Influence of soluble microbial products (SMP) on wastewater disinfection byproducts: trihalomethanes and haloacetic acid species from the chlorination of SMP

Introduction  

Effluent organic matter from biological wastewater treatment plants is composed of degradation products and soluble microbial products (SMP). Protein, polysaccharide, humic acid, and DNA were major biomolecules of SMP. Little is known about the effects of SMP as microbially derived precursors on disinfection byproduct formation and speciation in biologically treated wastewater. In addition, there has never been any attempt to directly chlorinate the major biomolecules of SMP.     

Changes of polyamine levels in roots of Sagittaria sagittifolia L. under copper stress

Introduction

The goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of Cu contamination on the above-mentioned biochemical and physiological parameters in order to explore possible prevention strategies against heavy metal stress.

Materials and methods

Effects of copper (Cu) on the roots of Sagittaria sagittifolia L. were studied after 10 days of treatment at five concentration levels. The accumulation of Cu, the generation rate of O₂ ^·?C, the contents of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and polyamines, as well as the activities of arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and polyamine oxidase (PAO) in the roots were measured and analyzed.

Results and discussion

It was observed that endogenous Cu content increased in roots of S. sagittifolia L. in a concentration-dependent manner, along with an increased production of O₂ ^·?C. TBARS content increased progressively up to 5 ??mol l^?1 Cu. A constant increase in ADC activity was also observed. The results indicated that lower Cu concentrations (2.5 and 5 ??mol l^?1, respectively) had greater enhancing effect on the contents of free Put and perchloric acid-soluble conjugated (PS-conjugated) putrescine (Put), while Cu treatments at different concentration levels had similar enhancing effect on the content of perchloric acid-insoluble bound Put. In total, Put content in each Cu-treated group was higher than that in the control group. PAO activity was inhibited up to 10 ??mol l^?1 Cu but enhanced at higher Cu concentrations (20 and 40 ??mol l^?1). This explained the initial rise and subsequent decline of the contents of all forms of spermine (Spm), free and PS-conjugated spermidine (Spd). However, with the increase of Cu concentration, total Spm content increased gradually while total Spd content decreased. Our results suggest that Cu is phytotoxic to the roots of S. sagittifolia L. at high concentrations, and that the increased Spm level is not sufficient to resist Cu-induced oxidative damages.     

Distribution characteristics of organochlorine pesticides in surface and vertical sediments from the Zha Long Wetland, China

Introduction

The Zha Long Wetland, the first water bird conservation area in China, lies on the northern bank of the Song Nen Plain with an area of 2,100 km². In many areas of the Zha Long Wetland, water pollution has led to a decrease in the wetland??s ecological function, vegetation degradation, a decrease in the number of bird species, and the depletion of fish resources.

Materials and methods

The sediments used in this study were collected from the surface sediment of seven sites and from different depths in three types of marshes in the Zha Long Wetland in northeast China in late October 2006. The levels and distribution patterns of 17 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs; ??-HCH, ??-HCH, ??-HCH, ??-HCH, p,p??-DDE, p,p??-DDD, p,p??-DDT, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, endrin aldehyde, and methoxychlor) in surface sediments as well as hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) in vertical sediments were investigated.

Results and discussion

The concentrations of HCHs, DDTs, endosulfans, heptachlors, aldrin, and methoxychlor in surface sediments ranged from 10.44 to 41.97 ng/g, nd (undetectable levels) to 211.88 ng/g, nd to 69.89 ng/g, nd to 28.10 ng/g, 9.81 to 623.83 ng/g, and from nd to 3.99 ng/g, respectively. The highest levels of OCPs were detected in Tangtugangzi at a total concentration of 727.72 ng/g, where the dominant compound was endrin at a concentration of 483.04 ng/g. In the vertical sediments, the HCHs and DDTs were in the ranges of nd?C136.00 and nd?C214.06 ng/g, respectively.

Conclusions

Different distributions of HCHs, DDTs, and other OCPs indicated that they originated from different contamination sources. Composition analyses in surface sediments indicated recent OCP usage or discharge at some sample sites in the Zha Long Wetland.     

Effects of perfluorinated compounds on development of zebrafish embryos

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have been widely used in industrial and consumer products and frequently detected in many environmental media. Potential reproductive effects of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) have been reported in mice, rats and water birds. PFOS and PFOA were also confirmed developing toxicants towards zebrafish embryos; however, the reported effect concentrations were contradictory. Polyfluorinated alkylated phosphate ester surfactants (including FC807) are precursor of PFOS and PFOA; however, there is no published information about the effects of FC807 and PFNA on zebrafish embryos. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effects of these four PFCs on zebrafish embryos. Normal fertilized zebrafish embryos were selected to be exposed to several concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, PFOS or FC807 in 24-well cell culture plates. A digital camera was used to image morphological anomalies of embryos with a stereomicroscope. Embryos were observed through matching up to 96-h post-fertilization (hpf) and rates of survival and abnormalities recorded. PFCs caused lethality in a concentration-dependent manner with potential toxicity in the order of PFOS > FC807 > PFNA > PFOA based on 72-h LC(50). Forty-eight-hour post-fertilization pericardial edema and 72- or 96-hpf spine crooked malformation were all observed. PFOA, PFNA, PFOS and FC807 all caused structural abnormalities using early stages of development of zebrafish. The PFCs all retarded the development of zebrafish embryos. The toxicity of the PFCs was related to the length of the PFC chain and functional groups.     

Arsenic release from arsenic-bearing Fe-Mn binary oxide: effects of E(h) condition

Ferric and manganese binary oxide (FMBO) has been successfully used to remediate arsenic-polluted river, but there still lacks sufficient data to evaluate its effects on environments. The release behaviors of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and arsenic (As) in different E_h ranges were investigated for As-bearing FMBO sediment after remediating As-polluted DaSha River by FMBO. Under high E_h range (+550 to +400 mV), slight dissolution of Fe and Mn, which corresponded to 12.2% and 25.6%, and less than 5% of As release were observed in 336 h. Under lower E_h range (+50 to −100 mV), elevated extent of the dissolution of Mn and Fe were observed, which corresponded to as high as 61.3% and 70.1%. Under such conditions, the dissolution rate of Mn was higher than that of Fe. Furthermore, from the established relationship of As release and the dissolution of Fe and Mn, the release of As seemed dominated by the dissolution of Fe. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis demonstrated the release of Fe, Mn, As(III), and As(V) after sodium ascorbate-treatment, and the re-adsorption of As(V), as indicated from the increased binding energy of As 3d from 44.78 to 45.83 eV. Surface element composition analysis indicated significant decrease of Mn from 3.22% to 0.54%, slight increase of Fe from 12.45% to 13.67%, and elevated ratio of As from 0.11% to 0.32% accordingly. The main reactions of Fe and Mn dissolution and the pathways of As release under different E_h ranges were also proposed.     

Spatial distribution of ciguateric fish in the Republic of Kiribati

Ciguatera is food poisoning caused by human consumption of reef fish contaminated with ciguatoxins (CTXs). The expanding international trade of tropical fish species from ciguatera-endemic regions has resulted in increased global incidence of ciguatera, and more than 50 000 people are estimated to suffer from ciguatera each year worldwide. The Republic of Kiribati is located in the Pacific Ocean; two of its islands, Marakei and Tarawa, have been suggested as high-risk areas for ciguatera. The toxicities of coral reef fish collected from these islands, including herbivorous, omnivorous and carnivorous fish (24% [n = 41], 8% [n = 13] and 68% [n = 117], respectively), were analyzed using the mouse neuroblastoma assay (MNA) after CTX extraction. The MNA results indicated that 156 fish specimens, or 91% of the fish samples, were ciguatoxic (CTX levels >0.01 ng g⁻¹). Groupers and moray eels were generally more toxic by an order of magnitude than other fish species. All of the collected individuals of eight species (n = 3-19) were toxic. Toxicity varied within species and among locations by up to 10 000-fold. Cephalapholis argus and Gymnothorax spp. collected from Tarawa Island were significantly less toxic than those from Marakei Island, although all individuals were toxic based on the 0.01 ng g⁻¹ threshold. CTX concentrations in the livers of individuals of two moray eel species (Gymnothorax spp., n = 6) were nine times greater than those in muscle, and toxicity in liver and muscle showed a strong positive correlation with body weight. The present study provides quantitative information on the ciguatoxicity and distribution of toxicity in fish for use in fisheries management and public health.     

Acute toxicity, biochemical and gene expression responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida exposed to polycyclic musks

Phytoremediation is a novel and promising approach for the treatment of pollutants. This study did explore the potential of Aster amellus Linn. to decolorize a sulfonated azo dye Remazol Red (RR), a mixture of dyes and a textile effluent. Induction in the activities of lignin peroxidase, tyrosinase, veratryl alcohol oxidase and riboflavin reductase was observed during RR decolorization, suggesting their involvement in the metabolism of RR. UV-Visible absorption spectrum, HPLC and FTIR analysis confirmed the degradation of RR. Four metabolites after the degradation of the dye were identified as 2-[(3-diazenylphenyl) sulfonyl] ethanesulfonate, 4-amino-5-hydroxynaphthalene-2,7-disulfonate, naphthalene-2-sulfonate and 3-(1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino)benzenesulfonate by using GC/MS. Textile effluent and mixture of dyes showed 47% and 62% decrease respectively in American Dye Manufacturers Institute value. BOD of textile effluent and mixture of dyes were reduced by 75% and 48% respectively, COD of industrial effluent and mixture of dyes was reduced by 60% and 75% and TOC was reduced by 54% and 69% respectively after the treatment by A. amellus for 60 h; this indicated that the plant can be used for cleaning textile effluents. Toxicity study revealed the phytotransformation of RR into non-toxic products.     

Analysis of pesticide residues using the Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) pesticide multiresidue method in traditional Chinese medicine by gas chromatography with electron capture detection

The Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe multiresidue method (QuEChERS) has been validated for the extraction of 15 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in completely different matrices of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The method employed a rapid, simple and cost-effective procedure. The spiking levels for the recovery experiments were 0.1, 0.5 and 2.0 mg kg⁻¹. Mean recoveries mostly ranged between 76.0% and 114.0% (96.0% on average), and relative standard deviations (RSD) were generally below 10% (4.72% on average). Based on these results, the methodology has been proven to be highly efficient and robust and thus suitable for monitoring the MRL compliance of a wide range of commodity. The contamination status of 15 OCPs on 80 different TCMs marketed in China, and a total of 400 samples were also performed using a previously validated method. 15 OCPs were benzene hexachloride (BHC, including α-BHC, β-BHC, γ-BHC, δ-BHC), hexachlorobenzene, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, p, p′-DDE, p, p′-DDD, o, p′-DDT, p, p′-DDT, mirex, endrin, dieldrin. This study indicates that the proposed method is useful for analyzing OCPs in TCM.     

Principle and applications of microbubble and nanobubble technology for water treatment

In recent years, microbubble and nanobubble technologies have drawn great attention due to their wide applications in many fields of science and technology, such as water treatment, biomedical engineering, and nanomaterials. In this paper, we discuss the physics, methods of generation of microbubbles (MBs) and nanobubbles (NBs), while production of free radicals from MBs and NBs are reviewed with the focuses on degradation of toxic compounds, water disinfection, and cleaning/defouling of solid surfaces including membrane. Due to their ability to produce free radicals, it can be expected that the future prospects of MBs and NBs will be immense and yet more to be explored.