Relationship of surface changes to metal leaching from tungsten composite shot exposed to three different soil types

Physical changes that occur on the surface of fired shots due to firing and impact with soil may increase the dissolution of muniton metals. Increased metal dissolution could potentially increase metal transport and leaching, affecting metal concentrations in surface and groundwater. This research describes the relationship between the surface changes on fired tungsten-nickel-iron (94% W:2% Ni:4% Fe) composite shots and metals leaching from those shots. Tungsten composite shot was fired into, and aged in, three soil types (Silty Sand, Sandy Clay, and Silt) in mesoscale rainfall lysimeters to simulate live-fire conditions and subsequent interactions between the metals of the composite and soil. Leachate, runoff, and soil samples were collected from the lysimeters and analyzed for metal content. The shots were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate surface changes. SEM results indicated that a soil’s particle size distribution initially affected the amount of metal that was sheared from the surface of the fired W-composite shots. Shearing was greatest in soils with larger soil particles (sand and gravel); shearing was least in soils composed of small soil particles (fines). Increased metallic shearing from the shot’s surface was associated with increased W dissolution, compared to controls, following a simulated 1 year soil aging.     

Apolipophorin III and transmission electron microscopy as toxicity indicators for harmaline and tea saponin in Spodoptera exigua (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

Apolipophorin III, traditionally known for lipid transport in insects is fairly established as toxicity indicator against harmaline and tea saponin during this study. Apolipophorin III expressed in the hemolymph and midgut tissues of 3rd, 4th, 5th larval instars and pupae of Spodoptera exigua. Apolipophorin III presence was further confirmed by achieving its partial cDNA (Genbank accession no. FJ606822) of 448 bp. qRT PCR revealed that tea saponin resulted in significant reduction of gene expression in 3rd and 4th larval instars but increased in 5th instar as compared to control. Harmaline caused gradual increase of gene expression in 3rd, 4th and 5th instars after feeding on the treated diet. Fifth instar larvae synonymously resulted in the highest gene expressions against both the biochemicals. After the injection of harmaline and tea saponin abrupt increase in gene expression of 4th, 5th larval instar and pupae was observed as compared to control treatment. Transmission electron microscopy of midgut epithelium after being fed with harmaline and tea saponin depicted certain cytological changes. Harmaline treatment lead to cytoplasm vacuolization, mitochondrial disruption, spherocrystals with concentric layers, irregular nucleus and floating nuclei in cytoplasm. Tea saponin treatment resulted in denser cytoplasm, higher intracellular osmotic concentration and reduced complement of apical microvilli. Cells were found to have only a few mitochondria and glycogen deposits in comparison to control treatment.     

Phenanthrene uptake by Medicago sativa L. under the influence of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus

Phenanthrene uptake by Medicago sativa L. was investigated under the influence of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. Inoculation of lucerne with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus etunicatum L. resulted in higher phenanthrene accumulation in the roots and lower accumulation in the shoots compared to non-mycorrhizal controls. Studies on sorption and desorption of phenanthrene by roots and characterization of heterogeneity of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal roots using solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹³C NMR) demonstrated that increased aromatic components due to mycorrhizal inoculation resulted in enhanced phenanthrene uptake by the roots but lower translocation to the shoots. Direct visualization using two-photon excitation microscopy (TPEM) revealed higher phenanthrene accumulation in epidermal cells of roots and lower transport into the root interior and stem in mycorrhizal plants than in non-mycorrhizal controls. These results provide some insight into the mechanisms by which arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation may influence the uptake of organic contaminants by plants.     

Polymer coating of copper oxide nanoparticles increases nanoparticles uptake and toxicity in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are frequently used in a polymer-coated form, to be included in paints or fabrics for antimicrobial properties. Their application in antifouling paints may lead to the contamination of aquatic ecosystems. However, the toxicological risk of NPs in the environment is hard to evaluate due to a lack of knowledge on the mechanisms of NP interaction with biological systems. In this study, we investigated the effect of polymer coating on CuO NP toxicity in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by comparing bare and polymer-coated CuO NPs prepared from the same CuO nanopowder. Both CuO NP suspensions were toxic to C. reinhardtii after 6 h treatment to concentrations of 0.005-0.04 g L⁻¹. Bare and polymer-coated CuO NPs induced a decrease of Photosystem II activity and the formation of reactive oxygen species. Polymer-coated CuO NP was found to be more toxic than the uncoated CuO NP. The higher toxicity of CS-CuO NP was mainly associated with the increased capacity of polymer-coated CuO NP to penetrate the cell compared to bare CuO NPs. These results indicates that the high toxicity of polymer-coated CuO NPs in algal cells results of intracellular interactions between NPs and the cellular system.     

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic analysis of N6-benzylaminopurine residue quantity in sprouts with gold nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

A rapid and quantitative method for the determination of N⁶-Benzylademine (N⁶-BA) was established through the application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The Raman peak intensities of N⁶-BA at 1002 cm^?1 positively correlated to N⁶-BA concentrations in sprout extracts. The R² reached 0.99, and RSDs calculated below 10% at the concentration range of 0.1 ～5μg mL^?1. The average recoveries were 80.0% ～ 98.2% for blank samples intentionally contaminated at differing levels of 0.04, 0.4, and 1 μg g^?1. The whole procedure, including sample preparation and SERS detection, did not exceed 30 min for a set of 6 samples. This study indicates that SERS is a promising technique for rapid tracing analysis and on-site testing of N⁶-BA.     

Motor Vehicle Contributions to Ambient PM10 and PM2.5 at Selected Urban Areas in the USA

A source apportionment study was carried out to estimate the contribution of motor vehicles to ambient particulate matter (PM) in selected urban areas in the USA. Measurements were performed at seven locations during the period September 7, 2000 through March 9, 2001. Measurements included integrated PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Ambient PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were apportioned to their local sources using the chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model and compared with results obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicate that PM_2.5 components were mainly from combustion sources, including motor vehicles, and secondary species (nitrates and sulfates). PM₁₀ consisted mainly of geological material, in addition to emissions from combustion sources. The fractional contributions of motor vehicles to ambient PM were estimated to be in the range from 20 to 76% and from 35 to 92% for PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, respectively.     

Fish scales as bio-indicator of water quality of River Ganga

Various studies have been conducted in the past on the fresh waters related to the various aspects of limnology, physico-chemistry, primary productivity, plankton etc. in relation to environmental conditions and ecology, flora and fauna of River Ganga. In the present investigation some recent approach have been made to study the various parts of fishes like gill structures, scales for age determination, length and weight of fish for growth assessments etc. The SEM study of scales in relation to pollution and environmental conditions is a recent approach. At this stage, in the present study the scales of two most common fishes found in the study stretch were involved to create a base line.     

乌梁素海水体微塑料空间分布规律及影响因素

为了研究乌梁素海水体中微塑料的分布规律,通过试验方法探究了湖泊不同点位处,不同密度、不同大小、不同形状的微塑料丰度,分析微塑料自身属性(密度、形状、尺寸)对其空间分布的影响.结果表明,密度范围为小于1.0g/cm³,1.0~1.2g/cm³和1.2~1.5g/cm³的微塑料在湖泊不同采样点处的丰度范围分别为(109.5±17.3)~(642±160) n/L,(160.5±57.3)~(588±104) n/L和(124.5±47.5)~(502.5±80.2) n/L;其中密度小于1.0g/cm³的微塑料在湖泊中丰度呈现出由北到南逐渐增多的趋势,密度为1.0~1.2g/cm³的微塑料丰度在湖泊中部多、南北部少,1.2~1.5g/cm³的微塑料呈现由北到南由多变少的趋势.尺寸为0.05~0.5mm,0.5~2mm和2~5mm的微塑料在湖泊中丰度范围分别为(70.5±8.8)~(805.5±154.7) n/L,(178.5±21.4)~(742.5±112.3) n/L和(0±0)~(217.5±22.8) n/L;尺寸在0.05~0.5mm的微塑料丰度呈现由北到南递增的趋势,尺寸为0.5~2mm和2~5mm的微塑料丰度呈现由北到南递减的趋势.形状为纤维状,碎片状、薄膜状和块状的微塑料在湖泊中丰度范围分别为(499.5±92.3)~(1126.5±228) n/L,(30±4.8)~(151.5±31.6) n/L,(4.5±0.8)~(229.5±61.6) n/L和(1.5±0.2)~(12±3.9) n/L;其中纤维状微塑料在各个采样点均占主导地位且分布均匀,碎片状、薄膜状和块状微塑料丰度较低,无明显规律.在拉曼光谱鉴定的所有微塑料中,聚丙烯(43%)是最常见的类型,其次是聚氯乙烯(18%)、聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(18%)、聚乙烯(11.7%)和聚苯乙烯(9.3%).     

常温ANAMMOX工艺运行性能及功能菌研究

通过改变进水基质浓度,对以火山岩为填料的常温上向流厌氧氨氧化生物滤池在不同基质浓度下的脱氮性能进行了研究.借助显微镜、电镜(SEM)观察对滤池内的微生物形态进行了分析,利用变性凝胶电泳(DGGE)和克隆测序等微生物方法,对ANAMMOX种属进行了鉴定.试验结果表明,常温条件下,厌氧氨氧化滤池在高、低不同基质下都能够保持较高的脱氮效果,其中TN去除负荷最高能够达到2.99kgN/(m3×d),NH4+-N和NO2--N最高去除率分别能够达到99.4%和98.8%;显微镜、电镜观察显示:滤池下部的微生物种类更丰富,ANAMMOX菌在滤池的中部和上部的比例更高;16SrRNA克隆测序鉴定结果表明:滤池中的ANAMMOX菌为Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis,其对温度和基质浓度都有着较宽的适应性.     

厦门市郊区降尘中大分子有机质化学特征浅析

以厦门市的降尘(包括一次沙尘天气)为研究对象,采用综合湿法-化学方法获得腐殖酸(HA)、干酪根+碳黑(KB)和碳黑(BC)3类大分子有机质,分析了两种天气情况下大分子有机质的形貌特征、官能团结构和来源,同时探讨沙尘天气条件下的影响.结果表明,大分子有机质的形貌特征为探讨其来源提供了丰富的信息,如呈大孔网状结构的干酪根样品可能源于植物,而呈球状结构的BC样品则可能源于煤或油的不完全燃烧.傅立叶红外光谱研究表明,降尘中的HA、KB和BC具有相似的结构组成和官能团信息,而受到沙尘天气及季节性的影响,官能团的含量存在差别.碳稳定同位素结合扫描电镜进一步研究大分子有机质来源表明,大分子有机质有明显的陆源C3植物的信息,且有部分化石燃料的信息.沙尘天气降尘中大分子有机质的δ13C值低于正常天气,这与植物的不同地域生长环境、沙尘暴携带的来自蒙古沙漠和中国西北部的沙尘及陆源有机质的δ13C值偏低区域的沙尘影响有关.KB和BC的相关性显著(r=0.964,p ＜0.01),表明干酪根(K)与BC有部分相似的生物质来源.