土壤中铜的生物可给性及其对人体的健康风险评价

为了研究土壤中铜的生物可给性与土壤理化性质之间的相互关系以及人体无意摄入土壤铜的风险,采集我国一些地区的15个土壤样品,利用in vitro方法研究了这些土壤中铜的生物可给性及其对人体的健康风险。结果表明,有2个土壤样品中铜的含量高过我国土壤环境质量标准的三级标准,有8个土壤样品中铜的含量高过二级标准;土壤中铜的溶解态浓度及其生物可给性变化很大,胃肠阶段铜的溶解态含量分别为5.2~308.8 mg·kg~(-1)和5.9~348.5 mg·kg~(-1),平均值分别为74.8 mg·kg~(-1)和82.0 mg·kg~(-1);而铜的生物可给性分别为183%~66.6%和213%~77.4%,平均值分别为442%和51.1%。胃阶段铜的生物可给性与土壤有机质和pH呈显著正相关,而与粘粒呈显著负相关,与铁铝氧化物有显著相关性;小肠阶段铜的生物可给性与土壤有机质和pH呈显著正相关,与土壤中总铜和锰氧化物含量呈显著负相关。如以胃阶段为判断,无意摄人土壤中铜对儿童的TDI(tolerable daily intake)贡献率除浙江富阳为2.51%外,有12个土壤样品低于1.00%,最低为0.11%。如以小肠阶段为判断,无意摄入土壤中铜对儿童的TDI贡献率除浙江富阳和浙江台州的土壤分别为2.83%和2.01%,另有12个土壤样品低于1.00%。可见,对于本研究中大多数土壤,通过口部无意摄入土壤中铜的对人体并没有很高的风险。     

茶叶中砷含量特征及不同摄入方式对茶叶中砷生物可给性的影响

本研究选取不同产地不同品种的茶叶作为研究对象,分析其砷含量特征,并采用人工胃肠模拟系统,研究茶叶以不同摄入方式(茶水、原茶、粉末)进入人体对砷生物可给性的影响.结果显示,17个不同产地不同种类茶叶样品中砷含量为ND—1.16±0.03 mg·kg-1,23.5%的样品未检测出砷浓度,11.8%的样品砷含量超过绿色食品-代用茶《中华人民共和国农业行业标准》(0.5 mg·kg-1),这是因为在加工过程中硫磺熏制干燥会造成茶叶砷污染;选择含砷量较高的茶叶样品研究不同摄入方式对砷生物有效性的影响,结果表明在胃肠阶段茶水中砷生物可给性显著大于原茶和粉末的摄入方式,其中在胃阶段粉末样品砷生物可给性显著大于原茶样品砷生物可给性,而在肠阶段原茶和粉末样品砷生物可给性差异不大.茶以3种不同摄入方式进入人体,在胃肠液中溶出浓度为0.02—2.80μg·L-1,小于WHO和我国《生活饮用水卫生标准》(GB5749—2006)中砷的限量标准10μg·L-1,不会对人体造成健康风险.     

淮北煤矿周边土壤重金属生物可给性及人体健康风险

为了探究煤矿周边农田土壤重金属污染状况以及评估可能对人体带来的健康危害,本研究以安徽省淮北地区3座主要煤矿为研究区,对土壤重金属含量进行分析,并采用体外胃肠模拟方法(PBET),计算土壤中重金属的生物可给性,并以此修正健康风险评价计算方法.结果表明,土壤中重金属含量平均值(mg·kg~(-1))分别为Cd (0.16)、Cr (11.82)、Cu (12.03)、Ni (21.86)、Pb (55.09)、Zn (41.46),与国内不同类型矿区相比,淮北煤矿区周边土壤重金属含量较低;重金属的生物可给性平均值大小顺序是:胃阶段:Pb (61.69%)Cu (51.88%)Cd (43.88%)Cr (26.48%)Zn (17.45%)Ni (14.57%),小肠阶段为:Cr (58.80%)Cu (55.71%)Zn (51.40%)Ni (39.44%)Pb (7.59%)Cd (7.32%);由生物可给性校正后,成人和儿童不同重金属非致癌风险暴露量均小于1,说明成人和儿童均不存在非致癌风险,不同种类重金属的致癌风险为:CrCdNi,其中,Cr的致癌风险介于10~(-6)—10~(-4)之间,表明Cr对人群有一定的致癌风险,但在可接受的范围内,且儿童的致癌风险高于成人,经手-口无意摄入是土壤重金属最主要的暴露途径.     

一个未开采的铅锌矿周边土壤重金属含量及生态安全评价

为了解广东省丰顺县尖笔岽铅锌矿周边土壤中重金属含量及其潜在生态风险,采用野外采样及实验室测定分析的方法,以矿山周边4个片区表层土壤(0~20 cm)为研究对象,测定了土壤中Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd、Cr和As含量,分别采用单因子评价、综合指数法评价、Hakanson潜在生态风险评价和健康风险评价以评价土壤的重金属水平和潜在生态风险,结果表明:在目前尚未开采的状况下,该矿区周边土壤已存在一定的重金属污染,4个研究片区大部分土壤样品Pb(平均值为106.77mg·kg-1)、Cd(平均值为0.27 mg·kg-1)、Zn(平均值为55.75 mg·kg-1)质量分数均超过广东省背景值;污染指数显示主要以Pb(极大值4.57)、Cd(极大值2.98)、Zn(极大值1.41)污染为主;综合指数法评价表明老虎隔水稻田片区土壤达到重度污染水平,综合污染指数达到3.47,同时片区土壤达到中度污染水平的土壤样品数目占总样品数的51.02%;而Hakanson潜在生态风险评价表明该矿区潜在生态风险处于低程度,4个片区潜在生态风险指数(RI)均未超过150,平均值为110.67,这与该矿尚未开采,暂受到人类活动影响较小有关,土壤中6种重金属的潜在生态危害性顺序大体为CdPbAsCuZnCr,其中Cd(贡献率达73.65%~79.67%)、Pb(贡献率达10.24%~18.83%)是主要的生态风险贡献因子;健康风险评价也表明该矿区重金属非致癌、致癌风险处于可接受范围内,4个研究片区非致癌风险值及总重金属非致癌风险值之和均小于1,6种重金属3种暴露途径均体现出口腔摄入皮肤摄入呼吸摄入,非致癌风险值大小顺序为PbAsCuZnCdCr。综上所述,该拟开采矿区周边土壤受到一定的重金属污染,潜在生态风险处于低程度,健康风险处于可接受范围内,这与开采多年的铅锌矿周边土壤重金属污染情况大不相同,该拟开采铅锌矿在其后续的开采、选矿活动中,应高度重视重金属污染的研究和防治,采取合理措施,防止加剧周边土壤的重金属累积。     

市售面粉及面制品中镉的人体健康风险研究

对非吸烟人群,饮食是镉暴露的首要途径.近年来农产品镉含量超标问题在我国的不同类型重金属污染区被广泛报道,严重危害人体健康.但以往研究多关注大米中镉的人体健康风险,目前对我国市场上销售的面粉及面制品镉含量及健康风险的系统报道还较缺乏.本研究从我国不同省份采集了16份白面粉、16份全麦面粉、16份小麦麸皮及10份全麦面包样品,测定样品中镉的含量;采用体外生理原理提取法(Physiologically Based Extraction Test,PBET)的胃液提取阶段测定样品中镉的人体生物可给性,并基于镉生物可给性评价了面粉及面制品中镉的人体健康风险.白面粉、全麦面粉、小麦麸皮、全麦面包样品中镉的含量分别为6.8—24.9、8.4—50.2、21.8—199.6、13.8—28.0μg·kg~(-1),平均值分别为15.6±5.1、25.7±11.8、64.7±43.5、17.5±4.0μg·kg~(-1),所有白面粉、全麦面粉和面包样品中镉含量均远低于国家安全限定值100μg·kg~(-1).镉含量的整体趋势为白面粉全麦面粉和全面面包小麦麸皮,表明了镉在小麦麸皮中富集浓度要显著高于胚乳部分.基于PBET胃液提取,全麦面粉中镉的生物可给性为60.9%—69.8%(平均值63.6%±3.1%),显著高于麸皮中镉的生物可给性18.5%—61.1%(平均值50.2%±13.5%).基于镉的人体生物可给性,成人摄入面粉及面制品导致的镉摄入量(0.02—0.13μg·kg~(-1) bw·d~(-1))远低于Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives(JECFA)规定的每日允许的最大镉暴露剂量0.5μg·kg~(-1) bw·d~(-1),表明了我国市面上销售的面粉及面制品可以安全食用.本研究通过对市场销售面粉及面制品中镉的含量、人体生物可给性的测定及健康风险的评价,为人们对面粉及面制品品牌及种类的选择提供建议,为规避食品镉危害做出重要贡献.     

生物炭对土壤外源镉形态及花生籽粒富集镉的影响

镉是存在于农田土壤中毒性较大且较普遍的一种重金属,而生物炭可以应用于重金属污染农田,对作物生长与污染土壤修复产生影响。通过盆栽试验,将生物炭作为镉污染条件下土壤的改良剂,研究不同用量生物炭、镉元素对土壤中镉形态及其含量的影响,进一步测定花生(Arachis hypogaea L.)籽粒镉含量,探明其吸收规律。试验镉施用质量分数(按纯镉计)分别为0、1、10 mg·kg-1,记为Cd0、Cd1、Cd10,在3种不同质量分数的镉污染土壤中分别添加生物炭质量分数0、3.3、6.6、10 g·kg-1,记为C0、C50、C100、C150,共12个处理。土壤镉形态参考Tessier连续提取法分离,镉含量采用原子吸收分光光度计(Z-5000 ASS)测定。样品相关测定分别于花生苗期、花针期、结荚期取土样,成熟期取籽粒样品进行。结果表明:当镉施用量一定时,土壤有效态镉含量与水溶态镉含量随生物炭用量增加而显著降低(P0.05),而其他各形态镉含量随生物炭用量增加而增加。苗期Cd1处理随生物炭施入量的增加,土壤有效态镉质量分数降低8.24%~20.24%;花针期,土壤有效态镉质量分数降低5.95%~38.46%;结荚期则降低6.23%~26.03%。Cd10处理下的3个生育时期,土壤有效态镉含量在C150取得最小值,镉质量分数分别下降12.56%、18.44%和15.52%。在土壤p H值方面,相同处理不同生育时期内出现先小幅降低再升高的趋势。成熟期花生籽粒镉含量随镉施用量的升高而增加;在镉施用量为1、10 mg·kg-1处理下,花生粒镉含量随生物炭施入量的增加而降低,C150Cd1处理的镉质量分数为0.29 mg·kg-1,为施加镉处理组含量最低,即当生物炭施加量为10g·kg-1时,土壤修复效果最佳,花生粒镉含量最低。     

小白菜的干鲜状态对其铅的生物可给性的影响(Effects of Dry and Fresh States of Brassica chinensis on the Oral Bioaccessibility of Lead)

为了研究小白菜的干鲜状态对其铅的生物可给性的影响,设置了对照(不添加铅,本底值为32.37mg·kg-1)、300mg·kg-1和500mg·kg-13种土壤铅浓度处理的盆栽实验,并将收获的小白菜分别以干样和鲜样进行基于生理学的invitro人工胃肠模拟实验,测定其中铅的生物可给性.结果表明:栽种2个月后,小白菜铅含量分别达到0.38mg·kg-1、4.55mg·kg-1和12.50mg·kg-1(干重),对铅的富集系数分别为0.012、0.015和0.025,可能存在较高的健康风险.invitro实验表明:样品干鲜状态、铅浓度处理以及二者的交互效应是影响铅的生物可给性的重要因素.无论干样还是鲜样,铅在胃阶段和小肠阶段的溶解态量均随样品铅含量的增加而线性增加;对于同一铅浓度处理,鲜样中铅的生物可给性无论在胃阶段还是小肠阶段均显著高于干样(p<0.01).使用干样进行健康风险评价可能会低估小白菜中的铅对人体的健康风险.     

成都平原表层水稻土重金属污染健康风险分析

采样分析了成都平原表层水稻土(0—20 cm)中As、Cd、Cr、Hg、Pb、Cu、Zn含量,参照国家土壤环境质量标准和土壤背景值,并利用健康风险评价模型对土壤重金属环境质量状况和人体健康风险进行了评价.结果表明,成都平原水稻土表层7种重金属平均含量分别为As:9.69 mg·kg-1、Cd:0.12 mg·kg-1、Cr:79.5 mg·kg-1、Hg:0.04 mg·kg-1、Pb:47.5 mg·kg-1、Cu:29.3 mg·kg-1、Zn:81.7 mg·kg-1.与成都地区土壤背景值相比,As、Cr、Pb、Cu、Zn在表层水稻土中有明显积累,部分样区土壤重金属超过《土壤环境质量标准》(GB15618—1995)标准值的二级标准,存在外源污染输入,但污染程度较轻.人体健康风险分析结果表明,经土壤-口接触行为摄入是该区域人体重金属暴露风险的主要途径,重金属致癌风险AsCd,非致癌总风险CrCuHgPbZn,无论儿童还是成人,重金属致癌风险值和非致癌风险值均低于风险阈值,风险值均在可接受水平内,但儿童健康风险值高于成人,应加强监管.     

湘江底泥重金属污染特征与生态风险评价

本研究于湘江共采集了29个典型重金属污染断面底泥样品,测定了底泥中重金属Cd、Pb、Cr、Cu、Mn和Zn的含量及其有效态含量,并采用改进潜在生态风险指数法评价了底泥重金属的潜在生态风险.研究结果表明,湘江底泥存在主要由重金属Cd、Pb、Cr、Cu、Mn和Zn构成的复合污染,其含量范围依次为2.83—29.15 mg·kg-1、8—1784 mg·kg-1、10.00—4884.28 mg·kg-1、9—674 mg·kg-1、744.83—16246.22 mg·kg-1和61.50—3771.11 mg·kg-1;参考土壤环境质量Ⅲ级标准的断面超标率依次为100%、10.34%、6.90%、3.54%、100%和24.14%;有效态百分含量范围依次为25.04%—66.63%、8.75%—50.00%、1.14%—35.08%、3.70%—39.00%、1.99%—65.79%和7.48%—47.96%;生态风险评价结果表明,Cd的潜在生态风险最高,其次是Pb和Mn,潜在生态风险指数贡献率(MRI)依次为90.37%、4.17%、3.03%,干流的潜在生态风险高于支流的生态风险,达到极强危害水平的采样断面占72.41%,主要集中于永州、衡阳、株洲、湘潭、长沙和郴州.     

武汉市葛店地区汞污染及其分布特征

对武汉市葛店地区的土壤、水体及沉积物进行了系统取样、测试.结果表明:该地区表层和底层土壤中汞的平均含量分别为0.314mg·kg-1和0.181mg·kg-1,分别是区域土壤汞背景值的6倍和3.6倍,初步分析原因为污灌、大气汞的干、湿沉降和使用含汞农药;水体汞含量平均值为1606.77ng·1-1,远远超过了国家地表水环境质量标准(GHZB1-1999)中的Ⅲ类水质标准(≤100ng·1-1),且水体汞含量随距化工厂距离的增加而递减,形态分析表明,水体汞大部分以粒子态和溶解态存在,活性汞只占很小一部分;沉积物样品中汞的含量范围为2.450-8.630mg·kg-1,平均值4.677mg·kg-1,污染程度随距化工厂距离的增加而递减.     

Elevated Levels of Cadmium and Zinc in Paddy Soils and Elevated Levels of Cadmium in Rice Grain Downstream of a Zinc Mineralized Area in Thailand: Implications for Public Health

Prolonged consumption of rice containing elevated cadmium (Cd) levels is a significant health issue particularly in subsistence communities that are dependent on rice produced on-farm. This situation is further exacerbated in areas of known non-ferrous mineralization adjacent to rice-based agricultural systems where the opportunity for contamination of rice and its eventual entry into the food chain is high. In the current study, an assessment of the degree of soil Cd and Zn contamination and associated rice grain Cd contamination downstream of an actively mined zone of Zn mineralization in western Thailand was undertaken. Total soil Cd and Zn concentrations in the rice-based agricultural system investigated ranged from 0.5 to 284 mg kg⁻¹ and 100 to 8036 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Further, the results indicate that the contamination is associated with suspended sediment transported to fields via the irrigation supply. Consequently, the spatial distribution of Cd and Zn is directly related to a field’s proximity to primary outlets from in-field irrigation channels and inter-field irrigation flows with 60–100% of the Cd and Zn loading associated with the first three fields in irrigation sequence. Rice grain Cd concentrations in the 524 fields sampled, ranged from 0.05 to 7.7 mg kg⁻¹. Over 90% of the rice grain samples collected contained Cd at concentrations exceeding the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC) draft Maximum Permissible Level for rice grain of 0.2 mg Cd kg⁻¹. In addition, as a function of demographic group, estimated Weekly Intake (WI) values ranged from 20 to 82 μg Cd per kg Body. This poses a significant public health risk to local communities. The results of this study suggest that an irrigation sequence-based field classification technique in combination with strategic soil and rice grain sampling and the estimation of WI values via rice intake alone may be a useful decision support tool to rapidly evaluate potential public health risks in irrigated rice-based agricultural systems receiving Cd contaminated irrigation water. In addition, the proposed technique will facilitate the cost effective strategic targeting of detailed epidemiological studies thus focusing resources to specific ‘high risk’ areas.     

Bioaccessibility of Cd and Pb in tailings from a zinc smelting in Brazil: implications for human health

Soils and wastes enriched with heavy metals may present ecological and human health risks. A considerable number of mining areas exist in Brazil, where high levels of metals have been found. However, studies of bioaccessibility of metals in soils/tailings from these areas are scarce, despite their potential informational contribution concerning exposure risks of residents near these areas. This study evaluated tailings collected from four sites of a zinc smelting area located in Brazil with aims to: (1) evaluate the presence of metals of potential concern; (2) investigate Cd and Pb bioaccessibility; and (3) determine the desorption kinetics of Cd and Pb. High concentrations of total Cd and Pb (up to 1743 mg Cd kg^?1 and 8675 mg Pb kg^–1) and great variability were found in the tailings, indicating the importance of adequate planning for their final disposal, in order to avoid contamination in the surrounding environment. Cadmium and Pb bioaccessibility percentages in the intestinal phase were less than 47 and 4 %, respectively, which represents significant fractions not available for absorption in the intestinal tract. However, this material has to be monitored since its bioaccessibility may increase with eventual physicochemical changes, releasing Cd and Pb. Desorption kinetics experiments revealed that Pb in the samples remained in less labile fractions, whereas Cd was found in more labile fractions, which is in accordance with the bioaccessibility results.     

Assessment of As and Heavy Metal Contamination in the Vicinity of Duckum Au-Ag Mine, Korea

In order to assess the potential of As and heavy metal contamination derived from past mining activity and to estimate the human bioavailability quotients for As and heavy metals. Tailings, soils and crop samples were collected and analysed for As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the tailings were 68.5, 7.8, 99, 3,754 and 733 µg g^–1, respectively. Maximum Pb concentration in tailings was up to 90 times higher than its tolerable level. The concentrations of these metals were highest in the soils from the dressing plant area, and decreased in the order: farmland soil to paddy soil. In particular, some of the soils from the dressing plant area contained more than 1% of Pb and Zn. The pollution index ranged from 0.19 to 1.93 in paddy soils, and from 1.47 to 3.60 in farmland soils. The average concentrations of heavy metals in crops collected from farmland were higher than those in rice stalks or rice grains, and higher than the internationally accepted limits for vegetables. Element concentrations extracted from farmland soils within the simulated human stomach for 1 h are 9.4 mg kg^–1 As, 3.8 mg kg^–1 Cd, 37 mg kg^–1 Cu, 250 mg kg^–1 Pb and 301 mg kg^–1 Zn. In particular, the extracted concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn are in excess of the tolerable levels. The results of the simple bioavailability extraction test (SBET) indicate that regular ingestion (by inhalation and from dirty hands) of soils by the local population could pose a potential health threat due to long-term toxic element exposure.     

Assessment of bioaccessibility and exposure risk of arsenic and lead in urban soils of Guangzhou City,China

Soil ingestion is an important human exposure pathway of heavy metals in urban environments with heavy metal contaminated soils. This study aims to assess potential health risks of heavy metals in soils sampled from an urban environment where high frequency of human exposure may be present. A bioaccessibility test is used, which is an in vitro gastrointestinal (IVG) test of soluble metals under simulated physiological conditions of the human digestion system. Soil samples for assessing the oral bioaccessibility of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) were collected from a diverse range of different land uses, including urban parks, roadsides, industrial sites and residential areas in Guangzhou City, China. The soil samples contained a wide range of total As (10.2 to 61.0 mg kg⁻¹) and Pb (38.4 to 348 mg kg⁻¹) concentrations. The bioaccessibility of As and Pb in the soil samples were 11.3 and 39.1% in the stomach phase, and 1.9 and 6.9% in the intestinal phase, respectively. The As and Pb bioaccessibility in the small intestinal phase was significantly lower than those in the gastric phase. Arsenic bioaccessibility was closely influenced by soil pH and organic matter content (r ² = 0.451, p < 0.01) in the stomach phase, and by organic matter, silt and total As contents (r ² = 0.604, p < 0.001) in the intestinal phase. The general risk of As and Pb intake for children from incidental ingestion of soils is low, compared to their maximum doses, without causing negative human health effects. The exposure risk of Pb in the soils ranked in the order of: industrial area/urban parks > residential area/road side. Although the risk of heavy metal exposure from direct ingestion of urban soils is relatively low, the risk of inhalation of fine soil particulates in the air remains to be evaluated.     

Long-term stability and risk assessment of copper and cadmium in a smelter-impacted soil treated by four amendments

In an effort to address public concerns of the long-term stability and ecological risk reduction of Cu and Cd in a farmland located at the Guixi, Jiangxi Province, China, containing ～ 800?mg?kg^?1 Cu and 0.8?mg?kg^?1 Cd soil, were treated in situ by attapulgite, apatite, montmorillonite and lime at the rate: 10, 10, 10 and 4?g?kg^?1 soil, respectively. Field experiment consisted of 2?×?3-m plots arranged in a randomised complete block design with each treatment. Soil and plant samples were collected in sixth years post-treatments and analysed for Cu and Cd bioaccessibility, chemical fraction and Cu, Cd concentration in plant tissue. The results indicated that the apatite and lime treatments significantly reduced bioaccessible and exchangeable fractions Cu and Cd in the soil at sixth years post the treatments. Cu and Cd concentration in plant tissue was positively related to the bioaccessibility of Cu and Cd. The treatment used 10?g apatite kg^?1 soil appeared to be most effective for overall risk reduction. The Cu and Cd stabilisation and risk reduction by the apatite treatments were accomplished by the induced transformation of labile Cu and Cu species to relatively insoluble forms. This study illustrated that in situ Cu and Cd stabilisation by apatite would be long-term and ecologically safe, which could safeguard human health and ecosystem from Cu and Cd contamination in mining areas.     

肠道微生物对土壤中铜、锌、锰生物可给性的影响

为了更全面、准确地评价土壤中金属元素对人体的健康风险,研究土壤中金属元素在结肠阶段的生物可给性具有重要意义。通过采集我国一些地区的6种土壤,利用in vitro方法(PBET和SHIME联用)研究土壤中Cu、Zn、Mn在胃、小肠、结肠阶段的生物可给性。研究显示,土壤中Cu、Zn、Mn在胃阶段的生物可给性分别为23.8%~63.0%、21.2%~64.4%、11.7%~35.6%;从胃阶段到小肠阶段,土壤中Cu的生物可给性提高了0.4%~14.4%,而土壤中Zn在小肠阶段的生物可给性降低了6.7%~38.7%。结肠阶段,土壤中Cu、Zn、Mn的生物可给性分别为2.4%~12.9%、5.7%~18.7%、6.2%~18.9%,与小肠阶段相比,分别降低了21.7%~56.9%、0.4%~36.8%、4.5%~19.1%。结果表明,在肠道微生物存在的情况下,土壤中Cu、Zn、Mn在结肠阶段有较低的人体健康风险。     

Soil biological characteristic,nutrient contents and stoichiometry as affected by different types of remediation in a smelter-impacted soil

ABSTRACT

In order to evaluate the ecological risk reductions of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) and the change of nutrient contents and stoichiometry in a smelter-impacted farmland in Guixi, Jiangxi Province, China, with ～ 800?mg Cu kg^?1 soil and 0.8?mg Cd kg^?1 soil, an three years in situ experiment was conducted. The field trial consisted of 4 ×?5?m plots in a completely randomised block design. Hydroxyapatite was added at 10?g kg^?1 soil and Sedum plumbizincicola, Elsholtzia splendens, and Pennisetum sp. were planted. Post-treatment soil and plant samples were collected annually and analysed for Cu and Cd bioaccessibility, soil carbon: nitrogen: phosphorus (C:N:P), and the stoichiometries of soil β-glucosidase (BG), N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), and acid phosphatase (AP) activity levels. The results indicated that the hydroxyapatite treatments significantly reduced Cu and Cd bioaccessibility as well as the ratio of C:P and N:P. Moreover, BG, NAG, and AP activity levels all increased relative to those in untreated soil. Plants may also influence soil BG, NAG, and AP activity. This study demonstrated that in situ Cu and Cd stabilisation by hydroxyapatite and phytoextraction is ecologically safe and can alter soil mineral nutrient ecological stoichiometry and enzyme activity.     

Ecological and human health risks from metal(loid)s in peri-urban soil in Nanjing,China

In order to investigate the ecological and human health risks of metal(loid)s (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cd, Mn, Cr, and As) in peri-urban soils, 43 surface soil samples were collected from the peri-urban area around Nanjing, a megacity in China. The average contents were 1.19, 67.8, 37.6, 105, 167, 44.6, 722, and 50.8 mg kg^?1 for Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, and As, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, and As (p < 0.01), and Cr had a significant positive correlation with Ni (p < 0.01). Geoaccumulation indices indicate the presence of Cd and As contamination in all of the peri-urban soil samples. Potential ecological risk indices show that the metal(loid)s in the soil could result in higher ecological risks. Cd is the main contributor to the risk, followed by As. The levels of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, and As in stomach and intestinal phases show a positive linear correlation with their total contents. Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb in stomach phase showed higher bioaccessibility, while in intestinal phase, Cu, Cr, and As had the higher bioaccessibility. The carcinogenic risk in children and adults posed by As, Pb, and Cr via ingestion was deemed acceptable. The non-carcinogenic risks posed by these metal(loid)s via ingestion to children are higher than to adults and mainly result from As.     

Variations between rice cultivars in root secretion of organic acids and the relationship with plant cadmium uptake

To attempt to understand certain mechanisms causing the variations between rice cultivars with regard to Cd uptake and accumulation, pot soil experiments were conducted with two rice cultivars at different levels of Cd, i.e., 0 (the control), 10, 50 mg Cd kg⁻¹ soil. The two rice cultivars differ significantly with regard to Cd uptake and accumulation. Root secretions of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOA) for each treatment were measured with ion chromatography. The results showed that LMWOA concentrations in the soil planted with Shan you 63 (a high soil Cd accumulator) were all higher than those in the soil planted with Wu yun jing 7 (low soil Cd accumulator) at different soil Cd levels, although the magnitudes of the differences varied for individual LMWOA and depend on soil Cd concentrations. For all six LMWOA, there were significant differences at P < 0.05 or < 0.01 levels for soils treated with 10 and 50 mg kg⁻¹ Cd. The magnitude of the differences was greater under soil Cd treatments, especially at relatively low levels (for example, 10 mg Cd kg⁻¹ soil), than in the control. Acetic acid and formic acid constituted more than 96% of the total concentration of the six LMWOA, while citric acid constituted only about 0.1%. The rice cultivar with higher concentrations of LMWOA in soil accumulated more Cd in the plants. The results indicate that LMWOA secretion by rice root, especially in Cd-contaminated soils, is likely to be one of the mechanisms determining the plant Cd uptake properties of rice cultivars.