Changes of organic acid exudation and rhizosphere pH in rice plants under chromium stress.

The effect of chromium (Cr) stress on the changes of rhizosphere pH, organic acid exudation, and Cr accumulation in plants was studied using two rice genotypes differing in grain Cr accumulation. The results showed that rhizosphere pH increased with increasing level of Cr in the culture solution and with an extended time of Cr exposure. Among the six organic acids examined in this experiment, oxalic and malic acid contents were relatively higher, and had a significant positive correlation with the rhizosphere pH, indicating that they play an important role in changing rhizosphere pH. The Cr content in roots was significantly higher than that in stems and leaves. Cr accumulation in plants was significantly and positively correlated with rhizosphere pH, and the exudation of oxalic, malic and citric acids, suggesting that an increase in rhizosphere pH, and exudation of oxalic, malic and citric acid enhances Cr accumulation in rice plants.     

Sorption of polar and nonpolar aromatic compounds to four surface soils of eastern China

Improved predictions on the fate of organic pollutants in surface environments require a better understanding of the underlying sorption mechanisms that control their uptake by soils. In this study, we monitored sorption of nine aromatic compounds with varying physicochemical properties (hydrophobicity, electron-donor/acceptor ability and polarity), including two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, two chlorobenzenes, two nitroaromatic compounds, dichlobenil, carbaryl and 2,4-dichlorophenol in aqueous suspension of four surface soils of eastern China. The tested soils were characterized with respect to organic carbon (OC) content, black carbon content, mineralogy, morphology and size fraction to assess the role of the diverse soil characteristics in sorption. The results of this study show that not only the solute hydrophobicity and the OC content of soil are important to the retention of organic pollutants, but also the solute molecular structure and the soil nature.     

Modulation of steroidogenesis by coastal waters and sewage effluents of Hong Kong, China, using the H295R assay

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The presence of a variety of pollutants in the aquatic environment that can potentially interfere with the production of sex steroid hormones in wildlife and humans has been of increasing concern. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of extracts from Hong Kong marine waters, and influents and effluents from wastewater treatment plants on steroidogenesis using the H295R cell bioassay. After exposing H295R cells to extracts of water, the expression of four steroidogenic genes and the production of three steroid hormones were measured. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water samples were collected during the summer of 2005 from 24 coastal marine areas and from the influents and effluents of two major waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in Hong Kong, China. Samples were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE). H295R cells were exposed for 48 h to dilutions of these extracts. Modulations of the expression of the steroidogenic genes CYP19, CYP17, 3betaHSD2, and CYP11beta2 were determined by measuring mRNA concentrations by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR). Production of the hormones progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and testosterone (T) was quantified using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: Extracts from samples collected in two fish culture areas inhibited growth and proliferation of H295R cells at concentrations greater or equal to 10(5) L equivalents. The cells were exposed to the equivalent concentration of active substances in 10,000 L of water. Thus, to observe the same level of effect as observed in vitro on aquatic organisms would require a bioaccumulation factor of this same magnitude. None of the other 22 marine samples affected growth of the cells at any dilution tested. Twelve of the marine water samples completely inhibited the expression of CYP19 without affecting E2 production; inhibition of CYP17 expression was observed only in one of the samples while expression of CYP11beta2 was induced as much as five- and ninefold after exposure of cells to extracts from two locations. The expression of the progesterone gene 3betaHSD2 was not affected by any of the samples; only one sample induced approximately fourfold the production of E2. Although more than twofold inductions were observed for P and T production, none of these values were statistically significant to conclude effects on the production of these two hormones. While influents from WWTPs did not affect gene expression, an approximately 30% inhibition in the production of E2 and a 40% increase in P occurred for the exposure with influents from the Sha Tin and Stonecutters WWTPs, respectively. Effluents from WWTPs did not affect the production of any of the studied hormones, but a decrement in the expression of the aldosterone gene CYP11beta2 was observed for the Sha Tin WWTP exposure. No direct correlation could be established between gene expression and hormone production. DISCUSSION: Observed cytotoxicity in the two samples from fish culture areas suggest the presence of toxic compounds; chemical analysis is required for their full identification. Although effluents from WWTPs did not affect hormone production, other types of endocrine activity such as receptor-mediated effects cannot be ruled out. Interactions due to the complexity of the samples and alternative steroidogenic pathways might explain the lack of correlation between gene expression and hormone production results. CONCLUSIONS: Changes observed in gene expression and hormone production suggest the presence in Hong Kong coastal waters of pollutants with endocrine disruption potential and others of significant toxic effects. The aromatase and aldosterone genes seem to be the most affected by the exposures, while E2 and P are the hormones with more significant changes observed. Results also suggest effectiveness in the removing of compounds with endocrine activity by the WWTPs studied, as effluent samples did not significantly affect hormone production. The H295R cell showed to be a valuable toll in the battery required for the analysis of endocrine disrupting activities of complex environmental samples. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Due to the intrinsic complexity of environmental samples, a combination of analytical tools is required to realistically assess environmental conditions, especially in aquatic systems. In the evaluation of endocrine disrupting activities, the H295R cell bioassay should be used in combination with other genomic, biological, chemical, and hydrological tests to establish viable modes for endocrine disruption and identify compounds responsible for the observed effects.     

淀山湖沉水植物死亡分解过程中营养物质的释放

测定了上海淀山湖5种常见沉水植物的营养成分含量及其死亡后在好氧(DO>3.5 mg/L)或低氧(DO<3.5 mg/L)状态下分解释放TN、TP和有机物(以高锰酸盐指数计,下同)等营养物质的动态过程,并对营养物质释放强度与营养成分含量的相关性进行了分析.结果表明, 5种沉水植物中,金鱼藻的TN和TP含量最高,质量分数分别为(4.07±0.22)%和(0.99±0.09)%;好氧状态下TN和有机物的释放强度大于低氧状态,两种状态下TP的释放强度没有显著差异;TP的释放比TN快,一般需10 d左右,而TN和有机物的释放分别需要29 d和20 d左右;在好氧状态下,NO-2-N、NO-3-N和可溶性总磷酸盐的平均释放强度与植物TN含量呈显著正相关(p<0.05),NH 4-N的平均释放强度与植物TP含量呈显著正相关(p<0.05);在低氧状态下,NO-2-N的平均释放强度与植物TN含量、NO-3-N的平均释放强度与植物TP含量分别呈显著正相关(p<0.05);有机物的平均释放强度与植物TP含量呈极显著负相关(p<0.01).     

生物接触氧化处理渗滤液有机物的动力学模型研究

以重庆黑石子垃圾填埋场渗滤液生物接触氧化工艺为依托,针对其处理效果的局限性,设计了强化预处理-生物接触氧化反应器,并进行生物接触氧化反应器试验及其有机物降解动力学模型研究,旨在优化运行参数,提高渗滤液处理效果.结果表明,改进后系统比原工艺处理效果好,COD、NH4 -N、TN平均去除率分别达到95.83%、97.60%、85.60%;出水水质得到大幅度提高,出水COD、NH4 -N、TN平均质量浓度分别为235、35、199 mg/L.对生物接触氧化反应器内垃圾渗滤液有机物降解生化反应过程进行量化研究,得到微生物生长动力学模型为1/θc=0.918 7q-0.002 5;根据生物接触氧化反应器内基质消耗过程的物料平衡,得到生物接触氧化反应器处理垃圾渗滤液有机物生物降解的动力学模型为q=1.09S/(10 230 S).试验结果为生物接触氧化反应器的优化控制、设计与放大提供了参考依据.     

折板絮凝池流场的粒子图像测速试验研究

利用粒子图像测速(PIV)技术对折板絮凝池模型中的复杂流场进行测量,分析了折板絮凝池的缩放单元和转折单元内部流场对絮凝效果的影响机制.絮凝试验表明,90°异波折板与90°同波波折板组合的浊度去除率最高,达到了97.7%,这对折板絮凝池的成本效益设计提供了理论依据.     

电动力学技术修复苯酚污染土壤的研究

用电动力学技术对苯酚污染砂土的修复进行了实验研究.探讨了苯酚污染砂土电动力学修复的可行性及在不同电场强度下苯酚的迁移特征和机制.研究了采用添加阴离子表面活性剂十二烷基苯磺酸钠(LAS)和控制液(柠檬酸和NaOH)等对迁移效果的影响,以及苯酚在砂土中的迁移和分布规律.实验结果表明,在电场作用下苯酚在砂土中发生富集.在电场强度为2.0V/cm时的苯酚富集效果明显,比在电场强度为0.5 V/cm时苯酚多增加30%,且向阳极的迁移距离增大了12 cm;在阴极添加不同浓度的LAS,苯酚在砂土中的富集效果不同,LAS浓度越大向阳极迁移得越快富集效果越明显,当LAS为0.046 0 mol/L时苯酚最高增加了143%;向阳极添加NaOH,苯酚在阳极区增加了136%,比向阴极添加柠檬酸的效果明显.     

鲅鱼乙酰胆碱酯酶对海水甲基对硫磷的响应条件研究

动物体内乙酰胆碱酯酶(ACHE)的活性变化常被用于表征环境中有机磷农药(OPs)的污染状况.以鲅鱼脑组织AChE粗酶液为试验材料,以甲基对硫磷为OPs代表,从不同条件海水中鲅鱼AChE的活性变化人手,优化甲基对硫磷对鲅鱼AChE活性的抑制条件,获得了甲基对硫磷浓度与AChE活性抑制程度之间的关系曲线.结果表明,抑制时间为30min,温度为35℃,海水pH为7.5时,鲅鱼AChE的活性较高,甲基对硫磷对其抑制程度最强;在最佳的抑制条件下,甲基对硫磷在10～500 μg/L时,其质量浓度与AChE活性抑制率之间具有良好的线性关系(R=0.994 4),检测下限低于1.0 μg/L.     

好氧颗粒污泥降解甲基叔丁醚的实验研究

以絮状活性污泥为接种污泥,以甲基叔丁醚(MTBE)为唯一碳源,通过调控运行参数,在SBR反应器中可成功培养出降解MTBE的好氧颗粒污泥.成熟的好氧颗粒污泥平均粒径为202.7 μm,污泥容积指数(SVI)为75 mg/L,污泥混合液挥发性悬浮固体(MLVSS)为1 311 mg/L,污泥表面可观察到球菌、短杆菌和长杆菌等不同菌落.反应器进水MTBE高达650 mg/L时,出水可维持在10 mg/L以下,去除率达98%以上(其中挥发部分约占25%).变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)指纹图表明,稳定阶段污泥内微生物种群丰富,且种类与数量基本保持稳定.     

Fenton法氧化处理水中土霉素的研究

为了评价Fenton法预处理抗生素生产废水中残留的高浓度土霉素的可行性,对Fenton试剂(Fe2 -H2O2)法催化氧化降解水溶液中的土霉素进行了研究.探讨了H2O2与Fe2 投加比例、投加量以及起始pH值对降解效果的影响,同时考察了土霉素废水中大量共存的草酸根离子对氧化过程的影响.结果表明,当H2O2与Fe2 按照5:1的比例投加时降解效率最高,最佳初始pH值在3.0-4.0之间.在最佳投加比例下,H2O2投加量为0.9 mmol/L,100 mg/L的土霉素可在10 min内得到完全降解.最佳反应条件下经过处理后土霉素水溶液TOC的去除率达40%左右,可生化性(BOD5/COD)也得到明显的改善.水中共存的草酸根离子对氧化效率具有明显的影响,但通过增加亚铁离子的量可以消除草酸的影响.