Impact of industrial effluent on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in silty clay loam soil

Degradation of soil and water from discharge of untreated industrial effluent is alarming in Bangladesh. Therefore, buildup of heavy metals in soil from contaminated effluent, their entry into the food chain and effects on rice yield were quantified in a pot experiment. The treatments were comprised of 0, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% industrial effluents applied as irrigation water. Effluents, initial soil, different parts of rice plants and post-harvest pot soil were analyzed for various elements, including heavy metals. Application of elevated levels of effluent contributed to increased heavy metals in pot soils and rice roots due to translocation effects, which were transferred to rice straw and grain. The results indicated that heavy metal toxicity may develop in soil because of contaminated effluent application. Heavy metals are not biodegradable, rather they accumulate in soils, and transfer of these metals from effluent to soil and plant cells was found to reduce the growth and development of rice plants and thereby contributed to lower yield. Moreover, a higher concentration of effluent caused heavy metal toxicity as well as reduction of growth and yield of rice, and in the long run a more aggravated situation may threaten human lives, which emphasizes the obligatory adoption of effluent treatment before its release to the environment, and regular monitoring by government agencies needs to be ensured.     

Effects of dam on temperature,humidity and precipitation of surrounding area: a case study of Gomal Zam Dam in Pakistan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dams are studied not only for potential advantages but also for possible environmental repercussions. The objective of this case study is to see the...     

Spatial distribution of drinking and irrigation water quality indices of Ghizer River Basin,northern Pakistan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Determining the water contamination of a river that threatens the dependent ecological community is a pillar for sustainable management. For this...     

The dynamics effect of green technology innovation on economic growth and CO2 emission in Singapore: new evidence from bootstrap ARDL approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - For an economy to excel in growth, there is usually a trade-off between financial development and environment deterioration. For a country like...     

Organopesticides and fertility: where does the link lead to?

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Organopesticides (OPs) are a group of various synthetic chemicals prevalently used in agriculture and homestead plantations. OPs were originally...     

Correction to: Determining soil quality in urban agricultural regions by soil enzyme-based index

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Unfortunately, in the original publication of the article, Prof. Yang Sik Ok’s affiliation was incorrectly published. The author’s affiliation is...     

Uptake and distribution of phenanthrene and pyrene in roots and shoots of maize (Zea mays L.)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as byproducts of carbon-based fuel combustion are an important group of pollutants with wide distribution in the environment. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are known as toxic compounds for almost all organisms. Different plant species can uptake polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by roots and translocate them to various aerial parts. The aim of this study is to investigate the uptake, translocation, and accumulation of pyrene and phenanthrene in maize under controlled conditions. Seeds were cultivated in perlite containing 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm of phenanthrene and pyrene, and their concentrations in the roots and shoots of the plants were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography technique after 7, 14, and 21 days. The results revealed that phenanthrene naturally existed in maize and its concentration showed a time-dependent decrease in shoots and roots. In contrast, the concentration of pyrene was increased in the roots and reduced in the shoots. Although pyrene had higher uptake than phenanthrene in roots of maize, the translocation factor value for pyrene was lower than for phenanthrene. According to these findings, phenanthrene could be metabolized in maize in the shoot and root tissues, but pyrene had more tendency to be accumulated in roots.

     

Characteristics of pipe corrosion scales in untreated water distribution system and effect on water quality in Peshawar,Pakistan

This study investigated the characteristics of iron corrosion scales in pipes at tube well, overhead tank, and consumers’ end in older untreated water distribution system in Peshawar city, Pakistan. Effect of water quality conditions on corrosion scales and that of scales on drinking water quality in such systems was also assessed by undertaking a comparison with new piped distribution systems. The scales were analyzed for chemical composition and morphology using X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), while water quality was examined for physicochemical and biological characteristics. The main crystalline phases of corrosion scales were goethite, magnetite, siderite, and quartz. From tube well to consumers’ end, goethite increased from 36 up to 48%, quartz declined from 22 to 15%, while magnetite fluctuated and siderite disappeared. Elemental composition of scales showed the deposition of Zn, Al, Mn, Cr, Pb, Cu, As, and Cd with Zn (13.9 g/kg) and Al (3.6 g/kg) in highest proportion. The SEM analysis illustrated the presence of microbial communities indicating the formation of biofilms in the corrosion scales. The significant difference (P <?0.05) in levels of dissolved oxygen (DO), Cl^?, SiO₄^4?, electrical conductivity (EC), SO₄^2?, NO₃^?, alkalinity, hardness, and trace metals between old (DS-O) and new piped systems indicated their role in corrosion scale formation/destabilization and the effect of scale dissolution on water quality. In DS-O, EC, Cu, and Mn were significantly higher (P?<?0.05), whereas turbidity, EC, DO, and SiO₄^4? significantly increased from source to consumers’ end implying a higher dissolution of scales and lowered corrosion rates in DS-O to utilize SiO₄^4? and DO for iron oxidation.

     

Engineered biochar composites with zeolite,silica, and nano-zerovalent iron for the efficient scavenging of chlortetracycline from aqueous solutions

Date palm waste–derived biochar (DBC) was produced through pyrolysis (600 °C) and modified with zeolite (Z-DBC), silica (S-DBC), or nano-zerovalent iron (nZVI-DBC) to design efficient sorbents. The pristine and engineered biochars were characterized by SEM, XRD, BET, TGA, CHNS-O, and FTIR to investigate the surface, structural, and mineralogical composition. The nZVI-DBC exhibited lowest pH (6.15) and highest surface area (220.92 m² g⁻¹), carbon (80.55%), nitrogen (3.78%), and hydrogen (11.09%) contents compared with other biochars. Isotherm sorption data for chlortetracycline (CTC) removal from aqueous solutions was described well by Langmuir and Redlich–Peterson isotherms showing the highest fitness (R² values in the range of 0.88–0.98 and 0.88–0.99, respectively). Langmuir predicted maximum CTC adsorption capacity was in order of nZVI-DBC (89.05 mg g⁻¹) > S-DBC (45.57 mg g⁻¹) > Z-DBC (30.42 mg g⁻¹) > DBC (28.19 mg g⁻¹). Kinetics adsorption data was best described by power function model (R² = 0.93–0.99), followed by interaparticle diffusion (R² = 0.85–0.96) model. The nZVI-DBC performed outclass by removing 98% of CTC, followed by S-DBC (68%), Z-DBC (35%), and DBC (36%). Chemisorption, H-bonding, and interaparticle diffusion were the operating mechanisms for CTC adsorption onto DBC, S-DBC, and Z-DBC, while π-π electron donor–accepter interactions and redox reactions augmented these mechanisms for highest CTC adsorption onto nZVI-DBC. Therefore, nZVI-DBC may serve as an efficient green technology for the removal of CTC from aqueous solutions and to reduce surface date palm waste pollution.

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Complexing agents for metal removal using ultrafiltration membranes: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Water pollution by human activities is major issue. In particular, toxic metals are of particular concern, thus calling for advanced methods to remove metals from...