• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.158-162
• /
• 1974

Some ecological attributes of perennial plants and Pb contamination were analyzed for study plots near an entrance of Nevade Test Site at Mercury Valley, Nye County, Nevada. The surface of the desert pavement soil was composed of stones (1 to 4cm diameter). The underside of each stone was coated with coarse and fine sand (about 90%). The profiles of soil were constituted with the A-horizon and C-horizon only. The soil pH at the plots ranges from 7.6 to 8.5, C/N was 13 and cation exchange capacity showed 15me/100g. Nine species and 42 number of individuals were found in all plots. Franseria dumosa and Larrea divaricata were dominant species. The discrete clumps of vegetation were consisted of 9 species of common perennials and these were covered about 25% on desert pavement, on the other words, bare area without vegetation was about 75%. The size and spacing of the plants was irregular. Community coefficient as comparison between shrub species in these study area and those in near the low elevation desert indicated a low degree of similarity. Density, cover and productivity in the study plots as compared with those in the nearest study areas in Mercury Valley showed a higher value. The soils in the studied area involved high heavy metal contents in the plant tissue was higher than those of its soil. The leavds of Lycium andersonii tended to accumulate more Zn and Mo than those of the other species. Larrea divaricata leaves accumulated very high leaves of Fe and Ephedra nevadensis were generally high in Mn. Lead contamination was apparent in foliage of desert vegetation collected alongside the roadway, reflecting the variation in traffic volume. Lead contents greater than fifteen-fold of normal (low traffic) were found in plant foliage alongside the heavily traveled roadway. Lead content of old foliage by the heavily traveled roadway was as much as 129 ppm but that of new foliage 17 ppm only.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.65-74
• /
• 2015

X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis using X-ray absorption spectroscopy is being applied as a state-of-the-art method in a wide range of disciplines. This review article summarizes the overall procedure of XAFS analysis from the preparation of soil samples to the analysis of data in X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) region and extended Xray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) region. The previous studies on application of XANES and EXAFS techniques in environmental soil science field are discussed and classified them according to metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn). A significant number of previous studies of XAFS application in the environmental soil science field have focused on the identification of Pb chemical species in soil. Moreover, XANES and EXAFS techniques have been widely used to investigate the contamination source via identification of metal species. Similarly, these techniques were applied to identify the mechanisms of metal stabilization in soil after application of various amendments, phytoremediation, etc.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.121-132
• /
• 2004

Concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn were determined in four arctic brown algae (Laminaria saccharina, L. digitata, Alaria esculenta, Desmarestia aculeata) in an attempt to examine for their metal accumulation capacity and also to assess their contamination levels. Macroalgae were collected from shallow subtidal waters (<20m) of Kongsfjorden (Kings Bay) on Spitsbergen during the period of the late July to early August 2003. Metal concentrations highly varied between sampling sites, species and tissue parts. Input of melt-water laden with terrigenous sediment particles seemed to have a large influence on baseline accumulations of some metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Pb etc.) in the macroalgae, causing a significant spatial variation. There were also significant concentration differences between the young and old tissue parts in L. saccharina, L. digitata and A. esculenta. While Al, Fe, Mn, Pb were higher in the perennial parts (stipes and holdfast below meristematic region), Cd and As concentrations were significantly higher in the young blades above the meristematic region. Zn and Cr, on the other hand, showed little differences between the tissue parts. The highest metal concentrations were found in D. aculeata, which seems to be due to its filamentous fine branches leading to high surface/volume ratios. The lowest concentrations were found in the two Laminaria spp., the blades of which are thicker than D. aculeata and A. esculenta. No distinct signs of contamination were detected in the brown algal species analyzed. Added to this, the results of the present studies suggest the potential utility of L. saccharina, L. digitata and A. esculenta as biomonitors for metal pollution monitoring in this area.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.341-346
• /
• 2004

The quantification of the toxicological effects of the heavy metals such as Cu, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Zn on the growth of Escherichia coli was performed, and the variations of toxicwith exposure time were evaluated in adaptation procedure. The characteristics of growth inhibition on Escherichia coli by heavy metals were different with metal species, and critical concentration of each metal, which inhibited cell growth completely, were Cu of 3.5 mM, Zn of 2.5 mM, Cd of 1.5 mM, Cr of 1.2 mM, and Hg of 0.12 mM, respectively. The tolerance of E. coli against heavy metals, based on $EC_{50}$ values, increased in order of Cu > Zn > Cr > Cd > Hg. The slopes obtained from the relationship between ECso values and expose time corresponds to adaptability of test organisms to the toxicants. The adaptability of test organisms to the toxicants was much higher at higher slope values. Adaptability of E. coli on heavy metals increased in order to Zn > Cd > CU >> Cr> Hg.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.90 no.4
• /
• pp.495-504
• /
• 2001

The objectives of this study were to understand the characteristics of Cd and Pb accumulation in various tissues of poplar species and the effects of ectomycorrhizal inoculation on the accumulation of above two heavy metals in the tissues. The mycelial inoculum of ectomycorrizal fungus, Pisolithus tinctorius was produced in peatmoss and vermiculite mixtures, and inoculated into potted soil with fresh cuttings of four species of Populus, P. alba ${\times}$ glandulosa (Pag). P. koreana ${\times}$ nigra var. italica (Pkn), P. nigra ${\times}$ maximowiczii(Pnm), and P. euramericana(Pe). The potted soils were added with 0, 30, and 80 ppm Cd, and 0, 50, and 300 ppm Pb. The cuttings were grown outdoors for about five months until the plants were harvested for measurement of growth, mycorrhizal infection, and metal contents in leaves, stems, and roots. The total dry weight of Pe treated with Cd and Pb was increased by mycorrhizal inoculation, while that of three other species was not affected by the inoculation. Cd was accumulated in the highest concentration in Pag and its concentration was increased by four times by mycorrhizal inoculation. The Pag accumulated Cd in the highest concentration in the leaves, while three other species accumulated Cd most in the roots. Pb was accumulated in the highest concentration in the roots of all the four species, while Pkn accumulated Pb in the leaves as much as in the roots. Without mycorrhizal inoculation Pe accumulated Pb most among the four species, while Pkn with mycorrhizal inoculation accumulated Pb two times more than in the same species without mycorrhizal inoculation. It was concluded that Pag was the most effective species among the four poplar species in Cd absorption from contaminated soil, and that Pe instead effectively absorbed Pb. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased the Cd accumulation in the tissues by four times in Pag and also increased Pb accumulation by two times in Pkn, with leaves being the major sites of metal accumulation. It may be possible to use these two poplar species in remedying the metal in the soil through the raking and removing the litter out of the contaminate site.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.65-69
• /
• 2001

For the first time the concentrations of copper, zinc, lead, cadmium and crome in the tissues from 17 specimens of cetaceans of Korean coast were determined. The measured concentrations of trace elements were considerably lower than the concentrations previously reported in cetaceans. In inter-species, Cd levels were higher in the kidney of Stejneger's beaked whales and the stomach, liver and lung of Risso's dolphin than in the tissues of minke whale and humpback whale.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2003.09a
• /
• pp.69-72
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study is the development of hybrid horizontal electrokinetic(EK) remediation system on rifle range soil under unsaturated conditions. In order to remediate soil polluted by multi-species heavy metals, in pi]of scale, a series of EK remediation tests are carried out. PVC and PDB(Plastic Drain Board) electrode systems that connected with the power supply of constant voltage and vacuum pressure of 0.5kgf/$\textrm{cm}^2$ are installed, The test results showed that the pH distribution in the sample is below 8, which is maintained until the test is finished, because of the injection of flushing solution. The final concentration, which is normalized by initial concentration, is ranged about 50 to 90%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.851-859
• /
• 1997

This study was perfomed to investigate the contamination level of harmful heavy metals and the level of trace elements in 15 kinds of fish collected at the western coast in Korea from July to December in 1996. The levels of total lead, cadmium, mercury, iron, copper and zinc were determined and the results were summarized as follows: The minimum and maximum values(ppm) of fish, mean value bracketed, were ; Pb : 0.02~4.80(2.26), Cd: 0.001~0.54(0.04), Hg: 0.007~1.08(0.52), Fe: 7.76~66.39(25.70), Cu; 0.37~121.6(1.90), Zn:12.01~112.10(54.78). The results show that mean contents of Pb, Cd and Hg in 15 species fish were not yet dangerous levels enough to cause a health problem. But the contents of Pb and Hg tend to increase.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.198-205
• /
• 2008

Benthic macroinvertebrates were examined to elucidate community structures of a set of 9 shallow ponds from a total of 6 parks located in Seoul metropolitan area, Korea. The result showed that macroinvertebrates were diverse and abundant, and aquatic macrophyte provide habitat diversities in ponds. The differences among benthic macroinvertebrate community compositions seemed to be attributed to local biotic and abiotic interactions. We surveyed benthic macroinvertebrate, biotic (macrophyte), abiotic (turbidity, nutrient concentrations, conductivity, heavy metal concentration) and morphometric (area, depth) of the lentic systems. Generally, the benthic macroinvertebrates were dominated by Cloeon dipterum or Coenagrion sp.. Distribution of the aquatic macrophyte community was correlated with the species composition of macroinvertebrates. The result demonstrated a significant and positive relationship between habitat quality and macroinvertebrate composition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
• /
• 2004.12a
• /
• pp.63-68
• /
• 2004

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural experiments were conducted to find out heavy metal accumulation in some selected organs such as the kidney, the digestive gland, and the gill of the Antarctic clam Laternula elliptica and R. philippinarum. According to the immunohistochemical study the subject organs of the clam showed reactions indicating the presence of MT (metallothionein), a metal-binding protein involved in metal detoxifying process. Examination under the transmission electron microscope also revealed that other ligands may play a role in metal accumulating and detoxifying process in L. elliptica and R. philippinarum. In the artificial exposure of the clam to Cd, the clams showed immediate subcellular responses. The level of the anti-MT reactions became higher in the proportion to the degree of pollution of their habitat and to the period of Cd exposure. These suggest that the two species can be used as efficient biomarkers for Cd exposure in the natural environment.