Some aspects of heavy metals contamination remediation and role of biosurfactants

Contamination by heavy metals is the result of different industrial activities. The presence of heavy metals in soil and water causes serious problems, as these materials are not biodegradable and do contaminate both biological systems and the subsoil. Biological surface-active compounds otherwise known as biosurfactants in general and rhamnolipids biosurfactants in particular have been successfully employed in the remediation of environments contaminated with heavy metal ions. The aim of the present review is to highlight potential applications of these tensioactive compounds for use in environmental heavy metals removal and bioremediation and processes involved.     

Level,pattern, and risk assessment of the selected soil trace metals in the calcareous-cultivated Vertisols

Dynamics and distribution pattern of trace metals in agricultural lands are an increasing concern due to potential risks to the environment and human health. To ascertain more knowledge of this aspect, the fractions of total and available Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Cd belonging to Vertisols under intensive cultivation and adjoining uncultivated soils were investigated. The order of abundance of metals in both cultivated and uncultivated soils was Fe?>?Mn?>?Cu?>?Zn?>?Cd and Fe?>?Mn?>?Zn?>?Cu?>?Cd for both available and total fraction, respectively. A relative enrichment was observed in the value of diethylene-triamine pentaacetic acid-extractable Fe (1.2–201%), Mn (2–31%), Cu (1–40%), and Cd (21–45%) as well as total fraction of Zn (3–17%), Cu (12–32%), and Cd (42–108%) after intensive cropping, which can be contributed to repeated application of agrochemical inputs and manure over long time. The values of RI (potential ecological risk) showed that cultivation caused a low potential ecological risk (33.3% of the soil samples) to moderate potential ecological risk (66.7% of the soil samples) in the study region and that cadmium made up 88%, on average, of the RI value.     

Particulate organic matter in the Northern and Central Adriatic

The particulate organic matter distribution and its elemental composition in the northern and central Adriatic Sea during different seasonal periods are shown, highlighting the principal processes and factors influencing their distribution and characteristics. In the low salinity waters the concentrations of particulate carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were higher and more variable than in the dense waters, mainly due to dilution effects which induce an abundant phytoplankton growth. Generally in summer the particulate organic matter distribution followed the trophic gradient while in winter resuspension events often became more important. Differences between summer and winter were more evident in the diluted waters and were mainly due to the seasonal heat exchanges and to the fresh water inputs. Marked differences in C/P ratios were observed in the POM: high ratios in the northern diluted waters and low in the more saline waters and in the central Adriatic.     

Rare earth elements distribution in seawater and suspended particulate of the Central Mediterranean Sea

Rare earth element (REE) content in suspended and dissolved phases from the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea) has been measured. Vertical profiles of several dissolved REEs along the water column reflect the 3-D oceanographic features of the studied area and identifies the different water masses present there. Shale-normalized REE distribution patterns and derived parameters calculated for the suspended particulate show different atmospheric dust-surface inputs and their interactions with seawater. Finally, combined information from [La/Yb]_N, ratios, REE/La ratios and Eu anomalies measured in the suspended particulate suggest an important contribution of volcanic materials from the Etna volcano and Saharan dust to the lithogenic fraction of the suspended particulate.     

Mesoscale circulation in the surface layer off the southern and western Sardinia Island in 2000–2002

Five oceanographic cruises were organized in the Sardinian Sea and Channel in May 2000, March 2001, September 2001, May 2002, and November 2002 to study the characterization of the water masses, Atlantic Water (AW) and Winter Intermediate Water (WIW), and their mesoscale variability. In the Sardinian Channel, an Algerian anticyclonic Eddy (AE) was observed in May 2000, along the Tunisian coast. This induced a greater minimum salinity in a wider and deeper layer than in November 2002, when no AE was observed. Some WIW was observed below it; nevertheless, no link could be established between AEs and WIW occurrences. In the Sardinian Sea, two AEs were observed during spring 2000, and a further two during spring 2002. One AE strongly influenced shelf circulation, in contrast to the other three that were off the continental slope. In the same area, during the end of September 2001, a vertical salinity inversion occurred in the first 30–50 m of depth over the whole sampling field, and a W–NW wind induced a coastal upwelling over the western Sardinian coast (south of 41° N). This upwelling increased the salinity from ～20 to 30 m below the surface to the surface and, thereby led to a lower salinity close to the coast than offshore. This was in contrast to a classical upwelling. Consequently, in the Sardinian Sea, the general circulation, mainly driven by AEs, can meet the coastal wind-driven circulation.     

Interannual fluctuations in acoustic biomass estimates and in landings of small pelagic fish populations in relation to hydrology in the Strait of Sicily

The main results of research work carried out since 1998 with regard to the application of hydro-acoustic technologies for the evaluation of biomass and distribution of small pelagic fish species off the southern coast of Sicily are presented, taking into account information from hydrology and from ecology of the fish populations targeted. The biomass estimates and the population‐density charts presented concern the two main species, i.e. sardine Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) and anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758). Both the sardine and anchovy populations experienced large inter-annual fluctuations, with biomass estimates ranging from 6000 to over 36,000 tonnes (t) (sardine) and from about 7000 to 23,000 t (anchovy). Acoustic estimates are largely consistent with landings recorded in Sciacca (the main fishing port for small pelagic species in the study area) during the year following the evaluation surveys. In addition, trends in sardine and anchovy biomass estimates appears to be negatively correlated with the mean sea surface temperature calculated over the time intervals January–September (sardine) and June–November (anchovy) of the preceding year, which correspond to larval and juvenile growth periods of target species. Observed patterns would suggest the importance of enrichment processes relevant to the survival of early stages, so determining recruitment success and finally higher population sizes.     

Mapping of the benthic communities in the Taranto seas using side-scan sonar and an underwater video camera

Side-scan sonar and underwater video camera records as well as dredging samples were used to map the bottom morphology and biocoenoses in the Taranto seas. A 1:20,000 scale chart has been produced with all the data recorded. Most of the study area consists of biocoenoses affected by the anthropogenic activities of the town of Taranto. Some native broadly tolerant species seem to benefit from these activities and become increasingly dominant. Environmental modifications also seem to favour the settlement of exotic species.     

Geochemical forms of trace metals in mangrove sediments—Red Sea (Egypt)

Seven sediment samples from mangrove sediments of the Red Sea were taken in order to evaluate the possible contamination of the sediments by trace metals (iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)). Sequential extraction techniques were performed to study the different geochemical forms of these metals. X-ray diffraction analysis has been performed to correlate the mineralogical composition with the geochemical forms of the studied elements. The results of Fe and Mn contents indicate that they are in large part from lithogenous origin. The elevated concentrations are associated with the residual form ranged from 70 to 93% for Fe and 46 to 70% for Mn. The percentage of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb in the non-residual form was much greater than that of the residual fractions. This reflects the high mobility and bioavailability of these metals in mangrove sediments of the Red Sea. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of silicate components including quartz, feldspars and clay minerals in some locality. Non-silicate components recorded in the study area as calcite as well as, Mg-calcite. Quantitatively both components i.e. silicate and carbonate varied according to their source material.     

Organochlorines and PCBs in Tilapia zillii from Lake El-Manzala,Egypt

Abstract

The mercury content has been determined in samples of fumarolic gases, phreatic waters, soil and vegetation collected at Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. Volcanic activity is demonstrated as a source of natural mercury pollution whose extent has been evaluated here by studying the contribution of different components of the surface environment. The possible influences for living organisms are examined.     

Effect of cypermethrin on breeding performances of a freshwater fish,Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

Abstract

Concentrations of the related elements calcium, strontium, barium, and lead were determined in soil extract, consumer stomach contents, and consumers in lead polluted and unpolluted areas. Discrimination against the nonessential metals relative to the nutritious metal calcium, as the metals were transferred through a trophic pathway was determined. Discrimination of metals varied systematically as a function of degree of nonessential element similarity to calcium. The existence of systematic trends of discrimination may facilitate the assessment of natural levels of some toxic elements (e.g. lead) in organisms.