Effect of coal mining activities and related industry on composition, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of surrounding soils.

Coal mining and related industries each leave their characteristic "metal fingerprint" in the surrounding soils. Although geochemical investigations of such soils most often indicate heavy contamination with certain metals and bioassays point to their cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, the majority of studies are based on only one of the mentioned approaches. Here, the presented study investigated the effect of coal mining activities and related industry on surrounding soils by means of both geochemical and biological tools.

Assessment of acrylamide toxicity using a battery of standardised bioassays.

Acrylamide is a monomer widely used as an intermediate in the production of organic chemicals, e.g. polyacrylamides (PAMs).

Growth and photosynthetic responses of Lemna minor L. exposed to cadmium in combination with zinc or copper.

Metals have a variety of negative outcomes on plants, essential components of any ecosystem. The effects of CdCl2 (5 μmol L-1), ZnCl2 (25 or 50 μmol L-1), and CuCl2 (2.5 or 5 μmol L-1) and combinations of CdCl2 with either ZnCl2 or CuCl2 on the growth, photosynthetic pigments, and photosystem II (PSII) efficiency of duckweed (Lemna minor L.

Biochemical responses of Lemna minor experimentally exposed to cadmium and zinc.

The effects of 5 μM cadmium (Cd), a non-essential toxic element and 25 and 50 μM zinc (Zn), an essential micronutrient, were investigated in aquatic plant Lemna minor L. after 4 and 7 days of exposure to each metal alone or to their combinations. Both metals showed tendency to accumulate with time, but when present in combination, they reduced uptake of each other.

Effect of copper on the toxicity and genotoxicity of cadmium in duckweed (lemna minor L.).

We investigated interactions between copper (in the concentrations of 2.5 μmol L-1 and 5 μmol L-1) and cadmium (5 μmol L-1) in common duckweed (Lemna minor L.) by exposing it to either metal or to their combinations for four or seven days.

Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on seed germination and root meristematic cells of Allium cepa L.

The effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) on seed germination, primary root growth as well as mitotic activity and mitotic aberrations in root meristematic cells were examined in Allium cepa L. cv. Srebrnjak Majski.

Toxicity assessment of heavy metal mixtures by Lemna minor L.

The discharge of untreated electroplating wastewaters directly into the environment is a certain source of heavy metals in surface waters. Even though heavy metal discharge is regulated by environmental laws many small-scale electroplating facilities do not apply adequate protective measures. Electroplating wastewaters contain large amounts of various heavy metals (the composition depending on the facility) and the pH value often bellow 2.

Toxicity of surfactants to green microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Scenedesmus subspicatus and to marine diatoms Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Skeletonema costatum.

Ecotoxicity of different commercial surfactants (six anionic, two amphoteric and one nonionic), essential constituents of cleansing hair products (shampoos), as well as ecotoxicity of eight shampoos containing different combinations of these surfactants, were tested in order to evaluate their possible toxic effects on microalgae. Specific objective of this research was to compare the sensitivity of selected freshwater and marine microalgae to these widely used surfactants and well-known pollutants in surface waters. Internationally validated methods (ISO standards) for the determination of toxic effects on the growth of planktonic freshwater green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Scenedesmus subspicatus and marine diatoms Skeletonema costatum and Phaeodactylum tricornutum, were used.

Xenobiotics removal from polluted water by a multifunctional constructed wetland.

Removal efficiencies on xenobiotics from polluted water in a twin-shaped constructed wetland consisting of a vertical flow chamber with the crop plant Colocasia esculenta L. Schott and a reverse vertical flow one with Ischaemum aristatum var. glaucum Honda, were assessed by chemical analysis and bioassays.