[Effect of Biochar on Available Heavy Metals During Sewage Sludge Composting and Land Application of Compost].

The effects of biochar addition to compost on change characteristics and passivation effect of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni) were investigated during the process of sludge composting with two different composts (group A:with biochar; group B:without biochar) and land application of compost. The results indicated that the total amount of heavy metals (except Ni) did not change significantly during the process of sludge composting and land application of compost. Additionally, biochar addition had little effect on the total amount of heavy metals. During the sludge composting process, five heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni) were passivated. Sludge composting with the addition of biochar can decrease the available contents of heavy metals, and the passivation effect of heavy metals was significant (P<0.05). The passivation rate of the five examined heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni)ranged from 16.39%-43.10%, and the passivation effect for Zn and Ni was more significant. However, the passivation effect was not significant in the sludge composting process without the addition of biochar (P>0.05). The concentrations of heavy metals in soil increased with the application of sewage sludge compost products. In the short term, biochar had a certain passivation effect on the available heavy metals in soils with sludge compost application, but the effect was not significant.

Therapeutic efficacy of polydatin for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via regulating inflammatory response in obese mice.

Polydatin (PD), a natural precursor of resveratrol, has been used to treat several diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, hepatic diseases and various cancers. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of PD on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using a high fat induced obese mice model. The studied subjects were randomly divided into a lean group, a high fat diet (HFD) group, and a high fat diet with PD (HFD + PD) group. The results showed that PD reduced the body weights in HFD mice. PD also downregulated the serum levels of triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and upregulated high density lipoprotein (HDL). Moreover, PD significantly alleviated hepatocyte steatosis and reduced Gr-1+ cells in the liver tissues of HFD mice. The mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory factors, such as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), S100A8 and S100A9 were significantly decreased in the liver tissues of HFD mice with PD treatment, and the downregulation of MCP-1 and S100A9 protein expressions was also observed. In conclusion, PD had beneficial roles in suppressing lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and anti-inflammatory responses in the liver tissue of obese associated NAFLD.

[Effect of Sewage Sludge Compost Products Application on Total Mercury and Methylmercury in Soil and Plants].

Two different sludge composting products (with and without biochar) were applied in field to study the variations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in soil and plants,as well as their migration in the soil-plant system and accumulation ability in plants during the sludge compost land use process.The results indicated that the concentrations THg and MeHg in soil increased after applying sewage sludge compost products,while the THg level was still lower than the secondary standard of national soil environmental quality.Biochar was speculated to probably promote the soil mercury methylation with lower MeHg/THg ratios in different soil treatments.THg concentrations in mature plants were significantly lower than those in seedling stage,but MeHg levels were higher than those in seedling stage.An obvious influence of composting on MeHg enrichment in plants was observed,and this similar effect was not found for THg enrichment.MeHg concentration in the soils applied with biochar compost was significantly higher than that without applying biochar compost soil,while MeHg in plant presented a contrary trend with higher level observed in no-biochar compost soil,suggesting that the addition of biochar could be in favour of soil MeHg formation and inhibit the MeHg accumulation in plants by influencing its migration.Since a strong MeHg accumulation ability with BCF of 1.24-14.63 was present in plant,the mercury ecological risk in soil environment caused by long-term fertilizing should be noticed.

[Effect of Soil and Dominant Plants on Mercury Speciation in Soil and Water System of Water-Level-Fluctuation Zone in the Three Gorges Area].

Plentiful plants in the water-level-fluctuation-zone (WLFZ) of Three Gorges Reservoir ( TGR) grow vigorously during the non-flooded period, especially the herbaceous ones. Then, the WLFZ is submerged gradually from the end of September. Soil-plant system that under a long time flooded condition may change the form of mercury, thus resulting in a secondary pollution of the water environment in TGR. To understand the characteristics of mercury species in soils and water after submerged, four kinds of typical plants from TGR were tested in the lab under submerged condition. The results indicated that the plants could promote the formation of soil methylmercury ( MeHg) , and had a significant effect on the different forms of mercury concentrations of the overlying water during inundation. Cynodon dactylon as the dominant species in WLFZ, because of its higher content of total mercury ( THg ) and methylmercury, the effect on MeHg and the other forms of mercury in the soil and the overlying water system was obvious. After 90 days, the soil MeHg level was the highest in Cynodon dactylon & soil & water treatment (B1) [(1,135.86 ± 113.84) ng · kg⁻¹]. It was approximately 2 times less than that of the soil MeHg in soil & water treatment (CK2) . The variation characteristics of total mercury (THg), reactive mercury (RHg) , dissolved mercury (DHg), total methylmercury (TMeHg) and dissolved methylmercury (DMeHg) of overlying water all showed a parabolic shape with a peak skewed to the left, and the peak was reached on the 30th day. Meanwhile, TMeHg, THg and DHg in B1 treatment were the highest, which were (2.88 ± 0.06), (40.29 · 2.42) and (35.51 · 3.77) ng · L⁻¹ respectively, and TMeHg and THg in the overlying water were mainly in the form of dissolved state. Therefore, it could be inferred that the water consumption of the Three Gorges reservoir would increase the mercury pollution load of the reservoir.

[Spatial distribution of mercury in soils of a typical small agricultural watershed in the Three Gorges Reservoir region].

To understand the mercury (Hg) pollution level and the corresponding ecological risk in agricultural watershed of the Three Gorges Reservoir region, a typical watershed, Wangjiagou, located in Fuling, where is in interior zones of the Three Gorges Reservoir region, was selected as the study object. Meanwhile, ArcGIS geo-statistics module was conducted for investigation of the Hg contents and distribution characteristics in soils of different land use types including dry land, farmland, woodland and settlements. Also the corresponding Hg pollution level and ecological risk were assessed. The results suggested that soil Hg contents in this watershed ranged from 9.47 to 94.57 microg x kg(-1), and the mean value was (34.23 +/- 16.23) microg x kg(-1). Higher Hg contents in surfaces of soils were observed in woodland, followed by farmland and settlement. The lowest was found in dry land. Surfaces of soils significantly showed Hg accumulation, and an obvious inverse correlation between soil Hg contents and soil depths was also observed in this study. Additionally, geo-statistics analysis showed a weak spatial correlation of soil Hg contents in this watershed, indicating the spatial distribution of soil Hg in this watershed was mainly influenced by several natural factors such as atmospheric wet-dry deposit, vegetation coverage and topography, instead of anthropogenic interference. Overall confirmative soil Hg pollution was not found in this watershed, which showed a very low pollution index (-0.08), but a moderate potential ecological risk still existed (the ecological risk index was 57), of which woodland had the highest potential risk. The total capacity of Hg in this watershed was 25.39 kg, among which dry land accounted for 69%.

[Clinical investigation on schistosomiasis after a 16-year-interruption program regarding its transmission, in Jiaxing region of Zhejiang province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemic pattern, diagnosis and treatment of schistosomiasis after the 16-years intervention program on its transmission in Jiaxing region of Zhejiang province. METHODS: Clinical data of schistosomiasis patients during the last 10 years and pathological specimens with deposited schistosomal eggs during the last 8 years were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The total numbers of schistosomiasis patients admitted to hospital increased from 194 in 2001 to 960 in 2010, and from 78 to 266 with complications. Number of the ones with accompanied diseases increased from 116 to 694. All the numbers of the above said three groups showed an yearly increase. The hardest hit age of the patients was between 60 and 74. The number of specimens with deposited schistosomal eggs increased from 192 in 2003 to 298 in 2010. While the ratio of specimens with deposited schistosomal eggs to the total number of pathological specimens became slightly decreasing, the average age of patients increased. Eggs were mainly deposited on appendix, colon, rectum, stomach, liver, gallbladder and small intestine. CONCLUSION: Schistosomiasis still hit the Jiaxing region, with the average age of patients increased.