The effect of spent bleaching earth ageing process on its physicochemical and microbial composition and its potential use as a source of fatty acids and triterpenes

This study was aimed at investigating the physicochemical and microbiological changes that took place during the ageing process of spent bleaching earth in the presence of autochthonous microorganisms. Research material included fresh spent bleaching earth (SBE₀) and the same material after 3 years of storage at the constant temperature of 20 °C, without aeration and moistening (SBE₃). Changes in the chemical composition of analysed waste material were observed during its ageing process point to a spontaneous bioconversion of fat substance towards formation and/or release of free saturated fatty acids C16:0 and C18:0 (14.3 g 100 g^?1 D.M.), triterpenes (8.48 g 100 g^?1 D.M.), cholesterol (3.29 g 100 g^?1 D.M.), small quantities of carbohydrates and esters (0.80 g 100 g^?1 D.M.). This process was accompanied by other changes in physicochemical parameters of the waste material, such as colour, odour and viscosity, decrease in fat content from 28.27 to 24.6 % and that of soluble forms of metals (Mo, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cr and Mn), ranging from 25 to 75 %, and an increase in pH, from 3.85 to 4.2. At the same time, changes in the microbial consortium were observed.     

Heavy metals affect the coelomocyte-bacteria balance in earthworms: environmental interactions between abiotic and biotic stressors

Three-day dermal exposure of Dendrobaena veneta to metal ions differentially disrupts the immunocompetence/pathogen balance. Zn does not accumulate in the earthworm body, Cu accumulation is temperature-independent while Cd accumulation is stronger at 22 degrees C than at 10 degrees C. During in vitro incubation with metal ions at 22 degrees C, growth of coelom-derived bacteria is enhanced by Zn, but significantly or almost completely inhibited by Cu or Cd. In contrast, under in vivo conditions at 22 degrees C, bacterial load is decreased only after Cd exposure, but increased after Zn and Cu exposures. At 10 degrees C bacteria growth is almost completely inhibited in all groups except Cu-treated animals. Coelomocyte number is unaffected in animals exposed to Zn, but significantly decreased after exposure to Cd (at 22 degrees C) and Cu (at 22 degrees C and 10 degrees C) with concomitant changes of amoebocyte-to-eleocyte ratio in favour of amoebocytes. Metal exposure up-regulates expression of metallothioneins in coelomocytes, mainly amoebocytes.     

Procedures of trophic chain samples preparation for determination of triazines by HPLC and metals by ICP-AES methods

The aim of this research was monitoring the distribution of atrazine and simazine as well as metals Pb, Cd, Zn, Al, Co, Ni, and V along with trophic chains: soil-vegetables and soil, carrot or grass and meat. Different techniques of herbicides extraction by means of many solvents were examined. Triazines were analysed by means of HPLC, metals by means of ICP-AES. Detection limits: LOD=0.2 microg ml(-1), determination limits: LOQ=0.73 microg ml(-1) for atrazine and LOD=0.3 microg ml(-1), LOQ=1.12 microg ml(-1) for simazine were obtained. The content (microg g(-1)) of simazine in soil was in range: 3.45-8.60, in vegetable roots: 6.62-38.15, in vegetable leaves: 2.45-31.71, in rabbit fat: 0.13-49.90. The content (microg g(-1)) of atrazine in soils was in range: 11.9-13.03, in vegetable roots: 13.61-92.90. In analysed material the particular metals after microwave or dry digestion were determined in range (microg g(-1)): Pb: 6.48-43.18; Cd: 0.11-0.57; Zn: 8.79-51.90; Al: 10.22-24.48; Co: 0.18-3.89; Ni: 0.37-6.36; V: 0.29-1.48.     

Chemical fractionation and mobility of traffic-related elements in road environments

Due to considerable progress in exhaust control emission technology and extensive regulatory work regarding this issue, non-exhaust sources of air pollution have become a growing concern. This research involved studying three types of road environment samples such as road dust, sludge from storm drains and roadside soil collected from heavily congested and polluted cities in Poland (Krakow, Warszawa, Opole and Wroclaw). Particles below 20 µm were examined since it was previously estimated that this fine fraction of road dust is polluted mostly by metals derived from non-exhaust sources of pollution such as brake linings wear. Chemical analysis of all samples was combined with a fractionation study using BCR protocol. It was concluded that the finest fractions of road environment samples were significantly contaminated with all of the investigated metals, in particular with Zn, Cu, both well-known key tracers of brake and tire wear. In Warszawa, the pollution index for Zn was on average 15–18 times the background value, in Krakow 12 times, in Wroclaw 8–12 times and in Opole 6–9 times the background value. The pollution index for Cu was on average 6–14 times the background in Warszawa, 7–8 times in Krakow, 4–6 times in Wroclaw and in Opole 5 times the background value. Fractionation study revealed that mobility of examined metals decreases in that order: Zn (43–62%) > Cd (25–42%) > Ni (6–16%) > Cu (3–14%) > Pb (1–8%). It should, however, be noted that metals even when not mobile in the environment can become a serious health concern when ingested or inhaled.     

Degradation of soil environment in the post-flooding area: content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and s-triazine herbicides

Impacts of flooding on the soil environment with regard to soil pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and s-triazine (cyanazine, simazine, atriazine, propazine, prometryn) herbicides have been evaluated. No clear differences in the sum of the PAHs content were observed in the present studies. Only changes in the levels of individual PAHs were noted. In soils covered with flooding both at a depth of 0-20 and 20-40 high molecular weight PAHs were predominant (especially mutagenic and carcinogenic 5-rings PAHs) whereas in non-flooded areas, 2- and 3-rings PAHs constituted over 80%. In the case of s-triazine herbicides, no influence of flooding on the changes in their content in agriculturally used soils was noted. On the other hand, clearly lower levels of cyanazine, simazine and atriazine were not in the flooded forest soil as compared to the non-flooded forest soil.     

Geotrupine beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) as bio-monitors of man-made radioactivity

Adults of the geotrupine beetle Anoplotrupes stercorosus (Coleoptera, Geotrupidae), a common European forest insect species, were used in the role of bio-monitors for mainly man-made radionuclides in a forest environment. Activities of 137Cs, 40K, 238Pu, (239+240)Pu, 90Sr and 241Am were studied. Samples originated from four areas in Poland, two from the north-east and two from the south of the country. The north-eastern areas were previously recognized as the places where hot particle fallout from Chernobyl took place. Results confirmed the differences in the activities between north-eastern and southern locations. Significant correlations were found between activities of 40K and 137Cs, and between activities of plutonium and americium isotopes. An additional study of the concentration of radionuclides within the bodies of beetles showed a general pattern of distribution of radioisotopes in the insect body.     

Treatment of Arctic wastewater by chemical coagulation,UV and peracetic acid disinfection

Conventional wastewater treatment is challenging in the Arctic region due to the cold climate and scattered population. Thus, no wastewater treatment plant exists in Greenland, and raw wastewater is discharged directly to nearby waterbodies without treatment. We investigated the efficiency of physicochemical wastewater treatment, in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Raw wastewater from Kangerlussuaq was treated by chemical coagulation and UV disinfection. By applying 7.5 mg Al/L polyaluminium chloride (PAX XL100), 73% of turbidity and 28% phosphate was removed from raw wastewater. E. coli and Enterococcus were removed by 4 and 2.5 log, respectively, when UV irradiation of 0.70 kWh/m³ was applied to coagulated wastewater. Furthermore, coagulated raw wastewater in Denmark, which has a chemical quality similar to Greenlandic wastewater, was disinfected by peracetic acid or UV irradiation. Removal of heterotrophic bacteria by applying 6 and 12 mg/L peracetic acid was 2.8 and 3.1 log, respectively. Similarly, removal of heterotrophic bacteria by applying 0.21 and 2.10 kWh/m³ for UV irradiation was 2.1 and greater than 4 log, respectively. Physicochemical treatment of raw wastewater followed by UV irradiation and/or peracetic acid disinfection showed the potential for treatment of arctic wastewater.     

Changes of the phytoplankton community as symptoms of deterioration of water quality in a shallow lake

Covering more than 60% of the lake surface, macrophytes determined the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton. We have found numerous indications of ecological deterioration and an increased trophic level year to year: an increased total number of taxa; a significantly increased number of species of Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyceae and Cyanoprokaryota; a decreased number of Chrysophyceae; increased Nygaard index, and high diversity and variability of phytoplankton functional groups. Within 2 years (2002 and 2003) algal biomass doubled: from 3.616 to 7.968 mg l^?1. An increased contribution of Chlorococcales and Cyanoprokaryota indicates progressive eutrophication of the lake. The average size of planktonic algae increased, particularly Cyanoprokaryota, where small-celled decreased dramatically and were replaced by large colonies. Cyanoprokaryota remained the dominant group of phytoplankton after 10 years, and the ecosystem of the lake remained in the turbid state. This group of algae had the average biomass 9.734 mg l^?1, which constituted almost 92% of the total biomass.     

Plutonium, 137Cs and 90Sr in selected invertebrates from some areas around Chernobyl nuclear power plant

Results are presented for ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr and plutonium activity concentrations in more than 20 samples of terrestrial invertebrates, including species of beetles, ants, spiders and millipedes, collected in the highly contaminated area of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The majority of samples were collected in Belarus, with some also collected in the Ukraine. Three other samples were collected in an area of lower contamination. Results show that seven samples exceed an activity concentration of 100 kBq/kg (ash weight - a.w.) for ¹³⁷Cs. The maximum activity concentration for this isotope was 1.52 ± 0.08 MBq/kg (a.w.) determined in ants (Formica cynerea). Seven results for ⁹⁰Sr exceeded 100 kBq/kg (a.w.), mostly for millipedes. Relatively high plutonium activity concentrations were found in some ants and earth-boring dung beetles. Analyses of activity ratios showed differences in transfer of radionuclides between species. To reveal the correlation structure of the multivariate data set, the Partial Least-Squares method (PLS) was used. Results of the PLS model suggest that high radiocesium activity concentrations in animal bodies can be expected mainly for relatively small creatures living on the litter surface. In contrast, high strontium activity concentrations can be expected for creatures which conduct their lives within litter, having mixed trophic habits and a moderate lifespan. No clear conclusions could be made for plutonium.