Effects of municipal solid waste compost and sewage sludge on chemical and spectroscopic properties of humic acids from a sandy Haplic Podzol and a clay loam Calcic Vertisol in Portugal

The effects of amendment with municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) and anaerobically digested sewage sludge (SS) on the compositional and structural features of soil humic acids (HAs) were investigated. For this purpose, HAs were isolated from MSWC, SS, and two different Portuguese soils, a sandy Haplic Podzol and a clay loam Calcic Vertisol, which were either unamended or amended with MSWC or SS at a rate of 60tha(-1). The isolated HAs were analyzed for elemental and acidic functional group composition, and by ultraviolet/visible, Fourier transform infrared (FT IR), and fluorescence spectroscopies. The application of MSWC and especially SS to soils determined an increase of C, N, H, and S contents and E(4)/E(6) ratios (i.e., ratios of absorbances at 465 and 665nm), and a decrease of O, COOH, and phenolic OH contents and C/N, C/H, and O/C ratios of soil HAs. The FT IR and fluorescence results showed that the organic amendments, especially SS, caused an increase of the aliphatic character and a decrease of the degrees of aromatic polycondensation, polymerization, and humification of amended soil HAs. Both MSWC and SS affected more markedly the clayey soil HAs than the sandy soil HAs, possibly due to less extended mineralization processes and the protective action of clay minerals on amended soil HAs.     

Enhanced bioaccumulation of cadmium in carp in the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles

In this study adsorption of Cd onto TiO2 nanoparticles and natural sediment particles (SP) were studied and the facilitated transports of Cd into carp by TiO2 nanoparticles and SP were assessed by bioaccumulation tests exposing carp (Cyprinus carpio) to Cd contaminated water in the presence of TiO2 and SP respectively. The results show that TiO2 nanoparticles had a significantly stronger adsorption capacity for Cd than SP. The presence of SP did not have significant influence on the accumulation of Cd in carp during the 25 d of exposure. However, the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles greatly enhanced the accumulation of Cd in carp. After 25 d of exposure Cd concentration in carp increased by 146%, and the value was 22.3 and 9.07 microg/g, respectively. And there is a positive correlation between Cd and TiO2 concentration. Considerable Cd and TiO2 accumulated in viscera and gills of the fish.     

Evaluation of the thermal/optical reflectance method for quantification of elemental carbon in sediments

The IMPROVE thermal/optical reflectance (TOR) method, commonly used for EC quantification in atmospheric aerosols, is applied to soils and sediments and compared with a thermochemical method commonly applied to these non-atmospheric samples. TOR determines elemental carbon (EC) by an optical method, but it also yields thermally defined EC fractions in a 2% O2/98% He oxidizing atmosphere at 550 degrees C (EC1), 700 degrees C (EC2), and 800 degrees C (EC3). Replicate TOR TC, OC, and EC values exhibited precisions of approximately +/-10% as determined from multiple analyses of the same samples. EC abundances relative to total mass concentrations were within the ranges reported by other methods for diesel exhaust soot, n-hexane soot, wood and rice chars, and coals, as well as for environmental matrices. A direct comparison with the chemothermal (CTO) method of Gustafson et al. for ten soil and sediment samples demonstrated that almost all of the OC and EC1 are eliminated, as is part of the EC2. The CTO soot carbon is bounded by the EC3 and EC2+EC3 fractions of the IMPROVE TOR analysis. It might be possible to adjust these fractions to obtain better agreement between atmospheric aerosol and soil/sediment analysis methods. Given its linking the EC measurement in the atmosphere to sediments, the TOR method will not only provide useful information on the explanation and comparison between different environmental matrices, but also can be used to derive information on global cycling of EC.     

Flow cytometry assessment of cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species generation by single and binary mixtures of cadmium, zinc and copper on populations of the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila

In the present study, we have assessed by flow cytometry, the cytotoxicity of the heavy metals Cd, Zn and Cu on populations of the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. The obtained LC(50) for these metals was estimated as 0.195mgCdl(-1), 3.58mgZnl(-1) and 0.47mgCul(-1), respectively. As a result, the toxicity rank for this eukaryotic microorganism is Cd>Cu>Zn. Using the same methodology and the Concentration Addition approach, the toxicity of binary mixtures of these metals was evaluated in order to detect the type of interaction between these metals. Results indicated that antagonism is the predominant interaction but it can change to additivity or even to synergism at high metal concentrations. Besides, the concentration ratio between metals plays also a crucial role in determining the type of metallic interaction, at least in Tetrahymena. Cytotoxicity data from single and bimetallic mixtures have been compared with those from selected microalgae, other species of ciliates, fish and mammalian cell lines and metazoan. By other hand, we have detected the mitochondrial generation of peroxides induced by both single and binary treatments with Cd, Zn and Cu on populations of Tetrahymena, using the specific fluorophore dyhidrorhodamine. The nature and concentrations of metal as well as the metallic ratio were important factors in reactive oxygen species production. All results found in T. thermophila are compared with previous reports in other organisms and, some explanations and hypothesis to support results are given, including the involvement of metallothioneins as antioxidants and their role in the binding of metal cations.     

Direct simulation of heterogeneous diffusion and inversion procedure applied to an out-diffusion experiment. Test case of Palmottu granite

An out-diffusion laboratory experiment using a non-reactive tracer was fitted using the Time Domain Diffusion (TDD) method. This rapid particle tracking method allows simulation of the heterogeneous diffusion based on pore-scale images and local values of diffusivities. The superimposed porosity and mineral 2D maps act as computation grids to condition diffusion pathways. We focused on a Palmottu granite sample, in which the connected pore space has a composite microstructure with cracks linking microporous minerals and is above the percolation threshold. Three main results were achieved: (i) When compared to the fitting obtained with one coefficient (best mean square residual R = 1.6 x 10(-2)), diffusion is shown to be suitably characterised with two coefficients related to cracks and microporous minerals (best R = 6.5 x 10(-4)), (ii) rather than imposing a local apparent diffusion coefficient D(a) independent of the local porosity Phi, a best fit is obtained by applying Archie's relationship D(a) = D(0) x G with G = Phi(m) to each pixel of the calculation grids (G is the geometry factor, D(0) is the diffusion coefficient in free fluid, and m is Archie's exponent), and (iii) the order of magnitude of the fitted diffusion coefficient or Archie's exponents (m=0 for microcracks and m=1.82 for microporous minerals) is physically realistic.     

Effects of external phosphorus on the cell ultrastructure and the chlorophyll content of maize under cadmium and zinc stress

Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis, it was found that the ultrastructure of chloroplasts were changed, the shape of the chloroplasts altered and the numbers of grana that were asymmetrical increased; the numbers of grana and thylakoids decreased under the stress of Cd and Zn. The results indicated that the complex pollution involving Cd and Zn resulted in the membrane system of chloroplasts being damaged. When external phosphorus was applied, the numbers of damaged chloroplasts were significantly reduced and the nucleoli were better formed than those that did not receive phosphorus treatment. Moreover, many phosphate deposits were found in the vacuoles and on the surface of the roots, which were formed by phosphorus complexing with Cd (K(sp)=2.53x10(-33)) and Zn (K(sp)=9.00x10(-33)), respectively. Treatment with phosphorus conduced an increased chlorophyll content in plants compared with those that did not receive external phosphorus.     

Assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in eggs of waterbirds from South China

Concentrations of total polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Ardeid eggs from Hong Kong, Xiamen and Quanzhou in south China ranged from 140-1000, 30-550 and 140-380ngg(-1), lipid wt., respectively. There were spatial and interspecies variations in the abundance and congeneric profiles of PBDEs. The different congeneric profiles observed among the study sites may be associated with the developmental phases of the cities, as well as a possible consequence of debromination of BDE209. Marked concentrations of higher-brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs 183, 196, 197, 206, 207 and 209) were detected in the egg samples from all sites, probably indicating uptake of BDE209 by top predators, and that there is widespread occurrence of BDE209 in south China. Comparisons of egg concentrations of BDEs 47, 99, 153 and 209 with tentative critical concentrations for neurobehavioral effects and oxidative stress indicated some potential risks for BDE99 and BDE209 in the Ardeid populations.     

污水稳定塘的最优化设计

1 前言污水稳定塘(WSP)有着其他传统处理系统不具备的许多优点。这些优点包括有较高的处理效率,较低的运行费和维修费及抗冲击能力。然而,其他应用却很不广泛,是因为它     

Soil characteristics, heavy metal availability and vegetation recovery at a former metallurgical landfill: Implications in risk assessment and site restoration

Pedological and botanical characteristics of a former metallurgical landfill were examined to assess the risks of heavy metals mobility and to evaluate remediation feasibility. In addition to very high heavy metals levels (Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn), the soil was characterized by a lack of clear horizonation, a relatively high pH, a high mineral and organic carbon contents, a low nitrogen level and a high C/N ratio. A two step sequential extraction showed that heavy metals were poorly labile (i.e. not soluble in diluted CaCl2), indicating that their leaching under natural conditions was probably very low. However, extraction with DTPA generated significant amounts of metals (mainly Pb and Cu), suggesting they were potentially mobilizable. A botanical survey of the area showed a biodiverse plant community (28 species and 11 families), with no obvious toxicity symptoms. Measurements of metal contents in dominant species confirmed that they were closely similar to those reported for species growing in unpolluted environments. Consequently, for an effective site restoration, indigenous species could be well suited to cope with local conditions in a phytostabilization strategy.