The co-application of earthworms (Dendrobaena veneta) and compost to increase hydrocarbon losses from diesel contaminated soils

The feasibility of using composted civic waste for the remediation of a soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons (extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPH) 10+/-1.8 g kg(-1) and total 16 USEPA PAH 1.62+/-0.5 g kg(-1)) was assessed. The effects of compost to soil ratio, in combination with and without earthworm presence (Dendrobaena veneta), upon the loss of contaminants were determined for EPH (GC-FID) and PAH (GC-MS), respectively. Increasing the ratio of compost substrate to hydrocarbon impacted soil (1:0.5, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4 (soil:compost wt/wt)) in the absence of earthworms resulted in significantly (p<0.05) greater losses of both EPH and SigmaPAH after an 84 d incubation period, when compared to the soil only control. Where earthworms were present without compost, EPH losses were significantly (p<0.05) enhanced in the soil only treatment (33.4+/-5.3% residual) compared to the soil only control (54.4+/-5.3% residual). However, PAH loss in the soil only treatment (with-earthworm presence) were only slightly enhanced (65.3+/-9.3% residual), with respect to the soil only control (69.2+/-6.4% residual). Synergistic benefits of both earthworm and compost presence were most significant for PAHs (p<0.05), and less so for EPH. (14)C-respirometer studies, to establish catabolic competence in terms of microbial mineralisation of key hydrocarbons, complemented the hydrocarbon analysis.     

Pilot study of the application of Tellus airborne radiometric and soil geochemical data for radon mapping

The scope for using Tellus Project airborne gamma-ray spectrometer and soil geochemical data to predict the probability of houses in Northern Ireland having high indoor radon concentrations is evaluated, in a pilot study in the southeast of the province, by comparing these data statistically with in-house radon measurements. There is generally good agreement between radon maps modelled from the airborne radiometric and soil geochemical data using multivariate linear regression analysis and conventional radon maps which depend solely on geological and indoor radon data. The radon maps based on the Tellus Project data identify some additional areas where the radon risk appears to be relatively high compared with the conventional radon maps. One of the ways of validating radon maps modelled on the Tellus Project data will be to carry out additional indoor measurements in these areas.     

哈尔滨市土壤中PCBs的污染现状研究

采用GC／MS法对哈尔滨市18个表层土壤及1个深层土壤中PCBs的浓度进行了测定,并讨论了PCBs在土壤中的分布特征及同族体的组成情况。结果表明,该市表层土壤中∑PCBs浓度分布在0．025-1．795ng／g之间,平均值为0．545ng／g,深层土壤中未能检测到目标物,土样中共有18种同系物有不同程度的检出,主要以五氡联苯为主,其中工业区的土壤样品中∑PCBs含量最高。     

Alternative fertilisers and management to decrease incidental phosphorus loss

Incidental phosphorus loss is a concern for surface water quality. Here we showed that the risk of incidental P loss can be minimised, even from highly soluble superphosphate fertiliser, by timing application when overland flow is unlikely. Moreover, we demonstrated that the risk of incidental P loss can be estimated from water solubility, decreasing the need for expensive field trials. As such, we suggest that slowly available fertilisers such as reactive phosphate rock or serpentine super could be used in situations where incidental losses need to be decreased and conditions are suitable e.g., soil pH less than 6 and rainfall greater than 800 mm for reactive phosphate rock.This revised version was published online March 2005 with corrections to the authors name.     

Review on utilization of biochar for metal-contaminated soil and sediment remediation

Biochar is a carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative material produced through thermal decomposition of plant- and animal-based biomass under oxygen-limited conditions. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the application of biochar as an adsorbent, soil ameliorant and climate mitigation approach in many types of applications. Metal-contaminated soil remediation using biochar has been intensively investigated in small-scale and pilot-scale trials with obtained beneficial results and multifaceted effects. But so far, the study and application of biochar in contaminated sediment management has been very limited, and this is also a worldwide problem. Nonetheless, there is reason to believe that the same multiple benefits can also be realized with these sediments due to similar mechanisms for stabilizing contaminants. This paper provides a review on current biochar properties and its use as a sorbent/amendment for metal-contaminated soil/sediment remediation and its effect on plant growth, fauna habits as well as microorganism communities. In addition, the use of biochar as a potential strategy for contaminated sediment management is also discussed, especially as regards in-situ planning. Finally, we highlight the possibility of biochar application as an effective amendment and propose further research directions to ensure the safe and sustainable use of biochar as an amendment for remediation of contaminated soil and sediment.     

Mercury in soil, vegetable and human hair in a typical mining area in China: Implication for human exposure

Concentrations of total mercury(T-Hg) and methylmercury(MeHg) in soil, vegetables, and human hair were measured in a mercury mining area in central China. T-Hg and MeHg concentrations in soil ranged from 1.53 to 1054.97 mg/kg and 0.88 to 46.52 μg/kg, respectively.T-Hg concentrations was correlated with total organic carbon(TOC) content(R~2= 0.50, p0.01)and pH values(R~2= 0.21, p0.05). A significant linear relationship was observed between MeHg concentrations and the abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria(SRB)(R~2= 0.39, p0.05) in soil.Soil incubation experiments amended with specific microbial stimulants and inhibitors showed that Hg methylation was derived from SRB activity. T-Hg and MeHg concentrations in vegetables were 24.79 – 781.02 μg/kg and 0.01 – 0.18 μg/kg, respectively; levels in the edible parts were significantly higher than in the roots(T-Hg: p0.05; MeHg: p0.01). Hg species concentrations in rhizosphere soil were positively correlated to those in vegetables(p0.01), indicating that soil was an important source of Hg in vegetables. Risk assessment indicated that the consumption of vegetables could result in higher probable daily intake(PDI) of T-Hg than the provisional tolerable daily intake(PTDI) for both adults and children. In contrast, the PDI of MeHg was lower than the reference dose. T-Hg and MeHg concentrations in hair samples ranged from 1.57 to 12.61 mg/kg and 0.04 to 0.94 mg/kg, respectively, and MeHg concentration in hair positively related to PDI of MeHg via vegetable consumption(R~2= 0.39, p0.05), suggesting that vegetable may pose health risk to local residents.     

Water level fluctuations influence microbial communities and mercury methylation in soils in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Reservoirs tend to have enhanced methylmercury(MeHg) concentrations compared to natural lakes and rivers, and water level fluctuations can promote MeHg production. Until now, little research has been conducted on the effects of microorganisms in soils for the formation of MeHg during different drying and flooding alternating conditions in the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR). This study aimed to understand how water level fluctuations affect soil microbial composition and mercury concentrations, and if such microbial variations are related to Hg methylation. The results showed that MeHg concentrations and the ratios of MeHg to THg(MeHg%) in soils were higher in the seasonally drying and flooding alternating areas(DFAs, 175–155 m) than those in the non-inundated(NIAs, 175 m) and inundated areas(IAs, 145 m). However, MeHg% in all samples was less than 1%, indicating that the Hg methylation activity in the soils of the TGR was under a low level. 454 highthroughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene amplicons showed that soil bacterial abundance and diversity were relatively higher in DFA compared to those in NIA and IA, and microbial community composition varied in these three areas. At the family level, those groups in Deltaproteobacteria and Methanomicrobia that might have many Hg methylators were also showed a higher relative abundance in DFA, which might be the reason for the higher MeHg production in these areas. Overall, our results suggested that seasonally water level fluctuations can enhance the microbial abundance and diversity, as well as MeHg production in the TGR.     

Microbial methylation of mercury in the water-level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

正Methylmercury(MeHg)is an organic form of the global pollutant mercury(Hg)which readily accumulates in fish tissue.A majority of Hg methylation is a result of microbial activity and the abundance of inorganic Hg within the water reservoirs(Eckley et al.,2017).Compared to natural lakes and rivers,reservoirs have elevated Hg levels from the decomposition of recently flooded organic material which promote Hg     

土壤作物系统镉污染及其防治研究

选择我国北方主要粮食作物冬小麦和夏谷进行盆栽试验，研究了土壤镉污染对作物生长发育和产量的影响及泥炭、羊粪两种不同类型的有机肥缓减土壤镉污染危害的作用；分析了镉在两种作物不同器官中的迁移效率和累积规律；认为施加有机肥是缓减土壤镉污染危害的有效措施，且施羊粪的效果比施泥炭好。     

Toxicity attenuation of olive mill wastewater in soil slurries

Olive mill wastewaters are toxic for plants and microbes due to their high polyphenol content. We studied the effect of agricultural soil as a natural catalyst to promote polyphenol oxidation and polymerization, and in turn detoxify olive mill wastewaters. We show that model polyphenols are fully converted in soil slurries. Their products show no toxicity to the growth of a typical soil bacterium, Bacillus cereus, and reduced phytotoxicity in germination tests with English cress seeds. Those findings are promising for the sustainable treatment of olive wastewater in aerated soil slurries.