Atmospheric concentrations and air-sea exchanges of nonylphenol, tertiary octylphenol and nonylphenol monoethoxylate in the North Sea

Concentrations of nonylphenol isomers (NP), tertiary octylphenol (t-OP) and nonylphenol monoethoxylate isomers (NP1EO) have been simultaneously determined in the sea water and atmosphere of the North Sea. A decreasing concentration profile appeared following the distance increasing from the coast to the central part of the North Sea. Air-sea exchanges of t-OP and NP were estimated using the two-film resistance model based upon relative air-water concentrations and experimentally derived Henry's law constant. The average of air-sea exchange fluxes was -12+/-6 ng m(-2)day(-1) for t-OP and -39+/-19 ng m(-2)day(-1) for NP, which indicates a net deposition is occurring. These results suggest that the air-sea vapour exchange is an important process that intervenes in the mass balance of alkylphenols in the North Sea.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soils of the Moscow region: concentrations and small-scale distribution along an urban-rural transect

In soils of the Moscow region, we examined PCB concentrations in bulk samples and aggregate fractions. Topsoils under grassland and forest at five locations along a southeast-bound transect from Moscow and at a northeastern background location (grassland only) were analysed. We collected aggregates >1 cm and fractionated them into interior and exterior portions and also analysed the remaining soil without the aggregates >1 cm. The concentrations of the sum of 17 PCBs (sigma17PCBs) in 35 bulk soil samples ranged from 3.1 to 42 microg kg(-1). This was 48-61% of the sigma33PCBs determined in 23 selected samples. The congeners 138(+158), 101 and 52 were most abundant. All PCB concentrations and the degree of chlorination declined with increasing distance from Moscow. The PCBs were accumulated in the aggregate exterior (on average 146% of the sigma17PCBs in bulk soil). We conclude that the ecotoxicological risk of PCBs in soils may not be properly assessed with the conventional bulk soil analysis.     

Digital PCR: a powerful new tool for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis?

Recent reports have indicated that digital PCR may be useful for the noninvasive detection of fetal aneuploidies by the analysis of cell-free DNA and RNA in maternal plasma or serum. In this review we provide an insight into the underlying technology and its previous application in the determination of the allelic frequencies of oncogenic alterations in cancer specimens. We also provide an indication of how this new technology may prove useful for the detection of fetal aneuploidies and single gene Mendelian disorders. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Altitude profiles of total chlorinated paraffins in humus and spruce needles from the Alps (MONARPOP)

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are toxic, bioaccumulative, persistent, and ubiquitously present in the environment. CPs were analyzed in humus and needle samples, which were taken within the Monitoring Network in the Alpine Region for Persistent and other Organic Pollutants (MONARPOP) at sampling sites of 7 different altitude profiles in the Alps. Gas chromatography combined with electron ionization tandem mass spectrometry (EI-MS/MS) was used for the determination of total CPs (sum of short, medium and long chain CPs). CPs were found in all samples; the concentrations varied between 7 and 199 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) and within 26 and 460 ng g⁻¹ dw in humus and needle samples, respectively. A clear vertical tendency within the individual altitude profiles could not be ascertained. Within all altitude profiles, elevated concentrations were observed in humus samples taken between 700 and 900 m and between 1300 and 1500 m. In the needle samples no similar correlation could be observed due to higher variation of the data.     

Schwermetalle in Federn

Results from the literature concerning feathers as a matrix for heavy metal accumulation were presented. Especially problems like the differentiation between endo and exogenous contributions, cleaning procedures or the right choice of feather parts were described. The question of the use of feathers for monitoring air, food or bird contamination is also discussed, as well as the advantages or disadvantages of this matrix in comparison to other methods.     

Clean development mechanism: an incentive for waste management projects?

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was introduced by the Kyoto Protocol to provide a financial incentive to establish project activities in developing countries for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also fostering sustainable development. This article shows that waste management project activities play an important role in achieving the aims of the CDM. It describes how these activities have to prove additionality, how the emission reductions must be calculated and monitored in order to be eligible and in order to lead to Certified Emission Reductions (CERs). The article further provides an analysis about the various challenges that are involved in applying the CDM scheme to waste management project activities, which require a new specific set of technical skills and regulatory standards.     

Occurrence and distribution of triclosan in the German Bight (North Sea)

The potential of triclosan (TCS) acting as an endocrine disruptor has led to growing concern about the presence of TCS in the environment. In this study, seawater samples were collected from the German Bight during sampling campaigns conducted with the German research ships Gauss and Ludwig Prandtl. TCS was determined both in the dissolved phase and in the suspended particulate matters with concentrations ranging 0.8-6870 pg L⁻¹ and <1-95 pg L⁻¹, respectively. High concentrations of TCS were present in the estuaries of the Elbe and the Weser, indicating significant input of TCS by the river discharge. The correlation coefficient (R²) between the dissolved concentration and salinity was 0.79 for the data obtained from the Gauss cruise, showing an obvious declining trend from the coast to the open sea.     

Comparative study of the microstructural and magnetic properties of fly ashes obtained from different thermal power plants in West Bengal, India

This paper deals with the physical nature of the fly ashes obtained from two thermal power plants, situated in West Bengal, India. The fly ash samples are characterized by using comprehensive techniques with an emphasis on their ultrafine nature. The particle sizes of the samples are estimated using scanning electron microcopy (SEM) and found to lie within 0.18–5.90 μm. For morphology and compositional analysis, we also use SEM coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. From X-ray study of the fly ashes the nature of conglomeration is seen to be crystalline, and the major components are mullite (Al₆Si₂O₁₃) and quartz (SiO₂). The magnetic measurement of the fly ash samples was carried out by SQUID magnetometer. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra are obtained using a conventional constant-acceleration spectrometer with a ⁵⁷Co/Rh Mössbauer source. The hyperfine parameters obtained, in general, support the findings as made from XRD analysis and provide a quantitative measure of different iron ions present in the samples. The paper presents experimental data on the physical aspects of the fly ash samples of the thermal power plants which comprise coarse, fine, and ultrafine magnetic particulate materials and attempts to provide an exhaustive analysis.