Temporal variability in 20 chemical elements content of Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) collected from two sites over a few years

Mature specimens of Parasol Mushroom were collected annually in the outskirts of the Siemiany (2000–2003) and Rafa (2001–2003) sites in the northern part of Poland to examine temporal variations and similarities in the composition of 20 chemical elements. Analysis was done under the same condition and using well-validated analytical methods. Elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy and cold vapour–atomic absorption spectroscopy (Hg). The ranges of Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr and Zn concentrations in the caps of fruiting bodies were similar (p > 0.05; Mann-Whitney U test) for both geographically distant sites, and these specimens from Rafa were more contaminated with Pb (p < 0.05; Mann-Whitney U test). The annual collections of caps in the Siemiany site varied in Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Na, Rb and Sr and contents (0.05 < p < 0.001), while they were similar in Cr, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb and Zn (p > 0.05; Mann-Whitney U test). The annual collections of specimens from the Rafa site varied in contents of Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, P, Rb and Zn (p > 0.05), while they were similar in Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Na, Ni, Pb and Sr (p < 0.05). The results of this study imply that metallic elements content of Parasol Mushroom collected at the same undisrupted sites, and hence keeping the same geochemical condition for mushroom development and fructification (the same stands and probably the same mycelia), can fluctuate over the years or the life-span of mycelium. Hence, when assessing the nutritional value of essential metallic elements and status of non-essential or toxic metallic elements in Parasol's Mushroom caps (and probably also of other mushrooms species) to man, the possible fluctuation in contents over time have to be taken into account.     

Selection of sorption material for tests of pesticide permeation through protective clothing fabrics.

The paper presents the results of studies on selecting a solid sorption material for absorbing liquid crop protection agents which permeate samples of protective clothing fabrics. The sorption materials were investigated and selected with an assumption that they should have a high recovery coefficient for biologically active substances, used as active ingredients in crop protection agents, at a presumed, acceptably high level. The selected substances were determined with a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (dichlorvos, cypermethrin and 2,4-D) and a nitrogen-phosphorus detector (carbofuran). The tests demonstrated that polypropylene melt-blown type unwoven cloth had high recovery coefficients for all 4 active ingredients proposed for the study. The highest recovery coefficient, -.97, was obtained for carbofuran. The recovery coefficients obtained for the 3 remaining substances were lower: .89 for cypermethrin and 2,4-D, and .84 for dichlorvos.     

Anaerobic co-digestion of swine and poultry manure with municipal sewage sludge

The anaerobic digestion of municipal sewage sludge (SS) with swine manure (SM) and poultry manure (PM) was undertaken. It was found that a mixture of sewage sludge with a 30% addition of swine manure gave around 400 dm³/kgVS of biogas, whereas the maximal biogas yield from ternary mixture (SS:SM:PM = 70:20:10 by weight) was only 336 dm³/kgVS. An inhibition of methanogenesis by free ammonia was observed in poultry manure experiments. The anaerobic digestion was inefficient in pathogen inactivation as the reduction in the number of E. coli an Enterobacteriaceae was only by one logarithmic unit. A substantial portion of pathogens was also released into the supernatant.     

The variability of PCDD/F concentrations in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants with regard to their hydrological environment

The occurrence, concentrations, patterns, and loads of 17 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were determined in treated wastewater collected at the outlets from 14 wastewater treatment plants (WTPs), divided into three size categories. The analysis also considered the effect of wastewater outflow on the final concentrations of PCDDs/Fs, as the samples were collected during flooding and stable hydrological conditions. None of the studied WTPs were found to completely remove toxic congeners of PCDDs/Fs from wastewater: the PCDD concentrations in the outgoing effluent during stable wastewater flow ranged from 2.99 to 177.19 pg/L, PCDFs from 6.05 to 51.30 pg/L, and the Toxic Equivalent (TEQ) was between 0.94 and 4.87 pg/L. The results from high wastewater flow were less diversified, ranging from 5.04 to 8.85 pg/L for PCDDs, from 11.47 to 32.33 pg/L for PCDFs and from 2.00 to 4.65 pg/L for TEQ. The smallest WTPs demonstrated the highest average total and TEQ concentrations due to limited volume, short retention time and outdated technology, and, hence, insufficient treatment efficiency. The largest WTPs have the potential to substantially affect the quality of river water, as despite being associated with the lowest concentrations, they released much greater volumes of treated wastewater and, hence, the greatest amounts of analyzed compounds. Elevated TEQ values were observed at high flow in all WTP size categories indicating the impact of high and stable wastewater flow on the concentrations of the observed PCDDs/Fs.     

Localization and density of phoretic deutonymphs of the mite Uropoda orbicularis (Parasitiformes: Mesostigmata) on Aphodius beetles (Aphodiidae) affect pedicel length

The phoretic stage of Uropodina mites is a deutonymph with developed morphological adaptations for dispersal by insects. Phoretic deutonymphs are able to produce a pedicel, a stalk-like temporary attachment structure that connects the mite with the carrier. The aim of our study was to determine whether localization and density of phoretic deutonymphs on the carrier affect pedicel length. The study was conducted on a common phoretic mite—Uropoda orbicularis (Uropodina) and two aphodiid beetles—Aphodius prodromus and Aphodius distinctus. Our results show that pedicel length is influenced by the localization of deutonymphs on the body of the carrier. The longest pedicels are produced by deutonymphs attached to the upper part of elytra, whereas deutonymphs attached to femora and trochanters of the third pair of legs and the apex of elytra construct the shortest pedicels. In general, deutonymphs attached to more exposed parts of the carrier produce longer pedicels, whereas shorter pedicels are produced when deutonymphs are fixed to non-exposed parts of the carrier. A second factor influencing pedicel length is the density of attached deutonymphs. Mean pedicel length and deutonymph densities were highly correlated: higher deutonymph density leads to the formation of longer pedicels. The cause for this correlation is discussed, and we conclude that pedicel length variability can increase successful dispersal.     

Structural and Thermal Properties of Starch Plasticized with Glycerol/Urea Mixture

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The paper presents the results of research on the influence of used plasticizing system on the structural and thermal properties of thermoplastic starch...     

Accuracy of assessing the level of impulse sound from distant sources.

Impulse sound events are characterised by ultra high pressures and low frequencies. Lower frequency sounds are generally less attenuated over a given distance in the atmosphere than higher frequencies. Thus, impulse sounds can be heard over greater distances and will be more affected by the environment. To calculate a long-term average immission level it is necessary to apply weighting factors like the probability of the occurrence of each weather condition during the relevant time period. This means that when measuring impulse noise at a long distance it is necessary to follow environmental parameters in many points along the way sound travels and also to have a database of sound transfer functions in the long term. The paper analyses the uncertainty of immission measurement results of impulse sound from cladding and destroying explosive materials. The influence of environmental conditions on the way sound travels is the focus of this paper.     

Profile of trace elements in Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) from Tucholskie Forest

The aim of this study was to determine 19 elements contents and bioconcentration potential in fruiting bodies of Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) collected from the Tucholskie Forest complex in Poland. Also discussed were Cd, Pb and Hg contents of edible caps in relation to the current regulatory standards. K, P and Mg were particularly abundant in caps and stipes, median values were 38-49, 13, and 1.6-1.6 mg/g dry weight, and followed by Ca, Na and Rb at 110-540, 44-240 and 20-50 μg/g dw, respectively. Concentrations of Al, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn were from less than 50 to 180 μg/g dw, while concentrations of other elements were ～l.0?μg/g dw or less. Cu, K, Ag, Cd, Na, Rb, Zn and Hg were bioconcentrated (BCF >1), while Al, Ba, Fe, Mn, Co, Sr, Pb and Cr were not bioaccumulated (BCF <1). Cd and Pb content of Parasol Mushroom's edible caps collected from some sites in the Tucholskie Forest exceed the maximum levels set in the EU for cultivated mushrooms.     

Assessment of the content,occurrence, and leachability of arsenic,lead, and thallium in wastes from coal cleaning processes

The aim of the study was to evaluate the content, occurrence, and leachability of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and thallium (Tl) in wastes from coal cleaning processes with respect to the safe management of this waste. The study focused on wastes resulting from the wet gravitation and flotation processes employed for the purposes of coking coal cleaning in four coal mines situated in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (Poland). The scope of the study included (i) determination of the content of these elements in the investigated wastes using atomic absorption spectrometry, (ii) evaluation of their mode of occurrence using electron microprobe analysis, and (iii) preliminary assessment of their leachability in deionized water. The content of the analyzed elements in the examined samples of coal waste was twice as high as the average content of these elements in the Earth’s crust. The contents of As and Pb, however, did not exceed their permissible contents in inert waste in accordance with Polish legal regulations based on EU directives. The limit on the content of Tl is not specified by these regulations, but its amount in the examined samples was similar to that occurring in the soils. Moreover, leaching tests have shown that these elements are hardly eluted from the analyzed material. Their content in the water leachates was generally lower than the detection limit of the analytical method, complying with the standards for good and very good water quality. Low leachability of these elements most probably results from their mode of occurrence in the investigated wastes. The chemical analysis using an electron microprobe and the analysis of the correlation between these elements, e.g., total and pyritic sulfur, have shown that Pb, As, and Tl are mainly found in sulfide minerals which are characterized by negligible solubility. In conclusion, the investigated hard coal processing waste does not constitute a threat to the environment and can be commercially used or safely neutralized, e.g., by landfilling.

     

Relations between metals (Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu) and glutathione-dependent detoxifying enzymes in spiders from a heavy metal pollution gradient

We studied the relations between glutathione-dependent detoxifying enzymes and heavy metal burdens in the web-building spider Agelena labyrinthica (Agelenidae) and the wolf spider Pardosa lugubris (Lycosidae) from five meadow sites along a heavy metal pollution gradient. We assayed the activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidases (GPOX, GSTPx), and glutathione (GSH) levels in both sexes. Except for GSH vs Pb content, we found significant correlations between GPOX and GSTPx activity and metal concentrations in females of A. labyrinthica. The highest activity of these enzymes measured in the web-building spiders was found in the individuals from the most polluted sites. In P. lugubris males significant correlations were found between GST and Pb and Zn concentrations, and between GPOX and GSTPx and the concentration of Cu. GST activity was higher in males collected from less polluted areas. Thus, detoxifying strategies against pollutants seemed to be sex-dependent. Actively hunting spiders had higher metal concentrations, maintaining lower activity of detoxifying enzymes and a lower glutathione level.