Article
Engineering, Environmental
Asifa Farooqi, Ghufranud Din, Rameesha Hayat, Malik Badshah, Samiullah Khan, Aamer Ali Shah
Summary: The study developed a lab-scale reactor for bioremediation of aqueous mercury using a biofilm-producing bacterial strain and showed effective mercury removal by the biofilm. The process holds potential for improving environmental safety standards.
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shalini Singh, Vipin Kumar, Pratishtha Gupta, Madhurya Ray, Ankur Singh
Summary: This study investigated a potential Hg-resistant bacterial strain (IITISM23) with high removal efficiency of Hg (II) through volatilization method in nutrient-rich medium. The strain showed high resistance towards Hg and other heavy metals, indicating its potential application in the decontamination of Hg from polluted soils.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vinay Yadav, Anjali Manjhi, Nithya Vadakedath
Summary: A novel mercury-resistant bacterium, strain DCL_24T, was isolated from the legacy waste at a dumping site in Chandigarh, India. It showed resistance to inorganic mercury and efficiently volatilized and removed mercury. The strain possesses the mer operon genes and has great potential for mercury bioremediation.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammad Naveed, Muhammad Aqib Shabbir, Tariq Aziz, Ayesha Saleem, Rida Naveed, Ayaz Ali Khan, Taqweem Ul Haq, Metab Alharbi, Abdulrahman Alsahammari, Abdullah F. Alasmari
Summary: In this study, a mercury reductase was extracted and studied using computational techniques to understand its structure, function, and interaction with mercury. The results showed that the enzyme is involved in the bioremediation of mercury.
ACTA BIOCHIMICA POLONICA
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Lorraine Meyer, Stephane Guyot, Michel Chalot, Nicolas Capelli
Summary: Mercury (Hg) pollution is a global issue due to its high toxicity and wide dispersion. Bacteria and fungi have evolved tolerance mechanisms to Hg-induced stress and can be applied to reduce Hg concentrations in polluted soils, potentially through bioremediation approaches. These microorganisms also play a role in determining the fate of Hg in the biogeochemical cycle and can be used for biomonitoring purposes, such as through the engineering of biosensors for detecting Hg.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lata Rani, Arun Lal Srivastav, Jyotsna Kaushal
Summary: Mercury (Hg(II)) is the 16th rarest element in the earth's crust, but due to rapid industrialization and urban expansions, its concentration in the environment has increased, posing a great challenge for humans. Mercury pollution in water can be chronic and harmful, requiring urgent removal techniques for the aquatic environment.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Daniel Gonzalez, Carlota Blanco, Agustin Probanza, Pedro A. Jimenez, Marina Robas
Summary: This study evaluated the plant growth-promoting ability of PGPR strains isolated from the Almaden mining district, in the presence of high concentrations of mercury. Results showed that strains B2 and B1, as well as their mixtures CS5 and CS3, significantly improved plant growth, making them good candidates for further in situ phyto-rhizoremediation tests of mercury-contaminated soils.
Article
Microbiology
Christos A. Christakis, Tamar Barkay, Eric S. Boyd
Summary: The study examined the distribution and evolution of MerAB in archaeal and bacterial genomes, identifying new phyla coding for this functionality and revealing potential alternative mechanisms for Hg(II) detoxification.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Junjun Chang, Zhengjian Yan, Jia Dong, Xinni Wu, Zhuang Meng, Yu Shi, Jinquan Chen
Summary: Bioremediation using mercury-volatilizing and immobilizing bacteria is an eco-friendly and cost-effective strategy for Hg-polluted farmland. The study identified a plant-associated Pseudomonas sp. strain, AN-B15, which effectively removes Hg(II) under different nutrient conditions by transforming Hg(II) to Hg(0) and mercury sulfide. Genome and transcriptome analyses revealed the molecular mechanisms of Hg(II) resistance in AN-B15, providing essential information for future bioremediation applications.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Gabriela Arregui, Pablo Hipolito, Beatriz Pallol, Victoria Lara-Dampier, Diego Garcia-Rodriguez, Higinio P. Varela, Parinaz Tavakoli Zaniani, Dimitrios Balomenos, Timothy Paape, Teodoro Coba de la Pena, M. Mercedes Lucas, Jose J. Pueyo
Summary: Mercury (Hg) is highly toxic to all living organisms. Research has shown that Hg-tolerant rhizobia have the potential to increase plant tolerance in heavily contaminated soils, and mercuric reductase activity may play a critical role in this tolerance mechanism.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Wiwiek Harsonowati, Sri Rahayuningsih, Erny Yuniarti, Dwi Ningsih Susilowati, Dyah Manohara, Sri Sipriyadi, Sri Widyaningsih, Alina Akhdiya, Yadi Suryadi, Titi Tentrem
Summary: This study identified mercury-resistant bacteria (MRB) isolated from areas impacted by artisanal small-scale gold mining in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia, and analyzed their ability to transform Hg2+ to Hg-0. Two bacterial isolates showed high efficiency in degrading multiple metals, suggesting their potential in bioremediation of mercury and other toxic metals. This study is the first to report the structural and functional diversity of Hg-resistant bacteria in unexplored ASGM-impacted areas, highlighting their biotechnological potential as novel tools for the transformation and adsorption of mercury and other toxic metals.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Magdalena Trojanska, Martyna Rogala, Anna Kowalczyk, Marek Chyc, Dariusz Latowski, Monika Bojko
Summary: This study investigated whether the merA gene can serve as a molecular marker for bacterial resistance to mercury. The presence of the mer operon was confirmed in bacteria isolated from the microbiota of T. farfara L., with isolates from mercury-contaminated areas showing growth under mercury conditions. The research suggests the need for further investigation into other key markers, structures, or mechanisms of bacterial resistance to mercury.
ACTA BIOCHIMICA POLONICA
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Marie Colette, Linda Guentas, Luc Della Patrona, Dominique Ansquer, Nolwenn Callac
Summary: In New-Caledonia, the cultivation of halophytes during the drying period of shrimp ponds may be suitable for pond bioremediation. Halophytes promote microbial metabolism activities in the sediment and may serve as biomarkers for bioremediation. The efficiency of sediment bioremediation by halophytes is influenced by both rhizosphere microbial communities and plant nutrition.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Wan Ling Ng, Ivan Si Ming Ng, Lian Jie Bay, Haiyan Li, Peggy Chui Fong Chew, Shoo Peng Koh, Kah Meng Lee, Yuansheng Wu, Sheot Harn Chan
Summary: Artificial grow lights, such as LEDs and fluorescent grow lights, are commonly used in modern indoor farming for their energy efficiency and controlled environment advantages. However, the use of LEDs can lead to mercury contamination, particularly in LEDs with polyurethane encapsulates that traditionally used mercury resins. An investigation found high concentrations of mercury in the LED encapsulant and identified polyurethane as the source of the contamination.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rute Cesario, Nelson J. O'Driscoll, Sara Justino, Claire E. Wilson, Carlos E. Monteiro, Henrique Zilhao, Joao Canario
Summary: In this study of Hg-contaminated marsh areas in the Tagus estuary, gaseous elemental mercury concentrations varied between day and night in high contamination areas, while low-to-moderate contamination areas showed no significant diurnal variation. Vegetation-atmosphere mercury fluxes differed depending on plant species and contamination level of the area.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yongliang Chen, Masud Hassan, Md Nuruzzaman, Huiming Zhang, Ravi Naidu, Yanju Liu, Ling Wang
Summary: Adsorption is a promising remediation technology for separating organic and inorganic agrochemicals from contaminated soil and water. This study focuses on the use of iron-modified base-activated biochar (FeBBC) as a low-cost adsorbent for removing the insecticide imidacloprid from water. The FeBBC exhibits high adsorption capacity and both physical and chemical interactions contribute to the sorption process. The results demonstrate the potential of FeBBC as an effective adsorbent for removing organic contaminants.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kelin Tao, Haixia Tian, Ziquan Wang, Xiaofu Shang, Jing Fan, Mallavarapu Megharaj, Jianli Ma, Hanzhong Jia, Wenxiang He
Summary: The application of parathion in agriculture can contaminate soil and harm soil environment. It is important to monitor parathion residues and assess their toxicity on soil health. The dissipation of parathion in tested soil followed a linear trend, with half-lives ranging from 5.6 to 56.8 days. Parathion pollution negatively affected FDA hydrolase activity and microbial biomass carbon, and their responses were influenced by both parathion dose and incubation time.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xing Ma, Haixia Tian, Yunchao Dai, Yizhe Yang, Mallavarapu Megharaj, Wenxiang He
Summary: Antimony is a toxic metalloid that is widely present in the environment and poses a threat to human and ecological health. This study investigated the effect of Sb contamination on the kinetic parameters of soil arylsulfatase. The results showed that Sb inhibited the activity of soil arylsulfatase and affected its kinetic parameters.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Amanzhan Nurzhan, Haixia Tian, Bayan Nuralykyzy, Huayong Li, Xing Ma, Mallavarapu Megharaj, Wenxiang He
Summary: Soil phosphatase activity is sensitive to arsenic pollution and can be used to estimate arsenic toxicity in soil. This study investigated the effect of phosphorus addition on arsenic desorption and its toxicity to acid phosphatase. The results showed that phosphorus application increased arsenic desorption ratio and bioavailability in soil. Phosphorus addition significantly reduced soil acid phosphatase activity under all phosphorus concentrations but increased it in the soil with minimum arsenic content. The study also highlighted the importance of controlling phosphorus fertilizer applications in silty soils with acid and neutral pH to prevent increased arsenic mobility and toxicity to soil acid phosphatase.
SOIL SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Solmaz Bidast, Ahmad Golchin, Ahmad Baybordi, Amir Mohseni, Ravi Naidu
Summary: The potential of bare and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) for stabilising lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) in contaminated soil was investigated. The results showed that CMC-coated FeONPs were more effective in decreasing the availability of potentially toxic elements in the soil. CMC-coated goethite was the most effective treatment for reducing Zn and Cd availability, while CMC-coated magnetite was the most effective for Pb stabilisation.
ARCHIVES OF AGRONOMY AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. A. A. Wijayawardena, K. Yan, Y. Liu, R. Naidu
Summary: Mouse models have been commonly used to predict the bioavailability of metals and chemicals in humans. In this study, the effectiveness of mouse models in predicting the bioavailability of lead in metal mixtures was confirmed, while their ability to predict the bioavailability of arsenic was found to be limited.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Ghavamifar, Ravi Naidu, Vahid Mozafari, Zhaohui Li
Summary: In this study, two sorbents, calcite and saponite, were used to investigate their capacity to sorb glyphosate. It was found that the morphology of calcite transformed and the zeta potential became positive in alkaline pH, contradicting previous research. The modified sorbents were added to soil samples to study their effects on glyphosate sorption.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yunlong Luo, Ravi Naidu, Cheng Fang
Summary: This study investigates the surface functional group changes and release of microplastics and nanoplastics during the combustion process of an outdoor plastic chair. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman imaging techniques are used to characterize the fragments created when the plastic is burned and deposited on solid surfaces. Different algorithms, including logic-based, non-supervised PCA-based, algebra-based, and hybrid algorithms, are tested and optimized to extract key information for plastics characterization, particularly in distinguishing different degrees of burning. The findings estimate that tens of microplastics and nanoplastics are created per square micron during the combustion process.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew Dietrich, Cynthia F. Barlow, Jane A. Entwistle, Diana Meza-Figueroa, Chenyin Dong, Peggy Gunkel-Grillon, Khadija Jabeen, Lindsay Bramwell, John T. Shukle, Leah R. Wood, Ravi Naidu, Kara Fry, Mark Patrick Taylor, Gabriel M. Filippelli
Summary: Lead (Pb) contamination continues to pose health risks in all countries, especially low-and middle-income countries. Predicting elevated household dust Pb levels and the potential impact of low-cost interventions has been a challenge. A global dataset of household dust samples was used to predict elevated dust Pb levels, with housing age being a significant predictor. The predictive accuracy of the model is lower for countries outside of England, the U.S., and Australia due to differences in regulations and data availability. Implementing simple household interventions in these countries could result in significant cost savings and reduced exposure to harmful Pb dust sources globally.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Al Amin, Yunlong Luo, Annette Nolan, Megharaj Mallavarapu, Ravi Naidu, Cheng Fang
Summary: This study investigates the degradation and conversion of PFAS in contaminated soil during the firefighting process by exposing the soil sample to high temperatures. The research finds that PFAS precursors, non-C-F bonded PFAS, PFCA, and PFSA can all be degraded under high temperature conditions. A 2D Gaussian surface is used to fit the concentration dependence of PFAS on temperature and time, providing a visual representation of the complex thermal kinetic process. This study offers a simple approach for monitoring and optimizing the thermal treatment of PFAS-contaminated soil.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yantao Li, Rahat Shabir, Mehran Rezaei Rashti, Mallavarapu Megharaj, Chengrong Chen
Summary: This research explored the potential of four cow manure compost (CMC)-based products as a rhizobial carrier. The product with 50% gypsum showed better physicochemical characteristics and the highest strain survival rate in soil. This study demonstrated the great potential of CMC-based commercial products as alternative carrier materials for rapid commercial development of inoculants.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yan Li, Ziquan Wang, Haixia Tian, Mallavarapu Megharaj, Hanzhong Jia, Wenxiang He
Summary: This study investigated the effects of two typical lower-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), naphthalene (Nap) and anthracene (Ant), on the activity and kinetic characteristics of FDA hydrolases in six soils. The results showed that both Nap and Ant significantly inhibited the activity of FDA hydrolase, and the inhibition was influenced by soil organic matter.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
A. M. K. C. B. Aththanayake, I. V. N. Rathnayake, M. P. Deeyamulla, Mallavarapu Megharaj
Summary: Deterioration of ecosystem quality caused by toxic metals, especially hexavalent chromium, is a global issue. In this study, a bacterium called Staphylococcus edaphicus KCB02A11 showed high efficiency in removing hexavalent chromium from water within 96 hours and a wide range of concentrations (0.025-8.5 mg/L). By incorporating the isolated strain with natural substrates like hay and wood husk, 100% removal of hexavalent chromium (at 8.5 mg/L) was achieved in less than 72 hours, indicating its potential for large-scale metal removal. This study provides the first report on hexavalent chromium tolerance and removal by Staphylococcus edaphicus KCB02A11.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Samarasinghe Vidane Arachchige Chamila Samarasinghe, Kannan Krishnan, Robert John Aitken, Ravi Naidu, Mallavarapu Megharaj
Summary: This study reveals the sub-chronic and generational effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on earthworms. The sub-chronic exposure did not cause notable adverse effects on parent earthworms, but the F1 generation displayed remarkable growth and maturity retardation, even at lower concentrations of nano-TiO2. The study emphasizes the potential induction of toxic effects by TiO2 nanoparticles and the urgent need for comprehensive evaluations of their longer-term toxicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kartik Dhar, Sudharsanam Abinandan, Tanmoy Sana, Kadiyala Venkateswarlu, Mallavarapu Megharaj
Summary: Our study examined the anaerobic microbial degradation of hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and found that sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in contaminated freshwater sediments can effectively degrade three-ringed phenanthrene and highly recalcitrant four-ringed pyrene. Desulfovibrio was the dominant bacterium in the phenanthrene-degrading culture, while Rhodopseudomonas was a significant member in the pyrene-degrading culture. This research indicates that SRB could play a crucial role in the natural attenuation of PAHs in oxygen-depleted freshwater sediments.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)