Mobility and sulfidization of heavy metals in sediments of a shallow eutrophic lake,Lake Taihu,China

The technique of DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films) using three diffusive gel thicknesses was applied to estimate the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments and porewater of Lake Taihu, China. The DGT results showed significantly positive correlations between Co, Pb, Cd and Mn, and Ni and Fe concentrations in porewater. Cu and Zn showed a significantly negative correlation with Mn, due to Cu combination with carbonates and Zn derived from agricultural pollution, respectively. The rank order of average concentrations of Co, Ni and Cd at each station was DGT_1.92 > DGT_0.78 > DGT_0.39, suggesting stronger resupply from sediments to porewater when using thicker diffusive gels. Comparing centrifugation and DGT measurements, Co, Ni and Cd are highly labile; Mn and Fe are moderately labile; and Cu, Zn and Pb are slightly labile. The variations of AVS concentrations in sediment cores indicate that metal sulfides in deeper layers are easily diffused into surface sediments.     

Cu(II), Fe(III) and Mn(II) combinations as environmental stress factors have distinguishing effects on Enterococcus hirae

Pollution by various heavy metals as environmental stress factors might affect bacteria. It was established that iron (Fe(III)), manganese (Mn(II)) and copper (Cu(II)) ion combinations caused effects on Enterococcus hirae that differed from the sum of the effects when the metals were added separately. It was shown that the Cu^2 +–Fe^3 + combination decreased the growth and ATPase activity of membrane vesicles of wild-type E. hirae ATCC9790 and atpD mutant (with defective F_oF₁-ATPase) MS116. Addition of Mn^2 +–Fe^3 + combinations within the same concentration range had no effects on growth compared to control (without heavy metals). ATPase activity was increased in the presence of Mn^2 +–Fe^3 +, while together with 0.2 mmol/L N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), ATPase activity was decreased compared to control (when only 0.2 mmol/L DCCD was present). These results indicate that heavy metals ion combinations probably affect the F_OF₁-ATPase, leading to conformational changes. Moreover the action may be direct or be mediated by environment redox potential. The effects observed when Fe^3 + was added separately disappeared in both cases, which might be a result of competing processes between Fe^3 + and other heavy metals. These findings are novel and improve the understanding of heavy metals ions effects on bacteria, and could be applied for regulation of stress response patterns in the environment.     

Structure and function of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil microbial community respond differently to elevated ozone in field-planted wheat

To assess the responses of the soil microbial community to chronic ozone (O₃), wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum Linn.) were planted in the field and exposed to elevated O₃ (eO₃) concentration. Three treatments were employed: (1) Control treatment (CK), AOT40 = 0; (2) O₃-1, AOT40 = 1.59 ppm•h; (3) O₃-2, AOT40 = 9.17 ppm•h. Soil samples were collected for the assessment of microbial biomass C, community-level physiological profiles (CLPPs), and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). EO₃ concentration significantly reduced soil microbial carbon and changed microbial CLPPs in rhizosphere soil, but not in non-rhizosphere soil. The results of the PLFAs showed that eO₃ concentrations had significant effects on soil community structure in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils. The relative abundances of fungal and actinomycetous indicator PLFAs decreased in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils, while those of bacterial PLFAs increased. Thus the results proved that eO₃ concentration significantly changed the soil microbial community function and composition, which would influence the soil nutrient supply and carbon dynamics under O₃ exposure.     

Cu(Ⅱ), Fe(Ⅲ) and Mn(Ⅱ) combinations as environmental stress factors have distinguishing effects on Enterococcus hirae

Pollution by various heavy metals as environmental stress factors might affect bacteria. It was established that iron(Fe(Ⅲ)), manganese(Mn(Ⅱ)) and copper(Cu(Ⅱ)) ion combinations caused effects on Enterococcus hirae that differed from the sum of the effects when the metals were added separately. It was shown that the Cu2+–Fe3+combination decreased the growth and ATPase activity of membrane vesicles of wild-type E. hirae ATCC9790 and atp D mutant(with defective FoF1-ATPase) MS116. Addition of Mn2+–Fe3+combinations within the same concentration range had no effects on growth compared to control(without heavy metals). ATPase activity was increased in the presence of Mn2+–Fe3+, while together with0.2 mmol/L N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide(DCCD), ATPase activity was decreased compared to control(when only 0.2 mmol/L DCCD was present). These results indicate that heavy metals ion combinations probably affect the FOF1-ATPase, leading to conformational changes. Moreover the action may be direct or be mediated by environment redox potential.The effects observed when Fe3+was added separately disappeared in both cases, which might be a result of competing processes between Fe3+and other heavy metals. These findings are novel and improve the understanding of heavy metals ions effects on bacteria,and could be applied for regulation of stress response patterns in the environment.     

New insights into disruption of iron homeostasis by environmental pollutants

Among the numerous health conditions environmental pollutants can cause, chronic exposure to pollutants including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals has been shown to disturb a specific biological homeostatic process, the iron metabolism in human body. Disorders of iron metabolism are among the common diseases of humans and encompass a broad spectrum of diseases with different clinical manifestations, ranging from anemia to iron overload, and possibly to neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Hepcidin–ferroportin (FPN) signaling is one of the key mechanisms responsible for iron supply, utilization, recycling, and storage, and recent studies demonstrated that exposure to environmental pollutants including POPs and heavy metals could lead to disruption of the hepcidin–FPN axis along with disordered systemic iron homeostasis and diseases. This article introduces and highlights the accompanying review article by Drs. Xu and Liu in this journal, which elaborates in detail the adverse effects of environmental pollutants on iron metabolism, and the mechanisms responsible for these toxicological outcomes. It also points out the knowledge gaps still existing in this subject matter. Research that will fill these gaps will improve our understanding of the issue and provide useful information to prevent or treat diseases induced by environmental pollutants.     

东江流域表层土中全氟化合物的空间分布及来源解析

为探究东江流域土壤中全氟化合物(perfluorinated compounds,PFCs)分布特征和潜在来源,2013年8月采集东江流域19份表层土样品,利用高效液相色谱-串联质谱联用(HPLC-MS/MS)技术分析了16种PFCs的含量。结果表明,东江流域表层土总PFCs(∑PFCs)含量范围在2.15~5.49μg/kg dw。所采集的表层土样品中,东江东莞段土壤∑PFCs含量明显高于惠州段,全氟辛烷磺酸(0.65~1.28μg/kg dw)为最主要的污染物。与国内相关研究数据相比,东江流域土壤PFCs含量水平整体较高,这可能与流域产业结构和经济活动有关。主成分分析结果表明,电镀防雾剂、食品包装和全氟羧酸的生产过程、大气沉降、电化学氟化过程为东江流域土壤中PFCs的主要来源。与土壤有机质含量相关性研究表明,PFCs更容易分配到有机质含量高的土壤中,且随着PFCs分子碳链的增加,这种趋势更加显著。     

富里酸在土壤环境中的吸附研究

富里酸在土壤中的吸附影响着土壤肥力和土壤环境,本文比较了不同pH、离子强度下,富里酸对土壤环境吸附性能的影响,探究了高岭土对富里酸的吸附条件.结果表明吸附在高岭土上的富里酸可以改变高岭土的结构,与高岭土空白样相比,复合体的结构更加分散.高岭土的不同组分对富里酸的吸附容量不同,对富里酸不同官能团的亲和性也存在明显差异.富里酸在高岭土上的吸附及有机污染物在土壤环境中的吸附作用,与烷基、芳香基团呈正相关.     

基于分形维数的斜坡非饱和带土体大孔隙分布研究

对取自于云南省昭通市头寨滑坡滑源区附近的两个大尺度(25cm×25cm×50cm)土柱样品进行CT扫描,选取典型剖面切片,通过CT值范围将大孔隙分离从而研究土体中的大孔隙分布;计算大孔隙分布分维数(盒维数),研究其大孔隙的不规则特征,结果表明:土体中大孔隙的盒维数随深度增加呈单调递减规律,且与大孔隙度具有显著正相关关系;但大孔隙度只能表征在某一深度上大孔隙的分布多少,而大孔隙的不规则特征则需盒维数表征;最后得到大孔隙的累积大孔隙度与大孔隙孔径(在盒维数为常数时)符合幂函数规律,研究结果有利于利用分形理论建立大孔隙模型,从而研究水分在大孔隙中运动过程。     

鄱阳湖及周边经济区土壤镉的含量与分布

采用双层网格布点法,在研究区分别采集表层和深层土壤样品9829和2467个,测定了样品的镉含量和pH值。表层土壤镉含量呈对数正态分布,含镉范围0.024~4.619mg/kg,宜用几何平均值0.157mg/kg表征其平均含量。深层土壤镉含量显著低于表层,含量范围0.010~1.982mg/kg,算术平均值和几何平均值分别为0.098mg/kg和0.080mg/kg。研究区7地市表层土壤镉含量几何平均值较30年前上升34.6%~165%。据《土壤环境质量标准GB15618-1995》,以镉为评价指标时,研究区以Ⅰ类土壤为主,分布面积占总面积的78.36%,次为Ⅱ类土壤、分布面积占总面积的15.92%,Ⅲ类和劣Ⅲ类土壤仅占总面积的5.72%,显示土壤环境质量良好,但仍须采取有效措施遏制镉污染的迅猛发展。     

贵州喀斯特地区土壤细菌群落结构特征及变化

为探明贵州喀斯特不同植被演替群落下的土壤细菌群落结构及变化特征,本文利用高通量测序技术对5个主要植被演替群落(稀灌草丛、藤刺灌丛、灌木林、乔灌过渡林、乔木林)的根际(竹叶椒)、非根际土壤细菌群落结构及环境因子进行了分析研究。结果表明:贵州喀斯特高原土壤细菌类群主要为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes),其相对丰富度分别为43.35%、12.97%、7.53%、7.12%、6.19%、5.35%、5.05%,未分类类群占7.36%。样品中检测到了较低丰度的广古菌门和泉古菌门。随植被群落演替,根际土壤中变形菌门、厚壁菌门和浮霉菌门丰度逐渐增加;非根际土壤中酸杆菌门和疣微菌门丰度随植被演替逐渐减小。贵州喀斯特高原土壤细菌的影响因子大小为土壤有机碳、土壤总氮、含水量、电导率等,其中土壤有机碳和土壤总氮有显著性影响。