于桥水库浮游植物群落特征

于桥水库是天津市惟一饮用水水源地,为了研究该水库浮游植物群落特征,于2012年春、夏、秋对于桥水库浮游植物进行了监测分析。结果表明:该水库共鉴定出绿藻(Chlorophyta)、蓝藻(Cyanophyta)、硅藻(Diatoms)、裸藻(Euglenophyta)、甲藻(Pyrrophyta)、隐藻(Cryptophyta)和黄藻(Xanthophyta)7门114种,群落组成以绿藻-硅藻门为主;浮游植物细胞密度具有明显的季节变化规律,表现为春季较低,夏季急剧增长,到了秋季又有所回落。优势种对于桥水库水质的评价结果表明,春季为中营养水体,夏季为富营养化水体,秋季为中富营养水体。春、夏、秋季于桥水库香农-韦弗多样性指数平均值分别为3.22、2.51和3.17,说明2012年于桥水库春季、秋季为贫营养水体,夏季为中营养水体,且有暴发水华的危险。     

长江干流南京段底栖动物群落特征及环境因子相关性研究

于2019-2021年春、秋季在长江干流南京段设置6个调查点位对水体理化因子、底栖动物群落特征开展调查研究。采用典范对应分析方法(CCA)分析了底栖动物与环境因子的响应关系。结果表明,共检出35种底栖动物,分属3门6纲12目19科30属,昆虫纲为优势纲。各监测点位的底栖动物检出种类数相差较大,最多检出21种,最少检出11种。春季优势种为霍甫水丝蚓,秋季优势种为齿吻沙蚕。底栖动物物种密度为2~176个/m^(2),春季的底栖动物平均密度(139个/m^(2))略高于秋季(125个/m^(2)),底栖动物平均密度年度排序为:2019年>2020年>2021年。各监测点位的香农威纳(Shannon-Wiener)多样性指数为2.9~3.5,水质状况处于良好和优秀之间。CCA分析结果表明,高锰酸盐指数和溶解氧对南京段底栖动物群落结构物种时空分布影响较大且大部分群落特征物种分布在含氮营养盐较低的水域,高浓度的含氮营养盐已经对南京段底栖动物产生了负面影响。     

2014年于桥水库浮游植物群落与环境因子的关系

为研究于桥水库浮游植物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系,于2014年春夏季进行采样分析。两季共鉴定出浮游植物6门99种,其中绿藻门(Chlorophyta)62种,硅藻门(Diatoms)21种,蓝藻门(Cyanophyta)7种,裸藻门(Euglenophyta)4种,甲藻门(Pyrrophyta)2种,隐藻门(Cryptophyta)2种。春季浮游植物6门86种,第一优势种为绿藻门的四尾栅藻(Scenedesmus quadricauda);夏季浮游植物5门62种,第一优势种为蓝藻门的铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)。春季浮游植物密度低于夏季,于桥水库浮游植物群落结构具有明显的季节变化规律。RDA分析结果表明,春季采样点的相似性高于夏季,透明度、水温、溶解氧和营养盐是影响于桥水库浮游植物群落组成的关键环境因子。     

倒天河水库和碧阳湖夏秋季浮游植物群落组成及水质评价

为了解毕节市倒天河水库和碧阳湖夏秋季浮游植物的群落组成及水质状况,于2013年6月到10月对各采样点的浮游植物每月进行两次采样调查,共鉴定浮游植物19个属,隶属于6门12目,其优势属为盘星藻属和卵形藻属,各采样点浮游植物总密度在夏季均高于秋季。利用3个生物多样性指标,即Margalef丰富度指数(D)、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H′)和Pielou均匀度指数(J)来评价各采样点的水质状况,综合多种评价结果显示,倒天河水库和碧阳湖上段总体上为中污染状态,而碧阳湖中下段总体上为中-重污染状态。     

洮滆水系湖泊春季浮游植物群落结构和水质生物学评价

2014年5月在洮滆水系长荡湖、滆湖和竺山湖布设12个监测点,共采集浮游植物7门109种,平均藻密度为3.94×10~7L~(-1)。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度和Pielou均匀度指数的变化范围分别为0.98~4.18、1.04~3.54和0.18~0.75。上述3种指数和群落优势类群的综合评价结果表明,3个湖泊都处于富营养化状态;12个监测点中S1和S9水质状况最好,S10和S8水质状况最差;3个湖泊评价结果为长荡湖优于滆湖,滆湖优于竺山湖。     

2015—2018年海州湾及邻近海域浮游植物群落结构特征

根据2015—2018年春、夏季海州湾及邻近海域8个航次的调查资料,对该海域浮游植物种类组成、优势种、丰度及多样性进行了调查,应用相关性分析和典范对应分析(CCA)研究了环境因子对海州湾浮游植物群落结构的影响,共发现浮游植物96种,其中硅藻80种。中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)在各航次均是第一优势种。调查海域浮游植物丰度为4.20×103~7952.00×103个/L,平均值为504.54×103个/L。平均Shannon-Wiener(H’)多样性指数为2.66,2018年夏季航次最低仅1.52,2015年春季航次最高为3.73。多样性基本呈春季高夏季低的趋势。Pearson相关性分析显示,水温、活性磷酸盐及化学需氧量与浮游植物群落结构关系密切。典范对应分析则表明,海州湾春季优势物种主要受水温、溶解氧和盐度的影响,而夏季则受多种因子的综合影响。近年来海州湾浮游植物多样性整体呈缓慢下降趋势可能受紫菜大规模养殖的影响。     

抚仙湖浮游植物群落结构、影响因子及水质评价

为研究抚仙湖浮游植物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系。基于2017年4月(春季)、7月(夏季)、11月(秋季)和2018年2月(冬季)抚仙湖浮游植物和部分水质理化指标的监测数据,分析了浮游植物群落结构特征,通过冗余分析(RDA)研究了影响浮游植物群落结构的主要环境因子,同时运用藻类生物学法和综合营养状态指数法TLI(∑)对抚仙湖水质进行综合评价。结果表明,共鉴定出浮游植物7门54属,绿藻在种类组成上占绝对优势。不同季节浮游植物细胞密度存在明显变化,春季细胞密度最高(401.74×10~4 cells/L),其次为夏季(247.31×10~4 cells/L)和秋季(143.41×10~4 cells/L),冬季最低(88.98×10~4 cells/L)。浮游植物优势属在不同季节有所不同,各季节绝对优势属为伪鱼腥藻属(春季)、转板藻属(夏秋季)、小环藻属和蓝隐藻属(冬季)。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H′)和Pielou均匀度指数(J)变化趋势一致,夏季值最高,分别为2.76和0.64,冬季值最低,分别为2.13和0.50。Berger-Parker优势度指数(D)变化与H′和J相反,冬季最高(0.945),夏季最低(0.922)。RDA表明,水温、溶解氧和高锰酸盐指数是影响抚仙湖浮游植物群落结构的主要环境因子。综合评价认为,抚仙湖水质处于贫中营养状态。     

基于着生硅藻多参数指标评价赤水河生态状况

随着人类活动的加剧,赤水河生态状况受到越来越多的关注,全面了解赤水河的生态状况,识别影响生态状况的主要环境胁迫因子对于赤水河的管理十分重要。笔者分别于2016年春季(4月)和秋季(9月)对赤水河干流着生硅藻及主要环境指标展开系统调查,春季以曲壳藻属相对丰度、高需氧物种、高磷物种、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数为核心参数,秋季以低需氧物种、物种丰富度、高营养物种为核心参数,构建了着生硅藻多参数指标(D-MMIs)。对赤水河干流生态状况进行评估。结果表明:调查期间,赤水河干流中上游样点水体状况优于下游样点,并且春、秋季赤水河生态状况存在差异。D-MMIs与环境因子的回归分析结果显示:影响春季赤水河生态状况的环境因子为COD,影响秋季赤水河生态状况的环境因子为NH4_+~-N。构建的赤水河D-MMIs,能够较好地指示环境胁迫因子对赤水河生态状况的影响,对于指导赤水河的管理实践具有参考价值。     

流溪河大型底栖动物群落结构及其影响因素

为了探究流溪河大型底栖动物的群落结构特征和关键影响因素,于2016年4月(平水期)、7月(丰水期)和11月(枯水期)对流溪河的14个采样断面进行了生态调查,共鉴定出133种大型底栖动物,隶属于55科127属。大型底栖动物平均密度和生物量分别为213 ind./m²和20.02 g/m²,寡毛类和水生昆虫的密度占优势,软体动物的生物量占优势。此外,结果表明流溪河大型底栖动物群落结构具有明显的时空变化。在空间方面,从上游至下游大型底栖动物种类数呈现逐渐减少的趋势,并且支流的大型底栖动物种类数高于干流；从上游至下游大型底栖动物密度和生物量变化无规律,支流大型底栖动物的密度明显高于干流,而生物量却明显低于干流；上游的大型底栖动物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Margalef丰富度指数均高于下游,支流的大型底栖动物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Margalef丰富度指数均高于干流,而Pielou均匀度指数是支流低于干流。在时间方面,平水期至枯水期大型底栖动物种类数呈现逐渐增加的趋势；密度分布为平水期＞枯水期＞丰水期,生物量分布规律与密度相似；Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Margalef丰富度指数均为枯水期最高,平水期最低。流溪河大型底栖动物群落可划分为干流群落和支流群落,群落间物种组成存在显著性差异。综上结果表明:流溪河支流大型底栖动物群落结构较干游更加稳定,下游断面群落受到了较大程度的干扰,生态环境质量状况较差,影响大型底栖动物群落结构的主要因素为有机质、总磷和溶解氧。     

污染治理前后小清河上游浮游植物群落变化与水质评价

为研究小清河污染治理前后浮游植物群落与水质变化,分别于2015年(治理前)和2020年(治理后)在小清河上游进行采样调查。调查结果显示,2015年样品中共检出浮游植物6门35种,2020年样品中共检出4门31种。配对样本t检验结果显示,污染治理前后的浮游植物种类、密度都发生了显著改变。相比治理前,治理后的硅藻门和绿藻门相对丰度分别上升了51.6个百分点和13.3个百分点,蓝藻门下降了62.9个百分点,小环藻(Cyclotella spp.)取代微囊藻(Microcysitis spp.)成为绝对优势种,群落类型由蓝藻型演替为硅藻型。相似性分析结果和相似度百分比分析结果表明,小清河上游群落特征发生显著改变。非度量多维标度分析结果显示,治理后的S2与S3采样点群落特征表现出差异,S4与S1采样点群落特征相似。通过冗余分析发现,治理后,TP、DO对浮游植物群落的影响明显减弱,TN、NH₃-N、pH是目前影响群落特征的主要指标,主城区氮磷污染对浮游植物的影响范围由S2、S3、S4采样点缩小到S2采样点。治理前后的小清河上游Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数和Marglef丰富度指数存在显著差异。总体来看,治理后的小清河上游水质处于α-中污染状态,较治理前有明显改善。     

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。     

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.     

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.     

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.