盐城市空气污染对呼吸系统日门诊量关系的时间序列分析

根据盐城市2014—2018年逐日空气污染物监测数据细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))、可吸入颗粒物(PM_(10))、二氧化氮(NO_2)、二氧化硫(SO_2)、臭氧(O_3)、气象数据(日平均温度、日平均相对湿度)及市区某三甲综合医院呼吸系统日门诊资料,采用时间序列半参数广义相加模型,以滞后天数最大效应值作为空气污染物对人群呼吸系统日门诊量影响的超额危险度,分析了盐城市空气污染物短期暴露对人群呼吸系统日门诊量的影响。结果表明,2014—2018年盐城市空气PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)、NO_2、SO_2和O_3平均值分别为48.4,81.8,26.3,15.8和111.2 mg/m~3,其中PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)值高于《环境空气质量标准》(GB 3095—2012)二级标准。污染物PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)、NO_2、SO_2和O_3值每升高10 mg/m~3,呼吸系统日门诊量就增加0.52%,0.31%,3.54%,4.36%和0.03%,SO_2效应最强。空气污染物的短期暴露影响呼吸系统日门诊量,且存在滞后效应,其中PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)、NO_2、SO_2影响较大。     

2017年佛山市大气复合污染特征及来源分析

利用2017年佛山市8个国控监测点位的6项常规大气污染物自动监测数据,研究细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))、可吸入颗粒物(PM 10)、臭氧(O_(3))的时空变化和复合污染特征,并采用单颗粒气溶胶质谱仪对佛山市大气PM_(2.5)进行来源解析,分析O_(3)与二次气溶胶的协同增长关系。结果表明,2017年佛山市空气质量综合指数(AQI)为4.75,主要的空气质量污染物为PM_(2.5)、二氧化氮(NO_(2))和O_(3),除O_(3)呈现第2,3季度较高外,其他5项污染物均呈现第1,4季度较高的趋势。ρ(PM_(2.5))和ρ(PM_(2.5))/ρ(CO)在1—4月和11,12月较高,二次生成强度较大。机动车尾气源、燃煤源和工业工艺源是大气PM_(2.5)的主要来源。佛山市中心城区等道路密集以及交通枢纽地区的ρ(NO_(2))较高,机动车尾气排放是大气NO_(2)的主要来源。O_(3)污染主要发生在4,5,7—10月。ρ(O_(3))和ρ(PM_(2.5))/ρ(CO)的日变化均在12:00—17:00达到峰值。ρ(PM_(2.5))随光化学活性水平增强而提高,高度和中度光化学活性水平下ρ(PM_(2.5))/ρ(CO)明显大于轻度和低光化学活性水平。在统计时段,PM_(2.5)和O_(3)协同增长的时间占37.3%,O_(3)污染对二次气溶胶的氧化生成有明显的促进作用。     

无锡市区大气污染物状况及变化趋势分析

使用2012—2015年无锡市区的6种大气污染物监测数据,对无锡市区各污染物的年度变化、空间分布、影响因素进行了分析。结果表明:(1)2012—2015年无锡市区SO_2、O_3质量浓度呈下降趋势,且趋势显著;NO_2质量浓度呈下降趋势,但不明显;CO、PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)的质量浓度年际变化比较平稳。(2)无锡市区SO_2、NO_2、PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)、CO的空气质量分指数(IAQI)均为冬季最高、夏季最低;O_3的IAQI则为夏季最高、冬季最低。(3)SO_2、NO_2、PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)、CO浓度间呈两两正相关,且相关性极显著;O_3浓度与NO_2、CO呈显著负相关,与SO_2、PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)浓度之间没有明显的关联。(4)分析了无锡市区各项大气污染物浓度的空间分布特征。(5)SO_2、NO_2、PM_(10)浓度周内变化具有"周末效应"的特征,而O_3、CO和PM_(2.5)浓度周内变化出现"反周末效应"。     

连云港春季PM2.5中主要水溶性无机离子污染特征及来源解析

于2017年3月1日—5月31日监测分析了连云港市大气PM_(2.5)中主要水溶性无机离子质量浓度的日变化规律,以及与气象因子、PM10、PM_(2.5)相关性。结果表明,水溶性无机离子质量浓度与环境空气中NO_2、CO、PM_(10)、PM_(2. 5)显著相关,与气温、风速、能见度等呈负相关;日变化呈明显单峰型,峰值出现在08:00左右;水溶性无机离子季度均值为27. 2μg/m~3,占ρ(PM_(2.5))平均50%左右,ρ(NO_3~-)、ρ(SO_4~(2-))和ρ(NH_4~+)占ρ(水溶性无机离子)总85%以上;指出,SO_4~(2-)主要受远距离传输的影响,NO_3~-和NH_4~+主要受局地源的影响。     

苏州市一次PM_(2.5)污染过程分析及其来源解析

利用TEOM1405F型PM_(2.5)测量仪、MARGA水溶性离子在线分析仪和激光雷达对苏州市2016年8月24日—9月6日PM_(2.5)、水溶性离子和气溶胶垂直分布进行了观测,结合气象数据分析了水溶性离子的变化规律及其主要来源。结果表明,观测期间PM_(2.5)平均值为43.4μg/m3,与2014和2015年同期相比下降了42.9%和40.3%。总水溶性无机离子平均值为24.18μg/m~3,约占ρ(PM_(2.5))55.7%,其中ρ(SO_4~(2-))、ρ(NH_4~+)和ρ(NO_3~-)分别占ρ(总离子)的46.0%、25.8%、21.0%。夜间边界层降低,大气垂直扩散条件较差,是造成ρ(PM_(2.5))及ρ(水溶性离子)显著升高的主要原因。ρ(NO_3~-)/ρ(SO_4~(2-))为0.056~1.939,平均值为0.432,表明固定源(燃煤源)仍然是PM_(2.5)的主要来源;PCA方法表明苏州水溶性离子的主要来源于二次污染和燃烧源、海盐和土壤源以及地面扬尘、建筑尘。     

盐城市秋冬季节PM2.5污染特征及来源分析

于2019年10月—2020年2月在盐城市开展大气PM_(2.5)离线监测,对PM_(2.5)的浓度变化、质量平衡、组分及来源进行了分析。结果表明,监测期间盐城市ρ(PM_(2.5))月均值为43.32～62.59μg/m~3,其中1月最高;监测期间ρ(PM_(2.5))平均值为54.25μg/m~3,质量重建后该值为52.38μg/m~3,与实测值的相关性达到0.98; PM_(2.5)占比最多的成分是硫酸盐、硝酸盐和铵盐(SNA); m(NO_3~-)/m(SO_4~(2-))的平均值为2.16,说明监测期间盐城市机动车相比固定源对NO_2和SO_2有更高的贡献;通过主成分因子分析,可知盐城市秋、冬季节PM_(2.5)主要来源于土壤和扬尘源、燃烧源以及二次无机源。     

焦作市大气污染物特征和相关性分析

为研究焦作市大气污染特征及其相关性,对2015—2017年焦作市4个国控空气监测点位的监测数据进行统计分析。结果表明:2015—2017年城区环境空气污染SO_2、NO_2、CO、PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)浓度均呈逐年下降趋势;大气污染浓度季节变化特征明显,PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)、SO_2、NO_2、CO的浓度均为冬季最高、夏季最低,空气质量指数也在冬季达到最高值; O_3浓度则为夏季最高、冬季最低。2017年焦作市沙尘天气共计36 d,严重影响了环境空气中颗粒物的浓度。由PM_(2.5)与PM_(10)的比值说明大气颗粒物污染以PM_(2.5)为主。通过SPSS软件分析,SO_2、NO_2、CO、PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)浓度间呈两两正相关,O_3浓度与NO_2、CO呈负相关。     

睢宁地区大气PM_(2.5)及气态污染物季节性变化特征

根据2014年全年实时在线观测数据,分析了徐州睢宁地区大气细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))和气态污染物(包括SO_2、CO、NO_x、O_3)质量浓度的季节性变化特征。结合后向轨迹模型,分析不同气团对该地区大气污染浓度的影响。PM_(2.5)与O_3值在夏季最低,呈显著相关,表明夏季PM_(2.5)主要受控于本地大气光化学活性。在冬季,除O_3外,PM_(2.5)、SO_2、CO、NO_x值最高,且大气颗粒物主要以细粒子为主。O_3在春季最高,并与远程传输的气团且经过我国东部污染源密集地区相对应。高浓度的PM_(2.5)主要与冬季缓慢移动的气团相对应,这可能将PM_(2.5)及其气态前体物传输至该地区进而加重大气污染程度。     

合肥市冬季PM_(2.5)中水溶性离子化学特征分析

基于2021年12月1日-2022年2月28日合肥市细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))及其水溶性离子连续观测数据,分析了合肥市冬季PM_(2.5)中水溶性离子化学特征以及不同污染程度下水溶性离子化学特征。结果表明:采样期间合肥市PM_(2.5)污染较重,不同污染程度下PM_(2.5)浓度差异较大,中度及以上污染天的ρ(PM_(2.5))平均值分别是清洁天和轻度污染天的2.8和1.3倍。二次水溶性无机离子[硝酸根离子(NO_(3)^(-))、铵根离子(NH+4)和硫酸根离子(SO_(2)-4),简称SNA]是合肥市PM_(2.5)的重要组成部分,随着污染程度的加重,PM_(2.5)二次生成比例随之下降。NH+4是合肥市水溶性离子中中和能力最强的离子,易与NO_(3)^(-)和SO_(2)-4结合分别形成NH_(4)NO_(3)和(NH_(4))_(2)SO_(4)。合肥市SO_(2)和NO_(2)均易发生二次转化,且SO_(2)较NO_(2)更容易发生二次转化。钙离子(Ca^(2+))和镁离子(Mg^(2+))相关性较高,说明合肥市PM_(2.5)可能受扬尘影响较大;钾离子(K^(+))是生物质燃烧的指示离子,氯离子(Cl^(-))与K^(+)相关性较好,说明合肥市PM_(2.5)组分中的Cl^(-)和K^(+)主要来自生物质燃烧。PM_(2.5)中水溶性离子受降水和温度影响较大。     

2013-2018年北京市PM2.5污染波动特征研究

利用2013—2018年北京市大气污染物监测数据及气象条件等资料,分析了北京市PM_(2.5)污染波动变化趋势及其影响因素。结果表明,2013—2018年北京市空气质量呈现整体改善趋势,优良天数由2013年的176 d增加至2018年的227d;重污染天数显著减少,由2013年的58 d逐年递减至2018年的14 d。受污染源排放、特殊气候现象、气象条件等多因素影响,近6年北京市ρ(PM_(2.5))月均值呈现波动下降趋势,其中秋、冬季波动性更加突显。2014—2016年北京市秋冬季PM_(2.5)污染突出,其中2014年10月、2015年11—12月、2016年12月ρ(PM_(2.5))月均值均达到中度污染级别;而2017—2018年北京市秋、冬季ρ(PM_(2.5))月均值均处于优良水平。相关性分析结果显示,地面相对湿度、中层温度与大气污染物呈现较强的正相关性,中层北风频率、地面风速则呈现负相关性。基于上述气象条件及CO、SO_2和NO_2等气态污染物共同构建的拟合方程对ρ(PM_(2.5))估算结果较好,多站点的拟合值与实际值的相关系数为0.900～0.947,进一步说明气象条件及相关污染源排放对PM_(2.5)污染具有显著影响。     

A New Mathematical Approach in Environmental and Life Sciences: Gene–Environment Networks and Their Dynamics

An important research area in life sciences is devoted to modeling, prediction, and dynamics of gene-expression patterns. As clearly understood in these days, this enterprise cannot become satisfactory without acknowledging the role of the environment. To a representation of past, present, and most likely future states, we also encounter measurement errors and uncertainties. This paper surveys and improves recent advances in understanding the foundations and interdisciplinary implications of the newly introduced gene–environment networks, and it integrates the important theme of carbon dioxide emission reduction into the networks and dynamics. We also introduce some operational and managerial issues of practical working and decision making, expressed in terms of sliding windows, quadrants (modules) of parametric effects, and navigating (controlling) between such effects and directing them. Given data from DNA microarray experiments and environmental records, we extract nonlinear ordinary differential equations that contain parameters that have to be determined. For this, we employ modern (Chebychevian) approximation and (generalized semi-infinite) optimization. After this is provided, time- discretized dynamical systems are studied. A combinatorial algorithm with polyhedra sequences allows to detect the region of parametric stability. Finally, we analyze the topological landscape of gene–environment networks with its structural (in)stability. By embedding as a module and investigating CO₂ emission control and figuring out game theoretical aspects, we conclude. This pioneering work is theoretically elaborated, practically devoted to health care, medicine, education, living conditions, and environmental protection, and it invites the readers to future research.      

An investigation on biological stability of product water generated by lab-scale and pilot-scale distillation systems

Material Disposal Area G is the primary low-levelradioactive waste disposal site at Los Alamos NationalLaboratory, New Mexico, and is adjacent to Pueblo of SanIldefonso lands. Pueblo residents and Los Alamos scientists areconcerned about radiological doses resulting from uptake of AreaG radionuclides by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) andRocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus), then consumption ofdeer and elk meat by humans. Tissue samples were collected fromdeer and elk accidentally killed near Area G and were analyzedfor ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, total U, ²³⁸Pu, ^{239, 240}Pu,²⁴¹Am, and ¹³⁷Cs. These data were used to estimatehuman doses based on meat consumption of 23 kg y^-1. Humandoses were also modeled using RESRAD, and dose rates to deer andelk were estimated with a screening model. Dose estimates tohumans from tissue consumption were 2.9 × 10^-3 mSv y^-1and 1.6 × 10^-3 mSv y^-1 from deer and elk, respectively,and RESRAD dose estimates were of the same order of magnitude. Estimated dose rates to deer and elk were 2.1 × 10^-4 mGyd^-1 and 4.7 × 10^-4 mGy d^-1, respectively. Allestimated doses were significantly less than established exposurelimits or guidelines.     

Assessing health consequences in an environmental impact assessment: The case of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

In this article a comprehensive approach for the evaluation of possible health effects in an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is described, illustrated with the example of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Unlike many EIAs, we estimated quantitatively the impact of aircraft-related pollution in terms of the number of affected people for aircraft noise annoyance, odour annoyance and hypertension. In addition, an analysis of health registry data on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and a short survey on annoyance and risk perception were carried out. The scope of a health impact assessment depends on the situation, available knowledge and data, concern in the population about the impact and the number of people concerned. It is important to pay attention to the perception of risks and concerns from all parties involved. Moreover, the results demonstrate that far more people outside the area for which standards apply were affected than inside.     

Contaminant Profiles of Two Species of Shorebirds Foraging Together at Two Neighboring Sites in South San Francisco Bay, California

The San Francisco Bay estuary isused by over one million shorebirds during springmigration and is home to several hundred thousandduring the winter. Most shorebird use occurs in thesouthern reach of the estuary (South Bay). Thereduced water circulation and discharge fromindustrial sources in the South Bay are responsiblefor the highest levels of some trace elements in theestuary. Wintering shorebirds have been found to havestrong site fidelity to areas as small as a fewkilometers in the South Bay, which may increase theirexposure to contaminants near local point sources. Inaddition, different shorebird species foraging at thesame site have been shown to have differentcontaminant burdens. Thus, our objectives were totest whether contaminant burdens differed by species,or whether contaminant burdens differed in shorebirdscollected at adjacent sites. We examined thecontaminant profiles of two species of shorebirds,long-billed dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus)and western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) thatforage together at two sites, Hayward and Newark,separated by 8 km in the South Bay. We usedmultivariate analysis of variance tests to compare thecomposition of 14 elemental analytes in their livertissues and estimated their molar ratios of Hg and Se. Composite samples were used for contaminant analysesbecause of the small body size of the shorebirds. Seven elemental analytes (Ag, Ba, Be, Cr, Ni, Pb, V)were below detection limits in a majority of thesamples so statistical analyses were precluded. Inthe measurable analytes (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Se, Zn),we found no significant intra-site differences ofcontaminant profiles for the two species. We pooledthe samples to examine inter-site differences andfound significant differences in contaminant profilesbetween shorebirds at the neighboring sites (P = 0.03). Shorebirds at Newark had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of As, Cd, and Se than those at Hayward. Dowitchers at Newark had concentrations of Hg and Se which were highly correlated (P < 0.003) in a mean molar ratio of 1:19, similar tothat reported in other birds. In the larger dowitcherspecies, we also examined exposure to 20organochlorine compounds. Organic analyses showedthat the dowitchers had been exposed to DDE, PCBs,dieldrin and trans-nonachlor, but with no significantdifferences in concentrations between Hayward andNewark (P > 0.05).     

土壤和底泥中砷、铬、锰测定的前处理技术

试验了土壤和底泥中砷的前处理技术，其目的是能对土壤、底泥中砷、铬、锰在一次前处理中制备成试液，比色法分析。试验表明，用Ｈ２ＳＯ４－Ｈ３ＰＯ４－Ｈ２Ｏ２进行前处理是可行的。方法简单、挥发酸雾少，用标准参考物质检验证明，分解完全，数据准确，有粒较好一致性。     

Geochemical assessment of metal transport in glacial till during electrokinetic remediation

This paper presents the chemical speciation and retention behavior of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) prior to and after the electrokinetic remediation in glacial till soil. The speciation of the metals was predicted using the chemical speciation program MINEQL⁺. The simulations were performed for single-contaminant with only Cr(VI) or Ni, and multi-contaminants consisting of: (1) Cr(VI), Ni, and Cd; (2) Cr(III), Ni and Cd; (3) Cr(VI), Cr(III), Ni and Cd; (4) Cr(VI), Ni, and Cd with reducing agents; and (5) Cr(III), Ni, and Cd with oxidizing agent (Mn). The results showed that the speciation and distribution of cationic metals [Ni, Cd, and Cr(III)] in glacial till soil remain unaffected or slightly affected during electrokinetics. This is attributed to the high pH buffering capacity of the glacial till, leading the metals to precipitate in the soil prior to and after electrokinetics. This study showed that during electrokinetics, Cr(VI) existed as anionic complex and migrated towards the anode and the migration is maximum in case of a single-contaminant system. The study also showed that near the anode in the absence of any reducing and oxidizing agent, Cr(VI) mostly adsorbed, and some of Cr(VI) reduced to Cr(III) and migrated towards the cathode and finally precipitated due to high pH conditions. Ni and Cd remain adsorbed or precipitated due to the high pH conditions throughout the soil. Among the reducing agents, the sulfide had significant effect on the migration of metals compared to ferrous ions. While in the presence of oxidizing agent (Mn), no noticeable Cr(VI) was found in the soil sample indicating the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and the predominance of reducing conditions due to the presence of naturally occurring iron in the glacial till soil. Overall, this study provides a reasonable explanation of the speciation and distribution of chromium, nickel and cadmium during the electrokinetic remediation of glacial till soil.     

Biomonitoring of Lead, Zinc, and Cadmium in Streams Draining Lead-Mining and Non-Mining Areas, Southeast Missouri, USA

We evaluated exposure of aquatic biota to lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) in streams draining a Pb-mining district in southeast Missouri. Samples of plant biomass (detritus, periphyton, and filamentous algae), invertebrates (snails, crayfish, and riffle benthos), and two taxa of fish were collected from seven sites closest to mining areas (mining sites), four sites further downstream from mining (downstream sites), and eight reference sites in fall 2001. Samples of plant biomass from mining sites had highest metal concentrations, with means 10- to 60-times greater than those for reference sites. Mean metal concentrations in over 90% of samples of plant biomass from mining sites were significantly greater than those from reference sites. Mean concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd in most invertebrate samples from mining sites, and mean Pb concentrations in most fish samples from mining sites, were also significantly greater than those from reference sites. Concentrations of all three metals were lower in samples from downstream sites, but several samples of plant biomass from downstream sites had metal concentrations significantly greater than those from reference sites. Analysis of supplemental samples collected in the fall of 2002, a year of above-average stream discharge, had lower Pb concentrations and higher Cd concentrations than samples collected in 2001, near the end of a multi-year drought. Concentrations of Pb measured in fish and invertebrates collected from mining sites during 2001 and 2002 were similar to those measured at nearby sites in the 1970s, during the early years of mining in the Viburnum Trend. Results of this study demonstrate that long-term Pb mining activity in southeast Missouri has resulted in significantly elevated concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn in biota of receiving streams, compared to biota of similar streams without direct influence of mining. Our results also demonstrate that metal exposure in the study area differed significantly among sample types, habitats, and years, and that these factors should be carefully considered in the design of biomonitoring studies.     

Metal concentrations in deciduous tree leaves from urban areas in Poland

Accumulation of metals in deciduous tree foliage fromurban areas in western-south Poland was monitored duringthe vegetation season of 2000 year. Concentrations of Al,Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti and Znwere measured in birch, willow, linden and maple leavesusing the ICP-AES method. Seasonal variations of metalconcentrations and their relations with sampling sitewere investigated. The most dynamic accumulation of Al,Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb was observed for examined species. Thehighest differences in element concentrations forinvestigated sites were found for Ba, Cd, Mn and Ni.Interelement correlations were investigated. In allfoliar samples synergistic relationships between Al–Crand Ca-Sr were found. Statistically significant negativecorrelations were observed only for Cd and Ti in birch leaves.     

Varying Stable Nitrogen Isotope Ratios of Different Coastal Marsh Plants and Their Relationships with Wastewater Nitrogen and Land Use in New England, USA

The stable nitrogen isotope ratios of some biota have been used as indicators of sources of anthropogenic nitrogen. In this study the relationships of the stable nitrogen isotope ratios of marsh plants, Iva frutescens (L.), Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin ex Steud, Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl, Spartina alterniflora Loisel, Ulva lactuca (L.), and Enteromorpha intestinalis (L.) with wastewater nitrogen and land development in New England are described. Five of the six plant species (all but U. lactuca) showed significant relationships of increasing δ ¹⁵N values with increasing wastewater nitrogen. There was a significant (P < 0.0001) downward shift in the δ ¹⁵N of S. patens (6.0 ± 0.48‰) which is mycorrhizal compared with S. alterniflora (8.5 ± 0.41‰). The downward shift in δ ¹⁵N may be caused by the assimilation of fixed nitrogen in the roots of S. patens. P. australis within sites had wide ranges of δ ¹⁵N values, evidently influenced by the type of shoreline development or buffer at the upland border. In residential areas, the presence of a vegetated buffer (n = 24 locations) significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the δ ¹⁵N (mean = 7.4 ± 0.43‰) of the P. australis compared to stands where there was no buffer (mean = 10.9 ± 1.0‰; n = 15). Among the plant species, I. frutescens located near the upland border showed the most significant (R ² = 0.64; P = 0.006) inverse relationship with the percent agricultural land in the watershed. The δ ¹⁵N of P. australis and I. frustescens is apparently an indicator of local inputs near the upland border, while the δ ¹⁵N of Spartina relates with the integrated, watershed-sea nitrogen inputs.     

Effect of heavy metal contaminated shooting range soils on mycorrhizal colonization of roots and metal uptake by leek

We grew leek (Allium porrum) in soils of two shooting ranges heavily contaminated with heavy metals in the towns of Zuchwil and Oberuzwil in Switzerland as a bioassay to test theactivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in these soils.Soil samples were taken from (1) front of the shooting house(HOUSE), (2) the area between house and target (FIELD) and (3) the berm (BACKSTOP). Samples of Ribwort plantain (Plantagolanceolata) growing naturally within the shooting ranges werealso collected and the colonization of its roots by mycorrhizalfungi was measured. The number of AM spores in the soils wassignificantly reduced concomitant with the increase in thedegree of soil contamination with metals. In Zuchwil,mycorrhizal fungi equally colonized roots of Ribwort plantainsampled from BACKSTOP and HOUSE. In Oberuzwil, however, plantsfrom BACKSTOP had lower colonization when compared with thosesampled from HOUSE. Colonization of leek was strongly reducedin the BACKSTOP soil of Zuchwil and slightly reduced in theBACKSTOP soil of Oberuzwil when compared with plants grown inrespective HOUSE soil. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb andZn in the leaves of leek grown in the BACKSTOP soil was withinthe range considered toxic for human consumption. This pointsto the high degree of bio-availability of these metal in thesesoils. Significant decrease in the number of mycorrhizal sporesin the BACKSTOP soils in Zuchwil and the low colonization ofleek roots grown in these soils point to possible changes inthe species diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in these soils.