Distribution pathways of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers in a soil-plant-air system. A case study with Cynara scolymus L. and Erica sp. plants grown in a contaminated site

This study focuses on the main routes of distribution and accumulation of different hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers (mainly α-, β-, γ- and δ-HCH) in a soil-plant-air system. A field assay was carried out with two plant species, Cynara scolymus L. and Erica sp., which were planted either: (i) directly in the HCH-contaminated soil; or (ii) in pots filled with uncontaminated soil, which were placed in the HCH-contaminated soil. Both plant species accumulated HCH in their tissues, with relatively higher accumulation in above-ground biomass than in roots. The β-HCH isomer was the main isomer in all plant tissues. Adsorption of HCH by the roots from contaminated soil (soil → root pathway) and adsorption through the aerial biomass from either the surrounding air, following volatilization of the contaminant (soil → air → shoot pathway), and/or contact with air-suspended particles contaminated with HCH (soil particles → shoot pathway) were the main mechanisms of accumulation. These results may have important implications for the use of plants for reducing the transfer of contaminants via the atmosphere.     

Effects of Fe2O3, organic matter and carbonate on photocatalytic degradation of lindane in the sediment from the Liao River,China

Fourteen sediment samples with different content of Fe₂O₃ were collected from the lower reaches of the Liao River in China. The photodegradation of lindane on the surfaces of these sediments was investigated to observe the effects of Fe₂O₃ and other photoinducable substances, such as TiO₂ and organic substances, on photodegradation of lindane. A partial least-squares (PLS) analysis model was developed to find out the statistical relationship between the photodegradation and the contents of these photoinducable substances. It was concluded from the PLS analysis that inorganic carbon and organic carbon have negative effects, whereas Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂ accelerate the photodegradation of lindane in the sediment samples when 365 nm UV light was used as light source. In all cases of the experiments, the photodegradation of lindane in the sediment samples were fitted for pseudo-first-order kinetics.     

Uptake and toxicity of some pesticides on three freshwater fishes (Oreochromis niloticus,Clarias gariepinus and Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus)

Studies were carried out to determine the toxicity of some selected pesticides on fresh water fish in a tropical environment. The uptake of the pesticides lindane, pentachlorophenol (PCP), and propoxur, which are frequently used by farmers and industrialists were studied in concrete ponds at the University of Cape Coast, in Ghana. The fishes used for the study were Oreochromis niloticus, Clarias gariepinus, and Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus, and were obtained from cultured ponds in the Cape Coast District and Mankessim in the Central Region and Weija Dam, in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Single high lethal concentration (SD) or acute treatment and cumulative/chronic (or multiple minor) lethal concentration (CD) treatment were employed in administering the pesticides to the fishes via water. Gas chromatograph (GC) Electron Capture Detector (ECD) analysis was done on the dead fishes to see the extent of ingestion. The LC₅₀ values obtained for lindane on the three fish samples were as follows: Chrysicthys?–?0.38?mg?L^?1; Oreochromis?–?0.42?mg?L^?1, and Clarias?–?1.2?mg?L^?1. Mortalities occurred in fish within 3–5 days of application. For the PCP on Chrysicthys, Oreochromis, and Clarias species the LC₅₀ values were 0.42, 0.32 and 0.64?mg?L^?1, respectively for over a 2–3 day period. For a three-time influx period of propoxur the LC₅₀ for Chrysicthys, Oreochromis, and Clarias, were 22.0, 30.40, and 45.04 (all in mg?L^?1), respectively. The results obtained indicated that the pesticides had adverse effects on the general growth and reproduction of fishes. Gonadosomatic indices also showed that the pesticides affected the development of the body, the gonads, and their reproduction.     

Metabolism of gamma‐hexachlorocyclohexah (HCH) in vivo. Metabolism of orally administered gamma‐2,3,4,5,6‐pentachlorocyclohexen (PCCH)

Abstract

Mexacarbate (4‐dimethylamino‐3,5‐xylyl N‐methylcarbamate) insecticide has potential for use in spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clem.) control operations in Canada. Its persistence and fate in balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), litter and soil samples were studied by spraying aerially oil‐based and water‐based formulations, each at 70 g A.I./ha over a coniferous forest near Bathurst, New Brunswick. The oil‐based formulation gave the maximum concentration of the chemical in the substrates studied. In fir needles, the highest concentrations observed were 0.51 ppm and 0.19 ppm (fresh weight) for the oil‐based and emulsion formulations respectively, 1 h after application. The residue levels decreased very rapidly with a half‐life of approximately 5 h. Three and eight days after the spray application of the emulsion and oil formulations respectively, the concentrations of mexacarbate in foliage decreased to trace levels ( 0.008 ppm). Only very low levels of residue were detected in litter and soil. The peak concentrations for the two formulations ranged from 0.02 to 0.11 ppm (fresh weight) in litter and from 0.01 to 0.06 ppm (fresh weight) in soil. The residue levels in both litter and soil decreased to below the detection limit (0.005 ppm) within 1 d. The ground deposit levels found on glass plates and the droplet density and size spectra measured on Kromekote® cards reflected the variations in concentrations found in fir needles, litter and soil samples and correlated with the observed maximum concentrations in them. Under the stipulated use pattern, mexacarbate concentrations found in the terrestrial components studied were low and are not likely to have any undue adverse effects on non‐target species.     

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of lindane using metal–semiconductor Zn@ZnO and ZnO/Ag nanostructures

To achieve enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of lindane, we prepared metal–semiconductor composite nanoparticles (NPs). Zn@ZnO core–shell (CS) nanocomposites, calcined ZnO, and Ag-doped ZnO (ZnO/Ag) nanostructures were prepared using pulsed laser ablation in liquid, calcination, and photodeposition methods, respectively, without using surfactants or catalysts. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. In addition, elemental analysis was performed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The obtained XRD and morphology results indicated good dispersion of Zn and Ag NPs on the surface of the ZnO nanostructures. Investigation of the photocatalytic degradation of lindane under UV–vis irradiation showed that Zn@ZnO CS nanocomposites exhibit higher photocatalytic activity than the other prepared samples. The maximum degradation rate of lindane was 99.5% in 40 min using Zn@ZnO CS nanocomposites. The radical trapping experiments verified that the hydroxyl radical (·OH) was the main reactive species for the degradation of lindane.     

HCH residues in point-source contaminated samples of the Teltow Canal in Berlin,Germany

Contaminated groundwater and a riverine sediment core heavily affected by the same industrial point source were analysed for hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH) and its degradation products. A detailed quantification by GC/MS revealed contamination levels up to 730 μg/L and 396 ng/g in sum for the water and sediment samples, respectively. The isomer pattern differed significantly in both compartments. The ground water samples were depleted in γ-HCH, whereas a significant loss of α-HCH was evident in the sediments as compared to the technical composition. The data obtained revealed interesting insights into the transformation behaviour and fate of HCH mixtures in anaerobic environmental compartments. In the affected groundwater system an ongoing microbial degradation was pointed out by the identification of indicative anaerobic metabolites. On the contrary in the sedimentary system a high environmental stability or rather a hindered degradation was observed as indicated by unaltered concentration levels as compared to production rates as well as by the absence of metabolites. Interestingly, the environmental fate of HCH in subaquatic sediments as well as in anaerobic ground water differs highly in contrast to the behaviour in anaerobic soil or surface water systems. Further on, it has to be stated, that the knowledge about the long-term behaviour of HCH residues in sedimentary material under anaerobic conditions is rather limited so far.     

土壤及作物中农药残留量所揭示的问题

1991、1992年在河南、河北等省施用林丹防治小麦害虫地区跟踪监测:林丹在小麦及土壤中的残留量全部符合标准。土壤及小麦中残留量中位数分别为50.8μg/kg和11.9μg/kg.土壤中滴滴涕残留量偏高,是由于防治红蜘蛛时施用三氯杀螨醇,而三氯杀螨醇原药中含有滴滴涕所致。      

Relevance study of bare and coated zero valent iron nanoparticles for lindane degradation from its by-product monitorization

Zero-valent iron nanoparticles (NZVI) as well as polymer–stabilized nanoparticles were synthesized and used for lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) degradation in aqueous solution. To study the effectiveness of the different coated nanoparticles, simple and rapid analytical methods have been developed to measure and to detect lindane and its by-products. For the monitorization of lindane degradation solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used, while volatile by-products formation measurement was carried out by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS–SPME) followed by GC/MS. The SPE–GC/MS method provides low detection limits (0.2 μg L⁻¹), high recovery (above 95%) and it is a valuable tool for kinetic studies of the degradation process for each polymer used, while HS–SPME–GC/MS has proved to be an effective tool for the extraction and evaluation of volatile degradation by-products.     

Comparative bioremediation potential of four rhizospheric microbial species against lindane

Four microbial species (Kocuria rhizophila, Microbacterium resistens, Staphylococcus equorum and Staphylococcus cohnii subspecies urealyticus) were isolated from the rhizospheric zone of selected plants growing in a lindane contaminated environment and acclimatized in lindane spiked media (5-100 μg mL⁻¹). The isolated species were inoculated with soil containing 5, 50 and 100 mg kg⁻¹ of lindane and incubated at room temperature. Soil samples were collected periodically to evaluate the microbial dissipation kinetics, dissipation rate, residual lindane concentration and microbial biomass carbon (MBC). There was a marked difference (p < 0.05) in the MBC content and lindane dissipation rate of microbial isolates cultured in three different lindane concentrations. Further, the dissipation rate tended to decrease with increasing lindane concentrations. After 45 d, the residual lindane concentrations in three different spiked soils were reduced to 0%, 41% and 33%, respectively. Among the four species, S. cohnii subspecies urealyticus exhibited maximum dissipation (41.65 mg kg⁻¹) and can be exploited for the in situ remediation of low to medium level lindane contaminated soils.     

Effects of a herbicide-insecticide mixture in freshwater microcosms: risk assessment and ecological effect chain

Effects of chronic application of a mixture of the herbicide atrazine and the insecticide lindane were studied in indoor freshwater plankton-dominated microcosms. The macroinvertebrate community was seriously affected at all but the lowest treatment levels, the zooplankton community at the three highest treatment levels, with crustaceans, caddisflies and dipterans being the most sensitive groups. Increased abundance of the phytoplankton taxa Cyclotella sp. was found at the highest treatment level. Threshold levels for lindane, both at population and community level, corresponded well with those reported in the literature. Atrazine produced fewer effects than expected, probably due to decreased grazer stress on the algae as a result of the lindane application. The safety factors set by the Uniform Principles for individual compounds were also found to ensure protection against chronic exposure to a mixture of a herbicide and insecticide at community level, though not always at the population level.