Growth and biochemical parameters of Cicer arietinum L. grown on amended fly ash

Growth and metal accumulation were investigated in two Cicer arietinum L. varieties (var. CSG-8962 and var. C-235) when grown in various combinations of fly ash (FA) amended with garden soil (GS), press mud (PM) or saw dust (SD). In addition, the levels of photosynthetic pigments, nitrate reductase (NR) activity, cysteine, non-protein thiols (NP-SH), and ascorbic acid were studied. FA amended with GS or PM led to a 5–10 times increase in biomass compared to FA control and was most pronounced in the less metal tolerant variety CSG-8962. Amendment of FA with either GS or PM only moderately increased the contents of some essential metals whereas the non-essential Cd and Cr remained similar or decreased slightly compared to FA control. FA combined with either GS or PM increased the amount of photosynthetic pigments and was largely absent when SD was added to FA. Improved nitrogen availability led to increased nitrate reductase (NR) activity with all amendments but less so with SD. Metal stress indicating parameters were generally reduced (cysteine and non-protein thiols) or unchanged (ascorbic acid). In conclusion, of the tested ameliorants both GS and PM greatly improved growth of C. arietinum making FA a suitable component of plant growth substrates.     

Trace metals and organometals in selected marine species and preliminary risk assessment to human beings in Thane Creek area, Mumbai

Trace metals and organometals were estimated in different types of marine organisms (fish, bivalve, crab and prawn) collected from the Trans-Thane Creek area, Mumbai. Thane Creek area is considered as most polluted area due to industrial discharges. Potential risks associated with consumption of marine organisms collected from this particular area to human beings were assessed. Concentrations of ten trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the edible part of marine organisms were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometer and differential pulse anodic stripping voltametric technique. Methyl mercury and tributyl tin were estimated using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer in combination with solid phase micro extraction (SPME). An assessment of the risk on human beings due to consumption of marine organism was undertaken using toxic reference benchmark, namely the reference dose (RfD). The hazard index (HI), sum of hazard quotients calculated for all the pollutant showed that the risks from consumption of fish and marine organisms as a whole were generally low and are within safe limits.     

Comparative assessment of Azolla pinnata and Vallisneria spiralis in Hg removal from G.B. Pant Sagar of Singrauli Industrial region, India

The aim of the present work was to monitor the Hg pollution in water and sediments of G.B. Pant Sagar located in Singrauli Industrial Region, India and to suggest the efficient aquatic plants for its phytoremediation. The study assessed the comparative potential of a free floating water fern Azolla pinnata and submerged aquatic macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis to purify waters polluted by Hg. Six days laboratory experiments have been conducted to mark the percentage removal of Hg at initial concentration of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 mg L(-1). The percentage removal of Hg was higher for A. pinnata (80-94%) than V. spiralis (70-84%). Likewise, the Hg accumulated in dry mass was much higher for A. pinnata and a high correlation (R(2) = 0.91 for A. pinnata and 0.99 for V. spiralis) was obtained between applied Hg doses and accumulated amounts in biomass. A concentration dependent decrease in chlorophyll a, protein, RNA, DNA and nutrients (NO(3-) and PO(4)(3-)) uptake was detected in A. pinnata and V. spiralis due to Hg toxicity. The decrease was more prominent in Azolla than Vallisneria. The results recommended the use of A. pinnata and V. spiralis to ameliorate the industrial effluents (thermal power, chlor-alkali and coal mine effluent) contaminated with Hg.     

Microbial dechlorination of chloroorganics and simultaneous decolorization of pulp–paper mill effluent by Pseudomonas putida MTCC 10510 augmentation

The physicochemical analyses of pulp-paper mill effluent revealed that it was dark brown with 1761?±?2.3 color PtCo units having slightly alkaline pH, high biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand values, and contained large quantities of organic and inorganic constituents, well above the prescribed standards. The bacterial growth, color reduction, and dechlorination were evident in all the four sets of experiments with different possible combinations of nutrient supplementation and Pseudomonas putida augmentation. A high degree of decolorization at 29.7% and 27.4% was observed by the effluent native microflora during 48 and 24 h, in unaugmented effluent supplemented with glucose + yeast extract and glucose + peptone, respectively. The extent of decolorization in glucose + yeast extract unaugmented effluent also corresponded with high degree of dechlorination (59.3%) during 60-h incubation (SET III). An appreciable level of growth, decolorization, and dechlorination was evident in nutrient unsupplemented P. putida augmented effluent as well as in the control natural effluent. However, a maximum level of growth response (OD 1.641-1.902) during 36-48 h, removal of color (39.72-48.2%) during 24-36 h, and chloride ions (80.1-83.5%) during 36 h was achieved in P. putida augmented effluent supplemented with glucose + yeast extract or peptone. Therefore, supplementation of effluent with glucose and yeast extract or peptone and concomitant augmentation with P. putida is required for efficient effluent decolorization and detoxification.     

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals and two organochlorine pesticides (DDT and BHC) in crops irrigated with secondary treated waste water

Four crop plants Oryza sativa (rice), Solanum melongena (brinjal), Spinacea oleracea (spinach) and Raphanus sativus (radish) were grown to study the impact of secondary treated municipal waste water irrigation. These plants were grown in three plots each of 0.5 ha, and irrigated with secondary treated waste water from a sewage treatment plant. Sludge from the same sewage treatment plant was applied as manure. Cultivated plants were analyzed for accumulation of heavy metals and pesticides. Results revealed the accumulation of six heavy metals cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) as well as two pesticides [1,1-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane; DDT] and benzene hexa chloride (BHC). Order of the plants for the extent of bioaccumulation was S. oleracea > R. sativus > S. melongena > O. sativa. The study has shown the secondary treated waste water can be a source of contamination to the soil and plants.     

Pyrene remediation by Trametes maxima: an insight into secretome response and degradation pathway

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The rapid pace of economic development has resulted in the release of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the environment. Microbial...     

Development of an environmental-friendly durable self-compacting concrete

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this experimental study on self-compacting concrete (SCC), the Manufactured sand (M-sand) and Fly ash (FA) were utilised for partial replacement of...