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[Effect of heavy metals and reclaimers on formation and functioning of legume-Rhizobium symbiosis].

The influence of a mixture of salts of heavy metals Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+ on the efficiency of legume-rhizobial symbiosis and a part of reclaimers in the decrease of toxic effect of pollutants have been studied under conditions of the vegetative and field experiment on small plots. Concentrations of salts of heavy metals were tested in the interval of 1 to 20 MPC (maximum permissible concentrations). Negative effect of the tested substances on the growth, photo-assimilation properties of soybean plants, nodulation intensity, nitrogenase activity and yield (correlation coefficients made, respectively, -0.58; -0.86; -0.88; -0.84 and -0.86 under reliability 95-99.9%) has been established. The increase of concentration of heavy metals was accompanied by the decrease of the indices of symbiosis efficiency. The complete suppression of symbiotic system of soy-beans was registered under the maximum of test doses which was equal to 20 MPC. The reclaimer white zeolite has displayed protective properties with respect to legume-rhizobial symbiosis against a background of soil contamination with high doses of heavy metals. The use of combined reclaimer gypsum-streptomycete may be also considered promising for decreasing negative effect of heavy metals on legume-rhizobial symbiosis.

Bradyrhizobium↗

PubMed2002

Effectiveness of commercial reagents for heavy metal removal from water with new insights for future chelate designs.

Toxic heavy metals in air, soil, and water are global problems that are a growing threat to the environment. To meet the federal and state guidelines for heavy metal discharge, companies often use chemical precipitation or chelating agents. In order to be competitive economically, many of these chelating ligands are simple, easy to obtain, and, generally offer weak bonding for heavy metals. Laboratory testing of three commercial reagents, trimercaptotriazine (TMT), Thio-Red potassium/sodium thiocarbonate (STC), and HMP-2000 sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate (SDTC) has shown that the compounds were unable to reduce independent solutions containing 50.00 ppm of divalent cadmium, copper, iron, lead, or mercury to meet EPA standards. Additionally, the compounds displayed high leaching rates and in some cases decomposed to produce toxic substances. In contrast, the studies demonstrate that a recently reported sulfur-containing multidentate ligand is both safe and effective for the removal of these metals.

Chelating Agents↗

PubMed2001

Breeding of mycoparasitic Trichoderma strains for heavy metal resistance.

AIMS: This study was designed to investigate the effects of 10 heavy metals on the in vitro activities of beta-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, beta-xylosidase and endoxylanase enzymes for six strains of Trichoderma, and to isolate and characterize heavy metal-resistant mutants. METHODS AND RESULTS: At a concentration of 1 mmol, only mercury showed significant inhibitory effects on the in vitro enzyme activities; in all other cases, the enzymes remained active. A total of 177 heavy metal-resistant mutants were isolated and tested for cross-resistance to other heavy metals. Some mutants were effective antagonists of Fusarium, Pythium and Rhizoctonia strains, even on media containing the respective heavy metals. CONCLUSION: Trichoderma strains could be developed as biocontrol agents that are effective against plant pathogenic fungi, even under heavy metal stress. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Trichoderma mutants resistant to heavy metals might be of value for use with heavy metal-containing pesticides, as part of an integrated plant protection system.

Drug Resistance, Fungal↗

PubMed2007

Simulating the transformation of heavy metals during coal or sewage sludge combustion.

A mathematical model (FPM) is presented to predict the transformation of heavy metals in the downstream of combustor or incinerator. The model accounts for the transformation of heavy metals through the combined effect of condensation, nucleation, coagulation, external force and thermophoresis force. The calculation of heavy metals is embodied in the post-processor appended to Fluent soft. Before the simulation, velocity, temperature, PbCl2 concentration and other initial parameters are obtained by experiment. In addition, the transformation of PbCl2 is also experimentally studied. The comparison of experimental and predicted results indicate that the fine particle model (FPM) is valid for predicting the transformation of heavy metals in the downstream of incinerator or combustor.

Coal↗

PubMed2004

Mobility of heavy metals within freshwater sediments affected by motorway stormwater.

The assessment of the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in sediment samples requires the use of sequential extraction procedures. Results for sediments taken from an unmanaged motorway detention pond showed heavy metals to be associated with the carbonate and residual fractions. In particular, nickel and cadmium showed a high percentage association, compared with other geochemical fractions, such as carbonates and residual fractions. Copper and zinc were shown to be associated with carbonates and iron-manganese oxides, whereas lead showed the strongest association (72%) with the Fe-Mn oxides. When compared to a groundwater-fed lake on the same site, all heavy metals contained within this sediment were found to be at much lower concentrations and strongly associated with the residual fraction (>50%) and are therefore strongly bound within the sediment. Following discharge via a wet detention pond, stormwater then flows through a series of interconnecting lake systems. Heavy metal fractionation of these interconnecting lakes is discussed and shows changes in fractionation through the lake system for copper, nickel, lead and zinc. The main concern in these lakes is the continued use of calcium carbonate to maintain freshwater pH for coarse fishing. This practice, used until 1999, may present an enhanced risk to the freshwater environment, causing greater mobility of these metals.

Biological Availability↗

PubMed1987

[Mosses as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution of the urban environment].

The content of some heavy metals in leafy epigeous mosses and upper soil layer of the large Moscow parks has been studied. The peculiarities in accumulation of heavy metals by different moss species have been pointed out. The content of heavy metals in leafy epigeous mosses has been found to be closely connected with the content of these elements in upper soil layer.

Environmental Monitoring↗

PubMed2006

The use of a sequential leaching procedure for assessing the heavy metal leachability in lime waste from the lime kiln at a caustizicing process of a pulp mill.

A five-stage sequential leaching procedure was used to fractionate 13 heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, Fe, Mn, Al, Ni, Co, As, V, Ba) and sulphur (S) in lime waste from the lime kiln at the causticizing plant of Stora Enso Oyj Veitsiluoto Pulp Mills at Kemi, Northern Finland, into the following fractions: (1) water-soluble fraction (H(2)O), (2) exchangeable fraction (CH(3)COOH), (3) easily reduced fraction (HONH(3)Cl), (4) oxidizable fraction (H(2)O(2)+CH(3)COONH(4)), and (5) residual fraction (HF+HNO(3)+HCl). Although metals were leachable in all fractions, the highest concentrations for most of the metals were observed in the residual fraction (stage 5). It was also notable that the total heavy metal concentrations in lime waste did not exceed the maximal allowable heavy metal concentrations for soil conditioner agents set by the ministry of the Agricultural and Forestry in Finland. The heavy metals concentrations in lime waste were also lower than the maximal allowable heavy metals concentrations of the European Union Directive 86/278/EEC on the protection of environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture. The Ca concentration (420 g kg(-1); d.w.) was about 262 times higher than the typical value of 1.6 g kg(-1) (d.w.) in arable land in Central Finland. However, the concentration Mg (0.2 g kg(-1); d.w.) in lime waste was equal to the Mg concentration in arable land in the Central Finland. The lime waste has strongly alkaline pH ( approximately 12.8) and a neutralizing value (i.e. liming effect) of 47.9% expressed as Ca equivalents (d.w.). This indicates lime waste to be a potential soil conditioner and improvement as well as a pH buffer.

Calcium Compounds↗

PubMed2004

Effect of elemental sulphur on solubility of soil heavy metals and their uptake by maize.

A pot experiment was conducted to study the influence of elemental sulphur (S) on solubility of soil Pb, Zn and Cd and uptake by maize (Zea mays L.). Two rates of elemental sulphur (S) applied at 0 (S0) and 200 (S200) mmol kg(-1) soil with three rates of each heavy metal at Pb, 0 (Pb0), 200 (Pb200), 400 (Pb400) mg kg(-1) soil, Zn, 0 (Zn0), 100 (Zn100), 200 (Zn200) mg kg(-1) soil and Cd, 0 (Cd0), 50 (Cd50), 100 (Cd100) mg kg(-1) soil, respectively. The result showed that with S application at 200 mmol S kg(-1), soil pH decreased about 0.3 unit and the solubility of the Zn and Cd was significantly increased, but the solubility of Pb had no significant influence. The concentration of Pb, Zn and Cd in maize shoots and roots were increased with increasing rates of heavy metals. However, the concentration of Zn and Cd in shoots and roots were higher with application of S rather than without S but no significant difference was found for Pb. The highest concentration of Zn in the shoots was 2.3 times higher with application of S rather than without at the same rate of Zn, 200 mg kg(-1). Plant biomass was also significantly affected by the application of S and of heavy metals. With heavy metal addition, the shoot and root biomass were decreased with the rates of those of heavy metals increased either with or without application of S. However, the shoot biomass was significantly decreased with S application at the same rate of heavy metals except that with Zn addition. The removal of Cd and Pb by maize uptake and accumulation with application of S had no significant increase compared to that without, but the removal Zn by maize uptake from the soil increased by application of S, 90.9 microg plant(-1) contrast to 25.7 microg plant(-1) at Zn200 within a growth period of only 40 days.

Biomass↗

PubMed2003

Removal of heavy metals through adsorption using sand.

The removal of four heavy metals i.e. Pb, Cr, Cu, and Zn from their aqueous solutions, using ordinary sand as an adsorbent, was studied at 20 degrees C. The amount of metal adsorbed to form monolayer on sand (a(m)), obtained from Langmuir isotherm, exhibited the preference of metals for sand in the order Pb > Cr > Cu > Zn. The heavy metal-sand adsorption phenomena can be illustrated on the basis of the interaction between surface functional group of silicates (sand) and the metal ions. It is deduced that sand can be used as a low cost adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal from wastewater (containing low conc. of metals), especially in the developing countries.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2001

Modeling the ecological impact of heavy metals on aquatic ecosystems: a framework for the development of an ecological model.

In this paper, an ecological model is proposed to predict the effects of heavy metals on aquatic ecosystems. The bioavailable concentration of metals and a concept of toxicity strength (TS) are combined. The integrated ecological model relates the transport, distribution and speciation of heavy metals and their toxicity, and the effect of environmental variability on metal toxicity. It also emphasizes the link between physical and chemical processes of heavy metals in rivers and ecological effects. Based on the data obtained from research in the CERP project (Co-operative Ecological Research Project), the ecological impact of heavy metals on the aquatic ecosystem of the Le An River (polluted by heavy metals from a copper mine) was predicted. The results show that the estimated values of toxicity strength for surface water are in agreement with the percentage inhibition for the test organism (P. phosphoreum) and that the predicted ecological effect of polluted sediment is consistent with natural variability in aquatic ecosystems.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Proline alleviates heavy metal stress in Scenedesmus armatus.

Growth and some metabolic activities of Scenedesmus armatus grown in the presence of different heavy metals (Cd, Mn and Ni) with and without exogenously added proline (Pro) were monitored. The growth of S. armatus cells (cell concentration, pigment and dry mass) was inhibited by all these heavy metals. Addition of Pro to the culture medium minimized the toxic effect of the metals. The growth rate was somewhat higher in Pro-containing cultures and started to decline 1 d later than in cultures containing heavy metals alone. S. armatus cells accumulated the added Pro in response to heavy metals. The accumulation correlated with protein content. Cd was the strongest inducer of Pro accumulation, Mn being the weakest. Cells accumulated nickel more than cadmium and manganese. Heavy metal-treated cells had increased peroxidase and catalase activities.

Cadmium↗

PubMed1996

Heavy metals inhibit Pi-induced currents through human brush-border NaPi-3 cotransporter in Xenopus oocytes.

Heavy metal intoxication with Hg2+, Pb2+ and Cd2+ commonly leads to phosphaturia. In this study, we examined the effects of these heavy metals on Pi-induced currents (Ip) through NaPi-3, the human renal cotransporter for Na+ and Pi. Hg2+ inhibited Ip in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Hg2+ decreased the extrapolated maximal current but did not alter the apparent affinity for Pi. This inhibition was also observed with the membrane-permeable oxidizing agent 2,2'-dithio-bis(5-nitropyridine) (DTNP) but not with the membrane-impermeable 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). Hg(2+)- and DTNP-mediated inhibition of Ip was reversible only in the presence of the reducing agent 2,3-dihydroxybutane-1,4-dithiol. Cd2+ and Pb2+ also inhibited Ip. However, while CD2+ did not significantly alter the apparent affinity for Pi, the apparent concentration needed for half-maximal current (Km) for Pi was increased by Pb2+. In contrast to Hg2+, the inhibition of Ip by Cd2+ and Pb2+ was rapidly reversible upon washout. In the presence of the Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase inhibitor ouabain, Ip was not reduced, and the effects of the heavy metals were maintained. In summary, the three heavy metals Hg2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ inhibit Ip through the Na+/Pi cotransporter NaPi-3 by distinct mechanisms. Heavy metal-mediated inhibition of NaPi-3 may be responsible for the phosphaturia observed after intoxication with these compounds.

2,2'-Dipyridyl↗

PubMed2003

Heavy metals in oysters, mussels and clams collected from coastal sites along the Pearl River Delta, South China.

Concentrations of 8 heavy metals: cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), antimony (Sb) and tin (Sn) were examined in 3 species of bivalves ( Perna viridis, Crassostrea rivularis and Ruditapes philippinarum) collected from 25 sites along the Pearl River Delta coastal waters in the South China Sea from July to August 1996. In general, Cd, Cu, Zn and Sn concentrations in the three bivalve species collected from the Estuarine Zone were significantly higher than those collected from the Western and Eastern Zones of the Pearl River Delta, which are related to the existence of various anthropogenic activities in the catchment of the Pearl River Delta. The Western Estuarine Zone is mainly impacted hy Cr, Ni and Cu contamination. In Victoria Harbor, heavy metal contamination is mainly due to Cu and Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations in oysters were significantly higher than those in mussels and clams. This could be explained by the fact that oysters live mainly in the Estuarine Zone of the Pearl River Delta which receives most of the polluting discharges from the catchment of the Delta. During turbid condition, heavy metals( soluble or adsorbed on suspended particulates) discharged from the Delta are filtered from the water column and subsequently accumulated into the soft body tissues of oysters. Heavy metal concentrations in the three bivalve species were compared with the maximum permissible levels of heavy metals in seafood regulated by the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Laws of Hong Kong, and it was revealed that Cd and Cr concentrations in the three bivalve species exceeded the upper limits. At certain hotspots in the Delta, the maximum acceptable daily load for Cd was also exceeded.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Historical change of heavy metals in urban soils of Nanjing, China during the past 20 centuries.

Two typical areas, including once commercial and residential quarters of Nanjing, China, were studied by investigating soil properties especially heavy metals of soils in various cultural layers formed in different Chinese Dynasties. The age of the soil profiles was dated by both archaeological and 14C chronological methods. The results showed that urban soils in the old commercial/workshop quarter of Nanjing were generally contaminated by heavy metals Cu, Zn, Pb, but their concentration levels varied significantly among the cultural layers formed in different dynasties. The substantial increase of heavy metals appeared in three historical periods, i.e., South Dynasty (222-589 AD), the earlier Ming (1368-1644 AD) and the late Qing (1644-1912 AD) in one area. The tremendous input and storage of heavy metals in soils was explained by the primitive smelting and the strengthened metal processing activities, which might be due to the requirement of weapon making or other industries, in the changing social conditions of the corresponding periods. Soils in the once noble political, cultural centers did not show significant increase of heavy metals. The difference in the distribution pattern of heavy metals revealed the contrasting history of the site uses. The change of contaminant level in soils is believed to be a reflection of various human activities in the city during the past 20 centuries.

China↗

PubMed2005

Growth of cyanophage N-1 under the influence of heavy metal ions.

The growth of cyanophage N-1 in the cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum under the influence of heavy metal ions, namely Co2+, Cr6+, Cu2+, Mn2+ and Ni2+ has been studied. One-step growth experiments revealed that heavy metal ions extended the latent period by 1-2 hrs with a concomitant decrease in the phage burst size. The latter was reduced in the order Cu2/Mn2+, Ni2+, Co2+ and Cr6+. The treatment of the phage-infected bacteria with heavy metal ions did not induce mutations affecting either the phage plaque morphology or burst size. The final phage titer after such a treatments was lowest with Co2+, Cu2+ and Cr6+. The inhibition of the phage growth under the influence of heavy metal ions is discussed in context with the interaction of cyanophage N-1 with the photosynthetic reactions in the host bacteria.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1987

A study on the effect of garlic to the heavy metal poisoning of rat.

When garlic (Allium sativum) was administered to rat per os simultaneously with cadmium, methylmercury and phenylmercury to detect the protective effect against the heavy metal poisoning, accumulation of heavy metals in liver, kidneys, bone and testes were decreased, and histopathological damages and the inhibition of serum alkaline phosphatase activities by heavy metals were reduced. Such effect of garlic was not shown in the 1.7% garlic treated group and most remarkable in the 6.7% garlic treated group. The protective effect of garlic was superior to those of 2,3 dimercapto-1-propanol (BAL) and D-penicillamine (PEN), and nearly similar to those of 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (APEN), the current remedies, while garlic was not effective as a curative agent for heavy metal poisoning. The excretion of cadmium was enhanced, more through feces than urine by garlic but the effect to the urinary excretion of cadmium was not significant comparing with DMSA or APEN when cadmium was ip injected in the first 3 days during the 12 days of oral administration of DMSA, APEN or garlic.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Heavy metals in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the lonian Sea, Italy.

Concentrations of six heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, and Sn) were determined in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected between June and September 1997 from 10 locations along a sound formed by two inlets (Mar Piccolo) near the Gulf of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Italy). The average concentrations of the heavy metals found in mussels samples were 0.15 mg/kg for Hg, 1.19 mg/kg for Pb, 0.64 mg/kg for Cd, 0.31 mg/kg for Cr, 5.15 mg/kg for Zn, and 0.54 mg/kg for Sn. The concentrations of heavy metals in mussels from the first inlet did not differ greatly from those observed in mussels from the second inlet. The concentrations of heavy metals in the mussels analyzed were below acceptable levels for human consumption.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Heavy metal toxicity to microbe-mediated ecologic processes: a review and potential application to regulatory policies.

Microorganisms are sensitive to heavy metal pollution as are other components of the biota. However, most studies on the interactions between microbes and heavy metals have been conducted in synthetic media or in altered (e.g., sterilized) environmental samples and usually have used only single species. Few studies have evaluated the effects of heavy metals on the activities of natural heterogeneous microbial populations, both autotrophic and heterotrophic, in terrestrial and aquatic environments. These latter studies have shown that heavy metals inhibit primary productivity, nitrogen fixation, the mineralization of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, litter decomposition, and enzyme synthesis and activity in soils, sediments, and surface waters. The potential adverse effects of heavy metals on such microbe-mediated ecologic processes need to be incorporated into the methodologies used by regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to prepare environmental risk assessments which, in turn, are used to formulate environmental criteria, such as the Water Quality Criteria, and to evaluate the safety to the environment of exposure to "new chemical substances," as mandated by the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. To provide appropriate data that can be assimilated into regulatory policy, it is essential that microbial ecotoxicity tests be standardized, are neither costly nor difficult to train personnel to conduct, and produce data that can be quantitated.

Bacteria↗