Toxicity models of metal mixtures established on the basis of “additivity” and “interactions”

Observed effects of metal mixtures on animals and plants often differ from the estimates, which are commonly calculated by adding up the biological responses of individual metals. This difference from additivity is commonly referred to as being a consequence of specific interactions between metals. The science of how to quantify metal interactions and whether to include them in risk assessment models is in its infancy. This review summarizes the existing predictive tools for evaluating the combined toxicity of metals present in mixtures and indicates the advantages and disadvantages of each method. We intend to provide eco-toxicologists with background information on how to make good use of the tools and how to advance the methods for assessing toxicity of metal mixtures. It is concluded that statistically significant deviations from additivity are not necessarily biologically relevant. Incorporation of interactions between metals in a model does not on forehand mean that the model is more accurate than a model developed based on additivity only. It is recommended to first use a relatively simple method for effect prediction of uninvestigated metal mixtures. To improve the reliability of toxicity modeling for metal mixtures, further efforts should focus on balancing the relationship between the significance of statistics and the biological meaning, and unraveling the toxicity mechanisms of metals and their mixtures.

Open image in new window

     

Heavy metal pollution in sediments of the largest reservoir (Three Gorges Reservoir) in China: a review

The Three Gorges Dam in China is the world’s largest dam. Upon its completion in 2003, the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) became the largest reservoir in China and plays an important role in economic development and national drinking water safety. However, as a sink and source of heavy metals, there is a lack of continuous and comparative data on heavy metal pollution in sediments. This study reviewed all available literatures published on heavy metals in TGR sediments and further provided a comprehensive assessment of the pollution tendency of these heavy metals. The results showed that heavy metal concentrations in TGR sediments varied spatially and temporally. Temporal variations indicated that Hg in tributaries, as well as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the mainstream, exhibited a higher probability to exceed background values after the impoundment of TGR. Pollution assessments by contamination factor, geoaccumulation index, and potential ecological risk were similar. High Cd and Hg concentrations in both the mainstream and tributaries are a cause for much concern. However, sediment quality guidelines produced different results, as most previous studies adopted different sampling and measurement strategies. The data inconsistencies and lack of continuity regarding the reservoir confirm the need for a continuous monitoring network and the development of quality criteria relevant to the sediments of the TGR in the future.     

Growth characteristics and nutrient removal capability of eco-ditch plants in mesocosm sediment receiving primary domestic wastewater

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Eco-ditches are being explored to maximize their capability of capturing pollutants and mitigate any harmful side effects in rivers. In this study,...     

东洞庭湖湿地生态系统健康状态与水位关系研究

基于CBERS卫星遥感影像数据,以东洞庭湖国家级自然保护区为研究区,通过光谱特征分析建立决策树分类模型,提取东洞庭湖湿地的地物类型。以生态系统健康理论为基础,依据东洞庭湖湿地的特点,综合湿地生产力、组织结构、弹性和功能4个方面,建立湿地生态系统健康状态评价指标体系和评价模型,利用GIS技术,分析东洞庭湖湿地在2000～2006年10个时相的生态系统健康状态。结合城陵矶水文站的水位数据,探讨了东洞庭湖湿地健康状态与城陵矶水位之间的相关性,并利用2007年两个时相的数据进行检验。研究结果表明：东洞庭湖湿地健康状态与城陵矶水位之间存在着较大的相关性,当城陵矶水位达到30 m左右时,东洞庭湖湿地健康状态达到最佳值     

高效脱硫菌的筛选及其性能研究

从高硫污染的活性污泥中富集培养,分离纯化得到一株可以降解噻吩的菌株s_4,并对该菌株的形态特征进行观察。应用Design—Expert8．0．5b软件进行响应面优化实验,研究了反应时间、噻吩浓度、微生物浓度3个因素的组合对菌株s_4脱硫效果的影响,并拟合得到多元二次回归方程,得出最佳实验条件。拟合结果表明,当反应时间27．46h,噻吩浓度为1．04％,微生物浓度4．04％时,预测噻吩降解率为14．8％,通过验证得最佳条件下的降解率为14．3％,与预测值相符。     

碳纳米管电极原位产生过氧化氢及其对亚甲基蓝脱色效果简

将碳纳米管固定化制成多孔疏水性导电薄膜构建电化学阴极还原体系,实现过氧化氢在阴极的原位产生。电极特性研究表明,电极在较宽的电压范围内均具有较好的活性。考察了阴极电位、电极成分、氧气流量和电解质浓度对过氧化氢原位产生的影响,在优化条件下经过120 min后过氧化氢达到66.17 mg/L,并探讨过氧化氢原位产生的机理。在此基础上考察原位过氧化氢氧化工艺下对亚甲基蓝的脱色效果,并分析其脱色机理。     

Hypoxia in the Baltic Sea: Biogeochemical Cycles, Benthic Fauna, and Management

Hypoxia has occurred intermittently over the Holocene in the Baltic Sea, but the recent expansion from less than 10 000 km² before 1950 to >60 000 km² since 2000 is mainly caused by enhanced nutrient inputs from land and atmosphere. With worsening hypoxia, the role of sediments changes from nitrogen removal to nitrogen release as ammonium. At present, denitrification in the water column and sediments is equally important. Phosphorus is currently buried in sediments mainly in organic form, with an additional contribution of reduced Fe-phosphate minerals in the deep anoxic basins. Upon the transition to oxic conditions, a significant proportion of the organic phosphorus will be remineralized, with the phosphorus then being bound to iron oxides. This iron-oxide bound phosphorus is readily released to the water column upon the onset of hypoxia again. Important ecosystems services carried out by the benthic fauna, including biogeochemical feedback-loops and biomass production, are also lost with hypoxia. The results provide quantitative knowledge of nutrient release and recycling processes under various environmental conditions in support of decision support tools underlying the Baltic Sea Action Plan.     

Iron improving bio-char derived from microalgae on removal of tetracycline from aqueous system

Novel magnetic carbonaceous bio-char was hydrothermal prepared from microalgae under different loadings of iron and its structures and surface chemistry were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm (BET). The morphology of bio-char changed from sheet to particle as iron loading increased and its surface area also increased. When 3.0 g of dried microalgae and 6.0 mmol iron salt ((NH₄)₂SO₄·FeSO₄·6H₂O) were mixed and treated, the obtained bio-char possessing the highest amount of oxygen-containing functional groups resulted in the best adsorption performance on tetracycline (TC). This adsorption process was fitted to Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity was 95.86 mg/g, which is higher than other bio-char reported. The iron loading contributed to the higher adsorption capacity of bio-char, which may be due to three factors, the high surface area, more hydrogen bonding, and bridging effects of the structural Fe for TC. Our data suggest that bio-char may have more important role in stabilization of pollutants in the environment.     

膜电解技术处理含氯及重金属的废酸

采用离子交换膜电解技术处理铜冶炼过程产生的含氯及重金属的废酸。考察了废酸处理工艺、电解温度、电解时间、电流密度和催化剂的添加等条件对处理效果的影响。实验结果表明：采用先沉淀重金属后脱氯的废酸处理工艺,氯离子和铜离子的去除效果均较好;当以钛盐为催化剂时,在电解温度为40 ℃、电解时间为2.0 h、电流密度为825 A/m²的最佳工艺条件下,处理后废酸中的氯离子质量浓度为0.22 g/L,氯离子去除率为98.59%,铜离子质量浓度为0.45 g/L,铜离子去除率为95.08%,其他重金属大部分也得到有效去除。净化后的废酸可回用至铜冶炼的生产过程中。     

偶氮类染料脱色率的定量构效关系

偶氮类染料的生产和使用过程中存在着三废多、难脱色和污染严重等问题,该染料是印染工业的主要污染物。选取偶氮类染料的分子结构参数和其光催化氧化脱色率之间建立定量结构活性关系(QSAR),进而得到回归方程,为印染废水处理和染料环境行为评价提供理论预测。结果表明,偶氮类染料的光催化氧化脱色率与其结构之间存在着线性相关性,线性方程为:D=0.647μ+66.277,(D为脱色率、μ为偶极矩)R=0.989方程具有预测能力。