Influences of suspended particles on the runoff of pesticides from an agricultural field at Askim, SE-Norway

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to study the loss of particles from agricultural fields, and the role of suspended particles in carrying pesticides in surface runoff and drainage water. Propiconazole, a widely used fungicide was applied to experimental fields located at Askim, SE-Norway. Samples from surface runoff and drainage water were collected and analyzed for sediment mass, pesticides, particulate and dissolved organic carbon through a whole year. The surface soil and the runoff material were characterized by its particle size distribution, organic carbon content in size fractions and its ability to bind propiconazole. The results show that (1) particle runoff mostly occurred during the rainfall event shortly after harrowing in autumn. The highest particle concentration observed in the surface runoff water was 4600 mg l(-1), and in the drainage water 1130 mg l(-1); (2) the erosion of surface soil is size selective. The runoff sediment contained finer particle/aggregates rich in organic matter compared to its original surface soil; (3) the distribution coefficient (Kd) of propiconazole was significantly higher in the runoff sediment than in the parent soil. According to our calculation, particle-bound propiconazole can represent up to 23% of the total amount of propiconazole in a water sample with a sediment concentration of 7600 mg l(-1), which will significantly influence the transport behavior of the pesticide.     

Aluminium and fluoride concentrations of three tea varieties growing at Lantau Island,Hong Kong

The present project aims to investigate aluminium (Al) and fluoride (F) contents in teas (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). Three different commercial tea varieties: Assam variety and two China sub-varieties, a large leafed variety and small leafed variety, were collected in two tea gardens of Lantau Island tea plantation of Hong Kong. In general, high concentrations of Al and F were accumulated in the mature leaves (15.3 and of 2.07 g kg^–1 respectively). Among the three varieties, the small leafed variety exhibited the highest Al and F contents followed by the large leafed variety whereas the Assam variety had the lowest Al and F concentrations in its tea bushes. Tea products from a plantation were also analysed and it was noted that black tea had higher Al and F concentrations than green tea. The amount of Al and F released into tea liquor was also tested and the results showed that higher concentrations of Al and F were released into tea liquor under repeated infusion method than continuous infusion method.     

The adsorption of lead and copper from aqueous solution on modified peat-resin particles

Raw peat was modified with sulfuric acid, then mixed modified with resin to prepare the modified peat-resin particles. Using the batch experimental systems, the removal of heavy metals (copper and lead) on the modified peat-resin particles was investigated. The data of the adsorption isotherm could be fitted by the Langmuir equation well. The adsorption rate of heavy metals on modified peat-resin particles was very swift. The removal processes of heavy metals on modified peat-resin particles could be well described by pseudo-second order model. The adsorption rate of lead was affected by the initial heavy metal concentration, initial pH, particle size, agitation speed and particle mass. In the adsorption of heavy metals (lead and copper) on the modified peat-resin particles, ion exchange was the major reaction mechanism. Desorption data showed that the lead adsorbed by modified peat-resin particle could be desorbed by 0.5 N or 1.0 N HNO3. The desorption rate was swift. The experiments indicated that the modified peat-resin particles have great potential for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater.     

Experimental ecology of the temperate scleractinian coral Astrangia danae

The combined effects of temperature, light and symbiont density on the metabolic rate and calcification of the temperate coral Astrangia danae were studied experimentally using colonies containing different concentrations of zooxanthellae. After acclimation to five temperatures between 6.5° and 27°C, and incubation at three light levels and in darkness, respiration and photosynthesis were measured and corrected for rates due to commensals alone. Calcification rates were regressed on zooxanthellae concentration and production in order to define “symbiotic” and “non-symbiotic” averages, and the enhancement of calcification by symbiotic interactions in the polyps. Respiration by the polyparium varied less with temperature between 11.5° and 23°C than that of the commensals, suggesting physiological acclimation by the coral tissue. In-vivo zooxanthellae photosynthesis increased linearly with temperature and was near its maximum at 400 μEin m^?2 s^?1, but the photosynthesis of the endolithic algae of the corallum varied little between 11.5° and 27°C. Calcification at any given temperature was near its maximum at 40 μEin m^?2 s^?1 in both symbiotic and non-symbiotic corals. CaCO₃ deposition increased linearly with temperature in non-symbiotic colonies and in symbiotic colonies incubated in the dark. In symbiotic colonies, calcification in the light increased above these basic rates as temperature rose above 15°C. Below 15°C, symbiotic interactions failed to stimulate calcification, apparently due both to a lowering of zooxanthellae photosynthesis and to a decrease in the enhancing effect of any given level of primary production.     

一种强富集砷的欧洲蕨——能从被污染土壤中萃取砷的耐寒、适应性强的速生植物

我们的研究首次发现一种耐寒的、适应性强的、速生的欧洲蕨，能在短时间内将土壤中有大量砷吸收并积累到其复叶之中，它不仅能祛除土壤中不同浓度的砷，还能祛除土壤中不同形态的砷，且欧洲蕨体内高达93％的砷被富集到复叶，从而使欧洲蕨成为修复土壤砷污染的救星。     

Field demonstration of in situ immobilization of soil Pb using P amendments

A long-term field-scale demonstration project on the feasibility of using P to immobilize Pb in a Pb-contaminated urban soil was conducted. Phosphate was applied at an average rate of 3040 mg P/kg soil based on a P/Pb molar ration of 4.0, with four treatments: T₀, no P application; T₁, H₃PO₄ only; T₂, 1/2 H₃PO₄+1/2 CaH₂PO₄; and T₃, 1/2 H₃PO₄+1/2 phosphate rock. Soil samples were collected and analyzed 220 days after the P applications. For all P treatments, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) extractable Pb levels in surface soils (0-10 cm) were reduced to below 5.0 mg Pb/l, with T₂ also effective in reducing the TCLP Pb level in subsurface soils (10-30 cm, <4.63 mg/l). Sequential extraction analysis indicates that P was effective in transforming soil Pb from non-residual fractions to a residual fraction. Such a transformation was mainly through dissolution of Pb associated with carbonate fraction and precipitation of pyromorphite-like minerals, which were confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Among these three treatments, T₃ was the most effective in reducing Pb mobility and minimizing P and Pb leaching in the soil. Our research clearly demonstrates that P amendments were effective in immobilizing Pb in contaminated soil.     

DNA changes in barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings induced by cadmium pollution using RAPD analysis

In recent years, several plant species have been used as bioindicators, and several tests have been developed to evaluate the toxicity of environmental contaminants on vegetal organisms. In this study, barley (Hordeum vulgare L) seedling was used as bioindicator of cadmium (Cd) pollution in the range of 30-120 mgl(-1). Inhibition of root growth and reduction of total soluble protein content in root tips of barley seedlings were observed with the increase of Cd concentrations. The changes occurring in random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles of root tips following Cd treatment included variation in band intensity, loss of normal bands and appearance of new bands compared with the normal seedlings. Additionally, we found that the effect of changes was dose-dependent. These results indicated that genomic template stability (a qualitative measure reflecting changes in RAPD profiles) was significantly affected at the above Cd concentration. Thus, DNA polymorphisms detected by RAPD analysis could be used as an investigation tool for environmental toxicology and as a useful biomarker assay for the detection of genotoxic effects of Cd pollution on plants.     

Revegetation of lagoon ash using the legume species Acacia auriculiformis and Leucaena leucocephala

A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the potential use of two legume species, Acacia auriculiformis and Leucaena leucocephala for growth on ameliorated lagoon ash with or without nitrogen (N(2))-fixing bacteria inoculation. Even though amendments of 30% (w/w) vermiculite or with sewage sludge compost were added to improve the chemical and physical limitations of lagoon ash, significant suppressions in biomass and plant nutrient content were found with ameliorated lagoon ash in comparison to an agricultural soil. The high proportion of clay-sized (<53 microm) ash particles limited root growth. In addition, heavy metal toxicity was a possible factor contributing to poor seedling growth. Higher plant productivity resulted from the sewage sludge compost-amended lagoon ash than with vermiculite due to a greater contribution of plant nutrients in the compost. Nodulation was inhibited in ameliorated lagoon ash but not in agricultural soil. High pH and electrical conductivity and elevated toxic metals may be important parameters that limit bacterial activity. Both species showed potential to establish on amended lagoon ash, with Acacia auriculiformis being the best adapted.     

Physiological mechanism of plant roots exposed to cadmium

Physiological experiments on plant roots exposed to cadmium were conducted on carrot and radish using a liquid culture and a pot experiment with a series of cadmium applications. Activities of four enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase), and concentrations of free proline and malonaldehyde in the roots of both plants were investigated. Results showed that the germination rate and growth of roots of both plants were inhibited at the concentration of 20 mg Cd/l, and the inhibition was increased with the increasing concentrations of cadmium, both in the liquid culture and in the pot experiment; activities of the four enzymes declined similarly in both species. The concentration of proline in roots reached the maximum when the application of cadmium was at the level of 20 mg/l in the liquid culture (or 20 mg/kg in soil), and then it declined slowly with the increasing concentration of cadmium. However, the reverse trend was observed for the concentration of malonaldehyde. All of bio-indicators measured here was quite sensitive to the addition of cadmium.     

Evaluation of phosphorus bioavailability in sediments of three contrasting lakes in China and the UK

The bioavailability of phosphorus (P) in sediments from West Lake and Lake Tai (China) and Lough Erne (Northern Ireland) was evaluated using total P (TP), water soluble P (WSP), readily desorbable P (RDP), algal available P (AAP) and Olsen-P. The results indicated that the TP content, the amounts of phosphorus extracted by each method and their proportions to TP varied widely between sediments of the three lakes. TP and chemical extractable phosphorus in the sediments of Lough Erne were considerably higher than those of the two lakes in China. Although TP in the West Lake sediments was similar to that of Lake Tai, the extractable phosphorus data suggested that the bioavailability of P in West Lake sediments was higher than that in sediments from Lake Tai. Nevertheless, the rank order of extraction efficiency was the same in all lakes and the amount extracted was in the sequence AAP > Olsen-P > WSP > RDP. There was a good correlation between extracted and TP in all the methods examined.