Microplastics in the benthic invertebrates from the coastal waters of Kochi,Southeastern Arabian Sea

This study examined microplastic particles present in the benthic invertebrates Sternaspis scutata, Magelona cinta (deposit feeders) and Tellina sp. (suspension feeder) from the surface sediments of off-Kochi, southwest coast of India. The microplastic particles and thread-like fibres detected in these organisms were identified to be polystyrene by using DXR Raman microscope. Examination of the microplastic particle in Sternaspis scutata by epifluorescent microscopy showed fragmentation marks on the surface suggesting that the microplastic particle was degraded/weathered in nature. The study provides preliminary evidence of the presence of microplastics in benthic fauna from the coastal waters of India. However, further studies are required to understand the sources, distribution, fate and toxicity of the different types of microplastics in benthic invertebrates in order to identify any potential threats to higher trophic level organisms.     

Accumulation and translocation of heavy metals in soil and plants from fly ash contaminated area

The present investigation deals with the accumulation of heavy metals in fields contaminated with fly ash from a thermal power plant and subsequent uptake in different parts of naturally grown plants. Results revealed that in the contaminated site, the mean level of all the metals (Cd, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mn and Fe) in soil and different parts (root and shoots) of plant species were found to be significantly (p<0.01) higher than the uncontaminated site. The enrichment factor (EF) of these metals in contaminated soil was found to be in the sequence of Cd (2.33) > Fe (1.88) > Ni (1.58) > Pb (1.42) > Zn (1.31) > Mn (1.27) > Cr (1.11) > Cu (1.10). Whereas, enrichment factor of metals in root and shoot parts, were found to be in the order of Cd (7.56) > Fe (4.75) > Zn (2.79) > Ni (2.22) > Cu (1.69) > Mn (1.53) > Pb (1.31) > Cr (1.02) and Cd (6.06) approximately equal Fe (6.06) > Zn (2.65) > Ni (2.57) > Mn (2.19) > Cu (1.58) > Pb (1.37) > Cr (1.01) respectively. In contaminated site, translocation factor (TF) of metals from root to shoot was found to be in the order of Mn (1.38) > Fe (1.27) > Pb (1.03) > Ni (0.94) > Zn (0.85) > Cd (0.82) > Cr (0.73) and that of the metals Cd with Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe; Cr with Pb, Mn, Fe and Pb with Fe were found to be significantly correlated. The present findings provide us a clue for the selection of plant species, which show natural resistance against toxic metals and are efficient metal accumulators.     

Integration of traditional and innovative characterization techniques for flux-based assessment of Dense Non-aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) sites

Key attributes of the source zone and the expanding dissolved plume at a trichloroethene (TCE) site in Australia were evaluated using trends in groundwater monitoring data along with data from on-line volatile organic compound (VOC) samplers and passive flux meters (PFMs) deployed in selected wells. These data indicate that: (1) residual TCE source mass in the saturated zone, estimated using two innovative techniques, is small ( 10 kg), which is also reflected in small source mass discharge ( 3 g/day); (2) the plume is disconnecting, based on TCE concentration contours and TCE fluxes in wells along a longitudinal transect; (3) there is minimal biodegradation, based on TCE mass discharge of  6 g/day at a plume control plane  175 m from source, which is also consistent with aerobic geochemical conditions observed in the plume; and (4) residual TCE in the vadose zone provides episodic inputs of TCE mass to the plume during infiltration/recharge events. TCE flux data also suggest that the small residual TCE source mass is present in the low-permeability zones, thus making source treatment difficult. Our analysis, based on a synthesis of the archived data and new data, suggests that source treatment is unwarranted, and that containment of the large TCE plume ( 1.2 km long,  0.3 km wide; 17 m deep;  2000–2500 kg TCE mass) or institutional controls, along with a long-term flux monitoring program, might be necessary. The flux-based site management approach outlined in this paper provides a novel way of looking beyond the complexities of groundwater contamination in heterogeneous domains, to make intelligent and informed site decisions based on strategic measurement of the appropriate metrics.     

Distribution of PCBs, HCHs and DDTs, and their ecotoxicological implications in Bay of Bengal, India

Analyses of environmentally persistent pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites in seawater and sediment samples collected from six locations along the east coast of India were carried out using High-Resolution Gas Chromatograph with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer (HRGC-HRMS). Sediment and water from Chennai harbour and Cuddalore fishing harbour contained higher concentration of all the compounds. The highest concentration (6570 pg/g dry weight) of total PCB was found in sediment from Chennai harbour followed by sediments sampled in Chennai (opposite to Cooum River mouth) (505 pg/g), Cuddalore fishing harbour (335 pg/g) and Mandapam (251 pg/g). Concentrations in other locations were two orders of magnitude lower than Chennai harbour. A distinct PCB distribution pattern in sediment was observed between harbours and other locations. Greater concentrations of tetra-, penta- and hexachlorobiphenyls were observed in sediments of harbours and opposite to Cooum river mouth, but in other locations lower chlorinated biphenyls (di, tri and tetra-) were more. In seawater, HCH concentration was greater than DDT, but it was quite opposite in sediments. Elevated levels of DDT in sediment were observed only at highly populated urban locations, reflecting the local usage and input of this pesticide. Based on sediment/water quality criteria/guidelines, some coastal locations of the Bay of Bengal could be designated as being polluted by DDTs and gamma-HCH (lindane), but not by PCBs. This investigation reveals the declining trend on the environmental burden of persistent pesticides in Indian marine environment. Data on the organochlorine concentrations found in this survey can be used as reference levels for future POPs monitoring programme.     

Heterogeneous Fenton oxidation of Direct Black G in dye effluent using functional kaolin-supported nanoscale zero iron

This study investigated kaolin-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI/K) as a heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst for the adsorption and oxidation of an azo dye, Direct Black G (DBG). New findings suggest that kaolin as a support material not only reduced the aggregation of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) but also improved the adsorption of DBG. It consequently improved Fenton oxidation by increasing the local concentration of DBG in the vicinity of nZVI. This was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction for the surface morphology of nZVI/K before and after the Fenton-like reaction. Furthermore, nZVI/K proved to be a catalyst for the heterogeneous Fenton-like oxidation of the DBG process in the neutral pH range. More than 87.22 % of DBG was degraded, and 54.60 % of total organic carbon was removed in the optimal conditions: 0.6 g/L dosage of nZVI/K, 33 mM H₂O₂, 100 mg/L initial DBG concentration, temperature of 303 K and pH of 7.06. Finally, it was demonstrated that nZVI/K removed DBG from dye wastewater through the processes of adsorption and oxidation.     

Bioavailability and toxicity of cadmium to microorganisms and their activities in soil: a review

Significant quantities of cadmium (Cd) have been added to the soils globally due to various anthropogenic activities, raising concerns for environmental health. Microorganisms play a unique role in the soil ecosystem, because of their contributions to soil fertility. Contrasting trends, reported on the toxic effects of heavy metals including Cd on soil microorganisms and their activities, are attributable to short-term studies often limited to a single soil type and conducted under controlled laboratory conditions. There is a paucity of reliable field data on Cd alone, since most field studies on Cd-microorganism interactions in soils are based on sewage sludge containing multimetals and organic substances. No single parameter can be used to generalize Cd toxicity and different parameters can provide contrasting results. A battery of relevant tests, rather than just one single assay, involving important microbial activities should therefore be included in ecotoxicity studies. The bioavailability of Cd and associated toxicity to soil biota vary with time, soil type, speciation, ageing, Cd-source, organisms and the environmental factors. The available fraction or soil solution Cd, and not the total concentration of Cd, seems to correlate well with the toxicity parameters.     

Pheromone-modulated behavioral suites influence colony growth in the honey bee (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis>)

The success of a species depends on its ability to assess its environment and to decide accordingly which behaviors are most appropriate. Many animal species, from bacteria to mammals, are able to communicate using interspecies chemicals called pheromones. In addition to exerting physiological effects on individuals, for social species, pheromones communicate group social structure. Communication of social structure is important to social insects for the allocation of its working members into coordinated suites of behaviors. We tested effects of long-term treatment with brood pheromone on suites of honey bee brood rearing and foraging behaviors. Pheromone-treated colonies reared significantly greater brood areas and more adults than controls, while amounts of stored pollen and honey remained statistically similar. Brood pheromone increased the number of pollen foragers and the pollen load weights they returned. It appeared that the pheromone-induced increase in pollen intake was directly canalized into more brood rearing. A two-way pheromone priming effect was observed, such that some workers from the same age cohorts showed an increased and extended capacity to rear larvae, while others were recruited at significantly younger ages into pollen-specific foraging. Brood pheromone affected suites of nursing and foraging behaviors allocating worker and pollen resources associated with an important fitness trait, colony growth.     

Atrazine and simazine degradation in Pennisetum rhizosphere

The ability of rhizosphere of four plant species to promote the degradation of charcoal-fixed atrazine and simazine in cement blocks of a long-term contaminated soil when mixed with a normal soil at 1:1 ratio was tested. Of the four selected plants viz., rye grass (Lolium perenne), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacae), Pennisetum (Pennisetum clandestinum) and a spring onion (Allium sp.) used in this study, only P. clandestinum was able to survive in herbicide contaminated soil while other plants died within few days after germination/transplanting. Both atrazine and simazine were degraded at a faster rate in contaminated soil planted to P. clandestinum than in unplanted soil. Within 80 days, nearly 45% and 52% of atrazine and simazine, respectively, were degraded in soil planted to P. clandestinum while only 22% and 20% of the respective herbicide were degraded in the unplanted soil. During 80-day experimental period, both microbial biomass and soil dehydrogenase activity were significantly increased (7-fold) in soil planted to P. clandestinum over that in unplanted soil. The suspension of contaminated rhizosphere soil, planted to P. clandestinum exhibited an exceptional capability to degrade both atrazine (300 microg) and simazine (50 microg) in a mineral salts medium over that of non-rhizosphere soil suspension. Results indicate that P. clandestinum, a C4 plant, may be useful for remediation of soils contaminated with atrazine and simazine.