Guilin Zhang

Characteristics of trace elements and lead isotope ratios in PM2.5 from four sites in Shanghai

PM(2.5) samples were collected in Shanghai at four sites with different typical land-uses. The sampling was done concurrently once per month from April 2004 to April 2005, and the ambient mass concentration, the elemental composition and the stable lead isotope ratios in these PM(2.5) samples were determined. The annual average concentrations of PM(2.5) samples at each site were 84+/-30, 65+/-20, 55+/-18, and 41+/-10 microg m(-3), respectively, indicating there were severe air pollution levels in Shanghai. The enrichment factor was calculated for each element and the comparison and discussion of elements with significant anthropogenic contributions between Shanghai and Tokyo suggested that the major source of PM(2.5) in Shanghai was not traffic-derived emissions, but the stationary industrial contribution emitted from coal use. Moreover, the analysis of stable lead isotope ratios revealed only a slight difference within the samples at the four sites which fell well within the scope of coal composition difference, further confirming that the contribution from stationary industrial emissions to atmospheric lead pollution of PM(2.5) was very substantial in Shanghai.

Total and speciated arsenic levels in rice from China

Although the need for policy development on arsenic (As) in rice has been recognized and a legally enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) for inorganic arsenic (Asi) in rice has been established in China, evidence reported in this article indicates that the risk of exposure to As for the Chinese population through rice is still underestimated. Polished rice from various production regions of China was analyzed for total As and arsenic species using HPLC–ICPMS. Total As concentration ranged 65.3–274.2 ng g−1, with an average value of 114.4 ng g−1. Four arsenic species, including arsenite (As(III)), arsenate (As(V)), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), were detected in most rice samples. The Asi (As(III) + As(V)) species was predominant, accounting for approximately 72% of the total As in rice, with a mean concentration of 82.0 ng g−1. In assessing the risk from As in rice, we found that As intake for the Chinese population through rice is higher than from drinking water, with a 37.6% contribution to the maximum tolerable daily intake (MTDI) of As recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), compared with 1.5% from drinking water. Compared to other countries, the risk for the Chinese from exposure to As through rice is more severe due to the large rice consumption in China. Therefore, not only the scientific community but also local authorities should take this risk seriously. Furthermore, more stringent legislation of the MCL for rice should be enacted to protect the Chinese consumer from a high intake of As.

Lead in Children’s Blood Is Mainly Caused by Coal-Fired Ash after Phasing out of Leaded Gasoline in Shanghai

Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic element to the human body. After phasing out of leaded gasoline we find that the blood lead level of children strongly correlates with the lead concentration in atmospheric particles, and the latter correlates with the coal consumption instead of leaded gasoline. Combined with the (207)Pb/(206)Pb ratio measurements, we find that the coal consumption fly ash is a dominate source of Pb exposure to children in Shanghai, rather than vehicle exhaust, metallurgic dust, paint dust, and drinking water. Those particles are absorbed to childrens blood via breathing and digesting their deposition on ground by hand-to-mouth activities. Probably the same situation occurs in other large cities of developing countries where the structure of energy supply is mainly based on coal-combustion.

Atmospheric lead pollution in fine particulate matter in Shanghai, China

The Pb-monitoring program was extended for 6 years from 2002 to 2007 at 17 representative urban sites (6 traffic, 5 industrial, and 6 residential sites), and 3 suburban sites to assess the lead pollution in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) after phasing out leaded gasoline in Shanghai. Compared with Pb levels reported in other places, the Pb pollution in Shanghai is still serious after phasing out leaded gasoline, which remains at high concentration range (213-176 ng/m3) in PM2.5 in winter. Significant spatial variation of Pb concentrations and strong seasonal variation of higher Pb concentration in winter than that in summer were detected. The size distribution of Pb in particulate matter has a unimodal mode that peaks at approximately 0.154-1.59 microm particle diameter, indicating that Pb is mainly concentrated in fine fraction. Lead in the fine fraction is enriched by a factor of 10(3)-10(4) relative to Pb abundance in crust. Eight categories of Pb pollution sources were identified in the PM2.5 in the winter of 2007 in Shanghai. The important emission sources among them are vehicle exhaust derived from combustion of unleaded gasoline, metallurgic industry emission, and coal combustion emission.

Size Distribution and Sources of Trace Metals in Ultrafine/Fine/Coarse Airborne Particles in the Atmosphere of Shanghai

Airborne particulate matter (PM) samples in 13 different size-fractions from 0.0283 to 9.92 μm were collected in winter of 2007 at three sites in Shanghai, China. The PM exhibited a bimodal distribution with a major mode in the fine particle size range (Dp = 0.2–1 μm) and a minor mode in the coarse range (Dp = 1–10 μm), suggesting that fine particle pollution is dominant in the Shanghai atmosphere. Trace metals in PM exhibited the following distribution patterns: (1) unimodal distribution in the fine fraction (Pb, Cd, Se, Sn, Bi, and Zn), (2) unimodal distribution in the coarse fraction (Mg, Al, Fe, Ca, Ba, Sr, Ge, Zr, U, and rare earth elements), (3) bimodal distribution, with one mode in the fine fraction and one in the coarse fraction (Cu, Mn, K, Ga, V, Rb, and Cs), and (4) multimodal distribution (Na, Ti, Cr, Co, As, Ni, Mo, Ag, W, Pt, Au, S, and Cl) throughout the entire aerosol size spectrum. In addition to these size distributions, Aitken modes due to local origins were also evident for Se, Sn, Cu, V, Ti, Cr, Co, As, Ag, Mo, and Pt, whose respective mass in the ultrafine particles (<0.1 μm) was 10, 23, 13, 19, 23, 14, 67, 32, 79, 40, and 21%, with submicron mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMADs) in PM0.02-9.92 (except Pt). In particular, the MMADs for Co and Ag were <0.1 μm, which increase potential health issues. The measured distributions are believed to result from a combination of processes including local anthropogenic and natural sources, such as traffic, coal combustion, and the steel industry.

Elemental contents in serum of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia and is closely related to trace elements. Quite a few pregnant women suffer from impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Investigation of the changes of elemental contents in serum of the pregnant women with IGT and GDM is significant in the etiological research and cure of the diseases. In the present work, the elements Cu, Zn, Ca, Sr, Mg, P, Fe, and Al in the serum of pregnant women were determined. The elemental contents in different experimental groups were compared. Also, the correlation between elemental contents and gestational period was observed. The results showed that compared with normal pregnant women, the Cu contents in serum of pregnant women with GDM increased, but Zn contents had a decreasing trend. In addition, for all pregnant women, the Ca contents in serum had an obvious inverse correlation with gestational period.

Morphological study of early-stage lung cancer using synchrotron radiation

In the present study the feasibility of applying synchrotron radiation to the morphological study of early-stage lung cancer has been investigated. Lewis lung cancer was implanted and grown in a nude mouse for different periods, and imaged using phase-contrast synchrotron X-rays. Morphological differences were clearly shown between the normal lung and cancerous tissues at this early stage. Irregular and tortuous angiogenesis were found in the periphery region of the developing lung cancer. Results from this study indicate that synchrotron X-rays can be used for imaging cancer development and progression with minimal invasion.

Investigation of elemental content distribution in femoral head slice with osteoporosis by SRXRF microprobe

A synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence microprobe analysis technique was used to scan a slice of the femoral head from its periphery to its center, via cartilage, compact, and spongy zones in order to determine the distribution and the way inorganic substances are lost in bone tissue. The sample preparation and experimental apparatus are described in detail. The quantitative computerized tomography of elemental distribution, such as Ca, P, K, Fe, Zn, Sr, and Pb in bone slice tissue, including cartilage, substantial compact, and substantial spongy, is investigated. Combined with the correlation among, P, K, Zn, Sr, and Ca, the route of loss of minerals and the physiological functions of some metal elements in bone are also discussed.

Source identification of PM10, collected at a heavy-traffic roadside, by analyzing individual particles using synchrotron radiation

Synchrotron radiation microbeam X-ray fluorescence (micro-SXRF) was used to analyze individual aerosol particles collected at a height of 2 m above a heavy-traffic roadside in a heavy-industrial area of Shanghai. A pattern recognition technique, which took micro-SXRF spectra of single aerosol particles as its fingerprint, was used to identify the origins of the particles. The particles collected from the environmental monitoring site are mainly from metallurgic industry (26%), unleaded gasoline automobile exhaust (15%), coal combustion (10%), cement dust (10%) and motorcycle exhaust (8%).

Microstructures and strengthening mechanisms of Cu/Ni/W nanolayered composites

Cu/Ni/W nanolayered composites with individual layer thickness ranging from 5u2009nm to 300u2009nm were prepared by a magnetron sputtering system. Microstructures and strength of the nanolayered composites were investigated by using the nanoindentation method combined with theoretical analysis. Microstructure characterization revealed that the Cu/Ni/W composite consists of a typical Cu/Ni coherent interface and Cu/W and Ni/W incoherent interfaces. Cu/Ni/W composites have an ultrahigh strength and a large strengthening ability compared with bi-constituent Cu–X (Xu2009=u2009Ni, W, Au, Ag, Cr, Nb, etc.) nanolayered composites. Summarizing the present results and those reported in the literature, we systematically analyze the origin of the ultrahigh strength and its length scale dependence by taking into account the constituent layer properties, layer scales and heterogeneous layer/layer interface characteristics, including lattice and modulus mismatch as well as interface structure.