土壤/沉积物中全氟辛酸(PFOA)、全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)吸附–解吸行为研究进展

全氟辛酸(PFOA)和全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)在土壤/沉积物–水中分配、吸附–解吸作用是影响其在环境中的残留浓度、迁移、转化及生物可利用性、毒性等的重要因素之一。本文对土壤/沉积物中PFOA、PFOS吸附–解吸行为影响因素,吸附–解吸机理,常用的土壤/沉积物中PFOA、PFOS吸附/解吸等温线方程、常数及参数等的研究情况进行综述,吸附–解吸过程Freundlich方程的相关系数为0.74~0.99,线性方程的相关系数为0.91~0.99。PFOS在土壤/沉积物中吸附常数logKoc的平均值为3.0,变异系数为23.3%;解吸常数logKoc的平均值为1.8,变异系数为15.4%。PFOA在土壤/沉积物中吸附常数logKoc的平均值为2.1,变异系数为45.6%;解吸常数logKoc的平均值为5.4,变异系数为52.3%。实验室基础上计算所得吸附常数logKoc比野外条件下实测数据计算值(PFOA为3.7,PFOS为4.2)小,野外条件下土壤/沉积物中PFOA和PFOS吸附–解吸过程和土壤–植物共生系统对其污染控制效应有待于进一步研究。     

Human exposure to perfluorinated chemicals through the diet: intake of perfluorinated compounds in foods from the Catalan (Spain) market

The aim of this study was to determine the dietary intake of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) by the population of Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain). PFC levels were determined in 36 composite samples of foodstuffs randomly purchased in various locations. Exposure to PFCs through the diet was estimated for various age/gender groups. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorocarboxylate perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) were the only detected PFCs in foodstuffs. On average, for a standard adult man (70 kg of body weight), the dietary intake of PFOS was estimated to be 62.5 or 74.2 ng/day (assuming ND=0 or ND=1/2 LOD, respectively). Fish, followed by dairy products and meats, were the main contributors to PFOS intake. For an adult man, the intake of PFOS (1.07 ng/kg/day) and those of PFOA and PFHpA were lower than that recently reported for Canada (4.0 ng/kg/day), and considerably lower than that previously found in the United Kingdom, the only two countries where, to date, results concerning this issue have been reported. A correlation between dietary intake and blood levels of PFOS is suggested. However, the current results do not justify dietary intake as the main route of exposure governing blood concentrations of other PFCs.     

Levels of perfluorinated compounds in food and dietary intake of PFOS and PFOA in the Netherlands

This study presents concentrations of perfluorinated compounds in food and the dietary intake of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) in The Netherlands. The concentrations of perfluorinated compounds in food were analyzed in pooled samples of foodstuffs randomly purchased in several Dutch retail store chains with nation-wide coverage. The concentrations analyzed for PFOS and PFOA were used to assess the exposure to these compounds in The Netherlands. As concentrations in drinking water in The Netherlands were missing for these compounds, conservative default concentrations of 7 pg/g for PFOS and 9 pg/g for PFOA, as reported by European Food Safety Authority, were used in the exposure assessment. In food, 6 out of 14 analyzed perfluorinated compounds could be quantified in the majority of the food categories (perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), PFOA, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (PFHxS), and PFOS). The highest concentration of the sum of these six compounds was found in crustaceans (825 pg/g product, PFOS: 582 pg/g product) and in lean fish (481 pg/g product, PFOS: 308 pg/g product). Lower concentrations were found in beef, fatty fish, flour, butter, eggs, and cheese (concentrations between 20 and 100 pg/g product; PFOS, 29-82 pg/g product) and milk, pork, bakery products, chicken, vegetable, and industrial oils (concentration lower than 10 pg/g product; PFOS not detected). The median long-term intake for PFOS was 0.3 ng/kg bw/day and for PFOA 0.2 ng/kg bw/day. The corresponding high level intakes (99th percentile) were 0.6 and 0.5 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. These intakes were well below the tolerable daily intake values of both compounds (PFOS, 150 ng/kg bw/day; PFOA, 1500 ng/kg bw/day). The intake calculations quantified the contribution of drinking water to the PFOS and PFOA intake in The Netherlands. Important contributors of PFOA intake were vegetables/fruit and flour. Milk, beef, and lean fish were important contributors of PFOS intake.     

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Water Environment of Singapore

Recently, there has been increasing concern about perfluorinated compounds, especially perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) due to their biotic and abiotic persistence and chronic toxicity. To characterize the spatial distribution and seasonal variation of PFOS and PFOA in the aquatic and oceanic environment of Singapore, more than 100 water samples from reservoirs, rivers/canals, coastal waters, and treated effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were collected and analyzed in this study. Solid-phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with tandem MS (HPLC/MS/MS) was applied to quantitatively identify PFOS and PFOA. PFOS concentrations in surface waters, wastewaters and coastal waters were in the range of 2.2?C87.3 ng/L, 5.8?C532 ng/L, and 1.9?C8.9 ng/L, respectively, while those of PFOA were 5.7?C91.5 ng/L, 7.9?C1,060 ng/L, 2.4?C17.8 ng/L, respectively. Compared with surface waters and wastewaters, coastal waters had lower concentrations of PFOS and PFOA. Highest concentration of PFOA (532 ng/L) and PFOA (1,060 ng/L) were observed in treated effluents of two WWTPs. Our results suggest that coastal waters in the western area of Singapore are more heavily contaminated than those in the middle and eastern areas. The release of effluents from WWTPs is an important pathway by which perfluorinated compounds enter the oceanic environment. Between dry season and wet season, significant seasonal differences (p?=?0.025) were observed in surface waters for PFOS only, while no discernable seasonal differences were found for both PFOS and PFOA in coastal waters and wastewaters.     

Perfluorinated compounds in human blood, water, edible freshwater fish, and seafood in China: daily intake and regional differences in human exposures

Despite the growing public interest in perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), very few studies have reported the sources and pathways of human exposure to these compounds in China. In this study, concentrations of 10 PFCs were measured in human blood, water (tap water and surface water), freshwater fish, and seafood samples collected from China. On the basis of the data, we calculated daily intakes of PFCs, regional differences in human exposures, and potential risks associated with ingestion of PFCs from diet, drinking water, and indoor dust for the Chinese population. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the most predominant PFC found with a mean concentration of 12.5 ng/mL in human blood from Tianjin and 0.92 ng/g wet wt in freshwater fish and seafood; perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the major PFC found in drinking water at a concentration range of 0.10 to 0.92 ng/L. The estimated daily intake of PFOS and PFOA via fish and seafood consumption (EDI(fish&seafood)) ranged from 0.10 to 2.51 and 0.13 to 0.38 ng/kg bw/day, respectively, for different age groups (i.e., toddlers, adolescents and children, and adults) from selected locations (i.e., Tianjin, Nanchang, Wuhan, and Shenyang). The EDI(fish&seafood) of PFCs decreased (p < 0.05) with age. The estimated daily intake of PFOS and PFOA via drinking water consumption (EDI(drinking water)) ranged from 0.006 to 0.014 and 0.010 to 0.159 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. Comparison of EDI(fish&seafood) and EDI(drinking water) values with those of the modeled total dietary intake (TDI) of PFCs by adults from Tianjin, Nanchang, Wuhan, and Shenyang showed that contributions of fish and seafood to TDI of PFOS varied depending on the location. Fish and seafood accounted for 7%, 24%, 80%, and 84% of PFOS intake in Nanchang, Shenyang, Wuhan, and Tianjin, respectively, suggesting regional differences in human exposure to PFOS. Drinking water was a minor source of PFOS (<1%) exposure in adults from all the study locations.     

Antidiabetic II drug metformin in plants: uptake and translocation to edible parts of cereals, oily seeds, beans, tomato, squash, carrots, and potatoes

Residues of pharmaceuticals present in wastewater and sewage sludge are of concern due to their transfer to aquatic and terrestrial food chains and possible adverse effects on nontargeted organisms. In the present work, uptake and translocation of metformin, an antidiabetic II medicine, by edible plant species cultivated in agricultural soil have been investigated in greenhouse experiment. Metformin demonstrated a high uptake and translocation to oily seeds of rape ( Brassica napus cv. Sheik and Brassica rapa cv. Valo); expressed as an average bioconcentration factor (BCF, plant concentration over initial concentration in soil, both in dry weight), BCF values as high as 21.72 were measured. In comparison, BCFs for grains of the cereals wheat, barley, and oat were in the range of 0.29-1.35. Uptake and translocation to fruits and vegetables of tomato (BCFs 0.02-0.06), squash (BCFs 0.12-0.18), and bean (BCF 0.88) were also low compared to rape. BCFs for carrot, potato, and leaf forage B. napus cv. Sola were similar (BCF 1-4). Guanylurea, a known degradation product of metformin by microorganisms in activated sludge, was found in barley grains, bean pods, potato peel, and small potatoes. The mechanisms for transport of metformin and guanidine in plants are still unknown, whereas organic cation transporters (OCTs) in mammals are known to actively transport such compounds and may guide the way for further understanding of mechanisms also in plants.     

Selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the rhizosphere of sewage sludge-treated soil: implications for the biodegradability of POPs

The impact of regular application of sewage sludge or farmyard manure on the organic contaminant loads in soil was assessed in a model rhizobox experiment. Two soils originating from a long-term field crop rotation and fertilizer experiment running since 1996 were used. The total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) contents were determined in the rhizosphere and bulk soil. The results showed low but still detectable contents of PCBs and OCPs in the soil, substances which were banned a few decades ago. Among the OCPs, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites reaching up to 18.2 µg kg^?1 of the soil even exceeded the preventive levels for these compounds in agricultural soils, i.e. 7.5 µg kg^?1 of soil. For PBDEs, PFOA, and PFOS, their contents in the soil significantly increased with sewage sludge application. The enhancement of the potential biodegradability of the POPs in the rhizosphere was confirmed only for hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), where, the level of γ-HCH increased significantly in the rhizosphere soil compared to bulk soil. Thus, natural attenuation of POPs in the soil-plant system seems to be insufficient for most of the investigated compounds.     

Human exposure to perfluorinated compounds in Catalonia, Spain: contribution of drinking water and fish and shellfish

In this study, the concentrations of 15 perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were analyzed in 30 water samples collected in Catalonia (Spain) at three stages of the drinking water treatment process in several water purification plants. In addition, the concentrations of 13 PFCs were determined in samples of fish and shellfish collected from coastal areas of Catalonia. The intake of PFCs through both pathways, drinking water intake and fish and shellfish consumption, was also estimated. In water samples, the highest mean concentrations corresponded to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) (1.81 and 2.40 ng/L, respectively), whereas perfluorodecanosulfonate (PFDS) and perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTDA) were under their respective limits of detection in all analyzed samples. The results show that although the current treatment processes caused slight reductions in PFC concentrations, these processes did not mean significant changes in the amounts of PFCs already contained in the raw water. Among the analyzed PFCs in fish and shellfish, only seven compounds could be detected in at least one composite sample. PFOS showed the highest mean concentration (2.70 ng/g fw), being detected in all species with the exception of mussels. With regard to PFOA (mean, 0.074 ng/g fw), the highest concentrations were detected in prawn and hake (0.098 and 0.091 ng/g fw, respectively). The current exposure to PFCs through consumption of fish and shellfish indicates that it should not be of concern for the consumers. The amounts ingested are well below the recommended tolerable daily intakes, at least for those PFCs for which information is available.     

Ability of different plant species to promote microbiological processes in semiarid soil

In semiarid climate soils, the establishment of a plant cover is fundamental to avoid degradation and desertification processes. A better understanding of the ability of plants to promote soil microbial processes in these conditions is necessary for successful soil reclamation. Six different plant species were planted in a semiarid soil, in order to know which species are the most effective for the reclamation of semiarid areas. Six years after planting, the rhizosphere soils were studied by measuring chemical (pH, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon and other carbon fractions), physical (% of saggregates), microbiological (microbial biomass carbon and soil respiration), and biochemical (dehydrogenase, phosphatase, β-glucosidase and urease activities) parameters. In general, in all the soil–plant systems plant nutrients, organic matter and microbial activity increased compared to the control soil. For some species, such as Rhamnus lycioides, the increase in the total organic carbon content (TOC) in the rhizosphere zone was almost 200%. A positive correlation was found between TOC and water-soluble carbon (p<0.001); both parameters were negatively correlated with electrical conductivity. Microbial biomass carbon and soil respiration were highest in the rhizosphere of Stipa tenacissima (98% and 60%, respectively, of increase on soil control values) and Rosmarinus officinalis (94% and 51%, respectively, of increase on soil control values). These microbiological parameters were correlated with the percentage of stable aggregates (p<0.01). Enzyme activities were affected by the rhizosphere, their values depending on the shrub species.     

Exudation of organic anions by roots of cabbage,carrot, and potato as influenced by environmental factors and plant age

A previous study demonstrated that cabbage was P efficient compared to carrot and potato. However, calculating plant P uptake by a mechanistic simulation model based on P transport by diffusion and mass flow, P uptake of roots according to the Michaelis‐Menten kinetics, and morphological root characteristics including root hairs, revealed that these parameters could explain only 2/5 of the total P uptake of cabbage, but 4/5 of that of carrot and potato (Dechassa et al., 2003). Therefore, it was hypothesized that a higher root exudation of organic anions may enhance P mobilization and hence P uptake of cabbage. The objective of this research was to determine root exudation of organic anions by the three species, and to investigate the influence of plant age and dark/light period on organic‐anion exudation by cabbage. Experiments were conducted in a growth chamber in nutrient solution with or without P. Organic anions were determined in root exudates and in root tissue. With cabbage and potato, P deficiency induced exudation of citrate and succinate, respectively. Citrate‐exudation rate of P‐deficient cabbage plants was correlated with accumulation of citrate in root tissue. In contrast, high succinate‐exudation rates in potato were not correlated with an increased concentration in root tissue. For carrot, no change was observed in the exudation of any of the organic anions in response to P deficiency. The results also showed that succinate‐ and citrate‐exudation rates of cabbage roots increased with increased plant age. There was also a significant increase in exudation rates of organic anions of cabbage roots during the light period of the day. It was concluded that cabbage had the ability to exude large amounts of citrate in response to P deficiency by which it can additionally enhance its P‐uptake efficiency, whereas carrot and potato showed little evidence of possessing such a mechanism.     

兰州土壤-蔬菜系统铅污染特征及全钾速效钾与pH对其富集特性影响

通过野外调查取样与实验测定相结合的方法,对兰州市农业生态系统土壤-蔬菜体系49个样点进行研究,分析探讨了研究区蔬菜与土壤的铅污染水平以及蔬菜铅富集效应特性。结果表明：①蔬菜种植地土壤铅平均含量为26.30 mg.kg-1,合格率为93.62%,在不同县区存在显著差异,其大小顺序为红古区〉榆中县〉永登县;②蔬菜铅平均含量为0.59 mg.kg-1,合格率为60.78%,在不同县区存在显著差异,其大小顺序为永登县〉榆中县〉红古区;③蔬菜铅富集系数为（1.69±2.99）%,永登县蔬菜的铅富集能力显著高于榆中县和红古区,不同种类蔬菜铅富集能力在不同县区具有差异性;④土壤全钾除与白菜和甘蓝有正相关性以外,与其他蔬菜均为负相关性,其中与白菜、番茄、土豆显著相关,与胡萝卜为极显著相关;⑤土壤速效钾与各种蔬菜的铅富集能力均为正相关性,其中与胡萝卜、甜菜、甘蓝为显著正相关,与番茄、土豆、菜花为极显著正相关;⑥土壤pH值与胡萝卜、甜菜铅富集系数呈显著负相关,与菜花呈极显著负相关。研究表明,兰州市不同蔬菜产区的各类蔬菜对土壤铅的富集具有明显的差异性,同时不同形态的钾元素及土壤pH值对蔬菜铅富集能力具有显著的影响。     

Soil and plant calibration for cucumbers grown in the mid‐Atlantic coastal plain

Abstract

Few soil test and plant tissue calibration data exist for cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.). Two years of a singly‐replicated cucumber fertility study were conducted to develop soil and plant data for calibration purposes employing the Boundary Line Approach. Fertility treatments consisting of 4 K levels (as KC1), 3 Mg levels (as MgCl₂), 3 pH levels (as Calcitic limestone), and 4 N rates (as urea ammonium nitrate) were factorilly arranged and completely randomized to give 108 treatments in both 1987 and 1988. Analyses were performed upon leaf samples for N, P, K, Ca and Mg at early bloom and soil samples for Mehlich (M) 1‐ and 3‐ P, K, Ca and Mg, and pH. Cucumber yields were determined on early (two fruit pickings) and total (four fruit pickings) sampling periods. High‐yielding cucumbers were attained at soil K (Ml = 64 mg/kg) and Mg (Ml = 29 mg/kg) levels lower than currently recommended. No significant differences in correlation coefficients between either Mehlich (Ml, M3) extractant and cucumber leaf P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations were found. Co‐efficients of determination (R²) values for the relationships (in 1987, 1988) between Ml‐ and M3‐extractable P (0.53, 0.40), K (0.77, 0.64), Ca (0.81, 0.71) and Mg (0.89, 0.74) were all highly significant (P ≤ 0.01). No significant differences were noted between early and total high‐yielding cucumber leaf concentrations and ratios developed for use as preliminary sufficiency ranges and DRIS norms, respectively. A reevaluation of cucumber coastal plain soil test calibrations, especially with regard to K, appears necessary. This study provides further support for the conversion of Ml to M3 soil extraction methodology.     

降雨侵蚀因子和植被类型及覆盖度对坡耕地土壤侵蚀的影响

为探讨降雨和植被对辽西褐土区农耕坡地土壤侵蚀的影响,2006-2010年采用坡面径流小区观测法研究了天然降雨条件下降雨侵蚀因子、植被覆盖度、植被类型对坡耕地地表径流量、土壤侵蚀量的影响。设5°和10°两个坡度水平,以甘薯和谷子为供试作物,2006-2007年对照区为天然荒草地,2008-2010年为裸坡地。结果表明,甘薯地径流量和侵蚀量与降雨量(R)、最大30 min雨强(I_(30))、R×I(平均雨强)、R×I_(30)正相关显著(P0.05);裸坡地径流量与R、R×I_(30)正相关显著(P0.05),侵蚀量与I_(30)、R×I_(30)正相关显著(P0.05),与降雨量相关不显著(P0.05)。甘薯地和裸坡地的径流量和侵蚀量与平均降雨强度正相关均不显著(P0.05)。回归分析表明,降雨量主要影响径流量,最大30 min雨强主要影响侵蚀量。中、高雨强下,侵蚀量与径流量显著正相关(P0.01)。甘薯地径流量和侵蚀量与植被覆盖度呈显著负指数关系(P0.05)。5°坡耕地,不同植被类型侵蚀量为甘薯地荒草地谷子地;10°坡耕地,荒草地侵蚀量总体最少。多元回归分析表明,对土壤侵蚀的影响为地表径流降雨侵蚀力(R×I_(30))植被覆盖度。通过连续5 a坡面径流小区观测,初步探明降雨和植被对辽西褐土区农耕坡地土壤侵蚀的影响,可为该区坡耕地土壤侵蚀的有效防治提供一定的理论依据和技术支撑。     

Soil aluminium extraction methods in relation to plant aluminium and yield on Austrian and Brazilian soils

Abstract

A pot experiment with soils from Austria (Mollisol and Alfisol) and Brazil (two Oxisols), quite different in pH values and organic carbon contents, was carried out. Several soil tests for aluminum (Al) were evaluated and compared for their ability in predicting plant growth reductions and plant Al concentrations. Concerning the efficacy of the extradants in solubilizing soil Al, the amount of Al extracted decreased in the following order: 0.03M LaCl₃> 1M KCl > 1M NH₄Cl > 0.01 M CaCl₂. Only AlCaCl₂ and Al saturation correlated significantly with shoot yield of Poa pratensis (r = 0.76*** for CaCl₂; r = 0.84 *** for Al saturation) and Phaseolus vulgaris (r = 0.65** for CaCl₂; r = 0.83** for Al saturation). The results indicated that soil organic matter and the nutrient status of the soil had an important effect as diminishing Al uptake and improving growth of both Poa pratensis and Phaseolus vulgaris. Interactions between Al and magnesium (Mg) were also observed.     

Effects of plant residues and calcite amendments on soil sodicity

The effects of wheat, potato, sunflower, and rape residues and calcite were evaluated in soil that received sodic water. These materials were added to a sandy‐loam soil at a rate of 5%, after which the treated soils were incubated for 1 month at field‐capacity moisture and a temperature of 25°C–30°C. Column leaching experiments using treated soils were then conducted under saturated conditions using water with three sodium‐adsorption ratios (SAR) (0, 10, 40) with a constant ionic strength (50 mmol L^–1). The results indicated that the application of plant residues to soils caused an increase in cation‐exchange capacity and exchangeable cations. Leaching experiments indicated that the addition of plant amendments led to increased Na⁺ leaching and decrease in exchangeable‐sodium percentage (ESP). The ESP of the control soil, after leaching with solutions with an SAR of 10 and 40, increased significantly, but the level of sodification in soils treated with plant residue was lower. Such decreases of soil ESP were greatly affected by the type of plant residues, with the order of: potato‐treated soil > sunflower‐treated soil > rape‐treated soil > wheat‐treated soil > calcite‐treated soil > control soil.     

Transfer of Metals in Soil-Grass Ecosystems under Long-Term N,P, K Fertilization in Hesse,Germany

Soil and plant samples (Lolio-Cynosuretum) were taken from four different locations in Hesse, Germany. Different doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers were applied to verify metal input due to fertilization. Metal concentrations in plants increased due to mineral fertilization. Detected plant cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in non-fertilized plots were 0.04, 4.13, 106.5, 0.57, and 23.0 mg kg^?1 and in long-term NPK-amended plots they were 0.31, 15.3, 524.9, 3.49, and 60.0 mg kg^?1, respectively. Transfer factor (TF) was observed to decrease in the order of Cd>Cu>Zn>Mn>Pb. The results of regression analysis showed that organic carbon (C_org) content, effective-cation exchange capacity (CEC_eff), and bioavailable metal content are the most important predictors for plant metal uptake. This study confirmed that plant metal uptake was not only highly affected by the soil metal content but also influenced by soil properties.     

Soil versus plant as indicators of agroecosystem pollution by potentially toxic elements

The major route of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) to humans is the intake through food. They enter the food chain principally by plants uptake from the soil and, to a less extent, through foliar deposition. The soil‐to‐plant transfer as part of the biogeochemical cycle of these elements is a complex and hardly predictable process. In this study, we investigated the capability of soils and plants to indicate PTEs inputs in an intermingled urban‐rural landscape of south Italy affected by legal and illegal waste disposal and dumping. For this aim, 172 agricultural soil and plant (edible part) samples were collected in pairs from 47 municipalities and analyzed for 12 PTEs (As, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl, V, Zn). Soil extractions with 1 M NH₄NO₃ and 0.05 M EDTA pH 7 were applied to assess PTEs bioavailability. Results were examined according to plant species and main soil chemical properties. For Pb and Cd, the soil‐to‐plant transfer factors (TF) and the corresponding soil benchmark concentrations were also investigated. Zinc, Cu, Cd, and Pb were the only PTEs of anthropic origin severely polluting from 10 to 16% of the soils, but only in a very few cases exceeded physiological or EU legal critical values in the edible part of the plants. An evaluation of human risk due to the ingestion of these elements was tried; no risk for consumers for Zn, Cu, and Pb, while for Cd three values slightly exceeded the tolerable daily intake. Therefore, we conclude that crops cultivated in the studied area could represent only a moderate risk for human health. No correlation was found between soil and plant data, which likely highlights different pollution inputs. A large variability characterized the Pb and Cd TF, making it difficult to establish a unique benchmark concentration for the studied agricultural soils.     

Structural characterization of Peruvian carrot (Arracacia xanthorrhiza) starch and the effect of annealing on its semicrystalline structure

Structural characteristics of native and annealed Peruvian carrot (Arracacia xanthorrhiza) starches were determined and compared to those of cassava and potato starches. Peruvian carrot starch presented round and irregular shaped granules, low amylose content and B-type X-ray pattern. Amylopectin of this starch contained a large proportion of long (DP > 37) and short (DP 6-12) branched chains. These last ones may contribute to its low gelatinization temperature. After annealing, the gelatinization temperatures of all starches increased, but the ΔH and the crystallinity increased only in Peruvian carrot and potato starches. The annealing process promoted a higher exposure of Peruvian carrot amylose molecules, which were more quickly attacked by enzymes, whereas amylopectin molecules became more resistant to hydrolysis. Peruvian carrot starch had structural characteristics that differed from those of cassava and potato starches. Annealing affected the semicrystalline structure of this starch, enhancing its crystallinity, mainly due to a better interaction between amylopectin chains.     

陕北典型农地表层土壤物理性质季节变化

土壤物理性质是影响土壤水文、侵蚀过程的重要因素。为此系统研究了陕北安塞4种典型农地（玉米、谷子、大豆和土豆）的土壤含水量、容重、水稳性团聚体和粘结力的季节变化特征。结果表明:4种农地表层土壤物理性质随季节变化的趋势大致相同,土壤含水量随降雨量的变化呈现出明显的峰谷。土壤容重和土壤粘结力在农作物生长阶段大体呈上升趋势,翻耕和收获后显著下降。水稳性团聚体则呈现单调递增趋势。在0.05显著性水平下的配对样本T检验显示:土壤含水量除玉米地和谷子地外（P=0.04）,其他农地土壤含水量之间无显著差异（0.29≤P≤0.99）;土壤容重除谷子地和大豆地外（P=0.03）,其他农地之间无显著差异（0.07≤P≤0.86）;土豆地与其他农地的水稳性团聚体之间有显著性差异（0.01≤P≤0.03）;各农地土壤粘结力之间无显著性差异（0.16≤P≤0.53）。土壤含水量的变化趋势与降雨的变化趋势基本一致,农事活动所引起的土壤扰动是土壤容重和粘结力变化的主要原因。研究结果对于分析农地水文、侵蚀过程的季节变化特征具有重要的意义。     

Dietary exposure of Canadians to perfluorinated carboxylates and perfluorooctane sulfonate via consumption of meat, fish, fast foods, and food items prepared in their packaging

Human exposure to perfluorinated compounds is a worldwide phenomenon; however, routes of human exposure to these compounds have not been well-characterized. Fifty-four solid food composite samples collected as part of the Canadian Total Diet Study (TDS) were analyzed for perfluorocarboxylates and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) using a methanol extraction liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. Foods analyzed included fish and seafood, meat, poultry, frozen entrées, fast food, and microwave popcorn collected from 1992 to 2004 and prepared as for consumption. Nine composites contained detectable levels of perfluorinated compounds-four meat-containing, three fish and shellfish, one fast food, and one microwave popcorn. PFOS and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) were detected the most frequently; concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 4.5 ng/g. The average dietary intake of total perfluorocarboxylates and PFOS for Canadians was estimated to be 250 ng/day, using results from the 2004 TDS composites. A comparison with intakes of perfluorocarboxylates and PFOS via other routes (air, water, dust, treated carpeting, and apparel) suggested that diet is an important source of these compounds. There was a substantial margin of exposure between the toxicological points of reference and the magnitude of dietary intake of perfluorinated compounds for Canadians >/= 12 years old.