Search

This study analyzed heavy metal concentrations in mining/agricultural soil and plant samples from the Dabaoshan mining-impacted region, Guangdong Province, and evaluated the corresponding health risks. The results showed that most of the soil samples exhibited a pH<5, which, in some cases, facilitated the release of Cu, Pb, and Al from soil and hence affected the availability for plant uptake. Farmland in Shaxi town was found to be seriously polluted by Cd, whereas the mining area was seriously polluted by Cd, Pb, Cu, and As, which present potential ecological risks. Farmland in Xinjiang town was seriously polluted by Cu, As, and Cd, and also present ecological risks for this area. The concentrations of heavy metals (especially Al and Fe) in the eight plant species assessed were mostly higher than that in plants grown in non-contaminated soil. Only 10% of the bioconcentration factors and 18% of the translocation factors were higher than 1 in the aerial parts of plants, indicating that most heavy metals were concentrated in plant roots. Heavy metal concentrations in shoots of Miscanthus and Blechnum orientale were not high, and their accumulation from soil to plant was poor. These plants are excluder species and can be used for in situ phyto-stabilization and management. Weeds like Soliva anthemifolia species in contaminated agricultural field showed a strong enrichment ability for Cd. Rice mainly accumulated As and Cd in the roots and belongs to root compartment plants.

In order to evaluate the pollution status, possible sources, and bioavailability of heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Zn, and Tl), 33 surface sediments were collected from Longjiang River, Southern China. The total concentrations and potential bioavailable concentrations of the heavy metals were analyzed using ICP-MS. Enrichment factors (EFs), Pearson correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to further assess their pollution degree and potential sources. Results showed that the surface sediments of Longjiang River have been suffering heavy metal (As, Cd, Pb, Sb, and Zn) pollution to different degrees. The maximum concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Sb, and Zn were 67.0, 7.42, 227, 229, and 807 mg·kg -1 , respectively, while the Tl concentration were very low, with little variation. Moreover, the polluted sites were mostly located in the mid-lower of the main stem and in tributaries (Dongxioajiang and downstream of Dahuanjiang), and the pollution degree of the heavy metals, in a descending order, were Cd > Sb > Zn > Pb > As > Tl. Pearson correlation analysis and PCA indicated that As, Cd, Pb, Sb, and Zn predominantly originated from anthropogenic inputs, including nonferrous metal mining and smelting, municipal sewage, and agricultural activities, and Tl mostly derived from natural rock weathering. The bioavailability of heavy metals in the sediments tended to be controlled by their sources. The percentages of bioavailable heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Sb, and Zn) in the highly anthropogenic impacted areas (the mid-lower of the main stem and downstream of Dongxiaojiang tributary) were also high, with the average percentages of bioavailable As, Cd, Pb, Sb, and Zn of 26%, 51%, 49%, 38%, and 47%, respectively. High EF values and high bioavailable percentages of heavy metals easily and greatly cause high ecological risk of Longjiang River.

The paper focused on the leaching behaviour of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) from uranium mill tailing collected from the Uranium Mill Plant in Northern Guangdong Province, China. Distilled water (pH 6) and sulphuric acid solution (pH 4 and 3) were used as solvent for the leaching over 22 weeks. It was found that the cumulative leach fraction from the mill tailing was 0.1, 0.1 and 0.7 % for U release, and overall 0.01 % for Th release, using distilled water, sulphuric acid solution of pH 4 and pH 3 as leaching agents, respectively. The results indicate that (1) the release of U and Th in uranium mill tailing is a slow and long-term process; (2) surface dissolution is the main mechanism for the release of U and Th when sulphuric acid solution of pH 3 is employed as the leaching agent; (3) both U and Th are released by diffusion when using sulphuric acid solution of pH 4 as the leaching agent and (4) U is released by surface dissolution, while Th is released by diffusion when using distilled water as the leaching agent. The implication for radiological risk in the real environment was also discussed.

In China, Monascus spp., a traditional fungus used in fermentation, is used as a natural food additive. Monascus spp. can produce a secondary metabolite, monacolin K namely, which is proven to be a cholesterol-lowering and hypotensive agent. Hence, recently, many researchers have begun focusing on how to increase the production of monacolin K by Monascus purpureus. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the fungal elicitor and the mutagenesis of UV & LiCl on the amount of monacolin K produced by Monascus purpureus. The fugal elicitor, Sporobolomyces huaxiensis, was isolated from tea leaves and its filtrate was added into the culture filtrate of Monascus purpureus during growth to induct the production of monacolin K. The results showed that the highest amount of monacolin K produced by the liquid fermentation was 446.92 mg/mL, which was produced after the fungal elicitor was added to the culture filtrate of Monascus purpureus on the day 4; this amount was approximately 6 times greater than that of the control culture filtrate, whereas the highest amount of monacolin K produced by the mutated strain was 3 times greater than the control culture after the irradiation of UV light in the presence of 1.0 % LiCl in the medium.

Indigenous zinc smelting activity, widely spread in western Guizhou, China, had caused serious pollution of heavy metals of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) in soil and water and posed risk to the local ecosystem. Geochemical distribution and mobility of Pb, Zn and Cd in soil, waste residue and waters were investigated in a small watershed in order to provide scientific base for the approach to pollution control and remediation. Concentrations of Pb, Zn and Cd in smelting residues averaged at 4 632 mg/kg, 8 968 mg/kg, and 58 mg/kg, respectively; whereas Pb 234 mg/kg, Zn 400 mg/kg and Cd 9.6 mg/kg in average in the soils around the smelting areas were measured. The sequential geochemical extraction test showed that Pb, Zn and Cd in the contaminated soils had high mobility and bioavailability for the metals, whereas smelting waste residues had lower mobility and bioavailability because their concentrations presented small percentages (all less than 0.2%) in the exchangeable fraction. Concentrations of Pb, Zn and Cd were high in the local stream water but low in groundwater. In the surface water, Pb, Zn and Cd were significantly concentrated in the suspended sediment. The results indicated that metal-rich erosion process of smelting residue and contaminated soil contributed to mobility of the metals into stream water.

Thirty two microsatellite markers were utilized to analyze the genetic diversity and germplasm characteristics of five Fujian native duck breeds (Jinding duck, Liancheng white duck, Putian black duck, Shanma duck, and Muscovy duck) and two reference duck breeds (Beijing duck and Khaki Campbell duck). By using the markers, 371 alleles in test duck breeds were detected. The average allelic number per locus was 11.719, average value of PIC was 0.522, average number of effective alleles was from 5.141 to 6.961, and average heterozygosity was from 0.512 to 0.700. Based on Nei's standard distance (D(S)) and DA genetic distance, a dendrogram was constructed by using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). Jinding duck, Putian black duck, Liancheng white duck, Shanma duck, and Khaki Campbell duck were clustered into a group, and Beijing duck and Muscovy duck were clustered into another two groups, respectively. The dendrogram of D(A) and D(S) genetic distances were accorded with the real relations among the seven duck breeds.

A long-term mining activity of Jinding Pb-Zn mine area in Yunnan has caused the serious cadmium pollution to the river sediments of the ambient area. The Cd contents of Beidagou river sediments (mean value <10 mg x kg(-1)) are lower than those of Nandagou river sediments (mean value = 266 mg x kg(-1)). The Cd contents of river sediments in different section of Bijiang river occur distinct difference. The Cd contents are rather lower in upstream sediments of Bijiang river, and increase substantially along downstream contaminated section of Bijiang river. The Cd pollution coefficient is higher (R = 21.9-45.2) than Zn (R = 4.9-9.7) and Pb (R = 2.7-4.6). The degree of pollution is estimated by the geoaccumulation index, which indicates the following rank of pollution elements: Cd > Zn > Pb. The river sediments are extremely contaminated in Nandagou river and downstream section of Bijiang river from Nandagou, strongly contaminated in most part of Beidagou river, moderately to strongly contaminated in few river section of Nandagou river, uncontaminated or moderately contaminated in upstream of Bijiang river from Jinding. The heavy metals pollution of river sediments presents increasing trend from Nandagou outlet to Wenzhuang section of Bijiang river.

With indigenous zinc smelting waste residue, contaminated soil and background soil as test substrates, a pot experiment was conducted to study the growth characteristics of Lolium perenne and Trifolium pretense on these substrates. The results showed that the major limiting factors of waste land revegetation in indigenous zinc smelting areas of western Guizhou were the salt-alkali stress and the lower contents of organic matter, total N, available N and total K. The heavy metals in waste residue had a high concentration, but their available forms only occupied a small proportion, with low toxicity to plant but having potential harmful risk. Contaminated soil had lower concentrations of heavy metals than waste residue, but its contained heavy metals were more in available form. The constraints of revegetation on contaminated soil were the toxicity of heavy metals and the low contents of available P and K. Mixing contaminated soil with zinc smelting waste residue could be one of the effective approaches for the substrate amendment in indigenous zinc smelting areas.