Ionic strength effects in biosorption of metals by marine algae

Biosorption, the passive accumulation of metals by biomass, can be used as a cost-effective process for the treatment of metal polluted industrial effluents. The green alga Ulva fascia and the brown seaweeds Sargassum hemiphyllum, Petalonia fascia, and Colpomenia sinuosa were characterized in terms of their number of binding sites, their charge density and intrinsic proton binding constant (pKa) using pH titrations at different ionic strengths. The determined number of binding sites decreased in the order Petalonia > or = Sargassum > Colpomenia > Ulva. Due to their high number of binding sites Sargassum and Petalonia are most promising for biosorption applications. The decrease of proton binding with increasing ionic strength and pH as well as the increase of Cu and Ni binding with increasing pH and decreasing ionic strength could be described by the Donnan model in conjunction with an ion exchange biosorption isotherm.     

Negative effects of humic acid addition on phytoremediation of pyrene-contaminated sediments by mangrove seedlings

Vegetated (with Kandelia candel seedlings) and non-vegetated mangrove microcosms were employed to remove pyrene from contaminated sediments, and the effects of adding 6.7% humic acid (HA) on such removal were investigated. At the end of 6-month treatment, residual pyrene concentrations in surface sediments (0-2 cm) of the contaminated microcosms reduced from an initial 5.82 to 0.63 microg g(-1) dw, and the reduction was less in HA amended microcosms with the residual pyrene concentration remained at 3.12 microg g(-1) dw. The pyrene removal percentages in microcosms with HA amendment were 29% for surface aerobic sediments and 41% for bottom (anaerobic) sediments, while the respective removal percentages in microcosms without HA amendment were 89% (surface sediments) and 53% (bottom sediments). Microcosms planted with K. candel seedlings had a significantly higher pyrene removal when compared to the non-vegetated ones, and the average removal percentages were 70.9% and 61.4%, respectively. However, when humic acid was added, no significant difference was found between vegetated and non-vegetated microcosms in pyrene removal, both had less than 40% removal, probably because plant growth in humic acid amended contaminated microcosms, in terms of total biomass, was reduced by 50%. Roots of K. candel could accumulate pyrene from contaminated microcosms, and pyrene concentrations in roots harvested from microcosms with and without humic acid addition were 6.01 and 3.46 microg g(-1) dw, respectively. These results suggest that the addition of HA to contaminated sediments decreased the mangrove microcosm's ability to remove pyrene as pyrene was more tightly bound to the organic matter and plant growth was reduced.     

Effect of surface coatings, grain size, and ionic strength on the maximum attainable coverage of bacteria on sand surfaces

The injection of bacteria in the subsurface has been identified as a potential method for in situ cleanup of contaminated aquifers. For high bacterial loadings, the presence of previously deposited bacteria can result in decreased deposition rates--a phenomenon known as blocking. Miscible displacement experiments were performed on short sand columns (approximately 5 cm) to determine how bacterial deposition on positively charged metal-oxyhydroxide-coated sands is affected by the presence of previously deposited bacteria. Approximately 8 pore volumes of a radiolabeled bacterial suspension at a concentration of approximately 1 x 10(9) cells ml-1 were introduced into the columns followed by a 2-pore-volume flush of cell-free buffer. It was found that the presence of Al- and Fe-coated sand increased both deposition rates and maximum fractional surface coverage of bacteria on the sediment surfaces. The effect of grain size on maximum bacterial retention capacity, however, was not significant. Decreasing ionic strength from 10(-1) to 10(-2) M KCl resulted in noticeable decreases in sticking efficiency (alpha) and maximum surface coverage (thetamax) for clean silica sand--results consistent with DLVO theory. In columns containing positively charged Al- and Fe-coated sands, however, changes in alpha and thetamax due to decreasing ionic strength were minimal. These findings demonstrate the importance of geochemical controls on the maximum bacterial retention capacity of sands.     

Effect of cadmium on nodulation and N2-fixation of soybean in contaminated soils

The effects of cadmium stress on nodulation, N2-fixation capabilities of the root nodule, the change in ultrastructure of the root nodule, soybean growth, and the distribution of cadmium in plants were studied. The results obtained show that the nodulation of soybean roots was greatly inhibited by the addition of Cd, especially at the addition level of 10 and 20 mg kg(-1) soil. The inhibition of plant growth, especially the root growth, increased as the cadmium concentration increased, with deleterious effects observed for the roots. The weight ratio of soybean root/leaf decreased as the Cd concentration increased, which might explain the reason for nodulation decreases. The results also indicate that N2-fixation of root nodule was stimulated to some extent at the low levels of Cd addition, but decreased sharply with further increase of the Cd concentration. High Cd levels were also associated with changes in the ultrastructure of root nodule, in which the effective N2-fixing area was reduced and the N2-fixing cells in the area also reduced. In addition, the results also reveal that the content of Cd in different parts of the plants was as follows: roots > stems > seeds, indicating that the accumulation of Cd by roots is much larger than that by any other part of the soybean plant, and might cause deleterious effects to root systems.     

Variations between rice cultivars in iron and manganese plaque on roots and the relation with plant cadmium uptake

To understand certain mechanisms causing variations between rice cultivars with regard to cadmium uptake and tolerance, pot soil experiments were conducted with two rice cultivars of di erent genotypes under di erent soil Cd levels. The relationships between plant Cd uptake and iron/manganese (Fe/Mn) plaque formation on roots were investigated. The results showed that rice cultivars di ered markedly in Cd uptake and tolerance. Under soil Cd treatments, Cd concentrations and accumulations in the cultivar Shanyou 63 (the genotype indica) were significantly higher than those in the cultivar Wuyunjing 7 (the genotype japonica) (P < 0.01, or P < 0.05), and Shanyou 63 was more sensitive to Cd toxicity than Wuyunjing 7. The di erences between the rice cultivars were the largest at relatively low soil Cd level (i.e., 10 mg/kg). Fe concentrations in dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate root extracts of Shanyou 63 were generally lower than that of Wuyunjing 7, and the di erence was the most significant under the treatment of 10 mg Cd/kg soil. The results indicated that the formation of iron plaque on rice roots could act as a barrier to soil Cd toxicity, and may be a “bu er” or a “reservoir” which could reduce Cd uptake into rice roots. And the plaque may contribute, to some extent, to the genotypic di erences of rice cultivars in Cd uptake and tolerance.     

Patient demands,lack of reciprocity,and burnout: a five‐year longitudinal study among general practitioners

This study among a sample of 207 general practitioners (GPs) uses a five‐year longitudinal design to test a process model of burnout. On the basis of social exchange and equity theory, it is hypothesized and found that demanding patient contacts produce a lack of reciprocity in the GP–patient relationship, which, in turn, depletes GPs' emotional resources and initiates the burnout syndrome. More specifically, structural equation analyses confirmed that—both at T1 and T2—lack of reciprocity mediates the impact of patient demands on emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion, in turn, evokes negative attitudes toward patients (depersonalization), and toward oneself in relation to the job (reduced personal accomplishment). Moreover, this process model of burnout was confirmed at T2, even after controlling for T1‐scores on each of the model components. Finally, T1 depersonalization predicted the intensity and frequency of T2 patient demands, after controlling for T1 patient demands. This major finding suggests that GPs who attempt to gain emotional distance from their patients as a way of coping with their exhaustion, evoke demanding and threatening patient behaviors themselves. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Trace metal contents of the pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) purchased from markets in Hong Kong

Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and copper concentrations of the Pacific oyster,Crassostrea gigas, purchased from four different markets were determined in this project. In general, gill tissue had the highest proportion of metal contents (34%–67%) when compared with other tissue parts (mantle, viscera, and adductor muscle), except for arsenic, which showed the highest level in adductor muscle (44%). Smaller oysters (longitudinal length of soft body part less than 6 cm) had higher metal levels than larger ones (longitudinal length of soft body part more than 6 cm), except copper. None of the four metals examined showed an obvious seasonal trend, although cadmium levels seemed to be higher in autumn and winter months. Arsenic, cadmium, and copper levels in oysters purchased from different markets and different months obtained in the present study were higher when compared with past reports. Cadmium levels, as high as 10.98 mg/kg (dry weight basis) have been obtained. This approaches the safety limit that may be hazardous to human health. Continual monitoring of cadmium and other trace metals of toxicological significance to man in Hong Kong seafood is recommended.     

Dynamic changes in radial oxygen loss and iron plaque formation and their effects on Cd and As accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Temporal variations and correlations between radial oxygen loss (ROL), iron (Fe) plaque formation, cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) accumulation were investigated in two rice cultivars at four different growth stages based upon soil pot and deoxygenated solution experiments. The results showed that there were significant differences in ROL (1.1–16 μmol O₂ plant^?1 h^?1), Fe plaque formation (4,097–36,056 mg kg^?1), Cd and As in root tissues (Cd 77–162 mg kg^?1; As 49–199 mg kg^?1) and Fe plaque (Cd 0.4–24 mg kg^?1; As 185–1,396 mg kg^?1) between these growth stages. ROL and Fe plaque increased dramatically from tillering to ear emergence stages and then were much reduced at the grain-filling stage. Furthermore, significantly positive correlations were detected between ROL and concentrations of Fe, Cd and As in Fe plaque. Our study indicates that increased Fe plaque forms on rice roots at the ear emergence stage due to the increased ROL. This stage could therefore be an important period to limit the transfer and distribution of Cd and As in rice plants when growing in soils contaminated with these toxic elements.