Basic properties of fly ash samples from different urban waste combustion facilities in China were analyzed using as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD). The leaching toxicity procedure and some factors influencing heavy metals distribution in fly ash were further investigated. Experimental results indicate that the fly ash structures are comple...

The studies were carried out on heavy metal bioavailability and leachability during water hyacinth composting mixed with cattle manure, sawdust and natural zeolite. The water hyacinth, cattle manure and sawdust were taken in the 6:3:1 ratio with 5, 10 and 15% natural zeolite and composted for 30 days. The concentrations of nutrients and total heavy metals were increased during the process. Due ...

Heavy metals such as Cu and Zn are essential for normal plant growth, although elevated concentrations of both essential and non-essential metals can result in growth inhibition and toxicity symptoms. Plants possess a range of potential cellular mechanisms that may be involved in the detoxification of heavy metals and thus tolerance to metal stress. These include roles for the following: for my...

Heavy metal pollution of soil is becoming one of the most severe environmental hazards and has received great attention in the last few years because of its negative impact on human health and agriculture. Economically, excessive accumulation of heavy metals is most toxic to crop plants and results in decreased soil microbial activity, soil fertility and yield losses (McGrath et al., 1995). Var...

Several species from the Brassica genus are very important agricultural crops in different parts of the world and are also known to be heavy metal accumulators. There have been a large number of studies regarding the tolerance, uptake and defense mechanism in several of these species, notably Brassica juncea and B. napus, against the stress induced by heavy metals. Numerous studies have also be...

Mine tailings from an abandoned metal mine in Korea contained high concentrations of arsenic (As) and heavy metals [e.g., As: 67,336, Fe: 137,180, Cu: 764, Pb: 3,572, and Zn: 12,420 (mg/kg)]. US EPA method 6010 was an effective method for analyzing total arsenic and heavy metals concentrations. Arsenic in the mine tailings showed a high residual fraction of 89% by a sequential extraction. In To...

From flora of North West of Iran, four contrasting species in term of frequency and coverage on heavy metal rich soils were selected to study physiological mechanisms for different tolerance of Zn and Cu toxicity in a hydroponic culture experiment. For study of Zn toxicity, Dactylis glomerata and Secale monatum and for Cu, Cichorium intybus and Astragalus echinops were selected. A clear differe...

A The potential ecological effects of rising levels of heavy metals concentrations in the environment are of great concern due to their highly bioaccumulative nature, persistent behavior and higher toxicity. These chemicals biomagnify in the food chain and impose various toxic effects in aquatic organisms. Molluscs reflect the higher degree of environmental contamination by heavy metals and are...