Hydrochemical Approach to Groundwater in the Environment of the Public Discharge of Lake Mbeubeuss (Dakar, Senegal)

To determine the origin and the processes of groundwater mineralization in the Mbeubeuss lake area, the major ion concentrations of the groundwater were compared to those of the rainwaters which constitute the input function of the aquifer of the Quaternary sands in the area of lake Mbeubeuss. The physico-chemistry of groundwater near the public discharge and its surroundings, has shown that the true value of the electrical conductivity of waters are around 2000 µS/cm. Values of electrical conductivity greater than 2000 µS/cm would represent the particular mineralization of ground waters by the public discharge of lake Mbeubeuss. The chemical facies of ground waters are dominated by the sodium and potassium chloride and calcium chloride facies. The study of the relationship between the major chemical elements and the chloride ion and the representation in the modified Chadha diagram of the chemical analyzes of ground waters from the campaigns of July 1998, July 2002 and March 2003, made it possible to highlight the different sources and processes controlling the mineralization of ground waters in the Mbeubeuss Lake area. Despite the proximity to the sea which suggests a considerable contribution of salts by aerosols and sea spray, the mineralization of ground waters in the area of lake Mbeubeuss is largely due to leachate from household waste and the influence of old sediments of the dry lake Mbeubeuss. The main processes controlling the mineralization of ground waters are marine contributions (aerosols and sea spray), dissolution-precipitation of minerals from the aquifer matrix, atmospheric CO2 diffusion, base exchanges, dilution-concentration and anthropogenic pollution.

Assessing state of water protection zones of Volga River within Ilyinka village area (Astrakhan region)

Anthropogenic pollution of water basins may become a serious threat for ecosystems and human health. Pollutants are transferred through food chains or directly when untreated water is used, released to soil through subsoil waters or during floods. The increased anthropogenic load on rivers’ hydrosystems, especially in their del-tas, is becoming rampant these days. The goal of the research is to study the coastal areas and to assess the state of vegetation. To achieve this goal, standard methods of biotesting and bioindication were applied in the territories of two water-protection zones – those of the Volga River and the Nozhovskiy erik (shallow channel in the Volga delta – translator’s note) near the Ilyinka village. The water quality in the Volga River, within the examined range, is stably characterized as “dirty” (4th class). The exceeded level of maximum permissible concentrations for petroleum products, heavy metals (mercury, zinc, molybdenum), sulfides and phenols is observed. The research has not revealed the impact of the quality of water on phytotoxicity of the soil and indices of abundance of the vegetation that grows in this territory. Toxicity of soils is weak in the area of the Nozhovskiy erik, it is very weak in the area of the Volga River: the germination capacity of the test object (watercress) ranges between 67 and 88%, morpho-metric indices of plants do not differ much from those in control groups. Within the summer period the monitoring sites were characterized by the maximum frequency-abundance indices of typical representatives of the local flora, which are camel thorn (Alhagi pseudalhagi) and greater burdock (Arctium lappa). Vegetation in these areas is abundant, its state is assessed as satisfactory.

Estimation of the biosorption potential of certain representatives of the genus Bacillus in interaction with lead cation in vitro

The article presents data on the physicochemical and metabolically dependent mechanisms of detoxification by microorganisms of heavy metals that enter the environment during anthropogenic pollution. The taxonomic and physiological-biochemical diversity of microorganisms capable of neutralizing toxicants has been demonstrated. In the experimental part of the study, the combination of the methods used made it possible to fully assess the degree of toxicity and the effect of lead cations on the growth of bacteria of the genus Bacillus in a model experiment. Thus, the use of atomic absorption spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy gave an idea of the level of biosorption of a given xenobiotic element from a substrate with localization of inactive forms of lead. The data obtained indicate the presence of an inhibitory effect of Pb (NO3) 2 and Pb (CH3COO) 2 in concentrations from 1 mM to 0.063 mM about the test organisms under study. The presence of cations with a nutrient substrate gives a false-positive idea of the degree of influence of lead on the growth of the studied microorganisms, since an increase in optical density in test samples is due to high sorption characteristics and, as a consequence, is characterized by an increase in relative optical density. An assessment of the detoxification mechanisms, which is expressed by active bioaccumulation of lead on the surface elements of the microbial cell up to 65% at the point of entering the stationary growth phase, indicates the promising use of representatives of this group of microorganisms as microbial bioremediation and correctors of excess content of this element in the body or ecosystem as a whole.

Accumulation of heavy metals and arsenic with medicinal herbal raw material of common shovel harvested in Voronezh region

The Voronezh region is traditionally the most important area of crop production and agriculture. The purpose of the research was to study the contamination with heavy metals of medicinal plant raw materials of the Voronezh region using the example of the roots of ordinary burdock, prepared in urbo- and agro-ecosystems, which have various anthropogenic effects on themselves. The accumulation of heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt, chromium) and arsenic in 51 samples of raw materials was studied. By comparing the heavy metal content in the upper soil layers of the region and the content of these elements in the roots of the bladder, it can be assumed that there are significant physiological barriers to the accumulation of ecotoxicants in the roots of the bladder, which is especially noticeable for elements such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt and chromium. At the same time, this type of medicinal vegetal raw material is able to selectively concentrate some heavy metals included in the active centers of enzyme systems (copper and zinc). Thus, for an ordinary bladder under conditions of anthropogenic load, an edaphotype is formed, which is as a result of selection in conditions of anthropogenic pollution of the external environment and the manifestation of adaptation to these conditions.

High-resolution smoke forecasting for the 2018 Camp Fire in California

Smoke from the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California blanketed a large part of the region for two weeks, creating poor air quality in the “unhealthy” range for millions of people. The NOAA Global System Laboratory’s HRRR-Smoke model was operating experimentally in real time during the Camp Fire. Here, output from the HRRR-Smoke model is compared to surface observations of PM2.5 from AQS and PurpleAir sensors as well as satellite observation data. The HRRR-Smoke model grid at 3-km resolution successfully simulated the evolution of the plume during the initial phase of the fire (8-10 November 2018). Stereoscopic satellite plume height retrievals were used to compare with model output (for the first time, to the authors’ knowledge), showing that HRRR-Smoke is able to represent the complex 3D distribution of the smoke plume over complex terrain. On 15-16 November, HRRR-Smoke was able to capture the intensification of PM2.5 pollution due to a high pressure system and subsidence that trapped smoke close to the surface; however, HRRR-Smoke later underpredicted PM2.5 levels due to likely underestimates of the fire radiative power (FRP) derived from satellite observations. The intensity of the Camp Fire smoke event and the resulting pollution during the stagnation episodes make it an excellent test case for HRRR-Smoke in predicting PM2.5 levels, which were so high from this single fire event that the usual anthropogenic pollution sources became insignificant. The HRRR-Smoke model was implemented operationally at NOAA/NCEP in December 2020, now providing essential support for smoke forecasting as the impact of US wildfires continues to increase in scope and magnitude.

Determination of Phytoextraction and Hyperaccumulating Capacity of Artemisa Dracunculus L and Erigeron Canadensis Plants of The Asteraceae Family.

One of its key aspects is the performance of plant extraction, the end-use of by-products and the recognition of its overall economic viability. Overall, phytoextraction seems to be a very promising technology for the removal of metallic pollutants from the environment and is being commercialized. In genetic engineering, support for the current plant phytoremedetion list plays a major role. Because it makes it possible to insert which genes in genetically modified plants the plant to metabolize a specific pollutant. In the sequence to be used for phytoremediation. In Turkey, the steel industry and its subindustries operate intensively in Karabuk province. It is located in the western region of the Black Sea and grew rapidly. For this reason, plants that grow in areas and soil samples around their roots are with anthropogenic pollution were taken in connection with the steel industry and the building industry where the waste is discharged. For guidance, samples of plants and soils of the same species were collected from orchards where industrial pollution and agricultural activity have not occurred, in order to worth comparing them. Thus, the properties of the hyperaccumulator and accumulation were investigated. These are Artemisa Dracunculus L (AD) and Erigeron Canadensis (EC) in the Asteraceae family. As the BAF shoot values of the AD plant are Pb and Se > 1, this is an accumulator plant for Pb and Se. At the EC plant, this is an accumulator for Pb, as only Pb>1. Since Cr, Hg, Sn and Cl <1, these elements are presumed to be exclusionary. Also, the two plants can be classified as potentially Ni-hyperaccumulatory plants because Ni is greater than 10 (Ni>10). BAF root of both plants has high phytostabilization capacity for CD from CD>1. The concentrations of Cd TF >1 in the leaf, stem and root indicate high phytoextraction efficiency and it can be said that it will exhibit high activity in soils contaminated by the CD. In addition, due to the fact that the Cd concentrations of both plants are close to the hyperaccumulator plant BAF, studies can be carried out to evaluate them as Cd-hyperaccumulator plant in future studies.

THE CURRENT STATE OF THE ICHTHYOFAUNA OF THE WATER BODIES OF THE YAMALO-NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG OF THE TYUMEN REGION: REVIEW

The article presents an overview of the published materials for a long period concerning the characteristics of the ichthyofauna and the species composition of the water bodies of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug of the Tyumen Region at the present stage. The characteristic of the natural and climatic conditions of the region is given, its high uniqueness as a territory rich in valuable and rare fish resources is shown. The importance of protecting aquatic biological resources from anthropogenic pollution and influence.