Metal in the environment arises from both natural sources and human activities. Toxic metals in air, soil, and water have become a global problem. They are potential hazards to aquatic, animal, and human life because of their toxicity, bioaccumulative, and non-biodegradable nature. The major impacts of metal pollutants can be stated as ecosystem contamination and health problems of exposed human populations. Those problems have been a cause of increasing public concern throughout the world. Some trace metals are used by living organisms to stabilize protein structures, facilitate electron transfer reactions, and catalyze enzymatic reactions. But even metals that are biologically essential can be harmful to living organisms at high levels of exposure. An increasing concentration of heavy metals in the environment can modify mineral and enzyme functions of human beings. During the last two decades, the interest in using bioindicators as monitoring tools to assess environmental pollution with toxic metals has increased. Bioindicators are flora and fauna members, which are collected and analyzed to measure the levels of metal contaminants. Bioindicators therefore identify health hazards. Various living organisms, such as microbes, fungi, plants, animals, and humans, are used to monitor toxic metals from air, water, sediment, soil, and food chain. Here, we review recent bioindicators, toxicity assessment, and ecological effects. 相似文献
The issue of E-waste disposal is concerning all the stakeholders, from policymakers to the end users which have accelerated the research and development on environmentally sound disposal of E-waste. The recovery of metals (gold, tantalum, copper, iron etc.) from E-waste has become an important focus. The mechanical recycling, thermo-chemical processes like pyrolysis, pyro-, hydro- and biometallurgical processes can play important roles in the Metal Recovery from E-waste (MREW) technology. For the industrial application of the MREW technology, it is important to analyze the sustainability. In this paper, two case studies have been presented on E-waste recycling industries in India and China. Based on the literature data, an attempt has been made to assess qualitatively the overall sustainability of MREW technology considering the three pillars, i.e., environmental, economic and social. Two conceptual frameworks with (Option-2) and without (Option-1) pyrolysis for integrated MREW units have been developed and the generalized energy and environmental impact analysis has been made using the principles of LCA. The impacts of two options have been compared. Option 2 has been found to be more efficient and sustainable. It has been realized that climate change, fossil fuel depletion, water depletion, eutrophication, acidification, fresh and marine water ecotoxicity are possible impact categories. The recommendations based on the generalized assessment are in good agreement with the findings of previous researchers on individual steps of MREW unit. The findings of this paper are expected to be beneficial to researchers and stakeholders for research directions and decision making on MREW.
Environmental Geochemistry and Health - This study was initiated to develop a model specialized to conduct human risk assessments (HRAs) of abandoned metal mine areas in Korea. The Korean guideline... 相似文献
The control of exposure to welding fumes is of increasing importance in promoting a healthy, safe and productive work environment. This article describes the effects of shielding gas composition on the amount and composition of welding fumes produced during gas metal arc welding (GMAW). The amount of fumes generated during welding was measured for steady current over a range of wire-feed speeds and arc voltages using the standard procedures contained in ANSI/AWS F1.2 [American Welding Society. ANSI/AWS F1.2. Laboratory method for measuring fume generation rates and total fume emission of welding and allied processes. Miami, Florida; 1992]. Results of these measurements show that the fume formation rates (FFRs) increase with CO2 and O2 in the shielding gas mixture. The lowest FFRs were obtained with the mixtures of Ar?+?2%CO2 and Ar?+?3%CO2?+?1%O2. The highest FFRs were obtained with the mixtures of Ar?+?18%CO2 and Ar?+?5%CO2?+?4%O2. The welding fumes contains mainly iron, manganese, silicon, titanium and sodium under oxide forms. The fume cluster particles have dimensions between 0.5 and 2?µm. The FFR was found to be governed by the transfer modes of molten metal, i.e. the current intensity and arc voltage, as well as by the shielding gas mixtures composition. Thus these parameters have to be taken into consideration before designing a welding process. Whenever possible, users of GMAW should use the lowest current intensity. However, when this is not possible, due to the constraints of process productivity, welders should use higher currents, but with Ar?+?2%CO2 and Ar?+?3%CO2?+?1%O2 shielding mixtures, which will lead to smaller fume emissions. 相似文献
Seafood is a major dietary food worldwide. However, seafood consumption by humans can induce health risk because seafood may
be contaminated by various pollutants. The mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis is widely distributed in the coastal waters of Montenegro, SouthEast Adriatic Sea. Here, Zn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, As, and
Hg contents in M. galloprovincialis from ten sites were analyzed to investigate health risks associated with the consumption of wild and cultivated mussels.
Since there is a lack of data on the mussel consumption rate in Montenegro, the amount of mussels that can be ingested weekly
over a lifetime with no risk of negative health effects was calculated using provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWI).
We found that Cd concentrations were the limiting factor for mussels as a food. The weekly consumptions of 0.64–1.2 kg of
fresh wild and 0.84–1.2 kg of fresh cultivated mussel would be sufficient to reach the PTWICd, which may result in a risky weekly intake of Cd for long-term exposure. Moreover, weekly intake of 125 g mussels was used
to calculate the dietary intake of trace elements by mussel consumption and compared with the prescribed PTWIs. Here, we found
that there is no risk for human health for all investigated elements. In this case, the highest Cd level obtained in wild
and in cultivated mussels represents 19.8 and 14.9% of the PTWICd, respectively. This is the first study in Montenegro giving an assessment of the health risk from trace elements via the
consumption of wild and cultivated M. galloprovincialis. 相似文献
A lipid-transfer protein was isolated from a domestic cultivar of brewers barley grain, Hordeum vulgare. The presence of Cu (II), Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) ions in its structure and its ability to bind Hg (II) and Ni (II) ions is known. We investigated its ability to bind other metal ions by differential pulse polarography. Here we demonstrate that the lipid-transfer protein has an affinity to bind Co (II) and Pb (II) and has no affinity towards Cd (II), Cu (II), Zn (II) and Cr (III). These results suggest a new possible role of barley lipid-transfer protein for phytoextraction.Selected article from the Regional Symposium on Chemistry and Environment, Krusevac, Serbia, June 2003, organised by Dr. Branimir Jovancicevic 相似文献
Sediment and water samples from the Jishui River were tested to determine the concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn. The concentrations of Cu, Mn and Zn in the surface water close to the Fujiawu copper mine greatly exceeded the criteria maximum concentrations (CMC) of the Environmental Protection Agency. The concentration of Zn at a site near the small smelters also exceeded the CMC. Cd concentrations in surface water samples from 69% of the sampling sites were significantly higher than the CMC. Heavy Cd pollution of surface water resulted from the Shuanghua Smelter, the lead smelter, the lead–zinc mine and the small smelters downstream. The total metal concentrations in the majority of the sediment samples substantially exceeded the probable effect levels (PEL). Levels of As, Cd, Cu and Zn in surface sediment of the site close to the Shuanghua Smelter were 20 times higher than the PELs. The levels of Pb in sediment of the downstream sites near the small smelters and the lead–zinc mine were also elevated. Based on the results of the BCR sequential extract procedures and the risk assessment code, the levels of Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn in the sediment posed high risk. 相似文献
As the application of next-generation energy storage systems continues to expand, rechargeable secondary batteries with enhanced energy density and safety are imperative for energy iteration. Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs) have attracted extensive attention and are recognized as ideal candidates for large-scale energy storage due to the abundant sodium resources and low cost. Sodium metal anodes(SMAs) have been considered as one of the most attractive anode materials for SIBs owing to their high spe... 相似文献
In order to reduce environmental pollution and regulatory issues, the adsorption of n-butane from vehicle exhaust is one of the necessary requirements. When active carbon was mixed with different proportions of metal oxides, the adsorption capacity of n-butane was markedly improved. Infrared spectroscopy data provided information on functional groups derived from activated carbon composite metal oxide indicating that one of the best adsorption capacities for n-butane was obtained by mixing 3 g TiO2, 2.7 g CuO, and 2.1 g NaBO3·4H2O with 30 g activated carbon. However, more effective results were obtained by mixing 6 g TiO2, 2.1 g CuO, and 0.9 g NaBO3·4H2O with 30 g activated carbon. Data suggest that these chemical complexes may be effective in lowering n-butane pollution. 相似文献
Lithium metal batteries(LMBs) have attracted tremendous research attention because of the high theoretical capacity(3860 mAh g-1) and the lowest electrochemical potential(-3.04 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode). However, the Lithium dendrites, forming from plating/stripping processes, cause the excessive consumption of electrolyte and active Li and the puncture on the separator. This limits the commercialization of LMBs. Recently, Ma’s group proposed heptafluorobutyric anhydride(HFA)... 相似文献
The kinetics of Cr(VI) reduction to Cr(III) by metallic iron (Fe0) was studied in batch reactors for a range of reactant concentrations, pH and temperatures. Nearly 86.8% removal efficiency for Cr(VI) was achieved when Fe0 concentration was 6 g/L (using commercial iron powder (< 200 mesh) in 120 min). The reduction of hexavalent chromium took place on the surface of the iron particles following pseudo-first order kinetics. The rate of Cr(VI) reduction increased with increasing Fe0 addition and temperature but inversely with initial pH. The pseudo-first-order rate coefficients (kobs) were determined as 0.0024, 0.010, 0.0268 and 0.062 8 min?1 when iron powder dosages were 2, 6, 10 and 14 g/L at 25°C and pH 5.5, respectively. According to the Arrehenius equation, the apparent activation energy of 26.5 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor of 3 330 min?1 were obtained at the temperature range of 288–308 K. Different Fe0 types were compared in this study. The reactivity was in the order starch-stabilized Fe0 nanoparticles > Fe0 nanoparticles > Fe0 powder > Fe0 filings. Electrochemical analysis of the reaction process showed that Cr(III) and Fe(III) hydroxides should be the dominant final products. 相似文献
Metal hyperaccumulating plants contain very high metal contents. Because of the general toxicity of metals, chemically-mediated
biotic interactions involving hyperaccumulating plants may differ greatly from those of non-hyperaccumulators. Recent research
has demonstrated a defensive function for hyperaccumulated metals against herbivores and pathogens. We predict that some herbivore/pathogen
species have evolved metal tolerance, and suggest that resulting high metal levels in herbivores/pathogens may defend them
against their own predators. Little is known regarding interference and commensal interactions involving hyperaccumulating
plants. Decreased competition may occur through an interference interaction similar to allelopathy, in which enrichment of
metal in the soil under a hyperaccumulator plant's canopy may inhibit another plant species, thus resulting in “elemental
allelopathy”. Metal enrichment of soil under hyperaccumulators also may result in commensalism if another plant species (possibly
another hyperaccumulator) derives a benefit from growing in the metal-enriched soil under the canopy of a hyperaccumulating
overstory plant. It seems likely that high-metal plant litter will host a specialized microflora of decomposers and may affect
nutrient cycling rates. Mutualist biotic interactions also may be affected by the elevated metal contents of hyperaccumulating
species. Mycorrhizal fungi may form mutualisms with hyperaccumulators, but the phenomenon is poorly-explored. The few cases
investigated to date have not detected mycorrhizae. Pollination and seed dispersal mechanisms may require biotic vectors that
might be affected by plant metal content. Hyperaccumulating plants may have solved this dilemma in three ways. First, some
may rely on abiotic vectors for pollen or seed dispersal. Second, biotic vectors used by these species may have varied diets
and thus dilute metal intake to non-toxic levels. Finally, biotic vectors may have evolved tolerance of elevated dietary levels
of metals, and perhaps have become specialists on hyperaccumulator species.
Received 7 November 1997; accepted 28 December 1997. 相似文献
Deterioration of buried metal pipes due to corrosive soil environment is a major issue worlwide. Although failures of buried pipe due to corrosive soil is an old problem, yet such failures are still uncontrollable even with the application of advanced corrosion protection technologies. Therefore, understanding factors causing corrosion of buried pipes is necessary. This article reviews factors causing corrosion of buried pipes in soils. Factors include moisture content, soil resistivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and microbial activity. Moreover, we discuss the influence of manufacturing method and the comparison of corrosion behaviour of cast iron, ductile and mild steel pipes. We found that corrosion rate of pipes increases with moisture contents up to the critical moisture value. Although pH affects corrosion, there is no relationship between corrosion and pH and the corrosion rates of buried pipes are inversely proportional to soil resistivity. Soils containing more organic matter show high resistivity. Dissolved oxygen in soil develops differential cell which accelerates corrosion of metallic pipe. Different types of bacteria present in soil develop biofilms on metallic pipes, which deteriorates pipes with time. 相似文献
The immobilisation of heavy metals in the soil of a 25-year-old active firing range using durian (Durio zibethinus L.) tree sawdust (DTS), coconut coir (CC) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) was investigated. The immobilisation effects were evaluated in terms of metal accumulation in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and soil metal bioavailability. A pot experiment was conducted by amending the firing range soil with DTS, CC and EFB at application rates of 0%, 1% and 3% (w/w), respectively. All amendments increased the biomass yield and reduced the uptake of heavy metals in the plant tissue. Zn had the highest values of Bioconcentration Factor (BCF: 0.301–0.865) and Translocation Factor (TF: 1.056–1.883). Pb was the least-accumulated and transported metal in the plant tissues, with the BCF and TF values of 0.019–0.048 and 0.038–0.116, respectively. The bioavailable fraction of heavy metals in the firing range soil decreased following the application of the three agricultural wastes studied. DTS, CC and EFB did not cause toxicity symptoms in the water spinach over the pot experiment. Therefore, DTS, CC and EFB are considered promising immobilising agents for the remediation of metal-contaminated land. 相似文献