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Erasmus JH, Truter M, Smit NJ, Nachev M, Sures B, Wepener V. Element contamination of the Orange-Vaal River basin, South Africa: a One Health approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:29886-29901. [PMID: 38589590 PMCID: PMC11058963 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32932-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Numerous low-income groups and rural communities depend on fish as an inexpensive protein source worldwide, especially in developing countries. These communities are constantly exposed to various pollutants when they frequently consume polluted fish. The largest river basin in South Africa is the Orange-Vaal River basin, and several anthropogenic impacts, especially gold mining activities and industrial and urban effluents, affect this basin. The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries in South Africa has approved the much-anticipated National Freshwater (Inland) Wild Capture Fisheries Policy in 2021. The aims of this study were (1) to analyze element concentrations in the widely distributed Clarias gariepinus from six sites from the Orange-Vaal River basin and (2) to determine the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risks associated with fish consumption. The bioaccumulation of eight potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) was assessed in C. gariepinus from sites with different anthropogenic sources. The human health risks were determined to assess the potential risks posed by consuming contaminated C. gariepinus from these sites. Carcinogenic health risks were associated with fish consumption, where it ranged between 21 and 75 out of 10,000 people having the probability to develop cancer from As exposure. The cancer risk between the sites ranged between 1 and 7 out of 10,000 people to developing cancer from Cr exposure. A high probability of adverse non-carcinogenic health risks is expected if the hazard quotient (HQ) is higher than one. The HQ in C. gariepinus from the six sites ranged between 1.5 and 5.6 for As, while for Hg, it was between 1.8 and 5.1. These results highlight the need for monitoring programs of toxic pollutants in major river systems and impoundments in South Africa, especially with the new fisheries policy, as there are possible human health risks associated with the consumption of contaminated fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Hendrik Erasmus
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
| | - Marliese Truter
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB), Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Nico Jacobus Smit
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB), Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Milen Nachev
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Bernd Sures
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Victor Wepener
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
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Kontchou JA, Baetz N, Grabner D, Nachev M, Tuerk J, Sures B. Pollutant load and ecotoxicological effects of sediment from stormwater retention basins to receiving surface water on Lumbriculus variegatus. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160185. [PMID: 36395831 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The overflow of stormwater retention basins during intense and prolonged precipitation events may result in the direct input of particulate pollutants and remobilization of already sedimented particle-bound pollutants to receiving freshwater bodies. Particle-bound pollutants may cause adverse effects on aquatic biota, particularly sediment dwellers. Therefore, we investigated the sediment pollution load of a stream connected to the outfalls of two stormwater basins to determine the impact of the basins' discharges on the metal and organic pollutant content of the sediment. Also, the possible adverse effects of the pollutant load on benthic dwellers were evaluated in sediment toxicity tests with Lumbriculus variegatus and the effects on its growth, reproduction and the biomarkers catalase, acetylcholinesterase and metallothionein were analyzed. The results showed that the retention basins contained the highest load of pollutants. The pollutant load in the stream did not show a clear pollution pattern from the inlets. However, metal enrichment ratios revealed contamination with Cu, Pb and Zn with Pb and Zn above threshold effect concentrations in all sites. Ecotoxicity results showed that the retention basin samples were the most toxic compared to sediment from the stream. Exposure experiments with the stream sediment did not show considerable effects on reproduction, catalase activity and metallothionein concentration. However, modest inhibitions of growth and activity of acetylcholinesterase were detected. Based on the observed results, it cannot be concluded that overflows of the retention basin are responsible for the pollutant contents downstream of their inlet. Other sources that were not considered in this study, such as diffuse input, historic pollution and point sources further upstream as well as along the stream, are likely the major contributors of pollutant load in the sediment of the studied transects of the stream. Additionally, the observed results in the stormwater basin sediment further highlight their importance in retaining particle-bound pollutants and preventing ecotoxicological effects from receiving surface water bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julios Armand Kontchou
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany; Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, 45141 Essen, Germany.
| | - Nicolai Baetz
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, 45141 Essen, Germany; Institut für Energie- und Umwelttechnik e. V. (IUTA, Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology), Bliersheimer Str. 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Grabner
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany; Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Milen Nachev
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany; Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Jochen Tuerk
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, 45141 Essen, Germany; Institut für Energie- und Umwelttechnik e. V. (IUTA, Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology), Bliersheimer Str. 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Sures
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany; Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, 45141 Essen, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 2, 45141 Essen, Germany
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Xiao Y, Chen L, Li C, Ma J, Chen R, Yang B, Liu G, Liu S, Fang J. Role of the rhizosphere bacterial community in assisting phytoremediation in a lead-zinc area. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1106985. [PMID: 36874912 PMCID: PMC9982732 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1106985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals (HMs) contamination and vegetation destruction in the mining area caused by mining activities are severely increasing. It is urgent to restore vegetation and stabilize HMs. In this study, we compared the ability of HMs phytoextraction/phytostabilization of three dominant plants, including Artemisia argyi (LA), Miscanthus floridulus (LM), and Boehmeria nivea (LZ) in a lead-zinc mining area in Huayuan County (China). We also explored the role of the rhizosphere bacterial community in assisting phytoremediation using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) analysis showed that LA preferred accumulating Cd, LZ preferred accumulating Cr and Sb, and LM preferred accumulating Cr and Ni. Significant (p < 0.05) differences were found among the rhizosphere soil microbial communities of these three plants. The key genera of LA were Truepera and Anderseniella, that of LM were Paracoccus and Erythrobacter, and of LZ was Novosphingobium. Correlation analysis showed some rhizosphere bacterial taxa (e.g., Actinomarinicola, Bacillariophyta and Oscillochloris) affected some soil physicochemical parameters (e.g., organic matter and pH) of the rhizosphere soil and enhanced the TF of metals. Functional prediction analysis of soil bacterial community showed that the relative abundances of genes related to the synthesis of some proteins (e.g., manganese/zinc-transporting P-type ATPase C, nickel transport protein and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase) was positively correlated with the phytoextraction/phytostabilization capacity of plants for heavy metals. This study provided theoretical guidance on selecting appropriate plants for different metal remediation applications. We also found some rhizosphere bacteria might enhance the phytoremediation of multi-metals, which could provide a reference for subsequent research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhua Xiao
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Liang Chen
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Chunxiao Li
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Jingjing Ma
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Rui Chen
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Bo Yang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Gang Liu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuming Liu
- College of Chemical and Environmental Sciences, YiLi Normal University, YiLi, China
| | - Jun Fang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
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Klik B, Holatko J, Jaskulska I, Gusiatin MZ, Hammerschmiedt T, Brtnicky M, Liniauskienė E, Baltazar T, Jaskulski D, Kintl A, Radziemska M. Bentonite as a Functional Material Enhancing Phytostabilization of Post-Industrial Contaminated Soils with Heavy Metals. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 15:8331. [PMID: 36499826 PMCID: PMC9735557 DOI: 10.3390/ma15238331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Growing awareness of the risks posed by pollution of the soil environment is leading to the development of new remediation strategies. The technique of aided phytostabilization, which involves the evaluation of new heavy-metal (HM)-immobilizing amendments, together with appropriately selected plant species, is a challenge for environmental protection and remediation of the soil environment, and seems to be promising. In this study, the suitability of bentonite for the technique of aided phytostabilization of soils contaminated with high HM concentrations was determined, using a mixture of two grass species. The HM contents in the tested plants and in the soil were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The application of bentonite had a positive effect on the biomass of the tested plants, and resulted in an increase in soil pH. The concentrations of copper, nickel, cadmium, lead and chromium were higher in the roots than in the above-ground parts of the plants, especially when bentonite was applied to the soil. The addition of the analyzed soil additive contributed significantly to a decrease in the levels of zinc, copper, cadmium and nickel in the soil at the end of the experiment. In view of the above, it can be concluded that the use of bentonite in the aided phytostabilization of soils polluted with HMs, is appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Klik
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jiri Holatko
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Iwona Jaskulska
- Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Mariusz Z. Gusiatin
- Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Tereza Hammerschmiedt
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Brtnicky
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ernesta Liniauskienė
- Hydrotechnical Construction Department, Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, Liepu Str. 1, Girionys, LT-53101 Šlienava, Lithuania
| | - Tivadar Baltazar
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dariusz Jaskulski
- Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Antonin Kintl
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Agricultural Research, Ltd., Zahradni 1, 664 41 Troubsko, Czech Republic
| | - Maja Radziemska
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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Payne AJR, Xavier NF, Bauerfeldt GF, Sacchi M. Dehydrogenation of ammonia on free-standing and epitaxial hexagonal boron nitride. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:20426-20436. [PMID: 35983875 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp01392d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We report a thermodynamically feasible mechanism for producing H2 from NH3 using hBN as a catalyst. 2D catalysts have exceptional surface areas with unique thermal and electronic properties suited for catalysis. Metal-free, 2D catalysts, are highly desirable materials that can be more sustainable than the ubiquitously employed precious and transition metal-based catalysts. Here, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrate that metal-free hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a valid alternative to precious metal catalysts for producing H2via reaction of ammonia with a boron and nitrogen divacancy (VBN). Our results show that the decomposition of ammonia proceeds on monolayer hBN with an activation energy barrier of 0.52 eV. Furthermore, the reaction of ammonia with epitaxially grown hBN on a Ru(0001) substrate was investigated, and we observed similar NH3 decomposition energy barriers (0.61 eV), but a much more facile H2 associative desorption barrier (0.69 eV vs 5.89 eV). H2 generation from the free-standing monolayer would instead occur through a diffusion process with an energy barrier of 3.36 eV. A detailed analysis of the electron density and charge distribution along the reaction pathways was carried out to rationalise the substrate effects on the catalytic reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J R Payne
- Department of Chemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
| | - Neubi F Xavier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
| | - Glauco F Bauerfeldt
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, 23890-000 Seropédica-RJ, Brazil
| | - Marco Sacchi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK.
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Erasmus JH, Zimmermann S, Smit NJ, Malherbe W, Nachev M, Sures B, Wepener V. Human health risks associated with consumption of fish contaminated with trace elements from intensive mining activities in a peri-urban region. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 825:154011. [PMID: 35192810 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, numerous rural communities and low-income groups depend on fish harvested by subsistence fishers from local rivers and its impoundments as a source of protein. The aim of the present study was to determine the trace element bioaccumulation (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Pt, Zn) in three edible fish species (Cyprinus carpio, Clarias gariepinus, Oreochromis mossambicus) from two impoundments in the Hex River system, South Africa, as well as the chronic health risk these trace elements pose to regular fish consumers. Trace element concentrations in the Hex River are naturally high (geogenic source), however, increased anthropogenic activities, such as intensive platinum mining activities, elevate the already high background concentrations. Concentrations of As, Cr, and Pt in C. carpio and C. gariepinus, as well as Ni and Zn in O. mossambicus were significantly higher in the impacted impoundment as compared to the reference impoundment. Concentrations of Cr and Cu were at both sampling sites the highest in O. mossambicus. From the human health risk assessment, As poses non-carcinogenic (HQ = 2-7) and carcinogenic risks (33-93 out of 10,000 people), while Cr (3-10 out of 10,000 people) and Ni (2-6 out of 10,000 people) pose only carcinogenic risks for the regular consumption of all three fish species from both impoundments, indicating a high probability of adverse human health effects. For As, Cr and Ni, also the sediment concentrations exceeded the levels of concern within the consensus based sediment quality guideline (CBSQG), while Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn exceeded the water quality guideline values. Thus, the CBSQG approach could be a promising tool for predicting human health risk associated with fish consumption. Since the present study only focused on the individual trace element risks, mixed toxicity of these trace elements and possible other pollutants within these fish species may pose an even greater risk to people who consume these fish regularly.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Erasmus
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, 11 Hoffman St, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
| | - S Zimmermann
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, 11 Hoffman St, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa; Department of Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, Essen 45141, Germany.
| | - N J Smit
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, 11 Hoffman St, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
| | - W Malherbe
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, 11 Hoffman St, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
| | - M Nachev
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, Essen 45141, Germany.
| | - B Sures
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, Essen 45141, Germany.
| | - V Wepener
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, 11 Hoffman St, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
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