Seasonal dynamics of Microcystis spp. and their toxigenicity as assessed by qPCR in a temperate reservoir

Blooms of toxic cyanobacteria are becoming increasingly frequent, mainly due to water quality degradation. This work applied qPCR as a tool for early warning of microcystin(MC)-producer cyanobacteria and risk assessment of water supplies. Specific marker genes for cyanobacteria, Microcystis and MC-producing Microcystis, were quantified to determine the genotypic composition of the natural Microcystis population. Correlations between limnological parameters, pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen and conductivity and MC concentrations as well as Microcystis abundance were assessed. A negative significant correlation was observed between toxic (with mcy genes) to non-toxic (without mcy genes) genotypes ratio and the overall Microcystis density. The highest proportions of toxic Microcystis genotypes were found 4-6 weeks before and 8-10 weeks after the peak of the bloom, with the lowest being observed at its peak. These results suggest positive selection of non-toxic genotypes under favorable environmental growth conditions. Significant positive correlations could be found between quantity of toxic genotypes and MC concentration, suggesting that the method applied can be useful to predict potential MC toxicity risk. No significant correlation was found between the limnological parameters measured and MC concentrations or toxic genotypes proportions indicating that other abiotic and biotic factors should be governing MC production and toxic genotypes dynamics. The qPCR method here applied is useful to rapidly estimate the potential toxicity of environmental samples and so, it may contribute to the more efficient management of water use in eutrophic systems.     

Cyanobacterial Toxic and Bioactive Peptides in Freshwater Bodies of Greece: Concentrations,Occurrence Patterns,and Implications for Human Health

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms represent one of the most conspicuous waterborne microbial hazards in aquatic environments mostly due to the production of toxic secondary metabolites, mainly microcystins (MCs). Other bioactive peptides are frequently found in cyanobacterial blooms, yet their concentration and ecological relevance is still unknown. In this paper we studied the presence and concentration of cyanobacterial peptides (microcystins, anabaenopeptins, anabaenopeptilides) in 36 Greek freshwater bodies, using HPLC-DAD, ELISA, and PP1IA. Microcystins were found in more than 90% of the samples investigated, indicating that microcystin-producing strains seem to also occur in lakes without blooms. Microcystins MC-RR, MC-LR, and MC-YR were the main toxin constituents of the bloom samples. Anabaenopeptin A and B were predominant in some samples, whereas anabaenopeptolide 90A was the only peptide found in Lake Mikri Prespa. The intracellular concentrations of anabaenopeptins produced by cyanobacterial bloom populations are determined for the first time in this study; the high (>1000 µg·L⁻¹) anabaenopeptin concentration found indicates there may be some impacts, at least on the ecology and the food web structure of the aquatic ecosystems. The maximum intracellular MC values measured in Lakes Kastoria and Pamvotis, exceeding 10,000 µg·L⁻¹, are among the highest reported.     

闽中某县茶园土壤-茶树-茶汤中镉含量及健康风险评价研究

以闽中某县8个代表性茶园为研究对象,采集茶园土壤和茶树各器官样品,分析镉在茶园土壤-茶树中积累和分布规律,并探讨其受土壤理化性质的影响;同时测定茶汤中镉含量并算出茶叶中镉的溶出率,利用美国国家环保署（USEPA）推荐的健康风险评价模型进行人体致癌健康风险评价。结果表明,茶园土壤全镉含量均值为112.74βμg·kg^-1,是福建省土壤背景值的2.06倍,茶园土壤镉积累明显;茶园土壤有效镉含量均值为26.44βμg·kg^-1,镉活化率均值为24.86%,有效程度较高。土壤pH和有机质是影响土壤镉及其有效性的主要因素,土壤全磷和速效磷是影响镉活化率的主要因子;茶树主根和侧根与土壤全镉、有效镉和有机质呈显著正相关（P<0.05）,新叶镉含量与土壤有效镉和全磷呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。茶树各器官镉含量分布规律为：侧根（1β253.89βμg·kg^-1）>主根（382.20βμg·kg^-1）>主茎（167.25βμg·kg^-1）≈侧茎（154.65βμg·kg^-1）>老叶（30.60βμg·kg^-1）≈新叶（27.13βμg·kg^-1）,茶树根部镉富集系数显著大于其他器官（P<0.05）,新叶和老叶镉富集系数较低,镉大部分被根和茎固定,向叶的迁移能力较低。茶汤中镉含量均值为192.28βng·L^-1,远低于《生活饮用水卫生标准》中镉含量,茶叶中镉溶出率均值为15.29%;茶汤和茶叶中镉致癌健康年风险分别为6.33×10^-7和4.42×10^-6,比国际辐射防护委员会推荐的化学有害物最大可接受水平（5×10^-5）低约1~2个数量级,说明可以安全饮用。     

Evaluating risk from insecticide use at the field and regional scales in Iran

Approximately 50% of all pesticides registered in Iran are insecticides with potential risk to human health and the environment. The environmental impact quotient (EIQ) is a pesticide risk indicator that was used to rank the inherent risk of 48 insecticides in use in 28 Iranian provinces and evaluate their environmental impact (EI) at the field and provincial scales over three growing seasons from 2001 to 2005. The results indicate that the introduction of new insecticides over the past decades has produced a negligible decrease in inherent risk. About 75% of provinces had low EI scores of 0.62–11.3. The highest EI and EI/ha scores were found in Kerman and Mazandaran provinces, mainly from increased usage (amount of active ingredient) rather than increased toxicity of insecticides. Inherent toxicity (EIQ) was not significant for increased EI in contrast to the increase in pesticide usage. On average, diazinon comprised 37% of total usage, carbaryl 12.2% and teflubenzuron 8% of total usage. The toxicity of these insecticides ranked lower for EIQ. In contrast, the total usage of environmentally high-risk insecticides (imidacloprid, fipronil, lindane) was relatively lower during the study period. Overall, the increased use of insecticides was not related to the increase in the area under cultivation, but to the type of crop grown (pistachios, vegetables) and to inappropriate spraying equipment and inadequate storage practices, both of which are common problems in developing countries.     

小麦不溶性谷蛋白含量与HMW-GS及品质的关系

为了探索小麦不溶性谷蛋白(IG)含量与品质的关系,对176份不同筋力小麦材料的IG含量、HMW-GS组成类型和加工品质参数进行了检测及相关性分析。结果表明,供试材料的平均IG含量为2.44%,变化范围为1.25%～3.71%。共检测到10种HMW-GS亚基类型和16种亚基组合,其中,出现频率较高亚基类型是1(76.13%)、7+9(61.37%)、2+12(51.70%)和5+10(48.30%),出现频率较高亚基组合是1/7+9/2+12(25.57%)和1/7+9/5+10(22.16%)。亚基类型与IG含量显著相关,其中,优质亚基1、7+8和5+10比同位点的其他等位变异均显著增加IG含量,亚基组合1/7+8/5+10的IG含量最高,N/14+15/5+10的IG含量最低。IG含量与蛋白质含量、吸水率和稳定时间均呈显著正相关。IG含量可以作为小麦品质育种的快速有效检测指标。     

A kinetic study of accumulation and elimination of microcystin-LR in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) tissue and implications for human fish consumption

Fish consumption is a potential route of human exposure to the hepatotoxic microcystins, especially in lakes and reservoirs that routinely experience significant toxic Microcystis blooms. Understanding the rates of uptake and elimination for microcystins as well as the transfer efficiency into tissues of consumers are important for determining the potential for microcystins to be transferred up the food web and for predicting potential human health impacts. The main objective of this work was to conduct laboratory experiments to investigate the kinetics of toxin accumulation in fish tissue. An oral route of exposure was employed in this study, in which juvenile yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were given a single oral dose of 5 or 20 μg of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) via food and accumulation in the muscle, liver, and tank water were measured over 24 h. Peak concentrations of the water soluble fraction of microcystin were generally observed 8-10 h after dosing in the liver and after 12-16 h in the muscle, with a rapid decline in both tissues by 24 h. Up to 99% of the total recoverable (i.e., unbound) microcystin was measured in the tank water by 16 h after exposure. The relatively rapid uptake and elimination of the unbound fraction of microcystin in the liver and muscle of juvenile yellow perch within 24 h of exposure indicates that fish consumption may not be a major route of human exposure to microcystin, particularly in the Great Lakes.     

Internalisation of microbes in vegetables: microbial load of Ghanaian vegetables and the relationship with different water sources of irrigation

The occurrence of pathogens in the internal parts of vegetables is usually associated with irrigation water or contaminated soil and could pose risk to consumers as the internalised pathogens are unaffected by external washing. This study was carried out to assess the rate of internalisation of microbes in common Ghanaian vegetables. Standard microbiological methods were employed in microbial enumeration of vegetables collected at the market and farm levels, as well as irrigation water and soil samples. The overall mean counts of vegetables were 4.0 x 10(3) cfu g(-1); 8.1 x 10(2) cfu g(-1); 2.0 x 10(2) cfu g(-1); 3.5 x 10(2) cfu g(-1) for total bacteria, coliform counts, faecal coliform counts and yeast counts, respectively. The rate of internalisation of coliforms in vegetables irrigated with stream/well water was 2.7 times higher than those irrigated with pipe water. The mean coliform counts (4.7 x 10(7) cfu g(-1)) and faecal coliform counts (1.8 x 10(6) cfu g(-1)) of soil samples were similar to those of stream water suggesting both sources exerted similar contamination rates on the vegetables. Generally, there were no significant variations between the rates of internalisation of microbes at the market and farm levels at p < 05, indicating that internalisation of microbes in the vegetables mainly occurred at the farm level. The study has shown that microbial contamination of vegetables in Ghana is not limited to the external surface, but internal vegetable parts could harbour high microbial loads and pose risk to consumers. Safety practices associated with the commodity should therefore not be limited to external washing only. There is the additional need of heating vegetables to eliminate microbes both externally and internally before consumption.     

Risk analysis of pesticides applied to rice paddies using RICEWQ 1.6.2v and RIVWQ 2.02

Rice is commonly cultivated in Southern Europe in large river basins where the extensive use of herbicides may impact water quality at basin scale level. Consequently, pesticide risk assessment would be more relevant when considering a rice cultivation area as a whole. Accordingly, two watershed-scale scenarios were developed to represent the specific agronomic, water and pesticide management practices of rice cultivation in Greece. These scenarios were utilized for the parameterization of the rice water quality model (RICEWQ) 1.6.2v and the surface water model river water quality (RIVWQ) 2.02. in order to predict the environmental concentrations of pesticides in groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW) systems within a rice area. The annual average pesticide concentrations at 1 m depth, predicted by RICEWQ were used to assess the risk for GW contamination. The predicted exposure concentrations derived through modelling and eco-toxicological endpoints obtained from the literature, were used to calculate acute and long-term toxicity exposure ratios (TERs) for aquatic organisms. Application of these scenarios with RICEWQ and RIVWQ models enabled us to perform a risk assessment exercise for several herbicides registered in Greece for use in rice. Such a risk assessment approach could be further scaled up to represent a whole rice cultivated basin in order to be used for regulatory purposes.     

Preparation and Characterization of κ-Carrageenan Modified with Maleic Anhydride and Its Application in Films

In this work, the physicochemical properties of maleic anhydride (MAH)-modified κ-carrageenan (κCar) (MC) were characterized and compared with those of native κ-carrageenan (NC). The Fourier transform infrared spectrum of MC exhibited that κCar was successfully modified. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the thermal stability of MC was decreased. When the degree of substitution was 0.032, MC exhibited a low gel strength (759 g/cm²), gelling temperature (33.3 °C), and dehydration rate (60.3%). Given the excellent film-forming ability of κCar, MC films were then prepared and were found to have better mechanical and barrier properties (UV and water) than NC films. With regard to optical properties, MC films could completely absorb UV light in the range of 200–236 nm. The water contact angle of MC films was higher than that of NC films. Moreover, the elongation at break increased from 26.9% to 163%. These physicochemical property changes imply that MC can be employed in polysaccharide-based films.     

丁硫克百威原药和制剂对蚯蚓的毒性及其降解产物克百威的动态变化

为了解蚯蚓急性毒性试验过程中丁硫克百威降解产物克百威的动态变化。采用固相萃取高效液相色谱柱后衍生荧光检测法检测土壤中克百威的动态变化，比较不同浓度的90％丁硫克百威原药和20％丁硫克百威乳油制剂在土壤主要代谢产物克百威中的动态变化及其对蚯蚓的毒性。结果表明：当90％丁硫克百威原药的浓度为42.74、85.47、170.94、341.88、512.82 mg/kg时，试验第7天，土壤中克百威的浓度分别为12.941、25.272、56.652、104.984、143.870 mg/kg；而当20％丁硫克百威制剂的浓度为42.74、85.47、170.94、341.88、512.82 mg/kg时，试验第7天，克百威的浓度分别18.445、41.793、67.709、119.515、144.538 mg/kg。第7天时丁硫克百威原药和制剂在土壤中对蚯蚓的LC50分别为170.514、113.757 mg/kg，实际测得的丁硫克百威对土壤中蚯蚓的毒性已演变成丁硫克百威及其降解产物的联合毒性。土壤中克百威的浓度，与添加丁硫克百威的浓度、时间呈正相关，20％丁硫克百威乳油制剂在土壤中的代谢能力及其对土壤中蚯蚓的毒性均高于原药。     

A chronic oral toxicity study of marine collagen peptides preparation from chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) skin using Sprague-Dawley rat

Due to the increased consumption of marine collagen peptides preparation (MCP) as ingredients in functional foods and pharmaceuticals, it was necessary to carry out safety requirements in the form of an oral chronic toxicity assessment. In order to define the oral chronic toxicity of MCP, a 24-month feeding study of MCP was carried out. Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats at the age of four-week of both sexes were treated with MCP at the diet concentrations of 0%, 2.25%, 4.5%, 9% and 18% (wt/wt). The actual food intake and bodyweight of the individual animals were recorded periodically until sacrifice. Blood and urine samples were collected for serum chemistry evaluations and urinalysis. Throughout the experimental period, there was no toxicologically significant difference between the vehicle and MCP-treated animals with respect to the survival rate, body weight, food consumption, urinalysis, clinical biochemistry parameter and relative organ weight in either sex. Moreover, incidences of non-neoplastic lesions in MCP-treated groups did not significantly increase compared with the control group. Under the present experimental conditions, no higher risk of chronic toxic effects was observed in MCP-treated rats at the diet concentrations of 2.25%, 4.5%, 9% and 18% (wt/wt) than in the rats fed with basal rodent diet.     

Mycotoxin Identification and In Silico Toxicity Assessment Prediction in Atlantic Salmon

The present study aimed to identify mycotoxins in edible tissues of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) using liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS). After using a non-targeted screening approach and a home-made spectral library, 233 mycotoxins were analyzed. Moreover, the occurrence of mycotoxins in fish filets was evaluated, and their potential toxicity was predicted by in silico methods. According to the obtained results, forty mycotoxins were identified in analyzed salmon samples, the predominant mycotoxins being enniatins (also rugulosin and 17 ophiobolins), commonly found in cereals and their by-products. Thus, mycotoxin carry-over can occur from feed to organs and edible tissues of cultivated fish. Moreover, the toxicity of detected mycotoxins was predicted by the in silico webserver ProTox-II, highlighting that special attention must be paid to some less reported mycotoxins due to their toxic predicted properties.     

Oil extraction from lesquerella seeds by dry extrusion and expelling

Whole lesquerella seeds with 6% (as is) and 12% moisture content (MC) were extruded at different residence times by varying screw speeds and feed rates. The temperature of the extrudate was recorded and its MC was determined. The extent of seed cooking was evaluated by measuring the protein solubility and thioglucosidase (TGSase) activity in the extrudate. Uncooked whole seeds (UWS), whole seeds cooked in seed cooker (CWS), and extrusion-cooked seeds (ECS) were screw pressed and the crude oils were analyzed for foots, free fatty acid (FFA), phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. The screw speed and feed rates employed resulted in residence times ranging from 22 to 110 s. The corresponding exit temperatures of the extrudates ranged from 88 to143 °C. Seeds with 6% initial MC dried to 4.3% at extrudate temperatures ≤125 °C regardless of residence time, while seeds with 12% initial MC came out at 7–9% MC, Extruding seeds with 6 and 12% starting MC for 34 and 41 s, respectively, provided the same degree of cooking as that of 12% MC CWS. All CWS and ECS tested negative for TGSase activity. ECS with 6% initial MC generated much higher foots (6.4–9.4%) in the oil compared with that of the 12% MC ECS (1–1.7%). The crude oils from CWS had the lowest FFA content at 1.25%. Crude oils from UWS and ECS had FFA ranging from 1.4–2.8%. The crude oil from 12% MC CWS had 374 ppm sulfur which was 3–8× higher than what were found in crude oils from 6% MC CWS and ECS. The highest P (23 ppm), Ca (14 ppm), and Mg (6 ppm) levels in the crude oil were from 12% MC CWS, which were comparable to total degummed oils. An 81% oil recovery from 6% MC ECS (22 s residence time) was obtained at 19 rpm expeller screw speed. Increasing the expeller's screw speed from 19 to 37 rpm decreased the oil recovery by 0.2%/rpm, increased the throughput by 3.3 kg/rpm from 70 to 130 kg/h, and reduced the press load from 91 to 67%.     

Wheat grain quality under increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations in a semi-arid cropping system

We investigated wheat (Triticum aestivum) grain quality under Free Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) of 550 ± 10% CO₂ μmol mol⁻¹. In each of two full growing seasons (2008 and 2009), two times of sowing were compared, with late sowing designed to mimic high temperature during grain filling. Grain samples were subjected to a range of physical, nutritional and rheological quality assessments. Elevated CO₂ increased thousand grain weight (8%) and grain diameter (5%). Flour protein concentration was reduced by 11% at e[CO₂], with the highest reduction being observed at the late time of sowing in 2009, (15%). Most of the grain mineral concentrations decreased under e[CO₂] - Ca (11%), Mg (7%), P (11%) and S (7%), Fe (10%), Zn (17%), Na (19%), while total uptake of these nutrients per unit ground area increased. Rheological properties of the flour were altered by e[CO₂] and bread volume reduced by 7%. Phytate concentration in grains tended to decrease (17%) at e[CO₂] while grain fructan concentration remained unchanged. The data suggest that rising atmospheric [CO₂] will reduce the nutritional and rheological quality of wheat grain, but at high temperature, e[CO₂] effects may be moderated. Reduced phytate concentrations at e[CO₂] may improve bioavailability of Fe and Zn in wheat grain.     

Wheat grain quality under increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations in a semi-arid cropping system

We investigated wheat (Triticum aestivum) grain quality under Free Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) of 550 ± 10% CO₂ μmol mol⁻¹. In each of two full growing seasons (2008 and 2009), two times of sowing were compared, with late sowing designed to mimic high temperature during grain filling. Grain samples were subjected to a range of physical, nutritional and rheological quality assessments. Elevated CO₂ increased thousand grain weight (8%) and grain diameter (5%). Flour protein concentration was reduced by 11% at e[CO₂], with the highest reduction being observed at the late time of sowing in 2009, (15%). Most of the grain mineral concentrations decreased under e[CO₂] - Ca (11%), Mg (7%), P (11%) and S (7%), Fe (10%), Zn (17%), Na (19%), while total uptake of these nutrients per unit ground area increased. Rheological properties of the flour were altered by e[CO₂] and bread volume reduced by 7%. Phytate concentration in grains tended to decrease (17%) at e[CO₂] while grain fructan concentration remained unchanged. The data suggest that rising atmospheric [CO₂] will reduce the nutritional and rheological quality of wheat grain, but at high temperature, e[CO₂] effects may be moderated. Reduced phytate concentrations at e[CO₂] may improve bioavailability of Fe and Zn in wheat grain.     

外源抗坏血酸处理对采后菠萝黑心病发生和果实品质的影响

为了探明抗坏血酸对菠萝果实采后保鲜的有效性,本研究以“巴厘”菠萝（Ananas comosus cv. Comtede Paris） 为材料,分别用 0.2%和 0.4%（质量体积百分比 w/V）的抗坏血酸（L-Ascorbic acid,AsA）浸泡处理,以清水浸泡为 对照,0.02 mm 厚聚乙烯打孔薄膜袋包装后,于常温(25±2)℃、相对湿度 85%~95%的水果储藏库中贮藏,观察采后菠 萝黑心病发生与果实品质的变化。结果表明：AsA 处理有效地延缓菠萝黑心病的发生,保持菠萝果实的硬度,抑制可 滴定酸、可溶性固形物和维生素 C 含量的减少,在贮藏后期能够有效地抑制丙二醛（MDA）的积累。果肉氧化酶活性 测定结果表明,0.2% AsA 处理可抑制多酚氧化酶（polyphenol oxidase,PPO）活性增加,保持较高的过氧化物酶 （peroxidase,POD）活性。可见,AsA 能够有效地延缓菠萝黑心病的发生,保持采后菠萝的食用品质,抑制采后菠萝 果实酚类物质酶促氧化的发生,延缓菠萝贮藏期间的衰老进程,并且 0.2% AsA 的处理效果优于 0.4% AsA 的处理效果, 因此 0.2% AsA 为最佳处理浓度。     

Increased stored soybean dietary fibre concentration is positively correlated to testa darkening measured chromaticity

To assess efficacy of seed testa chromaticity indicator of dietary fibre changes in soybean (Glycine max L.), soybean samples were stored for zero (0 M), three months (3 M), six months (6 M) or nine months (9 M) at three moisture contents (MC) (9, 11 and 13%) and three temperatures (10, 20 and 30 °C). Stored soybean samples were analysed for seed testa colour and dietary fibre content. Extended storage (9 M) at high MC (13%) and temperature (30 °C) resulted in reduced chromaticity (C*ab) and L* (darkening) of the testa colour value by 6.7% and 4.7% respectively. Furthermore, storage time and elevated MC (13%) had the biggest effect on dietary fibre levels with insoluble and soluble dietary fibre increasing significantly up to 9 M of storage, by 4.90% and 15.09% respectively with a total dietary fibre increase of 4.62%. This effect was enhanced with increased storage time. Use of testa colour as an indicator of the effect of storage time and conditions on soybean dietary fibre levels contributed to understanding the related impact on the nutritional quality of soybean. This study elucidated the role of post-harvest storage time and conditions on soybean dietary fibre levels as related to chromaticity.     

Structural Characterization of New Microcystins Containing Tryptophan and Oxidized Tryptophan Residues

Microcystins are cyclic peptides produced by cyanobacteria, which can be harmful to humans and animals when ingested. Eight of the (more than) 90 microcystin variants presently characterized, contain the amino acid tryptophan. The well-researched oxidation products of tryptophan; kynurenine, oxindolylalanine, and N-formylkynurenine, have been previously identified in intact polypeptides but microcystin congeners containing oxidized tryptophan moieties have not been reported. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric analysis of an extract of Microcystis CAWBG11 led to the tentative identification of two new tryptophan-containing microcystins (MC‑WAba and MC-WL), as well as eight other microcystin analogs containing kynurenine, oxindolylalanine and N‑formylkynurenine (Nfk). Investigation of one of these congeners (MC‑NfkA) by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to verify the presence of Nfk in the microcystin. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of a tryptophan oxidation experiment demonstrated that tryptophan-containing microcystins could be converted into oxidized tryptophan analogs and that low levels of oxidized tryptophan congeners were present intracellularly in CAWBG11. MC-NfkR and MC-LNfk were detected in standards of MC-WR and MC-LW, indicating that care during storage of tryptophan-containing microcystins is required.     

Hydrochemical processes and metal composition of Ain Umm-Sabah natural spring in Al-Hassa Oasis Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

This study was carried out to determine the hydro-chemical processes and the metal concentration of spring water to evaluate its suitability for irrigation and other purposes. A total of 10 water samples were collected from Ain Umm Sabah at different times and from different locations from the spring basin. EC (dS m(-1)), pH, temperature, total cations (Na, Ca, Mg, K) and anions [Cl, CO3, HCO3, SO4, NO3, Fluoride (F)] were determined. Some trace and heavy metals (Al, As, Ba, B, Br, Mo, Ni, Si, Cd, Cu, V, Fe, I, Pb, Mn, Zn, Sr, Se, Sb, La and Se were determined. The Spring water is classified as C4S2 (high salinity with medium sodicity problem water). Chloride (Cl) and nitrate (NO3) concentrations were higher than the permissible limits according to World Health Organization Standards. The Ain Umm Sabah water is Na-Cl dominant water and can create soil sodicity problems and cause Na and Cl ion toxicity to plants if used for irrigation of sensitive crops. The spring water is under-saturated (negative SI) with respect to calcite, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, halite, fluorite and aragonite and oversaturated (positive SI) with respect to goethite, siderite and hematite minerals. The concentration of all the estimated trace metals was within the permissible limits for its use as drinking water and other purposes according to WHO. Since the spring water contains high concentration of NO3, hence can not be used for drinking purposes without prior treatment. The study findings suggest careful use and pumping of water from the spring. Further studies are required on regular basis to monitor the depletion in the spring water level and the temporal change in water salinity.     

苦丁茶冬青多糖乙醇分级纯化及其理化性质研究

为了研究苦丁茶冬青多糖醇沉规律及产物理化性质。通过热水浸提和不同浓度乙醇分级沉淀，得到乙醇终浓度为20%、40%、60%和80%的4种苦丁茶冬青多糖组分，即ICP-1、ICP-2、ICP-3和ICP-4。比色法检测各多糖组分总糖、糖醛酸、蛋白质和总酚含量；高效凝胶渗透色谱法进行相对分子质量的测定；紫外和红外光谱扫描考察各组分的光谱性质。结果表明：ICP-1、ICP-2、ICP-3和ICP-4总糖含量分别为19.21%、34.91%、37.70%和30.21%，糖醛酸含量分别为5.04%、44.90%、24.20%和5.84%；凝胶渗透色谱图表明：ICP-2和ICP-3为高纯度均一组分，分子量为440.440与348.279 ku；4种多糖组分在280 nm处均有吸收峰，说明均为糖蛋白质化合物。红外结果显示，各组分均为吡喃糖环构型。以上结果表明，乙醇分级沉淀的方法可用于分级纯化制备组分均一、纯度较高的苦丁茶冬青多糖组分。