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Heavy metal contamination in the coastal and marine ecosystems is becoming a progressively serious risk to aquatic organisms and humans. This study reports the genetic damage and the accumulations of trace metals of L. aurata as a bioindicator species in the Payas coast of Iskenderun Bay, North-Eastern Mediterranean by COMET Assay. Fish were seasonally collected from a sampling site and a reference site for one year. Physicochemical parameters in water and trace metals in the tissues of fish collected from these sites were determined by electrochemical techniques. The high DNA damage frequency at the L. aurata was observed in the Payas coast of Iskenderun bay compared to the reference site because of pollutants that the detected high levels of Cd, Pb, Fe and Cu accumulation in L. aurata were exceed the maximum levels allowed by the national and international limit values. A significant positive correlation between Cd, Pb, Hg, Cr, Fe, Zn and Cu accumulations and DNA damage parameters was reported in the present study. Besides, we reported firstly, that it can be used successfully the electrochemical technique in the determination of trace metal concentrations in mullet. Consequently, obtained data indicate that L. aurata constitutes a useful tool as a sentinel organism for biomonitoring of the coastal ecosystem.

Building runoff presents a good opportunity for water reuse in urban infrastructures; however, it is often polluted by biocides and heavy metals. In order to mitigate the pollution and improve water quality, we analysed the adsorption of heavy metals and biocides onto granular activated carbon (GAC) and investigated the influence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractions (>100 kDa, 10–30 kDa, and 3–10 kDa). In addition to our experimental work, we also studied the adsorption process by applying the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The results showed that ≥50% of DOM was adsorbed at low concentrations (5 mgC/L). We also observed that DOM at a small molecular size exhibits improved adsorption. The adsorption capacity estimated by the Langmuir equation for Cu2+ and Zn2+ in the absence of DOM influence was 157 and 85.7 μmol/g, respectively. The presence of DOM at 5 mgC/L improved the adsorption of Cu2+. Zn2+ adsorption was less sensitive to the presence of DOM than Cu2+. Interestingly, without the influence of DOM, diuron-related compounds have a higher affinity toward GAC than terbutryn-related compounds. DOM affected the adsorption of diuron slightly. For terbutryn, the adsorption was enhanced, whereas mecoprop-p exhibited a strong competition with DOM. The presence of Cu2+ and Zn2+ presented a similar effect on the adsorption of biocides like DOM. Overall, GAC is an ideal adsorbent material for use in retaining building runoff pollutants.

This study investigated mercury pollution at two e-waste recycling sites in Ghana—Dagomba Line in Kumasi and Agbogbloshie in Accra. A total of 129 soil samples taken at 100 m and 50 m resolutions, respectively, for Dagomba Line and Agbogbloshie, were analysed for mercury using a Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry. Mercury concentrations from the recycling sites (ranging from 0.11 to 7.57 mg/kg Dagomba Line, and 0.01–4.36 mg/kg at Agbogbloshie) were significantly higher than that of the surrounding areas (0.01–0.17 mg/kg in Kumasi and 0.01–2.18 mg/kg in Accra) and unpolluted control sites (0.05 mg/kg in Kumasi and 0.02 mg/kg in Accra). The dismantling sites at both locations had the highest mercury concentrations. Furthermore, the concentrations were significantly higher at the Dagomba Line site in Kumasi than at Agbogbloshie, even though the Dagomba Line site is relatively recent. The mercury concentrations at both sites exceeded the pollution prevention and abatement level of 0.1 mg/kg. However, the estimated human health risk showed no potential human health effects. Moreover, the mercury concentrations in water and sediment (0.12–7.69 ng/L and 0.02–0.28 ng/L for Dagomba Line and Agbogbloshie, respectively) were below the US EPA standards. Findings from this study show that e-waste recycling can contaminate the topsoil with mercury, irrespective of the scale of the activity.

Honeybee pollens are good food sources in terms of their mineral contents and are specific to the regions they are collected. In addition, they may be used as bioindicators in the assessment of environmental pollution based on their potentially toxic element contents. In the present study, mineral element composition and potentially toxic element levels of honeybee pollen samples collected from various cities in East Black Sea Region of Turkey (18 samples) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after microwave assisted acid digestion. The method validation was performed by using CRM (Certified Reference Material-BCR (R) 279-Sea Lettuce-Ulva lactuca) to evaluate the accuracy and precision. Elemental composition of honeybee pollens were detected within the following ranges (minimum-maximum, mg kg(-1) dry pollen); Mn (manganese): 11.579-117.349, Fe (Iron): 34.865-811.043, Zn (zinc): 17.707-56.223, Se (selenium): 0.422-0.722, Cr (chromium): 0.848-6.949, Cu (copper): 7.510-26.344, Mg (magnesium): 549.921-2149.716, Ca (calcium): 726.575-2201.837, Na (sodium): 36.518-120.283, Pb (lead): < 0.005-0.622, Cd (cadmium): 0.039-1.390, Ni (nickel): 2.317-21.710, and As (arsenic): 1.331-2.248. Recommended daily allowance, target hazard quotients, hazard index, and carcinogenic risk values of the pollens were calculated with the help of these results. In considering THQ values, pollens were determined to be safe for the consumption of both genders. Based on the carcinogenic risk calculation, most of the pollens examined in this study were categorized as moderately risky. Monitoring studies can be used to identify new sources of contamination or the origin and spread of a particular element. Hence, bee pollens can also be considered as potential bioindicators of toxic metal pollution. Graphical Abstract

Purpose: In this study, the effects of pH, biosorbent dosage, contact time and initial lead concentration on the treatment of lead ion by using pepper seeds were examined. The removal of lead from both synthetic and real wastewater was studied. Various isotherm and kinetic models were used to clearly identify the biosorption process. The performance of this biomass on storage battery industry wastewaters was exhibited. Theory and Methods: Peppers used in this study were purchased from a local market in Dikili, Izmir, Turkey. Seeds were disassociated from the body of pepper and then cleaned down by using tap water, pure and ultra-pure water, respectively before the drying process. Dried seeds were crushed and sifted between the range of 125-250 mu m. The reagent Pb(NO3)2 was used to prepare synthetic wastewater. Storage industry wastewaters containing 2.0 and 4.3 mg/L were used in real wastewaters tests. Experimental studies were conducted in Erlenmeyer flasks of 250 mL using lead-containing solutions (100 mL). Known biosorbent doses were inserted to these flasks including 100 mL of contaminated solution. The final suspensions were mixed at 150 rpm shaking rate and 25 degrees C'in an incubator shaker for different test periods. After proper treatment time, suspensions were centrifuged for 8 minutes at 5000 rpm by using a centrifugal machine. The lead ion concentrations in the solutions separated from the biomass were analyzed with photometer using lead test kits. Results: The optimum pH for this biosorption system was 5.0 at 25 degrees C. The system was reached equilibrium in nearly 90 minutes. The biosorbent amount of 0.6 g/L gave the maximum uptake capacity of this Capia pepper residual. The maximum uptake capacity of biosorbent and the R2 value according to Langmuir model were determined to be 29.67 mg/g and 0.99, respectively. The mostly suitable kinetic model was found to be pseudo-second order kinetic model (0.99). It was shown in the studies that intraparticle diffusion was not the only mechanism limiting the rate in biosorption of lead by capia pepper residual. Storage battery industry wastewater containing very low lead concentrations was treated with an efficiency of 71%. Conclusion: Lead ions were successfully removed from synthetic and storage battery industry wastewaters by capia pepper residuals. As a cost-effective and novel biosorbent, the capia pepper residual carries an important potential for further biosorption tests of lead ions in real wastewaters. Consequently, it has been demonstrated that this residual material can be brought into the economy to be used for treatment purposes.

This review provides a comprehensive overview on the quickly developing field of polymeric hollow fiber (HF) nanofiltration (NF), including membrane (module) and process design, operational parameters, and full-scale applications. Six different methods are currently used to produce HF NF membranes: phase inversion, interfacial polymerization, grafting, coating, polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) and chemistry in a spinneret. While all methods have their strengths and weaknesses, several PEM based membranes stand out because of their high chemical stability. This combination of geometry and chemical stability can make HF NF a sustainable alternative to spiral wound NF. This is especially the case for applications with a high fouling load where, in contrast to spiral wound NF, HF NF typically does not require an intensive pre-treatment. In academic settings, experiments are typically done in small modules with single-component feeds. Several studies showed that it is important, but not always straightforward, to correlate these lab scale results to full scale performance. Indeed, process design parameters such as crossflow velocity and staging partly determine energy consumption and retention and need to be taken into account. Partly based on these insights and developments, in the last five years commercial HF NF modules have rapidly become available. At least 59 pilot-scale and 26 full-scale HF NF plants are currently in operation or under construction, mostly focusing on water treatment. A comparison between these plants shows that HF NF can be applied for a broad range of applications with excellent scalability, highlighting the growth potential for HF NF in the coming years.

ispartof: INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH vol:61 issue:1 pages:684-693 status: published

Illegal mining and inappropriate use of agrochemicals have exacerbated surface water pollution in Ghana. The quality of water has changed, and knowledge of their current condition is important for formulating policies to conserve the country's water bodies. This study assessed the quality of surface waters in Ghana's Pra River Basin. A survey of 344 local farmers randomly sampled was conducted and a physicochemical analysis of 33 water samples collected from 25 rivers in the basin. Boreholes are the main source of drinking water for 85% of farmers, and they assessed water quality by its appearance. Rainwater provides over 50% of the water needed by the respondents for domestic use. River water was mainly used for crop production and only secondarily for domestic use. At more than 80% of the sampled sites, pH, Fe and P were above the WHO recommended values, while Pb was exceeded at 30% of the sites. Cu, Hg, As and Fe were above permissible levels for irrigation, especially near the mining areas. The poor quality of river water makes it unusable despite its availability. A more effective and efficient land-use policy focusing on buffer zone protection is recommended to minimise water quality degradation in the basin. HIGHLIGHTS Surface water are mainly used for crop production in the Pra River Basin.; Mercury, Copper, Arsenic and Iron concentration levels exceed the permissible limits for irrigation in mostly mining communities.; Surface water is available but the level of pollution limits its usability.; Sustainable land management practices can reduce rate of surface water pollution in small-scale mining zones.

Uranium contamination is a widespread problem caused by natural and anthropogenic activities. Although microorganisms thrive in uranium-contaminated environments, little is known about the actual molecular mechanisms mediating uranium resistance. Here, we investigated the resistance mechanisms driving the adaptation of Cupriavidus metallidurans NA4 to toxic uranium concentrations. We selected a spontaneous mutant able to grow in the presence of 1 mM uranyl nitrate compared to 250 µM for the parental strain. The increased uranium resistance was acquired via the formation of periplasmic uranium-phosphate precipitates facilitated by the increased expression of a genus-specific small periplasmic protein, PrsQ2, regulated as non-cognate target of the CzcS2-CzcR2 two-component system. This study shows that bacteria can adapt to toxic uranium concentrations and explicates the complete genetic circuit behind the adaptation.

BACKGROUND Oilseed rape requires sulfur (S) fertilization. Cadmium (Cd) differs dramatically in agricultural soils. Rice-oilseed rape rotation distributes widely and contributes the majority of rapeseeds in Asian countries. It was reported that S metabolism was involved in Cd uptake in seedlings of oilseed rape, although the effects of S on Cd accumulation and seed yield at maturity are still unclear. RESULTS We performed a pot experiment including two Cd rates (0.35 and 10.35 mg kg(-1), as low and high Cd soil) and four S levels (0, 30, 60 and 120 mg kg(-1)). The results showed that low S application (30 mg kg(-1)) resulted in two-fold higher seed-Cd concentration irrespective of soil Cd levels. The responsible mechanism might be that Cd translocation into rapeseeds was involved in sulfate transporters, which could be strongly expressed in shoots and roots when supplying sulfate under S-starvation conditions, but depressed under a S-sufficient environment. For high Cd soil, seed yield decreased by 36%, 48% and 72% at 30, 60 and 120 mg S kg(-1) compared to non-S treatment, whereas there were no differences for low Cd soil. Antagonistic effects of S and Cd existed for seed yield according to structure equation model analysis. CONCLUSION Oilseed rape can be grown in low-Cd fields as a safe food crop with high levels of sulfur fertilizers (>60 mg S kg(-1)). In high-Cd fields, oilseed rape is recommended as a Cd-remediation crop, and rapeseeds should only be used for industrial purposes and not for food. (c) 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Heavy metals are hazardous pollutants for humans, animals and plants, when their threshold concentration exceeds. Tobacco can accumulate higher concentrations of heavy metals, and the genotypic differences of tobacco in heavy metal uptake and their growth responses have not been clearly examined. In this study, the effects of nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) on phytoremediation capabilities were tested in four local Oriental tobacco cultivars (Basma, Akhisar, Sanbaglar and Dibek). In two pot experiments, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (P) were applied in fixed doses, while Pb and Ni were applied at 4 different doses (10, 50, 100 and 150 mg kg(-1)). Plants were harvested after 50 days of growing period, and separated into roots, stems, leaves. The biomass values were measured, and Pb and Ni concentrations were quantified in plant organs. Results revealed that Basma cultivar had the highest total biomass value with 16.63 and 15.92 g pot(-1) for Ni and Pb contents, respectively. While, the lowest total biomass was recorded in Dibek cultivar with 7.09 and 5.71 g pot(-1) for Ni and Pb, respectively. The biomass, Ni and Pb uptake and accumulation capabilities remained in the following order of cultivars Basma > Akhisar > Sanbaglar > Dibek. Depending on the application doses, Ni and Pb concentrations of different plant parts (roots, stems and leaves) of all varieties showed significant (p < 0.01) increases compared to the control treatments. All of the plant parts of Basma variety had higher Ni and Pb concentrations than the Akhisar, Sanbaglar and Dibek variety. Nickel concentrations in the roots, stems and leaves of different cultivars were determined to be the least in the control application and the highest in the NPK+150 mg kg(-1) Ni (Ni-4) application. Lead concentrations in the roots, stems and leaves of different cultivars were determined to be the least in the control application and the highest in the NPK+150 mg kg(-1) Pb (Pb-4) application. Basma variety with higher enrichment factor (EF) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) values were also found to be more effective than the other varieties for phytoremediation of Ni and Pb. The objective of this study was to examine the Ni and Pb uptake, transport and accumulation properties of oriental tobacco with special emphasis on its different varieties.

Background Bovine mastitis is the most common infectious disease in dairy cattle with major economic implications for the dairy industry worldwide. Continuous monitoring for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacterial isolates from dairy farms is vital not only for animal husbandry but also for public health. Methods In this study, the prevalence of AMR in 113 Escherichia coli isolates from cases of bovine clinical mastitis in Canada was investigated. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test with 18 antibiotics and microdilution method with 3 heavy metals (copper, zinc, and silver) was performed to determine the antibiotic and heavy-metal susceptibility. Resistant strains were assessed for efflux and ß-lactamase activities besides assessing biofilm formation and hemolysis. Whole-genome sequences for each of the isolates were examined to detect the presence of genes corresponding to the observed AMR and virulence factors. Results Phenotypic analysis revealed that 32 isolates were resistant to one or more antibiotics and 107 showed resistance against at least one heavy metal. Quinolones and silver were the most efficient against the tested isolates. Among the AMR isolates, AcrAB-TolC efflux activity and ß-lactamase enzyme activities were detected in 13 and 14 isolates, respectively. All isolates produced biofilm but with different capacities, and 33 isolates showed α-hemolysin activity. A positive correlation (Pearson r = + 0.89) between efflux pump activity and quantity of biofilm was observed. Genes associated with aggregation, adhesion, cyclic di-GMP, quorum sensing were detected in the AMR isolates corroborating phenotype observations. Conclusions This investigation showed the prevalence of AMR in E. coli isolates from bovine clinical mastitis. The results also suggest the inadequacy of antimicrobials with a single mode of action to curtail AMR bacteria with multiple mechanisms of resistance and virulence factors. Therefore, it calls for combinatorial therapy for the effective management of AMR infections in dairy farms and combats its potential transmission to the food supply chain through the milk and dairy products.

In the northern boreal zone, revegetation and landscaping of closed mine tailings are challenging due to the high concentrations of potentially toxic elements; the use of nutrient-poor, glacigenic cover material (till); cool temperatures; and short growing period. Recycled waste materials such as biochar (BC) and composted sewage sludge (CSS) have been suggested to improve soil forming process and revegetation success as well as decrease metal bioavailability in closed mine tailing areas. We conducted two field experiments in old iron mine tailings at Rautuvaara, northern Finland, where the native mine soil or transported cover till soil had not supported plant growth since the mining ended in 1989. The impacts of CSS and spruce (Picea abies)–derived BC application to till soil on the survival and growth of selected plant species (Pinus sylvestris, Salix myrsinifolia, and grass mixture containing Festuca rubra, Lolium perenne, and Trifolium repens) were investigated during two growing seasons. In addition, the potential of BC to reduce bioaccumulation of metals in plants was studied. We found that (1) organic amendment like CSS markedly enhanced the plant growth and is therefore needed for vegetation establishment in tailing sites that contained only transported till cover, and (2) BC application to till soil-CSS mixture further facilitated the success of grass mixtures resulting in 71–250% higher plant biomass. On the other hand, (3) no effects on P. sylvestris or S. myrsinifolia were recorded during the first growing seasons, and (4) accumulation of metals in cover plants was negligible and BC application to till further decreased the accumulation of Al, Cr, and Fe in the plant tissues. Graphical abstract

Ecological soil quality standards for lead (Pb) that account for soil Pb bioavailability have not yet been derived. We derived such standards based on specific studies of the long-term bioavailability and toxicity of Pb to soil organisms and a compilation of field data on the bioaccumulation of Pb in earthworms. Toxicity thresholds of Pb to plants, invertebrates, or microorganisms vary over more than 2 orders of magnitude, and the lowest values overlap with the range in natural Pb background concentrations in soil. Soils freshly spiked with Pb2+ salts exhibit higher Pb bioavailability and lower toxic thresholds than long-term aged and leached equivalents. Comparative toxicity tests on leaching and aging effects suggest using a soil Pb threshold that is 4.0 higher, to correct thresholds of freshly spiked soils. Toxicity to plants and earthworms, and microbial N-transformation and bioaccumulation of Pb in earthworms increase with decreasing effective cation exchange capacity (eCEC) of the soil, and models were derived to normalize data for variation of the eCEC among soils. Suggested ecological quality standards for soil expressed as total soil Pb concentration are lower for Pb toxicity to wildlife via secondary poisoning compared with direct Pb toxicity to soil organisms. Standards for both types of receptors vary by factors of approximately 4 depending on soil eCEC. The data and models we have collated can be used for setting ecological soil quality criteria for Pb in different regulatory frameworks. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1950-1963. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. ispartof: ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY vol:40 issue:7 pages:1950-1963 ispartof: location:United States status: published

This study is the first research attempt to assess the environmental risks of an agricultural area contaminated with the p,p '-DDT and its metabolites (DDX) on human and terrestrial species through exposure to soil and agricultural products, simultaneously. The study was carried out for a DDX-contaminated agricultural area in Turkey. Soil samples obtained in two different harvest applications were analyzed in terms of DDX levels. Similarly, stem, leaf, and fruit samples of an agricultural product grown on the same soils were analyzed. Using the results of these analyses, DDX intake values were calculated for 5 different human receptor groups, 4 different bird species, and 4 different mammal species, and the risk values were calculated by using a stochastic approach based on a Monte Carlo simulation. Findings indicated a substantial level of carcinogenic risk in the human receptor groups. Furthermore, a significant risk of reproductive toxicity was determined for the birds and mammals. The findings prominently showed that these risks can develop not only through exposure to DDX-contaminated soils but also through the consumption of plants grown on these soils. WOS:000646960900001 2-s2.0-85105462892 PubMed: 33948847

In this study, graphene oxide (GO), iron modified clinoptilolite (FeZ), and composites of GO-FeZ (GOFeZA and GOFeZB) were synthesized and characterized using SEM, EDS, XRF, FTIR, and pHpzc. The arsenate uptake on composites of GOFeZA and GOFeZB was examined by both kinetic and column studies. The adsorption capacity increases with the increase of the initial arsenate concentration at equilibrium for both composites. At the initial arsenate concentration of 450 μg/L, the arsenate adsorption on GOFeZA and GOFeZB was 557.86 and 554.64 μg/g, respectively. Arsenate adsorption on both composites showed good compatibility with the pseudo second order kinetic model. The adsorption process was explained by the surface complexation or ion exchange and electrostatic attraction between GOFeZA or GOFeZB and arsenate ions in the aqueous solution due to the relatively low equilibrium time and fairly rapid adsorption of arsenate at the beginning of the process. The adsorption mechanism was confirmed by characterization studies performed after arsenate was loaded onto the composites. The fixed-bed column experiments showed that the increasing the flow rate of the arsenate solution through the column resulted in a decrease in empty bed contact time, breakthrough time, and volume of treated water. As a result of the continuous operation column study with regenerated GOFeZA, it was demonstrated that the regenerated GOFeZA has lower breakthrough time and volume of treated water compared to fresh GOFeZA.

The quality of bottom sediments is a key factor for many functions of dam reservoirs, which include water supply, flood control and recreation. The aim of the study was to combine different pollution indices in a critical generic risk assessment of metal contamination of bottom sediments. Both geochemical and ecological indices reflected that sediment contamination was dominated by Zn, Pb and Cd. The ecological risk indices suggested a high riks for all three metals, whereas human health risks were high for Pb and Cd. An occasional local contamination of sediments with Cr and Ni was revealed, although at levels not expected to cause concerns about potential ecological or health risk. Sediments from the Rybnik reservoir for Cu only revealed a high potential ecological risk. EF turned to be as being the most useful, whereas TRI ( n-ary sumation TRI) was the most important ecological index. All multi-element indices suggested similar trends, indicating that Zn, Pb and Cd taken altogether had the greatest impact on the level of sediment contamination and posed the greatest potential ecological and health risks to organisms. The use of sequential BCR extraction and ecotoxicity analyses allowed for a multi-facetted generic risk assessment of metals in sediments of dam reservoirs.

This study compared electrokinetic (EK) remediation with and without interval power breaking in the removal of total and plant available cadmium (Cd) in the soil. Two laboratory experiments, i.e. EK remediation with interval power breaking (24-12 h power-on-off cycles) and conventional EK remediation (continuous power supply) with the same accumulated time (192 h) of power supply were conducted to remove soil Cd. After the EK remediation by interval power breaking, the total Cd removal efficiency in the soil rose to 38%, in comparison to 28% by the conventional EK remediation. As for the plant available Cd, the removal efficiency was enhanced from 52% to 63%. Additionally, the electric current during the EK remediation and electric conductivity after the EK remediation were higher in the soil treated by interval power breaking, which indicated an enhanced desorption and/or migration of charged species. It further meant that the higher removal efficiency of soil Cd by interval power breaking could be related to the enhanced desorption and/or migration of Cd species. This study indicated that both conventional EK remediation and EK remediation with interval power breaking were effective methods to remove soil Cd but EK remediation with interval power breaking was more efficient.

Heavy metals (HMs) and radionuclides are released through geological and anthropogenic activities and enter the environment through wastewater, soil and sediment. Large amounts of Pb (>1000 ppm), Zn (>4000 ppm) and Cd (40-400 ppm) have recently been reported in soils near Picher, USA that are harmful to the living organism. These inorganic pollutants cannot be degraded and cause damage to vital human organs and ecosystems. Different industrial and municipal solid waste was a major source of HMs in soil, including airborne aerosols. In the same manner, nuclear waste and radioactive materials used (e.g., medical facilities) or released in different processes contribute to the environmental pollution of radionuclides. The release of such toxic ions from different sources leads to mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and serious risks to the living organisms. As a result, proper management of waste from these sources, as well as environmentally friendly remediation methods, is warranted. However, recent studies have shown that it is more difficult to remove HMs and radionuclides from the source, but they can be effectively neutralized or converted into a less toxic metabolites. The combination of a unique plant-microbe system plays a key role in the remediation process. However, new bioremediation methods are now being used to eliminate HMs and radionuclides. Microbes are capable of bio-transforming, bio-sorbent and biomineralizing HMs and radionuclides through their inherent catabolic process. Enhancing phytoremediation using different strategies for the remediation of HMs and radionucleotides is necessary to ensure that the land resource is safe, fertile and productive for sustainable use.

Objectives: Earthworms have a large impact on the soil ecosystem. They are quite sensitive to pollutants. Purification and biochemical characterization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases (G6PD) from the earthworm species Eisenia fetida were aimed. The determination of the toxicity potentials of some soil pollutants on G6PD activity was intended. Methods: G6PD was isolated using 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose 4B affinity column. Enzyme purity and molecular mass were determined by SDS-PAGE. Its biochemical properties investigated. The effects of some soil pollutants on the enzyme were studied in vitro. Results: Enzyme was purified with 28% yields and 232 fold. Optimum pH and buffer concentration, optimal and stable temperature was determined as pH: 8.5, 60 mM, 25 degrees C and 20 degrees C. Its molecular weight estimated as 36 kDa. The Ni2+, Hg2+, Pb2+, Cr2+, and Fe2+ ions with IC50 values in the range of 56 +/- 06-120 +/- 20 mu M and the diniconazole, metalaxyl, methomyl, carboxyl, and oxamyl with IC50 values in the range of 7.6 +/- 1.2-77 +/- 12 mu M exhibited an inhibitory effect on G6PD. Conclusions: G6PD was isolated and characterized from E. fetida. Its catalytic activity decreased with very low concentration by pesticides and metal ions. The results indicated that the inhibition of G6PD may be important in the toxicity mechanism of pollutants on this earthworm., Cankiri Karatekin University [FF200217B42], This research was supported by Cankiri Karatekin University (Project No: FF200217B42).

The paper assesses the water quality parameters of Werii catchment in Northern Ethiopia. 27 water samples were collected and analyzed for 17 physico-chemical parameters. The electrical conductivity ranges 128-627μS/cm, while turbidity: 20-36.23NTU; total dissolved solids: 140.5-389 mg/L, and total alkalinity: 105-510 mg/L. The proportion of the samples exceeding WHO guidelines for drinking purposes in increasing order are Cu (16%), Cr (40%), As (44%), Ni (54%), Pb (64%), Fe (76%), Co (80%) and Zn (100%). One-sample testing confirmed that all but Fe significantly exceed the WHO guidelines values. The result of both One-way ANOVA and Factor analyses revealed Cr, Zn, Cu and Turbidity are associated with Werii slates in the first of five factors. Fe, As, Ni and Co are associated with Tsedia Slate in the second factor. The rest factors indicated that EC, TS, TSS and Co are attributed to Aiba basalt, Adigrat sandstone, Werii Slates and Tsedia Slates respectively., EQA - International Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol 40 (2020)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a slowly developing non-communicable disease (NCD), causing non-reversible obstruction and leading to marked morbidity and mortality. Besides traditional risk factors such as smoking, some environmental substances can augment the risk of COPD. The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) is a program evaluating citizens' exposure to various environmental substances and their possible health impacts. Within the HBM4EU, eighteen priority substances or substance groups were chosen. In this scoping review, seven of these substances or substance groups are reported to have an association or a possible association with COPD. Main exposure routes, vulnerable and high-exposure risk groups, and matrices where these substances are measured are described. Pesticides in general and especially organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, and some herbicides, lead (Pb), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) showed an association, and cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr and CrVI), arsenic (As), and diisocyanates, a possible association with COPD and/or decreased lung function. Due to long latency in COPD's disease process, the role of chemical exposure as a risk factor for COPD is probably underestimated. More research is needed to support evidence-based conclusions. Generally, chemical exposure is a growing issue of concern, and prompt action is needed to safeguard public health.

Toxicity tests represent a rapid, user-friendly and cost-effective means to assess the impact of wastewater quality on aquatic ecosystems. There are not many cases where wastewater management standards are set based on various bio-based ecotoxicity values. Here, we tested a novel multitaxon approach to compare standard water quality indices to toxicity metrics obtained from ecotoxicity tests, conducted using aquatic organisms representing several trophic levels (Aliivibrio, Ulva, Daphnia, and Lemna), for 99 industrial wastewater samples from South Korea. For five wastewater samples, the concentrations of Se, Zn, or Ni exceeded the permissible limits (1, 5, and 3 mg L-1, respectively). All the four physiochemical water quality indices tested were positively correlated with Se and Pb concentrations. The toxicity unit (TU) scores indicated a declining sensitivity to pollutants, in the order Lemna (2.87) > Daphnia (2.24) > Aliivibrio (1.78) > Ulva (1.42). Significant correlations were observed between (1) Cd and Ni, and Aliivibrio, (2) Cu and Daphnia, (3) Cd, Cu, Zn, and Cr and Lemna, and (4) Cu, Zn, and Ni and Ulva. Daphnia-Lemna and Lemna-Ulva were found to be good indicators of ecologically harmful Se and Ni contents in wastewater, respectively. We suggest that regulatory thresholds based on these bioassays should be set at TU = 1 for all the species or at TU = 1 for Aliivibrio and Ulva and TU = 2 for Daphnia and Lemna, if the number of companies whose wastewater discharge exceeds the allowable TU levels is