5-Aminolevulinic acid ameliorates cadmium-induced morphological, biochemical, and ultrastructural changes in seedlings of oilseed rape

Due to its prolific growth, oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) can be grown successfully for phytoremediation of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soils. Nowadays, use of plant growth regulators against heavy metals stress is one of the major objectives of researchers. The present study evaluates the ameliorate effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA, 0, 0.4, 2, and 10 mg/l) on the growth of oilseed rape (B. napus L. cv. ZS 758) seedlings under Cd stress (0, 100, and 500 μM). Results have shown that Cd stress hampered the seedling growth by decreasing the radical and hypocotyls length, shoot and root biomass, chlorophyll content, and antioxidants enzymes. On the other hand, Cd stress increased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and production of H₂O₂ and accumulation of Cd in the shoots. The microscopic study of leaf mesophyll cells showed that toxicity of Cd totally destroyed the whole cell structure, and accumulation of Cd also appeared in micrographs. Application of ALA at lower dosage (2 mg/l) enhanced the seedling growth and biomass. The results showed that 2 mg/l ALA significantly improved chlorophyll content under Cd stress and decreased the level of Cd contents in shoots. Application of ALA reduced the MDA and H₂O₂ levels in the cotyledons. The antioxidants enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase) enhanced their activities significantly with the application of 2 mg/l ALA under Cd stress. This study also indicated that higher dosage of ALA (10 mg/l) imposed the negative effect on the growth of oilseed rape. Microscopic study showed that application of ALA alleviated the toxic effects of Cd in the mesophyll cell and improved the cell structure. Use of 2 mg/l ALA under 500 μM Cd was found to be more effective, and under this dosage, cell structure was clear, with obvious cell wall and cell membrane as well as a big nucleus, which was found with well-developed two or more nucleoli. Chloroplast was almost round in shape and contained thylakoids membranes and grana, but starch grains were not found in chloroplast comparatively to other treatments. On the basis of our results, we can conclude that ALA has a promotive effect which could improve plant survival under Cd stress.     

Characterization, sources, and potential risk assessment of PAHs in surface sediments from nearshore and farther shore zones of the Yangtze estuary, China

The assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination in surface sediments from the Yangtze estuary which is a representative area affected by anthropogenic activity (rapid industrialization, high-population density, and construction of dams upstream) in the world was systematically conducted. Fifty-one samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ??PAHs in all sediments varied from 76.9 to 2,936.8?ng?g^?1. Compared with other estuaries in the world, the PAH levels in the Yangtze estuary are low to moderate. Phenanthrene, acenaphthylene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were relatively abundant. The ??PAH levels and composition varied obviously in different estuarine zones due to different sources. The highest ??PAHs concentration was observed in the nearshore of Chongming Island. The PAH composition showed that four to six ring PAHs were mainly found in the nearshore areas, while two to three ring PAHs were in the farther shore zones. The PAHs in the Yangtze estuary were derived primarily from combustion sources. A mixture of petroleum combustion and biomass combustion mainly from coal combustion and vehicle emission was the main source of PAHs from the nearshore areas, while the spill, volatilization, or combustion of petroleum from shipping process and shoreside discharge were important for PAHs in the farther shore areas. The result of potential ecotoxicological risk assessment based on sediment quality guidelines indicated low PAH ecological risk in the Yangtze estuary. The study could provide foundation for the protection of water quality of the Yangtze estuary by inducing main sources input.     

Distribution of Stipa purpurea steppe in the Northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (China)

The aims of this study were to examine the spatial distribution pattern of Stipa purpurea steppe and to elucidate their possible correlation with environmental factors, by means of multivariate quantitative analysis. Two data sets were subjected to the Two-way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN), the community similarity analysis and the Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). The distribution pattern of Stipa purpurea steppe showed obvious geographical heterogeneity in different regions and some homogeneity in the same region. And the altitude, longitude and latitude were the three major environmental factors affecting Stipa purpurea steppe’s distribution.     

Latitudinal pattern in species diversity and its response to global warming in permafrost wetlands in the Great Hing’an Mountains, China

Permafrost wetlands are one of the most sensitive plant communities in response to global warming. Global warming could induce natural plant communities to shift into cooler climate zones, or extirpate. To understand how plant communities in permafrost wetlands are affected by global warming, we examined the patterns of plant species diversity in the 24 permafrost wetlands in the Great Hing’an Mountains along a latitudinal gradient. This gradient was characterized by a northward decline in mean annual temperature (Δ = 3.5°C) and mean annual precipitation (Δ = 38.7 mm). Our results indicated that latitudinal patterns in species diversity existed in the permafrost wetlands. The numbers of family, genus and species, the Gleason index and Shannon-Wiener index for shrubs decreased linearly with decreasing latitude, but increased for herbaceous plants. The latitudinal patterns in species diversity had influenced strongly by temperature. Simple linear regression yielded about 2 decreases in shrub number and 9 increases in herbaceous species number with an increase of mean annual temperature by 1°C, with 0.33 decreases in shrub diversity and 0.29 increases in herbaceous species diversity. If temperature warms 3.7°C by 2100, herbaceous plants might increase in the permafrost wetlands, with species number increasing 48% or 6 times and species diversity increasing 40% or 2 times; and some shrub species might decrease and even disappear in part of the areas with lower latitude, with species number decreasing 50–100% and species diversity decreasing 69–100%. The permafrost wetlands in the Great Hing’an Mountains might continue degenerating and shift northward with global warming over the next century.     

Interception of residual nitrate from a calcareous alluvial soil profile on the North China Plain by deep-rooted crops: a 15N tracer study

15N-labeled nitrate was injected into different depths of an alluvial calcareous soil profile on the North China Plain. Subsequent movement of NO3- -N and its recovery by deep-rooted maize (Zea mays L.) and shallow-rooted eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) were studied. Under conventional water and nutrient management the mean recoveries of 15N-labeled nitrate from K(15)NO3 injected at depths 15, 45, and 75 cm were 22.4, 13.8, and 7.8% by maize and 7.9, 4.9, and 2.7% by eggplant. The recovery rate by maize at each soil depth was significantly higher than by eggplant. The deeper the injection of nitrate the smaller the distance of its downward movement and this corresponded with the movement of soil water during crop growth. Deeper rooting crops with high root length density and high water consumption may therefore be grown to utilize high concentrations of residual nitrate in the subsoil from previous intensive cropping and to protect the environment.     

Organic pollutants in compost and digestate. Part 2. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and -furans, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated alkyl substances, pesticides, and other compounds

Compost and digestate are important recycling fertilizers and have beneficial effects on soil parameters. However, they can contain significant amounts of organic pollutants. Here, the first comprehensive data set on dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/F), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCB), brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, phthalates, nonylphenol and chlorinated paraffins (CP) in source-separated compost and digestate from Switzerland is presented (n = 3-18). The median summation 17PCDD/F and summation 12DL-PCB concentrations were at 3.2 ng I-TEQ kg(-1)dry weight (dw) and 3.0 ng WHO-TEQ kg(-1)dw, respectively. Brominated diphenyl ether 209 (BDE 209) accounted for 72% of the total polyBDE content (10 microg kg(-1)dw). Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) levels were at 100 and 0.51 microg kg(-1)dw, respectively. PFAS were identified for the first time in compost and digestate (median concentration 6.3 microg kg(-1)dw, summation 21compounds). Out of 269 pesticides analysed, 30 fungicides, 14 herbicides, eight insecticides and one acaricide were detected. Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) median concentration accounted for 280 microg kg(-1)dw and nonylphenol was below the detection limit of 1 mg kg(-1)dw. The sum of short and medium chain CP was between 90 and 390 microg kg(-1)dw. The concentrations observed were at or above the levels found in background soils, which are the main recipient of compost and digestate. Where actually applied, compost can contribute considerably to the total input of organic pollutants to the soil. However, on a total Swiss agricultural area base, inputs seem to be limited.     

Exposure of traffic police to Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Beijing, China

Exposure of on-duty traffic police in Beijing to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was investigated during the summer, 2004 using a personal sampling technique in measuring both particulate and gaseous phase PAHs. The results were then compared with those from two control sites away from the street. Exposure levels to gaseous and particulate PAHs for the traffic police were found to be 1525 +/- 759 ngm(-3) and 148 +/- 118 ngm(-3), respectively, representing 2-2.5 times higher levels than those at the control sites. The daily inhalation exposure of the police was estimated to be 277 ngkg(-1)d(-1). Most of the PAHs exposure came from the vapor phase, particularly NAP, FLO and PHE. Based on calculated PAH diagnostic ratios, the major source of PAHs exposure was from vehicle exhaust. The effects of temperature, humidity and atmospheric stability on exposure levels are also discussed.     

Stabilization of FGD gypsum for its disposal in landfills using amorphous aluminium oxide as a fluoride retention additive

The applicability of amorphous aluminium oxide as a fluoride retention additive to flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) gypsum was studied as a way of stabilizing this by-product for its disposal in landfills. Using a batch method the sorption behaviour of amorphous aluminium oxide was evaluated at the pH (about 6.5) and background electrolyte conditions (high chloride and sulphate concentrations) found in FGD gypsum leachates. It was found that fluoride sorption on amorphous aluminium oxide was a very fast process with equilibrium attained within the first half an hour of interaction. The sorption process was well described by the Langmuir model, offering a maximum fluoride sorption capacity of 61.7 mg g(-1). Fluoride sorption was unaffected by chloride co-existing ions, while slightly decreased (about 20%) by competing sulphate ions. The use of amorphous aluminium oxide in the stabilization of FGD gypsum proved to greatly decreased its fluoride leachable content (in the range 5-75% for amorphous aluminium oxide doses of 0.1-2%, as determined by the European standard EN 12457-4 [EN-12457-4 Characterization of waste-leaching-compliance test for leaching of granular waste materials and sludges-Part 4: one stage batch test at a liquid to solid ratio of 10 l/kg for materials with particle size below 10mm (without or with size reduction)]), assuring the characterization of this by-product as a waste acceptable at landfills of non-hazardous wastes according to the Council Decision 2003/33/EC [Council Decision 2003/33/EC of 19 December 2002. Establishing criteria and procedures for the acceptance of waste at landfills pursuant to Article 16 of and Annex II to Directive 1999/31/EC] on landfill of wastes. Furthermore, as derived from column leaching studies, the proposed stabilization system proved to be highly effective in simulated conditions of disposal, displaying a fluoride leaching reduction value about 81% for an amorphous aluminium oxide added amount of 2%.     

Ecotoxicological evaluation of the short term effects of fresh and stabilized textile sludges before application in forest soil restoration

The short term (eco)toxicity potential of fresh and stabilized textile sludges, as well as the short term (eco)toxicity of leachates obtained from both fresh and stabilized textile sludges, was evaluated by a battery of toxicity tests carried out with bacteria, algae, daphnids, fish, earthworms, and higher plants. The (eco)toxicological results showed that, after 120 d of stabilization, the experimental loading ratio of 25% sludge:75% soil (v/v) (equivalent to 64.4 ton/ha) did not significantly increase toxicity effects and increased significantly the biomass yield for earthworms and higher plants. The rank of biological sensitivity endpoints was: Algae approximately Plant biomass > Plant germination approximately Daphnids > Bacteria approximately Fish > Annelids. The lack of short term toxicity effects and the stimulant effect observed with higher plants and earthworms are good indications of the fertilizer/conditioner potential of this industrial waste, which after stabilization can be used in the restoration of a non-productive forest soil.