Combined modelled and measured uptakes of arsenic and uranium by Lemna gibba G3 cells

With data from in vitro and in situ investigations, we developed a mathematical model to describe cellular uptake of uranium and arsenic in solution by living Lemna gibba under homeostatic regulation. The model considers the ability of healthy cells to resist accumulation of toxic metal species by regulating physicochemical properties of the cell membrane. In the bulk solution, the ratio of the total amounts of bioavailable metal ions to the metal ions uptake by the cells is very high. Consequently, the main rate-limiting processes of uptake are the biosorption kinetics on both external and internal surfaces at the biological interface, and the transport of the metal ions across the cell membrane. The model prediction correlates well with uptake results from field and microcosm experiments for uranium and arsenic by L. gibba, a model ecotoxicological test organism.     

植物修复土壤重金属污染中外源物质的影响机制和应用研究进展

重金属进入土壤后难以被降解,并通过食物链在生物体内富集,长此以往会导致中毒、癌症、畸形、突变,严重影响了人类生产活动及地球生态系统的稳定。植物修复技术是一种经济有效的重金属污染修复技术,其依靠超富集植物强大的自身抗性机制,从土壤中提取或稳定重金属,达到污染治理的目的。然而修复土壤重金属污染的超富集植物通常生长缓慢、生物量低,其抗性机制也会受到植物本身对重金属胁迫的阈值限制,当胁迫超过这个阈值,植物修复的效率就会大大降低甚至失去修复功能。文章在解析植物重金属相互作用机制的基础上,综述了添加外源物质对重金属毒害植物的缓解效应以及其在强化植物修复土壤重金属污染中的应用研究进展;介绍了应用外源物质调控植物吸收转运重金属的3种途径,分别为提高土壤重金属生物利用度、促进植物生长以及增强植物耐性。提出了应用外源物质作为强化植物修复措施的潜力及今后的研究方向,其未来的研究应着重于以下方面:明确外源物质的应用浓度、时期、方式与植物吸收转运重金属之间的关系;从植物内源激素及信号分子间的互作、抗逆基因表达、内生及根际微生物等不同层面上揭示外源物质对植物积累重金属的调控机理;开展外源物质与其他植物修复强化技术的联合应用研究。这些研究可为土壤重金属污染的植物修复技术及其强化措施研究提供科学依据,同时也对植物修复工程技术的发展实践具有一定的指导意义。     

丛枝菌根对土壤-植物系统中重金属迁移转化的影响

丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF)是一类在自然和农业生态系统中广泛存在并能与多数陆生植物形成共生关系的土壤真菌,在重金属污染土壤中对宿主植物的生长及吸收累积重金属具有重要影响,因而对污染土壤的生物修复具有潜在应用价值。以重金属从根际土壤进入植物并在植物体内再分配过程为主线,介绍丛枝菌根在这一过程中对重金属环境行为,特别是根际土壤中重金属赋存形态及植物吸收重金属的影响。最后,对丛枝菌根影响植物重金属耐性机制研究前沿和菌根修复技术的应用前景进行展望。     

A simple approach to modeling microbial biomass in the rhizosphere

Microorganisms make an important contribution to the degradation of contaminants in bioremediation as well as in phytoremediation. An accurate estimation of microbial concentrations in the soil would be valuable in predicting contaminant dissipation during various bioremediation processes. A simple modeling approach to quantify the microbial biomass in the rhizosphere was developed in this study. Experiments were conducted using field column lysimeters planted with Eastern gamagrass. The microbial biomass concentrations from the rhizosphere soil, bulk soil, and unplanted soil were monitored for six months using an incubation–fumigation method. The proposed model was applied to the field microbial biomass data and good correlation between simulated and experimental data was achieved. The results indicate that plants increase microbial concentrations in the soil by providing root exudates as growth substrates for microorganisms. Since plant roots are initially small and do not produce large quantities of exudates when first seeded, the addition of exogenous substrates may be needed to increase initial microbial concentrations at the start of phytoremediation projects.     

Efficient phytoremediation of uranium mine tailings by tobacco

This investigation shows that tobacco plant roots and leaves accumulate 60?times more uranium than previously reported. Phytoremediation is a convenient technique to clean up polluted soils using herbaceous plants and trees. Increasing research aims to identify novel plant species that accumulate toxic metals. Tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is a promising cultivar for phytoremediation because tobacco is fast growing and easily propagated. Here, we study phytoremediation of uranium by two tobacco varieties Virginia and Burley, bred in natural conditions. Plants were grown on uranium mine tailings with an average uranium content of 15.3?mg?kg^?1. Each shoot sample was cross-sectioned into five uniform groups of leaves and stem segments. Results show a substantial variance in uranium uptake according to the section elderliness and origin of the plant parts. The highest concentrations of uranium values recorded in leaves of Burleys and Virginias nearest root shoot sections were 4.18 and 3.50?mg?kg^?1, respectively. These values are 60?times higher rates than those previously published for leaves of cultivars grown under similar conditions. Taking into account the level of soil contamination, the content of accumulated uranium demonstrates uranium hyperaccumulatory properties of tobacco plant and its potential utilization in phytoremediation of uranium-contaminated mediums.     

丛枝菌根-植物修复重金属污染土壤研究中的热点

随着菌根研究和植物修复技术的发展,利用丛枝菌根强化重金属污染土壤的植物修复逐渐受到人们的重视。本文系统综述了当前的几个研究热点:(1)菌根植物吸收和转运重金属的分子机制;(2)AM真菌对超富集植物重金属吸收的影响及其机制;(3)AM真菌对转基因植物重金属吸收的影响及其机制;(4)AM真菌与其他土壤生物在植物修复中的复合作用;(5)丛枝菌根与化学螯合剂在植物修复中的复合作用;(6)重金属复合污染土壤的丛枝菌根-植物修复;(7)放射性污染土壤的枝菌根-植物修复;(8)丛枝菌根-植物修复的田间试验研究。在未来的丛枝菌根-植物修复研究中,要筛选优良的宿主植物和与之高效共生的AM真菌,加强相关理论和应用基础研究,并构建高效基因工程菌。     

开阳磷矿10种木本植物叶片重金属富集特征

植物对重金属具有一定的吸附能力,植物修复是生态修复不可或缺的一部分,利用植物减缓和治理重金属污染具有重要意义.选取开阳磷矿马路坪矿区生命周期较长的木本植物及其土壤作为研究对象,探究木本植物受Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、As等5种重金属污染土壤的效应,对植物重金属含量及其富集特性进行研究分析,筛选出累积重金属的植物,作为矿区...     

Concentration enrichment of sparingly soluble contaminants (U,Th and Pb) by erosion and by soil adhesion to plants and skin

Sparingly soluble contaminants are less likely to affect human health through food chain transfers, such as plant uptake or passage through animal-based foods, because mobility in these pathways is limited by solubility. Direct ingestion or inhalation of contaminated soil becomes the dominant pathway. However, both of these can be selective processes. Clay-sized particles carry the bulk of the sparingly soluble contaminants, and mechanisms that selectively remove and accumulate clay from the bulk soil also concentrate the contaminants. Erosion is another process that selectively removes clays. This project examined the degree of clay and contaminant-concentration enrichment that could occur by these processes, using U, Th and Pb as representative contaminants and using a clay and a loam soil. Erosion by water in natural rainfall events caused concentration enrichments up to 7 fold, and enrichments varied with characteristics of the erosion events. Enrichments were higher for the coarser, loam soil. Adhesion to skin gave modest enrichments of 1.3 fold in these soils, but up to 10 fold in sandy soils studied subsequently. Adhesion to plant leaves, where there was no root contact with contaminated soil, gave leaf concentrations comparable to situations where the roots contacted the contaminated soil. Clearly, adhesion to leaves is an important component of plant accumulation of sparingly soluble contaminants.     

Arsenic toxicity in crop plants: physiological effects and tolerance mechanisms

Heavy metals are toxic substances released into the environment, contributing to a variety of toxic effects on living organisms in food chain by accumulation and biomagnifications. Certain pollutants such as arsenic (As) remain in the environment for an extensive period. They eventually accumulate to levels that could harm physiochemical properties of soils and lead to loss of soil fertility and crop yield. Arsenic, when not detoxified, may trigger a sequence of reactions leading to growth inhibition, disruption of photosynthetic and respiratory systems, and stimulation of secondary metabolism. Plants respond to As toxicity by a variety of mechanisms including hyperaccumulation, antioxidant defense system, and phytochelation. Arbuscular mycorrhizae symbiosis occurs in almost all habitats and climates, including disturbed soils. There is growing evidence that arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi may alleviate metal/metalloid toxicity to host plant. Here, we review (1) arsenic speciation in the environment and how As is taken up by the roots and metabolised within plants, and (2) the role of arbuscular mycorrhizae in alleviating arsenic toxicity in crop plants.     

Applying chemical sedimentation process in drinking water treatment plant to address the emergent arsenic spills in water sources

Arsenic (As) spills occurred more frequently and sometimes polluted water sources in recent years in China. It is as urgent need to develop emergency treatment technologies to address the arsenic threat for large-scale water treatment plants. In response, we developed a chemical sedimentation technology to remove arsenic contaminants for water treatment plants. Bench-scale experiments were conducted to investigate the efficiency of arsenic removal and the influencing factors of the chemical sedimentation treatment process. The influencing factors included the choice and dosage of coagulants, the valence of arsenic and pH value of solution. The As(V) contaminants can be almost completely removed by ferric or alum coagulants. The As(III) contaminants are more recalcitrant to chemical sedimentation, 75% for ferric coagulant and 40% for alum coagulant. The quantitative results of arsenic removal load by different ferric or alum coagulants were presented to help determine the parameters for arsenic treatment technology. The dominant mechanism for arsenic removal is static combination, or adsorption of negative arsenic species onto positive ferric hydroxide or alum hydroxide flocs. The efficiency of this treatment technology has also been demonstrated by a real production test in one water treatment plant with arsenic-rich source water and one emergency response. This technology was verified to be quick to set-up, easy to operate and highly efficient even for high concentration of arsenic.     

Chromium toxicity and tolerance in plants

Chromium (Cr) is the second most common metal contaminant in ground water, soil, and sediments due to its wide industrial application, hence posing a serious environmental concern. Among various valence states, Cr(III) and Cr(VI) are the most stable forms. Cr(VI) is the most persistent in the soil and is highly toxic for biota. Since Cr is a non-essential element for plants, there is no uptake mechanism; Cr is taken up along essential elements such as sulfate through sulfate transporters. Cr accumulation in plants causes high toxicity in terms of reduction in growth and biomass accumulation, and Cr induces structural alterations. Cr interferes with photosynthetic and respiration processes, and water and minerals uptake mechanism. Various enzymatic activities related to starch and nitrogen metabolism are decreased by Cr toxicity either by direct interference with the enzymes or through the production of reactive oxygen species. Cr causes oxidative damage by destruction of membrane lipids and DNA damage. Cr may even cause the death of plant species. Few plant species are able to accumulate high amount of Cr without being damaged. Such Cr-tolerant, hyperaccumulator plants are exploited for their bioremediation property. The present review discusses Cr availability in the environment, Cr transfer to biota, toxicity issues, effect on germination and plant growth, morphological and ultrastructural aberrations, biochemical and physiological alterations, effect on metabolic processes, Cr-induced alterations at the molecular level, Cr hyperaccumulation and Cr detoxification mechanism, and the role of arbuscular mycorrhizae in Cr toxicity, in plants.     

土壤多环芳烃污染根际修复研究进展

多环芳烃(polycyclicaromatichydrocarbons,PAHs)是环境中普遍存在的具有代表性的一类重要持久性有机污染物,具“三致性”、难降解性,在土壤环境中不断积累,严重危害着土壤的生产和生态功能、农产品质量和人类健康。修复土壤多环芳烃污染已成为研究的焦点。根际修复是利用植物-微生物和根际环境降解有机污染物的复合生物修复技术,是目前最具潜力的土壤生物修复技术之一。对国内外学者近年来在土壤多环芳烃污染根际修复的效果、根际修复机理和根际修复的影响因素方面的研究进展作了较系统的综述,并分别分析了单作体系、混作体系、多进程根际修复系统和接种植物生长促进菌根际修复系统对土壤多环芳烃的修复效果。指出根际环境对PAHs的修复主要有3种机制:根系直接吸收和代谢PAHs;植物根系释放酶和分泌物去除PAHs,增加根际微生物数量,提高其活性,强化微生物群体降解PAHs。并讨论了影响根际修复PAHs的环境因素如植物、土壤类型、PAHs理化性质、菌根真菌以及表面活性剂等。植物-表面活性剂结合的根际修复技术、PAHs胁迫下根际的动态调节过程、运用分子生物学技术并结合植物根分泌物的特异性筛选高效修复植物以及植物富集的PAHs代谢产物进行跟踪与风险评价将成为未来研究的主流。     

Diffusive gradient in thin-film (DGT) models Cd and Pb uptake by plants growing on soils amended with sewage sludge and urban compost

Food contamination by Cd and Pb is of increasing concern because contaminated composts and sewage sludges are used as soil fertilizers. Indeed, Cd and Pb from sewage sludge and compost can be transferred to plants and, in turn, to food. Predicting the quantity of metals transferred to plants is difficult and actual models are unable to give accurate concentrations. Therefore, new techniques are needed. For instance, diffusive gradient in thin-film (DGT) is commonly used to measure metal bioavailability in waters, sediments and soils, but DGT has not been well studied for metal uptake in plants. Moreover, actual models for soil–plant transfer are too complex and require many soil parameters. Here, we simplified the modelization of metal uptake by plants by considering only DGT fluxes and roots surfaces. We grew durum wheat in a greenhouse on sandy soils amended with urban compost or sewage sludge. Results show that Cd uptake was slightly underestimated when whole roots were considered as an absorbing surface. For Pb, the best estimation was found by using root tip surface. Overall, our model ranks correctly the samples but underestimates Pb uptake by 15 % and Cd uptake by 45 %. It is nonetheless a simpler way of modelling by using only DGT fluxes and root system morphology.     

Stabilization of metal processing plant sludge via sequential application of phytoremediation and pyrolysis

The aim of this study is to evaluate the metal removal ability of three different plants from metal processing sludge containing Pb, Cd, and Zn. Therefore, phytoremediation and pyrolysis were sequentially applied. In the phytoremediation applications, sunflower (Helianthus annuus), corn (Zea mays), and rape (Brassica napus) seeds were sown in sludge/soil mixtures at four different levels (25/75, 50/50, 75/25, 100/0). The chelating agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, was added to the mixtures for plant uptake during phytoremediation. At the phytoremediation stage, it was noted that rape was the most effective plant for the mixture of 75/25 sludge/soil, with metal removal efficiencies ranging between 80%–90%. At the pyrolysis stage, after harvesting, contaminated plants grown in a 75/25 sludge/soil mixture were pyrolyzed at 500 °C, with a heating rate of 35 °C/min. The results show that 60%–90% of the initial metal content was held by the solid product. In addition to this, it can be concluded that pyrolysis stabilizes metals into a solid product and that this solid product can be safely landfilled as inert waste since its toxicity leaching value is lower than the limit values.     

利用美洲商陆修复锰尾渣污染土壤对后茬植物的影响

采用盆栽法研究用锰超富集植物美洲商陆(Phytolacca americana)修复锰尾渣污染土壤对后茬植物大豆(Glycine max)和绿豆(Phaseolus radiatus)的影响.经美洲商陆修复锰尾渣污染土壤后,后茬植物大豆和绿豆的镉、铅、锌和锰含量降低,污染土壤的毒性减弱,有利于这2种植物生长.经美洲商陆修复2～3 a,可显著减弱污染土壤对大豆的毒性.由此可见,在经美洲商陆修复的污染土壤上栽培大豆,可以增加含氮量,促进其他植物生长,从而维持锰尾渣污染区植被持续发展.     

Heavy metals and soil microbes

Heavy metal pollution is a global issue due to health risks associated with metal contamination. Although many metals are essential for life, they can be harmful to man, animal, plant and microorganisms at toxic levels. Occurrence of heavy metals in soil is mainly attributed to natural weathering of metal-rich parent material and anthropogenic activities such as industrial, mining, agricultural activities. Here we review the effect of soil microbes on the biosorption and bioavailability of heavy metals; the mechanisms of heavy metals sequestration by plant and microbes; and the effects of pollution on soil microbial diversity and activities. The major points are: anthropogenic activities constitute the major source of heavy metals in the environment. Soil chemistry is the major determinant of metal solubility, movement and availability in the soil. High levels of heavy metals in living tissues cause severe organ impairment, neurological disorders and eventual death. Elevated levels of heavy metals in soils decrease microbial population, diversity and activities. Nonetheless, certain soil microbes tolerate and use heavy metals in their systems; as such they are used for bioremediation of polluted soils. Soil microbes can be used for remediation of contaminated soils either directly or by making heavy metals bioavailable in the rhizosphere of plants. Such plants can accumulate 100 mg g^?1 Cd and As; 1000 mg g^?1 Co, Cu, Cr, Ni and 10,000 mg g^?1 Pb, Mn and Ni; and translocate metals to harvestable parts. Microbial activity changes soil physical properties such as soil structure and biochemical properties such as pH, soil redox state, soil enzymes that influence the solubility and bioavailability of heavy metals. The concept of ecological dose (ED₅₀) and lethal concentration (LC₅₀) was developed in response to the need to easily quantify the influence of pollutants on microbial-mediated ecological processes in various ecosystems.     

Enhanced Ni phytoextraction by effectiveness of chemical and biological amendments in sunflower plant grown in Ni-polluted soils

A greenhouse study was conducted as a completely randomised design in a factorial arrangement to assess how inoculation of AMF (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus) and application of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetracetic acid) as biological and chemical amendments can affect the Ni (nickel) phytoremediation in Ni-polluted soils using sunflower plant. The results showed that the inoculation of AMF increased root colonisation while applying EDTA and high level of Ni decreased it. Microbial incubation has a positive effect on both shoot and root dry yields; however, co-application of Ni and EDTA demoted the growth rate. Shoot nutrients uptake of plants decreased as Ni levels increased. In inoculated plants, shoot uptake of Zn, Fe and Mn was higher in all Ni levels than non-inoculated plants. Ni uptake in plant shoots and roots increased with applying both AMF and EDTA. However, the mean Ni concentration and uptake in inoculated plants along with applying EDTA are higher in sunflower shoots than in roots. As Ni levels increased, Ni extraction and uptake efficiencies increased; it can be concluded co-application of EDTA and AMF was effective in increasing phytoextraction potential of sunflower plants in Ni-contaminated sites. This study highlights that AMF could be suitable for cleaning Ni-polluted areas and it could significantly contribute to phytoremediation technology.     

Investigation of correlativity between heavy metals concentration in indigenous plants and combined pollution soils

The accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in soils is potentially hazardous to human, livestock and plant species. HMs in the combined pollution soils and indigenous plants were investigated in a non-ferrous metal-smelting area. The purpose of this study was to determine the HMs in the contaminated soil and different plant species found growing on it, as well as calculation of bioaccumulation coefficients (BACs). Representative sampling sites were identified according to the land-use types. A total of 12 surface soil samples and 32 plant samples were collected. HMs were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The levels of soil pollution were assessed using Nemerow’s synthetical contamination index method. The synthetical index was in the range of 16.81–198.11. This result indicated a heavy burden on local environment. HM concentrations in plants were directly related with soil concentrations. The average BACs of five metals were found in the order of Cd (0.309)?>?Zn (0.178)?≈?Pb (0.160)?>?Cu (0.105)?>?Sb (0.0672). Spontaneous weeds including Chenopodium album Linn, Kochia scoparia and trees of Leuce, Ulmus pumila were deemed HM accumulators. The results provided a practical basis for phytoremediation of HM-contaminated soils using accumulator species.     

菌根在污染土壤生物修复中的作用

菌根是土壤真菌 -植物根系形成的共生体 ,广泛存在于自然界中 ,它能增强植物的吸收能力 ,改善植物的生长 ,提高植株的抗逆能力和耐受能力等。所以 ,菌根化植物可作为很好的生物修复载体。本文主要从无机、有机以及放射性污染 3方面对国内外关于菌根在污染土壤生物修复中的作用进行了综述     

The effect of application time of mobilising agents on growth and phytoextraction of lead by Brassica napus from a calcareous mine soil

Phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated sites is often limited by the low-bioavailability of the contaminants. Complexing agents can help to improve this technique by enhancing heavy metal solubility. Pot experiments were conducted to determine the best time for the application of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sheep manure extract (SME) for phytoremediation of a contaminated soil by Brassica napus. The plant was grown on a mine calcareous soil treated with increasing concentrations of EDTA or SME 30 and 10?days before sowing (T1 and T2) and 10 and 30?days after sowing (T3 and T4). Soil available Pb and lead concentrations in plant organs of Brassica napus increased with EDTA concentration. The EDTA application before seed germination significantly reduced rapeseed seedling emergence and dry weight. However, the actual amount of phytoextracted Pb by rapeseed did not decrease significantly, due to severe growth depression, at high EDTA concentrations when it had applied at a suitable time (T4). SME application after sowing increased plant dry weight and Pb concentration in the soil solution and enhanced the accumulated metal concentrations in shoots and roots. Comparing the effect of EDTA and SME on Pb phytoextraction, the study showed that SME is not more effective than EDTA. The efficiency of EDTA on Pb phytoextraction by Brassica napus depends on the time of application. The most efficient treatment for Pb phytoextraction by rapeseed was application of 2?g EDTA/kg soil at T4.