Speciation and transport of arsenic in an acid sulfate soil-dominated catchment, eastern Australia

Factors controlling the transport of geogenically-derived arsenic from a coastal acid sulfate soil into downstream sediments are identified in this study with both solid-phase associations and aqueous speciation clearly critical to the mobility and toxicity of arsenic. The data from both sequential extractions and X-ray adsorption spectroscopy indicate that arsenic in the unoxidised Holocene acid sulfate soils is essentially non-labile in the absence of prolonged oxidation, existing primarily as arsenopyrite or as an arsenopyrite-like species, likely arsenian pyrite. Anthropogenically-accelerated pedogenic processes, which have oxidised this material over time, have greatly enhanced the potential bioavailability of arsenic, with solid-phase arsenic almost solely present as As(V) associated with secondary Fe(III) minerals present. Analyses of downstream sediments reveal that a portion of the arsenic is retained as a mixed As(III)/As(V) solid-phase, though not at levels considered to be environmentally deleterious. Determination of arsenic speciation in pore waters using high performance liquid chromatography/Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry shows a dominance of As(III) in upstream pore waters whilst an unidentified As species reaches comparative levels within the downstream, estuarine locations. Pore water As(V) was detected at trace concentrations only. The results demonstrate the importance of landscape processes to arsenic transport and availability within acid sulfate soil environments.     

Molecular characterization of conjugative plasmids in pesticide tolerant and multi-resistant bacterial isolates from contaminated alluvial soil

A total of 35 bacteria from contaminated soil (cultivated fields) near pesticide industry from Chinhat, Lucknow, (India) were isolated and tested for their tolerance/resistance to pesticides, heavy metals and antibiotics. Bacterial isolates were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. Gas Chromatography analysis of the soil samples revealed the presence of lindane at a concentration of 547 ng g⁻¹ and α-endosulfan and β-endosulfan of 422 ng g⁻¹ and 421 ng g⁻¹ respectively. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry analysis of the test sample was done and Cr, Zn, Ni, Fe, Cu and Cd were detected at concentrations of 36.2, 42.5, 43.2, 241, 13.3 and 11.20 mg kg⁻¹ respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of all the isolates were determined for pesticides and heavy metals. All the multi-resistant/tolerant bacterial isolates were also tested for the presence of incompatibility (Inc) group IncP, IncN, IncW, IncQ plasmids and for rolling circle plasmids of the pMV158-family by PCR. Total community DNA was extracted from pesticide contaminated soil. PCR amplification of the bacterial isolates and soil DNA revealed the presence of IncP-specific sequences (trfA2 and oriT) which was confirmed by dot blot hybridization with RP4-derived DIG-labelled probes. Plasmids belonging to IncN, IncW and IncQ group were neither detected in the bacterial isolates nor in total soil DNA. The presence of conjugative or mobilizable IncP plasmids in the isolates indicate that these bacteria have gene transfer capacity with implications for dissemination of heavy metal and antibiotic resistance genes. We propose that IncP plasmids are mainly responsible for the spread of multi-resistant bacteria in the contaminated soils.     

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in rice straw smoke and their origins in Japan

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) contained in the smoke generated from rice straw burning in post-harvest paddy fields in Japan were analyzed to determine their congener profiles. Both the apportionment of toxic equivalent (TEQ) by using indicative congeners and the comparison of the homolog profiles showed that the PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs present in the rice-straw smoke were greatly influenced by those present as impurities in pentachlorophenol (PCP) and chlornitrofen (CNP, 4-nitrophenyl-2,4,6-trichlorophenyl ether) formulations that had been widely used as herbicides in paddy fields in Japan. Further, in order to investigate the effects of paddy-field soil on the PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs present in rice-straw smoke, PCDD/PCDF/DL-PCB homolog profiles of rice straw, rice-straw smoke and paddy-field soil were compared. Rice-straw smoke was generated by burning rice straw on a stainless-steel tray in a laboratory. The results suggested that the herbicides-originated PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs and the atmospheric PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs contributed predominantly to the presence of PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs in the rice-straw smoke while the contribution of PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs formed during rice straw burning was relatively minimal. The major sources of the PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs found in the rice-straw smoke were attributed primarily to the paddy-field soil adhered to the rice straw surface and secondarily to the air taken by the rice straw. The principal component analysis supported these conclusions. It is concluded that rice straw burning at paddy fields acts as a driving force in the transfer of PCDDs/PCDFs/DL-PCBs from paddy-field soil to the atmosphere.     

Estrogen receptor mediated activity in bankside groundwater, with flood suspended particulate matter and floodplain soil - an approach combining tracer substance, bioassay and target analysis

Bankside groundwater is widely used as drinking water resource and, therefore, contamination has to be avoided. In the European Union groundwater protection is explicit subject to Water Framework Directive. While groundwater pollution may originate from different sources, this study investigated on impacts via flood events.Groundwater was sampled with increasing distance to the river Rhine near Karlsruhe, Germany. Samples were HPLC-MS-MS analyzed for the river contaminant carbamazepine to indicate river water infiltration, giving permanent presence in 250 m distance to the river (14-47 μg L⁻¹). Following a flood event, concentrations of about 16-20 μg L⁻¹ could also be detected in a distance of 750 m to the river. Furthermore, estrogenic activity as determined with the Yeast Estrogen Screen assay was determined to increase up to a 17β-ethinylestradiol equivalent concentration (E-EQ) = 2.9 ng L⁻¹ near the river, while activity was initially measured following the flood with up to E-EQ = 2.6 ng L⁻¹ in 750 m distance. Detections were delayed with increasing distance to the river indicating river water expansion into the aquifer.Flood suspended matter and floodplain soil were fractionated and analyzed for estrogenic activity in parallel giving up to 1.4 ng g⁻¹ and up to 0.7 ng g⁻¹, respectively. Target analysis focusing on known estrogenic active substances only explained <1% of measured activities.Nevertheless, river water infiltration was shown deep into bankside groundwater, thus, impacting groundwater quality. Therefore, flood events have to be in the focus when aiming for groundwater and drinking water protection as well as for implementation of Water Framework Directive.     

上海城市样带土壤有机碳空间变异性研究

为揭示城市化、工业化等人为活动对土壤有机碳的影响,选择能反映上海城郊乡梯度差异的城市样带,采用地统计学方法对表层土壤样品土壤有机碳的空间变异结构和分布格局进行了分析。结果表明：城市表层土壤有机碳含量均属中等变异,徐汇区土壤有机碳含量呈正态分布,奉贤区、闵行区和所研究样带土壤有机碳含量呈对数正态分布。半方差函数模型拟合结果显示徐汇和闵行区土壤有机碳符合指数模型,奉贤和所研究样带土壤有机碳符合球状模型。通过泛克里格插值得到城市表层土壤有机碳含量空间分布图,发现徐汇、闵行区土壤有机碳呈岛状,奉贤区呈条带状,而所研究样带呈条带和岛状分布相结合的特点。土壤有机碳含量城郊乡梯度差异明显,工业化、城市化、肥料投入与管理等人为因素对城市土壤有机碳空间分布密切相关     

城乡交错带土地利用方式对土壤理化性质的影响

以长沙市南郊山地丘陵区为研究对象,选择7种不同土地利用方式（次生林地、经济林地、杉木人工林、采伐迹地、撂荒地、苗圃地、坡耕地）研究了城乡交错带不同土地利用方式对土壤理化性质的影响。结果表明：7种土地利用方式下,土壤颗粒组成主要集中在1～0.05 mm和＜0.001 mm两个粒级范围内,土壤质地以重壤土和轻粘土为主。随着人为干扰程度的减弱,土壤砂粒（1.0～0.05 mm）、土壤粉粒（0.05～0.01 mm）百分率逐渐下降,＜0.01 mm的土壤物理性粘粒百分率增加。自然、半自然状态利用方式的林地（次生林地、经济林地、杉木人工林地）土壤总孔隙度、含水量普遍较高,土壤密度低于坡耕地、苗圃地、撂荒地、采伐迹地,而土壤pH值、有机质含量及氮、磷、钾含量普遍高于坡耕地、苗圃地、撂荒地、采伐迹地     

Partitioning of metals in a degraded acid sulfate soil landscape: influence of tidal re-inundation

The oxidation and acidification of sulfidic soil materials results in the re-partitioning of metals, generally to more mobile forms. In this study, we examine the partitioning of Fe, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Zn in the acidified surface soil (0-0.1 m) and the unoxidised sub-soil materials (1.3-1.5 m) of an acid sulfate soil landscape. Metal partitioning at this acidic site was then compared to an adjacent site that was previously acidified, but has since been remediated by tidal re-inundation. Differences in metal partitioning were determined using an optimised six-step sequential extraction procedure which targets the “labile”, “acid-soluble”, “organic”, “crystalline oxide”, “pyritic” and “residual” fractions. The surficial soil materials of the acidic site had experienced considerable losses of Cr, Cu, Mn and Ni compared to the underlying parent material due to oxidation and acidification, yet only minor losses of Fe and Zn. In general, the metals most depleted from the acidified surface soil materials exhibited the greatest sequestration in the surface soil materials of the tidally remediated site. An exception to this was iron, which accumulated to highly elevated concentrations in the surficial soil materials of the tidally remediated site. The “acid-soluble”, “organic” and “pyritic” fractions displayed the greatest increase in metals following tidal remediation. This study demonstrates that prolonged tidal re-inundation of severely acidified acid sulfate soil landscapes leads to the immobilisation of trace metals through the surficial accumulation of iron oxides, organic material and pyrite.     

中原油田石油污染土壤原位生物修复技术实验研究

通过实验室选择性富集培养,从中原油田石油污染土壤中获得了能以中原原油为碳源快速生长的石油降解菌群。结合黑麦草（Ryegrass）和苜蓿（Alfalfa）,采用该降解菌群对原油污染土壤进行了原位生物联合修复实验。接入降解菌的实验区分种植黑麦草、种植苜蓿、未种植区,另设黑麦草区和空白区。经过99 d的生物修复,石油烃累计降...     

曝气强度对同时硝化反硝化（SND）脱氮过程中N2O排放的影响

为了控制污水脱氮中N2O排放,在不同曝气强度下研究了好氧硝化段同时硝化反硝化（SND）系统的N2O排放特性,并采用PCR—DGGE技术分析微生物群落特征。结果发现,随着曝气强度的增强,系统总氮去除率下降,但脱氮中N2O—N所占比例则上升,实验中从低到高3个曝气强度下,总氮去除率分别为80．01％、65．28％和58．62％,脱氮中N2O—N所占的比例为1．89％、7．84％和9．20％。PCR—DGGE分析显示,和低曝气强度下相比中、高曝气强度下系统微生物群落发生明显变化,但中曝气强度和高曝气强度下系统微生物群落表现出较高相似性。这表明,不同曝气强度下系统N2O排放受到氮素转化和微生物群落变化的影响。适宜曝气强度不仅提高总氮去除率,还可有效控制N2O排放。     

江苏盐城滩涂土壤中多环芳烃的测定

文中采用江苏盐城滩涂响水到滨海一带的滩涂土壤样品,利用索氏提取法提取、硅胶柱净化、高效液相色谱法分离检测土壤样品中的多环芳烃(PAHs),并用优化洗脱程序对滩涂土壤中PAHs的含量进行了测定。结果表明:11个滩涂土壤样品中检出萘、苊烯、菲、蒽、荧蒽、芘六种PAHs,其含量较低,说明该段滩涂土壤尚未受到多环芳烃的污染。