Effects of municipal reclaimed wastewater on the macro- and micro-elements status of soil and of Brassica oleracea var. Italica, and B. oleracea var. Gemmifera

An experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, located in Agrinion, Greece, where the effect of treated municipal wastewater (TMWW), compared to the ordinary irrigation water, was studied by means of a randomized block statistical design, on the macro- and micro-element and heavy metal content of Brassica oleracea var. Italica (Broccoli), and B. oleracea var. Gemmifera (Brussels sprouts) plants, as well as on the physical and chemical properties of the clay loam (CL) soil, and its inorganic composition, in order to examine the possibility of TMWW reuse for the irrigation of the above vegetables. The transplanting was done on December 2005, and harvesting of the heads and sprouts 16 weeks later, i.e. at the end of April. Ordinary irrigation water, TMWW, soil, and plant samples, were analyzed, and the data obtained were statistically processed. The following were found: applied TMWW increased significantly, in comparison to control, the content of some macro- and micro-elements in the soil, but the concentrations of most of them were generally within the accepted critical levels, except for P and Zn and Cd whose concentration varied as follows: in Brocoli soil P 18.36-41.16 mg/kg, Zn 3.61-4.64 mg/kg, and Cd 0.065-1.20 mg/kg, while in Brussels sprouts soil P 20.6-36.32 mg/kg, Zn 2.87-4.83 mg/kg and Cd 0.06-1.45 mg/kg. These results showed that TMWW had a residual effect with respect to these elements. Similarly, the TMWW increased significantly the heavy metal content in the dry matter of the roots as follows: in Brussel sprouts Cd varied from 0.0083 to 0.78, Co 0.029 to 3.38 and Ni from 4.83 to 7.27 [mu]g/g, respectively, and in Broccoli Ni varied from 4.20 to 10.13 [mu]g/g. TMWW also increased the accumulation of Fe in the roots of Broccoli from 379.5 to 1022.0 mg/kg. However, the levels of the heavy metals in the edible plant parts (heads and sprouts) were very high, varying as follows: in Broccoli Ni 3.91-4.15 [mu]g/g, and Pb 9.82-10.40 [mu]g/g, while in Brussels sprouts Cd 0.8-1.17 [mu]g/g, Co 2.35-2.70 [mu]g/g, and Ni 5.70-6.17 [mu]g/g. These increased heavy metal contents in the edible plant parts, and the heavy FC and E. coli load of the TMWW, constitute a high health risk factor, and therefore the TMWW studied, cannot be used at the present time for the irrigation of these vegetables, unless it is subjected in the future, to a secondary or advanced primary treatment (APT).

Effects of treated municipal wastewater on the essential nutrients interactions in the plant of Brassica oleracea var. Italica

The effects of the treated municipal wastewater (TMWW) on the essential nutrients interactions in the various plant parts of Brassica oleracea var. Italica (Broccoli) was studied, in comparison to the fresh irrigation water, denoted as "control". The experiment was based on a randomized block design, and it was conducted in a greenhouse of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Ioannina, Agrinion, Greece. It included two treatments, i.e. (a) TMWW and (b) control, in six replications, with a total number of 2 x 6 = 12 plots of 2.5 m x 1.8 = 4.5 m(2) size. The plants were transplanted in rows 0.8 m apart from each other, while the distance between the plants in the row was 0.5 m. During the growth period, thirteen applications of TMWW and control, respectively, were made, each one being equal to 30 L/4.5 m(2). In total, 390 L/4.5 m(2) or 867 m(3)/ha were applied. The following were found: 1) The TMWW reuse favored and intensified the synergetic interactions: Ca x Fe, K x P, Fe x Ni in the roots. As a result, higher levels of Fe, P and Ni were accumulated in comparison to the corresponding levels under the control. 2) The following interactions studied, were functioning simultaneously in: a - roots, leaves and heads (N x Zn, P x Zn), b - roots and]caves (Ca x Ni, K x B and P x K) and c - roots and heads (Fe x Ni, Mn x B, and Fe x Ca), thus, suggesting their importance in the plant nutrition and growth processes. 2) The broccoli root system, in comparison to leaves and heads accumulated in general, higher levels of nutrients, especially Fe (1200 mu g/g) suggesting that this vegetable is a Fe accumulator. The lowest nutrient accumulation, as a result of the interactions under the TMWW effect, was found in the edible plant part, i.e. in the broccoli heads

Leukemia and PAHs levels in human blood serum: Preliminary results from an adult cohort in Greece

This study focused on the evaluation of any possible relationship of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their hydroxylated derivatives, originated from different anthropogenic activities, with leukemia via determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons levels in human blood serum. It attempts to provide a sufficient profile of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives in leukemia patients (cases) and healthy donors (controls) in Greece, for which pertinent data is lacking. The determination was applied to 198 serum samples, including cases and controls. Demographic and environmental data, such as age, gender, smoking habits and area of residence were subjected to clustered analysis during the statistical treatment of the results. The results demonstrated a statistically significant difference between cases and controls regarding polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations, with phenanthrene, fluorene and acenaphthene being the most abundant compounds (<19 ng mL−1). The same difference was also observed for hydroxylated derivatives measured in cases of acute leukemia and controls, with 1-hydroxy phenanthrene and 1-hydroxy pyrene appearing more enriched, with their median concentrations calculated at 11.3 and 7.6 ng mL−1, respectively. Source apportionment tools were employed for the evaluation of any potential associations among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and several parameters. Molecular diagnostic ratios, applied in the classified data, indicated mainly that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons detected particularly in patients from rural sites could be originated from wood, grass or biomass burning. Principal Component Analysis, performed for overall and classified data, indicated a bioaccumulation of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with age and chronic types of leukemia and a possible common origin of these toxic compounds in cases of smokers living in industrial residence areas. © 2020 Turkish National Committee for Air Pollution Research and Contro

Current status in wastewater treatment, reuse and research in some mediterranean countries

The status of treated wastewater reuse as experienced in some Mediterranean Basin countries such as Greece, Israel, Italy and Cyprus is examined. General background information is given for each of these Mediterranean countries, including natural water resources, climatic conditions (temperature, rainfall), generated wastewater, crops cultivated and irrigated with effluent, and related aspects of reuse. The examined parameters include treatment strategies, wastewater reuse standards applied in each country, effluent reuse research in progress in the above target countries related to the treatment technologies, water quality, regulations, economics, public acceptance, risk assessment, benefits, keys for potential success and main constraints. Emphasis has been given to the benefits of treated wastewater reuse in integrated water resources management systems and its role for water cycle management, solving water scarcity issues mainly in arid and semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean basin. The experience presented can be implemented in other water scarce regions around the world

Soil spatial variability and site-specific fertilization maps in an apple orchard

In the present study, the spatial variability of some soil physical and chemical properties in a 0.8 ha apple orchard were studied. Sixty soil samples were taken from two sampling depths: 0-0.3 m and 0.3-0.6 m. The soil samples were analyzed for the following soil properties: soil texture, pH, cation exchange capacity and NO(3)-N, NH(4)-N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, B and organic matter content. Data analysis indicated that most of the nutrients were at sufficient levels. The site-specific application map for N was created based on the amount of N that was removed from the soil with the yield of the previous year. By applying N site-specifically, 38% of N could be saved compared to uniform application