Rice Waters Research Articles

Rice Water—More a Source of Nutrition Elements or Toxic Arsenic? Multi-Element Analysis of Home-Made (Natural) Rice Water and Commercialized Rice-Based Products Using (HG)-ICP OES

Although rice is a well-known source of nutrients, it unfortunately accumulates As the most compared to other cereal plants. Due to the growing interest in rice-based cosmetics, the aim of the work was the multi-element analysis of various home-made (natural) rice waters and commercialized ready-to-use rice-based cosmetics for skin/hair. The total concentrations of Al, As Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in raw rice and rice products were determined using inductively coupled optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) after wet sample decomposition in the presence of concentrated HNO3. In the case of As, the hydride generation (HG) technique was used as a sample introduction system to the ICP OES instrument. Five different procedures, including washing/rinsing, soaking, boiling, and fermentation steps, and three rice types, i.e., white, brow, and jasmine, were used for this purpose. The effects of the water temperature, the contact time of rice grains with water, and the type of rice on the water-soluble concentrations of elements were examined and compared. A significant difference in the solubility of elements was observed depending on the type of rice, with the lowest percentage of extraction noted for brown rice. The best option was soaking unwashed rice grains in a six-fold excess of cold water for 30 min. The selection criterion was to preserve the highest content of essential elements (Ca (0.76–1.2 mg kg−1), Cu (9.2–43 ng k−1), Fe (0.096–0.30 mg kg−1), Mg (6.9–11 mg kg−1), Mn (0.16–10.32 mg kg−1), and Zn (0.083–0.25 mg kg−1)) with reduced to a minimum As level, i.e., <5 ng g−1 (2.8–4.8 ng g−1), making this water safe for consumption. In contrast, regularly drinking water after boiling or soaking rice grains in hot water carries the risk of consuming an excessive amount of this element due to As content exceeding the permissible value, i.e., 10 ppb. Finally, these home-made products were compared with commercialized cosmetics for skin/hair, with satisfactory results.

Rancang Bangun Alat Monitoring Ketinggian Air Sawah Berbasis SMS Gateway Di Sawah Andiang

Indonesia is an agricultural country where part of the population works in agriculture. Currently, the measurement of the water level of rice fields in Andiang rice fields still uses manual methods by placing restrictions on rice field irrigation then farmers check their condition periodically directly to the field. From this problem, some prototype is needed to do some monitoring from the condition of rice field waters and send notifications to rice field owners. The purpose of this research is to make a prototype that makes it easier for farmers to monitor the condition of rice field waters so that they do not experience overflow or drought. The method used is research and development to improve existing products by testing their effectiveness. This prototype utilizes HC-SR04 (ultrasonic sensor) as a water level reader and SMS Gateway as a platform in sending and receiving SMS (Short Message Service) from mobile phones. The result of this research is that this prototype is able to monitor the water level of rice fields in Andiang Rice Fields.

Sorbent and Photocatalytic Potentials of Local Clays for the Removal of Organic Xenobiotic: Case of Crystal Violet

Natural materials are widely used in the field of environmental remediation and are appreciated for their surface physical and chemical properties. Clay constitutes a typical example. In this work, we report the evaluation of sorbent and photocatalytic potentials of local clay of two irrigated rice field waters in the degradation of crystal violet. The structural, textural and compositional properties of the local clay were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The analysis results showed that these materials were composed mainly of quartz and kaolinite. The efficiency of these adsorbents (Y. Clay and L. Clay) to eliminate crystal violet dye from aqueous medium was examined at different initial concentrations, pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and the possible interference of inorganic salts from fertilizers. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process was well described by the pseudo-second order model and the equilibrium modelling results fitted adequately to the Freundlich model. The maximum amount of uptake capacity achieved at pH 2.0 was 18.40 (mg·g−1) and 20.40 (mg·g−1), respectively, for Y. Clay and L. Clay. The evaluation of the photocatalytic potential showed that the raw clay samples do not show photocatalytic activities during the 30 min of exposure to UV light. On the other hand, their photocatalytic potential is manifested when loaded with titanium dioxide (TiO2). Clays coupled with TiO2 under UV light showed an improvement in the degradation of the crystal violet dye by 15%. The synergistic effects between the high photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and the strong adsorption capacity of clays can be one promising technique for in situ remediation of contaminated soaked rice field.

Efficient pre-concentration of As(III) in food samples using guanidine-modified magnetic mesoporous silica

An efficient magnetic mesoporous structure was designed and prepared for the facile pre-concentration of As(III) ions. To prepare the sorbent, core–shell magnetic silica nanoparticles were covered by MCM-41 like structure and then the surface was modified by guanidine via an amine linker (GA-MSMP). The prepared adsorbent was investigated as an effective and sensitive material for the adsorption of arsenic ions from the aqueous solution by applying a normal batch method. The imperative variables of the adsorption were studied to increase efficiency. The dynamic and static processes were tested that matched a pseudo-second-order of kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The sorbent reusability was investigated and it was confirmed that the designed product could be applied at best for six cycles successively without any significant efficiency losing. The synthesized product was tested to determine and pre-concentrate trace amounts of arsenic ions in rice and natural waters as a real sample. A desorption process applying 5 mL of hydrochloric acid (0.5 mol L−1) as an eluent, exhibited about 98% recovery of the As(III) ions adsorbed on the GA-MSMP sorbent. The maximum adsorption capacity of the GA-MSMP was calculated to be 312 mg g−1 for adsorption of As(III) under the optimal conditions.

Ecotoxicological effects of rice field waters on selected planktonic species: comparison between conventional and organic farming

The aim of this study was to assess the ecotoxicological effects of water coming from untreated organic and conventional rice field production areas in the Ebro Delta (Catalonia, Spain) treated with the herbicides oxadiazon, benzofenap, clomazone and bensulfuron-methyl and the fungicides carbendazim, tricyclazole and flusilazole. Irrigation and drainage channels of the study locations were also included to account for potential toxic effects of water coming in and out of the studied rice fields. Toxicity tests included four species (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Desmodesmus subcapitatus, Chlorella vulgaris and Daphnia magna), three endpoints (microalgae growth, D. magna mortality and feeding rates), and two trophic levels: primary producers (microalgae) and grazers (D. magna). Pesticides in water were analyzed by solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Negative effects on algae growth and D. magna feeding rates were detected mainly after application of herbicides and fungicides, respectively, in the conventional rice field. Results indicated that most of the observed negative effects in microalgae and D. magna were explained by the presence of herbicides and fungicides. The above mentioned analyses also denoted an inverse relationship between phytoplankton biomass measured as chlorophyll a and herbicides. In summary, this study indicates that in real field situations low to moderate levels of herbicides and fungicides have negative impacts to planktonic organisms and these effects seem to be short-lived.

Study of the degradation of the herbicide clomazone in distilled and in irrigated rice field waters using HPLC-DAD and GC-MS

This study evaluated the degradation of the herbicide clomazone in distilled water and from irrigated rice fields, through UV irradiation and under natural conditions. After a solid phase extraction (SPE) as preconcentration step, the remained concentration of clomazone was determined by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and the identification of the degradation products was achieved by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Under UV irradiation, the clomazone was degraded faster in distilled water than in surface water. In irrigated rice water, under sunlight irradiation, clomazone presented a half-life time average of 3.2 days in three consecutive harvests, and after application the concentration in water remained higher than 0.1 μg L-1 for 20 days. Several by-products, like 2-chlorobenzaldehyde and 2-chlorobenzene methanol, were identified by GC-MS, which evidenced that the concentration of intermediates at the begining increase and then they also undergo degradation.

Risk assessment of surface water contamination by herbicide residues: monitoring of propanil degradation in irrigated rice field waters using HPLC-UV and confirmation by GC-MS

This study evaluates the degradation of the herbicide propanil and of its major degradation product, 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) in water from irrigated rice farming in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It also assesses the contamination risk of surrounding surface waters. After a solid phase extraction step, the concentration of both compounds was determined by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Confirmation was conducted by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Concentrations of propanil in water samples varied from 0.1 to 3600 µg L-1. Propanil was degraded very rapidly to 3,4-DCA and high concentrations of this product were found, varying from 1.0 to 567.5 µg L-1 in water. The obtained half-life times for propanil in water under real conditions for the 2001, 2002 and 2003 harvests were 18.2, 12.5 and 12.2 h, respectively.

Landscape risk analysis for pesticides applied to rice paddies

Abstract – The use of geographical informat ion system (GIS) datasets in combination with mathematical modeling has been proven a powerfu ltool for modeling refineme nt at higher tier assessment in al l crop situations. This study constitutes the first attempt to pred ict pesticide exposurein surface-water and groundwater systems of a rice waters hed using a combination of GIS and modeling. A rice-c ultivated watersh ed in theregion of Lombardy, province of Pavia, Italy was selected. Th e community of Tromel lo is bypassed by the river Terdoppio, which along withdrainage canals and stre ams creates a rice watershed of 467 ha, comprising 201 paddies. The wa tershed was conceptualized using a combinationof the rice water quality (RICEWQ 1.6.4v) an d river water quality (RIVWQ 2.02) models. Spatial GIS data (land use, soil properties andhydrology), on-site scouting and personal interviews with the fa rmers were used for modeling parameterizati on. Application of R ICEWQ ineach of the paddies provided groundwater predicted environmental concentrations for the herbicides propanil and molinate. Groundwaterpredicted concentrations did not exceed 0.1 µg/L in any of the propanil-treated paddies, unlike molinate, whose predicted concentrationsexceeded 0.1 µg/L in 7 of the 31 molinate-treated paddies . Pesticide mass and water releases from pa ddies were used as inputs for canals,streams and the river, and the fate of propanil and molinate was simulated with RIVWQ. Comparison of the predicted concentrati ons ofmolinate and propanil for the year 1999 at th e most downstream point of the simulated se gment of the river Terdoppio, with meas ured valuesobtained from approximately the same point of the river showed a relatively good agreement. These results indicate that the com bination ofGIS with validated models can be a useful option for higher tier exposur e assessment and modeling re finement in rice-paddy area s.GIS / landscape risk assessment / mo linate / propanil / RICEWQ / RIVWQ

Imazethapyr Aqueous Photolysis, Reaction Quantum Yield, and Hydroxyl Radical Rate Constant

The recent introduction of imidazolinone-tolerant rice varieties allow imazethapyr to be used in commercial rice. Little is known about imazethapyr photodegradation in the rice field. Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the direct and indirect photolysis rates for imazethapyr and to evaluate the photolysis of imazethapyr in three rice paddy waters. The reaction quantum yield (phi I) for imazethapyr was determined to be 0.023 +/- 0.002, while the hydroxyl radical rate constant (K(I)*OH) was 2.8 x 10(13) M(-1) h(-1). These results show that imazethapyr is susceptible to both direct and indirect photolysis reactions in water. The results also show that imazethapyr photolysis in paddy water will be affected by turbidity because of its impact on the availability of sunlight to drive direct and indirect photolysis reactions.

Copper (II) complexation in northern California rice field waters: an investigation using differential pulse anodic and cathodic stripping voltammetry

Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) and competitive ligand equilibration-cathodic stripping voltammetry (CLE-CSV) demonstrated that≥99% of the dissolved copper in five rice field waters, one river water and a catchment basin water collected at sites in northern California is complexed by natural organic matter. Concentrations of natural copper complexing ligands (C L) ranged from 81 to 426 nM determined by CLE-CSV using the competitive ligand 8-hydroxyquinoline and from 156 to 1374 nM using DPASV. Experimental values for conditional stability constants (with respect to free Cu 2+) of natural copper–organic ligand complexes (log K′ CuL) fell in the range 10.2–11.2 using DPASV and 11.1–11.5 using CLE-CSV. DPASV analyses revealed evidence of organic matter adsorption to the electrode surface at low dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations (i.e. 200 μg l −1 DOC for a 10-min deposition period), for some but not all water samples. Examination of lyophilized, filtered rice field water using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (pyr-GC/MS) did not reveal differences that could be associated with surface active material. Uncomplexed copper accounts for only minor amounts of total copper in rice field waters and natural ligands are expected to influence its effectiveness as an agrochemical.

Changes in sex ratio of chironomid imagines from rice field waters

A survey was made of the sex ratios of chironomids emerging from three rice fields to investigate the sexual difference of response to pesticide application in the immature stage. In a field without pesticides, Ablabesmyia monilis showed a preponderance of female imagines. A field with herbicide application showed male preponderance for Chironomus kiiensis, Polypedilum nubifer and Tanytarsus oyamai. This trend was even more pronounced for T. oyamai in a field with insecticide-herbicide-fungicide application. The sex ratio increases associated with pesticide application may be due to different responses of the sexes to decreased predation pressure as a secondary effect of pesticide toxicity or pesticide toxicity itself in the immature stage.

Effects of cadmium on the biochemical composition of the freshwater crayfishProcambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852)

Lake Albufera of Valencia (Spain) and the surrounding rice field waters are subjected to very heavy loads of sewage and toxic residues. Among these residues include heavy metals which have been deposited from the many urban and waste waters in this area. The American red crayfish, Procambarus clarkii from Albufera Lake has high resistance to heavy metals. The authors have also found that P. clarkii shows a high capacity for cadmium accumulation in experimental conditions and natural conditions since crayfish collected in this area contained considerable amounts of cadmium in several tissues even after 15 days of depuration in clean water. Since the physiological changes that take place when organisms are exposed to sublethal levels of stress could include rate of feeding as well as respiration and excretion, the net result could be a change in energy available for growth and reproduction. In this work, the authors have studied the biochemical energy composition of hepatopancreas, muscle and gills of P. clarkii after short term sublethal exposure to cadmium.

Gill ATPase activity inProcambarus clarkii as an indicator of heavy metal pollution

Lake Albufera and the surrounding rice field waters are subjected to very heavy loads of sewage and toxic industrial residues, including heavy metals, from the many urban and waste waters of this area. The American red crayfish, Procambarus clarkii have a high resistance to toxic effects of heavy metals. The sublethal effects of heavy metals on gills of fish and aquatic invertebrates have been extensively studied. Some metabolic disturbances and histologic damages have been reported, as well as osmoregulation alterations. However, little work has been done about the effect of heavy metals on Na,K and Mg-ATPases of freshwater invertebrate gills. Na,K-ATPase is the prime mediator of ion transport across cellular membranes and plays a central role in whole body ion regulation in marine and estuarine animals. Na,K-ATPase has been reviewed and assessed as a potentially useful indicator of pollution stress in aquatic animals. The purpose of this study is look for the relation, if any, between crayfish gill ATP-ase activity changes and metal exposure in laboratory. This find would allow the authors to assay this potential indicator in the field.

Effects of temperature on the acute toxicity of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, and Hg) to the freshwater crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard).

Chromium, an essential trace element for humans and animals is involved in normal carbohydrate metabolism; however, it is toxic at high concentrations. There is no evidence that cadmium and mercury are biologically essential but their toxicity for organisms is well known. Both cause toxic effects at low concentrations to most organisms, especially in combination with other environmental variables such as temperature. Lake Albufera and the surrounding rice field waters are subjected to very heavy loads of sewage and toxic industrial residues (including heavy metals) from the many urban and waste waters in this area. In 1978, the American red crayfish Procambarus clarkii appeared in lake Albufera and in the surrounding rice fields. Without adequate sanitary control, the crayfish is presently being fished commercially for human consumption. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the degree of toxicity of various heavy metals (chromium, cadmium and mercury) to freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii at various temperatures.

Oxygen uptake by excised gills of Procambarus clarkii (Girard) from Albufera Lake of Valencia, Spain, under heavy metal treatments.

The American red crayfish Procambarus clarkii, originally from Louisiana (USA) was introduced in Spain in the 70's in the Guadalquivir River swamps. It appeared first randomly and in a more regular basis afterwards since 1978 in the Albufera Lake south of Valencia and in the surrounding rice fields. Albufera lake and surrounding rice fields waters are being subject since the last three decades to very heavy load of sewage, toxic industrial residues including heavy metals and pesticides from the many urban and industrial settlements in the zone. In the present study, the authors have investigated the effect that heavy metals (Chromium, Cadmium and Mercury) have on the oxygen uptake by excised bills of Procambarus clarkii (Girard) coming from the Albufera Lake (Valencia).

Studies onBeggiatoa: Distribution and growth in aquatic habitats of visakhapatnam

Beggiatoa is distributed in 11 of the 12 polluted aquatic habitats occurring on the sediment and decaying leaves as a thick white scum at 2, in detectable population at 6, and in very less population at 3 habitats where H2S necessary for its growth is produced. TheBeggiatoa spp. present in these habitats are considered as belonging to the 6 species described in Bergey’s manual.B. minima with less than 1·0,B. leptomitiformis with 1·66,B. alba with 3·32 and and 4·98 μ wide trichomes are distributed in 2, 6, 11 and 2 habitats respectively, which are fresh water, brackish and marine habitats.B. arachnoidea with 9·96,B. mirabilis with 17·0 andB. gigantea with 28·22 μ wide trichomes are present in only one brackish habitat.B. alba (3·32 μ) occurs alone at 2 habitats, and in association with either one or more of the otherBeggiatoa species at the remaining 9 habitats. ExceptB. mirabilis andB. gigantea, the others distributed in the 11 habitats could multiply in enrichment culture media that contained extracted rice straw pieces and waters from their respective habitats, and aggregate into visual white colonies, or loose clumps in a thick film on the surface of medium, rice straw pieces and glass.B. mirabilis andB. gigantea seem to be halophilic, truly autotrophic and more exacting than the other species that exhibited differences in salt tolerance when grown in crude enrichment culture media of differing, salt content. It appears that physiological strains or groups differing in salt tolerance may be existing in these species ofBeggiatoa.