Removal of petroleum pollutants and monitoring of bacterial community structure in a membrane bioreactor

The long-term operational stability (159 d) in removal of organics and ammonia from synthetic wastewater was investigated. The experiment was carried out in two identical plug flow membrane bioreactors (MBR) (each with a submerged A4 Kubota membrane) operated under aerobic conditions. The vacuum distillate of a crude oil fraction in the emulsified state, which was used to model the petroleum pollutants, was added into the feed medium. The performance of biological treatment was evaluated by physicochemical analyses such as nitrogen forms, COD, and BOD. Additionally, monitoring of PAHs in the wastewaters was performed using HPLC-diode array detector. Moreover, the community structure of bacteria was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The MBR treatment was very effective with reduction by more than 90% of COD and Total Organic Carbon. Nearly complete removal of petroleum originated non-polar micropollutants was observed. The influence of the highest dosage of petroleum pollutants (1000 μLL(-1)) on the bacterial community was noted.     

Variations of arsenic species content in edible Boletus badius growing at polluted sites over four years

The content of arsenic (As) in mushrooms can vary depending on the concentration level of this metalloid in the soil/substrate. The present study evaluated the content of arsenic in Boletus badius fruiting bodies collected from polluted and non-polluted sites in relation to the content of this element in overgrown substrate. It was found that mushrooms from the arsenic-polluted sites contained mean concentrations from 49 to 450 mg As kg^?1 dry matter (d.m.), with the greatest content found for specimens growing in close proximity of sludge deposits (490±20 mg As kg^?1d.m.). The mean content of total arsenic in mushrooms from clean sites ranged from 0.03 to 0.37 mg kg^?1 It was found that B. badius could tolerate arsenic in soil substrate at concentrations of up to 2500 mg kg^?1, at least. In different years of investigation, shifts in particular arsenic forms, as well as a general increase in the accumulation of organic arsenic content, were observed. The results of this study clearly indicate that B. badius should not be collected for culinary purposes from any sites that may be affected by pollution.     

Tributyltin (TBT) induces oxidative stress and modifies lipid profile in the filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans

To investigate the response of the tributyltin-degrading fungal strain Cunninghamella elegans to the organotin, a comparative lipidomics strategy was employed using an LC/MS-MS technique. A total of 49 lipid species were identified. Individual phospholipids were then quantified using a multiple reaction monitoring method. Tributyltin (TBT) caused a decline in the amounts of many molecular species of phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylserine and an increase in the levels of phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. In the presence of TBT, it was observed that overall unsaturation was lower than in the control. Lipidome data were analyzed using principal component analysis, which confirmed the compositional changes in membrane lipids in response to TBT. Additionally, treatment of fungal biomass with butyltin led to a significant increase in lipid peroxidation. It is suggested that modification of the phospholipids profile and lipids peroxidation may reflect damage to mycelium caused by TBT.     

Differences in Cu content in selected mushroom species growing in the same unpolluted areas in Poland

The aim of the study was to estimate copper (Cu) accumulation efficiency in whole-fruiting bodies of 18 edible and non-edible wild growing mushrooms collected from 27 places in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship. Mushrooms were collected each time from the same places to estimate the diversity in Cu accumulation between tested mushroom species within 3 consecutive years of study (2011–2013). The study results revealed various accumulation of Cu in the whole-tested mushroom fruiting bodies. The highest mean accumulation of Cu was observed in Macrolepiota procera (119.4 ± 20.0 mg kg^?1 dm), while the lowest was in Suillus luteus and Russula fellea fruiting bodies (16.1 ± 3.0 and 18.8 ± 4.6 mg kg^?1 dm, respectively). Significant differences in Cu accumulation between mushroom species collected in 2011 and in the two following years (2012 and 2013) were observed. The results indicated that sporadic consumption of these mushrooms was not related to excessive intake of Cu for the human body (no toxic influence on health).     

Assessment of boscalid and pyraclostrobin disappearance and behavior following application of effective microorganisms on apples

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to assess the disappearance of boscalid (IUPAC name: 2-chloro-N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)phenyl]pyridine-3-carboxamide) and pyraclostrobin (IUPAC name: methyl N-[2-[[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxymethyl]phenyl]-N-methoxycarbamate) residues in apple fruit, and to verify whether an organic fertilizer enriched with strains of antagonistic microorganisms can reduce pesticide residue levels. Field trials were conducted in a commercial orchard on apples of the Gloster variety, during 21 days after the treatment with Bellis 38 WG and the subsequent application of Zumba Plant formulation containing Bacillus spp., Trichoderma spp. and Glomus spp. In control samples, the decrease rate of boscalid and pyraclostrobin residue levels followed an exponential function, described by formulae R_t = 0.2824e^?0.071t and R_t = 0.1176e^?0.060t, with the coefficient of determination of r² = 0.8692 and r² = 0.9268, respectively. These levels dropped to half (t_1/2) of their initial values after 9.8 and 11.5 days, respectively. The treatment with Zumba Plant resulted in a reduction in boscalid and pyraclostrobin residue levels by 52% and 41%, respectively. The results of this study are of importance for horticulture sciences and for producers of apples using plant protection products (PPPs).     

Throughfall chemistry in a spruce chronosequence in southern Poland

The chemical composition of throughfall and canopy leaching, as well as the acid neutralizing capacity and alkalinity depended on the age of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst) stands and season of the year. A higher amount of sulphur and strong acids was deposited to the soil in the older age classes. Concentrations of SO(4)(2)(-), K(+), H(+), Mn(2+), Fe(2+) and Zn(2+) in throughfall were higher than in bulk precipitation in any season. This suggests that these ions were washed out or washed from the surface of needles and/or barks. The other ions NO(3)(-), NH(4)(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) were retained by the canopy, in particular Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) during the growing season in young stands. Principal component analysis identified five factors responsible for the data structure and suggested the major anthropogenic emission sources were acidic emission (SO(4)(2)(-)+NO(3)(-)), heavy metals-dust particles (Fe(2+)+Mn(2+)+Zn(2+)), ammonium (NH(4)(+)) and H(+), while the natural-origin emission was mineral dust (Na(+)+K(+)+Ca(2+)+Mg(2+)).     

Shell deformations in the Baltic clam Macoma balthica from southern Baltic Sea (the Gulf of Gdansk): hypotheses on environmental effects

High-resolution digital photography and graphical image analyses systems have been used to define external morphometric characters of shell deformations in four populations of the Baltic clam Macoma balthica from the Gulf of Gdansk (southern Baltic Sea). The proposed shell deformation indices (SDI), which were based on the relationship of selected dimensions in the posterior and the anterior part of the shell, showed at least three morphological features that provide a distinctive diagnosis of "regular" and "deformed" clams: the presence of flexure on the posterior side (SDI1), elongated posterior region (SDI2), and shell growth (SDI3). The degree and prevalence of deformed clams varied locally over space. Increase in percentage contribution of aberrated shells with depth, corresponding to oxygen depletion profile in the Gulf, suggests low oxygen concentrations as the main agent exerting a deforming influence. The observed morphological aberrations developed with age (size) of a bivalve, suggesting a long-term effect of causal factors, and were accompanied by lightening shell weight, possibly due to decalcification of previously deposited calcareous material during anaerobic metabolism. It is hypothesized that hypoxic/anoxic conditions and a subsequent presence of hydrogen sulfide on a deep organic-rich sea bottom induce shell form alterations that enable the pumping of oxygenated water from above the anoxic layer. Such a morphological modification highlights the functional significance of shell deformations in protective response to the ambient low-oxygen concentrations. Sediment organotin concentrations fall within moderate to high contamination range and, therefore, may also have an adverse impact on the shell form. DNA analyses of the fragment of mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI, 393 base pairs) showed homogenous genetic structure of regular and deformed clams, indicating that shell deformations in M. balthica are primarily driven by acclimatization to the ambient environmental conditions.