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Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) have attracted increasing attention due to their potential risks to the ecosystem and human health. However, there is still a lack of systematic research on their environmental fate in the coastal marine environment. In this study, we collected paired seawater (n = 40) and surface sediment samples (n = 40) from East China Sea, and investigated their spatial distribution, partitioning behaviors and ecological risks. The total SCCP concentrations (∑SCCPs) in seawater and sediment samples were in the range of 12.2–430 ng/L and 89.6–351 ng/g (dry weight), respectively. C10–11 SCCPs and Cl5–7 SCCPs were the predominant homologues in all of the samples. This study first calculated the field-based logKOC values for ∑SCCPs in the marine environment, which ranged from 5.0 to 6.5 (mean 5.5). The logKOC values of SCCP homologues (range 3.6–8.0, mean 5.6) showed a weak correlation with their logKOW (R = 0.214, p

Bisphenol S (BPS), a primary bisphenol A (BPA) substitute, has shown a comparable estrogenic activity to BPA. To comprehensively evaluate the toxic effect of human BPS exposure, it is necessary to understand the occurrence of free BPS and its conjugated metabolites in human internal tissues, but which remains unclear. In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were orally and continuously dosed at 500 μg/kg/day to mimic the actual human BPS exposure scenario, and then free BPS and its conjugated metabolites were analyzed in rat internal tissues, blood, and excreta. Results showed that concentrations of free BPS and its metabolites in most rat tissues, excreta, and blood reached the steady state after 9 days of continuous BPS dosage. In rat urine, 81-84% of BPS was present in the conjugated form, with BPS glucuronide (BPS-G) and BPS sulfate (BPS-S) accounting for mean 83% and 16% of total conjugated BPS, respectively. In rat blood, mean 55% of total BPS was present in the conjugated form, with BPS-G (2.4-2.8 ng/mL) being more abundant than BPS-S (0.19-0.25 ng/mL). Among rat tissues, the mean proportion of free BPS was relatively higher in spleen (76%) and stomach (75%), while lower in intestine (14%) and kidney (36%). BPS-G was more abundant than BPS-S in most rat tissues, such as intestine (mean 93% versus 6.5%) and muscle (78% versus 19%). While, the mean proportion of BPS-S (48%) was higher than BPS-G (33%) in rat liver. These data suggest that analyzing human blood and urine may not accurately reflect the contamination of BPS metabolites in human internal tissues. This study contributes to the better understanding of the metabolic fate of BPS in humans.

Bisphenol analogues (BPs), triclocarban (TCC), and triclosan (TCS) are well-known environmental endocrine disrupters. Many studies have characterized their occurrence in the freshwater environment. However, their environmental behaviors in the coastal marine environment remain poorly understood. Here, matched seawater and sediment samples were collected from East China Sea, and analyzed for 13 BPs (including halogenated derivatives of bisphenol A), TCC, and TCS. Bisphenol A (BPA; mean 23 ng/L) was the predominant BP in seawaters, followed by tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA; 2.3 ng/L) and bisphenol S (BPS; 2.2 ng/L). Seawater concentrations of TCS (LOD-8.7 ng/L) were much higher (p 0.01) than that of TCC (LOD-0.33 ng/L). In sediments BPA was still the major BP (mean 13 ng/g dw, dry weight), followed by bisphenol F (1.6 ng/g dw) and BPS (0.69 ng/g dw). All sediment samples contained measurable TCC (0.12-6.6 ng/g dw), while TCS was occasionally detected. For the first time, this study reports the environmental occurrence of bisphenol M and 4,4'-sulfonylbis (2-aminophenol) (a first discovered BPS analogue) in seawaters and sediments. Spatially, inshore seawater and sediment samples contained higher (p 0.01) BPA and BPS concentrations, compared with offshore samples. The mean log-transformed sediment-seawater partitioning coefficients (log K

Investigations on environmental behaviors of SVOCs have recently received great attention. However, the SVOC occurrence and influence of pipe materials on SVOC levels in the tap water have received little attention. Herein, we collected tap water samples from 25 households constructed at different ages in Hangzhou, China. Concentrations of 61 SVOCs, including phthalate esters (PAEs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were simultaneously determined in these collected samples. The potential human exposure risks were evaluated via the hazard index calculation. Our results showed that the total concentration of detected SVOCs (∑SVOCs) ranged from 110 to 289 μg/L (mean, 179 μg/L), and the SVOCs were dominated by PAHs (mean, 116 ng/L) and PAEs (mean, 55 ng/L) in Hangzhou tap water. 12 PCB congeners were detected in Hangzhou tap water samples, with hepta-CBs (68% of samples) as the most frequently detected PCBs. Nearly all tap water samples contained measurable o, p'-DDE, p, p'-DDT, and p, p'-DDD, and ∑DDTs had significantly (p 0.05) higher concentrations than ∑HCHs. All target PAHs had high detection frequencies (72%) in tap water samples, with their mean concentrations in the range of 2.1-41 ng/L. Tap water from steel pipes had relatively lower SVOC concentrations than that from either reinforced concrete, gray cast iron, or ductile iron pipes. Although no carcinogenic risks originating from exposure to SVOCs through ingestion and bathing were observed, the tap water from steel pipes showed relatively low exposure risks than that from other materials. Data provided here, for the first, are helpful in understanding the influence of pipe materials on human SVOC exposure risks through tap water intake.

Polyfluoroalkyl phosphates esters (PAPs) are widely used in a variety of commercial products, and have been detected in many aquatic organisms. In this study, common carps (Cyprinus carpio) were administered with 6:2 and 8:2 diPAP in water to investigate their bio-accumulation and transformation in fish. Several degradation products, including fluorotelomer unsaturated carboxylic acids (6:2 and 8:2 FTUCA), 5:3 and 7:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (5:3 and 7:3 FTCA), perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) were identified in the carp liver. In addition, several phase-II metabolites, such as glutathione- and glucuronide-conjugated compounds were detected in the carp bile. 8:2 diPAP displayed lower accumulation potential than 6:2 diPAP probably due to its relatively large molecular size. However, 8:2 diPAP experienced more extensive transformation (transformation rate 6.78–14.6 mol%) and produced more phase I metabolites than 6:2 diPAP (0.49–0.66 mol%). The in vitro incubation with the liver S9 fraction confirmed that biotransformation of 6:2 and 8:2 diPAP took place in the carp liver. Further analyses of enzyme activities indicated that acid phosphatase (ACP) could be involved in mediating phase I while glutathione S-transferase (GST) involved in phase II metabolism of 6:2 and 8:2 diPAP in carp.

The widespread use of quinolones in humans and animals has become a major threat to public health. In this study, a simple, rapid, sensitive, and high throughput method based on automatic solid-phase extraction and isotope dilution ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was described for the determination of trace quinolones in environmental water. The proposed automated solid-phase extraction method was initially optimized, and the optimum experimental conditions found were 1 L water sample with 0.5 g/L Na

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are widely present in human blood, and have many toxic effects on humans. However, effects of PFAA exposure on the risk of rheumatic immune diseases are limited. In the present study, occurrence of 7 PFAAs, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnA), perfluorododecanoate (PFDoA), and perfluorotrdecanoate (PFTrA), were measured in serum samples from 156 healthy people (controls) and 156 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases living in Hangzhou, China. We also investigated the relationships among cumulative PFAA levels in serum, some immune markers, and the incidence of RA. The results showed that PFOA (6.1 and 11.8 ng/mL) had the highest mean serum concentrations, followed by PFOS (3.2 and 3.4 ng/mL) and PFDA (0.86 and 2.6 ng/mL), in both controls and RA cases. Cumulative exposure to PFOA in the study population were positively correlated with the levels of rheumatoid factors (r

Microplastics (MPs) are present in global indoor dust, which is an important source of MPs for humans. However, few researchers have investigated differences in the abundance and characteristics of MPs in dust in different indoor environments. In this study, we found that residential apartments (mean: 1174 MPs/g; n = 47) had the highest abundance of MPs in indoor dust samples, followed by offices (896 MPs/g; n = 50), business hotels (843 MPs/g; n = 53), university dormitories (775 MPs/g; n = 48), and university classrooms (209 MPs/g; n = 44). The predominant shape of MPs was fiber in most indoor dust samples. The main size fraction of the MPs in the indoor dust samples from university classrooms and business hotels was 201-500 μm, and it was 501-1000 μm in those from offices, university dormitories, and residential apartments. The main MP polymer in indoor dust samples from business hotels, university dormitories, and residential apartments was polyester, whereas those from offices and university classrooms were mainly polyethylene and polypropylene. We calculated the estimated daily intake (EDI) of MPs through the inhalation of indoor dust, and found that infants (7.4 MPs/kg bw/day) had a higher mean EDI of MPs than toddlers (1.4 MPs/kg bw/day), children (0.49 MPs/kg bw/day), adults (0.23 MPs/kg bw/day), and university students (0.22 MPs/kg bw/day). To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to report differences in MP occurrence in dust samples from different indoor environments, and our findings provide a more accurate understanding of exposure risks of MPs to humans.

Polyhalogenated carbazoles, a class of emerging contaminants with persistence and dioxin-like toxicity, have received increasing attention in recent years. In this study, a simple, rapid, sensitive, and high throughput method based on solid-phase disk extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was described for the determination of polyhalogenated carbazoles in low nanogram-per-liter range in water samples. The proposed solid-phase disk extraction method was initially optimized, and the optimum experimental conditions found were 1 L water sample (pH 6-9) extracted and enriched by Empore 3-stn octadecyl disk at flow rate of 5 to 50 mL/min and eluted by 5 mL of acetone and 3 × 10 mL methylene dichloride. The linearity of the method ranged from 0.2 to 50 ng/L for carbazole and 11 polyhalogenated carbazoles, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9951 to 0.9996. The limits of detection were in the low nanogram per liter level, ranging from 0.018 to 0.12 ng/L. Finally, the optimized method was applied for determining trace levels of carbazole and 11 polyhalogenated carbazoles in tap water and seawater samples with good recovery of 86.6-112.8%. Carbazole and 3-7 polyhalogenated carbazoles were detected, and 3,6-dichlorocarbazole was the predominant congener both in tap water and seawater.

As new persistent organic pollutants, short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) have recently received particular attention. However, knowledge on their bioaccumulation and trophic magnification in marine organisms from East China Sea (ECS) is still scare. In this study, we investigated the concentrations of SCCPs in seawater (n = 15) and marine organisms (n = 88) collected from ECS. The total concentrations of SCCPs (∑SCCPs) ranged from 12.5 to 242 ng/L in seawater and from 12.8 to 1819 ng/g wet weight (ww) in organisms. C10–11 SCCPs and Cl5–7 SCCPs were the predominant homologues in all samples, with the mean proportions of 70 ± 6.5% and 80 ± 7.8% in seawater, as well as 52–77% and 61–84% in marine organisms, respectively. The logarithm bioaccumulation factor (log BAF) values of ∑SCCPs were in the range of 2.04–3.79 in zooplankton, fish, shrimp, crab, shellfish, snail, and cephalopod. The log BAF values of SCCP homologues (1.33–4.75) increased significantly with the increase of their logarithm octanol–water partition coefficients (log KOW) values, indicating that hydrophobicity is the major factor controlling the bioaccumulation of SCCPs. The trophic magnification factor (TMF) value of ∑SCCPs was calculated to be 3.98, indicating the potential trophic magnification of SCCPs in this marine food web from ECS. A slightly increasing trend was observed between the TMF values of SCCP homologues and their log KOW values. Overall, for the first time, this study systematically examined the bioaccumulation and trophic magnification of SCCPs in the marine food web from East China Sea.

The abuse of psychoactive substances has been increasing dramatically over the last few years, which is becoming a concern for human health and social stability. How to accurately estimate psychoactive substances' total consumption in certain areas is the key to manage such substances. In order to control psychoactive substances, 8 psychoactive substances' consumption within 12 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) service areas in a certain city of Guangxi, China was investigated in 2019. Firstly, a solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was used to determine the influent concentrations. Morphine (MOR), 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine (METH), ketamine (KET), and norketamine (NK) were detected, with the concentrations ranging from less than method detection limit (NK, MDMA) to 170.91 (METH) ng/L. Then, the back-estimation of consumption was conducted according to the objective and near real-time wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). The results demonstrate that KET, MOR, and METH are the most abused psychoactive substances, with the mean consumption of 682.42, 167.81, and 44.56 mg/day/1000 inh, respectively. The psychoactive substance residues of WWTPs influent were analyzed to estimate such substances' consumption in specific areas, so as to provide support for risk prevention and control.

© Copyright © 2020 Zhang, Jin, Suo, Yu, Zhou, Dai, Song, Hu and Wu. Temperature and relative humidity (RH) influence post-harvest ripening, a crucial stage for quality promotion in some oil plants or fruits. Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii nuts, which are rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), are easily affected by temperature and humidity, and they oxidize quickly during the post-harvest ripening stage, leading to the deterioration of nut quality. In this study, the main nutraceutical components, fatty acid composition, and related metabolic parameters of lipid rancidity under four treatments (20°C and 70% RH, T20-LH; 30°C and 70% RH, T30-LH; 20°C and 90% RH, T20-HH; 30°C and 90% RH, T30-HH) were measured. The post-harvest ripening process was advanced under HH treatments (T20-HH and T30-HH) compared to LH treatments (T20-LH and T30-LH) and was associated with a shorter time for the seed coat to turn dark black and a faster reduction in starch content. The amount of unsaturated fatty acids significantly increased under the T20-HH treatment, but significantly decreased under the T30-HH treatment from 12 to 16 d of ripening time. The acid value (AV) and lipase activity under the T30-HH treatment remained virtually constant from 12 to 16 d of ripening time, and this was accompanied by a dramatic increase in peroxide value (POV), lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, and relative expression of the LOX2 gene. Meanwhile, a significant positive correlation between LOX activity and POV, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and O2⋅– content was observed. The results imply that the lower amount of oxidative rancidity induced by the T20-HH treatment is related to the LOX activity induced by down-regulation of the LOX2 gene during the late after-ripening stage. Therefore, the T20-HH treatment not only promoted the post-harvest process of T. grandis ‘Merrillii’ nuts but also delayed lipid oxidation, which was ultimately associated with better oil quality at the late after-ripening stage.

In this study, we analyzed 30 legacy and emerging poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in paired atmospheric particulate and bark samples collected around a Chinese fluorochemical manufacturing park (FMP), with the aim to explore the sources of PFASs in tree bark. The results showed that PFASs in atmospheric particulate and tree bark samples were consistently dominated by perfluorooctanoate (mean 73 ng/g; 44 pg/m

Data on gestational exposure characteristics and transplacental transfer are quite limited for perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) isomers, especially those from large-scale comparative studies. To fill this gap, we examined isomers of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) in matched maternal and cord serum from Mianyang and Hangzhou, which are located in the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China, respectively. These data were compared with those from our previous study on Wuhan in the middle reach. The average ΣPFAS concentration increased from upstream to downstream (Mianyang (4.44 ng/mL) < Wuhan (9.88 ng/mL) < Hangzhou (19.72 ng/mL)) and may be related to the per capita consumption expenditure of each city. The ln-transformed PFAS concentrations showed significant differences between Mianyang and Hangzhou after adjusting confounding factors (p < 0.05). The percentages of linear PFOS and PFOA in maternal and cord serum from these cities all exceeded those in electrochemical fluorination products. The isomer profiles of PFASs in maternal and cord serum might be greatly influenced by local production processes of PFASs and residents’ dietary habits. The transplacental transfer efficiencies decreased significantly with increasing concentrations in maternal serum for ΣPFAS, ΣPFOS, ΣPFOA, ΣPFHxS, n-PFOS, iso-PFOS, 4m-PFOS, 1m-PFOS, n-PFOA, n-PFHxS, and br-PFHxS (Spearman rank correlation coefficients (r) = 0.373–0.687, p < 0.01). These findings support an understanding of the regional characteristics in maternal exposure to PFASs along the Yangtze River, isomeric profiles of PFASs in these regions, and the transplacental transfer processes of PFAS isomers.

Bisphenol analogues (BPs) are widely applied in varying consumer products. Many studies have reported their presence in indoor dust samples from China. However, the differences in occurrence and concentration profiles of BPs in indoor dust between rural and urban areas are still not well characterized. In this study, eight BPs were measured in 60 indoor dust samples collected from rural and urban districts of Hangzhou, China. Bisphenol A (BPA; mean 1.8 μg/g, range 0.20-7.2 μg/g) was the predominant BP in indoor dust samples, accounting for mean 57% of the total BP (∑BP) concentration, followed by bisphenol S (BPS; 0.58 μg/g,LOD-2.4 μg/g) and bisphenol AF (0.43 μg/g,LOD-2.6 μg/g). Indoor dust samples from the urban areas (n = 27) contained significantly (p 0.05) higher levels of ∑BPs, BPA, and BPS than that from the rural areas (n = 33). Comparatively, bisphenol F and bisphenol AP were more frequently detected in urban indoor dust samples. Daily intakes (DIs) of BPs through the indoor dust inhalation were estimated for infants, children, and adults. Infants had much higher (p 0.01) DIs of BPs than children and adults, mainly owing to their lower body weights and higher indoor dust ingestion rates. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies examining the regional differences of BP concentrations in indoor dust from China, which could contribute to the more accurate evaluation of human BP exposure through indoor dust intake.

The ever-increasing prevalence of microplastics and different bisphenols made the presence of bisphenol-attached microplastics a critical concern. In this study, experiments were performed to examine desorption behaviors and cytotoxicity performance of contaminated microplastics in aquatic surroundings and intestinal environment after ingestion by organisms (cold-/warm-blooded). The kinetic study shows that the rate of desorption for bisphenols can be enhanced threefold under simulated warm intestinal conditions. The Freundlich isotherms indicate multiple-layer desorption of the bisphenols on the heterogeneous surfaces of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics. Hysteresis was detected in the adsorption/desorption of bisphenols in a water environment, but no adsorption/desorption hysteresis was observed in the simulated intestinal conditions of warm-blooded organisms. Due to enhanced bioaccessibility, the desorption results imply that the environmental risk of contaminated PVC microplastics may be significantly increased after ingestion at a high bisphenols dosage. Although with different IC50, the five bisphenols released under the intestinal conditions of warm-blooded organisms can cause higher proliferation reduction in fish and human cell lines than the bisphenols released in water. This study helps elucidate the consequential fate and potential cytotoxicity of contaminated microplastics and the possible implications of the microplastics as a critical vector for bisphenols to increase the potential health risks.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are widely used as plasticizers in many industrial and household products. The widespread distribution of PAEs in marine environment has attracted great concerns, due to their adverse health effects on marine organisms. However, the data on the occurrence of PAEs in sediment from East China Sea is still scarce. In this study, 16 PAEs were analyzed in 67 sediment samples collected from the Hangzhou Bay, Taizhou Bay, and Wenzhou Bay. Eight PAEs were detected in collected sediment samples, and the total concentrations of detected PAEs (∑PAEs) were in the range of 654–2603 ng/g. The di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the predominant PAE (mean 663 ng/g; accounted for mean 52% of ∑PAEs), followed by di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP; 284 ng/g; 22%), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP; 184 ng/g; 15%), and dimethyl phthalate (63 ng/g; 5.0%). The mean sediment concentration of ∑PAEs in the Hangzhou Bay (1623 ng/g) was higher than that in the Taizhou Bay (1282 ng/g) and Wenzhou Bay (1185 ng/g). Concentrations of diethyl phthalate, DiBP, and DBP were significantly and positively correlated with one another in sediment from Taizhou Bay and Wenzhou Bay. The estimated inventories of ∑PAEs in sediment from Hangzhou Bay, Taizhou Bay, and Wenzhou Bay were 82 tons, 28 tons, and 26 tons, respectively. Overall, this study provides the first data on the occurrence of PAEs in sediment from the East China Sea, which is necessary to conduct the PAE exposure risk assessment for the marine benthos.

Background: Benzotriazoles (BTRs) and benzothiazoles (BTHs) are emerging contaminants with potential insulin modulation activities. Pregnancy exposure to BTs (BTRs and BTHs) may be a risk factor for the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, epidemiological studies are limited. Objectives: We prospectively investigated the associations of exposure to BTs at early pregnancy with the blood glucose levels and the risks of GDM. Methods: A prospective cohort of 1770 pregnant women who were free of diabetes at baseline was established between 2013 and 2015 in Wuhan, China. Urine samples collected at 13.1 ± 1.1 weeks of gestation were analyzed to estimate the exposure level of BTs. The diagnosis of GDM was based on a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) conducted at 26.4 ± 2.4 weeks of gestation. We examined the associations between urinary concentration of BTs and blood glucose levels by linear regression models. The associations of urinary BTs concentrations with the relative risk (RR) of GDM were evaluated by generalized estimating equations with Poisson regression. Effect modifications by fetus sex and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) were further evaluated in the sensitivity analysis. Results:A total of 147 (8.31%) pregnant women were diagnosed with GDM. Median concentrations of urinary BTs did not differ significantly between pregnant women with and without GDM. It was found that urinary levels of benzothiazole and 2-hydroxy-benzothiazole (2-OH-BTH) were positively associated with 2-hour blood glucose (p for trend

As well-known emergent environmental contaminants, polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs) have recently received increasing attention. In this study, we investigated the concentrations of carbazole (CZ) and PHCZs in 70 marine organisms from the East China Sea (ECS). CZ and 9–11 PHCZs were detected in organisms from the ECS, with concentrations in the range of 0.75–33 ng/g lipid weight, lw and 4.3–113 ng/g lw, respectively. Among the PHCZs, there were 3–4 major components in zooplankton, fish, shrimp, crabs, snails and shellfish, and the sum of these major components accounted for 59% to 67% of ∑PHCZs. The bioaccumulation potentials of 1,3,6,8-tetrachlorocarbazole (1368-CCZ) and 3-chlorocarbazole (3-CCZ) from water were observed. The logarithmic bioaccumulation factor (logBAF) values of the CZ and PHCZs increased significantly with increasing logKOW values (R = 0.449–0.784, p

Chinese torreya (Torreya grandis cv Merrilli) is a relict tree cultivar, distributed in the subtropical mixed broadleaved forest zone in eastern China. Chinese torreya was selected long time ago from quality trees of Torreya grandis Fort. ex Lind. and grafted on other Torreya trees, then cultivated by artificial propagation. Due to its commercial importance (e.g., nuts for food and medicinal uses), cultivation and development of large scale industrial plantations for Chinese torreya is under way. This review includes multiple perspectives on this cash tree cultivar, involving grafting, biological characteristics, distribution, functional food and health effects, as well as its contribution to local society, economy and environment. The advantage and challenge in cultivation, management and development of this cultivar in China are discussed. The information will be helpful for introducing this tree elsewhere, developing new products and exploring its livelihoods effects. It is proposed that sustai...

Background: Benzotriazoles (BTRs) and benzothiazoles (BTHs) are emerging contaminants with high production volume worldwide, which exhibit potential health risk to human. To date, little is known about the exposure of BTRs and BTHs (BTs) on human, especially in the context of pregnancy. Objectives: We aimed to characterize the exposure profiles, temporal variability, and potential predictors of urinary BTs during pregnancy. Methods: Between 2014 and 2015, we recruited 856 pregnant women in Wuhan who provided urine samples at three trimesters (13.1 ± 1.1, 23.7 ± 3.2, and 35.7 ± 3.4 gestational weeks). We measured the urinary concentrations of five BTRs (1‑H‑benzotriazole, 1‑hydroxy‑benzotriazole, xylyltriazole, tolyltriazole, 5‑chloro‑1‑H‑benzotriazole) and five BTHs (benzothiazole, 2‑hydroxy‑benzothiazole, 2‑methylthio‑benzothiazole, 2‑amino‑benzothiazole, 2‑thiocyanomethylthio‑benzothiazole) to characterize the exposure profiles of BTs. We calculated the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) to assess the temporal variability and investigated potential predictors of urinary BTs by using the mixed models. Results: Most of the targeted BTs were detected in over 50% of urine samples, except for 5‑chloro‑1‑H‑benzotriazole (9.3%) and 2‑thiocyanomethylthio-benzothiazole (1.4%). The predominant BTRs in urine was 1‑hydroxy‑benzotriazole [Geometric Mean (GM): 0.77 ng/mL]. Benzothiazole was the major derivative in urine samples with a GM concentration of 1.6 ng/mL. Correlations among BTHs (r = 0.04–0.39) were higher than that among BTRs (r = 0.02–0.14). The exposure pattern was constant at low level and co-exposure to all the targeted compounds was infrequent during pregnancy. Urinary concentrations of BTRs exhibited considerable within-subject variation (ICCs: 0.12–0.56) during pregnancy. Relatively high temporal reliability was observed for urinary concentrations of BTHs with ICCs ranging from 0.42 to 0.85. It was found that parity, household income, pregnancy occupational status, sampling season and menstrual cycle were associated with urinary concentrations of BTs in pregnant women (P

The residues and risks of heavy metals in the environment and organisms have attracted great concern for many years. However, the information on their long-term spatiotemporal trends and potential health and ecological risks are scarce. In this study, a total of 1815 seawater samples, 451 sediment samples, and 54 seafood samples were collected in Xiangshan Bay, China, between 2011 and 2016. The residue, distribution, seasonal variation, and potential health risks of seven heavy metals in seawater, sediment, and seafood were evaluated. Dissolved Zn (mean = 16.8 μg L−1) and Cu (mean = 3.4 μg L−1) concentrations were high in seawater. Sediments were mainly contaminated by Zn (mean = 120.8 mg kg−1) and Cr (mean = 81.7 mg kg−1). The highest levels of Cu and Zn were observed in Ostreidae with the concentrations of 84.3 and 99.0 mg kg−1, respectively. The Kendall test indicated that only As, Cu, Cd, and Hg showed decreasing trends in seawater with time and no significant temporal trends were identified for heavy metals in sediment between 2011 and 2016. Only As may pose non-carcinogenic risks to both adults and children in some seafood. These data provide a reliable reference for government to use in developing reasonable and scientific regulations on the ecological and food safety of this area.

Accurate measuring n-octanol/water partition coefficients (log Kow) of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) using experimental approach has been proven to be very difficult due to their special properties. The ionizable carboxyl groups in PFCAs make their log Kow dependent on pH. In this study, the log Kow values of neutral species of PFCAs (C4≤n≤14) were measured based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with the mobile phase pH varying in the range of 1.09–5.00. The relationship between log Kow and retention times was established using some reference compounds (including agrochemicals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) with known log Kow values, and then validated with alkyl fatty acids, which have similar chemical structures as PFCAs. The apparent log Kow (i.e., log Dow) of the C4–14 PFCAs were calculated based on their retention times using the established model, and they displayed a negative linear relationship with the mobile phase pH in the range of 1.09–4.00. Consequently, the log Dow values were converted to the corresponding log Kow values (1.05–7.19) based on the relationship of log Dow = log Kow + pKa – pH. The log Kow increased with perfluorinated carbon chain length with a greater rate for C4 to C5 PFCAs than for C5–14 PFCAs.

Measurement of airborne perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) is challenging, but important for understanding their atmospheric transport. Tree bark is good media for monitoring semivolatile compounds in the atmosphere. Whether it could work as an indicator of airborne PFAAs was first examined in this study. Bark and leaf samples collected around a Chinese fluorochemical manufacturing park (FMP) were analyzed for PFAAs and their branched isomers. Total PFAA concentrations (∑PFAAs) in the bark (mean, 279 ng/g dw) and leaf (250 ng/g dw) samples were comparable. ∑PFAAs in the barks collected within the boundaries of the FMP were significantly (p0.05) higher than those outside the FMP, and displayed a decreasing spatial trend as the distance from the FMP increased. However, such spatial difference and trend were not observed for the leaves. PFAA compositional profiles in most of the tree barks were consistent with each other, but different from those in tree leaves. These results indicated that tree barks mainly accumulated airborne PFAAs, while uptake from soil and translocation could make partial contribution to those in leaves. Perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate in barks had strictly consistent isomeric compositions with their electrochemical fluorination products. Overall, these results indicated that the bark could be a good indicator of airborne PFAAs with respect to their occurrence, isomeric signature, and atmospheric transport.

Psychoactive substances are ubiquitous in the environment at low concentrations, and tobacco, cannabis, etc. are all widely-existing examples. Given their potent biological activity, psychoactive substances are suspected to be harmful to the environment, and reports of their ecological risks are gradually increasing. Since the 1990s, the investigations into psychoactive substances have made remarkable progress, yet some research fields still need to be modernised. For example, the unification of standardised analytical methods as well as the supplementation of occurrence literature. In addition, a relatively lagging risk evaluation system caused by a lack of toxicity data is particularly in need of improvement. The purpose of this article is to develop a review of current research on psychoactive substances, including analytical methods, distribution in environmental compartments, and ecological risk assessment, as well as to point out deficiencies and development prospects and to offer motivation for enhancing the research level in this field.

Owing to the wide application of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in the manufacturing of plastic products, they are ubiquitous in the marine environment. However, the occurrence of various PAEs in marine organisms from China has not been well characterized. In this study, 341 marine organism samples (including fish, shrimp, crab, and shellfish) were collected from Hangzhou Bay, China and analyzed for 16 PAEs. Further, the human PAE exposure risks raised from the consumption of marine organisms were evaluated for adults and children. In total, eight PAEs were detected in collected organism samples, with the concentration of total PAEs (∑PAEs) ranging from 64 to 2840 ng/g (mean 238 ng/g). Crab (mean 811 ng/g) samples had the highest mean concentration of ∑PAEs, followed by fish (465 ng/g), shrimp (293 ng/g), and shellfish (261 ng/g) samples. Among detected PAEs, di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) were the predominant PAEs, and they collectively accounted for 84-97% of the ∑PAEs concentrations in all samples. The estimated daily intakes of DiBP, DBP, and DEHP were more than one order of magnitude higher than remaining PAEs. Calculated hazard quotient values of PAEs were all0.1, suggesting non-cancer risks for the general population through the consumption of marine organisms. Overall, for the first time, this study systematically examined the occurrence of multiple PAEs in four types of marine organisms from Hangzhou Bay, China.

The presence of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonates (Cl-PFAESs) in humans has attracted great attention in recent decades. However, information on their exposure sources and the influence of age and gender on Cl-PFAES concentrations in human serum is still limited. In this study, eighty-five serum samples were collected from the general population in Anji, China, and analyzed for perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs), perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs), and Cl-PFAESs. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS; mean, 5.9 ng/mL) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA; 3.3 ng/mL) were the predominant PFAAs in human serum. The serum concentrations of C8–C12 PFCAs, perfluorohexane sulfonate, and PFOS were significantly (rs = 0.40–0.98, p

Many studies show that bisphenol A (BPA) is widespread in human breast milk. However, the occurrence of other bisphenol analogues (BPs), including bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol AF (BPAF), in breast milk is still not well known. In this study, breast milk samples were collected from 190 women in Hangzhou, China, with the aims to characterize the occurrence of BPA, BPS, BPF, and BPAF in these samples and to investigate their effects on postnatal growth of infants through breast milk consumption. BPA (mean 2.5 ng/mL, range LOD-15 ng/mL) was the most abundant BP in breast milk, followed by BPS (0.19 ng/mL,LOD-1.3 ng/mL) and BPAF (0.092 ng/mL,LOD-0.58 ng/mL). BPF was not detected in all breast milk samples. We firstly found that breast milk concentrations of BPA were negatively correlated with infant's weight or length gain rate. Daily intakes (DIs) of BPs via the consumption of breast milk were calculated for infants, and the mean DI values were 531 ng/kg/day, 53 ng/kg/day, and 24 ng/kg/day for BPA, BPS, and BPAF, respectively. Overall, this study firstly demonstrats that the lactation exposure to BPA through breast milk consumption may affect the postnatal growth of infants.

In this study, we analyzed 30 legacy and emerging poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in paired atmospheric particulate and bark samples collected around a Chinese fluorochemical manufacturing park (FMP), with the aim to explore the sources of PFASs in tree bark. The results showed that PFASs in atmospheric particulate and tree bark samples were consistently dominated by perfluorooctanoate (mean 73 ng/g; 44 pg/m3), perfluorohexanoate (47 ng/g; 36 pg/m3), perfluorononanoate (9.1 ng/g; 8.8 pg/m3), and 10:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (10:2 FTOH; 5.6 ng/g; 12 pg/m3). Spatially, concentrations of C8–C12 perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and 10:2 FTOH all showed a similar and exponentially decreased trend in both bark and atmospheric particulate samples with the increasing distance from the FMP. For the first time, we observed strongly significant (Spearman’s correlation coefficient = 0.53–0.79, p

Polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs) have received great concern due to their environmental persistence and potential dioxin-like toxicities. Their presence in the marine sediment had been well characterized, but limited studies had investigated their environmental behaviors in the marine environment. In this study, we collected paired seawater (n = 48) and surface sediment samples (n = 48) from East China Sea and analyzed for carbazole (CZ) and 11 PHCZs to investigate the occurrence and spatial distribution of CZ and PHCZs in seawater and sediment, as well as to explore the partitioning behaviors of CZ and PHCZs between seawater and sediment. In seawater samples, CZ and nine PHCZs were detected, with the concentrations of ∑PHCZs ranging from 0.21 to 11 ng/L (mean 2.7 ng/L). CZ (94%), 3-CCZ (89%), 1368-CCZ (65%), and 36-CCZ (57%) had relatively higher detection frequencies. Among PHCZs, 36-CCZ (mean 1.1 ng/L) had the highest mean seawater concentration, followed by 3-CCZ (0.51 ng/L) and 1368-CCZ (0.19 ng/L). In sediment, CZ and 11 PHCZs were detected, with the concentrations of ∑PHCZs ranged from 0.34 to 2.0 ng/g (mean 1.0 ng/g). CZ, 3-CCZ, 3-BCZ, 36-CCZ, 27-BCZ, and 36-BCZ were measurable in all sediment samples, and 36-CCZ was the predominant PHCZ (0.47 ng/g, 0.025-1.1 ng/g), followed by 1368-BCZ (0.16 ng/g,LOD-0.29 ng/g) and 3-BCZ (0.11 ng/g, 0.016-0.33 ng/g). This study first calculated the field-based log K

Bisphenol analogues are widely used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, and the demand and production capacity of these compounds are growing rapidly in China. The occurrence and distribution of bisphenol analogues other than bisphenol A (BPA) in the aquatic environment is still poorly understood. In this study, nine bisphenol analogues were measured in water and sediment samples from Taihu Lake (TL), Liaohe River basin, including Liaohe River (LR) and Hunhe River (HR), China. Water samples from LR and HR contained much higher total bisphenols (∑BPs) concentrations. BPA and bisphenol S (BPS) were predominant with a summed contribution of 55, 75, and 75% to the ∑BPs in TL, LR, and HR waters, respectively. This suggests that BPA and BPS were the most widely used and manufactured bisphenols in these regions. In sediment, BPA was always predominant, with the next abundant compound bisphenol F (BPF) in TL and HR sediment, but BPS in LR sediment. The average field sediment–water partitioning coefficients (log K oc ) were calculated for the first time for certain bisphenols and were determined to be 4.7, 4.6, 3.8, 3.7, and 3.5 mL/g for BPF, BPAP, BPA, BPAF, and BPS, respectively.

Concerns over the negative impacts of microplastics on human health have led to growing attention on the occurrence of microplastics in aquatic environment. Recent studies have extended their focus from marine to inland waters, especially on the spatial-temporal distribution of the microplastics in urban rivers. In this study, Maozhou River, the largest river in Shenzhen, a tributary of the Pearl River, was selected as a representative inland waterway of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The spatial-temporal investigation was performed on microplastics in the surface water and sediments of 17 sites along the mainstream of the Maozhou River. Results show that microplastics were widely and unevenly distributed along the river and reached the high abundances on the site most intensively surrounded by industries as well as the sites downstream. The abundances in dry season ranged from 4.0 ± 1.0 to 25.5 ± 3.5 items·L−1 in water and 35 ± 15 to 560 ± 70 item·kg−1 in sediments, which were relatively higher than those observed in the wet season (water: 3.5 ± 1.0 to 10.5 ± 2.5 items·L−1; sediments: 25 ± 5 to 360 ± 90 item·kg−1; p value

The airborne occurrence, isomer profiles, and phase distribution of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), including perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and sulfonates (PFSAs), have received little scientific attention to date. Here we collected gaseous and particulate phase (PM2.5) samples in China, between June and November 2013, using alkalized annular denuders and downstream filters toavoid sampling artefacts associated with traditional air sampling. We analysed the concentrations of 18 linear PFAAs and the branched isomers of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Concentrations of total PFAAs were dominated by PFCAs, with a range of 6.6–610 pg/m3 in the gaseous phase and 2.3–290 pg/m3 in the particulate phase. Concentrations of total PFCAs were higher in summer than winter in both phases. Branched PFOA isomers accounted for 10–22% of total PFOA in the gaseous phase and 13–24% in the particulate phase, which is close to, but slightly lower than, their abundance in the commercial PFOA mixtures manufactured using the electrochemical fluorination (ECF) process. In contract, branched PFOS isomers accounted for 26-63% of total PFOS in the gaseous phase and 39-77% in the particulate phase, which is much higher than their abundance in commercial PFOS mixtures manufactured by ECF. Most PFCAs had mean particle-associated fractions (Φ) higher than 0.5. PFHxS had a much higher mean Φ (0.65) than linear PFOS (0.31). We hypothesise that PFAAs observed in Beijing air may originate from the local water bodies through processes such as aerosol generation, although transformation of precursors also contribute.

Perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates are widespread in human breast milk. However, the occurrence of chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonates (Cl-PFESAs) and fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) in breast milk and their effects on postnatal growth of infants through breast milk consumption are still not well known. This study characterized the occurrence of 16 poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in breast milk from 174 women in Hangzhou, China and investigated the association between lactation exposure to these PFASs through breast milk consumption and the postnatal growth of infants. Our results showed that perfluorooctanoate (mean 87 pg/mL) was the predominant PFAS in breast milk, followed by perfluorohexanoate (41 pg/mL), 6:2 Cl-PFESA (28 pg/mL), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (25 pg/mL). The occurrence and levels of Cl-PFESAs in Chinese breast milk were firstly reported in the current study. The 8:2 and 10:2 FTOH were detected in half of breast milk samples, with the mean concentration of 9.0 pg/mL and 10 pg/mL, respectively. Breast milk concentrations of C8-C10 PFCAs and 6:2 Cl-PFESA were negatively correlated with infant's length gain rate. Exposed to higher levels of 8:2 FTOH were correlated with decreased infant's weight gain rate. Daily intakes of PFASs via the consumption of breast milk were calculated for infants. Overall, this study firstly demonstrated that lactation exposure to C8-C10 PFCAs, 8:2 FTOH, and 6:2 Cl-PFESA through breast milk consumption may affect the postnatal growth of infants.

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is an important hallmark for late-stage lung cancer with metastasis. Current clinical diagnosis methods require tedious work to distinguish MPE from benign pleural effusion (BPE). The objective of this study was to characterize the metabolic signatures in MPE of lung cancer, and identify potential metabolite biomarkers for diagnosis of MPE. MPE from lung cancer (n = 46) and BPE from tuberculosis patients (n = 32) were investigated by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS)-based global metabolomic and lipidomic profiling. Multivariate partial least-square discriminative analysis models exhibited distinct metabolic profiles between MPE and BPE. A total of 25 ether lipids, including phosphatidylcholines (PC), lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), were observed to be significantly downregulated in MPE with excellent diagnostic potential. Plasmalogen PC(40:3p) showed highest AUC value of 0.953 in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) model. Oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were upregulated in MPE. The obtained results implied a high oxidative stress and peroxisome disorder in lung cancer patients. Combined metabolomic and lipidomic profiling have discovered potential biomarkers in MPE with excellent clinical diagnostic capability. Dysregulated ether lipids and oxidized PUFAs have implied an aberrant redox metabolism, which provides novel insights into the pathology of MPE in lung cancer.

Accurate measuring n-octanol/water partition coefficients (log K

Widespread human exposure and associated adverse health effects led to regulations on the usage of bisphenol A (BPA). Several bisphenol analogues (BPs) have been introduced as BPA alternatives in various applications. However, these BPs have been shown to exhibit similar or even stronger endocrine-disrupting activities compared with that of BPA. Currently, information on the human exposure to BPA alternatives remains limited. In this study, nine BPs were quantified in 81 pairs of plasma and red blood cell (RBC) samples from Chinese participants. In human plasma, the predominant BPs was BPA, bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol AF (BPAF), with the mean concentrations of 0.40, 0.15, and 0.073 ng/mL, respectively. BPA (accounting for 63% of total BPs) and BPS (18%) were the major BPs in the RBC fraction. Mass fractions in plasma (Fp) were found to be highest for BPS (mean, 0.78), followed by BPAF (0.71) and BPA (0.67), indicating strong partitioning to the plasma fraction. However, bisphenol AP was more frequent...

Neonicotinoids (neonics), a class of systemic insecticides, have been frequently detected in pollen, vegetables, and fruits. Recently, an increasing concern has been aroused for human exposure to neonics. However, biological monitoring for quantifying body burden of neonics has rarely been reported. In this study, we developed an isotope-dilution ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method to simultaneously quantify nine neonics, including acetamiprid (ACE), thiamethoxam (THIAM), imidacloprid (IMIP), clothianidin (CLO), flonicamid (FLO), thiacloprid (THIAC), dinotefuran (DIN), nitenpyram (NIT), and imidaclothiz (IMIT) in urine. The limits of quantification were 0.1 μg/L for ACE, FLO, DIN, NIT and IMIT, and 0.2 μg/L for THIAM, IMIP, CLO, and THIAC. The overall recoveries were 80.8–103%, 81.5–91.7% and 83.0–92.3% for QA/QC samples fortifying at 1, 25, and 100 μg/L levels, respectively. UPLC/MS/MS method was used to analyze urine samples obtained from 10 children in Hangzhou, China. The detection frequencies were 80% for ACE and IMIP, 70% for THIAM and CLO, 20% for DIN and IMIT and 10% for THIAC. FLO and NIT were not detected in those urine samples. The data provided here will be helpful for conducting biological monitoring of neonics exposure in the future.

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) has been attracting increasing attention worldwide because of its increased environmental concentrations and high aquatic toxicity. Atmospheric deposition is the major source of aquatic TFA, but only a few studies have reported either air concentrations or deposition fluxes for TFA. This is the first study to report the atmospheric concentrations of TFA in China, where an annular denuder and filter pack collection system were deployed at a highly urbanized site in Beijing. In total, 144 air samples were collected over the course of 1 year (from May 2012 to April 2013) and analyzed directly using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) or following derivatization by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The annual mean atmospheric concentration of TFA was 1580 ± 558 pg/m3, higher than the previously reported annual mean levels in Germany and Canada. For the first time, it was demonstrated that maximum concentrations of TFA were frequen...

Chinese torreya (Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii) is an important cash tree in southeastern China and this species plays a major role in local economy. Establishing new plantations of Chinese torreya would be necessary in order to receive more economic benefit. However, expanding the area of torreya plantations would conflict with other land-use and also affect regional biodiversity. Under this context, local people and government made a paradigm shift from nuts productivity to sustainable practices. They explored the multi-functionalities of Chinese torreya forests, such as the social, cultural, environmental and health functionalities, and developed ecotourism as a breakthrough. The development of multi-functionalities of torreya plantations greatly improved the local economy and led a success in the local society. The strategy of this case completely followed the principles of sustainable intensification of agriculture and translational ecology, which involve scientists, stakeholders and policy makers to emphasize landscape multi-functionalities and minimize environmental impacts of operations. The knowledge from this study may be helpful to research in other regions.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) such as perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and PFOS-precursors are routinely measured in human plasma and serum, but their relative abundance in the blood cell fraction has not been carefully examined, particularly at the isomer-specific level. Human plasma and whole blood were collected and partitioning behaviors of PFASs and their isomers between plasma and blood cells were investigated. In human samples, mass fraction in plasma (Fp) for PFASs increased among perfluoroalkyl carboxylates as the carbon chain length increased from C6 (mean 0.24) to C11 (0.87), indicating preference for the plasma fraction with increasing chain length. However, among perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, PFHxS (mean 0.87) had a slightly higher Fp than PFOS (0.85). In vitro assays with spiked Sprague-Dawley rat blood were also conducted, and the results showed that PFOS-precursors had lower Fp values than perfluoroalkyl acids, with perfluoroctanesulfonamide having the lowest Fp (mean 0.24). Consistently, linear isomers of PFOS and PFOS-precursors had lower mean Fp than their corresponding total branched isomers. Multiplying by a factor of 2 is not a reasonable method to convert from whole blood to plasma PFAS concentrations, and current ratios could be used as more accurate conversion factors.

In the present study, the effects of cerium (Ce) on the growth and physiological changes were investigated in the cyanobacterium Anabaena flosaquae (A. flosaquae) during a 17-day period. The results showed that the content of chlorophyll a (chl-a) and activity of antioxidase (e.g. superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) increased with Ce3+ concentration in the range of 0.05 to 0.1 mg/L and the growth of A. flosaquae was stimulated. While at around 5 mg/L, the content of malondiadehyde (MDA) increased significantly but the activity of antioxidase reduced, which resulted in the ruin of antioxidant defense system. Compared to the control (Ce3+-free), the population size of live cells declined significantly. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), the most common and toxic cyanotoxins produced by A. flosaquae, was detected and the highest content of MC-LR was observed in 10 mg/L Ce3+ treatment. These results implied that the aqueous environment might suffer a more negative ecological impact when exposed to relatively low Ce3+ concentrations (