The Relationship between Soil Particle Size and Lead Concentration
Dana M. Abouelnasr, American University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666 , Sharjah, UAE, Tel: 971-6-515-2982, Fax:  971-6-515-2979, Email: dabouelnasr@aus.edu

Many studies regarding heavy metal concentration in contaminated soils have observed increased concentrations in the smaller-sized particles.  This phenomenon has been attributed to differences in organic matter, contaminant source, and particle surface area.  The relationship between particle size and lead concentration in soils was explored. Data from four published studies were considered; the sources of lead contamination were lead smelting, metal manufacturing, and combustion of leaded automotive fuels.  These four studies reported lead concentrations in different soil fractions, separated by particle size, or diameter.  A total of 14 soil samples were evaluated, with each having 3 to 6 different particle-size fractions.  The particle sizes ranged from less than 63 microns to between 850 to 2000 microns.  Lead concentrations were plotted versus mid-range diameters.  Data for each of the 14 soil samples were approximately linear on a log-log plot.  Trend lines for each soil sample revealed strikingly similar slopes for all 14.  The slopes ranged from -0.59 to -0.25, with a mean of -0.37.  Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.75 to 0.999.  This relationship suggests that soil lead concentrations are nearly proportional to the diameter raised to the power -0.37.  Stated differently, soil lead concentrations within a given soil sample can be approximated as being inversely proportional to the cube-root of the particle diameter.

Innovative Recycling of Municipal Biosolids:  No Problem with Heavy Metals
Pauline V. Lindo, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Research and Development, 6001 W Pershing Road, Cicero, IL 60804, Tel: 708-588-4109, Fax: 708-780-6706, Email: pauline.lindo@mwrd.org
Thomas C. Granato, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Research and Development, 6001 W Pershing Road, Cicero, IL 60804, Tel: 708-588-4059, Fax: 708-780-6706, Email: thomas.granato@mwrd.org
Albert E. Cox, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Research and Development, 6001 W Pershing Road, Cicero, IL 60804, Tel: 708-588-4063, Fax: 708-780-6706, Email: albert.cox@mwrd.org

Biosolids are an economical and sustainable source of plant nutrients and an excellent soil conditioner, but they may contain variable quantities of heavy metals that may influence turf and environmental quality.  A field study was conducted (2002-2005) at the Hickory Hills Country Club, Hickory Hills, Illinois (IL) to evaluate the potential for Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb accumulation in soil and turf growing on a Markham silt loam fertilized once with 0 (unamended control, C), 201 (L), and 402 (H) Mg ha^-1 air-dried, exceptional-quality biosolids generated at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s (MWRD) Stickney Plant, IL.  The biosolids treatments were applied to each of two areas (shaded: S, and non-shaded: NS).  Forty plots, established on each area, were seeded to four individual turf species: Poa pratensis L. cvs. Arcadia and B2100, Festuca rubra L., and Lolium perenne L.  Trace metal concentrations were determined on digested soil and turf tissue samples and on Mehlich 3 soil extracts.  Results indicated that the biosolids rate of application had no significant effect on turf metal concentrations.  However, turf from the NS plots generally contained significantly higher but non-toxic levels of Ni and Pb (1.48 and 1.87 mg kg^-1) compared with the S plots (0.53 and 0.87 mg kg^-1 Ni and Pb, respectively).  Poa sp. contained slightly higher Ni (1.74 mg kg^-1) than Lolium and Festuca spp. (1.40 and 1.36 mg kg^-1, respectively).  Mehlich 3-extractable soil Ni concentrations increased with biosolids rate from 0.50 (C) in 2002 to 3.3 (H) mg kg^-1 in 2005, and Pb increased from 1.8 to 28 in the NS and from 2.5 to 29 mg kg^-1 in the S areas.  This study demonstrates that biosolids are adequate as a turf fertilizer when used as recommended, with minimal potential for heavy metal accumulation in turf tissue or soil.

Geo-REX^TM. Easy Quantitative Evaluation of Heavy Metals in the Soils and Paddy-Rice
Student Presenter
Kazuaki Nakagawa, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
Ryuji Takeda, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
Yuhei Wakabayashi, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
Koichiro Iwasa, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. ,2-2 Kamichoshi-cho, Kamitoba, Minami-ku, Kyoto, 601-8105, Japan, Tel: +81-75-662-8637, Fax: +81-75-662-8589
Satoshi Tamaki, Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. ,2-2 Kamichoshi-cho, Kamitoba, Minami-ku, Kyoto, 601-8105, Japan
Sadao Komemushi, Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
Akiyoshi Sawabe, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan, Tel: +81-742-43-7092, Fax: +81-742-43-1445, E-mail: sawabe@nara.kindai.ac.jp

Geo-REX^TM is a powerful tool for analyzing the heavy metals in soils and plants.  We developed our new micro cartridge type compact heavy metal measuring system "Geo-REX^TM " that did not use mercury at all to enable soil and plant analyses for on site and measured heavy metals of the whole soil or plant extracts.  As for this new instrument, the detection department fits into a microcartridge entirely.  After injected a 5ml of sample in a cartridge, it is automatic.  A new instrument can change a cartridge at every analysis.  Geo-REX^TM can measure noxious heavy metals, Pb, Cd, As, Cr (Ⅵ), Se, Hg, by exchange of a specific cartridge.

In this study, we compared the example which we experimented on using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) or Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) with our new easy heavy metal measuring system, Geo-REX^TM, based on voltammetry method.  As a result, as for the detection limit, 0.1ppb, the quantitative lower limit value were able to measure heavy metal of trace in 1ppb.  In addition, correlations of measurement with our new instrument and AAS or ICP-MS were good.  Our new micro cartridge type heavy metal measuring system, Geo-REX^TM proved to be a highly useful screening apparatus for on-site land pollution assessment and plant analysis.

Cd Accumulation of Phytolacca americana Hairy Root
Student Presenter
Ryuji Takeda, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
Kayo Minami, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
Masato Tomita, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
Sadao Komemushi, Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
Toshiyuki Wakatsuki, Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan
Akiyoshi Sawabe, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, 3327-204, Nakamachi, Nara, 631-8505, Japan, Tel: +81-742-43-7092, Fax: +81-742-43-1445, E-mail: sawabe@nara.kindai.ac.jp

Phytolacca americana is known as high accumulation plants such as Cd, Co, Mn and Zn.  The plant grew naturally in a bad environment bottom such as wasteland and the road side, and it has been used for Phytoremediation from being high biomass.  A hairy root is the plant disease that Agrobacterium rhizogenes causes.  A hairy root forms only a root, and quantity of biomass increases.  Therefore it is used for degradation of a large quantity of production and organic substance of a secondary metabolism material.

In this study, we used Agrobacterium rhizogenes MAFF03-01724 and tried an infection of a hairy root of Phytolacca americana and investigated heavy metal accumulation ability of a hairy root.

A. rhizogenes inoculated a leaf of native Phytolacca americana after disinfect.  The root began to appear in about 3 weeks.  We cut a root portion to confirm that it was a hairy root and we checked presence of Opine by paper electrophoresis.  Because mikimopine peculiar to A. rhizogenes MAFF03-01724 was detected by a separate root, it was recognized that it was a hairy root.  Here, we are investigating content of Cd in the hairy root incubated with culture media including Cd.

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