Accumulation of cadmium and copper by female Oxya chinensis (Orthopera: Acridoidea) in soil-plant-insect system

One purpose of this research is to present accumulation of cadmium （Cd） and copper （Cu） by female Oxya chinensis （Orthopera： Acridoidea） in a simulated soil-plant-insect ecosystem treated with Cd. Fourth-instar nymphs of O. chinensis had been fed on wheat （Triticurn aestivum） seedlings contaminated with Cd and Cu for one month. In the ecosystem, the Cd concentration in wheat seedlings rose greatly with the increasing of Cd in the soil, but the Cu concentration in wheat seedlings was not found elevated. There was a highly significant difference（P〈0.05） in Cd concentrations of wheat seedlings and not any significant difference（P〉0.05） in Cu concentrations of wheat seedlings. The Cd and Cu concentration in different body part-head, thorax, abdomen, and hind femur, varied under different Cd concentrations in soil. There were significant differences （P〈0.05） in the four parts of Cd and Cu accumulations with all treatments. The order of Cd accumulation was thorax 〉abdomen 〉head 〉hind femur and the Cu was abdomen 〉thorax 〉 head〉hind femur. The results indicated that Cd and Cu were accumulated from the soil to grasshoppers through the plant; that is to say, Cd and Cu in environment could be transported to animal or human via food chain.

Integrated Fertilization Regimes Boost Heavy Metals Accumulation and Biomass of Sedum alfredii Hance

The hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance(S.alfredii)may be employed for zinc(Zn)and cadmium(Cd)-polluted soil remediation.However,the low phytoremediation efficiency,related to the low biomass production,limits its use with that purpose.In this experiment,nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),and potassium(K)fertilizers,and organic manure were applied to investigate the phytoremediation ability of S.alfredii.Hydroponic and pot experiments were conducted using Zn-Cd polluted soil.The hydroponic experiment indicated that appropriate fertilizer application could increase(p<0.05)the amount of accumulated Zn and Cd in S.alfredii.When N supply ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 mmol L^(−1),it could improve growth and accumulation of Zn and Cd in whole plants of S.alfredii.The 1 mmol L^(−1) N was an optimal N dosage for shoot biomass production and Cd accumulation in shoots,while the 2.5 mmol L^(−1) was an optimal N dosage for Zn accumulation in shoots.Both low(<0.05 mmol L^(−1))and high(>0.8 mmol L^(−1))P supply decreased growth,and Zn/Cd accumulation in whole plants of the studied species.The 0.1 mmol L^(−1) P was an optimal dosage for S.alfredii biomass production and Zn/Cd accumulation in shoots.The supply levels within the range from 0.3 to 1 mmol L^(−1) K could significantly improve the biomass production of S.alfredii and its capability to accumulate Zn and Cd in the biomass.The 0.5 mmol L^(−1) K was an optimal dosage for the whole biomass production and Zn accumulation in shoots,while the 1 mmol L^(−1) was an optimal K dosage for Zn accumulation in shoots,which was 17.2%higher than the control.Moreover,the soil pot experiment showed that the combination of organic(fermented manure)and inorganic fertilizers made significant effects on the Zn and Cd-polluted soil remediation by S.alfredii.These effects varied,however,with the application of different proportions of N,P,K and organic matter.The Zn accumulation by S.alfredii reached the highest efficiency ability under the highest fertilizer mixing rate(N:50 mg kg^(−1),P:40 mg kg^(−1),K:100 mg kg^(−1),organic matter:1%).Even more,S.alfredii showed the strongest ability to accumulate Cd with a lower fertilizer mixing rate(N:25mg kg^(−1),P:20mg kg^(−1),K:50 mg kg^(−1),organic matter:0.5%).

Effects of pre-ozonation on organic matter removal by coagulation with IPF-PACl

Ozone plays an important role as a disinfectant and oxidant in potable water treatment practice and is increasingly being used as a pre-oxidant before coagulation. The purpose of this study is to obtain insight into the mechanisms that are operative in pre-ozonized coagulation. Effects ofpre-ozonation on organic matter removal during coagulation with IPF-PAC1 were investigated by using PDA （photometric disperse analysis）, apparent molecular weight distribution and chemical fractionation. The dynamic formation of flocs during coagulation process was detected. Changes of aquatic organic matter （AOM） structure resulted from the influence of pre-ozonation were evaluated. Results show that dosage of O3 and characteristics of AOM are two of the major factors influencing the performance of O3 on coagulation. No significant coagulation-aid effect of O3 was observed for all experiments using either A1C13 or PAC1. On the contrary, with the application of pre-ozonation, the coagulation efficiency of A1C13 was significantly deteriorated, reflected by the retardation of floc formation, and the removal decreases of turbidity, DOC, and UV254. However, if PACl was used instead of AlCl3, the adverse effects of pre-ozonation were mitigated obviously, particularly when the O3 dosage was less than 0.69 （mg O3/mg TOC）. The difference between removals of UV254, and DOC indicated that pre-ozonation greatly changed the molecular structure of AOM, but its capability of mineralization was not remarkable. Only 5% or so DOC was removed by pre-ozonation at 0.6--0.8 mg/L alone. Fractionation results showed that the organic products of pre-ozonation exhibited lower molecular weight and more hydrophilicity, which impaired the removal of DOC in the following coagulation process.

Effects of Autoclaving and Mercuric Chloride Sterilization on PAHs Dissipation in a Two-Liquid-Phase Soil Slurry

A two-liquid-phase(TLP) soil slurry system was employed to quantify the efficiencies of autoclaving and mercuric chloride sterilization in the dissipation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs).The fates of 11 PAHs(naphthalene,fluorene,phenanthrene,anthracene,fluoranthene,pyrene,benzo(a)anthracene,benzo(a)pyrene,benzo(b)fluoranthene,benzo(k)fluoranthene,dibenzo(a,h)anthracene) were recorded over 113 days of incubation.No microorganisms were detected in the HgCl 2-sterilized soil slurries during the whole incubation period,indicating very effective sterilization.However,about 2%-36% losses of PAHs were observed in the HgCl 2 sterilized slurry.In contrast to the HgCl 2-sterilized soil slurry,some microorganisms survived in the autoclaved soil slurries.Moreover,significant biodegradation of 6 PAHs(naphthalene,fluorene,phenanthrene,anthracene,fluoranthene and pyrene) was observed in the autoclaved soil slurries.This indicated that biodegradation results of PAHs in the soil slurries,calculated on basis of the autoclaved control,would be underestimated.It could be concluded that the sterilization efficiency and effectiveness of HgCl 2 on soil slurry was much higher than those of autoclaving at 121℃ for 45 min.

An Arabidopsis mutant atcsr-2 exhibits high cadmium stress sensitivity involved in the restriction of H_2S emission

The gene AtCSR encodes peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) that accelerate energetically unfavorable cis/trans isomerization of the peptide bond preceding proline production.In our studies,we found that AtCSR was associated with cadmium (Cd)-sensitive response in Arabidopsis.Our results show that AtCSR expression was triggered by Cd-stress in wild type Arabidopsis.The expression of some genes responsible for Cd2+ transportation into vacuoles was induced,and the expression of the iron-regulated transporter 1 (IRT1) related to Cd2+ absorption from the environment was not induced in wild type with Cd2+ treatment.The expression of Cd-transportation related genes was not in response to Cd-stress,whereas IRT expression increased dramatically in atcsr-2 with Cd2+ treatment.The expression of glutathione 1 (GSH1) was consistent with GSH being much lower in atcsr-2 in comparison with the wild type with Cd2+ treatment.Additionally,malondialdehyde (MDA),hydrogen peroxide,and Cd2+ contents,and activities of some antioxidative enzymes,differed between the wild type and atcsr-2.Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been confirmed as the third gas-transmitter over recent years.The findings revealed that the expression pattern of H2 S-releasing related genes and that of Cd-induced chelation and transportation genes matched well in the wild type and atcsr-2,and H2S could regulate the expression of the Cd-induced genes and alleviate Cd-triggered toxicity.Finally,one possible suggestion was given:down-regulation of atcsr-2,depending on H2S gas-transmitter not only weakened Cd2+ chelation,but also reduced Cd2+ transportation into vacuoles,as well as enhancing the Cd2+ assimilation,thus rendering atcsr-2 mutant sensitive to Cd-stress.