Phytoremediation of Soil Polluted by Nickel Using Agricultural Crops

Soil pollution due to heavy metals is widespread; on the world scale, it involves about 235 million hectares. The objectives of this research were to establish the uptake efficiency of nickel by some agricultural crops. In addition, we wanted to establish also in which part of plants the metal is stored for an eventual use of biomass or for recycling the metal. The experiments included seven herbaceous crops such as: barley (Hordeum vulgaris), cabbage (Brassica juncea), spinach (Spinacea oleracea), sorghum (Sorgum vulgare), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and ricinus (Ricinus communis). We used three levels of treatment (150, 300, and 600 ppm) and one control. At the end of the biological cycle of the crops, the different parts of plants, i.e., roots, stems, leaves, fruits, or seeds, were separately collected, oven dried, weighed, milled, and separately analysed. The leaves and stems of spinach showed a very good nickel storage capacity. The ricinus too proved to be a very good nickel storer. The ability of spinach and ricinus to store nickel was observed also in the leaves of cabbage, even if with a lower storage capacity. The bean, barley, and tomato, in decreasing order of uptake and storage capacity, showed a high concentration of nickel in leaves and stems, whereas the sorghum evidenced a lesser capacity to uptake and store nickel in leaves and stems. The bean was the most efficient in storing nickel in fruits or grains. Tomato, sorghum, and barley have shown a storage capacity notably less than bean. The bean appeared to be the most efficient in accumulating nickel in the roots, followed in decreasing order by sorghum, ricinus, and tomato. With regard to the removal of nickel, spinach was the most efficient as it contains the highest level of this metal per gram of dry matter. The ricinus, cabbage, bean, sorghum, barley, and tomato evidenced a progressively decreasing efficiency in the removal of nickel.     

Pollution topography of chlorobenzenes and hexachlorobutadiene in sediments along the Kaohsiung coast, Taiwan--a comparison of two consecutive years' survey with statistical interpretation

Forty sediments were analyzed for chlorobenzenes (CBs) and hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) to investigate their pollution topography along the Kaohsiung coast, Taiwan. Maximum CB concentrations found, varied from 15.4 ng/g dw for 1,2,3-TCB to 56.8 ng/g dw for 1,2,4-TCB, while higher HCBD concentrations were detected among north-bound stations (around the exit of the Tsoying outfall pipe) and its concentration decreases from north to south. Compared to a previous survey executed a year before, there is no statistically significant difference in CB and HCBD congeners between these two surveys (p = 0.68–0.87, two-tailed paired t-test). The spatial distribution of toxic index reveals that biological effects might occur near Tsoying and Dalinpu outfall pipe outlets which dispose of petro-chemical wastewater. Evidence found in this study also shows distinct CB patterns from the two nearby sources, the Dalinpu outfall pipe outlet and the Kaoping estuary. Principal component analysis shows that four principal components conducting CBs and HCBD distribution were extracted. Both the first two components (accounted for 58.8% of the total variance), comprised all of the CBs except HCB (DCBs to PeCB), were found not capable of differentiating any distinct pollution source. On the other hand, HCBD and HCB were extracted as third and fourth components, respectively, pointing out their distinct sources in this area.     

Cultured amniotic fluid cells for prenatal diagnosis of lysosomal storage disorders: A methodological study

The influence of culture conditions on the ultrastructure and enzyme activities of amniotic fluid cells are reported. Morphological changes were determined as a function of the number of lysosomal-like inclusion bodies per cell, and these results correlated to the activity of Thiexosaminidase, a-mannosidase, β-glucuronidase, arylsulphatase C and 5′ nucleotidase. The parameters examined were pH of the culture media, type of media, increasing cell passage and day of harvest. Our results indicate that enzyme activities are less sensitive to changes in culture conditions as compared to ultrastructural changes. We therefore recommend that in order to obtain reliable ultrastructural results for the diagnosis of storage disorders, cultures should be grown in MEM as the culture medium, the pH of the medium carefully monitored to remain below pH 7·4, examining the cultures no later than the eighth cell passage and no later than the 10th day after subculture.     

Methods of Compliance Evaluation for Ocean Outfall Design and Analysis

Sewage discharge from an ocean outfall is subject to water quality standards, which are often stated in probabilistic terms. Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) has been used in the past to evaluate the ability of a designed outfall to meet water quality standards or compliance guidelines associated with sewage discharges. In this study, simpler and less computer-intensive probabilistic methods are considered. The probabilistic methods evaluated are the popular mean first-order second-moment (MFOSM) and the advance first-order second-moment (AFOSM) methods. Available data from the Spaniard's Bay Outfall located on the east coast of Newfoundland, Canada, were used as inputs for a case study. Both methods were compared with results given by MCS. It was found that AFOSM gave a good approximation of the failure probability for total coliform concentration at points remote from the outfall. However, MFOSM was found to be better when considering only the initial dilutions between the discharge point and the surface. Reasons for the different results may be the difference in complexity of the performance function in both cases. This study does not recommend the use of AFOSM for failure analysis in ocean outfall design and analysis because the analysis requires computational efforts similar to MCS. With the advancement of computer technology, simulation techniques, available software, and its flexibility in handling complex situations, MCS is still the best choice for failure analysis of ocean outfalls when data or estimates on the parameters involved are available or can be assumed.     

可燃气体储罐区泄漏危险性定量分析

对位于某城市中心附近的可燃气体储罐区的气体泄漏危险性进行了分析,求出了下风向最大可燃范围和中毒范围.进行灵敏度分析以便识别风速、泄漏面积对泄漏危险性的影响.分析结果显示,风速、泄漏面积对泄漏危险性有显著影响.随着泄漏面积增大,下风向最大可燃范围增大;随着风速的增大,下风向最大可燃范围则减小.最后提出了若干安全措施的建议.     

EFFECTS OF ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE ON GROUND WATER QUALITY AND AQUIFER STORAGE RECOVERY1

ABSTRACT: Ground water nitrate contamination and water level decline are common concern in Nebraska. Effects of artificial recharge on ground water quality and aquifer storage recovery (ASR) were studied with spreading basins constructed in the highly agricultural region of the Central Platte, Nebraska. A total of 1.10 million m³ of Platte River water recharged the aquifer through 5000 m² of the recharge basins during 1992, 1993, and 1994. This is equivalent to the quantity needed to completely displace the ground water beneath 34 ha of the local primary aquifer with 13 m thickness and 0.25 porosity. Successful NO₃-N remediation was documented beneath and downgradient of the recharge basins, where NO₃-N declined from 20 to 2 mg L^-1. Ground water atrazine concentrations at the site decreased from 2 to 0.2 mg L^-1 due to recharge. Both NO₃-N and atrazine contamination dramatically improved from concentrations exceeding the maximum contaminant levels to those of drinking water quality. The water table at the site rose rapidly in response to recharge during the early stage then leveled off as infiltration rates declined. At the end of the 1992 recharge season, the water table 12 m downgradient from the basins was elevated 1.36 m above the preproject level; however, at the end of the 1993 recharge season, any increase in the water table from artificial recharge was masked by extremely slow infiltration rates and heavy recharge from precipitation from the wettest growing season in over 100 years. The water table rose 1.37 m during the 1994 recharge season. Resultant ground water quality and ASR improvement from the artificial recharge were measured at 1000 m downgradient and 600 m upgradient from the recharge basins. Constant infiltration rates were not sustained in any of the three years, and rates always decreased with time presumably because of clogging. Scraping the basin floor increased infiltration rates. Using a pulsed recharge to create dry and wet cycles and maintaining low standing water heads in the basins appeared to reduce microbial growth, and therefore enhanced infiltration.     

REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AFFECTING AQUIFER THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE1

ABSTRACT: Thermal energy storage involves the capture and storage of thermal energy (either heat or chill) during one time period for use at a later period. Storage of thermal energy in aquifers on a seasonal basis is one promising application of the technology that has been implemented in several foreign countries and is currently undergoing field testing in the U.S. Potential developers of aquifer thermal energy storage projects will face a number of regulatory requirements at the federal, state, and local level of government. These can include meeting: (1) surface land and ground water use restrictions, (2) regulations relating to withdrawal of ground water, and (3) requirements for reinjecting thermally altered ground waters. Separate permits for ground water withdrawal and reinjection may be required. The permit process is likely to involve opportunities for public comment and may involve contested proceedings.     

POND SIZING FOR RATIONAL FORMULA HYDROGRAPHS1

ABSTRACT: The Modified Rational formula hydrograph and the Yarnell generalized rainfall chart are generally accepted procedures for sizing storm water detention ponds for small drainage areas. A procedure has been developed to choose the rainfall duration which, for a chosen return period, will result in the largest required storage volume of a detention pond. A graphical solution has been provided and its use has been described by application to an example.     

ESTIMATING RUNOFF VOLUMES FROM URBAN AREAS1

ABSTRACT: Estimations of runoff volumes from urban areas can be made by the equation Q = a A σ(P_e– b), where Q is the runoff volume, a is the part of the total area A Contributing to runoff, P_e is the rainfall amount for a single event, and b is the initial rainfall losses. For the evaluation of a and b, rainfall/runoff measurements were made in five areas of sizes between 0.035 km² and 1.450 km². By linear regression analysis of rainfall volumes versus runoff volumes, the initial rainfall losses were found to vary from 0.38 mm to 0.70 mm for the different areas. The parts of the areas contributing to runoff were found to be proportional to the impermeable parts of the mas. The equation is applicable in urban areas with well defined paved surfaces and roofs and with a negligible amount of runoff from permeable areas.     

POTENTIAL FOR AUGMENTING WATER YIELD THROUGH FOREST PRACTICES IN WESTERN WASHINGTON AND WESTERN OREGON1

Western Washington and western Oregon comprise a water-rich region that has a very uneven annual distribution of both precipitation and streamflow. Highest demand for water coincides with lowest streamflow levels between July 1 and September 30 when less than 5 percent of annual water yield occurs. Increases in annual water yield in small, experimental watersheds in the region have ranged up to 600 mm after entire watersheds were logged and up to 300 mm in watersheds that were 25 to 30 percent logged. Most of the increase has occurred during the fall-winter rainy season, and yield increases have been largest during the wettest years. Estimated sustained increases in water yield from most large watersheds subject to sustained yield forest management are at best only 3-6 percent of unaugmented flows. Realistically, watersheds in this region will not be managed to produce more water. Water yield augmentation will continue to be only a small and variable by-product of logging. The utility of water yield augmentation is limited by its size and by its occurrence relative to the time of water demand. In some local areas, reduction of fog interception and drip or establishment of riparian phreatophytic hardwoods may reduce summer flows.