Chaofeng Shen

Heavy metal and persistent organic compound contamination in soil from Wenling: an emerging e-waste recycling city in Taizhou area, China.

The present study was conducted to investigate the levels and sources of heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg and As) and persistent organic compounds including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soils taken from Wenling, an emerging e-waste recycling city in Taizhou, China. The results suggested that most heavy metals exceeded the respective Grade II value of soil quality standards from State Environmental Protection Administration of China and also exceeded the Dutch optimum values. Total PAHs in soil ranged from 371.8 to 1231.2 microg/kg, and relatively higher PAHs concentrations were found in soils taken from simple household workshops. PCBs were detectable in all samples with total concentrations ranging from 52.0 to 5789.5 microg/kg, which were 2.1-232.5 times higher than that from the reference site (24.9 microg/kg). Results of this study suggested soil in the Wenling e-waste recycling area were heavily contaminated by heavy metals, PAHs and PCBs. Furthermore, compared with large-scale plants, simple household workshops contributed more heavy metals, PAHs and PCBs pollution to the soil environment, indicating that soil contamination from e-waste recycling in simple household workshops should be given more attention.

Degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene in spiked soils by single and combined plants cultivation.

The present study was conducted to investigate the capability of four plant species (tall fescue, ryegrass, alfalfa, and rape seed) grown alone and in combination to the degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) in spiked soil. After 65 days of plant growth, plant biomass, dehydrogenase activity, water-soluble phenolic (WSP) compounds, plant uptake and accumulation and residual concentrations of phenanthrene and pyrene were determined. Our results showed that presence of vegetation significantly enhanced the dissipation of phenanthrene and pyrene from contaminated soils. Higher degradation rates of PAHs were observed in the combined plant cultivation (98.3-99.2% phenanthrene and 88.1-95.7% pyrene) compared to the single plant cultivation (97.0-98.0% phenanthrene and 79.8-86.0% pyrene). Contribution of direct plant uptake and accumulation of phenanthrene and pyrene was very low compared to the plant enhanced dissipation. By contrast, plant-promoted biodegradation was the predominant contribution to the remediation enhancement. The correlation analysis indicates a negative relation between biological activities (dehydrogenase activity and WSP compounds) and residual concentrations of phenanthrene and pyrene in planted soils. Our results suggest that phytoremediation could be a feasible choice for PAHs contaminated soil. Moreover, the combined plant cultivation has potential to enhance the process.

Enhancement of phenanthrene and pyrene degradation in rhizosphere of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)

A greenhouse experiment was conducted with varying concentrations of phenanthrene (11-344 mg kg(-1)) and pyrene (15-335 mg kg(-1)) spiked in the soil to evaluate the phytoremediation of PAHs contaminated soil using tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). After 65-day of tall fescue growth, plant biomass, microbial viable counts, dehydrogenase activity, water-soluble phenolic compounds, phenanthrene and pyrene residual concentrations and removal percentages were determined. The results showed that target PAHs (phenanthrene and pyrene) did not affect plant biomass at lower concentrations but a reduced biomass (only 53.5% of shoot and 29.7% of root compared to control) was observed at higher concentrations. Higher biological activities (microbial viable counts, water-soluble phenolic compounds, dehydrogenase activity) and PAHs degradation rates were detected in planted soils than unplanted controls. After harvest, 91.7-97.8% of phenanthrene and 70.8-90.0% of pyrene had been degraded in the planted soils, which were 1.88-3.19% and 8.85-20.69% larger than those in corresponding unplanted soils. This enhanced dissipation of target PAHs in planted soils might be derived from increased biological activity in the rhizosphere. The results of the present study suggest that the presence of tall fescue roots were effective in promoting the phytoremediation of PAHs contaminated soil.

Enhanced phytoremediation potential of polychlorinated biphenyl contaminated soil from e-waste recycling area in the presence of randomly methylated-β-cyclodextrins.

The crude recycling of electronic and electric waste (e-waste) is now creating soil pollution problems with organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The present study aimed to compare the phytoremediation potential of four plant species (rice, alfalfa, ryegrass and tall fescue) for PCBs contaminated soil from Taizhou city, one of the largest e-waste recycling centers in China. In addition, the enhanced effects of randomly methylated-beta-cyclodextrins (RAMEB) on PCBs phytoremediation potential were evaluated. Higher PCBs removal percentages of 25.6-28.5% in rhizosphere soil were observed after 120 days, compared with those of the non-rhizosphere (10.4-16.9%) and unplanted controls (7.3%). The average PCBs removal percentages of four plant species increased from 26.9% to 37.1% in the rhizosphere soil with addition of RAMEB. Meanwhile, relatively high microbial counts and dehydrogenase activity were detected in planted soils and a stimulatory effect by RAMEB addition was found. The present study indicated that all the plant candidates were feasible for phytoremediation of PCBs contaminated soil from the e-waste recycling area, and tall fescue with RAMEB amendment seemed as a promising remediation strategy. High PCBs removal percentage was due to the increased PCBs bioavailability as well as biostimulation of microbial communities after plantation and RAMEB addition.

Levels and patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in municipal waste incinerator bottom ash in Zhejiang province, China.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were analyzed in bottom ash from municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration in six cities in Zhejiang province, where one-fourth of the MSW incinerators of China are located. Total PAH contents varied from 2222.53 to 6883.91 microg/kg. The patterns of PAHs were found to be very similar in all the samples, dominated by three-ring and four-ring PAHs. Total PCB concentrations in bottom ash ranged from 1.00 to 1.31 microg/kg, while the coplanar PCBs in the bottom ash were in the range of 0.08-0.52 microg/kg. Among PCB congeners, low chlorinated PCBs contributed to the majority of total PCBs. Generally, PAH concentrations in cities with fluidized bed incinerator were less than those in cities with grate furnace incinerator. PAH and PCB levels were affected by both plastic content in MSW incinerator feed and combustion efficiency. However, further study is required to investigate the effect of these two variables deeply, as well as other influencing factors.

Growth, bioluminescence and shoal behavior hormetic responses to inorganic and/or organic chemicals: A review

A biphasic dose response, termed hormesis, is characterized by beneficial effects of a chemical at a low dose and harmful effects at a high dose. This biphasic dose response phenomenon has the potential to strongly alter toxicology in a broad range. The present review focuses on the progress of research into hormetic responses in terms of growth (in plants, birds, algae and humans), bioluminescence, and shoal behavior as end points. The paper describes how both inorganic and organic chemicals at a low dose show stimulatory responses while at higher doses are inhibitory. The article highlights how factors such as symbiosis, density-dependent factors, time, and contrasting environmental factors (availability of nutrients, temperature, light, etc.) affect both the range and amplitude of hormetic responses. Furthermore, the possible underlying mechanisms are also discussed and we suggest that, for every end point, different hormetic mechanisms may exist. The occurrences of varying interacting receptor systems or receptor systems affecting the assessment of hormesis for each endpoint are discussed. The present review suggests that a hormetic model should be adopted for toxicological evaluations instead of the older threshold and linear non-threshold models.

Comparison of structure-dependent hormetic cytotoxicity induced by coplanar and non-coplanar PCB congeners

The effect of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on Vero cell proliferation was investigated, with the attempts to assess the possible hormetic dose-response and to compare their structure-dependent toxicity. Both PCB congeners revealed low doses stimulation in our experiment. However, significant cytotoxicity was only observed in PCB 52 concentrations larger than 0.1 microg ml(-1), while there was no significant inhibition in PCB 77-treated cells at concentrations selected. Furthermore, the time-dependent cytotoxic trends were different. The comparison between PCB 52 and PCB 77 indicated that the cytotoxic mechanisms involved in coplanar or non-coplanar PCB congener exposure were different, and this difference might be associated with individual genotoxicity and the release of contact inhibition, respectively.

Risk assessment of heavy metals pollution in agricultural soils of siling reservoir watershed in Zhejiang Province, China.

Presence of heavy metals in agriculture soils above the permissible limit poses threats to public health. In this study, concentrations of seven metals were determined in agricultural soils from Yuhang county, Zhejiang, China. Multivariate statistical approaches were used to study the variation of metals in soils during summer and winter seasons. Contamination of soils was evaluated on the basis of enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (I geo), contamination factor (C f), and degree of contamination (C deg). Heavy metal concentrations were observed higher in winter as compared to summer season. Cr and Cd revealed random distribution with diverse correlations in both seasons. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed significant anthropogenic intrusions of Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Cu in the soils. Enrichment factor revealed significant enrichment (EF > 5) of Zn, Cd, and Pb, whereas geoaccumulation index and contamination factor exhibited moderate to high contamination for Zn, Cr, Cd, and Pb. In light of the studied parameters, permissible limit to very high degree of contamination (C deg > 16) was observed in both seasons.

Hormesis response of marine and freshwater luminescent bacteria to metal exposure

The stimulatory effect of low concentrations of toxic chemicals on organismal metabolism, referred to as hormesis, has been found to be common in the widely used luminescence bioassay. This paper aims to study the hormesis phenomenon in both marine and freshwater luminescent bacteria, named Photobacterium phosphorem and Vibrio qinghaiensis. The effects of Cu (II), Zn (II), Cd (II) and Cr (VI) on luminescence of these two bacteria were studied for 0 to 75 minutes exposure by establishing dose- and time-response curves. A clear hormesis phenomenon was observed in all four testing metals at low concentrations under the condition of luminescence assays.

Exploring the potential environmental functions of viable but non-culturable bacteria

A conventional plate count is the most commonly employed method to estimate the number of living bacteria in environmental samples. In fact, judging the level of viable culture by plate count is limited, because it is often several orders of magnitude less than the number of living bacteria actually present. Most of the bacteria are in “viable but non-culturable” (VBNC) state, whose cells are intact and alive and can resuscitate when surrounding conditions are more favorable. The most exciting recent development in resuscitating VBNC bacteria is a bacterial cytokine, namely, the resuscitation-promoting factor (Rpf), secreted by Micrococcus luteus, which promotes the resuscitation and growth of high G+C Gram-positive organisms, including some species of the genus Mycobacterium. However, most of studies deal with VBNC bacteria only from the point of view of medicine and epidemiology. It is therefore of great significance to research whether these VBNC state bacteria also possess some useful environmental capabilities, such as degradation, flocculation, etc. Further studies are needed to elucidate the possible environmental role of the VBNC bacteria, rather than only considering their role as potential pathogens from the point view of epidemiology and public health. We have studied the resuscitation of these VBNC bacteria in polluted environments by adding culture supernatant containing Rpf from M. luteus, and it was found that, as a huge microbial resource, VBNC bacteria could provide important answers to dealing with existing problems of environmental pollution. This mini-review will provide new insight for considering the potentially environmental functions of VBNC bacteria.