58 research outputs found
Heavy metal uptake by impatiens walleriana growing in urban soils
The objective of our research was to evaluate the heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) transfer from soil to different parts (root, stem, leaf, flower) of Impatiens walleriana. For this, we collected soil and plant samples from 5 different sites in the center of Budapest. Based on our analytical measurements, the accumulation and translocation of the studied heavy metals in plants clearly differ from each other. Cd concentration was relatively high in all plant parts, but Ni accumulated primarily in roots and leaves, Cr only in roots, while Pb in stem and flowers. In contrast, the plant accumulated a relatively low amount of Cu and Zn. According to our results, Impatiens walleriana is a potentially suitable plant for phytoremediation of Cd, Ni or Cr polluted urban soils
Composting of distillery spent wash
Distillery spent wash, a by-product of the alcoholic beverage industry, is an organic waste whose management poses significant challenges due to its acidity, high organic load, notable content of polyphenols, macronutrients, micronutrients and heavy metals. In Europe, billions of liters of distillery waste are generated annually and its eco-unfriendly disposal can cause severe environmental and health impacts. Composting is a viable management strategy to treat and manage distillery slop promoting the recycling and stabilization of organic matter and nutrients in the material. The review examines different composting methods, such as single composting, co-composting and vermicomposting, along with their benefits and drawbacks. To optimize composting effectiveness, various materials, such as sewage sludge, vinasse, green and animal manure, inorganic amendments, bagasse, filter cake and municipal solid waste, among other agro-food and animal bio-wastes, can be used as a source of nitrogen and microorganisms. Also, the usage of different materials and mixtures aims to enhance the composting process increasing the degradation rate and the quality of the compost. The challenges of distillery spent wash composting are also covered in the paper which are mainly due to its characteristics, including high salt content, low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, low pH and potential phytotoxicity. The paper concludes that composting distillery spent wash is an effective and sustainable waste management solution for recovering valuable nutrient resources and producing a stable nutrient-rich organic soil amendment. The produced compost can improve crop yields, nutrient absorption by plants and plant biomass and contribute to soil properties and restoration. The review provides insights into the current state of distillery spent wash composting and recommends future research directions to improve efficiency and expand potential applications
A szennyvĂztelepi biogáz termelĹ‘ fermentáciĂłs folyamatok nyomon követĂ©se kĂ©miai Ă©s biokĂ©miai mĂłdszerekkel
Woody Plants Interaction with Aerosol Fine Particulate Matters and Copper in Budapest
Ambient particulate matter pollution is the primary concern as it has a significant impact on human health and the majority of the world's population lives in urban areas. Heavy metals are the most concerning component of particulate matter, and Cu is a highly traffic-related emission element whose overabundance results in toxic effects. Woody plants, on the other hand, contribute to the removal of airborne pollution in urban areas. Our aims are (1) to compare urban woody plants abilities to capture ambient fine particulate matter on leaf surface; and (2) to access the Cu concentration loads on their leaf surfaces. Consequently, our results will provide scientific knowledge for future urban planning concerning air pollution remediation. We investigated the relationship between woody plants and heavy metal pollution in Budapest. Four woody plant species were sampled at different traffic densities. Their Cu contents in the leaf and branch were measured, our results show that Tilia tomentosa and Acer platanoides are better options for ambient Cu accumulation than Fraxinus excelsior and Aesculus hisppocastanus in urban environments. At different traffic densities and sampling times, however, Cu accumulation did not vary across species. This is because, through translocation, woody plants absorb Cu not only from the air but also from the soil. Furthermore, it is also because of the long-distance transportation and long-term suspension of fine particulate matter. From the obtained results, we can conclude that woody plants are important phytoremediation elements in the urban area of Budapest. Planting T. tomentosa and A. platanoides in urban areas of central Europe will be promising for ambient heavy metal pollution phytoremediation. But environmental conditions differ from one place to another. Therefore, a comprehensive study is required in order to apply the results to different locations
Bársonyvirágfajok (Tagetes spp.) nehézfém fitoremediációs potenciáljának értékelése laboratóriumi tesztmódszerekkel
Összefoglalás
A fitoremediáciĂłs eljárások alkalmazása költsĂ©ghatĂ©kony Ă©s környezetkĂmĂ©lĹ‘ megoldást jelent a szennyezett terĂĽletek helyreállĂtására. Korábbi kutatások alapján a bársonyvirágok alkalmasak lehetnek nehĂ©zfĂ©mmel szennyezett terĂĽletek fitoremediáciĂłjára, azonban kevĂ©s informáciĂłval rendelkezĂĽnk arrĂłl, hogy a fĂ©meknek milyen toxikus hatása van ezekre a növĂ©nyekre. Kutatásunk során kĂ©t kĂĽlönbözĹ‘ kĂsĂ©rletet (egy elĹ‘kĂsĂ©rletet Ă©s egy tenyĂ©szedĂ©ny kĂsĂ©rletet) állĂtottunk be nĂ©gy kiválasztott nehĂ©zfĂ©m (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn) növĂ©nyi bioakkumuláciĂłjának Ă©s toxicitásának vizsgálatára három kĂĽlönbözĹ‘ bársonyvirág fajon.
A csĂranövĂ©nyes elĹ‘kĂsĂ©rlet alapján a kisvirágĂş bársonyvirág (Tagetes patula) volt a legkevĂ©sbĂ© Ă©rzĂ©keny az alkalmazott nehĂ©zfĂ©mekre, ezĂ©rt ezt a növĂ©nyt alkalmaztuk a tenyĂ©szedĂ©ny kĂsĂ©rlet során. A tenyĂ©szedĂ©ny kĂsĂ©rletben a növĂ©nyeket a magyar jogszabályokban meghatározott talaj nehĂ©zfĂ©m szennyezettsĂ©gi határĂ©rtĂ©k 0-, 1-, 2- Ă©s 4-szeres dĂłzisainak tettĂĽk ki. 120 napos talaj-növĂ©ny interakciĂł után mĂ©rtĂĽk a növĂ©ny növekedĂ©si paramĂ©tereit (hajtáshossz Ă©s tömeg, gyökĂ©rhossz Ă©s tömeg), valamint az esztĂ©tikai paramĂ©tereit (levelek Ă©s virágok száma, virágok átmĂ©rĹ‘je). A növĂ©ny hajtásának Ă©s a teszttalaj nehĂ©zfĂ©mkoncentráciĂłit HNO3+H2O2 feltárás után atomabszorpciĂłs spektrofotomĂ©terrel határoztuk meg.
Az eredményeink alapján a kisvirágú bársonyvirág képes a Cd és a Zn bioakkumulációjára a hajtásában, mivel 7-18-szor nagyobb koncentrációt mértünk a növény hajtásában, mint a teszttalajban. A Cu szintén akkumulálódott a hajtásban, azonban a növekvő Cu dózisok hatására a felhalmozódás mértéke csökkent. A növényi paraméterek (a Zn-terhelések kivételével) csak a legnagyobb dózisú nehézfém-terhelésekben csökkentek szignifikáns mértékben a kontrollhoz képest. A Zn szignifikánsan csökkentette a hajtáshosszt, a gyökér száraz tömegét, valamint a virágok átmérőjét már 400 mg kg-1 koncentráció esetén is.
Az eredmĂ©nyeink szerint a kisvirágĂş bársonyvirág alkalmas lehet kadmiummal, rĂ©zzel vagy cinkkel szennyezett talajok fitoremediáciĂłjára a vizsgált koncentráciĂł-tartományokban. Alkalmazásuk városi terĂĽleteken (pl. közparkokban, közĂ©pĂĽletek Ă©s lakĂłházak kertjeiben, vagy utak melletti zöldfelĂĽleteken) megfelelĹ‘ lehet, mivel ezek a növĂ©nyek a környezetet is szĂ©pĂtik
Recycling of organic waste: an overview of pálinka distillery mash composting
A szerves hulladék képződése a világ legtöbb részén aggasztó szintre nőtt, és fenntartható
gazdálkodás kialakĂtására nagyobb szĂĽksĂ©g van, mint valaha. Magyarországon jelentĹ‘sen
növekszik a szerves hulladék mennyisége, különösen a pálinkagyártásban, főleg a
törkölypálinka lepárlása során keletkezik sok maradék (cefremoslék), amely egy ártalmatlan
élelmiszer-hulladék. Évente mintegy kétszázezer tonna gyümölcshulladék keletkezik, amelynek
teljes körű ĂşjrahasznosĂtására Ă©s legális lerakására mĂ©g nincs pĂ©lda a magyar szeszgyárakban
Ă©s a helytelen feldolgozása veszĂ©lyezteti a környezetet. Jelen Ărásunkban a pálinka cefre
komposztálás lehetőségeinek áttekintésére fókuszáltunk, amelynek kezelésénél a legnagyobb
kihĂvást annak kezdeti, 4 alatti pH-Ă©rtĂ©ke jelentette, amelyet ásványi adalĂ©kanyagokkal sikerĂĽlt
semlegesĂtenĂĽnk. A felhasznált adalĂ©kokat elĹ‘nyös fizikai, kĂ©miai Ă©s biolĂłgiai tulajdonságaik szerint választottuk ki. Ennek megfelelĹ‘en a kĂsĂ©rleti komposztálás során andezitet Ă©s alginitet
alkalmaztunk. MegfigyelĂ©sĂĽnk eredmĂ©nye megerĹ‘sĂtette, hogy az ásványi adalĂ©kok Ă©rtĂ©kes
komposztot képezhetnek, kedvezően változtatva a bomlási és szintézis reakciók dinamikáját. A
cefre komposztálási technolĂłgiai kĂsĂ©rletekĂ©nt az Ă©rett cefrekomposztot tenyĂ©szedĂ©nyes
kĂsĂ©rletekben is teszteltĂĽk a cefre Ă©rett komposzt nehĂ©zfĂ©m-adszorpciĂłs kĂ©pessĂ©gĂ©re saláta
(Lactuca sativa) és paradicsom (Solanum Lycopersicum) tesztnövények felhasználásával. A
növĂ©nyeket Ăłlommal (Pb) Ă©s vassal (Fe) szennyezett vĂzzel öntöztĂĽk, majd AtomabszorpciĂłs
spektrométerrel (AAS) meghatároztuk a növények és a táptalaj fémfelhalmozódási képességét.
A vizsgálat során össze lehetett hasonlĂtani a kĂĽlönbözĹ‘ növĂ©nyi rĂ©szek szerinti nehĂ©zfĂ©m-
felhalmozódás mértékét és a pálinkacefrék-komposzt eltérő arányát a termesztőközegben
Effects of heavy metals on early growth of African marigold (Tagetes erecta), French marigold (Tagetes patula) and signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia)
Heavy metals in soils cause human health and environmental risks, therefore remediation of heavy metal contaminated sites is an important issue. Marigolds have been proposed as potential plants for phytoremediation of this type of contamination. In our experiment a seed germination test was carried out to investigate the toxic effects of heavy metals (Cu, Zn and Pb) on early growth of three different marigold species (African marigold, French marigold and Signet marigold). According to our results all tested heavy metals had significant (p<0.05) toxic effects on seed germination and root/shoot elongation of the three plants. Signet marigold was the most sensitive plant to heavy metals, while African marigold and French marigold were able to tolerate low concentration of metals (below 400 mg l-1 ) without considerable decline in growth parameters. These results indicate that African marigold and French marigold could be suitable for remediating heavy metal (Cu, Zn and Pb) contaminated soils
Composting of distillery spent wash
Distillery spent wash, a by-product of the alcoholic beverage industry, is an organic waste whose management poses significant challenges due to its acidity, high organic load, notable content of polyphenols, macronutrients, micronutrients and heavy metals. In Europe, billions of liters of distillery waste are generated annually and its eco-unfriendly disposal can cause severe environmental and health impacts. Composting is a viable management strategy to treat and manage distillery slop promoting the recycling and stabilization of organic matter and nutrients in the material. The review examines different composting methods, such as single composting, co-composting and vermicomposting, along with their benefits and drawbacks. To optimize composting effectiveness, various materials, such as sewage sludge, vinasse, green and animal manure, inorganic amendments, bagasse, filter cake and municipal solid waste, among other agro-food and animal bio-wastes, can be used as a source of nitrogen and microorganisms. Also, the usage of different materials and mixtures aims to enhance the composting process increasing the degradation rate and the quality of the compost. The challenges of distillery spent wash composting are also covered in the paper which are mainly due to its characteristics, including high salt content, low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, low pH and potential phytotoxicity. The paper concludes that composting distillery spent wash is an effective and sustainable waste management solution for recovering valuable nutrient resources and producing a stable nutrient-rich organic soil amendment. The produced compost can improve crop yields, nutrient absorption by plants and plant biomass and contribute to soil properties and restoration. The review provides insights into the current state of distillery spent wash composting and recommends future research directions to improve efficiency and expand potential applications
Environmental bacteria increase population growth of hydra at low temperature
Multicellular organisms engage in complex ecological interactions with microorganisms, some of which are harmful to the host’s health and fitness (e.g., pathogens or toxin-producing environmental microbiota), while others are either beneficial or have a neutral impact (as seen in components of host-associated microbiota). Although environmental microorganisms are generally considered to have no significant impact on animal fitness, there is evidence suggesting that exposure to these microbes might be required for proper immune maturation and research in vertebrates has shown that developing in a sterile environment detrimentally impacts health later in life. However, it remains uncertain whether such beneficial effects of environmental microorganisms are present in invertebrates that lack an adaptive immune system. In the present study, we conducted an experiment with field-collected Hydra oligactis, a cold-adapted freshwater cnidarian. We cultured these organisms in normal and autoclaved lake water at two distinct temperatures: 8°C and 12°C. Our findings indicated that polyps maintained in sterilized lake water displayed reduced population growth that depended on temperature, such that the effect was only present on 8°C. To better understand the dynamics of microbial communities both inhabiting polyps and their surrounding environment we conducted 16S sequencing before and after treatment, analyzing samples from both the polyps and the water. As a result of culturing in autoclaved lake water, the polyps showed a slightly altered microbiota composition, with some microbial lineages showing significant reduction in abundance, while only a few displayed increased abundances. The autoclaved lake water was recolonized, likely from the surface of hydra polyps, by a complex albeit different community of bacteria, some of which (such as Pseudomonas, Flavobacteriaceae) might be pathogenic to hydra. The abundance of the intracellular symbiont Polynucleobacter was positively related to hydra population size. These findings indicate that at low temperature environmental microbiota can enhance population growth rate in hydra, suggesting that environmental microorganisms can provide benefits to animals even in the absence of an adaptive immune system
A környezetvédelem alapjai
A jegyzet célja a környezetvédelem általános, globális kérdéseinek ismertetése, inter-, illetve
multidiszciplináris jellegének bemutatása, valamint a különböző szakterületeken dolgozó szerzők
közreműködésével annak szemléltetése, hogyan kapcsolódik össze a környezetvédelemben a
tudomány, a politikum, Ă©s a gyakorlati tevĂ©kenysĂ©g. A jegyzet számos olyan, napjainkban kiemelt figyelmet kĂvánĂł globális problĂ©mával foglalkozik, amelyekrĹ‘l naponta hallunk a mĂ©diában, de tudományos hátterĂĽk nem minden esetben közismert. A jegyzetben helyet kapott a fenntarthatĂł társadalom, a fenntarthatĂł energiagazdálkodás, a tĂşlnĂ©pesedĂ©s, a hulladĂ©kgazdálkodás, a vĂzminĹ‘sĂ©g-vĂ©delem, a szennyvĂztisztĂtás, a levegĹ‘szennyezĂ©s Ă©s Ă©ghajlatváltozás, illetve a zajszennyezĂ©s kĂ©rdĂ©se is. KĂĽlön fejezet foglalkozik a környezetvĂ©delem nemzetközi Ă©s hazai jogi szabályozásával. JegyzetĂĽnket nem csak a környezettan, illetve környezettudomány szakos hallgatĂłknak szánjuk, remĂ©nyeink szerint belĹ‘le bármely más termĂ©szettudományos, gazdasági vagy jogi Ă©rdeklĹ‘dĂ©sű szemĂ©ly is hasznos, Ăşj Ă©s naprakĂ©sz informáciĂłval gazdagodhat
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