BASIC EXPERIMENTS OF CS UPTAKE CAPABILITY FOR Eleocharis acicularis

Soil in the Fukushima area has been polluted with the radioactive contaminants such as Cs by the accident of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in March 2011. Remediation of soil contaminated with radioactive Cs remains one of the most important problems. Phytoremediation is an environmental remediation technique that takes advantage of plant physiology and metabolism to remove radioactive contaminants. Eleocharis acicularis is well known as heavy metal hyperaccumulator aquatic plant and expected as the strong candidate for application to Phytoremediation of polluted water and soil. In this study, a laboratory experiment was carried out to investigate the potential of E.acicularis for Phytoremediation of radioactive Cs contaminated site.The plants were grown hydroponically and placed in solutions containing Cs and K at different concentration (Cs concentration: 5 mg/L, K concentration: 0, 0.2, 2, 5, 50, 100 mg/L) in a period of 21days.In the experimental results, the highest concentration of Cs was 1560 mg/kg-DW in E. acicularis after 21 days. The concentration of Cs in plants decreased with the increasing initial concentration of K in the solution. This results indicate that E. acicularis has the ability to accumulate radioactive Cs from radioactive Cs contaminated soil and water, making it a good candidate species for radioactive Cs Phytoremediation. Keywords : Fukushima, Eleocharis acicularis, phytoremediation, C

Nationwide retrospective observational study of idiopathic dendriform pulmonary ossification : clinical features with a progressive phenotype

Background: Diffuse pulmonary ossification is a specific lung condition that is accompanied by underlying diseases. However, idiopathic dendriform pulmonary ossification (IDPO) is extremely rare, and the clinical features remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to report the clinical characteristics of IDPO. Methods: We conducted a nationwide survey of patients with IDPO from 2017 to 2019 in Japan and evaluated the clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings of patients diagnosed with IDPO. Results: Twenty-two cases of IDPO were identified. Most subjects (82%) were male, aged 22-56 years (mean (SD), 37.9 (9.1)) at diagnosis. Nearly 80% of the subjects were asymptomatic, and the condition was discovered during a medical check-up. However, 36% of the subjects showed a decline in forced vital capacity (%FVC) predicted <80% at diagnosis. The typical radiological features of high-resolution CT (HRCT) are calcified branching structures that are predominantly distributed in the lower lung fields without any other conspicuous finding. Histopathological analysis also showed dendriform ossified lesions from the intraluminal areas to interstitial areas. Notably, during the follow-up period of 20 years, disease progression was found in 88% on HRCT and more than 50% on pulmonary function tests (FVC and/or forced expiratory volume in 1s). Two cases with rapid decline of 10% /year in %FVC predicted were observed.)) at diagnosis. Nearly 80% of the subjects were asymptomatic, and the condition was discovered during a medical check-up. However, 36% of the subjects showed a decline in forced vital capacity (%FVC) predicted <80% at diagnosis. The typical radiological features of high-resolution CT (HRCT) are calcified branching structures that are predominantly distributed in the lower lung fields without any other conspicuous finding. Histopathological analysis also showed dendriform ossified lesions from the intraluminal areas to interstitial areas. Notably, during the follow-up period of 20 years, disease progression was found in 88% on HRCT and more than 50% on pulmonary function tests (FVC and/or forced expiratory volume in 1s). Two cases with rapid decline of 10% /year in %FVC predicted were observed. )) at diagnosis. Nearly 80% of the subjects wereasymptomatic, and the condition was discovered during a medical check-up. However, 36% of the subjects showed a decline in forced vital capacity (%FVC) predicted <80% at diagnosis. The typical radiological features of high-resolution CT (HRCT) are calcified branching structures that are predominantly distributed in the lower lung fields without any other conspicuous finding. Histopathological analysis also showed dendriform ossified lesions from the intraluminal areas to interstitial areas. Notably, during the follow-up period of 20 years, disease progression was found in 88% on HRCT and more than 50% on pulmonary function tests (FVC and/or forced expiratory volume in 1s). Two cases with rapid decline of 10% /year in %FVC predicted were observed. Conclusions: IDPO develops at a young age with gradually progressive phenotype. Further research and long-term (>20 years) follow-up are required to clarify the pathogenesis and clinical findings in IDPO

Missing western half of the Pacific Plate: Geochemical nature of the Izanagi-Pacific Ridge interaction with a stationary boundary between the Indian and Pacific mantles

The source mantle of the basaltic ocean crust on the western half of the Pacific Plate was examined using Pb–Nd–Hf isotopes. The results showed that the subducted Izanagi–Pacific Ridge (IPR) formed from both Pacific (180–∼80 Ma) and Indian (∼80–70 Ma) mantles. The western Pacific Plate becomes younger westward and is thought to have formed from the IPR. The ridge was subducted along the Kurile–Japan–Nankai–Ryukyu (KJNR) Trench at 60–55 Ma and leading edge of the Pacific Plate is currently stagnated in the mantle transition zone. Conversely, the entire eastern half of the Pacific Plate, formed from isotopically distinct Pacific mantle along the East Pacific Rise and the Juan de Fuca Ridge, largely remains on the seafloor. The subducted IPR is inaccessible; therefore, questions regarding which mantle might be responsible for the formation of the western half of the Pacific Plate remain controversial. Knowing the source of the IPR basalts provides insight into the Indian–Pacific mantle boundary before the Cenozoic. Isotopic compositions of the basalts from borehole cores (165–130 Ma) in the western Pacific show that the surface oceanic crust is of Pacific mantle origin. However, the accreted ocean floor basalts (∼80–70 Ma) in the accretionary prism along the KJNR Trench have Indian mantle signatures. This indicates the younger western Pacific Plate of IPR origin formed partly from Indian mantle and that the Indian–Pacific mantle boundary has been stationary in the western Pacific at least since the Cretaceous

Sorption Of Antimony In Stream Water By Weathered And Altered Rock

We report the ionic migration of antimony during chemical weathering, with some particular cases. Ichinokawa abandoned mine of Shikoku Island, Japan, is famous for the production of stibnite. The antimony deposits are mainly in Sambagawa metamorphic rocks and the brecciated rocks (Ichinokawa breccia) formed through a hydro-fracturing process associated with hydrothermal fluid related to Tertiary igneous activity around the area. Antimony content in stream water around the mine was extremely high (over 200 &#;g/L), which indicates that antimony dissolves into the water from the country rocks by chemical weathering. We examined the antimony contents in variously weathered and altered country rocks in the streambed, to understand the transfer of the element into the stream water. Consequently, antimony content in brown-colored, strongly weathered and altered part of the rocks was higher than that in the unweathered (or weakly weathered) part. The antimony content in strongly weathered part was several tens to hundreds ppm, although the content in unweathered part was significantly low, sometimes under the detection of XRF. This may indicate that the antimony in the stream water is adsorbed selectively in the strongly weathered and altered part of the streambed rock. The strongly weathered and altered rocks contain many iron hydroxides, which may trap antimony ion from the water. A similar phenomenon was observed in the other area. This suggests that a high distribution of antimony ion into the strongly weathered and altered rocks including iron hydroxides against the water is ubiquitous

Geochemistry of the Yakuno Ophiolite in Southwest Japan

The Yakuno ophiolite is exposed in the eastern part of the Maizuru Tectonic Belt which consists of ophiolite rocks. The Yakuno ophiolite is made up of ultramafic, mafic, intermediate, and felsic rocks which are regarded as the fragments of an ancient oceanic crust. Major element analyses (23 samples) and Sr isotope determinations (12 samples) were made for the representative rocks of the Yakuno ophiolite. The chemical features of the rocks and relict clinopyroxenes indicate that the ophiolite belongs to the tholeiitic rock series and shows a similarity to MORB in discrimination diagrams. However, the Yakuno ophiolite is much thicker than normal oceanic crust, and is associated with evolved rocks such as quartz diorite, granophyre and trondhjemite, but not with typical sheeted dyke complex. The Yakuno ophiolite is higher in normative plagioclase content and initial Sr isotope ratio (0.705092) than typical MORB. Hence, the Yakuno ophiolite resembles both ocean ridge and oceanic island basalts in magmatic nature, which suggests that it has been generated by oceanic island magmatism at an ocean ridge. The Rb-Sr isochron age of the Yakuno ophiolite was determined as 285 Ma, which is almost identical with those of other ophiolites from the Maizuru Tectonic Belt. So far as the available chemical data are concerned, the ophiolites from the Maizuru Tectonic Belt seem to have originated at various tectonic settings, i.e. oceanic island at ocean ridge, ocean ridge, island arc and marginal sea from east to west

(Table T1) Element concentrations and Strontium and Neodymium isotopes of ODP Hole 191-1179D basalts

Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of 19 basalts from Hole 1179D, Leg 191 were analyzed to determine ridge and plume interaction. 87Sr/86Sr and 143Nd/144Nd ratios of the basalts ranged from 0.7029 to 0.7040 and from 0.5131 to 0.5132 (epsilon Nd0 = 9.3 ~ 10.8), respectively. Calculated initial isotopic compositions at 129 Ma, the age of magnetic Anomaly M8, are 87Sr/86Sri = 0.7026 ~ 0.7033 and epsilon NdT = 9.2 ~ 10.6. The initial Sr isotope ratio is higher than that of normal mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORBs) from the East Pacific Rise and Mesozoic MORBs. They are similar to those of the Shatsky Rise, suggesting a plume component was involved in the formation

Phytoextraction And Phytovolatilization Of Arsenic From As-Contaminated Soils By Pteris vittata

Phytoremediation of metal contaminated soil and water is a low cost method of remediation, which allow some extracted metals to be recycled for economic use. The use of phytoextraction and phytovolatilization of metals by plants offers a viable remediation on commercial projects. Arsenic is of great environmental concern due to its extensive contamination and toxicity. Ma et al. (2001) recently discovered the first known and extremely efficient arsenic hyperaccumulating plant, Pteris vittata. If we can use phytovolatilization for As-contaminated soils, it could minimize the production of As-laden plant material and the duration of remediation. Several greenhouse experiments conducted by us have shown that the material balance of As between uptake by P. vittata and reduction from As-polluted soils has not been maintained. Vapor samples were collected to determine volatilization of arsenic compounds from fronds of P. vittata grown in As-polluted soil. A low-density polyethylene bottle was placed over a stem and sealed at the open bottleneck with sealant and tape to produce a tight seal around the stem and chambers for a period of 2–7 days. Concentration of arsenic in trap samples was measured by ICP-MS and speciation of arsenic was analyzed using HPLC/ICP-MS system. Concentrations in collected water samples (ca. 0.6–5.9ml) reached 10.7&#;30.8 &#;g-As/L (2–7 days). Percentages of arsenic components in one sample were 37% for arsenite and 63% for arsenate. Our results suggest that P. vittata is a plant species that is effective at volatilizing As; it removed about 90% of the total uptake of As from As-contaminated soils in the greenhouse, where the environment was similar to the subtropics. However, if a large amount of arsenic had been released from the contaminated site into the atmosphere by the fern, the process may have caused a secondary As-contamination to the surrounding environments

A New Method of Environmental Assessment and Monitoring of Cu, Zn, As, and Pb Pollution in Surface Soil Using Terricolous Fruticose Lichens

Levels of trace element pollution in surface soil can be estimated using soil analyses and leaching tests. These methods may reveal different results due to the effect of soil properties, such as grain size and mineral composition, on elemental availability. Therefore, this study advocates an alternative method for monitoring and assessment of trace element pollution in surface soil using terricolous fruticose lichens. Lichens growing at abandoned mine sites and unpolluted areas in southwest Japan and their substrata were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to clarify the relationships between Cu, Zn, As, and Pb concentrations in lichens and soils, including their absorption properties. Concentrations of these elements in the lichens were positively correlated with those in the soils regardless of lichen species, location, habitat, or conditions of soils. The analyzed lichens had neither competitive nor antagonistic properties in their elemental absorption, which made them good biomonitors of trace element pollution in surface soil. The distribution maps of average Cu, Zn, As, and Pb concentrations at each sampling region detected almost all of the Cu, Zn, and As pollution of the soils. Therefore, lichens could be used in practical applications to monitor Cu, Zn, and As pollution in surface soils

A Case Study of Heavy Metal Pollution in Water of Bone River by Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mine Activities in Eastern Part of Gorontalo, Indonesia

Bone River, which is located in the eastern part of Gorontalo, Indonesia, has an issue of contamination by heavy metals due to artisanal small-scale gold mine (ASGM) activities. This river is used as a source of water by inhabitants living along the river, due to the lack of another clean water supply. The purpose of this study is to investigate the concentration of As from the mining site alongside Bone River, and to reveal the As pollution source. Water and sediment samples were collected from ASGM and along Bone River to the delta. The concentrations of As, Hg, and Pb in water samples were identified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP&#8315;MS), while concentrations in sediment samples were determined by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE). Results showed that the concentrations of As, Hg, and Pb in water ranged from 66 to 82,500 &#181;g/L, 17 to 2080 &#181;g/L, and 11 to 1670 &#181;g/L, respectively. These levels exceeded, by 1000 to 10,000 times, the safe limits of drinking water defined by the World Health Organization, which indicated that Bone River water is not safe for drinking or cooking purposes