UV-C as a means to combat biofilm proliferation on prehistoric paintings: evidence from laboratory experiments

A laboratory investigation of UV-C effects was conducted over a 62-h period: a much higher dose than in classic UV-C treatment was applied to five pigments and two painting binders used by prehistoric humans. Colorimetric parameters were compared to a control to see if UV-C can change pigment and binder color. Infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma and X-ray crystallography were also carried out to confirm colorimetric measurement. In order to understand how microorganism may physically deteriorate paintings, limestone blocks were painted and monitored until their complete colonization by algae, cyanobacteria, fungi and/or mosses. The results show that UV-C has no effect on mineral compounds. Conversely, it is noteworthy that binder color changed under both UV-C light conditions as well as in visible light. Concerning painted blocks, a fast proliferation has been observed with deterioration of the paintings. These results show the high importance of treating biofilm as soon as possible. Moreover, these findings may be a promising avenue inducing cave managers to use friendly UV-C light to treat contaminated cave paintings and also in the prevention of biodeterioration by lampenflora.     

The effect of paper industry effluent on growth, pigments, carbohydrates and proteins of rice seedlings

The effect of paper industry effluent on the growth and content of certain macromolecules of seedlings of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Kesari-82K) has been examined. The effects were investigated in relation to both concentration of effluent and time of exposure to the effluent. Percentage of germination, water imbibing capacity, growth, pigment, carbohydrate and protein content showed a decreasing trend with increase in effluent concentration and time. Protein content was the most sensitive macromolecule affected by effluent. Measurement of protein and protein enzymes might therefore provide a useful criterion for the evaluation of the phytotoxicity of effluent released from the pulp and paper industries.     

Differences in the growth response of three bryophyte species to nitrogen

The effect of nitrogen on biomass production, shoot elongation and relative density of the mosses Pleurozium schreberi, Hylocomium splendens and Dicranum polysetum was studied in a chamber experiment. Monocultures were exposed to 10 N levels ranging from 0.02 to 7.35 g N m⁻² during a 90-day period. All the growth responses were unimodal, but the species showed differences in the shape parameters of the curves. Hylocomium and Pleurozium achieved optimum biomass production at a lower N level than Dicranum. Pleurozium had the highest biomass production per tissue N concentration. Tolerance to N was the widest in Dicranum, whereas Hylocomium had the narrowest tolerance. Dicranum retained N less efficiently from precipitation than the other two species, which explained its deviating response. All species translocated some N from parent to new shoots. The results emphasize that the individual responses of bryophytes to N should be known when species are used as bioindicators.     

Effects of air pollution from road transport on growth and physiology of six transplanted bryophyte species

Motor vehicles emit a cocktail of pollutants; however, little is known about the effects of these pollutants on bryophytes located in roadside habitats. Six bryophyte species were transplanted to either a woodland or a moorland site adjacent to a motorway, and were monitored over seven months from autumn through to spring. All species showed an increase in one or more of the following near the motorway: growth, membrane leakage, chlorophyll concentration, and nitrogen concentration. The strongest effects were observed in the first 50-100 m from the motorway: this was consistent with the nitrogen dioxide pollution profile, which decreased to background levels at a distance of 100-125 m. It is hypothesised that motor vehicle pollution was responsible for the effects observed, and that nitrogen oxides had a key influence. The observed effects may lead to changes in vegetation composition with significant implications for nature conservation and management of roadside sites.     

Mechanisms of photosynthetic inactivation on growth suppression of Microcystis aeruginosa under UV-C stress

This study aims to investigate the effects of UV-C irradiation on photosynthetic processes of Microcystis aeruginosa to unravel the mechanism(s) involved in how and in what ways UV-C mediates growth suppression and cellular recovery. Changes in the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, photochemical efficiency, PS II core protein (D1) content, and the coding genes expressions were measured. The results indicate that UV-C doses at 20–200 mJ cm⁻² lead to rapid reduction in gene expression of both psbA (for D1) and cpc (for phycocyanin), but the suppression was short term and recoverable within 3 d of post-UV incubation. Conversely, UV-C doses at ?50 mJ cm⁻² could induce marked decline in photochemical efficiency (represented by the optimal PS II quantum yield, F_V/F_M, and the effective PS II quantum yield, Y) as well as decreases in D1 content and water soluble pigments (phycoerythrins, phycocyanins, allophycocyanins) in M. aeruginosa during the post UV-C incubation period. The results suggest that interruption of both the light energy harvesting apparatus (especially the water soluble pigments) and the photochemical process mainly accounted for the growth suppression effect in UV-C irradiated M. aeruginosa.     

远C波段紫外线消毒的原理及应用前景

紫外线 (UV) 是一种高效、绿色的消毒技术,广泛应用于气、水和物体表面的病原微生物灭活。远C波段UV (远UV-C,200~230 nm) 消毒所需剂量辐照对人体的伤害尚未被发现,表明远UV-C具备人机共存原位消毒的潜力,因此该技术近期受到关注。概述了远UV-C光源、灭活机制和辐照安全性方面的研究进展：输出主峰位和半峰宽分别为222 nm和4 nm的KrCl准分子灯是最为成熟的消毒用远UV-C光源;远UV-C通过蛋白质损伤和核酸干扰2种途径实现病原微生物灭活,灭活能力较传统UV-C (如254 nm) 更强;尚未发现消毒所需剂量的远UV-C辐照导致的健康危害,如红斑和角膜炎。而在实际应用中,应谨慎对待高剂量远UV-C辐照暴露,确保在现有实验证据基础上,逐步提高远UV-C安全使用的剂量阈值,并考虑与通风系统或臭氧淬灭系统协同使用以避免伴生臭氧造成的二次伤害。本文旨在为远UV-C在高效灭活病原微生物、阻断高传染性疾病传播领域的应用提供参考。     

Combined UV-C/H2O2-VUV processes for the treatment of an actual slaughterhouse wastewater

In this study, a three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design with response surface methodology were used to maximize the TOC removal and minimize the H₂O₂ residual in the effluent of the combined UV-C/H₂O₂-VUV system for the treatment of an actual slaughterhouse wastewater (SWW) collected from one of the meat processing plants in Ontario, Canada. The irradiation time and the initial concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC_o) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O_2o) were the three predictors, as independent variables, studied in the design of experiments. The multiple response approach was used to obtain desirability response surfaces at the optimum factor settings. Subsequently, the optimum conditions to achieve the maximum percentage TOC removal of 46.19% and minimum H₂O₂ residual of 1.05% were TOC_o of 213 mg L^?1, H₂O_2o of 450 mg L^?1, and irradiation time of 9 min. The attained optimal operating conditions were validated with a complementary test. Consequently, the TOC removal of 45.68% and H₂O₂ residual of 1.03% were achieved experimentally, confirming the statistical model reliability. Three individual processes, VUV alone, VUV/H₂O₂, and UV-C/H₂O₂, were also evaluated to compare their performance for the treatment of the actual SWW using the optimum parameters obtained in combined UV-C/H₂O₂-VUV processes. Results confirmed that an adequate combination of the UV-C/H₂O₂-VUV processes is essential for an optimized TOC removal and H₂O₂ residual. Finally, respirometry analyses were also performed to evaluate the biodegradability of the SWW and the BOD removal efficiency of the combined UV-C/H₂O₂-VUV processes.     

Lichen and bryophyte distribution on oak in London in relation to air pollution and bark acidity

Epiphytic lichen and bryophyte distribution and frequency were investigated on the trunks of 145 young oak trees throughout London and surrounding counties, and compared with pollution levels and bark pH. Sixty-four lichen and four bryophyte species were recorded. Three major zones were identified: (i) two central regions with a few lichens, bryophytes absent; (ii) a surrounding region with a more diverse flora including a high cover of nitrophyte lichens; and (iii) an outer region, characterised by species absent from central London, including acidophytes. Nineteen species were correlated with nitrogen oxides and 16 with bark pH, suggesting that transport-related pollution and bark acidity influence lichen and bryophyte distribution in London today. Lichens and bryophytes are responding to factors that influence human and environmental health in London. Biomonitoring therefore has a practical role to assess the effects of measures to improve London's air quality.     

Changes in bryophyte and lichen communities on Scots pines along an alkaline dust pollution gradient

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dust pollution can cause a significant damage of environment and endanger human health. Our study aimed to investigate epiphytic lichens and...     

稀土催化双氧水氧化耦合处理染料中间体废水研究(I)

探讨了稀土配合双氧水处理蒽醌类染料废水时的影响因素与具体工艺参数。实验结果表明，在有稀土的双氧水处理体系中，底物的氧化与新生态有机物的耦合是共存的；过氧化氢与稀土的最佳加入量因废水的初始浓度而定，反应温度在为60℃，HRT为75min。在相同的条件下，同Fenton试剂相比，该法氧化剂需要量少，经济高效。     

The effect of fly ash on plant growth and yield of tomato

A gradual increase in fly ash concentrations in the normal field soil (0, 10, 20...100% volume/volume) increased the porosity, water holding capacity, pH, conductivity, C.E.C., sulphate, carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn and B. Fly ash additions to soil caused significant reductions in nitrogen content, it being almost nil in 90 and 100%. Tomato plants grown in the ash-soil mixture showed luxuriant growth with bigger and greener leaves. Plant growth, yield, (flowering, fruiting, fruit weight/plant, mean fruit weight), carotenoids and chlorophylls were mostly enhanced in the treatments with 40-80% fly ash, being optimal at 50 or 60%. From 60 or 70% onwards, the measured parameters tended to reduce. At 100% fly ash, yield (weight of fruits/plant) was considerably reduced. The boron content of tomato leaves displayed a gradual increase with fly ash addition from 20% onwards, while response of foliar nitrogen was just the opposite. The most economic level of fly ash incorporation was 40%, which improved the yield and market value of tomato fruits (mean weight) by 81 and 30%, respectively.     

The effect of glyphosate on the growth and competitive effect of perennial grass species in semi-natural grasslands

Biodiversity within European semi-natural biotopes in agro-ecosystem is declining, and herbicide drift from neighbouring fields is considered as an important factor for the decline. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the growth and competitive interactions in a model system of two perennial grass species, Festuca ovina and Agrostis capillaris, are affected by sub-lethal doses of glyphosate in field margins. In a glasshouse experiment with ample nitrogen, the interspecific competitive interactions were found to be significantly affected by glyphosate; the competitive effect of F. ovina on A. capillaris increased and the competitive effect of A. capillaris on F. ovina decreased with increasing doses of glyphosate. Furthermore, the importance of interspecific competition increased with the glyphosate dose. The results of the study of competitive interactions are in agreement with the observed plant community dynamics at the field site where F. ovina was found to be more dominant in plots treated with a relatively high dose of glyphosate. Importantly, the effects of glyphosate on the plant community dynamics critically depended on the effect of glyphosate on the plant competitive interactions. The study concludes that the current practice in the environmental risk assessment of non-target effects of herbicides, where single species are tested in the greenhouse, may be inadequate for assessing the effect of herbicides in semi-natural plant communities. The presented methods can be used for assessing the importance of competitive interactions for the sensitivity of non-target plants to herbicides in risk assessment.     

底物浓度影响微生物燃料电池性能和生物生长的模拟研究

建立了含有悬浮微生物、电极上生物量、可溶性化学底物和中介体的微生物燃料电池(MFC)数学模型。通过底物降解、生物增长和电流产生过程的模拟,考察了生物量和底物随时间的变化规律,底物质量浓度对生物量、底物降解和电流的影响。结果表明,当溶液中初始微生物量很少时,随着MFC反应的进行,生物主要富集在电极上,溶液中生物生长缓慢;MFC中的生物生长经历延滞期、对数期和平稳期,底物分解经历缓慢、快速和消耗殆尽3个阶段。底物质量浓度小于等于250 mg/L时,生物延滞期时间、底物缓慢分解阶段时间、生物生长到达平稳时间、底物消耗殆尽的时间和电流到达最大值所需的时间随着底物质量浓度的增加而缩短。底物质量浓度大于250 mg/L时,生物延滞期时间、底物缓慢分解阶段时间、生物生长到达平稳时间、底物消耗殆尽的时间和电流到达最大值所需的时间随着底物质量浓度的增加而增加。     

广玉兰、龙爪槐和黄杨化感物质对铜绿微囊藻生长的抑制

针对水华的主要物种——铜绿微囊藻,初步测定了60种植物的浸提液对其细胞增殖的抑制率。结果表明,8种植物的浸提液对铜绿微囊藻生长的抑制率达到90%以上。其中,广玉兰、龙爪槐和黄杨叶片浸提液对铜绿微囊藻生长的抑制率分别达到97.4%、95.6%和91.2%。通过计算得到培养7d后广玉兰、龙爪槐和黄杨的50%抑制效应质量浓度(EC50)分别为0.52、1.04、5.87g/L,而90%抑制效应质量浓度(EC90)分别为3.79、6.45、9.09g/L。首次发现此3种植物浸提液中富含能抑制铜绿微囊藻细胞增殖的化学物质,可以作为抑藻化感物质的一个重要来源。根据EC50和EC90对培养时间的拟合方程判断,广玉兰和龙爪槐浸提液对铜绿微囊藻的抑制效果较黄杨浸提液更为长效,且由于其抑制效果优于农作物秸秆,具有进一步研究的价值。     

碳纳米管对嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌的毒性效应及其作用机制

以嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌（Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans）为实验菌株,探讨不同条件下碳纳米管（CNTs）对其生长的影响,并采用SEM、EDS和FT-IR等手段分析CNTs对嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌的毒性机制。实验结果表明,CNTs对Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans生长有抑制作用,并随着CNTs剂量的增加,毒性增大。在CNTs投加量为500 mg/L时,培养40 h后菌株的生长量OD420达到最大值0.117,低于空白组的0.163。培养温度和培养基的pH对CNTs的细胞毒性效应有较大影响,在菌体生长的适宜条件下（pH 3.0,温度为30℃）,CNTs对菌体的毒性最强。SEM、EDS和FT-IR分析结果显示,CNTs附着在细胞表面,与细胞表面的羟基、氨基等基团相互作用,并可能诱发菌体细胞产生活性氧自由基（ROS）,从而导致细胞死亡。     

Factors affecting the growth rates of ammonium and nitrite oxidizing bacteria

The maximum specific growth rates of both ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) were investigated under varying aerobic solids retention time (SRT_a) and in the presence/absence of anoxic (alternating) conditions. Two bench SBRs, reactor R1 and R2, were run in parallel for 150 d. Reactor R1 was operated in aerobic conditions while R2 operated in alternating anoxic/aerobic conditions. The feed (synthetic wastewater), temperature, hydraulic retention time and mixing were identical in both reactors. The SRT_a in both reactors was, sequentially, set at four values: 5, 4, 3 and 2 d.Kinetic tests with the biomasses from both reactors were carried out to estimate the maximum specific growth rates (μ_max) at each tested SRT_a and decay rates, in both aerobic and anoxic conditions. The kinetic parameters of nitrifier were estimated through the calibration of a two step nitrification-denitrification activated sludge model.The results point to a slightly higher μ_max,AOB and μ_max,NOB in alternating conditions, while both μ_max,AOB and μ_max,NOB were shown not to vary in the tested range of SRT_a (from 2 to 5 d) at 20 °C. They were relatively high when compared to literature data: 1.05 d⁻¹ < μ_max,AOB < 1.4 d⁻¹ and 0.91 d⁻¹ < μ_max,NOB < 1.31 d⁻¹. The decay coefficients of both AOB and NOB were much higher in aerobic (from 0.22 d⁻¹ to 0.28 d⁻¹) than in anoxic (0.04 d⁻¹ to 0.16 d⁻¹) conditions both in R1 and R2, which explained the higher nitrification rates observed in the alternating reactor.     

Comparative investigation of toxicity induced by UV-A and UV-C radiation using Allium test

Organisms are increasingly exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays of sunlight, due to the thinning of the ozone layer and its widespread use in sterilization processes, especially against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The present study was conducted with the purpose of evaluating the damages of UV-A and UV-C radiations in Allium cepa L. roots. The effects of two different types of UV on some physiological, biochemical, cytogenotoxic, and anatomical parameters were investigated in a multifaceted study. Three groups were formed from Allium bulbs, one of which was the control group. One of the other groups was exposed to 254 nm (UV-C) and the other to 365 nm (UV-A) UV. Growth retardation effect of UV was investigated with respect to germination percentage, total weight gain, and root elongation, while cytogenotoxicity arisen from UV exposure was analyzed using mitotic index (MI) and chromosomal aberration (CA) and micronucleus (MN) frequency. Oxidative stress due to UV application was investigated based on the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the total activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes. Also, anatomical changes induced by UV-A and UV-C were analyzed in root meristematic cells. UV treatments caused significant reductions in growth-related parameters. Both UV treatments caused a significant increase in MDA levels and induction of SOD and CAT enzymes in root meristematic cells. A decrease in MI and an increase in the frequency of MN and CAs were observed in root tip cells, indicating the cytogenotoxic effect of UV application. Anatomical damages such as epidermis cell damage, cortex cell damage, necrotic zones, giant cell nucleus, and indistinct transmission tissue occurred in cells exposed to UV. All of the physiological, biochemical, cytogenetic, and anatomical damages observed in this study were more severe in cells treated with UV-C compared to UV-A. This study suggested that UV exposure triggered growth inhibition, cytogenotoxicity, oxidative stress, and meristematic cell damages in A. cepa roots depending on the wavelength.

     

浮萍生长及其除磷效率的影响因素的研究

磷是藻类增殖的限制因子,是引起水体富营养化的关键营养物质.有效除磷,能在很大程度上减轻水体的富营养化.利用浮萍科植物吸收转化污水中的营养物质引起了越来越多研究者的关注,但对浮萍科植物除磷效果的影响因素的研究相对较少.以少根紫萍(Spirodela oligorrhiza)为供试材料,以完全培养液为处理对象,研究了培养液pH、少根紫萍初始放养密度对其生长及除磷效率的影响.结果表明:少根紫萍能够耐受的最低pH在4左右,在pH＝5～9能正常生长,在pH＝6～8具有较高的TP去除率,最高去除率可达84.1%;少根紫萍的相对增长率随其初始放养密度的增加而降低,但其鲜重增长量、平均增长速率、TP去除率及平均TP去除速率均随着初始放养密度的增加而增加.     

The ecology and toxicology of synthetic organic pigments

Current knowledge of the ecological and toxicological properties of synthetic organic pigments is reviewed. Presumably because of their generally low solubility pigments exhibit little biological activity, especially in terms of acute toxicity. Only a minority of products has been subjected to long-term feeding studies, but no evidence of carcinogenic activity has been found. Although pigments are not readily biodegradable there is no evidence that they create any significant ecological problems; in practice only small amounts reach open waters as a result of their manufacture or application.