Effects of halone 1301 on Lepidium sativum, Petunia hybrida and Phaseolus vulgaris

Halone 1301 belongs to a group of widely used fire repellants. Although banned in several countries, the production has still not been discontinued, and thus hazards due to use or spill can be expected. The study reports on effects of the halone 1301 on three plant species frequently used for bioindication studies: Lepidium sativum (mouse-ear cress), Phaseolus vulgaris (bush bean) and Petunia hybrida. Plants were exposed to 1 ppbv of the gas in ambient air under controlled conditions for 18 days (L. sativum), and 45 days (P. vulgaris, P. hybrida), respectively. None of the plants showed visible stress symptoms. Chlorophylls in cress and petunia were unaffected whereas in beans significant changes of the photosynthetic pigments were observed. Photosynthesis and gas exchange of bean plants were monitored during the experiment, and a lowering of transpiration was noticed. In all investigated plants, protein contents declined significantly, but despite this reduction, activity of the glutathione S-transferases (GST) increased strongly in bean and petunia. The significance of this reaction as detoxification step is discussed.     

EDTA and HEDTA effects on Cd, Cr, and Ni uptake by Helianthus annuus

Phytoremediation has shown great potential as an alternative treatment for the remediation of heavy-metal-contaminated soils and groundwater. However, the lack of a clear understanding pertaining to metal uptake/translocation mechanisms, enhancement amendments, and external effects on phytoremediation has hindered its full-scale application. The objective of this research was to investigate the ability of synthetic chelators for enhancing the phytoremediation of cadmium-, chromium- and nickel-contaminated soil. Ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (EDTA) and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA) were applied to the soil at various dosages to elevate metal mobility. Uptake into and translocation within Helianthus annuus was determined. It was found that EDTA at a rate of 0.5 g/kg significantly increased the shoot concentrations of Cd and Ni from 34 and 15 to 115 and 117 mg/kg, respectively. The total removal efficiency for EDTA was 59 microg/plant. HEDTA at the same application rate resulted in a total metal uptake of 42 microg/plant. These research demonstrated that chelator enhancement is plant- and metal-specific and is subjective to inhibition when multiple heavy metals are present. Results also showed that chelator toxicity reduced the plant's biomass, thereby decreasing the amount of metal accumulation.     

Time study on the uptake of four different beta-blockers in garden cress (Lepidium sativum) as a model plant

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aim of this study was to investigate the uptake of four beta-blockers by the model plant Lepidium sativum (garden cress) and their possible...     

The impact of EDTA on the rate of accumulation and root/shoot partitioning of cadmium in mature dwarf sunflowers

In addition to increasing the mobility of metal ions in the soil solution, chelating agents such as EDTA have been reported to alter both the total metal accumulated by plants and its distribution within the plant structures. Here, mature Mini-Sun Hybrid dwarf sunflowers exposed to 300 μM Cd²⁺ in hydroponic solution had initial translocation rates of at least 0.12 mmol kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ and reached leaf saturation levels within a day when a 3-fold molar excess of EDTA was used. EDTA also promoted cadmium transfer from roots to the shoots. A threefold excess of EDTA increased the translocation factor (TF) 100-fold, resulting in cadmium levels in the leaves of 580 μg g⁻¹ and extracting 1400 μg plant⁻¹. When plants were exposed to dissolved cadmium without EDTA, the vast majority of the metal remained bound to the exterior of the root. The initial accumulation could be successfully modeled with a standard biosorption pseudo second-order kinetic equation. Initial accumulation rates ranged from 0.0359 to 0.262 mg g⁻¹ min⁻¹. The cadmium binding could be cycled, and did not show evidence of saturation under the experimental conditions employed, suggesting it might be a viable biosorbant for aqueous cadmium.     

Assessment of Hg accumulation in fish and scalp hair in fishing communities along river Swat,Pakistan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Mercury (Hg) bioaccumulation in fish poses severe threats to the food safety and human health. This study was conducted to assess Hg bioaccumulation...     

Examining the relationship between metal exposure (Cd and Hg), subcellular accumulation,and physiology of juvenile Crassostrea virginica

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - To assess the toxicity and accumulation (total and subcellular partitioning) of cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg), juvenile eastern oysters, Crassostrea...     

Effect of citric acid and EDTA on chromium and nickel uptake and translocation by Datura innoxia

EDTA and citric acid were tested to solubilize metals and enhance their uptake by Datura innoxia, chosen because of its ability to accumulate and tolerate metals. Two application modes were used on an industrial soil contaminated mainly by Cr and Ni. The results showed that citric acid was the most effective at increasing the uptake of Cr and EDTA for Ni. These results are consistent with the effectiveness of both chelants in solubilizing metals from the soil. The translocation factor (TF) of Ni was 1.6- and 6.7-fold higher than the control, respectively, for one and two applications of 1mmolkg(-1) EDTA. After two applications of 5 and 10mmolkg(-1) citric acid, the TF of Cr increased 2- and 3.5-fold relative to the control. Whatever the concentration, the application of EDTA modified the plant physiology significantly. For citric acid this was only observed with the highest dose (10mmolkg(-1)).     

EDTA/纳米羟基磷灰石联合修复重金属污染土壤

土壤淋洗可能导致残留重金属活化,采用淋洗/钝化联合修复重金属污染土壤可在一定程度上减少这一影响。研究了EDTA淋洗、纳米羟基磷灰石钝化及两者联合修复对土壤重金属洗脱率、TCLP浸出浓度、化学形态分布的影响,构建了涵盖土壤重金属残留量、生物有效性和生理毒性的环境风险评价方法,对淋洗、钝化及其联合修复进行了评价。结果发现,EDTA淋洗对Pb和Cu的洗脱效果较好,对Zn浸出浓度的削减率较高。当EDTA投加量为2 g·L-1时,Zn的浸出浓度降低了70.40%。纳米羟基磷灰石对Pb和Zn具有较好的钝化效果,对Cu和Cd的钝化作用相对较弱。当纳米羟基磷灰石投加量为2%时,Pb浸出浓度削减率高达89.65%。淋洗/钝化联合修复大幅度降低了Pb和Cd的浸出浓度,降低了可还原态Cu残留量、可还原态和残渣态Cd残留量,以及弱酸提取态和可还原态Zn、Pb残留量。当EDTA和纳米羟基磷灰石投加量分别为1 g·L-1和1%时,土壤重金属总环境风险削减率达到74.12%。EDTA对土壤中Cu和Cd的洗脱效果较好,后续钝化修复作用有限,Pb和Zn则可通过淋洗/钝化联合修复大幅度提高削减环境风险削减率。     

Assessment of the effects of soil PAH accumulation by a battery of ecotoxicological tests

Surface soils were collected at remote, urban and industrial sites in the Southern of Italy in order to evaluate PAH concentrations and assess the toxic effects by a battery of ecotoxicological tests. The tests were performed on whole soils and on both organic and aqueous extracts. Further goal of this study was to integrate the results coming from each test and matrix in a synthetic toxicity index. The highest summation sigmaPAH concentrations were measured at the industrial soil, although this one did not show an high ecotoxicological risk. Among the performed tests, the phytotoxicity tests showed the highest sensitivity. For whole soil, the worst case always has been represented by test through bacteria. Our results could represent the first step toward the selection of a proper battery to characterize the soil ecotoxicological risk.     

Tributyltin accumulation and effects in marine molluscs from West Greenland

The levels of the antifouling agent tributyltin (TBT) and its breakdown products in bivalves were investigated in 1999-2000 at six areas along the west coast of Greenland with focus on locations inside and outside harbours. In addition female gastropods were examined for the development of TBT-induced masculine characteristics in form of imposex or intersex. The highest TBT concentration, 254 ng x g(-1) ww, was found in the bivalve Mytilus edulis sampled inside Nuuk harbour, but significant TBT concentrations were also present in bivalves from the other harbour areas. Only low levels of TBT were detected in bivalves sampled outside the harbours and in several of the samples the TBT level was below the detection limit. The examination of neogastropods like Buccinum revealed that imposex development occurred in all the harbours. In contrast, imposex was not found in any neogastropods sampled outside the harbour areas. However, the value of marine neogastropods as indicators of TBT contamination in West Greenland seems limited, because of large species diversity and the difficulties in sampling enough specimens at least with the current sampling strategy. No effects, which could be related to TBT contamination, were found in the most abundant tidal gastropod in West Greenland, Littorina saxatilis.     

Influences and mechanisms of nanoparticles on pentachloronitrobenzene accumulation by earthworms

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Pesticides and nanoparticles may coexist in soil; however, influences of nanoparticles on accumulation of pesticides in terrestrial organisms are...     

Copper accumulation,translocation, and toxic effects in grapevine cuttings

Purpose  

Although the ecotoxicological effects of copper (Cu) on grapevine are of global concern due to the intensive and long-term application of Cu-based fungicides in vineyards, comparatively little is known about the phytotoxicity, accumulation, and translocation of Cu in grapevines. Therefore, this study was to conduct a hydroponic experiment to determine the influence of solution Cu concentration not only on bioaccumulation and the translocation of Cu in grapevine roots, stems, and leaves, but also on the subsequent growth inhibition of the roots.     

Tolerance to iron accumulation and its effects on mineral composition and growth of two grass species

This study aimed to assess the influence of excess iron on the capacity of accumulation of this heavy metal, mineral composition, and growth of Setaria parviflora and Paspalum urvillei. Seedlings were submitted to 0.009; 1; 2; 4; and 7 mM of Fe-EDTA. In both species there was an increase in the concentration of Fe, Zn, P, and Ca and a decrease in Mn, K, and Mg in the iron plaque. Both species accumulated more iron in roots. In the shoots, S. parviflora showed higher iron content, except at 7 mM. Iron altered the contents of Fe, Cu, K, and Mg in roots, and of Fe, Mn, Zn, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in shoots. The two species tolerated high iron concentrations and accumulated high content of this element in both shoots and roots. The iron did not reduce their growth. Both species are indicated for studies aiming restoration of iron-contaminated areas.     

The effect of vinasse on the growth of Helianthus annuus and Pisum sativum: part I--The effects on some enzymes and chlorophyll and protein content

In this study, the composition of vinasse was first analysed. It was found to contain 8.43% dry matter, 3.3% total ash, 4% crude protein and 0.95% total carbohydrates; BOD load was determined as 63 g litre(-1). Subsequently, the effects of vinasse in various concentrations (1, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) on the activity of cellulase and pectin methyl esterase and the chlorophyll and protein contents of Pisum sativum and Helianthus annuus were investigated. The activity of these enzymes and the protein and chlorophyll contents in potted plants showed a gradual increase from the control up to 2.5% concentration of vinasse, but decreased at higher concentrations. These different effects of the effluent may be due to the high BOD load and the presence of cell wall cations in it.     

Hg、Cd污染对2种外生菌根真菌氮素营养吸收的影响

以从中国西南林区分离获得的外生菌根真菌彩色豆马勃(Pisolithus tinctorius 715,简称Pt715)、松乳菇(Lactarius delicious.ex Gray-1(简称Ld-1)、Lactarius delicious.exPink-2(简称Ld-2)、Lactarius delicious.ex White-3(简称Ld-3))为供试菌种,研究Hg、Cd对其吸收氮素的影响,从而筛选出在营养吸收上具有重金属耐受性的菌株。结果表明,重金属对外生菌根真菌吸收氮素营养的影响因重金属元素种类、真菌种类和氮素形态不同而异,Hg、Cd基本不会抑制供试菌种对有机态氮的吸收,而对NH+4-N、NO-3-N的吸收有不同程度的抑制或促进作用,但无明显的规律可循;Ld-1菌株具有一定的耐Hg性,在培养液中加入不同浓度的Hg后,Ld-1菌株对3种氮源的吸收均未受到明显抑制,相反在高Hg浓度下还促进了对NH+4-N、NO-3-N的吸收。Ld-1菌株有可能在Hg的胁迫下诱导合成了新的特异性蛋白,Hg与特异性蛋白结合从而缓解了其污染胁迫。     

Impact of soil management and two botanical insecticides on urease and invertase activity

Yard waste compost provides an organic amendment useful for improving soil structure and nutrient status. The activities of the enzymes hydrolyzing urea (urease) and sucrose (invertase) in the rhizosphere of potato plants were determined under field conditions. Soil urease and invertase activities were monitored in compost amended soil, grass buffer strips, and in adjacent bare soils during 35 d following soil treatment. Soil urease activity was increased by application of yard waste compost compared to untreated soil which provide evidence of increased soil microbial population following application of compost. Some transitional effects on urease activities were observed following Pyrethrins and Neemix-4E application, these effects were neither drastic nor prolonged enough to be considered deleterious to the soil microorganisms and their activities important to soil fertility. No relationship was found between invertase activity and the three management practices or soil organic matter content. It is suggested that application of botanical insecticides like pyrethrins and Neemix-4E may be useful in delaying urea fertilizer mineralization to maintain N in a form less leachable, so that the duration of N availability to plants is prolonged. The present study may also provide information on urease activity as a sensitive bioindicator of soil quality that reflects the effects of land management on soil quality and may assist land managers in monitoring long-term productivity and sustainability of agricultural lands.     

Inhibitory effects of catechol accumulation on benzene biodegradation in Pseudomonas putida F1 cultures

The influence of benzene concentration on the specific growth rate (mu), CO(2) and metabolite production, and cellular energetic content (i.e., ATP content), during benzene biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida F1 was investigated. Within the concentration range tested (5-130mg benzene l(-1)) the mu, the specific CO(2) production, and the ATP content remained constant at 0.42-0.48h(-1), 1.86+/-0.21g CO(2) g(-1) biomass, and 5.3+/-0.4x10(-6)mol ATP g(-1) biomass, respectively. Catechol accumulated during process start-up at all tested concentrations. Catechol specific production increased with increasing benzene inlet concentrations. This confirms that the transformation of this intermediate was the limiting step during benzene degradation. It was shown that catechol inhibited both the conversion of benzene to catechol and its further transformation. In addition, catechol concentrations higher than 10mgl(-1) significantly decreased both benzene and catechol associated respiration, confirming the highly inhibitory effect of this intermediate. This inhibitory threshold concentration was approximately two orders of magnitude lower than the concentrations present in the culture medium during process start-up, suggesting that cellular activity was always far below its maximum. Thus, due to its toxic and inhibitory nature and its tendency to accumulate at high benzene loading, catechol must be carefully monitored during process operation.     

羟胺/EDTA协同强化芬顿反应的机理与动力学

经典芬顿反应(Fe²⁺/H₂O₂)在实际水处理中存在pH响应范围窄、亚铁盐投加量大和铁泥产量高等技术瓶颈问题。改用乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)络合的亚铁离子(Fe²⁺-EDTA)做引发剂后,pH响应范围明显扩大,然而也引入了有机二次污染,同时提高了溶解铁的去除难度。在Fe²⁺-EDTA/H₂O₂体系中投加还原性的羟胺(HA),可将失活的Fe³⁺-EDTA转化成具有活性的Fe²⁺-EDTA,从而实现低铁投加量/低EDTA投加量条件下有机污染物的消除。结果表明：以伊文思蓝为模型污染物,HA/EDTA/芬顿体系的pH范围可扩大至7.0~9.0;铁离子和EDTA的最佳投料比为1∶1,H₂O₂的最佳投加量为0.5 mmol∙L⁻¹,HA的最佳投加量为0.1 mmol∙L⁻¹; HA/EDTA/芬顿体系中主要的活性物质为羟基自由基(·OH);苯基甲基亚砜(PMSO)的降解路径分析则证明了新体系中高价铁(Fe^IV)几乎不起任何作用。以上结果表明,将羟胺引入EDTA/芬顿体系后可同步降低铁离子与络合剂的使用量,故此体系改变了络合剂强化的芬顿反应中药剂投加量过大与后续铁离子不好处置的问题,可为进一步拓展芬顿反应的应用范围提供参考。     

The impact of EDTA on lead distribution and speciation in the accumulator Sedum alfredii by synchrotron X-ray investigation

The in vivo localization and speciation of lead (Pb) in tissues of the accumulator Sedum alfredii grown in EDTA-Pb and Pb(NO₃)₂ was studied by synchrotron X-ray investigation. The presence of EDTA-Pb in solution resulted in a significant reduction of Pb accumulation in S. alfredii. Lead was preferentially localized in the vascular bundles regardless of treatments but the intensities of Pb were lower in the plants treated with EDTA. Lead was predominantly presented as a Pb-cell wall complex in the plants regardless of its supply form. However, a relatively high proportion of Pb was observed as Pb-EDTA complex when the plant was treated with EDTA-Pb, but as a mixture of Pb₃(PO₄)₂, Pb-malic, and Pb-GSH when cultured with ionic Pb. These results suggest that EDTA does not increase the internal mobility of Pb, although the soluble Pb-EDTA complex could be transported and accumulated within the plants of S. alfredii.