Natural Stream Water Research Articles

Determination of 137Cs in Natural Water and Waste Streams Using Ferrocyanide Sorbents Based on Various Supports: a Comparative Analysis

Determination of 137Cs in Natural Water and Waste Streams Using Ferrocyanide Sorbents Based on Various Supports: a Comparative Analysis

Strategic Integration of Catchment Level Natural and Structural Methods of Sustainable Flood Management: A Case Study of River Wharfe Catchment Area

Water has a crucial place in the advent of humankind the flourishing of mega population centres, and is an essential source of food, water transportation, and irrigation. The anthropogenic activities in taming the natural water streams to the optimum benefit of human beings disturb natural flood plains, ecology and habitat. The channelisation of streams and hydromodifications in dams, barrages or reservoirs result in climatic variations locally/ regionally and impact transborder stream flow. Researchers have been endeavouring to restore the flood plains to their natural conditions. Still, huge hydromodifications and the development of megacities right in the flood plains or adjacent to the streams have resulted in irreversible disturbances to the natural lay of ground/ landscape. Therefore, to avoid flooding disasters, further structural interventions are undertaken to augment the natural flood prevention methods using advanced materials like cement concrete, steel, and polymers rather than increasing the emissions of greenhouse gases. Considering the strategic necessity of engineering structures as an integrated catchment level solution to augment the natural methods, the researchers/ engineers are now focussing on the use of sustainable, eco-friendly materials and demountable/ hydraulic structures to minimise the carbon footprints of hydromodifications and to decrease the obstruction to the natural flow of streams by using the flood prevention structures/ gates/ walls/ reservoirs only in case of disastrous flooding and otherwise keeping them unemployed during normal stream discharges. This study has been used to review sustainable flood management using natural and structural techniques in the Wharf River catchment in the UK, reviewing the existing research/ flood management schemes giving the pictorial coverage. The study suggests that natural flood management techniques have restricted application parameters and must be augmented by engineering structures to achieve effective flood management against heavy flooding. Low CO2 embodied greener infrastructure structural materials containing supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) can be a beneficial option for an environmentally friendly flood management strategy.

Efficient immobilization of highly stable Bacillus amyloliquefaciens spore laccase for biodecolorization of textile dyes in water

Globally, millions of cubic meters of dye-contaminated wastewater are generated annually from the textile industry. Discharging the dye-contaminated wastewater into natural water streams is detrimental to the ecosystem and human health. Wastewater bioremediation is considered a practical solution for converting wastewater into value-added water for safe reuse especially in irrigation. The present study investigated the immobilization of highly stable spore laccase enzyme of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens A1 by entrapment and adsorption techniques. Based on the results, agarose gel was the most efficient support with 94% immobilization yield. Optimum temperature of immobilized enzyme was at 60 ℃ with complete thermal stability for 120 min. The maximum activity of immobilized enzyme was at pH 6–7 and retained 91% of its activity after 24 h incubation. It showed 100% storage stability after 8 weeks which was higher than that of un-immobilized enzyme (4 weeks). The enzyme activity was nearly stable after 8 consecutive cycles of reuse. Decolorization of 8 textile dyes was studied using the immobilized enzyme. Crystal violet, direct red 81 and acid black 24 were efficiently decolorized (94.5, 77.4, and 68.8%, respectively) within 24 h in the first cycle. Reusability of immobilized enzyme showed 74.6, 53.5, and 51.8% decolorization of the same dyes in the same order after the second cycle. Immobilized spore laccase-treated dye water was used to irrigate lentil seeds and showed germination index about 73% compared to 10.8% for untreated one indicating very low toxicity of the treated dye water.

An all‐green cellulose acetate/corn cob composite membrane filter: A critical evaluation of its morphology and adsorption characteristics for dyes and heavy metals

AbstractIndustrial wastewater from various manufacturing sectors poses a significant environmental concern due to the release of dyes, heavy metals, and pollutants into natural water streams. Effective treatment of large volumes of industrial wastewater is crucial to mitigate this issue. Conventional industrial wastewater filtration systems often prove to be inefficient, necessitating the exploration of alternative and cost‐effective water filtration methods. In this study, we drew inspiration from the natural adsorption and purification properties of corncob to develop a novel green composite membrane filter. The composite membrane filters, named MCAPCB and MCATPCB, were formulated by incorporating powdered corncob (PCB) and alkali/hydrogen peroxide‐treated powdered corncob (TPCB) into cellulose acetate. The adsorption properties of the composite filters were evaluated using UV–Vis spectrophotometry for dye adsorption and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‐OES) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for heavy metal adsorption. The results demonstrated that MCATPCB20, incorporating 20 wt% TPCB, exhibited remarkable performance in the removal of methylene blue dye, with an adsorption efficiency of 97.46%. In comparison, MCAPCB20, incorporating 20 wt% PCB, achieved a dye adsorption efficiency of 80.15%. Moreover, MCATPCB20 displayed exceptional heavy metal removal capabilities, effectively rejecting 98% and 95% of cadmium and lead, respectively, from water samples containing 1 ppm of each metal. The composite filter membranes containing 20 wt% TPCB exhibited superior adsorption efficiency, flexibility, and stability. This enhanced performance can be attributed to the higher carboxyl content in TPCB, achieved through alkali treatment, which significantly increased the adsorption capacity of MCATPCB20. Characterization studies employing XRD, SEM, contact angle, BET, ICP‐OES, and UV measurements further supported the efficacy of MCATPCB as an effective filter system for water purification.

Agroecosystem Sustainability in Forest Dependent Tribal Villages in Odisha, Eastern India

The present study was carried out in Niyamgiri hills inhabited by primitive Dongaria tribes in Odisha to assess present state of socioeconomic components of village and efficiency and viability of production systems at the current level of natural resource dependency and to find out the linkage between human community and forest ecosystem. The study area comprises of eight villages where human population varies from 83 to 312 in uphill villages and 76 to 150 in foothill villages. The cultivated area ranges from 3.37% to 18.85% of the total village geographical area with per capita cultivated area 0.117 to 0.329 ha.. The quality of forest has been affected due to absolute dependency on resources which calls for taking appropriate step to enhance forest productivity. All villages depend on rain fed agriculture, natural stream water is used to cultivate paddy in valleys, shifting (Podu) cultivation practiced in uphill areas, mid hill orchards below the Podu area and home garden adjoining habitation. Cereals, pulses and oil seeds are grown together in Podu areas. Maize is a major cereal as staple food grown in uphill villages. The village productivity of Millets, legumes and paddy is much lower than other settled agriculture areas of the state. The home garden areas are grown with vegetables and cereals especially for domestic use. However, vegetables like Tomato, Brinjal, Bin, Sweet Potato, Chilly from foothill villages are marketed. Home garden provides variety of requirements to the tribal community round the year. The production of agriculture sub-system is not sufficient to meet the food requirement of villages and rice distributed to villagers meet this gap. However, crops grown as horticulture products (Jackfruit, Pine apple, Banana, Orange, Mango) and a few Millet crops in the uphill villages like minor Millets, are exported to markets for earning money as these are only assets recorded as high energy valued products. Odisha Millet Mission (OMM) may need to provide interventions to these villages with modern approach to increase Millet productivity including improvements in seed quality and health condition of the tribal community. To ensure sustainability of the traditional cultivation and livelihood system, involving the people of these villages in forest-based activities other than agriculture will lead to protecting the indigenous biodiversity of this region.

Characterization and biocontrol efficacy of lytic phage (KPP-1) that infects multidrug resistant Klebsiella variicola.

Klebsiella variicola strain was identified from a natural water stream. Novel phage (KPP-1) infecting K. variicola was isolated and characterized. The biocontrol efficacy of KPP-1 against K. variicola-infected adult zebrafish was also investigated. The host K. variicola strain was resistant to six of the antibiotics tested and comprised the virulence genes kfuBC, fim, ureA, and Wza-Wzb-Wzccps. Morphological analysis by transmission electron microscopy revealed that KPP-1 has icosahedron head and tail structures. The latent period and burst size of KPP-1 were 20min and 88 PFU per infected cell, respectively, at a multiplicity of infection of 0.1. KPP-1 was stable over a broad pH range (3-11), temperature (4-50°C), and salinity (0.1-3%). KPP-1 inhibits the growth of K. variicola in vitro and in vivo. In the zebrafish infection model, treatment with KPP-1-infected K. variicola demonstrated 56% of cumulative survival. This suggests the possibility of developing KPP-1 as a potential biocontrol agent against multidrug-resistant K. variicola that belongs to the K. pneumoniae complex.

Ecology of village ecosystems of Odisha, India

Abstract. Upadhyay VP, Nayak BK, Mishra MK. 2022. Ecology of village ecosystems of Odisha, India. Asian J Ethnobiol 5: 138-155. The present study was conducted in eight villages in the Niyamgiri Hills of Odisha, India. The human population varies from 83 to 312 in uphill villages and 76 to 150 in foothill villages. The cultivated area constitutes 3.37% to 18.85% of the village’s total area. Per capita cultivated area varies from 0.117 to 0.329 ha. The families generally devote more time to agriculture, followed by Minor Forest Products (MFP) collection. The women and children collect leafy vegetables, tubers, fruits, seeds, leaves, and flowers. Collecting and marketing firewood in head loads is commonly practiced in the rainy season. The area of forest cover is not affected much, but the quality of the forest has changed. This suggests appropriate steps to restore the forest and enhance its productivity. All villages depend on rain-fed agriculture. The natural stream water is available to the paddy fields by gravity flow in valleys. The agriculture practices include shifting (podu) cultivation in high hill areas, mid-hill orchards below the podu area, home gardens adjoining habitation, and valley cultivation near Nala beds (streams). Podu is a mixed cultivation practice where cereals, pulses, and oil seeds are grown together. The village productivity is much lower than in other areas of settled agriculture. Improvements in seed quality, Soil and Moisture Conservation (SMC) measures, and the health condition of the tribal community will help support the sustainability of the traditional cultivation and livelihood system. To help protect the indigenous biodiversity, we suggest in this paper other alternatives of livelihood to the local population and options for shifting cultivation areas.

Glyphosate pollution of surface runoff, stream water, and drinking water resources in Southeast Brazil.

Glyphosate-based herbicides can be harmful to the environment and human health. Especially in developing countries, these herbicides are often used indiscriminately in agricultural and urban areas. Here, we optimized a simple and efficient flow injection-based spectrophotometric method to monitor environmentally relevant glyphosate concentrations in surface waters. The method was then used to assess the environmental mobility of glyphosate in Southeast Brazil by monitoring surface runoff from experimental agricultural soil plots that received glyphosate applications in 2015. Further, water samples from low-order streams were collected in five agricultural, urban, and natural areas, as well as from the 5th-order Rio das Mortes during the rainy season. Finally, 20 drinking water sources were sampled in urban, rural, and agricultural areas. Runoff from reference plots without glyphosate application showed concentrations below the method's detection limit of 0.49mg.L-1, whereas runoff from plots with standard glyphosate application had concentrations between 1.24 and 6.1mg.L-1. Similarly, concentrations in natural stream water were below the detection limit, whereas agricultural streams had concentrations of up to 3.7mg.L-1 (average: 0.97mg.L-1). In an agricultural stream monitored weekly, concentration peaks were observed after glyphosate applications by farmers, and concentrations were correlated to stream discharge. Urban streams had concentrations of up to 5.8mg.L-1 (average: 2.6mg.L-1), but samples from the catchment's major river were mostly below detection limits, illustrating the dilution of urban and agricultural runoff in high-order rivers. In the sampled drinking water resources, glyphosate pollution occurred mainly in the rainy season, with detectable concentrations between 0.5 and 8.7mg.L-1 in 80% of the sampled drinking water sources. In conclusion, our results suggest considerable environmental mobility of glyphosate in the studied Southeast Brazilian catchment. Substantial pollution, well above national and international limits, was detected in surface runoff, stream water, and drinking water resources.

N, S dual doped mesoporous carbon assisted simultaneous electrochemical assay of emerging water contaminant hydroquinone and catechol

Heteroatom doped mesoporous carbon materials are promising catalysts for the electrochemical sensing application. Herein, we report highly efficient dual heteroatom-doped hexagonal mesoporous carbon (MC) derived from Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15) hard template for the detection of phenolic isomers. The synthesis involves dopamine hydrochloride (DA)/thiophene complex, which helps to attain perfectly retained N and S dual doped mesoporous carbon (NS-MC) framework. NS-MC exhibits higher surface area (951 m2 g−1) as well as higher pore volume (0.12 cm3 g−1) with huge graphitic, pyridinic and thiophenic defective sites which facilitates the well-resolved simultaneous electrochemical detection of phenolic isomers hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CC). Our results demonstrate that as-synthesized NS-MC material had a LOD of 0.63 μM and 0.29 μM for HQ and CC, respectively. From the calibration curve, sensitivities of proposed sensor were found to be 9.44, 2.71 μA μM−1 cm−2 and 20.80, 10.02 μA μM−1 cm−2 for HQ and CC, respectively with good linear ranges of 10–45 μM and 45–115 μM for HQ; 2–16 μM and 16–40 μM for CC. The NS-MC modified electrode exhibited good selectivity over various possible interferences. The present investigation reveals that the proposed NS-MC material is a promising metal-free catalyst which boosted to electrochemically detect both HQ and CC, present in the municipal tap as well as natural river stream water samples.

Stannous chloride as a tool for mercury stripping in contaminated streams: Experimental assessment of toxicity in an invertebrate model species

The chronic toxicity of an innovative Hg water treatment system using tin (Sn) (II) chloride (SnCl2) followed by air stripping was assessed through measurements of survival, growth, and reproduction rate in the freshwater cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia, a model species for toxicity testing. We first calculated the concentrations of Hg causing 25% reduction in survival and reproduction (Lethal or Inhibition Concentrations, or LC25 and IC25, for survival and reproduction, respectively) through exposure to aqueous Hg at concentrations ranging from 0 to 25,000 ng L−1. Then, we treated media (DMW and natural stream water) contaminated with Hg at LC25 and IC25 concentrations with SnCl2 at a Sn:Hg stoichiometric ratio of 8:1 and air stripping and exposed C. dubia to this Sn-amended media. Our results showed that Hg significantly affected survival, reproduction rates and impaired growth. SnCl2-treatment removed 100% of the Hg from the media at all concentrations tested with no deleterious effects on survival, growth and reproduction. Our results confirmed the efficacy of SnCl2 in removing aqueous Hg from stream water and showed that the added Sn did not impact C. dubia at the concentrations tested, supporting the suitability of SnCl2-based treatments in appropriate Hg-contaminated environments.

Study on the use of algal biomass in removal of dyes from Aqueous systems

Present study provides direct information regarding the potential of algal biomass in removing dyes from wastewaters and multi-component systems. Algal community growing in natural water streams of nearby area of Jaunpur district will be grown in the laboratory in different culture media such as AAP, BG 11 and CHU 10 will be employed. Different algae will be expected to show varying affinity for the different media as these media have varying compositions. Textile effluent pollution levels might fluctuate over time. Furthermore, heavy metals, which are either used or produced as by-products of various dyeing and sizing processes, are now common and persistent in textile effluents. Textile effluents were collected from industrial sites based on ease of access and availability of the industry. Effluents were collected from discharge outlets of an ETP located outside of a textile dyeing factory in this location for this investigation and were labelled as JTE (Jaunpur Textile Effluent). It should be noted that the effluents utilised in this investigation were taken from the discharge ports of an ETP located directly outside a textile dyeing factory in Jaunpur District. The findings also show that the effluents have an impact on water quality, which has the potential to cause serious ecological as well as other healthcare catastrophes in the future. The isotherm simulation revealed that the Langmuir isotherm equation, rather than the Freundlich equation, might better represent adsorption on nanoalumina. Nanoalumina may be made in a straightforward and cost-effective manner.

Rethinking the relevance of microplastics as vector for anthropogenic contaminants: Adsorption of toxicants to microplastics during exposure in a highly polluted stream - Analytical quantification and assessment of toxic effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Given the increasing amounts of plastic debris entering marine and freshwater ecosystems, there is a growing demand for environmentally relevant exposure scenarios to improve the risk assessment of microplastic particles (MPs) in aquatic environments. So far, data on adverse effects in aquatic organisms induced by naturally exposed MPs are scarce and controversially discussed. As a consequence, we investigated the potential role of MPs regarding the sorption and transfer of environmental contaminants under natural conditions. For this end, a mixture of four common polymer types (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride) was exposed to natural surface water in a polluted stream for three weeks. Samples of water, MP mixture, sediment, and suspended matter were target-screened for the presence of pollutants using GC/LC-MS, resulting in up to 94 different compounds. Possible adverse effects were investigated using several biomarkers in early developmental stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Exposure to natural stream water samples significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity, altered CYP450 induction and modified behavioral patterns of zebrafish. In contrast, effects by samples of both non-exposed MPs and exposed MPs in zebrafish were less prominent than effects by water samples. In fact, the analytical target screening documented only few compounds sorbed to natural particles and MPs. Regarding acute toxic effects, no clear differentiation between different MPs and natural particles could be made, suggesting that - upon exposure in natural water bodies - MPs seem to approximate the sorption behavior of natural particles, presumably to a large extent due to biofilm formation. Thus, if compared to natural inorganic particles, MPs most likely do not transfer elevated amounts of environmental pollutants to biota and, therefore, do not pose a specific additional threat to aquatic organisms.

Metamodeling-based parametric optimization of a bio-inspired Savonius-type hydrokinetic turbine

Hydropower is one environmentally friendly option for meeting these energy demands. Because such technologies do not require a weir or a dam, they may be used with minimal environmental effect. The drag-based Savonius turbine is characterized by working at low-flow speeds which fits well the natural water streams. In spite of its simple and robust design, the Savonius turbine suffers from low efficiency and high static torque fluctuations. In view of this, CFD-based optimization is applied to a Savonius-type hydrokinetic turbine inspired by a couple of swimming Koi fish. The two main design parameters; overlap ratio and gap ratio are used in this paper to define the gap between the blades. The maximum power coefficient can be obtained by employing an evolution strategy optimization technique over the constructed metamodel. The results revealed that the optimal design for the bio-inspired Savonius hydrokinetic turbine corresponds to overlap and gap ratios of 0.2085 and 0.0057, respectively. The optimal configuration generates a maximum power coefficient of 0.2521, which is 17.6% higher than that for a conventional shape at the same tip speed ratio. The new bio-inspired design performs better than the conventional Savonius hydrokinetic turbine for the considered operating range.

Ozonation of cytostatic drugs in aqueous phase

As the number of cancer patients increases, so does the consumption of cytostatic drugs, which are commonly used in chemotherapy. These compounds are already ubiquitous in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and natural water streams, revealing the urgent need for efficient technologies for their removal from the aqueous phase. This work presents the elimination of five cytostatics of concern, found in Portuguese WWTP effluents: bicalutamide (BICA), capecitabine (CAP), cyclophosphamide (CYC), ifosfamide (IFO) and mycophenolic acid (MPA), using non-catalytic ozonation. Experiments were performed starting from trace-level concentrations (1 μM) for all cytostatics at neutral pH (pH: 7.3 ± 0.1) and room temperature (23 ± 1 °C), employing different ozone dosages. Under the studied conditions, CAP and MPA were quickly eliminated by direct ozonation, whereas BICA, CYC and IFO were more slowly degraded, as they undergo a breakdown via hydroxyl radicals generation (HO) exclusively. Increasing the O3 dosage from 1 to 3 mgO3/mgDOC, CAP, MPA and IFO were completely removed, and BICA and CYC were converted more than 90% after 180 min. The presence of both inorganic ions and organic matter in real water matrices (river water, WWTP secondary effluent) did not affect the removal of CAP and MPA. Nonetheless, there was an inefficient and very fast O3 consumption that resulted in only around 30% elimination of BICA, CYC and IFO, even if the reaction time is extended.

Industrial Wastewater: Health Concern and Treatment Strategies

Water is a basic need for the functioning of all life forms that exist on earth. However, current water resources are being polluted by anthropogenic sources, which include social unit, as well as agricultural and industrial waste. People all over the world have concerns about the impact of effluent pollution on the atmosphere, which is increasing day by day. It is hard to purify wastewater before it flows into water reservoirs. Hence, the treatment of wastewater remains an essential need before it is allowed to enter natural water streams. Wastewater treatment is relatively a modern practice. This review will particularly discuss the ways of heavy metal ion removal from wastewater. The ultimate purpose of wastewater management is to improve the health of human and environmental aspects.

Evidence of colloids as important phosphorus carriers in natural soil and stream waters in an agricultural catchment.

Colloids (1-1,000nm) are important phosphorus (P) carriers in agricultural soils. However, most studies are based on colloids from soil waters extracted in the laboratory, thus limiting the understanding of the natural transfer of colloidal P along the soil-to-stream continuum. Here, we conducted a field study on the colloidal P in both natural soil waters and their adjacent stream waters in an agricultural catchment (Kervidy-Naizin, western France). Soil waters (10-15cm, Albeluvisol) of two riparian wetlands and the adjacent stream waters were sampled monthly during wet seasons of the 2015-2016 hydrological year (seven dates in total). Ultrafiltration at three pore sizes (5kDa, 30kDa, and 0.45µm) was combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to investigate variability in colloidal P concentration and its concomitant elemental composition. Results showed that colloidal P represented, on average, 45 and 30% of the total P(<0.45µm) in the soil waters and stream waters, respectively. We found that colloidal P was preferentially associated with (a) organic carbon in the fine nanoparticle fraction (5-30kDa) and (b) iron-oxyhydroxides and organic carbon in the coarse colloidal fraction (30kDa-0.45µm). The results confirmed that colloidal P is an important component of total P in both soil waters and stream waters under field conditions, suggesting that riparian wetlands are hotspot zones for the production of colloidal P at the catchment scale, which has the potential to be transported to adjacent streams.

The water footprint of city naturalisation. Evaluation of the water balance of city gardens

The new paradigm regarding the role of urban infrastructures related to the urban water cycle in cities is based on three strategies: improving water use efficiency, avoiding water contamination and restoring natural water streams. Achieving an improved water balance in cities is an ambitious objective that involves the naturalisation of cities and, in the specific case of consolidated areas, the multiplication of green spaces by developing green areas scattered by public roads. The water in and out the city gardens is modelled for the first time by including the water necessities of the plants. This work presents a methodology to assess new urbanistic projects by means of adapting the calculation of the water footprint developed by Hoekstra and Chapagain. The latter is most commonly applied to the agricultural sector, and it is adapted for the evaluation of a street project in Seville, Spain. The estimation of the water balance of an urban system in the presence of greenery, with a biophysical perspective and a spatiotemporal scale based on the incorporation of local data and water consumption in the urban sector, until now has been scarcely explored. The model developed helps to differentiate urbanisation projects, both to identify those alternatives that are best suited to each urban environment and to define specific objectives, and subsequently to predict the resilience of solutions using the local scenarios.

Removing 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D) From Polluted Water using Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), is one of the most commonly herbicides used in agricultural farms to control weeds. Accumulation of 2,4-D in natural water stream constitutes a serious issue because of the adverse effects on human and animal health. This study aimed to monitor and treat 2,4-D in different water resources in Egypt. Treatment obtained by zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4) which prepared by sol–gel combustion method. The batch experiments were carried out to study the optimum removal conditions such as pH, dose, 2,4-D initial concentration, contact time, ionic strength and temperature. Results recorded tentatively the presence of 2,4-D in the Rosita River Nile and agriculture drainage channels with concentrations ranged from 0.35 to 21.31 μg L-1 using LC/MS/MS analyzer. The optimization study showed a maximum percent of removal is 97.84% for adsorption followed by photodegradation using 0.3 g of zinc ferrite nanoparticles for 15 min. at pH 8.0. Adsorption capacity was 0.34 mg/g at initial concentration (Co) 10 mg/L after 15 min. Pseudo-second order model is well fitted with the experimental data with a correlation coefficient 0.999. Adsorption is proceeded with Freundlich isotherm model with correlation coefficient 0.986. According to the study findings zinc ferrite nanoparticle was considered as a new novel solution for removing that hazard material

Bt Proteins Exacerbate Negative Growth Effects in Juvenile Rusty (F. rusticus) Crayfish Fed Corn Diet

The adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops has occurred rapidly in the United States. The transfer of GM corn byproducts from agricultural fields to nearby streams after harvest is significant and occurs well into the post-harvest year. These corn leaves, stems, and cobs then become a detrital food source for organisms, such as shredders in the stream ecosystem. Considering that the nontarget effects of Bt corn have been observed in some terrestrial organisms, we assessed whether Bt toxins affect an important aquatic organism, juvenile F. rusticus crayfish. Juvenile crayfish were fed six distinct diet treatments: two varieties of Bt corn, two non-Bt controls of herbicide tolerant corn, and two controls: fish gelatin and river detritus. Juveniles were fed these diets while housed in flow-through artificial streams that received natural stream water from a local source. Specific growth rate and survivorship of the crayfish were measured throughout the study. Juveniles fed corn diets grew significantly less and had reduced survival compared with juveniles fed fish gelatin or river detritus diets. Furthermore, juveniles fed one Bt variety of corn (VT Triple Pro®) exhibited significantly less growth than those fed one of the herbicide tolerant varieties (Roundup Ready 2®). Our study shows that corn inputs to streams may be detrimental to the growth and survivorship of juvenile crayfish and that certain Bt varieties may exacerbate these negative effects. These effects on crayfish will have repercussions for the entire ecosystem, because crayfish are conduits of energy between many trophic levels.

Proton-Induced X-Ray Analysis of Soil and Water Samples From Chromite Mine Environment for Determination of Toxic Metal Ion Contamination

Soil and water samples collected from chromite mine environment were analyzed by proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) for determination of toxic metal ion concentrations. The soil samples were collected from an active mine quarry, overburden dumps, fallow, and cultivated lands adjacent to the mines. The water samples were collected from the mine quarry, natural stream, and ground water in the mining area. Different elements such as Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Zr were detected in both soil and water samples. The concentrations of Fe, Cr, and Mn in the samples were relatively high as compared to other elements. The concentrations of Cr in the soil and water samples collected from the chromite mine environment were found in the ranges of 792 to 33,705 mg/kg and 4 to 308 μg/L, respectively. The concentration of all elements in the soil samples collected from the active mining sites, as well as from fallow and cultivated lands, exceeded their permissible limits. However, the concentration of Cr in the water samples of the mine quarry treated with ferrous alums, the Damsala Nala river upstream, and ground water outside the mining area was found within the permissible range.