Comparative Electrochemical Methods to Determine Fluoride Traces in NaCl

Fluoridated salt is an effective method to reduce dental decay in the population at large, in particular in settings where the more frequently used method of fluoridated water is not feasible due to unreliable water supplies. A salient problem of regular dosage and monitoring of fluoride in salt is its variable level at the industrial level. To evaluate the relative advantages of the present monitoring method used in Mexico, samples of domestic fluoridated salt were analysed by two comparative methods to determine their fluoride content. One of the methods employed was the relevant Mexican Offcial Norm (based on an acetic acid, sodium chloride, trans-1,2-diamine, cyclohexane N,N,N',N' tetracetic acid buffer solution) and the other was an alternative electrochemical methodology (based on an acetic acid, sodium chloride, sodium citrate buffer solution). The cost of the chemicals involved and simplicity of the alternative method, along with the equivalent precision of its results, makes it an interesting choice for the large scale analysis of fluoridated salt.     

Tolerance, uptake and removal of nitrobenzene by a newly-found remediation species Mirabilis jalapa L

The growth, photosynthesis rate, and ultrastructure of Mirabilis jalapa L. as a newly-found remediation species under stress of nitrobenzene (NB) and its uptake and removal of NB by the plants were investigated. The results showed that M. jalapa plants could endure contaminated soils by lower than 10.0 mg NB kg⁻¹ because there was no decrease in the total length of the plant roots, the maximum length of the hypocotyle, the length of the first seminal root, the height of the shoots and the dry biomass of the seedlings as well as the photosynthesis rate of the plants compared with those in the control. In particular, the growth of the plants could be significantly (P < 0.01) enhanced by 0.1 mg NB kg⁻¹ under unautoclaved and autoclaved soils. Ultrastructural observations on leaf cells of the plants found that these cells had smooth, clean and continuous cell membranes and cell walls, indicating that there was no obvious damage by NB in comparison with those in the control. Although the absorption of NB in shoots and roots of M. jalapa was weak, plant-promoted biodegradation of NB was considerable and the dominant contribution in the removal of NB from contaminated soils, suggesting the feasibility of M. jalapa applied to phytoremediation of NB contaminated soils.     

Effect of salt and urban water samples on bacterivory by the ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophila

The effect of road salt on the eating of bacteria or bacterivory by the ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophila, was followed in non-nutrient Osterhout's solution with Escherichia coli expressing green fluorescent protein. Bacterivory was impaired at between 0.025 and 0.050% w/v but the ciliates appeared to have normal morphologies and motilities, whereas at above 0.1%, bacterivory was blocked and many ciliates died. By contrast, E. coli remained viable, suggesting salt could alter predator-prey relationships in microbial communities. In nutrient medium, salt was not toxic and the ciliates grew. After growth in salt, ciliates consumed bacteria in 0.2% salt, indicating the salt acclimation of bacterivory. Bacteria and ciliates were added to urban creek samples to compare their capacity to support exogenous bacterivory. Even though samples were collected weekly for a year and be expected to have fluctuating salt levels as a result of deicing, all creek samples supported a similar level of bacterivory.     

The utilization of brackish water, protecting the quality of the upper fresh water layer in coastal aquifers

Increasing salinity is one of the most significant and widespread forms of groundwater pollution in coastal areas. This paper presents the causes and impacts of saline water intrusion in coastal areas. Various causes of salt water intrusion, and approaches for the determination of its extent and various measures to control the salt water intrusion are described. An aquifer performance test (APT) approach is presented to identify the extent of existing salt water intrusion in the study area located in the southwest coastal region of Gujarat State (India). A resistivity based experimental technique is used to identify the quality of the groundwater available at different depths. A methodology is presented to assess the extent of available fresh and saline groundwater and to find out the limit up to which lower saline groundwater can be withdrawn for industrial purposes without affecting the upper fresh water layer which can be made available for domestic purposes.     

Preparation of SGO-modified nanofiltration membrane and its application in SO42 − and Cl− separation in salt treatment

The lack of fresh water in the world makes the search for an effective method to decontaminate water an urgent priority. An important step is to remove different multivalent ions in salt treatment. Nanofiltration (NF) has been used for treating water containing different kinds of salts. In this work, sulfonate group-modified graphene oxide (SGO) was prepared, and added during the interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction to prepare SGO-modifiedNF membranes (PA-SGO). The chemical composition, structure and surface properties of PA and PA-SGO membranes were characterized by FT-IR, XPS, SEM, AFM, contact angle and zeta potential measurements. Their water flux, salt rejection and anti-fouling abilities were investigated systematically. The testing results showed that the water flux of PA-SGO (0.03% SGO) was 45.85 LMH under a pressure of 0.2?MPa, and the salt rejection varied in the order of Na₂SO₄ (98.99%)?>?MgSO₄ (91.25%)?>?MgCl₂ (42.27%)?>?NaCl (21.96%). An anti-fouling experiment indicated that the PA-SGO membrane had good anti-fouling properties because of its decreased roughness and increased hydrophilicity and electronegativity. The PA-SGO membrane has good potential for use in removing salt ions from water.     

柳树幼苗渗透调节物质对中、碱性钠盐响应的差异性

世界土壤盐渍化问题日益严重.中国拥有面积广大的盐碱地,它严重地制约着中国农业的可持续发展.中国北方内陆盐碱地土壤含有NaCl、Na2SO4、Na2CO3、NaHCO3 多种盐分,类型复杂多样.柳树是我国重要的造林绿化和水土保持乡土树种,对改良盐碱地美化生态环境具有重要作用,因此研究柳树耐碱性及其适应盐碱生理差异性具有重要意义.以盐柳1号（Salix psammophila）为试验材料,分别以中性盐NaCl 和Na2SO4、碱性盐NaHCO3 和Na2CO3 混合模拟盐、碱胁迫（两者物质的量比均为9∶1）,各设计了5 个梯度处理,总共胁迫14 d 后,研究盐与碱胁迫下柳树幼苗叶片含水量、脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白的变化情况.结果表明：随着盐浓度的升高柳树叶片中的含水量呈减少趋势,在碱性盐胁迫下叶片含水量下降趋势更大,盐浓度达到200 mmol·L^-1 时,叶片含水量达到最低为23.8%,仅为对照的32%（P〈0.01）达到极显著性差异,并且相比于中性盐在碱性盐胁迫下叶片损失水分更多.同样在碱性盐胁迫情况下随着盐浓度升高,柳树叶片中的三种渗透调节物质脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量均增加,其中,碱性盐浓度达到200 mmol·L^-1 时植物叶片中脯氨酸质量分数为100.38 μg·g^-1 达到最大值为对照的3.18 倍（P〈0.01）达到极显著性差异,为同浓度中性盐胁迫下的1.57 倍（P〈0.05）.当碱性盐浓度达到150 mmol·L^-1 时,柳树叶片可溶性糖质量分数是2.4 mg·g^-1 为对照的1.86 倍（P〈0.05）达到显著性差异水平,为同等浓度中性盐胁迫下的1.69 倍（P〈0.05）,叶片可溶性蛋白质量分数为7.84 mg·g-1 为对照的1.67 倍（P〈0.05）差异显著,为同等浓度中性盐胁迫下的1.56 倍（P〈0.05）.综上所述,从渗透胁迫角度分析,碱性盐胁迫比中性盐胁迫是两种不同性质的胁迫,并且碱胁迫对柳树造成的危害损伤更大.     

A dynamic hydrological Monte Carlo simulation model to inform decision-making at Lake Toolibin,Western Australia

Lake Toolibin, an ephemeral lake in the agricultural zone of Western Australia, is under threat from secondary salinity due to land clearance throughout the catchment. The lake is extensively covered with native vegetation and is a Ramsar listed wetland, being one of the few remaining significant migratory bird habitats in the region. Currently, inflow with salinity greater than 1000 mg/L TDS is diverted from the lake in an effort to protect sensitive lakebed vegetation. However, this conservative threshold compromises the frequency and extent of lake inundation, which is essential for bird breeding. It is speculated that relaxing the threshold to 5000 mg/L may pose negligible additional risk to the condition of lakebed vegetation. To characterise the magnitude of improvement in the provision of bird breeding habitat that might be generated by relaxing the threshold, a dynamic water and salt balance model of the lake was developed and implemented using Monte Carlo simulation. Results from best estimate model inputs indicate that relaxation of the threshold increases the likelihood of satisfying habitat requirements by a factor of 9.7. A second-order Monte Carlo analysis incorporating incertitude generated plausible bounds of [2.6, 37.5] around the best estimate for the relative likelihood of satisfying habitat requirements. Parameter-specific sensitivity analyses suggest the availability of habitat is most sensitive to pan evaporation, lower than expected inflow volume, and higher than expected inflow salt concentration. The characterisation of uncertainty associated with environmental variation and incertitude allows managers to make informed risk-weighted decisions.     

盐生植物群落与土壤含盐量的关系及对土壤盐分的指示作用

黄河三角洲有着的丰富的荒地资源，通过对河口区的野外调查和实验室分析表明，其盐生植被与盐荒地土壤含盐量相关性明显。随土壤含盐量的增加，种植种类逐渐减少，群落总盖度降低，而耐盐强度大的翅碱蓬逐渐成为优势种。利用盐生植物群落的结构特征和优势植物叶的氯硫比，可以指示土壤含盐量，为盐荒土壤的改良利用提供科学依据。     

Salinity elevates Cd bioaccumulation of sea rice cultured under co-exposure of cadmium and salt

Salt-tolerant rice (sea rice) is a key cultivar for increasing rice yields in salinity soil. The co-existence of salinity and cadmium (Cd) toxicities in the plant-soil system has become a great challenge for sustainable agriculture, especially in some estuaries and coastal areas. However, little information is available on the Cd accumulating features of sea rice under the co-stress of Cd and salinity. In this work, a hydroponic experiment with combined Cd (0, 0.2, 0.8 mg/L Cd²⁺) and saline (0, 0.6%, and 1.2% NaCl, W/V) levels and a pot experiment were set to evaluate the Cd toxic risks of sea rice. The hydroponic results showed that more Cd accumulated in sea rice than that in the reported high-Cd-accumulating rice, Chang Xianggu. It indicated an interesting synergistic effect between Cd and Na levels in sea rice, and the Cd level rose significantly with a concomitant increase in Na level in both shoot (r = 0.54, p < 0.01) and root (r = 0.66, p < 0.01) of sea rice. Lower MDA content was found in sea rice, implying that the salt addition probably triggered the defensive ability against oxidative stress. The pot experiment indicated that the coexistent Cd and salinity stress further inhibited the rice growth and rice yield, and the Cd concentration in rice grain was below 0.2 mg/kg. Collectively, this work provides a general understanding of the co-stress of Cd and salinity on the growth and Cd accumulation of sea rice. Additional work is required to precisely identify the phytoremediation potential of sea rice in Cd-polluted saline soil.     

The Journal of Coastal Conservation, 1995–2004

This paper concludes the publication of theJournal of Coastal Conservation from 1995–2004 after the European Coastal Union and the Publishers decided to terminate the production of the journal. We look back at the 206 research papers published in this period while concentrating on Geographical and ecological variation, Focuses and trends, and Progress in European coastal conservation and management. Three indices are added: (1) a list of the 206 papers; (2) an Author Index; and (3) a Subject Index based on the titles, keywords and some additional important subjects found in the tables and figures.