Phytoremediation potentials of selected tropical plants for Ethidium bromide

Background, Aims and Scope Research and development has its own benefits and inconveniences. One of the inconveniences is the generation of enormous quantity of diverse toxic and hazardous wastes and its eventual contamination to soil and groundwater resources. Ethidium bromide (EtBr) is one of the commonly used substances in molecular biology experiments. It is highly mutagenic and moderately toxic substance used in DNA-staining during electrophoresis. Interest in phytoremediation as a method to solve chemical contamination has been growing rapidly in recent years. The technology has been utilized to clean up soil and groundwater from heavy metals and other toxic organic compounds in many countries like the United States, Russia, and most of European countries. Phytoremediation requires somewhat limited resources and very useful in treating wide variety of environmental contaminants. This study aimed to assess the potential of selected tropical plants as phytoremediators of EtBr. Materials and Methods This study used tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), mustard (Brassica alba), vetivergrass (Vetiveria zizanioedes), cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), carabaograss (Paspalum conjugatum), and talahib (Saccharum spontaneum) to remove EtBr from laboratory wastes. The six tropical plants were planted in individual plastic bags containing soil and 10% EtBr-stained agarose gel. The plants were allowed to establish and grow in soil for 30 days. Ethidium bromide content of the test plants and the soil were analyzed before and after soil treatment. Ethidium bromide contents of the plants and soils were analyzed using an UV VIS spectrophotometer. Results Results showed a highly significant (p≤0.001) difference in the ability of the tropical plants to absorb EtBr from soils. Mustard registered the highest absorption of EtBr (1.4±0.12 μg kg⁻¹) followed by tomato and vetivergrass with average uptake of 1.0±0.23 and 0.7±0.17 μg kg⁻¹ EtBr, respectively. Cogongrass, talahib, and carabaograss had the least amount of EtBr absorbed (0.2±0.6 μg kg⁻¹). Ethidium bromide content of soil planted to mustard was reduced by 10.7%. This was followed by tomato with an average reduction of 8.1%. Only 5.6% reduction was obtained from soils planted to vetivergrass. Soils planted to cogongrass, talahib, and carabaograss had the least reduction of 1.52% from its initial EtBr content. Discussion In this study, mustard, tomato, and vetivergrass have shown their ability to absorb EtBr from contaminated soil keeping them from expanding their reach into the environment and preventing further contamination. Its downside, however, is that living creatures including humans, fish, and birds, must be prevented from eating the plants that utilized these substances. Nonetheless, it is still easier to isolate, cut down, and remove plants growing on the surface of the contaminated matrices, than to use strong acids and permanganates to chemically neutralize a dangerous process that can further contaminate the environment and pose additional risks to humans. Though this alternative method does not totally eliminate eventual environmental contamination, it is by far produces extremely insignificant amount of by-products compared with the existing processes and technologies. Conclusions Mustard had the highest potential as phytoremediator of EtBr in soil. However, the absorption capabilities of the other test plants may also be considered in terms of period of maturity and productivity. Recommendations and Perspectives It is recommended that a more detailed and complete investigation of the phytoremediation properties of the different plants tested should be conducted in actual field experiments. Plants should be exposed until they reach maturity to establish their maximum response to the toxicity and mutagenecity of EtBr and their maximum absorbing capabilities. Different plant parts should be analyzed individually to determine the movement and translocation of EtBr from soil to the tissues of plants. Since this study has established that some plants can thrive and dwell in EtBr-treated soil, an increased amount of EtBr application should be explored in future studies. It is suggested therefore that a larger, more comprehensive exploration of phytoremediation application in the management of toxic and hazardous wastes emanating from biotechnology research activities should be considered especially on the use of vetivergrass, a very promising tropical perennial grass. ESS-Submission Editor: Professor Zhihong Xu (zhihong.xu@griffith.edu.au: www.griffith.edu.au/centre/cfhr)     

含溴自由基对臭氧光解损耗的影响

本文研究了２５３．７ｎｍ的紫外光照条件下臭氧的损耗,以及在有Ｎ２和Ｏ２的体系中臭氧损耗的状况,得到不同条件下氧损耗的量子产额。并进一步测定了近似同层条件下溴损氧的量子产额为２４±１,计算出ＢｒＯ＋ＢｒＯ反应的两个分支反应通道的速率比为５．２５±０．２６。     

药剂抑制铜绿微囊藻生长的试验研究

研究用从芦苇中提取的2-甲基乙酰乙酸乙酯和大麦秸浸出液两种化感物质以及十六烷基溴化铵和异噻唑啉酮等四种药剂对不同生长期的铜绿微囊藻进行了对比抑制试验,结果显示在铜绿微囊藻生长的迟缓期投加试验药剂效果比在对数期投加效果都好,在迟缓期投加四种药剂,都有很好的抑藻效果;在铜绿微囊藻生长的对数期投加化感物质,虽然有一定的抑藻率,但效果较差,而在藻对数期投加10mg/L以下的CTAB和异噻唑啉酮能达到很好的水华抑制效果。同时发现,化感物质在某些浓度时还对铜绿微囊藻有刺激生长的作用。     

MTT-四氯化碳萃取吸光光度法测定活菌数

噻唑蓝(MTT)-四氯化碳萃取比色法是一种快速测定活细胞的方法,通过对反应条件的探索,建立了一种快速的测定细菌活性的方法。结果表明,MTT-四氯化碳萃取法可以有效地测定活菌数,并且与传统的平板稀释法和比浊法的测定结果一致,可以作为代替平板稀释法活菌计数的一种新方法。     

钴活化过一硫酸盐氧化过程中卤代副产物的生成

活化过硫酸盐产生的硫酸根自由基(SO~(·-)_4)可以降解大多数有机污染物,被广泛用于地下水、土壤修复等领域.本研究发现在钴活化过一硫酸盐(PMS)高级氧化过程中,溴离子会被SO~(·-)_4氧化生成自由溴,继而和苯酚反应生成溴代苯酚,最终生成三溴甲烷和二溴乙酸等副产物.当反应液中苯酚初始浓度为0.05 mmol·L~(-1)、Br~-浓度0.2 mmol·L~(-1)、Co~(2+)浓度5μmol·L~(-1)、PMS浓度1 mmol·L~(-1)、p H为6.0时,三溴甲烷和二溴乙酸的生成随反应的进行先增加后降低,在8 h达到最大,分别为10.3μmol·L~(-1)和14.6μmol·L~(-1).卤代副产物的生成随p H的升高而降低.当卤离子总量保持不变,随着溶液中Cl~-/Br~-比例的增加,卤代副产物的生成总量逐渐降低,而含氯副产物的产量逐渐增加.本研究为全面评价过硫酸盐高级氧化工艺在污染控制方面的应用可行性提供了依据.     

High resolution chromosomes from first trimester trophoblast cultures

A simple method for obtaining prometaphase chromosomes from cultured first trimester cells involves the addition of BrdU and FdU 11 h before harvest and ethidium bromide 1.5 h before harvest. High resolution R-banding is obtained by acridine orange staining.     

Umbilical cord haematoma as a complication of intrauterine intravascular blood transfusion

Between October 1985 and February 1989, 49 ultrasound-guided intravascular fetal blood transfusions were performed in 16 patients (14 with rhesus (Rh) isoimmunization, 2 with non-immunologic hydrops fetalis (NIHF)). As an intra-operative complication, perivascular haematoma of the cord occurred in three patients (7 per cent). In two cases, fetal bradycardia necessitated delivery by Caesarean section at 30 and 32 weeks' gestation, respectively. In the third case, fetal bradycardia developed during transfusion, at 31 weeks' gestation, but normalized within 3 min. The baby was delivered as planned at 36 weeks of gestation, after another transfusion at 34 weeks. Dislodgement of the needle tip into perivascular tissue, caused by sudden fetal or maternal movements, is the reason for this complication. The haematoma develops as a result of delayed recognition and continuous transfusion into Wharton' s jelly. Cord haematoma may be diagnosed in time by continuous ultrasound imaging, as illustrated in case 3. To minimize the risk of needle dislodgement during transfusion, sedation of the mother and complete immobilization of the fetus by injecting a short-acting muscle relaxant into the umbilical vessel are recommended.     

铬天青S分光光度法测定痕量铝的研究

研究了铝-铬天青S(CAS)-溴化十六烷基吡啶(CPB)分光光度法测定水样中痕量铝的最佳实验条件。结果表明:铝-铬天青S(CAS)-溴化十六烷基吡啶(CPB)三元显色体系的最大吸收波长为640nm;最佳显色时间30m in;显色剂铬天青S(CAS)最佳用量2.00mL(0.5g/L);最佳显色pH5.5。在实验确定的最佳条件下,测定结果有较好的稳定性,较高的准确度。     

二碘荧光素-溴化十六烷基三甲基铵检测辛硫磷的分析应用

在pH为6.00的B-R缓冲溶液中,二碘荧光素与一定浓度的溴化十六烷基三甲基铵发生荧光增强反应,加入农药辛硫磷后,体系的荧光强度降低,且降低程度ΔF值与辛硫磷的加入量呈良好的线性关系,建立了用此荧光法来测定辛硫磷残留总量的新方法.在优化实验条件下,线性范围为0.004—0.40 m.gL-1,检出限为0.04 m.gL...     

二溴邻硝基偶氮胂微乳液分光光度法测定水中锌

试验了溴代十六烷基吡啶、正丁醇、正庚烷、水自制微乳溶液体系中,锌与二溴邻硝基偶氮胂的显色反应,建立了分光光度法测定水中锌的方法。在pH值为3.0的乙酸-乙酸钠缓冲溶液中,锌与试剂形成淡红色配合物,其最大吸收峰位于532nm波长处,表观摩尔吸光系数F为1.87×10^5L／（mol·cm）。在显色液中锌的质量浓度在0.003mg／L-0.350mg／L范围内符合比尔定律,检出限为0.001mg／L,水样中锌测定的RSD为1.3％-2.9％,加标回收率为95.7％-102％。