Mercury accumulation in soils and plants in the Almadén mining district, Spain: one of the most contaminated sites on Earth

Although mercury (Hg) mining in the Almadén district ceased in May 2002, the consequences of 2000 years of mining in the district has resulted in the dissemination of Hg into the surrounding environment where it poses an evident risk to biota and human health. This risk needs to be properly evaluated. The uptake of Hg has been found to be plant-specific. To establish the different manners in which plants absorb Hg, we carried out a survey of Hg levels in the soils and plants in the most representative habitats of this Mediterranean area and found that the Hg concentrations varied greatly and were dependent on the sample being tested (0.13–2,695 μg g⁻¹ Hg). For example, the root samples had concentrations ranging from 0.06 (Oenanthe crocata, Rumex induratus) to 1095 (Polypogon monspeliensis) μg g⁻¹ Hg, while in the leaf samples, the range was from 0.16 (Cyperus longus) to 1278 (Polypogon monspeliensis) μg g⁻¹ Hg. There are four well-differentiated patterns of Hg uptake: (1) the rate of uptake is constant, independent of Hg concentration in the soil (e.g., Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus rotundifolia); (2) after an initial linear relationship between uptake and soil concentration, no further increase in Hg_plant is observed (e.g., Asparagus acutifolius, Cistus ladanifer); (3) no increase in uptake is recorded until a threshold is surpassed, and thereafter a linear relationship between Hg_plant and Hg_soil is established (e.g., Rumex bucephalophorus, Cistus crispus); (4) there is no relationship between Hg_plant and Hg_soil (e.g., Oenanthe crocata and Cistus monspeliensis). Overall, the Hg concentrations found in plants from the Almadén district clearly reflect the importance of contamination processes throughout the study region.     

Significance of platinum group metals emitted from automobile exhaust gas converters for the biosphere

Intention, Goal, Scope, Background  Following the introduction of automobile catalytic converters the platinum group metals (PGM) platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) gain on increasing interest in environmental research as these metals are emitted with exhaust fumes into the environment. Consequently, elevated PGM levels were found in different environmental matrices uch as road dusts, soils along heavily frequented roads, sediments of urban rivers etc. Accordingly, the effects of increasing PGM emissions on the biosphere are controversially discussed. Objective  This paper summarizes the present knowledge on the biological availability of PGM to plants and animals. As biological availability is one of the most decisive factors determining the toxicologi-cal potential of xenobiotics, this information is very important to evaluate the possible threat of the noble metals to ecosystems. Results and Discussion  The availability of soluble as well as particle bound PGM to terrestrial plants was demonstrated in several studies. Experimental investigations revealed uptake of Pt, Pd and Rh also by aquatic plants. Additionally, the biological availability of the noble metals for animals has been verified in experimental studies using soluble metal salts, catalytic converter model substances, sediments of urban rivers, road dust or tunnel dust as metal sources. These studies refer mainly to aquatic animals. Beside of free living organisms, in particular worms parasitizing fish demonstrated a high potential to accumulate PGM. This could be of great interest in respect of biomonitoring purposes. Generally, for plants as well as for animals Pd turns out to be the best available metal among the PGM. Compared to other heavy metals, the biological availability of PGM from road dust to zebra mussels(Dreissena polymorpha) ranged between that of Cd and Pb. Conclusion  Especially chronic effects of PGM on the biosphere can not be excluded due to (1) their cumulative increase in the environment, (2) their unexpected high biological availability and bioaccumulation and (3) their unknown toxicological and ecotoxicological potential. However, it appears that acute effects on ecosystems due to anthropogenic PGM emission are not likely. Recommendation and Outlook  Research on environmental PGM contamination of the biosphere, especially the fauna, and on long-term toxiciry of low PGM concentrations is highly appreciated. These studies require very sensitive analytical techniques to determine PGM even in low sample amounts. Research has to be done in particular on reliable determination of (ultra) trace levels of Pd and Rh as the lack of data on these two metals is mainly due to analytical problems.     

Long-term survey of heavy-metal pollution, biofilm contamination and diatom community structure in the Riou Mort watershed, South-West France

In a metal-polluted stream in the Riou Mort watershed in SW France, periphytic biofilm was analyzed for diatom cell densities and taxonomic composition, dry weight and metal bio-accumulation (cadmium and zinc). Periphytic diatom communities were affected by the metal but displayed induced tolerance, seen through structural impact (dominance of small, adnate species) as well as morphological abnormalities particularly in the genera Ulnaria and Fragilaria. Species assemblages were characterized by taxa known to occur in metal-polluted environments, and shifts in the community structure expressed seasonal patterns: high numbers of Eolimna minima, Nitzschia palea and Pinnularia parvulissima were recorded in Summer and Autumn, whereas the species Surirella brebissonii, Achnanthidium minutissimum, Navicula lanceolata and Surirella angusta were dominant in Winter and Spring. Commonly used indices such as the Shannon diversity index and Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index reflected the level of pollution and suggest seasonal periodicity, the lowest diversities being observed in Summer.     

不同粒径微塑料对三氯生在热带爪蛙蝌蚪体内积累分布及其生态毒性的影响

三氯生（TCS）作为药物和个人护理品（PPCPs）中常见的抗菌剂,在水环境中存在与聚苯乙烯微塑料（PS-MPs）复合污染的生态健康风险.本研究旨在探究0.1、5、20 μm PS-MPs吸附TCS在蝌蚪体内累积情况,以及对蝌蚪毒性的作用.结果表明,PS-MPs吸附TCS在蝌蚪体内的积累能力依次为：TCS+5 μm PS组>TCS+20 μm PS组>TCS+0.1 μm PS组,累积量分别为3.27、1.8 mg·g^-1、无累积效应.值得注意的是,蝌蚪经不同粒径PS-MPs（2 mg·L^-1）、TCS（1 μg·L^-1）单独及复合暴露7 d后,各实验组脂质代谢水平均表现出丙酮酸含量增加（p<0.05）、甘油三酯含量降低（p<0.05）的趋势.复合组中TCS+0.1 μm PS组蝌蚪体内丙酮酸（Pyruvate）含量上升水平最显著（p<0.05）;TCS+20 μm PS组蝌蚪体内甘油三酯（TG）含量下降水平最显著（p<0.05）,这可能与脂代谢调控基因ppar-α、cpt1-β表达水平显著提升有关（p<0.05）.此外,PS-MPs、TCS单一和复合暴露 还会增加蝌蚪体内CAT、SOD酶活性.与脂质代谢结果不同的是,复合组中TCS+5 μm PS组蝌蚪体内CAT、SOD酶活性上升最显著（p<0.05）,这可能与调控基因cat、sod表达水平显著提升有关（p<0.05）.研究表明,复合暴露组对蝌蚪生理水平的影响高于单一暴露组,而不同复合处理组对蝌蚪脂质代谢水平和抗氧化水平影响具有差异,该结果可为评估微塑料（MPs）吸附亲脂性污染物对水生动物的毒性效应和生态风险提供 信息和参考.     

多氯代二苯并-对-二噁的微生物降解

从多氯代二苯并-对-二噁(PCDDs)污染的土壤和含氧沉积物中分离筛选出8株降解PCDDs的菌株,均能以一氯代和二氯代二为单一碳源和能源生长并使其降解,多数几乎不能降解三氯代二噁.但是,用邻二氯苯作为初级营养共代谢物,可以增强菌株对较高氯代二噁(如三氯代和四氯代二噁)的降解能力.利用所筛选菌株中的1株,经鉴定为假单胞菌EE41(Pseudomonas sp.EE41).降解试验结果表明,1,2,3-TrCDD在浓度为1.2mg/L时3周内可降解33%,2,3,7,8-TCDD在0.1 mg/L时3周内最多可降解37.8%.试验的高氯代二噁(pCDD,H6-CDD,H7-CDD和OCDD)则只被菌体强烈吸收并积累,却不能被降解.     

高选择性基因工程菌E.coli SE5000生物富集水体中的镍离子

利用基因工程菌E．coli SE5000对水体中的镍离子进行富集研究．菌体细胞对Ni^2 的富集速率很快,富集过程满足Langmuir等温线模型．经基因改造的基因工程菌不仅最大镍富集容量与原始宿主菌相比增加了4倍多,而且对pH值的变化呈现出更强的适应性．对离子强度及其它共存重金属离子的影响的实验结果表明：Na^ ,Ca^2 ,Cd^2 ,Pb^2 的影响较小,但Mg^2 ,Hg^2 ,Cr^3 和Cu^2 所引起的负面效应较大．金属螯合剂EDTA的存在对基因工程菌的富集行为影响很大．     

全氟化合物对水生植物的生态效应研究Ⅰ——典型城市河道全氟化合物的暴露水平及植物富集特征

全氟化合物(perfluorinated compounds,PFCs)近年来得到国内外广泛关注,针对工业源排放区域的环境暴露、来源解析以及动物层面的生态效应有较多研究,但对于普遍存在于非工业源(生活源)的城市河道PFCs暴露及水生植物富集等研究较为缺乏。本研究选择位于北京北部东西贯通的城市河道——清河水体为对象,分析结果表明,清河水体中12种目标PFCs均有检出(总量最高为65.45 ng·L-1),并以全氟丁烷磺酸盐(perfluorobutane sulfonate,PFBS)为主(最高达45.63 ng·L-1);6种水生植物(篦齿眼子菜、黑藻、金鱼藻、芦苇、菖蒲及水葱)的富集物质均以全氟辛烷磺酸盐(perfluorooctane sulfonate,PFOS)和全氟辛酸(perfluorooctanoic acid,PFOA)为主,沉水植物中金鱼藻对于PFOS的蓄积效果优于黑藻及篦齿眼子菜,挺水植物中根部PFCs含量高于茎叶,根部PFOA及PFOS含量高于茎叶,但全氟丁酸(perfluorobutanoic acid,PFBA)含量茎叶则高于根部。整体来看,尽管芦苇、菖蒲和水葱3种挺水植物尚不能作为PFCs的超富集植物,但其根部对PFCs均有显著的吸收效果,具有一定的生态修复潜质;沉水植物中金鱼藻是北方自然河道的优势物种,且对PFOS具有显著的富集效应,因此有必要进一步探索其PFCs生物指示和生态修复功能。     

中华圆田螺对沉积物中十溴联苯醚工业品DE-83的生物积累与转化

为研究沉积物中十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)的生物有效性,将淡水生态系统中常见的底栖动物中华圆田螺(Cipangopaludina cahayensis)暴露于商品DE-83(主要包含92%的BDE-209、6%的BDE-206、1.5%的BDE-207和0.5%的BDE-208)染毒的沉积物,进行60 d养殖实验。根据暴露期间中华圆田螺体内PBDEs含量与同系物组成的变化,探讨了田螺对DE-83的富集动力学、积累常数以及可能发生的生物转化。实验结果显示,DE-83主要同系物均能够被中华圆田螺积累,但是生物有效性非常低,BDE-209、BDE-207和BDE-206的吸收速率常数(k_s)为0.029～0.042 d^-1,BDE-207 > BDE-206 > BDE-209。依据动力学参数推算的生物-沉积物积累因子(BSAF)非常低,分别为0.05(BDE-209)和0.02(BDE-206和BDE-207)。暴露20 d后,中华圆田螺体内有低溴代同系物检出,其含量随暴露时间延长而增加,说明BDE-209在中华圆田螺体内发生了生物转化。     

镍钴转运酶NiCoT基因的克隆表达及基因工程菌对镍离子的富集

利用PCR技术从Staphylococcus aureus/ ATCC6538基因组中扩增出大小为1?053 bp的镍钴转运酶基因NiCoT gene,将其连接到pET-3c载体上构建重组质粒,并转化至E.coli BL21.筛选阳性菌并经酶切分析和PCR扩增双重鉴定.核苷酸序列测定及分析结果与GenBank中报道的同类基因相似性高达97%以上,表明其具有正确的NiCoT基因核苷酸序列.重组菌的SDS-PAGE结果图谱中,在相对分子量为39?000附近有特异性蛋白条带,大小符合预测值,表明NiCoT基因在E.coli BL21中成功表达.基因工程菌在IPTG用量为1.00 mmol·L^-1,诱导时间为4 h的条件下培养对镍离子的富集能力最高.在不同镍离子浓度时,基因工程菌对溶液中Ni²⁺的平衡富集量为11.33 mg·g^-1,与原始宿主菌相比提高了3倍.对基因工程菌吸附镍和钴的实验表明,Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538的NiCoT对镍具有较高的特异性和富集容量,属于第Ⅲ类镍钴转运酶.     

太湖水体中丁基锡化合物污染现状研究

对太湖表层水、沉积物和水生生物样品的丁基锡污染物进行了研究.结果表明,绝大多数表层水样中未检出丁基锡化合物;沉积物样品中丁基锡的检出率为50%,浓度在0～0.95ng/g范围内,主要以一丁基锡为主;生物样品中检测到较高含量的丁基锡污染物,总丁基锡浓度为27.05～181.23 ng/g,这反映丁基锡具有明显的生物富集效应.生物样品中三丁基锡是主要污染物,大约占总丁基锡含量的70%.太湖中丁基锡的污染来源可能主要来自养殖网箱和船舶防污涂料的使用.