Trace element concentrations in soils along urbanization gradients in the city of Wien, Austria

Urban soil is an important component of urban ecosystems. This study focuses on heavy metal contamination in soils of Wien (Austria) and results are compared to those for a few large European cities. We analysed the elemental contents of 96 samples of topsoil from urban, suburban and rural areas in Wien along a dynamic (floodplain forest) and a stable (oak–hornbeam forest) urbanization gradient. The following elements were quantified using ICP-OES technique: Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Pb, P, S and Zn. For heavy metals PI (pollution index) values were used to assess the level of pollution. The PI values indicated high level of pollution by Pb in the suburban and rural area of stable gradient and in the urban area of dynamic gradient; moderate level of pollution was indicated for Cd in the urban area of stable gradient. The level of pollution was moderate for Co in the suburban and rural area of the stable gradient, and for Cu in suburban area of stable gradient, and urban area of dynamic gradient. The pollution level of Zn was moderate in all areas. Urban soils, especially in urban parks and green areas may have a direct influence on human health. Thus, the elemental analysis of soil samples is one of the best ways to study the effects of urbanization. Our results indicated that the heavy metal contamination was higher in Wien than in a few large European cities.     

Impact of mineral components and selected trace metals on ambient PM10 concentrations

PM10 levels of the mineral components Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg and some trace metals were measured at three different sites in the urban area of Vienna (Austria). Observed trace metal concentrations varied between less than 0.1 ng m^?3 (Cd) and approximately 200 ng m^?3 (Zn), mineral components showed enhanced concentrations ranging from 0.01 μg m^?3 (Ca) to 16.3 μg m^?3 (Si). The contribution of the respective mineral oxides to PM10 mass concentrations accounted on average for 26.4 ± 16% (n = 1090) of the PM10 mass, with enhanced rates in spring and autumn (monthly averages of up to 40%) and decreased contributions in the cold season (monthly averages below 10%). The atmospheric occurrence of Al, Ti and Sr could be assigned to crustal sources, whereas for the elements Ba, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn and V an increased contribution of non-crustal origin was observed. PM10 levels of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn and Zn were predominantly derived from man-made emissions. Intersite comparison indicated that urban PM10 mass concentrations and PM10 levels of As, Pb and Zn were predominantly influenced from the transport of aerosols from outside into the city, whereas for the elements Ba, Mg, Ca, Cu and Fe a distinctly increased impact of local emissions was observed. The contribution of these urban emissions to total PM10 concentrations was estimated by calculating the so-called “urban impact”, which was found to be 32.7 ± 18% (n = 392) in the case of PM10 mass concentrations. The investigated elements accounted on average for 31.3 ± 19% (n = 392) of the observed PM10 mass increase. The mean values for the “urban impacts” of individual elements varied between 25.5% (As) and 77.0% (Ba).     

The influence of EDDS and EDTA on the uptake of heavy metals of Cd and Cu from soil with tobacco Nicotiana tabacum

Phytoextraction, the use of plants to extract contaminants from soils and groundwater, is a promising approach for cleaning up soils contaminated with heavy metals. In order to enhance phytoextraction the use of chelating agents has been proposed. This study aims to assess whether ethylene diamine disuccinate (EDDS), a biodegradable chelator, can be used for enhanced phytoextraction purposed, as an alternative to ethylene diamine tetraacetate (EDTA). EDDS revealed a higher toxicity to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) in comparison to EDTA, but no toxicity to microorganisms. The uptake of Cu was increased by the addition of EDTA and EDDS, while no increase was observed in the uptake of Cd. Both chelating agents showed a very low root to shoot translocation capability and the translocation factor was lower than the one of the control. Heavy metals where significantly more phytoavailable than in the control, even after harvesting, resulting in a high heavy metal leaching possibility, probably owing to a low biodegradation rate of EDDS. New seedlings which were transplanted into the EDDS treated pots 7d after the phytoextraction experiment, showed signs of necrosis and chlorosis, which resulted in a significantly lower biomass in comparison to the control. The seedlings on the EDTA treated pots showed no toxicity signs. Contrary to previous opinions the results of this study revealed the chelating agents EDTA and EDDS as unsuitable for enhanced phytoextraction using tobacco.     

A correlation between the fate and non-extractable residue formation of 14C-metalaxyl and enzymatic activities in soil

Extracellular, oxidative soil enzymes like monophenol oxidases and peroxidases play an important role in transformation of xenobiotics and the formation of organic matter in soil. Additionally, these enzymes may be involved in the formation of non-extractable residues (NERs) of xenobiotics during humification processes. To examine this correlation, the fate of the fungicide ¹⁴C metalaxyl in soil samples from Ultuna (Sweden) was studied. Using different soil sterilization techniques, it was possible to differentiate between free, immobilized, and abiotic (“pseudoenzyme”-like) oxidative activities. A correlation between the formation of metalaxyl NER and soil organic matter content, biotic activities, as well as extracellular phenoloxidase and peroxidase activities in the bulk soil and its particle size fractions was determined. Extracellular soil-bound enzymes were involved in NER formation (up to 8% of applied radioactivity after 92 days) of the fungicide independently from the presence of living microbes and different distributions of the NER in the soil humic subfractions.     

Das Vitamin-D-bindende Protein des menschlichen Plasmas

The vitamin-D-binding protein (DBP) also known as group-specific component (GC) is described. This transport protein for vitamin D and its metabolic derivatives has genetic variants which are disclosed by electrophoretic procedures or by isoelectric focusing. Three common and one hundred rare alleles are known. The biochemical, molecular and population genetics are briefly outlined as an example of inherited variability in man.     

The Amazon between economy and ecology

The soils of the Amazon's rainforests, unlike soils in rainforests in other parts of the world, have very low productivity. Experiments have shown that the Amazon's timber productivity of 2–3 m³ per year per hectare is considerably below that achievable in Northern Europe. Sustainable agricultural development therefore can be expected to be very low. However, the mineral resources of the Amazon are very extensive and offer a way to develop the Amazon without destroying the ecology, provided that some limits are set on non-mining activities.     

The evolving structure of the European mining industry

A major restructuring of the mining industry has been going on since the early 1980s. Using 11 important minerals this paper analyses the changing pattern of control in the mining industry for European based mining companies. In general, European mining companies have increased their control over mineral production worldwide while North American based companies have shown a decline in control of production. Production of European state-owned mining companies has declined as a result of privatization.     

Lysosomen-ähnliche Kompartimente in Pflanzenzellen

The Science of Nature -     

Prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection in mucopolysaccharidosis type II by mutation analysis. A 47,xxy male heterozygous for a missense point mutation

Identification of iduronate-2-sulphatase (IDS) gene mutations in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II, Hunter syndrome) allows fast and reliable carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis. We describe here three cases of prenatal diagnosis by direct detection of the gene mutation. In addition to two affected male fetuses from two different families, a 47,XXY fetus carrying both the normal and the mutant allele was diagnosed in a third family. The latter pregnancy was carried to term and the child is obviously not affected by MPS II.     

Prenatal diagnosis of aortic atresia by colour doppler flow mapping

A case of aortic atresia with insufficiency of mitral valve diagnosed prenatally at 33 weeks of gestation is presented. An accurate diagnosis of this fetal cardiovascular malformation was possible by application of Doppler colour flow mapping, which demonstrated (a) the absence of forward flow in the hypoplastic ascending aorta, (b) reverse flow of blood from the ductus arteriosus into the severely hypoplastic ascending aorta in the late systole, (c) pansystolic mitral valve regurgitation, and (d) absent flow across the foramen ovale as a result of premature closure of the foramen ovale.