UV-B radiation: a health risk in the Arctic?

Seasonal stratospheric ozone depletion in the Arctic has raised the question of whether the associated increases in ultraviolet-B (290-320 nm) constitute a significant health risk in Arctic populations. Increases in skin cancer in Europe and the USA from excess UV-B resulting from ozone depletion have been predicted. Skin cancer is, however, rare in Inuit populations.
UV-B also causes a selective down regulation of the immune system which may be a natural regulatory mechanism evolved to prevent autoimmune attack on sunlight-altered skin. The action spectrum for UV-B immunosuppression implicated a unique skin photoreceptor molecule, urocanic acid (UCA), which isomerizes from the trans to the cis isomer on exposure to UV-B, the cis isomer being immunosuppressive. This form of immunosuppression is important in skin cancer and possibly in infectious diseases.
The epidemiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma shows a relationship with UV exposure, postulated to be via the immunosuppressive effects of UV-B. Cancers which show an excess in Inuit populations include nasopharyngeal and salivary gland cancer. Genetic factors appear to be involved, but these are thought to be virally related cancers possibly associated with the high viral load in these populations. In several studies on non-Arctic populations, salivary gland cancer has been linked to ultraviolet exposure. A potential role for UV-B exposure in these cancers in the Arctic needs to be explored.
In view of the high levels of POPS in some Arctic regions, potential interactions between the immunosuppression caused by some of these pollutants and the effects of UV-B need to be investigated.     

UV-B短期照射对北极冰川小球藻Chlorella sp.的生物学效应

以一种分离自北极冰川融水的淡水微藻（Chlorella sp.）为实验材料,设置两个不同强度UV-B（45μw/cm2、76μw/cm2）照射处理、每4小时取样检测,对其生化组分进行分析,了解微藻对UV-B辐射的响应。研究结果显示小球藻经辐射处理后,其生化成分发生变化：（1）在较低强度的UV-B（45μw/cm2）辐射下,叶绿素a（Chla）和类胡萝卜素（Car）含量先升后降,且在4h时有最大值;高强度UV-B（76μw/cm2）辐射下,Chla和Car含量随辐射时间延长基本呈下降趋势。（2）超氧阴离子（O2?ˉ）和丙二醛（MDA）含量基本随辐照时间的延长和辐照强度的增大提高,过氧化氢（H2O2）含量变化虽随辐照时间的延长呈上升趋势,但直到12h是才表现为明显的提高。（3）超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性在低UV-B处理下,随辐照时间的延长呈升高趋势;在高UV-B辐射下,SOD活性先升后降,CAT活性上下波动。(4)UV-B辐射使小球藻脂肪酸组成发生了变化。这些结果表明：UV-B,尤其是高强度或较高剂量的UV-B会对北极冰川微藻带来不利的影响。     

Effect of solar radiation and the subsequent dark periods on two newly isolated and characterized Antarctic marine bacteria

Two strains of psychrotolerant Antarctic marine bacteria were isolated and characterized using biochemical and molecular techniques. Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene showed that UVvi strain belongs to the genus Arthrobacter whereas UVps strain is related to the Flexibacter-Cytophaga-Bacteroides (FCB) group. Response of the strains to solar radiation was studied during the summer of 1999 in Potter Cove, near Jubany station (South Shetland Island, Antarctica). The effect of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR, 400-700 nm), ultraviolet-A (UV-A, 320-400 nm) and ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280-320 nm) on cell viability was studied using mixed cultures in quartz bottles covered with interferential filters and exposed to solar radiation. In all experiments, four treatments were used: dark (with light screened out), PAR (with UV radiation screened out), PAR+UV-A (UV-B screened out) and PAR+UV-A+UV-B. Under the assayed conditions, PAR+UV-A and PAR+UV-A+UV-B radiation showed similar negative effects on the viability of the studied strains. However, at the end of the exposure time, mortality values in PAR+UV-A+UV-B treatments were higher than those observed under PAR+UV-A treatments. In both PAR+UV-A and PAR+UV-A+UV-B treatments we observed high levels of hydrogen peroxide compared with the dark control. The Arthrobacter UVvi strain showed significant recovery in dark conditions after exposure to the PAR+UV-A but not after the PAR+UV-A+UV-B treatment. This strain proved to be more resistant to UV radiation than the FCB group-related UVps strain. The results showed that UV radiation has a deleterious effect on these Antarctic marine bacteria and also revealed that the analysed components of the Antarctic bacterioplankton may have different responses when they are exposed to the same irradiance conditions.     

隐花植物对UV-B辐射响应和适应机制的研究进展

 隐花植物是指不产生种子的植物,是我国干旱、半干旱地区主要表面特征——生物土壤结皮的组成成分,并在其中扮演着独特而重要的生态作用。隐花植物对环境因子变化的响应和适应能力大小对整个生态系统稳定性具有重要影响。因此,有关增强UV-B辐射对隐花植物影响的研究已成为目前UV-B辐射研究领域的发展趋势和热点之一。通过系统地综述国内外有关隐花植物对UV-B辐射响应和适应机制研究方面的进展,分析了研究趋势,讨论了目前该领域研究的一些不足并对未来发展提出了展望,以期促进隐花植物的研究,加深对我国干旱、半干旱区隐花植物在应对UV-B辐射增强的响应和适应机制的认识。     

Photosynthetic responses of selected Antarctic plants to solar radiation in the southern maritime Antarctic

The effects of UV-B exclusion and enhancement of solar radiation on photosynthesis of the two phanerogams which occur in the maritime Antarctic, Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis , and the moss Sanionia uncinats were investigated. Data on air temperature and solar radiation illustrate a drastic seasonal variation. Daily O₃ column mean values and UV-B measured at ground level document the occurrence of the O₃"hole" in the spring of 1997, with a concomitant increase in UV-B. The grass, D. antarctica , exhibited a broad temperature optimum for photosynthesis between 10–25°C while photosynthesis did not saturate even at high irradiance. The high water use efficiencies measured in the grass may be one of the features explaining the presence of this species in the maritime Antarctic. The net photosynthesis response to intercellular CO₂ (A/c_i) for D. antarctica was typical of a C₃ plant. Exposure to a biologically effective UV-B irradiance of 0.74 W M^-2 did not result in any significant change in either the maximum rate of photosynthesis at saturating CO₂ and light, or in the initial carboxylation efficiency of Rubisco. (V_c,max). Furthermore while ambient (or enhanced) solar UV-B did not affect photochemical yield, measured in the field, of C. quitensis and D. antarctica , UV-B enhancement did affect negatively photochemical yield in S. uncinata . In D. antarctica plants, exposure to UV-B at low irradiances elicited increased flavonoid synthesis. The observed effects of UV-B enhancement on the moss (decreased photochemical yield) and the grass (increase in flavonoids) require further, separate investigation.     

增强UV-B辐射下NO对细胞壁多糖组分含量的影响

以豌豆（Pisum sativum）幼苗茎为材料,研究增强UV-B辐射下一氧化氮（NO）对细胞壁多糖组分含量的影响。结果表明,增强UV-B辐射使单位长度内细胞壁多糖总量增加;使细胞壁多糖结构组分果胶、半纤维素Ⅰ、半纤维素Ⅱ和纤维素的含量增加;NO供体处理对半纤维素Ⅰ、半纤维素Ⅱ和纤维素的影响与UV-B辐射相似,使它们含量增加;增强UV-B辐射条件下,氮合酶（NOS）抑制剂和NO清除剂处理使半纤维素Ⅰ、半纤维素Ⅱ和纤维素的含量降低,抵消了增强UV-B辐射对他们的影响。说明UV-B辐射可能通过NO信号上调了半纤维素Ⅰ、半纤维素Ⅱ和纤维素含量,增加了他们在细胞壁多糖中的比例,因而改变细胞壁的化学特性以及影响了细胞壁的机械延展性。无论对照条件下用NO供体处理,还是UV-B辐射条件下用NOS抑制剂、NO清除剂处理,对果胶含量影响不大,表明NO信号可能与UV-B辐射诱导果胶含量增加无关。     

红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)黄酮类物质代谢及其抗氧化活性对UV-B辐射的响应

对荒漠植物红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)在UV-B辐射胁迫下不同时间内(0、2、4、6、8、10d)脂质过氧化、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量的变化以及黄酮类代谢途径关键酶活性、代谢产物及代谢产物的抗氧化活性进行了分析,探讨黄酮类代谢响应UV-B辐射胁迫的变化以及与脂质过氧化和光合色素系统的相关性。结果表明:随着UV-B辐射处理时间的延长,叶绿素含量有所降低;类胡萝卜素含量升高;膜脂过氧化程度(以丙二醛(MDA)含量表示)增加;黄酮类代谢途径关键酶黄烷酮3-羟化酶(F3H)活性呈现先增加后降低的趋势,但仍高于处理前水平,二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶(DFR)活性增强,代谢终产物总黄酮含量先降低后恢复至处理前水平,花色素苷(ANS)含量上升;DFR活性、黄酮类代谢产物ANS及总黄酮对DPPH清除率和对MDA形成的抑制率均与MDA以及光合色素系统之间存在显著或极显著的相关性。这表明次生物质黄酮类代谢途径在UV-B胁迫下发挥了抗氧化功能,提高红砂对在UV-B辐射下的自我保护能力。     

Effects of ozone depletion and increased ultraviolet-B radiation on northern vegetation

The stratospheric ozone layer has been depleted at high and mid-latitudes as a consequence of man's pollution of the atmosphere, and this results in increasing ultraviolet-B radiation at ground level. We investigate the effects of further radiation increases on plants and ecosystems by irradiating natural sub-Arctic and Arctic vegetation with artificial UV-B radiation in field experiments extending over several years. Our experimental sites are located at Abisko, in northern Sweden (68°N), and Adventdalen, on the island of Spitsbergen (78°N). Additional UV-B induced interspecific differences in plant response in terms of reduced (or, in one case, increased) growth, changed morphology and changed pigment content. In some cases effects seem to be accumulated from one year to another. Plant litter decomposition is retarded. We are also studying how UV-B enhancement may affect the interaction between species. In some experiments we combine UV-B enhancement with changes in other factors: carbon dioxide concentration, water availability, and temperature. In some cases the effect of radiation enhancement is modified, or even reversed, by such changes. Over a four year period we did not find any significant radiation induced change in species composition, but based on the effects on individual plant species, such changes can be expected to take place over a longer time.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地太阳紫外UV-B辐射的观测与分析

利用塔中站（39°01′N,83°40′E)直接探测的紫外辐射资料,对塔克拉玛干沙漠近地层紫外辐射特征进行了系统的分析。结果表明,紫外UV-B辐射年总量为8.59 MJ·m-2·a-1。夏季紫外线辐射强度较大,7月达到最大为1.24M J·m-2,占紫外UV-B辐射年总量的14.44% ;冬季紫外线辐射强度较小,约为7月的1/5,1月出现最低值为0.257 M J· m-2;紫外UV-B瞬时辐射强度全年峰值为2.51 W·m-2,出现在6月。1、4、7、10月紫外UV-B辐射的日总量变化对天气现象有不同程度的反映,天气现象较少的1月逐日紫外辐射上下变动的离散度较小,7月最大。紫外UV-B辐射随云量增多而降低;沙尘使紫外UV-B辐射的降低较为显著,沙尘暴时,其值为各类风沙天气中最低。     

宁夏春小麦对地表UV-B辐射增强的响应

研究UV-B辐射增强对宁夏地区春小麦的影响,可为正确评估UV-B增强对春小麦生长发育的影响程度制定合理的应对措施提供科学依据。以春小麦“宁春4号”为供试材料,采用大田定位试验,利用可升降式紫外灯装置,观测增加不同剂量UV-B辐射情况下春小麦的生物量、叶面积指数和产量结构因素等的变化状况。结果显示,UV-B辐射增强使春小麦地上部分生物量和叶面积指数减少,改变了各器官生物量分配格局,多数情况下,随着UV-B辐射增加量越多,春小麦生物量和叶面积指数减少的程度越大;此外,增加UV-B辐射也使春小麦株高降低,穗长、小穗数、结实粒数和千粒重降低或者减少。     

三种UV-B辐射强度下香蒲的生长和抗氧化状况

为了探究3种UV-B辐射强度对香蒲(Typha orientalis)生长和抗氧化状况的作用,于2017年5月19日~7月17日,在甘肃农业大学室外实验基地,构建模拟垂直潜流人工湿地,在其中栽种香蒲幼苗;在3种UV-B辐射强度[168μw/cm(自然光照下)、210μw/cm和252μw/cm]下,测定香蒲的生长和抗氧化指标。研究结果表明,随着UV-B辐射增强,香蒲叶片提前出现叶缘褪绿、萎蔫和坏死斑点等现象;在短时间3种强度的UV-B辐射下,香蒲的株高和生物量都显著增大,但是随着辐射时间的增加,香蒲的生长受到抑制,且生物量表现出向地下积累的规律;在实验前14 d,随着UV-B辐射强度的增强,香蒲叶片的丙二醛、抗坏血酸和还原型谷胱甘肽含量以及超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶和谷胱甘肽还原酶活性都显著提高,14 d以后,其逐渐降低;在实验的不同时期,在植物生长中起主要作用的抗氧化酶和抗氧化物质存在差异。在UV-B辐射下,香蒲通过提高其抗氧化酶活性和抗氧化物质的含量,来抵抗UV-B辐射对其造成的损伤。     

南极海洋硅藻极端生境适应性研究进展

南极海洋硅藻作为海洋食物网的基石,在南大洋生态系统中扮演着至关重要的角色。南极海洋硅藻具有极端生境适应性,是生物抗辐射性、抗冻性和抗盐性研究的理想实验材料。综述了近30年来国内外有关南极海洋硅藻对强辐射、低温、高盐和低光照的光合适应性研究进展,表明其在长期的极端生境中,形成独特的生理、生化、遗传和代谢特征,相关研究为深入开展南极海洋硅藻的抗逆境研究和开发利用提供了重要参考依据。     

紫外辐射增强对不同发育阶段荒漠藻结皮光合作用的影响

 以腾格里沙漠东南缘自然植被区、51龄和26龄人工植被区藻结皮为研究对象,模拟研究了2%紫外辐射增强对不同发育阶段结皮叶绿素a含量(Chl-a)和净光合速率的影响。结果表明:①紫外辐射增强显著抑制了51龄和26龄人工植被区藻结皮的Chl-a含量(P<0.05),紫外辐射增强后不同发育阶段藻结皮的Chl-a含量无显著差异(P<0.05); ②紫外辐射增强显著抑制了3个植被区藻结皮的净光合速率(P<0.05),紫外辐射增强处理后,自然植被区,51龄和26龄人工植被区藻结皮的最大净光合速率分别为1.8、2.2 μmol·m-2·s-1和1.9 μmol·m-2·s-1,比对照分别下降了21%~49%,12%~22%和24%~59%。方差分析表明,紫外辐射增强后,3个发育阶段的藻结皮净光合速率无显著差异(P<0.05)。本研究表明,紫外辐射增强通过降低荒漠藻结皮的光合色素含量,减少了结皮的净光合速率,从而会对荒漠区藻结皮的生产力产生影响。     

Vertical migration as a response to UVR stress in Calanus finmarchicus females and nauplii

We conducted laboratory experiments to study the behavioural responses of Calanus finmarchicus females and nauplii exposed to artificial ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Both nauplii and females migrated downwards when exposed to UVR. Nauplii reacted mainly to UV-B radiation, while females responded also to UV-A. Nauplii were also collected in the field to check if vertical distributions supported the experimental findings. Light measurements in Vestfjorden showed that plankton were exposed to quite low doses of UVR most of the time. However, on days with a thin ozone layer, clear sky and low turbidity UV-B doses in the surface waters might be harmful. Strong turbulence in the surface layer prevents nauplii from adjusting their position, exposing them to fluctuating levels of UVR due to vertical mixing. Under calm conditions, however, copepods could migrate sufficiently to avoid harmful UVR doses.     

光照与紫外辐射对亚热带树木叶片排放CH4的影响

植物排放甲烷（CH4）的来源尚存很大争议,而光照和紫外辐射胁迫可能是植物排放CH4的重要影响因素．本研究选择亚热带常见树种米槠、木荷、浙江桂、罗浮栲、杉木、马尾松和柑橘7种树木为研究对象,利用控制实验研究了光照和增强紫外辐射对树木叶片CH4排放的影响．结果表明：7种树木叶片的平均CH4排放速率在光照条件下（21.176ng·CH4·g^-1DW·h^-1）是在黑暗条件下（9．699ng·CH4·g^-1DW·h^-1）的2．2倍,光照对不同树木叶片CH4排放速率的影响具有显著差异;在高UV-B辐射强度处理下,除浙江桂和柑橘外,其他5种树木的CH4排放速率均显著高于低UV—B辐射强度处理的CH4排放速率;树种及其与光照或UV辐射的交互作用对树木叶片CH4排放速率的都具有显著影响,光照或增强UV辐射强度对排放速率较低的树木种类排放CH4的促进作用更强．     

UV-B susceptibility and photoprotection of Arctic Daphnia morphotypes

UV-B tolerance and susceptibility of high Arctic morphotypes of the Daphnia pulexl D. tenebrosa complex were assessed by in situ experiments at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (79°N). Animals from local ponds were exposed to ambient light plus additional UV-B from lamps in a greenhouse facility. Taxonomic affinities did not appear as major determinants of UV susceptibility, but a major difference in UV-B tolerance was seen between morphotypes with pigmented carapaces and those without, the latter being far more susceptible. Assays on levels of carotene and the anti-oxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase did not reveal clear-cut differences between populations, and could not account for the higher tolerance in pigmented populations. Levels of glutathione transferase were higher in the transparent population, however. In the absence of blue light and UV, laboratory reared animals did not reconstitute their carapace melanization after moulting, indicating that short-wave light is the cue for melanin synthesis. Tests on melanized individuals and individuals of the same population reared indoors through 1-2 moults supported the major role of melanin for UV protection. Periods with high UV exposure during hatching of ephippia could induce shifts in morphotype or clonal dominance.     

MEASURED ALTITUDINAL PROFILES OF UV-B IRRADIANCE IN HAWAI'I

Erythemally weighted UV-B irradiance was measured between sea level and 4,205 m in several midday altitudinal transects and continuously for several months at sea level and 3,400 m on the Island of Hawai'i. Between sea level and 4,205 m, standardized UV-B increased 25% and 29% for solar zenith angles of 10° and 45°, respectively, under clear-sky conditions. The standardized diffuse component constituted 28% to 58% of the total as a function of optical path length. Under all sky conditions, the monthly average UV-B irradiance increased 50% in summer and 103% in winter from a cloudy, windward, sea-level location to a site at 3,400 m in generally clear skies above the trade-wind inversion. [Key words: solar radiation, ultraviolet-B irradiance, Hawai'i.]     

高山植物稳定碳同位素沿海拔梯度响应机制的研究进展

简要介绍了国内外关于植物δ~(13)C对海拔梯度响应规律的研究情况,叙述了植物叶片δ~(13)C对海拔梯度响应的内在机理.重点介绍了随海拔变化的气压、温度、降水(湿度)、光照等环境因子和植物的叶片厚度、比叶重(LMA)、氮含量、气孔密度、气孔导度等生物因子对高山植物δ~(13)C的影响作用.由于各因子的多变性以及之间的相互作用,任何单一因子都不足以决定植物δ~(13)C的最终变化,也不能解释植物δ~(13)C随海拔的变化趋势,这种趋势可能是众多因子综合作用的结果.最后对本领域取得的一些认识和结论进行了总结,并对存在的一些问题以及今后的研究方向提出了一些见解.     

东北三省农业旱灾风险评估研究

气候变化背景下,干旱对农业生产造成的损失已不容忽视。明晰粮食主产区面临的旱灾风险特征有利于保障中国粮食生产安全。东北三省是中国最重要的粮食主产区之一,明晰该地区的农业旱灾特征对农业生产具有十分重要的作用。基于自然灾害系统理论针对东北三省构建了农业旱灾风险评估模型,并在县市尺度对不同等级农业旱灾风险进行了分区。研究中分别从省份尺度和县市尺度对农业旱灾危险性、暴露性、脆弱性、抗旱能力及农业旱灾综合风险进行评估。结果表明：省份尺度上,农业旱灾综合风险由高到低分别为黑龙江省、吉林省及辽宁省。其中危险性年际间差异明显,暴露性则相对稳定。2010-2015年间脆弱性呈增加趋势,三省抗旱能力均随年际变化而波动。空间范围上,东北三省农业旱灾风险由南向北递增。农业旱灾综合风险等级上,中级及其以上级别县市占对应省份的比例由高到低分别为黑龙江省（75.81%）、吉林省（41.30%）与辽宁省（0%）。值得注意的是,农业旱灾综合等级最高的地区主要集中在三江平原及松嫩平原区。     

An investigation of the effects of dust storms on rat lung using HRCT and blood gas analysis

The increasing intensity and frequency of sand-dust storms in China has led to greater prominence of associated environmental and health issues. Many studies have focused on the health effects of air particulate contaminants, but few formal investigations have studied the effects of sand-dust storms on human and animal health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dust storms on rat lung by using high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and blood gas analysis through a wind tunnel simulating. We found that the rat lung damage effects can be detected by the HRCT imaging after exposure to sand-dust storm environments, but had no obvious result through blood gas analysis. Exposure durations positively correlated with the damage degree to lung tissue. These will provide some evidence for clinical diagnosis of non-occupational pneumoconiosis.