An experiment of the immobilization of heavy metals Cu, Pb and Zn in soil by means of natural zeolite was performed in the laboratory. The natural zeolite employed was from a deposit near the village of Sokyrnytsia in the Ukrainian Transcarpathian region. Sandy soil was contaminated by Cu2+, Pb2+ and ...

Changes of amino acid concentrations (glutamic acid, glutamine, asparagine, aspartate, proline, tryptophan, alanine, glycine, valine and serine), gas-exchange parameters (net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and intercellular CO(2) concentration) and nitrate levels in Lactuca serriola L. under airborne particulate matter (PM) contamination reported here reveal their role in plant ...

Plants accumulate high levels of Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) in response to different environmental stresses and GABA metabolism has different functions such as osmotic and pH regulation, bypass of tricarboxylic acid cycle, and C:N balance. The cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) II mutant of Nicotiana sylvestris has a deletion in ...

Wild Type (WT) and transgenic tobacco plants expressing isopentenyltransferase (IPT), a gene encoding the enzyme regulating the rate-limiting step in cytokinins (CKs) synthesis, were grown under limited nitrogen (N) conditions. We analyzed nitrogen forms, nitrogen metabolism related-enzymes, amino acids and photorespiration related-enzymes in WT and P(SARK)∷IPT tobacco plants. Our results ...

Three activated sludges from a landfill leachate treatment plant (S1), a municipal sewage treatment plant (S2) and a monosodium glutamate (MSG) wastewater treatment plant (S3) were used as inocula to enrich anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria for the startup of MSG industrial wastewater treatment system. After 360 days of cultivation ...

Biosynthesis of ethylene (ethene) is mainly performed by plants and some bacteria and fungi, via two distinct metabolic routes. Plants use two steps, starting with S-adenosylmethionine, while the ethylene-forming microbes perform an oxygen dependent reaction using 2-oxoglutarate and arginine. Introduction of these systems into Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied in silico. ...

Rice (Oryza sativa) glutamate synthase (GOGAT, EC 1.4.1.14) enzymes have been proposed to have great potential for improving nitrogen use efficiency, but their functions in vivo and their effects on carbon and nitrogen metabolism have not been systematically explored. In this research, we analyzed transcriptional profiles of rice GOGAT genes ...

The trace metal levels in the tissues of two popular leafy vegetables Amaranthus caudatus and Corchrus olithorus widely consumed in Nigeria were assessed from a cultivated floodplain receiving effluents from diverse factories in Ibadan. Although the leaves are primarily consumed, the stems are usually used as a feed for farm ...

The effectiveness of surfactant formulations to remove aged metals from a field soil and their influence on soil toxicity was investigated. Batch studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of cationic (1-dodecylpyridinium chloride; DPC), nonionic (oleyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride; trade name Ammonyx KP), and anionic (rhamnolipid biosurfactant blend; trade ...

Since 2008, sewage sludge is being used as alternative fuel in a cement plant placed in Vallcarca (Catalonia, Spain). To evaluate the temporal trend of the environmental levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and a number of metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, ...

Five woody plants species (i.e. Terminalia arjuna, Prosopis juliflora, Populus alba, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Dendrocalamus strictus) were selected for phytoremediation and grow on tannery sludge dumps of Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Unnao (Uttar Pradesh), India. Concentration of toxic metals were observed high in the raw tannery sludge i.e. Fe-1667>Cr-628>Zn-592>Pb-427>Cu-354>Mn-210>Cd-125>Ni-76 ...

Sustainable management of large surface areas contaminated with trace elements is a real challenge, since currently applied remediation techniques are too expensive for these areas. Aided phytostabilisation appears to be a cost efficient technique to reduce metal mobility in contaminated soils and contaminated particle spread. In this context, this study ...

Different combinations of four bacterial strains isolated from fly ash were used by us to study their impact on phytoextraction of metals from fly ash by Brassica juncea grown in fly ash amended with farm yard manure (50:50 w/w). Out of 11 bacterial consortia, a combination of two strains i.e. ...

This study focused on the evaluation of leaching behaviours for arsenic and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in soils and tailings contaminated by mining activities. Ten representative mine soils were taken at four representative metal mines in Korea. To evaluate the leaching characteristics of the samples, eight ...

Environmentally available concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr and Ni in soils and sediments from a small suburban catchment, obtained using an acid leach procedure, are compared to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment lowest effect level (LEL) and severe effect levels (SEL) and to Provincial sediment quality ...

The purpose of this work was to gain an insight on the potential role of the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici in the translocation of metals and metalloids from soil to plant roots in tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum). Two varieties of tomato (one susceptible and another resistant to infection ...

We evaluated the distribution of 15 metal ions, namely Al, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, La, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sc, Ti, V, Y, Zn and Zr, in the soil of a contaminated site in Piedmont (Italy). This area was found to be heavily contaminated with Cu, Cr and Ni. The availability ...

The concentration and bioavailability of Ni, Cu, Cd, Zn, and Pb in the sediments and leaves of grey mangrove, Avicennia marina, were studied throughout Sirik Azini creek (Iran) with a view to determine heavy metals bioavailability, and two methods were used. Results show that Zn and Ni had the highest ...

This study aimed at determining, in the laboratory, the effects of poplar litter collected in woody habitats contaminated by heavy metals on growth and metal accumulation in the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber. Cd, Pb, and Zn pseudototal and CaCl(2)-extractable concentrations in litter types were determined using AAS. Juveniles were fed ...

This study investigated the influence of dissolved and soil organic matter on metal extraction from an artificially contaminated soil. With high concentration of DOM, the extraction of Cu, Zn and Pb was enhanced by forming additional metal-EDDS complexes under EDDS deficiency. However, the enhancement of metal extraction under EDDS excess ...

The Lot River is known to be contaminated by metals, mainly cadmium and zinc, due to a former Zn ore treatment plant in the watershed of the Riou-Mort, a tributary of the Lot River. Many studies have been performed to characterize contamination, but few have assessed its consequences on the ...

The metals distribution in the bed sediments of the Anllóns River was studied, with special emphasis on the evaluation of the metal distribution as a function of the granulometric fraction chosen for the analysis. Statistical significant differences between the distribution of K, Ca, Cr, Mn, As, Rb, Sr and Nb ...

Concentrations of trace metals were determined in water, sediment, fish feed and two species of farmed fish, pompano and snapper, collected from Daya Bay and Hailing Bay of South China in July 2007 and January 2008. Total average concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Hg and As were 1.6, ...

Eleocharis acicularis was exposed to different concentrations of In, Ag, Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn in the laboratory to assess its capability in accumulating these metals. After 15 days, 477 mg/kg dry wt. of In was accumulated by the roots; concentrations of Ag, Pb, Cu, Cd, and Zn in the ...

The extent of arsenic (As) and metal accumulation in fronds of the As hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata (Chinese brake fern) and in leaves of Cyperus involucratus, which grow on the surface of an old flotation tailings pond in the Zambian Copperbelt province, was studied. The tailings consist of two types of ...

A detailed study was conducted to determine the current status of the heavy metals Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in Eskisehir, Turkey. The 15 different locations (n =270) studied were specifically selected to identify the effects of soil pollution on the tramway, which has been ...

A method is described for conducting 14-d in situ sediment bioaccumulation tests with the freshwater oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus, at the bottom of a slow-flowing river. The in situ test exposure chambers were constructed from cylindrical plastic tubes with flow-through mesh screens and were attached to a wire basket that was ...

The effect of heavy metals on microbial respiration in organic materials used as soil amendments was evaluated to assess the stability of the materials. Solutions of Pb (II), Cu (II) and Zn (II) at rates of 5, 10 and 50mg metalg(-1) were added to green waste compost, peat, coir and ...

The accumulation of six heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni) in sediment, water and in tissue parts of Mugil cephalus and Crassostrea madrasensis was studied in two locations of Pulicat lake, Southeast coast of India, which receives considerable quantity of effluents from industries located in North Chennai ...

Changes in emissions control at U.S. coal-fired power plants will shift metals content from the flue gas to the air pollution control (APC) residues. To determine the potential fate of metals that are captured through use of enhanced APC practices, the leaching behavior of 73 APC residues was characterized following ...

High altitude creates unique challenging conditions to biota that limit the diversity of benthic communities. Because environmental pollution may add further stress to life at high altitude, the present study explored the effect of metal pollution on the macroinvertebrate community composition in Andean streams between 3,500 to 4,500 meters above ...

This study was conducted to investigate the concentrations of heavy metals in soil and vegetables, and human health risks through ingestion of contaminated vegetables. Soil and vegetable samples were collected from different locations in Gilgit, northern Pakistan, and analyzed for Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Plant transfer factors (PTF), ...

As land application becomes one of the important waste utilization and disposal practices, soil is increasingly being seen as a major source of metal(loid)s reaching food chain, mainly through plant uptake and animal transfer. With greater public awareness of the implications of contaminated soils on human and animal health there ...

Contaminants in general do not occur as single chemicals but as mixtures at any contaminated site. Gasworks sites are the typical mixed contaminated sites. These sites are not only subjected to PAH contamination but also varying degrees of heavy metal contamination. Bioremediation in these sites is often hindered by the ...

We studied metal pollution in the sediments of Rijeka harbor, including anthropogenic influence during recent decades and at the present time. Sediment profiles were collected at ten sampling points. The concentrations of 63 elements in bulk sediment were obtained using ICP-MS, and the concentrations of selected elements were evaluated by ...

The content of 19 metals (Al, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Zr, Nb, Cs, Ba, Ce, Pb, Th, U and Nd) was investigated in 15 edible species of phylum Basidiomycota collected in an area with quartzite acidic soils in a province of the central Spain. The ...

An investigation is reported of the degree of metal pollution in the sediments of Kafrain Dam and the origin of these metals. Fourteen sampling sites located at Kafrain Dam were chosen for collecting the surface, cutbank, and dam bank sediment samples. The sediment samples have been subjected to a total ...

Sample preparation is the first crucial step in the speciation analysis, bioavailability and risk assessment of trace metals in plant samples such as herb and vegetables. Two bionic technologies titled 'in vitro digestion' and 'extraction with biomembrane' were developed for pre-treatment of herbal decoction. The decoctions of Aconiteum carmichaeli and ...

In agricultural fields, heavy metal contamination is responsible for limiting the crop productivity and quality. This study reports that the plants of Brassica juncea L. cv. Pusa bold grown on contaminated substrates [Cu, Cr(VI), As(III), As(V)] under simulated field conditions have shown translocation of metals to the upper part and ...

The aim of this study was to determine and compare Ba, Cr, Cd, Fe, Sr, Pb, and Zn content in medicinal herbs Urtica dioica L., Taraxacum officinale, and Matricaria recutita growing in polluted and unpolluted areas of the Republic of Macedonia. The metal content was determined using inductively coupled plasma ...

Elodea nuttallii and Elodea canadensis are considered good candidates for metal studies. Metal pollution can disturb the interactions between trophic levels. Our goals were 1) to analyse the metal content in plants, sediment and water from three polluted sites, and 2) to analyse the impact of metal contamination on plant ...

An enhanced electrokinetic process for the removal of cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) from contaminated soils was performed. The efficiency of the chelate agents nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and diaminocycloexanetetraacetic acid (DCyTA) was examined under constant potential gradient (1.23 V/cm). The results showed that chelates were ...

Moderate contamination is a challenging scenario for ecotoxicologists because of the occurrence of subtle biomarker responses and the increased relevance of non-contamination related variables. This investigative biomonitoring study was performed in a moderately contaminated coastal system (Óbidos lagoon, Portugal) to examine winter-summer variations on biochemical responses and accumulated metals in ...

The potential of chitosan, a fishery waste-based material, as a soil amendment to clean-up metal contaminated soil was investigated. Chitosan was treated using glutaraldehyde (GLA), epichlorohydrin (ECH) and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) as cross-linking reagents to enhance its chemical stability in acidic media and to improve its physical properties. ...

Streams located in areas of sugarcane cultivation receive high concentrations of metal ions from soils of the adjacent areas causing accumulation of metals in the aquatic sediment. This impact results in environmental problems and leads to bioaccumulation of metal ions in aquatic organisms. In the present study, metal concentrations in ...

In a lysimeter experiment, topsoils were polluted with filter dust from a non-ferrous metal smelter and then planted with trees. Sequential extractions were used to follow the changes in metal fractionation of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb over 42 months. Plant-free and uncontaminated soils served as reference. In the contaminated ...

Concentrations of As and selected metals were determined in surface soils of the Miyun Reservoir watershed of Beijing, China. The degree to which concentrations of As and metals exceeded the corresponding background concentration of soils was: Cr>Cu>Zn>As>Ni with no apparent anthropogenic contamination with Cd and Pb. Based on the results ...

This study investigated the accumulation and removal of Cu, Ni and Zn in two horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands for domestic wastewater treatment, which differ by shape, presence of macrophytes and water depth. Between March and December 2007, the three metals were measured in the influent and effluents of the ...

This baseline reports daily variations of physico-chemical parameters, nutrients and metals in water of two sites [eutrophic conditions (BB) versus reference (LL)] in Obidos coastal lagoon (Portugal). Dissolved oxygen in BB varied between 40% saturation levels (night) and 190% (daylight). NH(4)(+), PO(4)(3-) and ratios to Al of Mn, Fe and ...

We followed the net accumulation of As, Cu and Zn in the deposit-feeding polychaete Arenicola marina exposed in the laboratory to natural metal-contaminated sediments, one exposure leading to mass mortality between day 10 and 20, and the other not causing lethality over a period of 60 days of exposure. The ...