Seasonal and spatio-temporal distribution of faecal-indicator bacteria in Tyume River in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

We assessed the incidence of faecal-indicator bacteria in Tyume River over a 12-month period between August 2010 and July 2011. Total coliforms, faecal coliforms and enterococci were determined by the membrane filtration method. Total coliforms were detected in counts ranging from 2.1?×?10² to 3.4?×?10⁴?CFU/100 ml. Faecal coliform counts ranged from 1?×?10² to 1.6?×?10⁴?CFU/100 ml while enterococci counts were in the range of 3.3?×?10¹ to 5.1?×?10³?CFU/100 ml. Indicator bacteria counts increased from upstream to downstream sampling sites. Counts of indicator bacteria at all sites were significantly affected by seasonal changes. The bacteriological qualities of the river water were poor, exceeding the guideline of 200 CFU/100 ml and 33 CFU/100 ml for faecal coliforms and enterococci, respectively, for recreational water. Faecal coliform counts also exceeded the 1,000 CFU/100 ml guideline for water used in fresh produce irrigation. Microbial source tracking results showed that faecal pollution was predominantly of human origin during spring at all sampling sites. During other seasons, human faecal pollution was largely confined to midstream and downstream sampling sites. Generally, the presence of faecal-indicator bacteria in the river water samples suggests faecal pollution of this freshwater resource, raising the possibility of the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the water and a threat to public health.     

Density assessment and mapping of microorganisms around a biocomposting plant in Sanandaj,Iran

Exposure to microorganisms can cause various diseases or exacerbate the excitatory responses, inflammation, dry cough and shortness of breath, reduced lung function, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and allergic response or allergic immune. The aim of the present study was to investigate the density of microorganisms around the air of processing facilities of a biocomposting plant. Each experiment was carried out according to ASTM E884-82 (2001) method. The samples were collected from inhaled air in four locations of the plant, which had a high traffic of workers and employees, including screen, conveyor belt, aerated compost pile, and static compost pile. The sampling was repeated five times for each location selected. The wind speed and its direction were measured using an anemometer. Temperature and humidity were also recorded at the time of sampling. The multistage impactor used for sampling was equipped with a solidified medium (agar) and a pump (with a flow rate of 28.3 l/m) for passing air through the media. It was found that the mean density of total bacteria was >1.7 × 10³ cfu/m³ in the study area. Moreover, the mean densities of fungi, intestinal bacteria (Klebsiella), and Staphylococcus aureus were 5.9 × 10³, 3.3 × 10³, and 4.1 × 10³ cfu/m³, respectively. In conclusion, according to the findings, the density of bacteria and fungi per cubic meter of air in the samples collected around the processing facilities of the biocomposting plant in Sanandaj City was higher than the microbial standard for inhaled air.     

Characteristic Study of Dry Deposition, Concentration, Compositions for Particulates Mass and Ionic Species During Summer and Autumn Season at a Traffic Sampling Site

Aerosol samples for dry deposition and total suspend particulates (TSP) were collected from August to November of 2003 in central Taiwan. Ion chromatography was used to analyze the related water-soluble ionic species (Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺). The results obtained in this study indicated that the ambient air particulate mass concentrations in the daytime period (averaged 975.4 μg m⁻³) were higher than the nighttime period (averaged 542.1 μg m⁻³). And the daytime dry deposition fluxes (averaged 58.12 μg m⁻² sec⁻¹) were about 2.2 times as that of nighttime dry deposition fluxes (averaged 26.54 μg m⁻² sec⁻¹) of the downward dry deposition. The average values downward and upward of dry deposition fluxes for the weekend period were almost higher than the weekday period for either daytime or nighttime period. Furthermore, the average daytime dry deposition fluxes (averaged 26.37 μg m⁻² sec⁻¹) were also about 2.3 times as that of nighttime dry deposition fluxes (averaged 11.52 μg m⁻² sec⁻¹). Moreover, the results also indicate that SO₄ ²⁻ and Ca²⁺ have higher average composition for total suspended particulates in the daytime period while Ca²⁺, SO₄ ²⁻, and Na⁺ have the higher average composition for total suspends particulates in the nighttime period.     

Study of changes in bacterial and viral abundance in formaldehyde-fixed water samples by epifluorescence microscopy

Accurate measurement of bacterial and viral abundance in coastal marine environments is important to understand the dynamics of microbial communities in these ecosystems. In this study, the effect of formaldehyde preservation on the abundance of bacteria and viruses in water samples from Cochin Backwater was determined by SYBR Green I staining and epifluorescence microscopy. The counts were determined for 45 days in samples fixed with 1?C6% formaldehyde. The results suggest rapid decline in counts of bacteria and viruses in samples preserved in formaldehyde, and the decline increased with increase in the final concentration of formaldehyde in the sample. The initial bacterial and viral counts in the sampling site were 5.2 × 10⁶/ml and 3.9 × 10⁷/ml, respectively. The bacterial count dropped by 5.1%, 53.3%, 55.7%, and 85% after 1, 7, 15, and 45 days, respectively, in sample fixed with 1% formaldehyde. The decline in viral counts was higher, being 32.4%, 47.9%, 68.1%, and 93% after 1, 7, 15, and 45 days, respectively. Storage of fixed samples at ??20°C did not halt the decline in microbial counts, suggesting that, irrespective of storage temperature, formaldehyde-fixed samples lead to underestimation of microbial counts.     

Assessment of elemental concentrations in the urban air (case study: Tehran city)

Tehran is one of the megacities of the world with a population of over eight million. Its air is highly polluted mainly due to the suspended particulate matters, which encompasses a wide spectrum of chemical elements. These elements based on their type, size, and impact on the life cycle have various environmental and heath risks. In this research, the neutron activation method is used to determine the concentration levels of Al, Ba, Fe, Mg, and V in the urban air. Thus, two districts of Tehran with different characteristics are selected. District 21 includes much of the industries located in Tehran metropolitan and is considered as an industrial area. In contrast, district 22 lacks any significant industrial activity. It is a newly established and expanding district adjacent to district 21 with a great deal of constructional activities. For the measurement of the suspended particulate matters in the air, the various sections of the aforesaid districts with industrial, residential, heavily congested traffic, residential/commercial, residential/heavily congested traffic, and residential/industrial classifications were identified. Subsequently, 24 sampling stations were selected. The sampling of the suspended particulate matters was conducted with the aid of a high volume pump containing 125 mm cellulose filters in two different time intervals. After completion of the sampling process, the samples were prepared and sent to the research reactor of the Iran Nuclear Energy Organization for Neutron Activation. During the next steps, the radiations emitted from the samples were registered, the radiation curves were plotted, and the amounts of the trace elements were determined. As a result, the average concentration levels of Al, Ba, Fe, Mg, and V were identified to be 3.301140, 2.273658 × 10, 4.0681696 × 10^???1, 3.5525475 × 10^???1, and 3.04075 × 10^???2 μg/m³, respectively. Moreover, the emission sources of the aforesaid elements into the air were identified. The concentration levels of these elements in the industrial and heavily congested traffic sections were higher. Finally, it was concluded that the statistical analysis of these elements presents a meaningful correlation among them.     

Evaluation of applicability of the Sartorius Airport MD8 sampler for detection of Bacillus endospores in indoor air

This study was designed to evaluate the measuring range and lowest limit of detection of Bacillus endospores in the ambient room air when the Sartorius MD8 sampler, and two different culture methods for bacterial enumeration were used. Different concentrations of bioaerosol were generated inside the test chamber filled with either the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-filtered air or with the ambient room air. The detection of endospores in the HEPA-filtered air was achievable: (1) when they were aerosolized at a concentration above 7.56?×?10³ CFU/m³ and analyzed with spread plate method, and (2) when they were aerosolized at a concentration above 4.00?×?10² CFU/m³ and analyzed with pour plate method. The detection of endospores in the ambient room air was possible: (1) when they were aerosolized at a concentration above 9.1?×?10³ CFU/m³ and analyzed with spread plate method, and (2) when they were aerosolized at a concentration above 5.6?×?10² CFU/m³ and analyzed with pour plate method. The microorganisms present in the ambient room air interfere with precise quantification of Bacillus endospores when their concentration is relatively low. The results of this study may be helpful in critical assessment of the results obtained from monitoring the air for bacterial endospores.     

Diurnal concentrations variations,size distributions for ambient air particles and metallic pollutants (Cr,Mn, Ni,Cd, Pb) during summer season at a traffic area

This study characterized and discussed particulate ambient air particulate concentrations and seasonal variations for PM₁₈, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁ during June 2013–July 2013 at this traffic sampling site. In addition, this study also characterized the ambient air particulates size distributions by using MOUDI-100S4 sampler to collect 1-day the ambient suspended particles (PM₁₈, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁) at this sampling site. In addition, the study also showed that the main pollutants contributions were from traffic and residual areas. As for the pollutants seasonal concentrations variations, the results indicated that the average particle concentrations orders were all displayed as daytime?>?nighttime for PM₁₈, PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ at this characteristic sampling site. The results further indicated that the mean highest of metal concentrations in this study indicated that the average metal concentration were all displayed as Mn?>?Cr?>?Ni?>?Pb?>?Cd for PM₁₈, PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ on daytime and nighttime at this characteristic sampling site.     

Assessment of pathogenic bacteria in water and sediment from a water reservoir under tropical conditions (Lake Ma Vallée), Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo

This study was conducted to assess potential human health risks presented by pathogenic bacteria in a protected multi-use lake-reservoir (Lake Ma Vallée) located in west of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Water and surface sediments from several points of the Lake were collected during summer. Microbial analysis was performed for Escherichia coli, Enterococcus (ENT), Pseudomonas species and heterotrophic plate counts. PCR amplification was performed for the confirmation of E. coli, ENT, Pseudomonas spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from samples. The results reveal low concentration of bacteria in water column of the lake, the bacterial quantification results observed in this study for the water column were below the recommended limits, according to WHO and the European Directive 2006/7/CE, for bathing water. However, high concentration of bacteria was observed in the sediment samples; the values of 2.65?×?10³, 6.35?×?10³, 3.27?×?10³ and 3.60?×?10⁸ CFU g^?1 of dry sediment for E. coli, ENT, Pseudomonas spp. and heterotrophic plate counts, respectively. The results of this study indicate that sediments of the Lake Ma Vallée can constitute a reservoir of pathogenic microorganisms which can persist in the lake. Possible resuspension of faecal indicator bacteria and pathogens would affect water quality and may increase health risks to the population during recreational activities. Our results indicate that the microbial sediment analysis provides complementary and important information for assessing sanitary quality of surface water under tropical conditions.     

Assessment of indoor airborne contamination in a wastewater treatment plant

The main objective of this work was to quantify and characterize the major indoor air contaminants present in different stages of a municipal WWTP, including microorganisms (bacteria and fungi), carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide ammonia, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In general, the total bacteria concentration was found to vary from 60 to >52,560 colony-forming units (CFU)/m³, and the total fungi concentration ranged from 369 to 14,068 CFU/m³. Generally, Gram-positive bacteria were observed in higher number than Gram-negative bacteria. CO₂ concentration ranged from 251 to 9,710 ppm, and CO concentration was either not detected or presented a level of 1 ppm. H₂S concentration ranged from 0.1 to 6.0 ppm. NH₃ concentration was <2 ppm in most samples. Formaldehyde was <0.01 ppm at all sampling sites. The total VOC concentration ranged from 36 to 1,724 μg/m³. Among the VOCs, toluene presented the highest concentration. Results point to indoor/outdoor ratios higher than one. In general, the highest levels of airborne contaminants were detected at the primary treatment (SEDIPAC 3D), secondary sedimentation, and sludge dehydration. At most sampling sites, the concentrations of airborne contaminants were below the occupational exposure limits (OELs) for all the campaigns. However, a few contaminants were above OELs in some sampling sites.     

Comparison of fecal coliform bacteria before and after wastewater treatment plant in the Izmir Bay (Eastern Aegean Sea)

The distribution of fecal coliforms was investigated and determined in Izmir Bay from 1996 to 2005. Izmir Bay severely was polluted from industrial and domestic discharges during decades. In early 2000, a wastewater treatment plant began to treat domestic and industrial wastes. This plant treats the wastes about 80% capacity after 2001. The sampling periods cover before and after treatment plant. Assessment method for determining the number of fecal coliform has evolved membrane filtrations. Maximum surface fecal coliform concentration was 4.9 × 10⁵ cfu 100 ml^???1 in 1996–2000 period. Following the opening treatment system, fecal coliform density decreased 2.1 × 10⁴ cfu 100 ml^???1 during 2001–2005. A continuous improvement can be sustained in the water quality if direct inflow of untreated wastewater is prevented.     

Water quality and bacteriology in an aquaculture facility equipped with a new aeration system

The HOBAS aeration system was tested to compare changes in environmental and bacteriological parameters in ponds growing Penaeus monodon during a single production cycle. The stocking density in the aerated pond was doubled to 12 post-larvae (PL) m^???2 in contrast to the non-aerated pond with 6 (PL) m^???2. Microbial abundance in the ponds ranged between 10^5???6 cells ml^???1. Among the physiological groups of bacteria enumerated, the heterotrophs dominated with an abundance of 10⁴ CFU ml^???1. Of the nitrogen and sulfur cycle bacteria, the nitrifiers flourished in the aerated pond and could maintain ammonia-N concentration within permissible levels. Bacterial activity also maintained sulfide concentrations at <?0.03 mg l^???1. Non-aerated conditions promoted denitrification maintaining nitrate concentration between 0.32 and 0.98 μM NO₃ ^???-N l^???1. However, a marked increase in ammonium content was observed in the non-aerated pond at the end of the culture period. Thus in high-density ponds, the aerators served to stimulate bacterial growth and activity which consequently maintained the quality of the water to match that of low-density ponds. Accordingly, these aerators could be effectively used to sustain higher yields. The effluent from the aerated pond is less likely to alter the redox balance of the receiving waters.     

Inverse Modeling for Aquatic Source and Transport Parameters Identification and its Application to Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Inverse modeling technique based on nonlinear least square regression method (LSRM) is developed for the identification of aquatic source and transport parameters. Instantaneous line source release model in two-dimensional domain and continuous point source release model in three-dimensional domain are used for the purpose. Case studies have been carried out for both types of releases to illustrate their application. Error analysis has been carried out to identify the maximum error that can be tolerated in the input concentration data used in the inverse model and to specify the minimum number of sampling points to generate such input data. The LSRM is compared with the well-established correlation coefficient optimization method for instantaneous line source release model, and good comparison is observed between them. The LSRM is used to quantitatively estimate the releases of different radionuclides into the Pacific Ocean which has resulted due to the discharge of highly radioactive liquid effluent from the affected Daiichi Nuclear Power Station at Fukushima in Japan. The measured concentrations of these radionuclides in seawater samples collected from two sampling points near Fukushima are used for the estimation. The average release works out to be 1.09?×?10¹⁶ for ¹³¹I, 3.4?×?10¹⁵ Bq for ¹³⁴Cs, and 3.57?×?10¹⁵ Bq for ¹³⁷Cs. Very good agreement is observed between the releases estimated in this study and those estimated by other different agencies.     

Discriminant analysis for the prediction of sand mass distribution in an urban stormwater holding pond using simulated depth average flow velocity data

The approach of this paper is to predict the sand mass distribution in an urban stormwater holding pond at the Stormwater Management And Road Tunnel (SMART) Control Centre, Malaysia, using simulated depth average floodwater velocity diverted into the holding during storm events. Discriminant analysis (DA) was applied to derive the classification function to spatially distinguish areas of relatively high and low sand mass compositions based on the simulated water velocity variations at corresponding locations of gravimetrically measured sand mass composition of surface sediment samples. Three inflow parameter values, 16, 40 and 80 m³ s^?1, representing diverted floodwater discharge for three storm event conditions were fixed as input parameters of the hydrodynamic model. The sand (grain size?>?0.063 mm) mass composition of the surface sediment measured at 29 sampling locations ranges from 3.7 to 45.5 %. The sampling locations of the surface sediment were spatially clustered into two groups based on the sand mass composition. The sand mass composition of group 1 is relatively lower (3.69 to 12.20 %) compared to group 2 (16.90 to 45.55 %). Two Fisher’s linear discriminant functions, F ₁ and F ₂, were generated to predict areas; both consist of relatively higher and lower sand mass compositions based on the relationship between the simulated flow velocity and the measured surface sand composition at corresponding sampling locations. F ₁?=??9.405?+?4232.119?×?A???1795.805?×?B?+?281.224?×?C, and F ₂?=??2.842?+?2725.137?×?A???1307.688?×?B?+?231.353?×?C. A, B and C represent the simulated flow velocity generated by inflow parameter values of 16, 40 and 80 m³ s^?1, respectively. The model correctly predicts 88.9 and 100.0 % of sampling locations consisting of relatively high and low sand mass percentages, respectively, with the cross-validated classification showing that, overall, 82.8 % are correctly classified. The model predicts that 31.4 % of the model domain areas consist of high-sand mass composition areas and the remaining 68.6 % comprise low-sand mass composition areas.     

The potential of biogas production from municipal solid waste in a tropical climate

The objective of this study was to estimate the potential of organic municipal solid waste generated in an urban setting in a tropical climate to produce biogas. Five different categories of wastes were considered: fruit waste, food waste, yard waste, paper waste, and mixed waste. These fractions were assessed for their efficiency for biogas production in a laboratory-scale batch digester for a total period of 8 weeks at a temperature of 15–30 °C. During this period, fruit waste, food waste, yard waste, paper waste, and mixed waste were observed to produce 0.15, 0.17, 0.10, 0.08, and 0.15 m³ of biogas per kilogram of volatile solids, respectively. The biogas produced and caloric value of each feedstock was in the range of 1.25?×?10^?3 m³ (17 kWh)/cap/day (paper waste) to 15?×?10^?3 m³ (170 kWh)/cap/day (mixed waste). Paper waste produced the least (<1×10^?3(<17.8 kWh)/cap/day), and mixed waste produced the highest methane yield (10?×?10^?3 m³ (178 kWh)/cap/day). Thus, mixed waste was found to be more efficient than other feedstocks for biogas and methane production; this was mainly related to the better C/N ratio in mixed waste. Taking the total waste production in Jimma into account, the total mixed organic solid waste could produce 865?×?10³ m³ (5.4 m³/capita) of biogas or 537?×?10³ m³ (3.4 m³/capita) of methane per year. The total caloric value of methane production potential from mixed organic municipal solid waste was many times higher than the total energy requirement of the area.     

Human health damage caused by particulate matter PM10 and ozone in urban environments: the case of Athens, Greece

Studies conducted over the past decades have provided substantial evidence that both the long- and the short-term exposures to ozone and particulate matter are responsible for mortality and cardiopulmonary morbidity. This paper examines the relationship between exposure to ambient concentrations of ozone (O₃) and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 μm (PM₁₀) and public health and provides the quantification of the burden of disease from PM₁₀ and O₃-related mortality and morbidity through a Life Cycle Impact Assessment focused on the greater area of Athens, Greece. Thus, characterizations factors (CFs) for human health damage are calculated in 17 sites in Athens, in terms of the annual marginal change in the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to a marginal increase in the ambient concentrations. It is found that the PM₁₀ intake factors range between 1.25?×?10^?6 and 2.78?×?10^?6, suggesting that 1.25–2.78 μg of PM₁₀ are inhaled by the Athenian population per kg of PM₁₀ in the urban atmosphere. Mortality due to chronic exposure to PM₁₀ has a dominant contribution to years of life lost with values ranging between 6.2?×?10^?5 and 1.1?×?10^?4. On the other hand, the mortality caused by short-term exposure to O₃ is weaker with the CFs ranging between 1.58?×?10^?7?years of life lost in the urban/traffic areas and 4.71?×?10^?7?years in the suburbs. Finally, it is found that 9,000 DALYs are lost on average in Athens, corresponding to 0.0018 DALYs per person. This is equal to 0.135 DALYs per person over a lifetime of approximately 75 years, assuming constant emission rates for the whole period.     

Estimation of transport and degradation parameters for naphthalene and anthracene: influence of mass transfer on kinetics

The distributions of culturable bacteria and functional bacteria associated with nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) in the backwater areas of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) were investigated. Results from seven locations in the TGR indicated that the abundance of total bacteria was high, with 8.12 × 10⁶, 2.70 × 10⁷, and 6.73 × 10¹⁰ colony-forming units per milliliter or per gram dry weight in surface water, bottom water, and sediments, respectively. Aquatic environments with higher nutrient loadings possessed higher bacteria densities and lower bacteria community diversities. Eight kinds of functional bacteria ratios, including surface water to bottom water and ratios of water to sediments, were calculated, in which four kinds of functional bacteria, namely, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, and organophosphate-solubilizing bacteria, displayed obvious differences in different locations. Based on the functional bacteria ratios of water to sediments, it was found that the obtained result of location grouping from cluster analysis was similar to that based on the community-level physiological profiles studies. The above results showed that the ratios of functional bacteria could distinguish the aquatic environments with different trophic conditions in the TGR. This demonstrated that the distribution ratios of functional bacteria in aquatic environments could work as potential bioindicators to reflect the trophic condition of the water.     

Exposure assessment in Beijing, China: biological agents, ultrafine particles, and lead

In this study, air samples were taken using a BioSampler and gelatin filters from six sites in Beijing: office, hospital, student dormitory, train station, subway, and a commercial street. Dust samples were also collected using a surface sampler from the same environments. Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) and Glucatell assays were used to quantify sample endotoxin and (1,3)- ${\rm{\beta}} $ -d-glucan concentration levels, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the dust mite allergens (Der p 1 and Der f 1). Ultrafine particle and lead concentrations in these sampling sites were also measured using P-Trak and atomic absorption spectrometer, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression analysis were used to analyze the concentration data. Higher culturable bacteria (12,639 CFU/m³) and fungi (1,806 CFU/m³) concentrations were observed for the train station and the subway system, respectively. For the rest of sampling sites, their concentrations were comparable to those found in western countries, ranging from 990 to 2,276 CFU/m³ for bacteria, and from 119 to 269 CFU/m³ for fungi. ANOVA analysis indicated that there were statistically significant differences between the culturable bacterial and fungal concentration levels obtained for different sites (p value = 0.0001 and 0.0047). As for dust allergens, endotoxin, and (1,3)-β -d-glucan, their concentrations also seemed to be comparable to those found in the developed countries. Airborne allergen concentrations ranged from 16 to 68 ng/m³. The dust-borne allergen concentration was observed to range from 0.063 to 0.327 ng/mg. As for endotoxin, the highest airborne concentration of 25.24 ng/m³ was observed for the commercial street, and others ranged from 0.0427 to 0.1259 ng/m³. And dust-borne endotoxin concentration ranged from 58.83 to 6,427.4 ng/mg. For (1,3)-β -d-glucan, the airborne concentration ranged from 0.02 to 1.2 ng/m³. Linear regression analyses showed that there existed poor correlations between those in airborne and dust-borne states (R²?=?0.002~0.43). In our study, the lowest ultrafine particle concentration about 5,203 pt/cm³ was observed in office and the highest was observed at the train station, up to 32,783 pt/cm³. Lead concentration was shown to range from 80 to 170 ng/mg with the highest also observed at the train station. The information provided in this work can be used to learn the general situation of relevant health risks in Beijing. And the results here suggested that when characterizing exposure both airborne and dust-borne as well as the environments should be considered.     

Acidic and basic properties and buffer capacity of airborne particulate matter in an urban area of Beijing

Particles with aerodynamic diameters <10  $\upmu $ m (PM₁₀) and particles with aerodynamic diameters <2.5  $\upmu $ m (PM_2.5) were sampled during summer 2006 in Beijing and mass concentrations, water-soluble ionic compounds concentrations, and acidic buffer capacity were analyzed. Results show that the mass concentration ranges of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were from 56.4 to 226.6  $\upmu $ g/m³ and from 31.3 to 200.7  $\upmu $ g/m³ during sampling days, respectively. Concentrations of F^???, Cl^???, NO $_{3}^{\,\,-}$ , NO $_{2}^{\,\,-}$ , SO $_{4}^{\,\,2-}$ , Ac^???, Ca^2?+?, Na^?+?, K^?+?, Mg^2?+?, and NH $_{4}^{\,\,+}$ in particles were analyzed by ion chromatography. Microtitration was adapted to determine the acidic?Cbasic property and the change of the buffering systems in different pH of the aqueous solution in which the PM is suspended. The major alkalinity and buffer capacity of particles were analyzed and calculated. The average carbonate buffer capacity was 0.3 mmol/g in PM_2.5 and 0.7 mmol/g in PM₁₀. The average acetic acid buffer capacity was 0.1 mmol/g in PM_2.5 and 0.3 mmol/g in PM₁₀. Carbonate and acetic acid are the main species for the buffer capacity in the particle phase. The average mass of carbonate was 71.0 mg/g in PM₁₀ and 46.7 mg/g in PM_2.5. The average mass of acetic acid was 11.2 mg/g in PM_2.5 and 20.0 mg/g in PM₁₀.     

Distributions, sources, and ecological risks of DDT-related contaminants in water, suspended particulate matter, and sediments from Haihe Plain, Northern China

The residual levels of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites (DDXs, including p,p′-DDT, DDD, and DDE) in water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediments from major rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in Haihe Plain were measured with a gas chromatograph equipped with a ⁶³Ni microelectron capture detector. In the fall of 2004, the contents of the total DDXs in the water and SPM were 0.29?±?0.69 ng L^?1 and 423.13?±?577.85 ng g^?1 dry wt., respectively. In the spring of 2005, the total DDXs were 0.36?±?0.91 ng L^?1 for water and 35.93?±?62.65 ng g^?1 dry wt. for SPM. The average concentration of DDXs for sediments was 7.10?±?7.57 ng g^?1 dry wt. during the two seasons. The Eastern-Hebei-Province Coastland River System was the most polluted, which was mainly attributable to the extensive use of DDT pesticide and dicofol in that system. Recent DDT inputs still occur in some regions, as indicated by DDT/(DDD + DDE) > 1 at 29–36 % of the sites for water and 55–61 % of the sites for SPM. The potential ecological risks of DDT in the water were assessed using a species sensitivity distribution model. Only shrimp and crabs were found to have potentially affected fraction values of 1.63?×?10^?3 to 2.27?×?10^?4, with probabilities beyond the hazardous concentration for 5 % of species (HC5) values of 1.90–2.56 %, suggesting only slight risks. DDXs in the sediments of some sites were also of potential risk to benthic organism based on consensus-based sediment quality guidelines.