The superior antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are well-documented, but the exact mechanisms underlying Ag-NP microbial toxicity remain the subject of intense debate. Here, we show that Ag-NP concentrations as low as 10 ppm exert significant toxicity against Bacillus subtilis, a beneficial bacterium ubiquitous in the soil. Growth arrest and chromosomal DNA degradation we...

the toxicity of four potentially toxic trace elements (cu, ni, pb and zn) to annual atriplex (a.hortensis and a. rosea) was examined to determine if this plant showed sufficient tolerance to be used tophytoremediate soils polluted with these heavy metals. the soils, which contained up to (per kilogram) 501mg cu, 1674 mg ni, 1334 mg pb and 3588 mg of zn were sampled around metal-contaminated sit...

Soil erosion leads to environmental degradation and reduces soil productivity. The use of anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) and synthesized biopolymer (BP) using lignin, corn starch, acrylamide, and acrylic acid were tested to evaluate soil erosion, water quality, and growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.). Each treatment of PAM and BP was applied at 200 kg ha(-1) to loamy sand soil and ...

Field trials were carried out in order to examine the role of some geochemical indices (S : Al; Mg : Al) and partition coefficient (Kd) for evaluating response of crops to aluminum toxicity under acid soil conditions. They were established in 2007/2008 at Gluszyna Lesna (52014, N and 16056, E), a 300-hectare agricultural farm near Poznan. Two different crop plants were tested: (i) winter oilsee...

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are widely used for their antimicrobial activity and consequently the particles will become environmental contaminants. This study evaluated in sand and soil matrices the toxicity of 10nm spherical Ag NPs (1 and 3 mg Ag/L) toward a beneficial soil bacterium, Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6. In sand, both NP doses resulted in loss in bacterial culturability whereas in a...

Temporal variation in two soil tests ([Al] and the ratio [Al]:[Na] in 1:5 0.005M KCl extract) and pH were evaluated on six occasions during a twelve month study of eleven yellow earths in the Merredin region (31°5, 118°E) of Western Australia. The [Al] and ratio [Al]:[Na] in 1:5 0.005M KCl extracts are useful soil tests capable of distinguishing between productive and non-productive (Al toxic) ...

BACKGROUND Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in construction materials, such as caulking used around windows and expansion joints, may constitute a source of PCB contamination in the building interiors and in surrounding soil. Several studies of soil contamination have been conducted around buildings where the caulking has been removed by grinding or scraping. The PCBs in soil may have been gene...

Mercury is a metal found in elemental, organic, and inorganic forms in the nature. This substance is present in the composition of earth crust, soil, air, and even in some tissues of plants and sea animals. Each year nearly 3400 tons of mercury compounds are released in the environment, which 95% settle in the soil, 3% in the oceans, and 2% in the atmosphere. Different industrial products li...

single and joint toxicity of chloramphenicol and hg acting on wheat (triticum aestivum l.), chinese cabbage (brassica campestris l.) and corn (zea mays l.) were investigated. the results showed positive correlations between root elongation inhibition of three plants and concentrations of pollutants added to soil (p

Objective: Metal concentrations in 53 soil samples of Shahr-e-Babak were determined.  Methods: Assessment of enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index revealed higher degree of contamination of Cd, Pb, and Cu in soil samples. Moreover, results of metal fractionation study revealed high amount of Cd and Pb are associated in weakly bounds may lead to environmental risk of these metals.  Result...