[Migration and Transformation of Mercury in Unsubmerged Soil and Sediment at One Typical Forest Reservoir in Southwest China].

Mercury (Hg) has been regarded as a global pollutant due to its volatility and toxicity. The sediment in the reservoirs or lakes is an important compartment for Hg methylation and it has also been considered as a sensitive area of Hg. In this study, a typical forest reservoir surrounding by evergreen broad-leaved forest in Chongqing of southwest China was selected to investigate the migration and transformation of Hg in unsubmerged soil and sediment. The unsubmerged soil and sediment were also replaced to each other to observe the dynamics of THg and TMeHg concentrations in equilibrium processes. The results were as follows:① The THg and TMeHg mean concentrations in Dahonghai reservoir water were (1.89±0.72) ng·L-1 and (0.13±0.04) ng·L-1, respectively, which were lower than the first class water quality standards in environmental quality standard of China and other reservoirs or lakes, implying that this study area did not affect by Hg pollution. Meanwhile, the THg and TMeHg mean concentrations in unsubmerged soil and sediment were also lower than those in other reservoirs or lakes. ② Seasonal variations of THg and TMeHg concentrations in reservoir water and soil were both observed higher in warm seasons, and more obvious variations occurred for TMeHg which probably influenced by meteorological parameters, such as, temperature and rainfall. ③Compared with unsubmerged soil, the THg and TMeHg mean concentrations in sediment were both elevated, suggesting the sediment was an important sink of Hg. While, the sediment would be a source of Hg (especially TMeHg) with a high THg and TMeHg level. ④ The THg and TMeHg mean concentrations in unsubmerged soil and sediment after situ replacement were equilibrated with ambient soil in a short time (one or two months), implying the hydro-fluctuation belt of reservoir promoting the geochemical cycle of Hg.

[Effect of Sewage Sludge Compost Products Application on Total Mercury and Methylmercury in Soil and Plants].

Two different sludge composting products (with and without biochar) were applied in field to study the variations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in soil and plants,as well as their migration in the soil-plant system and accumulation ability in plants during the sludge compost land use process.The results indicated that the concentrations THg and MeHg in soil increased after applying sewage sludge compost products,while the THg level was still lower than the secondary standard of national soil environmental quality.Biochar was speculated to probably promote the soil mercury methylation with lower MeHg/THg ratios in different soil treatments.THg concentrations in mature plants were significantly lower than those in seedling stage,but MeHg levels were higher than those in seedling stage.An obvious influence of composting on MeHg enrichment in plants was observed,and this similar effect was not found for THg enrichment.MeHg concentration in the soils applied with biochar compost was significantly higher than that without applying biochar compost soil,while MeHg in plant presented a contrary trend with higher level observed in no-biochar compost soil,suggesting that the addition of biochar could be in favour of soil MeHg formation and inhibit the MeHg accumulation in plants by influencing its migration.Since a strong MeHg accumulation ability with BCF of 1.24-14.63 was present in plant,the mercury ecological risk in soil environment caused by long-term fertilizing should be noticed.

[Mercury Release Flux and Its Influencing Factors Under Four Typical Vegetation Covers at Jinyun Mountain, Chongqing].

In order to reveal the characteristics of mercury release flux and exchange across the soil/atmosphere interface under different vegetation cover types, four of these types (evergreen broad-leaved forest, bamboo forest, shrub, and grassland) were chosen as research samples at Jinyun Mountain National Nature Reserve, Chongqing, Continuous monitoring of the different vegetation covers, soil/atmosphere interface, and mercury release flux was conducted, at the same time as the effects of environmental factors were also considered. Results show that the annual average Hg emission flux for the four kinds of forest cover have obvious differences. The overall emission performance of Hg is ranked as:bamboo forest[17.77 ng·(m2·h)-1] > grassland[17.58 ng·(m2·h)-1] > shrubbery[16.87 ng·(m2·h)-1] > evergreen broad-leaved forest[14.32 ng·(m2·h)-1]. There are obviously seasonal differences between Hg emission and the four kinds of forested stands in Jinyun mountain and there are significant differences among the different forests. These differences mainly reflect that emissions in the warm season are higher than in the cold season. There is also an obvious diurnal variation of soil mercury release flux from different forested stands in Jinyun Mountain. Meteorological factors of light intensity, air temperature, soil temperature, and relative humidity also effects the soil/air interface meaning that mercury flux is not the same across land cover types. Temperature is the main factor affecting evergreen broad-leaved forest, shrub forests, and bamboo forests. Light intensity is the main influencing factor for grasslands.

[Effect of Soil and Dominant Plants on Mercury Speciation in Soil and Water System of Water-Level-Fluctuation Zone in the Three Gorges Area].

Plentiful plants in the water-level-fluctuation-zone (WLFZ) of Three Gorges Reservoir ( TGR) grow vigorously during the non-flooded period, especially the herbaceous ones. Then, the WLFZ is submerged gradually from the end of September. Soil-plant system that under a long time flooded condition may change the form of mercury, thus resulting in a secondary pollution of the water environment in TGR. To understand the characteristics of mercury species in soils and water after submerged, four kinds of typical plants from TGR were tested in the lab under submerged condition. The results indicated that the plants could promote the formation of soil methylmercury ( MeHg) , and had a significant effect on the different forms of mercury concentrations of the overlying water during inundation. Cynodon dactylon as the dominant species in WLFZ, because of its higher content of total mercury ( THg ) and methylmercury, the effect on MeHg and the other forms of mercury in the soil and the overlying water system was obvious. After 90 days, the soil MeHg level was the highest in Cynodon dactylon & soil & water treatment (B1) [(1,135.86 ± 113.84) ng · kg⁻¹]. It was approximately 2 times less than that of the soil MeHg in soil & water treatment (CK2) . The variation characteristics of total mercury (THg), reactive mercury (RHg) , dissolved mercury (DHg), total methylmercury (TMeHg) and dissolved methylmercury (DMeHg) of overlying water all showed a parabolic shape with a peak skewed to the left, and the peak was reached on the 30th day. Meanwhile, TMeHg, THg and DHg in B1 treatment were the highest, which were (2.88 ± 0.06), (40.29 · 2.42) and (35.51 · 3.77) ng · L⁻¹ respectively, and TMeHg and THg in the overlying water were mainly in the form of dissolved state. Therefore, it could be inferred that the water consumption of the Three Gorges reservoir would increase the mercury pollution load of the reservoir.

[Dynamic Characteristics of Base Cations During Wet Deposition in Evergreen Broad-leaf Forest Ecosystem].

Based on field tests and laboratory experiments, effects of precipitation, throughfall, litterfall, and groundwater runoff of the ever-green broad-leaf forest on the dynamic characteristics of base cations in Simian Mountain were investigated from September 2012 to August 2013. The results showed that the rainfall of Simian Mountain was apparently acidic, with average pH of 4.90 and maximum pH of 5.14. The soil and canopies could increase pH of precipitation, with soils having the maximum increment, followed by the forest canopy. Forest canopy only had the function of interception on Na⁺. And precipitation could leach out Ca2⁺, Mg2⁺ and K⁺ of the canopies. Moreover, the degradation of litter was probably the main reason for the increase of base cations concentrations in the surface litter water. The litter water leached Ca2⁺, Mg2⁺ and Na⁺ of the forest soil through downward infiltration. The total retention rates of Ca²âº, Mg²âº, Na⁺ and K⁺ were 33.82%, -7.06%, 74.36% and 42.87%, respectively. Ca²âº, Na⁺, K⁺ were found to be reserved in the forest ecosystem, and the highest interception rate was found for Na⁺.

IL-1beta signals through the EGF receptor and activates Egr-1 through MMP-ADAM.

The immediate-early gene Egr-1 controls the inducible expression of many genes implicated in the pathogenesis of a range of vascular disorders, yet our understanding of the mechanisms controlling the rapid expression of this prototypic zinc finger transcription factor is poor. Here we show that Egr-1 expression induced by IL-1beta is dependent on metalloproteinases (MMP) and a disintegrin and a metalloproteinase (ADAM). Pharmacologic MMP/ADAM inhibitors and siRNA knockdown prevent IL-1beta induction of Egr-1. Further, IL-1beta activates Egr-1 via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This is blocked by EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibition and EGFR knockdown. IL-1beta induction of Egr-1 expression is reduced in murine embryonic fibroblasts (mEFs) deficient in ADAM17 despite unbiased expression of EGFR and IL-1RI in ADAM17-deficient and wild-type mEFs. Finally, we show that IL-1beta-inducible wound repair after mechanical injury requires both EGFR and MMP/ADAM. This study reports for the first time that Egr-1 induction by IL-1beta involves EGFR and MMP/ADAM-dependent EGFR phosphorylation.