Biochemical speciation in chromium genotoxicity

The biochemical speciation of chromium compounds in mammalian cells is discussed with respect to uptake, metabolism, DNA binding and damaging. Whereas soluble hexavalent chromium is taken up rapidly and accumulated intracellularly after its reduction, compounds of trivalent chromium penetrate biomembranes about three orders of magnitude slower. Cr(VI) after its uptake is metabolised by electron donating compounds via Cr(V) to Cr(III) compounds. Chromium from various Cr(III) compounds, but not chromate, binds to chromatin in isolated cell nuclei. The DNA‐protein crosslinks and DNA strand breaks observed in rat liver and kidney after chromate administration are also found in vitro, when Cr(III) compounds (but not chromate) interacts with isolated nuclei. In the Chinese Hamster cell HGPRT mutation assay, three out of four tested Cr(III) complexes were found to be mutagenic. In a direct DNA strand break assay with supercoiled bacteriophage PM 2 DNA, neither chromate nor the four Cr(III) compounds tested caused nicks. However, the combined action of chromate plus glutathione as well as the isolated complex of pentavalent chromium, Na₄Cr(glutathione)₄, did cause DNA breaks. Reactive oxygen species are inferred to be the ultimate DNA nicking agents in this assay. In conclusion there appear to be two mechanisms of chromate genotoxicity; one with direct DNA damage caused by Cr(V) species and one via DNA‐protein crosslinks formed with Cr(III), the final reduction state of chromate.     

Impact of rhizobacteria on growth and chromium accumulation in Scirpus lacustris L. grown under chromium supplementation

Four chromate tolerant rhizobacterial strains viz., RZB-01, RZB-02, RZB-03 and RZB-04 were isolated from rhizosphere of Scirpus lacustris collected from Cr-contaminated area. These strains characterized at morphological and biochemical levels. The most efficient chromate tolerant strain RZB-03 was inoculated to fresh plant of S. lacustris and grown in 2 microg ml(-1) and 5 microg ml(-1) of Cr+6 supplemented nutrient solution under controlled laboratory condition. The effects of rhizobacterial inoculation on growth and chromium accumulation in S. lacustris were evaluated. The inoculation of rhizobacteria increased biomass by 59 and 104%, while total chlorophyll content by 1.76 and 15.3% and protein content increased by 23 and 138% under 2 microg ml(-1) and 5 microg ml(-1) concentrations of Cr+6, respectively after 14 d as compared to non-inoculated plant. Similarly, the Cr accumulation also increased by 97 and 75% in shoot and 114 and 68% in root of inoculated plants as compared to non inoculated plants at 2 microg ml(-1) and 5 microg ml(-1) Cr+6 concentrations, respectively after 14 d. The chromate tolerant rhizobacteria which play an important role in chromium uptake and growth promotion in plant may be useful in development of microbes assisted phytoremediation system for decontamination of chromium polluted sites.     

Insect fauna associated with sugarcane plantations in Sri Lanka

A survey conducted over 13 years (1986-1999) in sugarcane plantations in Sri Lanka to identify insects associated with sugarcane recorded a total of 103 insect species comprising Coleoptera (31 spp.), Dictyoptera (2 spp.), Diptera (5 spp.), 12 Heteroptera (12 spp.), Homoptera (18 spp.), Hymenoptera (7 spp.), Isoptera (3 spp.), Lepidoptera (13 spp.), Orthoptera (9 spp.), and one species each of Thysanoptera, Nuroptera and Trichoptera. Among them were forty-six species of sugarcane pests. In addition, 27 species of natural enemies of sugarcane pests belonging to the orders Coleoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera were identified Epiricania melanoleuca (Fletcher) introduced into Sri Lanka from Pakistan in 1991 for the control of the sugarcane planthopper was also recorded. Five new pest species previously not recorded from sugarcane in Sri Lanka have been identified.     

施硅对污染土壤中铬形态及其生物有效性的影响

关于硅对蔬菜重金属生物有效性和对菜田土壤重金属铬形态影响的问题的研究目前仍嫌较少,该文采用盆栽试验结果讨论了在铬污染菜田土壤上施不同量硅对铬形态和蔬菜生物有效性的影响作用.研究表明,在铬污染条件下,施可溶性硅酸盐,与对照相比,土壤的交换态铬含量降低,而沉淀态铬和残渣态铬含量提高,因而可降低铬的蔬菜生物有效性,使小白菜(Brassica chinensis)体内的铬含量明显降低.同时还可使小白菜的生物量显著提高.     

垃圾填埋场渗滤液地下原位脱氮技术综述

氨氮是城市垃圾厌氧填埋过程中产生的常见的污染物。由于氨氮的持久性和生物毒性,生活垃圾填埋场渗滤液中氮的脱除已引起了人们的高度关注。文中结合国内外的研究现状的基础,论述了厌氧渗滤液回灌、强制通风好氧填埋、准好氧填埋和生物反应器填埋四种垃圾渗滤液原位脱氮处理技术的原理、技术特点、工程投资、运行成本以及处理效果等;指出了垃圾填埋场渗滤液原位脱氮技术的未来研究重点:填埋场内脱氮机理和脱氮速率的深入研究、工艺控制优化研究以及生物反应器填埋的实际应用设计研究。     

Size-dependent in vitro cytotoxicity assay of gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles (AuNps) may serve as a promising model to address the size-dependent biological response of cell lines. Their size can be controlled with great precision during chemical synthesis. AuNps have potential applications in drug delivery, cancer diagnosis, and therapy, in the food industry, and for environmental remediation. However, some of the recent literature contains conflicting data regarding the cytotoxicity of gold nanoparticles. Against this background, a systematic study of water soluble gold nanoparticles stabilized by citrate ranging in size from 3?nm to 45?nm were synthesized. The cytotoxicity of these particles were tested by employing the (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay), the neutral red cellular uptake assay, and lactate dehydrogenase release assay. Noticeable differences in the cytotoxic effects depending on the assay, and the nanoparticle size have been found. Citrate stabilized gold nanoparticles with sizes of 3?nm, 8?nm, and 30?nm were more sensitive to the cell lines and caused gradual cell death within 24?h at higher concentrations. This results in IC50 values ranging from 57 to 78?μgmL^?1 depending on the particle size, and cell line combinations. In contrast, AuNps with diameters of 5?nm, 6?nm, 10?nm, 17?nm, and 45?nm were nontoxic up to three to four fold higher concentrations, and at long-term exposure.     

Toxicity and accumulation of lead and chromium in Hydrocotyle umbellata

The aquatic plant, Hydrocotyle umbellata, was studied for its toxicity and accumulation of lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) in a synthetic solution. Plants were cultured in a modified Hoagland's nutrient solutions supplemented with 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mg Pb/l as lead nitrate [Pb(NO3)2] and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mg Cr/l as potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7). They were separately harvested after 3, 6, 9, and 12 days. Plants exposed to Pb and Cr showed significant decreases in the biomass productivity and total chlorophyll content when the exposure time and metal concentration were increased. The accumulation of Pb and Cr in the plants was significantly increased, but it was not linear with the exposure time and metal concentration. Both metals were accumulated higher in the roots than in the shoots. The bioconcentration factor of Pb was higher than that of Cr at the same exposure time, indicating a higher accumulation potential of Pb than Cr in H. umbellata. Toxicity symptoms of both metals showed a reduction in the production of new plantlets, withering of petioles, and change in color of roots from light green to dark brown. Pb caused leaf chlorosis, whereas Cr caused leaf necrosis. The toxicity symptoms increased when the exposure time and metal concentration were increased.     

Expansion of sugarcane ethanol production in Brazil: environmental and social challenges.

Several geopolitical factors, aggravated by worries of global warming, have been fueling the search for and production of renewable energy worldwide for the past few years. Such demand for renewable energy is likely to benefit the sugarcane ethanol industry in Brazil, not only because sugarcane ethanol has a positive energetic balance and relatively low production costs, but also because Brazilian ethanol has been successfully produced and used as biofuel in the country since the 1970s. However, environmental and social impacts associated with ethanol production in Brazil can become important obstacles to sustainable biofuel production worldwide. Atmospheric pollution from burning of sugarcane for harvesting, degradation of soils and aquatic systems, and the exploitation of cane cutters are among the issues that deserve immediate attention from the Brazilian government and international societies. The expansion of sugarcane crops to the areas presently cultivated for soybeans also represent an environmental threat, because it may increase deforestation pressure from soybean crops in the Amazon region. In this paper, we discuss environmental and social issues linked to the expansion of sugarcane in Brazil for ethanol production, and we provide recommendations to help policy makers and the Brazilian government establish new initiatives to produce a code for ethanol production that is environmentally sustainable and economically fair. Recommendations include proper planning and environmental risk assessments for the expansion of sugarcane to new regions such as Central Brazil, improvement of land use practices to reduce soil erosion and nitrogen pollution, proper protection of streams and riparian ecosystems, banning of sugarcane burning practices, and fair working conditions for sugarcane cutters. We also support the creation of a more constructive approach for international stakeholders and trade organizations to promote sustainable development for biofuel production in developing countries such as Brazil. Finally, we support the inclusion of environmental values in the price of biofuels in order to discourage excessive replacement of natural ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and pasture by bioenergy crops.     

铬离子对藻类生长的影响

利用自然光照条件,在不同铬离子质量浓度下,对5种藻类的生长进行了实验研究.研究结果表明:5种藻类在不同的光波长下,其吸收光谱存在两个最强的吸收区: 420～440 nm的蓝紫光部分和660 nm 的红光部分;在不同铬离子质量浓度0～20.63 mg·L-1范围内,5种藻类生长受到不同程度的抑制,其耐受性也尽不相同,经过分析和比较后得出5种藻类对铬的耐受性大小顺序为:微囊藻(Microcystis)＞水华鱼腥藻(Anabaena flos-aquae)＞细长聚球藻(Synechococcus elongatus)＞斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)＞蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidose).     

Kinetics of hexavalent chromium reduction by iron metal

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 (k _obs) 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.     

污灌湿地系统土壤-植物中铬的赋存形态研究

采取逐级提取法对江苏盐城某污水灌溉湿地土壤中的铬的赋存形态以及其上生长的丰要植物芦苇的不同组织部位中的总铬进行了分析测定，并研究其生物有效性。结果表明：与对照点相比，污灌土壤中铬质最分数明显升高而受到不同程度的污染，其赋存形态质量分数由高到低顺序为残渣态（RES-）→铁锰态（（OFeMn-））→碳酸态（CARB-）→有机态（OM-）和交换态（EX-）之和。芦苇不同组织部位中铬分布研究表明根部质量分数远大于茎和叶，说明根系吸收为主要作用，而后迁移至其它易积累部位。对各种形态的铬与植物中的铬总量之间的相关性进行了分析，相关系数表明，植物中的生物富集量与各种赋存形态都有一定的线性关系，其中强有机质结合态与生物富集量具有最好的线性相关性。     

大气降尘与土壤中重金属铬的形态分布规律

主要对成都理工大学校园内大气降尘和土壤中重金属铬的形态分布进行了分析比较,得出以下结论:重金属铬在大气降伞和土壤中的含量存在差别,大气降尘中铬的最明显大于土壤中的量,且基本上是土壤的两倍左右.且形态分布规律不同,大气降尘中铬含量的形态分布由大到小的次序是:残渣晶格态,铁锰氧化物结合态,有机结合态,碳酸盐结合态,可交换态;土壤中南大到小的次序是:残渣品格态,有机结合态,铁锰氧化物结合态,碳酸盐结合态,可交换态;铬在大气降尘中多存在于残渣晶格态(35.35%～59.82%)和铁锰氧化物结合态(25.97%～40.23%),且两者相差不大.而在土壤中多存在于残渣晶格态(37.22%～75.06%)和有机结合态(4.30%～12.98%),且主要以残渣品格态为主.形态分离方法采用Tessier五步连续提取法,重金属铬的测定方法采用国标方法(GB/T 5009.123-2003)示波极谱法.     

Accumulation of selenium in sugarcane (Sachharum officinarum Linn.) in seleniferous areas of Punjab,India

A survey was conducted during 1986–88 to assess the level and pattern of accumulation of selenium in sugarcane plants in seleniferous areas of Punjab (India). Total and water-extractable (available) selenium ranged from 0.55 to 2.58 (mean 1.43 ± 0.67) mg kg^–1 and from 0.02 to 0.05 (mean 0.033 ± 0.007) mg kg^–1, respectively, in seleniferous areas. Corresponding values from non-seleniferous areas were 0.23–0.55 (mean 0.36 ± 0.08) mg kg^–1 and 0.015–0.025 (mean 0.020 ± 0.003) mg kg^–1, respectively. Sugarcane tops from seleniferous areas accumulated high levels of selenium ranging from 7.9 to 67.5 mg kg^–1. These selenium levels were 6–14 times higher than those from non-seleniferous areas. During the early stages of growth (June), the selenium content was highest but decreased during the months of July and August and then did not change up to maturity. In the seleniferous areas sugarcane tops and canes at maturity contained 5.7–9.5 and 1.8–2.1 mg Se kg^–1, respectively. However, the tops and canes of plants growing near the permanent boundary (bundh) contained 9.5–18.8 and 2.1–2.4 mg Se kg^–1, respectively.In a field experiment on sugarcane, application of gypsum up to 1 ton ha^–1 resulted in a significant reduction of selenium content in sugarcane tops as well as in the cane. Selenium content in sugarcane tops at maturity was reduced from 15.16 to 5.08 mg kg^–1 by applying gypsum of 1 ton ha^–1.     

酱油曲霉（Aspergillus sojae）利用甘蔗渣产絮凝剂条件筛选及优化

通过Plackett-Burman实验（PB实验）对酱油曲霉（Aspergillus sojae）利用甘蔗渣分泌微生物絮凝剂的8个营养条件和培养条件进行考察,筛选出影响微生物生长、微生物絮凝剂质量和产量的显著性因素,并对显著性因素进行单因子实验,优化酱油曲霉利用甘蔗渣分泌絮凝剂的最佳营养条件和培养条件。实验结果表明：K2HPO4、还原性糖质量浓度、培养时间是影响菌体生长的显著因素,培养基的初始pH是影响絮凝率的显著因素,还原性糖质量浓度、（NH4）2SO4是影响絮凝剂粗产量的显著因素。对显著因素进行单因子实验确定最佳营养条件和培养条件为甘蔗渣的酶解液（还原性糖质量浓度（13.67±0.54）g.L-1）,4 g.L-1的硫酸铵,pH=5,于30℃培养60 h。     

电池企业铅污染土壤稳定化修复实验研究

采用电池企业的场地土壤进行实验,研究了铅污染土壤中混合施加过磷酸钙(C)、膨润土(B)和腐殖酸(H)后对土壤中铅形态及浸出毒性的影响,同时研究了在相同固定剂组合中改变单一固定剂投加量对土壤修复效果的影响。结果表明,(1)经不同配比的C+B、B+H、和H+C组合方式处理后,土壤中铅的有效态质量分数明显降低,而有机结合态和残渣态质量分数增加。固定时间为40 d时,其修复效果优于25 d。修复后土壤的有效态铅大部分转化为有机结合态,其中经过20%B+20%H和10%H+6%C处理后,有效态铅质量分数降低幅度较大,分别从331.3 mg·kg-1降至91.8 mg·kg-1和96.57 mg·kg-1;相应地,有机结合态铅质量分数增加幅度也较大,分别从57.19 mg·kg-1升至264.28 mg·kg-1和267.99 mg·kg-1;(2)C+B组合投加处理中,土壤修复效果随膨润土投加量增加而降低,B+H组合投加处理中,土壤修复效果随着腐殖酸投加量的增加而增加,H+C组合投加处理中,随过磷酸钙投加量增加,土壤修复效果也呈增加趋势。(3)经不同处理固定修复后,土壤浸出液中铅的质量浓度大幅降低,对周周水环境的风险降低。     

Evidence for DNA-diquat interaction and cytotoxicity in in vitro rat cells

Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach non-target species in air, soil, and water. Numerous studies have reported that pesticide residues can cause acute and chronic toxicity. Pesticide residues can be carcinogenic, mutagenic, and immunotoxic. There are actually too few studies that bridge the disciplines of chemobioanalysis and environmental toxicology. Here, we assessed the cytotoxicity of a bipyridilium herbicide diquat in rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells (PC12). Our results show that diquat caused the decrease in cell viability with a lethal concentration 50 (LC₅₀) of 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L. This cytotoxicity may result from diquat-induced apoptosis, characterized by nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation by Hoechst 33324 staining. To explore the possible mechanisms, the interaction between herbicide diquat and calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) was further investigated using fluorescence quenching. The detection of static quenching showed that diquat was linked with ctDNA by electrostatic interaction with a binding constant of 9.288 × 10⁴ L/mol. This is the first study on the interaction of DNA with herbicide diquat by fluorometric method as well as on the evaluation of cytotoxicity by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Hoechst staining. Given the widespread use of synthetic pesticides, the data would be valuable for the risk assessment of pesticide residues.     

Microbiological reduction of hexavalent chromium by indigenous chromium-resistant bacteria in sand column experiments

Indigenous bacteria that are resistant to high concentrations of Cr(VI) were isolated from a Cr-contaminated sediment. Sand column experiments were conducted using the isolated bacteria to investigate microbial effects on Cr(VI) reduction in open systems that simulated subsurface conditions. The indigenous Cr-resistant bacteria appeared to reduce Cr(VI) in the column experiments. When 12 mg/L of Cr(VI) was injected into the columns, the removal efficiencies of Cr(VI) by the isolated bacteria were 39.1%, 62.5%, and 63.6% at 24, 48, and 72 h retention times of Cr(VI) solution, respectively. These results imply that the linear velocity of groundwater or pore water should be less than 0.63 cm/h for effective removal of Cr(VI) in subsurface conditions. In comparison, the noninoculated control column did not show a significant variation in dissolved Cr(VI) concentration. The results indicated that reduction of Cr(VI) was occurring in the column due to the activity of the indigenous bacteria.