Phytoremediation technology for recovery of Ni by plants in association with isolated from E-waste contaminated site.

Electronic waste (e-waste) illegally disposal in Thailand is becoming more widespread. A sustainable metal recovery technology is needed. A phytotechnology called "phytomining" of metals such as nickel (Ni) is a promising technology providing a sustainable solution to the growing e-waste problems.

A Place-Based Conceptual Model (PBCM) of Neotricula aperta/Schistosoma mekongi habitat before and after dam construction in the Lower Mekong River.

In 1971, scientists from Mahidol University in Thailand and the Smithsonian Institution in the USA formed a research team to study a new species of Schistosoma in the Mekong River in Thailand and Laos. The studies, completed during 1971-1973, prior to the construction of any dams or restrictions to the natural flow regime of the Mekong River, provide a unique description of the natural ecological state of the river that can serve as a baseline for current research. The natural transmission of Schistosoma japonicum, Mekong Strain, was first reported on Khong Island, Laos in 1973 using sentinel mice.

A population growth trend analysis for Neotricula aperta, the snail intermediate host of Schistosoma mekongi, after construction of the Pak-Mun dam.

Background: The Pak-Mun dam is a controversial hydro-power project on the Mun River in Northeast Thailand. The dam is sited in a habitat of the freshwater snail Neotricula aperta, which is the intermediate host for the parasitic blood-fluke Schistosoma mekongi causing Mekong schistosomiasis in humans in Cambodia and Laos. Few data are available which can be used to assess the effects of water resource development on N.

Effect of corn plant on survival and phenanthrene degradation capacity of Pseudomonas sp. UG14LR in two soils.

A study was undertaken to assess if corn (Zea mays L.) can enhance phenanthrene degradation in two soils inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. UG14Lr.

Observations on Neotricula aperta (Gastropoda: Pomatiopsidae) population densities in Thailand and central Laos: implications for the spread of Mekong schistosomiasis.

Background: The snail Neotricula aperta transmits Mekong schistosomiasis in southern Laos and Cambodia, with about 1.5 million people at risk of infection. Plans are under consideration for at least 12 hydroelectric power dams on the lower Mekong river and much controversy surrounds predictions of their environmental impacts.

Effects of soil amendments and EDTA on lead uptake by Chromolaena odorata: greenhouse and field trial experiments.

Greenhouse and field trial experiments were performed to evaluate the use of Chromolaena odorata with various soil amendments for phytoextraction of Pb contaminated soil Pb mine soils contain low amount of nutrients, so the additions of organic (cow manure) and inorganic (Osmocote and NH4NO3 and KCl) fertilizers with EDTA were used to enhance plant growth and Pb accumulation. Greenhouse study showed that cow manure decreased available Pb concentrations and resulted in the highest Pb concentration in roots (4660 mg kg(-1)) and shoots (389.2 mg kg(-1)).

The phylogeography of Indoplanorbis exustus (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) in Asia.

Background: The freshwater snail Indoplanorbis exustus is found across India, Southeast Asia, central Asia (Afghanistan), Arabia and Africa. Indoplanorbis is of economic importance in that it is responsible for the transmission of several species of the genus Schistosoma which infect cattle and cause reduced livestock productivity. The snail is also of medical importance as a source of cercarial dermatitis among rural workers, particularly in India.

Plant-enhanced phenanthrene and pyrene biodegradation in acidic soil.

A study was undertaken to assess if corn plant (Zea may L.) maybe able to enhance the degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene in acidic soil inoculated with a bacterial strain (Pseudomonas putida MUB1) capable of degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Planting with corn, inoculating with MUB1, ora combination of the two were found to promote the degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene in acidic soil at different rates.

The distribution of Mekong schistosomiasis, past and future: preliminary indications from an analysis of genetic variation in the intermediate host.

Neotricula aperta is the only known intermediate host of Schistosoma mekongi which infects humans in Cambodia and the southern tip of Lao PDR. DNA-sequence data (partial rrnL, i.e.

Enhanced biodegradation of anthracene in acidic soil by inoculated Burkholderia sp. VUN10013.

The ability of Burkholderia sp. VUN10013 to degrade anthracene in microcosms of two acidic Thai soils was studied. The addition of Burkholderia sp.

DNA-sequence variation among Schistosoma mekongi populations and related taxa; phylogeography and the current distribution of Asian schistosomiasis.

Background: Schistosomiasis in humans along the lower Mekong River has proven a persistent public health problem in the region. The causative agent is the parasite Schistosoma mekongi (Trematoda: Digenea). A new transmission focus is reported, as well as the first study of genetic variation among S.

Phytotoxicity assay of crop plants to phenanthrene and pyrene contaminants in acidic soil.

Four selected plants (corn, groundnut, cow pea, and mungbean) were tested for their ability to germinate and grow in an acidic soil contaminated with phenanthrene or pyrene, two typical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The growth of corn root was the least sensitive to, but its germination rate was the lowest in the presence of, contaminants. Among the legumes, the growth of groundnut root was better than others.

Batch and continuous packed column studies of cadmium biosorption by Hydrilla verticillata biomass.

The removal of heavy metal ions by the nonliving biomass of aquatic macrophytes was studied. We investigated Cd biosorption by dry Hydrilla verticillata biomass. Data obtained in batch experiments indicate that H.

Quantitative detection of the oil-degrading bacterium Acinetobacter sp. strain MUB1 by hybridization probe based real-time PCR.

Quantitative detection of the oil-degrading bacterium Acinetobacter sp. strain MUB1 was performed using the SoilMaster() DNA Extraction Kit (Epicentre, Madison, Wisconsin) and hybridization probe based real-time PCR. The detection target was the alkane hydroxylase gene (alkM).

Toxicity and bioaccumulation of cadmium and lead in Salvinia cucullata.

The toxicity and accumulation of heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in aquatic fern, Salvinia cucullata were studied. Plants were cultured in Hoagland's medium which was supplemented with 0.5,1,2, and 4 mg/l of Cd and 5, 10, and 40 mg/l of Pb and were separately harvested after 2,4,6, and 8 days.

Tubular kidney damage and centrilobular liver injury after intratracheal instillation of dimethyl selenide.

Accidental inhalation of selenium (Se) derivatives, such as dimethyl selenide (DMSe), has been associated with damage of respiratory tissues. However, systemic effects of inhaled Se have not been thoroughly established. We have investigated whether mouse kidney and liver show cellular pathology as a result of a single intratracheal instillation of two different doses of DMSe (0.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a glutathione S-transferase encoding gene from Opisthorchis viverrini.

An adult stage Opisthorchis viverrini cDNA library was constructed and screened for abundant transcripts. One of the isolated cDNAs was found by sequence comparison to encode a glutathione S-transferase (GST) and was further analyzed for RNA expression, encoded protein function, tissue distribution and cross-reactivity of the encoded protein with other trematode protein counterparts. The cDNA has a size of 893 bp and encodes a GST of 213 amino acids length (OV28GST).

Acute pulmonary inflammation induced by lung overloading with selenium particles: leukocyte response and in situ detection of selenium at high resolution.

The kinetics of the acute inflammatory response of the lung was triggered in CD-1 mice by a single intratracheal instillation of a large amount of Se (10 mg); it was studied by quantitative cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage samples, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with x-ray elemental microanalysis. Bronchoalveolar lavage leukocytes were mostly neutrophils and increased from 12 to 24 h of Se treatment and decreased at 72 h. Only less than half of the granulocytes showed ingested Se particles; in contrast, virtually all BAL macrophages contained Se particles.

Occurrence of Perkinsus sp. in undulated surf clams Paphia undulata from the Gulf of Thailand.

The undulated surf clam Paphia undulata supports Thailand's largest shellfishery in the Gulf of Thailand, with landings in 1999 recorded at 70000 t (metric tonnes) yr(-1). We report, for the first time, the prevalence of Perkinsus sp. in clams in the Gulf.

Changes in bronchoalveolar lavage cells after intratracheal instillation of dimethyl selenide in mice.

CD-1 mice were exposed to a single intratracheal instillation of either 0.025 or 0.075 mg Se/kg wt of dimethyl selenide (DMSe).

In vivo ingestion of heavy metal particles of Se, Hg and W by murine macrophages. A study using scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray microanalysis.

Several heavy metals that are currently employed in industry may become polluters of work and natural environments. As particulate matter, heavy metals are suitable for entering the human body through the respiratory and digestive systems. They often end up inside phagocytes; the size of the microscopic particles modulates both their phagocytosis, and the physiology of macrophages.

Ultrastructural alterations in the liver and kidney of white sea bass, Lates calcarifer, in acute and subchronic cadmium exposure.

Ultrastructural alterations in the liver and kidney of 3-month-old white sea bass, Latescalcarifer, after cadmium exposure were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). One group of fish was exposed to a cadmium concentration of 10 mg/L (acute) for 96 h in a static system, and another group was exposed to cadmium concentrations of 0.8 and 3 mg/L cadmium (subchronic) for 3 months in a recirculation closed system.

Toxic effects of selenium inhalation: acute damage of the respiratory system of mice.

Accidental inhalation of selenium by humans has been associated with damage of respiratory tissues that is lacking a detailed histological definition. We have investigated the natural history of injury to the tracheal epithelium and lungs induced by a single intratracheal instillation of CD-1 mice with two different doses of dimethyl selenide (0.05 and 0.

Biosorption of cadmium and chromium in duckweed Wolffia globosa.

The biosorption of cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) by using dried Wolffia globosa biomass were investigated using batch technique. The effects of concentration and pH solution on the adsorption isotherm were measured by determining the adsorption isotherm at initial metal concentrations from 10 to 400 mg/L and pH 4 to 7 for Cd, and pH 1.5 to 6 for Cr.