Mercury methylation by a microbial community from sediments of the Adour Estuary (Bay of Biscay, France)

In order to study the influence of microorganisms on the mercury biogeochemistry, the metal content and the structure of microbial communities were determined in sediments from stations along the Adour Estuary. The comparison of the bacterial communities and their distribution in function of the environmental parameters by Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed the influence of metals on the bacterial communities structure. Sediments where the bacterial communities are mostly influenced by methylmercury were incubated in slurries with or without mercury, under oxic and anoxic conditions. Methylmercury production was detected in the anoxic biotic slurries with a net methylation yield of 0.3% after 24 h. CCA based on T-RFLP profiles revealed the impact of mercury addition on the bacterial communities structure. In addition, 17 bacterial strains, mainly sulphate-reducing bacteria involved in mercury methylation, were isolated and identified.     

The Probability of a Horizontal Gene Transfer from Roundup Ready® Soybean to Root Symbiotic Bacteria: A Risk Assessment Study on the GSF Lysimeter Station

The gene transfer from glyphosate tolerant soybean to Bradyrhizobium japonicum was evaluated in a free-air lysimeter experiment under natural conditions and increasing selection pressure, to monitor for the probability of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). A large volume lysimeter study that offers conditions comparable to normal farming was conducted in 2004 and 2005 with Roundup Ready® (RR) soybean and Roundup® application according to agricultural practice. Analysis of nodules showed, as expected, the presence of the transgenic 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS). However, in bacteroids that were isolated from nodules and then cultivated for several rounds in the presence of high levels of glyphosate, the EPSPS gene could no longer be detected. This indicates no stable HGT transfer of the whole EPSPS gene under field conditions.     

Determination of phenolic and steroid endocrine disrupting compounds in environmental matrices

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE: Many pollutants have received significant attention due to their potential estrogenic effect and are classified as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). EDCs comprise many classes of organic compounds. The development or optimization of analytical protocols for the simultaneous determination of EDCs in environmental samples is an analytical challenge because these compounds exhibit different physicochemical characteristics, they occur in the aquatic environment in relatively low concentrations and, furthermore, environmental samples are considered as complex matrices. The aim of this study is the development of analytical methods for the simultaneous determination of phenolic and steroid EDCs in aqueous and solid samples. The target compounds are 4-nonylphenol, 4-octylphenol, their ethoxylate oligomers (mono- and di-ethoxylates of nonylphenol and octylphenol), bisphenol A, the estrogens (estriol, estrone, 17beta-estradiol, 17alpha-estradiol) and the synthetic steroids (mestranol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Solid phase extraction employing Oasis HLB cartridges and different elution solvents was used for the recovery studies of the target compounds from various types of water samples (ultrapure water, artificial seawater, river water and seawater). Ultrasonic assisted extraction was applied for the recovery of the target EDCs from the solid samples. The recoveries were assessed using various solvents for the extraction and the elution of EDCs from different SPE cartridges used for clean up. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after derivatization with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide was employed for the determination of these compounds. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The recovery rates of three elution solvents (methanol, acetone and ethylacetate) for the extraction of target EDCs from artificial seawater were assessed after preconcentration on SPE cartridges. Acetone showed better recoveries and was further tested for its extraction efficiency in different water types (river water, seawater). Ultrasonic assisted extraction was used for the recovery of target EDCs from solid matrices. Acetone, methanol, mixture of acetone-methanol (1:1) and ethylacetate were used as extraction solvents. Ethylacetate and the mixture of acetone-methanol (1:1) exhibited better extraction efficiencies. An additional clean up step was necessary for sediment samples. Different SPE cartridges were employed for clean up of the extracts (Oasis HLB, C18, Florisil, silica, combination of silica and alumina). Florisil cartridges were finally used. The proposed methods were further validated on the determination of target EDCs in field collected samples (river water, seawater, wastewater, total suspended solids and sediments) from the major area of Thessaloniki, Greece. CONCLUSIONS: Efficient and accurate integrated methods for the simultaneous determination of alkylphenols (nonylphenol, octylphenol), their ethoxylate oligomers (mono- and di-ethoxylate of nonylphenol and octylphenol), bisphenol A and steroids (estriol, estrone, 17beta-estradiol, 17alpha-estradiol, mestranol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol) in aqueous and solid samples were developed. The proposed methods were applied for the determination of the target compounds in representative environmental samples in the area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: This study confirms the occurrence of selected EDCs in inland and marine waters in the area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. Since there is no previous data on the occurrence of the target EDCs in the major area, an extended survey is in progress to evaluate the occurrence and fate of these compounds.     

Performance and Environmental Impact of Biodegradable Films in Agriculture: A Field Study on Protected Cultivation

The performance, the degradability in soil and the environmental impact of biodegradable starch-based soil mulching and low tunnel films were assessed by means of field and laboratory tests. The lifetime of the biodegradable mulches was 9 months and of the biodegradable low-tunnel films 6 months. The radiometric properties of the biodegradable films influenced positively the microclimate: air temperature under the biodegradable low tunnel films was 2 °C higher than under the low density polyethylene films, resulting in an up to 20% higher yield of strawberries. At the end of the cultivation period, the biodegradable mulches were broken up and buried in the field soil together with the plant residues. One year after burial, less than 4% of the initial weight of the biodegradable film was found in the soil. According to ecotoxicity tests, the kinetic luminescent bacteria test with Vibrio fischeri and the Enchytraeus albidus ISO/CD 16387 reproduction potential, there was no evidence of ecotoxicity in the soil during the biodegradation process. Furthermore, there was no change in the diversity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in the soil determined on the basis of the appearance of amoA gene diversity in denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.     

用硅橡胶平板复合膜分离苯酚时总传质系数的影响因素

用硅橡胶平板复合膜处理高浓度含酚废水，测定了体系的总传质系数（Kov），分析了温度、盐离子强度、跨膜压差（△p）、膜厚度对Kov的影响。实验结果表明：Kov随温度的升高而呈线性增加，传质通量与温度的关系符合Arrhenius方程；当△p〈0．1MPa时，Kov与压力无关；当△p〉0．1MPa时，压差升高可提高传质系数，但会导致膜的致密化；离子强度改变了苯酚在相间的分配系数，进而影响传质过程；膜厚度降低能有效提高膜的Kov；在膜活性皮层厚度4μm、pH12．5～13．0、温度323．15K、废水流量1205mL／min、废水中苯酚质量浓度7．78g/L、无压差和离子强度的条件下，运行8h后，Kov为16．1×10^-7m／s。     

城市绿地系统建设的生态对策——以长春市为例

绿色空间是所有城市实现可持续发展的物质载体和市民接触自然的主要场所。几乎所有城市不同程度地存在着绿地被挤占、破坏、污染严重等各种问题。以长春市为例，提出了大城市进行绿地系统建设的总量控制、构建经色空间网络体系等生态对策，并针对大城市内部用地紧张的矛盾，探讨了市区内部的绿化用地潜力。     

MnO_2对海底沉积物ANAMMOX菌的富集培养影响

采用上流式固定床反应器,在常温下连续运行,考察MnO2对海洋性ANAMMOX菌富集培养的影响,其中接种的海洋海底沉积物采自大连市附近海域。结果表明,在反应器运行近150 d中,加入MnO2的R1反应器的最大总氮去除速率为137.82 g N/(m3·d),比没有加入MnO2的R2反应器高出近20 g N/(m3·d)。在低温环境(10~15℃)运行时,R1反应器的氨氮和亚硝氮去除率比R2反应器均高出10%,且R1反应器对温度变化的适应性和运行稳定性都好于R2反应器。这表明MnO2的加入确实在一定程度上促进了海洋性ANAMMOX细菌的富集,并增强了ANAMMOX反应器对温度变化的适应性,使其能够在较宽的温度范围下运行。     

Effects of probiotic bacteria on the bioaccessibility of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A using an in vitro digestion model under fed conditions

In the present study, we aimed at determining the release of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and ochratoxin A (OTA) from different food products in the gastro-intestinal tract in the absence and presence of probiotics, a possible adsorbent. The average bioaccessibility of AFB₁ and OTA without probiotics was about 90%, and 30%, respectively, depending on several factors, such as food product, contamination level, compound and type of contamination (spiked versus naturally contaminated). The six probiotic bacteria showed varying binding capacity to AFB₁ and OTA depending on the bacterial strain, toxin studied, type of food and contamination level. A reduction to a maximum of 37% and 73% as observed for the bioaccessibility of AFB₁ and OTA in the presence of probiotic bacteria, respectively. This is the first report on the effect of probiotic bacteria on reducing the fraction of mycotoxins available for absorption in the gastrointestinal tract from different food products.     

基于纳污红线的河流排污权优化分配模型

实行水功能区限制纳污红线的水资源管理制度，在理论和实践中必须要建立河流污染物总量控制管理制度，而实行污染物总量控制，首先要确定河流排污权的初始分配方案。结合我国现行流域水功能区划成果，以水功能区作为排污权初始分配主体开展排污权分配研究，提出由河流环境保护部门确定河流总体排污权，首先通过纵向配置将排污权分配给水功能区，然后通过横向配置将初始排污权分配给排污者的一种纵向加横向分配模式。以资源分配的公平性和效率为管理目标，并以污染物总量控制、浓度控制、企业生产连续性等为约束条件，建立了河流排污权多目标分配优化模型。最后利用多目标演化算法对算例进行了求解，验证了方法的可行性，且此分配方式所获得的环境节余容量最大     

丝状菌对生物淋滤去除底泥中重金属的促进作用

利用氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans,A.f)对采自株洲霞湾港底泥中的Cu、Cd、Pb和Zn 4种重金属进行生物淋滤实验,在实验中加入丝状菌考察其对重金属去除效果的影响。结果表明,丝状菌可以有效抑制低分子量有机酸对A.f的毒害作用,促进各种重金属的去除。当加入10%(体积比)的丝状菌后,生物淋滤过程中系统pH值在5 d内降低到2以下,Fe2+在4 d内完全氧化。经过10 d的处理,Cu、Cd、Pb和Zn 4种重金属的最高去除率分别达到76.3%、92.5%、52.6%和88.5%,与不加入丝状菌的处理相比,达到最大去除率所需的时间缩短1~2 d,4种重金属中,丝状菌的加入对Pb的去除促进作用最为明显,其去除率增加1倍左右。因此,在生物淋滤处理重金属-有机物复合污染底泥工艺中接入丝状菌对处理效果有很好的促进作用。