Hydroisotop (Germany)

Extreme environments on Earth host a large diversity of microbial life. Bacteria, archaea, and fungi are able to survive under one or several extreme conditions including extreme ranges of temperature, pressure, pH or salinity. Despite extensive research on extremophilic microorganisms, a relatively unexplored frontier within the study of the deep biosphere is the survey of the diversity of microorganisms inhabiting deep geothermal reservoirs used for energy production. These sites offer unique access to investigate life in the deep biosphere. The conditions in these reservoirs are often within the range of the known limits of life, which makes them a suitable habitat for various extremophilic microorganisms. Moreover, microbial-driven processes such as microbially induced scaling or corrosion can decrease the efficacy of geothermal power plant systems. The present review summarizes the current knowledge and uncertainties surrounding microbial life in deep geothermal reservoirs. As the knowledge in deep geothermal fluids is still scarce, the microbial diversity in analogous environments, such as surface geothermal springs, deep-sea hydrothermal vents or deep subsurface environments, is also summarized here. The high diversity of microorganisms inhabiting these analogous environments suggests that deep geothermal fluids may host an unsuspected microbial diversity. Moreover, the challenges associated to the study of microorganisms in geothermal fluids are reviewed. These include notably challenges linked to sampling, DNA extraction from low biomass samples, DNA amplification and sequencing of unknown communities, and biases induced by comparison of the sequences obtained to reference databases. Such biases are even stronger concerning fungi and archaea, as specific databases are less extensive than those for bacteria. A broader knowledge on microorganisms in deep geothermal fluids may not only allow to reduce the negative impact of microbial activity in geothermal power plants, but could also provide new insights into the evolution of microorganisms and their survival in extreme environments.

Summary Spectral gamma-ray logging is widely used and yields reliable data on uranium distribution within oil source rocks. The spectral gamma-ray logging is an important method for the detailed study of wells. Today this method is mainly used for oil-source formation identification and for organic matter calculation. The accumulation process of organic matter and depositional environmental influences on the uranium content. We performed complex analysis of U/Corg variations with sulfur isotope, geochemical survey, and well logging data. U/Corg ratio in different rocks and sweet spots were under research. Investigation results proved that sweet spots have the minimal meaning of the U/Corg ratio and that there is a statistically significant correlation between the U/Corg curves and the sulfur isotope vertical variations. The following data were involved: pyrolysis results (Rock-Eval), profile of total organic matter content obtained from thermophysical core profiling, well logging data, isotope composition, and also the results of the X-ray fluorescence analysis.

At Hamburg-Neuland groundwater monitoring revealed an area wide groundwater contamination by CHCs. The marshland is characterized by complex groundwater hydraulics. In order to understand plume development, a numeric groundwater flow and solute transport model has been set up. Unknown boundary conditions with respect to emission rate at the location of origin lead to the development of an innovative approach. The analysis of compound specific carbon isotope ratios revealed the complete transformation of PCE and TCE to ET and further on to CO2. The isotope enrichment factor could be derived directly from the field data. The introduced sum parameter ‘potential of source’ was extrapolated from the sum of measured concentrations of PCE-VC (μmol/l) and the calculated amount of degradation. The emission rate over time at location of source was calculated based on the ‘potential of source’ determined for the monitoring wells. To achieve a decisive reduction of uncertainties, solute transport was calculated for the sum parameter ‘potential of source’ instead of considering PCE/TCE and their degradation compounds. Three distinct plumes were delineated and an area of unknown hydraulic characteristics identified.

Background Nanosilver is the most used nanoscaled material in consumer products in Germany, whereas most consumers are not aware of which products contain nanosilver. The biocidal effect is used not only for preservation of materials but more often against the real or supposed risk of infection or only against unpleasant odours caused by bacteria. Today there is no obligation for marking the products and the term „nano“ isn’t protected by law. Within the new Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR) this gap will be filled regarding nano-biocides from 1.9.2013 on. Aims The potentail risks for the environment and health is not clear yet. The effect of nanosilver is mainly biocidal. Nanoparticles are washed out the treated products into the waste water and into the environment. There are strong scientific efforts in estimating the risks for the different compartments of the environment. Methods This overview concerns new products with nanotechnological protection and highlights the discussion in Germany regarding the environmental and health implications caused by the use of nanosilver in particular. Last but not least some demands from the non-governmental point of view are presented. Results The scientific community is mainly convinced that the use of nanosilver in consumer products is needless and probably more harmful than useful. Nanosilver is accused to contribute to a high degree to the increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogens and is toxic to human cells. Most of the Non-Governmental Organisations support strongly the restriction of any use for medical indications only. They are in favour of an inventory and an effective marking of all kinds of products with nanoscaled material. This is in process because under the new BPR a labelling of nanomaterial is obilgated. An inventory of all kinds of nanoscaled materials is under discussion on the European level. Conclusions The new BPR is one step in the right direction to assess the risks of nanosilver in products.

In diesem Verbundvorhaben soll ein eukaryontisches Testkonzept entwickelt und bewertet werden, welches okotoxikologisch messbare Effekte schadstoffbelasteter Sedimente in verschiedenen spezifischen biologischen Endpunkten (Teratogenitat, Gentoxizitat, Mutagenitat, Ah-Rezeptor-vermittelte Toxizitat, Neurotoxizitat und Histopathologie) und auf dem Level der Genexpression (DNA-Arrays und RT-PCR) untersucht, um molekulares und physiologisches Grundlagenwissen uber die Mechanismen der Schadwirkung in Embryonen des Zebrabarblings zu erlangen. Uber eine umfangreiche Metaanalyse (Vergleich der Befunde dieses Projektes mit DNA-Array-Daten zu zahlreichen Monosubstanzen und eine Identifizierung der wirksamen Schadstoffgruppen mittels effektdirigierter Fraktionierung) soll die Kausalitat der Effekte geklart werden. Bisherige Biotestverfahren haben die Bioverfugbarkeit toxischer Schadstoffe nur unzureichend berucksichtigt. Dagegen besitzen Sedimentkontakttests hochste Relevanz fur das Okosystem, da sie realistische Expositionsszenarien simulieren. Insbesondere vor dem Hintergrund der Europaischen Wasserrahmenrichtlinie besteht daher ein groser Forschungsbedarf hinsichtlich der Entwicklung von Sedimentkontakttests und Genexpressionsanalysen zum Nachweis mechanismusspezifischer Toxizitat. Durch die Einbindung von zwei Praxispartnern aus der Industrie und der Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung wird ein direkter Praxis- und Anwendungsbezug der stark grundlagenorientierten Forschungsarbeiten zur Entwicklung neuer Methoden gewahrleistet.