Acceleration of tributyltin chloride (TBT) degradation in liquid cultures of the filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans

In this study, we have examined the effects of synthetic medium ingredients and culture incubation conditions on growth and tributyltin chloride (TBT) degradation activity of the fungus Cunninghamella elegans. The best efficiency of TBT conversion to less toxic derivatives: dibutyltin and monobutyltin was noticed on media which contained glucose, NH(4)Cl, K(2)HPO(4) and MgSO(4). Next, the constructed M3 medium (with the above components) ensured vigorous growth of C. elegans and allowed the reduction of 80% of the initial TBT content (10 mg l(-1)), after 3d of biodegradation. The further acceleration of the biocide utilization by C. elegans was achieved by additional oxygen supply (pO(2) >or = 20%) to the growing fungus (89% after 2d of incubation in the BioFlo II bioreactor). The efficient xenobiotic biodegradation was related to the intensity of fungal growth. The obtained results suggest a cometabolic nature of TBT utilization by C. elegans.     

Mercury in wild mushrooms and underlying soil substrate from the great lakes land in Poland

Fifteen species of wild mushrooms and underlying soil samples collected in a virgin landscape of Augustowska Forest in northeastern Poland in 1997-98 were analyzed for total mercury to evaluate the status of contamination and usefulness of higher mushrooms as possible bioindicators of mercury pollution. Among the 15 species analyzed, Pinewood King Bolete, Scaly Tooth and King Bolete showed relatively high bioconcentration factors (BCF: dry-weight normalized concentrations of mercury in mushrooms relative to concentrations in soil) for mercury, which varied between 69 and 110. These three species were also characterized by great concentrations of total mercury in caps (between 2,000 +/- 800 and 2,300 +/- 1,100 ng g-1 dry wt) and stalks (between 850 +/- 390 and 1,000 +/- 500 ng g-1 dry wt.). Species such as Red-hot Milk Cap, Poison Pax and Common Chantherelle had mercury BCFs of less than 1, while Gipsy Bolete, Orange Birch Bolete, Brown Scaber Stalk, Variegated Bolete, Sandy Knight-cap and Yellow-cracking Bolete were weak or moderate mercury accumulators with BCFs between 1 and 40. Concentrations of mercury in mushrooms were greater than the tolerance limits suggested for mercury in plant foods.     

Accumulation factors of mercury in mushrooms from Zaborski Landscape Park, Poland

Total mercury concentrations were determined by cold-vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS) in 117 samples of caps, 117 of stalks and 47 of whole fruiting bodies of 13 species of wild mushrooms and in 164 underlying soil substrate collected from Zaborski Landscape Park during 1997 and 1998. The study area is a background, forested site with rural landscape and no known local sources of mercury emission. Mean mercury concentrations in mushrooms varied widely (range: 50 +/- 20 to 3700 +/- 1700 ng/g, dry matter) depending on the site and mushroom species investigated. However, mercury concentrations in soil samples varied less (range: 3.0 +/- 3.0 to 43 +/- 17 ng/g dry matter). Fruiting bodies of Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum) and King Bolete (Boletus edulis) contained the greatest concentrations of mercury of 3700 +/- 1700 and 2600 +/- 1200 ng/g dry matter, respectively. A positive correlation existed between mercury concentrations in the caps of Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus) and Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) (p < 0.01) and mercury concentrations in corresponding soils. However, concentrations of mercury in The Sickener (Russula emetica) was negatively correlated with its soil substrate (p < 0.01). Bioconcentration factors (BCFs: concentrations ratios of mercury in mushroom to soil) of total mercury in whole fruiting bodies or caps were greatest for Common Puffball (L. perlatum), Larch Bolete (Suillus grevillei) and King Bolete (B. edulis) and varied between 130 +/- 78 and 160 +/- 120, while for the other species BCFs were between 4.0 +/- 6.0 and 61 +/- 20 in caps, and 4.4 +/- 3.1 and 70 +/- 68 in stalks. The concentration ratios of Hg in cap to stalk were from 1.1 +/- 0.5 for Poison Pax (Paxillus involutus) to 2.7 +/- 1.7 in Larch Bolete (S. grevillei).     

Traces of DU in samples of environmental bio-monitors (non-flowering plants, fungi) and soil from target sites of the Western Balkan region

This paper reports results of gamma and alpha spectrometric measurements for mosses, lichens, fungi and soil samples from areas in the Balkans targeted by depleted uranium (DU). Samples were collected in 2002 and 2003 in the vicinity of several villages, principally Han Pijesak (Bosnia and Herzegovina, hit by DU in 1995) and Bratoselce (South Serbia, hit by DU in 1999) and in lesser numbers from Gornja Stubla, Kosovo (which is identified as a high natural radon/thoron area) and Presevo close to the Kosovo border. In the course of gamma spectrometric measurements some results suggested samples with unusual high uranium contents which might be considered to be a signature for the presence of DU, although many samples had very high detection limits. Alpha spectrometric measurements directly proved the presence of DU for five samples, all from directly targeted places. These were samples of mosses, lichens and soil. For some samples homogeneity tests were applied which showed a rather even distribution of DU in these samples. No trace of DU was found in any sample from a dwelling.     

Forest health status in the Carpathian Mountains over the period 1997-2001

The results of forest health status assessments in the Carpathian Mountains from the monitoring networks developed by the European Union Scheme on the Protection of Forest Against Atmospheric Pollution (EU Scheme) and International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP-Forests), have led to a better understanding of the impact of air pollution and other stressors on forests at the regional scale. During the period 1997-2001, forests in the Carpathian Mountains were severely affected by air pollution and natural stresses with 29.7-34.9% of the trees included in defoliation classes 2-4. The broadleaves were slightly healthier than the conifers, and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) was the least affected species. Norway spruce (Picea abies) has poor health status, with 42.9-46.6% of the trees damaged (2-4% defoliation classes). Silver fir (Abies alba) damage was also high, with 46.0-50.9% in defoliation classes 2-4. Pines (primarily Pinus sylvestris) were the least affected of the conifers, with 24.9-33.8% in defoliation classes 2-4. The results from the transnational networks (16 x 16 km) show that the Carpathian forests are slightly more damaged than the average for the entire Europe. The correlative studies performed in individual European countries show the relationships between air pollution stressors with trends in defoliation and a possible effect of natural stresses at each site. More specific, effects of tree age, drought, ozone and acid deposition critical level exceedances were demonstrated to affect crown condition.     

Hydrogenolysis of chlorobenzene,dichlorobenzenes and chlorotoluenes by in situ generated and gaseous hydrogen in alkaline media and the presence of Pd/C catalyst

A method for dechlorination of chloroaromatic compounds at room temperature and atmospheric pressure by an in situ generated––in reaction of Al particles with water––or gaseous hydrogen in alkaline media and the presence of Pd/C catalyst was thoroughly investigated, having in mind its possible application in utilization of organochlorine waste. Conversion degree to dechlorinated compounds depended on the constitution of substrates and ranged between 88% and 96% when in situ hydrogen was used (at substrate (chlorine) to catalyst molar ratio 550:1 and over twofold stoichiometric excess of Al relative to substrate (chlorine); the process lasted ca. 26 h until all Al was consumed), or 90–97% if gaseous hydrogen was purged. Effectiveness of dechlorination was markedly affected by stirring, i.e. size of the stirrer and speed of revolution. Prospects for application of the method described were briefly outlined.     

Cadmium,zinc, copper and metallothionein levels in the kidney and liver of humans from central Poland

Cd, Zn, Cu, and metallothionein (MT) levels have been determined in the renal cortex and liver of 70 persons who died in Lodz and its surroundings in the years 1985–1989. The mean concentrations were: 44.9±28.6 µg Cd/g, 52.0±16.7 µg Zn/g, 2.4±1.0 µg Cu/g, 0.79±0.40 µmol Hg/g, and 3.5±1.8 µg Cd/g, 66.7±30.5 µg Zn/g, 4.9±2.1 µg Cu/g, 0.50±0.38 µmol Hg/g wet tissue in renal cortex and liver, respectively, with mean age 54.0±13.8. Smokers showed 2.4 times higher levels of Cd in the renal cortex than non-smokers. The mean body burden of Cd was 33.4±17.3 mg. Smoking increases it twofold from 22.0 mg in non-smokers to 41.8 mg in smokers.This work was supported by the grant CPBR 11.12(C-56/86) from the Institute of Rural Medicine, Lublin, Poland.Deceased.     

云南疣柄牛肝菌属真菌中汞含量及食用健康风险分析

汞(Hg)对人类健康有明显的毒害作用,多数野生食用菌对Hg有很强的富集能力,测定野生食用菌中总Hg含量,并对其进行食用安全评估有重要意义。采用冷原子吸收光谱法测定云南常见疣柄牛肝菌属真菌菌盖、菌柄中总汞(Hg)含量,分析样品对Hg的富集特征;以FAO/WHO现行每周Hg允许摄入量(provisional tolerable weekly intake,PTWI)标准,评估疣柄牛肝菌属真菌的食用安全性。结果显示,不同产地、种类及不同采集时间疣柄牛肝菌属真菌的总Hg含量差异明显,菌盖中总Hg含量在0.54~4.80 mg·kg-1dw之间,菌柄总Hg含量在0.32~2.80 mg·kg~(-1)dw之间,同一种牛肝菌菌盖总Hg含量均大于菌柄(Q(C/S)1),表明疣柄牛肝菌属真菌对Hg的积累量与生长环境、种类、部位等有关。根据FAO/WHO暂行的每周Hg允许摄入量标准(0.004 mg·kg-1bw),成年人(60 kg)每周食用300 g(鲜重)采自云南的疣柄牛肝菌属真菌,Hg摄入量远低于PTWI标准,对人体Hg暴露风险较低。     

Butyltin compounds in sediment and fish from the Polish Coast of the Baltic Sea

Concentrations of mono- (MBT), di- (DBT), and tri-(TBT) butyltin compounds were measured in eggs, liver, and muscle of nine species of fish from four regions of the Baltic Sea - the Firth of Vistula, the Gulf of Gdańsk, Puck Bay, and the mouth of the Vistula River. The overall concentration ranges among all the fish sampled from the four sites were: < 7 to 79 ng/g for MBT, 6 to 1100 ng/g for DBT, 7 to 3600 ng/g for TBT, and 16 to 4800 ng/g for total BTs, on a wet wt basis. The highest concentration of total BTs was found in herring liver from the Firth of Vistula (4800 ng/g, wet wt) and in roach muscle from Puck Bay (3300 ng/g, wet wt), while the least concentration was found in burbot eggs and liver from the Vistula River (39 and 32 ng/g, wet wt, respectively). TBT was the major form of BTs present in most samples analyzed. Sediment samples collected from shipyards in the Gulf of Gdańsk contained butyltin concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 46 μg/g (dry wt) for MBT, 2.0 to 42 μg/g for DBT, and 2.6 to 40 μg/g for TBT. As with the fish, the majority of the BTs in sediment were present as TBT, which suggested recent exposure of the aquatic environment of the region to TBT.     

Bio- and toxic elements in mushrooms from the city of Umeå and outskirts,Sweden

Edible mushrooms (Albatrellus ovinus, Boletus edulis, Clitocybe odora, Gomphidius glutinosus, Leccinum scabrum, Leccinum versipelle, Lycoperdon perlatum, Suillus bovinus, Suillus luteus, and Xerocomus subtomentosus) collected from unpolluted areas of the city of Umeå and its outskirts in the northern part of Sweden were examined for contents of toxic metallic elements (Cd, Pb, and Ag) and essential macro- and microelements (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) using a validated method and a final measurement by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (F-AAS). The median values of the toxic metallic element concentrations (in mg kg^?1 dry biomass, db) ranged from: 0.12–3.9, 0.46–5.1, and 0.91–6.2 for Ag, Cd and Pb, respectively. For the essential metallic elements, the median values of concentrations ranged from: 24000–58000, 15–2000, 59–610, 520–1900, 2.0–97, 16–150, 15–120, and 4.3–26 mg kg^?1 db for K, Na, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn, respectively. The baseline concentrations of the metallic elements determined in mushrooms were mainly affected by the fungal species. The assessed probable maximal dietary intake of Cd (0.002 mg kg^?1 body mass) solely from a mushroom meal was only slightly below a revised value of the tolerable weekly intake for this element, while for Pb (0.003 mg kg^?1 body mass) it was tenfold below the provisionally tolerable weekly intake.