Heavy metals are one of the leading environmental pollutants that are hazardous to the health of humans, soils, plants, and aquatic life. This study investigated the potential of Athyrium filix-femina, Ludwigia peruviana, and Sphagneticola trilobata for phytoextraction of Al, Ag, Cd, Cr, Ga, and Sr. To evaluate the heavy metal uptake by the plants, a pot experiment was conducted using uncontaminated soil mixed with a heavy metal solution. At the end of thirty days of planting, the bioconcentration and translocation factors were calculated. Cd accumulated to a greater degree in the shoots of A. filix-femina and L. peruviana than in their roots (8% and 12% respectively). Conversely, S. trilobata accumulated 27% more Cd in its roots than in its shoots. In all three plant species, roots had significantly higher heavy metal concentrations than shoots. These findings demonstrate that L. peruviana, A. filix-femina, and S. trilobata have high potential for phytoextraction and bioaccumulation of Cd, Sr, Ag, and Ga. The herbaceous nature of these plants, coupled with their deep roots and rapid growth rates, make them promising candidates for phytoremediation in heavy metal-contaminated soils.
Given the imminent deterioration of environmental quality, the accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soil is one of the main concerns worldwide. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the adsorption potential of mercury and zinc by Sphagneticola trilobata. After 60 days, the distribution of heavy metals in the roots and the leaves of the plants was determined. As a result, the plant adsorbed mercury between 43.49 and 59.22%, and zinc between 32.68 and 64.37%. According to the bioconcentration and translocation factors of Sphagneticola trilobata obtained in the present work, the phytostabilizing capacity of mercury and zinc is like Eichhornia crassipes and Sorghum bicolor.
The treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater is a source for a large number of airborne microorganisms, which can be released at the environment during mechanical aeration. A meta-analysis of up to 14 industrial and municipal treatment plants was performed to determine the bacterial count in bioaerosols, as well as antibiotic resistance, at different stages of the wastewater treatment (pretreatment, primary, secondary and tertiary treatment), in comparison with bacterial counts of the ambient air surrounding the treatment plants. The highest contamination of the air with microorganisms was observed in the raw sewage inlet and at the biological reactor. In most analyzes, the air in the wastewater treatment plant was characterized by a higher content of microorganisms than at the control point. Bioaerosols from water treatment might be an important source of antibiotic resistance genes, which can be transported considerable distances and can represent a potential risk to humans. Therefore, employees should recognize the health risks associated with the absence of personal protective equipment, such as masks or respirators.
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