The use of polymer compounds in the deposits from the combustion of briquettes in domestic heating as an identifier of fuel quality

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The utilisation of waste wood from furniture production brings new problems connected with an incomplete thermochemical decomposition of additives...     

Microbial metagenomics in the Baltic Sea: Recent advancements and prospects for environmental monitoring

Metagenomics refers to the analysis of DNA from a whole community. Metagenomic sequencing of environmental DNA has greatly improved our knowledge of the identity and function of microorganisms in aquatic, terrestrial, and human biomes. Although open oceans have been the primary focus of studies on aquatic microbes, coastal and brackish ecosystems are now being surveyed. Here, we review so far published studies on microbes in the Baltic Sea, one of the world’s largest brackish water bodies, using high throughput sequencing of environmental DNA and RNA. Collectively the data illustrate that Baltic Sea microbes are unique and highly diverse, and well adapted to this brackish-water ecosystem, findings that represent a novel base-line knowledge necessary for monitoring purposes and a sustainable management. More specifically, the data relate to environmental drivers for microbial community composition and function, assessments of the microbial biodiversity, adaptations and role of microbes in the nitrogen cycle, and microbial genome assembly from metagenomic sequences. With these discoveries as background, prospects of using metagenomics for Baltic Sea environmental monitoring are discussed.     

Heavy metal accumulation and distribution in Phragmites australis seedlings tissues originating from natural and urban catchment

The retention of heavy metal (HM) was studied in root and rhizomes (BLG), stems (ST), and leaves (LF) of Phragmites australis (common reed) seedlings collected from different locations, differing in the scale of anthropogenic interference. The analysis includes the reference samples of sediments in uncontaminated lake Garczonki and contaminated roadside ditch in Cieplewo. The concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr were analyzed in plant tissues and sediments using the atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The general assessment of sediments collected in the Garczonki lake showed a good environmental status; while in the roadside ditch in Cieplewo, the sediments were considerably polluted with HM. In the first stage of plant growth, all of the analyzed HMs are mainly inhibited by BLG system. The decreasing trend of elements was as follows: BLG > ST > LF. The organs followed different decreasing trends of HM concentration; the trend Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd was found in ST and LF for the Garczonki lake seedlings and for BLG and LF for the roadside ditch in Cieplewo seedlings. Zn showed the highest concentration, while Cd the lowest concentration in each of the examined organs. The bioaccumulation factor indicated the higher mobility of HM in seedlings in the Garczonki lake than in the roadside ditch in Cieplewo. The morphological studies suggest the good state and health of seedling from both sites; however, the reduction of root hair surface was observed for the roadside ditch seedlings. The anatomical studies present changes in the size of the nucleus and count of chloroplasts in LF. No reaction on HM contamination sediments in the seedlings from the roadside ditch in Cieplewo in the aerenchyma was noted. Potentially, both types of seedlings can be used to decontaminate environments rich in HM. However, the level of HM absorbed by seedlings (in the first stage of growth) should be considered due to the behavior in the target phytoremediation site.

     

Working Life of Women With Disabilities—A Review

The aim of this study was to present the situation of women with disabilities on the labour market. Women with disabilities suffer from social and professional discrimination. They are discriminated because of their gender and disability. The Q1 Labour Force Participation Study (2013) showed that, in Poland, labour force participation for men and women with disabilities was 29.4% and 14.7%, respectively, while the unemployment rate was 16.1% for men and 17.2% for women. Quarterly information on employment, unemployment and economic inactivity was gathered from a Labour Force Survey in the first quarter of 2013; data from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy were also included. The participants of the survey were 15 years old or older; they were members of a sample household. The methodology was based on definitions recommended by the International Labour Office and Eurostat. It is important that women with disabilities are substantially less professionally active, while the unemployment rate for them is only slightly higher.     

A new ecotoxicological test method for genetically modified plants and other stressors in soil with the black fungus gnat <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bradysia impatiens</Emphasis> (Diptera): current status of test development and dietary effects of azadirachtin on larval development and emergence rate

Background

Few suitable and standardized test methods are currently available to test the effects of genetically modified plants (GMP) on non-target organisms. To fill this gap and improve ecotoxicological testing for GMP, we developed a new soil ecotoxicological test method using sciarid larvae as test organisms.

Results

Bradysia impatiens was identified as a candidate species. Species of the genus Bradysia occur in high numbers in European agroecosystems and B. impatiens can be reared in the laboratory in continuous culture. A functional basic test design was successfully developed. Newly hatched larvae were used as the initial life stage to cover most of the life cycle of the species during the test. Azadirachtin was identified as a suitable reference substance. In several tests, the effects of this substance on development time and emergence rate varied for different temperatures and test substrates. The toxicity was higher at 25 °C compared to 20 °C and in tropical artificial soil compared to coconut fiber substrate.

Conclusions and outlook

Results suggest that the developed test system is suitable to enter a full standardization process, e.g., via the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Such a standardization would not only assist the risk assessment of GMP, but could include other stressors such as systemic pesticides or veterinary pharmaceuticals reaching the soil, e.g., via spreading manure. The use of sciarid flies as test organisms supports recommendations of EFSA, which stressed the ecological role of flies and encouraged including Diptera into test batteries.

     

Determination of 210Po and 210Pb in red-capped scaber (Leccinum aurantiacum): bioconcentration and possible related dose assessment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The paper presents the studies on 210Po and 210Pb activity determination in red-capped scaber (Leccinum aurantiacum (Bulliard) Gray) collected in...     

Surveillance of Enteric Viruses and Thermotolerant Coliforms in Surface Water and Bivalves from a Mangrove Estuary in Southeastern Brazil

This study was conducted to evaluate the microbiological quality of a mangrove estuary in the Vitória Bay region, Espírito Santo, Brazil. We analyzed the presence and concentration of enteric viruses and thermotolerant coliforms in water, mussels (Mytella charruana and Mytella guyanensis), and oysters (Crassostrea rhizophorae), collected over a 13-month period. Human adenovirus, rotavirus A (RVA), and norovirus genogroup II were analyzed by quantitative PCR. The highest viral load was found in RVA-positive samples with a concentration of 3.0 × 10⁴ genome copies (GC) L⁻¹ in water samples and 1.3 × 10⁵ GC g⁻¹ in bivalves. RVA was the most prevalent virus in all matrices. Thermotolerant coliforms were quantified as colony-forming units (CFU) by the membrane filtration method. The concentration of these bacteria in water was in accordance with the Brazilian standard for recreational waters (< 250 CFU 100 mL⁻¹) during most of the monitoring period (12 out of 13 months). However, thermotolerant coliform concentrations of 3.0, 3.1, and 2.6 log CFU 100 g⁻¹ were detected in M. charruana, M. guyanensis, and C. rhizophorae, respectively. The presence of human-specific viruses in water and bivalves reflects the strong anthropogenic impact on the mangrove and serves as an early warning of waterborne and foodborne disease outbreaks resulting from the consumption of shellfish and the practice of water recreational activities in the region.

     

Voltammetric determination of the herbicide Bifenox in drinking and river water using a silver solid amalgam electrode

A new method for the determination of submicromolar and nanomolar concentrations of herbicide Bifenox using differential pulse voltammetry at a mercury meniscus modified silver solid amalgam electrode is described. This new type of working electrode is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and compatible with principles of green analytical chemistry, and its surface can be easily electrochemically renewed in the case of passivation. The newly developed direct differential pulse voltammetric determination of Bifenox gives limit of determination 6.7·10^?7 and 6.9·10^?7?M in drinking and river water, respectively. Both the selectivity and the sensitivity can be further increased by preliminary separation and preconcentration using solid phase extraction. This combination enables to reach limit of determination 0.9?×?10^?9 and 1.5?×?10^?9?M for drinking and river water, respectively. Because of lower running and investment costs, this electroanalytical method can be used for large scale monitoring of possible water contamination with tested herbicide.