大气颗粒物致机体损伤的OH自由基机制

流行病学研究表明可吸入大气颗粒物浓度上升与人群呼吸道和心血管疾病发病率上升密切相关.毒理学实验和人体暴露研究显示可吸入大气颗粒物可导致机体广泛的损伤,但其致毒机制尚未明确.大量体内和体外研究表明了活性氧在颗粒物致毒过程中的重要作用,其中OH自由基具有极高的反应活性,是可吸入颗粒物致毒的重要机制.在总结国内外相关研究基础上,综述了OH自由基可能造成的大分子损伤、大气可吸入颗粒物暴露引发机体产生OH自由基的分子机制以及生物体系中OH自由基的检测手段,并对该领域的研究方向进行了展望.     

北京市区域城市化程度与颗粒物污染的相关性分析

城市化程度的提升带来严重的资源环境问题,尤其是空气污染问题,严重影响了人类的健康。大气中的PM2.5等颗粒物已经成为影响我国城市空气质量的主要污染物。现有研究多数是对于多年来多地区的宏观研究,缺乏对于典型地区的具体数据报道。通过分析北京市PM2.5和PM10的质量浓度与不同城市化程度地区的相关关系,探索城市化程度对PM2.5等颗粒物浓度的影响。选取北京市7处具有代表性空气质量监测点,于2013年7月至10月对PM2.5和PM10的质量浓度进行连续4个月的实时监测,结合《北京市区域统计年鉴》中的城市化指标数据,包括常住人口密度、地区生产总值和林木覆盖率,对数据进行变化趋势分析、Pearson相关分析和回归分析。研究结论表明：由于北京市不同区域城市化程度不同导致颗粒物污染状况不同,每个区域的PM2.5与PM10的质量浓度虽有差异但均显著相关,PM2.5的质量浓度约占PM10的质量浓度的60%,PM2.5是PM10的主要组成成分。城市化程度与PM2.5等颗粒物浓度有明显的关系,PM2.5等颗粒物浓度与地区生产总值和林木覆盖率显著相关,与地区生产总值呈正相关,与林木覆盖率呈负相关;与常住人口密度呈正相关趋势但并不显著相关。其中,PM2.5的质量浓度与地区生产总值的相关系数为0.875,与林木覆盖率的相关系数为-0.838;PM10的质量浓度与地区生产总值相关系数为0.947,与林木覆盖率相关系数为-0.775。总体来看,PM2.5等颗粒物浓度随城市化程度的提高而增加,北京市区域城市化程度与颗粒物污染情况关系明显。我国在快速发展城市化的同时,应关注环境与经济相协调。调整产业结构,增加植被绿化,控制污染源将有助于减少北京市大气中颗粒物的污染程度,为我国的城市化进程提供相应的支持和保障。     

大气颗粒物暴露与健康效应研究进展

大气颗粒物一直是影响我国大多数城市空气质量的首要污染物,且呈现出与欧美不同的煤烟、机动车尾气以及开放源复合型污染并存的高浓度污染态势,已有研究发现颗粒物的短期或长期暴露均会对人体产生不良的健康效应。本文从环境科学、暴露科学、环境流行病学和环境毒理学研究等方面系统综述了大气颗粒物健康效应研究的方法和进展,可为我国的大气颗粒物健康效应研究与大气颗粒物环境质量标准的修订提供方法学参考和经验借鉴。目前我国PM10污染尚未得到有效控制,细颗粒物(PM2.5)的污染也已引起关注,建议在不同区域开展空气污染健康效应的系统研究。     

北京市秋季大气颗粒物的污染特征研究

大气颗粒物是造成城市空气污染的重要原因之一,并已经成为我国北京等大中城市空气污染中的首要污染。为了分析北京市大气细颗粒物的污染水平及其影响因素,以大气中的PM10和PM2.5为研究对象,于2005年秋季在北京市设立了9个采样点进行采样监测,通过对所采集到的PM10和PM2.5质量浓度的对比来分析大气颗粒物的空间分布和时间变化特征,并建立起PM10和PM2.5质量浓度与风力、温度、湿度等气象条件的对应关系来分析各种气象因素对大气细颗粒物污染水平的影响。结果表明:北京市不同区域的PM10和PM2.5的质量浓度差异较大,同时,值得注意的是通过对同一地点同一采样时间大气颗粒物质量浓度的对比发现PM2.5质量浓度的空间分布并不完全同于PM10,这主要是与采样点所处的环境中不同污染源影响的强弱有关;气象条件稳定时,PM10和PM2.5质量浓度的日变化表现出一定的规律性,这种时间变化的特征主要取决于所在环境中排放的污染物变化情况;气象条件是影响PM10和PM2.5污染程度的重要因素,在一定的范围内,颗粒物质量浓度随着温度的上升而下降,随着相对湿度的升高而增大,随着风力的增强而减小。     

我国大气环境毒理学研究新进展

对大气环境中重要污染物的毒理学作用及其机制方面的文献进行综述。首先,总结了细颗粒物(PM2.5)和纳米颗粒物对呼吸系统和心血管系统毒理学作用及其机理方面的研究;然后,评述了二氧化硫(SO2)对基因表达的影响及内源性SO2生理作用方面的研究,提出SO2既是一种全身性毒物,又是一种新型信号分子的新观点;对大气环境致癌物,特别是有关苯并芘致癌作用分子机制的研究进行讨论;对大气中臭氧和光化学烟雾对健康影响的研究作了评述;最后,对室内空气污染物尤其是甲醛的毒性作用及其机理方面的最新研究进行了评论。     

不同天气下景观生态林内外大气颗粒物质量浓度变化特征

为了探讨景观生态林对大气颗粒物的调控作用,以北京大兴区景观生态林为例(主要树种为旱柳Salix matsudana),研究不同季节、不同天气条件下景观生态林内大气颗粒物质量浓度差异以及林内和林外质量浓度对比。于2013年7月至2014年5月,分四季选择不同天气类型,采用水平同步监测法对林内和林外两个监测点3种粒径大气颗粒物(TSP、PM10和PM2.5)质量浓度和气象因子进行每日10 h的连续监测(8:00─18:00)。结果表明,(1)晴朗天气景观生态林内ρ(TSP)、ρ(PM10)和ρ(PM2.5)均处于较低水平,分别为(61.53±21.73)~(174.32±36.01)μg·m-3、(28.91±10.34)~(94.87±20.45)μg·m-3和(6.29±3.86)~(23.91±12.29)μg·m-3;多云、扬尘、雾霾和雾霭天气颗粒物质量浓度较高,污染明显加重,雾霾天气下ρ(PM2.5)的增加效果更为明显,而扬尘天气下ρ(TSP)显著增加。(2)雾滴对于PM2.5与PM10具有一定的湿清除作用,也可以与霾粒子共同作用形成相对稳定的雾霭天气,其颗粒物污染程度高于其他天气状况,此时以粒径为2.5~10μm的颗粒物污染为主。(3)夏、秋和春季晴朗微风天气(风速≤3 m·s-1)和扬尘天气林内ρ(TSP)和ρ(PM10)显著低于林外,多云、轻微至轻度雾霾天气,林内ρ(TSP)、ρ(PM10)和ρ(PM2.5)均显著低于林外,晴朗大风(风速5 m·s-1)和雾霭天气林内ρ(TSP)和ρ(PM10)不显著高于林外,雾霭天气林内ρ(PM2.5)显著高于林外;冬季不同天气下ρ(TSP)、ρ(PM10)和ρ(PM2.5)林内和林外对比没有明显规律。(4)空气相对湿度、风速和风向是观测时段内影响颗粒物质量浓度的主要因子。ρ(PM2.5)与相对湿度呈线性正相关,而与风速呈非线性负相关,偏南风对颗粒物主要起输送和积累作用,偏北风对颗粒物起到稀释和扩散作用。相对于TSP和PM10,PM2.5更易受近地面气象条件的影响而堆积或扩散。     

大气细颗粒物与糖尿病

随着我国社会经济和城市化的快速发展,大气颗粒物是影响我国城市空气质量的首要污染物,大气细颗粒物污染已严重威胁我国居民健康。本文简要综述了PM2.5诱导的氧化应激和炎症反应在糖尿病的发生和发展中的分子作用机制。     

市政工程施工地周边颗粒污染物扩散特征

为了解市政施工对周边大气环境的影响,通过测定TSP、PM10、PM2.5、PM1等指标,研究了施工工地附近颗粒污染物随天气条件、气象要素、距施工点距离的变化规律,结果表明：（1）粒径较大的颗粒物质量浓度受气象要素的影响较明显,大风和晴天的ρ（TSP）、ρ（PM10）远高于阴雨天;随风速增大,ρ（TSP）、ρ（PM10）、ρ（PM2.5）显著升高。（2）小粒径颗粒物（PM1）受天气条件的影响不明显,湿度、风速变化对PM1影响较小。（3）距离施工工地越远,4种颗粒物质量浓度越低,其中ρ（TSP）、ρ（PM10）、ρ（PM2.5）随距离下降较快。（4）不同施工阶段颗粒物污质量浓度异较大,挖槽阶段颗粒物污染要高于结构装修阶段。     

重庆市主城区春夏季不同粒径颗粒物污染特征分析

采用多通道采样器,采集重庆市主城区PM1.0、PM2.5和PM103种粒径的颗粒物样品,结果显示采样期间PM1.0、PM2.5和PM10日浓度均值分别为0.057 mg/m3、0.075 mg/m3和0.120 mg/m3,主城区颗粒物污染较为严重。对3种粒径颗粒物样品中的碳组分、水溶性组分以及无机污染元素组分进行分析...     

城市森林大气PM2.5中水溶性无机离子的观测

PM2.5中水溶性无机组分的浓度及时空分布等已开展了大量的研究.这些研究主要集中在污染较重的地区或者敏感区,比如居民区或者道路边等.而关于我国城市森林生态系统对大气PM2.5及其组分的影响还未开展系统的研究.研究PM2.5中的水溶性离子组分在城市森林系统中的时空分布特征将有助于了解生态系统与大气颗粒物之间的相互影响,对大气污染治理及城市绿化都具有参考意义.因此,本研究对北京市的4个采样点PM2.5中水溶性无机离子组分进行了观测.     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.