Suitability of oil bioremediation in an Artic soil using surplus heating from an incineration facility

A 168-day period field study, carried out in Sisimiut, Greenland, assessed the potential to enhance soil remediation with the surplus heating from an incineration facility. This approach searches a feasible ex situ remediation process that could be extended throughout the year with low costs. Individual and synergistic effects of biostimulation were also tested, in parallel. An interim evaluation at the end of the first 42 days showed that biostimulation and active heating, as separate treatments, enhanced petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) removal compared to natural attenuation. The coupling of both technologies was even more effective, corroborating the benefits of both techniques in a remediation strategy. However, between day 42 and day 168, there was an opposite remediation trend with all treatments suggesting a stabilization except for natural attenuation, where PHC values continued to decrease. This enforces the “self-purification” capacity of the system, even at low temperatures. Coupling biostimulation with active heating was the best approach for PHC removal, namely for a short period of time (42 days). The proposed remediation scheme can be considered a reliable option for faster PHC removal with low maintenance and using “waste heating” from an incineration facility.     

Macro- and microelement contents of some legume seeds

Macro- and microelement contents of legume seeds were determined by ICP-AES. The potassium K contents of seeds ranged between 7,426 mg/kg (Lupinus albus L.) and 16,558 mg/kg (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ssp. sphaericus Mart). In addition, while P contents of seeds changed from 2,719 mg/kg (L. albus L.) to 5,792 mg/kg (Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi), Ca contents ranged at the levels between 1,309 mg/kg (Cicer arietinum L.) and 2,781 mg/kg (L. albus L.). The microelement contents of samples were found to be different depending on several species. The iron levels of samples were determined at the levels between 90.51 mg/kg (Phaseolus mungo L.) and 152.80 mg/kg (P. vulgaris L. ssp. sphaericus Mart). In addition, Zn contents of seeds were found between 31.32 mg/kg (C. arietinum L.) and 44.75 mg/kg (V. sinensis (L.) Savi).     

Heavy metals intake by cultured mushrooms growing in model system

Micro element and heavy metal contents of mushrooms were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). It was seen an increase in the heavy metal contents (except Cu and Zn) of the mushrooms until the second dose. A decrease was seen in heavy metal intake of the mushroom in the application of the third dose. The highest accumulation occurred from the upper soils treated with the second dose. Amounts of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn, which were accumulated in the mushroom after the application of this dose, were detected as 5.7, 23.1, 75.7, 62.8 and 99.3 ppm, respectively.     

Lipid-soluble conjugates of hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers in blue mussels from the Baltic Sea

Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) of proposed natural origin have been detected throughout the food web of the Baltic Sea. Some OH-PBDEs have been shown to disrupt oxidative phosphorylation and the thyroid hormone system in exposed organisms. This paper describes an investigation into the fate of OH-PBDEs in the Baltic Sea’s predominant specie, the blue mussel. The main focus was on the conjugation of OH-PBDEs with lipophilic moieties (e.g., fatty acids) and the potential role this transformation mechanism may have in heavily exposed mussels in nature. Analytical methods were developed to accurately determine the concentrations of these conjugates in blue mussels collected on different occasions during the summer in a coastal area of the Baltic proper. The measured concentrations of conjugated OH-PBDEs were compared to those of the unconjugated parent compounds, and it was found that in some cases, the levels of the conjugated derivatives can be equal or even higher than the levels of the unconjugated OH-PBDEs. This is, to our knowledge, the first study on lipid-soluble OH-PBDE conjugates, and the first study to investigate the occurrence of such conjugates of halogenated phenolic compounds in environmentally exposed mussels. The mussels were also found to contain hydrolysable water-soluble derivatives of OH-PBDEs (such as e.g., glucuronic acid and/or sulfate conjugates etc.). These were tentatively determined to be of lower concentration (by up to an order of magnitude) than that of the OH-PBDEs which were conjugated with lipophilic moieties.     

Toxicity of three halogenated flame retardants to nitrifying bacteria, red clover (Trifolium pratense), and a soil invertebrate (Enchytraeus crypticus)

Halogenated flame retardants have a high sorption affinity to particles, making soils and sediments important sinks. Here, three of the most commonly used flame retardants have been tested for sub-lethal toxicity towards soil nitrifying bacteria, a terrestrial plant (seed emergence and growth of the red clover, Trifolium pratense), and a soil invertebrate (survival and reproduction of Enchytraeus crypticus). Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) was quite toxic to enchytraeids, with significant effects on reproduction detected already at the 10 mgkg(-1) exposure level (EC(10)=2.7 mgkg(-1)). In contrast, decabromodiphenyl ether (DeBDE) was not toxic at all, and short-chain chloroparaffins (CP(10-13)) only affected soil nitrifying bacteria at the highest test concentration (EC(10)=570 mgkg(-1)). Exposure concentrations were verified by chemical analysis for TBBPA and DeBDE, but not for CP(10-13), as a reliable method was not available. Based on the generated data, a PNEC for soil organisms can be estimated at 0.3 mgkg(-1) for TBBPA and 57 mgkg(-1) for short-chain chloroparaffins. No PNEC could be estimated for DeBDE. Measurements of TBBPA in soil are not available, but measured concentrations in Swedish sludge are all lower than the estimated threshold value for biological effects in soil.     

MEAD: an interdisciplinary study of the marine effects of atmospheric deposition in the Kattegat

This paper summarises the results of the EU funded MEAD project, an interdisciplinary study of the effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the Kattegat Sea between Denmark and Sweden. The study considers emissions of reactive nitrogen gases, their transport, transformations, deposition and effects on algal growth together with management options to reduce these effects. We conclude that atmospheric deposition is an important source of fixed nitrogen to the region particularly in summer, when nitrogen is the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth, and contributes to the overall eutrophication pressures in this region. However, we also conclude that it is unlikely that atmospheric deposition can, on its own, induce algal blooms in this region. A reduction of atmospheric nitrogen loads to this region will require strategies to reduce emissions of ammonia from local agriculture and Europe wide reductions in nitrous oxide emissions.     

Application of Ecological Classification and Predictive Vegetation Modeling to Broad-Level Assessments of Ecosystem Health

The Little Missouri National Grasslands (LMNG) of western North Dakota support the largest permitted cattle grazing use within all lands administered by the USDA, Forest Service, as well as critical habitat for many wildlife species. This fact, coupled with the need to revise current planning direction for range allotments of the LMNG, necessitated that a broad-level characterization of ecosystem integrity and resource conditions be conducted across all lands within the study area (approximately 800,000 hectares) in a rapid and cost-effective manner. The approach taken in this study was based on ecological classifications, which effectively utilized existing field plot data collected for a variety of previous inventory objectives, and their continuous spatial projection across the LMNG by maps of both existing and potential vegetation. These two map themes represent current and reference conditions (existing vs. potential vegetation); their intersection allowed us to assign various ecological status ratings (i.e., ecosystem integrity and resource condition) based on the degree of departure between current and reference conditions. In this paper, we present a brief review of methodologies used in the development of ecological classifications, and also illustrate their application to assessments of rangeland health through selected maps of ecological status ratings for the LMNG.     

基因学与动物生态学相结合:了解动物育种中的驯化、行为及可持续性的新途径

动物行为是动物福利的核心部分,是可持续的动物育种的基础.在驯化过程中,动物已在行为和一系列其它显著特性方面产生适应性.我们对原鸡和白莱亨蛋鸡(为产蛋而选,间接为产肉而选)的行为进行了比较.原鸡在群居、探索、抗捕食和进食试验方面表现出更积极的行为.对一只原鸡与白莱亨鸡杂交后代进行的定量特性位点(QTLs)基因组扫描显示,不同的特性具有一些明显的或启示性的QTLs.一些生产QTLs与行为QTLs相重合,表明生物多向性效应对育种显型的发展也许是重要的.我们定位了一种基因,它对成为啄毛行为受害者方面有强烈影响,而啄毛是一种有害的行为紊乱现象.现代基因学配以行为分析,也许有益于未来设计出更加可持续的育种方式,培育出耐力更强的动物.