A Multi-Channel Continuous Water Toxicity Monitoring System: Its Evaluation and Application to Water Discharged from a Power Plant

A multi-channel continuous water toxicity monitoring system was, after confirming the systems' performance, implemented to samples of water discharged from power plants to detect and classify their toxicity using several recombinant bioluminescent bacteria. Each channel of the system is composed of a series of two mini-bioreactors to enable a continuous operation, i.e., without system interruption due to highly toxic samples. A different recombinant bacterial strain was present in each channel: DPD2540 (fabA::lux CDABE), DPD2794 (recA::luxCDABE), and TV1061 (grpE::luxCDABE), which are induced by cell membrane-, DNA-, and protein-damaging agents, respectively. GC2 (lac::luxCDABE) is a constitutive strain, whose bioluminescence is reduced by an increase in cellular toxicity. Phenol and mitomycin C (MMC) were used for evaluating the system's performance to detect toxic chemicals. These samples were injected into the second mini-bioreactor according to a step or bell-curve manner. The field samples used in this study were obtained from the water discharged from two different power plants in Korea – from a nuclear power plant and a thermo-electronic power plant, and were injected into the second mini-bioreactor to initiate the toxicity test. Each channel showed specific bioluminescent (BL) response profiles due to the toxic compounds present in the water samples. Comparing the BL signals between the standard toxic chemical samples and discharged water samples, the equivalent toxicity of the field water could be estimated. Finally, it was proved that this novel continuous toxicity monitoring system can be used as an alternative tool for the quick monitoring and control of water quality, as well as aid in the setting up of a new monitoring strategy to protect the source of tap water and in the prevention of polluted water discharge.     

Occurrence of potential bacterial pathogens in coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea

A monitoring program was carried out in bathing waters along the sea-coast of the Adriatic Sea. The investigation was aimedat obtaining a quali-quantitative picture of microorganisms ofanthropic origin and of a more strictly autochthonous origin and at verifying the existence of possible reciprocal correlations and combinations of relationship between them. Results showed that the concentrations of indicators of faecal contamination, whether within or over the values established by legislation, are not always related to the presence and density of microorganisms of environmental origin but the regression modelsused can help to describe how these latter microorganisms can bein relation to levels of the other parameters. The difficultyis evident of the predictability of health effects swimming-associated; for this reason more complex models that are currently used should be taken into account for minimising the risk for bathers.     

Necessity of Toxicity Assessment in Turkish Industrial Discharges (Examples from Metal and Textile Industry Effluents)

Toxicity of some organic and inorganic chemicals to microorganisms is an important consideration in assessingtheir environmental impact against their economic benefits.Microorganisms play an important role in several environmentalprocesses, both natural and engineered. Some organic and inorganics at toxic levels have been detected in industrial discharges resulting in plant upsets and discharge permit violations. In addition to this, even though in some cases the effluent wastewater does not exceed the discharge limits,the results of toxicity tests show potential toxicity. Toxicityknowledge of effluents can benefit treatment plant operators inoptimising plant operation, setting pre-treatment standards, and protecting receiving water quality and in establishing sewer discharge permits to safeguard the plant. In the Turkish regulations only toxicity dilution factor (TDF) with fish is part of the toxicity monitoring program of permissible wastewater discharge. In various countries, laboratory studiesinvolving the use of different organisms and protocol for toxicity assessment was conducted involving a number of discharges.In this study, it was aimed to investigate the acute toxicity of textile and metal industry wastewaters by traditional and enrichment toxicity tests and emphasize the importance of toxicity tests in wastewater discharge regulations. The enrichment toxicity tests are novel applications and give anidea whether there is potential toxicity or growth limiting and stimulation conditions. Different organisms were used suchas bacteria (Floc and Coliform bacteria) algae (Chlorella sp.), fish (Lepistes sp.) and protozoan (Vorticella sp.) to represent four tropic levels. The textile industry results showed acute toxicity for at least one organism in 8 out of 23 effluent samples. Acute toxicity for at least two organisms in 7 out of 23 effluent sampling was observed for the metal industry. The toxicity test results were assessed with chemical analyses such as COD, BOD, color and heavy metals. It was observed that the toxicity of the effluents could not be explained by using physicochemical analyses in 5 cases for metal and 4 cases for the textile industries. The results clearly showed that the useof bioassay tests produce additional information about the toxicity potential of industrial discharges and effluents.     

Quantitative Analyses of Pollution-Indicator and Pathogenic Bacteria in Mumbai Waters from Ballast Water Exchange Perspective

As large numbers of ships either take in ballast from or discharge their ballast into the Mumbai Harbor region, it is pertinent to quantify microorganisms of health concerns and suggest on the suitability of water for ballasting purposes. To meet with this main aim, a selected set of general and pathogenic bacterial groups and their seasonal variations were studied from the Mumbai Harbor area. Sampling was carried out during postmonsoon (November 2001), pre-monsoon (April 2002) and monsoon (October 2002) periods. We quantified total coliforms and eight other groups of known human pathogenic bacteria from water, sediment, marine plant and animal samples collected in and around Mumbai Harbor. When compared with similar studies from other parts/harbors of the world, the Mumbai Harbor area has over 100-times higher levels of coliforms. The serotypes of Escherichia coli O157 and Shigella-Alkaligens Dispar group were abundant throughout the year. Even Vibrio cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, Salmonella spp., campylobacters and aeromonads were present in large numbers. This comprehensive study, conducted with a view to quantify these bacterial groups and to evaluate the suitability of these waters for ballasting purposes, clearly suggests that both ballasting and deballasting be avoided in this region and alternative procedures should be developed for treating/handling ballast water.     

Characterization of Sulfate Reducing Bacteria Isolated from Cooling Towers

In this study, the occurrence and metabolic capacities of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) were studied in 36 water samples taken from cooling towers of 30 different buildings, such as hotels and business centres in Istanbul. SRB were present in 14 cooling towers out of 30 (46.6%) buildings and while the lowest concentration of SRB was 10 cells/mL, the highest concentration was determined as 10⁴ cells/mL. After the distribution of SRB within cooling towers was determined, several strains of SRB were isolated and characterized metabolically. The isolated strains were composed of vibroid cells, growing anaerobically by using sulfate as electron acceptor and lactate or pyruvate as electron donor. They could be related to the genus Desulfovibrio. In addition, the recorded temperature of water samples was between 12 and 33C and a significant relationship between the number of SRB and the water temperatures was not found.     

Effect of Common Pesticides Used in the Niger Delta Basin of Southern Nigeria on Soil Microbial Populations

The effects of eleven pesticides on the populations of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and protozoa was investigated by treating a garden soil with their recommended rates. The microbial populations were estimated using the standard plate-count technique. Of the ll pesticides investigated, phenylmercuric acetate (agrosan) at 50 g g^-1 inhibited bacterial density the most, i.e. from 4,600,000 to 220 cells g^-1. The pesticides were Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB), tetramethylmethylthiuram disulphide (thiram),1- naphthylmethylcarbamate (Vetox 85), 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (Gammalin 20), phenylmercuric acetate (Agrosan), tetrachloroterephthalic acid (Dacthal), 4-nitrophenyl –2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether (Preforan), 2-ethyl-6-methyl –N-2-methoxy –1-methyl ethyl-chloroacetanide (Dual), Benlate, Brestan and Gramoxone. Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) at 240,000 g g^-1 reduced bacterial population from 4,600,000 to 2,100 cells g^-1, whereas tetramethylthiuram disulphide (thiram) at 100 g g^-1 suppressed it by 2 log orders of magnitude. Soil application of 1-naphthylmethylcarbamate (Vetox 85) at 100 g g^-1 and 1,2,3,4,5,6,-hexachlorocyclohexane (Gamalin 20) at 1,300 g g^-1 repressed the bacterial numbers by 2 log orders of magnitude each. Pentachloronitrobenzene reduced the actinomycetes density from 340,000 to 320 cells g^-1 and completely eliminated all fungal and protozoan propagules from the soil. The Gammalin 20 completely wiped out all the fungi, whereas phenylmercuric acetate totally eliminated all the protozoa and reduced the fungal population from 34,000 to 60 cells g^-1. In general, protozoa and fungi were more susceptible to fungicides than bacteria and actinomycetes. Pentachloronitrobenzene, 1,2,3,4,5,6,-hexachlorocyclohexane and phenylmercuric acetate were toxic particularly to soil microorganisms, whereas the herbicides dacthal, Preforan and Dual were quite harmless in soil at application rates of 0.1, 0.06 and 0.02 g g^-1 respectively.     

Allelochemicals and allelopathy from microorganisms in wheat rhizosphers

Allelochemicals from fungi and bacteria in wheat rhizosphere,as well as their allelopathic effects on wheat and maize have been conducted.Fungi and bacteria were incubated at temperature 28-30℃.The extracts were tested for bioassay.Some samples identified to be responsible for allelopathy have been determined by GC-MS.Some chemicals identified were selected to test again their bioactivity.The results showed that acidic extracts were more toxic to germination of wheat and maize seeds(statistic significant difference P<0.01 or P<0.05)and basic extracts were less toxic and stimulated effects on germination in some cases.A good relationship has been observed between the data of chemical analysis and bioassay. A wide variety of chemicals such as phenolic acids,organic acids,aldehydes,alcohol,ketones,nitrogen-containing chemicals,were identified by GC-MS.Some phenols and organic acids were identified to be inhibit and nitrogens-containing compounds were to be stimulate to germination of seeds and extension of root and shoot of wheat and maize.     

Long- and short-chain AHLs affect AOA and AOB microbial community composition and ammonia oxidation rate in activated sludge

Quorum sensing (QS) regulation of the composition of ammonia-oxidising archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB) communities and functions in wastewater treatment was investigated. Specifically, we explored the role of N-acyl-l-homoserine lactones (AHLs) in microbial community dynamics in activated sludge. On average, the specific ammonia-oxidising-rate increased from 1.6 to 2.8?mg?NH₄⁺-N/g?MLSS/hr after treatment with long-chain AHLs for 16?days, and the addition of AHLs to sludge resulted in an increased number of AOA/AOB amoA genes. Significant differences were observed in the AOA communities of control and AHL-treated cultures, but not the AOB community. Furthermore, the dominant functional AOA strains of the Crenarchaeota altered their ecological niche in response to AHL addition. These results provide evidence that AHLs play an important role in mediating AOA/AOB microbial community parameters and demonstrate the potential for application of QS to the regulation of nitrogen compound metabolism in wastewater treatment.     

Influence of carbon source and temperature on the denitrifying phosphorus removal process

To supply the valuable operating parameters for the popular usage of the new denitrifying phosphors removal process, it is essential to study the dominant biochemical reactions and the characteristics of denitrifying phosphorus removing bacteria (DPB). Thus, parallel batch experiments using DPB sludge were carried out to assess the effect of substrates (sewage, HAc, and endogenous carbon source) on denitrifying dephosphorus removal efficiency in this study. The results showed that the initial specific phosphorus release rate increased with the high concentration of the short-chain volatile fatty acids ratio in the influent, and sufficient phosphorus was released by DPB. This improved the subsequent denitrification and phosphorus uptake efficiency. The specific endogenous denitrification mainly relies on the internal carbon source (PHB) stored by poly-P bacteria. Denitrifying phosphorus removing bacteria were very hungry when the internal PHB was consumed. Consequently, the specific endogenous denitrification rate was low and the phosphorus uptake did not happen. On the other hand, in the experiment, the denitrifying phosphorus removal performance under two temperature conditions (8–10°C and 25–26°C) was also investigated and analyzed. It was found that the lower temperature decreased the specific phosphorus release and uptake rate, but did not inhibit the denitrifying phosphorus removal completely. Therefore, the negative influence of the low temperature on the overall phosphorus removal was not significant. Translated from Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 2006, 26 (2): 186–192 [译自: 环境科学学报]     

共基质条件下TNT降解菌的选育及其处理效果

选取SBR弹药销毁废水处理系统中的活性污泥作为菌源,在共基质条件下,经过驯化和筛选,分离出11株可降解TNT的单菌,从中选出生长速度较快的3株菌JT1,JT2,JT3进行了单菌及混菌降解能力测试,结果表明:混合菌JTH降解能力最强,其适宜环境条件为25℃～30℃,pH7.5～9.0,基质中添加2g/L葡萄糖可显著增强混菌JTH生长并可使24h内的TNT降解率达到96 1%;模拟废水的处理实验表明:混菌JTH对COD的去除率>80%,TNT降解率80%～90%;生物强化实验表明:以0.1的菌量污泥比在SBR系统中投加混合菌可使系统的出水COD稳定在100mg/L左右,出水TNT浓度<5mg/L。