scholarly journals Amendment of Husk Biochar on Accumulation and Chemical Form of Cadmium in Lettuce and Pak-Choi Grown in Contaminated Soil

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuei-San Chen ◽  
Chun-Yu Pai ◽  
Hung-Yu Lai

(1) Background: Cadmium (Cd) accumulated in vegetables not only affects their growth but can also enter the human body via food chains and lead to various illnesses. Plants can decrease the toxicity by changing the chemical forms of Cd, which include inorganic (FE), water-soluble (FW), pectate- and protein-integrated (FNaCl), undissolved phosphate (FHAc), oxalate (FHCl), and residual forms (FR). Among them, FE and FW chemical forms show higher mobility to translocate upward from roots to shoots compared with the others. (2) Methods: Different varieties or cultivars of lettuce and pak-choi were grown in Cd-contaminated soils amended with husk biochar (BC) to replenish nitrogen to the recommended amount and also to raise the soil pH value. (3) Results: More than 73% of the accumulated Cd in the edible organs was compartmentalized in FE chemical form in both leafy vegetables regardless of treatments. In comparison with control, the application of BC decreased the Cd concentrations and bioconcentration factors in the roots and shoots of two leafy vegetables at different growth periods in general. The chemical form and bioaccessible fraction of Cd in the edible blanching tissues were used to calculate the risk of oral intake. The vegetable-induced hazard quotients of lettuce and pak-choi were acceptable, except for pak-choi grown in control without applying BC.

Author(s):  
Yu-Shan Yen ◽  
Kuei-San Chen ◽  
Hsin-Yi Yang ◽  
Hung-Yu Lai

(1) Background: Trace metal (TM) contamination of farmland soil in Taiwan occurs because factories dump wastewater into irrigation ditches. Since vermicompost affects the bioavailability of TMs, the objective of this study was to evaluate its effects on the accumulation of growth of TMs in leafy vegetables. (2) Methods: Two TM-contaminated soils and different types of pak choi and lettuce were used and amended with vermicompost. Besides soil properties, the study assessed vermicompost’s influence on the growth, accumulation, and chemical forms of TMs and on the health risks posed by oral intake. (3) Results: Vermicompost could increase the content of soil organic matter, available phosphorus, exchangeable magnesium, and exchangeable potassium, thus promoting the growth of leafy vegetables. The accumulation of four TMs in crops under vermicompost was reduced compared to the control, especially for the concentration of cadmium, which decreased by 60–75%. The vermicompost’s influence on changing the chemical form of TMs depended on the TM concentrations, type of TM, and crop species; moreover, blanching effectively reduced the concentrations of TMs in high-mobility chemical forms. Although vermicompost mostly reduced the amount of cadmium consumed via oral intake, cadmium still posed the highest health risk compared to the other three TMs.


Author(s):  
N. Kachmar ◽  
I. Foremna ◽  
A. Dydiv

The paper present result of research on the intensity of the absorption of cadmium from the soil by plants barley. The object of the study were plant spring barley varieties Peas in various stages of development. Сadmium was added to the soil (dark-grey podzolic) as a CdCl2·2,5H2O in the concentration of 3, 15 and 30 mg Cd+2 per kg of the soil. Сadmium is one of the heavy metals which occur in the environment as a result of antropogenic activities. The best solution for maintaining non-contaminated soils and plants is to remove the sources of Cd in the environment. Given that that is essentially impossible at this time, further research needs to determine how soil and plant factors affect Cd availability on polluted soils. Of all non-essential heavy metals, Cadmium (Cd) is perhaps the metal that has attracted the most attention in soil science and plant nutrition due to its potential toxicity to humans, and also its relative mobility in the soil-plant system. The Cadmium is for plants completely unnecessary element. Of particular concern for humans are the high concentrations of Cd in grain. Established that the Cadmium content in barley amended as follows: underground faction > vegetative biomass fraction > generative fraction (control and on the variant of contamination of soil in a dose 3 mg Cd+2 per kg of the soil) and underground faction > generative fraction > vegetative biomass fraction (on the variants of experience 5 and 10 maximum possible concentration of Cd+2). Сadmium absorbed most intensive barley in the flowering stage. Cadmium is characterized by subzero migratory ability in theorgans of barley. Roots are the main accumulators of this heavy metal. Every stress conditions are signal for a plant to initiate in its cells a number of different biochemical processes (e.g. changes of cytoplasm pH, changes of electrostatic potential of cell membranes, flow of ions). It is set that getting a clean straw and clean grain ispossible only on the variants of experien-ce 1 maximum possible concentration of Cd+2 and on control. The effect of сadmium and other heavy metals on plants depends not only on its form, but also on the presence and concentration of other elements and substances, the plant species and its developmental stage are also important. Several soil conditions, such as the pH value, calcium level, content of organic substances, particulaly humus etc., are decisive for the exchangeable and water soluble, available сadmium for plants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 905-913
Author(s):  
Youyuan Peng ◽  
Qingshan Miao

Background: L-Ascorbic acid (AA) is a kind of water soluble vitamin, which is mainly present in fruits, vegetables and biological fluids. As a low cost antioxidant and effective scavenger of free radicals, AA may help to prevent diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Owing to its role in the biological metabolism, AA has also been utilized for the therapy of mental illness, common cold and for improving the immunity. Therefore, it is very necessary and urgent to develop a simple, rapid and selective strategy for the detection of AA in various samples. Methods: The molecularly imprinted poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) film was prepared for the analysis of L-ascorbic acid (AA) on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) - multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified glass carbon electrode (GCE) by electropolymerization of o-phenylenediamine (oPD) and AA. Experimental parameters including pH value of running buffer and scan rates were optimized. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were utilized for the characterization of the imprinted polymer film. Results: Under the selected experimental conditions, the DPV peak currents of AA exhibit two distinct linear responses ranging from 0.01 to 2 μmol L-1 and 2 to 100 μmol L-1 towards the concentrations of AA, and the detection limit was 2 nmol L-1 (S/N=3). Conclusion: The proposed electrochemical sensor possesses excellent selectivity for AA, along with good reproducibility and stability. The results obtained from the analysis of AA in real samples demonstrated the applicability of the proposed sensor to practical analysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 3761
Author(s):  
Wen-Lii Huang ◽  
Wei-Hsiang Chang ◽  
Shu-Fen Cheng ◽  
Huai-Yuan Li ◽  
Hsiu-Ling Chen

Once in soil and water, metals can enter the food chain, and the consumption of contaminated crops can pose a serious risk to human health. This study used pot experiments to evaluate the accumulation of metal elements and their influence on levels of antioxidants in vegetables. The current study clearly demonstrates that metals accumulated in the five vegetables that were planted in the contaminated soils, especially so for water spinach. Cd accumulation of all of the vegetables planted in the contaminated soils was greater Cu. The low accumulation rate that was seen in sweet potato leaf, potato, and tomato indicated their suitability for planting in suspected contaminated soil, such as at farms nearby metal industries, in replacement of high accumulators, such as leafy vegetables. The non-carcinogenic HI of Cd exposure from water spinach and sweet potato were >1, whereas those for Cu were <1. This study suggests that residents may experience health risks due to vegetable consumption, and that children are vulnerable to the adverse effects of heavy metal ingestion.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 355
Author(s):  
Runbo Luo ◽  
Yangdong Zhang ◽  
Fengen Wang ◽  
Kaizhen Liu ◽  
Guoxin Huang ◽  
...  

The objective was to study the effects of sugar cane molasses addition on the fermentation quality and tastes of alfalfa silage. Fresh alfalfa was ensiled with no additive (Control), 1% molasses (M1), 2% molasses (M2), and 3% molasses (M3) for 206 days. The chemical composition and fermentation characteristics of the alfalfa silages were determined, the microbial communities were described by 16S rRNA sequencing, and the tastes were evaluated using an electronic tongue sensing system. With the amount of added molasses (M), most nutrition (dry matter and crude protein) was preserved and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) were sufficiently used to promote the fermentation, resulting in a pH reduction from 5.16 to 4.48. The lactic acid (LA) content and LA/acetic acid (AA) significantly increased, indicating that the fermentation had turned to homofermentation. After ensiling, Enterococcus and Lactobacillus were the dominant genus in all treatments and the undesirable microbes were inhibited, resulting in lower propionic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA), and NH3-N production. In addition, bitterness, astringency, and sourness reflected tastes of alfalfa silage, while umami and sourness changed with the amount of added molasses. Therefore, molasses additive had improved the fermentation quality and tastes of alfalfa silage, and the M3 group obtained the ideal pH value (below 4.5) and the best condition for long-term preservation.


1993 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Halme ◽  
J. Edgren ◽  
K. von Smitten ◽  
H. Linden

Iohexol is a water-soluble contrast medium that is partly absorbed/permeated through mucosa of the small bowel and excreted unchanged in the urine. Iohexol was administered orally to 12 patients with Crohn's disease of the ileum and to 10 healthy controls to measure its excretion in the urine. The location and activity of Crohn's disease were determined by barium double-contrast radiography in all patients and by ileoscopy and biopsy in 9 patients. Iohexol concentrations in serum and 24-hour urine were measured using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Urinary excretion of iohexol was significantly greater in patients with active Crohn's disease than in controls. We suggest this method as a new way of measuring Crohn's disease activity and mucosal damage in the small bowel. Bowel inflammation and mucosal cell damage are strongly indicated if the iohexol excreted in the urine is over 1% of the oral intake.


Author(s):  
Petr Doležal ◽  
Dušan Kořínek ◽  
Jan Doležal ◽  
Václav Pyrochta

In the experiment was the effect of biological additive on the fermentation quality of crushed maize ears of two hybrids by comparing with the untreated control. The bacterial inoculant „A“ contained selected bacterial strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (NCIMB 30121) and Enterococcus faecium (NCIMB 30122). As effective substances of bacterial water–soluble inoculant „B“ were selected bacterial strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (NCIMB 30121), Lactobacillus plantarum (DSM 12836), Lactobacillus brevis (DSM 12835), Lactobacillus buchneri (DSM 12856), Pediococcus acidialactici (P. pentosaceus) (DSM 12834). The addition of inoculant „A“ in our experiment conditions increased statistically significantly (P<0.01) the pH value (4.09±0.01), resp. 4.02±0.02 in second trial with Pedro hybrid. The bacterial inoculant „B“ increased significantly (P<0.01) the contents of lactic acid (50.95±0.1.87 g/kg DM), acetic acid (18.61±0.34 g/kg DM), sum of acids (69.55±1.62 g/kg DM) and decreased (P<0.01) in the first trial the ethanol content (5.41±0.45 g/kg DM). The highest DM content (P<0.01) was in all experimental inoculated silages with additive „A“ (54.26±0.86%, and 53.56±0.54%, resp.). The bacterial inoculant „A“ increased significantly (P<0.01) in comparison with control silage in the second trial the content of lactic acid (34.66Ī2.81 g/kg DM), sum of acids (44.68±3.54 g/kg DM), the total acids content (32.87±2.88 g/kg DM), and ethanol content (17.33±0.79 g/kg DM). The inoculation positive effect was demonstrated in reduction of ethanol amount and of total acid production. The pH value of inoculated silages was not significantly lower than that in the control silage.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 36-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. L. Samokhvalova ◽  
O. V. Mangryka ◽  
A. I. Fateev ◽  
V. M. Gorjakina

Innovative (patent information research, elaboration of new methods and their implementation) and environmental management, the using of human-contaminated soils, soil protection against pollution and its prevention are the basic directions of the strategic management of soil resources. In conditions of intensive anthropogenic pressure the assessment of the ecological status of soils is an important factor, which reduces the risks of soil degradation and to propose ways to restore their productive and ecological functions on the further development of functional - ecological approach in soil science (Dobrovolsky, Nikitin, 1986, 1996). Therefore, urgent and important in theoretical and practical aspect is the elaboration of new technical decisions (methods) of soil quality assessment to create conditions to improve and to prevent the reduction of the level of productivity of soils and plants, the deterioration of their quality. The purpose of the investigations – the analysis of information sources existing patent information base of Ukraine and Russia on the issue of the environmental assessment of soils and perform patent research. Tasks perform patent research: the technical level of the object; analysis of scientific and technical activities leading developers; studying trends existing way to do that; techno-economic analysis of technical solutions/inventions that meet the objectives of the development; the study of the newness and novelty of the developed object and its constituent parts; investigated of the feasibility of its legal protection. It was considered the features of assessment of the soils environmental status in the investigation of the current patent-information database in Ukraine and Russia, components of which are developed new technical decisions. It was reviewed the providing patent information to assess the ecological status of both contaminated and uncontaminated soils. By analysis it was found that the patent-information support of Ukraine and Russia relative to existing methods of soils ecological status assessment is presented by the following ways: the ways of assessing of the soils research background concentrations, mobile, gross or water-soluble forms of trace elements and heavy metals; estimates based on bioassay and bioindication in combination with chemical analytical measurement indicators; comprehensive and expert evaluation of the properties of soils and its contamination; assessment of soil quality, considering the physical, physic-chemical and others properties; assessment of soil pollution using GIS technology, etc. The technical result of the developed methods is to improve the objectivity of assessment of changing soil quality and accuracy of the expert-analytical assessments of functional suitability of soils certain territory to growing different crops on a permanent or constant impact factor of pollution; for zoning for maximum efficiency use of different methods, methods of remediation of contaminated soils or soil improvers of different nature and micronutrients using to optimize the trace element status of soil and plants, soil quality; to evaluate the effectiveness of the testing results of the elaborated technical decisions in different soil-climatic zones.


2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Duthie

Epigenetic changes are inherited alterations in DNA that affect gene expression and function without altering the DNA sequence. DNA methylation is one epigenetic process implicated in human disease that is influenced by diet. DNA methylation involves addition of a 1-C moiety to cytosine groups in DNA. Methylated genes are not transcribed or are transcribed at a reduced rate. Global under-methylation (hypomethylation) and site-specific over-methylation (hypermethylation) are common features of human tumours. DNA hypomethylation, leading to increased expression of specific proto-oncogenes (e.g. genes involved in proliferation or metastasis) can increase the risk of cancer as can hypermethylation and reduced expression of tumour suppressor (TS) genes (e.g. DNA repair genes). DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), together with the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), facilitate DNA methylation. Abnormal DNA methylation is implicated not only in the development of human cancer but also in CVD. Polyphenols, a group of phytochemicals consumed in significant amounts in the human diet, effect risk of cancer. Flavonoids from tea, soft fruits and soya are potent inhibitors of DNMT in vitro, capable of reversing hypermethylation and reactivating TS genes. Folates, a group of water-soluble B vitamins found in high concentration in green leafy vegetables, regulate DNA methylation through their ability to generate SAM. People who habitually consume the lowest level of folate or with the lowest blood folate concentrations have a significantly increased risk of developing several cancers and CVD. This review describes how flavonoids and folates in the human diet alter DNA methylation and may modify the risk of human colon cancer and CVD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 100 (5) ◽  
pp. 1511-1515
Author(s):  
Frédéric Martin ◽  
Liliane Meyer ◽  
Konstantinos Zelianos ◽  
Esther Campos Gimenez

Abstract The purpose of this work was to understand low recoveries of thiamine (vitamin B1) when extracted from cocoa-containing beverage powders fortified with water-soluble vitamin B1, and to develop and validate a new procedure to improve these results. Based on the literature, previous trials have focused on two main factors: pH value prior to paper filtration and the need for solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean up. We demonstrate that by following European Standard EN 14122, recovery of thiaminein cocoa-containing beverage powders is low and dependent on the test portion (86 and 72% for 0.5 and 1.5 g test portions, respectively). Our improved method resolved this problem by keeping the pH low (around 1) prior to paper filtration, leading to a 96.3% recovery and high precision (RSDr of 3.5%). The use of strong cation-exchange SPE cartridges for cleanup prior to the thiamine oxidation reaction proved to be essential. A comparison between our improved method and EN 14122 on nine cocoa-containing beverage samples available on local market from different manufacturers showed a systematic increase in thiamine content (up to 70%) when the improved methodwas applied. The highest difference was observed forthe sample that contained the highest amount of cocoa. However, for beverage powders that contained bothcocoa and milk, no difference was observed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document