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The "Zero Hunger" goal is one of the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Therefore, improvements in crop production have always been a prime objective to meet the demands of an ever-growing population. In the last decade, studies have acknowledged the role of photosynthesis augmentation and enhancing nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in improving crop production. Recently, the applications of nanobionics in crop production have given hope with their lucrative properties to interact with the biological system. Nanobionics have significantly been effective in modulating the photosynthesis capacity of plants. It is documented that nanobionics could assist plants by acting as an artificial photosynthetic system to improve photosynthetic capacity, electron transfer in the photosystems, and pigment content, and enhance the absorption of light across the UV-visible spectrum. Smart nanocarriers, such as nanobionics, are capable of delivering the active ingredient nanocarrier upon receiving external stimuli. This can markedly improve NUE, reduce wastage, and improve cost effectiveness. Thus, this review emphasizes the application of nanobionics for improving crop yield by the two above-mentioned approaches. Major concerns and future prospects associated with the use of nanobionics are also deliberated concisely.

The advancements in nanoparticles (NPs) may be lighting the sustainable and eco-friendly path to accelerate the removal of toxic compounds from contaminated soils. Many efforts have been made to increase the efficiency of phytoremediation, such as the inclusion of chemical additives, the application of rhizobacteria, genetic engineering, etc. In this context, the integration of nanotechnology with bioremediation has introduced new dimensions for revamping the remediation methods. Hence, advanced remediation approaches combine nanotechnological and biological remediation methods in which the nanoscale process regulation supports the adsorption and deterioration of pollutants. Nanoparticles absorb/adsorb a large variety of contaminants and also catalyze reactions by lowering the energy required to break them down, owing to their unique surface properties. As a result, this remediation process reduces the accumulation of pollutants while limiting their spread from one medium to another. Therefore, this review article deals with all possibilities for the application of NPs for the remediation of contaminated soils and associated environmental concerns.

This study investigated levels and sources of pollution and potential health risks associated with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban street dust collected from Tyumen city, a large transport centre with one of the highest motorization rates in Russia. Twenty street dust samples were collected from four grades of roads in five different land use areas. Research methods included measurements of physical and chemical properties of street dust, concentrations of 18 PTEs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, 12 PAHs using high-performance liquid chromatography, and statistical analysis of the data. Concentrations of Ni, Cr, Sb, and Mo, as well as medium and high molecular weight PAHs in urban street dust, were notably higher than in soils within the city, which indicates that transport is the main source of these elements. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn, and As in street dust of Tyumen were lower compared to many large cities, while Cr, Ni, and Co were higher. Concentrations of PAH were comparable to other large nonindustrial cities. Total contamination of street dust by both PTEs and PAHs showed more robust relationships with the number of roadway lanes rather than land use. The estimated carcinogenic risks were low in 70% of samples and medium in 30% of samples. Noncarcinogenic risks were attributed to exposure to Co, Ni, V, and As. The total noncarcinogenic risk for adults was found to be negligible, while the risk was found to be moderate for children., (© 2020. Springer Nature B.V.)

Lake Atamanskoye is one of the most polluted aquatic environments in the South of Russia. This water body was affected by long-term pollution by effluent from industrial rayon plants located in the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky. Accumulation of pollutants resulted in the degradation of Lake Atamanskoye, which is currently drained. This research focused on the geochemical transformation of soils and vegetation within the territory of the former water body and its surroundings. Methods of study included the evaluation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils and plants by X-ray fluorescence, as well as the contents of their forms by sequential extraction and statistical processing of the data. The results revealed that Spolic Technosols and Fluvisols represent the most widespread soils within Lake Atamanskoye. The concentration of metals found in the soils of the lakebed is several orders of magnitude higher than the regional geochemical background and world soil baseline values due to long-term industrial pollution. The natural and technogenic soils were subdivided into two groups according to pH. Alkaline soils in the presence of carbonates were characterised by high levels of PTEs, while acidic soils with higher proportions of exchangeable fractions and higher potential for metal accumulation in adjacent plants had lower levels of PTEs., (© 2020. Springer Nature B.V.)

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous and constitute a global hazard to the environment because of their robustness, resilience, and long-term presence in the ecosystem. For now, the majority of research has primarily focused on marine and freshwater ecosystems, with just a small amount of attention towards the terrestrial ecosystems. Although terrestrial ecosystems are recognized as the origins and routes for MPs to reach the sea, there is a paucity of knowledge about these ecological compartments, which is necessary for conducting effective ecological risk assessments. Moreover, because of their high persistence and widespread usage in agriculture, agribusiness, and allied sectors, the presence of MPs in arable soils is undoubtedly an undeniable and severe concern. Consequently, in the recent decade, the potential risk of MPs in food production, as well as their impact on plant growth and development, has received a great deal of interest. Thus, a thorough understanding of the fate and risks MPs, as well as prospective removal procedures for safe and viable agricultural operations in real-world circumstances, are urgently needed. Therefore, the current review is proposed to highlight the potential sources and interactions of MPs with agroecosystems and plants, along with their remediation strategies.

Reduced graphite oxide (rGO)-based materials have demonstrated promising potential for advanced oxidation processes. Along with its distinctive 2D characteristics, rGO offers the prospect of catalytic degradation of various kinds of organic pollutants from aqueous environments. The practical application of rGO as a metal-free catalyst material to promote the Fenton reaction depends on the degree of rGO reduction. In this regard, the rGO was prepared according to oxidation by modified Hummers' method and two-step reduction via hydrothermal and calcination in the N 2 atmosphere. The as-prepared rGO was characterized in terms of X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The effectiveness of as-prepared rGO as a photocatalyst and the metal-free catalyst to decolorize different textile dyes, including basic red 46, basic red 18, and methylene blue, was investigated in visible/rGO and visible/rGO/H 2 O 2 systems. The impact of operational factors such as catalyst dose, pH, and initial dye concentration was examined. The dye degradation process was investigated by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. In addition, the recyclability of rGO in the visible/rGO/H 2 O 2 system was examined.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a member of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons known for high persistency and toxicity. Technologies of BaP sorption through solid matrixes have received relatively more attention. The present study was devoted to the phytotesting investigations of two different groups of sorbents, such as carbonaceous, including biochar and granulated activated carbon (GAC), and mineral, including tripoli and diatomite. Evaluation of the BaP removing efficiency was carried out using the phytotesting method with spring barley in Haplic Chernozem contaminated with different levels of contamination (200 and 400 μg kg -1 BaP). The sorbents' efficiency for BaP remediation was estimated in the sorbents doses from 0.5 to 2.5% per kg of soil. It was shown that biochar and GAC decreased the soil toxicity class to a greater extent than mineral sorbents ones. The effect intensified with an increase in applying sorbents doses. The optimal dose of carbonaceous sorbents into the soil contaminated with 200 µg kg -1 was 1%, decreasing the BaP content up 57-59% in the soil. Simultaneously, the optimal dose of the mineral sorbents was found to be 1.5%, which decreased the BaP content in the soil up 41-48%. Increasing the BaP contamination level up to 400 µg kg -1 showed the necessity of a sorbent dose increasing. In these conditions, among all applied sorbents, only 2% GAC could reduce the soil toxicity class to the normal level up to 0.91-1.10. It was shown that BaP tended to migrate from the soil to the roots and further into the vegetative part of barley., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

In the present study, the biochar derived from sunflower husks was used as a mediator in the heterogeneous Fenton process. The physical and chemical characteristics were studied in terms of specific surface area, elemental contents, surface morphology, surface functional groups, thermal stability, and X-ray crystallography. The main aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of biochar in a heterogeneous Fenton process catalyzed by hematite toward the degradation of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in Haplic Chernozem. The Fenton-like reaction was performed at a pH of 7.8 without pH adjustment in chernozem soil. The effects of operating parameters, such as hematite dosage and H 2 O 2 concentrations, were investigated with respect to the removal efficiency of BaP. The overall degradation of 65% was observed at the optimized conditions where 2 mg g -1 hematite and 1.25 M H 2 O 2 corresponded to the H 2 O 2 to Fe ratio of 22:1. Moreover, the biochar amendment showed an increment in the removal efficiency and promotion in the growth of spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum). The BaP removal was reached 75 and 95% after 2.5 and 5% w/w addition of biochar, respectively. The results suggested that the Fenton-like reaction's effectiveness would be greatly enhanced by the ability of biochar for activation of H 2 O 2 and ejection of the electron to reduce Fe(III) to Fe(II). Finally, the presence of biochar could enhance the soil physicochemical properties, as evidenced by the better growth of Hordeum sativum distichum compared to the soil without biochar. These promising results open up new opportunities toward the application of a modified Fenton reaction with biochar for remediating BaP-polluted soils., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. part of Springer Nature.)

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, highly persistent and toxic and a widespread environmental pollutant. Although various technologies have been developed to remove BaP from the environment, its sorption through solid matrixes has received increasing attention due to cost-effectiveness. The present research compares the adsorption capacity of Haplic Chernozem, granular activated carbon and biochar in relation to BaP from water solution. Laboratory experiments with different initial BaP concentrations in the liquid phase and different ratios of the solid and liquid phases show that Freundlich model describes well the adsorption isotherms of BaP by the soil and both sorbents. Moreover, the BaP isotherm sorption by the Haplic Chernozem is better illustrated by the Freundlich model than the Langmuir equation. The results reveal that the sorption capacity of the carbonaceous adsorbents at a ratio 1:20 (solid to liquid phases) is orders of magnitude higher (13 368 ng mL -1 of activated carbon and 3 578 ng mL -1 of biochar) compared to the soil (57.8 ng mL -1 ). At the ratio of 0.5:20, the adsorption capacity of the carbonaceous sorbents was 17-45 times higher than that of the soil. This is due to the higher pore volume and specific surface area of the carbonaceous sorbents than soil particles, assessed through scanning electron microscopy. The sorption kinetic of BaP by Chernozem was compared with the adsorption kinetics by the carbonaceous sorbents. Results indicate that the adsorption dynamic involves two steps. The first one is associated with a fast BaP adsorption on the large available surface and inside macro- and meso-pores of the sorbent particles of the granular activated carbon and biochar. Then, the adsorption is followed by a slower process of BaP penetration into the microporous space and/or redistribution into a hydrophobic fraction. The effectiveness of the sorption process depends on both the sorbent properties and the solvent competition. Overall, the granular activated carbon and biochar are highly effective adsorbents for BaP, whereas the Haplic Chernozem has a rather limited capacity to remove BaP from contaminated solutions., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The applications of metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) in the sustainable development of agriculture and food security have received greater attention in recent years in the science community. Different biological resources have been employed to replace harmful chemicals to reduce metal salts and stabilize MNPs, i.e., green methods for the synthesis have paid attention to the nanobiotechnological advances. This review mainly focused on the applications of green synthesized MNPs for the agriculture sector and food security. Because of the novel domains, the green synthesized MNPs could be helpful in the different areas of agriculture like plant growth promotion, plant disease, and insect/pest management, fungicidal agent, in food security for food packaging, for increasing the shelf life and protection from spoilage, and other purposes. The global scenario of the recent studies on the applications of green synthesized MNPs, particularly in sustainable agriculture and food security, is comprehensively discussed.

Nanotechnology has gained popularity in recent years owing to its established potential for application and implementation in various sectors such as medical drugs, medicine, catalysis, energy, material, and plant science. Nanoparticles (NPs) are smaller in size (1-100 nm) with a larger surface area and have many fruitful applications. The extraordinary functions of NPs are utilized in sustainable agriculture due to nano-enabled products, e.g., nano-insecticides, nano-pesticides, and nano-fertilizers. Nanoparticles have lately been suggested as an alternate method for controlling plant pests such as insects, fungi, and weeds. Several NPs exhibit antimicrobial properties considered in food packaging processes; for example, Ag-NPs are commonly used for such purposes. Apart from their antimicrobial properties, NPs such as Si, Ag, Fe, Cu, Al, Zn, ZnO, TiO 2 , CeO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and carbon nanotubes have also been demonstrated to have negative impacts on plant growth and development. This review examines the field-use of nano-enabled products in sustainable agriculture, future perspectives, and growing environmental concerns. The remarkable information on commercialized nano-enabled products used in the agriculture and allied sectors are also provided.

The exploitation of microorganisms for the fabrication of nanoparticles (NPs) has garnered considerable research interest globally. The microbiological transformation of metals and metal salts into respective NPs can be achieved under environmentally benign conditions, offering a more sustainable alternative to chemical synthesis methods. Species of the metal-reducing bacterial genus Shewanella are able to couple the oxidation of various electron donors, including lactate, pyruvate, and hydrogen, to the reduction of a wide range of metal species, resulting in biomineralization of a multitude of metal NPs. Single-metal-based NPs as well as composite materials with properties equivalent or even superior to physically and chemically produced NPs have been synthesized by a number of Shewanella species. A mechanistic understanding of electron transfer-mediated bioreduction of metals into respective NPs by Shewanella is crucial in maximizing NP yields and directing the synthesis to produce fine-tuned NPs with tailored properties. In addition, thorough investigations into the influence of process parameters controlling the biosynthesis is another focal point for optimizing the process of NP generation. Synthesis of metal-based NPs using Shewanella species offers a low-cost, eco-friendly alternative to current physiochemical methods. This article aims to shed light on the contribution of Shewanella as a model organism in the biosynthesis of a variety of NPs and critically reviews the current state of knowledge on factors controlling their synthesis, characterization, potential applications in different sectors, and future prospects.

The objective of this research was to determine the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and/or salicylic acid (SA) under arsenic (As) stress on rice ( Oryza sativa ). ZnONPs are analyzed for various techniques viz., X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All of these tests established that ZnONPs are pure with no internal defects, and can be potentially used in plant applications. Hence, we further investigated for better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and the extent of ZnONPs and SA induced oxidative stress damages. More restricted plant growth, gas exchange indices, significant reduction in the SPAD index and maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and brutal decline in protein content were noticed in As-applied plants. In contrast, foliar fertigation of ZnONPs and/or SA to As-stressed rice plants lessens the oxidative stress, as exposed by subordinate levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis. Improved enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), proline and total soluble protein contents under ZnONPs and SA treatment plays an excellent role in the regulation of various transcriptional pathways participated in oxidative stress tolerance. Higher content of nitrogen (N; 13%), phosphorus (P; 10%), potassium (K; 13%), zinc (Zn; 68%), manganese (Mn; 14%), and iron (Fe; 19) in ZnONPs and SA treated plants under As-stress, thus hampered growth and photosynthetic efficiency of rice plants. Our findings suggest that toxicity of As was conquering by the application of ZnONPs and SA in rice plants.

An increase in the penetration of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) into the environment requires an assessment of their ecotoxicity as they impair the critical activity of plants, animals, bacteria, and enzymes. Therefore, the study aimed to observe the effects of metal-based NPs, including copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), on the Cambisols, which cover a significant part of the earth's soil and play an important role in the biosphere. Metal-based NPs were introduced into the soil at concentrations of 100, 1000, and 10,000 mg/kg. The biological properties of the soil are being investigated as the most sensitive to external contamination. The highest ecotoxicity of the studied pollutants introduced into the soil at the same concentrations was shown by Cu (up to 34%) and Zn (up to 30%) NPs, while Ni NPs showed less (up to 22%). Microbiological (total number of bacteria, Azotobacter sp. abundance) and phytotoxic properties (radish seed germination and length of roots) of Cambisols were more sensitive (22-53%) to pollution by NPs of Cu, Zn, and Ni, while enzymatic activity (catalase and dehydrogenases) showed less sensitivity (14-32%). The present results could be useful for biomonitoring the state of contaminated soils, especially by NPs.

Silicon (Si) is considered a non-essential element similar to cadmium, arsenic, lead, etc., for plants, yet Si is beneficial to plant growth, so it is also referred to as a quasi-essential element (similar to aluminum, cobalt, sodium and selenium). An element is considered quasi-essential if it is not required by plants but its absence results in significant negative consequences or anomalies in plant growth, reproduction and development. Si is reported to reduce the negative impacts of different stresses in plants. The significant accumulation of Si on the plant tissue surface is primarily responsible for these positive influences in plants, such as increasing antioxidant activity while reducing soil pollutant absorption. Because of these advantageous properties, the application of Si-based nanoparticles (Si-NPs) in agricultural and food production has received a great deal of interest. Furthermore, conventional Si fertilizers are reported to have low bioavailability; therefore, the development and implementation of nano-Si fertilizers with high bioavailability could be crucial for viable agricultural production. Thus, in this context, the objectives of this review are to summarize the effects of both Si and Si-NPs on soil microbes, soil properties, plant growth and various plant pathogens and diseases. Si-NPs and Si are reported to change the microbial colonies and biomass, could influence rhizospheric microbes and biomass content and are able to improve soil fertility.

The proposed research is devoted to the effects of the urbanization on the soil cover through the assessment of common organic and inorganic pollutants as well as anthropogenic microartifacts (MAs) over 20 sites characterizing different land use areas within the city of Tyumen, Russia. The analytical methods included measurements of physical-chemical properties of soils (total organic carbon content, pH, and texture), the total concentrations of potentially toxic elements (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, and Pb) using X-ray fluorescence analysis, and the concentrations of 12 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using high-performance liquid chromatography, and the evaluation of the composition of anthropogenic MAs assemblies by optical microscopy. The results of the study showed that the soils of all studied sites within the industrial areas were characterized by a high level of combined pollution with elements and compounds. For other sites, the duration of urbanization was the strongest factor that influenced the levels of pollution. The sites with the highest pollution levels were also characterized by the highest proportion and diversity of MAs. In contrast to the urban soils of the cities in North America and Western Europe, anthropogenic MAs associated with the use of coal (ash, slag, and silicon spheres) were present, but to a far lesser extent. Apparently, this is due to the fairly late development and intensive growth of Tyumen in the second half of the twentieth century, as well as the use of natural gas and fuel oil. At the same time, MAs associated with construction and domestic debris prevailed both in the soils of demolition sites and residential areas, which indirectly indicates the rapid and chaotic nature of urbanization, characteristic of Tyumen., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Cadmium (Cd) stress is increasing at a high pace and is polluting the agricultural land. As a result, it affects animals and the human population via entering into the food chain. The aim of this work is to evaluate the possibility of amelioration of Cd stress through chitosan nanoparticles (CTS-NPs). After 15 days of sowing (DAS), Solanum lycopersicum seedlings were transplanted into maintained pots (20 in number). Cadmium (0.8 mM) was providing in the soil as CdCl 2 ·2.5H 2 O at the time of transplanting; however, CTS-NPs (100 µg/mL) were given through foliar spray at 25 DAS. Data procured from the present experiment suggests that Cd toxicity considerably reduces the plant morphology, chlorophyll fluorescence, in addition to photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant enzyme activity and protein content. However, foliar application of CTS-NPs was effective in increasing the shoot dry weight (38%), net photosynthetic rate (45%) and SPAD index (40%), while a decrease in malondialdehyde (24%) and hydrogen peroxide (20%) was observed at the 30 DAS stage as compared to control plants. On behalf of the current results, it is demonstrated that foliar treatment of CTS-NPs might be an efficient approach to ameliorate the toxic effects of Cd.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the toxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs, particle size < 50 nm) on the physiological and anatomical indices of spring barley ( Hordeum sativum L.). The results show that ZnO NPs inhibited H. sativum growth by affecting the chlorophyll fluorescence emissions and causing deformations of the stomatal and trichome morphology, alterations to the cellular organizations, including irregularities of the chloroplasts, and disruptions to the grana and thylakoid organizations. There was a lower number of chloroplasts per cell observed in the H. sativum leaf cells treated with ZnO NPs as compared to the non-treated plants. Cytomorphometric quantification revealed that ZnO NPs decreased the size of the chloroplast by 1.5 and 4 times in 300 and 2000 mg/L ZnO NP-treated plants, respectively. The elemental analysis showed higher Zn accumulation in the treated leaf tissues (3.8 and 10.18-fold with 300 and 2000 mg/L ZnO NPs, respectively) than the untreated. High contents of Zn were observed in several spots in ZnO NP-treated leaf tissues using X-ray fluorescence. Deviations in the anatomical indices were significantly correlated with physiological observations. The accumulation of Zn content in plant tissues that originated from ZnO NPs was shown to cause damage to the structural organization of the photosynthetic apparatus and reduced the photosynthetic activities.

Abiotic stress in plants is a crucial issue worldwide, especially heavy-metal contaminants, salinity, and drought. These stresses may raise a lot of issues such as the generation of reactive oxygen species, membrane damage, loss of photosynthetic efficiency, etc. that could alter crop growth and developments by affecting biochemical, physiological, and molecular processes, causing a significant loss in productivity. To overcome the impact of these abiotic stressors, many strategies could be considered to support plant growth including the use of nanoparticles (NPs). However, the majority of studies have focused on understanding the toxicity of NPs on aquatic flora and fauna, and relatively less attention has been paid to the topic of the beneficial role of NPs in plants stress response, growth, and development. More scientific attention is required to understand the behavior of NPs on crops under these stress conditions. Therefore, the present work aims to comprehensively review the beneficial roles of NPs in plants under different abiotic stresses, especially heavy metals, salinity, and drought. This review provides deep insights about mechanisms of abiotic stress alleviation in plants under NP application.

The concentrations of ∑ 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for soils, roots, and above-ground parts of reed (Phragmites australis Cav.) were determined on different monitoring plots located near the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, southern Russia, where historically received industrial sewage and sludge. The total PAHs concentration in monitoring soil plots was significantly higher than those in the background site which situated at the distance of 2 km from the contamination source. Accordingly, the maximum accumulation was found for phenanthrene and chrysene among the 16 priority PAHs in most of the plant samples collected in the impact zone. The effects of PAHs' pollution on changes of Phragmites australis Cav. cellular and subcellular organelles in the studied monitoring sites were also determined using optical and electron microscopy, respectively. The obtained data showed that increasing of PAHs contamination negatively affected the ultrastructural changes of the studied plants. Phragmites australis Cav. showed a high level of adaptation to the effect of stressors by using tissue and cell levels. In general, the detected alterations under the PAHs effect were possibly connected to changes in biochemical and histochemical parameters as a response for reactive oxygen species and as a protective response against oxidative stress. The obtained results introduce innovative findings of cellular and subcellular changes in plants exposed to ∑ 16 priority PAHs as very persistent and toxic contaminants.

The combustion of solid fuel at power plants pollutes adjacent areas with potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which increases risks to public health in the vicinity of these facilities. The proposed paper presents the results of a geochemical study of PTEs (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) contamination in the vicinity of Novocherkassk Power Plant (NPP) as it relates to environmental and human health risks. The impact zone of NPP is pronounced for a distance of approximately 7 km northwest of the enterprise-the second largest coal power plant in Southern Russia. Data from monitoring sites lead us to conclude that spatial patterns of soil pollution are strongly influenced by the peculiarities of local atmospheric circulation, while the characteristics of soils within the study area play a secondary role. The highest levels of PTEs and their exchangeable forms exceed both regional background and sanitary and hygienic standards within a radius of 3 km to the west of the plant, which corresponds to a zone of soils contaminated with Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb. The carcinogenic risk to human health slightly exceeds the permissible standard of 1 × 10 -6 for soils in close vicinity of the enterprise due to the potential human intake of Ni, Cd, and Pb. The results of the health risk assessment indicate no noncarcinogenic risks for adults, while for children, they are low.

The effects of bulk- and nano-CuO were monitored on barley (Hordeum sativum L.) in hydroponic conditions. The anatomical and cyto-/morphometric parameters of plants, exposed to both types of CuO in different doses (300 and 2000 mg/L) were recorded. The germination rate, root and shoot lengths decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure to nano-CuO significantly increased Cu content in the H. sativum roots; however, the translocation rates of dissolved Cu were low and showed less accumulation in above-ground tissues. The differences between nano- and bulk-CuO treated plants were sufficiently evident, but at lower concentrations, these differences were non-significant. The relative seed germination inhibition was noted up to 11% and 22% under the high dose of bulk- and nano-CuO, respectively; however, at low dose, it was non-significant. The relative root length was reduced 3.6 fold by bulk- and 1.5 fold by nano-CuO, and shoot lengths decreased 1.6 fold by bulk- and 1.4 fold by nano-CuO under the high dose after growth of 30 days. It indicated more morphological effects on H. sativum caused by bulk- than the nano-CuO. The cytomorphometric analysis indicated the average cortex cell, total cortex, and total central cylinder areas of root cells and the average areas of chlorenchyma leaf cells were increased as compared to control in both bulk- and nano-CuO treated plants. It showed destructive effects of nano- and bulk-CuO on cellular organizations of H. sativum anatomy. Thus, at the low dose, the minimal effects of nano-CuO were observed than the bulk. Therefore, the finding could be interest for the safe application of nano-CuO.

In recent years, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are increasingly used in various industries due to their antibacterial properties, which lead to an increase in pollution of the environment and soil ecosystems. However, the ecological effects of soil pollution by AgNPs were poorly studied than that with AgNPs of other metal-based NPs. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of AgNPs on the biological properties of Haplic Chernozem. Silver was introduced into the soil in the form of AgNPs with a concentration of 0.5; 1; 5; 10; 50, and 100 mg/kg in laboratory conditions. The influence of AgNPs on the biological properties of Haplic Chernozem was assessed 30 days after contamination. The degree of reduction in biological properties depends on the AgNPs concentration in the soil. This study showed that the sensitivity to contamination by AgNPs in the total number of bacteria and enzymatic activity was more than that in the abundance of bacteria of the genus Azotobacter . The integrated index of biological state (IIBS) of Haplic Chernozem was decreased by contamination with AgNPs. Silver nanoparticles in the concentration of 10 mg/kg caused a decrease in the indicator by 13% relative to the control. It also decreased IIBS by doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg by 22 and 27% relative to the control. All used biological indicators could be used for biomonitoring, biodiagnosis, bioindication, and regulation of ecological condition of soil contamination by AgNPs.

The presence of heavy metals in the soil could impose serious problems on soil-plant systems due to the accumulation of heavy metals in plants. Even vital elements such as Cu and Zn have a toxic effect in the case of excessive intake by living organisms. The present work aimed to investigate the content of loosely bound (exchangeable, complexed, and specifically sorbed) compounds of Cu and Zn and their availability to spring barley ( Hordeum sativum distichum) in contaminated Haplic Chernozem soil under the conditions of a model experiment (five approximate permissible concentrations (APC) and 10 APC of metal). Changes in the bioavailability of the metals upon application of carbon sorbents were observed. An increase in loosely bound metal compounds has been shown under conditions of soil contamination with metals (up to 57% of the total content). The increase in the availability of Cu in the soil was mainly due to the formation of complexed metal forms with organic matter (up to 17%). The availability of Zn was found to be associated with an increase in exchangeable (up to 21%) and specifically sorbed compounds (up to 27%). Granular activated carbon (GAC) and biochar have high sorption properties. A decrease in the content of loosely bound compounds of metals was established, especially in the most mobile forms such as exchangeable and complexed forms. The introduction of sorbents into the soil opened up a new venue for binding heavy metals in situ, eventually leading to a decrease in their bioavailability. The inactivation of Cu and Zn in the soil upon the application of sorbents led to a decrease in metal absorption by spring barley. The highest efficiency of biochar application was established at a dose of 2.5% and 5% in soil contaminations of 5 APC and 10 APC of Cu or Zn. The efficiency of the use of sorbents was more influenced by the dose of application than by the type of sorbent. There was no significant difference between biochar and GAC. Stabilization and inactivation of metals may improve soil fertility and plant growth.

The remediation of toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil is always an important topic since exposure to contaminated soil with carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic potential can result in serious health effects. With respect to the remediation of PAHs contaminated soil, nanomaterials (NMs) have recently received a great deal of attention due to the special characteristics arising from their nanoscale sizes. However, the usefulness and potency of these NMs depend on their adaption to specific site conditions and soil properties. Since there is no comprehensive review of the applications of NMs, it is of great importance to analyze, discuss, and interpret the latest progress in the application of NMs for the remediation of contaminated soils containing PAHs. This overview essentially captures the novel advances made in nano zero valent-iron (nZVI), metal oxides, carbon-based NMs, and polymer-based materials. Each characteristic of NMs that contributes to the enhancement of the process is highlighted. Moreover, operational conditions in which the best-obtained results are achieved qualitatively summarize. This review is also given special attention to the type of soil and pollutant, which are major influential factors to affect the performance of the process. Furthermore, the potential implication of NMs and PAHs on soil properties is reviewed in terms of the changes in migration behavior of pollutants, plant phytotoxicity, and soil microbial community composition. Discussion on future perspectives is presented on the use and prospects for the application of NMs in contaminated soils., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Increasing concentration of heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil may impose a serious threat to living organisms due to their toxicity and the ability to accumulate in plant tissues. The present review focuses on the phylogenetic relationships, sources, biotransformation and accumulation potential of hyperaccumulators for the priority HMs and PAHs. This review provides an opportunity to reveal the role of hyperaccumulators in removal of HMs and PAHs from soils, to understand the relationships between pollutants and their influence on the environment and to find potential plant species for soil remediation. The phylogenetic analysis results showed that the hyperaccumulators of some chemicals (Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, Cd) are clustered on the evolutionary tree and that the ability to hyperaccumulate different pollutants can be correlated either positively (Cd-Zn, Pb-Zn, Co-Cu, Cd-Pb) or negatively (Cu-PAHs, Co-Cd, Co-PAHs, Ni-PAHs, Cu-Ni, Mn-PAHs). Further research needs to be extended on the focus of commercializing the techniques including the native hyperaccumulators to remediate the highly contaminated soils.

Many studies have been devoted to investigation of toxic benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) compound, but studies involving changes at the cellular level are insufficient to understand the mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) effect on plants. To study the toxicity of BaP, a model vegetation experiment was conducted on cultivation of spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum) on artificially polluted BaP soil at different concentrations. The article discusses the intake of BaP from the soil into the plant and its effect on the organismic and cellular levels of plant organization. The BaP content in the organs of spring barley was determined by the method of saponification. With an increase in the concentration of BaP in the soil, its content in plants also rises, which leads to inhibition of growth processes. The BaP content in the green part of Hordeum sativum increased from 0.3 µg kg -1 in control soil up to 2.6 µg kg -1 and 16.8 µg kg -1 under 20 and 400 ng/g BaP applying in soil, as well as in roots: 0.9 µg kg -1 , 7.7 µg kg -1 , 42.8 µg kg -1 , respectively. Using light and electron microscopy, changes in the tissues and cells of plants were found and it was established that accumulation of BaP in plant tissues caused varying degrees of ultrastructural damage depending on the concentration of pollutant. BaP had the greatest effect on the root, significant changes were found in it both at histological and cytological levels, while changes in the leaves were observed only at the cytological level. The results provide significant information about the mechanism of action of BaP on agricultural plants.

In recent years, the study of the influence of nanoparticles (NPs) on the environment has attracted much interest as nanotechnology is becoming the key technology of the future generation. The comparative studies on the effects of macro- and nanosized copper oxide (CuO) on plants rarely cover the state and behaviour of CuO in the soil-plant system. This work considers the transformation of CuO in Haplic Chernozem depending on the degree of dispersion and its toxic effects on spring barley (Hordeum sativum) growth. To investigate the transformation of the studied particles of metal oxide in the soil and plant, both chemical method of analysis and synchrotron radiation X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) and X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) were used. It was shown that CuO NPs underwent a stronger transformation due to the high reactivity of smaller particles. The Cu mobility was observed to increase within the soil profile as confirmed by the model pollution experiment. This is mainly due to the formation of complex forms of metal with organic matter. A dose of 300 mg/kg of macro- and nanosized CuO did not significantly affect the development and productivity of spring barley. The effect of high doses of macro- and nanosized CuO (2000 and 10,000 mg/kg) had a negative impact on the growth of spring barley. The application of nanosized CuO had a greater toxic effect than the macrosized CuO on the plants. The XANES and EXAFS data revealed that CuO NPs accumulated in the soil and plants. The linear combination fit shown that Cu atoms, incorporated into the plants, have environment typical of CuO. This indicates a high environmental risk when soil is contaminated with CuO NPs compared with its arrival as CuO.

In recent decades, the problem of the constantly increasin level of anthropogenic load on the environment is becoming more and more acute. Some of the most dangerous pollutants entering the environment from industrial emissions are heavy metals. These pollutants are not susceptible to biodegradation over time, which leads to their accumulation in the environment in dangerous concentrations. The purpose of this work is to study the sustainability of cultivated and wild plants of the Poaceae family to aerotechnogenic pollution in the soil. The content of heavy metals in couch grass (Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski), meadow bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and soft wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants grown in the impact zone of Novocherkassk Power Station has been analyzed. Contamination of cultivated and wild cereals with Pb, Zn, Ni and Cd has been established. It has been shown that the accumulation of heavy metals is individual for each plant species. An average and close correlation have been established between the total HM content and the content of their mobile forms in the soil and their content in plants. For the plants studied, the translocation factor (TF) and the distribution coefficient (DC) of HM have been calculated. The TF is formed by the ratio of the concentration of an element in the root plant dry weight to the content of its mobile compounds in the soil. The DC value makes it possible to estimate the capacity of the aboveground parts of plants to absorb and accumulate elements under soil pollution conditions and is determined as the ratio of the metal content in the aboveground biomass to its concentration in the roots. TF and DC values have shown a significant accumulation of elements by plants from the soil, as well as their translocation from the root system to the aboveground part. It has been revealed that even within the same Poaceae family, cultural species are more sensitive to man-made pollution than wild-growing ones.

The stationary life of plants has led to the evolution of a complex gridded antioxidant defence system constituting numerous enzymatic components, playing a crucial role in overcoming various stress conditions. Mainly, these plant enzymes are superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferases (GST), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), which work as part of the antioxidant defence system. These enzymes together form a complex set of mechanisms to minimise, buffer, and scavenge the reactive oxygen species (ROS) efficiently. The present review is aimed at articulating the current understanding of each of these enzymatic components, with special attention on the role of each enzyme in response to the various environmental, especially abiotic stresses, their molecular characterisation, and reaction mechanisms. The role of the enzymatic defence system for plant health and development, their significance, and cross-talk mechanisms are discussed in detail. Additionally, the application of antioxidant enzymes in developing stress-tolerant transgenic plants are also discussed.

Background: Chicken manure waste has a wide range of organic substances and mineral elements. This enriched source has stimulated great scientific interest in finding cleaner and more environmentally benign nutrient recovery options. This study aimed to determine an effective and eco-friendly method (i.e. subcritical water extraction) for processing fresh poultry manure., Results: The high content of total organic carbon, including humic acids carbon and fulvic acids carbon, in extract was found to release under subcritical conditions. The organic compounds obtained by extraction with subcritical water correspond to humic acid in composition because of the presence in the sample of all the functional groups: polymer bonded by molecular hydrogen bond (3400 cm -1 ), the presence of CH 2 and CH 3 groups (2870 cm -1 ), the presence of carboxyl groups (1720 cm -1 ) and quinones (1640-1680 cm -1 ). The solid phase left over was characterized by a high content of organic carbon, phosphorus, potassium, and microelements. The maximum extraction of humic acid and fulvic acid carbon was found between 210 and 250 °C at a pressure of 50-60 atm, and the content was a maximum of 3647.2 × 10 -6 g kg -1 at an extraction temperature of 250 °C., Conclusion: Given the high content of humic acid found in the extracted medium, the proposed subcritical extraction opens up new opportunities for nutrients recovery in the poultry industry. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

In this study, the applicability of a modified Fenton reaction for remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was demonstrated in chernozem soil. The main aim was to investigate the impact of variation of humic acid (HA) on the modified Fenton capabilities to degrade of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Experimental was designed with two independent variables, including hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and hematite (α-Fe 2 O 3 ), to determine the most effective BaP treatment conditions with exploring natural and an extra added amount of HA. For modified Fenton reaction at Haplic Chernozem, the best BaP degradation conditions resulted in an overall degradation of 68% with the following conditions: 0.95 M H 2 O 2 ; 17.54 mg/g hematite; pH 7.8 without adjustment; 24 h; unsaturated (soil: water ratio 1:0.5). In the soil supplemented with 1% HA, Fenton-like reaction was found to perform better and resulted in 76% BaP degradation with less amount of hematite dosage (16.71 mg). The fact that HA, a significant class of naturally occurring compounds in soil, supports the Fenton reaction has strong relevance in the field of enhancing PAHs degradation field to obtain a more economical route., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been a major concern because of their carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity and wide distribution in the environment. Over 90% of PAHs in the environment exist on soil surface/sediment. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is one of the predominant PAHs in soil. Thus, it is critically important to understand the patterns of BaP accumulation and transformation peculiarities in soil for the risk assessment. The studies were conducted in model experiment with Haplic Chernozem spiked with various doses of BaP (20, 200, 400 and 800 µg kg -1 ) equivalent to 1, 10, 20 and 40 levels of maximum permissible concentrations. The unique properties of Haplic Chernozem were studied allow to accumulate and transform BaP as well as barley plants ability to absorb of some BaP concentration. Extraction of BaP from the soil was carried out by the saponification method. The qualitative and quantitative determination of BaP and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (Agilent 1260 Germany, 2014). BaP accumulation in soil depended on the applied BaP concentrations in Haplic Chernozem. Studying the features of PAHs transformation in the soil of a model experiment 1 year after the compound application showed the BaP content in the soil decreased up to 11-40%. Two years after the BaP application the content in the soil decreased up to 15-44% from the initial BaP content in the soil. The percentage of BaP concentration reduction in Haplic Chernozem increased with an increase in the dose of the applied xenobiotic. An increase in the dose of the applied pollutant to the soil of the model experiment contributed to an increase in all PAHs, which indicated a rapid BaP transformation in Haplic Chernozem. The PAHs content in the soils of model experiment in the first year of the research formed the following descending series: pyrene > chrysene > fluoranthene > phenanthrene. In the second year of research the phenanthrene content became higher than the fluoranthene content. The content of these compounds exceeded 20% of the total PAHs content in the soil samples in the first and second years of the model experiment. The features of PAHs accumulation and transformation in soils under artificial pollution showed the degradation of large-nuclear PAHs, starting from 5-ring polyarenes, and their structural reorganization into the less-nuclear polyarenes, such as 4-, 3-, and 2-ring PAHs. During the 2 years of the model experiment the BaP concentration in the soil decreased up to 15-44% from the initial BaP content in the soil.

The progressive increase in nanoparticles (NPs) applications and their potential release into the environment because the majority of them end up in the soil without proper care have drawn considerable attention to the public health, which has become an increasingly important area of research. It is required to understand ecological threats of NPs before applications. Once NPs are released into the environment, they are subjected to translocation and go through several modifications, such as bio/geo-transformation which plays a significant role in determination of ultimate fate in the environment. The interaction between plants and NPs is an important aspect of the risk assessment. The plants growing in a contaminated medium may significantly pose a threat to human health via the food chain. Metal oxide NPs ZnO and CuO, the most important NPs, are highly toxic to a wide range of organisms. Exposure and effects of CuO and ZnO NPs on soil biota and human health are critically discussed in this study. The potential benefits and unintentional dangers of NPs to the environment and human health are essential to evaluate and expected to produce less toxic and more degradable NPs to minimize the environmental risk in the future.

Effects of Cu toxicity from contaminated soil were analysed in spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum), a widely cultivated species in South Russia. In this study, H. sativum was planted outdoors in one of the most fertile soils-Haplic Chernozem spiked with high concentration of Cu and examined between the boot and head emergence phase of growth. Copper toxicity was observed to cause slow ontogenetic development of plants, changing their morphometric parameters (shape, size, colour). To the best of our knowledge, the ultrastructural changes in roots, stems and leaves of H. sativum induced by excess Cu were fully characterized for the first time using transmission electron microscopy. The plant roots were the most effected, showing degradation of the epidermis, reduced number of parenchyma cells, as well as a significant decrease in the diameter of the stele and a disruption and modification to its cell structure. The comparative analysis of the ultrastructure of control plants and plants exposed to the toxic effects of Cu has made it possible to reveal significant disruption of the integrity of the cell wall and cytoplasmic membranes in the root with deposition of electron-dense material. The changes in the ultrastructure of the main cytoplasmic organelles-endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, chloroplasts and peroxisomes-in the stem and leaves were found. The cellular Cu deposition, anatomical and ultrastructural modifications could mainly account for the primary impact points of metal toxicity. Therefore, this work extends the available knowledge of the mechanisms of the Cu effect tolerance of barley.

In the past two decades, increased production and usage of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have inevitably increased their discharge into the different compartments of the environment, which ultimately paved the way for their uptake and accumulation in various trophic levels of the food chain. Due to these issues, several questions have been raised on the usage of NPs in everyday life and have become a matter of public health concern. Among the metallic NPs, Cu-based NPs have gained popularity due to their cost-effectiveness and multifarious promising uses. Several studies in the past represented the phytotoxicity of Cu-based NPs on plants. However, comprehensive knowledge is still lacking. Additionally, the impact of Cu-based NPs on soil organisms such as agriculturally important microbes, fungi, mycorrhiza, nematode, and earthworms is poorly studied. This review article critically analyses the literature data to achieve a more comprehensive knowledge on the toxicological profile of Cu-based NPs and increase our understanding of the effects of Cu-based NPs on aquatic and terrestrial plants as well as on soil microbial communities. The underlying mechanism of biotransformation of Cu-based NPs and the process of their penetration into plants have also been discussed herein. Overall, this review could provide valuable information to design rules and regulations for the safe disposal of Cu-based NPs into a sustainable environment.

This study investigates the levels, sources, spatial distribution, and toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban soils of Tyumen, Russia. Observations of PAHs in cities of Western Siberia accomplished by a representative set of samples are very rare, even though it is one of the most urbanized parts of Russia. Therefore, it is important to estimate the status of PAHs in soils of urban environments representing vast Siberian regions. Tyumen, as one of the most intensively developing cities of Western Siberia, is a good object for such studies. Topsoil samples (0-10 cm) were collected from 241 sampling sites on a regular grid within Tyumen city limits. It was found that total concentration of 12 priority PAHs ranged from 33.4 to 2147.9 μg kg -1 , with a median value of 280.3 μg kg -1 . High-molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs were dominant, accounting for the majority (62%) of the total PAHs. Among the PAHs in soils, 4-ring compounds were predominant in all studied samples, followed by 5- and 6-ring PAHs. Phenanthrene, pyrene, fluoranthene, and benzo(ghi)perylene had values of 28%, 19%, 15%, and 10% of total PAHs, respectively. Results showed that large high-contrast anomalies of HMW PAHs were related to low-residential and transport areas. The diagnostic ratios, as well as hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), confirmed that sources associated with the transport were the most significant, while biomass combustion played an important role as a source of PAHs in agricultural, low-residential, and recreational areas. Levels of individual PAHs, as well as total PAHs in urban soils of Tyumen, were comparable with those in non-industrial cities with similar populations but were significantly lower than those in large industrial centers. Assessment of soil toxicity using toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ BaP ) showed that the TEQ BaP values varied from 2.0 to 388.2 μg kg -1 , with a mean value of 34.9 μg kg -1 and median of 19.8 μg kg -1 , and were lower than those in heavy industrialized cities, but higher than those in soils of cities specializing in consumer and service industries.

Complex studies of soil cover within the urbanized areas represent one of the main research directions in environmental geochemistry. Urban soil geochemistry depends on a combination of natural and urbanization factors unique to each urban environment. Although Tyumen, in Western Siberia, is an intensively developing urban city, a detailed geochemical survey of its soils has never been performed. In this study, we conducted a systematic geochemical soil survey across the urbanized area of Tyumen, Russian Federation. Surface soil samples (0-10 cm) were collected from 241 sampling sites: 1 × 1 km regular grid for highly urbanized areas, and 4 × 4 km grid for peripheral parts of the city. The contents of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, and Pb were determined using XRF analysis. Data were interpreted using GIS and multivariate statistical analyses, including hierarchical cluster analysis and principal components analysis. The results showed a non-uniform spatial distribution of individual metals, associated with natural soil-lithological conditions and urban environment characteristics. Our data showed that variation in soil element content was origin dependent: V, Cr, and Co contents were related to their natural origin; As and Pb to their anthropogenic origin; and Ni, Cu, and Zn to their mixed origin. Elevated V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn contents correlated with proximity to motorway networks and machinery. Strong As and Pb anomalies were associated with the activity of battery enterprises. The spatial distribution of Sr was significantly different from other studied elements - anomalous content of this metal was confined to hydromorphic boggy landscapes of the city's northern part. In general, Tyumen territory was slightly polluted with metals. Zn and Pb contents were slightly lower than in most cities with similar population levels, while those of V and Co were higher. Other metal contents were comparable to those in large cities, with a long history of industrial development. Elevated Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, As, Pb, and Co contents were observed in areas that developed during mid last century., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely distributed environmental toxicants primarily formed during the incomplete combustion of organic materials (for example, coal, oil, gasoline and wood). Power energy plants are the main sources of organic contaminants including PAHs. The purpose of the present research was to study the Novocherkassk Electric Power Station (NEPS) emission effects of PAHs accumulation in soils. The regional levels, types (groups) and spatial distribution of 16 priority PAHs were investigated. The monitoring sites were located on fallow lands of the 20 km around NEPS. PAHs extraction from collected soil samples was performed using the ecologically clean express-method of subcritical water extraction. The total PAHs content gradually increased in soil of the studied territories during 2016-2017 due to an increase in contaminants emission. Accordingly 16 priority PAHs were determined in the soil samples collected from the sites located to the northwest from NEPS in direction of predominant winds. The 5-km zone situated in direction of predominant winds was highly subjected to PAHs contamination, with maximal accumulation at a distance of 1.6 km from the source. The ratio of high- and low-molecular weight PAHs content in soils of monitoring sites was taken as an index of environmental soil contamination. The high-molecular weight PAHs concentration prevailed in monitoring sites soils situated in direction of predominant winds from NEPS, while the concentration of low-molecular weight PAHs prevailed in the monitoring sites soils situated around NEPS. Soil properties also influenced PAHs accumulation. Polyarenes content in Haplic Chernozems and Haplic Chernozems (Stagnic) was higher versus Fluvisols. This study provides the understanding and model the fate of PAHs in regional technogenic landscape., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The rapid growth of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) production and its abundant uses in many industries, and increasing release into an environment from both intentional and unintentional sources, create risks to spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum), one of the most important staple food crop. Thereby, the aim of this study was to investigate the phytotoxicity of CuO NPs on H. sativum growth in hydroponic system. The CuO NPs inhibited H. sativum growth by affecting the germination rate, root and shoot lengths, maximal quantum yield of photosystem II, and transpiration rate. Structural and ultrastructural examination of H. sativum tissues using light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed effects on stomatal aperture and root morphology, metaxylem size and changes in cellular organelles (plastids, mitochondria), as well as in plastoglobules, starch granules, protoplasm, and membranes. The formation of electron-dense materials was noted in the intercellular space of cells of CuO NPs-treated plants. In addition, relative root length was one-third (35%) that of the control, and relative shoot length (10%) was also reduced. Further, the Cu content of roots and leaves of CuO NPs-treated plants was 5.7 and 6.4-folds higher than the control (without CuO NPs), respectively. Presented data were significant at p ≤ 0.05 compared to control. Conclusively, the results provide insights into our understanding of CuO NPs toxicity on H. sativum, and findings could be used for developing strategies for safe disposal of NPs., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The involvement of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) one of the most toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil-plant system causes its potential carcinogenicity and mutagenicity for human health. The aim of this article is benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) degradation and bioaccumulation in soil-plant system under artificial contamination in model experiment with Haplic Chernozem and that spiked with various doses of BaP (20, 200, 400 and 800μgkg -1 ) equivalent to 1, 10, 20 and 40 levels of maximal permissible concentrations (MPC) planted with spring barley (Hordeum sativum distichum). The experimental soil samples were planted every spring and incubated outdoor during 4years. The express-method of subcritical water extraction was used for BaP extraction from samples. It was established the values of BaP period of semi-degradation in soil (T 50 , y) contaminated with 10, 20 and 40MPC deviated from 1.4 to 1.8years, while these values in low contaminated soils deviated from 2.9 to 5.4years. It was found the BaP concentrations in plants depended on initial BaP contamination and reduced simultaneously with diminish of BaP concentration in the related spiked samples. Growing of spring barley in the BaP spiked soils lead to BaP accumulation in plants. The bioaccumulation factors for BaP in roots and vegetative part of barley plants (BAFr and BAFv respectively) fluctuated within 0.035-0.065 and 0.015-0.025 respectively at the 1st season and then reduced about twice to the 4th season. Meantime those values in control soils vice-versa increased twice from 0.03 and 0.01 respectively., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The effect of technogenic emissions on the input of Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Mn, Cr, and Ni into plants from the Poaceae and Asteraceae families has been studied. Soil and plant contamination by anthropogenic emissions from industrial enterprises leads the decreasing of crop quality; therefore, the monitoring investigation of plants and soils acquires special importance. The herbaceous plants may be used as bioindicators for main environmental changes. It was found that the high level of anthropogenic load related to atmospheric emissions from the power plant favors the heavy metal (HM) accumulation in herbaceous plants. Contamination with Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni was revealed in plants growing near the power plant. Heavy metals arrive to plants from the soil in the form of mobile compounds. Plant family is one of the main factors affecting the HM distribution in the above- and underground parts of plants. Plants from the Poaceae family accumulate less chemical elements in their aboveground parts than the Asteraceae plants. Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Artemisia austriaca are HM accumulators. For assessing the stability of plants under contamination with HMs, metal accumulation by plants from soil (the bioconcentration factor) and metal phytoavailability from plants above- and underground parts (the acropetal coefficient) were calculated. According to the bioconcentration factor and translocation factor values, Poaceae species are most resistant to technogenic contamination with HMs. The translocation factor highest values were found for Tanacetum vulgare; the lowest bioconcentration factor values were typical for Poa pratensis.