Accumulation of perchlorate in aquatic and terrestrial plants at a field scale

Applications of Chemically Modified Clay Minerals and Clays to Water Purification and Slow Release Formulations of Herbicides

This review deals with modification of montmorillonite and other clay-minerals and clays by interacting them with organic cations, for producing slow release formulations of herbicides, and efficient removal of pollutants from water by filtration. Elaboration is on incorporating initially the organic cations in micelles and liposomes, then producing complexes denoted micelle- or liposome-clay nano-particles. The material characteristics (XRD, Freeze-fracture electron microscopy, adsorption) of the micelle– or liposome–clay complexes are different from those of a complex of the same composition (organo-clay), which is formed by interaction of monomers of the surfactant with the clay-mineral, or clay. The resulting complexes have a large surface area per weight; they include large hydrophobic parts and (in many cases) have excess of a positive charge. The organo-clays formed by preadsorbing organic cations with long alkyl chains were also addressed for adsorption and slow release of herbicides. Another examined approach includes “adsorptive” clays modified by small quaternary cations, in which the adsorbed organic cation may open the clay layers, and consequently yield a high exposure of the siloxane surface for adsorption of organic compounds. Small scale and field experiments demonstrated that slow release formulations of herbicides prepared by the new complexes enabled reduced contamination of ground water due to leaching, and exhibited enhanced herbicidal activity. Pollutants removed efficiently from water by the new complexes include (i) hydrophobic and anionic organic molecules, such as herbicides, dissolved organic matter; pharmaceuticals, such as antibiotics and non-steroidal drugs; (ii) inorganic anions, e.g., perchlorate and (iii) microorganisms, such as bacteria, including cyanobacteria (and their toxins). Model calculations of adsorption and kinetics of filtration, and estimation of capacities accompany the survey of results and their discussion.

Spatio-temporal distribution of perchlorate and its toxicity in Hydrilla verticillata

The spatio-temporal distribution of perchlorate in water sources around an ammonium perchlorate production unit and its toxicity response on a dominant aquatic plant, Hydrilla verticillata are reported in this study. Samples (n=453) from ground water (open well) and surface water sources within 5km from the production unit over a period of 12 months (2014, June - 2015, May) were screened for ClO₄^-. During the period, ClO₄^-concentration in ground water samples close to the production unit increased to >40,000μg/L, and ClO₄^- was detected at 1740μg/L in well water 1.6km away from the production unit. A community pond in the area also showed an increase in ClO₄^- level up to 29,000μg/L. In all water sources, ClO₄^- level was maximum during the rainy season (July, monsoon). A natural degradation of ClO₄^- was not observed in the area as evident from its persistent level and spreading to more areas. H. verticillata, the dominant vegetation in the pond exhibited severe toxic response like massive decay and loss of photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll and carotene due to ClO₄^- exposure. The plant accumulated ClO₄^- up to 60^±0.8mg/kg wet weight with a Bio-Concentration Factor 2.06±0.005. This is the first report on spatio-temporal distribution of ClO₄^- at higher levels in a natural environment and its toxicity response to plants under natural condition.

Occurrence of perchlorate in groundwater, paired farmland soil, lettuce, and rhizosphere soil from Chengdu, China

A total of 28 groundwater, paired farmland soil, lettuce, and its rhizosphere soil samples were collected from Chengdu, China to detect perchlorate levels and to evaluate the relationships of perchlorate concentrations among these matrices. The perchlorate concentrations in the groundwater, farmland soil, lettuce, and rhizosphere soil samples ranged from below detection limit to 60.2 μg L-1, from below detection limit to 249 μg kg-1 dry weight (dw), from 2.07 to 1010 μg kg-1 wet weight, and from below detection limit to 314 μg kg-1 dw, respectively. Significant correlation was found in the perchlorate levels among the farmland soil, lettuce, and rhizosphere soil, suggesting that they have common pollution sources, or perchlorate might transfer from farmland soil-rhizosphere soil-plant. However, there is no significant correlation between groundwater and the other three matrices, indicating that infiltration from perchlorate contaminated farmland soil was not the predominant source for groundwater pollution in Chengdu. The perchlorate concentrations in the farmland soil and lettuce samples were significantly higher than those in the rhizosphere soil, primarily due to uptake of perchlorate through the rhizosphere micro-environment by lettuce, or accelerated degradation by rhizospheric microorganisms, which contributed more needs further investigation.

Environmental impacts of perchlorate with special reference to fireworks--a review

Perchlorate is an inorganic anion that is used in solid rocket propellants, fireworks, munitions, signal flares, etc. The use of fireworks is identified as one of the main contributors in the increasing environmental perchlorate contamination. Although fireworks are displayed for entertainment, its environmental costs are dire. Perchlorates are also emerging as potent thyroid disruptors, and they have an impact on the ecology too. Many studies have shown that perchlorate contaminates the groundwater and the surface water, especially in the vicinity of fireworks manufacturing sites and fireworks display sites. The health and ecological impacts of perchlorate released in fireworks are yet to be fully assessed. This paper reviews fireworks as a source of perchlorate contamination and its expected adverse impacts.

Urinary perchlorate exposure and risk in women of reproductive age in a fireworks production area of China

Perchlorate is used widely in fireworks, and, if ingested, it has the potential to disrupt thyroid function. The concentrations of perchlorate in water and soil samples and in urine samples of women of reproductive age from Liuyang, the largest fireworks production area in China, were investigated. The results showed that the average perchlorate concentrations in groundwater, surface water, farmland soil, and urine samples of women from the fireworks production area were significantly greater than those from the control area. The health risk of perchlorate ingested through drinking water was assessed based on the mode recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The values of hazard quotient of river water and groundwater in the fireworks production area were much greater than the safe level (=1), which indicates that adverse health effects may result from perchlorate when these sources of water are used as drinking water. These results indicated that the environment of the fireworks production area has been polluted by perchlorate and that residents were and are facing greater exposure doses of perchlorate. Fireworks production enterprises may be a major source of perchlorate contamination.

High ozone increases soil perchlorate but does not affect foliar perchlorate content

Ozone (O) is implicated in the natural source inventory of ClO, a hydrophilic salt that migrates to groundwater and interferes with the uptake of iodide in mammals, including humans. Tropospheric O is elevated in many urban and some rural areas in the United States and globally. We previously showed that controlled O exposure at near-ambient concentrations (up to 114 nL L, 12-h mean) did not increase foliar ClO. Under laboratory conditions, O has been shown to oxidize Cl to ClO. Plant tissues contain Cl and exhibit responses to O invoking redox reactions. As higher levels of O are associated with stratospheric incursion and with developing megacities, we have hypothesized that exposure of vegetation to such elevated O may increase foliar ClO. This would contribute to ClO in environments without obvious point sources. At these high O concentrations (up to 204 nL L, 12-h mean; 320 nL L maximum), we demonstrated an increase in the ClO concentration in surface soil that was linearly related to the O concentration. There was no relationship of foliar ClO with O exposure or dose (stomatal uptake). Accumulation of ClO varied among species at low O, but this was not related to soil surface ClO or to foliar ClO concentrations following exposure to O. These data extend our previous conclusions to the highest levels of plausible O exposure, that tropospheric O contributes to environmental ClO through interaction with the soil but not through increased foliar ClO.

Soil, plant, and terrain effects on natural perchlorate distribution in a desert landscape

Perchlorate (ClO) is a contaminant that occurs naturally throughout the world, but little is known about its distribution and interactions in terrestrial ecosystems. The objectives of this Amargosa Desert, Nevada study were to determine (i) the local-scale distribution of shallow-soil (0-30 cm) ClO with respect to shrub proximity (far and near) in three geomorphic settings (shoulder slope, footslope, and valley floor); (ii) the importance of soil, plant, and terrain variables on the hillslope-distribution of shallow-soil and creosote bush [ (Sessé & Moc. ex DC.) Coville] ClO; and (iii) atmospheric (wet plus dry, including dust) deposition of ClO in relation to soil and plant reservoirs and cycling. Soil ClO ranged from 0.3 to 5.0 μg kg. Within settings, valley floor ClO was 17× less near shrubs due in part to enhanced leaching, whereas shoulder and footslope values were ∼2× greater near shrubs. Hillslope regression models (soil, = 0.42; leaf, = 0.74) identified topographic and soil effects on ClO deposition, transport, and cycling. Selective plant uptake, bioaccumulation, and soil enrichment were evidenced by leaf ClO concentrations and Cl/ClO molar ratios that were ∼8000× greater and 40× less, respectively, than soil values. Atmospheric deposition ClO flux was 343 mg ha yr, ∼10× that for published southwestern wet-deposition fluxes. Creosote bush canopy ClO (1310 mg ha) was identified as a previously unrecognized but important and active reservoir. Nitrate δO analyses of atmospheric deposition and soil supported the leaf-cycled-ClO input hypothesis. This study provides basic data on ClO distribution and cycling that are pertinent to the assessment of environmental impacts in desert ecosystems and broadly transferable to anthropogenically contaminated systems.

Perchlorate content of plant foliage reflects a wide range of species-dependent accumulation but not ozone-induced biosynthesis

Perchlorate (ClO4(-)) interferes with uptake of iodide in humans. Emission inventories do not explain observed distributions. Ozone (O3) is implicated in the natural origin of ClO4(-), and has increased since pre-industrial times. O3 produces ClO4(-)in vitro from Cl(-), and plant tissues contain Cl(-) and redox reactions. We hypothesize that O3 exposure may induce plant synthesis of ClO4(-). We exposed contrasting crop species to environmentally relevant O3 concentrations. In the absence of O3 exposure, species exhibited a large range of ClO4(-) accumulation but there was no relationship between leaf ClO4(-) and O3, whether expressed as exposure or cumulative flux (dose). Older, senescing leaves accumulated more ClO4(-) than younger leaves. O3 exposed vegetation is not a source of environmental ClO4(-). There was evidence of enhanced ClO4(-) content in the soil surface at the highest O3 exposure, which could be a significant contributor to environmental ClO4(-).

Effects of perchlorate on growth of four wetland plants and its accumulation in plant tissues

Perchlorate contamination in water is of concern because of uncertainties about toxicity and health effects, impact on ecosystems, and possible indirect exposure pathways to humans. Therefore, it is very important to investigate the ecotoxicology of perchlorate and to screen plant species for phytoremediation. Effects of perchlorate (20, 200, and 500 mg/L) on the growth of four wetland plants (Eichhornia crassipes, Acorus calamus L., Thalia dealbata, and Canna indica) as well as its accumulation in different plant tissues were investigated through water culture experiments. Twenty milligrams per liter of perchlorate had no significant effects on height, root length, aboveground part weight, root weight, and oxidizing power of roots of four plants, except A. calamus, and increasing concentrations of perchlorate showed that out of the four wetland plants, only A. calamus had a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent decrease in these parameters. When treated with 500 mg/L perchlorate, these parameters and chlorophyll content in the leaf of plants showed significant decline contrasted to control groups, except the root length of E. crassipes and C. indica. The order of inhibition rates of perchlorate on root length, aboveground part weight and root weight, and oxidizing power of roots was: A. calamus > C. indica > T. dealbata > E. crassipes and on chlorophyll content in the leaf it was: A. calamus > T. dealbata > C. indica > E. crassipes. The higher the concentration of perchlorate used, the higher the amount of perchlorate accumulation in plants. Perchlorate accumulation in aboveground tissues was much higher than that in underground tissues and leaf was the main tissue for perchlorate accumulation. The order of perchlorate accumulation content and the bioconcentration factor in leaf of four plants was: E. crassipes > C. indica > T. dealbata > A. calamus. Therefore, E. crassipes might be an ideal plant with high tolerance ability and accumulation ability for constructing wetland to remediate high levels of perchlorate polluted water.

Perchlorate trophic transfer increases tissue concentrations above ambient water exposure alone in a predatory fish

This study examined effects of varying concentrations of the environmental contaminant perchlorate in northern pike (Esox lucius) based on exposure in water and/or from prey (threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus). Routes of exposure to pike were through contaminated water at 0, 10, or 100 mg/L perchlorate for 49 d and/or through feeding, 1 per day over 14 d, sticklebacks that were previously maintained in water at 0, 10, or 100 mg/L perchlorate. Both water and food significantly contributed to pike tissue concentrations of perchlorate as compared to controls, but, as expected for a water-soluble contaminant, perchlorate did not biomagnify from prey to predatory fish. Pike gastrointestinal tissue retained significantly more perchlorate than other tissues combined. Route of exposure and concentration of perchlorate in various media are important to consider in risk assessment when evaluating uptake and tissue concentration of perchlorate because significantly higher tissue concentrations may result from combined prey and water exposures than from prey or water exposures alone in a concentration-dependent manner.

Hormones and endocrine-disrupting chemicals: low-dose effects and nonmonotonic dose responses

For decades, studies of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have challenged traditional concepts in toxicology, in particular the dogma of "the dose makes the poison," because EDCs can have effects at low doses that are not predicted by effects at higher doses. Here, we review two major concepts in EDC studies: low dose and nonmonotonicity. Low-dose effects were defined by the National Toxicology Program as those that occur in the range of human exposures or effects observed at doses below those used for traditional toxicological studies. We review the mechanistic data for low-dose effects and use a weight-of-evidence approach to analyze five examples from the EDC literature. Additionally, we explore nonmonotonic dose-response curves, defined as a nonlinear relationship between dose and effect where the slope of the curve changes sign somewhere within the range of doses examined. We provide a detailed discussion of the mechanisms responsible for generating these phenomena, plus hundreds of examples from the cell culture, animal, and epidemiology literature. We illustrate that nonmonotonic responses and low-dose effects are remarkably common in studies of natural hormones and EDCs. Whether low doses of EDCs influence certain human disorders is no longer conjecture, because epidemiological studies show that environmental exposures to EDCs are associated with human diseases and disabilities. We conclude that when nonmonotonic dose-response curves occur, the effects of low doses cannot be predicted by the effects observed at high doses. Thus, fundamental changes in chemical testing and safety determination are needed to protect human health.

Perchlorate in soybean sprouts (Glycine max L. Merr.), water dropwort (Oenanthe stolonifera DC.), and lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) root in South Korea

The occurrence of perchlorate in soybean sprouts (Glycine max L. Merr), water dropwort (Oenanthe stolonifera DC.), and lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) root, which are commonly consumed by people in South Korea, was determined by using an ion chromatograph coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer. For soybean sprouts (11 samples), perchlorate was detected in most (91%) of the samples at various concentrations of up to 78.4 μg/kg dry weight (DW); the mean concentration was 35.2 μg/kg DW. For water dropwort, of the 13 samples examined, four showed concentrations that were above the limit of quantification (LOQ). The mean perchlorate concentration was 20.7 μg/kg DW, and the highest perchlorate value was 39.9 μg/kg DW. Of the six lotus root samples examined, only one exhibited a detectable perchlorate concentration (17.3 μg/kg DW). For the accumulation experiments with artificially contaminated solutions, the concentrations of perchlorate in soybean sprouts gradually increased with the increase of perchlorate concentration in the solution. However, there was a decrease in the bioconcentration factor as the perchlorate concentration in the solution increased.

Perchlorate exposure from food crops produced in the lower Colorado River region

The Colorado River shows low levels of perchlorate derived from aerospace- and defense-related fuel industries once located near the Las Vegas Wash. At sufficiently high dosages perchlorate can disrupt thyroid function by inhibiting uptake of iodide. The Colorado River is the primary source of irrigation water for most food crops grown in Southern California and Southwestern Arizona. The objective of this study was to evaluate potential perchlorate exposure from food crops produced in the lower Colorado River region (LCRR). The major food commodities produced in the region were sampled and perchlorate levels were determined by ion chromatography followed by detection using either conductivity or tandem mass spectrometry, depending on analyte levels. The Monte Carlo module of the Dietary Exposure Evaluation Model (DEEM) was used to derive an estimate of the 2-day average perchlorate intakes. Data were derived assuming that individuals residing in the LCRR get their fruits and vegetables from within the LCRR as well as from other areas in the United States, or assuming individuals living in the LCRR get their fruits and vegetables from the LCRR only. Perchlorate exposure estimates derived in this study are comparable to exploratory estimates by the US Food and Drug Administration. For infants and children, over 50% of the estimated perchlorate exposure was from milk. The relative impact of vegetables and fruit toward perchlorate exposure increased by age through adulthood. Cumulative perchlorate exposure estimates based on this hypothetical analysis could approach or exceed the NAS reference dose (RfD) for some population groups as drinking water levels exceeded 6 microg/l. However, few individuals are exposed to perchlorate in drinking water at levels above 4 microg/l in the United States and very few would be exposed to perchlorate levels exceeding the RfD, whether consuming food crops from within or outside the LCRR.

Is perchlorate metabolized or re-translocated within lettuce leaves? A stable-isotope approach

Perchlorate is an environmental contaminant that is found in drinking water and a variety of foodstuffs, but many questions regarding its uptake, transport, and persistence in higher plants remain unanswered. In a series of hydroponic experiments, a stable-isotope tracer of perchlorate (95% 37ClO4(-)) was utilized to determine the extent of in vivo metabolism and of phloem re-translocation of perchlorate at low (i.e., nmol/kg of fresh weight (FW)) concentrations in lettuce. Chlorate and chlorite metabolites were not detected in lettuce leaves at detection limits of 13.1 and 291 nmol/kg FW, respectively, and chloride isotopic signatures were not substantially different from natural chloride. Perchlorate exhibited no significant movement from older leaves into new leaves, nor to roots. Stable isotopes proved useful in assessing perchlorate metabolism and re-translocation within lettuce at nmol/kg levels. The absence of any metabolism or re-translocation indicates that perchlorate is relatively persistent within leafy produce, and that the primary mode of transport of perchlorate is through the xylem of higher plants.

Mobilization of naturally occurring perchlorate related to land-use change in the southern High Plains, Texas

Perchlorate (Cl4-) reservoirs that accumulated in semiarid unsaturated zones, similar to chloride (Cl-), can contaminate underlying aquifers if they are mobilized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Cl)4- mobilization related to land-use change from natural to agricultural ecosystems in the southern High Plains (SHP, USA), where large ClO4- concentrations (< or =60 microg/L) are found in the underlying Ogallala aquifer. Boreholes were drilled and sampled beneath natural ecosystems (3 boreholes) and beneath nonirrigated (rainfed, 7 boreholes) agricultural ecosystems. Large ClO4- reservoirs (361-934 g ClO4-/ha; peaks 47-111 gamma ClO4-/L pore water), that accumulated for up to approximately 30,000 yr under natural ecosystems, are being displaced to depths of 2.2 to >9.2 m in sampled boreholes under rainfed agriculture by increased drainage/recharge. High correlations between ClO4- and Cl- under natural areas (r = 0.81) and rainfed agricultural areas (r = 0.88) indicate that accumulation and mobilization of ClO4- can be predicted from Cl- data. Minimal analysis of ClO4- (e.g., two points, minimum and maximum Cl- concentrations in each profile) can be used to predict ClO4- inventories to within 9% of estimates based on detailed sampling. A pooled linear regression model based on all data in this study (99 points) predicts ClO4- inventories to within 19% of measured inventories. Continued mobilization of pre-existing unsaturated zone ClO4- reservoirs (361-934 g/ha) could increase the current groundwater ClO4- values by a further 8-21 microg/L in the SHP.

Perchlorate in the feed-dairy continuum of the southwestern United States

Perchlorate has the potential to cause thyroid dysfunction by inhibiting iodide uptake by the sodium iodide symporter. Perchlorate-contaminated waters may lead to human exposure through drinking water and food chain transfer in crops by way of irrigation water. Perchlorate has been found in dairy milk collected nationally and internationally. This study was conducted to evaluate perchlorate in the feed-dairy continuum in the southwestern United States. All feed products collected at dairies in this study had detectable levels of perchlorate as analyzed by ion chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The calculated total perchlorate intake across dairies ranged from 1.9 to 12.7 mg/cow per day. The variation in total perchlorate intake across dairies was largely associated with variation in forage and silage products. Alfalfa products were the single most important source of perchlorate intake variability among dairies. The estimated perchlorate intake from drinking water ranged from 0.01 mg per cow per day and was generally less than 2% of the total perchlorate intake. The perchlorate content of milk ranged from 0.9 to 10.3 microg/L and was similar to levels reported by the Food and Drug Administration's Total Diet Study. The perchlorate content of milk was significantly related to the presence of perchlorate in feed but the variation of perchlorate in milk could not be explained by feed intake alone.

Perchlorate, thiocyanate, and nitrate in edible cole crops (Brassica sp.) produced in the lower Colorado River region

The Colorado River is contaminated with low levels of perchlorate. Perchlorate has the potential to disrupt thyroid function by inhibiting the uptake of iodide. Brassica are rich sources of thiocyanate and nitrate, also inhibitors of iodide uptake. This study was conducted to estimate potential human exposure to perchlorate, thiocyanate, and nitrate from Brassica sp. irrigated with Colorado River water. Results indicate that Brassica sp. irrigated with Colorado River water do accumulate trace levels of perchlorate. However, the levels of perchlorate observed are low relative to the nitrate and thiocyanate naturally present in these species and low relative to the reference dose recommended by the NAS and the USEPA.

Effect of Mastitis on Milk Perchlorate Concentrations in Dairy Cows

Recent surveys have identified the presence of perchlorate, a natural compound and environmental contaminant, in forages and dairy milk. The ingestion of perchlorate is of concern because of its ability to competitively inhibit iodide uptake by the thyroid and to impair synthesis of thyroid hormones. A recent study established that milk perchlorate concentrations in cattle highly correlate with perchlorate intake. However, there is evidence that up to 80% of dietary perchlorate is metabolized in clinically healthy cows, thereby restricting the available transfer of ingested perchlorate into milk. The influence of mastitis on milk perchlorate levels, where there is an increase in mammary vascular permeability and an influx of blood-derived components into milk, remains unknown. The present study examined the effect of experimentally induced mastitis on milk perchlorate levels in cows receiving normal and perchlorate-supplemented diets. Over a 12-d period, cows were ruminally infused with 1 L/d of water or water containing 8 mg of perchlorate. Five days after the initiation of ruminal infusions, experimental mastitis was induced by the intramammary infusion of 100 microg of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Contralateral quarters infused with phosphate-buffered saline served as controls. A significant reduction in milk perchlorate concentration was observed in the LPS-challenged glands of animals ruminally infused with either water or perchlorate. In control glands, milk perchlorate concentrations remained constant throughout the study. A strong negative correlation was identified between mammary vascular permeability and milk perchlorate concentrations in LPS-infused glands. These findings, in the context of a recently published study, suggest that an active transport process is operative in the establishment of a perchlorate concentration gradient across the blood-mammary gland interface, and that increases in mammary epithelial and vascular endothelial permeability lead to a net outflow of milk perchlorate. The overall finding that mastitis results in lower milk perchlorate concentrations suggests that changes in udder health do not necessitate increased screening of milk for perchlorate.

Potential perchlorate exposure from Citrus sp. irrigated with contaminated water

Citrus produced in the southwestern United States is often irrigated with perchlorate-contaminated water. This irrigation water includes Colorado River water which is contaminated with perchlorate from a manufacturing plant previously located near the Las Vegas Wash, and ground water from wells in Riverside and San Bernardino counties of California which are affected by a perchlorate plume associated with an aerospace facility once located near Redlands, California. Studies were conducted to evaluate the uptake and distribution of perchlorate in citrus irrigated with contaminated water, and estimate potential human exposure to perchlorate from the various citrus types including lemon (Citrus limon), grapefruit (Citrus paradise), and orange (Citrus sinensis) produced in the region. Perchlorate concentrations ranged from less than 2-9 microg/L for Colorado River water and from below detection to approximately 18 microg/L for water samples from wells used to irrigate citrus. Destructive sampling of lemon trees produced with Colorado River water show perchlorate concentrations larger in the leaves (1835 microg/kg dry weight (dw)) followed by the fruit (128 microg/kg dw). Mean perchlorate concentrations in roots, trunk, and branches were all less than 30 microg/kg dw. Fruit pulp analyzed in the survey show perchlorate concentrations ranged from below detection limit to 38 microg/kg fresh weight (fw), and were related to the perchlorate concentration of irrigation water. Mean hypothetical exposures (mug/person/day) of children and adults from lemons (0.005 and 0.009), grapefruit (0.03 and 0.24), and oranges (0.51 and 1.20) were estimated. These data show that potential perchlorate exposures from citrus in the southwestern United States are negligible relative to the reference dose recommended by the National Academy of Sciences.

Uptake and exudation behavior of perchlorate in smartweed

Perchlorate uptake has been reported in a variety of vascular plants, but the mechanisms affecting the uptake, translocation, and exudation of ClO4(-) in plants are not well known. The uptake and transport behavior of ClO4(-) was studied in smartweed (Polygonum spp.) grown in aerated hydroponic ClO4(-) solutions with or without other common anions. Uptake followed first-order kinetics (0.017 +/- 0.003 day(-1)) and there was no apparent competitive effect on ClO4(-) uptake for up to 500 mg L(-1) of NO3(-) -N, SO4(2-), PO4(3-), or Cl(-). The net ClO4(-) mass uptake was proportional to transpiration but with some exclusion of ClO4(-) from the transpiration stream. Up to 4% of the ClO4(-) in plants after a 30-d exposure to a 10-mg/L solution of ClO4(-) was exuded from the roots within 15 d after the exposure was ended. Perchlorate exudation followed first-order kinetics with a rate coefficient of 0.0018 +/- 0.0006 (day(-1) Results obtained in this study indicate that evapotranspiration may be the critical variable to predict accumulation potential in plants and that phytoremediation strategies should take into account the re-release potential of ClO4(-) via exudation.

Fate of perchlorate-contaminated water in upflow wetlands

The potential of natural wetland systems to treat perchlorate-contaminated water was investigated in vertical upflow wetland columns planted with and without Bulrush (Scirpus sp.). In the absence of nitrate (NO3- -N <1mg/L), wetland columns were capable of removing ClO4- to levels below the detection limit (<4 microg/L) for a series of influent ClO4- (4, 8, 16, and 32 mg/L). At an influent ClO4- concentration of 32 mg/L, ClO4- breakthrough was observed with the increase in nitrate concentration. ClO4- and NO3- degradation rate constants (Kpc and KNO3- -N) were also determined using a 1-D transport model with dispersion. Kpc declined with the increase of influent ClO4- and NO3- -N concentration (6.49-0.42 day(-1) for unplanted columns, and 7.80-0.21 day(-1) for planted columns, respectively). KNO3- -N followed similar trends but was relatively higher than Kpc. Plant uptake was directly linked with ClO4- concentration in the rhizosphere, and the stem bio-concentration factor (BCF) was estimated to be 57. A mass balance indicated plant uptake accounted for 0-14.3% of initial ClO4- input. Microbial degradation played a more important role than plant uptake and transformation in ClO4- degradation in this wetland system. This study suggests that constructed wetlands may be a promising technology to treat perchlorate-contaminated waters.