Leachability of Cr(VI) and other metals from asphalt composites with addition of filter dust

The potential use of filter dust in asphalt composites for road construction was investigated. Filter dust contains high concentrations of metals, of which Cr(VI) and Pb are leached with water. Compact and ground asphalt composites with addition of 2% of filter dust by mass were studied. In order to evaluate their environmental impact, leachability tests were performed using water and salt water as leaching agents. The concentrations of Cr(VI) and Pb were determined in leachates over a time period of 182 days. The results indicated that Pb was not leached with leaching agents from asphalt composites. Cr(VI) was also not leached with leaching agents from compact asphalt composites. However, in ground asphalt composites, Cr(VI) was leached with water in concentrations up to 220 microg L(-1) and in salt water up to 150 microg L(-1). From the physico-mechanical and environmental aspects, filter dust can be used as a component in asphalt mixtures.     

Organotin Compounds and Selected Metals in the Marine Environment of Northern Adriatic Sea

The extent of pollution with organotin compounds and Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Mn, V, Co and Al was investigated in sediments and mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Slovenian costal area of the Northern Adriatic Sea. Sampling was performed in Marina Portorož, Dockyard Izola, non exposed area of the Bay of Mesečev zaliv and in Mariculture Sečovlje. Mussels were taken in the summer and winter time, while sediments were collected during the winter sampling. Organotin compounds were determined by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry and metals by flame or electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The accuracies of the analytical procedures were checked by the analysis of standard reference materials CRM 477 mussel tissue and PACS 2 marine sediment (organotin compounds) and SRM 2976 mussel tissue and CRM 320 river sediment (metals). Good agreements between certified and determined values were obtained. Normalization procedure to Al was applied to estimate the anthropogenic inputs of metals in sediments. The analyses of sediments demonstrated moderate pollution with organotin compounds in Marina Portorož and in Dockyard Izola. Concentrations of tributyltin species were higher than those of dibutyltin and monobutyltin. In mussels substantial contamination with tributyltin was observed in Marina Porotrož and Dockyard Izola. The extent of pollution was higher in the winter time. The analysis of metals in sediments exhibited elevated concentrations in Marina Portorož and Dockyard Izola. Data from the normalization procedure indicated the anthropogenic inputs of Cu, Zn and Cr in Marina Portorož and Mn in Bay of Mesečev zaliv and Dockyard Izola. Mussels, as accumulators of pollutants, in general contained higher metal concentrations during winter time in Dockyard Izola.     

Sub-tropical urban environment affecting content and composition of non-structural carbohydrates of Lolium multiflorum ssp. italicum cv. Lema

This study analyzed the relationship between environmental factors, especially air pollution and climatic conditions, and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in plants of Lolium multiflorum exposed during 10 consecutive periods of 28 days at a polluted site (Congonhas) and at a reference site in São Paulo city (Brazil). After exposure, NSC composition and leaf concentrations of Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd were measured. The seasonal pattern of NSC accumulation was quite similar in both sites, but plants at Congonhas showed higher concentrations of these compounds, especially fructans of low and medium degree of polymerization. Regression analysis showed that NSC in plants growing at the polluted site were explained by variations on temperature and leaf concentration of Fe (positive effect), as well as relative humidity and particulate material (negative effect). NSC in the standardized grass culture, in addition to heavy metal accumulation, may indicate stressing conditions in a sub-tropical polluted environment.     

A complex investigation of the extent of pollution in sediments of the Sava River: part 2: persistent organic pollutants

Sediment pollution of the biggest Danube tributary, the Sava River, was investigated within the sixth framework European Union project “Sava River Basin: Sustainable Use, Management and Protection of Resources” (SARIB). The extent of pollution was estimated by determining the amount of inorganic and persistent organic pollutants in sediment samples at 20 selected sampling sites along the Sava River. For the purpose of clarity, the findings are presented and published separately (part I: selected elements and part II: persistent organic pollutants). This study presents an investigation into the presence of organic pollutants in the Sava River sediment. According to the Water Framework Directive, the following persistent organic pollutants were investigated: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), selected chlorinated pesticides and organotin compounds. The results reveal that PAHs were present in moderate concentrations (sum of 16 PAHs: up to 4,000 ng g^???1) and their concentrations increased downstream. Concen trations of PCB were low (sum of seven indicator PCBs: below 4 ng g^???1) and among the pesticides analyzed only p,p-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane was found in moderate concentrations at two sampling sites in Croatia (up to 3 ng g^???1) and hexachlorobenzene was found in a high concentration in the city of Belgrade (91 ng g^???1), although the use of these persistent pesticides has been banned for decades. Repeated sampling at the same location revealed point pollution near Belgrade. Among the organic pollutants surveyed, organotin compounds were not detected. Overall results reveal the presence of persistent organic pollutants in 20 of the Sava River sediments tested that is, in general, comparable or lower than the levels in the Danube River and other moderately polluted European rivers.     

Freshwater discharge from the drainage basin to the Venice Lagoon (Italy)

The twelve major tributaries of the Venice Lagoon (accounting for the 97% of the inputs from the drainage basin) were monitored in the framework of the DRAIN project (1998-2000) in order to obtain a detailed knowledge on the hydrological regimes and to measure the mean annual freshwater discharge from surface runoff. The study represents an essential step in the estimate of the pollutant load delivered to the lagoon that must necessarily be based on a solid understanding of the fluxes of material out of the drainage basin. Due to the influence of the tide in the majority of the gauging sections, a specific methodology for the measurement of the discharge was developed. The main results of the study are described, underlining the differences in the regime of the investigated streams. A rainfall-runoff analysis evidenced the different characteristics of the monitored tributaries, in terms of specific hydrological features, morphology of the individual sub-basins, management of the water resource and spatial distribution of rainfall. An estimate of the maximum peak discharge from the drainage basin is finally obtained from data of an extreme flood event occurred in November 1999.     

拟除虫菊酯农药在茶叶中应用的安全性评价

采用田间模拟施药与气相色谱法研究了7种拟除虫菊酯农药在茶园生态环境中的降解动态,茶叶加工过程中的降解和泡茶过程的浸出率及其主要影响因子。根据实验结果推算出通过饮茶进入人体的农药量,结合农药的毒理特性,对拟除虫菊酯农药在茶园生态环境中应用的安全性进行了综合评价。结果表明,拟除虫菊酯农药在茶园中应用的安全性显著高于有机磷农药,在拟除虫菊酯农药之间,其安全性也有较大差异。本研究不仅为茶园使用农药的选择提供了依据,而且首次提出了一种农药对人体安全性的定量评价体系。     

The effect of floods on the transport of suspended sediments and contaminants: a case study from the estuary of the Dese River (Venice Lagoon, Italy)

A flood event was investigated in a measurement section of the estuary of the Dese River, the major tributary of the Venice Lagoon (mean annual discharge=7.5 m3/s), to observe the variations induced by the flow on the physico-chemistry of the water column and the transport of particles and pollutants. The flood was generated by a typical summer storm, which had a return period of 2 years. The study was based on the continuous recording of the discharge and the measurement of both current speed and physico-chemical variables along the vertical profile. Water samples were also collected for the analysis of total and dissolved heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn), and nutrients (TKN, N-NO3-, N-NO2-, N-NH3, total phosphorous, P-PO43-). The suspended particle matter (SPM) concentration increased in the water column during the flood, and the discharge versus SPM relationship showed a counterclockwise hysteresis. The occurrence of hysteresis was related to the delayed response of the load, deriving from the runoff on the basin soils with respect to materials mobilized from the streambed in the initial phases of the flood. The transport of most of the analysed heavy metals was driven by the SPM. The increase in concentration of this parameter significantly affected the amount of Fe, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, and partially Zn transported by the stream. Among nutrients, N-NO3- concentration also increased significantly during the flood, due to the runoff on agricultural surfaces. The study allowed describing the mechanisms of load generation with high flow magnitudes, highlighting the importance of floods in the transport of materials and pollutants from the drainage basin to the Venice Lagoon.     

First-trimester prenatal diagnosis of Roberts syndrome

We present a case of prenatal detection of premature centromere separation on chorionic villi sampled at 8 weeks' gestation from a woman at risk of recurrence of Roberts syndrome. The same cytogenetic characteristic was confirmed on amniocytes at 14 weeks when ultrasound examination showed morphological anomalies of the fetus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of early prenatal diagnosis of Roberts syndrome.