Determination of polychlorinated biphenyl and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon marine regional Sediment Quality Guidelines within the European Water Framework Directive

Marine regional Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQG) for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from the Basque coast (SE Bay of Biscay) were determined, on the basis of sediment chemistry, toxicity and benthic community disturbance from analysis of 756 estuarine and coastal samples. The SQG were calculated using a percentile approach (based upon effect and non-effect data), using non-normalised and normalised concentration, by total organic carbon. However, normalisation by total organic carbon did not result in any improvement in accuracy compared with non-normalised values. Hence, this study proposes non-normalised SQG values for assessment of the chemical and physicochemical status in marine waters in the Basque Country, within the Water Framework Directive: 24.6–29 μg kg^?1 for total PCBs; 164–285 μg kg^?1 for low molecular weight PAH; 922–1537 μg kg^?1 for high molecular weight PAH; and 1607–2617 μg kg^?1 for total PAH.     

Oxidative stress mediated cytotoxicity of TiO2 nano anatase in liver and kidney of Wistar rat

This study examined the adverse effects of TiO₂ nanoparticle (nano-TiO₂) on the kidney and liver of Wistar rats. Changes of serum biochemical parameters and pathological lesions indicated that liver and kidney were significantly affected in animals treated with 50?mg?kg^?1 of nano-TiO₂. The inverse relationship between the level of reactive oxygen species and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase indicates that nano-TiO₂ induces oxidative stress. A significant increase in the apoptosis of liver and kidney in a dose-dependent manner was also observed. The ultrastructural observations confirmed the internalization of nano-TiO₂ and their direct involvement in the mitochondria-mediated cytotoxicity. Data indicated that nano-TiO₂ induce oxidative stress which produces genotoxicity such as oxidative DNA damage, micronuclei (MN) induction, and cell apoptosis in liver and kidney.     

Electron microscopy documenting the cellular metabolic fate of Zn IONS∗

In vertebrates and invertebrates Zn exist as complexed compounds with metallothioneins. However, its cellular level effects and metabolic fates are scantly documented. In the elucidation of this fact, EM results on hepatic cellular alterations in fish under lethal dose exposure at 4.0 ppm over a week is illustrated.

A large number of lysosomes in hepatic cells prevailed on exposure to Zn in its sulfate form. Evidently, due to metal compound stress and cellular damage lysosomal activity is augmented. The lysosomes harboured digestible material, presumably the aforementioned substrates. Contrary to it, fat droplets prevailed while glycogen depletion is noticeable. Unlike the effects of Hg, the nuclei were normal with granular chromatin and prominent nucleoli. However, the mitochondria contained some small intramitochondrial bodies. Similar to the effects of Hg, the cell membrane remained intact.

In vivo enzymatic studies indicated augmentation in catalase, acid‐ and alkaline‐phosphatases, while glucose‐6‐phosphatase is inhibited. However, only alkaline‐ and glucose‐6‐phosphatases are inhibited under in vitro conditions.

Thus, it is evident that Zn enhances cellular bioenergetic requirements culminating in glycogen depletion owing to stress, concomitantly envisaging inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation in the electron transport system.     

Behaviour of pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen in peanut field soil: effects on soil biological and biochemical activities

A field experiment was conducted to study the dissipation kinetics of herbicides pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen in black soil of peanut field at half recommended rate (HRE), recommended rate and double recommended rate as well as to assess their effects on soil microbial parameters and enzymatic activities. In addition, their role in the transformations and availability of some plant nutrients like nitrogen transformation (through ammonification and nitrification processes) and availability of phosphorous were also studied. Incorporation of these herbicides was found to stimulate the activity of soil microbial biomass carbon, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysing activity, alkaline phosphatase and ammonification rates, while dehydrogenase activity, acid phosphatase, nitrification rate and available phosphorous was adversely affected. However, urease remains almost unchanged except for little stimulation at later stages. Dissipation of pendimethalin and oxy?uorfen followed first-order reaction kinetics with half-life (T_1/2) of 13.7–20.1 and 21.5–27.4 days, respectively. Residues of both herbicides persisted up to 60 days in the soil at all the doses except 45 days for pendimethalin at HRE.     

Evaluation of compost blankets for erosion control from disturbed lands

Soil erosion due to water and wind results in the loss of valuable top soil and causes land degradation and environmental quality problems. Site specific best management practices (BMP) are needed to curb erosion and sediment control and in turn, increase productivity of lands and sustain environmental quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of three different types of biodegradable erosion control blankets- fine compost, mulch, and 50-50 mixture of compost and mulch, for soil erosion control under field and laboratory-scale experiments. Quantitative analysis was conducted by comparing the sediment load in the runoff collected from sloped and tilled plots in the field and in the laboratory with the erosion control blankets. The field plots had an average slope of 3.5% and experiments were conducted under natural rainfall conditions, while the laboratory experiments were conducted at 4, 8 and 16% slopes under simulated rainfall conditions. Results obtained from the field experiments indicated that the 50-50 mixture of compost and mulch provides the best erosion control measures as compared to using either the compost or the mulch blanket alone. Laboratory results under simulated rains indicated that both mulch cover and the 50-50 mixture of mulch and compost cover provided better erosion control measures compared to using the compost alone. Although these results indicate that the 50-50 mixtures and the mulch in laboratory experiments are the best measures among the three erosion control blankets, all three types of blankets provide very effective erosion control measures from bare-soil surface. Results of this study can be used in controlling erosion and sediment from disturbed lands with compost mulch application. Testing different mixture ratios and types of mulch and composts, and their efficiencies in retaining various soil nutrients may provide more quantitative data for developing erosion control plans.     

运河（杭州段）底质有机质与重金属元素相关性的探讨

通过对京杭大运河 (杭州段 )底质的监测 ,探讨了底质有机质与 8种重金属元素的相关性 ,并对其成因作出了解释 ,得出了 8种重金属在运河 (杭州段 )底质中易积累的顺序。     

微囊藻毒素-LR对鸡肝脏的氧化损伤影响

蓝藻虽然能产生有毒的生物毒素,但是也含有较高的蛋白质。为探索蓝藻饲料化利用的可能性,本文通过腹腔注射的方式研究了微囊藻毒素-LR(MC-LR)对崇仁麻鸡的半数致死剂量(LD_(50))及其对肝脏的氧化损伤。实验设计了4个剂量组(对照组、5、10和20μg·kg~(-1)MC-LR),并在1、3、12、24和48 h检测了谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量以及谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性变化。结果表明,MC-LR对崇仁麻鸡的LD_(50)值为34.67μg·kg~(-1)体重(bw),95%的置信限为33.51～35.83μg·kg~(-1)bw。在MC-LR的作用下,鸡肝出现了氧化应激现象。3个染毒组鸡肝中GSH含量呈现先下降而后上升恢复至正常水平的趋势,GST酶活力表现为先上升而后下降至正常值的趋势,这说明GSH和GST共同参与了鸡肝中MC-LR的解毒;鸡肝中GPX酶活性在前3小时先保持不变(除了1 h的高剂量组),随即显著上升,这说明GPX和GSH共同参与了鸡肝中过量活性氧自由基(ROS)的清除,GPX可以作为监测MC-LR引起鸡毒性作用的生物标志物。CAT酶活力表现为先显著下降(P<0.05)而后快速上升至正常值的趋势,SOD酶在整个实验期间几乎保持稳定,这可能与SOD酶活性较高所致。     

广州大学城珠江水域多环芳烃的污染特征

利用GC-MS对广州大学城珠江水域的地表水及表层沉积物中多环芳烃(PAHs)的含量进行了分析。结果表明,广州大学城珠江水域及表层沉积物中均可检出PAHs,水体优控PAHs总量在1061.7~6577.8ng/L之间,沉积物中优控PAHs总量分布在896.1~7248ng/g之间。广州大学城珠江水域的PAHs属混合来源,主要有石油类产品的输入(漏油泄油)和化石燃料的燃烧(大气沉降)。     

硫磺和放线菌强化植物修复土壤镉污染

为了强化耐受重金属镉（Cd）的植物包心芥菜对土壤中Cd污染的富集及转运效率,以包心芥菜为研究对象,向土壤中添加0.3%的硫磺和接种不同数量的放线菌Act12（0.5,1.0,1.5,2.0g/kg）,通过盆栽实验,研究不同处理间根际土pH值的变化规律、包心芥菜地上和地下部分Cd的积累量、植物抗氧化酶系的变化以及根系活力.结果表明：添加0.3%硫磺和2.0g/kg放线菌Act12后,根际土pH值下降最大,相比对照下降了14.5%.而添加0.3%硫磺和1.5g/kg的放线菌Act12,包心芥菜地上部分Cd的含量最高,转运系数最大,相比对照,Cd含量提高了79%,并且植物地上部分的干重最大.添加放线菌Act12对植物的抗氧化系统有积极作用,CAT、POD、SOD含量均在0.3%硫磺和1.0g/kg放线菌Act12的添加组合下达到峰值,放线菌Act12还可提高植物的根系活力,降低丙二醛的含量.综上表明,添加硫磺和放线菌Act12均可强化包心芥菜吸收土壤中Cd的能力,其中0.3%硫磺和1.5g/kg放线菌Act12的添加组合强化效果最佳.     

有机质分解对青海湖湖水溶解无机碳同位素（δ13CDIC）的影响及其指示意义——来自沉积物捕获器的研究

青海湖沉积物稳定碳同位素常常被用来指示古环境的变化,然而准确地解译其信号需要充分认识溶解无机碳同位素比值（δ¹³C_DIC）变化及其控制因素。本文利用沉积物捕获器连续一年收集的青海湖湖水及颗粒物,通过其中湖水的δ¹³C_DIC和细颗粒沉积物中碳酸盐稳定碳同位素（δ¹³C_carb）的同步分析,结合湖水δ¹³C_DIC的垂直分布和表层沉积物δ13Ccarb及有机碳同位素（δ¹³C_org）,探讨了有机质分解在δ¹³C_DIC和δ¹³C_carb中的调节作用。结果表明,从沉积物捕获器中获得的湖水δ¹³C_DIC的变化主要受控于与外界隔绝后（微）生物对有机质的分解作用,但这种（微）生物分解作用并不会影响到δ¹³C_carb比值。这些现象反映了（1）还原环境下（微）生物对有机质的分解作用对水体δ¹³C_DIC有重要影响和（2）青海湖自生碳酸盐主要从上层湖水沉淀,且形成后不再与周围水体发生交换作用。