Remediation effect of compost on soluble mercury transfer in a crop of Phaseolus vulgaris

We studied the dynamics of mercury (Hg) transfer in Phaseolus vulgaris plants grown in soil with Hg-doped compost at the maximum levels permitted by Colombian law on organic amendments. Quantitative evaluation of transfer was made in different plant organs: roots, stem, leaves, pods and seeds. Matrix effect was determined in doped soil assays, using soil with and without addition of compost. Results showed that the use of organic matter reduced Hg transfer to the plant and the amount transferred was differentially distributed to the organs. We observed an inverse relationship between concentration and distance from the body to the root. It was evident that transfer was mediated by quantitative factors; the greater the presence of mercury in soil, the larger the amount that will be transferred. Results also indicate the remedial effect of compost and the presence of a barrier, at the root level, against mercury translocation to the plant aerial parts.     

Mercury remediation potential of a mercury resistant strain Sphingopyxis sp. SE2 isolated from contaminated soil

A mercury resistant bacterial strain SE2 was isolated from contaminated soil.The 16 s rRNA gene sequencing confirms the strain as Sphingopyxis belongs to the Sphingomonadaceae family of the α-Proteobacteria group.The isolate showed high resistance to mercury with estimated concentrations of Hg that caused 50%reduction in growth(EC_(50)) of 5.97 and 6.22 mg/L and minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs) of 32.19 and 34.95 mg/L in minimal and rich media,respectively.The qualitative detection of volatilized mercury and the presence of mercuric reductase enzyme proved that the strain SE2 can potentially remediate mercury.ICP-QQQ-MS analysis of the remaining mercury in experimental broths indicated that a maximum of 44%mercury was volatilized within 6 hr by live SE2 culture.Furthermore a small quantity(23%) of mercury was accumulated in live cell pellets.While no volatilization was caused by dead cells,sorption of mercury was confirmed.The mercuric reductase gene merA was amplified and sequenced.Homology was observed among the amino acid sequences of mercuric reductase enzyme of different organisms from a-Proteobacteria and ascomycota groups,     

Understanding the risks of mercury sulfide nanoparticles in the environment: Formation, presence, and environmental behaviors

Mercury (Hg) could be microbially methylated to the bioaccumulative neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg), raising health concerns. Understanding the methylation of various Hg species is thus critical in predicting the MeHg risk. Among the known Hg species, mercury sulfide (HgS) is the largest Hg reservoir in the lithosphere and has long been considered to be highly inert. However, with advances in the analytical methods of nanoparticles, HgS nanoparticles (HgS NPs) have recently been detected in various environmental matrices or organisms. Furthermore, pioneering laboratory studies have reported the high bioavailability of HgS NPs. The formation, presence, and transformation (e.g., methylation) of HgS NPs are intricately related to several environmental factors, especially dissolved organic matter (DOM). The complexity of the behavior of HgS NPs and the heterogeneity of DOM prevent us from comprehensively understanding and predicting the risk of HgS NPs. To reveal the role of HgS NPs in Hg biogeochemical cycling, research needs should focus on the following aspects: the formation pathways, the presence, and the environmental behaviors of HgS NPs impacted by the dominant influential factor of DOM. We thus summarized the latest progress in these aspects and proposed future research priorities, e.g., developing the detection techniques of HgS NPs and probing HgS NPs in various matrices, further exploring the interactions between DOM and HgS NPs. Besides, as most of the previous studies were conducted in laboratories, our current knowledge should be further refreshed through field observations, which would help to gain better insights into predicting the Hg risks in natural environment.     

测定土壤中有机物前处理方法的探讨

根据铁岭市08年底土壤调查采集,利用现有大型仪器完成了土壤有杌物的全分析,使用仪器有气质联机,气相色谱（ECD、FID、FPD）,高效液相色谱等大型仪器。本文论述了三大类有机物的前处理方法,根据各种有机物的特性,选择了较好的前处理方法和条件,为应用大型仪器对土壤中有机物的分析打下了良好的基础。     

重庆几种地表类型土/气界面汞交换通量

应用RA915+汞分析仪与动力通量箱(DFC)联用技术,在重庆市不同区域选取几种地表类型(3个林地、2个草地和1个耕地)进行了土气界面间汞交换通量的研究.结果表明,汞交换通量范围为-59～733.8ng·m-2·h-1,平均值为115.8ng·m-2·h-1,汞交换通量大小顺序为污染区(气象站)>裸地(耕地)>大学园区(草地)>清洁区(林地).土壤汞含量、光照强度、相对湿度、土壤温度等环境因素对汞交换通量有较大影响.同时对区域汞释放进行了初步的估算,2003年重庆市从林地、耕地(旱地)和草地释放到大气中的总汞量约为791kg,释放强度为17.1g·km-2·a-1.     

Effects of natural organic matter on cadmium mobility in paddy soil: A review

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in paddy soil has caused public concern. The uptake of Cd by rice plants depends on soil Cd mobility, which is in turn substantially influenced by organic matter (OM). In this review, we first summarize the fate of Cd in soil and the role of OM. We then focus on the effects of OM on Cd mobility in paddy soil and the factors influencing the remedial effectiveness of OM amendments. We further discuss the performance of straw incorporation in the remediation of Cd-contaminated paddy soils reported in laboratory and field studies. Considering the huge production of organic materials (such as straw) in agriculture, the use of natural OM for soil remediation has obvious appeal due to the environmental benefits and low cost. Although there have been successful application cases, the properties of OM amendments and soil can significantly affect the remedial performance of the OM amendments. Importantly, straw incorporation alone does not often decrease the mobility of Cd in soil or the Cd content in rice grains. Careful evaluation is required when considering natural OM amendments, and the factors and mechanisms that influence their remedial effectiveness need further investigation in paddy soil with realistic Cd concentrations.     

Effects of water regime, crop residues, and application rates on control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense

Biological soil disinfestation is an effective method to control soil-borne disease by flooding and incorporating with organic amendments, but field conditions and resources sometimes limited its practical application. A laboratory experiment was conducted to develop practice guidelines on controlling Fusarium wilt, a widespread banana disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense(FOC). FOC infested soil incorporated with rice or maize straw at rates of 1.5 tons/ha and 3.0 tons/ha was incubated under flooded or water-saturated(100% water holding capacity) conditions at 30℃ for 30 days. Results showed that FOC populations in the soils incorporated with either rice or maize straw rapidly reduced more than 90% in the first 15 days and then fluctuated till the end of incubation, while flooding alone without organic amendment reduced FOC populations slightly. The rapid and dramatic decrease of redox potential(down to- 350 m V) in straw-amended treatments implied that both anaerobic condition and strongly reductive soil condition would contribute to pathogen inactivation. Water-saturation combined with straw amendments had the comparable effects on reduction of FOC, indicating that flooding was not indispensable for inactivating FOC. There was no significant difference in the reduction of FOC observed in the straw amendments at between 1.5 and 3 tons/ha. Therefore,incorporating soil with straw(rice or maize straw) at a rate of 3.0 tons/ha under 100%water holding capacity or 1.5 tons/ha under flooding, would effectively alleviate banana Fusarium wilt caused by FOC after 15-day treating under 30℃.     

Effects of water regime,crop residues,and application rates on control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense

Biological soil disinfestation is an effective method to control soil-borne disease by flooding and incorporating with organic amendments, but field conditions and resources sometimes limited its practical application. A laboratory experiment was conducted to develop practice guidelines on controlling Fusarium wilt, a widespread banana disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC). FOC infested soil incorporated with rice or maize straw at rates of 1.5 tons/ha and 3.0 tons/ha was incubated under flooded or water-saturated (100% water holding capacity) conditions at 30°C for 30 days. Results showed that FOC populations in the soils incorporated with either rice or maize straw rapidly reduced more than 90% in the first 15 days and then fluctuated till the end of incubation, while flooding alone without organic amendment reduced FOC populations slightly. The rapid and dramatic decrease of redox potential (down to − 350 mV) in straw-amended treatments implied that both anaerobic condition and strongly reductive soil condition would contribute to pathogen inactivation. Water-saturation combined with straw amendments had the comparable effects on reduction of FOC, indicating that flooding was not indispensable for inactivating FOC. There was no significant difference in the reduction of FOC observed in the straw amendments at between 1.5 and 3 tons/ha. Therefore, incorporating soil with straw (rice or maize straw) at a rate of 3.0 tons/ha under 100% water holding capacity or 1.5 tons/ha under flooding, would effectively alleviate banana Fusarium wilt caused by FOC after 15-day treating under 30°C.     

Effects of soil properties on production and bioaccumulation of methylmercury in rice paddies at a mercury mining area, China

Rice paddy soil is recognized as the hotspot of mercury(Hg) methylation, which is mainly a biotic process mediated by many abiotic factors. In this study, effects of key soil properties on the production and bioaccumulation of Hg and methylmercury(MeHg) in Hg-contaminated rice paddies were investigated. Rice and soil samples were collected from the active Hg smelting site and abandoned Hg mining sites(a total of 124 paddy fields) in the Wanshan Mercury Mine, China. Total Hg(THg) and MeHg in soils and rice grains, together with sulfur(S),selenium(Se), organic matter(OM), nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), mineral compositions(e.g., SiO_2, Al_2O_3 and Fe_2O_3) and pH in soils were quantified. The results showed that long-term Hg mining activities had resulted in THg and MeHg contaminations in soil-rice system. The newly-deposited atmospheric Hg was more readily methylated relative to the native Hg already in soils, which could be responsible for the elevated MeHg levels in soils and rice grains around the active artificial Hg smelting site. The MeHg concentrations in soils and rice grains showed a significantly negative relationship with soil N/Hg, S/Hg and OM/Hg ratio possibly due to the formation of low-bioavailability Hg–S(N)–OM complexes in rhizosphere. The Hg–Se antagonism undoubtedly occurred in soil-rice system, while its role in bioaccumulation of MeHg in the MeHg-contaminated rice paddies was minor. However, other soil properties showed less influence on the production and bioaccumulation of MeHg in rice paddies located at the Wanshan Mercury Mine zone.     

淮南市采煤塌陷区水域的有机物污染研究

通过对淮南市采煤塌陷区水域理化指标和叶绿素的测定。用较为简单的W分级法对9个监测点的水质进行评分分级,并对塌陷区水域营养化程度进行了评级,用以反映采煤塌陷区的有机物污染状况。     

成都市PM2.5和O3复合污染特征及相互作用研究

基于2015—2020年成都市国控环境监测站点逐时大气污染物监测数据,将其分为3类站点（城区、交通、背景站点）,研究不同季节、不同污染水平下,各类站点细颗粒物（PM_2.5）和臭氧（O₃）复合污染特征及相互作用.结果表明：①成都各类站点的PM_2.5超标天数和PM_2.5年平均浓度总体呈下降趋势,背景站点浓度明显小于城区站点和交通站点;O₃年际变化趋势呈波动性,且交通站点和背景站点的变化波动强于城区站点.②各类站点PM_2.5与O₃相关性在O₃污染期（4—8月）和PM_2.5污染期（11—次年1月）均存在显著差异,且二者在不同季节甚至呈现相反的相关性,总体趋势为夏季PM_2.5-O₃的相关性趋于正相关,冬季趋于负相关.③O₃污染期,各类站点二次PM_2.5的浓度和贡献率随光化学水平的升高而增加,而一次PM_2.5日变化幅度差异不大,表现出明显的O₃和PM_2.5协同增长现象.④PM_2.5污染期,PM_2.5与O₃之间并不是简单的线性关系,不同PM_2.5污染程度下,各类站点O₃浓度变化率昼夜波动趋势基本相同,均在12：00—13：00达到峰值,在18：00达到谷值;且随着PM_2.5浓度的增加,O₃浓度变化率峰值/谷值波动范围亦随之增加.     

The role of phosphorus in the metabolism of arsenate by a freshwater green alga, Chlorella vulgaris

A freshwater microalga, Chlorella vulgaris, was grown in the presence of varying phosphate concentrations( 10–500 μg/L P) and environmentally realistic concentrations of arsenate(As(Ⅴ))(5–50 μg/L As). Arsenic speciation in the culture medium and total cellular arsenic were measured using AEC-ICP-MS and ICP-DRC-MS, respectively, to determine arsenic biotransformation and uptake in the various phosphorus scenarios. At high phosphate concentration in the culture medium, 100 μg/L P, the uptake and biotransformation of As(Ⅴ) was minimal and dimethylarsonate(DMAs(Ⅴ)) was the dominant metabolite excreted by C. vulgaris, albeit at relatively low concentrations. At common environmental P concentrations, 0–50 μg/L P, the uptake and biotransformation of As(Ⅴ) increased. At these higher As-uptake levels, arsenite(As(Ⅲ)) was the predominant metabolite excreted from the cell. The concentrations of As(Ⅲ) in these low P conditions were much higher than the concentrations of methylated arsenicals observed at the various P concentrations studied. The switchover threshold between the(small) methylation and(large) reduction of As(Ⅴ) occurred around a cellular As concentration of 1 fg/cell. The observed nearly quantitative conversion of As(Ⅴ) to As(Ⅲ) under low phosphate conditions indicates the importance of As(Ⅴ) bio-reduction at common freshwater P concentrations. These findings on the influence of phosphorus on arsenic uptake, accumulation and excretion are discussed in relation to previously published research. The impact that the two scenarios of As(Ⅴ) metabolism, As(Ⅲ) excretion at high As(Ⅴ)-uptake and methylarsenical excretion at low As(Ⅴ)-uptake, have on freshwater arsenic speciation is discussed.     

The effect of catch crops on sulphate leaching and availability of S in the succeeding crop on sandy loam soil in Denmark

Sulphate leaching losses may reduce the long-term possibility of maintaining the S supply of crops in low input farming systems. The ability of catch crops (Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam), winter rape (Brassica napus L.) and fodder radish (Raphanus sativus L.)) to reduce soil sulphate concentrations in autumn and make it available to a succeeding crop was investigated in 1996–1998 on sandy loam soil in Denmark. All catch crops reduced soil sulphate concentrations in the autumn compared to bare soil. Especially, the cruciferous catch crops had the ability to deplete efficiently soil sulphate levels and thus, reduce the sulphate leaching potential. The S uptake in aboveground catch crop was 8, 22 and 36 kg S per ha for ryegrass, winter rape and fodder radish, respectively. In the following spring, sulphate levels of the autumn bare soil were low in the top 0.5 m and a peak of sulphate was found at 0.75–1 m depth. In contrast, where a fodder radish catch crop had been grown, high sulphate levels were present in the top 0.5 m, but only small amounts of sulphate were found at 0.5–1.5 m depth. In spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), that followed catch crops, S concentrations at heading and maturity revealed that the availability of soil S increased following winter rape and fodder radish, whereas there were indications that following ryegrass, the S availability was reduced compared to bare soil. This initial study showed that catch crops have a high potential for reducing sulphate leaching and may be used to synchronise S availability with plant demand in a crop rotation.     

Watershed characteristics and climate factors effect on the temporal variability of mercury in the southern Baltic Sea rivers

Mercury(Hg) is a neurotoxic metal which can enter into the human organism mainly by fish consumption, skin and transpiration. In the coastal zone of the southern Baltic Sea, rivers are the main source of Hg. The Polish region represents the largest proportion of the Baltic Sea catchment and this research included four rivers of the Baltic watershed: the Reda,Zagórska Struga, Kacza and Gizdepka. The samples were collected in the years 2011–2013.Total and particulate Hg concentration in these rivers were measured. Due to intensive rain,deposited mercury on the catchment area was washed out into the riverines water and introduced into the Baltic Sea. Consequently, the load of Hg increased three times.Additionally, the intensive dry atmospheric deposition during heating season caused the increase of the concentration of particulate Hg in the river water even by 85%. The research confirmed the role of the river flow magnitude in the load of mercury introduced into the sea by rivers. Moreover, a high variability of mercury concentration was connected to the additional sources such as the chemicals containing Hg and no municipal sewage system.The analysis of stable isotopes indicated that the SPM contained terrestrial organic matter;however, there was no clear correlation between Hgtot, Corgand Ntotconcentrations and δ~(13)C, δ~(15)N, C/N in particulate matter.     

Role of NO and SO2 in mercury oxidation over a La2O3/Fe2O3 catalyst with high thermal stability

In this study, the thermal stability of a ferric oxide catalyst for mercury oxidation was found to be considerably promoted by doping with La₂O₃. The catalysts doped with La₂O₃ maintained a higher surface area when subjected to high-temperature calcination, with lower average pore size and a narrower pore size distribution. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that La₂O₃ doping hinders the growth of catalyst particles and crystallization of the material at high temperatures. Both NO and SO₂ inhibited Hg⁰ oxidation over the La₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ catalyst. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra revealed that SO₂ reacts with O₂ over the catalysts to form several species that are inert for mercury oxidation, such as SO₄^2?, HSO₄^?, or other related species; these inert species cover the catalyst surface and consequently decrease Hg⁰ oxidation capacity. In addition, NO or SO₂ competed with Hg⁰ for active sites on the La₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ catalyst and hindered the adsorption of mercury, thereby inhibiting subsequent Hg⁰ oxidation. Hg⁰ oxidation on the La₂O₃/Fe₂O₃ catalyst mainly followed the Eley–Rideal mechanism. Moreover, the inhibition effects of NO and SO₂ were at least partially reversible, and the catalytic activity was temporarily restored after eliminating NO or SO₂.     

In vitro evaluation of inorganic and methyl mercury mediated cytotoxic effect on neural cells derived from different animal species

To extend the current understanding of the mercury-mediated cytotoxic effect,five neural cell lines established from different animal species were comparatively analyzed using three different endpoint bioassays:thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide,3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay(MTT),neutral red uptake assay(NRU),and Coomassie blue assay(CB).Following a 24-hr exposure to selected concentrations of mercury chloride(HgCl_2) and methylmercury(Ⅱ) chloride(MeHgCl),the cytotoxic effect on test cells was characterized by comparing their 50%inhibition concentration(IC_(50)) values.Experimental results indicated that both these forms of mercury were toxic to all the neural cells,but at very different degrees.The IC_(50)values of MeHgCl among these cell lines ranged from 1.15±0.22 to 10.31 ± 0.70 μmol/L while the IC_(50) values for HgCl_2 were much higher,ranging from 6.44 ± 0.36 to 160.97±19.63 μmol/L,indicating the more toxic nature of MeHgCl.The IC_(50) ratio between HgCl_2and MeHgCl ranged from 1.75 to 96.0,which confirms that organic mercury is much more toxic to these neural cells than inorganic mercury.Among these cell lines,HGST-BR and TriG44 derived from marine sea turtles showed a significantly high tolerance to HgCl_2 as compared to the three mammalian neural cells.Among these neural cells,SK-N-SH represented the most sensitive cells to both chemical forms of mercury.     

Response of cowpea and soybean to P and K on terre de barre soils in southern Bénin

Good growth of grain legumes helps food security and protection of the environment but this may require nutrient inputs. A participatory technology development activity explored from 1998 to 2000 the responses of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) to inorganic soil amendments (P and K) on terre de barre soils with different levels of degradation in southern Bénin. Adingnigon, on the Abomey plateau, represents a level of severe degradation, while Hayakpa, on the Allada plateau, is still relatively non-degraded. Treatments included: (i) an unamended control, (ii) P fertilizer only, applied in 1998 or 1999, and (iii) P plus K applied in 1999. At Hayakpa, yields without fertilizer were generally moderate to high; responses to P were statistically significant and K application had a significant effect on soybean yield in 2000. At Adingnigon, P application had a large relative effect (30–200%) but a small absolute effect (less than 100 kg/ha) on cowpea and soybean yield. Subsequent K application increased grain yields further (approximately 100 kg/ha) but still not up to the cowpea yield potential. When 13 Mg/ha of organic amendment (chicken manure or cotton seed) were applied to severely degraded plots at Adingnigon with prior grain yields below 200 kg/ha, cowpea yields of more than 500 kg/ha were achieved, approaching their biological potential for the zone. It is clear from this study that (i) P and K inputs are needed for grain legumes even on relatively non-degraded terre de barre soils and (ii) inorganic fertilizer alone will not revive highly degraded soils on the terre de barre plateaus of southern Bénin.     

不同基质条件下透性处理对脱硫弧菌硫酸盐还原活性的影响

乙醇透性处理1株普通脱硫弧菌Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough(DvH)强化硫酸盐生物还原活性,研究不同基质条件下透性处理程度对其硫酸盐还原活性影响.当以H2为电子供体时,10%乙醇处理的DvH硫酸盐还原活性最强,其次为15%;当乙醇浓度>15%时,DvH硫酸盐还原活性显著降低.当以乳酸为电子供体时,最佳乙醇浓度为20%,其次为15%和10%,乙醇浓度达到25%时,DvH仍保持一定的还原活性.不同供体条件下DvH对透性处理程度的响应不同,是因为H2与乳酸在细胞内发生氧化的位置不同,从而胞内电子传递途径不同.确保供体与受体之间电子传递链的完整性是合理确定透性处理程度及透性技术应用的关键.     

Effects of artificially induced complete mixing on dissolved organic matter in a stratified source water reservoir

Naturally complete mixing promotes the spontaneous redistribution of dissolved oxygen(DO), representing an ideal state for maintaining good water quality, and conducive to the biomineralization of organic matter. Water lifting aerators(WLAs) can extend the periods of complete mixing and increase the initial mixing temperature. To evaluate the influence of artificial-induced continuously mixing on dissolved organic matter(DOM) removal performance, the variations of DOM concentrations, optical cha...     

产业承接、经济增长与环境污染的关系——以甘肃省为例

为探索在经济相对落后且生态环境脆弱的地区,经济增长与环境改善发展路径的可行性,以甘肃省为分析样本,选取该省12个城市2006—2013年的面板数据,采用固定效应模型,分析产业承接、经济增长与环境污染的内在因果关系。结果表明:甘肃省的产业承接呈现出快速增长的趋势,其增速远高于经济增速和污染排放增速;产业承接不仅对经济增长有促进作用,而且对环境也具有改善作用;甘肃省的经济增长与环境污染的关系,短期呈正相关,长期则呈倒U型关系。因此,甘肃省在 来的发展中,应充分发挥产业承接的双重作用。