Effect of Waterborne Zinc on Survival, Growth, and Feed Intake of Indian Major Carp, Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)

The effect of waterborne zinc on survival, growth, and feed intake of Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton), advanced fry was studied under laboratory condition. Survival rates of C. mrigala advanced fry (2.71?±?0.49 g) after 30 days exposure to control (0.01), 0.03, 0.06, 0.10, and 0.15 mg/L zinc using the static renewal method in freshwater at pH 7.3?±?0.2, temperature 26?±?2°C, and total hardness 114?±?16 mg/L as CaCO₃ were 100%. Growth of the fish exposed to 0.10 and 0.15 mg/L of zinc was significantly lower (P?<?0.05) than in control (0.01), 0.03, and 0.06 mg/L of zinc after 30 days of exposure. However, there were no significant differences (P?>?0.05) in fish growth between 0.03 and 0.06 mg/L zinc concentrations. Feed intake rates were significantly (P?<?0.05) reduced in the fish exposed to 0.10 mg/L and higher levels of zinc. The zinc accumulation in the whole body of the fish increased with increasing concentrations of the metal.     

Mercury in Biota and Surficial Sediments from Coatzacoalcos Estuary, Gulf of Mexico: Distribution and Seasonal Variation

Variation of mercury (Hg) in sediments and biota from Coatzacoalcos estuary during the dry, rainy and windy seasons was estimated. In sediments, Hg concentrations ranged from 0.07 μg g^?1 in site 13 (Ixhuatepec) located upstream, to 1.06 μg g^?1 in site 3 (Coatzacoalcos river), located in the industrialized area. Highest enrichment factor (EF) and index of geoaccumulation (I _geo) in surficial sediments were 53 and 5.1 respectively. From EF and I _geo, it is considered that Coatzacoalcos estuary is from moderately contaminated to contaminated. In most fish species from Coatzacoalcos estuary, the sequence of Hg concentration was liver>muscle>gills. Average Hg concentrations in soft tissue of bivalves ranged from 0.09 μg g^?1 in Corbicula fluminea to 0.18 μg g^?1 in Polymesoda caroliniana. Biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) ranged from 0.9 in P. caroliniana during the rainy season (site 4) to 3.8 in P. caroliniana from the same site during the windy season.     

Heavy Metal Content of Plant Species along Nilüfer Stream in Industrialized Bursa City, Turkey

The Paraíba do Sul river is located in one of the most developed part of Brazil and receives many organic and industrial effluents directly affecting the ichthyofauna. Concentration of four heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Zn and Pb) were determined in two tissues (muscle and gonads) of three abundant fish species from different trophic levels (Oligosarcus hepsetus—carnivore, Geophagus brasiliensis—omnivore and Hypostomus luetkeni—detritivore) between November 2002 and April 2003. The aim was to test the hypothesis that the trophic level and the proximity from impacted areas influence levels of contamination and to assess if these species are indicators of large-scale habitat quality. Levels of heavy metals were detected by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence with Synchrotron Radiation (SR-TXRF) at the Brazilian National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (LNLS). Generally, gonads showed higher metal concentration than muscles, except for Cr. All examined metals, but Cu, exceeded the maximum permitted concentration (mpc) by the Brazilian legislation for human consumption in at least one tissue. O. hepsetus (carnivore) showed the highest contamination levels, followed by G. brasiliensis (omnivore) and H. luetkeni (detritivore). The middle-upper segment, which encompasses large urban areas, showed the highest levels of metal contamination in most cases. O. hepsetus showed the highest levels of contamination in muscles for Pb in the middle-upper river segment (7.98?±?3.73; mpc?=?2.0 μg g^?1) and for Cr in the upper (5.53?±?0.05; mpc?=?0.10 μg g^?1) and middle-upper (4.20?±?0.85; mpc?=?0.10 μg g^?1) segments, which indicates that human population should avoid to consume these fishes species from these segments of the Paraíba do Sul river.     

Historical distribution of DDT residues in pond sediments in an intensive agricultural watershed in the Yangtze-Huaihe region,China

Purpose

The extensive use of chemical pesticides on farmlands during the last several decades in China has led to a rapid deterioration of environmental water quality in recent years. The aims of this study were to: reconstruct the history of pesticide residues, determine the input load and residual load of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) pesticides, and assess the risk of pesticide residues to aquatic ecosystem and human health.

Materials and methods

Caesium-137 was used to date sediment cores collected from ponds representing four land use types of an agricultural watershed with high-yield grain production and characterized by multipond systems in the Yangtze-Huaihe region of China. These ponds were selected to establish the historic pattern of DDT pesticide residues.

Results and discussion

(1) The mean total concentration of DDT residues including p,?p?′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE), p,?p?′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane ( p,p′-DDD), o,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDT in sediment in the watershed was 82 μg kg^?1, ranging from under the detection limit to 457 μg kg^?1, which was mostly contributed by p,?p′-DDE (57 μg kg^?1 on average). Spatially, total concentrations of DDT residues in farmland pond sediment were the highest, reaching as high as 457 μg kg^?1. Temporally, an inflection point appeared in the 1970s, prior to which DDT contents increased with time, after which concentrations showed a decreasing trend. (2) In total, 323 kg DDT pesticide was applied to the Liuchahe Watershed since 1955. The total retention of four DDT residues in the multipond system was 14 kg (～4 % of the input), and most DDT pesticide was degraded to p,?p?′-DDE. (3) More than 80 % of sediment DDT residues exceeded their interim freshwater sediment quality guidelines, and the percentages of DDT,DDD, and DDE residues exceeding probable effect limit (PEL) values were 57, 29, and 70 %, respectively, which indicated a moderate to high ecological risk of DDT in this watershed.

Conclusions

Our results clearly reveal that the extensive use of pesticides has resulted in significant pesticide residual pollution in this watershed, which could severely deteriorate water quality and threaten aquatic ecosystem and human health in the watershed and, thus, remain a cause for concern.     

Phytoremediation Potentials of Sunflowers (Tithonia diversifolia and Helianthus annuus) for Metals in Soils Contaminated with Zinc and Lead Nitrates

Two species of sunflower, i.e., Tithonia diversifolia and Helianthus annuus, were investigated for their potential to remove heavy metals from contaminated soils. Dried and mature T. diversifolia (Mexican flower) seeds were collected along roadsides, while H. annuus (sunflower) seeds were sourced from the Department of PBST, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria. The contaminants were added as lead nitrate (Pb (NO₃)₂) and zinc nitrate (Zn (NO₃)₂) at 400 mg/kg which represents upper critical soil concentration for both Pb and Zn. The results indicated that T. diversifolia mopped up substantial concentrations of Pb in the above-ground biomass compared to concentrations in the roots. The concentrations in the leaf compartment were 87.3, 71.3, and 71.5 mg/kg at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after planting (AP), respectively. In roots, it was 99.4 mg/kg, 97.4 mg/g, and 77.7 mg/kg while 79.3, 77.8, and 60.7 mg/kg were observed in the stems at 4, 6, and 8 weeks AP, respectively. Observations with H. annuus followed the pattern found with T. diversifolia, showing significant (p?<?0.05) accumulation of Pb in the above-ground biomass. Results obtained from Zn contaminated soils showed significant (p?<?0.05) accumulation in the above-ground compartments of T. diversifolia and H. annuus compared with root. However, the highest accumulation of Zn was observed in the leaf. The translocation factor and enrichment coefficient of Pb and Zn with these plant species are greater than 1, indicating that these metals moved more easily in these plants. However, this result also showed that the translocation of Zn from root to the shoot of the two plants was higher than Pb. In conclusion, this experiment showed that these plants accumulated substantial Pb and Zn in their shoots (leaf and stem) at 4 weeks AP which diminished with time. This implies that the efficiency of these plants in cleaning the contaminated soils was at the early stage of their growth.     

Assessing the Influence of Different Atmospheric and Soil Mercury Concentrations on Foliar Mercury Concentrations in a Controlled Environment

This study vividly presents results from a seasonal particulate matter measurement campaign conducted at world’s largest ship-breaking yard i.e., Alang-Sosiya (Gujarat, India) at six locations and a reference station at Gopnath which is 30 km south of this ship-breaking yard. The collected suspended particulate matter (SPM) 24-h samples were critically analyzed for heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn). The average concentration of SPM within the ship-breaking yard during the investigation was 287.5 ± 20.4 μg m^?3 and at reference station it was 111.13 ± 5.81 μg m^?3. These values are found to be in excess of the permitted national standards. The levels of heavy metals at Alang-Sosiya are very high as compared to US EPA and WHO guidelines. The mean concentrations of all metals are in the order: Fe >>Zn >Cu > Mn > Cd >Pb > Co >Ni >Cr. The results on enrichment factors (EF) suggest that most of the metals in the ship-breaking yard exhibit EF values of near or above 100 which must have been comprehensively affected by ship-breaking activities. Metal data was used to evaluate the role of spatial factors on their distribution characteristics. Thereafter, factor analysis was carried out to identify the main components liable for the variance of the data set.     

Protective Roles of Calcium Channel Blocker Against Cadmium-Induced Physiological Stress in Freshwater Teleost Oncorhynchus mykiss

The roles of verapamil (VRP), a calcium channel blocker, on cadmium-induced physiological stress in freshwater teleost Oncorhynchus mykiss were investigated in this study. Forty-eight juvenile rainbow trout were divided randomly into four groups, i.e., control group, VRP group (100 μg/L VRP), Cd group (50 μg/L Cd²⁺), and VRP?+?Cd group (100 μg/L VRP?+?50 μg/L Cd²⁺). After 1-week exposure, oxidative stress indices (lipid peroxidation and carbonyl protein) and antioxidant parameters (superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione) were measured in gill and liver of all tested fish. Additionally, the behavioral changes were recorded during the experimental period. Compared with the control, cadmium-induced stress was apparent as reflected by a serious oxidative stress in gill and liver tissues, inhibited branchial antioxidant parameters, and induced hepatic antioxidant responses, as well as abnormal behaviors observed. In the VRP?+?Cd group, the antioxidant defense system of fish returned to the control level, and the fish behavioral abnormalism markedly decreased. The present results suggested that VRP could reduce the cadmium-induced physiological stress in rainbow trout and provided further evidence that Cd²⁺ uptake through Ca²⁺ transport pathways in freshwater teleost.     

Cadmium Phytoextraction Efficiency of Arum (Colocasia antiquorum), Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) Grown in Hydroponics

Selection of a phytoextraction plant with high Cd accumulation potential based on compatibility with mechanized cultivation practice and local environmental conditions may provide more benefits than selection based mainly on high Cd tolerance plants. In this hydroponics study, the potential of Cd accumulation by three plant species; arum (Colocasia antiquorum), radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) were investigated. Arum (Colocasia antiquorum L.) plants were grown for 60 days in a nutrient solution with 0, 10 or 50 μM Cd, while radish and water spinach plants grew only 12 days in 0, 1.5, 2.5, 5 or 10 μM Cd. Growth of radish and water spinach plants decreased under all Cd treatments (1.5 to 10 μM), while arum growth decreased only at 50 μM Cd. At 10 μM Cd treatment, the growth of arum was similar to the control treatment indicating higher tolerance of arum for Cd than radish and water spinach. Cadmium concentrations in different plant parts of all plant species increased significantly with Cd application in the nutrient solution. Arum and water spinach retained greater proportions of Cd in their roots, while in radish, Cd concentration in leaves was higher than in other plant parts. Cadmium concentrations in arum increased from 158 to 1,060 in the dead leaves, 37 to 280 in the normal leaves, 108 to 715 in the stems, 42 to 290 in the bulbs and 1,195 to 3,840 mg kg^?1 in the roots, when the Cd level in the solution was raised from 10 μM Cd to 50 μM Cd. Arum accumulated (dry weight?×?concentration) 25 mg plant^?1 at 10 μM, while the corresponding values for radish and water spinach were 0.23 and 0.44 mg plant^?1, respectively. With no growth retardation at Cd concentrations as high as 166 mg kg^?1 measured in entire plant (including root) of arum at 10 μM Cd in the nutrient solution, arum could be a potential Cd accumulator plant species and could be used for phytoremediation.     

Effects of organic material amendment and water content on NO, N2O, and N2 emissions in a nitrate-rich vegetable soil

Amending vegetable soils with organic materials is increasingly recommended as an agroecosystems management option to improve soil quality. However, the amounts of NO, N₂O, and N₂ emissions from vegetable soils treated with organic materials and frequent irrigation are not known. In laboratory-based experiments, soil from a NO ₃ ^? -rich (340 mg N?kg^?1) vegetable field was incubated at 30°C for 30 days, with and without 10 % C₂H₂, at 50, 70, or 90 % water-holding capacity (WHC) and was amended at 1.19 g?C kg^?1 (equivalent to 2.5 t?C ha^?1) as Chinese milk vetch (CMV), ryegrass (RG), or wheat straw (WS); a soil not amended with organic material was used as a control (CK). At 50 % WHC, cumulative N₂ production (398–524 μg N?kg^?1) was significantly higher than N₂O (84.6–190 μg N?kg^?1) and NO (196–224 μg N?kg^?1) production, suggesting the occurrence of denitrification under unsaturated conditions. Organic materials and soil water content significantly influenced NO emissions, but the effect was relatively weak since the cumulative NO production ranged from 124 to 261 μg N?kg^?1. At 50–90 % WHC, the added organic materials did not affect the accumulated NO ₃ ^? in vegetable soil but enhanced N₂O emissions, and the effect was greater by increasing soil water content. At 90 % WHC, N₂O production reached 13,645–45,224 μg N?kg^?1 from soil and could be ranked as RG?>?CMV?>?WS?>?CK. These results suggest the importance of preventing excess water in soil while simultaneously taking into account the quality of organic materials applied to vegetable soils.     

Effect of Environmentally Friendly Amendment on a Newly Found Accumulator Kalimeris integrifolia Turcz. ex DC. Phytoremediating Cd-Contaminated Soil

Pot culture experiments were conducted to study the remediation potentials of a newly found accumulator Kalimeris integrifolia Turcz. ex DC. under different cadmium (Cd) concentrations with same fertilizer level, as well as the same Cd dose under different fertilizer doses. At medium (100 g/kg) chicken manure level, Cd concentrations in roots, stems, leaves, inflorescences, and shoots of K. integrifolia grown in the soils contaminated with 2.5, 5, 10, and 25 mg/kg Cd significantly decreased (p?<?0.05) in average by 23.8%, 29.9%, 24.0%, 30.1%, and 38.6%, respectively, when compared to those of the pots without addition of chicken manure. In contrast, the medium urea amendment level (1 g/kg) showed no effect on the bioaccumulated Cd concentrations of K. integrifolia regardless of the spiked Cd doses. However, Cd extraction capacities (micrograms per pot) of K. integrifolia shoots were significantly increased (p?<?0.05) due to the gain in biomass (more than one- to twofolds) by the soil fertilizing effect of urea and chicken manure. Particularly, Cd extraction capacities (micrograms per pot) of K. integrifolia shoots amended by urea were higher than that of chicken manure. Under the condition of 25 mg/kg Cd addition, shoot biomasses of K. integrifolia were significantly increased (p?<?0.05) with the amendment of chicken manure (50, 100, and 200 g/kg) and urea (0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg). As a result, the Cd extraction capacities (micrograms per pot) were increased in treatments even though soil extractable Cd concentrations were significantly decreased (p?<?0.05) by amendment with chicken manure and maintained by urea addition. For practical application concerns, chicken manure is better used as phytostabilization amendment owing to its reducing role to extractable heavy metal in soil, and urea is better for phytoextraction.     

Chromium-resistant microorganisms isolated from evaporation ponds of a metal processing plant

Chromium occurs naturally at trace levels in most soils and water, but disposal of industrial waste and sewage sludge containing chromium compounds has created a number of contaminated sites, which could pose a major environmental threat. This study was conducted to enumerate and isolate chromium-resistant microorganisms from sediments of evaporation ponds of a metal processing plant and determine their tolerance to other metals, metalloids and antibiotics. Enumeration of the microbiota of Cr-contaminated sediments and a clean background sample was conducted by means of the dilution-plate count method using media spiked with Cr(VI) at concentrations ranging from 10 to 1000 mg L^?1. Twenty Cr(VI) tolerant bacterial isolates were selected and their resistance to other metals and metalloids, and to antibiotics was assessed using a plate diffusion technique. The number of colony-forming units (cfu) of the contaminated sediments declined with increasing concentrations from 10 to 100 mg L^?1 Cr(VI), and more severely from 100 to 1000 mg L^?1 Cr(VI). The background sample behaved similarly to 100 mg L^?1 Cr(VI), but the cfu declined more rapidly thereafter, and no cfu were observed at 1000 mg L^?1 Cr(VI). Metals and metalloids that inhibited growth (from the most to least inhibitory) were: Hg > Cd > Ag > Mo = As(III) at 50 μg mL^?1. All 20 isolates were resistant to Co, Cu, Fe, Ni, Se(IV), Se(VI), Zn, Sn, As(V), Te and Sb at 50 μg mL^?1 and Pb at 100 μg mL^?1. Eighty-five percent of the isolates had multiple antibiotic resistance. In general, the more metal-tolerant bacteria were among the more resistant to antibiotics. It appears that the Cr-contaminated sediments may have enriched for bacterial strains with increased Cr(VI) tolerance.     

Fractionation of chromium in tannery sludge-amended soil and its availability to fenugreek plants

Purpose

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is a medicinal plant with antidiabetic effects. Chromium has been related to better glucose tolerance in humans. The objective of this study was to determine whether tannery sludge could be used for Cr biofortification of fenugreek.

Materials and methods

Soil was mixed with tannery sludge containing 6.03 g Cr kg^?1. All Cr was in the form of Cr(III). Three treatments were disposed: control without sludge, and two treatments with 10 and 20 g sludge kg^?1, respectively. Control and the 10 g sludge kg^?1 treatments received NPK fertilizer to adjust the concentrations of major mineral nutrients to similar levels in all treatments. Soils were potted and planted with fenugreek. Plants harvested at the initial flowering stage were analysed for total Cr, Fe, Zn and Pb. Sequential soil extraction was applied to obtain operationally defined soil Cr fractions.

Results and discussion

Total Cr in all treatments was below or within the allowable range for agricultural soils (100–150 mg kg^?1). In control soils, most Cr was in the residual fraction (HF/HClO₄ digest). Tannery sludge-amended soils incorporated most Cr into the moderately reducible fraction (oxalic acid/ammonium oxalate extract). In fenugreek shoots, Cr concentrations reached 3.2 mg Cr kg^?1, a higher concentration than that reported for other leafy vegetables. Lead concentrations in plant shoots from this treatment were enhanced but hardly exceeded 1 mg Pb kg^?1.

Conclusions

Tannery sludge-amended soils containing Cr within the range of permissible concentrations can increase shoot Cr in fenugreek. Only sludge with low Pb concentrations should be used for Cr biofortification of fenugreek.     

Selective Determination of Chromium(VI) in Industrial Wastewater Samples by Micro-Electromembrane Extraction Combined with Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

This study describes application of free liquid membrane (FLM) in micro-electromembrane extraction (μ-EME) of Cr(VI) from wastewater samples. Amount of Cr(VI) was quantified by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The transportation of Cr(VI) across the FLM was explored by electrokinetic migration and ion-exchange process. FLM and acceptor solution types, pH of donor and acceptor solutions, applied electrical potential, as well as FLM thickness were optimized. Presence of an anion exchange carrier (methyl trialkyl-ammonium chloride, Aliquat 336) in FLM facilitated Cr(VI) transportation. The best performance was observed for 1-octanol (containing 5% Aliquat 336) with thickness of 1 mm used as FLM, under applied electrical potential of 75 V, when 0.5 M NaClO₄ and 0.1 M HCl were used as the acceptor and donor phases, respectively; and the extraction time was set to 5 min. Linearity was obtained in the working range of 0.5–14.0 ng mL^?1 Cr(VI) (R²?>?0.98). The calculated limit of detection was below 0.06 ng mL^?1. Application of this method to wastewater samples showed that relative recoveries of the spiked Cr(VI) in the samples were in the range of 73.8–85.1%, based on the standard addition method.     

Increasing the Knowledge of Heavy Metal Contents and Sources in Agricultural Soils of the European Mediterranean Region

This paper contributes to increase the knowledge of the contents and sources of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) to agricultural soils in Castellón province (Spain), a representative area of the European Mediterranean region. The surface horizons of 77 agricultural soils under vegetable crops were sampled and heavy metals were analysed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) after microwave extraction using the USEPA 3051A method. Mean heavy metal contents were similar to those obtained in other areas of this region. However, heavy metal contents (e.g. Cr, Pb) in some soils were above the maximum limit set in the 86/278/CEE Directive. Multivariate analysis (correlation analysis and principal component analysis – PCA) was performed so as to identify the sources of heavy metals to soils. Co, Fe and Ni were highly correlated amongst them (r?>?0.800; p?<?0.01), whereas Cr and Mn were less correlated with Co, Fe and Ni (r?>?0.500; p?<?0.01). Other relationships among heavy metals (i.e. Cu, Pb and Zn) were also identified, although correlation coefficients were not so high as those among Co, Fe and Ni (r?<?0.500; p?<?0.01). Contents of Co, Fe, Mn and Ni were interpreted to be mainly associated with parent rocks corresponding to the first principal component (PC1). On the other hand, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were interpreted to be mainly related to anthropogenic activities and comprised the second (Pb and Zn) and the third (Cd and Cu) principal components (PC2 and PC3, respectively), designated as anthropogenic components. Remarkably, Cr appears to be related in the study area to both the lithogenic and the anthropogenic components. Lithogenic elements were highly correlated with soil properties. Positive relationships with CEC (r?>?0.200; p?<?0.05) and clay (r?>?0.400; p?<?0.01), and negative relationships with carbonates (r?>??0.400; p?<?0.01) and sand (r?>??0.300; p?<?0.01) were observed. Anthropogenic elements were less correlated with soils properties, since these elements are generally more mobile because they form more soluble chemical species associated to anthropogenic sources. Particularly, no correlation was found between Cd and Zn and soil properties. These findings extend results achieved in other parts of the region, highlighting the need to set soil quality standards in order to declare soils affected by anthropogenic pollution, particularly in the case of anthropogenic metals such as Cd, Cu and Pb, and also Cr and Zn in some areas. Further knowledge from other areas in this region would improve the basis for proposing such standards at regional level, which is a priority objective in Europe according to the European Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection.     

Effects of a Thiamethoxam-Based Insecticide on the Life History of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chironomus xanthus</Emphasis>

Thiamethoxam (TMX) is one of the most widely used neonicotinoid insecticides for pest control in agricultural crops. However, information on its acute and chronic toxicity for freshwater non-target insects is still limited. We aimed to evaluate the lethal and sub-lethal effects of TMX-based insecticide on Chironomus xanthus using laboratory ecotoxicological assays. Besides survival, 28-day partial life-cycle tests assessed the effects of chronic exposures on larval growth and emergence of midges. The estimated 48-h LC₅₀ was 32 μg a. i./L of TMX. Chronic tests revealed that chironomids exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of TMX showed reduced larval growth (LOEC?=?0.4 and 1.6 μg a.i/L of TMX for head capsule width and growth rate, respectively) and emergence rate (LOEC of 1.6 μg a.i/L of TMX). This study provides important ecotoxicological data concerning effects of TMX-based insecticides on tropical ecosystems and reveals that environmentally relevant concentrations of TMX can adversely affect chironomids populations. Our study also validates C. xanthus as a sensitive species to monitor the ecological integrity of tropical aquatic systems near intensive agricultural areas and to help understand the effects caused by TMX on freshwater insects.     

Critical Influence of Culture Medium and Cr(III) Quantification Protocols on the Interpretation of Cr(VI) Bioremediation by Environmental Fungal Isolates

The influence of culture medium composition on chromium(VI) quantification according to diphenylcarbazide (DPC) colorimetric determination was evaluated. Considering the eventual biospeciation of Cr(VI) as a mechanism of microbial bioremediation, the possibility to quantify Cr(III) in culture medium was also explored. Yeast nitrogen base (YNB) was identified as the least interferent culture medium for Cr(VI) quantification by DPC and it was applied to compare different strategies for Cr(III) oxidation. The most appropriate oxidation protocol consisted in the reaction with 80 mM KIO₄ at room temperature for 30 min prior to DPC. Parameters like basal culture medium (vitamins + salts + oligoelements), C and N source were systematically evaluated, either independently or in combination. Results demonstrated that C source was the most interferent culture medium component, being the use of sucrose preferable to glucose. A medium arbitrarily named as YNB′ (YNB without amino acids and ammonium sulfate plus 50 g L^?1 sucrose and 0.6 g L^?1 (NH₄)₂SO₄) was defined for Cr(VI)-amended fungal cultures. Kinetics of growth, Cr(VI) removal, and nutrient consumption for isolates A. pullulans VR-8, filamentous fungus PMF-1, and Lecythophora sp. NGV-1 were obtained. The order of Cr(VI) removal efficiency was as follows: A. pullulans VR-8 > Lecythophora sp. NGV-1 > filamentous fungus PMF-1, and a similar trend was observed for biomass yield and nutrients consumption. Studies on biospeciation by means of the selected Cr(III) oxidation protocol were unsuccessful, leading to Cr(VI) values much lower than expected. It revealed that this kind of protocols should be cautiously evaluated when studying microbial Cr(VI) bioremediation.     

Effects of Irrigation with Domestic Wastewater on Productivity of Green Chili and Soil Status

Experiments were designed to determine the effect of untreated wastewater (T1), phytoremediated wastewater (T2), and rainwater (T3) irrigation on Capsicum annuum and soil. Morphological parameters of plants and accumulation of metal and nutrients in crop and soil were studied. The biomass of C. annuum was greatest under T1 followed by T2 and T3. Root/shoot ratio decreased in the order T3 > T2 > T1 (P ≤ 0.05), indicating lengthening of roots under nutrient stress. There was a significant increase in the nutrient [nitrate (NO₃ ^?), phosphate (PO₄ ^3?), potassium (K⁺), magnesium (Mg⁺⁺), and calcium (Ca⁺⁺)] content of the soil after harvest under T1 and T2. The metal accumulated by the plant in μg g^?1 of dry weight was in the order zinc (Zn) > copper (Cu) > chromium (Cr). The percentage accumulations of metals by the plant out of total applied were only 1–5% for Cr and Cu and 14% for Zn, and the remaining was left in the soil. There was no metal accumulation in fruits.     

Measurement Uncertainty of Sulphur and Nitrogen Containing Inorganic Compounds By 1-Stage and 2-Stage Filter-pack Methods

The sampling and analysis properties of 1-stage and 2-stage filter-pack methods were studied in detail in monitoring of sulphur and nitrogen containing inorganic gases and particles (sulphur dioxide, sulphate, sum of nitric acid and nitrate and total ammonium). The limit of detection and the limit of quantitation for 24-h samples were estimated using the results of a short-term field experiment completed with available data from long-term monitoring and internal quality assurance. Furthermore, the combined expanded measurement uncertainty including sampling and analysis (U_tot) was estimated for filter-pack methods in order to give a tool for distinguishing long-term trends in air quality from the measurement variability. U_tot was found to be very near the analytical uncertainty when measuring higher air concentration levels, being ± 4.0% for sulphur concentrations?>?1.0 μg m^?3, ± 3.0% for sulphate concentrations?>?0.5 μg m^?3, ± 3.5% for the sum of nitrate and nitric acid concentrations?>?0.3 μg m^?3 and ± 4.5% for total ammonium concentrations?>?0.8 μg m^?3. At the lower air concentration range U_tot increases significantly due to the field blank values. The precision of the 24-h filter-pack sample results expressed by means of modified median absolute difference (M.MAD) and coefficient of variance (CoV) gave 8.3% for sulphur dioxide and 5.4% for particulate sulphate. For the sum of gaseous nitric acid and particulate nitrate the CoV was 5.5% and for total ammonium 4.3%. In addition the suitability of the 24-h filter-pack methods in weekly sampling was proved.     

Impact of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) on Water Quality, Stream Sediments and Periphytic Diatom Communities in the Surrounding Streams of Aljustrel Mining Area (Portugal)

Aljustrel mining area is located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, one of the greatest concentrations of massive sulphide deposits that extends from Lousal (Portugal) to Aznalcóllar (Spain). The surrounding streams, Roxo, Água Azeda and Água Forte, are influenced by the erosion of the tailing deposits and the input of acid mine drainage (AMD) from the abandoned Aljustrel pyrite mines, recently reopened in 2007. The purpose of this study was to understand how these adverse conditions influenced the stream sediments, water quality and periphytic diatom communities and establish the pre-restoration local conditions to judge the success of rehabilitation program now under way. For stream sediments, the highest metal concentration samples were found at sites F, G and H. Arsenic, Cu, Fe, Pb and Sb detected concentrations, generally exceeded the probable effect concentration values reaching level 4: the highest toxicity level. In surficial water samples of AMD affected sites (F, G and H), low pH values (1.5 to 3.5) and high metal concentrations of As (6,837 μg L^?1), Cd (455 μg L^?1), Cu (68,795 μg L^?1), Fe (1,262,000 μg L^?1), Mn (19,451 μg L^?1), Pb (136 μg L^?1), and Zn (264,377 μg L^?1) were found. In these sites, the diversity index (H′) for diatoms was low (0.6 to 2.8) and the dominant taxa were Eunotia exigua (site F, 33.5%) and Pinnularia acoricola (abundances in sites: F, 86.8%; G, 88.5%; and H, 91.1%). In opposition, in less AMD impacted, H′ was high (1.5 to 4.6) and low metal concentrations and high pH were found. Achnanthidium minutissimum was the dominant taxon in (abundances in sites: A, 76.1% and B, 24.39%). Canonical correspondence analysis showed that spatial variation due to mine influence was more important than seasonal variation, which did not show any pattern.     

Initial soil organic carbon concentration influences the short-term retention of crop-residue carbon in the fine fraction of a heavy clay soil

Among factors controlling decomposition and retention of residue C in soil, effect of initial soil organic C (SOC) concentration remains unclear. We evaluated, under controlled conditions, short-term retention of corn residue C and total soil CO₂ production in C-rich topsoil and C-poor subsoil samples of heavy clay. Topsoil (0–20 cm deep, 31.3 g SOC kg^?1 soil) and subsoil (30–70 cm deep, 4.5 g SOC kg^?1 soil) were mixed separately with ¹³C–¹⁵N-labeled corn (Zea mays L.) residue at rates of 0 to 40 g residue C kg^?1 soil and incubated for 51 days. We measured soil CO₂–C production and the retention of residue C in the whole soil and the fine particle-size fraction (<50 μm). Cumulative C mineralization was always greater in topsoil than subsoil. Whole-soil residue C retention was similar in topsoil and subsoil at rates up to 20 g residue C kg^?1. There was more residue C retained in the fine fraction of topsoil than subsoil at low residue input levels (2.5 and 5 g residue C kg^?1), but the trend was reversed with high residue inputs (20 and 40 g residue C kg^?1). Initial SOC concentration affected residue C retention in the fine fraction but not in the whole soil. At low residue input levels, greater microbial activity in topsoil resulted in greater residue fragmentation and more residue C retained in the fine fraction, compared to the subsoil. At high residue input levels, less residue C accumulated in the fine fraction of topsoil than subsoil likely due to greater C saturation in the topsoil. We conclude that SOC-poor soils receiving high C inputs have greater potential to accumulate C in stable forms than SOC-rich soils.