Contamination and emission factors of PCDD/Fs, unintentional PCBs, HxCBz, PeCBz and polychlorophenols in chloranil in China

The production of chloranil is regarded as a potentially significant source of unintentional POPs. This research aimed to identify the contamination levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HxCBz), pentachlorobenzene (PeCBz) and polychlorophenols in chloranil samples and identify the formation pathways. The toxicity equivalent (TEQ) values for PCDD/Fs in the chloranil samples ranged from 163 to 1 540 200 pg I-TEQ g⁻¹, while the PCB TEQ values ranged from 1.9 to 3.3 pg WHO-TEQ g⁻¹. High levels of HxCBz, PeCBz and polychlorophenols were also detected in the chloranil samples. The average emission factors were 522.2 mg I-TEQ t⁻¹ (PCDD/Fs), 0.0026 mg WHO-TEQ t⁻¹ (PCBs), 32.6 mg t⁻¹ (HxCBz), and 136.6 mg t⁻¹ (PeCBz). The PCDD/Fs and PCBs are thought to be formed from the polychlorophenols and polychlorobenzenes generated during the chloranil production process. Purification of the chloranil products can reduce the unintentional POPs releases and protect the environment.     

Can pine needles indicate trends in the air pollution levels at remote sites?

Data from ten years of integrated monitoring were used here to evaluate whether pine needles are a feasible tool for an assessment of long-term trends of the atmospheric contamination. Pine needles collected once a year were compared to high volume air samples collected for 24 h, every 7 days, and passive air samples integrated over 28-day periods. Results showed the same concentration patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) captured in needles and high volume samples. Passive air samplers were less efficient in sampling the particle-bound compounds. Theoretical air volume equivalent to each needle sample (V_EQ) was calculated as a ratio of the needle concentration over the mean air concentration. Results indicated different equivalent volumes for PAHs and organochlorines, possibly due to the faster degradation rates of PAHs in needles. The most important finding is that in the long term a needle monitoring gives very similar information on temporal trends of the atmospheric pollution as does a high volume air monitoring.     

基于AHP的POPs污染控制技术评价方法研究

POPs污染控制技术的引进和推广是削减POPs排放的重要手段,对最大限度地控制我国POPs污染,提升国家履行《斯德哥尔摩公约》的能力具有重要意义。为了筛选出适合我国发展需求与经济水平的技术,在对POPs污染控制技术进行分类研究的基础上,基于层次分析法(AHP)建立了POPs污染控制技术综合评价指标体系和评价方法。同时,选择钢铁行业的两种烟气POPs控制技术进行案例分析,证明了建立的评价方法具有较好的可行性。此外,评价结果表明,高炉煤气干式除尘余压压差发电技术优于转炉煤气干法烟气除尘及尘泥压块技术,应优先考虑在钢铁行业进行应用与推广,以提升行业POPs污染控制能力。     

QSPR for prediction of subcooled vapor pressures (log PL) of polychlorinated trans-azobenzenes

In this study the values of subcooled vapor pressures (log P_L) were estimated for 209 trans chloroazobenzenes (Ct-ABs) that fill some gaps in analytical and experimental data on these compounds. There are 209 chloro derivatives of trans azobenzenes that are relatively stable and more environmentally relevant than 209 chloro cis congeners. The calculations models were based on the Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship (QSPR) scheme using the semi-empirical method (PM6) in molecular package (MOPAC) software and density functional theory (DFT) method using B3LYP functional and 6-311++G** basis set) in Gaussian 03 software method and the artificial neural networks (ANNs) prediction. The values of log P_L predicted by models used varied between ?3.94 to ?2.66 for Mono-; ?4.85 to ?2.97 for Di-; ?5.18 to ?3.17 for Tri-; ?6.02 to ?3.77 for Tetra-; ?6.64 to ?4.64 for Penta-; ?7.36 to ?4.76 for Hexa-; ?7.54 to ?5.79 for Hepta-; ?7.75 to ?6.64 for Octa-; ?7.89 to ?7.44 for Nona-Ct-Abs; and ?8.09 and ?8.13 for Deca-Ct-AB. Based on these values Ct-ABs can be grouped localized among relatively low (log P_L ?4 to ?2) and low (log P_L < ?4) mobile Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Both the calculation methods employed were characterized by similar prediction ability of subcooled vapor pressure values of Ct-ABs, while those of PM6 are much more efficient due to a cheaper hardware used and around 300-fold less time spent on calculations.     

Chemical fate,latitudinal distribution and long-range transport of cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes in the global environment: A modeling assessment

Cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS) such as octamethycyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethycyclopentasiloxane (D5), and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6) are widely used as intermediates in the synthesis of high-molecular weight silicone polymers or as ingredients in the formulation of personal care products. The global environmental fate, latitudinal distribution, and long range transport of those cVMS were analyzed by two multimedia chemical fate models using the best available physicochemical properties as inputs and known persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and highly persistent volatile organic chemicals (“fliers”) as reference. The global transport and accumulation characteristics of cVMS differ from those of typical POPs in three significant ways. First, a large fraction of the released cVMS tends to become airborne and is removed from the global environment by degradation in air, whereas known POPs have a tendency to be distributed and persistent in all media. Secondly, although cVMS can travel a substantial distance in the atmosphere, they have little potential for deposition to surface media in remote regions. This contrasts with a deposition potential of known POPs that exceeds that of cVMS by 4–5 orders of magnitude. Thirdly, cVMS have short global residence times with the majority of the global mass removed within 3 months of the end of release. Global residence times of POPs on the other hand are in years. The persistent fliers resemble the cVMS with respect to the first two attributes, but their global residence times are more like those of the POPs.     

Assessment of decadal changes in sediment contamination in a large connecting channel (Detroit River,North America)

Concentrations of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) and organic contaminants (PCBs, PAHs) were investigated in samples from the Detroit River (Great Lakes, North America) in 1999 and 2008/09 collected using a stratified random sampling design. Getis–Ord geospatial analysis was used to further establish locations of areas demonstrating significantly high and low contaminant concentrations in the river. Based on the stratified random sampling design, a majority of the examined metals and organic contaminants demonstrated little or no trends with respect to regional sediment concentrations and river-wide mass balances over the investigated time interval. The Getis–Ord analysis revealed local scales of contaminated and clean areas which did not conform to the original strata used in the geostatistical sampling design. It is suggested that geospatial analyses such as Getis–Ord be used in the design of future sediment quality surveys to refine locations of strata that can simultaneously address sediment recovery over system-wide, regional and local spatial scales.     

中国地区多溴联苯醚在不同环境介质中的监测进展

多溴联苯醚(Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs)为一类新型的溴代阻燃剂,广泛应用于塑料制品、纺织品、电路板和建筑材料等领域。随着生产量和使用量的增加,PBDEs已造成全球环境污染,其带来的环境问题已引起各国关注。同时PBDEs的长距离迁移性和难降解性,使其在环境介质中进行富集,从而加重污染。归纳了中国地区PBDEs的监测进展,分别从大气、水体、沉积物和土壤中PBDEs的污染水平以及原因进行了分析和探讨。在此基础上,对于我国PBDEs的研究方向提出了展望。     

浅析如何降低持久性有机污染物(POPs)排放

持久有机污染物,英文Persistent organic pollutants缩写为POPs,(以下简称POPs)与常规污染物不同,持久存在于环境中,通过食物网积聚[1],并对人类健康及环境造成不利影响的化学物质,是对人类生存威胁最大的一类污染物[2]。在中央第二次新疆工作会议召开的契机下,新疆经济快速发展,持久性有机污染物(POPs)排放量翻倍增加的情况,对如何降低排放强度提出了一些建议,为POPs环境管理提供了基础数据支撑和削减建议。     

我国持久性有机污染物污染事故预警指标体系构建

面对严峻的持久性有机污染物(persistent organic pollutants,POPs)环境污染问题,以及不断提升的化学品风险管理要求,我国对于POPs污染事故预警管理的需求日益迫切.基于生命周期理论及POPs生成机制,针对不同的POPs和污染事故的种类,构建出POPs污染事故的预警指标体系,以期为完善我国POPs污染事故预警管理提供决策支持.预警指标体系主要包括两部分:POPs预警指标和运行保障机制.POPs预警指标包括了警源指标、警兆指标和警度指标.为保障预警体系的有效实施,构建了预警响应机制及政策保障机制,包括对风险源的动态清单管理和定期评估,及时有效的警情上报,各部门的协调合作等.     

PCDD/Fs in ambient air collected in Zagreb, Croatia

Levels of PCDD/Fs were measured at four different sites in Zagreb, capital of Croatia. Also one sample was taken during spontaneously initiated open fire on a landfill and one sample where garden waste of unknown content was burnt. Over period 1997–2000, 28 samples were collected and levels ranged between 9 and 306 fg I-TEQ m⁻³, except in the sample collected during landfill fire. Air PCDD/F levels in Zagreb at four sites were different and the highest levels were observed in industrial area. Seasonal variation of levels is also evident with higher levels in winter than in summer. Our results show that PCDD/F levels in ambient air collected in Zagreb are at lower end of the published data range. In general, homologue profiles were quite similar for all locations, the concentration of PCDD homologues increased while the concentration of PCDF homologues decreased with increasing degree of chlorination. PCDD/F levels in the landfill fire sample was 13 200 fg I-TEQ m⁻³ which are much higher than levels in garden waste burning sample or in sample collected at industrial site. During landfill fire, the concentration of 2,3,7,8-TCDF becomes even higher than the concentration of OCDF and is equal to the concentration of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF.