Bioaugmentation of a 4-chloronitrobenzene contaminated soil with Pseudomonas putida ZWL73

The strain Pseudomonas putida ZWL73, which metabolizes 4-chloronitrobenzene (4CNB) by a partial-reductive pathway, was inoculated into lab-scale 4CNB-contaminated soil for bioaugmentation purposes in this study. The degradation of 4CNB was clearly stimulated, as indicated with the gradual accumulation of ammonium and chloride. Simultaneously, the diversity and quantity of cultivable heterotrophic bacteria decreased due to 4CNB contamination, while the quantity of 4CNB-resistant bacteria increased. During the bioaugmentation, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis showed the changes of diversity in dominant populations of intrinsic soil microbiota. The results showed that Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria were not distinctly affected, but Actinobacteria were apparently stimulated. In addition, an interesting dynamic within Acidobacteria was observed, as well as an influence on ammonia-oxidizing bacteria population. These combined findings demonstrate that the removal of 4CNB in soils by inoculating strain ZWL73 is feasible, and that specific populations in soils rapidly changed in response to 4CNB contamination and subsequent bioaugmentation.     

Chromosomal aberrations and DNA damage in human populations exposed to the processing of electronics waste

Background, aim, and scope  It has been known that the pollutants of electronic wastes (E-wastes) can lead to severe pollution to the environment. It has been reported that about 50% to 80% of E-wastes from developed countries are exported to Asia and Africa. It has become a major global environmental problem to deal with ‘E-wastes’. E-waste recycling has remained primitive in Jinghai, China. This not only produces enormous environmental pollution but also can bring about toxic or genotoxic effects on the human body, threatening the health of both current residents and future generations living in the local environment. The concentration of lead in the blood of children in the E-waste polluted area in China is higher than that of the control area. But little is known about the cytogenetic effect to human beings caused by the pollution of E-wastes. In the present study, experiments have been performed to investigate the genetics of permanent residents of three villages with numerous E-waste disposal sites and to analyze the harmful effects of exposure to E-wastes. Materials and methods  In total, 171 villagers (exposed group) were randomly selected from permanent residents of three villages located in Jinghai County of Tianjin, China, where there has been massive disposal of E-wastes. Thirty villagers were selected from the neighboring towns without E-waste disposal sites to serve as controls. Chromosomal aberrations and cytokinesis blocking micronucleus were performed to detect the cytogenetic effect, dic + r (dicentric and ring chromosome), monomer, fragments (acentric fragments, minute chromosomes, and acentric rings), translocation, satellite, quadriradial, total aberrations, and micronuclear rate were scored for each subject. DNA damage was detected using comet assay; the DNA percentage in the comet tail (TDNA%), tail moment (TM), and Olive tail moment (OTM) were recorded to describe DNA damage to lymphocytes. Results  The total chromosome aberration rates (5.50%) and micronuclear rates (16.99%) of the exposure group were significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.000). The percentage of DNA in the comet tail, tail moment, and Olive tail moment detected by comet assay showed that there was a significant difference in DNA damage in the exposure group (P = 0.000). The chromosome aberration, micronucleus rate, and DNA damage observed in women were significantly higher than those in men. Chromosome aberration and micronuclear rates of both smokers and non-smokers in the exposure group are obviously higher than that in the control group (P = 0.000). Discussion  The use of outdated (and unsafe) ways to deal with E-wastes can lead to exposure to a variety of substances harmful to human health. The components of pollution may enter the human body through the air, drinking water, and food chain to damage human genetic material, resulting in genomic instability. The rates of chromosomal aberration, micronucleus formation, and the degree of DNA damage in women in the group exposed to electronic waste were significantly higher than in men. The reason for this may be concerned with the traditional lifestyle of the local residents or the difference of sensitivity to the exposure to E-wastes or any others. Further investigations are needed to provide evidence to demonstrate this. Conclusions  Here, we report the obviously cytogenetic toxicity to the exposure population by the E-waste pollution for the first time. E-waste pollution may be a potential agent of genetic mutation, and may induce cytogenetic damage within the general population exposed to the pollution. These findings need to be considered, and steps should be taken to protect the current population and future generations from the effects of pollution with E-wastes. Recommendations and perspectives  The above results remind us that the impact of E-waste recycling on environmental quality of Jinghai should be evaluated soon. Moreover, it is urgent for the government to prohibit E-waste import and its processing by outdated ways. The future studies such as pollutant details of drinking water, air, and soil in the area as well as epidemiological investigations on the harmful effect to children must be performed eagerly. All the data available do provide a compelling case for immediate action in both countries to address workplace health and safety and waste management. Qiang Liu and Jia Cao contributed equally to this study and share the first authorship.     

Wastewater reuse in Mediterranean semi-arid areas: The impact of discharges of tertiary treated sewage on the load of polar micro pollutants in the Llobregat river (NE Spain)

The presence of sewage-borne micro contaminants in environmental waters is directly related to the discharge of treated effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and the flow rate of the receiving river waters. Mediterranean rivers, in particular, are characterized by important fluctuations in the flow rates and heavy pollution pressures resulting from extensive urban, industrial and agricultural activities. This translates into contamination levels in these rivers often higher than those in other larger European basins. The present work provides an overview of the occurrence of five groups of organic contaminants (131 compounds) namely pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, polar pesticides, estrogens, alkylphenols and related ethoxylates in WWTP tertiary treatment effluents. Data gathered during a period of water reuse carried out in the lower stretch of the Llobregat river (NE Spain), in the surroundings of the town of Barcelona as a consequence of the severe drought that took place along the years 2007-2008 are presented as illustrative example. In general, measured concentrations of the target compounds were in the low to mid ng L⁻¹ range. The total concentration of each compound class downstream to the discharge point was similar or slightly higher than that found upstream. Regarding the loads calculated for each compound, the relative contribution from the river upstream and the tertiary effluent were highly compound depending with no apparent trend. However, estimation of the overall bulk loads for each compound class determined in the Llobregat river showed the following rank order: pharmaceuticals > alkylphenols > pesticides > illicit drugs ? estrogens.     

超稠油污水深度处理工艺技术

针对辽河油田超稠油污水的特点设计了处理工艺流程,进行了药剂的筛选,根据各工艺设备的出水水质要求确定了合适的净水剂、除硅剂、阻垢剂的加量,并进行了现场实际应用,外输出水达到锅炉给水指标要求,用于锅炉注汽使用,效果良好,分析了该超稠油污水处理技术的特点和优势,提出了超稠油污水回用锅炉的建议。     

一起双氧水储罐爆炸事故的原因调查

错将水玻璃加到双氧水中,致使双氧水储罐爆炸,炸飞的罐体挂断供电线路,全厂断电停产23 h,经济损失100多万元,无人员伤亡.     

高锰酸钾凝胶缓释剂的制备及其缓释去除水中三氯乙烯

本研究开发一种结合原位化学氧化和二氧化硅溶胶-凝胶的可控氧化剂释放技术,制备出一种高锰酸钾(KMnO₄)凝胶缓释剂(SRPG).优化SPRG的制备条件和探究影响其在水中缓释效率的因素,并考察其对不同氯代烃的降解效果.结果表明：二氧化硅溶胶的质量分数、KMnO₄的含量及pH对SRPG凝胶化过程有显著的影响;提高缓释剂中KMnO₄的含量和降低二氧化硅溶胶质量分数,可有效提高SRPG中KMnO₄的释放速率,当KMnO₄质量分数为6.51‰,二氧化硅溶胶质量分数为40%,KMnO₄的释放符合拟一阶动力学,释放速率k_obs=0.83 h-1(R²=0.9750),且12 h后KMnO₄释放率为82.7%;SRPG可有效降解水中氯代烃污染物,其中对三氯乙烯(TCE)的去除效果最佳,反应24 h可去除水中98%的TCE.因此,SRPG在原位化学氧化修复土壤和地下水中氯代烃的实际工程中具有良好的应用前景.     

处理农村污水的跌水充氧接触氧化技术设计研究

为了满足太湖地区农村污水处理占地面积小、除磷脱氮效率高、管理简单、运行和建设费用低的要求,研发了厌氧-跌水充氧接触氧化-人工湿地的组合工艺,并进行了工程试验研究.重点研究了跌水充氧接触氧化的设计及运行参数;接触氧化池内采取弹性填料与组合填料以1:1的比例混合装填,平面布置密度为45根/m2时,可使微生物量与跌水充氧能力之间达到平衡;相邻两池间经济有效的跌水高度为0.5 m;竖缝间距5 cm的挡板对水流的分散效果较好,有利于提高充氧效果;水力停留时间越小充氧效果越好,但由此带来的污染物负荷升高又会使污染物去除效果下降,故水力停留时间宜取2.4 h左右.