Soil arthropods are a diverse group of invertebrates that play pivotal roles in nutrient cycling, decomposition, soil structure formation, and regulation of soil biodiversity. Understanding the ecological significance of soil arthropods and their interactions with other soil organisms is crucial. This review paper examines the potential of arthropods in improving soil health and quality, with a specific focus on their relevance in acidic, saline/alkaline, and contaminated soils.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnshi, China, is renowned as "Selenium(Se) Capital" where widely distributed soils derived from Permian parent rocks are notably rich in Se, as well as metals, particularly cadmium(Cd). However, the soil enrichment and crop uptake of Se and metals in these high-Se and high-Cd areas are not well understood. To propose the optimal crop planting plan to ensure the safety of agricultural products, we investigated the soils and corresponding typical crops (rice, tea, and maize).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo achieve "production while remediation" in arsenic (As) -contaminated farmlands, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of five Pteris vittata L. (PV) - maize intercropping modes on the growth, nutrient, and As accumulation characteristics of PV and maize. The intercropping increased the As content of PV by 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the present study, we demonstrated that the presence of cysteine could remarkably enhance the degradation of atrazine by FeO/persulfate system. The results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra confirmed the combination of cysteine and FeO exhibited much higher activity on activation of persulfate to generate more SO and •OH than FeO alone. At pH of 3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSelenium (Se) is an essential nutrient element for humans, and Se-enriched products are gaining popularity due to their health benefits. However, Enshi, a region in China naturally rich in Se, a high background value of cadmium (Cd) is discovered, which severely impacts local Se-enriched agriculture. Therefore, it is crucial to explore the geochemical relationship between Se and Cd.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRice husk biochar (RHB) is a low-cost and renewable resource that has been found to be highly effective for the remediation of water and soil environments. Its yield, structure, composition, and physicochemical properties can be modified by changing the parameters of the preparation process, such as the heating rate, pyrolysis temperature, and carrier gas flow rate. Additionally, its specific surface area and functional groups can be modified through physical, chemical, and biological means.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) drugs can only change the symptoms of cognitive impairment in a short time but cannot prevent or completely cure AD. Thus, a more effective drug is urgently needed. Cornuside is extracted from Corni Fructus, a traditional Chinese medicine that plays an important role in treating dementia and other age-related diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated the removal of metal cations (Cd(II)) and metalloid anions (Se(IV)) from their aqueous solution by using agricultural waste (rice husk biochar). Rice husk biochar samples were prepared under 300, 500, and 700 °C pyrolysis conditions and their physicochemical properties were characterized. Aqueous Cd(II) and Se(IV) sorption kinetics and isotherms of rice husk biochar were studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe excessive use of nickel (Ni) in manufacturing and various industries has made Ni a serious pollutant in the past few decades. As a micronutrient, Ni is crucial for plant growth at low concentrations, but at higher concentrations, it can hamper growth. We evaluated the effects of Ni concentrations on nitrate (NO) and ammonium (NH) concentrations, and nitrogen metabolism enzyme activity in rice seedlings grown in hydroponic systems, using different Ni concentrations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, a novel approach was employed for the remediation of cationic and anionic metals/metalloids co-contaminated soil by tetrapolyphosphate enhanced soil washing coupled with ferrous sulfide treatment. Tetrapolyphosphate could simultaneously enhance the desorption of cationic metals (Pb and Zn) and anionic metal/metalloid (Cr and As) from the contaminated soil in the whole tested pH range of 2-10. With addition of 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is challenging to reduce the cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) contents of brown rice simultaneously due to their converse chemical behaviors in the paddy soil. Clay minerals, such as sepiolite (SEP), have significant advantages in remediating Cd-contaminated soil. Moreover, iron or manganese oxide loaded SEP can improve the As adsorption efficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe beneficial effects of selenium on As uptake and plant growth in As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata are known, but the associated mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of selenate on arsenic accumulation by P. vittata under two arsenate levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBeing analogue to arsenic (As), phosphorus (P) may affect As dynamics in soil and toxicity to plants depending upon many soil and plant factors. Two sets of experiments were conducted to determine the effect of P on As fractionation in soils, its accumulation by plants and subsequent impact on growth, yield and physiological characteristics of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExogenous selenium (Se) improves the tolerance of plants to abiotic stress. However, the effects and mechanisms of different Se species on drought stress alleviation are poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate and compare the different effects and mechanisms of sodium selenate (NaSeO) and sodium selenite (NaSeO) on the growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant system, osmotic substances and stress-responsive gene expression of Nicotiana tabacum L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFe-Mn binary oxide has received increasing interest in treating As(III)-containing polluted groundwater due to its low cost and environmental friendliness. Although the stability of Fe-Mn binary oxide is as important as its adsorption ability, little is known about whether and why Fe-Mn binary oxide is stable during As(III) removal. In this study, five successive cycles were conducted to evaluate the stability of Fe-Mn binary oxide for As(III) removal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSimultaneously reducing the availability of Cd and As is difficult owing to converse chemical behaviors of Cd and As in soil. In this study, amendments that can simultaneously immobilize Cd and As in soil were determined by an pure soil culture experiment in which flooding and wetting were performed for 30 d each. The effects of sepiolite (Sep), modified sepiolite (IMS and Sep-FM), steel slag (SS), and iron modified biochar (Fe-Bio) on soil pH, Eh, Cd, and As concentrations in pore water, and Cd and As fractions in soil were investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the present study, the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of heavy metals (Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) in soil around 19 centralized drinking water sources in Wuhan were investigated. Single-factor and comprehensive pollution indexes were used to determine soil pollution levels. The potential ecological hazard index was employed to evaluate soil potential ecological risks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPassivation of heavy metals is one of the most efficient techniques to remediate soil pollution. However, passivators with single component are usually unsatisfactory in the case of multi-metal contaminated soils. To resolve this problem, a series of combined passivators containing different ratios of Fe-Mn ore, Fe powder, zeolite, bentonite, etc.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
March 2021
Selenium (Se) is an essential and crucial micronutrient for humans and animals, but excessive Se brings negativity and toxicity. The adsorption and oxidation of Se(IV) on Mn-oxide surfaces are important processes for understanding the geochemical fate of Se and developing engineered remediation strategies. In this study, the characterization of simultaneous adsorption, oxidation, and desorption of Se(IV) on δ-MnO mineral was carried out using stirred-flow reactors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBeneficial effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on plants under different abiotic conditions have long been demonstrated. This study aimed to figure out how exogenous MeJA mitigated high-Se toxicity in rice from plant physiology and gene express perspective to provide the theory and technique for safe production of Se-rich rice. The results showed that low concentrations of MeJA at 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOrganosilicon has been widely used in various fields of industry and agriculture due to its excellent properties, such as high and low temperature resistance, flame retardant, insulation, radiation resistance and physiological inertia. However, organosilicon toxicity in aquatic animals is seldom known. In this research, two typical silicone or silane coupling agents (KH-560 (3-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane) and KH-570 (3-Methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane)) were used in a hydroponic experiment to evaluate the effects on survival rate, antioxidant response and gene expression in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSilicon (Si) and selenium (Se), two beneficial elements that alleviate cadmium (Cd) toxicity, are important for agricultural production and human health. However, the effects and related mechanisms of Si-Se interaction on Cd toxicity alleviation are still poorly understood. Herein, a hydroponic experiment was employed to evaluate the effects of Si and Se alone and together, on the growth, Cd content, and biochemical parameters of Cd-treated rice plants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBull Environ Contam Toxicol
February 2020
Soil arsenic (As) pollution has become a global problem. It is urgent to improve the phytoextraction efficiency of soil As. This study found chemical activators (Span 80/SDS and GSH/Span 80/SDS) that can significantly improve the availability of As and the phytoextraction efficiency of As by Pteris vittata L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF