Influence of oxygen supply on heptadecane mineralization by Pseudomonas nautica

The influence of different states of oxygen supply on heptadecane mineralization has been investigated in resting cell suspensions of Pseudomonas nautica. The rate of heptadecane biodegraded was constant for oxygen concentrations between 21% and 10% (v/v) (about 100% and 50% of air saturation, 230 and 110 microM, respectively). A decline in biodegradation rates occurred for oxygen concentrations below 10% (about 50% of air saturation, 110 microM) and biodegradation stopped with 0.21% oxygen (2.3 microM). In the presence of 1% (11 microM) of oxygen, no CO2 was produced, showing that complete mineralisation of heptadecane was blocked.     

Biodegradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons by recombinant bacteria containing Alasan gene

Alasan, the bioemulsifier of Acinetobacter radioresistens KA53, is a high molecular-mass complex of an alanine-containing polysaccharide and three proteins. This gene was isolated from the A. radioresistens using PCR and the amplified product (850 bp) was cloned using PGEMT cloning kit. DNA sequence was carried out for the amplification and sequence analysis showed that the PCR product was highly similar to the OMPA precursor protein which called Alan. Subcloning was carried out into pTRAC expression vector and the purified protein was used in mineralisation of the polyaromatic hydrocarbon. As well as the recombinant E. coli cells were cultured directly on MSM containing four polyaromatic hydrocarbon using real time method (phenol, naphthalene, phenantherene and antherathene). The obtained results showed that no difference between the purified protein and the using of the recombinant cells directly with the presence of the inducer like IPTG. Both of the purified protein and the recombinant cells showed high degradation rates for (anthrathene and phenantherene).     

Production and partial characterization of bioemulsifier from a chromium-resistant actinobacteria

Surface-active compounds such as synthetic emulsifiers have been used for several decades, both for the degradation of hydrocarbons and increasing desorption of soil-bound metals. However, due to their high toxicity, low degradability, and production costs unaffordable for use in larger ecosystems, synthetic emulsifiers have been gradually replaced by those derived from natural sources such as plants or microbes. In previous studies, the bacterium Streptomyces sp. MC1 has shown the ability to reduce and/or accumulate Cr(VI), a highly promising advance in the development of methods for environmental clean-up of sites contaminated with chromium. Here, new studies on the production of emulsifier from this strain are presented. The cultivation factors that have a significant influence on emulsifier biosynthesis, as well as the interactions among them, were studied by factorial design. Based upon optimization studies, maximum bioemulsifier production was detected in the culture medium having an initial pH of 8 with phosphate 2.0 g L^?1 and Ca⁺² 1.0 g L^?1 added, with an emulsification index about 3.5 times greater compared to the basal value. Interestingly, in the presence of 5.0 g L^?1 Cr(VI), Streptomyces sp. MC1 retained about 65% of its emulsifier production ability. Partially purified emulsifier presented high thermo-stability and partial water solubility. These findings could have promising future prospects for the remediation of organic- and metal-contaminated sites.     

Polybrominated aromatic pollutants found in fish in Sweden

Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBBEs) have been found in fish caught in Swedish waters. The maximum level detected in muscular tissue was 0.15 mg/kg (27 mg/kg fat) in a pike (Esox lucius) caught in the south-west part of the country. The liver of the same specimen contained 22 mg PBBEs/kg (110 mg PBBEs/kg fat).     

同步硝化反硝化工艺中DO浓度对N2O产生量的影响

采用序批式生物膜反应器（SBBR）,在连续曝气全程好氧的运行条件下,考察不同溶解氧浓度对同步硝化反硝化脱氮性能及N2O产量的影响。控制溶解氧浓度恒定在1、2、2.5和3 mg/L。结果表明,DO为2 mg/L和2.5 mg/L时,氨氮去除率分别为97.9%和98.5%,同步硝化反硝化率均为99%。DO为2 mg/L时,系统中N2O产生量最低,为0.423 mg/L,占氨氮去除量的1.4%;DO为3 mg/L时N2O的产生量最高,为2.01 mg/L,是DO为2 mg/L时的4.75倍。系统中亚硝酸盐的存在可能是高溶解氧条件下N2O产量增加的主要原因,同步过程中没有NOx-的积累即稳定的SND系统有利于降低生物脱氮过程中N2O的产生量。     

Acceleration of catalase and peroxidase activities in Lemna minor L. and Allium cepa L. in response to low levels of aquatic mercury

The purpose of this study was to assess certain physiological responses of Lemna minor L. (duckweed) and Allium cepa L. (onion) to aquatic mercury at low concentrations. Following a 96-h exposure of plants to nutrient medium contaminated with known levels of mercuric chloride (HgCl(2)), 0.001 to 4 mg litre(-1) (0.0007 to 2.95 mg Hg litre(-1)) or methyl mercuric chloride (MeHgCl(2)), 0.0001 to 0.1 mg litre(-1) (0.0007 to 0.07 mg Hg litre(-1)), the physiological endpoints measured were the growth of fronds (Lemna minor) or roots (Allium cepa), and catalase and peroxidase activities in both plant assays. The EC(50) for HgCl(2) on the basis of the growth curve of Lemna minor was found to be 2.1 mg litre(-1). HgCl(2) and MeHgCl(2) were lethal to L. minor at concentrations of 4 and 0.01 mg litre(-1), respectively. The range of low concentrations that accelerated growth as well as enzymic activities in L. minor was 0.004 to 0.04 mg litre(-1) for HgCl(2) and 0.001 mg litre(-1) for MeHgCl(2). HgCl(2) and MeHgCl(2) induced maximum enzymic activity in Lemna fronds at concentrations of 0.008 and 0.0005 mg litre(-1), respectively. In Allium roots, catalase activity was accelerated at all the concentrations of HgCl(2) (0.001-2 mg litre(-1)) and MeHgCl(2) (0.0001-0.1 mg litre(-1)) tested. The activity of peroxidase was, however, accelerated by HgCl(2) at concentration range 0.01-1.0 mg litre(-1), or by MeHgCl(2) at 0.001 mg litre(-1). The concentrations of HgCl(2) and MeHgCl(2) that induced the highest enzymic activity in Allium roots were 0.05 mg litre(-1) and 0.001 mg litre(-1), respectively.     

盐度变化对SBR中硝化作用的动态影响研究

针对含氨氮废水,研究了逐步提高盐度（以氯离子浓度计）驯化活性污泥过程、淡水活性污泥受到一定盐度冲击过程以及经过30 000 mg Cl/L驯化后的活性污泥在盐度波动时对SBR反应器中亚硝化和硝酸化过程的影响。研究结果表明:在逐步提高盐度驯化的过程中,NH⁺₄-N的降解速率在盐度提高为15 000 mg Cl/L时先降低后升高,当盐度为25 000 mg Cl/L时,反应周期末有大量的NO^-₂-N累积,当盐度高达30 000 mg Cl/L时, NH⁺₄N的降解速率仍然维持在一定水平,这说明硝酸化过程比亚硝化过程更容易受到高盐度的抑制。而在冲击实验中,当淡水活性污泥受到20 000 mg Cl/L盐度冲击时,即使经过长时间的驯化后亚硝化过程仍然受到较大的抑制,且反应周期末有大量NO^-₂-N累积,当受到30 000 mg Cl/L盐度冲击时硝化作用几乎完全被抑制。经过30 000 mg Cl/L驯化后的活性污泥的硝化作用对盐度波动具有较强的适应性。     

生活污水中糖类测试方法研究

分别用蒽酮比色、苯酚-硫酸及气相色谱法3种测试方法测试了上海市某生活小区生活污水的糖类组成.试验结果表明,蒽酮比色法测试糖类浓度的准确性与精确性优于苯酚-硫酸法,但不能得出污水中糖类的详细组成情况;与蒽酮比色法和苯酚-硫酸法相比,气相色谱法不仅能得出污水中糖类的详细组成,而且还具有较高的精密度.气相色谱法测得的生活污水中各种单糖,如木糖、甘露糖、葡萄糖、半乳糖、鼠李糖、核糖、岩藻糖的质量浓度分别为8.25、 6.02、5.52、4.80、4.44、4.41、2.66 mg/L.     

管式反应器处理生活污水的效能

研发了一种基于射流曝气的管式反应设备,考察了负荷和DO对反应器处理效能的影响。实验结果表明,在温度为15℃、DO 6.0 mg/L、有机负荷为1.0 kg COD/(m3.d)、氮负荷为0.30 kg TN/(m3.d)、HRT为8 h的条件下,管式反应器可使生活污水的COD、NH4+-N及TN分别从335 mg/L、105 mg/L及110 mg/L降至43 mg/L、14 mg/L及18 mg/L,去除率分别为87%、86%和83%。DO对反应器脱氮效能影响显著,DO为6 mg/L时,能构建出同步硝化反硝化系统,NH4+-N和TN的去除率分别为96.6%和86.7%。     

Bioaccumulation and physiological effects of mercury in Sesbania drummondii

The accumulation of mercury and its effect on growth, photosynthesis and antioxidative responses were studied in Sesbania drummondii seedlings. Mercury concentration in shoots as well as in the roots increased with increasing Hg concentrations in the growth solution. The accumulation of Hg was more in roots than shoots. At 100 mg l-1 Hg concentration, shoots accumulated 998 mg Hg kg -1 dry weight (dw) while roots accumulated 41,403 mg Hg kg-1 dw. Seedlings growth was not significantly affected at lower concentrations of Hg. A concentration of 100 mg l-1 Hg inhibited growth by 36.8%, with respect to control. Photosynthetic activity was assessed by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence by determination of Fv/Fm and Fv/Fo values. Photosynthetic integrity was not affected up to 50 mg l-1 Hg concentration, however, concentrations higher than 50 mg l-1 affected photosynthetic integrity. Sesbania responded to Hg induced oxidative stress by modulating non-enzymatic antioxidants [glutathione (GSH) and non-protein thiols (NPSH)] and enzymatic antioxidants: superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR). Glutathione content and GSH/GSSG ratio increased up to a concentration of 50 mg l-1 while slight down at 100 mg l-1 Hg. The content of NPSH significantly increased with increasing Hg concentrations in the growth medium. The activities of antioxidative enzymes, SOD, APX and GR followed the same trends as antioxidants first increased up to a concentration of 50 mg l-1 Hg and then slight decreased. The results of present study suggest that Sesbania plants were able to accumulate and tolerate Hg induced stress using an effective antioxidative defense mechanisms.     

Occurrence of organotin compounds in house dust in Berlin (Germany)

In a study in the year 2000 on the occurrence of hazardous environmental contaminants house dust samples from 28 Berlin apartments were measured for the presence and concentrations of six organotin compounds, monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), tributyltin (TBT), monooctyltin (MOT), dioctyltin (DOT) and triphenyltin (TPT). The concentrations of MBT and DBT determined ranged considerably from 0.01 mg kg-1 to 1.5 mg kg-1 (median: 0.05 mg kg-1) and 0.01 to 5.6 mg kg-1 (median: 0.03 mg kg-1), respectively. Maximum levels of TBT and MOT were only 0.08 mg kg-1 and 0.04 mg kg-1. The maximum total value of the organotins was 7.2 mg kg-1 (median: 0.11 mg kg-1). MBT was found in 86% and DBT in 82% of the samples above the limit of quantification, TBT and MOT only in 50% and DOT in 43%. The focus of ecotoxicology is on the risks arising from organotin compounds (especially butyltins) when used as biocides in antifouling paints. TBT acts as an endocrine disrupter in animals, inducing masculinization (imposex) in female gastropods of different species by increasing testosterone levels. The most critical organ site in experimental animals is the cellular immune system, where lymphocyte depletion in the thymus and peripheral lymphoid tissues takes place. Our study does not provide data on the basis of which population exposure could be estimated; house dust containing harmful organotins could, however, under some conditions, become a relevant intake possibility for young children.     

Interactions of mycorrhizal fungi with Pteris vittata (As hyperaccumulator) in As-contaminated soils

A greenhouse trial was conducted to investigate the role of arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM) in aiding arsenic (As) uptake and tolerance by Pteris vittata (As hyperaccumulator) and Cynodon dactylon (a multi-metal root accumulator). Plants inoculated with lived and killed native mycorrhizas isolated from an As mine site were grown in a sterile and slightly acidic soil. The infectious percentage of mycorrhizas (0 mg/kg As: 26.4%, 50 mg/kg As: 30.3%, 100 mg/kg As: 40.6%) and the average biomass of shoots in infected P. vittata increased (0 mg/kg As: 2.45 g/pot, 50 mg/kg As: 2.48 g/pot, 100 mg/kg As: 10.9 g/pot) according to the increase of As levels when compared to control. The indigenous mycorrhizas enhanced As accumulation (0 mg/kg As: 3.70 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg As: 58.3 mg/kg; 100 mg/kg As: 88.1 mg/kg) in the As mine populations of P. vittata and also sustained its growth by aiding P absorption. For C. dactylon, As was mainly accumulated in mycorrhizal roots and translocation to shoots was inhibited.     

Long‐term mercury accumulation in the presence of cadmium and lead in oseochromis aureus (Steindachner)

Abstract

The effects of cadmium and lead on chronic mercury accumulation were investigated in O. aureus. After 140 days’ exposure the accumulation of mercury in the liver, brain, gill filaments, intestine, caudal muscle, spleen, trunk kidney and eye was analysed. The exposure concentrations were 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 mg/L for mercury alone. O. aureus was also exposed to mixtures of 0.05 mg/L mercury with lead (0.05 mg/L and 0.50 mg/L or cadmium (0.05 mg/L) and 0.10 mg/L mercury with 0.10 mg/L cadmium. In food fish, a knowledge of toxic metal accumulation patterns is of great importance because of their contribution to the human diet and, as fishmeal, to the diet of agricultural animals. The trunk kidney consistently accumulated higher concentrations of mercury than any of the other tissues investigated.     

Screening of lead exposure among workers in Selangor and Federal Territory in Malaysia

The study of lead exposure among workers in Selangor and the Federal Territory was carried out based on the delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) level in urine. Occupations which are expected to have higher lead exposure were chosen in this research. The ALA level in the workers' urine was linked to a few variables which may contribute to the lead level in the body. The result of this study showed that the ALA level of the urine of university students (0.352 +/- 0.038 mg/100 ml) < clerical staff (0.560 +/- 0.043 mg/100 ml) < traffic police (0.612 +/- 0.064 mg/100 ml) < vehicle workshop workers (0.673 +/- 0.099 mg/100 ml) < petrol kiosk workers (0.717 +/- 0.069 mg/100 ml) < bus drivers/conductors (0.850 +/- 0.055 mg/100 ml) which was similar to workers in the printing industry (0.852 +/- 0.110 mg/100 ml). The ALA levels in the urine of the exposed workers were significantly different from the control group (university students). However, results obtained from clerical staff revealed that they were also in the exposed group category. Analysis of variance showed that the exposed groups are in a population which is different from the control population. Correlation tests suggest that there is no significant connection between the ALA level in the urine and the variables tested. Furthermore, Duncan's Multiple Range Test showed no significant differences between the smoking/non smoking group, alcoholic/non-alcoholic group, race and sex (p > 0.05).     

Changes in oxygen consumption and respiratory enzymes as stress indicators in an estuarine edible crab Scylla serrata exposed to naphthalene

The sublethal effect of naphthalene was studied on the physiology of a mud crab Scylla serrata. The 96 h acute toxicity of naphthalene was determined and found to be 28 mg 1(-1) (LC100), 18 mg 1(-1) (LC50), 10 mg 1(-1) (LC0) respectively. The 30 days sublethal effect (LC0) 9 mg 1(-1), 8 mg 1(-1), 10 mg 1(-1), of naphthalene was investigated in the crab S. serrata with reference to oxygen consumption and changes in the activity of respiratory enzymes. The results indicated that naphthalene caused disturbance in the normal physiology of the crab. The bioaccumulation of naphthalene was also investigated in gills, hepatopancreas, haemolymph and ovary. The consumption of oxygen increased in the naphthalene medium when compared with that of the crabs exposed to naphthalene free medium. A decreased trend in the activity of respiratory enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (alpha-KDH) and glutathione (GSH) were recorded in the hepatopancreas, ovary and gills of S. serrata for all the tested concentrations of naphthalene and the results were analyzed for their significance.     

污水深度处理微絮凝-D型滤池工艺运行性能与经济性分析

根据昆明市第一污水处理厂深度处理微絮凝-D型滤池工艺的运行数据,评价了工艺出水水质及总磷(TP)去除效果,同时分析了混凝剂投加量及药剂费用。结果表明,微絮凝-D型滤池工艺出水TP平均浓度为0.15 mg/L,最优水平值为0.05 mg/L,95%保证值为0.37 mg/L,TP平均去除率为63.6%。出水悬浮固体(SS)浓度95%保证值为10 mg/L。混凝剂聚合氯化铝(PAC)的投加量在1.5~4 mg Al2O3/L范围波动,去除单位TP的PAC投加量平均值为16.7 mg Al2O3/mg-P,投加比为2~8 mol-Al/mol-P。当投加比超过5时,出水TP浓度可达到0.3 mg/L以下。吨水PAC成本平均值为0.017元/t。     

Concentration of heavy metals in various children's herbal tea types and their correlations

This investigation was undertaken to determine the concentrations of cadmium, lead, mercury, zinc, copper and magnesium in six tea types used as children's tea. Six types of tea of different herbal composition used for children's consumption (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6) were analyzed in three subsequent collections. The analysis of cadmium showed that the concentration was very similar in all types of children's tea, ranging from 0.233 to 0.369 mg/kg. Lead concentrations were in the range of 0.340-1.564 mg/kg without any significant differences. The analysis of mercury detected very low concentration of this metal in all samples (0.002-0.004 mg/kg). In zinc, the values ranged from 36.633 to 71.711 mg/kg, with significant differences (p < 0.001) according to tea type. Copper concentration was 10.089-30.178 mg/kg with the highest value in T4. The concentration of magnesium was significantly higher in tea T1 and T2 (102.311 and 129.422 mg/kg) in comparison with other tea types where the level was 19.811-37.411 mg/kg. The maximum tolerable limit determined by Codex Alimentarius was not exceeded in any sample. In general, correlation analysis detected high positive correlation between cadmium and lead (r = 0.89), cadmium and mercury (r = 0.92) and between lead and mercury (r = 0.77).     

Pesticide and plasticizer residues in bergamot essential oils from Calabria (Italy)

Organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides, phosphorated plasticizers, chloroparaffins and phthalate esters contamination in bergamot essential oils produced in Calabria in the crop years 1999-2000 was studied by HRGC in connection with detectors FPD, ECD, MS. Residues of dicofol and tetradifon were found in oils from both crop years. The mean dicofol concentration was 0.26 mg/l in samples from 1999 and 0.20 mg/l in those from 2000; the mean tetradifon content was 0.06 mg/l for both the crop years. Among plasticizers, residues of diisobutyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were found in samples from crop years 1999 and 2000, the mean content were 1.22 and 1.23 mg/l, 1.51 and 1.65 mg/l, 1.38 and 1.42 mg/l respectively.     

Changes in the leachability of metals from dredged canal sediments during drying and oxidation

The behaviour of metals in canal sediments after their disposal to land has important implications for the environmental management of canal dredgings. The leaching behaviour of trace metals was investigated in a laboratory-based experiment using sediment from a canal in the UK (139 mg Zn kg-1dry sediment, 1.1 mg Cd, kg-1dry sediment 31.5 mg Cr kg-1dry sediment, 20.6 mg Cu kg-1dry sediment 48.4 mg Ni kg-1dry sediment, 43.4 mg Pb kg-1dry sediment and 7.6 mg As kg-1dry sediment). The sediment was allowed to dry. Cores (10 cm long) of the drying canal sediment were taken over a period of 12 weeks. A simple water extraction procedure was used to investigate changes in metal leachability at varying depths through the cores. Metal leachability increased over the first five weeks of drying and then subsequently decreased between weeks five and twelve, (e.g. Cd increased from approximately 0.006 to 0.018 mg/kgsediment then decreased to approximately 0.006 mg/kgsediment, Zn increased from approximately 1.5 to 3 mg/kgsediment and then decreased to approximately 1.5 mg/kgsediment). These results were combined with sulphide/sulphate ratios, which showed a decrease as the sediment dried (e.g. at 2-4 cm depth from approximately 1 to 0.49), and BCR sequential extraction data. Most metals (except Cd and As) showed a redistribution from the residual phase into more mobile phases as the sediment dried and oxidised. Metal leachability was strongly correlated with the sulphide/sulphate ratio with leachability normally increasing with decreasing sulphide/sulphate ratio. The combined results were used to infer the likely behaviour of dredged material upon disposal to land.     

昆明市污水排水系统产甲烷规律的模拟实验研究

通过对昆明市餐饮和居民生活污水厌氧模拟实验研究,初步探讨生活污水中CH4的产生规律,实验结果表明,在自然条件下,餐饮和居民生活污水中产生的甲烷浓度最大值分别为1.63 mg/L和3.82 mg/L。并且将COD、硫酸盐、硫化物、TN的浓度变化与甲烷浓度变化进行Pearson简单相关性分析,结果表明,1/COD、COD/硫酸盐和1/TN与甲烷在置信度为0.01时极显著相关,硫化物与甲烷在置信度为0.05时不相关;COD、硫酸盐和TN浓度的变化对生活污水中甲烷的产生起关键性作用。对居民生活污水中甲烷产生规律进行温度和pH控制分析研究,实验结果表明,生活污水在25~30℃时,24 h内甲烷产生量最大值为8.6494 mg/L,明显大于其他温度段的甲烷产生量;在pH为7~8之间时,甲烷的产生量在24 h内达到的最大值为3.0477 mg/L,明显高于其他pH控制段的甲烷产生量。