Use ofCladophora glomerata to monitor heavy metals in rivers

Methods were developed for the use ofCladophora glomerata to monitor heavy metal concentrations in flowing waters. At least under conditions without marked fluctuations in ambient metal concentration, there was no detectable difference in the metal concentrations of young plants between terminal 2-cm lengths of filament and whole plants. In order to establish the relationship between metal concentration in plant and that in water, 60 algal and water samples were analyzed from sites in northern England for Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb. Other environmental variables were measured at the time in order to assess their influence on metal accumulation. There were highly significant correlations for each of the five metals between concentrations in alga and water. The regression equations relating metal in alga to metal in water permit an unknown environmental metal concentration to be estimated from the algal concentration. Multiple stepwise regression analyses were used to indicate environmental factors which may influence metal accumulation; for instance, Fe appears to have a positive influence on Cu accumulation. In generalCladophora accumulates much less metal than bryophytes, but the slope relating metal in alga to metal in water is steeper, particularly for Pb. This means thatCladophora is especially useful where there is a need for a sensitive indicator of differences between sites or sampling occasions.     

Interactions of lichens with heavy metals

Recent developments in knowledge about the interactions between lichens and heavy metals at different levels, from populations to cells and from ecology to molecular biology are reviewed. Sources of heavy metals, mechanisms of heavy metal accumulation and detoxification by lichens are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on ultrastructural changes as well as physiological parameters such as membrane integrity, pigment composition, chlorophyll a fluorescence, photosynthesis, respiration, contents of ATP, amino acids, ergosterol, ethylene, non-protein thiols, activity of antioxidant enzymes and expression of stress proteins.     

微生物对植物修复重金属污染土壤的促进效果

以印度芥菜作为超富集植物,通过盆栽试验研究了巨大芽胞杆菌和胶质芽胞杆菌的混合微生物制剂、黑曲霉30177发酵液对植物修复Cd、Pb、Zn污染土壤的作用.结果表明：巨大芽胞杆菌和胶质芽胞杆菌的混合微生物制剂不仅可以促进超富集植物的生长,增强超富集植物对土壤Cd、Pb、Zn的吸收,而且大幅度提高了植物的修复效率,在添加外源可溶性Cd、Pb、Zn的污染土壤上,可分别使印度芥菜提取量(以植物干质量计)提高1.18、1.54和0.85倍,在添加底泥Cd、Pb、Zn污染的土壤上,可分别使印度芥菜提取量提高4.00、0.64和0.65倍,在底泥污染的土壤上的促进效果明显强于外源添加污染的土壤.黑曲霉30177发酵液能显著促进印度芥菜对土壤Cd、Pb、Zn的吸收,在添加外源可溶性Cd、Pb、Zn的污染土壤上,印度芥菜地上部Cd、Pb、Zn的吸收量分别比对照提高了88.82%、129.04%和16.80%;在添加底泥Cd、Pb、Zn污染的土壤上,可分别比对照提高78.95%、113.63%和33.85%;但它可导致印度芥菜生物量的大幅度降低,起不到提高植物修复提取量的效果.经反相高效液相色谱初步分析发现,胶质芽胞杆菌、巨大芽胞杆菌发酵液中含有草酸、柠檬酸等有机酸,有机酸对重金属有一定的溶解作用,从而提高了重金属的生物有效性.     

Biological cost of tolerance to heavy metals in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae

The global rate of heavy metal pollution is rapidly increasing in various habitats. Anopheles malaria vector species (Diptera: Culicidae) appear to tolerate many aquatic habitats with metal pollutants, despite their normal proclivity for ‘clean’ water (i.e. low levels of organic matter). Investigations were conducted to establish whether there are biological costs for tolerance to heavy metals in Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto and to assess the potential impact of heavy metal pollution on mosquito ecology. Anopheles gambiae s.s. were selected for cadmium, copper or lead tolerance through chronic exposure of immature stages to solutions of the metals for three successive generations. Biological costs were assessed in the fourth generation by horizontal life table analysis. Tolerance in larvae to cadmium (as cadmium chloride, CdCl₂), copper [as copper II nitrate hydrate, Cu(NO₃)₂ 2.5 H₂O] and lead [as lead II nitrate, Pb(NO₃)₂], monitored by changes in LC₅₀ concentrations of the metals, changed from 6.07 µg/L, 12.42 µg/L and 493.32 µg/L to 4.45 µg/L, 25.02 µg/L and 516.69 µg/L, respectively, after three generations of exposure. The metal‐selected strains had a significantly lower magnitude of egg viability, larval and pupal survivorship, adult emergence, fecundity and net reproductive rate than the control strain. The population doubling times were significantly longer and the instantaneous birth rates lower in most metal‐selected strains relative to the control strain. Our results suggest that although An. gambiae s.s. displays the potential to develop tolerance to heavy metals, particularly copper, this may occur at a significant biological cost, which can adversely affect its ecological fitness.     

Uptake of Metals by Plants Sharing a Rhizosphere with the Hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens

The hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens was grown with Hordeum vulgare and Lepidium heterophyllum in a split pot experiment to examine the effect of rhizosphere interactions on metal uptake. The objective was to assess the viability of such intercropping as either (1) a system of ‘phytoprotection’ for nonaccumulating plants or (2) a means of enhancing phytoextraction with large-biomass crops through increased metal mobilization within the shared rhizosphere. The plants were separated by (1) an impermeable barrier, (2) a permeable root barrier, or (3) no physical barrier to allow different degrees of root interaction. Studies of rhizosphere effects using split pot experiments are subject to considerable uncertainty by the need to relate test results to appropriate control plants. This was resolved by comparing plant metal concentrations to ‘equivalent’ control plants, with the same yield, based on the observed variation in metal concentration with yield under similar growing conditions.

Cadmium concentration in H. vulgare was increased by a factor of 2.4 when it was grown alongside T. caerulescens without a barrier. In contrast, the uptake of zinc by H. vulgare was significantly decreased, probably through metal depletion within the zone of the Zn-hyperaccumulator's rhizosphere. T. caerulescens also apparently increased the concentration of Cd in H. vulgare by a factor of 1.4 when the roots of the two plants were separated by a permeable barrier that allowed movement of soil solution but prevented physical mixing of roots. The concentrations of all the metals studied (Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni) were greater in T. caerulescens when the hyperaccumulator was grown alongside either L. heterophyllum or H. vulgare without a root barrier — probably through successful exploitation of a greater volume of soil. However, this effect was not seen in the presence of a partial barrier, except in the case of Cu when T. caerulescens was grown alongside H. vulgare.

These results suggest that T. caerulescens may alter conditions in shared rhizospheres and thereby affect the availability of selected metals to neighboring plants. Thus, it is possible that under-sowing some plants with small hyperaccumulators may potentially offer an alternative form of management for marginally contaminated soils. There was limited evidence of an intercropped hyperaccumulator mobilizing selected metals and restricting the availability of others. However, changes in uptake of selected metals by the larger plant may be quite small compared with the requirements of crop protection or the short-term requirements of many land remediation programs.     

The potential of Thlaspi caerulescens for phytoremediation of contaminated soils

Uptake of Cd, Zn, Pb and Mn by the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens was studied by pot trials in plant growth units and in populations of wild plants growing over Pb/Zn base-metal mine wastes at Les Malines in the south of France. The pot trials utilised metal-contaminated soils from Auby in the Lille area. Zinc and Cd concentrations in wild plants averaged 1.16% and 0.16% (dry weight) respectively. The unfertilised biomass of the plants was 2.6 t/ha. A single fertilised crop with the above metal content could remove 60 kg of Zn and 8.4 kg Cd per hectare. Experiments with pot-grown and wild plants showed that metal concentrations (dry weight basis) were up to 1% Zn (4% Zn in the soil) and just over 0.1% Cd (0.02% Cd in the soil). The metal content of the plants was correlated strongly with the plant-available fraction in the soils as measured by extraction with ammonium acetate and was inversely correlated with pH. Bioaccumulation coefficients (plant/soil metal concentration quotients) were in general higher for Cd than for Zn except at low metal concentrations in the soil. There was a tendency for these coefficients to increase with decreasing metal concentrations in the soil. It is proposed that phytoremediation using Thlaspi caerulescens would be entirely feasible for low levels of Cd where only a single crop would be needed to halve a Cd content of 10 g/g in the soil. It will never be possible to remediate elevated Zn concentrations within an economic time frame (<10 yr) because of the lower bioaccumulation coefficient for this element coupled with the much higher Zn content of the soils.     

Plants inhabiting polygons for megapolis waste as promising species for phytoremediation

Screening of ruderal plant species inhabiting polygons for solid waste (SW) burying contaminated with heavy metals (HM). Among these plants, wood small-reedgrass (Calamagrostis epigeios L. Roth) was found; this plant is a perennial grass characterized by the highest level of HM, especially Ni, accumulation. The content of Ni was 703 mg/kg dry wt in wood small-reedgrass leaves and 346 mg/kg dry wt in its rhizomes. On the SW polygon closed 15 years ago, wood small-reedgrass produced a monoculture of high productivity (15 centner/ha), and this provided for extraction of HM moved from SW layers and maintenance of their concentrations in covering soil at the level not dangerous for plants (by 5–10 times below the threshold level). Under constant conditions, the tolerance of wood small-reedgrass seed germination to HM was established. Adult plants turned out to be tolerant to periodic mowing; they were capable of HM accumulation in above-ground organs; they also accumulated the osmorprotectant proline. It was concluded that wood small-reedgrass could be used for SW polygon recultivation and within the lawn grass mixtures for near-road lawns in cities.     

The ability of different plant species to remove polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls from incubation media

The ability of in vitro cultured cells of black nightshade, wheat, barley, soybean, tomato, mulberry and birch to grow in the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and to metabolise them was compared. No correlation was found between the resistance of the plants and removal of xenobiotics. Up to 20% of PCBs and over 90% of PAHs were removed by wheat cells from nutrient media in two weeks.     

Enteromorpha as a monitor of heavy metals in estuaries

An account is given of the use of Enteromorpha to monitor zinc, cadmium, mercury and lead pollution in six estuaries and the British North Sea coast. The ranges for each element were: Zn, 19–437 µg g^–1; µg g^–1 Cd, 0.07–4.8 µg g^–1; Hg, 0.02–0.23 µg g^–1. It is suggested that tissue analysis of Enteromorpha is one of the most useful biological techniques available in estuaries for pin-pointing aqueous (as opposed to sediment) metal contamination, and also for providing data suitable for world-wide comparisons. Provisional values are given for concentrations corresponding to moderate and high pollution.Deceased     

Accumulation of heavy metals by aquatic mosses. 2: Rhynchostegium riparioides

A study was made of general ecology and metal accumulation in the widespread aquatic moss Rhynchostegium riparioides, (Hedw.) C. Jens. with a view to developing the use of this species as a monitor of heavy metal pollution. In order to establish a data bank for statistical analysis, samples of water and moss were taken within a 6-week period from 105 sites (10-m reaches) in Northern England from streams and rivers of diverse physical and chemical types. Analyses were made of 14 metals (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, Pb) in both 2-cm tips and whole plants. The same 14 metals were also measured in both total and filtrable water, together with 12 other variables. Samples of tips were easier to prepare for analysis, but had significantly (p < 0.001) lower concentrations of all metals except Na and K. Significant correlations (p < 0.001) between metal in moss and aqueous metal were found for ten metals (Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, Pb). Correlations between metals in moss and in water were in general similar for tips and whole plants, but much higher for tips with Na, Zn and Cd; the relationship was quite similar whether total or filtrable water was considered, with the exception of Ba where the correlation was much higher with the latter. A multiple regression was used to suggest which variables in water and/ or moss may influence accumulation of Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba and Pb in the moss. For instance, the variables which had a very highly significant effect on Pb in tips were Pb, filtrable reactive phosphate and Zn in the water. A discussion is included of how the data may be used for monitoring purposes.     

Distribution of metals during digestion by cutthroat trout fed benthic invertebrates contaminated in the Clark Fork River, Montana and the Coeur d'Alene River, Idaho, U.S.A., and fed artificially contaminated Artemia

The concentrations of essential amino acids in three, undigested invertebrate diets collected from the Clark Fork River (CFR) for cutthroat trout were similar to each other, but were c. 25–75% less than Artemia that were exposed to a mixture of arsenic, copper, cadmium, lead and zinc in the laboratory. The Artemia diet appeared less palatable and the texture, quantity and appearance of the intestinal contents differed between fish fed the Artemia and CFR diets. The Pb% in the fluid fraction of the intestinal contents was greater for the Artemia (29%) than for the CFR diets (10–17%), and the Cu% in the amino acid plus metal fraction of the intestinal contents was greater for the Artemia (78%) than for two of the three CFR diets (67% and 70%). Intestinal contents of fish fed invertebrate diets collected from various sites on the Coeur d'Alene River (CDA), Idaho, were similar in texture, quantity, and appearance. For fish fed the CDA diets, differences in the distribution of metals among fractions of the digestive fluids appeared to be related to concentrations of metals in the invertebrate diets. Pb% was lowest of all metals in the fluid portion of the intestinal contents. However, >80% of all metals in the hind gut were associated with the particulate fraction where they may still be available for uptake through pinocytosis.     

黔西北铅锌矿区植物群落分布及其对重金属的迁移特征

重金属耐性植物和超富集植物的筛选、鉴定和驯化是植物修复技术研究与发展的关键。以黔西北4个不同恢复年限的铅锌矿为研究对象,通过群落生态调查利用聚类分析方法筛选出研究区域中重金属耐性植物优势种,并分析其对重金属Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd的迁移富集能力。结果表明:4个矿区共发现高等植物22种,分属13科21属,筛选出9种重金属耐性植物优势种,其中转运系数大于1的植物有:黄花蒿(Cu)、珠光香青(Zn)、大叶醉鱼草(Zn/Pb/Cd)、野艾蒿(Cu/Zn/Pb/Cd);没有富集系数大于1的植物。其中大叶醉鱼草具有耐贫瘠、耐旱、生物量大等优势,可将其作为典型的重金属耐性先锋植物,用于矿区废弃地的植物修复。     

Siderophores,NTA, and Citrate: Potential Soil Amendments to Enhance Heavy Metal Mobility in Phytoremediation

Phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites is often limited by the low bioavailability of the contaminants. Complexing agents can help to improve this technique by enhancing heavy metal solubility. We investigated the effect of three organic chelating agents, that is, the siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB), nitrilotriacetate (NTA), and citrate on binding of Cu, Zn, and Cd by either Namontmorillonite, kaolinite, or goethite. The different effects of the complexing agents on metal sorption can mainly be explained by the differences in stability constants and surface charge characteristics. In the presence of clay minerals, NTA was the most efficient ligand with respect to mobilization of heavy metals. In goethite suspensions, the effect of DFOB was more pronounced. In all systems, Cu proved to be the most affected element by the presence of the ligands. In batch experiments with heavy metal-contaminated soils from field sites, NTA was the most efficient metal mobilizer.     

Effect of heavy metals combined stress on growth and metals accumulation of three Salix species with different cutting position

This study aimed to compare growth performance and heavy metal (HM) accumulation at different cutting positions of Salix species grown in multi-metal culture. Three Salix species stems cut at different positions (apical to basal) were grown hydroponically for four weeks. The plants were then treated for three weeks with 0, 5, 10, and 20 μM Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, resulting in total metal concentrations of 0, 20, 40, and 80 μM. The growth parameters and HM content in shoots and initial cutting were measured. Results showed that, compared with S. fragilis, S. matsudana grew more poorly in uncontaminated condition but grew better and accumulated lower metal in shoots under mixed HM treatment. In addition, cuttings from apical parent stem position exhibited poorer growth performance before and after treatment, as well as greater metal content in shoots than base parts under the HM treatment. These results suggest that S. matsudana may undergo a special mechanism to hinder metals in the initial cutting, thus mitigating growth damage. The apical portion also showed poor resistance against the invasion of mixed HMs because of the immature structure. Therefore, in the selection of phytoremediation plants, metal accumulation ability is not proportional to growth performance.     

Copper in plant species in a copper gradient in Catalonia (North East Spain) and their potential for phytoremediation

The accumulation of Cu in roots and shoots of 32 plant species growing on soils with a wide range of Cu concentrations (30–18 500 g g^–1 total soil Cu) located in Collserola Mountain (Barcelona, Spain) was analysed. High Cu availability decreased the species diversity in the Hyparrhenietum hirto-pubescentis, the natural plant association at the study sites. Shoot and root Cu concentrations in relation to extractable soil Cu concentrations were used for the evaluation of the Cu resistance strategy in the different species. Saturation of Cu accumulation in roots was observed in most species. Hyparrhenia hirta was the most efficient shoot excluder, while the linear increase of shoot Cu with the Cu soil concentration exhibited the highest slope in Hirschfeldia incana. Most species accumulated more Cu in roots than in shoots. High shoot/root Cu ratios were only found in the highly Cu-resistant Hirschfeldia incana, in the resistant or moderately resistant Spartium junceum and Reseda sp. (R. lutea and R. phyteuma), and in the much less resistant Ononis natrix. Only two species, Hirschfeldia incana and Sedum sediforme were able to support the extreme Cu-toxicity conditions on soils with 5000–16 800 g g^–1 extractable Cu. Among the grass species tested Hyparrhenia hirta was the most Cu-resistant species (up to 1950 g g^–1 extractable soil Cu). The potential usefulness of these pseudometallophytes for phytoremediation of Cu-contaminated soils is discussed.     

香根草和百喜草对铅锌尾矿重金属的抗性与吸收差异研究

铅锌尾矿是一类重金属含量极高,对植物生长产生毒害的生境.盆栽实验的结果显示,香根草和百喜草在纯尾矿或由尾矿和垃圾组成的混合基质上都能生长,但植物的长势随基质中重金属含量的增加而减弱,其中香根草的生物量所受的影响比百喜草的更大,即百喜草有比香根草更强的重金属抗性.2种植物体内的重金属含量高低均为Zn＞Pb＞Cu,但二者对它们的富集能力大小分别是,香根草为Zn＞Cu＞Pb,百喜草则为Cu＞Zn＞Pb.香根草和百喜草的根系对3种重金属都有较强的滞留效应,滞留率均在50%以上;其中香根草对重金属的滞留率又明显高于百喜草;而且,同一植物对不同的重金属的滞留率也明显不同,香根草对Pb的滞留率最高,而百喜草对Cu的滞留率显著高过对Zn和Pb.由于香根草的生物量明显大于百喜草,结果香根草对Pb、Zn的吸收量比百喜草高.当用25%的垃圾改良金属尾矿时,百喜草对重金属的吸收量即达最大;而香根草则在尾矿和垃圾各占50%的基质中吸收最多的重金属;因此,添加一定量的垃圾(25%～50%左右)用于尾矿改良时,不仅能使尾矿得到更快的植被恢复与更高的植物修复效果,而且能使垃圾资源得到充分合理的利用.总之,当开展对金属尾矿的植被恢复时,可选择种植抗性强、覆盖快的百喜草,但如果要对尾矿中的重金属进行生物净化,则应选择种植生物量大的香根草,种植香根草还可较好地防止重金属的二次污染或生物富集.     

Heavy metals in aquatic macrophytes drifting in a large river

Macrophytes drifting throughout the water column in the Detroit River were collected monthly from May to October 1985 to estimate the quantities of heavy metals being transported to Lake Erie by the plants. Most macrophytes (80–92% by weight) drifted at the water surface. Live submersed macrophytes made up the bulk of each sample. The most widely distributed submersed macrophyte in the river, American wildcelery (Vallisneria americana), occurred most frequently in the drift. A total of 151 tonnes (ash-free dry weight) of macrophytes drifted out of the Detroit River from May to October. The drift was greatest (37 tonnes) in May. Concentrations of heavy metals were significantly higher in macrophytes drifting in the river than in those growing elsewhere in unpolluted waters. Annually, a maximum of 2 796 kg (eight heavy metals combined) were transported into Lake Erie by drifting macrophytes. The enrichment of all metals was remarkably high (range: 4 000 × to 161 000 × ) in macrophytes, relative to their concentration in water of the Detroit River. Detroit River macrophytes are thus a source of contaminated food for animals in the river and in Lake Erie.Contribution 734 of the National Fisheries Research Center-Great Lakes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1451 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.     

Heavy-metal-contaminated industrial soil: Uptake assessment in native plant species from Brazilian Cerrado

Plants of the Cerrado have shown some potential for restoration and/or phytoremediation projects due to their ability to grow in and tolerate acidic soils rich in metals. The aim of this study is to evaluate the tolerance and accumulation of metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in five native tree species of the Brazilian Cerrado (Copaifera langsdorffii, Eugenia dysenterica, Inga laurina, Cedrela fissilis, Handroanthus impetiginosus) subjected to three experiments with contaminated soils obtained from a zinc processing industry (S₁, S₂, S₃) and control soil (S₀). The experimental design was completely randomized (factorial 5 × 4 × 3) and conducted in a greenhouse environment during a 90-day experimentation time. The plant species behavior was assessed by visual symptoms of toxicity, tolerance index (TI), translocation factor (TF), and bioaccumulation factor (BF). C. fissilis has performed as a Zn accumulator by the higher BFs obtained in the experiments, equal to 3.72, 0.88, and 0.41 for S₁, S₂, and S₃ respectively. This species had some ability of uptake control as a defense mechanism in high stress conditions with the best behavior for phytoremediation and high tolerance to contamination. With economical and technical benefits, this study may support a preliminary analysis necessary for using native tree species in environmental projects.     

两种农业种植模式对重金属土壤的修复潜力

植物修复农田土壤重金属污染需要经历一个长期的过程,而大部分用来修复的植物都不具备利用价值,不能给当地农民带来经济收入。因此,一些农作物由于其较大的生物量和一定的经济价值,在植物修复土壤重金属污染的应用中受到广泛关注。是在重金属(Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、As、Hg)复合污染的郴州矿区废弃农田种植油菜、玉米和油葵,研究油菜-玉米和油-油葵两种种植模式对土壤重金属污染的修复潜力。实验结果表明:三种作物在复合污染土壤中对重金属都表现出一定的耐性及吸收积累能力。向日葵的根和叶中重金属Cd、Cu的含量都很高,其中Cd在向日葵的各个部位的富集系数(BCF)及Cu在向日葵的根和叶的富集系数(BCF)都大于1。两种轮作模式对作物的产量没有明显的影响,收获得到的干物质量都很高,每年每公顷分别为油菜16.6t、玉米25.29t、油葵22.5t。两种种植模式都可以对土壤中的重金属进行有效的提取,油菜-油葵种植模式下提取重金属Cu、Pb、Cd、As的量较高,分别为:Cu 2408g hm~(-2)a~(-1),Pb 2027g hm~(-2)a~(-1),Cd 658.5g hm~(-2)a~(-1),As 250g hm~(-2)a~(-1),油菜-玉米模式下Zn和Hg的提取量较高,分别为Zn 4987g hm~(-2)a~(-1)和Hg 7.92g hm~(-2)a~(-1);对于多种重金属复合污染的土壤来说,油菜-油葵的种植模式要优于油菜-玉米的种植模式。总的来说,利用3种作物两两轮作的种植模式,在不影响作物产量的前提下大大的提高了作物对重金属的提取总量。3种作物在收获以后又可以用做工业原料,这就使得当地农民充分利用矿区废弃农田修复污染的同时又能从中获得一定经济效益。