Response of indigenous Cd-tolerant electrochemically active bacteria in MECs toward exotic Cr(VI) based on the sensing of fluorescence probes

Electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) on the cathodes of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) can remove metals from the catholyte, but the response of these indigenous EAB toward exotic metals has not been examined, particularly from the perspective of the co-presence of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) in a wastewater. Four known indigenous Cd-tolerant EAB of Ochrobactrum sp X1, Pseudomonas sp X3, Pseudomonas delhiensis X5, and Ochrobactrum anthropi X7 removed more Cd(II) and less Cr(VI) in the simultaneous presence of Cd(II) and Cr(VI), compared to the controls with individual Cd(II) or single Cr(VI). Response of these EAB toward exotic Cr(VI) was related to the associated subcellular metal distribution based on the sensing of fluorescence probes. EAB cell membrane harbored more cadmium than chromium and cytoplasm located more chromium than cadmium, among which the imaging of intracelluler Cr(III) ions increased over time, contrary to the decreased trend for Cd(II) ions. Compared to the controls with single Cd(II), exotic Cr(VI) decreased the imaging of Cd(II) ions in the EAB at an initial 2 h and negligibly affected thereafter. However, Cd(II) diminished the imaging of Cr (III) ions in the EAB over time, compared to the controls with individual Cr(VI). Current accelerated the harboring of cadmium at an initial 2 h and directed the accumulation of chromium in EAB over time. This study provides a viable approach for simultaneously quantitatively imaging Cd(II) and Cr (III) ions in EAB and thus gives valuable insights into the response of indigenous Cd-tolerant EAB toward exotic Cr(VI) in MECs.

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纳米银的体内毒性及毒作用机制研究进展

很多研究表明纳米银对机体的消化系统、呼吸系统、生殖系统等多个系统均会产生毒作用,且其毒作用受到多种因素的影响。目前关于纳米银的毒作用机制尚未明确,研究发现纳米银的毒作用机制可能与银离子释放、活性氧自由基产生、氧化应激的发生、炎症反应等有关,最新研究指出纳米银的毒性作用还可能与内质网应激和自噬有关,本文将就纳米银的体内毒性及毒作用机制进行了综述。     

江苏省2013-2016年臭氧时空分布特征

利用2013-2016年江苏省国控空气自动站获得的臭氧（O₃）观测数据,探讨江苏省O₃时空变化特征。结果表明,自2013年以来江苏省大气氧化剂OX （O₃和NO₂）和O₃浓度呈逐年升高趋势,升高速率分别为0.98×10^-9a^-1和3.70 μg/（m³·a）,O₃增幅在我国处于较高水平。在O₃空间分布上,东部沿海O₃浓度相对高于西部内陆,O₃浓度高值由沿海地区逐渐向内陆辐散,呈现出区域性O₃污染。结合经验正交分解进行聚类统计检验,结果显示江苏省O₃分区主要分为苏南、苏中和苏北3类,与江苏省经济发展水平表现出一定的同步性。     

Assessment of total and organic vanadium levels and their bioaccumulation in edible sea cucumbers: tissues distribution,inter-species-specific,locational differences and seasonal variations

The objective of this study is to investigate the levels, inter-species-specific, locational differences and seasonal variations of vanadium in sea cucumbers and to validate further several potential factors controlling the distribution of metals in sea cucumbers. Vanadium levels were evaluated in samples of edible sea cucumbers and were demonstrated exhibit differences in different seasons, species and sampling sites. High vanadium concentrations were measured in the sea cucumbers, and all of the vanadium detected was in an organic form. Mean vanadium concentrations were considerably higher in the blood (sea cucumber) than in the other studied tissues. The highest concentration of vanadium (2.56 μg g⁻¹), as well as a higher degree of organic vanadium (85.5 %), was observed in the Holothuria scabra samples compared with all other samples. Vanadium levels in Apostichopus japonicus from Bohai Bay and Yellow Sea have marked seasonal variations. Average values of 1.09 μg g⁻¹ of total vanadium and 0.79 μg g⁻¹ of organic vanadium were obtained in various species of sea cucumbers. Significant positive correlations between vanadium in the seawater and V _org in the sea cucumber (r = 81.67 %, p = 0.00), as well as between vanadium in the sediment and V _org in the sea cucumber (r = 77.98 %, p = 0.00), were observed. Vanadium concentrations depend on the seasons (salinity, temperature), species, sampling sites and seawater environment (seawater, sediment). Given the adverse toxicological effects of inorganic vanadium and positive roles in controlling the development of diabetes in humans, a regular monitoring programme of vanadium content in edible sea cucumbers can be recommended.

     

Impact of biochar produced from post-harvest residue on the adsorption behavior of diesel oil on loess soil

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar, produced from wheat residue at different temperatures, on the adsorption of diesel oil by loess soil. Kinetic and equilibrium data were processed to understand the adsorption mechanism of diesel by biochar-affected loess soil; dynamic and thermodynamic adsorption experiments were conducted to characterize this adsorption. The surface features and chemical structure of biochar, modified at varying pyrolytic temperatures, were investigated using surface scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analysis. The kinetic data showed that the adsorption of diesel oil onto loess soil could be described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with the rate-controlling step being intraparticle diffusion. However, in the presence of biochar, boundary layer control and intraparticle diffusion were both involved in the adsorption. Besides, the adsorption equilibrium data were well described by the Freundlich isothermal model. The saturated adsorption capacity weakened as temperature increased, suggesting a spontaneous exothermic process. Thermodynamic parameter analysis showed that adsorption was mainly a physical process and was enhanced by chemical adsorption. The adsorption capacity of loess soil for diesel oil was weakened with increasing pH. The biochar produced by pyrolytic wheat residue increased the adsorption behavior of petroleum pollutants in loess soil.

     

Leaching Characteristics of Heavy Metals and As from Two Urban Roadside Soils

The leaching tests, including the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), EDTA extraction and BCR sequential extractions before and after EDTA treatments, were performed on two specific soils to elucidate heavy metal-associated mineral fractions and general leachability. The TCLP illustrated the low leachability of heavy metals in soils from two sites. EDTA is a strong chelator and therefore had higher extraction efficiency compared to that of TCLP. The lower extraction percentages by EDTA for As and Sb were found compared to the other heavy metals derived from anthropogenic sources. Sequential extractions showed that the importance of acid-extractable, organically-bound and Fe–Mn oxide fractions was identified for anthropogenic heavy metals with the exception of As and Ni while the importance of residual fraction was identified for endogenous metals. Changes in sequential fractions of heavy metals after leaching with EDTA are very complex and it is difficult to generalize on which fraction was more mobile than the others. These combined results are helpful in elucidating the association of heavy metals to soil fractions and the mobility characteristics of heavy metals under certain environmental conditions.     

通过剖析达钢二次能源综合利用分析钢铁行业节能减排潜力

二次能源综合利用是我国钢铁行业完成节能减排既定目标的技术关键.本文通过对达钢二次能源综合利用的剖析,评述了钢铁行业节能减排的潜力.     

中国癌症与土壤环境中铊元素的关系

利用土壤环境中铊元素资料７６９个数据,癌死亡调查资料７８７０８０例,研究了胃癌,食管癌,肝癌,宫颈癌,肺癌、大肠癌、白血病、鼻咽癌、乳腺癌死亡率与人群生存区土壤环境中铊元素的关系。     

Hydrophobic calcium carbonate: an option for the value-added conversion of wastes resulting from biodiesel production

High production cost is the key issue of biodiesel industry nowadays. To low down the cost, using low-quality lipids feedstock is the most effective way. Two-step process is vastly applied to deal with those low-quality lipids to produce biodiesel. However, environmentally unfriendly wastes are formed during the process. Here we use calcium oxide residue and wastewater from biodiesel production to produce nanostructured calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) by carbonation at ambient temperature. The results show that CaCO₃ is hydrophobic and has broccoli-like morphology. It is made up of many uniform nano-rods, and each rod is composed of smaller particles with diameters about 50 nm. The idea of wastes utilization could make the biodiesel production process environmentally friendly, and the income of the produced CaCO₃ could further low down the cost of biodiesel production.     

Source apportionment of ambient PM10 in urban areas of Wuxi, China

A total of 168 PM₁₀ samples were collected during the year of 2005 at eight sites in the city of Wuxi in China. Fifteen chemical elements, three water-soluble ions, total carbon and organic carbon were analyzed. Six source categories were identified and their contributions to ambient PM₁₀ in Wuxi were estimated using a nested chemical mass balance method that reduces the effects of colinearity on the chemical mass balance model. In addition, the concentrations of secondary aerosols, such as secondary organic carbon, sulfate and nitrate, were quantified. The spatially averaged PM₁₀ was high in the spring and winter (123 ??g·m^?3 and low in the summer-fall (90 ??g·m^?3). According to the result of source apportionment, resuspended dust was the largest contributor to ambient PM₁₀, accounting for more than 50% of the PM₁₀ mass. Coal combustion (14.6%) and vehicle exhaust (9.4%) were also significant source categories of ambient PM₁₀. Construction and cement dust, sulfates, secondary organic carbon, and nitrates made contributions ranging between 4.1% and 4.9%. Other source categories such as steel manufacturing dust and soil dust made low contributions to ambient PM₁₀.