Constitutional tolerance to heavy metals of a fiber crop, ramie (Boehmeria nivea), and its potential usage

It is observed that ramie (Boehmeria nivea), an economic fiber crop, can establish and colonize metal-contaminated sites in China. Metal tolerance and accumulation by ramie originating from 13 metal-contaminated and 4 “clean” sites in China were compared under field and hydroponic conditions. All selected populations and germplasms displayed good growth performance under diverse metal-contaminated habitats; while growth responses, metal accumulation and tolerance were similar among the 8 populations and 2 germplasms when exposed to solutions containing elevated As, Cd, Pb, or Zn in the laboratory. These revealed that ramie possesses a certain degree of constitutional metal tolerance. To our knowledge, this is the first report of constitutional metal tolerance possessed by a fiber crop. Ramie can be considered as a good candidate for both fiber production and phytoremediation of sites contaminated by multi-metals, as it accumulates relative low metal concentrations, but possesses both high biomass and high economic value.     

The Effect of Grain Size and Element Concentration in Identifying Contaminant Sources

The distribution of metal contaminants between different size fractions of marine sediments is well known. However, the use of size normalization techniques may alter the ability or usefulness in identifying potential sources in complex environments. In a reassessment of metal data from the shelf area of Sydney, Australia, the mud and sand fractions were investigated separately by PCA and PLS methodologies. The analyses were able to produce clear distinctions between industrial/urban sources when based on a suite of metals rather than individual (single-element) concentrations. Signature analysis by PLS with copper, lead, zinc, manganese, chromium, cobalt, nickel, and cadmium demonstrated the dispersion of the fine-grained contaminated material to the south in the East Australian Current. However, due to the commonality between many of the metals, a subset of four metals was used to define the signature. This significantly improved separation, showing clear plumes extending ～30 km from the source rivers.     

Heavy metal bioaccumulation in selected medicinal plants collected from Khetri copper mines and comparison with those collected from fertile soil in Haridwar,India

Heavy metal distribution in medicinal plants is gaining importance not only as an alternative medicine, but also for possible concern due to effects of metal toxicity. The present study has been focused on emphasizing the heavy metal status and bioaccumulation factors of V, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se (essential metals) and Cr, Ni, Cd, As and Pb (potentially toxic metals) in medicinal plants grown under two different environmental conditions e.g., near to Khetri copper mine and those in fertile soils of Haridwar, both in India, using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (relative method) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The copper levels in the medicinal plants from Khetri were found to be 3-4 folds higher (31.6–76.5 mg kg^?1) than those from Haridwar samples (7.40–15.3 mg kg^?1), which is correlated with very high copper levels (763 mg kg^?1) in Khetri soil. Among various heavy metals, Cr (2.60–5.92 mg kg^?1), Cd (1.47–2.97 mg kg^?1) and Pb (3.97–6.63 mg kg^?1) are also higher in concentration in the medicinal plants from Khetri. The essential metals like Mn (36.4–69.3 mg kg^?1), Fe (192–601 mg kg^?1), Zn (24.9–49.9 mg kg^?1) and Se (0.13–0.91 mg kg^?1) and potentially toxic metals like Ni (3.09–9.01 mg kg^?1) and As (0.41–2.09 mg kg^?1) did not show much variations in concentration in the medicinal plants from both Khetri and Haridwar. The medicinal plants from Khetri, e.g., Ocimum sanctum, Cassia fistula, Withania somnifera and Azadirachta Indica were found rich in Ca and Mg contents while Aloe barbadensis showed moderately high Ca and Mg. Higher levels of Ca-Mg were found to correlate with Zn (except Azadirachta Indica). The bioaccumulation factors (BAFS) of the heavy metals were estimated to understand the soil-to-plant transfer pattern of the heavy metals. Significantly lower BAF values of Cu and Cr were found in the medicinal plants from Khetri, indicating majority fraction of these metals are precipitated and were immobilized species unsuitable for plant uptake. Overall, Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) showed very high metal bioaccumulation.     

Effect of environmental forcing on the fate of nutrients, dissolved organic matter and heavy metals released by a coastal wastewater pipeline

Discharges of nutrients, urea, dissolved organic matter and heavy metals by a sewage underwater pipeline are analysed in comparison to environmental conditions in a shallow coastal zone. Variable thermo-haline stratifications of the water column and currents in upper (2.62-34.97 cm s^-1) and deeper (0.83-10.91 cm s^-1) layers drive vertical diffusion and lateral transport of wastewaters. Loads of reactive phosphorus (0.13 tons d^-1) and ammonium (1.62 tons d^-1) by the pipeline are not negligible compared to the major river loads in the gulf. High concentrations of urea (≤11.51 μmol N dm^-3) were found in the area of wastewater release. Ammonium uptake (6.14-534 nmol N dm^-3 h^-1) strongly exceeded nitrate uptake (0.19-138 nmol N dm^-3 h^-1), indicating that discharges of ammonium by the pipeline are actively assimilated by plankton community even at low levels of light. Distribution of Zn (≤27.7 ppb), Cu (≤25.6 ppb), Cd (≤0.80 ppb) and Pb (≤13.5 ppb) in the water column and the measurement of their complex-forming capacity in seawater did not indicate a persistent perturbation of the pelagic environment due to heavy metals.     

Heavy-metal adsorption by non-living biomass

The adsorption of some heavy metals onto the walls of harvested, washed, and dried non-living biomass cells of different Pseudomonas strains was studied at optimum experimental conditions using a simplified single component system. The Langmuir adsorption model was found to be a suitable approach to describe the system via multi-step processes. Isotherms measured at 30.0°C and pH 5.5 with [M]_total = 10-100 mM for tight, reversible Cr⁶⁺(aq), Ni²⁺(aq), Cu²⁺(aq) and Cd²⁺(aq) binding by the cell walls of the investigated biomass fit the Langmuir model and give the pH-independent stoichiometric site capacities ν_i and equilibrium constants K_i for metal binding at specific biomass sites i = A, B, C, and D. Tight binding sites A, B, and D of the non-living biomass are occupied by Cr^VI, sites A and C by Ni^II, sites A and D by Cd^II, and only site B by Cu^II. It is concluded that ν_i is a stoichiometric parameter that is independent of the magnitude of K_i for binding site i and that the studied heavy metals selectively and tightly bind at different biomass sites.     

pH-dependent leaching behaviour and other performance properties of cement-treated mixed contaminated soil

Portland cement has been widely used for stabilisation/solidification (S/S) treatment of contaminated soils. However, there is a dearth of literature on pH-dependent leaching of contaminants from cement-treated soils. This study investigates the leachability of Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) from a mixed contaminated soil. A sandy soil was spiked with 3000 mg/kg each of Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn, and 10,000 mg/kg of diesel, and treated with ordinary Portland cement (CEM I). Four different binder dosages, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% (m/m) and different water contents ranging from 13%-19% dry weight were used in order to find a safe operating envelope for the treatment process. The pH-dependent leaching behaviour of the treated soil was monitored over an 84-day period using a 3-point acid neutralisation capacity (ANC) test. The monolithic leaching test was also conducted. Geotechnical properties such as unconfined compressive strength (UCS), hydraulic conductivity and porosity were assessed over time. The treated soils recorded lower leachate concentrations of Ni and Zn compared to the untreated soil at the same pH depending on binder dosage. The binder had problems with Pb stabilisation and TPH leachability was independent of pH and binder dosage. The hydraulic conductivity of the mixes was generally of the order, 10^-8 m/sec, while the porosity ranged from 26%-44%. The results of selected performance properties are compared with regulatory limits and the range of operating variables that lead to acceptable performance described.     

碧水岩地下河中微量金属元素对降雨的响应特征及来源分析

在降雨条件下,利用自动采样器对广西碧水岩地下河出口进行高频采样,分析了碧水岩地下河出口水体中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd等微量金属元素的水化学动态变化特征,探讨了地下河水中微量金属来源及其对降雨的响应机制.结果表明,地下河水化学组分表现出了较明显的规律,其中主要元素Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、HCO-3等在降雨过程中稀释作用明显,而Al、Mn、TFe、Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd等金属元素对降雨响应敏感,其质量浓度在降雨过程中有所升高,相应质量浓度曲线均表现出多峰值特点,且在最大降雨发生后第9 h达到最大峰值.推断水岩作用、河底沉积物再释放和水土流失是导致河水金属元素浓度增高的原因,金属元素不同来源及地下河双入口的结构特征是形成金属元素质量浓度曲线多峰值的原因,其中水岩作用引起的水化学变化较河底沉积物再释放和水土流失更敏感,而后者是导致河水重金属元素增加的主要原因.监测期间,溶质在地下河中的平均迁移速度约为0.47 km·h~(-1),污染物运移速度较快,因此,通过对岩溶地下河水化学动态的监测,掌握微量金属组分来源及迁移特性,对于地下河水环境污染治理具有重要意义.     

大港工业区土壤重金属污染及生态风险评价

在前期调研与野外调查的基础上,在天津大港工业区周边采集128个表层土壤样品,测试和分析了其中10种重金属(As、Cd、Cr、Co、Cu、Pb、Ni、V、Zn和Hg)的含量,分别利用地累积指数法和地统计方法研究了重金属的污染程度和空间分布特征,并对土壤重金属的潜在生态风险进行了评价,最后对重金属的来源进行了分析.结果表明,该研究区As、Cd和Co超过天津背景值的比例最大,分别为100%、97.66%和96.88%;各种重金属的含量与2004年相比有一定程度的升高,以Cd和As的污染情况最严重,其余重金属多为中度及以下污染水平.不同用地类型中重金属的生态风险存在较大差异,西南部农业用地或与工业用地周边区域表层土壤存在较高的生态风险,综合生态危害指数最大可达1 437.37.相关性分析和主成分分析的结果表明,交通运输和农业生产可能是该研究区重金属的主要污染源,周边的工业活动对区域内重金属的累积可能也有一定影响.     

宁波市地表水重金属污染现状和健康风险评价

为评价中国华东沿海城市地表水重金属的污染现状和潜在生态风险,以宁波为例,在城区地表水中采集了255个水样,检测了6种重金属(Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn)的含量水平,计算了重金属的健康风险指数和致癌风险指数.结果表明,宁波市地表水中重金属平均浓度的大小顺序为:ZnPbCrNiCdCu;有3种重金属超过国标GB 3838-2002中的Ⅴ类限值,且严重顺序为CdPbCr,电镀废水、金属加工废弃物、交通污染物、染料和涂料废物是主要污染源.70%以上的地表水存在健康风险,镇海区和海曙区风险最高,3种潜在风险最大的重金属及顺序为:CdCrPb.地表水对成年人和未成年人的致癌风险指数平均值分别达到临界值的17 600倍和24 800倍,且95%以上因Cr引起,人口密集的商业区致癌风险指数接近全市平均水平的2倍.宁波市地表水重金属污染严重,相关部门应当足够重视.     

大肠杆菌IscA膜表面表达菌株在吸附水体重金属中的应用

为构建一种能够高效、同时吸附水中多种重金属离子的大肠杆菌,利用融合蛋白表达技术,首先将大肠杆菌前脂蛋白信号肽Lpp、膜蛋白OmpA的N端部分氨基酸和铁硫簇组装蛋白IscA的编码基因序列进行融合,构建pET-Lpp-OmpA-IscA表达载体,将此载体导入大肠杆菌BL21菌株.在IPTG诱导下,IscA蛋白可表达于细胞膜表面.然后对IscA膜表面表达菌株对重金属的吸附能力进行评估,包括测定最大吸附容量、绘制吸附浓度依赖曲线和时间依赖曲线,以及对菌株清除工业污水中重金属的性能进行初步探索.研究结果表明,与本底对照菌株相比,IscA蛋白在细胞膜表面表达能够使菌株对水中的Cu~(2+)、Ni~(2+)、Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)、As~(3+)、Co~(2+)、Hg~(2+)这7种重金属的吸附能力提高2～5倍不等,并且在pH为6～8范围内保持其吸附能力基本不变.此菌株能够在30 min内将各种重金属溶液中超标5倍的金属含量降低至最大允许排放浓度以下,并且对吸附的重金属具有不同程度的回收能力和菌株再生能力.此外,该菌株能够同时吸附工业污水中的多种重金属,有效降低各种重金属含量.因此,利用膜表面表达技术对大肠杆菌进行改造,成功提高了大肠杆菌对多种重金属的吸附能力,为利用微生物治理环境重金属污染提供了良好的应用前景.