Chitosan membranes as sorbents for trace elements determination in surface waters

Purpose  

Chitosan membranes (non-crosslinked, crosslinked, and modified with l-cysteine) were evaluated as sorbents prior to electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) determination of total dissolved metal content in surface water samples.     

Survey of patterns,levels, and trends of perfluorinated compounds in aquatic organisms and bird eggs from representative German ecosystems

Purpose  

Samples from the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) covering particularly the years 1994–1996, 2000–2002, and 2006–2009 were analyzed for perfluorinated compounds (PFC; mainly C4–C13 carboxylic and sulfonic acids) to gain an overview on current PFC levels and patterns in marine, limnetic, and terrestrial biota; to assess their concentrations in different trophic levels; and to investigate whether risk management measures for PFC are successful.     

?kologische Kriterien der Technik- und Stoffbewertung: Integration des Vorsorgeprinzips

Zusammenfassung  Die Erarbeitung von Kriterien zur vergleichenden Bewertung von Technologien und Stoffen über den toxikologischen Ansatz hinaus und die Entwicklung eines integrierten Kriterienrasters stehen erst am Anfang. Die hier vorgestellten Kriterien aus der Technikanalyse zur Integration des Vorsorgeprinzips in die Stoffund Technikbewertung müssen weiter operationalisiert und vervollst?ndigt werden, ebenso wie die bisher im Rahmen

Water-soluble main ions in precipitation over the southeastern Adriatic region: chemical composition and long-range transport

Background, aim and scope  

Precipitation samples collected from 1995 to 2000 at meteorological station in the eastern outskirts of Herceg Novi (Montenegro) were analysed on Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^–, SO₄ ^2–, NO₃ ^– and NH₄ ⁺. Four-day backward trajectory simulations were conducted during the precipitation period to investigate the regional transport of main ions and their deposition in the region of the southeastern Adriatic Sea. The air mass trajectories were classified into six trajectory categories by the origin and direction of their approach to Herceg Novi.     

Fallout traces of the Fukushima NPP accident in southern West Siberia (Novosibirsk,Russia)

Background  

The fallout of artificially produced radioactive isotopes has been recorded at a site in southern West Siberia (54°50′43.6″ N, 083°06′22.4″ E, Novosibirsk, Russia).     

Gas phase reactions of unsaturated esters with Cl atoms

Background, aim, and scope  

Acrylate and methacrylate esters are α,β-unsaturated esters that contain vinyl groups directly attached to the carbonyl carbon (CH₂=CHCOO– and CH₂=CCH₃COO–, respectively) and are widely used in the polymer plastic and resin production. Rate coefficients for Cl reactions for most of the unsaturated esters have not been previously determined, and a good understanding is needed of all the atmospheric oxidation processes of these compounds in order to determine lifetimes in the atmosphere and to evaluate the impact of these reactions on the formation of photo-oxidants and therefore on health and environment.     

An observational study on changes in biometry and generation time of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Odontophora villoti</Emphasis> (Nematoda,Axonolaimidae) related to petroleum pollution in Bizerte bay,Tunisia

Introduction  

We conducted a yearly polluted-reference sampling to assess the effects of petroleum pollution on life cycle characteristics of the meiobenthic nematode Odontophora villoti. Samples were taken every 15 days between 26 November 2004 and 25 November 2005 from two beaches of Bizerte bay (Tunisia), Rimel and Tunisian Refining Industries Company (TRIC). The latter site is located in front of the “Tunisian Refining Industries Company” runoff.     

Platinum,palladium, and rhodium deposition to the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus laurus cerasus</Emphasis> leaf surface as an indicator of the vehicular traffic pollution in the city of Varese area

Background, aim, and scope  

The widespread use of some platinum group elements as catalysts to minimize emission of pollutants from combustion engines produced a constantly growing increase of the concentration of these elements in the environment; their potential toxicological properties explain the increasing interest in routine easy monitoring. We have found that leaves of Prunus laurus cerasus are efficient collectors of particulate with a dimension <60–80 μm, and a simple and reliable procedure was developed to reveal traces of platinum, palladium, and rhodium released from automotive catalysts. The analysis of the dust deposited on the foliage is a direct indicator of traffic pollution.     

Seasonal variation of HCH isomers in open soil and plant-rhizospheric soil system of a contaminated environment

Background, aim, and scope  

Lindane, technically 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ- HCH), is the most commonly detected organochlorine pesticide from diverse environmental compartments. Currently, India is the largest consumer and producer of lindane in the world. The production of lindane results in the generation of large quantities of waste HCH isomers (mainly α-, β- and δ-). All these isomers are toxic and have a long-range environmental transport potential. The aim of this study was to monitor the seasonal variation of HCH isomers in an open soil–plant–rhizospheric soil system of a contaminated industrial area. For this, selected plant species and their rhizospheric soil (soil samples collected at a depth range of 0–45 cm near to the root system) and open soil samples (soil samples collected (0–30 cm depth) from 1–1.5 m away from the plant root system) were collected for 2 years (two summer seasons and two winter seasons).     

Influence of operational parameters (sludge retention time and hydraulic residence time) on the removal of estrogens by membrane bioreactor

Introduction  

This paper deals with the removal of two natural estrogens, estrone (E1) and 17β-estradiol (E2) and a synthetic one 17α ethinylestradiol (EE2) from wastewater in a laboratory-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR).     

Assessment of exposure to DDT and metabolites after indoor residual spraying through the analysis of thatch material from rural African dwellings

Introduction  

We report on the analysis of 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (4,4′-DDT) and its metabolites in thatch and branch samples constituting the wall materials of dwellings from South African subtropical areas. This approach was used to assess the exposure to DDT in the residents of the dwellings after indoor residual spraying (IRS) following recommended sanitation practices against malaria vectors.     

Whole effluent assessment of industrial wastewater for determination of bat compliance

Background, aim and scope  

The applicability of the Whole Effluent Assessment concept for the proof of compliance with the “best available techniques” has been analysed with paper mill wastewater from Germany by considering its persistency (P), potentially bio-accumulative substances (B) and toxicity (T).     

Effect of Pb toxicity on leaf growth, antioxidant enzyme activities, and photosynthesis in cuttings and seedlings of Jatropha curcas L

Background  

Cuttings and seedlings of Jatropha curcas L. were exposed to different regimes of lead (Pb) stress as Pb(NO₃)₂ at 0 (CK), 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mM kg⁻¹ soil.     

Pharmaceuticals in the environment: an educational perspective

Purpose  

Pharmaceuticals are an integral part of a dignified life. However, a lack of degradability and threats to the welfare of living beings cause concern due to their emission into the environment. There is also a lack of knowledge about cause and consequence. Therefore, we intend to contribute to the development of educational programmes which should increasingly include the topic ‘pharmaceuticals in the environment’.     

Automatic pH control system enhances the dechlorination of 2,4,4′-trichlorobiphenyl and extracted PCBs from contaminated soil by nanoscale Fe0 and Pd/Fe0

Purpose  

Dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) is often strongly hindered by increased pH because large amounts of H⁺ ions were consumed during the surface reaction. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of pH control in acid on the dechlorination processes of PCBs and to compare the dechlorination efficiency between 2,4,4′-trichlorobiphenyl (2,4,4′-CB) and the extracted PCBs from the field PCBs-contaminated soil in this system.     

Assessment of waters and sediments impacted by drainage at the Young Dong coal mine site, South Korea

Introduction  

This study focused on the assessment of the geochemistry and hydrology of the Imgok Creek–Young Dong tributary for the design of a field coal mine drainage treatment system.     

Transfer von PCDD/F und anderen organischen Umweltchemikalien im System Boden-Pflanze-Luft I. Modellierung des Transferverhaltens

Die Massenbilanz von PCDD/F—insbesondere von 2,3,7,8-TCDD—im System Boden-Pflanze-Luft wird mit einem einfachen konzeptuellen Modell berechnet. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse sind:

Seasonal patterns of the bacterioplankton community composition in a lake threatened by a pesticide disposal site

Background aim and scope  

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of ca. 35 years of pesticide contamination (pesticide dump—PD) of Lake Szeląg Wielki (located in the north-eastern Poland) on changes in the microbial communities of aquatic ecosystems. In the years 2008–2009, analyses were carried out for seasonal changes in the quantity and composition of bacterioplankton in the lake examined, which is of high significance to the tourism and fishing industries and is located in the vicinity of an area subjected to reclamation after a pesticide dump.     

Effect of factors on decolorization of azo dye methyl orange by oxone/natural sunlight in aqueous solution

Purpose  

The oxone process for azo dye decolorization has drawbacks such as difficulties with reuse, risks of secondary pollution, and high costs associated with UV irradiation. This study aims to explore the use of oxone for decolorization in the absence of catalyst and under natural sunlight conditions (i.e., oxone/natural sunlight system) and evaluate the impacts of operating parameters (reagent dosage, initial methyl orange (MO) concentration, and initial pH) and coexisting substances (humic acid, NO₃⁻, metal ions) on the system’s decolorization efficiency.     

Night-time atmospheric chemistry of methacrylates

Background, aim, and scope  

Methacrylates are α, β-unsaturated esters that are widely used in the polymer plastics and resins production. Kinetic information of NO₃ radical reactions is especially scarce and a good understanding of all the atmospheric oxidation processes of these compounds is necessary in order to determine lifetimes in the atmosphere and to evaluate the impact of these reactions on the formation of ozone and other photooxidants.