates including quality of life (QoL), in schizophrenia patients treated in primary care in a rural area in China. METHOD: By using a random numbers table, 21 small town primary care service centers (from 63 totally) were selected in the study. Data of 720 community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia in rural area with diagnoses according to DSM -IV or ICD-10 were collected by interviews. Data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics including sexual dysfunction and quality of life (QoL) were collected using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, t-tests, U-tests, ANCOVA and multiple logistic regression as appropriate by SPSS 21.0.The level of significance was set at 0.05 (two-tailed). RESULTS: In this sample, sexual dysfunction was found in 71.3% of the whole sample, 82.7% of female patients and 64.5% of male patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that older age (OR = 1.06, P<0.001, 95%CI: 1.04-1.09) and higher Brief Psychotic Rating Scale (negative domain) score (OR = 1.16, P = 0.01, 95%CI: 1.02-1.31) were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction. Contrary to previous findings, sexual dysfunction was not associated with quality of life after controlling for confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: More than 2/3 of schizophrenia patients living in a rural area complained of sexual dysfunction, which was associated with older age and more negative psychotic symptoms. Primary care physicians should pay attention to sexual dysfunction during the assessment and treatment of patients with schizophrenia in rural areas in China.

Individuals at high risk for psychosis experience more childhood trauma, life events and social support deficit in comparison to healthy controls.

Evidence for psychological risk factors on prodromal state of psychosis remained limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate childhood trauma, life events and social support in subjects with high risk for psychosis (HR), first episode psychosis with schizophrenia (FEP) and healthy control (HC). In the study, 56 FEP, 83 HR and 61 HC underwent face-to-face clinical interview and psychological assessment, including Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Life Events Scale (LES) and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). The results showed that in univariate analysis, HR individuals had more childhood trauma, more recent life events and less social support than HC group, and these findings were also supported by ANCOVA analysis except for the results related to social support after taking age, education, marital and employment status as covariates. Logistic regression analysis revealed that HR group was significantly associated with more childhood trauma, poorer overall function and unmarried state than HC group after controlling the interfering factors. HR group was similar with FEP group in these assessments. In conclusion, HR individuals experienced more childhood trauma, life events and social support deficit than HC group, which may be risk factors of conversion to psychosis. Further explorations are warranted to develop optimal psychosocial interventions.

The high expressed serum soluble neural cell adhesion molecule, a high risk factor indicating hepatic encephalopathy in hepatocelular carcinoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the expression of serum soluble neural cell adhesion molecule (sNCAM) is associated with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in hepatocelular carcinoma (HCC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Oncomine Cancer Microarray database was used to determine the clinical relevance of NCAM expression in different kinds of human cancers. Sera from 75 HCC cases enrolled in this study were assessed for expression of sNCAM by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Dependent on the Oncomine Cancer Microarray database analysis, NCAM was down regulated in 10 different kinds of cancer, like bladder cancer, brain and central nervous system cancer, while up-regulated in lung cancer, uterine corpus leiomyoma and sarcoma, compared to normal groups. Puzzlingly, NCAM expression demonstrated no significant difference between normal and HCC groups. However, we found by quantitative ELISA that the level of sNCAM in sera from HCC patients with HE (347.4±151.9 ng/ml) was significantly more up-regulated than that in HCC patients without HE (260.3±104.2 ng/ml), the p-value being 0.008. sNCAM may be an important risk factor of HE in HCC patients, the correlation coefficients was 0.278 (P< 0.05) on rank correlation analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that up-regulated level of serum sNCAM is associated with HE in HCC patients and suggests that the high expression can be used as an indicator.

[Speciation distribution characters of heavy metals in waste printed circuit boards].

The environmental availability of heavy metals from the waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) were studied through BCR's three-stage extraction procedures from EU and Tessier's five sequential extraction procedures. The results show that the heavy metal extraction rates with BCR's procedures are higher than that with Tessier's from waste PCBs. There are significant differences in fraction distributions of heavy metals in PCBs. The speciation of Ni in the PCBs exists mainly in residual forms and has little effect on the environment. The percentage of acidic extractable forms with BCR's method and the total amount of exchangeable and carbonate which bound for Tessier's procedure of Pb and Zn are high, in the South China, the two metals are more easily released by acid rain. Acidic extractable forms of Cu is the main speciation in PCBs with BCR's extraction procedures, while the percentage of Fe-Mn oxides- bound of Cu is the highest with Tessier's procedures, though the result is not agree consistent, due to the high content of Cu in PCBs, the harm of Cu from PCBs could not be neglected.

[Different leaching procedures for heavy metal toxicity of waste PCBs].

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the hazardous of heavy metals of waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) by using four kinds of methods (GB 5086.1-1997, GB 5086.2-1997 from China and 1311 (TCLP), 1312 (SPLP) from USA), and the four kinds of methods are compared to choose a better way to identify toxicity characteristics of waste PCBs. The results show that the leaching concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Mn, Zn and Fe) in the leachate after TCLP are much higher than that after the other three kinds of methods, the concentration of Pb is over the standards, so the waste PCBs may be the hazardous solid waste, the TCLP could be the appropriate way to assess the heavy metals hazardous characteristics of waste PCBs. The leaching concentrations by the leaching methods used in China are relatively lower, which could be disadvantageous to control the hazardous wastes. The initial pH and particle size of waste PCBs have great effect on the leachability of heavy metals from waste PCBs.