Composting of municipal solid waste by different methods improved the growth of vegetables and reduced the health risks of cadmium and lead

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Reutilization of putrescible municipal solid wastes (MSW) in agriculture can provide valuable plant nutrients. However, it may pose serious...     

Effect of Pb,Cd and Cu on survival and development of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

ABSTRACT

The present research aimed to determine the lowest levels of three heavy metals (Pb, Cd and Cu) to which the larvae of Southern House Mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus are susceptible in water. The study also aimed to investigate the effects of these heavy metals on the development of Cx. quinquefasciatus at concentrations set by Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) as permissible levels for liquid industrial effluents. The 2nd instar larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus were exposed to different concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cu and their effects on oviposition preference, egg hatching rate and larval development were studied. The LC₅₀ values of Pb, Cd and Cu were 12.6, 6.3 and 2.6?ppm, respectively. Gravid female mosquito adults deposited a significantly lower number of egg rafts in containers containing 0.50?ppm Pb or 1.0?ppm Cu in water. Each of the heavy metals in water resulted in significantly (p?<?0.05) lower egg hatching rate, prolonged time to pupation, lower pupation rate, prolonged time to adult emergence, lower adult emergence rate and higher female to male ratio. It is concluded that the 2nd instar larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus are susceptible to Pak-EPA permissible levels of Pb, Cd and Cu in municipal and liquid industrial effluents.     

Effect of bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil on rice growth

A pot experiment was conducted to appraise the hazards of bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil at six levels (0, 0.050, 0.089, 0.158, 0.281, and 0.500 mg kg(-1)) to the growth of four rice varieties (Xiushui 63, Eryou 810, Liangyoupeijiu, and Zhenong 952). The morphological characteristics of rice roots like root number, total length, surface area of rice roots, and rice biomass were determined. The results showed that the bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil impacted the growth of rice. Root number, total length of roots, surface area of roots, and biomass were restrained by bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil. The inhibition rate of root growth increased from 69.46-81.32% to 85.18-95.97% with the increasing of levels of bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl from 0.05 mg kg(-1) to 0.50 mg kg(-1). The number of rice roots could be taken as a sensitive index to screen the rice varieties endurable to bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil and to predict the potential hazards of bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil to rice. The level of bound residues of metsulfuron-methyl in soil causing the root numbers decreased by 50% (IC50) followed the order of Xiushui 63 < Eryou 810 < Liangyoupeijiu < Zhenong 952.     

长期施肥对棕壤有机碳储量及固碳速率的影响

利用棕壤肥料长期定位试验,研究了不同施肥条件下棕壤有机碳在0~60 cm土层的含量和储量特征以及土壤固碳速率.试验共设6个处理,即氮磷肥有机肥配施(M_2NP)、氮肥有机肥配施(M_2N)、单施有机肥(M_2)、单施氮肥(N)、氮磷肥配施(NP)和不施肥处理(CK).结果表明:经过31年长期不同施肥,各处理土壤有机碳(SOC)含量和储量的剖面分布均呈现随土层深度增加而显著降低的规律.本试验条件下M_2NP、M_2N、M_2、NP、N、CK处理的耕层有机碳富集系数分别为0.465、0.455、0.407、0.48_2、0.393、0.471,表明耕层土壤对有机碳的保持强度最强.在0~60 cm土层土壤有机碳储量表现为M_2NP、M_2NM_2、NPNCK,有机肥和化肥配施能够显著提高土壤有机碳含量和储量.与试验前相比,CK处理各土层土壤有机碳含量和储量均显著降低.各处理碳库管理指数(CPMI)表现为M_2NPM_2NM_2NNPCK.分析不同施肥处理土壤固碳速率可知,与试验前相比,CK处理表现为碳的净释放,固碳速率达-401.4 kg·hm~(-_2)·a~(-1);固碳速率最高的为M_2NP,M_2N,分别达到489kg·hm~(-_2)·a~(-1)、440._2 kg·hm~(-_2)·a~(-1).综合结果表明,化肥、有机肥配施所产生交互效应更有利于棕壤有机碳储量的增加及固碳速率的提高.     

Kinetic study of phytotoxicity induced by foliar lead uptake for vegetables exposed to fine particles and implications for sustainable urban agriculture

At the global scale, foliar metal transfer occurs for consumed vegetables cultivated in numerous urban or industrial areas with a polluted atmosphere. However, the kinetics of metal uptake, translocation and involved phytotoxicity was never jointly studied with vegetables exposed to micronic and sub-micronic particles (PM). Different leafy vegetables (lettuces and cabbages) cultivated in RHIZOtest® devices were, therefore, exposed in a greenhouse for 5, 10 and 15 days to various PbO PM doses. The kinetics of transfer and phytotoxicity was assessed in relation to lead concentration and exposure duration. A significant Pb accumulation in leaves (up to 7392 mg/kg dry weight (DW) in lettuce) with translocation to roots was observed. Lead foliar exposure resulted in significant phytotoxicity, lipid composition change, a decrease of plant shoot growth (up to 68.2% in lettuce) and net photosynthesis (up to 58% in lettuce). The phytotoxicity results indicated plant adaptation to Pb and a higher sensitivity of lettuce in comparison with cabbage. Air quality needs, therefore, to be considered for the health and quality of vegetables grown in polluted areas, such as certain megacities (in China, Pakistan, Europe, etc.) and furthermore, to assess the health risks associated with their consumption.     

Spatial variance and assessment of nitrogen dioxide pollution in major cities of Pakistan along N5-Highway

This paper discusses the findings of the first car MAX-DOAS (multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy) field campaign (300 km long) along the National Highway-05 (N5-Highway) of Pakistan conducted on 13 and 14 November, 2012. The main objective of the field campaign was to assess the spatial distribution of tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) columns and corresponding concentrations along the N5-Highway from Islamabad to Lahore. Source identification of NO₂ revealed that the concentrations were higher within major cities along the highway. The highest NO₂ vertical column densities (NO₂ VCDs) were found around two major cities of Rawalpindi and Lahore. This study also presents a comparison of NO₂ VCDs measured by the ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) and car MAX-DOAS observations. The comparison revealed similar spatial distribution of the NO₂ columns with both car MAX-DOAS and satellite observations, but the car MAX-DOAS observations show much more spatial details. Maximum NO₂ VCD retrieved from car MAX-DOAS observations was up to an order of magnitude larger than the OMI observations in urban areas.