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

Book reviews

C. Geiser Data analysis with Mplus The Guilford Press, 2013, 305 pp. Paperback ISBN 9781462502455, Hardcover ISBN 9781462507825 ; J. E. Grant, D. J. Stein, D. W. Woods and N. J. Keuthen Trichotillomania, skin picking, and other body-focused repetitive behaviours American Psychiatric Publishing, Arlington, 2011, 268 pp. ISBN: 158562398

A talaj kadmium szennyezettségének vizsgálata angolperje (Lolium perenne L.) bioteszttel = Investigation of soil cadmium pollution using a rye grass ( Lolium perenne L . ) biotest

Cadmium accumulation in soils causes ecological, biological and human health risks. Previous studies have shown that reductions in the shoot height and fresh biomass of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) are a sensitive indicator of the cadmium pollution level in soils. Four soils with different types and properties were included in the experiment. In the first period of the biotest, 2 g cotton-wool pads moistened with distilled water were planted with 2 g of perennial ryegrass seeds and the seedlings were grown for 6 days. On the 7th day the cotton-wool pads containing the seedlings were placed on soils polluted with four levels of cadmium: 0, 1, 2 and 4 mg Cd kg−1 soil, added to the soil in the form of cadmium acetate. After a first nutrient-deficient period, the seedlings took up nutrients and toxic substances intensively from the soil samples. After a 14-day period of soil–plant contact the fresh biomass, dry biomass and Cd concentration of the shoots were measured, in addition to which the shoot height was measured every 2 days. Cadmium treatment significantly reduced the shoot height and fresh weight of ryegrass in all the tested soils, and the damaging effect was proportional to the applied dose. A reduction of more than 10% in the shoot height and fresh weight were observed even at a Cd pollution level of 1 mg Cd kg−1 soil. At the highest Cd level the decrease in shoot height was more than 40% and the decrease in fresh weight more than 35% in all the soils. The increasing level of Cd application significantly increased the Cd concentration of the shoots. More Cd was accumulated in ryegrass shoots on soils with low pH and low organic matter content. The results indicate that the ryegrass biotest method is suitable for the characterization of Cd contamination in different soils

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

Bársonyvirágfajok (Tagetes spp.) nehézfém fitoremediációs potenciáljának értékelése laboratóriumi tesztmódszerekkel

Összefoglalás A fitoremediációs eljárások alkalmazása költséghatékony és környezetkímélő megoldást jelent a szennyezett területek helyreállítására. Korábbi kutatások alapján a bársonyvirágok alkalmasak lehetnek nehézfémmel szennyezett területek fitoremediációjára, azonban kevés információval rendelkezünk arról, hogy a fémeknek milyen toxikus hatása van ezekre a növényekre. Kutatásunk során két különböző kísérletet (egy előkísérletet és egy tenyészedény kísérletet) állítottunk be négy kiválasztott nehézfém (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn) növényi bioakkumulációjának és toxicitásának vizsgálatára három különböző bársonyvirág fajon. A csíranövényes előkísérlet alapján a kisvirágú bársonyvirág (Tagetes patula) volt a legkevésbé érzékeny az alkalmazott nehézfémekre, ezért ezt a növényt alkalmaztuk a tenyészedény kísérlet során. A tenyészedény kísérletben a növényeket a magyar jogszabályokban meghatározott talaj nehézfém szennyezettségi határérték 0-, 1-, 2- és 4-szeres dózisainak tettük ki. 120 napos talaj-növény interakció után mértük a növény növekedési paramétereit (hajtáshossz és tömeg, gyökérhossz és tömeg), valamint az esztétikai paramétereit (levelek és virágok száma, virágok átmérője). A növény hajtásának és a teszttalaj nehézfémkoncentrációit HNO3+H2O2 feltárás után atomabszorpciós spektrofotométerrel 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 eredményeink szerint a kisvirágú bársonyvirág alkalmas lehet kadmiummal, rézzel vagy cinkkel szennyezett talajok fitoremediációjára a vizsgált koncentráció-tartományokban. Alkalmazásuk városi területeken (pl. közparkokban, középületek és lakóházak kertjeiben, vagy utak melletti zöldfelületeken) megfelelő lehet, mivel ezek a növények a környezetet is szépítik

An empirical investigation of dance addiction

Although recreational dancing is associated with increased physical and psychological well-being, little is known about the harmful effects of excessive dancing. The aim of the present study was to explore the psychopathological factors associated with dance addiction. The sample comprised 447 salsa and ballroom dancers (68% female, mean age: 32.8 years) who danced recreationally at least once a week. The Exercise Addiction Inventory (Terry, Szabo, & Griffiths, 2004) was adapted for dance (Dance Addiction Inventory, DAI). Motivation, general mental health (BSI-GSI, and Mental Health Continuum), borderline personality disorder, eating disorder symptoms, and dance motives were also assessed. Five latent classes were explored based on addiction symptoms with 11% of participants belonging to the most problematic class. DAI was positively associated with psychiatric distress, borderline personality and eating disorder symptoms. Hierarchical linear regression model indicated that Intensity (ß=0.22), borderline (ß=0.08), eating disorder (ß=0.11) symptoms, as well as Escapism (ß=0.47) and Mood Enhancement (ß=0.15) (as motivational factors) together explained 42% of DAI scores. Dance addiction as assessed with the Dance Addiction Inventory is associated with indicators of mild psychopathology and therefore warrants further research

The development and psychometric evaluation of the Internet Disorder Scale (IDS-15)

Introduction: Previously published research suggests that improvement in the assessment of Internet addiction (IA) is paramount in advancing the field. However, little has been done to address inconsistencies in the assessment of IA using a more updated framework. The aim of the present study was to develop a new instrument to assess IA based on a modification of the nine Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) criteria as suggested by the American Psychiatric Association in the latest (fifth) edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), and to provide a taxonomy of the potential risk of IA risk among participants. Methods: A heterogeneous sample of Internet users (n=1,105) was recruited online (61.3% males, mean age 33 years). Construct validity of the new instrument – Internet Disorder Scale (IDS-15) – was assessed by means of factorial, convergent, and discriminant validity. Criterion-related validity and reliability were also investigated. Additionally, latent profile analysis (LPA) was carried out to differentiate and characterize Internet users based on their potential IA risk. Results: The construct and criterion-related validity of the IDS-15 were both warranted. The IDS-15 proved to be a valid and reliable tool. Using the LPA, participants were classed as “low addiction risk” (n = 183, 18.2%), “medium addiction risk” (n = 456, 41.1%), and “high addiction risk” (n = 455, 40.77%). Furthermore, key differences emerged among these classes in terms of age, relationship status, cigarette consumption, weekly Internet usage, age of Internet use initiation, and IDS-15 total scores. Conclusions: The present findings support the viability of using adapted IGD criteria as a framework to assess IA