The purpose of this study is to develop a mechanistic model to describe a conceptually new “flux-biological response” approach based on biotic ligand model (BLM) and Michaelis-Menten (M-M) kinetics to allow the linkage between valve closure behavior and sodium (Na) transport mechanism in freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea in response to waterborne copper (Cu). We test the proposed model against published data regarding Na uptake kinetics in rainbow trout and Na uptake profile in C. fluminea, confirming that the predictive model is robust. Here, we show that the predicted M-M maximum Cu internalization flux in C. fluminea is 0.369 μmol g-1 h-1 with a half-saturation affinity constant of 7.87 x 10-3 μM. Dynamics of Na uptake and valve closure daily rhythm driven by external Cu can also be predicted simultaneously. We suggest that this “Na transport-valve closure behavior” approach might provide the basis of a future design of biomonitoring tool. A new flux-biological response model can link valve closure and sodium transport mechanisms in freshwater clam in response to copper.

The urban landscape is comprised of many land uses, none more intensively managed than turfgrass; however, quantification of nutrient losses from specific land uses within urban watersheds, specifically golf courses is limited. Nitrate (NO3-N) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) were measured on a golf course in Austin, TX, USA from April 1, 1998 to March 31, 2003. NO3-N and DRP concentrations measured in storm flow were significantly greater exiting the course compared to those entering the course. Significant differences were also measured in baseflow NO3-N concentrations. The measured loading from the course was 4.0 kg NO3-N ha 1 yr 1 (11% of applied) and 0.66 kg DRP ha 1 yr 1 (8% of applied). The resulting concentrations contributed by the course were 1.2 mg L 1 NO3-N and 0.2 mg L 1 DRP. At these levels, NO3-N poses minimal environmental risk. However, the DRP concentration is twice the recommended level to guard against eutrophication

The spatial pattern and magnitude of mass fluxes at the stream-aquifer interface have important implications for the fate and transport of contaminants in river basins. Integral pumping tests were performed to quantify average concentrations of chlorinated benzenes in an unconfined aquifer partially penetrated by a stream. Four pumping wells were operated simultaneously for a time period of 5 days and sampled for contaminant concentrations. Streambed temperatures were mapped at multiple depths along a 60 m long stream reach to identify the spatial patterns of groundwater discharge and to quantify water fluxes at the stream-aquifer interface. The combined interpretation of the results showed average potential contaminant mass fluxes from the aquifer to the stream of 272 μg m-2 d-1 MCB and 71 μg m-2 d-1 DCB, respectively. This methodology combines a large-scale assessment of aquifer contamination with a high-resolution survey of groundwater discharge zones to estimate contaminant mass fluxes between aquifer and stream. We provide a new methodology to quantify the potential contaminant mass flux from an aquifer to a stream.

Aquatic macrophytes were found to be the potential scavengers of heavy metals from aquatic environment. In this study, several physiological responses of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb leaves to elevated concentrations of cadmium (up to 10 mM) were investigated. It was found that A. philoxeroides was able to accumulate cadmium in its leaves. The pigment contents decreased with the increase of the Cd concentrations. The Cd could induce rise of the activity of peroxidase (POD) at lower concentration (<5 mM), however, when the concentration of Cd rose up to 10 mM, the POD activity declined. The changes of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) activities were exactly opposite to that of POD. In the leaves of Cd-treated fronds, the amounts of three polypeptides with apparent molecular weights 80, 39 and 28 kDa, respectively, were became visible in SDS-PAGE. The nature of these polypeptides remains to be determined. Cd modified a number of physiological processes and particularly chlorophyll degradation.

Occurrence and fate of alkylphenols (APs), known endocrine disruptors, were investigated in a Great Lakes coastal wetland, Cootes Paradise, ON. The wetland, which receives discharges from a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) and several Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), is an important spawning ground for fish and crucial habitat for other fauna. Elevated concentrations of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) and their degradation product nonylphenol (NP) were found in water and sediment samples near the sources. Since transfer of APs through the food chain is of concern, we compared their concentrations in invertebrates from clean and contaminated sites. The results reveal transfer of alkylphenolics from sediments to biota and their accumulation in the invertebrate tissue, particularly the highly hydrophobic 4-NP, whose concentrations ranged from 1.9 to 6.3 μg g-1. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate AP concentrations in tissue of benthic invertebrates under real environmental conditions. Concentrations of alkylphenolic compounds in water, sediments and benthic invertebrates in a large coastal wetland and implications for trophic transfer.

The beneficial uptake of nutrients by wetland plants is countered to some extent by nutrient release back into the aquatic environment due to vegetative die-back. This current study examined whether Leersia oryzoides, a common wetland plant, exhibits luxury uptake of nutrients from simulated farm runoff. The study also tested whether with subsequent decomposition, these nutrients are released back into the water column. When exposed to elevated (>2 mg/L N and P) runoff, L. oryzoides assimilated significantly higher concentrations of nitrogen (p < 0.001) and phosphorus (p < 0.001) in above-ground biomass as compared to non-enriched treatments (<0.05 mg/L N and P). Subsequently, senescence of enriched above-ground biomass yielded significantly higher concentrations of phosphorus (2.19 ± 0.84 mg P/L). Using L. oryzoides as our model, this study demonstrates nitrogen and phosphorus sequestration during the growing season and release of phosphorus in the winter. Release of sequestered nutrients during plant senescence.

Application of riverbed sand for the adsorptive separation of cadmium(II) from aqueous solutions has been investigated. Removal increased from 26.8 to 56.4% by decreasing the initial concentration of cadmium from 7.5 x 10-5 to 1.0 x 10-5 M at pH 6.5, 25 °C temperature, agitation speed of 100 rpm, 100 μm particle size and 1.0 x 10-2 NaClO4 ionic strength. Process of separation is governed by first order rate kinetics. The value of rate constant of adsorption, kad, was found to be 2.30 x 10-2 per min at 25 °C. Values of coefficient of mass transfer, βL, were calculated and its value at 25 °C was found to be 1.92 x 10-2 cm/s. Values of Langmuir constant were calculated. Values of thermodynamic parameters ΔG0, ΔH0 and ΔS0 were also calculated and were recorded as -0.81 kcal/mol, -9.31 kcal/mol and -28.10 cal/mol at 25 °C. pH has been found to affect the removal of cadmium significantly and maximum removal, 58.4%, has been found at pH 8.5. Process can be used for treatment of cadmium(II) rich wastewaters.

Zerovalent iron (Fe0, ZVI) has drawn great interest as an inexpensive and effective material to promote the degradation of environmental contaminants. A focus of ZVI research is to increase degradation kinetics and overcome passivation for long-term remediation. Halide ions promote corrosion, which can increase and sustain ZVI reactivity. Adding chloride or bromide salts with Fe0 (1% w/v) greatly enhanced TNT, RDX, and HMX degradation rates in aqueous solution. Adding Cl or Br salts after 24 h also restored ZVI reactivity, resulting in complete degradation within 8 h. These observations may be attributed to removal of the passivating oxide layer and pitting corrosion of the iron. While the relative increase in degradation rate by Cl- and Br- was similar, TNT degraded faster than RDX and HMX. HMX was most difficult to remove using ZVI alone but ZVI remained effective after five HMX reseeding cycles when Br- was present in solution. The addition of halide ions promotes the degradation of high explosives by zerovalent iron.

To determine the source of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N) in runoff, approx. 35 kg N enriched with the stable isotope 15N (2110[per thousand] δ15N) was added to a mature coniferous forested catchment for one whole year. The total N input was approx. 50 kg ha-1 year-1. The enrichment study was part of a long-term whole-catchment ammonium nitrate addition experiment at Gårdsjön, Sweden. The 15N concentrations in precipitation, throughfall, runoff and upper forest floor were measured prior to, during, and 3-9 years following the 15N addition. During the year of the 15N addition the δ15N level in runoff largely reflected the level in incoming N, indicating that the leached NO3- came predominantly from precipitation. Only 1.1% of the incoming N was lost during the year of the tracer addition. The cumulative loss of tracer N over a 10-year period was only 3.9% as DIN and 1.1% as DON. 15N tracer addition showed that initially the main source of NO3- in runoff was N from atmospheric deposition.