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Samples were collected from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China, to study the concentrations, distributions, and compositions of 16 US-EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and suspended particulate matter (SPM). We also evaluated sources of the PAHs and their potential toxicity. Total concentrations of the PAHs (ΣPAHs) in water ranged from 17.33 to 77.12 ng L, and in SPM, the levels ranged from 595.91 to 2473.74 ng g. Total concentrations of seven carcinogenic PAHs (ΣCPAHs) ranged from 7.63 to 13.02 ng L in water and 276.55 to 1216.89 ng g in SPM. PAH levels in water samples were relatively low, and those in the lower reaches were higher than in the middle reaches. SPM samples had higher levels of PAHs, especially in the lower reaches and in Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake. Principal component analysis (PCA) with multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) was performed to quantitatively characterize the PAH sources. Two factors and their contributions were identified from water samples. Coal and wood combustion accounted for 74.1 % of the PAHs, and petroleum emissions explained 25.9 % of the PAHs. Three source factors were identified from SPM samples: these were vehicular emissions (46.3 % of PAHs), wood and coal combustion (40.4 % of PAHs), and petrogenic sources (13.3 %). Ecological risk assessment indicated that a moderate undesirable impact will be caused by PAHs, and some control measures and remedial actions should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The beneficial effect of statins on atherosclerosis and cardiovascular outcomes has been well established. The Measuring Effects on intima media Thickness: an Evaluation Of Rosuvastatin (METEOR) global study demonstrated that a 2-year orally administered treatment with rosuvastatin 40 mg daily significantly slowed the progression of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) compared to placebo. The current METEOR-China study is designed to evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin 20 mg daily versus placebo on the progression of atherosclerosis measured by CIMT in asymptomatic Chinese subjects.Methods: This is a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre parallel-group study. Asymptomatic Chinese subjects with a 10-year ischaemic cardiovascular disease (ICVD) risk < 10% will be recruited at 25 study sites. They will be treated with rosuvastatin 20 mg or placebo for 104 weeks. The primary endpoint is the annualised rate of change in CIMT measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Secondary endpoints include the annualised rate of change in CIMT at three different sections of the carotid artery and changes in the serum lipid profile. Safety parameters will also be assessed.Conclusion: The study will evaluate whether rosuvastatin 20 mg slows the progression of CIMT in asymptomatic Chinese subjects at low risk of ICVD.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02546323 . Registered on September 10, 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]