Phytoremediation of Mn-contaminated paddy soil by two hyperaccumulators (Phytolacca americana and Polygonum hydropiper) aided with citric acid.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytoremediation potential of two hyperaccumulator plants, Phytolacca americana L. and Polygonum hydropiper L., on manganese-contaminated paddy soils. The biomass growth, Mn concentrations in plant tissues, and potential Mn removal efficiency from soils of these two plants were studied with citric acid, and the mechanisms of citric acid on these two plants were analyzed by examining the root activity, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) in leaves, as well as the concentrations of O2·- and H2O2 in leaves. The results showed that the biomass of these two plants were both promoted under low level of citric acid (3 mmol kg-1). The concentration of Mn in the plants and the amount of Mn removed from the soil by the plants through harvesting were enhanced at low and intermediate (10 mmol kg-1) citric acid application levels. The results also showed that root activity was enhanced at the low citric acid level and significantly inhibited under the intermediate and high levels (15 mmol kg-1), which indicates the facilitative function of the low level of citric acid and the inhibitive function of the high level of citric acid application on plant biomass growth. Under the low and intermediate levels of citric acid application, O2·- in the plant leaves increased sharply, and the SOD, POD, and CAT activities also increased sharply, which made the level of H2O2 very similar to that of the control, ensuring the health of the plants. At the high level of citric acid application, however, the O2·- continued to rise sharply, while the activity of the three antioxidant enzymes declined sharply, causing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide to be much higher than that in the control, thus endangering the plants. The present study shows the potential of P. hydropiper for use in the phytoremediation of soil contaminated with a relatively low level of manganese.

[Community Structure of Aquatic Community and Evaluation of Water Quality in Laovingyan Section of Dadu River].

In order to understand the aquatic community structure in the Laoyingyan section of the Dadu River, we collected samples from 9 aquatic sampling points along that section, and studied the phycophyta, zooplankton, benthic invertebrate and fish in them; we also used expert scoring method based on the actual situation of the river to weigh different biome. The water quality was evaluated using comprehensive evaluation of water quality index ( CEWI). The results showed that: (1) there were a total of 105 phycophyta species, belonging to 6 phyla,31 families, and 56 genera in the Laoyingyan section of the Dadu River, among which, diatom species had a higher richness than the others. The mean cell density of the phycophyta was 17.997 8 x 10(4) ind x L(-1), the mean biomass was 0.4463 mg x L(-1), and the highest population density sites were LTS, LYH and XSH. (2) there were a total of 26 zooplankton species, belonging to 3 phyla, 11 families, and 12 genera, among which, Protozoa had a higher richness than the others, accounting for 80.77% of all the zooplankton species; The mean density of the phycophyta was 40.89 ind x L(-1), and the mean biomass was 13.26 x 10(-3) mg x L(-1). The whole community composition was simple, characterized by few species and small population size. (3) there were a total of 14 benthic invertebrate species, belonging to 6 phyla,14 families, and 14 genera, among which, insecta had a higher richness than the others, accounting for 57.16% of the benthic invertebrate species. Benthic invertebrate had higher population densities in LYH and XSH. (4) The mean CEWI of the whole river water was 2. 698 28, characterized by slightly polluted water quality. The CEWI value between every collection point and the individual water quality evaluation index showed a significant positive correlation, manifesting a high consistency. In addition, the water quality of SLH and NYH was mesosaprobic (1 < CEWI < or = 2), and the water quality of LYH and LYY1 was clean (CEWI > 3), among which the worst was SLH with a lowest CEWI of 1.6207, and the best was LYH with a highest CEWI of 3.9545, all the other samples were subjected to different degrees of light pollution.

Concentration and potential health risk of heavy metals in market vegetables in Chongqing, China.

Concentration and daily intake (DI) of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cd and Cr) in market vegetables in Chongqing of China are investigated and their potential health risk for local consumers is simultaneously evaluated by calculating the target hazard quotient (THQ). The results showed that the measured Pb and Cd concentrations exceeded the safety limits given by FAO/WHO and Chinese regulations, indicating serious contamination of market vegetables by these metals. As respective DI values for Pb, Mn and Cd were also above the international guideline bases, health risk to the consumers is obvious. The individual THQ for Pb and Cd in pakchoi and Cd in mustard, and the combined THQ for all metals in each vegetable species excluding cos lettuce were above the threshold 1.0, implying the obviously adverse effect on health. Therefore, attention should be paid particularly to the potential hazardous exposure to vegetable heavy metals, especially for Pb and Cd, over a lifetime for people in Chongqing.