Dhaka and its neighboring areas suffer from severe air pollution, especially during dry season (November–April). We investigated temporal and directional variations in particulate matter (PM) concentrations in Dhaka, Gazipur, and Narayanganj from October 2012 to March 2015 to understand different aspects of PM concentrations and possible sources of high pollution in this region. Ninety-six-hour backward trajectories for the whole dry season were also computed to investigate incursion of long-range pollution into this area. We found yearly PM₁₀ concentrations in this area about three times and yearly PM₂.₅ concentrations about six times greater than the national standards of Bangladesh. Dhaka and its vicinity experienced several air pollution episodes in dry season when PM₂.₅ concentrations were 8–13 times greater than the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline value. Higher pollution and great contribution of PM₂.₅ most of the time were associated with the north-westerly wind. Winter (November to January) was found as the most polluted season in this area, when average PM₁₀ concentrations in Dhaka, Gazipur, and Narayanganj were 257.1, 240.3, and 327.4 μg m⁻³, respectively. Pollution levels during wet season (May–October) were, although found legitimate as per the national standards of Bangladesh, exceeded WHO guideline value in 50 % of the days of that season. Trans-boundary source identifications using concentration-weighted trajectory method revealed that the sources in the eastern Indian region bordering Bangladesh, in the north-eastern Indian region bordering Nepal and in Nepal and its neighboring areas had high probability of contributing to the PM pollutions at Gazipur station.

Acrylamide (ACR), an environmental toxin though being investigated for decades, remains an enigma with respect to its mechanism/site of actions. We aim to explicate the changes in cerebral ganglions and giant fibers along with the behavior of worms on ACR intoxication (3.5–17.5 mg/mL of medium/7 days). Neurotransmitter analysis revealed increased levels of excitatory glutamate and inhibitory gamma amino butyrate with reduced levels of dopamine, serotonin, melatonin, and epinephrine (p < 0.001). Scanning electron microscopy showed architectural changes in cerebral ganglions at 3.5 mg/mL/ACR. The learning behavior as evidenced by Pavlovian and maze tests was also altered well at 3.5 mg/mL of ACR. Electrophysiological assessment showed a reduction in conduction velocity of the medial and lateral giant nerve fibers. We speculate that the observed dose/time-dependent changes in neurotransmission, neurosecretion, and conduction velocity on ACR intoxication at 17.5 mg/ml, possibly, could be due to its effect on nerve fibers governing motor functions. The bioaccumulation factor in the range of 0.38–0.99 mg/g of ACR causes a detrimental impact on giant fibers affecting behavior of worm. The observations made using the simple invertebrate model implicate that the cerebral ganglionic variations in the worms may be useful to appreciate the pathology of the neurological diseases which involve motor neuron dysfunction, esp where the availability of brain samples from the victims are scarce.

Long-term monitoring of the content of perchloroethylene (PCE) in a river ecosystem affected by groundwater contamination was performed at a site in the Czech Republic. The quality of surface water was monitored quarterly between 1994 and 2013, and fish were collected from the affected ecosystem to analyse the content of PCE in their tissue in 1998, 2011 and 2012. Concentrations of PCE (9–140 μg/kg) in the tissue of fish collected from the contaminated part of the river were elevated compared to the part of the river unaffected by the contamination (ND to 5 μg/kg PCE). The quality of surface water has improved as a result of groundwater remediation during the evaluated period. Before the remedial action, PCE concentrations ranged from 30 to 95 μg/L (1994–1997). Following commencement of remedial activities in September 1997, a decrease in the content of PCE in the surface water to 7.3 μg/L (1998) and further to 1 μg/L (2011) and 1.1 μg/L (2012) led to a progressive decrease in the average concentration of PCE in the fish muscle tissue from 79 μg/kg (1998) to 24 (2011) and 30 μg/kg (2012), respectively. It was determined that the bioconcentration of PCE does not have a linear dependence because the decrease in contamination in the fish muscle tissue is not directly proportional to the decrease in contamination in the river water. The observed average bioconcentration factors were 24 and 28 for the lower concentrations of PCE and 11 for the higher concentrations of PCE in the river. In terms of age, length and weight of the collected fish, weight had the greatest significance for bioconcentration, followed by the length, with age being evaluated as a less significant factor.

Deammonification process has been studied as an alternative technology for nitrogen removal. This process consists of the association between nitrifying and anammox bacteria, in which the process success is related to aeration, recirculation, and reactor configuration. Considering this, the present study aimed to evaluate the performance of an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor on nitrogen removal by deammonification process. Established in a single reactor, it considered the effects of recirculation rate and variation of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in microbial community and nitrogen removal efficiency. Thus, two independent tests were conducted: (T1) high recirculation flow rate, performed at 43 L d⁻¹ (Qᵣ/Qᵢₙ = 16), aeration of 30 mLₐᵢᵣ min⁻¹ L⁻¹ ᵣₑₐcₜₒᵣ, and conducted during 16 days; (T2) low recirculation flow rate performed at 6.7 L d⁻¹ (Qᵣ/Qᵢₙ = 2.5), operated for 55 days, divided into three aeration phases: (T2a) 30 mLₐᵢᵣ min⁻¹ L⁻¹ ᵣₑₐcₜₒᵣ, (T2b) 20 mLₐᵢᵣ min⁻¹ L⁻¹ ᵣₑₐcₜₒᵣ, and (T2c) 30 mLₐᵢᵣ min⁻¹ L⁻¹ ᵣₑₐcₜₒᵣ. Results showed that in T1 the high recirculation rate favored nitrifying bacteria prevalence, intensified by reactor turbulence and anammox granules disintegration, changing activity from deammonification to a nitrification process. In addition, T1 reached up to 350 ± 100 mgN L⁻¹ d⁻¹ nitrogen removal rate (NRR). For T2, at low recirculation rate, deammonification process was successfully established with a NRR of 490 mgN L⁻¹ d⁻¹ at Qᵣ/Qᵢₙ = 2.5 and air flow rate of 20 mLₐᵢᵣ min⁻¹ L⁻¹ ᵣₑₐcₜₒᵣ.

Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Due to elevated arsenic (As) levels in some planting area, P. notoginseng and its derivatives are contaminated, and the As concentration in these products exceeds the standard limit (As concentration < 2 mg/kg). In this study, the effects of sulfate (S) application on As uptake and the physicological response of P. notoginseng were investigated in a pot-culture experiment. The results showed that the As concentration in the roots was significantly decreased by a maximum of 64.9 % in response to the application of 75 mg/kg S. The proportion of methylated arsenic, which is less toxic, in the roots was increased by 263.4 %. Moreover, the application of S alleviated the oxidative damage due to As stress, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were improved by 26.2 and 29.4 %, respectively. Finally, the total saponin content in the roots increased by 26.0 % in response to a supply of 50 mg/kg S. These findings implied that the application of S fertilizer could effectively reduce As accumulation in P. notoginseng and promote the formation of pharmaceutical components.

Metal cations could enhance the sorption of tetracyclines but sometimes the effects are negligible. It is still not clear how these metals produce different effects. In this study, the sorption of chlortetracycline (CTC), tetracycline (TC), and oxytetracycline (OTC) was performed in the presence of Cd (II) to reveal the unknown mechanisms with two river sediments. It is found that Cd (II) could enhance the sorption of TCs on sediment SS, while it is negligible on sediment SY. For different tetracyclines, the enhancement effect by Cd (II) was more significant for CTC, while it is inferior for OTC and TC. Sorption isotherms of Cd (II) under strong and weak background electrolyte and pH decrease of sorption solutions indicate specific sorption is major on SY and cation exchange is significant on SS. Consequently, specific sorption is unfavorable for the enhanced sorption of TCs in the presence of Cd (II) because it is not favorable for the sorption of Cd-TCs by complexation and cation exchange. By the theoretical calculations, it is found that the significant enhancement of CTC is due to the higher electron affinity of Cd-CTC complex than the others to the surface groups. In conclusion, TCs sorption will not be affected by Cd (II) on sediments or soils with strong specific sorption characters of Cd (II).

Climate change is expected to affect the groundwater quality by altering recharge, water table elevation, groundwater flow, and land use. In fractured bedrock aquifers, the quality of groundwater is a sensitive issue, particularly in areas affected by geogenic arsenic contamination. Understanding how climate change will affect the geochemistry of naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater is crucial to ensure sustainable use of this resource, particularly as a source of drinking water. This paper presents a review of the potential impacts of climate change on arsenic concentration in bedrock aquifers and identifies issues that remain unresolved. During intense and prolonged low flow, the decline in the water table is expected to increase the oxidation of arsenic-bearing sulfides in the unsaturated zone. In addition, reduced groundwater flow may increase the occurrence of geochemically evolved arsenic-rich groundwater and enhance arsenic mobilization by reductive dissolution and alkali desorption. In contrast, the occurrence of extreme recharge events is expected to further decrease arsenic concentrations because of the greater dilution by oxygenated, low-pH water. In some cases, arsenic mobilization could be indirectly induced by climate change through changes in land use, particularly those causing increased groundwater withdrawals and pollution. The overall impact of climate change on dissolved arsenic will vary greatly according to the bedrock aquifer properties that influence the sensitivity of the groundwater system to climate change. To date, the scarcity of data related to the temporal variability of arsenic in fractured bedrock groundwater is a major obstacle in evaluating the future evolution of the resource quality.

Spatial and temporal variation of rotifers in Lake Sattal of Western Himalaya was studied from January 2011 to December 2012. A total of 22 rotifer species could be identified in the lake with a biannual mean abundance of 2.07 × 10⁶ individuals/m³ in eastern basin and 1.92 × 10⁶ individuals/m³ in western basin having maximum abundance during summer season. The main factors regulating distribution patterns of rotifers are nutrients, viz. NH₄-N, PO₄-P, NO₂-N, and NO₃-N, and turbidity, pH, and transparency. Six species of rotifers were deliberated as important species based on importance value index. Keratella quadrata, Colurella obtusa, and Asplanchna priodonta flourish under low turbid conditions. Philodina roseola demonstrated as a phosphorous-tolerant species, whereas K. quadrata and C. obtusa are thermophilous and their distributions are highly influenced by pH and transparency. The total organic matter (TOM) of the sediment has a significant positive correlation with species richness and diversity. The hierarchical environmental descriptor suggests water chemistry has a greater significant role in assemblages of rotifers as compared to sediment characteristics.

The degradation of two pesticides, carbofuran (CBF) and ioprodine (IPR), was studied by the photolytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (UV/H₂O₂). The influence of two experimental parameters, H₂O₂ concentration and initial pH, as well as their interactions, was investigated. Optimization was carried out where experimental parameters were determined for the treatment of each pesticide. Both pesticides were totally eliminated by UV/H₂O₂ system under optimal conditions. However, significant differences were found: CBF degradation was influenced by both parameters and their interactions, while IPR degradation was not statistically affected by initial pH. Interestingly, analysis of degradation pathways showed a major influence of photolysis process and oxidation due to hydrogen peroxide for the CBF degradation, while the synergistic combination between both of them played the most relevant role during IPR degradation. A mixture of both pesticides was also submitted to UV/H₂O₂ action in which a lower rate was observed for IPR elimination while CBF was not affected. A 90 % of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was removed and 75 % of mineralization was achieved after the treatment of the mixture. Almost 92 % of the toxicity was eliminated making this technique a promising process to treat toxic mixtures of these pesticides.

Soil microbial communities play an important role in the biodegradation of different petroleum derivates, including hydrocarbons. Also other biological factors such as enzyme and respiration activities and microbial abundance are sensitive to contamination with petroleum derivates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of autochthonic microbial community and biological parameters (respiration, dehydrogenase and catalase activities, total microorganisms count) on contamination with car fuels and engine oils. The surface layer (0–20 cm) of Mollic Gleysol was used for the experiment. In laboratory conditions, soil was contaminated with the following petroleum substances: car fuels (petrol, diesel) and car engine oils (new and waste—after 10,000 km). The results demonstrated that, among the investigated hydrocarbon substances, petrol addition seemed to be the most toxic for the microbial activity of the investigated soil. The toxicity of the used hydrocarbon substances to microorganisms might be summarized as follows: diesel > new oil > waste oil > petrol. Species belonging to the genera Micrococcus and Rhodococcus were noted as the major autochthonic bacteria being present in soil contaminated with new automobile oil, whereas species of the genera Bacillus sp. and Paenibacillus sp. were identified in the combination treated with waste oil.