Evaluation of Streptomyces species from historically sewage sludge contaminated soils for tolerance to copper(II) toxicity

Pollution of the environment by copper(II) exerts numerous adverse impacts on soils, microorganisms, plants, animals and humans. Assessing these impacts on microorganisms is essential as they are potential agents of bioremediation to purify the ecosystem. The aim of this study was to investigate the tolerance of Streptomyces species obtained from historically contaminated soils to copper (II) toxicity. Soil samples were collected from farms around sewage sludge dump sites (tests) and where there were no dumps (control). Standard microbiological methods were used to isolate, characterize and identify the three best copper tolerant species. Also, the impact on Streptomyces growth characteristics such as radial growth (R2), index of growth (GI) and percentage inhibition of radial growth (PIRG) by copper (II) was examined. Results obtained indicated that; the minimum inhibitory concentration of copper (II) for some of the Streptomyces isolates was 600 mg/l. However, three isolates; SW2B, SW7A and SW7B had MIC of 3000 mg/l and were selected for further investigations. Increasing metal concentration from 100 mg/l to 2000 mg/l reduced R2 from 40.2 to 4.0 and GI from 0.77 to 0.08, corresponding to 69.48 % increase in PIRG for SW2B. For isolate SW7A, R2 and GI decreased from 33.7 to 3.8 and from 0.67 to 0.08 respectively as copper (II) concentration increased from 100 mg/l to 2000 mg/l, giving 59.33 % increase in PIRG. The highest increase in PIRG (88.04 %) was obtained for SW7B, corresponding to a decrease of R2 and GI from 39.2 to 5.2 and 0.77 to 0.10 respectively. Molecular method was used to identify the isolates as Streptomyces chartreusis (SW2B), Streptomyces aureoverticillatus (SW7A) and Streptomyces subrutilus (SW7B).

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How Does Radial Growth of Water-Stressed Populations of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Trees Vary under Multiple Drought Events?

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12020129 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 129

Author(s):

Tamalika Chakraborty ◽

Albert Reif ◽

Andreas Matzarakis ◽

Somidh Saha

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Basal Area ◽

European Beech ◽

Canopy Openness ◽

Fagus Sylvatica L ◽

The Impact ◽

Neighborhood Competition

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees are becoming vulnerable to drought, with a warming climate. Existing studies disagree on how radial growth varies in European beech in response to droughts. We aimed to find the impact of multiple droughts on beech trees’ annual radial growth at their ecological drought limit created by soil water availability in the forest. Besides, we quantified the influence of competition and canopy openness on the mean basal area growth of beech trees. We carried out this study in five near-natural temperate forests in three localities of Germany and Switzerland. We quantified available soil water storage capacity (AWC) in plots laid in the transition zone from oak to beech dominated forests. The plots were classified as ‘dry’ (AWC < 60 mL) and ‘less-dry’ (AWC > 60 mL). We performed dendroecological analyses starting from 1951 in continuous and discontinuous series to study the influence of climatic drought (i.e., precipitation-potential evapotranspiration) on the radial growth of beech trees in dry and less-dry plots. We used observed values for this analysis and did not use interpolated values from interpolated historical records in this study. We selected six drought events to study the resistance, recovery, and resilience of beech trees to drought at a discontinuous level. The radial growth was significantly higher in less-dry plots than dry plots. The increase in drought had reduced tree growth. Frequent climatic drought events resulted in more significant correlations, hence, increased the dependency of tree growth on AWC. We showed that the recovery and resilience to climatic drought were higher in trees in less-dry plots than dry plots, but it was the opposite for resistance. The resistance, recovery, and resilience of the trees were heterogeneous between the events of drought. Mean growth of beech trees (basal area increment) were negatively impacted by neighborhood competition and positively influenced by canopy openness. We emphasized that beech trees growing on soil with low AWC are at higher risk of growth decline. We concluded that changes in soil water conditions even at the microsite level could influence beech trees’ growth in their drought limit under the changing climate. Along with drought, neighborhood competition and lack of light can also reduce beech trees’ growth. This study will enrich the state of knowledge about the ongoing debate on the vulnerability of beech trees to drought in Europe.

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Impact of Industrial Pollution on Radial Growth of Conifers in a Former Mining Area in the Eastern Carpathians (Northern Romania)

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050640 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 640

Author(s):

Cristian Gheorghe Sidor ◽

Radu Vlad ◽

Ionel Popa ◽

Anca Semeniuc ◽

Ecaterina Apostol ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Industrial Pollution ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Abies Alba ◽

Mining Operation ◽

Mining Area ◽

Silver Fir ◽

Local Pollution ◽

Eastern Carpathians ◽

The Impact

The research aims to evaluate the impact of local industrial pollution on radial growth in affected Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) stands in the Tarnița study area in Suceava. For northeastern Romania, the Tarnița mining operation constituted a hotspot of industrial pollution. The primary processing of non-ferrous ores containing heavy metals in the form of complex sulfides was the main cause of pollution in the Tarnița region from 1968 to 1990. Air pollution of Tarnița induced substantial tree growth reduction from 1978 to 1990, causing a decline in tree health and vitality. Growth decline in stands located over 6 km from the pollution source was weaker or absent. Spruce trees were much less affected by the phenomenon of local pollution than fir trees. We analyzed the dynamics of resilience indices and average radial growth indices and found that the period in which the trees suffered the most from local pollution was between 1978 and 1984. Growth recovery of the intensively polluted stand was observed after the 1990s when the environmental condition improved because of a significant reduction in air pollution.

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Optimal Solutions for the Use of Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Lands

Water ◽

10.3390/w13050585 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 585

Author(s):

Catalina Iticescu ◽

Puiu-Lucian Georgescu ◽

Maxim Arseni ◽

Adrian Rosu ◽

Mihaela Timofti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Sewage Sludge ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Chemical Characteristics ◽

Optimal Solutions ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Agricultural Areas ◽

The Impact ◽

Made In

The use of sewage sludge in agriculture decreases the pressure on landfills. In Romania, massive investments have been made in wastewater treatment stations, which have resulted in the accumulation of important quantities of sewage sludge. The presence of these sewage sludges coincides with large areas of degraded agricultural land. The aim of the present article is to identify the best technological combinations meant to solve these problems simultaneously. Adapting the quality and parameters of the sludge to the specificity of the land solves the possible compatibility problems, thus reducing the impact on the environment. The physico-chemical characteristics of the fermented sludge were monitored and optimal solutions for their treatment were suggested so as to allow that the sludge could be used in agriculture according to the characteristics of the soils. The content of heavy metals in the sewage sludge was closely monitored because the use of sewage sludge as a fertilizer does not allow for any increases in the concentrations of these in soils. The article identifies those agricultural areas which are suitable for the use of sludge, as well as ways of correcting some parameters (e.g., pH), which allow the improvement of soil quality and obtained higher agricultural production.

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The impact of intermediate thermal hydrolysis on the degradation kinetics of carbohydrates in sewage sludge

Bioresource Technology ◽

10.1016/j.biortech.2013.03.121 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 137 ◽

pp. 239-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

A. Shana ◽

S. Ouki ◽

M. Asaadi ◽

P. Pearce ◽

G. Mancini

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Degradation Kinetics ◽

Thermal Hydrolysis ◽

The Impact ◽

Kinetics Of

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Geotechnical Evaluation of Diesel Contaminated Clayey Soil

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11146451 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (14) ◽

pp. 6451

Author(s):

Christian E. Hernández-Mendoza ◽

Pamela García Ramírez ◽

Omar Chávez Alegría

Keyword(s):

Contaminated Soils ◽

Clayey Soil ◽

Friction Angle ◽

Geotechnical Properties ◽

Natural Soil ◽

Osmotic Suction ◽

The One ◽

Available Information ◽

The Impact ◽

Diesel Contamination

Soil contamination by different hydrocarbons has rapidly expanded worldwide, surpassing the self-purification capacity of soils and increasing the number of contaminated sites. Although much effort has been devoted to study the effects of diesel contamination on the geotechnical properties of soil, there is still limited available information about it. Moreover, there is no available information about the maximum diesel retention that soil can have and its effect on the geotechnical behavior of the soil. Thus, in this paper, we determined the maximum diesel retention by an unsaturated clayey soil and evaluated the impact of diesel contamination on its geotechnical properties. The results showed that the soil could only retain 12.6% of the added diesel and the excess was expulsed. At such a diesel concentration, the saturation rate of the soil was lower than 80%. Diesel contamination increased the plasticity and the internal friction angle of the soil, while its cohesion was considerably decreased. It should be noted that the matric suction of contaminated soil was lower than the one obtained for natural soil. However, its osmotic suction was considerably higher. This indicates that osmotic suction must be considered to evaluate the shear strength of contaminated soils.

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IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON STUDENTS’ LIVELINESS AND ACADEMIC PROGRESS: AN E-SURVEY BASED ANALYSIS IN INDIA

Ensemble ◽

10.37948/ensemble-2021-sp1-a008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol SP-1 (1) ◽

pp. 60-71

Author(s):

KANCHAN PAIRA ◽

Keyword(s):

Virus Transmission ◽

First Century ◽

Educational Institutions ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Adverse Impacts ◽

Negative Thoughts ◽

Standard Level ◽

Spanish Flu ◽

The Impact ◽

Mental And Physical Health

COVID-19 infectious disease is now considered as the first major climacteric invasion on humankind of the twenty-first century since the ‘Spanish flu’ of the twentieth. The virus has not only alarmed the mental and physical health of humankind, but its direct impact has severely damaged the economy of maximum nations of the world, and India is no exception to that. Education also was not left out either from the impact. In India, educational institutions had to shut down to break the chain of virus transmission. Instead of offline, the digital mode of classes for colleges and universities has been organized by the Institutional Authorities by getting the direction from University Grants Commission (UGC) of India. However, the regional imbalances and inequalities in families' economic conditions hinder the successful implementation of that. As a result, the students having a standard level of awareness about the COVID-19 disease are affected by its various adverse impacts produced directly or indirectly. Anxiety, negative thoughts, boredom, and future academic uncertainty are engulfing them. This paper describes the students' awareness level about COVID-19. It focuses on the pandemic’s impact on the students' academic swing and mental health and prescribes the possible ways to assuage the impact of the pandemic on students.

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Effect of compost in phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2001.0102 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 291-295 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

J. Vouillamoz ◽

M. W. Milke

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Contaminated Soil ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽

Dilution Effect ◽

Screening Tests ◽

Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons ◽

Controlled Environment ◽

Grass Growth ◽

The Impact

The effect of compost on phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils was investigated using 130 small (200 g) containers in two screening tests. The experiments were conducted in a controlled environment using ryegrass from seed. Containers were destructively sampled at various times and analyzed for plant mass and total petroleum hydrocarbons. The results indicate that the presence of diesel reduces grass growth, and that compost helps reduced the impact of diesel on grass growth. The addition of compost helps increase diesel loss from the soils both with and without grass, though the addition of grass leads to lower diesel levels compared with controls. A second set of experiments indicates that the compost helps in phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soil independent of the dilution effect that compost addition has. The results indicate that the compost addition allowed diesel loss down to 200 mg TPH/kg even though the compost would be expected to hold the diesel more tightly in the soil/compost mixture. The simplicity of the screening tests led to difficulties in controlling moisture content and germination rates. The conclusion of the research is that the tilling of compost into soils combined with grass seeding appears to be a valuable option for treating petroleum-contaminated soils.

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Evaluating the Impact of the Informal Economy on Businesses in South East Europe: Some Lessons from the 2009 World Bank Enterprise Survey

South East European Journal of Economics and Business ◽

10.2478/v10033-012-0010-x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 99-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

John Hudson ◽

Colin Williams ◽

Marta Orviska ◽

Sara Nadin

Keyword(s):

World Bank ◽

Informal Economy ◽

Employment Relations ◽

East Europe ◽

South East Europe ◽

Adverse Impacts ◽

World Bank Enterprise Survey ◽

Enterprise Survey ◽

The Impact ◽

Targeted Approach

Evaluating the Impact of the Informal Economy on Businesses in South East Europe: Some Lessons from the 2009 World Bank Enterprise SurveyThe aim of this paper is to evaluate the variable impacts of the informal economy on businesses and employment relations in South East Europe. Evidence is reported from the 2009 World Bank Enterprise Survey which interviewed 4,720 businesses located in South East Europe. The finding is not only that a large informal sector reduces wage levels but also that there are significant spatial variations in the adverse impacts of the informal economy across this European region. Small, rural and domestic businesses producing for the home market and the transport, construction, garment and wholesale sectors are most likely to be adversely affected by the informal economy. The paper concludes by calling for similar research in other global regions and for a more targeted approach towards tackling the informal economy.

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Limits of seed germination of phytomeliorants under conditions of heavy metals toxic concentrations

Samara Journal of Science ◽

10.17816/snv201981113 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 82-86

Author(s):

Anastasia Olegovna Oznobihina

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metal ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Threshold Concentration ◽

Leguminous Plant ◽

Critical Threshold ◽

Toxic Agent ◽

Germination Energy ◽

Lead Zinc ◽

The Impact

The aim of the study is to conduct biological testing at the initial stages of plant objects viability in the model conditions of heavy metal pollution. The paper presents the results of laboratory experiments to assess the impact of different concentrations of heavy metal salts on the viability of yellow melilot and great trefoil seeds. In the course of the conducted experimental studies the author has been established a direct dependence of the decrease in the indices of germination energy and laboratory germination of seeds with an increase in the concentration of phytotoxicant salts, determined the critical (threshold) concentration of the studied elements and the metal content, in which the processes of growth and development of seeds remain. The concentration of 0,01% cadmium, zinc, lead and copper was optimal for germination of melilot seeds, where germination was equal to 80%, 74%, 69% and 64%, respectively. For great trefoil seeds, high germination rates were noted in case of 0,01% contamination with lead, zinc, cadmium and copper - 82%, 80%, 77% and 76%, respectively, and in 0,1% salt solution of lead, copper and zinc there were recorded 75%, 74% and 72% of seedlings. Zinc in the concentration of 0,01% at the initial stages of germination of phytomeliorant seeds stimulated germination energy. The tendency of resistance to pollution by lead, zinc and copper was observed at sprouts of a great trefoil, and to pollution by cadmium the greatest resistance was shown by a melilot yellow. Defining the limits of the leguminous plant seeds germination in the presence of a toxic agent will allow research and development in respect of biological restoration of contaminated soils and can be used in technologically disturbed lands.

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Cadmium Bioaccumulation in Yellow Foxtail (Setaria glauca L. P. Beauv): Impact on Seed Head Morphology

American Journal of Undergraduate Research ◽

10.33697/ajur.2004.009 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

D Kosma ◽

J Long ◽

S Ebb

Keyword(s):

Contaminated Soils ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Head Length ◽

Contaminated Site ◽

Seed Head ◽

Setaria Glauca ◽

Cadmium Bioaccumulation ◽

Head Morphology ◽

The Impact ◽

Water Extractable

Yellow foxtail (Setaria glauca L. P. Beauv) growing on a cadmium-contaminated site was sampled to determine the extent of cadmium bioaccumulation in aerial tissues and the impact of cadmium on growth and development. Water-extractable Cd concentrations in the soil ranged from 5.0 to 18.0 mg L-1. Aerial tissues contained elevated concentrations of Cd (16-48 μg g-1 DW), with mean concentration ratios of >3.0. Since foxtail frequently colonizes disturbed sites, the bioaccumulation of Cd in aerial tissues of foxtail suggests that wildlife feeding upon this plant species could be exposed to elevated Cd levels. A significant negative correlation (r2=0.98) was observed between water-extractable Cd in the soil and seed head length in foxtail, indicative of an adverse effect of Cd on reproductive development. This correlation further suggests seed head length as a biomarker for soluble Cd in contaminated soils. KEYWORDS: Cadmium, bioaccumulation, biomarker, phytotoxicity

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