Bicarbonate plays a crucial role in limiting the growth of submersed aquatic macrophytes in eutrophic lakes, and high ammonia is often toxic to macrophytes. In order to evaluate the combined effect of HCO3 (-) and total ammonia (i.e., the total of NH3 and NH4 (+)) on submersed macrophytes Vallisneria natans, the growth and physiological response of V. natans in the presence of HCO3 (-) and ammonia were studied. The results showed that with the increase of ammonia, morphological parameters of V. natans declined. In contrast, increased HCO3 (-) concentration stimulated the growth of V. natans, especially when the NH4 (+)-N/NO3 (-)-N ratio was 1:7. High ammonia concentration induced excess free amino acids (FAA) accumulation and soluble carbohydrates (SC) depletion in plant tissues. However, the elevated HCO3 (-) promoted the synthesis of SC and rendered the decrease of FAA/SC ratio. The results also suggested that HCO3 (-) could partially alleviate the stress of ammonia, as evidenced by the decrease of FAA/SC ratio and the growth enhancement of V. natans when the ammonia concentration was 0.58 mg L(-1). Given the fact that HCO3 (-) is probably the dominant available carbon source in most eutrophic lakes, the ability of V. natans to use HCO3 (-) for SC synthesis may explain the alleviating effect of HCO3 (-) on V. natans under ammonia stress.

The aquatic plant Pistia stratiotes L. (water lettuce) was studied due to its capability of absorption of contaminants in water and its subsequent use in wetlands constructed for wastewater treatment. The effects of Cd on root growth, accumulation of Cd, antioxidant enzymes, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in P. stratiotes were investigated. The results indicated that P. stratiotes has considerable ability to accumulate Cd. Cadmium induced higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities than catalase activity, suggesting that SOD and POD provided a better defense mechanism against Cd-induced oxidative damage. The accumulation of Cd promoted MDA production.

This study represents a first attempt at applying a fuzzy inference system (FIS) and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to the field of aquatic biomonitoring for classification of the dosage and time of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) injection through selected biomarkers in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Fish were injected either intramuscularly (i.m.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) with BaP. Hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, relative visceral fat weights (LSI), and four biliary fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) concentrations were used as the inputs in the modeling study. Contradictory rules in FIS and ANFIS models appeared after conversion of bioassay results into human language (rule-based system). A “data trimming” approach was proposed to eliminate the conflicts prior to fuzzification. However, the model produced was relevant only to relatively low exposures to BaP, especially through the i.m. route of exposure. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was unable to raise the classification rate to an acceptable level. In conclusion, FIS and ANFIS models have limited applications in the field of fish biomarker studies.

The structurally related hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) like hydroxylated 4,4′-dibromodiphenyl ether widely occur in precipitation, surface water, and biotic media. The origins of hydroxylated PBDEs (OH-PBDEs) are of particular interest due to their greater toxic potencies than the corresponding PBDEs. We studied the transformation behavior and products of 4,4′-dibromodiphenyl ether (BDE 15) mediated by lignin peroxidase (LiP), an extracellular enzyme that is produced by certain white rot fungus and is widely present in the natural environment. We found that BDE 15 can be effectively transformed through the reaction mediated by LiP, and two different mono-OH-dibromodiphenyl ethers were identified by using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC-MS/MS. In particular, we compared the reaction behavior for systems variously containing natural organic matter (NOM) and/or veratryl alcohol (VA), a metabolite that certain fungus produces along with LiP in nature. It was found that the VA’s enhancement effect on LiP performance was impaired by the presence of NOM. The findings in this study provide useful information for better understanding the origins of OH-PBDEs found in the environment.

Microwave (MW) irradiation, a less energy-intensive irradiation technique, was employed to promote the changes in physicochemical properties of soil organic matter (SOM). MW was irradiated to forest soils for 10 min. Then, the physical and chemical properties of the SOM were analyzed with UV absorbance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and size exclusion chromatography. Also, the SOM was fractionated into biopolymer, fulvic acid, and humic acid, and each fraction was analyzed quantitatively. These analyses revealed that the SOM became more aromatic and nonpolar, highly condensed, and macromolecular organic substances that possess a higher amount of functional groups found in highly humified substances than the original SOM as a result of the MW irradiation. The humification-like alteration of SOM property was attributable to the thermal cracking and to the radical reaction, particularly when the MW was irradiated along with activated carbon under the aerobic condition. The results of this study suggest that the artificial and enhanced property changes of SOM can be accomplished by MW irradiation on an engineering time scale, which can contribute to the successful soil and groundwater remediation practice.

Identification and removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated at two coke plants located in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province of China. Samples of raw coking wastewaters and wastewaters from subunits of a coke production plant were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to provide a detailed chemical characterization of PAHs. The identification and characterization of PAH isomers was based on a positive match of mass spectral data of sample peaks with those for PAH isomers in mass spectra databases with electron impact ionization mass spectra and retention times of internal reference compounds. In total, 270 PAH compounds including numerous nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur heteroatomic derivatives were positively identified for the first time. Quantitative analysis of target PAHs revealed that total PAH concentrations in coking wastewaters were in the range of 98.5 ± 8.9 to 216 ± 20.2 μg/L, with 3-4-ring PAHs as dominant compounds. Calculation of daily PAH output from four plant subunits indicated that PAHs in the coking wastewater came mainly from ammonia stripping wastewater. Coking wastewater treatment processes played an important role in removing PAHs in coking wastewater, successfully removing 92 % of the target compounds. However, 69 weakly polar compounds, including PAH isomers, were still discharged in the final effluent, producing 8.8 ± 2.7 to 31.9 ± 6.8 g/day of PAHs with potential toxicity to environmental waters. The study of coking wastewater herein proposed can be used to better predict improvement of coke production facilities and treatment conditions according to the identification and removal of PAHs in the coke plant as well as to assess risks associated with continuous discharge of these contaminants to receiving waters.

The spatial distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was examined in soils surrounding the Tanggu Chemical Industrial District in Tianjin, China. The concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorobenzenes (HCBs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in 70 surface soils using accelerated solvent extraction and gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The results showed that the ranges of ∑HCH, ∑DDT, ΣHCB, and ∑PCB concentrations in soils were 2.1–12,549 μg kg⁻¹ (average, 965 μg kg⁻¹), n.d.–2,033 μg kg⁻¹ (average, 88.4 μg kg⁻¹), n.d.–1,924 μg kg⁻¹ (average, 349 μg kg⁻¹), and n.d.–373 μg kg⁻¹ (average, 46.2 μg kg⁻¹), respectively. Of these, HCHs were the dominant POPs, accounting for 75 % of the total organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues. Overall, the spatial distribution of OCP concentrations showed a decreasing trend from the center of the Tanggu District to the surrounding areas. Two major pollution sources were Tianjin Dagu Chemical Co., Ltd. in the district center and the Tianjin Chemical Plant in Hangu District. In contrast, PCB concentrations were relatively high in the Haihe estuary to the east and low to the west of the study area. Component analysis of OCPs in these soils showed that they mainly came from industrial point sources. Compared with soils in other regions, soil DDT pollution was at a medium level in the Tanggu Chemical Industrial District, but associated HCH, HCB, and PCB pollution was relatively heavy. By multivariate statistical analyses, Tianjin Dagu Chemical Co., Ltd. was recognized as the main source of POPs, and soil properties were clarified to play an important role on the distribution and composition of POPs, especially the organic carbon content.

Many best management practices have been developed and implemented to treat the nonpoint source pollution of the aquatic environment in Korea's four major river basins. The performance and cost of these facilities were evaluated and compared using broad categories, including grassed swales, constructed wetlands, vegetated filter strips, hydrodynamic separators, media filters, and infiltration trenches, based on the monitoring and maintenance work undertaken between 2005 and 2012. Constructed wetlands, media filters, and infiltration trenches generally performed better in removing pollutants than other types of facilities, while media filters were the most expensive factor in terms of construction and operational costs. In addition, constructed wetlands incurred the least operational cost, as well as helping to control the quantity of runoff. This illustrates that a high cost facility does not necessarily give a better performance. A slightly more expensive facility, such as wetland, could prove to be a reasonably effective treatment. The selection of the most appropriate treatment for stormwater runoff should be based on an overall analysis of performance and cost.

Drinking water treatment residuals (WTRs), nonhazardous by-products generated in a drinking water treatment plant, can be reused to immobilize phosphorus (P) to control the internal P loading from lake sediments for eutrophication control. Reasonably, before practical application, it is essential to determine the P immobilization capability of WTRs in lake sediments under various conditions. In this work, laboratory scale experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of light, microbial activity, and sediment resuspension on the P immobilization capability of WTRs. The results suggested that absence of light, low microbial activity, and sediment resuspension can increase the internal P loading from lake sediments. WTRs can, however, reduce the internal P loading significantly. Further analysis demonstrated that WTRs can stabilize P, decreasing the P bioavailability in the sediments under varied conditions. WTRs also presented little undesirable effects on the dissolved oxygen levels and pH of overlying water. Therefore, light, microbial activity, and sediment resuspension have little effect on the P immobilization capability of WTRs in lake sediments.

Long-term mining and smelting activities brought a series of environmental issues into soils in Wanshan mercury (Hg) mining area (WMMA), Guizhou, China. Several studies have been published on the concentrations of Hg in local soils, but a comprehensive assessment of the mass of Hg in soil induced by anthropogenic activities, as presented in this paper, has not been previously conducted. Three districts of WMMA were chosen as the study areas. We summarized previous published data and sampled 14 typical soil profiles to analyze the spatial and vertical distributions of Hg in soil in the study areas. The regional geologic background, direct and indirect Hg deposition, and Hg-polluted irrigation water were considered as the main sources of Hg contaminations in local soils. Furthermore, the enrichment factor (EF) method was applied to assess the extent of anthropogenic input of Hg to soil. Titanium (Ti) was chosen to be the reference element to calculate the EF. Generally, the elevated values of EF were observed in the upper soil layers and close to mine wastes. The total budget of Hg in soil contributed from anthropogenic sources was estimated to be 1,227 t in arable soil and 75 t in natural soil. Our data showed that arable soil was the major sink of anthropogenic Hg in the study area.