Determining uptake of 'non-labile' soil cadmium by Thlaspi caerulescens using isotopic dilution techniques

We assessed the ability of several populations of the metal-hyperaccumulator species, Thlaspi caerulescens , to mobilize non-labile cadmium in soils historically contaminated by Pb/Zn mine spoil or sewage sludge. Radio- labile Cd was determined chemically as an ' E -value', [Cd _E ], and biologically as an ' L -value', [Cd _L ]. For comparison, chloride-extractable Cd, [Cd_chlor], was also determined using 1 M CaCl₂ as a single-step soil extractant. Values of [Cd _L ] were measured for six populations of T. caerulescens that varied substantially in their ability to assimilate soil Cd, and a non-accumulator species with a similar growth habit, Lepidium heterophyllum . Seeds were sown in soil spiked with ¹⁰⁹Cd and grown for 9–12 wk in a controlled environment room. Values of [Cd _L ] were determined from the specific activity of ¹⁰⁹Cd and concentration of Cd in the plant leaves. For the six soils studied, [Cd _E ] ranged from 4.9 to 49% of total soil Cd [Cd_T]. Values of [Cd _L ] were, in general, in close agreement with both [Cd _E ] and [Cd_chlor] and substantially less than [Cd_T]. However, [Cd _L ] showed no correlation with the concentration of Cd in plant tissue, [Cd_shoot]. This suggests that, in the soils studied, T. caerulescens did not mobilize non-labile soil Cd by producing root exudates or altering rhizosphere pH. The results imply that there may be significant restrictions to metal bioavailability, even to hyperaccumulator species, in heavily contaminated soils in which a large proportion of the metal may be present in 'non-labile' forms.     

A new method for improving the enantioselectivity of lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis in organic solvent containing a small amount of water in the presence of metal ions

The hydrolysis of racemic butyl 2-(4-substituted phenoxy)propionates having various substituents catalyzed by lipase MY from Candida rugosa was achieved in di-isopropyl ether containing 0.75% (v/v) of 2.4 M LiCl or 1.2 M MgCl₂ aqueous solution. Water molecules hydrated to the metal ion in isopropyl ether acted as a nucleophile to cause the hydrolysis of these esters as with water alone. Metal ions used significantly enhanced their enantioselectivities by 100-fold or above, as compared with the ordinary reaction media.     

梅州沙田柚结果树中矿质元素的季节性变化

研究了梅州沙田柚 (Citrusgrandisvar shatinyuHout )叶片、果实在各时期的矿质元素含量变化。结果表明 ,沙田柚在年周期中 ,树体的营养元素含量随着物候期表现出明显的季节性变化 ,说明沙田柚的栽培必须按各物候期、迎合沙田柚对营养要求 ,适时地、适量地供给各种养料 ;根据成熟果实中N、P的吸收量可推算出其全年所需的施氮、磷施肥量。     

铜尾矿污染区土壤酶活性研究

对浙江省哩浦铜尾矿污染区土壤酶活性进行了研究,结果表明,尾矿区及其周边土壤环境受到不同程度的Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd污染,从尾矿库中心到外围重金属污染程度逐渐减轻,而土壤酶活性则不断提高,其中以脱氢酶和脲酶活性增加最明显,回归分析表明,单一脱氢酶、脲酶、酸性磷酸酶以及蛋白酶活性与重金属复合元素含量之间存在显著线性关系,主成分分析结果显示,尾矿区土壤酶信息系统的第一、二主成分方差贡献率之和达98．24％,以第一、二主成分建立了两个土壤总体酶活性指标,并用此指标对各供试样本进行空间分类,其结果与以重金属含量为依据的划分结果基本吻合,可见,采用酶活性构筑的土壤信息系统的总体酶活性来表征矿区土壤的重金属污染状况是可行的。     

金属结合蛋白(肽)与环境重金属生物修复

重金属污染是全球关注的重要环境问题。针对重金属的生物修复技术 ,因其特有的优势 ,越来越受到重视 ,其中一个重要的研究领域是利用金属离子和金属结合蛋白或结合肽之间存在的强亲和能力特性进行的生物修复研究。就金属结合蛋白 (肽 )的种类、结构特点、以及金属结合的作用机理进行了总结 ,同时综述了展示或表达有不同金属结合蛋白或结合肽的微生物和植物对重金属污染进行生物修复的最新研究进展 ,对基于金属结合蛋白 (肽 )的环境重金属生物修复的进一步研究 (如肽库的构建和筛选 ,金属与蛋白 (肽 )的相互作用 )进行了讨论。     

Sorption of metals by extracellular polymers from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa fo. flos-aquae strain C3-40

The sorption of cadmium (II), copper (II), lead (II),manganese (II), and zinc (II) by purified capsularpolysaccharide from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosafo. flos-aquae strainC3-40 was examined by four methods: equilibriumdialysis, metal removal from solution as detected byvoltammetry, metal accumulation by capsule-containingalginate beads, and calorimetry. The polysaccharide'ssaturation binding capacities for these metals rangedfrom 1.2 to 4 mmol of metal g^-1 of capsule, whichcorresponds to 1 metal equivalent per 2 to 4saccharide subunits of the polymer. Competitionbetween paired metals was tested with simultaneous andsequential additions of metal. Cadmium (II) andlead (II), as well as lead (II) and zinc (II), competedrelatively equally and reciprocally for polymerbinding sites. In contrast, manganese (II) stronglyinhibited the binding of cadmium (II) and lead (II), butitself was not substantially inhibited by either theprior or simultaneous adsorption of cadmium (II) or lead (II).The data are interpreted with respect to overlap ofbinding sites and possibilities of altered polymerconformation or solvation. Calorimetric studies oflead (II) and cadmium (II) association reactions withthe polysaccharide suggest that the enthalpies aresmall and that the reactions may be driven by entropy.     

Analysis and assessment of heavy metals pollution in soils around a Pb and Zn smelter in Baoji City,Northwest China

Soil heavy metal pollution from mining activities is potentially harmful to human health through the food chain. In this study, a total of 43 soil samples were collected from a depth of 0–20 cm from fields close to a Pb and Zn smelter. The samples were used to: 1) analyze the pollution level of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cr, and Cu) and spatial distribution pattern; 2) evaluate the degree of accumulation and enrichment, potential ecological risk, and human health risk; and 3) perform source apportionment in Fengxiang County, Shaanxi Province of China. The results showed that the concentration ranged from 43.67 to 189.55, 131.43 to 239.53, 74.77 to 112.25, and 24.69 to 37.71 mg·kg^?1 for Pb, Zn, Cr, and Cu, respectively, and the mean concentration for Pb, Zn, Cr, and Cu was 129.46, 192.85, 91.98 and 31.67 mg·kg^?1, respectively. The concentrations were greater than the Shaanxi Province background values, while they were lower than the second-level limits of Environmental Quality Standard for Soils of China (EQSS). The spatial distribution of heavy metal contents showed a banded in soil except Cu. The spatial distribution pattern and pollution assessment indexes (I_geo, EF) indicated that the investigated metals had been accumulated in the study areas, and implied significant influences from anthropogenic activities, local meteorological situation, and soil properties. The ecological risk assessment showed that the risks were relatively low (RI<150). Compared with the exposure risk for adults, that for children was significantly greater. The ingestion of heavy metals in the soils by humans was the main exposure pathway compared with the dermal exposure. There may be a risk of noncarcinogenic adverse health effects (HQ < 1, 0.377 ≤ HI≤1.553) on children, but the adults were unlikely to experience obvious adverse health effects (HQ < 1, HI < 1). The carcinogenic risk of Cr for adults and children was at an unacceptable level. The carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks were in the order of children > adults. The correlation analysis showed that Pb, Cr, and Cu have identical anthropogenic and natural sources, while Zn has another identical source. This study could provide a basis for the sustainable management of this region by reducing metal inputs and to protect soils from long-term heavy metal accumulation.     

Geochemical baseline establishment and ecological risk evaluation of heavy metals in greenhouse soils from Dongtai,China

Currently, heavy metal (HM) contamination in greenhouse soils is a significant concern due to the rapid expansion of greenhouse agriculture. However, it is difficult to accurately assess HM pollution in greenhouse soils in China due to the lack of local geochemical baseline concentrations (GBCs) or corresponding background values. In the present study, the GBCs of HMs in Dongtai, a representative greenhouse area of China, were established from subsoils using cumulative frequency distribution (CFD) curves. The pollution levels of HMs and potential ecological risks were investigated using different quantitative indices, such as geo-accumulation index (I_geo), pollution index (PI), pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk index (RI), based on these regional GBCs. The total concentrations of six metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in surface soils were determined and shown to be lower than the concentrations reported in other greenhouse regions of China. The GBCs of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were 0.059–0.092, 39.20–54.50, 12.52–15.57, 20.63–23.26, 13.43–16.62 and 43.02–52.65 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Based on this baseline criterion, Cd, Pb and Zn accumulated in the surface soils because they were present at concentrations higher than their baseline values. The soils were moderately polluted by Cd according to the I_geo values, and the PI results indicated that moderate Cd contamination was present in this area. The large variation of I_geo value of Cd revealed that Cd in this area was likely influenced by agricultural activities. The PLI showed that most of the study area was moderately polluted. However, an analysis of the RI showed that the investigated HMs had low ecological risks. Correlation analysis and principle component analysis suggested that the Cd, Pb and Zn in the greenhouse soils mainly originated from anthropogenic sources (agricultural activities, atmospheric deposition etc.), while Cr, Cu, and Ni originated from natural sources. The findings of this study illustrated the necessity of GBC establishment at the local scale to facilitate more accurate HM evaluation of greenhouse soils. It is advisable to pay more attention to Cd, which could cause environmental problems in the greenhouse system.     

Isotope Source Signatures for a Primary Lead Smelter Located Close to Todos os Santos Bay,Brazil

From 1960 to 1993, a primary lead smelter operated in the Santo Amaro region, close to Todos os Santos Bay in Brazil, using the classical sinter-roasting process followed by smelting and refining. A high lead content was found in the sediments from Todos os Santos Bay, which has a large circulation and receives the discharge from three rivers. Lead stable isotope ratios provide information about the ore mineralization and can be used to evaluate the origin and fate of the lead pollution. The objective of this study is to identify the isotopic signature of the major effluents of this lead smelter and correlate it with the origin of the galena concentrate that generated it. The X-ray microanalysis confirms that the lead occurs in the slag in the metallic state. The soil has a high lead content (about 0.90%) of oxidized lead. The lead isotopic ratios indicated that the slag isotopic ratios (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 34.8; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.3; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.1) are close to the soil value (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 36.2; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.9; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 16.4) and both agree with the values for the galena from the Boquira mine region (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 34.6±1.1; ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.3±0.4; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 14.7±0.2). These results indicate that no isotopic fractionation occurred in the roasting-smelting process, therefore the original Boquira isotope ratios can be used as the isotopic signature of the lead dispersed from the Santo Amaro smelter.     

Use of bioclimatic indexes to characterize phenological phases of apple varieties in Northern Italy

The research was designed to characterize the phenological behaviour of different apple varieties and to compare different bioclimatic indexes in order to evaluate their adaptability in describing the phenological phases of fruit species. A field study on the requirement for chilling units (winter chilling requirement) and the accumulation of growing degree hours of 15 native apple cultivars was carried out in a fruit-growing area in North West Italy (Cuneo Province, Piedmont). From 1991 to 1993, climatic data were collected at meteorological stations installed in an experimental orchard (Verzuolo, Cuneo). Four methods were compared to determine the winter chilling requirement: Hutchins, Weinberger-Eggert, Utah and North Carolina. The Utah method was applied to determine the time when the chilling units accumulated become effective in meeting the rest requirements. A comparison of the different methods indicated that the Weinberger-Eggert method is the best: as it showed the lowest statistical variability during the 3 years of observations. The growing degree hour requirement (GDH) was estimated by the North Carolina method with two different base temperatures: 4.4°C and 6.1°C. More difficulties were met when the date of rest completion and the beginning of GDH accumulation was determined. The best base temperature for the estimation of GDH is 4.4°C. Phenological and climatic characterizations are two basic tools for giving farmers and agricultural advisors important information about which varieties to choose and which are the best and the most correct cultivation practices to follow. Received: 25 October 2000 / Revised: 6 August 2001 / Accepted: 6 August 2001