Concentration of trace elements in feathers of three Antarctic penguins: Geographical and interspecific differences

Antarctica is often considered as one of the last pristine regions, but it could be affected by pollution at global and local scale. Concentrations of Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd and Pb were determinated by ICP-MS in feathers (n = 207 individuals) of gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguin collected in 8 locations throughout the Antarctic Peninsula (2006-2007). The highest levels of several elements were found in samples from King George Island (8.08, 20.29 and 1.76 μg g⁻¹ dw for Cr, Cu and Pb, respectively) and Deception Island (203.13, 3.26 and 164.26 μg g⁻¹ dw for Al, Mn and Fe, respectively), where probably human activities and large-scale transport of pollutants contribute to increase metal levels. Concentrations of Cr, Mn, Cu, Se or Pb, which are similar to others found in different regions of the world, show that some areas in Antarctica are not utterly pristine.     

Adsorption of glyphosate on Brazilian subtropical soils rich in iron and aluminum oxides

Abstract

We investigated the adsorption of glyphosate onto five subtropical soils of Paraná and São Paulo states, Brazil, a region of intense agricultural activities, aiming at the determination of kinetic and isotherm adsorption parameters which enable the evaluation of the potential leaching of the herbicide. The adsorption was fast, being described by the pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models, thus suggesting that mixed mechanisms are involved. The Oxisol containing the highest concentrations of metal oxides (209.5?g kg^?1 Fe₂O₃ and 160.2?g kg^?1 Al₂O₃) was the sample with the highest rate constant, indicating the adsorption sites are readily available. All the soils are rich in aluminum and iron oxides, explaining the Freundlich coefficients (K_F) between 642 and 1360?mg^1-1/n kg^?1 L^1/n, which are higher than most of the coefficients described for other soils around the world. The maximum desorption (15% of the adsorbed amount) was observed for the Oxisol. For the other soils, desorption ranged from 2 to 7%. These results suggest that the leaching of free glyphosate to nearby surface and groundwaters is unlikely unless excessive doses are used. The adsorption parameters are useful for managing the right doses applied to the crops, thus avoiding contamination of adjacent areas.     

Phytoremediation of Cadmium-Contaminated Soils by Rorippa globosa Using Two-Phase Planting (5 pp)

Background Phytoextraction of contaminated soils by heavy metals can provide a great promise of commercial development. Although there are more than 400 species of hyperaccumulators found in the world, phytoremediation technology is rarely applied in field practice for remedying contaminated soils, partially due to low biomass and long growth duration for most of discovered hyperaccumulating plants. In order to enhance the metal-removing efficiency in a year, the two-phase planting countermeasure of phytoextraction by harvesting anthesis biomass was investigated on the basis of the newly found Cd-hyperaccumulator Rorippa globosa (Turcz.) Thell. with 107.0 and 150.1 mg/kg of the Cd accumulation in stems and leaves, respectively, when soil Cd added was concentrated to 25.0 mg/kg. Methods The field pot-culture experiment was used to observe the distribution property of R. globosa aboveground biomass and to examine characteristics of accumulating Cd by the plant at different growth stages. The concentration of Cd in plants and soils was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Results and Discussion The results indicated that the total dry stem and leaf biomass of R. globosa harvested at the flowering phase was up to 92.3% of that at its full maturity and the concentration of Cd in stems and leaves harvested at the flowering phase was up to 73.8% and 87.7% of that at the mature phase, respectively. The Cd-removing ratio by shoots of R. globosa harvested at the flowering phase was up to 71.4% of that at the mature phase. It was also found, by observing the growth duration of R. globosa, that the frostless period at the experiment site was twice as long as the growth time from the seedling-transplanted phase to the flowering phase of the hyperaccumulator. Conclusion R. globosa could be transplanted into contaminated soils twice in one year by harvesting the hyperaccumulator at its flowering phase based on climatic conditions of the site and traits of the plant growth. In this sense, the extraction efficiency of Cd in shoots of R. globosa increased 42.8% compared to that of at its single maturity when the plant was transplanted into contaminated soils after it had been harvested at its flowering phase and the plant accumulated Cd from soil at the same extraction ratio at its second flowering phase. Thus, the method of anthesis biomass regulation by the two-phase planting is very significant to increase the Cd-removing efficiency by phytoremediation used in practice over the course of a year. Recommendation and Outlook As for some hyperaccumulators that the growth duration from the seedling-transplanted phase to the flowering phase are short and the concentrations of heavy metals accumulated in their shoots at the flowering phase are high, the efficiency of phytoremediation can greatly be improved using the method of the two-phase planting.     

内生菌在修复重金属污染土壤的研究进展

内生菌是生活于植物的各组织、器官内部,但并不使植物表现出有害症状的真菌、细菌或放线菌。因其具有固氮、矿物溶解、光合作用、载运铁、利用1－氨基环丙烷－1羧酸为唯一氮源、传递营养物质等作用,内生菌在修复重金属污染土壤方面具有重要应用潜力。本文综述了内生菌及其抗重金属机理（促进植物生长和拮抗重金属方面）研究进展,以期为修复重金属污染土壤提供新思路。     

Thermodynamics of interaction of lindane on silty loam and silty clay loam Indian soils

Abstract

Interaction of lindane with silty loam and silty clay loam soils was studied in batch tests at 23, 30 and 37° C. Sorption experiments were carried out at four concentrations and for varying time of contact upto 72 hours. This was followed by desorption studies. No desorption was observed. The sorption data was analysed using sorption equations and evaluating the thermodynamic parameters. The sorption was found to be predominantly entropic in nature and a combined effect of adsorption and chemisorption. The effect of organic matter and other chemical and mineralogical constituents of soils has also been discussed. The sorption with single application of lindane with the two soil types indicates that the insecticide is less likely to reach groundwater.     

酸化土壤中铝及其植物毒性

本文综述了(1)影响土壤酸化的因素和铝的活化过程;(2)铝对植物的毒害症状,植物对铝的相对抗性以及铝的形态与植物毒性的关系;(3)影响铝毒性的外界因素如磷、钙和有机质;(4)铝的毒性机理,铝可能作用于生物膜、钙调素、DNA和ATP。最后提出了一些铝质土壤的改良措施。     

Method optimization to measure polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations in soils of Bratislava, Slovakia

We modified an analytical method to determine polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in urban soils of Bratislava (Slovakia). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) introduced as a clean-up step for soil extracts substantially reduced matrix enhancements when PBDEs were measured with gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-NCI-MS). The resulting method proved to be accurate, precise, and showed low detection limits. The sum of 15 PBDE concentrations in surface horizons of Bratislava soils ranged from 87 to 627 pg g⁻¹. PBDE concentrations were mostly higher in surface than deeper horizons probably because of atmospheric deposition and lack of substantial vertical transport. Lower brominated PBDEs undergo more soil-atmosphere exchanges or are more scavenged and transferred with litter fall to the soil organic matter than higher brominated ones as suggested by the correlation between lower brominated PBDEs and soil organic C (C_org) concentrations.     

表面活性剂强化球形节杆菌修复DDTs污染农田土壤的现场实验

通过田间实验,研究了不同浓度的表面活性剂（SDBS-TW80和RL）对球形节杆菌Arthrobacter globiformis DC-1降解设施农业土壤中DDTs效果的影响。结果表明,SDBS-TW80和RL 均能不同程度地促进球形节杆菌降解农田土壤中DDTs。当SDBS-TW80和RL浓度分别为200和5 mg·kg-1土时,DDTs的降解率达到最高,均为64%左右。DDTs组分分析表明：SDBS-TW80和RL对p,p'-DDE、p,p'-DDT、p,p'-DDD和o,p'-DDT 4种组分均有不同程度的降解,其中毒性最强的p,p'-DDE降解效果最好,最高达75%左右。实验结果证实了利用表面活性剂强化球形节杆菌现场修复DDTs污染土壤的可能性。考虑到修复效率和成本,实际应用中优先选择SDBS-TW80的组合。     

某钢铁企业表层土壤中多环芳烃含量特征与生态风险评价

采集我国某大型钢铁企业22个表层土壤（0-20 cm）样品,采用气相色谱-质谱（GC-MS）分析了其中16种多环芳烃（PAHs）的含量,并采用荷兰、加拿大土壤标准及苯并[a]芘的毒性当量浓度（TEQBaP）对PAHs生态风险进行评价.结果表明,土壤中∑16PAHs含量范围为21.0-20062.0 μg·kg-1,平均值为2564.7 μg·kg-1,单体以Flu、Pyr的含量最高,较之背景点土壤中PAHs含量,平均富集系数为22.9（BkF）-304.0（Flu）.与国内同类研究相比,该钢铁厂表层土壤中PAHs污染处于中等水平.各采样点中PAHs组成主要以4环为主,占31.9%-100%,5环组分仅次于4环.相关性分析表明,PAHs低环（2-3环）与中环（4环）组分之间相关性更强,且二者与TOC相关性较高环组分显著.50.0%的采样点超过荷兰土壤标准目标参考值,该钢铁厂表层土壤已处于中等风险水平,污染主要集中在球团厂、焦化厂、炼铁厂和厂前交通繁忙区.其土壤潜在风险已呈增加趋势,有必要进行能源结构改造并加强污染监控.