Research experiment exploring effects of Ni and Cd on peroxidase and cartenoids in Thiudium cymbifolium (Fern moss [used in NYU NoPark garden]). Study is not concerned with phytoremediation of contaminated soil, but does mention using the moss’ peroxidase and cartenoids content as bio-indicators of heavy metal pollution.

de Araujo, B. S., Charlwood, B. V., & Pletsch, M. (2002). Tolerance and metabolism of phenol and chloroderivatives by hairy root cultures of Daucus carota L. Environmental Pollution, 117(2), 329-335.

Experiments done on hairy root cultures, used to screen plants for tolerance to pollutants and the role of the root matrix in uptake and metabolism of contaminants. Cultures derived from Daucus carota (Queen Anne’s Lace [used in the NYU NoPark garden]). Cloned carrot roots removed over 90% of the exogenous phenolic compounds from the culture medium within 120 hours after treatment. Metabolism of compounds present in the root tissue correlated with increase in peroxidase activity. 

Clar, M. L., & O’Connor, T. P. (2004). Stormwater Best Management Practice Design Guide Volume 1 Basin Best Management Practices (EPA Publication No. EPA/600/R-04/121B). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/600r04121/600r04121b.pdf

Volume 3 of an EPA document concerning urban stormwater management. Provides guidelines for using basins/ponds designed to manage urban runoff.  Gives an introduction to pond types and appropriate basin selection criteria. Also gives construction specifications as well as inspection and maintenance considerations. 

Clar, M. L., Barfield, B. J., & O’Connor, T. P. (2004). Stormwater Best Management Practice Design Guide Volume 2 Vegetative Biofilters (EPA Publication No. EPA/600/R-04/121A). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/600r04121/600r04121a.pdf

Volume 2 of a document put out by the EPA concerning the best management practices (BMP) of mitigating urban runoff’s effects on the environment. Provides design guidelines for use of vegetative biofilters. Manual identifies and describes three vegetative biofilter BMP types and their variations:

1. grass swales (tradition grass swales, grass swales with media filter, wet swales)

2. vegetated filter strips

3. bioretention cells

Also gives a brief overview of major design considerations in using vegetative biofilters and vegetated filter strips. Use of bioretention cells are also discussed. Appendices provide further information on testing, construction, and landscaping for vegetative biofilters.

Clar, M. L., Barfield, B. J., & O’Connor, T. P. (2004). Stormwater Best Management Practice Design Guide, Volume 1 General Considerations (EPA Publication No. EPA/600/R-04/121). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/600r04121/600r04121.pdf

Volume 1 of an EPA document concerning urban stormwater management. Provides guidance on wet weather flow impacts on receiving waters and regulations. Also includes best management practice (BMP) design concepts and BMP types. Offers guidance in respect to watershed, terrain, physical site, community and environmental, and location and permitting factors.

Xia, H. P. (2004). Ecological rehabilitation and phytoremediation with four grasses in oil shale mined land. Chemosphere, 54(3), 345-353.

Vetiver grass, bahia grass, St. Augustine grass, and bana grass (Pennisetum glaucum [in the same family as Switchgrass, used in the NYU NoPark garden]) were used to rehabilitate an oil shale mined area in the Maoming Petro-Chemical Company, located in the southwest of Guadong Province, China. Vetiver was found to have the highest survival rate (99%), followed by bahia (96%), St. Augustine (91%), and lastly bana (62%). Vetiver also had the highest coverage and biomass after six months of observation. Differences in grass uptake of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) was correlated with differences in biomass. There is speculation that fertilizer application abates grasses’ accumulation of heavy metals. In conclusion, vetiver may be the best grass species to rehabilitate oil shale disposal piles.

Research study conducted on the interaction between the ornamental plants Acorus gramenius (sweet flag) and Pontederia cordata (pickerel weed [used in the NYU NoPark garden]) and the herbicide simazine. By day 7, simazine activity in plants was distributed but found predominantly in the leaves. Simazine uptake was linked with water uptake throughout the 7 days. Research concludes that A. gramenius and P. cordata may be good candidates for phytoremediation of simazine.

Study examining the interaction between ornamental plant species and the fungicidal active ingredient, metalaxyl (a pesticide frequently used in California crop sites). The ornamental plants used were Acorus Gramwineas (sweet flag), Canna hybrida Li. (canna, Yellow King Humbert), Myriopiyllum aquaticaim (Parrotfeather), and Pontederia cordata L. (pickerelweed [used in the NYU NoPark garden]). Plants’ metalaxyl tolerance was found by exposure to solutions containing 0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, or 100 mg metalaxyl L- aqueous nutrient media for 7 days. Metalaxyl generated fresh mass production of sweetflag at the 75 and 100 mg L treatment levels. After 5 days of exposure to concentrations greater than 25 ing L, leaf necrosis was apparent in most species. In almost all cases, metalaxyl was correlated with water uptake throughout the 7 day trial. These results suggest all species studied may be good candidates for phytoremediation of metalaxyl.

Transport of Atrazine Through Large Constructed Soil Columns With and Without Switchgrass Roots

In Tsegaye, Johnson, & Tsegaye’s study Transport of Atrazine Through Large Constructed Soil Columns With and Without Switchgrass Roots, listed in the conference proceeding abstracts, the effects of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum [used in the NYU NoPark garden]) roots on the transport of atrazine under continual porewater velocity are evaluated. Emporia and Cullen soil with no history of pesticide use were planted with 12 columns (6 Emporia, 6 Cullen) of warm season switchgrass and six other soil columns were left unplanted. Switchgrass roots had early breakthrough and long tails in the effulent curve for bromide and atrazine, suggesting the presence of nonequilibrium behavior and sorption.  Switchgrass may increase groundwater pollution. 

Study comparing lead and cadmium contamination and accumulation in Dreissena polymorpha (Zebra mussel) and Perch intestinal parasites (Acanthocephalus lucii). Research was conducted at a fresh subalpine lake in Austria with localized contamination from motorway runoff. Results suggested that A. lucii reduces metal uptake by their hosts and therfore have a cleaning effect on the fish. A. lucii also accumulated up to 120-320 times more lead and 10-12 times more cadmium than zebra mussels. It was found that zebra mussels are more reliable detectors of localized differences in contamination related to motorway runoff–they contained higher levels of lead and cadmium at motorway sites due to their immobility.