Effects of seasonal succession and water pollution on the protozoan community structure in an eutrophic lake

The purpose of the research is to study the seasonal succession of protozoa community and the effect of water quality on the protozoa community to characterize biochemical processes occurring at a eutrophic Lake Donghu, a large shallow lake in Wuhan City, China. Samples of protozoa communities were obtained monthly at three stations by PFU (polyurethane foam unit) method over a year. Synchronously, water samples also were taken from the stations for the water chemical quality analysis. Six major variables were examined in a principal component analysis (PCA), which indicate the fast changes of water quality in this station I and less within-year variation and a comparatively stable water quality in stations II and III. The community data were analyzed using multivariate techniques, and we show that clusters are rather mixed and poorly separated, suggesting that the community structure is changing gradually, giving a slight merging of clusters form the summer to the autumn and the autumn to the winter. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to infer the relationship between water quality variables and phytoplankton community structure, which changed substantially over the survey period. From the analysis of cluster and CCA, coupled by community pollution value (CPV), it is concluded that the key factors driving the change in protozoa community composition in Lake Donghu was water qualities rather than seasons.     

Generalized models for prediction of pentachlorophenol dissipation dynamics in soils

Dissipation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in soil was investigated and the chemical relationships with soil properties were addressed. The results indicate that the dissipation of extractable PCP residues can be described using first-order kinetics equations, with a half-dissipation time (T(1/2)) ranging from 6.5 to 173.3d. The sharply different patterns of PCP dissipation in different soils were closely related to soil properties. Correlations of stepwise regression equations obtained were significant at 0.01 probability level between soil parameters and extractable PCP residues (R(2)=0.974**) as well as T(1/2) values (R(2)=0.882**). Using pH together with organic carbon content (OC) and soil particle size distribution, the dissipation dynamics of PCP in soil could be accurately predicted.     

Survey of heavy metal pollution and assessment of agricultural soil in Yangzhong district, Jiangsu Province, China

We investigated concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, As, Ni, and Cr in samples of soil, cereal, and vegetables from Yangzhong district, China. Compared to subsoils, the sampled topsoils are enriched in Hg, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and As. High levels of Cd and Hg are observed in most agricultural soils. Concentrations of Cr and Ni show little spatial variation, and high Cu, Pb, and Zn contents correspond well to areas of urban development. High As contents are primarily recorded at the two ends of the sampled alluvion. The contents of Cd, Hg, and total organic carbon (TOC) increase gradually to maximum values in the upper parts of soil profiles, while Cr and Ni occur in low concentrations within sampled profiles. As, Pb, Cu, and Zn show patterns of slight enrichment within the surface layer. Compared to data obtained in 1990, Cd and Hg show increased concentrations in 2005; this is attributed to the long-term use of agrochemicals. Cr and Ni contents remained steady over this interval because they are derived from the weathering of parent material and subsequent pedogenesis. The measured As, Cu, Pb, and Zn contents show slight increases over time due to atmospheric deposition of material sourced from urban anthropogenic activity. Low concentrations of heavy metals are recorded in vegetables and cereals because the subalkaline environment of the soil limits their mobility. Although the heavy metal concentrations measured in this study do not pose a serious health risk, they do affect the quality of agricultural products.     

Well water contaminated by acidic mine water from the Dabaoshan Mine, south China: chemistry and toxicity

An investigation into well water quality was carried out in a rural area subject to irrigation with acidic mine water from the Guangdong Dabaoshan Mine, southern China. The results of water pH measurements from 112 wells in two different seasons suggest that the well water has been contaminated to varying degrees in the investigated Shangba floodplain (approximately 11km south of the Guangdong Dabaoshan Mine). There is a trend that well water pH increased southwards, suggesting that the impacts of acidic irrigation water on groundwater decreased with increasing distance to the entry point of acidic irrigation water. Water quality monitoring results of the selected wells show that Cu and Cd in the water exceeded the limits set in the Chinese National Standards for Drinking Water (GB 5749-85) for the wells close to the irrigation water source. If the World Health Organization (WHO) standard was considered, Cd in some wells was almost 10 times as high as the WHO guideline value (0.003mg l(-1)). Water collected from the location closest to the acidic irrigation water source was acutely toxic to the test organism (Daphnia carinata) even after 51 time dilution. It is likely that the extremely high mortality rate of the local population reported for the study area is at least partly related to the high levels of heavy metals, particularly Cd in the drinking well water.     

四氯丙烯对稀有鮈鲫的急性毒性及安全浓度评价

采用半静态试验方式测试了四氯丙烯对稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)的急性毒性,试验浓度分别设定为0.25 mg·L~(-1)、0.30mg·L~(-1)、0.36 mg·L~(-1)、0.42 mg·L~(-1)、0.50 mg·L~(-1)和0.60 mg·L~(-1),同时进行空白对照(试验用水)和分散剂对照(体积分数为0.006%的吐温-80水溶液)试验。采用气相色谱法对试验溶液进行浓度分析,实测浓度分别为0.19 mg·L~(-1)、0.25 mg·L~(-1)、0.34 mg·L~(-1)、0.40 mg·L~(-1)、0.51 mg·L~(-1)和0.64 mg·L~(-1),试验结果以实测浓度表示和统计。结果表明:四氯丙烯致稀有鮈鲫无死亡发生(EC0)的最高浓度为0.25 mg·L~(-1),导致稀有鮈鲫100%死亡(EC100)的最低浓度为0.51 mg·L~(-1)。根据实测浓度,用SPSS(17.0)概率单位法求得四氯丙烯对稀有鮈鲫的半数致死浓度96 h-LC50为0.347 mg·L~(-1),95%置信区间为0.328 mg·L~(-1)~0.361 mg·L~(-1)。     

Contamination and vertical distribution of As,Cd, Cr,Cu, Pb,Tl, and Zn in paddy soil irrigated with untreated leachate from tailings retention ponds

The contamination and vertical distribution of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Tl, and Zn in paddy soil irrigated with untreated leachate from the tailings retention pond were investigated. As, Cr, Cu, and Zn were slightly contaminated in the surface soil and hence their vertical distribution was not obvious. However, Cd and Pb were highly contaminated in the surface soil, while their concentrations decreased with depth, being negatively correlated with pH and positively with total organic matter. Tl was considerably contaminated in the surface soil and a V-shaped vertical distribution was observed where the concentration increased to a maximum at about 30 cm depth and decreased thereafter. The findings revealed that the regular irrigation with untreated leachate from the tailings retention ponds could cause considerable contamination of Cd, Pb, and Tl, and thus tailings should be stringently treated before disposal to minimize their potential environmental impacts on the surroundings.     

中国环境基准研究重点方向探讨

环境基准是环境标准的科学依据,在国家环境质量评价和风险管理体系中处于基础地位。它主要是依据特定对象在环境介质中的暴露数据,以及与环境要素的剂量效应关系数据,通过科学判断得出的,涉及环境化学、毒理学、生态学、流行病学、生物学和风险评估等前沿学科领域。国家环境基准研究是一个长期的系统工程,本文基于环境基准研究的学科特点和国际前沿,结合国家科技需求和相关领域的研究现状,综合分析并提出了未来中国环境基准研究的重点研究方向:1)环境基准的理论与方法学;2)环境基准基础数据库;3)基准目标污染物的筛选甄别和优先排序技术;4)水体营养物基准;5)生物测试与毒性评价技术;6)人体暴露评价理论与相关技术;7)环境基准的审核和校对;8)环境基准与标准转化理论及其对环境管理支撑技术。本文从环境基准学科发展的角度,阐述了与环境基准研究紧密相关的8个重点研究方面的国内外研究进展、关键科学问题以及未来重点研究内容。同时指出,这些重要的研究方向是环境基准研究的根本,未来环境基准的长期战略发展必将是建立在各个重要方向长足发展的基础之上,环境基准研究也必带动这些方向的共同蓬勃发展,为环境地球化学、毒理学、生态学等学科领域发展注入活力。     

水质丁基黄原酸测定难点探讨

丁基黄原酸是水质监测的重要项目之一。水中丁基黄原酸的测定,在样品采集保存、前处理及仪器分析各阶段都存在一定的技术难点。实际分析时很容易出现测定结果不理想,甚至定性定量错误等问题。结合实验对丁基黄原酸测定中容易出现的问题及注意事项进行探讨,正确区分丁基黄原酸及其盐,有效保存样品,采用低损失的前处理方法以及选择性好的分析仪器,有利于提高丁基黄原酸测定的准确性。众多丁基黄原酸测定方法中,液相色谱质谱法、离子色谱法以及液相色谱法在选择性和灵敏度方面更具优势,也可用于其他方法检出丁基黄原酸时对测定进行确认。     

Preparation and assay of C-glucosyltransferase from roots of Pueraria lobata

C-glucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.X) is one of the key enzymes for the biosynthesis of puerarin. This paper describes the methodology in purification and assay of the enzyme for the first time in Puerarin lobata (Wild.) Ohwi. C-glucosyltransferase from roots of P. lobata was extracted and partially purified by (NH4)2SO4 saturation. The effects of pH, temperature, and substrate concentration on the activity of the enzyme were investigated. The properties of the puerarin produced by C-glucosyltransferase were studied by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The peak activity of C-glucosyltransferase was detected in fraction of by 80% saturation of (NH4)2SO4 and the optimal conditions for enzymatic reaction were 35.5 micromol l(-1) of isoliquiritigenin and 560 micromol l(-1) of UDP-G at pH 8.1, 28 degrees C for 1 h. Mn2+ at 1 mmol l(-1) and Al3+ at 1 mmol l(-1) increased the enzyme activity, while Mg2+ inhibited its activity. The enzyme activity in Nicotiana tabacum and P. lobata were detected under the above assay conditions. Higher activity was found in roots than in leaves and stems of P. lobata, while no enzyme activity was detected in leaves of N. tabacum. It was the first time that activity of C-glucosyltransferase, which transforms isoliquiritigenin to puerarin, was detected in P. lobata.     

Biosorption of Cr(III) from aqueous solution by freeze-dried activated sludge: Equilibrium,kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Batch biosorption experiments were conducted to remove Cr(III) from aqueous solutions using activated sludge from a sewage treatment plant. An investigation was conducted on the effects of the initial pH, contact time, temperature, and initial Cr(III) concentration in the biosorption process. The results revealed that the activated sludge exhibited the highest Cr(III) uptake capacity (120 mg·g⁻¹) at 45°C, initial pH of 4, and initial Cr(III) concentration of 100 mg·L⁻¹. The biosorption results obtained at various temperatures showed that the biosorption pattern accurately followed the Langmuir model. The calculated thermodynamic parameters, ΔG^o (−0.8– −4.58 kJ·mol⁻¹), ΔH^o (15.6–44.4 kJ·mol⁻¹), and ΔS^o (0.06–0.15 kJ·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹) clearly indicated that the biosorption process was feasible, spontaneous, endothermic, and physical. The pseudo first-order and second-order kinetic models were adopted to describe the experimental data, which revealed that the Cr(III) biosorption process conformed to the second-order rate expression and the biosorption rate constants decreased with increasing Cr(III) concentration. The analysis of the values of biosorption activation energy (E_a = −7 kJ·mol⁻¹) and the intra-particle diffusion model demonstrated that Cr(III) biosorption was film-diffusion-controlled.