The possible association between selected sediment characteristics and the occurrence of benthic macroinvertebrates in a minimally affected river in South Africa

Forty-two families of which the vast majority associated with particles >2000?µm were found. Sediment particle sizes <2000?µm had a detrimental effect on biodiversity. The highest biodiversity was recorded at sites characterised by riffle and run habitats. Although relatively high concentrations of selected metals were present in the sediment, it was largely from geological origin and most probably not bioavailable. No significant correlation was demonstrated between variation in temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity and diversity and abundance of macroinvertebrates. Therefore, it can be concluded that, under these conditions, sediment particle size and biotope availability played a decisive role on the distribution and abundance of macroinvertebrate taxa.     

Assessment of Cs and Sr accumulation in two epiphytic species of Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae) in vitro

Multiple nuclides commonly occur together and exert toxicity simultaneously, but the difference between single and combined effects of the nuclides is rarely investigated. Epiphytic Tillandsia species are efficient air pollution biomonitors, but rarely used to monitor nuclide contamination. Two Tillandsia species, that is, T. brachycaulos and T. stricta, were chosen to test their capacity to accumulate Cs and Sr. Most plants were able to endure Cs and Sr stress for a long period, which suggested these species could resist toxic elements physiologically and metabolically. With the increasing Cs or Sr concentrations, nuclide contents in both species increased significantly, indicating the potential of Tillandsia species in monitoring nuclide pollutants. However, when the plants were treated with combined nuclides, the content of each ion decreased distinctly compared to those treated with single ion, which suggested Cs and Sr influenced and inhibited each other. In addition, T. brachycaulos seemed more efficient in the uptake of Sr, while T. stricta was more efficient for Cs. Both species accumulated more Sr than Cs at low concentrations, while more Cs than Sr at high concentrations. These results indicated that the uptake of Cs and Sr was related to both the concentrations of the nuclides and the plant species exposed.     

Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. isolates from fresh produce and the impact to food safety

Foodborne diseases associated with fresh produce consumption have escalated worldwide, causing microbial safety of produce of critical importance. Bacteria that have increasingly been detected in fresh produce are Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., both of which have been shown to progressively display antimicrobial resistance. The study focused on the assessment of antimicrobial resistance of these enteric bacteria from different kinds of fresh produce from various open air markets and supermarkets in the Philippines. Using the disk diffusion assay on a total of 50 bacterial isolates obtained from 410 fresh produce surveyed, monoresistance to tetracycline was observed to be the most prevalent (38%), followed by multidrug resistance to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and nalidixic acid (4%), and lastly by dual resistance to tetracycline and chloramphenicol (2%). Using multiplex and simplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, tetA (75%) and tetB (9%) were found in tetracycline resistant isolates, whereas catI (67%) and catIII (33%) were detected in chloramphenicol resistant isolates. Sequence analysis of gyr and par genes from the ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid resistant isolates revealed different mutations. Based on the results, fresh produce act as a reservoir of these antibiotic resistant bacteria which may pose health threat to consumers.     

化学氮肥对蔬菜硝酸盐污染影响的研究

蔬菜是一种容易富集硝酸盐的作物,菜农为了获得高产,而超量施用化学氮肥,致使蔬菜硝酸盐累积量剧增,品质恶化。研究表明：筛选出氯化铵和硫酸铵两种氮肥;施氮剂量每hm²以200kg为临界值;施氮安全始期,以追氮后8天上市为宜;化学氮肥与厩肥、土杂肥配用,能有效控制和降低蔬菜硝酸盐的累积分别达67.4％和45.7％。硝酸盐是亚硝胺的前体物,应减轻其对人体健康的潜在危害,并提高蔬菜品质。     

淡水沉积物的生物测试方法研究

描述了淡水沉积物毒性的生物测试方法。沉积物基质可以通过直接采样法和掺入法制备,储存会影响其生物可利用性。全底泥相,间隙水相和复溶相是目前沉积物毒理学研究常用的试验相,其中,间隙水相被认为是进行沉积物毒理学研究较为理想的试验相。同时推荐采用离心法制备间隙水。此外,为增加试验结果的可比性,文中还讨论了试验生物的选择问题。      

海洋盐沼环境中金属的行为研究

详细论述了海洋盐沼环境中金属的行为及其化学／物理影响因素,其中包括盐沼区域的划分、影响金属的因素、金属的行为、盐沼植物与金属的关系。指出,重金属对盐沼植物生物初期有一定程度的危害,利用某些盐沼植物可监测重金属的污染状况。     

气相色谱法测定沉积物中了基锡化合物

比较了几种用于沉积物中丁基锡化合物的ＦＰＤ－气相色谱测定方法。其中适于沉积物的方法是在冰醋酸中,以苯－己烷（２∶１）混合溶液提取沉积物中丁基锡化物,然后用ＮａＢＨ４将其转变为挥发性的氢化丁基锡,用带有火焰光度检测器的气相色谱仪进行检测,本法测定丁基锡化物的最低检出限为４—１０ｎｇ／ｇ土。     

废铅酸蓄电池铅回收清洁生产工艺

本项目采用包括预处理、湿法脱硫、浸出及电沉积在内的全湿法技术工艺 ,可以实现清洁生产 ,技术先进成熟 ,具有 90年代国际先进水平 ,铅回收大于 95 % ,电流效率大于 95 5 % ,电铅成品优于 1# 电铅标准     

香港近海沉积物中汞残留研究

研究是测定了从 2 0 0 0～ 2 0 0 1年 ,对香港近海 16个采样点所采集的沉积物中残留汞的含量。通过沉积物中汞含量对香港近海的汞污染分布状况进行研究。测量的结果中 ,沉积物中汞含量的范围是 (45 7～ 384 4ng g ,干重 )。     

应用表面活性剂治理包气带石油污染的研究

为了探讨地下水石油污染的治理方法,应用灌注表面活性剂溶液法去除地下不系统中包气带石油类物质污染的实验研究。从市售９种非离子型表面活性剂中优选出ＡＥＯ－９和ＳＡ－２０２种脂肪醇聚氧乙烯醚类表面活性剂,确定了实验条件下的最佳去油浓度,１次改造清洗效率最高达９４％,土柱淋洗与块状石灰岩柱淋洗也取得较满意的结果。