Large-scale environmental degradation results in inequitable impacts to already impoverished communities: A case study from the floating villages of Cambodia

Cambodian subsistence communities within the Tonle Sap Great Lake area rely on resource extraction from the lake to meet livelihood needs. These fishing communities—many of which consist of dwellings floating on the lake—face potentially profound livelihood challenges because of climate change and changing hydrology due to dam construction for hydroelectricity within the Mekong Basin. We conducted interviews across five village communities, with local subsistence fisher people in the Tonle Sap in 2015, and used thematic analysis methods to reveal a fishery system that is undergoing rapid ecological decline, with local fishing communities increasingly experiencing reductions in available fish stocks. As a result, over 100 000 people living in these communities are experiencing a direct loss of well-being and livelihood. We discuss these losses and consider their implications for the future viability of Cambodian floating village communities.     

双分离层复合纳滤膜的制备及其性能

以改性后的聚丙烯腈(PAN)超滤膜为基膜,依次采用层层自组装(LBL)和界面聚合的方法制备了具有双层分离层的复合纳滤膜。以间苯二胺(MPD)为水相单体,均苯三甲酰氯(TMC)为有机相单体,聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)为阳离子聚电解质,聚(4-苯乙烯磺酸钠)(PSS)为阴离子聚电解质,探索了LBL条件对双分离层复合纳滤膜性能的影响,考察了通过不同制备方法获得的纳滤膜对硫酸镁(MgSO4)的分离性能,得到了最佳的LBL制备条件：PEI溶液的浓度为1.00 g·L-1,pH为7;PSS溶液的浓度为1.00 g·L-1,pH为10,支撑电解质氯化钠(NaCl)浓度为1.00 mol·L-1,单一聚电解质(PEI或PSS)的沉积时间为20 min。与仅通过界面聚合法制得的聚酰胺纳滤膜相比,在界面聚合反应之前,先通过LBL沉积1.5层的聚电解质层时得到的复合纳滤膜分离性能优异稳定,在0.80 MPa的压力下,过滤2.00 g·L-1 MgSO4溶液时的通量为18.6 L·(m2·h)-1,截留率达到99.07%。     

鱼类、底栖动物和水生植物的不同组合对水质净化效果的原位围隔实验

在野外原位围隔模拟条件下,研究了鱼类、底栖动物和水生植物的不同组合对富营养化水体的净化效果。研究结果表明：鲢鳙鱼比例对水质有较大影响,当鲢鱼（Hypophthalmichthys molitix）与鳙鱼（Aristichthys nobilis）的比例为3：1时,TN和NH3-N的去除率分别为69.26%和66.39%,4：1时,NO3-N的去除率可达73.65%;当鲢鱼与鳙鱼的比例为5：1时,TP和PO43-的去除率可达66.73%;鲴鱼（Plagiognathops Microlepis Bleeker）对水体中磷元素的去除效果显著,TP和PO43-的去除率可分别提高13.89%和7.91%,但不利于氮的去除;150 g·m-2密度螺（Bellamya aeruginosa）和蚌（Hyriopsis cumingii）的投加对TN的去除率可达72.60%,但对其他营养盐的削减效果不佳;水生植物蕹菜实验组与无植物组相比TN去除率提升6.83%,NH3-N提升6.44%,NO3-N提升12.14%,效果优于菱,但却不利于磷的去除。实验结果可为水生生态系统调控和修复提供科学依据。     

再生水臭氧氧化处理工艺对水质生物稳定性的影响

为了保障再生水水质生物稳定性,控制再生水在储存、输配和利用过程中微生物生长,对再生水臭氧氧化处理工艺水质生物稳定性进行了研究。研究发现,臭氧氧化对再生水厂二级出水的溶解性有机碳（DOC）去除效果有限,对UV254和荧光强度有较好的去除效果,但可导致水样AOC水平升高,水质生物稳定性降低。分析臭氧氧化后不同有机物组分的变化情况,发现臭氧氧化对分子量为0.5~20 kDa有机物有较好的去除效果,而分子量小于0.5 kDa有机物没有明显变化。     

Expression of copper-resistance genes in microbial communities under copper stress and oxic/anoxic conditions

Microorganisms have developed copper-resistance mechanisms in order to survive in contaminated environments. The abundance and expression of the copper-resistance genes cusA and copA, encoding respectively for a Resistance Cell Nodulation protein and for a P-type ATP-ase pump, was assessed along a gradient of copper concentration in microcosms prepared from Seine estuary mudflat sediment. We demonstrated that the abundance of copA and cusA genes decreased with the increase of copper concentration and that cusA gene was up to ten times higher than the copA gene. Only the copA gene was expressed in both oxic and anoxic conditions. The abundance and activity of the microbial community remained constant whatever the concentrations of copper along the gradient. The molecular phylogeny of the two copper-resistance genes was studied and revealed that the increase of copper increased the diversity of copA and cusA gene sequences.     

Occurrence of PPCPs in the marine environment: a review

Little research has been conducted on the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the marine environment despite being increasingly impacted by these contaminants. This article reviews data on the occurrence of PPCPs in seawater, sediment, and organisms in the marine environment. Data pertaining to 196 pharmaceuticals and 37 personal care products reported from more than 50 marine sites are analyzed while taking sampling strategies and analytical methods into account. Particular attention is focused on the most frequently detected substances at highest concentrations. A snapshot of the most impacted marine sites is provided by comparing the highest concentrations reported for quantified substances. The present review reveals that: (i) PPCPs are widespread in seawater, particularly at sites impacted by anthropogenic activities, and (ii) the most frequently investigated and detected molecules in seawater and sediments are antibiotics, such as erythromycin. Moreover, this review points out other PPCPs of concern, such as ultraviolet filters, and underlines the scarcity of data on those substances despite recent evidence on their occurrence in marine organisms. The exposure of marine organisms in regard to these insufficient data is discussed.     

2,3,7,8-TCDD-mediated toxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is alleviated by the antioxidants present in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gelidiella acerosa</Emphasis>: an in vitro study

Seaweeds have been used as a source of traditional medicine worldwide for the treatment of various ailments, mainly due to their ability to quench the free radicals. The present study aims at evaluating the protective effect of methanolic extract of Gelidiella acerosa, an edible red seaweed against 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced toxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). For evaluating the protective effect of G. acerosa, PBMC were divided into four groups: vehicle control, TCDD (10 nM), TCDD?+?G. acerosa (300 μg/ml), and G. acerosa alone treated. Scavenging of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by TCDD was assessed by the dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) method. Alterations at macromolecular level were quantified through lipid peroxidation (LPO) level, protein carbonyl content (PCC) level, and comet assay. The cellular morphology upon TCDD toxicity and G. acerosa treatment was obtained by light microscopy and histopathological studies. The chemical composition present in the methanolic extract of G. acerosa was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The results reveal that 10 nM TCDD caused significant (P?<?0.05) reduction in cell viability (94.10?±?0.99), and treatment with 300 μg/ml extract increased the cell viability (99.24?±?0.69). TCDD treatment resulted in a significant increase in the production of ROS, LPO (114?±?0.09), and PCC (15.13?±?1.53) compared to the control, whereas co-treatment with G. acerosa significantly (P?<?0.05) mitigated the effects. Further, G. acerosa significantly (P?<?0.05) prevented TCDD-induced genotoxicity and cell damage. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of n-hexadecanoic acid (retention time (RT) 13.15), cholesterol (RT 28.80), α-d-glucopyranose, 4-O-α-d-galactopyranosyl (RT 20.01), and azulene (RT 4.20). The findings suggest that G. acerosa has a strong protective ability against TCDD-induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and DNA damage.     

Enrichment of trace elements in the clay size fraction of mining soils

Reactive waste dumps with sulfide minerals promote acid mine drainage (AMD), which results in water and soil contamination by metals and metalloids. In these systems, contamination is regulated by many factors, such as mineralogical composition of soil and the presence of sorption sites on specific mineral phases. So, the present study dedicates itself to understanding the distribution of trace elements in different size fractions (<2-mm and <2-μm fractions) of mining soils and to evaluate the relationship between chemical and mineralogical composition. Cerdeirinha and Penedono, located in Portugal, were the waste dumps under study. The results revealed that the two waste dumps have high degree of contamination by metals and arsenic and that these elements are concentrated in the clay size fraction. Hence, the higher degree of contamination by toxic elements, especially arsenic in Penedono as well as the role of clay minerals, jarosite, and goethite in retaining trace elements has management implications. Such information must be carefully thought in the rehabilitation projects to be planned for both waste dumps.     

Immobilization of fungal laccase onto a nonionic surfactant-modified clay material: application to PAH degradation

Nonionic surfactant-modified clay is a useful absorbent material that effectively removes hydrophobic organic compounds from soil/groundwater. We developed a novel material by applying an immobilized fungal laccase onto nonionic surfactant-modified clay. Low-water-solubility polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (naphthalene/phenanthrene) were degraded in the presence of this bioactive material. PAH degradation by free laccase was higher than degradation by immobilized laccase when the surfactant concentration was allowed to form micelles. PAH degradation by immobilized laccase on TX-100-modified clay was higher than on Brij35-modified clay. Strong laccase degradation of PAH can be maintained by adding surfactant monomers or micelles. The physical adsorption of nonionic surfactants onto clay plays an important role in PAH degradation by laccase, which can be explained by the structure and molecular interactions of the surfactant with the clay and enzyme. A system where laccase is immobilized onto TX-100-monomer-modified clay is a good candidate bioactive material for in situ PAHs bioremediation.     

Soil pH effects on the interactions between dissolved zinc,non-nano- and nano-ZnO with soil bacterial communities

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are used in an array of products and processes, ranging from personal care products to antifouling paints, textiles, food additives, antibacterial agents and environmental remediation processes. Soils are an environment likely to be exposed to manmade nanoparticles due to the practice of applying sewage sludge as a fertiliser or as an organic soil improver. However, understanding on the interactions between soil properties, nanoparticles and the organisms that live within soil is lacking, especially with regards to soil bacterial communities. We studied the effects of nanoparticulate, non-nanoparticulate and ionic zinc (in the form of zinc chloride) on the composition of bacterial communities in soil with a modified pH range (from pH 4.5 to pH 7.2). We observed strong pH-dependent effects on the interaction between bacterial communities and all forms of zinc, with the largest changes in bacterial community composition occurring in soils with low and medium pH levels (pH 4.8 and 5.9). The high pH soil (pH 7.2) was less susceptible to the effects of zinc exposure. At the highest doses of zinc (2500 mg/kg dw soil), both nano and non-nano particulate zinc applications elicited a similar response in the soil bacterial community, and this differed significantly to the ionic zinc salt treatment. The results highlight the importance of considering soil pH in nanotoxicology studies, although further work is needed to determine the exact mechanisms controlling the toxicity and fate and interactions of nanoparticles with soil microbial communities.