Articles tagged with Soil Pollution
A new method uses high-powered lasers to directly break down pollutants in contaminated soil, showing promise as a cheaper and more efficient decontamination technique. The process heats up the pollutant locally, fragmenting it into smaller, safer molecules.
Researchers from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia discovered that two genes from baker's yeast can increase plant resistance to a broad range of toxic substances, enabling their growth in contaminated soils. Plants carrying the yeast genes grew significantly better than wild-type plants in contaminated soils.
Researchers develop process to mix chicken droppings with Mexican sunflower to produce biogas, which can power generators and used as fertilizer. The method produces more than 3 kg of biogas from 8 kg of poultry waste and sunflowers, reducing environmental pollution.
Researchers show that fungal hyphae provide an infrastructure for bacterial horizontal gene transfer, allowing bacteria to adapt better to different environmental conditions and access new food sources. Soils with high fungal content are likely better equipped to break down pollutants.
A new study by Jena University researchers finds that airport de-icing chemicals can decrease oxygen content in soils and groundwater, leading to dramatic pollution and ecosystem damage. The team suggests using natural self-cleaning capacities of the soil, controlling oxygen levels, or alternative substances for pollutant degradation.
A new study highlights the need for clear information on managing contaminants in urban soils to protect consumers and gardeners. Researchers found that gardeners generally recognize the importance of knowing a site's prior uses but lack expertise to determine accurately potential contaminants.
A new EU project has developed non-invasive methods for characterizing contaminated sites, reducing the need for costly sampling and monitoring. These methods, including geophysical measurements and vegetation analysis, enable more accurate detection of pollution and efficient rehabilitation of megasites in Europe.
A team of experts developed a high-tech, portable device to test soil for carcinogenic pollutants, providing fast and accurate results. The Safe Soil Tester can detect toxins in as little as 12 minutes, offering significant cost savings over traditional lab testing.
A Lithuanian company, Biocentras, has developed a three-stage process that transforms contaminated soil into usable land for growing plants. The process uses biosurfactant and micro-organisms to break down oil pollutants, making it an efficient and natural solution.
Research in particle diffusion reveals that periodic constrictions slow down drift and diffusion under weak driving forces. In contrast, strong driving forces induce intermittent transitions between compartments, increasing the diffusion coefficient.
Researchers have identified the enzyme that produces phytate, a naturally-occurring phosphate deposit found in seeds, beans, and tubers of many crops. This breakthrough has significant implications for reducing phytate-related pollution and improving animal feed efficiency.
Scientists analyzed over 300 papers to establish relationships between buffer design features and pollutant removal efficacy. The study found that buffers with trees have higher nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficacy than those with grasses or mixtures of grasses and trees.
The Optical Soil Dipstick (OSD) measures soil health through a small hole in the surface of the earth, providing information on pollution, water needs and crop condition. The device could help solve the mystery of global warming's effects on farming and water resources.
Researchers found that an asexual nematode adapted rapidly to soil contamination, living longer and laying more eggs in polluted conditions. The study highlights the importance of considering various research disciplines for understanding stress responses and developing protection strategies.
Researchers found that transgenic Indian mustard plants absorbed two to four times more selenium from contaminated soil than their wild-type counterparts, outperforming them in the field trial. The study suggests using phytoremediation with these plants could be a viable alternative for cleaning up polluted soil at a lower cost.
Researchers find that pumpkins are effective in removing DDT and other pollutants from contaminated soils through phytoremediation. The study suggests a potential inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods of soil cleanup.
A new modeling approach predicts how long pollutants will stay in soil by using a method developed by medicinal chemists to understand chemical interactions with natural organic matter. This tool could help environmental regulators and cleanup consultants make informed decisions about hazardous contaminant persistence and migration.
Researchers are using genetically engineered cottonwood trees to remove hazardous materials from contaminated soil. The project aims to reduce mercury levels in the soil by twofold within 18 months through a process called phytoremediation.
A 17-year study published by Dartmouth College researchers confirms that lead in forests in the Northeast moves very slowly through the soil. The study found that lead applied to a mountain forest in Vermont had only moved down into the soil about seven centimeters, and will likely move even slower due to denser soil.
New guidelines published in Agronomy Journal provide a standardized approach to soil surveying and mapping, allowing farmers to make data-driven decisions. The technology is expected to revolutionize the agricultural industry within the next one to two decades.
A geophysicist has developed a cost-effective method for finding underground contaminants by measuring voltage between metal spikes inserted into the ground. The technique shows promise in detecting organic compounds like cancer-causing substances that don't conduct electricity, potentially streamlining remediation processes.
A Johns Hopkins University researcher is creating reliable predictions about how contamination will spread through soil, enabling public officials to charge equitable pollution impact fees. This information can also benefit private builders by deciding whether building on a particular site will be too costly due to pollution impact fees.