Sorption and desorption of diuron on Typic Argiudoll,Oxic Argiudoll and on their clay fractions: environmental aspects

Abstract

The sorption and desorption of diuron by soil samples from Horizons A and B (HA and HB) and by their different clay fractions were investigated, using two soil samples, classified as Typic Argiudoll and Oxic Argiudoll. The sorption and desorption curves were adjusted to the Freundlich model and evaluated by parameters K_f, K_d and K_oc. Based on the data of groundwater ubiquity score (GUS), leachability index (LIX) and hysteresis index (HI), the risk of groundwater pollution was evaluated. The K_d values obtained for soil samples were between 4.5?mL g^?1 (Oxic Argiudoll – HB) and 15.9?mL g^?1 (Typic Argiudoll – HA) and between 1.13 and 14.0?mL g^?1 for the different mineral fractions, whereas the K_oc values varied between 276 (Oxic Argiudoll – HB) and 462 (Typic Argiudoll – HA). According to the parameter GUS, only Oxic Argiudoll – HB presented leaching potential, and based on the LIX index this same soil presented the highest leaching potential. Some samples presented low LIX and GUS values, indicating no leaching potential, but none presented HI results indicative of hysteresis, suggesting weak bonds between diuron and the soil samples and, hence, the risk of groundwater pollution by diuron.     

Spirometric tests to assess the prevalence of childhood asthma at Portuguese rural areas: influence of exposure to high ozone levels

The study here reported aimed to: i) evaluate the prevalence of childhood asthma at a Portuguese rural area with high ozone concentrations through lung function tests, validating the previously estimated one assessed through questionnaires (similar to those of the ISAAC); ii) compare the achieved prevalence with the one reported at an unexposed area (with low ozone concentrations), aiming to evaluate the influence of exposure to high ozone levels; and iii) determine potential risk factors. Ninety-five of the original 478 children that completed the questionnaires, mentioned to have at least one of asthma symptoms (wheeze, dyspnea or cough) and were therefore evaluated by spirometry. FEV(1) was in average 89.7% for asthmatics and 102.8% for non-asthmatics. For the studied sample the risk was higher for girls with a tendency to be higher from 8 to 10 years old. Lifetime prevalence of childhood asthma at the exposed area was 9.2%. Children living at the exposed area had 3 times higher risk of having asthma than those living at the unexposed area. Considering that ozone concentrations were the main difference between both areas, it can be suggested that ozone pollution increased asthma prevalence. Nevertheless, it should be remarked that further studies should be done to confirm these results.     

A preconcentration procedure for the determination of cadmium in biological material after on-line cloud point extraction

In this paper, a method involving on-line preconcentration with cloud point extraction for the determination of cadmium in biological samples is presented. The procedure is based on the sorption of micelles containing Cd(II) ions and the reagent 4-(5'-bromo-2'-thiazolylazo)orcinol (Br-TAO) in a minicolumn packed with polyester. The surfactant Triton X-114 was used in the formation of micelles. After sorption, the Cd(II) ions were desorbed from the minicolumn with acid eluent and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Parameters influencing the cloud point extraction were studied. The method showed a detection limit of 0.5 μg l(-1) and an enhancement factor of 27. The accuracy was tested by determination of cadmium in certified reference materials (spinach leaves 1570a and tomato leaves 1573a) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.     

Evaluation of Cyto- and Genotoxicity of Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) Nanoparticles

This work reports on an analysis of the cyto- and genotoxicity of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) polymer nanoparticles, in an attempt to evaluate their mutagenic effects. Fibroblast (3T3) and human lymphocyte cell cultures were exposed to solutions containing three different concentrations of nanoparticles (5.4, 54 and 540 μg/mL, polymer mass/volume of solution). The nanoparticles were characterized in terms of their hydrodynamic diameters, zeta potentials and polydispersity indices. The morphology of the particles was determined by atomic force microscopy. The PLGA nanospheres presented a size of 95 nm, a zeta potential of −20 mV and a spherical morphology. Cellular viability assays using fibroblast cells showed no significant alterations compared with the negative control. A cytogenetic analysis of human lymphocyte cells showed no significant changes in the mitotic index in relation to the control, indicating that in the concentration range tested, the particles used in the experimental models did not present cyto- or genotoxicity. For the tests conducted in this work we can conclude that biodegradable and biocompatible PLGA nanospheres are not toxic in the cell cultures tested (fibroblast and lymphocyte cells) and in the range of concentrations employed. The results provide new information concerning the toxic effects of particles produced using PLGA.     

Rice straw ash extract, an efficient solvent for regioselective hydrothiolation of alkynes

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Herein, we describe a simple and inexpensive protocol for the hydrothiolation of alkynes. In this context, water extract of rice straw ash (WERSA) has been proven...     

Ensemble Techniques to Improve Air Quality Assessment: Focus on O3 and PM

Five air quality models were applied over Portugal for July 2006 with an ensemble purpose. These models were used, with their own meteorology, parameterizations, boundary conditions and chemical mechanisms, but with the same emission data. The validation of the individual models and its ensemble for ozone (O₃) and particulate matter was performed using monitoring data from 22 background stations over Portugal. After removing the bias from each model, different ensemble techniques were applied and compared. Besides the median, several weighted ensemble approaches were tested and intercompared: static (SLR) and dynamic (DLR) multiple linear regressions (using less-square optimization method) and the Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) methodology. The goal of the comparison is to estimate to what extent the ensemble analysis is an improvement with respect to the single model results. The obtained results revealed that no one of the 4 tested ensembles clearly outperforms the others on the basis of statistical parameters and probabilistic analysis (reliability and resolution properties). Nevertheless, statistical results have shown that the application of the weights slightly improves ensemble performance when compared to those obtained from the median ensemble. The same statistical analysis together with the probabilistic measures demonstrates that the SLR and BMA methods are the best performers amongst the assessed methodologies.     

Identification of redundant air quality measurements through the use of principal component analysis

This study aims to show how principal component analysis (PCA) can be used to identify redundant measurements in air quality monitoring networks. The minimum number of air quality monitoring sites in Oporto Metropolitan Area (Oporto-MA) was evaluated using PCA and then compared to the one settled by the legislation. Nine sites, monitoring NO₂, O₃ and PM₁₀, were selected and the air pollutant concentrations were analysed from January 2003 to December 2005. PCA was applied to the data corresponding to the first two years that were divided into annual quarters to verify the persistence of the PCA results. The number of principal components (PCs) was selected by applying two criteria: Kaiser (PCs with eigenvalues greater than 1) and ODV₉₀ (PCs representing at least 90% of the original data variance). Each pollutant was analysed separately. The two criteria led to different results. Using Kaiser criterion for the eight analysed periods, two PCs were selected in: (i) five periods for O₃ and PM₁₀; and (ii) six periods for NO₂. These PCs had important contributions of the same groups of monitoring sites. The percentage of the original data variance contained in the selected PCs using this criterion was always below 90%. Thus, the results obtained using ODV₉₀ were considered with more confidence. Using this criterion, only five monitoring sites for NO₂, three for O₃ and seven for PM₁₀ were needed to characterize the region. The number of monitoring sites for NO₂ and O₃ was in agreement with what was established by the legislation. However, for PM₁₀, Oporto-MA needed two more monitoring sites. To validate PCA results, statistical models were determined to estimate air pollutant concentrations at removed monitoring sites using the concentrations measured at the remaining monitoring sites. These models were applied to a year's data. The good performance obtained by the models showed that the monitoring sites selected by the procedure presented in this study were enough to infer the air pollutant concentrations in the region defined by the initial monitoring sites. Additionally, the air pollutant analysers corresponding to the redundant measurements can be installed in non-monitored regions, allowing the enlargement of the air quality monitoring network.     

Advanced oxidation processes in the treatment of trifluraline effluent

The treatment of an effluent from the production of trifluraline was studied using a 1-L, semi-batch, tank-stirred glass reactor for performing three different advanced oxidation processes (photoperoxidation, Fenton, photo-Fenton). A commercial, medium-pressure mercury lamp was used for sample irradiation. The degradation was monitored by measurements of absorptiometric color reduction, UV-visible absorption spectra, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The obtained results showed that the photo-Fenton process was the most effective treatment for the trifluraline effluent.     

Construction and demolition waste generation and management in Lisbon (Portugal)

The management of construction and demolition waste (CDW) is essential in the formation, growth and renovation of urban areas. This paper presents part of a study on CDW generation and management in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA). CDW generation was estimated for 2006 and 2007 based on construction activity and waste load movements. The results revealed that in the municipality of Lisbon, remodeling construction activity prevailed, with CDW generation indicators of 954 t/day and a per capita rate of 0.60 t/year. Both values are above the average for the LMA and its two sub-regions (Greater Lisbon and the Setúbal Peninsula). The installed infrastructure for CDW management identified in the LMA is situated within a maximum distance of about 23 km from the geometric center of the city of Lisbon. Despite the fact these locations favor the municipality of Lisbon, the occurrence of illegal dumps is still a reality. A notable effort towards environmental education addressing CDW management is under way so as to make involved citizens aware of the recent CDW legislation, Decree-Law Nr. 46/2008, as well as of the problems arising from scenarios of environmental degradation and uncontrolled use of natural resources in the civil construction sector. Policies are outlined aiming to move towards the more judicious management of CDW.