Ecocycles (E-Journal - European Ecocycles Society)
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Role of wastewater treatment plant in environmental cycling of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances
Full text linkThe role of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in environmental cycling of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) through aqueous effluent, sludge and air emission has been critically reviewed here. Understanding the role of WWTPs can provide better understanding of global cycling of persistent PFASs and assist in formulating relevant environmental policies. The review suggests that WWTP effluent is a major source of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in surface water. Land application of biosolids (treated sludge) has shown preferential bioaccumulation of short chain (<C7) PFAAs in various plant compartments, leading to possible contamination of the food cycle. Elevated air concentration (1.5 to 15 times) of ?PFASs have been reported at the aeration tanks on WWTP sites, compared to reference sites not contaminated with WWTP emission. The air emission of neutral PFASs has important implications considering the long-range transport and subsequent degradation of neutral compounds leading to the occurrence of recalcitrant PFAAs in pristine remote environments. Research gap exist in terms of fate of polyfluroalkyl compounds (neutral PFASs) during wastetwater treatment and in aquatic and terrestrial environment. Considering the wide range of commercially available PFASs, measuring only perfluorocarboxylic acid (PFCA) and perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) can lead to underestimation of the total PFAS load derived from WWTPs. Knowledge of the various pathways of PFAS from WWTPs to receiving environments, outlined in this study, can help in adopting best possible management practices to reduce the release of PFASs from WWTPs
Novel fungal consortium pretreatment of waste oat straw to enhance economical and efficient biohydrogen production
Full text linkBio-pretreatment using a fungal consortium to enhance the efficiency of lignocellulosic biohydrogen production was explored. A fungal consortium comprised of T. viride and P. chrysosporium as microbial inoculum was compared with untreated and single-species-inoculated samples. Fungal bio-pretreatment was carried out at atmospheric conditions with limited external energy input. The effectiveness of the pretreatment is evaluated according to its lignin removal and digestibility. Enhancement of biohydrogen production is observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Fungal consortium pretreatment effectively degraded oat straw lignin (by >47% in 7 days) leading to decomposition of cell-wall structure as revealed in SEM images, increasing biohydrogen yield. The hydrogen produced from the fungal consortium pretreated straw increased by 165% 6 days later, and was more than produced from either a single fungi species of T. viride or P. chrysosponium pretreated straw (94% and 106%, respectively). No inhibitory effect on hydrogen production was observed
Editable chemical structure files (sk2 and MDL mol) of pesticide active ingredients
Full text linkThis Dataset contains a long list of online, freely available sk2 and MDL mol files of a number of pesticide active ingredients for use by anyone interested (students, teachers, researchers, etc.). 
New technologies in agricultural biotechnology
Full text linkTechnologies that emerged during the last decade as new tools occasionally represent fundamentally new means of genome modification, which, in addition to the scientific novelty, faces legislators with new challenge by giving a new meaning to both the biochemical/molecular biological and legal meaning to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Emerging plant genetic technologies are categorized as zinc finger nuclease technology; oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis; cisgenesis and intragenesis; RNA-dependent DNA methylation by RNA interference; grafting on genetically modified rootstock; reverse breeding; agro-infiltration; and synthetic genomics. Although all these methods apply biotechnology processes to create new plant varieties, it is debated whether all result in GMOs according to the current legal definition. Official risk assessment of these technologies is a task of outstanding weight of the authority
Oenotourism and conservation: a holistic approach to special interest tourism from a cultural heritage perspective – the Azienda Agricola Model
Full text linkIn wine producing countries viticultural and oenological practices and traditions, trades and crafts, the built and written heritage, the history, social structures, economy, a number of intangible values and the viticultural landscape constitute the cultural heritage of a wine region. Thus, the touristic products of oenotourism are complex attractions with a substantial number of educational elements, such as on-site wine appreciation courses, organized wine excursions on well-known wine routes, wine festivals, international sommelier days or agro-tourism in wine estates where tourists may have the opportunity to participate in the harvest and learn more about the wine making process. The main target groups of wine-tourism consist of educated, mostly middle aged people with reasonably good economy and a clear intention to learn more about the culture and history of the country and its viticultural areas in an informal, entertaining way. An increasing number of vintners expand their agribusiness with a complete product structure such as grape seed oil, grappa, fruit juice, cheese, olive oil, food supplements produced from grapes, accommodation facilities from bed and breakfast to hotels and restaurants, creating herewith ideal conditions for tourism, often utilizing the network of completing, additional tourist attractions in the neighborhood. Special attention shall be paid to the organic viticulture and wine production based on the maintenance of ecological cycles in the vineyard, because it can be the basis of eco-wine tourism, and even wine-heritage tourism due to the revival of certain traditional cultivation methods, trades and crafts linked to the historical routes of the wine industry. In this study we analyze the main aspects of wine-heritage and the terroir as source for touristic product development and propose a model for micro-region based sustainable oenotourism and eco-oenotourism with increasing economic viability
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmosphere of the Baltic Sea Region
Full text linkThe paper presents a review of publications on the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the atmosphere of the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). It indicates the main emission sources of these substances, related to anthropogenic activity. These include incomplete combustion of fuels in engines on land and from marine transportation, as well as the burning of coal in the community sector. High PAH concentrations in the air are also related to increased industrial activity in urban areas. In the Baltic Sea Region, Germany and Poland have been determined to be responsible for the greatest proportion of PAH emissions. However, the highest number of exceedances of the accepted annual norm for benzo(a)pyrene concentrations was recorded in Poland
Effects of foliar biofertilization on the quality parameters of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.)
Full text linkNowadays the main task of scientists is to find natural ways of improving plant productivity that lead to environmentally friendly agriculture. Biofertilizers have a great potential to achieve this aim but unfortunately there is little information about its application in fruit growing mostly in Hungary. For this reason, a foliar nutrition experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of two biofertilizers (an algae product and a biostimulator, containing amino acids) on leaf nutrient concentration and quality parameters of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) fruits. The study was conducted in 2014 at Újfehértó in East Hungary in a 14 year-old organic apple plantation on cv. ’Remo’. Treatments (application time and doses) were adjusted to the phenological phases of apple. Effect of treatments was monitored by soil and leaf analysis, apple quality measurements and field observations. Usage of biofertilizers resulted greener and healthier leaves. Treatments had no significant effect on leaf N, P, Mg and micronutrients but using algae suspension increased leaf K and Ca content significantly
Further investigations of aquaponics using brackish water resources of the Negev desert
Full text linkOutdoor, floating raft aquaponic systems using the brackish waters of the Negev Desert in Israel and a fresh water control are described. 7 m2 of vegetables and herbs were grown in each recirculating system with Tilapia sp. fish. Plant growth was excellent for species such as celery, Swiss chard, spring onions and watercress, and fish health and growth were good. Growth rates for fish were, however, low, with an upper limit of 1.1 g per day and would have increased with ad libitum feeding. Water quality was well controlled, and iron chelate was added to correct chlorosis problems. Leafy growth was very good, but fruiting could be improved with the addition of potassium (K) and other micronutrients