Phytoextraction crop disposal--an unsolved problem

Several methods of contaminated crop disposal after phytoextraction process (composting, compaction, incineration, ashing, pyrolysis, direct disposal, liquid extraction) have been described. Advantages and disadvantages of methods are presented and discussed. Composting, compaction and pyrolysis are the pretreatment steps, since significant amount of contaminated biomass will still exist after each of the process. Four methods of final disposal were distinguished: incineration, direct disposal, ashing and liquid extraction. Among them, incineration (smelting) is proposed as the most feasible, economically acceptable and environmentally sound.     

Monitoring of toxicity during degradation of selected pesticides using ionizing radiation

The optimization of experimental conditions for radiolytic removal of organic pollutants from water and waste with the use of ionizing radiation via controlling the concentration of target compound(s) requires also monitoring the toxicity changes during the process. Commonly used herbicides 2,4-D and dicamba were shown to increase toxicity measured with the Microtox test at low irradiation doses resulting from formation of more toxic transient products, which can be decomposed at larger doses. The changes of toxicity were examined with respect to dose magnitude and the presence of commonly occurring scavengers of radiation.     

Two-dimensional gap analysis: a tool for efficient conservation planning and biodiversity policy implementation

The maintenance of biodiversity by securing representative and well-connected habitat networks in managed landscapes requires a wise combination of protection, management, and restoration of habitats at several scales. We suggest that the integration of natural and social sciences in the form of "Two-dimensional gap analysis" is an efficient tool for the implementation of biodiversity policies. The tool links biologically relevant "horizontal" ecological issues with "vertical" issues related to institutions and other societal issues. Using forest biodiversity as an example, we illustrate how one can combine ecological and institutional aspects of biodiversity conservation, thus facilitating environmentally sustainable regional development. In particular, we use regional gap analysis for identification of focal forest types, habitat modelling for ascertaining the functional connectivity of "green infrastructures", as tools for the horizontal gap analysis. For the vertical dimension we suggest how the social sciences can be used for assessing the success in the implementation of biodiversity policies in real landscapes by identifying institutional obstacles while implementing policies. We argue that this interdisciplinary approach could be applied in a whole range of other environments including other terrestrial biota and aquatic ecosystems where functional habitat connectivity, nonlinear response to habitat loss and a multitude of economic and social interests co-occur in the same landscape.     

Heavy metal accumulation, heat shock protein expression and cytogenetic changes in Tetrix tenuicornis (L.) (Tetrigidae, Orthoptera) from polluted areas

The orthopteran insect Tetrix tenuicornis, collected from polluted and unpolluted areas, was used to study heavy metal accumulation and its impact on stress protein levels and on changes in the number and morphology of chromosomes in mitotic and meiotic cells. During two consecutive years, insects were collected from polluted areas of zinc-lead mine spoils near Boles?aw (Poland) and from unpolluted areas near Busko and Staszów (Poland). T. tenuicornis from the polluted area showed 1.5, 4.03, 4.32 and 41.73 times higher concentrations of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), respectively, than insects of the same species collected from unpolluted areas. Insects exposed to heavy metals showed only small changes, and rather a decrease in the concentration of constitutive and inducible heat shock proteins Hsp70, the level of which increases under stress conditions. A cytogenetic study of T. tenuicornis revealed intra-population anomalies in chromosome number and morphology in mitotic and meiotic cells and the presence of an additional B chromosome in germinal cells. In 50% of females collected from polluted areas, mosaic oogonial mitotic chromosome sets and diploid, hypo- or hypertetraploid, tetraploid, and octoploid chromosome numbers were detected. In turn, 14.6% of males showed a heterozygous deficiency of chromatin in L2 and M3 bivalents in addition to the presence of B chromosomes.     

Simultaneous removal of NOx,SO2, and Hg from flue gas in FGD absorber with oxidant injection (NaClO2)– full-scale investigation

ABSTRACT

This article presents the results of an industrial-scale study (on 400 MW_e lignite fired unit) of simultaneous NO_x, SO₂, and Hg^T removal in FGD absorber with oxidant injection (NaClO₂) into flue gas. It was confirmed that the injection of sodium chlorite upstream the FGD (Flue Gas Desulfurization) absorber oxidize NO to NO₂, Hg⁰ to Hg²⁺, and enhancing NO_x and Hg^T removal efficiency from exhaust gas in FGD absorber. Mercury removal efficiency grows with the rise of degree of oxidation NO to NO₂ and was limited by the phenomenon of re-emission. For NO_x removal the most critical parameters is slurry pH and temperature. There was no negative effect on sulfur dioxide removal efficiency caused by oxidant injection in tested FGD absorber. Based on the data provided, NO_x and Hg^T emissions can be reduced by adjusting the FGD absorber operating parameters combined with oxidant injection.     

Response of mosses to the heavy metal deposition in Poland--an overview

Concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) in Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt., a common moss species, were used to indicate relative levels of atmospheric deposition in Poland in the years 1975-1998. Spatial and temporal differences in the heavy metal concentrations in mosses were found. The highest concentration of heavy metals was recorded in the moss samples from the southern, most industrialised part of the country, and the lowest from north-eastern Poland. A significant decrease of heavy metals over 20 years (1975-1998) was found.     

Uptake of cadmium by Stichococcus bacillaris

The uptake of cadmium by the green alga $\text{Stichococcus bacillaris}$ was studied. It was found that about 80% of the uptake was due to adsorption, and about 20% to energy-dependent transport. Investigations on the relationship between the sorption of cadmium and the equilibrium concentration (Ce) revealed that the alga cells are saturated at Ce20mg Cd/1.     

Distribution of pesticides and heavy metals in trophic chain

Determination of triazines herbicides (atrazine and simazine) by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in samples of trophic chain were worked out. Determination limits of 0.5 μg g⁻¹ for atrazine, 0.8 μg g⁻¹ for simazine with pesticides recovery of 70–77% in trophic chain samples were obtained. The content of simazine in soils was in range 1.72–57.89 μg g⁻¹, in grass 5–88 μg g⁻¹, in milk 2.32–15.29 μg g⁻¹, in cereals 10.98–387 μg g⁻¹, in eggs 30.14–59.48 μg g⁻¹, for fruits: 2.45–6.19 μg g⁻¹. The content of atrazine in soils was in range 0.69–19.59 μg g⁻¹, in grass 7.85–23.85 μg g⁻¹, in cereals 1.88–43.08 μg g⁻¹. Cadmium, lead and zinc were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) in the same samples as atrazine and simazine. Determination limits for cadmium 5 × 10⁻³ μg g⁻¹, for lead 1 × 10⁻² μg g⁻¹, and for zinc 0.2 × 10⁻³ μg g⁻¹, were obtained. The content of cadmium in soil was in range 0.13–5.89 μg g⁻¹, in grass 114–627.72 × 10⁻³ μg g⁻¹, in milk 8.88–61.88 × 10⁻³ μg g⁻¹, in cereals 0.20–0.31 μg g⁻¹, in eggs 0.11–0.15 μg g⁻¹, in fruits 0.23–0.59 μg g⁻¹. The content of lead in soils was in range 0.57–151.50 μg g⁻¹, in grass 0.16–136.57 μg g⁻¹, in milk 1.16–3.74 μg g⁻¹, in cereals 1.05–5.47 μg g⁻¹, in eggs 5.79–55.87 μg g⁻¹, in fruits 21.00–87.36 μg g⁻¹. Zinc content in soil was in range 9.15–424.5 μg g⁻¹, in grass 35.20–55.87 μg g⁻¹, in milk 20.00–34.38 μg g⁻¹, in cereals 14.94–28.78 μg g⁻¹, in eggs 15.67–32.01 μg g⁻¹, in fruits 14.94–18.88 μg g⁻¹.

Described below extraction and mineralization methods for particular trophic chains allowed to determine of atrazine, simazine, cadmium, lead and zinc with good repeatability and precision. Emphasis was focused on liquid–liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction of atrazine and simazine from analysed materials, as well as, on monitoring the content of herbicides and metals in soil and along trophic chain. Higher concentration of pesticides in samples from west region of Poland in comparison to that of east region is likely related to common applying them in Western Europe in relation to East Europe. The content of metals strongly depends on samples origin (industry area, vicinity of motorways).     

Allometric scaling and accidents at work

Allometry is the knowledge concerning relations between the features of some beings, like animals, or cities. For example, the daily energy rate is proportional to a mass of mammals rise of 3/4. This way of thinking has spread quickly from biology to many areas of research concerned with sociotechnical systems. It was revealed that the number of innovations, patents or heavy crimes rises as social interaction increases in a bigger city, while other urban indexes such as suicides decrease with social interaction. Enterprise is also a sociotechnical system, where social interaction and accidents at work take place. Therefore, do these interactions increase the number of accidents at work or, on the contrary, are they reduction-driving components? This article tries to catch such links and assess the allometric exponent between the number of accidents at work and the number of employees in an enterprise.     

Light transmission through intraocular lenses with or without yellow chromophore (blue light filter) and its potential influence on functional vision in everyday environmental conditions

In this research the factors used to evaluate the light transmission through two types of acrylic hydrophobic intraocular lenses, one that contained yellow chromophore that blocks blue light transmission and the other which did not contain that filter, were defined according to various light condition, e.g., daylight and at night. The potential influence of light transmission trough intraocular lenses with or without yellow chromophore on functional vision in everyday environmental conditions was analysed.