The stochastic profile of variability of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved oxygen (D0) in the Han River has been considered with Streeter-Phelp's equation. According to the nature of the Han River, the BOD removal coefficient, K1, and the reaeration coefficient, K2 values, were calculated at an average of 0.157 and 0.97 respectively at 20 degrees C in the spring. Where the levels of BOD would be high in relation to the standard of water quality, the treatment for sewage and industrial wastes from tributaries of Seoul City should be performed with proper efficiency. Before 1985 plants with 90% efficiency should be installed at every outlet of the tributaries. The level of DO is not a relevant parameter to assess the pollution in the Han River. The description of the oxygen profile of the Han River also suggests monitoring points for inspection of water quality.
Fresh Water/analysis* ; Korea ; Models, Chemical ; Oxygen/analysis* ; Water/analysis* ; Water Pollution, Chemical/analysis

BACKGROUND: Currently, it is recognized that water polluted with toxic heavy metal ions may cause serious effects on human health. Therefore, the development of new materials for effective removal of heavy metal ions from water is still a widely important area. Melanin is being considered as a potential material for removal of heavy metal from water. METHODS: In this study, we synthesized two melanin-embedded beads from two different melanin powder sources and named IMB (Isolated Melanin Bead originated from squid ink sac) and CMB (Commercial Melanin Bead originated from sesame seeds). These beads were of globular shape and 2-3 mm in diameter. We investigated and compared the sorption abilities of these two bead materials toward hexavalent-chromium (Cr) in water. The isotherm sorption curves were established using Langmuir and Freundlich models in the optimized conditions of pH, sorption time, solid/liquid ratio, and initial concentration of Cr. The FITR analysis was also carried out to show the differences in surface properties of these two beads. RESULTS: The optimized conditions for isotherm sorption of Cr on IMB/CMB were set at pH values of 2/2, sorption times of 90/300 min, and solid-liquid ratios of 10/20 mg/mL. The maximum sorption capacities calculated based on the Langmuir model were 19.60 and 6.24 for IMB and CMB, respectively. However, the adsorption kinetic of Cr on the beads fitted the Freundlich model with R values of 0.992 for IMB and 0.989 for CMB. The deduced Freundlich constant, 1/n, in the range of 0.2-0.8 indicated that these beads are good adsorption materials. In addition, structure analysis data revealed great differences in physical and chemical properties between IMB and CMB. Interestingly, FTIR analysis results showed strong signals of -OH (3295.35 cm) and -C=O (1608.63 cm) groups harboring on the IMB but not CMB. Moreover, loading of Cr on the IMB caused a shift of broad peaks from 3295.35 cm and 1608.63 cm to 3354.21 cm and 1597.06 cm, respectively, due to -OH and -C=O stretching. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our study suggests that IMB has great potential as a bead material for the elimination of Cr from aqueous solutions and may be highly useful for water treatment applications.
Adsorption ; Chromium ; chemistry ; Kinetics ; Melanins ; chemistry ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; chemistry ; Water Pollution, Chemical ; prevention & control ; Water Purification ; methods

Accidents, Occupational ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Arsenic Poisoning ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Water Pollution, Chemical

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the polluted SY River on children's growth and sex hormones, and provide scientific data for assessment of the polluted status of the SY River.

METHODSThe study areas were selected randomly from the SY River Basin. Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), phthalates (DEP, DBP, DMP, DEHP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were measured both in the river water and in the drinking water. School children were selected by cluster sampling (n=154). Physical development indexes (height, weight, bust-circumference, and skinfold thickness) and sex hormones [testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2)] were measured for all the children.

RESULTSThe contents of Pb and Hg exceeded Class V standards of surface water quality in each section of the river and other indicators exceeded Class III. Compared to the control area, the concentrations of Pb, Hg, As, BPA, DEP, and DBP in the drinking water were significantly higher than in the polluted area (P<0.05). Children from the control area had significantly lower E2 and T than children from the polluted area (P<0.05). Among anthropometric results, only skinfold thickness had statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), while the other indexes showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe drinking water has been polluted by the SY River and affected serum sex hormone levels of children living in the polluted area.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Development ; drug effects ; Child ; Child Development ; drug effects ; China ; Female ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Rivers ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; toxicity ; Water Pollution, Chemical ; adverse effects ; Water Supply ; analysis

OBJECTIVEThis study was to understand the status of pollution on drinking water, by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), among rural residents living in the basin of Huaihe River. Relationship between the morbidity, morbidity of cancers and VOCs were also explored.

METHODS28 villages were chosen from Xuyi,Jinhu, Chuzhou along the Huaihe River, with water samples collected from ditch pond water, shallow wells, deep wells in November-December 2010. VOCs indicators were evaluated according to the Standard Quality GB 5749-2006 for Drinking Water.

RESULTSMethylene chloride, chloroform, benzene and carbon tetrachloride were all detected in 76 water samples. The rates of chloroform, benzene, carbon tetrachloride which exceeding the quality standards were 3.95% , 21.05% and 22.37% , but no significant differences were found among these three water resources in chloroform, benzene or carbon tetrachloride. Results from the correlation analysis showed that benzene had positive correlation with tumor deaths (r = 0.24, P < 0.05). Results from the risk assessment on health showed that some chloroform, benzene, carbon tetrachloride products which were related to the risks of cancers were exceeding the acceptable ranges of risk, with the rates as 28.95%, 22.37% and 64.47% but with no significant differences among the three water resources (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDrinking waters for rural residents along the Huaihe River were polluted while VOCs might have related to tumor incidence with potential impact and risk to the health of local residents.

China ; Drinking Water ; chemistry ; Humans ; Risk Assessment ; Rural Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Water Pollution, Chemical ; adverse effects ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study farm compost polluted water that may induce pharyngo-esophageal, gastric and liver carcinoma in chickens.

METHODS280 chickens were randomized into 4 groups: experiment group 100 chickens fed with compost water + NaNO(2) by stomach tube. The other 180 were evenly randomized into 3 control groups (60 each), fed with compost water, NaNO(2) and tap water in the same way. The farm compost was prepared with corn stalks, rice straws, excreta of men and livestock. The compost water, after being nitrosified and acidified, was fed through stomach tube 5 - 7.5 ml/session, twice a week. Besides, a solution consisting of the respective formula of each group added with 3 - 4 L water with pH adjusted to 3 - 4 by 1N HCL was given ad lib to all chickens in each group for 26.5 months.

RESULTSIn the experiment group, there were pharyngo-esophageal carcinoma 16 (16.3%), gastric adenocarcinoma 5 (10.4%) and liver carcinoma 3 (6.3%), in contrast to none in the 3 control groups, showing significant differences (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSuccessful simulation of the layout of esophageal carcinoma high morbidity area and the mimic of chicken gastric fluid strongly support our compost etiological hypothesis that the nitrosified and acidified compost water are carcinogenic, very well causing esophageal, gastric and liver carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Chickens ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Feces ; Female ; Liver Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Male ; Pharyngeal Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Sewage ; adverse effects ; Sodium Nitrite ; toxicity ; Stomach Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Water Pollution, Chemical ; adverse effects

PURPOSE: To draw attention to the radiological findings of a benign variant of cerebral astrocytoma in a young patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 24-year-old man with generalized tonic-clonic seizure of 7 years' duration and normal neurological examination was examined with plain skull series, brain CT and MRI, and cerebral angiography. MR imaging was performed with a 0.5 Tesla Toshiba MRT-50A scanner (TIWI, PDWI, T2WI, 0.1 mmol/kg of Gd- DTPA, SE). RESULTS: 1 ) Plain skull series: A radiolucent lesion with a partial radiopaque rim of about 2.5 x 3 cm size in the right anterior parietal bone.2) B rain CT scan: A cystic mass in the right frontoparietal cortex of midconvexity with pressure erosion on the adjacent skull and partial enhancement at outer and anterior portion.3) Brain MRI:A hypointense mass containing a small, intensely enhancing isointensity anterolaterally on Tl-weighted images, which was hyperintense with better delineation of bulging cortical-based appearance on T2-weithted images. No peritumoral edema.4) Cerebral anglography: An avascular mass. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma(PXA) should be entertained in patients in whom a superticially placed enhancing intracerebral tumor containing cystic portion that seems to be in contact with the meninges develops during juvenile years.
Astrocytoma ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meninges ; Neurologic Examination ; Pentetic Acid ; Rabeprazole ; Rain ; Seizures ; Skull ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of climate factors on the Chrysanthemum morifolium originated from Wenxian county (i. e "huaiju") for assuring the quality of medicinal C. morifolium.

METHODThe content of water-soluble extracts, protein, sugar, flavonoid and chlorogenic acid of "huaiju" collected from Henanwenxian, Jiangsunanjing and Zhejiangtongxiang were selected as the indicator and determined, climate data of the corresponding places were collected for studying the effects on "huaiju" quality through path analysis and correlation analysis.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThere existed no obviously differences among the detected indicators except the soluble sugar content. Sunlight, temperature and precipitation showed more effects on quality of "huaiju", the sunlight had the most direct effect on flavonoid, the 10 cm ground temperature had the most direct effect on chlorogenic acid.

China ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analysis ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; standards ; Ecosystem ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Plant Proteins ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Rain ; Sunlight ; Temperature