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Phytotechnologies

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Saved by Ian Balcom (Dr B.)
on September 19, 2012 at 7:48:12 am
 


 

Berlin World Congress Session Brief: Risk Assessment, Pest Management and Phytoremediation

 

Gertie Arts, Alterra Wageningen University and Research Centre, Silvia Mohr, German Federal Environment Agency and Udo Hommen, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology

During the 6th SETAC World Congress in Berlin, the session “Plants and Chemicals in the Environment” was organized by the SETAC Aquatic Macrophyte Ecotoxicology Group (AMEG). Plants are key components of ecosystems. By performing photosynthesis, they produce O2 and organic material. Plants therefore form the basis of many aquatic and terrestrial food webs. The session focused on how plants interact with chemicals. The current risk assessments for chemicals consider risks for aquatic primary producers based on standard tests with algae and free-floating Lemna species. Contrary to this, sediment-rooted aquatic macrophytes with lower growth rates are not tested for standard risk assessments. Besides the fact that chemicals can affect plants, plants can also accumulate and biodegrade chemicals and thus contribute to lowered exposure concentrations. This ability of plants is potentially useful for phytoremediation and mitigation purposes. Both aspects were covered by this session. Six platform presentations focused on risk assessment and phytoremediation and also addressed terrestrial and marine plants besides aquatic ones. The poster corner covered ecotoxicology, test development and phytoremediation.

Session Highlights
Effects of chemicals on plants may be detected in the laboratory; however, field trials are very important for validation of approaches to extrapolate effects observed in the laboratory to the population and ecosystem level in the field. In a terrestrial field study, the buttercup Ranunculus acris was an important indicator plant for detecting herbicidal drift effects. The ability of plants to flower was the most sensitive endpoint for this species. Another study showed that the effects of a herbicide mixture in multispecies tests with several aquatic macrophytes were predictable from effects observed in single-species tests. Species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) for aquatic macrophytes showed that for the compounds considered, the standard test species in risk assessment—including the Eurasian water milfoil Myriophyllum spicatum—are protective for the effects on other aquatic macrophyte species. By combining algae and aquatic macrophyte data, the method is applicable even with low availability of macrophyte tests. As another higher-tier tool for aquatic macrophyte risk assessment, the first steps in modeling are currently being undertaken. A toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic model was presented for calculating the effects of pesticides on Myriophyllum spicatum considering the internal concentration in the plants. The study showed that the modeled data were in good agreement with laboratory test results. The model will be further refined. A new and important topic was the finding of intracellular uptake of hydrophobic substances in aquatic macrophytes. This research showed that macrophytes indeed bioconcentrate hydrophobic substances and thus can be used for phytoremediation. A last presentation discussed the application of marine plants in constructed wetlands to remediate nutrient-rich waste water from aquaculture facilities.

The poster corner addressed some topics in addition to the main platform session. The potential allelochemical influence of Myriophyllum was discussed. Several posters presented test designs for species that have recently been proposed as new regulatory test species, i.e. Myriophyllum species and the reed mannagrass, Glyceria maxima. Also several posters addressed phytoremediation by plants. Aquatic macrophytes not only adsorb chemicals but they also influence their chemical environment, for example, by changing the pH and O2 conditions and producing dissolved organic carbon. This might have effects on the fate of chemicals. Also the rhizosphere might be important for both aquatic and terrestrial plants to contribute to adsorption and degradation and therefore to phytoremediation.

Take-home Message
In current risk assessment schemes, aquatic macrophytes are being addressed more and more. New regulatory species have been proposed and the development of laboratory tests and guidelines is in process. Higher-tier risk assessment for terrestrial and aquatic plants receives more attention and effects on the higher levels of populations and ecosystems are studied and discussed. However, guidance on how to perform such tests is still needed. Phytoremediation is a promising field in which aquatic and terrestrial plants might help to decrease environmental concentrations of toxicants.

Author's contact information:gertie.arts@wur.nl, silvia.mohr@uba.de, udo.Hommen@ime.fraunhofer.de


 

Window Farming?

http://our.windowfarms.org/


Window Farms

parts_list.pdf

 


For a great overview of what phytoremediation is see:

http://pss.uvm.edu/pss269/pdfs/1-Review_phytoremediation.pdf


 

 

International Journal of Phytoremediation

 

http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=journal&issn=1522-6514

Contact me for information on a specific article.

 

 


Phytoremediation Research within the Department of Defense

 

 

http://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/pls/erdcpub/docs/erdc/docs/Phytoremediation.pdf

 


 

Will Detroit use vacant lots to grow weeds for biofuel?

 

By Tyler Falk | April 26, 2011, 5:09 PM PDT

With Detroit’s population at a 100-year low, and the city planning to consolidate neighborhoods, there’s no shortage of vacant lots or ideas about what to do with them. Add another idea to the list: growing weeds for biofuel.

Jim Padilla Jr., the owner of The Power Alternative, a biofuel refinery based in Michigan sees potential in growing a weed called pennycress on Detroit’s vacant land to produce biodiesel,Midwest Energy News reports. But it’s not just the benefit of biodiesel that makes the idea attractive, there could be other benefits.

Padilla said the crops could be grown on vacant land in downtown Detroit and would serve a dual purpose — producing high-quality biodiesel and remediating land contaminated with heavy metals.

Pennycress naturally absorbs heavy metals as it grows, Padilla says, through a process known as phytoremediation. Because Detroit was once home to several lead smelters, much of the vacant land is contaminated. By growing pennycress for biodiesel, over time the sites would be cleaned up.

It sure beats the alternative.

“The alternative is to dig and haul (the contaminated soil) and move it somewhere else,” he said. “That cost is about $250,000 per acre. You can spend it there or you can phytoremediate, create jobs, clean it up, make biomass for power, and produce biodiesel.”

To explore the possibilities, Padilla has partnered with local organizations, the University of Detroit-Mercy and Michigan State University, which was just awarded $2.9 million for biofuels research by the U.S. Department if Agriculture.

It’s a worthy idea, to be sure. Any project that’s a net-gain for the struggling city should be considered. But is there really enough vacant land to make the project worthwhile? Or would the land be better served to continue growing the city’s local agriculture scene? What about using the land for other renewable energy projects?

Do you think that using the vacant lots to produce biofuel is the best use of the land?

Photo: Andrew Jameson/Wikimedia Commons

 

 


 

Europe's Largest and Newest Green Living Wall is in London

by Bonnie Alter, London  on 04.18.11

 

lobby view photo
Photo: B. Alter

It's been called Europe's largest and newest green wall. Installed in a newly renovatedhotel in January makes it new and as for large, it stretches from the second to eleventh floor on the outside of the building.

Looking up from the reception area in the hotel, through the glass, it is a lovely and healthy looking green wall.

 

 

 

mint hotel photo
Photo: building.co.uk

Created by a green wall specialist, a total of 180,000 evergreen plants have been inserted into real soil. Forty different species have been selected based on the orientation. Thrifts and red Campion has been used for the south facing element of the wall while shade loving plants including ferns have been used on the north side. Plants include Liriope Muscari, Vinca Minor, Heuchera and bulbs such as snowdrops for seasonal colour.

frosts wall photo
Photo: frosts landscape

The wall is made up of 4,100 planting modules which each contain 45 planted cells which are 70mm deep. The plants were grown off-site for 6 months before the modules were fixed to the building. An automatic irrigation system is built into the wall and supplies a combination of water and liquid fertiliser to keep the plants healthy.Apparently, "if anything goes wrong with the irrigation system a text message is automatically sent to the landscape company so they can take corrective action before any damage is done."

There is also a green roof at the top of the hotel which is a combination of Sedum and Wildflower plugs. The specialists have donated a number of Bee Walls that will be situated on the roof.

Although it is not as exciting or innovative as some, it is a welcome addition to the growing numbers of green walls in the country.

 


 

 

 

ANDREA: Plant-based Air Purifier 

 

ANDREA: Plant-based Air Purifier (White)

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002P8NZ1Q/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_item

 

Interesting idea, poor execution. Probably not worth the price. 

 


Phytoremediation with native plants

SpiralingRootsZumberge.pdf

 

 

 


International Journal of Phytoremediation

 

 


 

United Nations Environment Programme

http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/publications/freshwater/fms7/index.asp

 


Division of Technology, Industry and Econo

Phytotechnologies A Technical Approach in Environmental Management


Introduction - An Ecosystem's Perspective > C. Phytotechnology

Sunset over riverbank  

The term phytotechnologydescribes the application of science and engineering to study problems and provide solutions involving plants. Although the term is not widely used, it is useful in promoting a broader understanding of the importance of plants and their beneficial role within both societal and natural systems. Underlying this concept is the use of plants as living technologiesto help address environmental challenges. Phytotechnology applications employ ecological engineering principles and are considered to be ecotechnologies. Hence phytotechnologies are based on the science of ecology and consider the ecosystem as an integral component of human and societal interventions involving the natural environment. A related term is biotechnology, which refers to the application of science and engineering to study problems and provide solutions involving living beings. The term biotechnology can also refer to the manipulation of the genetic structure of cells to produce modified organisms with an augmented capacity to perform certain functions. Table 3 summarizes these definitions. Table 3: Defining Phytotechnology

Phytotechnologies
Sponsored by: Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council

eco = living systems, ecological TECHNOLOGY = the application of science and engineering to study problems and provide solutions ecotechnology = the application of science and engineering to study problems and provide solutions involving ecological systems
PHYTO = plant, flora, vegetation PHYTOTECHNOLOGY= the application of science and engineering to study problems and provide solutions involving plants
bio = life, of living beings, biological biotechnology = the application of science and engineering to study problems and provide solutions involving living beings

Just as there are many different applications of biotechnology, there are also many different applications of phytotechnology. Some of these applications are well established in sectors such as medicine, agriculture and forestry to name a few. There are also many important environmentally related applications. As shown in Table 4, the environmentally beneficial applications of phytotechnologies can generally be divided into five categories: augmenting the adaptive capacity of natural systems to moderate the impacts of human activities; preventing pollutant releases and environmental degradation; controlling pollutant releases and environmental processes to minimize environmental degradation; remediation and restoration of degraded ecosystems; and incorporating indicators of ecosystem health into monitoring and assessment strategies. The integrated ecosystems management component of this focuses on the use of phytotechnologies to augment the capacity of natural systems to absorb impacts. The prevention component involves the use of phytotechnologies to avoid the production and release of environmentally hazardous substances and/or the modification of human activities to minimize damage to the environment; this can include product substitution or the redesign of production processes. The control component addresses chronic releases of pollutants and the application of phytotechnologies to control and render these substances harmless before they enter the environment. The remediation and restoration component embodies phytotechnologies and methods designed to recuperate and improve ecosystems that have declined due to naturally induced or anthropogenic effects. The monitoring and assessment component involves the use of phytotechnologies to monitor and assess the condition of the environment, including releases of pollutants and other natural or anthropogenic materials of a harmful nature. Table 4: Environmentally Beneficial Applications of Phytotechnologies Environmentally Beneficial Applications of Phytotechnologies Some specific examples of phytotechnology applications include:

The use of plants to reduce or solve pollution problems that otherwise would be more harmful to other ecosystems. An example is the use of wetlands for wastewater treatment.
The replication of ecosystems and plant communities to reduce or solve a pollution problem. Examples are constructed ecosystems such as ponds and wetlands for treatment of wastewater or diffuse pollution sources.
The use of plants to facilitate the recovery of ecosystems after significant disturbances. Examples are coal mine reclamation and the restoration of lakes and rivers.
The increased use of plants as sinks for carbon dioxide to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Examples of this are reforestation and afforestation.
The use of plants to augment the natural capacity of urban areas to mitigate pollution impacts and moderate energy extremes. An example is the use of rooftop vegetation, or “ greenroofs”. More information and examples about the use and applications of phytotechnology is presented in Section 3.

 

 

 


Phytotechnologies is a set of technologies using plants to remediate or contain contaminants in soil, groundwater, surface water, or sediments. These technologies have become attractive alternatives to conventional cleanup technologies due to relatively low capital costs and the inherently aesthetic nature of planted sites.

 

 

 

http://www.clu-in.org/conf/itrc/phyto/resource.htm

 


 

 

 

   
   
   

Phytoremediation Online Decision Tree Document

 


 

 

Introduction to Phytoremediation

 

introphyto.pdf

 

 


 

 

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