The aim of this study was to establish the temporal trends and spatial distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Ria de Vigo by means of studying the PAH burden in wild mussels. The samples were collected in eight sites along the margins of the Ria de Vigo during November from 1998 to 2008 and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon contents were determined using high performance liquid chromatography–fluorescence derivatization (HPLC–FLD). Quality of chemical analysis was guaranteed by participation in QUASIMEME intercalibration exercises carried out during the period of analysis. The concentrations for the sum of 13 PAHs were in the range 24–480 μg/kg dw, typical of an urban and industrialized area (50–500 μg/kg dw) except for a punctual input in La Guía in 1998 that led to a concentration above 1,000 μg/kg dw. In general, the sites in the outermost section of the estuary (ría) showed the lowest values, with an increasing gradient in the medium and inner parts of the ría. Temporal patterns show, in general, a downward trend. The relative proportion of 3 and 4 ring PAHs also varies with the site, the former being predominant in the outermost area and the latter in the medium and inner parts of the ría. This is consistently related with the sources and processes taking place in different areas of the estuary.

Bioaccumulation is essential for gaining insight into the impact of exposure to organic micropollutants in aquatic fauna. Data are currently available on the bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants, but there is very little documentation on the bioaccumulation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). The bioconcentration of selected PPCPs was studied in marine mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The selected PPCPs were two organic UV filters, i.e., 2-ethylhexyl-4-trimethoxycinnamate (EHMC) and octocrylene (OC), and two benzodiazepines (BZP), i.e., diazepam (DZP) and tetrazepam (TZP). Laboratory experiments were performed in which M. galloprovincialis was exposed to these compounds either directly from water, for the less lipophilic substances (BZP) or via spiked food for lipophilic UV filters. M. galloprovincialis uptook and eliminated BZP following first-order kinetics. The biological half-life (t ₁/₂) of TZP was 1.4 days, resulting in a bioconcentration factor of 64 and 99 mL g⁻¹ dry weight (dw), respectively, for 2.3 and 14.5 μg L⁻¹ of exposure, while the biological half-life (t ₁/₂) of DZP was 0.4 days, resulting in a bioconcentration factor of 51 mL g⁻¹ dw for 13.2 μg L⁻¹ of exposure. The uptake of UV filter was rapid in mussels, followed by elimination within 24 h. EHMC increased from 15 to 138 ng g⁻¹ dw in 1 h and decreased to 25 ng g⁻¹ after 24 h for 11.9 μg L⁻¹ exposure. OC reached 839 ng g⁻¹ dw after 1 h and decreased to 33 ng g⁻¹ after 24 h for 11.6 μg L⁻¹ exposure. However, EHMC and OC were slightly accumulated in 48 h, i.e., 38 and 60 ng g⁻¹ dw, respectively.

Fusarium wilt of cucumber caused by the fungus, Fusarium oxysporum, is one of the most destructive soilborne diseases and can result in serious economic loss. No efficient fungicide is currently available to control the disease. The aim of this study was to examine the disease suppression ability of pig manure and sludge composts in peat-based container media and explore the possible disease suppression mechanisms. Pig manure and sewage sludge compost were made in laboratory-scale tanks. Plant growth media were formulated with peat mixture and compost (or 60 °C heated compost) in a 4:1 ratio (v/v). Cucumber seedlings were artificially inoculated with F. oxysporum conidia (5 × 105 conidia mL−1) by the root-dip method. Cucumber Fusarium wilt was effectively suppressed in sludge compost-amended media, while the disease suppression effect of pig manure compost was limited. The ammonia levels in the manure compost-amended media were significantly higher than those of sludge compost-amended media, which could explain its lower disease suppression ability. Heated composts behaved similarly with respect to disease suppression. Adding composts increased microbial biomass, microbial activity, and the microbial diversity of the growth media. PCR-DGGE results indicated that the fungal community had a significant correlation to the disease severity. The artificially inoculated pathogen was retrieved in all treatments and one possible biocontrol agent was identified as a strain of F. oxysporum by phylogenetic analyses. The results indicated that the sludge compost used in this study could be applied as a method for biocontrol of cucumber Fusarium wilt.

The assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination in surface sediments from the Yangtze estuary which is a representative area affected by anthropogenic activity (rapid industrialization, high-population density, and construction of dams upstream) in the world was systematically conducted. Fifty-one samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ∑PAHs in all sediments varied from 76.9 to 2,936.8 ng g−1. Compared with other estuaries in the world, the PAH levels in the Yangtze estuary are low to moderate. Phenanthrene, acenaphthylene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were relatively abundant. The ∑PAH levels and composition varied obviously in different estuarine zones due to different sources. The highest ∑PAHs concentration was observed in the nearshore of Chongming Island. The PAH composition showed that four to six ring PAHs were mainly found in the nearshore areas, while two to three ring PAHs were in the farther shore zones. The PAHs in the Yangtze estuary were derived primarily from combustion sources. A mixture of petroleum combustion and biomass combustion mainly from coal combustion and vehicle emission was the main source of PAHs from the nearshore areas, while the spill, volatilization, or combustion of petroleum from shipping process and shoreside discharge were important for PAHs in the farther shore areas. The result of potential ecotoxicological risk assessment based on sediment quality guidelines indicated low PAH ecological risk in the Yangtze estuary. The study could provide foundation for the protection of water quality of the Yangtze estuary by inducing main sources input.

INTRODUCTION: Canola, which is genetically modified (GM) for tolerance to glyphosate, has the potential to become established as a new glyphosate resistant weed, thus reducing the effectiveness of glyphosate. METHODS: Volunteer from dormant canola seeds produced thousands of plants per hectare in the fourth year (2011) following a 2007 crop harvest. This occurred with no additional canola seed production since the 2007 harvest. RESULTS: Volunteer plants following harvests of annual crops are typically only a problem for the first year after harvest. In California, glyphosate is the core herbicide on over a million hectares of high value row, tree, and vine crops and new glyphosate resistant weeds reduce the effectiveness of glyphosate. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of dormant seed and herbicide resistance makes GM glyphosate-resistant canola a new and difficult California weed which was first observed in the winter of 2009.

PURPOSE: Phytoremediation is the exploitation of plants and their rhizospheric microorganisms for pollutants treatment like textile dyes, which are toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic from the effluent. The purpose of this work was to explore a naturally found plant and bacterial synergism to achieve an enhanced degradation of Remazol Black B dye (RBB). METHODS: In vitro cultures of Zinnia angustifolia were obtained by seed culture method. Enzymatic analysis of the plant roots and Exiguobacterium aestuarii strain ZaK cells was performed before and after decolorization of RBB. Metabolites of RBB formed after its degradation were analyzed using UV–Vis spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Phytotoxicity studies were performed. RESULTS: The consortium ZE was found to be more efficient than individual plant and bacteria. Z. angustifolia roots showed significant induction in the activities of lignin peroxidase, laccase, DCIP reductase and tyrosinase during dye decolorization. E. aestuarii showed significant induction in the activities of veratryl alcohol oxidase, azo reductase and DCIP reductase. Analysis of metabolites revealed differential metabolism of RBB by plant, bacteria and consortium ZE. E. aestuarii and Z. angustifolia led to the formation of 3,6-diamino-4-hydroxynaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, (ethylsulfonyl)benzene, and 3,4,6-trihydroxynaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid and propane-1-sulfonic acid, respectively, whereas consortium ZE produced 4-hydroxynaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid, naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid and 4-(methylsulfonyl)phenol. The phytotoxicity study revealed the nontoxic nature of the metabolites formed after dye degradation. CONCLUSION: Consortium ZE was found to be more efficient and faster in the degradation of RBB when compared to degradation by Z. angustifoila and E. aestuarii individually.

INTRODUCTION: Members of the genus Sphingomonas have raised increasing attention due to their ability for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation and their ubiquity in the environment. However, few studies have revealed the ecological information on the abundance and diversity of Sphingomonas in the environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A primer set targeting the Sphingomonas 16S rRNA gene was designed. The specificity was tested with four petroleum-contaminated soils by construction of clone libraries and further restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Subsequently, real time PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) assays were used to evaluate the abundance and diversity of Sphingomonas in the Shenfu irrigation zone, China. RESULTS: A genus-specific primer set SA/429f-933r was developed, and 90% of the sequences retrieved from soil clone libraries were related to Sphingomonas. Members of the genus Sphingomonas were detected in all soils, and significant correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between the Sphingomonas abundance and the ratios of PAHs to total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH). DGGE profiles revealed Sphingomonas population structures differed greatly in different sites. The Sphingomonas diversity was not statistically (p > 0.05) correlated with the contamination level. Some of the soil-derived sequences were not grouped phylogenetically with sequences of known Sphingomonas, indicating new members of the Sphingomonas genus might be present in the Shenfu irrigation zone. CONCLUSION: The newly designed Sphingomonas-selective primers were specific and practicable for analyzing Sphingomonas abundance and diversity in petroleum-contaminated soils. The significant correlation between the abundance and the ratios of PAHs to TPH suggested an important role of Sphingomonas in PAH bioremediation.

PURPOSE: Malachite Green (MG) is used for a variety of applications but is also known to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. In this study, a novel Micrococcus sp. (strain BD15) was observed to efficiently decolorize MG. The purposes of this study were to explore the optimal conditions for decolorization and to evaluate the potential use of this strain for MG decolorization. METHODS: Optical microscope and UV–visible analyses were carried out to determine whether the decolorization was due to biosorption or biodegradation. A Plackett–Burman design was employed to investigate the effect of various parameters on decolorization, and response surface methodology was then used to explore the optimal decolorization conditions. Kinetics analysis and antimicrobial activity tests were also performed. RESULTS: The results indicated that the decolorization by the strain was mainly due to biodegradation. Concentrations of MG, urea, and yeast extract and inoculum size had significantly positive effects on MG decolorization, while concentrations of CuCl₂ and MgCl₂, and temperature had significantly negative effects. The interaction between different parameters could significantly affect decolorization, and the optimal conditions for decolorization were 1.0 g/L urea, 0.9 g/L yeast extract, 100 mg/L MG, 0.1 g/L inoculums (dry weight), and incubation at 25.2°C. Under the optimal conditions, 96.9% of MG was removed by the strain within 1 h, which represents highly efficient microbial decolorization. Moreover, the kinetic data for decolorization fit a second-order model well, and the strain showed a good MG detoxification capability. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, we propose Micrococcus sp. strain BD15 as an excellent candidate strain for MG removal from wastewater.

PURPOSE: Implementation of current European environmental legislation such as the Water Framework Directive requires access to comprehensive, well-structured pollutant source and release inventories. The aim of this work was to develop a Source Classification Framework (SCF) ideally suited for this purpose. METHODS: Existing source classification systems were examined by a multidisciplinary research team, and an optimised SCF was developed. The performance and usability of the SCF were tested using a selection of 25 chemicals listed as priority pollutants in Europe. RESULTS: The SCF is structured in the form of a relational database and incorporates both qualitative and quantitative source classification and release data. The system supports a wide range of pollution monitoring and management applications. The SCF functioned well in the performance test, which also revealed important gaps in priority pollutant release data. CONCLUSIONS: The SCF provides a well-structured approach for European pollutant source and release classification and management. With further optimisation and demonstration testing, the SCF has the potential to be fully implemented throughout Europe.

Chaohu Lake, one of the most eutrophicated lakes in China, has been suffering from long-term outside pollution, urban sewage, river outflows, and agricultural runoff which expectedly have been the main contributors of hydrocarbons. However, the contributions from these various sources have not been specified. The present study is aimed at identifying the potential sources of hydrocarbons in surface sediment around the whole lake and assessing the relative contributions using principal components analysis–multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR). Sixty-one surface sediments covering the whole Chaohu Lake and three main estuaries of inflowing rivers were collected, dried, extracted, and analyzed for 27 normal alkanes (n-alkanes, from C12 to C38, defined Σ27AH) and unresolved complex mixture (UCM) by GC/MS. Diagnostic ratios and PCA-MLR were utilized to apportion their sources. The concentrations of Σ27AH and UCM ranged from 434 to 3,870 ng/g and 11.9 to 325 μg/g dry weight, respectively, for all samples. The concentrations of Σ27AH in western region and estuary of Nanfei River were slightly higher but without statistical significance than those from eastern region and estuaries of Yuxi River and Hangbu River. The concentration of UCM from western region was significantly higher than that obtained from eastern region. These results reflect the importance of input of urban runoff by Nanfei River and serious eutrophication in western region. Aliphatic hydrocarbons in Chaohu Lake were mainly derived from high plant wax with mixed sources of phytoplankton and petroleum. Weak microbial decomposition of n-alkanes would be expected to occur from the low ratios of isoprenoid hydrocarbons pristine (pri) and phytane (phy) to n-C17 and n-C18, respectively. Higher plant, fossil combustion, petroleum residue, and phytoplankton were proposed as the main origines of aliphatic hydrocarbons by PCA while the contributions of individual n-alkane homologues, pri and phy from the identified sources (31 % from higher plant, 30 % from fossil combustion, 26 % from petroleum, and 19 % from phytoplankton) were well predicted using MLR. The distribution profile and corresponding diagnostic ratios of normal alkanes show the promising potential as a useful proxy for estimating the source and loading of pollutants in Chaohu Lake.