Risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s via Spinacia oleracea ingestion after sewage water irrigation practices in Vehari District

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The use of sewage water as an irrigation source can be beneficial in agricultural practices, however, it may result in human health risks due to the...     

Extent and causes of 3D spatial variations in potential N mineralization and the risk of ammonium and nitrate leaching from an N-impacted permanent grassland near York, UK

Changes in the dynamics of inorganic N species transformations with depth have been investigated for seven soil profiles from a nitrogen-impacted ancient grassland on a nature reserve outside York in the UK, using incubation experiments. In five of the profiles, both ammonification and nitrification are occurring below the rooting zone, probably partly in response to the low C:N ratio in the soils. This contributes to elevated nitrate concentrations found in an adjacent stream. Accumulation of ammonium during incubation in the sub-soils of these five profiles suggests a high probability of ammonium leaching down the profiles as ammonium inputs and outputs at a given depth approach equilibrium. This ammonium may also be nitrified at depth. However, in the two profiles with the most acidic surface horizons, net mineralization was negligible or negative; some initial ammonium-N and ammonium-N produced during incubation were nitrified, so the loss in ammonium-N was closely balanced by nitrate-N production.     

Pesticide burden on some insects of economic importance in Lucknow (India)

Some insects of economic importance from Lucknow (India) have been investigated for their pesticide burden. Chlorinated pesticide residues of DDT, BHC and aldrin along with their metabolites and isomers have been detected in crop pollinating insects, honeybees (Apis indica) and butterflies (Danais chrysippus and Eurema sp.) and predators, dragonfly (Platythemis sp.) and wasps (Polistes herebreus). DDT and their metabolites were present in concentrations which varied from 231–796 ng g^–1, followed by BHC (10–60 ng g^–1), and aldrin (0.26–6.68 ng g^–1). This finding is likely to stimulate newer interest in the area of pesticide research and start meaningful investigation to find if bioaccumulated pesticides would have adverse impact on otherwise beneficial potentials of such insects in our ecosystems.     

长期施肥对棕壤有机碳储量及固碳速率的影响

利用棕壤肥料长期定位试验,研究了不同施肥条件下棕壤有机碳在0~60 cm土层的含量和储量特征以及土壤固碳速率.试验共设6个处理,即氮磷肥有机肥配施(M_2NP)、氮肥有机肥配施(M_2N)、单施有机肥(M_2)、单施氮肥(N)、氮磷肥配施(NP)和不施肥处理(CK).结果表明:经过31年长期不同施肥,各处理土壤有机碳(SOC)含量和储量的剖面分布均呈现随土层深度增加而显著降低的规律.本试验条件下M_2NP、M_2N、M_2、NP、N、CK处理的耕层有机碳富集系数分别为0.465、0.455、0.407、0.48_2、0.393、0.471,表明耕层土壤对有机碳的保持强度最强.在0~60 cm土层土壤有机碳储量表现为M_2NP、M_2NM_2、NPNCK,有机肥和化肥配施能够显著提高土壤有机碳含量和储量.与试验前相比,CK处理各土层土壤有机碳含量和储量均显著降低.各处理碳库管理指数(CPMI)表现为M_2NPM_2NM_2NNPCK.分析不同施肥处理土壤固碳速率可知,与试验前相比,CK处理表现为碳的净释放,固碳速率达-401.4 kg·hm~(-_2)·a~(-1);固碳速率最高的为M_2NP,M_2N,分别达到489kg·hm~(-_2)·a~(-1)、440._2 kg·hm~(-_2)·a~(-1).综合结果表明,化肥、有机肥配施所产生交互效应更有利于棕壤有机碳储量的增加及固碳速率的提高.     

Used lubricating oil recycling using hydrocarbon solvents

A solvent extraction process using new hydrocarbon solvents was employed to treat used lubricant oil. The solvents used were liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) condensate and stabilized condensate. A demulsifier was used to enhance the treatment process. The extraction process using stabilized condensate demonstrated characteristics that make it competitive with existing used oil treatment technologies. The process is able to reduce the asphaltene content of the treated lubricating oil to 0.106% (w/w), the ash content to 0.108%, and the carbon residue to 0.315% with very low levels of contaminant metals. The overall yield of oil is 79%. The treated used oil can be recycled as base lubricating oil. The major disadvantage of this work is the high temperature of solvent recovery. Experimental work and results are presented in detail.     

Potential contributions of clay minerals and organic matter to pentachlorophenol retention in soils

Sorption of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by pure minerals and humic acids were measured to obtain additional perspective on the potential contributions of both clay minerals and soil organic matter (SOM) to contaminants retention in soils. Four types of common soil minerals and two kinds of humic acids (HAs) were tested. The sorption affinity for PCP conformed to an order of HAs > K-montmorillonite > Ca-montmorillonite > goethite > kaolinite. Such a difference in sorption capacity could be attributed to the crucial control of HAs. Clay minerals also had their contribution, especially K-montmorillonite, which played an important, if not dominant, role in the controlling process of PCP sorption. By removing 80% (on average) of the organic carbon from the soils with H(2)O(2), the sorption decreased by an average of 50%. The sorption reversibility had been greatly favored as well. Considering the uncharged mineral fractions in soil before and after H(2)O(2)-treated, the main variation in sorption behavior of the soil might thus be related to the removed organic carbon and the reduced pH. This testified rightly the interactive effect of SOM and clay minerals on PCP sorption as a function of pH.     

Biomarkers of pyrethroid toxicity in fish

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Pesticides contribute to human welfare by reducing vector-borne diseases and protecting crops against pests. Insecticides are the most widely employed pesticides...     

Emergency preparedness through game playing

The lack of emergency preparedness in Mauritius has been the cause of many tragedies. Our approach to tackle this problem was by developing an emergency preparedness game layered and fused with a disaster warning and guidance system that emanates clarity to the unfathomable bearings of emergencies and natural disasters. The emergency preparedness game is based on a selection of diverse real life-threatening difficulties that entail different strategies aimed at bettering the survival instincts of users. It uses story-telling scenarios along with in-game footnotes that yield directives on how to brave fierce and unpredictable calamities. The game reinforces a sense of self-composedness and suppressing untimely fears of users in horrendous circumstances. With regard to the warning system, it unremittingly feeds users with notifications during emergencies, that encases shortest escape routes to lead them to safe locations via a fully functional GPS map. This application brings some novelties that are virtually non-existent in related applications. For instance, this application includes a warning and guidance system, a 3D scenario game to prepare its users for disasters, an interactive survival toolkit selection, an SMS rescue feature and a mass notification system via the web.