Evaluation of heavy metal acute toxicity and bioaccumulation in soil ciliated protozoa

Laboratory toxicity tests, using ciliated protozoa, are scarce and they have been carried out usually with freshwater species. In this study, we have analysed the acute cytotoxicity of Cd, Zn and Cu in five different strains of very common soil ciliate species (Colpoda steinii, Colpoda inflata and Cyrtolophosis elongata), which were isolated from very different soil samples (polluted or not with heavy metals). Soil ciliates are quite resistant to heavy metals pollution with regard to ciliates from other habitats. The toxicity sequence was Cd>Cu>Zn. Results from Cd+Zn mixtures indicated that Cd cytotoxicity decreases in the presence of low or moderate Zn concentrations. A broad heavy metal resistance level diversity exists among isolates of colpodid ciliates and it is seen to be a genetic feature rather than a habitat dependence. Bioaccumulation is seen to be the main mechanism involved in the metal resistance, except for Cu. For the first time in ciliates, a fluorescent method has been applied to detect Zn intracellular deposits. This methodology might be an useful tool for monitoring heavy metal pollution in soils.     

Brominated flame retardants and organochlorines in the European environment using great tit eggs as a biomonitoring tool

Large-scale studies are essential to assess the emission patterns and spatial distribution of organohalogenated pollutants (OHPs) in the environment. Bird eggs have several advantages compared to other environmental media which have previously been used to map the distribution of OHPs. In this study, large-scale geographical variation in the occurrence of OHPs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), was investigated throughout Europe using eggs of a terrestrial residential passerine species, the great tit (Parus major). Great tit eggs from 22 sampling sites, involving urban, rural and remote areas, in 14 European countries were collected and analysed (5-8 eggs per sampling site). The environmentally most important congeners/compounds of the analysed pollutants were detectable in all sampling locations. For PCBs, PBDEs and OCPs, no clear geographical contamination pattern was found. Sum PCB levels ranged from 143 ng/g lipid weight (lw) to 3660 ng/g lw. As expected, PCB concentrations were significantly higher in the sampled urban compared to the remote locations. However, the urban locations did not show significantly higher concentrations compared to the rural locations. Sum PBDEs ranged from 4.0 ng/g lw to 136 ng/g lw. PBDEs were significantly higher in the urbanized sampling locations compared to the other locations. The significant, positive correlation between PCB and PBDE concentrations suggests similar spatial exposure and/or mechanisms of accumulation. Significantly higher levels of OCPs (sum OCPs ranging from 191 ng/g lw to 7830 ng/g lw) were detected in rural sampling locations. Contamination profiles of PCBs, PBDEs and OCPs differed also among the sampling locations, which may be due to local usage and contamination sources. The higher variance among sampling locations for the PCBs and OCPs, suggests that local contamination sources are more important for the PCBs and OCPs compared to the PBDEs. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which bird eggs were used as a monitoring tool for OHPs on such a large geographical scale.     

基于AHP-FCE模型的制药废水处理技术综合评价

制药废水由于具有水质复杂、COD高、有毒有害物浓度高、可生化性差、色度高等特点,处理十分困难。目前制药废水处理技术种类较多,且各项技术均具有各自的特点。为选择合适的制药废水处理技术,构建了制药废水处理技术评价指标体系,确定了评价标准,并采用层次分析法与模糊综合评价法相结合的评价方法(AHP-FCE)对国家水体污染控制与治理科技重大专项(简称“水专项”)研发的13项制药废水处理技术进行了综合评价。结果表明:升流式厌氧污泥床-膜生物反应器(UASB-MBR)组合技术是制药废水处理较优的可行技术,其次为两级分离内循环厌氧反应器和复合氧反应器-好氧反应器(ABR-CASS)生物强化处理技术。研究结果可以为制药企业选择合适的废水处理技术提供支持。     

Nutrient and tetracycline removal from simulated biogas slurry and biogas upgrading by microalgae cultivation under different carbon nanotubes concentrations

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study sought to determine the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) concentrations (0–10 mg L?1) on tetracycline...     

Effects of ambient temperature on outpatient visits for dermatitis in Xinxiang,China: a time-series analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Previous studies have reported regional variations in the relationship between ambient temperature and dermatitis, which therefore remain...     

Feather mercury levels in beached Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) in northern Argentina during the non-breeding season

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Mercury (Hg) is a great concern for marine environments. Bird feathers have been widely used to assess Hg pollution. In this study, we determine...     

The Cramer’s rule for the parametrization of phenol and its hydroxylated byproducts: UV spectroscopy vs. high performance liquid chromatography

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A linear algebra theorem like Cramer’s rule was used for the analysis of a system of equations obtained from UV spectroscopy, and results were...     

Artificial light at night (ALAN) causes variable dose-responses in a sandy beach isopod

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is expanding worldwide, and the study of its influence remains limited mainly to documenting impacts, overlooking the variation in key characteristics of the artificial light such as its intensity. The potential dose–response of fitness-related traits to different light intensities has not been assessed in sandy beach organisms. Hence, this study explored dose-responses to ALAN by exposing the intertidal sandy beach isopod Tylos spinulosus to a range of light intensities at night: 0 (control), 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 lx. We quantified the response of this species at the molecular (RNA:DNA ratios), physiological (absorption efficiency) and organismal (growth rate) levels. Linear and non-linear regressions were used to explore the relationship between light intensity and the isopod response. The regressions showed that increasing light intensity caused an overall?~?threefold decline in RNA:DNA ratios and a?~?threefold increase in absorption efficiency, with strong dose-dependent effects. For both response variables, non-linear regressions also identified likely thresholds at 80 lx (RNA:DNA) and 40 lx (absorption efficiency). By contrast, isopod growth rates were unrelated (unaltered) by the increase in light intensity at night. We suggest that ALAN is detrimental for the condition of the isopods, likely by reducing the activity and feeding of these nocturnal organisms, and that the isopods compensate this by absorbing nutrients more efficiently in order to maintain growth levels.

     

Oxidation of MCPA and 2,4-D by UV radiation, ozone, and the combinations UV/H2O2 and O3/H2O2

The phenoxyalkyl acid derivative herbicides MCPA (4-chloro 2-methylphenoxyacetic acid) and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) were oxidized in ultrapure water by means of a monochromatic UV irradiation and by ozone, as well as by the combinations UV/H2O2 and O3/H2O2. In the direct photolysis of MCPA, the quantum yield at 20 degrees C was directly evaluated and a value of 0.150 mol Eins(-1) was obtained in the pH range 5-9, while a lower value of 0.41 x 10(-2) mol Eins(-1) was determined at pH=3. Similarly, for 2,4-D a value of 0.81 x 10(-2) mol Eins(-1) was deduced, independent of the pH of work. The influence of the additional presence of hydrogen peroxide was established in the combined process UV/H2O2, and the specific contribution of the radical pathway to the global photo-degradation was evaluated. The oxidation by ozone and by the combination O3/H2O2 was also studied, with the determination of the rate constants for the reactions of both herbicides with ozone and hydroxyl radicals at 20 degrees C. These rate constants for the direct reactions with ozone were 47.7 and 21.9 M(-1) s(-1) for MCPA and 2,4-D respectively, while the found values for the rate constants corresponding to the radical reactions were 6.6 x 10(9) and 5.1 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1).     

磺胺类制药废水中苯系物的快速同步检测

磺胺类制药废水是一类难降解有机废水,其中含有苯磺酰胺、苯磺酸、苯酚等苯系物,对这些物质的快速检测十分必要,针对这3种物质建立了基于高效液相色谱的快速同步检测方法。采用C₁₈柱为分离柱,比较了乙腈/水、甲醇/水和甲醇/缓冲盐3种流动相体系的分离效果,优化了230、240、250和260 nm 4种检测波长等条件。结果表明,V_甲醇∶V_{磷酸二氢铵溶液}(0.5%,pH=3.5)=50∶50作为流动相时,基线稳定,峰形较好,3种目标物在11 min内即可实现有效分离,且浓度为5~100 mg·L⁻¹时,3种目标物峰面积与质量浓度的线性关系良好(R²>0.999),检出限为15.0~29.4 μg·L⁻¹,相对偏差为0.05%~1.56%(n=5),该方法能同时检测苯磺酸、苯酚和苯磺酰胺,具有简便、灵敏、准确等优点,可为制药废水的快速检测和磺胺类药物降解机理的分析提供便利。