Tolerance to trichlorophenols in microorganisms from a polluted and a pristine site of a river

The effect of 2,4,5- and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol on the microbiota from a polluted and a pristine site of a river was studied. Bacterial metabolic activity measurements by epifluorescence microscopy showed that the polluted site contained more metabolically active cells than the pristine site. Total culturable bacterial counts and tolerant bacterial counts from both sites were not affected by incubation (for up to 5 days) with 200 ppm of chlorophenols. However, the incubation with 500 ppm of 2,4,5-trichlorophenol prevented detection of total and tolerant bacterial counts in the pristine site, and inhibited tolerants in the polluted site. None of 250 bacterial colonies directly isolated from these samples was able to grow on chlorophenols. However, bacteria able to grow on 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, were obtained by enrichment of water and sediments samples.     

Persistent organic pollutant in a fish community of a sub-alpine lake

This study investigated the presence of organochlorine pollutants in abiotic and biotic samples from Lake Como (Italy). DDTs and PCBs were found to be the major contaminants, ranging from 0.04 to 4.25 and from 0.25 to 40.8 μg/g lipid respectively. Evidence of biomagnification according to the trophic role of the investigated organisms was highlighted by means of Stable Isotope Analysis. A Trophic Magnification Factor (TMF) was calculated for the chemicals of interest and the applicability of the method for global use was confirmed. Statistically significant correlation has been found between the calculated trophic level and the concentrations of more lipophilic compounds, while for the less lipophilic (e.g., HCH, 3CBs) the relationship is no statistically significant and the TMF is close to 1.The role of the foraging area in affecting PCB and DDT concentrations within aquatic ecosystems has been highlighted by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA).     

Biological treatment of a contaminated gaseous emission from a leather industry in a suspended-growth bioreactor

A suspended-growth bioreactor (SGB) was operated for the treatment of a gaseous stream mimicking emissions generated at a leather industrial company. The main volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the gaseous stream consisted of 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanone, 2-butoxyethanol, toluene and butylacetate. A microbial consortium able to degrade these VOCs was successfully enriched. A laboratory-scale SGB was established and operated for 210-d with an 8h cycle period and with shutdowns at weekends. Along this period, the SGB was exposed to organic loads (OL) between 6.5 and 2.3 x 10(2) g h(-1) m(-3). Most of the compounds were not detected at the outlet of the SGB. The highest total VOC removal efficiency (RE) (ca 99%) was observed when an OL of 1.6 x 10(2) g h(-1) m(-3) was fed to the SGB. The maximum total VOC elimination capacity (1.8 x 10(2) g h(-1) m(-3)) was achieved when the OL applied to the SGB was 2.3 x 10(2) g h(-1) m(-3). For all the operating conditions, the SGB showed high levels of degradation of toluene and butylacetate (RE approximately equal to 100%). This study also revealed that recirculation of the gaseous effluent improved the performance of the SGB. Overall, the SGB was shown to be robust, showing high performance after night and weekend shutdown periods.     

Fate of ochratoxin a in goats

Abstract

The fate of ochratoxin A (OA) was studied in goats given a single oral dose of ³H‐OA (0.5 mg/kg). More than 90% of the radioactivity was found to be excreted in 7 days and the majority (53%) was found in feces. Thirty‐eight percent, 6% and 2.26% of the activity was found in urine, milk and serum, respectively. The radioactivity in the liver and kidney 6 hours after feeding amounted to 1.5 and 0.5% of the total dose administered, respectively. Subsequent fractionation of liver and kidney homogenates revealed that microsomes, ribosomes and post‐ribosomal supernatant fractions contained most radioactivity. Thin layer chromatographic analyses revealed two additional radioactive spots with Upvalues and fluorescent characteristics different from OA, Oα and 4‐OH‐OA. Whereas OA was found as the unaltered molecule in feces, the metabolites were primarily found in urine and milk. Less than 0.03% of free OA was found in milk during the 7‐day period.     

Mechanisms of phosphorus solubilisation in a limed soil as a function of pH

Phosphorus (P) quantity-intensity relationships are central to the solubility and release of P from soil to water. Relationships between P extractable by 0.5 M NaHCO extractable P (Olsen P; quantity, Q) and P extractable by 0.01 M CaCl(2) (CaCl(2)-P; possible predictor of soil solution or drainage water P; intensity, I) are curvilinear: above a certain Olsen P concentration, CaCl(2)-P becomes much more soluble than when below it. Aluminium-, Fe- and Ca-P forms (extractable by Olsen's reagent) are thought to control P solubility. Thus, our objectives were to identify P forms in equilibrium with CaCl(2)-P via solubility equilibrium experiments, and the behaviour of CaCl(2)-P in relation to Al, Fe and Ca associated P, determined with 31P high power decoupling magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P HPDec/MAS NMR). Results indicated that two Q-I relationships occurred, one for soils above pH 5.8, and the other for soils below pH 5.8. Above pH 5.8, soils were saturated with respect to hydroxyapatite (Ca(5)(PO(4))(3)OH) and undersaturated with respect to beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-Ca(3)(PO(4))(2)), while log ion-activity products showed that all soils and pHs were either saturated or in equilibrium with variscite (AlPO(4).2H(2)O) or its amorphous analogue. Using 31P HPDec/MAS NMR, Ca-P was best correlated with CaCl(2)-P in soils above pH 5.8, and with Al-P in soils below this pH. This study demonstrates the value of solid-state NMR in conjunction with wet chemical techniques for the study of labile P and P loss from pasture soils with a wide range of managements.     

Fate of the 14C-labeled herbicide prosulfocarb in a soil and in a sediment-water system

The fate of ¹⁴C-labeled herbicide prosulfocarb was studied in an agricultural soil and in a sediment-water system, the sediment part of which was derived from Yangtze Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Time-course studies were performed for 28 d and 49 d, respectively. Main transformation routes of ¹⁴C-prosulfocarb were mineralization to ¹⁴CO₂ and formation of nonextractable residues amounting to 12.13% and 10.43%, respectively, after 28 days (soil), and 9.40% and 11.98%, respectively, after 49 d (sediment-water system). Traces of prosulfocarbsulfoxide were detected by means of TLC, HPLC, and LC-MS; other transformation products were not found. Initial extraction of soil assays using 0.01 M CaCl₂ solution showed that the bioavailability of the herbicide was considerably low; immediately after application (0.1 d of incubation), only 4.78% of applied radioactivity were detected in this aqueous fraction. DT₅₀ values of ¹⁴C-prosulfocarb estimated from radio-TLC and -HPLC analyses were above 28 d in soil and ranged between 29 d and 49 d in the sediment-water system. Partitioning of ¹⁴C from water to sediment phase occurred with DT₅₀ slightly above 2 d. With regard to the sediment-water system, adsorption occurred with log K_oc = 1.38 (calculated from 2 day assays) and 2.35 (49 d assays). As similarly estimated from portions of ¹⁴C found in CaCl₂ extracts of the 0.1 d assays, ¹⁴C-prosulfocarb's log K_oc in soil was 2.96. With both experiments, similar portions of nonextractable radioactivity were associated with all soil organic matter fractions, i.e. nonhumics, fulvic acids, humic acids, and humin/minerals. Throughout all sample preparation, the experiments were severely impaired by losses of radioactivity especially with concentration of samples containing water in vacuo. All findings pointed to volatility of parent prosulfocarb in presence of water rather than volatility of transformation products. According to literature data, this behavior of prosulfocarb was not expected, though volatility was demonstrated under field conditions.     

污水厂生物除臭设施运行及影响因素的研究

在污水处理过程中会有大量的恶臭气体产生,主要含硫化氢和氨等发臭物质.这些臭味物质逸散到空气中,对污水处理厂及其周边的空气环境造成危害.针对清河污水处理厂原有生物除臭设施除臭效率难以提高的问题,对气体收集系统和生物除臭滤池内的喷淋管路进行了改造,并更换了新型生物填料.本研究对改造前后的除臭效果进行了考察,结果显示,硫化氢的平均去除率从改造前的36.5%提高到62.9%,最大去除率可以达到96.2%;氨的去除率从28.2%提高到接近100%.臭味气体的处理效果随除臭滤池的温度、气体的相对湿度的升高而提高.为此,对臭味气体的负荷、流量、温度以及湿度等因素进行了研究,在温度＞20℃、相对湿度＞80%的条件下,生物除臭滤池能够有比较理想的处理效果.     

Analysis of chemical contamination within a canal in a Mexican border colonia

This study examines urban pollution within Derechos Humanos, a colonia popular in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. General water quality indicators (coliform bacteria, total dissolved solids, ecologically relevant cations and anions), heavy metals (copper, lead, nickel, zinc, iron and cadmium), and volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and dichlorobenzene and xylene isomers) were quantified within a wastewater canal running adjacent to the community. Water samples were collected at multiple sites along the banks of the canal and evidence of anthropogenic emissions existed at each sampling location. Sample site 2, approximately 10 m upstream of the colonia, contained both the widest range of hazardous pollutants and the greatest number exceeding US Environmental Protection Agency surface water standards. At each sampling location, high concentrations of total coliform (> 10(4) colonies/100 mL sample), lead (ranging from 0.05 to 0.40 mg/L), nickel (levels from 0.21 to 1.45 mg/L), and benzene (up to 9.80 mg/L) were noted.     

Studies of mercury pollution in a lake due to a thermometer factory situated in a tourist resort: Kodaikkanal, India

Kodaikkanal, India, suffered mercury contamination due to emissions and waste from a thermometer factory. Kodai Lake is situated to the north of the factory. The present study determined mercury in waters, sediment and fish samples and compared the values with those from two other lakes, Berijam and Kukkal. Total mercury (Hg(T)) of 356-465 ng l(-1), and 50 ng l(-1) of mercury in methyl mercury form were seen in Kodai waters while Berijam and Kukkal waters showed significantly lower values. Kodai sediment showed 276-350 mg/kg Hg(T) with about 6% methyl mercury. Berijam and Kukkal sediments showed Hg(T) of 189-226 mg/kg and 85-91 mg/kg and lower methylation at 3-4% and 2%, respectively. Hg(T) in fish from Kodai lake ranged from 120 to 290 mg/kg. The results show that pollution of the lake has taken place due to mercury emissions by the factory.     

The use of a high-FeO olivine rock as a redox buffer in a nuclear waste repository

Due to the higher stability of the spent nuclear fuel (mainly composed of UO2) under reducing conditions, and in order to enhance the retention/retardation of some key radionuclides, the olivine rock from the Lovasj?rvi intrusion has been proposed as a potential redox-active backfill-additive in deep high-level nuclear waste (HLNW) repositories. In this work, two different approaches have been undertaken in order to establish the redox buffer capacity of olivine rock: (1) The capacity of the rock to respond to changes in pH or pe has been demonstrated and the final (pH, pe) coordinates agree with the control exerted by the system Fe(II)/Fe(III). (2) The rate of consumption of oxygen has been determined at different pH values. These rates are higher than the ones reported in the literature for other solids, what would point to the possibility of using this rock as an additive to the backfill material in a HLNW.     

Critical velocity and range of a fire-gas plume in a ventilated tunnel

To protect passengers, personnel and equipment in a tunnel fire, it is important to understand and predict the movements of the hot-gas plume. To estimate the range of a fire plume propagating under the ceiling, a model is presented, that depends on two important parameters, i.e. the energy release rate of the fire and the velocity of the ventilation flow. The theoretical results, concerning the upwind range of the plume, agree favourably with experimental data obtained from eight tunnel fire tests. The theoretical value of the critical ventilation velocity, required to arrest the upwind movement of the fire-gas, agrees well with the corresponding experimental results for a wide range of energy release rates. The influences of air entrainment, friction at the ceiling and the associated heat loss are analysed and the results discussed.     

Co-processing of plastic waste in a cement kiln: a better option

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This paper deals with the techniques to use plastic waste for co-processing in cement kiln for energy recovery. Plastics, a versatile material and...     

Anaerobic degradation of naphthalene in a fluvial aquifer: a radiotracer study

A radiotracer study was conducted in a creosote-contaminated aquifer beneath the Fraser River, British Columbia Canada to investigate the in situ degradation of naphthalene. The groundwater is anaerobic, with abundant methane, ferrous iron and carbon dioxide. This study followed earlier work at the site where the contaminant distribution could only be explained by invoking a mass loss through degradation, even though extensive field and laboratory microcosm studies closer to the source zone onshore could not confirm degradation. Accordingly, 14C-naphthalene was injected into the aquifer offshore, further from the source zone where modeling suggested degradation was occurring. During the 230-day monitoring period, 14CO2 was detected, confirming the degradation of the radio-labeled naphthalene tracer. A zero-order degradation rate of naphthalene of 5 microg/L-day was estimated based on the decrease in 14C-naphthalene concentration with time. While the degradation pathway could not be determined from the radiotracer study alone, the geochemistry of the site suggests that either iron reduction or methanogenesis is the terminal electron accepting processes responsible for naphthalene oxidation.     

On the emergence of a health-pollutant-climate nexus in the wake of a global pandemic

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - COVID-19 has wreaked havoc throughout the planet within a short time frame, inducing substantial morbidity and mortality in the global population. The...     

Development and verification of a toxicokinetic model of polychlorinated biphenyl elimination in persons working in a contaminated building

BACKGROUND: Polychlorinated biphenyls are toxic and slowly degrading substances that have been in widespread industrial use in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite a worldwide reduction, environmental exposure remains an issue; the assessment of an individual's level of exposure at a given time in retrospect requires valid toxicokinetic modeling of the different PCB congeners. OBJECTIVES: To develop and verify a toxicokinetic model of the in vivo-degradation of PCB 28 and 52 in adult humans. METHODS: The plasma concentrations of PCB congeners were measured in 583 persons working in a contaminated building for an average of 14.7+/-9.6 years. The values were adapted to a simple pharmacokinetic model (yt = y0 x (1 - e(-kt))); the steady state concentration y0 was estimated based on the median values of persons working exposed more than 10 years. RESULTS: The steady state concentration of PCB 28 was 0.10 microg/l, that of PCB 52 0.02 microg/l. The half-life of the congeners was estimated based on a logarithmic regression analysis according to the model mentioned above; it was 2.18 (95% CI: 1.91-2.54) years for PCB 28 and 3.95 (95% CI: 3.55-4.45) years for PCB 52, respectively. Stepwise elimination of persons with very long employment duration did not reduce the estimated half-life. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated half-life is higher than previously published data especially for PCB 52. Possible reasons and implications of this finding are discussed.     

Recycling in a megacity

In the aftermath of the 9/11 disaster, Mayor Bloomberg of New York City unveiled an aggressive budget plan that included the temporary suspension of glass and plastics recycling. This was considered by many to be anti-environmental, but the results of this study show that for lack of markets, even at zero or negative prices, nearly 90% of the plastic and glass set aside by thoughtful New Yorkers was transported to materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and from there to landfills. Sending bales of plastics to landfills is not limited to New York City. It is an environmental paradox that the United States is digging up new oil fields in pristine areas and, at the same time, continues to convert greenfields to brownfields by burying nearly 20 million tons of plastic fuel annually. The study also determined that at the present rate of source separation, estimated to be less than 30% of the available recyclables in 1999, building large, modern MRFs may increase substantially the rate of New York City recycling and also allow single-stream collection of commingled recyclables, as is done in Phoenix, AZ. Single-stream collection simplifies separation at the source by citizens and increases the amount of collected recyclables. Also, because collection represents a large fraction of the costs of waste management, it may have a significant economic advantage.     

Potential assessment of establishing a renewable energy plant in a rural agricultural area

An evaluation of the green energy potential generated from biogas and solar power, using agricultural manure waste and a photovoltaic (PV) system, was conducted in a large geographical area of a rural county with low population density and low pollution. The studied area, Shoufeng Township in Hualien County, is located in eastern Taiwan, where a large amount of manure waste is generated from pig farms that are scattered throughout the county. The objective of the study is to assess the possibility of establishing an integrated manure waste treatment plant by using the generated biogas incorporated with the PV system to produce renewable energy and then feed it back to the incorporated farms. A filed investigation, geographic information system (GIS) application, empirical equations development, and RETScreen modeling were conducted in the study. The results indicate that Shoufeng Township has the highest priority in setting up an integrated treatment and renewable energy plant by using GIS mapping within a 10-km radius of the transportation range. Two scenarios were plotted in assessing the renewable energy plant and the estimated electricity generation, plus the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction was evaluated. Under the current governmental green energy scheme and from a long-term perspective, the assessment shows great potential in establishing the plant, especially in reducing environmental pollution problems, waste treatment, and developing suitable renewable energy.     

Periphyton as a bioindicator of mercury pollution in a temperate torrential river ecosystem

Mercury presents a potential risk to the environment and humans, especially in its methylated form. It is among the highest priority environmental pollutants. River Idrijca (Slovenia) is highly contaminated with mercury due to past mercury mining. The aim of this work was to investigate whether the periphyton community in rivers such as Idrijca is a suitable indicator of Hg pollution and of changes in mercury methylation and could serve as an early warning system of increased input of MeHg in the food chain. Periphyton is the only site of primary production in temperate torrential rivers such as Idrijca and is therefore an important link in the food chain. It is also a potential site of Hg accumulation and its introduction to higher trophic levels. Our aim was to assess the response of the periphyton to seasonal and spatial variations in mercury levels and to evaluate its potential as an early warning system of changes in mercury reactivity and mobilization The results indicate that periphyton in a torrential river is too complex and unpredictable to be used as a sole indicator of mercury concentrations and changes in the river. Nevertheless, it can complement environmental measurements due to its importance in the riverine food web.     

Destruction of Chlorofluorocarbons in a Cement Kiln

Abstract

One of the thermal oxidation technologies recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is destruction of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in a cement kiln. The destruction of CFC12, CFC11 and CFC113 was studied in a cement kiln plant in actual commercial operation. CFCs were completely destroyed in the kiln under normal operating conditions. Hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride generated by CFC decomposition were absorbed by cement materials. No formation of toxic ha-logenated organic compounds, such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins or dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs), was observed in the CFC incineration.     

Biotic transformation of anticoccidials in soil using a lab-scale bio-reactor as a precursor-tool

Two anticoccidial agents, salinomycin and robenidine, heavily used in the worldwide veterinary meat production, were investigated for their potential biotic degradation by cultured soil bacteria. The degradation-study was performed in lab-scale bio-reactors under aerobic and anaerobic conditions incubated for 200 h with a mixed culture of soil bacteria. Samples were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and potential transformation products were tentatively identified. Salinomycin was degraded under aerobic conditions and traces could be found after 200 h, however, seems more persistent under anaerobic conditions. Four transformation products of salinomycin were discovered. Robenidine was degraded under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, however, traces of robenidine were observed after 200 h. Five biotic transformation products of robenidine were discovered.