Profile of trace elements in Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) from Tucholskie Forest

The aim of this study was to determine 19 elements contents and bioconcentration potential in fruiting bodies of Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) collected from the Tucholskie Forest complex in Poland. Also discussed were Cd, Pb and Hg contents of edible caps in relation to the current regulatory standards. K, P and Mg were particularly abundant in caps and stipes, median values were 38-49, 13, and 1.6-1.6 mg/g dry weight, and followed by Ca, Na and Rb at 110-540, 44-240 and 20-50 μg/g dw, respectively. Concentrations of Al, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn were from less than 50 to 180 μg/g dw, while concentrations of other elements were ～l.0?μg/g dw or less. Cu, K, Ag, Cd, Na, Rb, Zn and Hg were bioconcentrated (BCF >1), while Al, Ba, Fe, Mn, Co, Sr, Pb and Cr were not bioaccumulated (BCF <1). Cd and Pb content of Parasol Mushroom's edible caps collected from some sites in the Tucholskie Forest exceed the maximum levels set in the EU for cultivated mushrooms.     

Optimized yeast-based in vitro bioassay for determination of estrogenic and androgenic activity of hydroxylated / methoxylated metabolites of BDEs / CBs and related lipophilic organic pollutants

ABSTRACT

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are known to show endocrine disrupting (ED) activity, including interactions with hormone receptors. The aim of this work was to develop a bioassay applicable for evaluation of ED potency of highly lipophilic metabolites of POPs. To that end, a yeast-based bio-assay protocol was used. Estrogenic / androgenic activity of some native brominated biphenyl ethers (BDEs) / chlorinated biphenyls (CBs), and their hydroxylated / methoxylated metabolites was assessed. Since data (including potency compared to reference native hormones) obtained using different protocols vary, the possibility that yeast transforms POPs into some more potent compounds was first checked; it seems that no such transformation is important from the test applicability standpoint. The developed method was sensitive with EC50 values 6.5*10^?11 M and 4.5*10^?9 M calculated for E2 and DHT, respectively. Both CBs and BDEs show weak estrogenic activity negatively correlated with the degree of their halogenation, but their metabolites are significantly more potent xenohormones. 4-OH-2,2′,4′,6′-TeCB was the most potent estrogen receptor (ER) agonist among all tested compounds; its activity was only 1,000 times lower than that of native E2.     

Further investigation of the heavy metal content of the teeth of the bank vole as an exposure indicator of environmental pollution in Poland

The content of heavy metals in mineralised dental tissues is an indicator of the exposure of their mineral phase to heavy metals during the time of tooth development and dental tissue formation. Therefore, teeth have been used as bio-indicators which accurately reflect the environmental or dietary exposure of animals and humans to heavy metals. This study follows from the earlier work in which it was demonstrated that the teeth from bank voles inhabiting various environmentally polluted and non-polluted forests in Southern Poland were reliable indicators of exposure to heavy metals. Using analytical techniques employed in the earlier study heavy metal concentrations were obtained in the teeth of bank voles trapped in 1998-2000 to determine if efforts to clean up the environment could be detected in changes in heavy metal concentrations in the teeth. The results show that these efforts are reflected in lower concentrations of heavy metals in the teeth but that cross border contamination remains a problem.     

Biosorption of Cr3+, Cd2+ and Cu2+ ions by blue-green algae Spirulina sp.: kinetics, equilibrium and the mechanism of the process

The process of biosorption of heavy metal ions (Cr3+, Cd2+, Cu2+) by blue-green algae Spirulina sp. is discussed in this paper. Spirulina sp. was found to be a very efficient biosorbent. The aim of the present study was to investigate quantitatively the potential binding sites present at the surface of Spirulina sp., using both potentiometric titrations and adsorption isotherms. The kinetic experiments showed that the process equilibrium was reached quickly, in less than 5-10 min. It was found that the equilibrium dependence between biosorption capacity and bulk metal ion concentration could be described with Langmuir equation. This suggests that the mechanism of biosorption is rather chemisorption than physical adsorption and was further confirmed by the low surface area associated with physical adsorption and by the presence of cations that appeared in the solution after biosorption. The maximum contribution of physical adsorption in the overall biosorption process was evaluated as 3.7%. It was proposed that functional groups on the cell surface contributed to the binding of metal ions by a biosorbent via equilibrium reaction. Three functional groups capable of cation exchange were identified on the cell surface. The biomass was described as weakly acidic ion exchanger. Since deprotonation of each functional group depends on pH, the process of biosorption is strongly pH-dependent. This was confirmed in the biosorption experiments carried out at different pH. The contribution of functional groups in the biosorption process was confirmed by chemical modification of the groups. Chemically blocked groups did not show neither biosorption nor ion-exchange capabilities. It has been shown that growth conditions can affect the metal adsorption properties of microalgae. The paper also discusses desorption characteristics of the biosorbent. The criteria for desorption were high elution efficiency and preservation of biosorptive properties. Desorbent that possessed these characteristics was nitric acid.     

3D printing filament as a second life of waste plastics—a review

In recent times, the issue of plastic recycling has become one of the leading issues of environmental protection and waste management. Polymer materials have been found an application in many areas of daily life and industry. Along with their extended use, the problem of plastic wastes appeared because, after withdrawal from use, they became persistent and noxious wastes. The possibility of reusing polymeric materials gives a possibility of valorization—a second life—and enables effective waste utilization to obtain consumable products. The 3D printing market is a well-growing sector. Printable filaments can be made from a variety of thermoplastic materials, including those from recycling. This paper focuses on a review of the available literature on the production of filaments for 3D printers from recycled polymers as the alternative to present approach of central selective collection of plastics. The possibility of recycling of basic thermoplastic materials and the impact of processing on their physicochemical and mechanical properties were verified (Lanzotti et al. 2019). In addition, commercially available filaments produced from recycled materials and devices which allow self-production of filaments to 3D printing from plastic waste were reviewed.

     

Legacies,socio-economic and biophysical processes and drivers: the case of future forest cover expansion in the Polish Carpathians and Swiss Alps

Mountain forest areas are key for providing a wide range of ecosystem services and are hot spots for land use change processes, in particular, increase in forest cover at the expense of mountain pastures and meadows. Mountain forest systems in eastern and western Europe have likely similar future socio-economic situations but significantly different socio-economic history. Using a scenario-based land use modelling approach (Dyna-CLUE framework) we model three scenarios (trend, liberalisation and self-sufficiency) of future land use in the Polish Carpathians and the Swiss Alps, focussing on forest cover change. We find that forest cover increase can be expected to continue in European mountainous regions under all likely scenarios, limited only by relatively strict policy interventions. Biophysical factors, rather than socio-economic ones, are key for defining the suitability for, and therefore likely locations of future forest cover, but land use legacy plays a very important role in the spatial patterns of future forest cover, particularly in eastern Europe.

     

Sources of fine particles in the South Coast area,California

PM_2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter) speciation data collected between 2003 and 2005 at two United State Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Speciation Trends Network monitoring sites in the South Coast area, California were analyzed to identify major PM_2.5 sources as a part of the State Implementation Plan development. Eight and nine major PM_2.5 sources were identified in LA and Rubidoux, respectively, through PMF2 analyses. Similar to a previous study analyzing earlier data (Kim and Hopke, 2007a), secondary particles contributed the most to the PM_2.5 concentrations: 53% in LA and 59% in Rubidoux. The next highest contributors were diesel emissions (11%) in LA and Gasoline vehicle emissions (10%) in Rubidoux. Most of the source contributions were lower than those from the earlier study. However, the average source contributions from airborne soil, sea salt, and aged sea salt in LA and biomass smoke in Rubidoux increased.To validate the apportioned sources in this study, PMF2 results were compared with those obtained from EPA PMF (US EPA, 2005). Both models identified the same number of major sources and the resolved source profiles and contributions were similar at the two monitoring sites. The minor differences in the results caused by the differences in the least square algorithm and non-negativity constraints between two models did not affect the source identifications.     

Clogging of Filtering Material Systems Used for Disposable Respirators

The article shows the problem of clogging in connection with the parameters of filtering materials used in respiratory protective equipment. The results of investigations of airflow resistance changes during the depositing of dust inside the filtering material are presented. The configuration of layers differing in mass per unit area and the number of layers, were taken into consideration. For each configuration, the clogging abilities and the changes of airflow resistance as a reason of loading with dust were assessed. The analysis of tested materials confirms the hypothesis that there is an important coincidence between the properties of the material used in filtering equipment and the clogging coefficient. The results show that the filter should have a layered structure and that the outer layer should be made of a nonwoven of relatively high surface density.     

Aspects of Tests and Assessment of Filtering Materials Used for Respiratory Protection Against Bioaerosols. Part II: Sweat in the Environment,Microorganisms in the Form of a Bioaerosol

The second part of the article presents the results of a study of antimicrobial activity of filter nonwovens with an addition of biocides, as a function of the presence of sweat in the environment and the method of microbe deposition on a nonwoven in the form of a liquid and a bioaerosol. At the same time, the filtration efficiency of nonwovens against microorganisms in the form of a bioaerosol was tested with the dynamic method. The results showed that the addition of sweat on the surface of a nonwoven resulted in an insignificant decrease of biological activity that still remained high. Moreover, an active nonwoven showed biostatic and biocidal activity only when microbes were deposited on the surface in the form of a solution. The nonwoven did not show any biological activity after deposition of microorganisms with the dynamical method in the form of a bioaerosol.