An investigation of changes in water quality throughout the drinking water production/distribution chain using toxicological and fluorescence analyses

Changes in water quality from source water to finished water and tap water at two conventional drinking water treatment plants(DWTPs) were monitored.Beside the routine water quality testing,Caenorhabditis elegans-based toxicity assays and the fluorescence excitation–emission matrices technique were also applied.Both DWTPs supplied drinking water that met government standards.Under current test conditions,both the investigated finished water and tap water samples exhibited stronger lethal,genotoxic and reprotoxic potential than the relative source water sample,and the tap water sample was more lethal but tended to be less genotoxic than the corresponding finished water sample.Meanwhile,the nearly complete removal of tryptophan-like substances and newly generated tyrosine-like substances were observed after the treatment of drinking water,and humic-like substances were identified in the tap water.Based on these findings,toxic pollutants,including genotoxic/reproductive toxicants,are produced in the drinking water treatment and/or distribution processes.Moreover,further studies are needed to clarify the potentially important roles of tyrosine-like and humic-like substances in mediating drinking water toxicity and to identify the potential sources of these contaminants.Additionally,tryptophan-like fluorescence may be adopted as a useful parameter to monitor the treatment performance of DWTPs.Our observations provided insights into the importance of utilizing biotoxicity assays and fluorescence spectroscopy as tools to complement the routine evaluation of drinking water.     

Review the environm ental heimviour of insecticide 1-(2-chlorobenzoyl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)urea

The environmental behaviour of insecticide 1-(2-chlorobenzoyl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)urea(CCU) were studied．The results indicated that the insecticide concerning the risk assessment and safe for application of the chemical was not a long-persistent compound in the environment and degraded fastly in plant，soil，water and air．The maior degradation products of CCU were found to bc 4-chloroaniline，4-chlorophenyl urea， 2-chlorobenzamide， 2-chlorobenzoic acid， chloroisocyanatobenzene and 2-chloro-N-chlorophenyl benzamide．The study demonstrated that the insecticide would not be harmful to environment，especmuy to groundwater．However，attention should be paid to the potential problem caused by its degradation products．     

A simulation study of mercury release fluxes from soils in wet-dry rotation environment

A simulative mesocosm study was conducted to evaluate the influence of wet-dry rotation on mercury（Hg） flux from soil/water to air and the distribution of Hg species in water as well as Hg chemical fractions in soil. Three types of soil were employed including two kinds of paddy soil, Typic Purpli-Udic Cambosols（TPUC） and Xanthi-Udic Ferralosols（XUF）, as well as the Alluvial Soil（AS） from Three Gorge reservoir area in Chongqing, China. The results showed that Hg fluxes in wetting periods were significantly higher than that in drying periods. It might be due to the formation of a layer of stable air over the water surface in which some redox reactions promote evasion processes over the water surface. This result indicated that more Hg would be evaporated from the Three Gorge reservoir and paddy soil field during the flooding season. Hg fluxes were positively correlated with air temperature and solar irradiation, while negatively correlated with air humidity and the electronic conductivity of water. Hg fluxes from AS and TPUC were significantly higher than that from XUF, which might be due to the higher organic matter（OM） contents in XUF than TPUC and AS. The reduction processes of oxidized Hg were restrained due to the strong binding of Hg to OM, resulting in the decrease in Hg flux from the soil.     

Evolution of chemical composition of fogwater in winter in Chengdu, China

Two sampling sites representing the urban and suburban area of Chengdu, China were sampled and analyzed for selected chemicals to characterize the evolution of the chemical composition of fogwater. A trend of total organic carbon (TOC) > total nitrogen (TN) > total inorganic carbon (TIC) was observed for both sites. Variation of inorganic ions indicated that inorganic pollutants were not accumulated in the fog. Concentrations of n-alkanes (C11-C37) at the urban site ranged from 7.58 to 27.75 ng/mL while at the suburban site concentrations were 2.57-21.55 ng/mL. The highest concentration of n-alkanes was observed in the mature period of fog (393.12 ng/mL) which was more than ten times that in the fog formation period (27.83 ng/mL) and the fog dissipation period (14.87 ng/mL). Concentrations of Σ15PAHs were in the range of 7.27-38.52 ng/mL at the urban site and 2.59-22.69 ng/mL at the suburban site. Contents of PAHs in the mature period of fog (27.15 ng/mL) > fog dissipation period (11.59 ng/mL) > fog formation period (6.42 ng/mL). Concentrations of dicarboxylic acids (C5-C9) ranged from 10.92 to 40.78 ng/mL, with glutaric acid (C5) as the dominant dicarboxylic acid. These data provide strong indications of the accumulation of certain organic chemicals of environmental concern in fog and fog water, and provide additional insights about processes in urban and suburban air acting on organic chemicals with similar physical chemical properties.     

Effects of sludge dredging on the prevention and control of algae-caused black bloom in Taihu Lake, China

Algae-caused black bloom (also known as black water agglomerate) has recently become a critical problem in some Chinese lakes.It has been suggested that the occurrence of algae-caused black bloom was caused by the cooperation of nutrient-rich sediment with dead algae,and sludge dredging was adopted to control black bloom in some lakes of China.In this article,based on the simulation of black bloom using a Y-shape apparatus for modeling natural conditions,both un-dredged and dredged sites in three areas of Taihu Lake,China were studied to estimate the effects of dredging on the prevention and control of black bloom.During the experiment,drained algae were added to all six sites as an additional organic load;subsequently,the dissolved oxygen decreased rapidly,dropping to 0 mg/L at the sediment-water interface.Black bloom did not occur in the dredged sites of Moon Bay and Nan Quan,whereas all three un-dredged sites at Fudu Port,Moon Bay and Nan Quan experienced black bloom.Black bloom also occurred at the dredged site of Fudu Port one day later than at the other sites,and the odor and color were lighter than at the other locations.The color and odor of the black water mainly result from the presence of sulfides such as metal sulfides and hydrogen sulfide,among other chemicals,under reductive conditions.The color and odor of the water,together with the high concentrations of nutrients,were mainly caused by the decomposition of the algae and the presence of nutrient-rich sediment.Overall,the removal of the nutrient-rich sediment by dredging can prevent the occurrence and control the degree of algae-caused black bloom in Taihu Lake.     

Method to assess component contribution to toxicity of complex mixtures: Assessment of puberty acquisition in rats exposed to disinfection byproducts

A method based on regression modeling was developed to discern the contribution of component chemicals to the toxicity of highly complex, environmentally realistic mixtures of disinfection byproducts(DBPs). Chemical disinfection of drinking water forms DBP mixtures.Because of concerns about possible reproductive and developmental toxicity, a whole mixture(WM) of DBPs produced by chlorination of a water concentrate was administered as drinking water to Sprague–Dawley(S–D) rats in a multigenerational study. Age of puberty acquisition,i.e., preputial separation(PPS) and vaginal opening(VO), was examined in male and female offspring, respectively. When compared to controls, a slight, but statistically significant delay in puberty acquisition was observed in females but not in males. WM-induced differences in the age at puberty acquisition were compared to those reported in S–D rats administered either a defined mixture(DM) of nine regulated DBPs or individual DBPs. Regression models were developed using individual animal data on age at PPS or VO from the DM study. Puberty acquisition data reported in the WM and individual DBP studies were then compared with the DM models. The delay in puberty acquisition observed in the WM-treated female rats could not be distinguished from delays predicted by the DM regression model, suggesting that the nine regulated DBPs in the DM might account for much of the delay observed in the WM. This method is applicable to mixtures of other types of chemicals and other endpoints.     

Environmental sampling of volatile organic compounds during the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California

Trace analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during wildfires is imperative for environmental and health risk assessment. The use of gas sampling devices mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to chemically sample air during wildfires is of great interest because these devices move freely about their environment, allowing for more representative air samples and the ability to sample areas dangerous or unreachable by humans. This work presents chemical data from air samples obtained in Davis, CA during the most destructive wildfire in California's history - the 2018 Camp Fire – as well as the deployment of our sampling device during a controlled experimental fire while fixed to a UAV. The sampling mechanism was an in-house manufactured micro-gas preconcentrator (µPC) embedded onto a compact battery-operated sampler that was returned to the laboratory for chemical analysis. Compounds commonly observed in wildfires were detected during the Camp Fire using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS), including BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m+p-xylene, and o-xylene), benzaldehyde, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, naphthalene, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene and 1-ethyl-3-methylbenzene. Concentrations of BTEX were calculated and we observed that benzene and toluene were highest with average concentrations of 4.7 and 15.1 µg/m³, respectively. Numerous fire-related compounds including BTEX and aldehydes such as octanal and nonanal were detected upon experimental fire ignition, even at a much smaller sampling time compared to samples taken during the Camp Fire. Analysis of the air samples taken both stationary during the Camp Fire and mobile during an experimental fire show the successful operation of our sampler in a fire environment.     

Treated wastewater irrigation effect on soil, crop and environment： Wastewater recycling in the loess area of China

A study was carried out at the Loess Plateau in Dongzhi,China,to test the feasibility of using secondary treatment sewage effluent and to determine whether the water quality would then meet the recommended irrigation norm.Seven crops,including celery,wheat, maize,millet,apples,rapeseed and yellow beans,were tested in the study.Physical and chemical properties of the soil,crop yield and quality and leachate at different soil depths were measured.In most cases,the quality of the crops that made use of treated sewage was not distinctively different from those that did not use treated sewage.However,yields for the former were much higher than they were for the latter.Leachates at different soil depths were analyzed and the results did not show alarming levels of constituents.For a period of approximately 14 months,the treated sewage irrigation had no significant effect on the loess soil and no cases of illness resulting from contact with the treated sewage were reported.With treated sewage irrigation,a slight increase in the organic content of the soil was observed.     

Monitoring the levels of brominated and organophosphate flame retardants in passenger cars: Utilisation of car air filters as active samplers

Filters in residential and office air conditioning(A/C) systems have been used as sampling devices for monitoring different pollutants.However,cabin air filters(CAFs) in the A/C system of passenger cars have not been utilised for this purpose.In this study,we collected22 used CAFs from passenger cars in Hanoi,Vietnam to analyse for 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs) and 10 organophosphate esters(OPEs).All the analytes were detected in more than 50% of samples with the exception of BDE153 and BDE154.The average concentrations of ∑_(10)OPEs and ∑_8 BDEs in the captured dust were 2600 and 40 ng/g,respectively with Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate(TCIPP) and BDE209 as the dominant congener in OPE and BDE groups,respectively.CAFs are a potential tool to qualitatively assess the levels of semi-volatile chemicals in suspended dust in cars as a screening step for exposure assessment of those chemicals.     

In situ combined chemical and biological assessment of estrogenic pollution in a water recycling system

Estrogenic pollution and its control in aquatic systems have drawn substantial attention around the world. The chemical and biological assessment approaches currently utilized in the laboratory or field cannot give an integrated assessment of the pollution when used separately. In this study, in situ chemical and biological methods were combined to detect pollution in a water recycling system. Data for the water quality index(WQI) demonstrated that the water treatment resulted in the decline of pollution from upstream to downstream.Wild male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, was sampled in June and September. The concentrations of four common endocrine disrupting chemicals(EDCs) were determined in the tilapia liver by chromatographic analysis methods. The level of 17β-estradiol(E2) declined from upstream to downstream in both months. In contrast, the levels of bisphenol A(BPA),di-(2-ethylhcxyl) phthalate(DEHP), and perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS) did not display this declining tendency. The highest relative expression of vitellogenin 1(VTG1) was observed in tilapia from upstream, then the level significantly decreased along the water system. The relative expression levels of CYP1A1 in the water system were also significantly higher than that of the control. However, no declining trend could be observed along the water system. The change of VTG1 expression corresponded well with that of E2 levels in the tilapia liver. Overall,our study assessed the pollution by endocrine disruptors using chemical and biological data with good correspondence. This study also demonstrated the effectiveness of the water recycling system in eliminating estrogen pollution in municipal sewage.     

饮用水中有毒污染物的筛查和健康风险评价

饮用水中含有痕量有机有毒污染物,其中相当一部分并不在水质标准管理范围.应用安捷伦公司解卷积报告软件(DRS)提供的保留时间锁定(RTL)、谱图解卷积(Deconvolution)技术和有毒化合物数据库(HCD),建立了1种可以应用于饮用水中有毒污染物的筛查和健康风险评价的方法.应用此方法对北京市自来水厂进出水中的有毒有机污染物进行了分析,定性筛查到113种有毒有机污染物,并对其中多环芳烃、有机氯农药、挥发性有机物和酚类物质等62种污染物进行了定量分析.结果表明,在有定量分析数据的污染物中,列入标准的有机有毒污染物浓度均未超过国际主要水质标准限值;对未列入水质标准或没有浓度限值的有机有毒污染物,初步进行了健康风险分析和水厂工艺的去除效果评价,发现它们的健康风险基本处于可接受的水平.此外,还定性筛查到当前国际水质标准中没有列入的51种有毒有机物,包括敌敌畏、五氯硝基苯、仲丁威、残杀威、邻苯基苯酚、叔丁基-4-羟基茴香醚、苯胺和腐霉利等,并分析了这些污染物的风险特征,是否存在健康风险需要进一步的研究.     

基于极性有机化合物整合采样器的水环境有机污染物测定

作为一种被动采样技术,极性有机化合物整合采样器（polar organic chemical integrative sampler,POCIS）具有安全、易使用、可进行低浓度监测、高回收率和抗生物污染等优点,由于POCIS可以测定极性有机化学物质的时间加权平均（time-weighted average,TWA）浓度,能够更为全面地反映污染物的长期影响。近年来POCIS已被广泛应用于水环境中农药、药品、内分泌干扰物等有机污染物的分离和富集,以及新兴痕量有机污染物的环境行为和生态风险的评价。介绍了POCIS的结构、原理和校准方法,综述了该装置在水环境中不同类型有机污染物监测中的应用,结合装置特点和实际应用,提出了POCIS在实际环境中需要解决的问题和后续进一步改进的方向。     

太湖西岸地表水中极性有机污染物非靶向筛查与生态风险评估

环境中新兴污染物层出不穷,已经成为当前环境研究的关键问题.为全面筛查太湖西岸武进和宜兴地区地表水中的潜在极性有机污染物,基于高效液相色谱和飞行时间质谱联用技术进行非靶向筛查,利用精确质量数、同位素分布和二级碎片信息进行质谱库匹配共识别出162个有机物,包括46种农药、34种药物、8种个人护理产品、27种添加剂、17种有机合成中间体和30种动植物代谢物或天然物质,其中45个有机物经过标准品验证.对42种污染物进行定量分析并对3种营养级模式生物物种进行生态风险评估,发现25种污染物具有中等风险以上,12种污染物具有高风险.非靶向筛查能够在无先验信息和标准品的情况下全面识别潜在未知污染物,不仅快速、准确和分析通量高,还能为后续生态风险评估提供重要的依据.     

Two-dimensional numerical and eco-toxicological modeling of chemical spills

The effects of chemical spills on aquatic nontarget organisms were evaluated in this study. Based on a review of three types of current eco-toxicological models of chemicals, i.e., ACQUATOX model of the US-EPA, Hudson River Model of PCBs, and critical body residual (CBR) model and dynamic energy budget (DEBtox) model, this paper presents an uncoupled numerical ecotoxicological model. The transport and transformation of spilled chemicals were simulated by a chemical transport model (including flow and sediment transport), and the mortalities of an organism caused by the chemicals were simulated by the extended threshold damage model, separately. Due to extreme scarcity of data, this model was applied to two hypothetical cases of chemical spills happening upstream of a lake. Theoretical analysis and simulated results indicated that this model is capable of reasonably predicting the acute effects of chemical spills on aquatic ecosystems or organism killings.     

挥发性环甲基硅氧烷的长距离迁移及总持久性模拟

cVMS（挥发性环甲基硅氧烷）的环境和健康效应近年来受到广泛关注.运用TaPL3模型探究了D4（八甲基环四硅氧烷）、D5（十甲基环五硅氧烷）和D6（十二甲基环六硅氧烷）3种cVMS在哈尔滨市、天津市和广州市3个城市环境下的长距离迁移性和持久性,并分别用CTD（特征迁移距离）和Pov（总持久性）表征;同时,通过灵敏度分析筛选模型中的关键参数.结果表明:①D4~D6的CTD_air（大气中CDT）范围为359~998 km,随cVMS分子量的增大而减小;Pov_water（水体中Pov）范围为10~34 d,区域和物质差异均不大.CTD_water（水体中CDT）的范围为328~4 383 km且D4 < D5 < D6;Pov_water（水体中Pov）的范围为276~44 802 d,随分子量增加而增大.②从区域来看,除CTD_air表现为天津市>哈尔滨市>广州市外,其余各值均为哈尔滨市>天津市>广州市,体现出环境参数对于模拟结果具有一定的影响;而CTD与Pov之间并无直接关系.③对于排放到大气的cVMS而言,对CTD_air影响最大的参数是空气中的半衰期和风速,对Pov_air影响最大的是空气中的半衰期;对于排放到水体的cVMS而言,对CTD_water影响最大的是lg K_OW（辛醇-水分配系数的对数）,而对Pov_water（水体中Pov）影响最大的是环境温度.④对于同一物质在不同环境中的模拟,其结果可能存在一定差异,因此在进行决策时要考虑环境因素.研究显示,cVMS具有中等的长距离迁移潜力,其全球尺度环境风险值得引起关注.      

Field tests of a passive sampler for atmospheric ozone at California mountain forest locations

Field tests of a colorant-based ozone passive sampler have been carried out during the 1990 smog season at five mountain forest locations in California. Co-located measurements of ambient ozone were made at all field sites using the passive sampler and a reference method, ultraviolet (u.v.) photometry. The sampling duration ranged from 3 to 30 days. Nitrogen dioxide, aldehydes and the phytotoxic oxidants peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and peroxypropionyl nitrate (PPN) were measured at one location to assess possible interferences. The average precision of the measurements, calculated from data for 42 sets of colocated passive samplers, was 12%. Data for all field locations could be reduced to a single equation relating color change (ΔE units) to ozone dose (units: ppb-days). This polynomial equation could be reduced to a linear equation for color changes not exceeding 8 ΔE units (equivalent to sampling durations of up to 15 days), with good agreement between field data and earlier calibration results obtained in the laboratory. Both polynomial and linear equations can be used to obtain quantitative, time-integrated measurements of ambient ozone. The performance of the passive sampler showed no dependence on changes in ambient temperature and humidity. Interferences from air pollutants other than ozone contributed a total positive bias of less than 5% to the measured ozone concentrations: 3% for NO₂, 1.3% for PAN, 0.2% for PPN, and 0.% or less for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.     

持久性、迁移性和潜在毒性化学品环境健康风险与控制研究现状及趋势分析

持久性、迁移性、毒性或高持久和高迁移性化学品(PMT/vPvM)在全球地表水、地下水和饮用水水体已被广泛检出,是未来可能显著影响人类健康和环境的一类重要新兴污染物.按照欧盟提议的鉴别标准,现有化学品中的PMT/vPvM数以千计,涉及用途广泛,包括三聚氰胺等数10种较高产量的工业化学品.PMT/vPvM可通过农田径流、工业废水和生活污水排入环境,污水处理厂目前被认为是其主要排放途径.因难以被现行常规水处理技术有效去除,PMT/vPvM可长期存在于城镇人居环境水循环系统中,危及居民饮用水及生态系统安全.欧盟已率先开始将PMT/vPvM专门纳入现行化学品风险管理体系中的优先范畴.目前,环境中仍有众多潜在PMT/vPvM,其监测方法亟待进一步完善,物质鉴定、类别范围及清单建立均尚需时日;PMT/vPvM在全球各地区的环境分布和暴露研究十分有限,其潜在、长期的生态毒性和人体健康危害效应研究较为匮乏.与此同时,替代品或替代技术以及污水处理、污染场地修复等环境工程治理技术的研究和开发,都将成为未来PMT/vPvM风险科学研究与管理决策的迫切需求.     

哈尔滨市大气气相中多环芳烃的研究

在哈尔滨地区8个采样点同时安装了PUF大气被动采样器,研究了该地区2007年春季(1月末~4月末)大气气相中多环芳烃的含量和分布特征.结果表明,PUF大气被动采样器主要采集了大气气相中三环和四环的多环芳烃,占总量的91.22%~96.37%,PAHs的浓度具有明显的功能区差异,依次为:市区(356.49 ng/d),郊区(162.65 ng/d),农村(278.35 ng/d),偏远地区(183.99 ng/d),市区大气中多环芳烃的浓度是农村的2倍,偏远地区的3倍.污染源是影响大气中多环芳烃含量高低的主要因素,通过特征分子含量比值法对该地区大气中多环芳烃的来源进行了初步研究,结果表明,哈尔滨地区城市大气中多环芳烃主要来自于燃煤,农村大气中的多环芳烃主要来自于农作物秸秆的燃烧.利用毒性当量因子法对该地区大气气相中多环芳烃的健康风险进行了评价,具有与浓度分布类似的功能区差异,表明市区和农村地区大气中PAHs对于人们的健康存在较大潜在威胁.通过安装平行采样器,PUF被动采样器具有很好的重现性,研究表明,可以用于城市尺度多个采样点大气中多环芳烃的同时研究.     

Determination of VOCs in groundwater at an industrial contamination site using a homemade low-density polyethylene passive diffusion sampler

A home-made inexpensive passive diffusion bag （PDB） sampler, prepared by filling deionized water in low-density polyethylene （LDPE） tubes, was evaluated for volatile organic compounds （VOC） sampling in groundwater at industrial contamination sites. Impacts of environmentally relevant conditions on the sampling equilibration time and partitioning of VOCs between the sampler and the water sample were investigated. Sample salinity, agitation and temperature can influence the equilibration time, but generally sampling equilibration was obtained in 14 days under real field sampling of VOCs in groundwater. Both laboratory study and field testing in a contaminated site showed that the VOC concentrations in the developed sampler were equal to those in the water samples at equitibrium. Coupled with a purge and trap concentrator-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer （P＆T-GC-MS）, the developed PDB sampler provided a low-cost sampling device for routine monitoring of VOCs in groundwater in wells, with LODs in the range of 2.9-10 μg/L. The proposed PDB was applied to determine VOCs in groundwater at an industrial contamination site, and the present results agreed well with those determined using conventional pump-and-sample monitoring. All the studied 13 VOCs were tested in the four wells in the industrial contamination sites, with their concentrations in the range of 12-73660 μg/L. In addition, while benzene and toluene were heavily contaminated up to a maximum concentration of 74000 μg/L and 6000 μg/L, respectively, 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene and bromobenzene had relatively low contamination levels （below 25 μg/L）.     

新型吸附搅拌棒被动采样器研制及应用——基于多壁碳纳米管的改性

结合传统被动采样器原理和新发展的吸附搅拌棒技术,研制了以多壁碳纳米管-聚二甲基硅氧烷(MWCTNs/PDMS)作为涂层的新型吸附搅拌棒被动采样器,并以苯酚(PhOH)、己烯雌酚(DES)和铅(Pb)作为目标污染物,考察被动采样器其吸附性能,优化其吸附条件.结果表明,与商业化PDMS涂层吸附搅拌棒被动采样器相比,含MWCTNs/PDMS涂层吸附搅拌棒被动采样器能更快达到吸附平衡时间、具有更大的饱和吸附容量.甲醇是PhOH和DES优良解吸剂,0.6mol/L HNO₃为Pb最优解吸剂.该新型被动采样器重复使用50次以上其解吸效率仍能达到70%以上,具有良好的稳定性和重复利用效果.