Project tocoen. The fate of selected organic pollutants in the environment—iv. soil,earthworms and vegetation 1988

The samples of soils, earthworms and vegetation (needles, lichens, mosses) were collected for the realization of Project TOCOEN (Toxic Organic Compounds in the ENvironment). The samples were collected from three TOCOEN model areas in Czechoslovakia—one city and two rural areas. The samples were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated pesticides (C1‐PEST) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).     

Recovery from acidification in central Europe--observed and predicted changes of soil and streamwater chemistry in the Lysina catchment,Czech Republic

The geochemical model MAGIC was applied to estimate streamwater and soil chemistry between 1851 and 2030 at the Lysina catchment, an acid-sensitive granitic catchment covered by planted Norway spruce monoculture in the western Czech Republic. The total deposition of sulfur to the catchment was 164 meq m(-2) in 1991, but had declined to 52 meq m(-2) by 2000. Although SO2 emissions in the region declined by 90% compared to the 1980s, acidification recovery was small within the period 1990-2000. Stream pH increased only slightly (from 3.92 to 4.07), although SO4 concentration declined sharply from 568 microeq l(-1) (1990) to 232 microeq l(-1) (2000). Organic acids played an important role in streamwater buffering. According to the MAGIC prediction using deposition measured in 1999-2000, streamwater pH will increase to 4.3 and soil base saturation will increase to 6.2% by 2030 (from 5.7% in 2002). Pre-industrial pH was estimated to be 5.5 and soil base saturation 24.7%. The loss of base cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K) was caused predominantly by atmospheric acidity, but intensive forestry was responsible for approximately one third of the net base cation loss via accumulation in harvested biomass. Severely damaged sites, under continued pressure from forestry, will not return to a good environmental status in the near future (if ever) when the acid deposition input is only partially reduced.     

First study of congener group patterns and concentrations of short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in fish from the North and Baltic Sea

This study presents the first investigation of concentrations and congener group patterns of short- (SCCPs) and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) in fish from the North and Baltic Sea. North Sea dab, cod and flounder were studied. High resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) coupled to low resolution mass spectrometry (LRMS) in the electron capture negative ionization mode (ECNI) was employed. Good linearity (R2>0.993, 7 measuring points) was achieved between 1 and 100 ng/g of CP mixtures for SCCPs and MCCPs. The limits of detection were 0.5-1 ng/microl of CP mixture for the major congener groups of SCCPs and MCCPs. A clean-up comprising fat extraction, adsorption chromatography on silicagel impregnated with concentrated sulphuric acid and adsorption chromatography on Florisil was employed to avoid interferences from other polychlorinated compounds. Recoveries of CPs in spiked samples ranged between 80% and 100%. Accuracy was controlled with spiked samples and deviated not more than 10% from the expected values. Quantification was performed with standards of an average chlorine content as close as possible to that of the samples (SCCPs: 59-62%, MCCPs: 53-58%). SCCP concentrations ranged between 19 and 286 ng/g liver wet weight (ww), MCCP concentrations were comparable with a range of 25-260 ng/gww. Congener group patterns were also determined and discussed. In samples from the Baltic Sea the SCCP congener pattern was similar to that of commercial SCCP mixtures or C13 congeners were most abundant. In samples from the North Sea a higher relative abundance of C10 congeners was observed.     

The importance of biological factors affecting trace metal concentration as revealed from accumulation patterns in co-occurring terrestrial invertebrates

As physicochemical properties of the soil highly influence the bioavailable fraction of a particular trace metal, measured metal body burdens in a particular species are often assumed to be more reliable estimators of the contamination of the biota. To test this we compared the Cd, Cu and Zn content of three spiders (generalist predators) and two amphipods (detritivores), co-occurring in seven tidal marshes along the river Schelde, between each other and with the total metal concentrations and the concentrations of four sequential extractions of the soils. Correlations were significant in only one case and significant site x species interactions for all metals demonstrate that factors affecting metal concentration were species and site specific and not solely determined by site specific characteristics. These results emphasize that site and species specific biological factors might be of the utmost importance in determining the contamination of the biota, at least for higher trophic levels. A hypothetical example clarifies these findings.     

ICE举措:欧洲实践中的化学品运输安全

国际化学品环境(ICE)计划是欧洲化学品公司之间的一项合作努力,以防止化学品事故以及若且当其发生时有效地做出反应.该计划为化学工业提供了一种使其专门知识可供国家应急主管部门利用的载体.     

On airborne nano/micro-sized wear particles released from low-metallic automotive brakes

The paper addresses the wear particles released from commercially available “low-metallic” automotive brake pads subjected to brake dynamometer tests. Particle size distribution was measured in situ and the generated particles were collected. The collected fractions and the original bulk material were analyzed using several chemical and microscopic techniques. The experiments demonstrated that airborne wear particles with sizes between 10 nm and 20 μm were released into the air. The numbers of nanoparticles (<100 nm) were by three orders of magnitude larger when compared to the microparticles. A significant release of nanoparticles was measured when the average temperature of the rotor reached 300 °C, the combustion initiation temperature of organics present in brakes. In contrast to particle size distribution data, the microscopic analysis revealed the presence of nanoparticles, mostly in the form of agglomerates, in all captured fractions. The majority of elements present in the bulk material were also detected in the ultra-fine fraction of the wear particles.     

Nitrogen leaching and acidification during 19 years of NH₄NO₃ additions to a coniferous-forested catchment at Gårdsjön, Sweden (NITREX)

The role of nitrogen (N) in acidification of soil and water has become relatively more important as the deposition of sulphur has decreased. Starting in 1991, we have conducted a whole-catchment experiment with N addition at Gårdsjön, Sweden, to investigate the risk of N saturation. We have added 41 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ as NH₄NO₃ to the ambient 9 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in fortnightly doses by means of sprinkling system. The fraction of input N lost to runoff has increased from 0% to 10%. Increased concentrations of NO₃ in runoff partially offset the decreasing concentrations of SO₄ and slowed ecosystem recovery from acid deposition. From 1990-2002, about 5% of the total N input went to runoff, 44% to biomass, and the remaining 51% to soil. The soil N pool increased by 5%. N deposition enhanced carbon (C) sequestration at a mean C/N ratio of 42-59 g g⁻¹.     

Riparian Zone Influence on Stream Water Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentrations at the Swedish Integrated Monitoring Sites

Short-term variability in stream water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations is controlled by hydrology, climate and atmospheric deposition. Using the Riparian flow-concentration Integration Model (RIM), we evaluated factors controlling stream water DOC in the Swedish Integrated Monitoring (IM) catchments by separating out hydrological effects on stream DOC dynamics. Model residuals were correlated with climate and deposition-related drivers. DOC was most strongly correlated to water flow in the northern catchment (Gammtratten). The southern Aneboda and Kindla catchments had pronounced seasonal DOC signals, which correlated weakly to flow. DOC concentrations at Gårdsjön increased, potentially in response to declining acid deposition. Soil temperature correlated strongly with model residuals at all sites. Incorporating soil temperature in RIM improved model performance substantially (20–62% lower median absolute error). According to the simulations, the RIM conceptualization of riparian processes explains between 36% (Kindla) and 61% (Aneboda) of the DOC dynamics at the IM sites.     

Stakeholder attitudes on Carbon Capture and Storage—An international comparison

This paper presents results from a survey of stakeholder attitudes towards Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The survey is the first to make a global comparison across three major regions: North America, Japan, and Europe. It is based on a 30-question survey which targeted individuals working at stakeholder organizations that seek to shape, and will need to respond to, policy on CCS, including electric utilities, oil and gas companies, CO₂-intensive industries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The paper reports results from the original survey carried out in 2006 and from a recent follow up on key CCS questions (April 2009).The results show generally small differences across the regions and between the different groups of stakeholders. All believed that the challenge of significant reductions in emissions using only current technologies was severe. There was a widespread belief that CCS as well as renewable technologies such as solar power will achieve major market entry into the electricity sector within the next 10–20 years, whereas there is more scepticism about the role of hydrogen and especially nuclear fusion in the next 50 years. All groups were generally positive towards renewable energy. Yet, there were some notable areas of disagreement in the responses, for example, as expected, NGOs considered the threat of climate change to be more serious than the other groups. North American respondents were more likely to downplay the threat compared to those of the other regions. The Japanese were more concerned about the burden that would be placed on industry in the coming decade as a result of emissions constraints and NGOs were more likely to believe that the burden imposed would be light or very light. NGO respondents also believed CCS to be far more attractive than nuclear power (fission) but much less than renewables. As expected, the risk for leakage from reservoirs was ranked number one of the risk options given. The follow-up study generally confirmed the results of the original study with a few notable differences. As expected, the results of the follow-up shows that respondents consider CCS to play an increased role in the national climate debate. In Japan, there was an increased fraction of respondents who claimed that their organization has a clear position on CCS.     

Antimony content of macrofungi from clean and polluted areas

Species of macrofungi (mushrooms) were collected from clean areas and analyzed for their antimony content. These were compared to species collected from extremely polluted areas in the vicinity of a lead smelter and on mine and slag dumps. Antimony content was determined using long-term instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Ectomycorrhizal and terrestrial saprobic macrofungi were examined. Antimony content of macrofungi from the clean areas was mostly less than 100 μg kg⁻¹ (dry mass). The highest concentrations (units of mg kg⁻¹) were found in various species of the ectomycorrhizal genera Chalciporus and Suillus. Antimony contents of macrofungi growing in the polluted areas were considerably higher. The highest content was found in a single collection of Chalciporus piperatus (1423 mg kg⁻¹).