Nitrogen dioxide is an important gaseous air pollutant. It plays a major role in atmospheric chemistry, particularly in the formation of secondary air pollutants, and contributes to environmental acidification. A comprehensive assessment of NO2 levels in the atmosphere is required for developing effective strategies for control of air pollution and air quality improvement. Air pollution is a serious problem in all major cities of Pakistan and needs to be addressed to minimize detrimental effects on human health and urban vegetation. In this research, we focused on the monitoring of NO2 levels in the urban environment of Rawalpindi city. Because of the lack of expensive continuous sampling devices and to get a good spatial coverage of the NO2 concentrations in the study area, NO2 passive samplers were exposed at 42 different sites within the city limits of Rawalpindi from January to December, 2008. Samplers were exchanged every 10 days and the associated meteorological conditions like temperature, wind speed, rainfall and relative humidity were also monitored. The average NO2 concentration was found to be 27.46 ± 0.32 ppb. The highest values of NO2 were measured near to main roads and educational institutions due to intense flow of road vehicles. Moreover, the study showed that the values obtained for NO2 for all sampling points exceeded the annual limit value set by World Health Organization. So, this is very important to take different steps to control this before it becomes a serious hazard for people living in those areas.

The aim of the present work was to determine peculiarities of accumulation of ionic state 137Cs in model experiments with seedlings of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., “Nandu”) using laboratory experiments and to evaluate the complex effect of 137Cs ionizing radiation and geochemical factors on the growth of this plant. 137Cs accumulation in seedlings is influenced by the presence of mineral substances in the nutritional medium and by the conditions of illumination. Mineral substances (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, NH4 +, P5+, Fe3+) reduced the 137Cs accumulation coefficient of seedlings approximately three times. Addition of heavy metals as well as anionic group NO3 − to the growth medium caused insignificant changes in the level of radionuclide accumulation. In the model systems of RNA synthesis with wheat seedling cells nuclei isolated after complex treatment (in vivo) by 137Cs and HM showed clear inhibition of the RNA-polymerase II. This inhibition manifested itself as a complex effect of 137Cs ionizing radiation and heavy metals.

The protected area “Bohemian Switzerland National Park” with its characteristic sandstone landscape was influenced by the long-term air pollution and acidic deposition within the area known as Black Triangle (located where Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic meet, is one of the Europe’s most polluted areas). The local Upper Cretaceous sandstone is subhorizontally stratified, fine- to coarse-grained, quartz dominated, with low content of clay minerals. One of the significant negative effects of the intensive acidic deposition on sandstone outcrops has been identified as chemical (salt) weathering, i.e., a process when the porous sandstone rock is except of chemical influence attacked also by force of crystallization of growing salts crystals. Anions NO3 − together with SO4 2− and cation NH4 + were the most abundant solutes in bulk precipitation samples. Current (2002 to 2009) bulk deposition fluxes of SO4 2− determined at three sites directly in the National Park indicate decline from 23 to 16 kg−1 ha−1 year−1. Infiltration of bulk precipitation solutes into the sandstone mediates the weathering processes. Natural outflow of sandstone pore-water (sandstone percolates) can be sampled only during certain days of year when the sandstone becomes saturated with water and percolates drip out on small number of sites from roofs of overhangs. Under usual conditions percolation water evaporates at the sandstone surface producing salt efflorescences—the typical example is Pravčická brána Arch locality. The average pH of the dripping sandstone percolates was 3.76. Concentration of SO4 2− and Al in sandstone percolates reached up to 46 and 10 mg L−1. The concentration of Al in percolates has been 160-fold greater the one in the precipitation samples suggesting the sandstone as a source. The water O and H isotopic composition of percolates has been virtually identical to precipitation samples, indicating thus relatively short residence time of the solutions within the sandstone pore-spaces. Evaporation experiments with bulk precipitation and percolate samples proved possible origin of some Ca in bulk precipitation and the sandstone rock as the source of Al and possibly of K for the salt efflorescence identified on Rock Arch body.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of sorption to the removal of two commonly used antibiotics (amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin) from wastewater. These antibiotics are excreted in large quantities with more than 75% of them being unmetabolized and are therefore likely to end up in domestic wastewater in significant quantities. The specific objectives were to determine the sorption behavior in synthetic wastewater (SWW), the effect of pH and contribution of microbial surfaces, to the sorption of these antibiotics. The SWW, adjusted to various pH levels, was used and sorption kinetics conducted at 100 and 250 μg L−1 concentrations. Adsorption isotherms were determined at different pH levels. The SWW (pH 6.6) was inoculated with Rhodococcus sp. B30 strain to determine the contribution of microbial surfaces to sorption. Generally, both antibiotics revealed a decrease in sorption with pH increase, suggesting that lowering the solution pH of the wastewater may reduce their amounts in wastewater solution. Comparatively, ciprofloxacin exhibited higher sorption than amoxicillin. The sorption distribution coefficient (K d) values for ciprofloxacin ranged from 0.4356 to 0.8902 L g−1, with pH = 5.5 exhibiting the highest K d, while that for amoxicillin ranged from 0.1582 to 0.3858 L g−1 with the highest K d at pH = 3.5. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in K d values between various pH levels for both antibiotics except between the pH of 5.5 and 6.6. Both antibiotics were not degraded within 48 h by Rhodococcus sp. B30 strain. These results indicate that degradation may not be the major process of removal of compounds from wastewater treatment plants and hence the importance of sorption as an intervention technique.

The goal of the present work was to increase our knowledge on the behavior of manganese and nickel in soil within a Mediterranean environment. The study assessed the concentration levels of Mn and Ni (heavy metals selected for their essential role in the development of plants) in 250 soil horizon samples within 125 soil profiles of undisturbed soils in La Rioja (Spain). The study was undertaken to investigate and predict Mn and Ni concentrations on a regional scale. The analysis of spatial distribution of the elements was found to be affected by the nature of bedrock and, to a lesser extent, the anthropogenic origin. The variation of vertical distributions can be related, first, to natural sources—mainly the bed rocks—and, second, to soil processes. The geographical distribution of soil Mn is important to agriculture, nutrition, and health. Soil Mn and Ni maps of the area were elaborated, using geostatistics and geographic information systems. Mapping of geographical distributions will be useful in future research to determine regional patterns of Mn and Ni bioavailability, Mn and Ni deficiencies, and the possible consequences of land disposal of Mn- and Ni-laden wastes.

The effects of municipal sewage sludge applied on topsoil and understory vegetation (Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench) were studied in a maritime pine forest located in the South West of France (Landes of Gascogne). Understory response to sludge application is important as sludge addition to forest could increase competition with pine and affect herbivorous wildlife through incorporation of heavy metals in the food chain. The experiment was conducted in a young stand of maritime pines. The experimental design consisted of three 0.1-ha plots. One plot received composted sludge, one plot received liquid sludge, and one control plot received no sludge. Liquid sludge and composted sludge were applied on the basis of 3 tons dry matter sludge per hectare and per year. After 2 years of sludge application, we observed the following: (1) a significant increase in total concentrations of the following major and trace elements in the topsoil (layer 0–20 cm) [organic carbon (+140%), nitrogen (+140%), and lead (+80%)] and (2) no significant accumulation of trace elements in M. caerulea except nickel, which increased moderately (+40%) following application of composted sludge. These initial results need to be completed (1) by the assessment of long-term effects and dynamics of trace elements with additional applications of sludge and (2) by analyzing secondary understory species to determine if understory response to sludge application is more dependant on species than on soil parameters and sludge type.

The presence of sexual hormones (female estrogens) was assessed in sediments of a mangrove located in the urban region of southern Brazil. The estrogens are involved in human sexual reproduction. They act as the chemical messengers, and they are classified as natural and synthetic. The estrogens inputs in the environment are from treated and untreated sewage. The presence of estrogens in sewage is excretion from the female due to natural production and use of contraceptives (synthetic estrogens). With the indiscriminate release of sewage into the environment, estrogens can be found in rivers, lakes, and even in oceans. In this work, the presence of estrone (E1), 17-β-estradiol (E2), and 17-α-ethynilestradiol (EE2) in eight sedimentary stations in Itacorubi mangrove located on Santa Catarina Island, south Brazil, was investigated. Historically, the Itacorubi mangrove has been impacted by anthropogenic activities because the mangrove is inserted in the urban area of the Florianopolis. The estrogen EE2, used as contraceptive, had the highest concentration in mangrove sediment, 129.75 ± 3.89 ng/g. E2 was also found, with its concentration ranging from 0.90 ± 0.03 to 39.77 ± 1.19 ng/g. Following the mechanism, under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, E2 will first be oxidized to E1, which is further oxidized to unknown metabolites and finally to CO2 and water (mineralized). EE2 is oxidized to unknown metabolites and also finally mineralized. Theoretically, under anaerobic conditions, EE2 can be reduced to E1 even in environments such as mangrove which is essentially anaerobic.

Differences in the culturable fractions of total and metal-tolerant bacteria inhabiting bulk soil of a metal-mine spoil heap and the rhizosphere of silver birch (Betula pendula) or bushgrass (Calamagrostis epigejos), completed with changes in total microbial community structure in the soil, were assessed by MIDI-FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) profiling of whole-cell fatty acids. In addition, the abundance of metal-tolerant populations among the culturable bacterial communities and their identity and the metal-tolerance patterns were determined. The high proportions of Cu- and Zn-tolerant bacteria that ranged from 60.6% to 94.8% were ascertained in the heap sites. Within 31 bacterial isolates obtained, 24 strains were Gram-positive and Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Rathayibacter, Brochothrix, and Staphylococcus represented those identified. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data indicated that several strains developed multi-metal tolerance, and the highest tolerance to Cu (10 mM) and Zn (12 mM) was found for Pseudomonas putida TP3 and three isolated strains (BS3, TP12, and SL16), respectively. The analysis of FAME profiles obtained from the culturable bacterial communities showed that Gram-positive bacteria predominated in bulk soil of all heap sites. In contrast, the rhizosphere communities showed a lower proportion of the Gram-positive group, especially for silver birch. For the total microbial community, mostly Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas) inhabited the heap sites. The results suggest that the quantitative and qualitative development of heterotrophic microbiota in the soil of the metal-mine spoil heap seems to be site-dependent (i.e., rhizosphere vs. bulk soil), according to differences in the site characteristics (e.g., enrichment of nutrients and total metal concentrations) and impact of plant species.

Sampling is conducted during 2006 in Lahontan Reservoir, Nevada to investigate seasonal variation of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) partitioning in different phytoplankton size fractions as a function of point source (fluvial) mercury (Hg) loads, reservoir residence time, and algal growth. Carson River Hg inputs into the reservoir are extremely dynamic with spring loads two orders of magnitude larger than summer loads. Chlorophyll a measurements show two periods of algal growth. A small amount of algal growth occurs March to May. A second more substantial bloom occurs in the late summer, which is dominated by large, filamentous algae. THg concentrations (C b) and partitioning coefficients (K d) in total suspended particulate matter (SPM) are highest when fluvial inputs of Hg-contaminated sediment are large and are not necessarily associated with living biomass. However, MeHg K d in the small size fraction is indirectly related to fluvial loads and more strongly associated with living biomass in the later portion of the summer when algal growth occurs and reservoir residence times are longer. Data suggest size distinction is important to MeHg partitioning in the reservoir. Lumping all sizes into a single SPM sample will bias the analysis toward low MeHg C b and low MeHg K d in late summer when Aphanizomenon flos-aquae dominates the phytoplankton assemblage.

The role feral pigs (Sus scrofa) as a source of fecal contamination in Pacific Island ecosystems is not well understood. This study investigated the effects of feral pigs on enterococci (ENT) in runoff and soils of a Hawaiian forest. Seven sites were established with paired fenced/unfenced runoff plots in the Manoa watershed. Runoff was collected monthly from these plots after rain events from June 2008 to April 2009; soil ENT at each plot were also quantified. ENT in runoff were highly variable ranging from below the detection limit to >4.38 log10 most probable number (MPN) 100 mL−1. A repeated measures ANOVA found no overall fencing effects. This ANOVA did reveal a month by site interaction, indicating that while ENT in runoff were the highest in the wet season, this was not consistent across all sites. Soil ENT ranged from 14 to 511 MPN g−1 and differed among sites but not between fencing treatments. The only variables that were significantly correlated to ENT in runoff were runoff volume and soil ENT; slope, throughfall, soil moisture, bare soil cover, and total suspended solids in runoff were not correlated with ENT. While concentrations of ENT in runoff were highly variable across the months and sites, these forested headwaters did serve as sources of ENT to downstream ecosystems throughout the year. To minimize effects on human health, we recommend that public authorities employ greater warnings (i.e., signage) at streams and beaches in the lower reaches of this and other forested Hawaiian watersheds that are frequently used by both residents and tourists.