Genetic variation and genetic structure of black spruce (Picea mariana L.) populations growing in wet land (lowlands) and dry lands (uplands) with different levels of metal contaminations were analyzed using ISSR. Polymorphic loci (P%) ranged from 65% to 90% with a mean of 75%. Nei’s gene diversity (h) varied from 0.264 to 0.359 with a mean of 0.310, and Shannon’s index (I) ranged from 0.381 to 0.524 with a mean of 0.449. The level of genetic variation was higher in populations from wet lands than those from dry lands. Variation within populations accounts for most of total genetic variation. The genetic distance among the black spruce (P. mariana) populations ranged from 0.171 to 0.351. The present study indicates that genetic variation and long-term exposure to metals (more than 30 years) are not associated. Cytological analysis of black spruce seeds from metal-contaminated and -uncontaminated areas showed normal mitotic behavior during prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

Reducing conditions of submerged soils were simulated in laboratory experiments by keeping various soil samples from urban areas under an aqueous solution in sealed flasks for several lengths of time. A polluted soil from a different origin was also included for comparison. Metals dissolved at various times were determined, and availability and bio-accessibility of metals present in the solid phase were estimated. Although significant amounts of Fe and Mn were dissolved, other metals were released to the solution to a much lesser extent. This effect is attributed to the greater solubility of reduced forms of Fe and Mn, and the small amounts of other metals dissolved during water-logging were related with metals retained by, or occluded in, the reduced Fe or Mn compounds. The amounts of available and bio-accessible metals remaining in the solid phase were significantly increased by water-logging, particularly the latter form. Such increase of metal mobility is likely to favour metal leaching to the water table as well as the transfer of potentially toxic elements to humans during recreational activities.

This study was conducted to evaluate the contribution of environmental factors such as solar radiation and dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the photo-induced dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) production through laboratory experiments using field water samples collected from wetlands. DGM production was more significantly influenced by UVB intensity than UVA. DGM formation was also significantly affected by DOM chemical structure/composition rather than its concentration. Increasing NO3 − concentration limited DGM production, but photo-induced Hg oxidation stimulated by NO3 − would possibly occur when the NO3 − level is more than twice the DOC level. The addition of phosphorus into the field water samples induced a slight increase of DGM production; however, the addition of nitrogen decreased DGM formation, suggesting that an increase of limiting nutrients in water may promote biotic DGM production. Experiments using a Selenastrum capricornutum monoculture solution showed that cell density had a positive effect on DGM production. Moreover, the difference in DGM production between filtered and unfiltered samples showed that S. capricornutum significantly produced biotic DGM under UVA irradiation. Finally, our results imply that environmental factors such as light intensity, DOM sources, and site-specific microorganisms can significantly affect photo-induced Hg transformation.

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.

A study to understand the biological effects of samples prepared with lead and the effects of lead were conducted on Lemna minor L. and Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleid. This study was intended to test the hypothesis that nutrient enrichment (P, NO ₃ ⁻ -N and SO ₄ ²⁻ ) enhances the metal tolerance of floating macrophytes. The plants were exposed to Pb concentrations 0, 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 mg l⁻¹ for a period of 1, 3, 5, and 7 days. L. minor accumulated 561 mg g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) Pb, and S. polyrhiza accumulated 330 mg g⁻¹ dw Pb after 7 days, whereas in the groups enriched with nutrients, L. minor accumulated 128.7 mg g⁻¹ Pb and S. polyrhiza accumulated 68.7 mg g⁻¹ dw Pb after 7 days. Relative growth rates and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid) were measured in L. minor and S. polyrhiza exposed to different Pb concentrations under laboratory conditions. Relative growth rates were negatively correlated with metal exposure, but nutrient addition was found to suppress this effect. Photosynthetic pigment levels were found negatively correlated with metal exposure, and nutrient addition attenuated chlorophyll decrease in response to metal exposure. Metal and nutrient concentration in water decreased throughout the experiments. The study concluded that nutrient enrichment increases the tolerance of L. minor and S. polyrhiza to metals, that L. minor and S. polyrhiza are suitable candidates for the phytoremediation of low-level lead pollution, and that L. minor was more effective in extracting lead than was S. polyrhiza.

The global cycle of mercury (Hg) is reasonably well-understood, as are some of the natural and anthropogenic sources of Hg to the atmosphere. Less well understood are the regional and local characteristics of Hg deposition and subsequent watershed-scale transport, important parameters for assessing human risk to various avenues of Hg exposure. This study employed a two-part strategy for understanding coupled deposition and transport processes in central Indiana (USA), including Indianapolis, a typical large city with multiple coal-fired electric utilities and other Hg emission sources. A spatial analysis of Hg concentrations in surface soils revealed elevated Hg proximal to many of the large emission sources, with a distribution aligned along a southwest-northeast axis corresponding to the mean wind direction in this region. This soil distribution suggests some local depositional impact from local utilities, with wind modification affecting the regional pattern. Post-depositional transport of Hg was assessed using a series of streambank sampling arrays as the White River and various tributaries travelled through the urban core of Indianapolis. Streambank sediments had peak Hg concentrations in the urban core, where several local sources are present and where a number of subwatersheds join the main trunk of the White River, suggesting local emission and/or rapid Hg transport from urban subwatersheds due to their relatively high proportion of impervious surfaces. High Hg values persist in White River sediments into rural areas tens of kilometers south of Indianapolis, raising concerns for anglers collecting fish in this apparently “pristine” environment.

Internal loading is a critical component of the phosphorus (P) budget of aquatic systems that can control trophic conditions. While diffusion across the soil–water interface is generally considered the dominant process controlling P load to the water column, advection due to water table fluctuations can also be significant. Our objective was to evaluate the role of diffusive and advective fluxes in relation to the total P (TP) loads entering and exiting an impacted wetland in the Lake Okeechobee drainage basin. The average diffusive flux of TP was 0.32 ± 0.14 mg m−2 day−1 and occurred for 240 days out of 314, while advective flux was 1.31 ± 4.03 mg m−2 day−1 and occurred for only 57 days. Phosphorus load to the wetland via internal modes was estimated to be 2.3 and 4.0 g day−1 from diffusion and advection respectively, accounting for 18% of the total P input, while overland flow (51%) was the major input pathway to the wetland. Ditch flow and groundwater outflow accounted for 49% (18.0 g day−1) and 14% (5.0 g day−1) of the total P output, respectively. This study shows the importance of advective flux in addition to diffusive flux and that the former should not be neglected when estimating internal P load of transiently flooded isolated wetlands. The monthly P budget-based retention and release patterns were consistent with previous findings, showing that intermittent flooding and drying cycling significantly reduces the P retention capacity of a wetland.

Coal is one of the major sources of fuel for electricity production and will continue to be used for many more decades. Thus, it is important to study the effects of disposal of coal burning byproducts including fly ash into the environment. In this study, the solubility of cations and anions from the fly ash in water is discussed. Also, the fractionation of different metals from fly ash in water is studied to understand which fraction of the metals would likely be mobilized. The results from these studies suggested that the metals in the fly ash are bound mostly to carbonate, organic, and residual fractions. Also, when water solubility data are modeled with a geochemical model (Visual MINTEQ), the saturation index predictions suggested that brucite (Mg(OH)2) and calcite (CaCO3) could potentially precipitate and mineralize the atmospheric CO2. Such mineralization process could potentially reduce the leaching of toxic metals from fly ash. Results from this study will be helpful in understanding the fate of different metals from fly ash land disposal environments.

Fungicides are used to prevent foliar diseases on a wide range of vegetable, field, fruit, and ornamental crops. They are generally more effective as protective rather than curative treatments, and hence tend to be applied before infections take place. Less than 1% of US soybeans were treated with a fungicide in 2002 but by 2006, 4% were treated. Like other pesticides, fungicides can move-off of fields after application and subsequently contaminate surface water, groundwater, and associated sediments. Due to the constant pressure from fungal diseases such as the recent Asian soybean rust outbreak, and the always-present desire to increase crop yields, there is the potential for a significant increase in the amount of fungicides used on US farms. Increased fungicide use could lead to increased environmental concentrations of these compounds. This study documents the occurrence of fungicides in select US streams soon after the first documentation of soybean rust in the US and prior to the corresponding increase in fungicide use to treat this problem. Water samples were collected from 29 streams in 13 states in 2005 and/or 2006, and analyzed for 12 target fungicides. Nine of the 12 fungicides were detected in at least one stream sample and at least one fungicide was detected in 20 of 29 streams. At least one fungicide was detected in 56% of the 103 samples, as many as five fungicides were detected in an individual sample, and mixtures of fungicides were common. Azoxystrobin was detected most frequently (45% of 103 samples) followed by metalaxyl (27%), propiconazole (17%), myclobutanil (9%), and tebuconazole (6%). Fungicide detections ranged from 0.002 to 1.15 μg/L. There was indication of a seasonal pattern to fungicide occurrence, with detections more common and concentrations higher in late summer and early fall than in spring. At a few sites, fungicides were detected in all samples collected suggesting the potential for season-long occurrence in some streams. Fungicide occurrence appears to be related to fungicide use in the associated drainage basins; however, current use information is generally lacking and more detailed occurrence data are needed to accurately quantify such a relation. Maximum concentrations of fungicides were typically one or more orders of magnitude less than current toxicity estimates for freshwater aquatic organisms or humans; however, gaps in current toxicological understandings of the effects of fungicides in the environment limit these interpretations.

The relationships between pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and chlorophyll a in aquaculture and non-aquaculture waters are assessed in this paper. The research includes the evaluation of field and experimental studies at the Panjiakou Reservoir (between Aug and Oct 2009) and the review of international data covering two decades. The results indicated that typical eutrophic non-aquaculture water had mean concentrations of chlorophyll a of higher than 10 μg L−1, and significant positive correlations were found between pH, DO and chlorophyll a. When the mean concentration of chlorophyll a was less than 10 μg L−1, no correlation was found between DO and chlorophyll a for waters with a high exchange rate or heavily organically polluted natural waters. Diurnal variations were found for both pH and DO. A corresponding significant positive correlation was found between both water quality parameters. In general, when the mean concentration of chlorophyll a was less than 10 μg L−1 within aquaculture waters of low exchange rate, only a weak or no correlation at all was found between pH, DO and chlorophyll a during summer and autumn. On the other hand, a significant positive correlation between pH and chlorophyll a and a significant positive correlation or no correlation between DO and chlorophyll a were found for aquaculture waters with a high exchange rate during summer and autumn. Strong diurnal variations for both pH and DO were identified. A significant positive linear correlation between pH and DO was found for field enclosure experiments.