Academic literature on the topic 'Water Selenium Benthos Water Selenium cycle'

The discovery in 1983 of deformities, reproductive failures, and high waterfowl mortality rates at Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge, western San Joaquin Valley, Calif., due to selenium (Se) -contaminated drainage water, raised concerns that these problems may be occurring in the >600 wetlands and National Wildlife Refuges being utilized to collect irrigation drainage waste water in 17 western states. The waterfowl problems were traced to ingestion of organic Se present as Se-amino acids. Plants assimilate soluble Se into Se-amino acids and release them upon decomposition. Aerobic plant residue decomposition studies showed that 50% of the assimilated Se was mineralized to soluble Se, while the remaining organic Se persisted. This means that each growth cycle results in a steady decrease of soluble Se and an increase in organic Se levels. To test the effect of plant growth on Se accumulation, two types of evaporation ponds were evaluated, one with prolific plant growth, and the second relatively devoid of plant growth. Soil Se analysis showed that plant growth dramatically increased Se accumulation in the surface layers. Evaluation of additional Se-contaminated sites showed that Se accumulation followed an exponential function and accumulated rapidly above a 2% soil organic C content. Without plant growth, the Se remains mobile and diffuses to low concentrations in the underlying soil, suggesting that plant residue cycling is an important factor in Se accumulation and toxicity.

Numerous studies have shown that replacing a portion of beef with plant-based foods in daily diets of high-income nations can improve health, nutrition, and environmental consequences globally. Pulses are one of the major plant-based protein foods shown to have both environmental and nutritional benefits. For consumers to adopt more plant-based foods in their diets, more options are needed that meet consumer demands for taste, convenience, nutrition, and sustainability along with dietary preferences. Beef-based burger patties can be made more sustainably, nutritiously, and cost-effectively while maintaining palatability by reformulating with a portion of pulses such as whole cooked lentils. The aim of this study was to quantify the nutritional and environmental benefits of such lentil-reformulated beef burgers. Here we compared the nutrient balance score (considering 27 essential macro and micronutrients) and environmental footprints (carbon, bluewater, water scarcity, land use, and biodiversity) of an all-beef burger with a beef burger reformulated with a portion of cooked lentil puree. The geographic resolution of the analysis was Saskatchewan, Canada. Results showed that partial replacement of a lean beef burger with cooked lentil puree increased the nutrient density by ~20%, decreased the life cycle environmental footprint by ~33%, and reduced the cost by 26%. In particular, the lentil reformulated burger had 60 times higher dietary fiber, three times higher total folate, five times higher manganese, and 1.6 times higher selenium than the all-beef burger. We highlight the importance of using high-spatial resolution inventory of agricultural inputs and characterization factors (impacts per unit agricultural inputs) to obtain more accurate environmental results. The results underscore the potential of food innovation to contribute towards multiple global sustainable development goals.

Background. As resources become scarce, information from material and substance flow analysis can help to improve material recovery policy. The flow of toxic substances such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) can be used as a basis for appropriate risk management decisions for optimum environmental quality. Objectives. The present study examined a material and substance flow analysis of used lead acid batteries (ULAB) from motor vehicles and implications for environmental quality in Nigeria. Methods. Information on motor vehicle imports was obtained from the literature. Mathematical models were constructed and used for the material and substance flow analysis. Samples of 50 brands of ULAB pastes were digested using a microwave digestion system followed by elemental determination (Pb, Cd, silver (Ag), As, cobalt (Co), calcium (Ca), Cr, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), Sb, selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te)) with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Results. Approximately 4.8 million tons (Mt) lead acid batteries (LAB) from vehicles was used in Nigeria between 1980 and 2014, out of which approximately 2.6 Mt had reached end-of-life (EoL) stages. From the total amount in EoL, approximately 2.3 Mt was recycled, and 0.3 Mt was landfilled. Among the toxic elements, Pb, Cd and As were the most abundant in ULAB; and of the valuable elements, Fe and Cu had the highest levels. Approximately 3.5 Mt of Pb was used in the past (1980–2014) in ULAB for motor vehicles, out of which approximately 1.9 Mt tons was in EoL stages. Discussion. The results revealed that the battery pastes were heterogeneous. Only Pb exceeded the total threshold limit concentration (TTLC) of 1000 mg/kg. The TTLC describes the safe levels or concentration of heavy metals in the environment. The levels observed for other metals in this study were below the TTLC values. The present study estimated an average life span for lead acid batteries in motor vehicles in Nigeria of 5 years, suggesting an additional 2.2 Mt at EoL by 2019. High concentrations of Pb in air, water and soil carry the potential for contamination of food products, especially in Nigeria, where food is traditionally prepared and sold in open air markets in an unregulated manner. Conclusions. High amounts of toxic elements present in the various life cycle stages signal potential environmental and human health hazards. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Heavy metals like ekopolyudanty have a high capacity for bioaccumulation, toxicity and significant mobility in the environment. Since the bulk of the land is plants, it is important to identify the processes of migration and accumulation of heavy metals in them. But keep in mind that the level of heavy metal accumulation in plants of different taxonomic groups are not the same. Cumulative capacity of plants depends on many factors: the type of soil, humidity, altitude, meteorological characteristics of the region and landscape, and more. It should be noted that the migration of heavy metals from soil to plants depends on the concentration of mobile forms in soil. Once the soil heavy metals are constantly migrating, moving to some form of chemical compounds. Although soils are characterized by resistance to chemical contamination due to its ability to accumulate and neutralize ecotoxicants. But it is significant accumulation in soil heavy metals leads to lower pH of the soil and destroys the soil-absorbing complex. The object of study in this paper selected park «Biloberezhzhya Svyatoslav» which Presidential Decree Ukraine in 2009 was granted the status of National Park «Biloberezhzhya Svyatoslav», so the park is virtually unexplored. The aim is to study the phenomenon of bioaccumulation of heavy metals in soil and plants cover various ecotheitons and their influence on the processes of human transformation in these florocomplexes. For the past 10 years the National Park is undergoing significant anthropogenic pressure on transport, recreation, hotels and aggressive recreational activities. So one of the important aspects of solving the problem is to provide control and accounting of vehicles, which enters the territory of spit and emission monitoring (especially heavy metals) which makes transport and monitoring of soil and vegetation that will characterize the current state of ecosystems National Park «Biloberezhzhya Svyatoslav» and anticipate negative processes that occur in ecosystems of different levels. To study the vegetation of the National Park «Biloberezhzhya Svyatoslav» that is able to accumulate heavy metals in significant quantities were selected samples of the dominant plant species in various microflorocomplexes. For more detailed specifications the transformation of these substances in the soil and their translocation in plants and soil samples were taken at a depth of 20 cm. In the study the accumulation of heavy metals in soils contributes primarily low acidity (neutral and slightly alkaline pH) soil horizons in gleying cuts low values ​​of redox potential and high content of amorphous hydroxides Fe. The remaining soil parameters – a low content of organic matter, light texture, low cation exchange capacity value (ECO) soil absorbing complex, a high redox potential – are unfavorable factors for the accumulation of heavy metals in soils. Analysis of mobile forms of heavy metals in the soil studied florocomplexes showed that the majority of indicators does not exceed the MCL. This minimum figure for cadmium Li, Aln, Qbp, apparently caused by acidity (pH) of the soil. Overall indicators of cadmium in florocomplexes studied ranged from 0 to 0.7 mg / kg. The maximum amount of cadmium in Mar (0,6 mg / kg), Rap (0,7 mg / kg) and only they exceed the MCL level that caused considerable indirect influence, since these florocomplexes heavy metals fall on the Dnieper River from cities and businesses located upstream. Indicators of copper in florocomplexes fluctuate within 0.5–4.0 mg / kg, thus exceeding the MCL only Mar (3,2 mg / kg), Rap (4,0 mg / kg), which reduces the enzymatic activity of soil. Similar figures have nickel 0.5–5.0 mg / kg, exceeding the MCL in Mar and Rap. Number of lead in the top layer of soil depends not only on the human impact, but also from iron oxides, which can form complexes with Lead. As he studied florokompleksah ranges from 0.8–3.8 mg / kg, and not exceeding the MCL. The maximum of the number of zinc – 2.5–7.1 mg / kg, which is caused by the structure of the parent rock, characterized by a large number of iron oxides and pH in which it is possible absorption of lead hydroxide. However, no figure does not exceed the MCL. So low rates of bioaccumulation factors indicate a low level of accumulation of heavy metals in soils of ecotheitons of National Park «Biloberezhzhya Svyatoslav», i.e. minor processes of human impacts on natural ecosystems. Sandy soils are characterized by low absorptive capacity, and a weak hold heavy metals except molybdenum and selenium. Because plants easily adsorb them, some of them even in very small concentrations have a toxic effect. So exceeded MPC Dominant Mar, Rap – Zoctera marina L. and Ruppia cirrhoza (Petagma) Grande. indicate intense indirect human impact on water florocomplexes that are part of the National Park «Biloberezhzhya Svyatoslav» because these florocomplexes heavy metals fall on the Dnieper River from cities and businesses that are located upstream. The lowest coefficients of accumulation in the soil and in plants characteristic of Hy and Lst, which is caused by geographical barriers that protect them from human activity. For values of absorption coefficients biotic can conclude not only the role of individual species of plants and vegetation in the whole cycle of elements in the ecosystem, but also the ecosystem’s ability to cleanse itself. In florocomplexes of National Park «Biloberezhzhya Svyatoslav» is obviously particularly important role in the self-cleaning from heavy metals play the genera Phragmites Trin. ex Steud. and Zoctera L., both because of the high intensity of the absorption element (Zoctera L.), and because of the high biomass of these species in communities (Phragmites Trin. ex Steud.). Among the analyzed dominant species, growing on uncontaminated and contaminated areas revealed two species hiperakumulyatory heavy metals – Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud and Zoctera marina L. addition to those of the common species that accumulate significant biomass and have relatively high rates of accumulation of Cd, Zn, Pb, – a species: Grindelia squarrosa L., Salicornia prostrata Pall., Poa angustifolia L., which can be recommended as objects of future field experiments.

Health problems arising from geological materials and processes are more common than most people believe. Geology may appear remote from human health. However, rocks are the fundamental building blocks of the Earth’s surface, full of important minerals and chemical elements. Rock weathering and alteration products not only form our soils to support our crops but provide essential elements to build biology. Drinking water travels through rocks and soils as part of the water cycle, and much of the dust and gases contained in the atmosphere are of ultimate geological origin. Without this tectonic “rock cycle” connection to atmosphere and water, there can be no life. Human evolution is also intimately bound to geology. The African rift valley unique geology and metallogenesis is fundamental to the cradle of human evolution and expansion, both physiographically and bio-geochemically. Facilitated by an amplified oscillating mosaic environments climate, biology and geology, particularly in the last 2.6Ma of the 30 Ma Cenozoic cooling and drying, hominoids were not only adapted to biological and climactic factors but also parent rock elements, including metal (loids) used to build their biological structures and functions. Numerous enzymes incorporate metal(loids) central to their catalytic functions. Over 1,200 are known to be involved in neurobiology alone, likely impacting evolution of Homo habilis to H. erectus, near doubling brain size, complexity and energy demand. Metalliferous enzyme homeostatic deregulation widely impacts health from cancer to neurological diseases. Pre-adapted to the African rift biogeochemistry mosaic, a far more skewed metalliferous anthropecen now adversely impacts metal homeostasis and our health. Concentrating on the Medical Geology of highly toxic cadmium (Cd), we explore its environmental relationship with Breast Cancer. We studied urinary Cd levels in 150 women with Breast Cancer (diagnosis age 20 to 69 years). Cd levels trend aggressive with different risk profile from later-onset disease “stage III”. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. After correcting for differential calendar time of sample collection, statistically significant associations were observed between Cd levels and Breast Cancer risk amongst participants with localized breast cancer, Odds Ratio (OR): OR=1.35; 94% CI: 1.2- 1.8; p=0.004 and participants with regional/distal Breast Cancer: OR=1.81; 96% CI: 1.4-2.4; p=0.001. We concluded, the association of Breast Cancer risk with Cd levels did not differ between participants treated by surgery and/or radiation (p ≥ 0.05) only OR=1.34; 93% CI: 1.0-1.5 and those treated with chemotherapy OR=1.35; 94% CI: 1.0-1.6. Cd exposure probably related to the association between Cd and renal diseases, cardiovascular outcomes, cancer, especially Breast Cancer family history. Avoiding excessive metal(loid), including Cd, in all sources is advisable. These may include tattoo and or colorful cosmetics, Indian rice dietary habits, known higher in metal(loids) due to expensive local rice and smoking. We recommend women older than 40 years, particularly with family Breast Cancer history, to largely avail themselves of a plant based diet, along with adequate heavy metal ameliorating trace elements e.g. selenium, to drink anti-inflammatory herbal tea in daily diet, and non-smoking habits.

Cardamine hupingshanensis is a selenium (Se) and cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator plant distributed in wetlands along the Wuling Mountains of China (Zhou et al. 2018). In March of 2020, a disease with symptoms similar to gray mold was observed on leaves of C. hupingshanensis in a nursery located in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. Almost 40% of the C. hupingshanensis (200 plants) were infected. Initially, small spots were scattered across the leaf surface or margin. As disease progressed, small spots enlarged to dark brown lesions, with green-gray, conidia containing mold layer under humid conditions. Small leaf pieces were cut from the lesion margins and were sterilized with 70% ethanol for 10 s, 2% NaOCl for 2 min, rinsed with sterilized distilled water for three times, and then placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium at 22°C in the dark. Seven similar colonies were consistently isolated from seven samples and further purified by single-spore isolation. Strains cultured on PDA were initially white, forming gray-white aerial mycelia, then turned gray and produced sclerotia after incubation for 2 weeks, which were brown to blackish, irregular, 0.8 to 3.0 × 1.2 to 3.5 mm (n=50). Conidia were unicellular, globose or oval, colourless, 7.5 to 12.0 × 5.5 to 8.3 μm (n=50). Conidiophores arose singly or in group, straight or flexuous, septate, brownish to light brown, with enlarged basal cells, 12.5 to 22.1 × 120.7 to 310.3 μm. Based on their morphological characteristics in culture, the isolates were putatively identified as Botrytis cinerea (Ellis 1971). Genomic DNA of four representative isolates, HNSMJ-1 to HNSMJ-4, were extracted by CTAB method. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (G3PDH), heat-shock protein 60 gene (HSP60), ATP-dependent RNA helicaseDBP7 gene (MS547) and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase subunit II gene (RPB2) were amplified and sequenced using the primers described previously (Aktaruzzaman et al. 2018) (MW820311, MW831620, MW831628, MW831623 and MW831629 for HNSMJ-1; MW314722, MW316616, MW316617, MW316618 and MW316619 for HNSMJ-2; MW820519, MW831621, MW831627, MW831624 and MW831631 for HNSMJ-3; MW820601, MW831622, MW831626, MW831625 and MW831630 for HNSMJ-4). BLAST searches showed 99.43 to 99.90% identity to the corresponding sequences of B. cinerea strains, such as HJ-5 (MF426032.1, MN448500.1, MK791187.1, MH727700.1 and KX867998.1). A combined phylogenetic tree using the ITS, G3PDH, HSP60 and RPB2 sequences was constructed by neighbor-joining method in MEGA 6. It revealed that HNSMJ-1 to HNSMJ-4 clustered in the B. cinerea clade. Pathogenicity tests were performed on healthy pot-grown C. hupingshanensis plants. Leaves were surface-sterilized and sprayed with conidial suspension (106 conidia/ mL), with sterile water served as controls. All plants were kept in growth chamber with 85% humidity at 25℃ following a 16 h day-8 h night cycle. The experiment was repeated twice, with each three replications. After 4 to 7 days, symptoms similar to those observed in the field developed on the inoculated leaves, whereas controls remained healthy. The pathogen was reisolated from symptomatic tissues and identified using molecular methods, confirming Koch’s postulates. B. cinerea has already been reported from China on C. lyrate (Zhang 2006), a different species of C. hupingshanensis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of B. cinerea causing gray mold on C. hupingshanensis in China and worldwide. Based on the widespread damage in the nursery, appropriate control strategies should be adopted. This study provides a basis for studying the epidemic and management of the disease.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 1999.
Title from title screen (viewed Apr. 21, 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering. Includes bibliography. Also available in print form.

Abstract Selenium contamination of air, aquatic environments, soils and sediments is a serious environmental concern of increasing importance. Selenium has a paradoxical feature in bringing about health benefits under the prescribed level, but only a few fold increase in its concentration causes deleterious effects to flora and fauna, humans and the environment. This book Environmental Technologies to Treat Selenium Pollution: Principles and Engineering: presents the fundamentals of the biogeochemical selenium cycle and which imbalances in this cycle result in pollution.overviews chemical and biological technologies for successful treatment of selenium contaminated water, air, soils and sediments.explores the recovery of value-added products from selenium laden waste streams, including biofortication and selenium-based nanoparticles and quantum dots. This book may serve both as an advanced textbook for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in environmental sciences, technology or engineering as well as as a handbook for tertiary educators, researchers, professionals and policy makers who conduct research and practices in selenium related fields. It is essential reading for consulting companies when dealing with selenium related environmental (bio)technologies. ISBN: 9781789061048 (Paperback) ISBN: 9781789061055 (eBook)