Uptake, translocation, and accumulation of manufactured iron oxide nanoparticles by pumpkin plants

Rapid development and application of nanomaterials and nanotechnology make assessment of their potential health and environmental impacts on humans, non-human biota, and ecosystems imperative. Here we show that pumpkin plants (Cucurbita maxima), grown in an aqueous medium containing magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, can absorb, translocate, and accumulate the particles in the plant tissues. These results suggest that plants, as an important component of the environmental and ecological systems, need to be included when evaluating the overall fate, transport and exposure pathways of nanoparticles in the environment.     

Availability and Assessment of Fixing Additives for The in Situ Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soils: A Review

The use of low-cost and environmental safety amendments for the in situ immobilization of heavy metals has been investigated as a promising method for contaminated soil remediation. Natural materials and waste products from certain industries with high captive capacity of heavy metals can be obtained and employed. Reduction of extractable metal concentration and phytotoxicity could be evaluated and demonstrated by the feasibility of various amendments in fixing remediation. In this review, an extensive list of references has been compiled to provide a summary of information on a wide range of potentially amendment resources, including organic, inorganic and combined organic-inorganic materials. The assessment based on the economic efficiency and environmental risks brought forth the potential application values and future development directions of this method on solving the soil contamination.     

生物反应器填埋条件下垃圾生物质组分的初期降解规律

在经甲烷化填埋层渗滤后的渗滤液循环回灌的新鲜垃圾填埋层内,以生物质分类表征为基础,分析了新鲜垃圾填埋层内固相各生物质组分（总糖、蛋白质、脂肪、纤维素和木质素）的初期降解规律.结果表明,垃圾中原有总糖组分和蛋白质的快速水解发酵是新鲜垃圾填埋后产生高有机质浓度渗滤液的主要机制;脂肪和纤维素的降解产物不是填埋初期高有机质浓度渗滤液的主要来源;纤维素是填埋层稳定产甲烷阶段的主要碳源,其水解速率可能是甲烷化过程的限速步骤;纤维素/木质素之质量比可作为指示填埋垃圾稳定化的指标.各生物质组分的初期降解速率常数均在0.01至0.1之间,而填埋气体中甲烷体积分数在60d内达到45%.食品垃圾组分富集的生活垃圾,应用生物反应器填埋技术时,必须具备足够的降解容量以代谢填埋初期固相中总糖和蛋白质快速水解产生的酸性液相产物.     

Wild meat trade over the last 45 years in the Peruvian Amazon

The trade in wild meat is an important economic component of rural people's livelihoods, but it has been perceived to be among the main causes of the decline of wildlife species. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light an additional concern of wildlife markets as a major human-health challenge. We analyzed data from the largest longitudinal monitoring (1973–2018) of the most important urban wild-meat markets in Iquitos, Peru, to examine the trends in and impacts of these markets on people's livelihoods. Over the last 45 years, wild meat sales increased at a rate of 6.4 t/year (SD 2.17), paralleling urban population growth. Wild meat sales were highest in 2018 (442 t), contributing US$2.6 million (0.76%) to the regional gross domestic product. Five species of ungulates and rodents accounted for 88.5% of the amount of biomass traded. Vulnerable and Endangered species represented 7.0% and 0.4% of individuals sold, respectively. Despite growth in sales, the contribution of wild meat to overall urban diet was constant: 1–2%/year of total meat consumed. This result was due to greater availability and higher consumption of cheaper meats (e.g., in 2018, poultry was 45.8% cheaper and was the most consumed meat) coupled with the lack of economic incentives to harvest wild meat species in rural areas. Most wild meat was sold salted or smoked, reducing the likelihood of foodborne diseases. Community-based wildlife management plans and the continued trade bans on primates and threatened taxa may avoid biodiversity loss. Considering the recent COVID-19 pandemic, future management plans should include potential viral hosts and regulation and enforcement of hygiene practices in wild-meat markets.     

Effects of Exposure Conditions on Antioxidant Depletion,Tensile Strength,and Creep Modulus of Corrugated HDPE Pipes Made With or Without Recycled Resins

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The service lifetime of corrugated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes used in transportation infrastructure applications has been the subject of...