In this study, the samples of the spatial soil and organs of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera) cultivar Tamjanika were collected from the selected zones near the Mining and Smelting Complex Bor (East Serbia). They were analyzed by ICP-OES to determine the content of Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Cd, and Ni with the aim of ascertaining if these data may help in the assessment and improvement of the quality of environment in polluted areas such as Bor and its surrounding area. The results obtained from the calculated biological and enrichment factors, as well as from the Pearson correlation study and hierarchical cluster analysis confirmed that very useful information is recorded in plant organs: root, stem, leaves, and fruit. Yet, when the atmospheric pollution is the sphere of interest, the most informative data are found in unwashed leaves. The results of this study indicated also that the investigated plant species has some highly effective strategies involved in tolerance to the stress induced by heavy metals, which makes it an excellent candidate for phytostabilization purposes. Planting of this grapevine cultivar can be recommended in all areas that are severely polluted with heavy metals.

Multifunctional sorbents, activated carbons (AC), were prepared by one-step microwave activation utilizing peanut shells and sunflower seed husks. The influence of the original particle size of raw materials on the yield and specific surface area of AC was studied, which reached 33.5 % and 1133.27 m²/g, respectively. The repetitive and competitive uptakes of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and chromium were applied to investigate the sorption properties of AC. The sorption mechanisms were demonstrated using sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure analysis (XANES). In the repetitive experiment, AC made from peanut shells (ACP₀₅) still retained 70 % removal efficiency of PFOS after the fourth sorption because sorbed PFOS might form a new organic phase that supplied effective sites for the hydrophobic partition of PFOS. However, the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) decreased dramatically from 60 to 11 % after the fourth uptake because electrostatic attraction was its only removal pathway. In the binary solutes system, ACP₀₅ possessed perfect sorption performance for both PFOS and Cr(VI), which were 885 and 192 mg/g, respectively. In the multivariate solutes system, the XANES spectra indicated that the thiol functional group existed in the resulting AC and a metal chelate was formed between thiol and Zn²⁺/Cu²⁺. Hence, the presence of Zn²⁺/Cu²⁺ further promoted the removal of PFOS and Cr(VI) through the electrostatic attraction between the anions and positive metal chelate.

In this study, the fruit of Catalpa bignonioides was used as the raw material to obtain low-cost activated carbon. The activation process was carried out by using chemical activation method with zinc chloride. Catalpa activated carbon (CAC) was characterized using elemental analyzer, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), and the point of zero charge (pHZPC). The BET surface area of CAC prepared by the impregnation ratio of 30 % ZnCl₂ (w/w) was found to be 896.02 m²/g. The efficiency in the process of the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution by CAC was searched with different factors, such as temperature, pH, adsorbent concentration, dye concentration, and contact time. From the experimental data obtained, the studies related to adsorption isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamics were performed. Langmuir model provided the best fit, and the adsorption capacity for the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution by CAC was calculated to be 271.00 mg/g at 25 °C. The adsorption follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS° presented that the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic.

Inadequately treated effluents from industry have serious environmental and public health concerns. Even low level discharges create problems through accumulation in water and soil. In the present work, the pollutant accumulating capacity and the general environmental health status of soil which is a repository of treated and untreated effluent discharges and solid waste dumping of a giant pulp and paper mill have been evaluated with respect to some selected physicochemical parameters. The pollutant accumulating capacity of the soil in seven well-defined sites in and around the mill was found with reference to a “control” site with no history of receiving effluent discharges or solid wastes. The changes in texture, bulk density, water-holding capacity, electrical conductivity, pH, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable sodium, etc. of the soil up to the normal tilled depth were observed in different seasons. In most sites, the soil organic carbon was poorly correlated to the bulk density, water-holding capacity, pH, and clay and sand contents, indicating an unhealthy state of the soil and, correspondingly, nearly exhausted pollutant accumulating capacity. Considerable differences in pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density, and water-holding capacity were observed between the soil receiving effluent discharge and solid waste dumping and the control soil. The soil had accumulated considerable amounts of the exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, Na, and K). The work has found that industrial activities have worked against the normal behavior of the soil and reduced its capacity to serve as a natural repository of carbon.

The sorption behavior of cobalt by a sodium-modified zeolite-rich tuff was investigated using cobalt solutions prepared with water from the cooling system of a nuclear reactor. The sorption kinetics shows that the equilibrium was reached in less than 20 h. The isotherms showed that the sorption capacity of the sodium-modified zeolite-rich tuff for cobalt was 20.73 mg/g at 60 °C. The pH affects the sorption capacity of the sodium-modified zeolite-rich tuff for cobalt. The sorption capacity of the sodium-modified zeolite-rich tuff for cobalt was higher using nuclear purity water than water from other aqueous matrices.

Seasonal variations of chloroplast thylakoids and plasma membrane ultrastructure and changes in some biochemical parameters (e.g., metal accumulation, photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrates, lipid peroxidation, and electrolyte leakage) were studied in fronds of Salvinia minima plants exposed to increasing concentrations of Cr(VI) in both winter and summer. Disorganization of stacked (grana) and unstacked (stroma lamellae) thylakoids was greater in winter chloroplasts than in summer chloroplasts. Plasma membrane was less affected than thylakoids. Photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation, soluble sugars, and starch were affected differently in winter and summer. Our results suggest that much greater ultrastructural alterations and changes in metabolite levels occurring in winter fronds are produced by higher oxidative stress resulting from the interactive effect between low temperature, low solar irradiance, and Cr(VI) toxicity, rather than from metal accumulation per se. Seasonal differences occurring in chloroplast ultrastructure and metabolite concentrations were discussed in relation to metabolic implications. Evaluated parameters represent a relevant approach to enhance knowledge on performance and fitness of plants exposed to heavy metals under fluctuating environmental conditions. This work also indicates that selection of suitable macrophytes to remove Cr(VI) requires an additional analyzing focus on structural and metabolic interactions that occur in plants exposed to heavy metals in contrasting seasons.

Problems associated with mining are the disposal of wastes on tailing disposal facilities (TDFs). The aim of this study was to determine the ecotoxicity of gold mine tailings by using earthworm bioassays, earthworm biomarkers and enzymatic analyses. End points included changes in biomass, reproduction, lysosomal membrane stability, tissue metal concentrations, and selected enzymatic activities. Results indicated high concentrations of Ni in the material as well as bioaccumulation of lead and arsenic in the earthworm body tissue after exposure. Enzymatic activity was higher in revegetated tailings than in unrehabilitated tailings. It was concluded that TDF and surrounding areas have an acidic pH which affects earthworms and metal bioavailability. Soil enzymatic activities were a sensitive indicator of metal pollution in mining areas. Growth, reproduction and lysosomal membrane stability of earthworms have also been shown to be sensitive end points to assess the ecotoxic effects of gold TDF.

Biosolids are a source of recycled organic matter and nutrients. To evaluate the impact of biosolids application (1984–2008) on soil quality, composite soils (Genesee silt loam, fine loamy, mixed, nonacid, and mesic typic udifluvent) were randomly sampled at geo-referenced sites from 0 (control), 2, 5, and 25 years of lime-stabilized anaerobically digested biosolid-applied fields. Results showed that microbial biomass C (Cₘᵢc), N (Nₘᵢc), and P (Pₘᵢc) contents were significantly higher at both depths of the 5 and 25 years of biosolid-applied fields compared to the control. Biosolid application significantly enlarged the biologically labile C (Cₘᵢc over total organic C, Cₘᵢc:Cₒᵣg) and N (Nₘᵢc over total N, Nₘᵢc:TN) pools with an associated decrease in metabolic C loss (20–53 %) by specific maintenance respiration (qCO₂) relative to the control. The Cₒᵣg, active (AC) and soluble C (SC), TN and reactive N (RN), and reactive P (RP) contents were significantly higher in the long-term biosolid-applied fields than in the control. However, there was an indication of leaching of SC, RN, and RP between depths. Years of biosolid application significantly increased soil moisture content (θ ᵥ at −0.03 MPa) by 20–40 %, macroaggregate stability (MaA) by 2–44 %, and mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates by 7–51 %, respectively. Consequently, there was a decrease in soil bulk density (ρ b) and microaggregate stability (MiA) at both depths. Results confirmed that biosolids application at rates recommended is a viable management option to improve soil quality for crop production. However, long-term and repeated biosolid applications above the recommended agronomic N and P rates may be responsible for accumulation and consequent leaching and runoff of SC, RN, and RP to cause groundwater and surface water pollution with environmental consequences.

In situ burning is a method by which oil is burned at a spill site under controlled conditions, and this method is subject to increased interest due to its applicability in the Arctic. This paper reviews the literature regarding the characterization and environmental effects of burn residues in Arctic waters. The results of a systematic literature search indicate that only a very limited number of studies have arctic pertinence. From the review, it is also indicated that the properties and composition of the residues depend on the efficiency of the burning and the oil type. Furthermore, the studies within the frame of the literature search reach consensus that in situ burning may increase the concentrations of large poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; high ring number) while reducing small PAHs (low ring number). There are very few toxicity studies of burn residues on aquatic and arctic organisms, and to enhance the knowledge base, more organisms as well as oil types must be studied. Furthermore, there is a lack of studies investigating the potential effect of sinking burn residues on benthic organism and the smothering effects of the more viscous burn residues on birds and other organisms related to the sea surface. More knowledge regarding environmental fate and effect of residues is crucial to complete a robust net environmental benefit analysis prior to an oil spill response operation in arctic waters.

Photosynthetic process is a good approach to discriminate cadmium-tolerant species, because it is reported as one of the most sensitive processes. Our goal was to measure Elephantopus mollis Kunth (Asteraceae) tolerance, determining the interference of Cd on the photosynthetic process. For this, a hydroponic experiment design was conducted in nutrition solution with concentrations of 0 (control), 10, 50, and 100 μM of cadmium (Cd). Measures of photosynthesis performance were obtained, for example, gas exchange, photosystem integrity, chlorophyll content, leaf growth rate, root length, and dry weight. In addition, cadmium and zinc concentrations were measured. Furthermore, results were linked to phytoremediation potential. Our specific questions were as follows: (1) Can the photosynthetic apparatus of E. mollis deal with cadmium stress? (2) Is E. mollis able to accumulate cadmium and maintain zinc level? (3) Is E. mollis a tolerant or sensitive species? (4) Can any phytoremediation practice be suggested from these results? Our results showed that E. mollis can deal with cadmium toxicity up to 10 μM Cd. Moreover, this plant is a potential hyperaccumulator, which can accumulate 248 mg Cd kg⁻¹ dry weight. However, at concentrations of 50 and 100 μM Cd, this species was sensitive and cadmium toxicity affected both biochemistry and photochemistry phases of photosynthesis on account of negative changes on gas exchange, fluorescence chlorophyll, and chlorophyll content. Nevertheless, these results did not compromise the research about its tolerance at lower concentrations of cadmium.