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At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Biodegradation of p-chlorophenol by a microalgae consortium.

An aquatic community was recovered from a waste discharge container fed with several aromatic pollutants. After 3 months of selective enrichment with p-chlorophenol and p-nitrophenol, two microalgae species, Chlorella vulgaris and Coenochloris pyrenoidosa, were recovered from the microbial consortium. As an axenic culture, this microalgae consortium was able to remove p-chlorophenol under different photo-regimes. Cultures grown under a 24h light regime were capable of biodegrading 50mg l(-1) of p-chlorophenol within 5 days. Addition of zeolite, an adsorbing material, did not improve the p-chlorophenol removal. However, when p-chlorophenol at 150mgl(-1) was fed to the culture supplemented with zeolite, the growth rate of the consortium improved, but the lag phase was longer (16 against 14 days in the absence of zeolite).

Adsorption↗
PubMed2003

SEM/EDX and vis spectrophotometry study of the stability of resin-bound mortars used for casting replicas and filling missing parts of historic stone fountains.

A study by SEM/EDX and spectrophotometry in the visible region attempting to assess the stability of new resin-bound mortars used for casting replicas of marble historic fountains is presented in this paper. Different accelerating tests such as thermal ageing, UV light ageing, ageing in an SO(2) pollutant chamber, freezing cycles ageing, salt crystallisation ageing, natural ageing and biological attack have been applied to a series of test specimens prepared with polyester-, epoxy- and gel-coat-bound mortars. Examination of morphology, measurement of chemical composition and chromatic coordinates before and after ageing treatments establish the higher stability and resistance properties of these resin-bound mortars by comparison to those from the natural marbles.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Over-expression of ascorbate oxidase in the apoplast of transgenic tobacco results in altered ascorbate and glutathione redox states and increased sensitivity to ozone.

Transgenic tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi) plants expressing cucumber ascorbate oxidase (EC.1.10.3.3) were used to examine the role of extracellular ascorbic acid in mediating tolerance to the ubiquitous air pollutant, ozone (O(3)). Three homozygous transgenic lines, chosen on the basis of a preliminary screen of AO activity in the leaves of 29 lines, revealed up to a 380-fold increase in AO activity, with expression predominantly associated with leaf cell walls. Over-expression of AO resulted in no change in the total ascorbate content recovered in apoplast washing fluid, but the redox state of ascorbate was reduced from 30% in wild-type leaves to below the threshold for detection in transgenic plants. Levels of ascorbic acid and glutathione in the symplast were not affected by AO over-expression, but the redox state of ascorbate was reduced, while that of glutathione was increased. AO over-expressing plants exposed to 100 nmol mol(-1) ozone for 7 h day(-1) exhibited a substantial increase in foliar injury, and a greater pollutant-induced reduction in both the light-saturated rate of CO(2) assimilation and the maximum in vivo rate of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase carboxylation, compared with wild-type plants. Transgenic plants also exhibited a greater decline in CO(2) assimilation rate when exposed to a brief ozone episode (300 nmol mol(-1) for 8 h). Stomatal conductance, hence O(3) uptake, was unaffected by AO over-expression. Our findings illustrate the important role played by ascorbate redox state and sub-cellular compartmentation in mediating the tolerance of plants to ozone-induced oxidative stress.

Ascorbate Oxidase↗
PubMed2000

The water quality of the River Thames at a rural site downstream of Oxford

Water quality information is presented for the River Thames 34 km downstream of the market town of Oxford in Oxfordshire to provide an overview of the hydrochemical functioning of a major agriculturally impacted river entering the North Sea. The data, which cover the period from the spring of 1997 to the spring of 1999, relate to three types of data. These types are: (1) weekly spot sampling for determination of major, minor and trace elements, pH, alkalinity and herbicides; (2) tri-weekly spot sampling for pH, alkalinity and dissolved silicon; and (3) continuous measurements of pH and dissolved oxygen. Calcium and bicarbonate provide, respectively, the dominant cation and anion in solution and their compositions remain relatively constant through time, irrespective of flow levels. In contrast, many determinands show seasonally related fluctuations. Concentrations for most of the major anions, sodium, potassium as well as soluble reactive phosphorus and several soluble trace elements such as boron, antimony, arsenic and molybdenum decrease as flow increases. A reverse pattern is observed for nitrate, some herbicides and trace elements associated with particulate phases: concentrations increase with increasing flow. These patterns reflect the influence of: (1) a calcium carbonate rich groundwater system which provides the main stream flow component; (2) dilution of point source pollutant inputs associated with sewage and possibly light industry at high flows for several major, nutrient and trace elements; (3) enhanced nitrate and herbicide runoff from agricultural land at high flows; (4) enhanced microparticulate trace metal levels associated with increased suspended sediment loads at high flows; and (5) biological processes which affect pH, dissolved silicon, dissolved carbon dioxide and dissolved oxygen levels. An examination of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and boron relationships reveals a reduction in concentrations for SRP associated possibly with phosphorus removal from a major sewage treatment works on an upstream tributary of the Thames, the Thame.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Thyroid hormone deiodination in birds.

Because the avian thyroid gland secretes almost exclusively thyroxine (T4), the availability of receptor-active 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3) has to be regulated in the extrathyroidal tissues, essentially by deiodination. Like mammals and most other vertebrates, birds possess three types of iodothyronine deiodinases (D1, D2, and D3) that closely resemble their mammalian counterparts, as shown by biochemical characterization studies in several avian species and by cDNA cloning of the three enzymes in chicken. The tissue distribution of these deiodinases has been studied in detail in chicken at the level of activity and mRNA expression. More recently specific antibodies were used to study cellular localization at the protein level. The abundance and distribution of the different deiodinases shows substantial variation during embryonic development and postnatal life. Deiodination in birds is subject to regulation by hormones from several endocrine axes, including thyroid hormones, growth hormone and glucocorticoids. In addition, deiodination is also influenced by external parameters, such as nutrition, temperature, light and also a number of environmental pollutants. The balance between the outer and inner ring deiodination resulting from the impact of all these factors ultimately controls T3 availability.

Aging↗
PubMed1976

Pulmonary responses of rats to ambient levels of ozone: effects of 7-day intermittent or continuous exposure.

Groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to ozone for either 8 or 24 hours a day for 7 consecutive days to evaluate morphologic changes of the respiratory system. Three levels of exposure (0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 p.p.m. of O3) were selected to simulate moderate to severe episodes of oxidant pollution in urban environments. Morphologic evaluation included light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Biochemical parameters which were examined included succinate oxidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-cytochrome c reductase activities. The results indicated that (1) exposure to concentrations as low as 0.2 p.p.m. for 7 days induced pulmonary damage; (2) there was a dose-dependent pulmonary response to the three levels of ozone which was quantitated by alterations in biochemical marker enzyme activities and observed morphologically; (3) proportionate differences were not observed in morphologic characteristics of the lesions or detected in biochemical parameters between rats exposed continuously for 7 days and those exposed intermittently for 8 hours a day for 7 consecutive days; (4) alterations in surface height and granularity of the cytoplasmic luminal projection of Clara cells were subtle changes which were dose-dependent, occurring even at the lowest ozone concentration, and best detected by scanning electron microscopy; (5) alveolar macrophage accumulation within proximal alveoli of alveolar ducts was the most readily detectable morphologic indicator of pulmonary damage; and (6) although the brunt of ozone damage was borne by the centriacinar region, there was damage to cilia and increased ciliogenesis occurring in the trachea and larger conducting airways following exposure of 0.5 and 0.8 p.p.m. of ozone.

Air Sacs↗
PubMed1972

Visibility and soiling: a comparison of the effects of leaded and unleaded gasolines.

The emissions from a fleet of late-model cars fueled with commercial, high-aromatic, unleaded gasoline caused nearly twice as much atmospheric light extinction as those from a matched fleet fueled with commercial, low-aromatic, leaded gasoline, when both were driven according to a consumer operating cycle in an idle traffic tunnel. The increased extinction and greater soiling potential result mainly from greater light absorption by the air-suspended particles from the unleaded fleet.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed2002

Photocatalytic oxidation of heptane in the gas-phase over TiO2.

In this paper, gas-phase photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of heptane over UV-illuminated TiO2 was carried out at ambient temperature in a batch reactor. Complete oxidation of heptane with almost stoichiometric production of CO2 and H2O was observed. The intermediates detected were propanal, butanal, 3-heptanone, 4-heptanone and carbon monoxide. A scheme of the possible mechanism for PCO of heptane over TiO2 was suggested. Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics equation was obtained from the results at different initial concentrations of heptane, oxygen, moisture and light intensity. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 can be sustained indefinitely. This can be attributed to the production of water in the system, which can replenish the consumed hydroxyl radicals.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

Environmental engineering: energy value of replacing waste disposal with resource recovery

Although in the past, environmental engineering has been primarily concerned with waste disposal, the focus of the field is now shifting toward viewing wastes as potential resources. Because reclamation usually consumes less energy than producing new materials, increasing reclamation not only reduces pollution but saves energy. Technological innovations contributing to this shift are summarized here, and are variously classified as emerging technologies or research topics, as either new departures or incremental improvements, and as opportunistic innovations, or examples of a unifying strategy. Both liquid and solid waste examples are given, such as a recent discovery of effects in disinfecting microfiltered reclaimed wastewater with ultraviolet light. In addition to its value in reducing pollution and conserving energy, this reorientation of environmental engineering could contribute to a more general shift toward greater cooperation among organizations dealing with the environment.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

[Kinetic study on photocatalytic degradation of p-chlorobenzoate at different light intensities].

Kinetics of photocatalytic degradation were investigated at different light intensities using para-chlorobenzoate as a model pollutant. It was experimentally found that the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model could satisfactorily describe all the kinetic processes. However, the two crucial parameters involved in the L-H model were dependent of the incident light intensity. With elevated light intensity, the rate constant, kr, increased whereas the apparent adsorption constant, Ks, decreased. Grossly, both kr and Ks-1 were correlated with the light intensity in a power law. The experimental discovery implies that the photonic efficiency would be much deteriorated with increased radiation intensity although the reaction rate can be enhanced. Applying mild light intensity might be one of the critical strategies in photocatalytic reactor design to improve the photonic efficiency.

Catalysis↗
PubMed2002

A statistical approach to estimate O3 uptake of ponderosa pine in a mediterranean climate.

In highly polluted sites, stomatal behavior is sluggish with respect to light, vapor pressure deficit, and internal CO2 concentration (Ci) and poorly described by existing models. Statistical models were developed to estimate stomatal conductance (gs) of 40-year-old ponderosa pine at three sites differing in pollutant exposure for the purpose of calculating O3 uptake. Gs was estimated using julian day, hour of day, pre-dawn xylem potential and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). The median difference between estimated and observed field gs did not exceed 10 mmol H2O m(-2) s(-1), and estimated gs within 95% confidence intervals. 03 uptake was calculated from hourly estimated gs, hourly O3 concentration, and a constant to correct for the difference in diffusivity between water vapor and 03. The simulation model TREGRO was also used to calculate the cumulative 03 uptake at all three sites. 03 uptake estimated by the statistical model was higher than that simulated by TREGRO because gas exchange rates were proportionally higher. O3 exposure and uptake were significantly correlated (r2>0.92), because O3 exposure and gs were highly correlated in both statistical and simulation models.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2004

Preparation of visible light active S-doped TiO2 photocatalysts and their photocatalytic activities.

Although titanium dioxide photocatalysts having an anatase phase are a promising substrate for photodegradation of pollutants in water and air, their photocatalytic activities show only under UV light. To utilize solar light which has a large amount of visible light, the development of the photocatalysts whose activities show under visible light is one of the most important strategies. We have succeeded in synthesizing chemically modified titanium dioxide photocatalysts in which S (S4+) substitutes for some of the lattice titanium atoms. They show strong absorption for visible light and high activities for degradation of 2-propanol in aqueous solution and partial oxidation of adamantane in acetonitrile under irradiation at wavelengths longer than 440 nm. The oxidation state of the S atoms incorporated into the TiO2 particles is determined to be mainly S4+ from XPS spectra.

2-Propanol↗
PubMed1999

Immobilization of P450 monooxygenase and chloroplast for use in light-driven bioreactors.

P450 monooxygenases exhibit great potential for application to bioreactors for the decomposition of various hydrophobic chemicals including pollutant compounds. P450-containing microsomes were immobilized in spinach chloroplasts for use in light-driven bioreactors. We tested three methods (entrapment, adsorption and cross-linking) to immobilize chloroplasts and yeast microsomes containing a genetically engineered fusion enzyme between rat P450 1A1 and yeast P450 reductase. Entrapment in agarose gave the best activity for the conversion of 7-ethoxycoumarin to 7-hydroxycoumarin under illumination of 6200 lx. We then tested three light-driven bioreactors (two column-type and one batch-type reactors developed) using the immobilized gels. A two-phase column-type reactor with separately immobilized microsomes and chloroplasts showed a higher conversion rate than a reactor with co-immobilization of both components. The reactor showed a turnover rate of 6.32 mol product/mol P450/min after a 40-min run, and 2.49 after a 180-min run. These turnover rates are higher than the values reported by others using immobilized microsomal P450s.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Development and application of bioluminescent Caenorhabditis elegans as multicellular eukaryotic biosensors.

We describe a novel approach to assess toxicity to the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that relies on the ability of firefly luciferase to report on endogenous ATP levels. We have constructed bioluminescent C. elegans with the luc gene under control of a constitutive promoter. Light reduction was observed in response to increasing temperature, concentrations of copper, lead and 3,5-dichlorophenol. This was due to increased mortality coupled with decreased metabolic activity in the surviving animals. The light emitted by the transgenic nematodes gave a rapid, real-time indication of metabolic status. This forms the basis of rapid and biologically relevant toxicity tests.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Remote sensing measurements for evaluation of air quality in an urban area.

The Differential Optical Absorption Spectrometry (DOAS) is a remote-sensing technique finding greater consents in these last years. The analytical principle of the DOAS system is based on the light absorption in the near-UV and Vis regions of those pollutants with fine vibrational structures such as SO2, NO2, O3, nitrous acid, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, etc.. The relationship among the adsorbed light intensity and the xompound concentrations is ruled by the Lambert-Beer's law. The DOAS analysis allows to study and to interpretate the complex mechanisms of the formation and transformation of the pollutants and particularly of those of secondary origin. In this paper we have reported and discussed the behaviors of NO2, O3, HNO2, formaldehyde, benzene and toluene measured by this system during the 2000--2003 period in the Rome area (an area highly influenced by anthropogenic sources) and in Pietracupa (Molise) area (considered as remote site). The results show how the DOAS system highlight very well the secondary pollution evolution; this, described by the profiles of NO2 and O3 being at the same time products and precursors of the photochemical smog, is not influenced by the emission flow intensity and consequently assumes homogeneous values in the whole urban area.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1992

[Surveillance of heavy metal pollution of mangrove oysters in Senegal].

Joal-Fadiouth, located in department of Mbour (region of Thies), 118 kilometers from Dakar, the capital of Senegal, is an area where one can find a large swamp with mangroves whose self-propagating roots serve as growth support for young oysters. The importance of those oysters, both on the domestic and foreign markets and the ever greater threat of pollution of our coasts led us to search for and measure out heavy metals. In fact, it is well know that the accumulation of those elements in the food chain can be at the origin of severe poisoning. It appears, in the light of the results obtained that the level of pollution by heavy metals in this part of the senegalese coast has not yet reached alarming limits.

Animals↗