Experimental assessment and validation of quantification methods for cellulose content in municipal wastewater and sludge

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cellulose, mostly in the form of toilet paper, forms a major component of the particulates in raw municipal wastewater, which could lead to...     

Hazardous and essential trace elements profile in the different soft tissues of Lithophaga lithophaga (Linnaeus, 1758) from Southern Adriatic Sea (Italy)

A characterization study of 7 hazardous (Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Cr, U, and Ni) and 11 essential (Co, Mo, Se, Cu, Zn, V, Ca, Al, Sr, Mn, and Fe) trace elements in date mussels (Lithophaga lithophaga,Linnaeus, 1758) was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Date mussels (231 individuals), caught in the Gulf of Manfredonia (Southern Italy), were divided into 4 size-related groups. The different tissues (muscle, stomach, hepatopancreas and rest of soft tissues) were separated and analyzed to study the capability of absorption of this species. No particular differences were reported on the basis of the shell size; the soft tissues play an important role on the accumulation levels of hazardous and essential trace elements. These marine animals may be considered a good bioindicator of marine environmental pollution for their longevity and habitat permanence peculiarities.     

Effects of biochar,ochre and manure amendments associated with a metallicolous ecotype of Agrostis capillaris on As and Pb stabilization of a former mine technosol

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Metal(loid) soil pollution is a major environmental and health issue, requiring these areas to be remediated, for example through phytoremediation processes....     

Efficiency in hydrocarbon degradation and biosurfactant production by Joostella sp. A8 when grown in pure culture and consortia

Joostella strains are emerging candidates for biosurfactant production. Here such ability was analyzed for Joostella strain A8 in comparison with Alcanivorax strain A53 and Pseudomonas strain A6, all previously isolated from hydrocarbon enrichment cultures made of polychaete homogenates. In pure cultures Joostella sp. A8 showed the highest stable emulsion percentage(78.33%), hydrophobicity rate(62.67%), and an optimal surface tension reduction during growth in mineral medium supplemented with diesel oil(reduction of about 12 mN/m), thus proving to be highly competitive with Alcanivorax and Pseudomonas strains. During growth in pure culture different level of biodegradation were detected for Alcanivorax strain A53(52.7%),Pseudomonas strain A6(38.2%) and Joostella strain A8(26.8%). When growing in consortia,isolates achieved similar abundance values, with the best efficiency that was observed for the Joostella-Pseudomonas co-culture. Gas-chromatographic analysis revealed an increase in the biodegradation efficiency in co-cultures(about 90%), suggesting that the contemporary action of different bacterial species could improve the process. Results were useful to compare the efficiencies of well-known biosurfactant producers(i.e. Pseudomonas and Alcanivorax representatives) with a still unknown biosurfactant producer, i.e. Joostella, and to confirm them as optimal biosurfactant-producing candidates.     

Chloride extraction for quality improvement of municipal solid waste incinerator ash for the concrete industry.

Coal ash from power stations has long been used successfully in the cement industry as binders in several Portland formulations. This is not the case for municipal solid waste (MSW) ash as chloride concentrations, ranging from 10 to 200 g kg(-1) dry weight in the bottom and fly ash, respectively, exceed the maximum allowable concentration in most cement mixtures. To reduce chloride content in MSW bottom ash, a laboratory investigation was carried out based on the exhaustive washing in tap water. The influence of operative parameters such as temperature, granulometric properties and solid/liquid ratio of extraction was evaluated. In addition to optimization of the mentioned operative parameters for full-scale application, the paper gives preliminary indications on mechanistic aspects of the washing operation.     

Equilibrium disorders in workers exposed to mixed solvents

Background. Organic solvents cause diseases of the vestibular system. However, little is known regarding the correlation between vestibular damage and exposure to organic solvents below threshold limit values. The best measure by which to evaluate vestibular disorders is static and dynamic posturography. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate equilibrium disorders via static and dynamic posturography in workers without clear symptoms and exposed to low doses of mixed solvents. Methods. 200 subjects were selected. Using an Otometrics device (Madsen, Denmark), all subjects endured static and dynamic posturography testing with both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Results were compared with a control group of unexposed individuals. Result. Based on the obtained data, the following results can be drawn: (a) subjects exposed to mixtures of solvents show highly significant differences regarding all static and dynamic posturography parameters in comparison to the control group; (b) posturography testing has proven to be a valid means by which to detect subliminal equilibrium disorders in subjects exposed to solvents. Conclusion. We can confirm that refinery workers exposed to mixtures of solvents can present subliminal equilibrium disorders. Early diagnosis of the latter is made possible by static and dynamic posturography.     

An experiment in the electrokinetic removal of copper from soil contaminated by the brass industry

The feasibility of electrokinetic remediation of copper-contaminated soil was evaluated following eight days of electroreclamation. The results indicate that electrokinetic reclamation of Cu is totally ineffective in soil composed primarily of clay minerals and organic matter. The strong absorption of copper by this kind of soil, in our view mainly a result of retention by the clay component, makes it resistant to mobilization by the electrogenerated acidic front as well as by citrates (the competitors of natural chelating agents, i.e., humates). Such conditions, while adverse for the electroremediation process, may cause this kind of soil to act as a natural barrier to the leaching of copper ions.     

Increased levels of polychlorobiphenyls in Italian women with endometriosis

Endometriosis has been hypothesised to be linked to persistent and toxic organochlorinated chemicals. Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds have in particular been associated with the disease, mainly on the basis of experimental studies. Data in women are conflicting. A case-control study on 80 Italian nulliparous women of reproductive age was carried out to assess whether there is a correlation between the presence of endometriosis and blood levels of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), a family of ubiquitary environmental pollutants which comprises congeners with dioxin-like activity. Higher levels of PCBs were found in women with endometriosis. A mean cumulative value of 410 ng g(-1), lipid base, was found in cases versus the value of 250 ng g(-1) observed in the control group (odds ratio for upper tertile 4.0, CI 95% 1.3-13; p = 0.0003). PCB increase involved both dioxin-like (PCBs 105, 118, 156, and 167) and non-dioxin-like congeners (PCBs 101, 138, 153, 170, 180).