Robustness of Statistical Tests in the Two-Sample Location Problem

A simulation study was performed to compare three statistical tests with respect to their performances in the two-sample location problem for contaminated normal distributions. The three tests were: the t-test, the rank-transformed t-test, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The results showed the t-test to be inferior to the other two tests.     

Ecological restoration of arsenic contaminated soil by Arundo donax L

The possible arsenic tolerance mechanisms were explored in Arundo donax L. under various supplied arsenic concentrations. The treatments included control (no metal) and five doses of arsenic trioxide i.e., 0, 50, 100, 300, 600 and 1000 μg L⁻¹ As to A. donax. The phytoextraction ability of A. donax L. plants was assessed using both the translocation and bioaccumulation factors. The transpirates were collected to analyze the arsenic concentration volatilized along-with study of anatomical characteristics of the plant parts. In general, the arsenite and arsenate accumulation linearly increased in roots, shoot and leaves with the increasing supplied arsenic levels i.e., from 2.348, 2.775 and 3.25 μg g⁻¹ at 50 μg L⁻¹ to 50, 53.125 and 64.25 μg g⁻¹ arsenite, at 1000 μg L⁻¹, from 4.075, 5.425 and 13.56 μg g⁻¹ at 50 μg L⁻¹ to 71, 62.02 and 436.219 μg g⁻¹ arsenate at 1000 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The order of arsenic accumulation in A. donax L. was: solution As(III) < Root As(III) < Shoot As(III) < Leaf As(III) < Solution As(V) < Root As(V) < Shoot As(V) < Leaf As(V). The range of arsenic volatilization by A. donax L. was 7.2–22% at higher supplied arsenic (300–1000 μg L⁻¹). Volatilization was an important mechanism to avoid toxic effects of arsenic by A. donax L. in addition to bioaccumulation.     

Pseudomonas gallaeciensis sp. nov., isolated from crude-oil-contaminated intertidal sand samples after the Prestige oil spill

Strains V113^T, V92 and V120 have been isolated from sand samples taken at the Atlantic intertidal shore in Galicia, Spain, after the Prestige oil spill. A preliminary analysis of the 16S rRNA and the partial rpoD gene sequences indicated that these strains belonged to the Pseudomonas genus, but they were distinct from any known Pseudomonas species. They were extensively characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach and phylogenetic data that confirmed that these strains belonged to the Pseudomonas pertucinogena group. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD gene sequences showed that the three strains were 99% similar and were closely related to members of the P. pertucinogena group, with less than 94% similarity to strains of established species; Pseudomonas pachastrellae was the closest relative. The Average Nucleotide Index based on blast values was 89.0% between V113^T and the P. pachastrellae type strain, below the accepted species level (95%). The predominant cellular fatty acid contents and whole cell protein profiles determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry also differentiated the studied strains from known Pseudomonas species. We therefore conclude that strains V113^T, V92 and V120 represent a novel species of Pseudomonas, for which the name Pseudomonas gallaeciensis is proposed; the type strain is V113^T (= CCUG 67583^T = LMG 29038^T).     

Lipase from new isolate Bacillus cereus ATA179: optimization of production conditions,partial purification,characterization and its potential in the detergent industry

In this study, 341 Bacillus sp. strains were isolated from agricultural soils of Turkey. The potent extracellular lipase producer was selected. It was identified by 16S rRNA, named as Bacillus cereus ATA179. Optimal nutritional and physical parameters for lipase production were determined. Sucrose as the carbon source, (NH₄)₂HPO₄ as the nitrogen source, CaCl₂ as the metal ion were obtained. The best results of physical parameters were stated at 45°C, pH 7.0, shaking rate 50 rpm, inoculation amount 7% and inoculum age 24 h. ATA179 strain showed a 51% increase in enzyme production in the modified medium created by optimizing nutritional and physical conditions. Optimum pH value and temperature were found as 6.0 and 55 °C, respectively. CaCl₂, Tween 20, Triton X-100 had an activating effect on enzyme activity. V_max and K_m kinetic values were found as 18.28 U/mL and 0.11 mM, respectively. The molecular weight was determined as 47 kDa. Lipase was found to be stable up to 75 days at -20 ºC. The potential of the enzyme in detergent industry was also investigated. It was not affected by detergent additives, but was found to be effective in removing oils from contaminated fabrics. This new lipase may have potential to be used in detergent industry.     

STR 分型应用于病理标本污染的个体识别

目的:通过STR分型,对两例卵巢囊腺癌病理标本的组织细胞进行个体识别,以鉴别其中一例病理标本癌细胞是否源于污染。方法:对甲醛固定石蜡包埋组织,分别切片后在倒置显微镜下,用显微操作系统分离出不同形态的细胞团,对提取的DNA样本进行常规STR扩增检验。结果:经过STR分型比对,证实病理标本存在污染,其中一例的癌细胞来源于另一个体。结论:STR分型是用于病理石蜡包埋组织标本污染个体识别的有效手段。     

Bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil with fungi – From laboratory to field scale

The purpose of this study was to develop a fungal bioremediation method that could be used for soils heavily contaminated with persistent organic compounds, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Sawmill soil, contaminated with PAHs, was mixed with composted green waste (1:1) and incubated with or without fungal inoculum. The treatments were performed at the laboratory and field scales. In the laboratory scale treatment (starting concentration 3500 mg kg⁻¹, sum of 16 PAH) the high molecular weight PAHs were degraded significantly more in the fungal-inoculated microcosms than in the uninoculated ones. In the microcosms inoculated with Phanerochaete velutina, 96% of 4-ring PAHs and 39% of 5- and 6-ring PAHs were removed in three months. In the uninoculated microcosms, 55% of 4-ring PAHs and only 7% of 5- and 6-ring PAHs were degraded. However, during the field scale (2 t) experiment at lower starting concentration (1400 mg kg⁻¹, sum of 16 PAH) the % degradation was similar in both the P. velutina-inoculated and the uninoculated treatments: 94% of the 16 PAHs were degraded in three months. In the field scale experiment the copy number of gram-positive bacteria PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase genes was found to increase 1000 fold, indicating that bacterial PAH degradation also played an important role.     

ModelPROBE: model driven soil probing, site assessment and evaluation

Conventional techniques for site characterisation are time consuming, cost intensive, and often do not support decision making with regard to sustainable remediation. Therefore, new techniques for step by step site characterization with smart feed back loops are necessary that are able to support a future “soil framework directive”. Advanced geophysical site characterization techniques combined with new types of vegetation analysis will be developed. Based on these non-invasive surveys, the extension of sources, contamination levels (THP, BTEX, PAH, CHC, explosives, heavy metals and radio nuclides) and soil heterogeneities will be localized first. Hot spots will then be investigated by new direct push probing systems integrated with geophysical and hydrogeological methods and combined with chemical and isotopic contaminant analysis for source localization and identification (environmental forensics). The actually occurring bioprocesses, such as contaminant degradation or sorption and mobilization processes, will be assessed using biosensors, in situ microcosms, and stable isotope and biomarker analysis. These new techniques and tools will be evaluated against best practice of conventional methods. The ModelPROBE project (EU-FP7 collaborative project) gives the opportunity to test, optimize and demonstrate the proposed approach at fully equipped and characterized European brownfield reference sites in Germany, Italy, Norway and the Czech Republic. Integrated statistical analysis and modelling at different stages, the step by step approach will result in an improved view of soil and subsurface contamination and will provide a sound basis for a cost-effective risk assessment and decision in the choice of the most appropriate sustainable remediation strategy.     

Supercritical Fluid Extraction of a Light PAH Contaminated Sand

This work was aimed at evaluating the feasibility of a remediation treatment performed by means of a supercritical carbon dioxide extraction on a sandy soil recently contaminated by light polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The soil utilized in this study was artificially contaminated by naphthalene and anthracene. The artificial contamination process was intended to simulate a recent accidental spillage of hydrocarbon fuels.

Several extractions, aimed at singling out the operating parameters (pressure, temperature, supercritical fluid mass flow rate) that are able to obtain the residual required concentration (50 mg/kg dry soil) in the shortest time, were carried out on a on-purpose made system.

The best extraction conditions were 120 bar and 40°C for a naphthalene contaminated soil and 200 bar and 80–100°C for an anthracene contaminated soil.

The results obtained in the experimental tests made it possible to build an analytical model able to correlate, for the given soil, the extraction length to the operating parameters such as supercritical fluid density, temperature and mass flow rate.

In order to evaluate the economic feasibility of the process, a unit treatment cost was evaluated for the case of an extraction carried out in a 10 m³ reactor in the presence of the best extraction conditions that were previously determined. The extraction unit cost was therefore equal to 35 000–65 000 €/t for a soil with a starting contaminant concentration equal to 1000 mg/kg of dry soil.     

污染土壤修复标准建立的方法体系研究

近年来,污染土壤修复技术发展很快,而污染土壤修复标准的建立则相对迟缓．在我国,直至目前甚至还没有开展相应的研究．为了推进我国该领域的工作,对污染土壤修复标准建立的方法体系进行了阐述,并提出了建立污染土壤修复标准应同时考虑技术清洁水平、环境背景水平和法规可调控清洁水平等3个基本变量．而从技术清洁水平这一变量来讲,应该包括2个方面的内涵,一是污染土壤修复技术本身所能达到的清洁目标,二是现有分析技术发展所能确认的污染物最低限量目标,即仪器可检出水平．     

中国部分省份农村室内灰尘铅污染特征

采集了中国8个省份122件农村室内灰尘样品,对其中铅的含量、赋存形态及生物可给性进行了研究.结果表明,8个省份农村室内灰尘铅平均含量为207.5 mg·kg-1,湖南(平均537.8 mg·kg-1)和云南(280.1 mg·kg-1)铅含量较高,陕西(96.0 mg·kg-1)和福建(80.1 mg·kg-1)相对较低.连续形态提取结果表明,农村室内灰尘铅主要以铁锰氧化物结合态形式存在(36.8%),其次为残渣态(17.7%)和碳酸盐结合态(16.7%),可交换态(14.3%)和有机质结合态(14.4%)铅所占总量比例相对较少.通过体外模拟实验提取的生物可给态铅占总铅的比例平均为52.8%,相关分析显示,生物可给态铅含量与铁锰氧化物结合态铅含量高度相关,表明铁锰氧化物结合态铅对生物可给态铅具有重要贡献.