The accumulation of heavy metals in Typha latifolia L. grown in a stream carrying secondary effluent

Typha latifolia L. from aquatic plants is widely found throughout Kehli Stream (Elazig, Turkey). This study examined the uptake of some metals by T. latifolia and the transfer from roots to other plant parts. The accumulation of Mn in T. latifolia L. can be suggested as a tolerance strategy due to its transfer factor higher than 1.0. The enrichment coefficients in the leaves of T. latifolia L. were higher than 1.0 for Zn and Mn and often lower than 1.0 for other metals. Similarly, the enrichment coefficients of all metals, except for Cr, in roots of T. latifolia L. were higher than 1.0. This study demonstrated that T. latifolia L. could be considered as either a bio-indicator or a bio-accumulator for sediments and water polluted by metals.     

Critical evaluation of municipal solid waste composting and potential compost markets

Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) of mixed waste streams is becoming increasingly popular as a method for treating municipal solid waste (MSW). Whilst this process can separate many recyclates from mixed waste, the resultant organic residue can contain high levels of heavy metals and physical and biological contaminants. This review assesses the potential end uses and sustainable markets for this organic residue. Critical evaluation reveals that the best option for using this organic resource is in land remediation and restoration schemes. For example, application of MSW-derived composts at acidic heavy metal contaminated sites has ameliorated soil pollution with minimal risk. We conclude that although MSW-derived composts are of low value, they still represent a valuable resource particularly for use in post-industrial environments. A holistic view should be taken when regulating the use of such composts, taking into account the specific situation of application and the environmental pitfalls of alternative disposal routes.     

Specific Treatment Technologies for Removing Arsenic from Water

Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic metalloid found in ground and surface water. Arsenic contamination in drinking water leads to harmful effects on human health. To eliminate arsenic from drinking water, several technologies such as coagulation, adsorption, ion exchange, filtration, membrane processes, etc., have been used. In this study, three technologies were evaluated for arsenic removal. Results from batch kinetic experiments showed that iron coated sand (IOCS‐2) can remove more than 90 % of As from synthetic water. Experiments were conducted with three different pH values (6, 7, and 8) and an initial As concentration of 260 μg/L. A new material, developed in this study, namely iron coated sponge (IOCSp), was found to have a high capacity in removing both As (V) and As (III). Each gram of IOCSp adsorbed about 160 μg of As within a 9‐hour contact period of IOCSp with As solution. Low pressure nanofiltration removed more than 94 % of As from an influent containing 440 μg/L As. The applied pressure was varied from 85 to 500 kPa.     

木焦油污染土壤中微生物特性的空间变异性研究

运用地统计学方法研究了木焦油污染土壤中微生物量、微生物群落结构、微生物活性等的空间变异特征.分别采用26种主要磷脂类脂肪酸(PLFA)的总含量(totPLFA)、PLFA的第一主成分和第二主成分(PLFA PC1和PC2)以及土壤培养过程中CO₂-C的累积释放量(Cre)来表征土壤中的微生物量、微生物群落结构以及微生物活性.结果表明,多数微生物特性指标均存在不同程度的空间自相关性,其半变异函数曲线可用带块金效应的球状模型进行拟合.变量的空间相关距离在2.50～16.60 m之间.PLFA PC1、totPLFA和Cre均具有较强的空间依赖性,其相对结构变差（由结构性因素引起的空间变异）分别为82.3%、79.6%和64.7%,而PLFA PC2 不存在明显的空间依赖性.克立格空间插值图表明,样地中存在几处微生物相对密集分布且代谢活性较高的区域,其中优势微生物菌群是由PLFAs 16:1ω7t,cy17:0,18:1ω7 和cy19:0所表征的革兰氏阴性细菌.土壤中主要污染物多环芳烃含量和空间分布是影响微生物特性空间分布格局的重要因素之一.     

Evaluation of tissue and cellular biomarkers to assess 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) exposure in earthworms: effects-based assessment in laboratory studies using Eisenia andrei

The lysosomal neutral red retention time (NRRT) assay, a biomarker for lysosomal membrane stability, and the total immune activity (TIA) assay, a measure of non-specific immune system activity, were used in laboratory studies to assess the toxic effects of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) on earthworms (Eisenia andrei) in vivo. The results were compared with the concentration of TNT and its metabolites in earthworm tissue, as well as standard sublethal toxicity endpoints including growth (i.e. weight change) and reproduction effects from previously published studies. Filter paper experiments indicated a significant decrease in NRRT at ≥1.8 µg TNT cm^-2, whereas sublethal (weight loss) and lethal effects to earthworms were detected at ≥3.5 and 7.1 µg TNT cm^-2, respectively. Experiments in artificial soil showed that NRRT effects could be detected at lower TNT concentrations ( ≥55 mg TNT kg^-1 soil dry weight) compared with other sublethal endpoints (effects on growth and reproduction). The TIA biomarker did not significantly respond to TNT. Copper (as CuSO₄, filter paper contact tests) and 2-chloroacetamide (soil tests), which were used as reference toxicants, also decreased the NRRT. The use of the NRRT assay linked with tissue concentrations of TNT metabolites in earthworms was identified as a potentially appropriate biomarker approach for TNT exposure assessment under laboratory conditions and a novel tool for effects-based risk assessment.     

Remediation of Gulf War Oil Spill Contaminated Soil by a Subcritical Water Extraction Process: Oil Removal,Recovery, and Degradation

Due to the unique properties of subcritical water (marked change in water's dielectric constant and viscosity), the extraction by subcritical water offers a great opportunity to remediate soil contaminated with organic pollutants as an alternative and green remediation method. In this study, subcritical water extraction is proposed as an efficient remediation technique for the Gulf War oil spill contaminated soil. The subcritical water extraction experiment was carried out in a lab-scale continuous flow apparatus. The three major operating factors, temperature, time and water flow rate, were evaluated in terms of optimum removal efficiency. The results show that crude oil removal depended largely on water temperature, whereas an extraction run time higher than 1 h and a water flow rate higher than 1.5 mL/min marginally or negatively affected removal efficiency. During subcritical water treatment at 300°C for 1 h at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, removal efficiency was almost 95%. Under these operating conditions, the subcritical water treatment demonstrated a similar removal efficiency to those of organic solvents like acetone. In contrast, the efficiency of oil recovery decreased with an increase in extraction temperature, due to degradation by a water self-oxidizing agent. Several degradation products identified in the treated soil and in the effluent sample (which initially were absent in the contaminated soil) were oxygen-containing aromatic compounds, confirming the oxidation-degradation.     

Genotoxic damage in Solea senegalensis exposed to sediments from the Sado Estuary (Portugal): Effects of metallic and organic contaminants

Juvenile Solea senegalensis (Senegalese sole) were exposed to freshly collected sediments from three sites of the Sado Estuary (West-Portuguese coast) in 28-day laboratory assays in order to assess the ecological risk from sediment contaminants, by measuring two genotoxicity biomarkers in peripheral blood: the percentage of Erythrocyte Nuclear Abnormalities (ENA) by use of an adaptation of the micronucleus test, and the percentage of DNA strand-breakage (DNA-SB) with the Comet assay. Sediments were surveyed for metallic (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb) and organic (PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and DDTs (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane)) contaminants. Sediments from site A (farthest from hotspots of contamination) were found to be the least contaminated and weaker inducers of genotoxic damage, whereas sediments from sites B (urban influence) and C (affected by industrial effluents and agricultural runoffs) were responsible for a very significant increase in both ENA and DNA-SB, site B being most contaminated with metals and site C mainly with organic pollutants, especially PAHs and PCBs . Analysis of genotoxic effects showed a strong correlation between the concentrations of PAHs and PCBs and both biomarkers at sampling times T₁₄ and T₂₈, while the amounts of Cu, As, Cd and Pb were less strongly correlated, and at T₂₈ only, with ENA and DNA-SB. These results show that organic contaminants in sediment are stronger and faster acting genotoxic stressors. The results also suggest that metals may have an inhibitory effect on genotoxicity when interacting with organic contaminants, at least during early exposure. ENA and DNA-SB do not show a linear relationship, but a strong correlation exists between the overall increase in genotoxicity caused by exposure to sediment, confirming that they are different, and possibly non-linked effects that respond similarly to exposure. Although the Comet assay showed enhanced sensitivity, the two analyses are complementary and suitable for the biomonitoring of sediment contaminants in a benthic species like S. senegalensis.     

Lead Accumulation Ability of Selected Plants of Noccaea spp.

Several species of the Noccaea genus are known for their hyperaccumulation ability especially in the case of Cd, Ni, and Zn. However, ambiguous observations were previously published concerning their accumulation properties for Pb. The Pb accumulation properties of Noccaea rotundifolia, Noccaea montana, and Noccaea jankae hungarica plants were tested in field and pot experiments in soils differing in the mobile pool of Pb, as well as in soilless hydroponic culture. The Pb content in the dry biomass of plant shoots reached up to 54 mg/kg in field conditions and 84 mg/kg in pots regardless of the bioavailable pool of Pb in the pots. The hydroponic experiment showed a stepwise increase in Pb content in plant biomass with increasing Pb concentration in the solution, but the predominant proportion of plant Pb was retained in the roots. Although the hyperaccumulation ability of some of the Noccaea species is widely discussed in the literature, our results are in agreement with those suggesting no Pb hyperaccumulation potential in these plants.     

Development & application of Conceptual Framework Model (CFM) for environmental risk assessment of contaminated lands

Dumping sites are the most common types of contaminated lands as they pollute the environment. Environmental management of contaminated sites cannot be delivered effectively and efficiently without robust holistic & integrated risk assessment. Previous studies reveal the absence of a risk assessment model that holistically integrates all essential factors progressively and categorically. The study aimed to develop a holistic & integrated Conceptual Framework Model (CFM) for environmental risk assessment and to apply developed CFM on real-world existing Mahmood Booti Open Dumping Site (MBODS). CFM developed in this study had three main tiers i.e., baseline study, hazard identification & exposure assessment, and risk estimation. For the application of CFM, baseline data were collected and assessed. Water, leachate & soil samples were collected within 1000 m across the site and analyzed for physio-chemical parameters and heavy metals to estimate risk. Results of applied CFM depicted that Physico-chemical analysis of leachate, water, and soil revealed significant pollution levels. Heavy metal analysis exhibited that Ni, Pb, Mn, and Cr levels exceeded the allowable limits of the “World Health Organization” in leachate, water, and soil samples. It also revealed the existence of metals at the source (dumping site itself), pathway, and receptor of the dumping site. Eⁱ_r value for Ni, Pb and Cd from the study area manifested a serious probable risk to ecological integrities. Results for PERI from dumpsite demonstrated a serious ecological risk. It can be concluded that although Mahmood Booti dumping site has been at post-closure stage, it is a momentous source of hazardous toxic contaminants to the nearby inhabitants. The work presented in this paper may reproduce repeatedly to create site-specific risk assessment models of other contaminated lands in a cost-effective, consistent and cohesive manner. Application of CFM at Mahmood Booti Dumping site described detailed risk assessment which helps further in risk management.