Removal Of Heavy Metals In Contaminated Soils Research Papers (original) (raw)

In this review, recent developments pertaining to the use of fungi as biosorbent for heavy metals removal from wastewater has been presented with critical analysis of the present status of the subject. Undoubtedly fungi have emerged as an interesting biosorbent family. They are superior to other microorganisms as they can be easily grown, produce large biomass, and genetic and morphological manipulation is easily possible with them. Various aspects of this field, such as classification, general characteristics, composition and role of the cell wall, and metal uptake mechanisms have been critically analyzed. The superiority of dead biomass of fungi and immobilization was paid enough attention. The use of fungal species as biosensors for metal detection in the environment was also presented.

Due to the enormous growth of new chemicals, especially polymer materials in construction projects, and the importance and effectiveness of these new materials in poor soil stabilization, recently has closed chemistry and polymer sciences to civil science. The use of materials such as bitumen in stabilization of flowing and loose soil and using of polymer resins reflects the effect of these substances is very high on construction projects. Considering the importance of oil and polymer materials in soil stabilization, in this study performance of polymer materials and their comparison have been investigated. Oil materials such as bitumen can be used to stabilize the soil, and polymer resins such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, and also pointed polypropylene synthetic fiber can be considered as polymer materials. Bitumen foam is one of the fixative materials that obtain by adding water to hot bitumen, and is applicable to a wide range of stone materials. In addition to, polymer resins increase the burden go loose soils. Polymer fibers due to high durability and easy application and no problem at saturation conditions are highly regarded by civil engineers.

This model is designed to provide an interpretation of the original layout of the former Sudbury Hall gasworks. The gasworks are a rare surviving example of an ornate private gasworks built in the style of the surrounding estate buildings. The Sudbury Estate being built in the restoration style, the gasworks was built in 1874 and was designed by George Devey, a noted architect of the time. The gasworks supplied the house and various properties in the village, operating up until the 1920’s.
The gasworks is Grade II listed and has been in urgent need of repair and the local community has formed the Sudbury Gasworks Restoration Trust (SGRT), a building preservation trust which aims to save the building and adapt it to serve the community once again (http://www.sudburygasworks.com/history/). Sudbury hall is located in the village of Sudbury, Derbyshire, UK and the nearby Hall is now a National Trust Property. This model is one of a series created by Russell Thomas for use in educational and public engagement projects.

- by Russell Thomas
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- History, Architecture, Industrial Archaeology, Groundwater Contamination
- by Martin Mkandawire and +2
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- Biogeochemistry, Removal Of Heavy Metals In Contaminated Soils

Malaysia is one of the developing countries that are facing an increase population with an increasing and significant generation of waste. Environmental problems may arise when the solid waste management is improper. The rate of generation is increasing and the composition is also changing as the nation becomes more urbanized and industrialized. The objective of this study is to present the data of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in Taman Universiti, Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The composition of MSW was studied by segregating it into different components such as food waste, paper, glass, plastics, metal and tin aluminums. It was observed that Taman Universiti area produced around 40% plastics waste which was the highest component compared to other waste, followed by food waste and papers with 38.2% and 21% respectively. Meanwhile, food waste was recorded the highest moisture content with 38.2% while glass had the lowest moisture content with 0.4%. The reliable estimate of MSW generated is important for proper waste management planning. These data could enhance in implementation of waste management system in that area.

The contamination from heavy metals has risen during the last decade due to increase in
Industrialization. This has led to a significant increase in health problems. Many of the known remediation
techniques to remove heavy metal from soil are expensive, time consuming and environmentally destructive.
Phytoremediation is an emerging technology for removal of heavy metals which is cost effective, and has
aesthetic advantages and long term applicability. The present study aims at efficiently utilizing Brassica juncea L.
to remove lead (Pb). The result of our study indicate that amount of lead in Indian mustard is increased with the
amount of EDTA applied to the soil and maximum accumulation was achieved with 5mmol/kg of EDTA. On
further increase in EDTA resulted in leaf necrosis and early shedding of leaves. Therefore EDTA at a
concentration of 5mmol/kg was considered optimum for lead accumulation by Brassica juncea L.

Punjab is facing a crisis situation due to high levels of uranium, arsenic and selenium in underground water table of Punjab. Malwa belt of Punjab, namely, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Roop Nagar and Fatehgarh sahib districts have high selenium contents in groundwater. Selenium Acceptable Limit (AL) for groundwater is fixed at 0.01 mg/l (ppm) by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). In this report, groundwater quality data pertaining to selenium in the Malwa belt is reported. The highest value of selenium content of 0.14 mg/l (ppm) was reported in the water drawn from a handpump in the village Urna of Ludhiana district. Out of 80 villages of Ludhiana district with selenium content above AL value, 38 have selenium contamination levels higher than 0.015 mg/l (ppm). Roop Nagar, Ferozepur and Fatehgarh Sahib districts have 29, 9 and 17 villages with selenium content above the AL value, respectively. The possible health hazard effects of selenium are reported on the basis of studies carried out in the USA, China and Italy.

Electro—coagulation is rapidly becoming a viable
environmental solution for industries. The novel
approach of this proposal is to design, build,
and operate an electro—coagulation reactor that
permits the continuous treatment of industrial
residual water with out the need of storing said
waste waters and to treat these as they are
produced. To evaluate and to optimize the
electrochemical process, a model system has been
executed, in order to study its composition and
its removal efficiency. It was observed that at
low voltages, the removal of metals and organic
material had increased. It has been demonstrated
that the electro—coagulation has been efficient
in both static and dynamic modes, although in the dynamic mode the percentages of removal
have been greater, and the volume of water
treated during the same time frame has also been
greater.

Olive trees native to the Middle East and Iraqi Kurdistan region, it can survive severe ecosystems including sandy and rocky soils with high calcite content and extreme temperature fluctuations between -7°C up to +45°C giving yields even with minimum rainfall requirement. Results show that olive is currently grown in a very limited area of less than 250 ha, under drip irrigation system, which mostly depended on supply of water from ground water in Sulaymaniyah governorate. In contrast, 90% of the world’s olive is dependent on precipitation. In addition, olive can grow and survive minimum rainfall of 300 mm and give satisfactory yields with rainfall of 500 mm without irrigation. The majority of olive fields were established in best fertile agricultural lands. Meanwhile, the
aforementioned lands are rich with montmorillonite, which swells when it is moisten and shrinks when it is dry. Therefore, resulting in deep cracks in the soil which causes breaking down of the roots and weakening of the trees. The total rainfall in Sulaymaniyah governorate, during the last 72 years (1941 to 2013), had dropped down below the minimum rainfall requirements for olive growing. This makes olive trees suitable and economic for utilizing sandy and rocky soils. Therefore, olive has a great role in the re-vegetation process of severe ecosystems and should be included in any program of renewing the Kurdistan region forest and developing green area which encourage the tourism in the Region and helping in beautifying and purifying the atmosphere from the poisonous
gases.

- by INNSPUB Journals and +1
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- Agronomy, Middle East Studies, Organic agriculture, Kurdish Studies

Biomass pyrolysis is a promising renewable sustainable source of fuels and petrochemical substitutes. It may help in compensating the progressive consumption of fossil-fuel reserves. The present article outlines biomass pyrolysis. Various types of biomass used for pyrolysis are encompassed, e.g., wood, agricultural residues, sewage. Categories of pyrolysis are outlined, e.g., flash, fast, and slow. Emphasis is laid on current and future trends in biomass pyrolysis, e.g., microwave pyrolysis, solar pyrolysis, plasma pyrolysis, hydrogen production via biomass pyrolysis, co-pyrolysis of biomass with synthetic polymers and sewage, selective preparation of high-valued chemicals, pyrolysis of exotic biomass (coffee grounds and cotton shells), comparison between algal and terrestrial biomass pyrolysis. Specific future prospects are investigated, e.g., preparation of supercapacitor biochar materials by one-pot one-step pyrolysis of biomass with other ingredients, and fabricating metallic catalysts embedded on biochar for removal of environmental contaminants. The authors predict that combining solar pyrolysis with hydrogen production would be the eco-friendliest and most energetically feasible process in the future. Since hydrogen is an ideal clean fuel, this process may share in limiting climate changes due to CO 2 emissions.
Keywords Sustainable and renewable energy source; Fossil-fuel alternatives; Biomass pyrolysis; Biofuel (bio-oil, biogas, biochar); Charcoal (activated carbon); Hydrogen fuel

- by Prof Dr Yehia Fahmy and +2
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- Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Development Economics, Environmental Economics

Industrial Revolution resulted in serious environmental pollutions such as heavy metals and other dangerous waste pollution in the soil and water. Heavy metals pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems. The effects of heavy metals on human health can cause serious diseases and even lead to death. Phytoremediation is one of the bioremediation techniques can be used as an alternative solution for heavy metal remediation process in heavy metal polluted areas. Phytoremediation technology based on the use of metal-accumulating plants. The selection of plant types for phytoremediation becomes an important consideration to make the remediation process more effective and efficient as well as to prevent the plants from being consumed. The use of non-edible and non-commercial fast growing with high biomass plants as remediating plants can be an alternative solution and cover crops that have characteristics that meet with this purpose. This short review tries to give some information about the potential use of cover crops for the heavy metal remediation process from the soils. Previous studies showed that several non-edible plants that can be used as cover crops are potential for phytoremediation process of heavy metals contaminated soils.

- by Fatema nimmy
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- Soil Science, Agronomy, Natural Resource Management, Agriculture

Recently facial makeup cosmetic products have become very popular among Sudanese women in spite of the fact that they might contain toxic materials including Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Ni and Zn, and their use as ingredients in cosmetics is prohibited as they cause skin problems. Owing to the absence of control standards of these products sold in Sudanese markets, the present study aimed at developing a method for the determination of these metals by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Eighty-six samples of different facial makeup cosmetic products were collected randomly from the local Sudanese markets. A microwave-assisted digestion with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and hydrochloric acid was applied for sample preparation. The concentration of each metal was determined in triplicate by ICP-MS. For eye shadow, in a wide range of concentrations, all analyzed elements were detected at high levels in the imported samples, but Pb, Hg, and Cd were detected at low levels in the locally prepared not only eye shadow but also lipstick samples. Although Pb was present at low concentrations in all samples, locally prepared whitening creams, lipstick, and eye shadow showed highest concentration levels of 33.63 µg /g, 42.42 µg /g, and 52.02 µg /g, respectively. The highest concentration levels for Hg in locally prepared whitening creams and eye shadow samples were found to be 42.09 µg /g, and 21.30 µg /g, respectively. The highest concentration levels for Cd, however, were found to be 5.21 µg /g, 22.53µg /g, and 7.06µg /g, in imported lipstick, eye shadow, and local whitening creams, respectively. High concentration levels of Zn were not obtained in all analyzed samples except in the imported eye shadow, (72.46µg /g). The determination of heavy metals in cosmetic products sold in Sudanese markets increase the needs to set laws to regulate their preparation locally and to set standards to control their quality and safety.

- by Abdalla M. Abdalla Mustafa and +1
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- Makeup and Cosmetics, ICP-MS, Removal Of Heavy Metals In Contaminated Soils, LA-ICP-MS

THIS IS NATURE SIGNALING THE END OF DUALITY THIS IS HUGE - CHANGE THE ENTIRETY OF CREATION - NO DUALITY ANYWHERE. IT IS VERY CLEARLY A PREDETERMINED ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS - THIS BUBBLE IS TOO WELL DESIGNED - EUPHORIA... more

THIS IS NATURE SIGNALING THE END OF DUALITY
THIS IS HUGE - CHANGE THE ENTIRETY OF CREATION - NO DUALITY ANYWHERE.
IT IS VERY CLEARLY A PREDETERMINED ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS - THIS BUBBLE IS TOO WELL DESIGNED - EUPHORIA CANCELS KARMA

- by MIKE EMERY
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- Earth Sciences, Soil Science, Consciousness (Psychology), Water

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) plant is a valuable medicinal crop in arid and semi-arid regions. The use of microbes as bio-fertilizers in enhancing crop production is more favorable than chemical fertilizers due to food safety. A pot experiment was conducted to explore the effect of Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum brasiliense as a bio-fertilizer on the growth, yield, and quietly of roselle plants. Roselle seeds were mixed with the tested biofertilizer and cultivated on plastic pots filled with a sandy clay loam soil. The bio-fertilization significantly (p<0.05) increased the growth, nutrients uptake, yield, and quality of roselle plants compared to the untreated plants. The inoculation of roselle plants with the bio-fertilizer increased the total chlorophyll, carotenoid, total anthocyanin (TAC), and total flavonel (TF) by 16.45, 26.10, 8.44, and 14.27%, respectively, above the control. The bio-fertilization increased the soil available nitrogen by 14.33% above the control, and increased the uptake of N, P, and K by 18.8, 17.81, and 12.75%. The biofertilization not only increased the quality of roselle plants but also increased the fresh and dry weights of sepals yield by 5.89 and 3.55%, respectively.

Biochars are biological residues combusted under low oxygen conditions, resulting in a porous, low density carbon rich material. Their large surface areas and cation exchange capacities, determined to a large extent by source materials and pyrolysis temperatures, enables enhanced sorption of both organic and inorganic contaminants to their surfaces, reducing pollutant mobility when amending contaminated soils. Liming effects or release of carbon into soil solution may increase arsenic mobility, whilst low capital but enhanced retention of plant nutrients can restrict revegetation on degraded soils amended only with biochars; the combination of composts, manures and other amendments with biochars could be their most effective deployment to soils requiring stabilisation by revegetation. Specific mechanisms of contaminant-biochar retention and release over time and the environmental impact of biochar amendments on soil organisms remain somewhat unclear but must be investigated to ensure that the management of environmental pollution coincides with ecological sustainability.

Heavy metals, such as cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc, are essential in trace amounts for growth by plants and other living organisms. However, in excessive amounts these heavy metals have deleterious effects. Like other organisms, plants possess a variety of detoxification mechanisms to counter the harmful effects of heavy metals. These include the restriction of heavy metals by mycorrhizal association, binding with plant cell wall and root excretions, metal efflux from the plasma membrane, metal chelation by phytochelatins and metallothioneins, and compartmentalization within the vacuole. Phytoremediation is an emerging technology that uses plants and their associated rhizospheric microorganisms to remove pollutants from contaminated sites. This technology is inexpensive, efficient, and ecofriendly. This review focuses on potential cellular and molecular adaptations by plants that are necessary to tolerate heavy metal stress.

Cassava crop cultivation microbiome impacts by microbial biofertilizer is an integral function of the agro-ecology, its evolution (yield, soil health and quality) for sustainable agriculture. Increased yield and nutrient bioavailability powered by co-inoculation of microbial consortia adaptability to the soil ecology. Biofertilizer solves the traceability problem of chemical farm inputs, suitability and nutrient use efficiency as an integral function of the rhizosphere microbiome 'tailor' integrated soil fertility management that improves micronutrient and macronutrient via plant microbe interactions for soil health quality and crop degradation management. Mycorrhizal spp mutualistic symbiosis with plant roots satisfies the crop nutrients requirements. Aspergillus spp, Bacillus spp and Clostridium spp in the biofertilizer enhances potassium solubilization, a major challenge in cassava crop nutrition development of the biomass and mineralization. Soil organic matter improvement as a function of biofertilizer application help management of carbon sequestration and climate vulnerabilities.

Phytoremediation which is an emerging technology that uses various plants to degrade, extract, contain, or immobilize contaminants from soil, but for this research we used moringa leaf for the laboratory experiments that was carried out. The physiochemical properties of the soil were determined before and after pollution. From the research it was observed that there were changes in the physiochemical properties of the soil samples after it was contaminated with crude oil. These changes in the soil physiochemical properties make the soil not to be fertile for planting our crops. However, after the application of the moringa leaf into the various soil samples, it experienced changes in its physiochemical properties, which means the moringa leaf gradually degraded the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon in soil after the period of two months.

The contamination of groundwater by heavy metal, originating either from natural soil sources or from anthropogenic sources is a matter of utmost concern to the public health. Remediation of contaminated groundwater is of highest priority since billions of people all over the world use it for drinking purpose. In this paper, thirty five approaches for groundwater treatment have been reviewed and classified under three large categories viz chemical, biochemical/biological/biosorption and physico-chemical treatment processes. Comparison tables have been provided at the end of each process for a better understanding of each category. Selection of a suitable technology for contamination remediation at a particular site is one of the most challenging job due to extremely complex soil chemistry and aquifer characteristics and no thumb-rule can be suggested regarding this issue. In the past decade, iron based technologies, microbial remediation, biological sulphate reduction and various adsorbents played versatile and efficient remediation roles. Keeping the sustainability issues and environmental ethics in mind, the technologies encompassing natural chemistry, bioremediation and biosorption are recommended to be adopted in appropriate cases. In many places, two or more techniques can work synergistically for better results. Processes such as chelate extraction and chemical soil washings are advisable only for recovery of valuable metals in highly contaminated industrial sites depending on economical feasibility.► A number of groundwater treatment technologies for heavy metal remediation have been reviewed. ► Iron based techniques, Biological Sulphate Reduction and Permeable Reactive Barriers were most successful in the past decade. ► Biosorption is the emerging field mostly experimented in laboratories. ► More than one techniques can be coupled for site specific problems for better performance.

This study is a part of the third axis of the « ETIAGE » project, a four year collaboration (2010-2014) between the Lyonnaise des Eaux, the Communauté Urbaine de Bordeaux (CUB), AEAG, and FEDER, Aquitaine region with the University of Bordeaux, CNRS and IRSTEA. The axis 3 objectives were to document the trace metal inputs from the CUB watershed into the waters of the Garonne section of the Gironde estuary. The Gironde Estuary is one of the largest macrotidal and highly turbid estuaries in Western Europe characterized by the presence of a strong maximum turbidity zone (MTZ) with high suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations (>1 g.L-1 in surface water) transporting estuarine particles and potentially hazardous trace elements. This study has focused on the trace metal inputs from the two main wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) of the CUB. The objective of this research was therefore to study in detail the daily concentrations, fluxes, and dynamics of 8 EU priority contaminants Cr, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb Zn, As, and the emerging contaminant Ag from the WWTPs in the CUB. The calculated removal rates are significant, around 80 % for the majority of metals, mainly as a result of the decantation phase. Despite this high removal efficiency, during periods of heavy rainstorms and low river discharges, the urban metal inputs via the WWTPs may still significantly increase metal concentrations and fluxes in the fluvial Gironde Estuary impacting water quality. In addition, the WWTP fluxes and concentrations of Ag exceeded common background concentrations in the Gironde fluvial estuary, making it an interesting urban tracer. The treatment within the WWTPs concentrates the trace metals in the sludge, yet, metal concentrations remained below legal norms for agricultural use. However, the analysis of WWTP sludge revealed that trace element concentrations are 15 (Ag) and 30 (Cu) times higher than natural background concentrations with high enrichment of Hg, Ag, Cr, Cu and Zn with over 70 % of Cd, Ag, Pb, Cu, and Zn being potentially bioavailable. Therefore, with increasing urban pressure on environmental quality, these results support the need for the development of efficient water quality monitoring tools.
Keywords : Coastal pollution, estuary metal contamination, urban trace elements, fluxes, wastewater, Gironde Estuary

Abstract
Heavy metals and pollutants are a serious problem in more countries. The soils are particularly vulnerable, because people don’t Know the problem, but also because the soils often changes within a few meters, and so, the solutions are complex or leading to transform soils in hazardous waste and transport them in landfills.
The bioremediation is a great opportunity to restore a natural balance in soils, using plants and microorganism to adsorb, remove or transform soils pollutants.
Soil fungi are a very important resource to use. They can absorb heavy metals, and this mechanism, sometimes is really specific for every fungus. Some of them absorb lead, but not magnesium or copper. Others absorbs chromium, nichel or cadmium, but not others metals. Some of them grew up if there is a type of metal in soils but if there is others, they can’t.
Some of them produces enzymes or others substances that can degrade lignin and other polymers like polystyrene. Some species live in symbiosis with plants, others are only symbiotic opportunists.
One of the most famous is the genus Trichoderma. All the species of this genus are saprophytic, but they also live in symbiosis with plants, stimulating the growth and protect them from pathogens and pollutants.
The aim of this work is to demonstrate the ability of Trichoderma harzianum to grow in presence of high concentrations of copper sulfate, a well known fungicide, used in organic farming.
We put a fragment of a colony of Trichoderma harzianum on Petri dishes with PDA amended with copper sulfate at different concentrations, from 50 mg, to 800 mg. and we estimate the growth of colonies. After, we recovered the mycelium and using a spectrophotometer analyzer we find the amount of copper absorbed by the fungi. The results put in evidence two aspects: Trichoderma harzianum absorbs copper, and can also play its role of plants protector in soils rich of copper sulfate.

- by Vittorio Di Bella and +1
- •
- Microbiology, Environmental Science, Soil Science, Bioremediation
- by Kirk G Scheckel
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- Engineering, Environmental Remediation, Arsenic, Contaminated Land

Urban soils of 32 Indian cities were collected from literature-based data for the period of 2001-2019 to measure the contamination levels of six heavy metals including arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) and also evaluated the potential human health risk for adults and children. The results indicated that concentrations of six heavy metals in the urban soils were much higher than both geochemical background values (Grade-I) and also Canadian soil quality guideline values (Grade-II) in most of the cities in India. Higher concentration of Cr and Ni was in cities mainly located in southern (Karnataka), northern (Uttar Pradesh), and eastern (Odisha); As and Pb primarily in central (Telangana), while Zn and Cu largely in western (Maharashtra) and eastern (Jharkhand) states of India, respectively. The index of geo-accumulation (I geo) values varied largely and showed moderately polluted to extremely polluted levels, possibly caused/influenced by anthropogenic activity in the urban regions in India. The non-carcinogenic health risk due to Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb in most urban regions was lower than the threshold value (HI \ 1), indicating no non-carcinogenic health risk for adults and children. As and Cr on children, non-carcinogenic risk was very higher than that of adults, and their risk values were also exceeded the threshold value, indicating that As and Cr in the urban soils posed considerable non-carcinogenic health risks on urban residents. The total carcinogenic/cancer risk due to Pb in most urban regions was lower than the recommended limit of 1.00E-04, while Cr and As have shown potential cancer risk for both adults and children. Therefore, As and Cr are the sole heavy metals that cause potential health risk in an urban region residents in India, which needs to be paid more attention and also controlling measures should be initiated.

Vultures and condors (hereafter vultures) make up one the most threatened avian guilds in the world due to a variety of human-mediated impacts and disturbances. In fact, 70% of vulture species are currently suffering im-pacted by significant conservation threats, with lead contamination being particularly important. Unfortunately, lead contamination in vulture species remains poorly studied in many regions of the world. We reviewed the existing scientific knowledge about this threat to vultures. We found 62 scientific articles studying lead contamination in vultures. Seventy-two percent of these articles were from North America and Europe, with the rest corresponding to Asia (13%), South America (8%), and Africa (7%). Most (92%) were published recently (2001–2018). Published articles included information on 13 vulture species out of a total of 23 from both the Old (9) and New World (4). Eighty-eight percent of the articles showed individuals with lead concentrations above threshold levels in some tissues sampled, with New World (Cathartidae) vultures more affected than Old World vultures (Accipitridae). The most suspected but rarely probed source of lead was lead ammunition, but other sources such as pollution or industry were also reported. It is concerning that lead contamination is considered a major threat for just 8% (2/23) of the vulture species categorized by the IUCN Red list. Our review shows that lead contamination is an important threat for several vulture species worldwide, but remains undiag-nosed and not well-recognized in some species and geographical areas. The effect of this contaminant on vulture demography is not well known but merits particular attention since it may be leading to population declines in several species.

- by Sergio Lambertucci
- •
- Environmental Science, Animal Science, Conservation Biology, Conservation

Heavy metals and radioactive compounds are potentially hazardous substances for plants, animals and humans in the Arctic. A good knowledge of the spatial variation of these substances in soil and primary producers, and their sources, is therefore essential. In the samples of lichen Thamnolia vermicularis, Salix polaris and Cassiope tetragona, and the soil samples collected in 2014 in Svalbard near Longyearbyen, the concentrations of the following heavy metals were determined: Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg, as well as the activity concentrations of the following: K-40, Cs-137, Pb-210, Pb-212, Bi-212, Bi-214, Pb-214, Ac-228, Th-231 and U-235 in the soil samples. The differences in the concentrations of the analytes accumulated in the different plant species and soil were studied using statistical methods. Sea aerosol was indicated as the source of Pb, Hg, Cs-137, Pb-210 and Th-231 in the studied area. A relatively high concentration of nickel was determined in the biota samples collected near Longyearbyen, compared to other areas of Svalbard. It was supposed that nickel may be released into the atmosphere as a consequence of the local coal mining around Longyearbyen.

- by Zbigniew ZIEMBIK and +2
- •
- Removal Of Heavy Metals In Contaminated Soils, Svalbard, Arctic, Heavy Metal Pollution

Plant species differ in response to high available manganese (Mn), but the mechanisms of sensitivity and tolerance are poorly understood. In solution culture, {greater than or equal to} 30 µM Mn decreased the growth of soybean (Glycine max) but white lupin (Lupinus albus), narrow-leafed lupin (L. angustifolius), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) grew well at 100 µM Mn. Differences in species' tolerance to high Mn could not be explained simply by differences in root, stem, or leaf Mn status, being 8.6, 17.1, 6.8, and 9.5 mmol kg-1 leaf fresh mass at 100 µM Mn. Furthermore, X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analyses identified the predominance of Mn(II), bound mostly to malate or citrate, in roots and stems of all four species. Rather, differences in tolerance were due to variations in Mn distribution and speciation within leaves. In Mn-sensitive soybean, in situ analysis of fresh leaves using X-ray fluorescence microscopy (µ-XRF) combined with XANES showed high Mn in t...

The current research has investigated the soil quality status under dryland vegetation of Yabello district, Southern Ethiopia in which we should identify the nature and extent of salinity problem of the area for further research bases. About 48 soil samples were taken from 0-30, 31-60, 61-90 and 91-120 cm soil depths by opening 12 representative soil profile pits at 1.5 m depth. Soil color, texture, bulk density, Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Na, K, Mg, Ca, CaCO3, gypsum (CaSO4), pH, Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) were analyzed. The dominant soil texture was silty-clay-loam. Bulk density varied from 1.1 to 1.31 g/cm 3. High SOC content was observed in 0-30 cm. The soil pH ranged from 7.1 to 8.6. The electrical conductivity shows indirect relationship with soil depth while CaCO3 and CaSO4 concentrations were observed in a direct relationship with depth. About 41% are non-saline, 38.31% saline, 15.23% saline-sodic and 5.46% sodic soils. Na concentration in saline soils was greater than Ca and Mg in all the soil depths. Ca and Mg contents were higher above 60 cm soil depth in non-saline soils. The concentrations of SO2-4 and HCO-3 were observed to be higher at the most lower depth than upper. SAR value tends to be higher at lower depths in saline and saline-sodic soils, but decreases at lower depth of the non-saline soils. The distribution of ESP above 60 cm depth was in an increasing order in saline and saline-sodic soils. The result of the research has shown the direction to which extent of salinity we should consider for the Commiphora plant species we want to grow on the area.

As a result of a peculiar practice of agriculture, widespread of intensive methods of agriculture, land pollution by industrial waste and transport in China there is a situation of significant contamination of cultivated area, water sources and feed by heavy metals. In its turn, through feed heavy metlas pass to meat, eggs and milk and pose a significant danger to humans.
Despite apparent effectiveness of all approaches to treatment of heavy poisoning, all these approaches are aimed at elimination of consequences from toxicants, already entered into organism. In this sense, a tactic of sorption of heavy metals in gastrointestinal tract, binding and rapid elimination from the body regardless of their ingestion, must be much more effective. As a result of a peculiar practice of agriculture, widespread of intensive methods of agriculture, land pollution by industrial waste and transport in China there is a situation of significant contamination of cultivated area, water sources and feed by heavy metals. In its turn, through feed HM pass to meat, eggs and milk and pose a significant danger to humans.
Despite apparent effectiveness of all the above approaches to treatment of HM poisoning, all these approaches are aimed at elimination of consequences from toxicants, already entered into organism. In this sense, a tactic of sorption of heavy metals in gastrointestinal tract, binding and rapid elimination from the body regardless of their ingestion, must be much more effective. BIFEGE drug, created on the basis of ferrocyanide of iron-potassium, not only selectively binding heavy metals, but due to a high content of bioavailable iron, competitive inhibiting absorption of heavy metals in intestine, can be the best preparation for animal treatment and breakage of vicious cycle of heavy metals accumulation in the environment.

- by Tabowei Churchill Onuosa
- •
- Soil Science, Environmental Remediation, Arsenic, BIOCHAR

Three sets of experiments (Laboratory, diallel and stability)
were conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig
University, during the winter successive growing seasons
2012/2013 and 2013/2014 to generate informations about the
impact of heavy metals (Zn, Pb and Cd) on seed germination,
seedling growth, performance, heterosis, combining ability,
genetic behavior and stability of some bread wheat genotypes.

Purpose Effective vermicomposting of Salvinia natans is a good alternative for protecting wetlands damaged by the weed due to the vast potential for use of the product ver-micompost in agriculture, but the presence of toxic metals in the weeds may deter the usage. Methods Research was carried out on the physico-chemical and biological characteristics as well as bioavailability and leachability of nutrients and heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ni, Pb, Cd and Cr) during vermicomposting of S. natans mixed with cattle manure and sawdust in five different combinations [trial 1 (eight S. natans: one cattle manure: one sawdust), trial 2 (seven S. natans: two cattle manure: one sawdust), trial 3 (six S. natans: three cattle manure: one sawdust), trial 4 (five S. natans: four cattle manure: one sawdust) and trial 5 (ten S. natans: 0 cattle manure: 0 sawdust)] for 45 days with Eisenia fetida earthworm. Results The highest growth of earthworms was in trial 4, having the highest (40 %) cattle manure. Trial 4 also indicated the highest reduction of volatile solids (38.6 %) and soluble BOD (82.3 %). The water-soluble forms of all nutrients were increased significantly. The highly bioavailable water-soluble and DTPA-extractable forms of heavy metals were reduced favourably after the process. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test indicated that leachable heavy metals of the vermicomposts were also reduced and were within the threshold limits for agricultural applications. Conclusions Eisenia fetida was very effective for reduction of bioavailable and leachable forms of selected heavy metals, and the TCLP test confirmed that the vermicompost was not hazardous for soil applications. The potential of the earthworms to increase the available nutrients, but mitigate the metal toxicity during vermicomposting of S. natans will be useful for sustainable land renovation practices.

Heavy metal pollution is a major environmental problem, especially around highways with high traffic density.
This study investigates the levels of Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu in roadside soils of Wukari section of the Wukari-Jalingo
highway, Taraba state, Nigeria. Samples were randomly collected and analyzed using standard methods. The
mean concentrations (μg/g) of Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu from all sample sites ranged: 89.6-247.0, 0.15-5.3, 26.8-163.0
and 7.1-61.2 respectively. The extent of the heavy metals contamination was assessed, as analytical data were
subjected to pollution calculation methods. The contamination factors (CF) reveal extreme contamination of the
sites and an increasing trend in the heavy metals concentrations was observed in sites with more human
activities. The pollution load index (PLI) showed that the sites are severely polluted as the PLI of the metals from
each sample site exceeded the PLI of the background (control) sample (0.7). Spearman’s rank correlation
analysis showed clear correlations (p<0.001) amongst the metals suggesting a common source. It can be
concluded that the study sites pollution is mostly due to automobile emissions. This study provides awareness
for residents to avoid activities such as farming, trading etc very close to the highway due to exposures to these
toxic metals.

- by Alex Cline
- •
- Mythology, Cyborg Theory, Alchemy, Metallurgy

Heavy metals are a serious hazard for aquatic ecosystems and human health. They negatively affect aquatic life functioning through accumulation resulting physiological/growth disturbances in aquatic lifeforms. This survey focused on the assessment of heavy metal pollution in the Gulf of Annaba (northeastern Algeria), the largest and most diversified industrial hub in Africa, using a multi-compartment approach (water–sediment–biota). The study aims to characterize the spatiotemporal variation of trace metal (TM) contamination and its effects on the growth of the Flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). It reviewed TM concentrations in upper sediments and organs of M. cephalus from various hydrosystems worldwide. Five sites distributed along the Gulf were sampled to determine water physicochemical parameters as well as the contamination of surficial sediments and muscles of M. cephalus by zinc, copper, lead, cadmium and mercury. The spatiotemporal variations of the measured parameters were tested and discussed following the synergetic effects of water, sediment and muscle variables on fish biometrics. The sediments at the Port, Joinoville and Sidi-Salem sites were classified as heavily polluted by lead, copper, zinc and cadmium, whereas only at the Port by mercury. Muscular lead concentrations exceeded international standard values in Joinoville and Port, and zinc in Port. The increase of water dissolved oxygen induced a significant decrease in sediment TM. The increase of sediment TM caused a significant increase in muscle TM levels. The S-shaped logistic models indicated that muscle contaminations reached a saturation plateaus following the current sediment pollution. TM concentrations in fish muscles negatively affected fish weight, but only copper and cadmium significantly influenced fish length. The consumption of fish from the Port, Joinoville and Sidi-Salem can be dangerous because concentrations of lead, zinc and cadmium exceeded the international standards. This study validates the effectiveness of biomonitoring using M. cephalus as bioindicator in polluted coasts.

- by Bourhane-Eddine Belabed and +1
- •
- Marine Ecology, Fisheries, Ecology, Fisheries Management

Solid tannery waste from the Hazaribagh area in the outskirts of Dhaka city is used as the principal component of poultry feed, fish feed and fertilizers. Although total chromium content in tannery waste based poultry feed has been determined previously, no studies appear to have been made on the hexavalent chromium which is much more toxic than trivalent chromium and is a carcinogen. The USEPA method 3060A which involves alkaline digestion to prohibit inter-conversion of Cr (III) and Cr (VI) has been used to solubilize chromium from the samples. The well-established spectrophotometric method (EPA method 7196A) has been employed to measure Cr (VI) concentrations at 540 nm in different samples. A total of 42 samples including solid leather waste, poultry feed, chicken livers and eggs were analyzed. Out of 5 skin-cuts two have shown the presence of Cr (VI). The amounts of Cr (VI) that have been found in 6 of the poultry samples are significantly higher (except one) than those found in skin-cut samples. About 25% of the chicken liver has been found to contain Cr (VI). It is reasonable to assume that this has come from the poultry feed.