Restoration of riparian buffers is an important component of nutrient reduction strategies in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In 1998, Maryland adopted a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which provides financial incentives to take agricultural land out of production to plant streamside vegetation. Between 1998 and 2005, 1-30% of streamside vegetation (average = 11%), was restored to forest or managed grass in 15 agriculturally dominated sub-basins in the Choptank River basin, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay. Pre-existing forested buffers represented 10-48% of the streamside (average = 33%), for a total of 12-61% buffered streamsides (average = 44%). Using multi-year water quality data collected before and after CREP implementation (1986, 2003-2006), we were unable to detect significant effects of CREP on baseflow nutrient concentrations based on the area of restored buffer, the percentage of restored streamside, or the percentage of total riparian buffer in the sub-basins (p > 0.05). Although CREP increased the average buffered streamside from 33% in the 1990s to 44% by 2005, N and P concentrations have not changed or have increased in some streams over the last 20 years. Reductions may not have occurred for the following reasons: (1) buffer age, width, and connectivity (gaps) between buffers are also important to nutrient reductions; (2) agricultural nutrient inputs may have increased during this period; and (3) riparian buffer restoration was not extensive enough by 2005 to have measurable affects on the stream water quality in these sub-basins. Significant effects of CREP may yet be resolved as the current CREP buffers mature; however, water quality data through 2006 in the Choptank basin do not yet show any significant effects.

Recent studies have shown that the lower basin of the Salado River is highly polluted with copper and chromium. In order to evaluate the effect of those metals on Notodiaptomus conifer, a representative calanoid copepod, we carried out two (acute and chronic) experimental assays. In the first one, the 24- and 48-h EC₅₀ values were determined in nauplii and adults. Chronic assays were conducted to evaluate the time of development for nauplii, time of development for each copepodite stage, total development time, growth, number of ovigerous females, fecundity, and time required to produce the first egg sac. Additionally, the effect of those metals on the equiproportional model proposed for copepods was evaluated. Acute experiments reveled that juveniles were more sensible than adults. Although growth was not seriously affected by metal exposition, development time was delayed and reproductive variables were altered with the increase of metal concentrations. The deviation from the equiproportional model proposed for copepods proved to be a useful parameter to provide relevant information on toxicity of both metals along development time. In comparison with other zooplanktonic species, the highest sensitivity of N. conifer to copper and chromium makes it a suitable bioindicator in ecotoxicological tests.

Copper biosorption onto chemically modified biomass of marine alga Sargassum filipendula was investigated in a batch reactor and a fixed bed column. Experiments were carried out in the batch reactor to obtain kinetic and equilibrium data and to assess the copper desorption efficiency of different eluent solutions. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Langmuir kinetic models were used to correlate kinetic data. The experimental data fitted well to the pseudo first order and Langmuir kinetic models. Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to describe the equilibrium data obtained at a fixed temperature of 30°C and at pH values of 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0. The maximum capacities of copper biosorption onto the algal biomass were 1.43, 1.59, 2.40, and 2.36 mequiv./g at pH 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, respectively. The efficiencies of two eluent solutions (calcium chloride and hydrochloric acid) for copper removal from the biomass were evaluated at different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mol/L). The efficiencies of the calcium chloride solutions varied from 1% to 14%, while efficiencies varying from 95% to 99% were obtained when hydrochloric acid solutions were applied. Three adsorption/desorption cycles were carried out in a fixed bed column using 0.1 mol/L hydrochloric acid as eluent solution. The results showed that an increase in the number of cycles led to a reduction in the adsorption capacity of the alga. The desorbed copper fraction presented no significant variation, remaining around 63% in the three adsorption/desorption cycles.

Samples of airborne particulate matter (PM₂.₅) were collected at a site in Lahore, Pakistan from November 2005 to January 2006. A total of 129 samples were collected using an Andersen Reference Ambient Air Sampler 2.5-400 sampler and analyzed for major ions, trace metals, and organic and elemental carbon concentrations. The data set was then analyzed by positive matrix factorization (PMF) to identify the possible sources of the atmospheric PM collected in this urban area. Six factors reproduced the PM₂.₅ sample compositions with meaningful physical interpretation of the resolved factors. The sources included secondary PM, diesel emissions, biomass burning, coal combustion, two-stroke vehicle exhaust, and industrial sources. Diesel and two-stroke vehicles contributed about 36%, biomass burning about 15%, and coal combustion sources around 13% of the PM₂.₅ mass. Nearly two thirds of the PM₂.₅ mass is carbonaceous material. Secondary particles contributed about 30% of PM₂.₅ mass. The conditional probability function (CPF) was then used to help identify likely locations of the sources present in this area. CPF analysis point to the east and northeast, which are directions of urban and industrial areas located across the border near Amritsar, India as the most probable source for high PM₂.₅ concentration from diesel and two-stroke vehicles exhaust in Lahore. Analysis of those days within three different ranges of PM₂.₅ concentration shows that most of the measured high PM₂.₅ mass concentrations were driven by diesel and two-stroke vehicle emissions including the associated primary sulfate. The use of the potential source contribution function (PSCF) to find the source locations of regionally transported particles is inapplicable in situations when high PM₂.₅ concentrations are dominated by local sources and local meteorology.

Exudation of low molecular weight organic acids by fungi was studied in a project focusing on bioremediation of metal-contaminated soils. The production of acids (mainly oxalic and citric acid) as a response to nutrient variations and presence of metals has recently been reported (Arwidsson et al. 2009). A significant release of metals was observed and was related not only to the production of organic acids but also to the resulting pH decrease in the systems. The processes governing the release and redistribution of metals in the soil–water fungus system were the focus of the present continuation of the project, based on observations of Aspergillus niger, Penicillium bilaiae, and a Penicillium sp. The release of lead was 12% from the soil with the second highest initial load (1,600 mg kg−1), while the release of copper was 90% from the same soil (140 mg kg−1). The dominating mechanism behind the release and subsequent redistribution was the change in pH, going from near neutral to values in the range 2.1–5.9, reflecting the production of organic acids. For some of the systems, the formation of soluble complexes is indicated (copper, at intermediate pH) which favors the metal release. Iron is assumed to play a key role since the amount of secondary iron in the soils is higher than the total load of secondary heavy metals. It can be assumed that most of the heavy metals are initially associated with iron-rich phases through adsorption or coprecipitation. These phases can be dissolved, or associated metals can be desorbed, by a decrease in pH. It would be feasible to further develop a process in technical scale for remediation of metal-contaminated soil, based on microbial metabolite production leading to formation of soluble metal complexes, notably with copper.

Two species of sunflower, i.e., Tithonia diversifolia and Helianthus annuus, were investigated for their potential to remove heavy metals from contaminated soils. Dried and mature T. diversifolia (Mexican flower) seeds were collected along roadsides, while H. annuus (sunflower) seeds were sourced from the Department of PBST, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria. The contaminants were added as lead nitrate (Pb (NO3)2) and zinc nitrate (Zn (NO3)2) at 400 mg/kg which represents upper critical soil concentration for both Pb and Zn. The results indicated that T. diversifolia mopped up substantial concentrations of Pb in the above-ground biomass compared to concentrations in the roots. The concentrations in the leaf compartment were 87.3, 71.3, and 71.5 mg/kg at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after planting (AP), respectively. In roots, it was 99.4 mg/kg, 97.4 mg/g, and 77.7 mg/kg while 79.3, 77.8, and 60.7 mg/kg were observed in the stems at 4, 6, and 8 weeks AP, respectively. Observations with H. annuus followed the pattern found with T. diversifolia, showing significant (p < 0.05) accumulation of Pb in the above-ground biomass. Results obtained from Zn contaminated soils showed significant (p < 0.05) accumulation in the above-ground compartments of T. diversifolia and H. annuus compared with root. However, the highest accumulation of Zn was observed in the leaf. The translocation factor and enrichment coefficient of Pb and Zn with these plant species are greater than 1, indicating that these metals moved more easily in these plants. However, this result also showed that the translocation of Zn from root to the shoot of the two plants was higher than Pb. In conclusion, this experiment showed that these plants accumulated substantial Pb and Zn in their shoots (leaf and stem) at 4 weeks AP which diminished with time. This implies that the efficiency of these plants in cleaning the contaminated soils was at the early stage of their growth.

Prairie grasslands are very species rich but have declined in their extent considerably due to land-use change and exploitation. Many remaining prairie fragments are situated within an agricultural matrix and can be subjected to high levels of atmospheric ammonia deposition from animal units. Three prairie fragments in Minnesota that were located in close proximity to feedlots were selected, and 500-m transects were studied at an increasing distance from the feedlot. Changes in soil pH, soil nitrate concentration, and soil ammonium concentration with increasing distance from the source were variable between the sites, possibly due to differences in the processing of nitrogen in the soil and the degree of nitrogen limitation. Species richness showed significant negative relationships with ammonia deposition and soil nitrate concentration, whereas aboveground biomass showed a positive relationship with ammonia deposition. Both the richness and biomass of nongraminoid species declined with increasing soil nitrate concentration, whereas graminoid biomass was positively related to ammonia deposition and was negatively associated to richness. Bromus inermis, a non-native perennial grass, was the main species that increased at high deposition. The results of this study have important implications for the conservation and restoration of prairie grasslands.

This paper investigated the influence of low-intensity ultrasound in biological nitrification and denitrification. The results showed that the nitrification activity of activated sludge could not be promoted significantly by ultrasound in 5-40 min with intensities ranging from 0.1 to 1.2 W cm⁻². It suggested the fact that nitrifying bacteria were insensitive to ultrasound, possibly related with their specific structures of cell membrane and ways of metabolism. Whereas, biological denitrification was enhanced quite remarkably by ultrasound and the optimal results were achieved at the ultrasonic intensity of 0.2 W cm⁻² and the irradiation time of 10 min. Compared with the control without ultrasonic irradiation, it took 5 h for the enhancement of denitrification rates induced by the optimum ultrasound to reach its peak level (16%). Therefore, ultrasound with intensity of 0.2 W cm⁻² could be employed in the biological denitrification system for 10 min every 5 h to obtain the optimal effect theoretically.

The residual brine of the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field (CPGF) is disposed in an evaporation pond. The seepage of this pond has contaminated the water and agricultural soil around it. The contamination of the groundwater towards the southwest by the evaporation pond, in the direction of the regional flow, has been shown before. Hydrogeochemical modeling (PHREEQCI) and Schoeller and Piper diagrams have been used in this work to show that the chemical composition of the groundwater in villages neighboring CPGF is the product of mixing between irrigation water from the Colorado River and brine from the evaporation pond. The high potassium concentration in the water and the relative increase in concentration of sodium and chlorides along the flow path as well as the hydrogeochemical models for this system explain this mixing process. This work will allow proposing new managing techniques to avoid the presence of the residual brine in the groundwater of agricultural lands.

This study proposes a two-phase optimization model for regional air pollution control. To predict the pollutant concentrations at receptor zones, an interval Gaussian plume model is advanced to facilitate the generation of optimal pollution control policies. Results from the case study indicate satisfactory performance of the proposed model in handling uncertainties in parameters expressed as intervals and in stipulations associated with pollutant emission and ambient air quality. Compared with conventional models, it has advantages of generating compromised management strategies according to decision makers' preference. This would be useful when the guarantee of satisfying all constraints is inapplicable or too costly. The proposed model is capable of identifying key factors and/or input conditions that may intensely affect system outputs and thus facilitating decision makers in adjusting current system status to benefit future management. The results also reveal a significantly enhanced satisfactory level would be obtained compared with conventional “single-phase”-based optimization models.