Trace metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Cd) concentrations of three subfractions of organic matter from Lake Mariut sediments, Egypt

Trace elements associated with organic subfractions (humic, fulvic, and non-humic substances) were identified for seven core sediments from Lake Mariut, Egypt. Results indicated that the amounts of trace metals in humic acid and non-humic substances decreased in the following order: Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd, while in fulvic acid the order the order was Cu>Zn>Pb>Cr>Cd. There is a higher contribution of Zn, Pb, Cu and Cr in humic acid compared to fulvic acid in most samples. Slight changes in the amounts of cadmium bounded with humic and fulvic acids was also found.

Trends of Superoxide Dismutase and Soluble Protein of Aquatic Plants in Lakes of Different Trophic Levels in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River, China

A limnological study was carried out to determine the responses of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and soluble protein (SP) contents of 11 common aquatic plants to eutrophication stress. Field investigation in 12 lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River was carried out from March to September 2004. Our results indicated that non-submersed (emergent and floating-leafed) plants and submersed plants showed different responses to eutrophication stress. Both SOD activities of the non-submersed and submersed plants were negatively correlated with their SP contents (P < 0.000 1). SP contents of non-submersed plants were significantly correlated with all nitrogen variables in the water (P < 0.05), whereas SP contents of submersed plants were only significantly correlated with carbon variables as well as ammonium and Secchi depth (SD) in water (P < 0.05). Only SOD activities of submersed plants were decreased with decline of SD in water (P < 0.001). Our results indicate that the decline of SOD activities of submersed plants were mainly caused by light limitation, this showed a coincidence with the decline of macrophytes in eutrophic lakes, which might imply that the antioxidant system of the submersed plants were impaired under eutrophication stress.

Toxicity of cypermethrin on growth, pigments, and superoxide dismutase of Scenedesmus obliquus

Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid that is particularly toxic to crustaceans. It is therefore applied as a chemotherapeutant in farms for the treatment of pests. The effective concentrations of cypermethrin on the inhibition of Scenedesmus ohliquus growth at 96h (96h EC50) were determined to be 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250mg/L. Algal growth, pigment fractions, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the algal cells were measured in the exponential phase after exposure to cypermethrin. The results show that higher concentration of cypermethrin is inhibitory for growth and other metabolic activities and the 96h EC50 of cypermethrin to S. ohliquus is 112 +/- 9 mg/L; the potential application of SOD activity in S. ohliquus as a sensitive biomarker for cypermethrin exposure is also discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of microcystins on the growth and the activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase of rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Microcystins are naturally occurring hepatotoxic cyclic heptapeptides produced by some toxic freshwater cyanobacterial species. In this study, crude extract of toxic cyanobacterial blooms from Dianchi Lake in southwestern China was used to determine the effects of microcystins on rape (Brassica napus L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.). Experiments were carried out on a range of doses of the extract (equivalent to 0, 0.024, 0.12, 0.6 and 3 mug MC-LR/ml). Investigations showed that exposure to microcystins inhibited the growth and development of both rice and rape seedlings, however, microcystins had more powerful inhibition effect on rape than rice in germination percentage of seeds and seedling height. Microcystins significantly inhibited the elongation of primary roots of rape and rice seedlings. Determination of the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase demonstrated that microcystin stress was manifested as an oxidative stress. Using ELISA, microcystins were examined from the extract of exposed rape and rice seedlings, indicating that consumption of edible plants exposed to microcystins via irrigation route may have health risks. Significantly different levels of recovered microcystins between exposed rice and rape seedlings Suggested that there might be different tolerant mechanisms toward microcystins. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn和As在草甸棕壤中垂直迁移规律的研究

本文运用土柱淋溶试验，研究了不同条件下Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn和As等五种重金属元素在草甸棕壤中垂直迁移的规律。试验表明，一般情况下各重金属元素向下迁移的深度不超过10cm，绝大部分还是滞留在表层污染土中，因此在本试验条件下不会因淋溶迁移而导致地下水的污染。从不同重金属元素的迁移情况来看，Cd和Zn的迁移能力较强，Cu、Pb和As的迁移能力较弱。随着土壤pH值降低，Cd、Pb、Cu和Zn的迁移加强，As的迁移减弱。加大淋溶水量，能促进各种重金属离子随土壤水溶液的迁移。在供试浓度下，各重金属元素对水稻的生长没有危害，但对紫花苜蓿的生长却有影响，水稻籽实（或糙米）和紫花苜蓿茎叶中各重金属元素的含量都有增加，甚至超标。土壤施用石灰，能抑制各重金属元素在草甸棕壤中的迁移及被作物的吸收，是降低土壤重金属污染危害的一个有效措施。但是利用施加腐殖酸来防治土壤重金属污染往往会因造成土壤pH值下降、增加某些重金属的可溶性而遭失败。试验还表明，Cd、Pb、Cu和Zn的迁移在酸雨条件下会加剧，但As的迁移仅在弱酸性酸雨条件下增加，强酸性酸雨反而抑制As的迁移。