Metal accumulation was investigated in a range of woody species that were planted on Cd-, Zn- and Pb- polluted sites in North of France. The study is unique in that we directly compare a large number of woody species (25). The highest accumulation of Zn and Cd was found in the Salicaceae family members with up to 950 mg Zn kg⁻¹ dry weight (DW) and 44 mg Cd kg⁻¹ DW in leaves of Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides. Zn content was positively correlated with Cd content, both in leaves and stems. Pb concentration was generally low and was species-independent. Oak and birch species accumulated more Mn as compared to other woody species. A seasonal variation in metal accumulation could be found. Although soil compositions and metal bioavailabilities differed amongst the experimental sites chosen in this study, variation of metal concentrations within a given species was small. High bioconcentration factors for poplar and willow suggested the high potential of these species over other woody species for metal accumulation. Taken together, these data suggest that poplar and willow species are good candidates for phytoremediation programmes.

Commonly occurring plant species on metal-contaminated soils and noncontaminated soils adjoining Kanpur Tanneries, Uttar Pradesh, India were surveyed for arbuscular mycorrhizal association. In the present study, pH, electric conductivity (E.C.), organic carbon, macronutrients (available phosphorus, available potassium), micronutrients (Cu and Zn), and toxic metals (Cr, Cd, Pb) were higher in metal-contaminated site compared to noncontaminated site. These factors were also significantly different between metal-contaminated and noncontaminated soils. High E.C. along with toxic concentrations of metals like Cr, Cd, and Pb may have acted as selection pressure for vegetation cover, making the metal-contaminated site hostile for cultivation purpose. The study recorded Arum type of arbuscular mycorrhiza. The highest mean total root colonization levels in metal-contaminated and noncontaminated soils were 100% (Parthenium sp.) and 34.16% (Parthenium sp.), respectively. Maximum mean spore density in metal-contaminated and noncontaminated soils was 19 spores rhizosphere soil⁻¹ (Parthenium sp.) and nine spores rhizosphere soil⁻¹ (Desmostachya bipinnata and Cynodon sp.), respectively. Studies revealed that for a particular plant species, the root colonization levels and spore density (except Cynodon sp.) were higher in contaminated soil compared to noncontaminated soils. A total of six species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi belonging to two genera viz., Glomus and Scutellospora were recovered during the study. Species richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was maximum in the noncontaminated site compared to the metal-contaminated site. This result suggests that continuous exposure of plants and associated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to heavy metals can result in tolerant species which can be used for phytoremediation.

In this work, the potential removal of Cd, Cu, and Zn ions by non-living macrophytes Egeria densa has been studied. The adsorption kinetic and equilibrium experiments of these three metals on E. densa were performed in batch systems with controlled temperature and constant shaking. It was observed that all metal adsorption rates have increased when the pH was increasing. A pH threshold of 5 was established for use in adsorption experiments in order to avoid the metal precipitation. For adsorption kinetic tests, the equilibrium times for all metals were around 45 to 60 min. The equilibrium data at pH 5 were better described by the Langmuir isotherm than the Freundlich one, with the adsorption rate and maximum metal content values of 0.43 L g⁻¹ and 1.25 mequiv g⁻¹ for Cd, 4.11 L g⁻⁻¹ and 1.43 mequiv g⁻¹ for Cu, and 0.83 L g⁻¹ and 0.93 mequiv g⁻¹ for Zn. These adsorption parameters for E. densa resemble or are better than those for other biosorbents already studied, suggesting that the macrophytes E. densa as a biosorbent has a good metal removal potential for applications in effluent treatment systems.

Using ICP-AES and ICP-MS, several metals were analyzed in water and suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples collected under normal turbidity conditions at various stations from Deûle river (in northern France) to assess the impact of a former smelting plant on the fate of particulate elements and on the water quality in this aquatic environment. Compared to their regional background, particulate Pb, Zn and Cd were found to be most enriched, suggesting anthropogenic inputs from bed sediments into the water column mainly due to physical disturbances induced by barges traffics. Conversely, no significant enrichments of particulate metals such as Cu, Cr and Ni were observed in Deûle SPM. Characterization of SPM with analyses of mineralogical and chemical compositions--using environmental scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (ESEM/EDS)--indicated the presence of micro-specimens attributed to anthropogenic minerals, mostly PbS and ZnS. The calculated enrichment index (or the geoaccumulation index, I geo), enrichment factor (EF) and the partition coefficient (K d) confirmed that SPM was strongly polluted in cadmium, lead and zinc, moderately polluted in copper and unpolluted in chromium and nickel. Based on the analytical data obtained for SPM from the BCR (European Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction scheme, it was concluded that: (i) the reducible phases were largely more important for the binding of Pb and Cd than that of Zn and Ni and in a lesser extent Cu and Cr; (ii) copper was found to be mostly associated with the sulphides/organics fraction; (iii) chromium with a lithogenic origin was extracted in the largest percentage in the residual phase; and (iv) zinc was bound to the exchangeable-carbonate phase in the largest percentage in the particles analysed, followed by nickel and cadmium, suggesting that these metals might be easily remobilized if changes in environmental conditions would occur.

We assessed the potential of nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) and fluoride (F) contamination in drinking groundwater of an intensively cultivated district in India as a function of its agricultural activities. Three hundred and forty two groundwater samples were collected from different types of wells with varying depths and analyzed for pH, EC, NO₃-N load and F content. Database on predominant cropping system, fertilizer and pesticide uses were also recorded for the district. The NO₃-N load in groundwater samples were low ranging from 0.01 to 5.97 mg L⁻¹ with only 6.7% of them contained greater than 3.0 mg L⁻¹. Samples from the habitational areas showed higher NO₃-N content over the agricultural fields. But all the samples contained NO₃-N below the 10 mg L⁻¹, the threshold limit fixed by WHO for drinking purpose. The content decreased with increasing depth of wells (r = -0.297, P <= 0.01) and increased with increasing rate of nitrogenous fertilizer application (r = 0.931, P <= 0.01) and was higher in areas where shallow-rather than deep-rooted crops are grown. Fluoride content in groundwater was also low (0.02 to 1.19 mg L⁻¹) with only 2.4% of them exceeding 1.0 mg L⁻¹ posing a potential threat of fluorosis in some locality. On average, its content varied little spatially and along depth of sampling aquifers indicating homogeneity in lithology of the district. The content showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.237, P <= 0.01) with the amount of phosphatic fertilizer (single super phosphate) used for agriculture. Results thus indicated that the groundwater of the study area is presently safe for drinking purpose but some anthropogenic activities associated with intensive cultivation had a positive influence on its loading with NO₃-N and F.

Desorption of Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn from industrially polluted soils as a result of acidification is in focus. The eight soils of the investigation vary greatly in composition and heavy metal concentration/combination. Three soils had elevated concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn; regardless of pollution level, pollution origin, and soil type, the order for desorption as pH decreased was Zn > Cu > Pb. Turning to a single heavy metal in different soils, there was a huge difference in the pH at which the major desorption started. The variation was most significant for Pb where, e.g., less than 10% was desorbed at pH 2.5 from one soil, whereas in another soil 60% Pb was desorbed at this pH. Sequential extraction was made and the soils in which a high percentage of Pb was found in the residual phase (adsorbed strongest) was also the soils where less Pb was desorbed at low pH in the desorption experiments. It was evident that Cu, Pb, and Zn started to desorb at a higher pH from calcareous soils than from soils with low carbonate content. The mechanism responsible for this is co-precipitation of heavy metals in the carbonates. When the carbonates are dissolved at a relatively high pH of about 5, the co-precipitated heavy metals are released. The sequential extraction pattern for Cr differed generally much from the other heavy metals since the majority of Cr was extracted in the last two steps. Cr was also the heavy metal that desorbed the least at high acidification.

The effect of aluminium on histopathological and behavioral changes in the planarian Polycelis felina (Daly.) in laboratory conditions was studied. The planarians were treated with seven concentrations of aluminium sulfate for five days and compared to three control groups of animals. Microscopical, histological and morphometric methods were used. The results showed distinguished morphological changes on the planarian body as well as behavioral changes: various depigmentations, disordered locomotion, twisting of the body parts, hardly reacting to the mechanical stimuli, body contractions, deformations and mortality. Histomorphometric analyses showed changes in the size and number of neoblasts and reticular cells. Changes in epithelial cells and segments, parenchyma and muscular layer were also noticed. Concentrations of 600 and 1100 mg/L caused most distinct changes in behavior, morphological and histological structure of planarians. The highest concentrations caused irreversible changes. Considering high LC₅₀ (1100 mg/L), the used concentrations of aluminium presented no actual environmental threat to planarian populations in nature, but showed the extent of damages in a possible concentrated aluminium environment.

Water and sediment were studied to assess the impact of wastes from an area used for a disposal area of treated petrochemical effluents in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The study was performed using the Daphnia magna (Straus 1820) for chronical evaluations, mutagenesis in Salmonella/microsome assays, and micronuclei induction in cultures of V79 cell to assess genotoxicity. Six sites were defined for chronic and genotoxic tests by micronuclei induction with liquid and sediment samples. Long-term tests were planned in semi-static flow, with microcrustaceans 2 to 26 h old in the beginning of assays. The minimum level of reproduction required to maintain the species was not reached. There are delays for the beginning of the reproductive process. Survival was also affected in some samples. The reproductive responses were more sensitive on identifying environmental quality than the survival rate. The study of mutagenicity by Salmonella/microsome assay made it possible to define the seasonality of the components showing greater frequency in winter. The predominant event was the frameshift mutation in assays with the presence of metabolism. However, the cytotoxic activity, although present in all seasons, was less frequent in winter. The genotoxicity analysis in V79 cells exposed to liquid samples from the area also showed that cytotoxicity was the most frequent event. This may have interfered in the detection of a potential micronuclei induction. The results showed that, even after treatment, effluents disposed on the soil continue with active pollutants interfering in cladoceran's quality of life, cellular physiology, and DNA integrity.

The objective of this investigation is to analyse the variations of xenobiotic concentrations and the fluxes of dissolved xenobiotics during runoff events in the small rural Mess catchment (35 km²) in the Southwestern part of Luxembourg. Sulfonamides, tetracyclines, analgesics and hormones, dissolved nutrients, sulphate and chloride were measured to gather information about runoff generation. Typically, the highest values can be found during the first flush mainly in the rising limb of the flood hydrographs. The highest concentrations in eleven flood events are measured for ibuprofen (2,383 ng l⁻¹), estrone (27 ng l⁻¹) and diclofenac (20 ng l⁻¹). From the tetracycline group tetracycline (9 ng l⁻¹) itself is of relevance, while the sulfonamides are mainly represented by sulfamethoxazole (5 ng l⁻¹). The variable patterns of chemographs are attributed to the heterogeneous runoff generation characterised by different reactions of storm overflows from the combined sewer systems. During single flood events, the fluxes of ibuprofen (maximum 24,000 mg), 17α-ethinylestradiol (122 mg), 17β-estradiol (32 mg) or estrone (274 mg) are rather low.

The potential of almond shells was assessed for adsorption of heavy metal ions such as Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ from aqueous solution. Almond shells were pretreated separately with 0.4 mol/L NaOH, 0.4 mol/L HNO₃, and distilled water and their adsorption abilities were compared. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of the initial ion concentration, pH, and adsorbent dosage. Adsorption isotherms of metal ions on adsorbents were determined and correlated with common isotherm equations such as Langmuir, Freundlich, and BET models. The alkali-modified almond shells had adsorption capacities for Pb²⁺ from 2 to 9 mg/g and for Cd²⁺ from 2 to 7 mg/g, which was much higher than acid- and water-pretreated adsorbents. Experimental results showed that the best pH for adsorption was 5-6 and the adsorption values decreased with lowering pH. Isotherm models indicated the best fit for Langmuir model for alkali-modified almond shells. In comparing the parameters of the models, it was observed that the affinity of almond shells for adsorption of lead is stronger than affinity for adsorption of cadmium.