Enhanced uptake of As, Zn, and Cu by Vetiveria zizanioides and Zea mays using chelating agents

Vetiveria zizaniodes (vetiver) is commonly known for its effectiveness in soil and sediment erosion control. It can tolerate to extreme soil conditions and produce a high biomass even growing in contaminated areas. Zea mays (maize) can also produce a very high biomass with a fast growth rate and possesses some degree of metal tolerance. A greenhouse study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using vetiver and maize for remediation of arsenic (As)-, zinc (Zn-), and copper (Cu)-amended soils and evaluate the effects of chelating agents on metal uptake by these plants. Vetiver had a better growth (dry weight yield of root and shoot) than maize under different treatment conditions. The effects of different chelating agents on As, Zn, and Cu extraction from soil to soil solution were studied. Among the nine chelating agents used, it was noted that 20 mmol NTA could maximize As and Zn bioavailability, while 20 mmol HEIDA could maximize Cu bioavailability in the soil solution. The surge time in maximizing metal uptake ranged from 16 to 20 days which indicated that timing on plant harvest was an important factor in enhanced metal accumulation. In general, vetiver was a more suitable plant species than maize in terms of phytoextraction of metals from metal-contaminated soil. Application of NTA in As-amended soil and HEIDA in Cu-amended soil at the rate of 20 mmol kg(-1) increased 3-4-fold of As and Cu in shoot of both plants, whereas application of NTA (20 mmol kg(-1)) increased 37- and 1.5-fold of Zn accumulation in shoot of vetiver and maize, respectively. The potential environmental risk of metal mobility caused by chelating agents used for phytoextraction should not be overlooked.     

Performance of different microalgal species in removing nickel and zinc from industrial wastewater

A series of batch experiments was conducted to compare the ability of 11 microalgal species of the same cell density in removing nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) from synthetic wastewater. These included Chlorella vulgaris (commercially available), Chlorella sorokiniana and Scenedesmus quadricauda (isolates from polluted water of Wuhan, China), and eight different isolates from Hong Kong. The Wuhan isolate of Scenedesmus removed most Ni, probably due to its large biomass. Nickel concentration was reduced from an initial 30 to 0.9 mg/l after 5 min (97% Ni removal), and further declined to 0.4 mg/l after 90 min of treatment. In wastewater containing 30 mg/l Ni and 30 mg/l Zn, more than 98%, Ni and Zn were removed simultaneously at the end of 5 min treatment, indicating that the presence of Zn in wastewater did not affect Ni removal by this Scenedesmus isolate. The second most effective species for Ni removal was an isolate, tentatively identified as Chlorella miniata, Ni concentration was reduced to 10 mg/l after 90 min, and was only slightly interfered by the presence of Zn. In terms of metal removal per unit biomass or unit surface area of algal cells, C. miniata was the best species in removing Ni and Zn. At the other extreme, one Hong Kong isolate (Synechocystis sp.) did not remove any Ni and only achieved 40% Zn removal. Performance of the other isolates was comparable with the commercial C. vulgaris, less than 50% Ni was removed after 5 h of treatment and Ni removal was significantly reduced by the presence of Zn. All algae tested were found to be viable, showing these 11 species could tolerate a mixture of 30 mg/l Ni and 30 mg/l Zn in wastewater.     

Heavy metal concentrations in green-lipped mussels collected from Tolo Harbour and markets in Hong Kong and Shenzhen

Green-lipped mussels, Perna viridis, were collected from Kat O, Yim Tin Tsai, Ma Liu Shui and Tap Mun around Tolo Harbour and six local markets in Hong Kong (Aberdeen, Shau Kei Wan, Kowloon City, Mongkok, Yuen Long) and Shenzhen (Dongmun) between July 1994 and February 1995 and analysed for cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). The metal concentrations of mussels collected from the study sites were Cd (0.45-1.44 microg/g), Cr (0.82-4.89 microg/g), Cu (6.02-23.99 microg/g), Ni (3.25-6.87 microg/g), Pb (2.02-4.36 microg/g) and Zn (90-135 microg/g), while those from the markets were Cd (0.27-1.44 microg/g), Cr (1.09-3.30 microg/g), Cu (9.05-17.8 microg/g), Ni (2.44-5.25 microg/g), Pb (1.17-5 microg/g) and Zn (51-103 microg/g). The metal concentrations were below the maximum permissible levels set by the Hong Kong Government. In addition, seasonal variation of metal accumulation in mussels was investigated in Yim Tin Tsai and Ma Liu Shui and a reduction in the total heavy metal concentrations during winter was noted. The non-carcinogenic hazard index of mussels collected from Tolo Harbour and from Hong Kong markets was between 0.46 and 1.36 compared with those from Shenzhen markets (0.85-1.46), which indicated a low but possible risk in consuming the mussels.     

The trophic linkage between zooplankton and benthic suspension feeders: direct evidence from analyses of bivalve faecal pellets

Using radiotracer (¹⁴C) and microscopic observation, we demonstrated that mussels (Mytilus edulis and Perna viridis) could be predators of mesozooplankton (rotifer Brachionus plicatilis). At radio-labelled rotifer densities of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 individual ml⁻¹, faecal pellets of mussels showed different degrees of radio signals and most of the faecal pellets were expelled 4 h after pulse feeding on rotifers. The maximum gut retention time (GRT) of ¹⁴C-labelled rotifers in the digestive diverticula did not o show any significant difference between the two mussel species or the different densities of rotifers, and the averaged GRT was 43.4±3.06 h (mean ± SE). At a rotifer density of 4.5 individual ml⁻¹, rotifer lorica pieces and rotifer bodies without eggs were found in faeces of M. edulis, while in the pseudofaeces, only complete rotifer bodies were found.     

Characteristics of mass distributions of aerosol particle and its inorganic water-soluble ions in summer over a suburb farmland in Beijing

Agricultural activity is one of the most important sources of aerosol particles. To understand the mass distribution and sources of aerosol particles and their inorganic water-soluble ions in a suburb farmland of Beijing, particle samples were collected using a microorifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI) in the summer of 2004 in a suburb vegetable field. The distribution of the particles and their inorganic water-soluble ions in the diameter range of 0.18–18 μm were measured. The dominant fine particle ions were SO₄ ^2?, NO₃ ^?, and NH₄ ⁺. The association of day-to-day variation of the concentration of these ions with temperature, humidity, and solar radiation suggested that they are formed by the reaction of NH₃ released from the vegetable field with the acid species produced from photochemical reactions. Fine particle K⁺ is likely from vegetation emission and biomass burning. Coarse particles like Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, NO₃ ^?, and SO₄ ^2? are suggested to come from the mechanical process by which the soil particle entered the atmosphere, and from the reaction of the acid species at the surface of the soil particle. The results show that fertilizer and soil are important factors determining the aerosol particle over agricultural fields, and vegetable fields in suburban Beijing contribute significantly to the aerosol particle.     

大气CO2与植物氮素营养的关系

大气CO2浓度升高对植物吸收氮素,以及对植物和土壤中的氮浓度、C/N比和氮循环都存在着影响。大气CO2浓度与植物氮素营养之间存在着交互作用。大气CO2浓度升高对植物氮素营养影响的结果与氮浓度、氮形态等因素有关。     

碲化镉量子点暴露对小鼠凝血相关因子的影响

研究碲化镉量子点(cadmium telluride quantum dots, Cd Te QDs)对小鼠凝血相关因子的影响,进一步探讨QDs的心血管毒性机制。将48只雄性ICR小鼠随机分成6组,每组8只。分别使用不同剂量(0.15μmol·kg~(-1)、1.5μmol·kg~(-1)和15μmol·kg~(-1))的Cd Te QDs和生理盐水一次性经尾静脉注射染毒小鼠1 d,15μmol·kg~(-1)剂量的Cd Te QDs染毒3 d和7 d,检测小鼠血浆中凝血相关因子的含量变化。结果显示,与对照组相比,随着染毒剂量增加小鼠组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(t-PA)和纤维蛋白原(FIB)含量逐渐增高,组织因子途径抑制物(TFPI)含量逐渐降低,具有明显的剂量-效应关系。除15μmol·kg~(-1)剂量组外,组织因子(TF)、凝血因子XII(FXII)和纤溶酶原(Plg)含量具有升高的趋势,抗凝血酶Ⅲ(AT-Ⅲ)含量则无明显变化;随着染毒时间增加,TF、FXII、FIB、Plg和t-PA含量有明显的先升高后降低的变化趋势,TFPI含量在1 d达到最低,之后逐渐升高,AT-Ⅲ含量则在7 d达到最低。Cd Te QDs急性染毒可引起小鼠血浆中TF、FXII、FIB、TFPI、Plg和t-PA的含量明显改变,并且具有不同的变化趋势。提示Cd Te QDs可能会激活凝血系统和纤溶系统,抑制抗凝系统,从而引起凝血功能紊乱。     

基于被动采样技术的水体中有机锡污染筛查取证研究

将三油酸甘油酯-醋酸纤维素复合膜(TECAM)用作被动采样器,开展水体中一甲基锡(MMT)、二甲基锡(DMT)、一丁基锡(MBT)、二丁基锡(DBT)、三丁基锡(TBT)、二苯基锡(DPhT)和三苯基锡(TPhT)等7种有机锡氯化物的富集实验,膜样品经甲醇/醋酸溶液提取、乙基化衍生和正己烷萃取等前处理后,用气相色谱-质谱法(GC-MS)进行定性和定量检测,得到水体中痕量有机锡污染的相关指纹信息。结果表明,7种目标化合物均可在TECAM膜上富集,48 h后均可达到平衡状态;有机锡富集能力差异较大,其TECAM膜/水分配系数(log KTECAM)与其辛醇-水分配系数(log Kow)呈现显著正相关性(r=0.97, n=7)。甲基锡富集能力较低,但可定性筛查;而苯基锡和丁基锡等5种目标化合物在TECAM膜上的被动采样速率在0.06～0.16 L·g~(-1)·d~(-1)范围变化,经反演所得其在水体中的时间加权平均浓度与传统的主动采样法所得浓度没有显著差异(P0.05)。因此,基于TECAM被动采样技术可以实现水体中极性范围较广的痕量有机锡污染筛查取证。     

曲霉sp.136的化学成分研究

从曲霉sp.136的固体发酵物中分离得到6个化合物.应用波谱分析及与已知品对照的手段将它们鉴定为烟曲霉酸(1)、(20S,22E,24R)-5α,8α-表二氧-麦角甾-6,22-二烯-3β-醇(2)、β-谷甾醇(3)、(2S,3S,4R)-2-[(2′R)-2′-羟基二十四烷酰氨基]-1,3,4-三羟基十八烷(4)、4-羟基苯乙酸(5)和烟碱酸(6).图1参5