Influence of Spartina alterniflora on the mobility of heavy metals in salt marsh sediments of the Yangtze River Estuary, China

Using bio-disturbed sulphide to trace the mobility and transformation of Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn in the sediments of the Spartina alterniflora-dominated salt marsh in the Yangtze River Estuary, measurements were made of the seasonal variations of acid-volatile sulphide (AVS) and of the simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) in the rhizosphere sediments. Microcosm incubation experiments recreating flooding conditions were conducted to evaluate the effect of AVS and other metal binding phases upon the dynamics of Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn in the salt marsh sediments. The results demonstrate that the ratio values of SEM/AVS have a significant seasonal variation in the rhizosphere sediments and that the anoxic conditions in the sediments were likely enhanced by S. alterniflora during the summer and autumn compared with the anoxic conditions resulting from the native species Phragmites australis and Scirpus mariqueter. The incubation experiments suggest that Fe(III) and Mn(IV/III) (hydr)oxides provide important binding sites for heavy metals under oxic conditions, and sulphide provides important binding sites for the Cu and Pb under anoxic conditions. Our observations indicate that the mobility of heavy metals in the salt marsh sediments is strongly influenced by biogeochemical redox processes and that the invasive S. alterniflora may increase the seasonal fluctuation in heavy metal bioavailability in the salt marsh ecosystem.     

Dechlorination and organohalide-respiring bacteria dynamics in sediment samples of the Yangtze Three Gorges Reservoir

Several groups of bacteria such as Dehalococcoides spp., Dehalobacter spp., Desulfomonile spp., Desulfuromonas spp., or Desulfitobacterium spp. are able to dehalogenate chlorinated pollutants such as chloroethenes, chlorobenzenes, or polychlorinated biphenyls under anaerobic conditions. In order to assess the dechlorination potential in Yangtze sediment samples, the presence and activity of the reductively dechlorinating bacteria were studied in anaerobic batch tests. Eighteen sediment samples were taken in the Three Gorges Reservoir catchment area of the Yangtze River, including the tributaries Jialing River, Daning River, and Xiangxi River. Polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated the presence of dechlorinating bacteria in most samples, with varying dechlorinating microbial community compositions at different sampling locations. Subsequently, anaerobic reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethene (PCE) was tested after the addition of electron donors. Most cultures dechlorinated PCE completely to ethene via cis-dichloroethene (cis-DCE) or trans-dichloroethene. Dehalogenating activity corresponded to increasing numbers of Dehalobacter spp., Desulfomonile spp., Desulfitobacterium spp., or Dehalococcoides spp. If no bacteria of the genus Dehalococcoides spp. were present in the sediment, reductive dechlorination stopped at cis-DCE. Our results demonstrate the presence of viable dechlorinating bacteria in Yangtze samples, indicating their relevance for pollutant turnover.     

Toxicological responses of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) exposed to metal-contaminated soils

The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicological responses of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) induced by field-contaminated, metal-polluted soils. Biochemical responses and DNA damage of earthworm exposed to two multi-metal-contaminated soils in a steel industry park and a natural reference soil in Zijin Mountain for 2, 7, 14, and 28 days were studied. Results showed that three enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and cellulase, in earthworm in metal-contaminated soils were significantly different from those of the reference soil. Cellulase and AChE were more sensitive than SOD to soil contamination. The Olive tail moment of the comet assay after 2-day exposure increased 56.5 and 552.0 % in two contaminated soils, respectively, compared to the reference soil. Our findings show that cellulase and DNA damage levels can be used as potential biomarkers for exposure of earthworm to metal-polluted soils.     

化学沉淀法强化常规工艺应急去除水中的镉

在常规工艺基础上,通过投加氢氧化钠,实验进行了应急去除重金属镉的研究。实验结果表明,该方法能有效去除饮用水水源的镉,效果稳定,可进行应急处理。对pH、镉初始浓度和混凝剂投加量3个影响因素的灰色关联分析表明,3个因素对镉去除效果影响的大小排序为:滤后水pH>混凝剂投加量>镉初始浓度。在水源镉突发污染时,在原有常规水处理工艺基础上,通过控制滤后水pH可实现对重金属镉的去除,pH的控制值与水源水质有关。     

青萍(Lemna minor L.)对氮磷的吸收特征

以西部地区优势浮萍品种青萍为实验对象,研究了青萍对不同浓度硝态氮和磷酸盐的吸收特征。结果表明,硝态氮浓度在1～10 mg/L范围内,青萍对硝态氮有较好的吸收效果,M-M方程可以较好地描述硝态氮浓度与青萍对硝态氮的吸收速率之间的关系,通过M-M方程拟合得到青萍对硝态氮的最大吸收速率为0.1167 mg/(g FW.h),亲和力常数为6.9274。磷酸盐浓度在0.1～1.0 mg/L范围内,青萍对磷酸盐也有较好的吸收效果,二次多项式回归可以较好地描述青萍吸收速率与磷酸盐浓度的关系,回归方程得到青萍对磷酸盐的最大吸收速率为0.0193 mg/(g FW.h),对应磷酸盐浓度为0.6 mg/L。     

微波辅助光催化降解高浓度活性黑

利用改装的家用微波炉、微波无极灯和TiO2催化剂研究了水中高浓度活性黑的光催化降解.系统考察了TiO2投加量、pH、微波无极灯数量对微波辅助光催化处理效果的影响,得出微波辅助光催化的最佳操作条件,并在最佳条件下对活性黑的脱色及矿化效果进行研究.结果表明,TiO2投加量存在最佳值2 g/L,降低pH和增加微波无极灯数量均可提高活性黑的降解率.在TiO2的投加量为2 g/L,pH =3,微波无极灯数量为3的最佳光催化条件下,400 mg/L的活性黑溶液反应180 min时可实现完全脱色,反应300 min时,TOC去除率高达89.1％.     

Evaluation of a classification method for biodegradable solid wastes using anaerobic degradation parameters

We studied the biochemical and anaerobic degradation characteristics of 29 types of materials to evaluate the effects of a physical composition classification method for degradable solid waste on the computation of anaerobic degradation parameters, including the methane yield potential (L₀), anaerobic decay rate (k), and carbon sequestration factor (CSF). Biochemical methane potential tests were conducted to determine the anaerobic degradation parameters of each material. The results indicated that the anaerobic degradation parameters of nut waste were quite different from those of other food waste and nut waste was classified separately. Paper was subdivided into two categories according to its lignin content: degradable paper with lignin content of <0.05 g g VS^?1, and refractory paper with lignin content >0.15 g g VS^?1. The L₀, k, and CSF parameters of leaves, a type of garden waste, were similar to those of grass. This classification method for degradable solid waste may provide a theoretical basis that facilitates the more accurate calculation of anaerobic degradation parameters.     

Abnormal glucose regulation in pyrethroid pesticide factory workers

The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between pyrethroids occupational exposures, and risk of abnormal glucose regulation. Data from total of 3080 subjects in two pesticide factories were used. This was a population-based case-controlled study in China. In total, 18.3% of subjects with impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and 6.5% of subjects with diabetes, and the prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation was 24.8%, 86 subjects had known type 2 diabetes and 114 had newly diagnosed diabetes. The prevalence of subjects with abnormal glucose regulation increased from 21.3% in the controls to 29.3% in the exposures (χ² = 33.182, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression was used to control potential confounders and calculate odd ratios as the estimate of effect. An indication of increased risk for abnormal glucose regulation was noted for exposure to pyrethroids (OR = 1.482, 95%CI = 1.238-1.774). Abnormal glucose regulation is common in subjects exposed to pyrethroids. The present investigation indicates the adverse health effects of pyrethroids are underestimated.     

Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and hexabromocyclododecane in the atmosphere and tree bark from Beijing, China

Air samples in four seasons at one site and tree bark samples from four districts were determined to investigate seasonal variation and regional distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in Beijing, China. The total concentrations of PBDEs (∑PBDE) and HBCD (∑HBCD) were in the range of 57-470 and 20-1800 pg m⁻³ in the atmosphere, respectively. The ∑PBDE and ∑HBCD concentrations were significantly influenced by the total suspended particulate matter in atmosphere. The total concentrations of PBDEs and HBCD in tree bark samples were in the range of 99-3700 and 26-3400 ng g⁻¹ lipid weight. It was found that regional distribution of PBDEs and HBCD was related to the function of each district. In addition, the study found that weeping willow bark was an ideal atmospheric PBDEs and HBCD passive sampler. Finally, atmospheric levels of BDE-209 and HBCD at tree bark sampling districts were estimated via applying an established bark/air partitioning model, which had been verified by the measured concentrations in tree bark and atmosphere in Beijing.     

Peroxidase-mediated removal of endocrine disrupting compound mixtures from water

Several classes of oxidative enzymes have shown promise for efficient removal of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) that are resistant to conventional wastewater treatments. Although the kinetics of reactions between individual EDCs and selected oxidative enzymes are well documented in the literature, there has been little investigation of reactions with EDC mixtures. This makes it impossible to predict how enzyme-mediated treatment systems will perform since wastewater effluents generally contain multiple EDCs. This paper reports pseudo-first order rate constants for a model oxidative enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), during single-substrate (k₁) and mixed-substrate (k_1-MIX) reactions. Measured values are compared with literature values of three Michaelis-Menten parameters: half-saturation constant (K_M), enzyme turnover number (k_CAT), and the ratio k_CAT/K_M. Published reports had suggested that each of these could be correlated with HRP reactivity towards EDCs in mixtures, and empirical results from this study show that K_M can be used to predict the sequence of EDC removal reactions within a particular mixture. We also observed that k_1-MIX values were generally greater than k₁ values and that compounds exhibiting greatest estrogenic toxicities reacted most rapidly in a given mixture. Finally, because K_M may be tedious to measure for every EDC of interest, we have constructed a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model to predict these values. This model predicts K_M quite accurately (R² = 89%) based on two molecular characteristics: molecular volume and hydration energy. Its accuracy makes this QSAR a useful tool for predicting which EDCs will be removed most efficiently during enzyme treatment of EDC mixtures.