Environmental and biological monitoring of endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Trends toward an increase of adverse health effects on reproductive organs have been reviewed. An urgent need has been recognised to establish validated in vivo and in vitro screening assays to test for hormonal activities of chemicals. Relevant existing OECD guidelines have been reviewed and enhancements of some of these have been identified, mainly to test for estrogenic and androgenic activity of chemicals. The problems connected to monitoring activities are outlined, particularly for ambient and biological monitoring. Indeed, the problem of assessing human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals through environmental chemical analysis tends to a very high level of complexity. This has been illustrated through the example of one single subclass of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), the organohalogen compounds. Valid biological markers are also needed to be effectively used in epidemiological studies and risk assessment. A multidisciplinary approach and the collaboration among experts in the field of clinical biochemistry, toxicology, and epidemiology is required.     

Environmental and biological monitoring of occupational exposure to organic micropollutants in gasoline.

An exposure risk assessment of workers in a refinery production unit was undertaken. Gasoline and its main components were investigated through environmental and biological monitoring. Measured variables were environmental benzene, toluene, pentane and hexane; benzene and toluene in blood and urine; tt-MA (metabolite of benzene) in urine. Multivariate statistical analysis of the data showed that worker's exposure to the above substances fell within the limits specified by organisations such as ACGIH. Also, biological values complied with reference values (RV) for non-occupationally-exposed population. Different values of biological variables were determined by separating smokers from non-smokers: smokers had hematic and urinary benzene values significantly higher than non-smokers. During a 3-yr sampling, it was possible to identify a significant decrease of benzene in the workplace air and of hematic benzene for non-smokers. The most exposed department, one in which tank-lorries were loaded, needs further investigation and extended monitoring.     

Environmental monitoring and research in the Abisko area-an overview

This article gives an overview of the studies on the environment surrounding the Abisko Scientific Research Station in Swedish Lapland. The long-term monitoring of the Station on processes related to the climate, and to the physical, biotic, and chemical environmental conditions is particularly addressed. Some variables are recorded since more than 100 years. The obtained data in combination with results from short-term studies and manipulation experiments are important to understand past and future conditions of the ecosystems. This has practical applications for the planning of tourism, transports, reindeer herding, and for societal purposes.     

Children and elders exposure assessment to particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the city of Rome,Italy

It has been amply demonstrated that exposure to fine particulate matter, containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), may have adverse effects on human health, affecting especially the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Among population, school-age children and elders present particular susceptibilities and unique exposures to environmental factors. The study presented in this paper belongs to the Project EXPAH, founded by the European (EU) LIFE+ instrument, and consists of the personal monitoring of five elementary school children and four elders during the spring and the summer/autumn of the year 2012 in the city of Rome, Italy. The average exposure, expressed as the sum of eight high-molecular-weight PAHs, resulted equal to 0.70 ng/m³ (SD?=?0.37) for children and 0.59 ng/m³ (SD?=?0.23) for the elderly people. The mean levels of gravimetric PM_2.5 were equal to 23 μg/m³ (SD?=?10) and 15 μg/m³ (SD?=?4) for children and elders, respectively. During spring and summer seasons, personal BaP_eq resulted well below the EU Air Quality reference value of 1 ng/m³. The personal monitoring average values were in the same order of magnitude with available indoor and outdoor environmental data in Rome during the same periods, for both PAHs and PM_2.5. The results suggest that, during non-heating seasons, the personal exposure to PAHs in the city of Rome can be mainly ascribed to the urban background, especially traffic emissions and road dust resuspension; secondhand cigarette smoke can be also considered another possible source of PAHs personal exposure.     

Rapid assays for environmental and biological monitoring

Abstract

Rapid, inexpensive, sensitive, and selective enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) now are utilized in environmental science. In this laboratory, many ELISAs have been developed for pesticides and other toxic substances and also for their metabolites. Compounds for which ELISAs have recently been devised include insecticides (organophosphates, carbaryl, pyrethroids, and fenoxycarb), herbicides (s‐triazines, arylureas, triclopyr, and bromacil), fungicides (myclobutanil), TCDD, and metabolites of naphthalene and toluene. New rapid assays have been developed for mercury.     

Environmental monitoring of alcohol sulfates and alcohol ethoxysulfates in marine sediments

The study describes the environmental monitoring of anionic surfactants―alcohol sulfates (AS) and alcohol ethoxysulfates (AES)—in marine sediments. Concentration values were obtained after pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis (LC–MS/MS). Samples were collected from a range of wastewater discharge points along the coast of the provinces of Huelva, Málaga, Granada and Almería. Urban, agricultural and industrial wastewaters are discharged at the selected 38 sampling sites. Principal component analysis was carried out in order to evaluate the distribution and behaviour of these compounds in these coastal environments. Evaluation of the data revealed that the behaviour and sources of AS and AES in marine sediments are different, and that the distribution of AES depends on the length of the alkyl chain, while the number of ethoxylated units is not relevant. Additionally, the 38 sampling sites can be grouped into only two types of outfalls according to their AS distribution. The concentration of compounds in sediment samples ranged from 7.52 to 13.50 mg kg^?1 for AS, from 3.04 to 10.68 mg kg^?1 for AES–C₁₂E_x and from 3.83 to 11.56 mg kg^?1 for AES–C₁₄E_x.     

危险废物城市环境风险评估方法及案例研究

在不同经济社会发展情况下,危险废物的风险源危险性和风险受体脆弱性存在很大差异。因此,城市对危险废物采取的风险防控和应急措施应该因城市而异。然而,目前我国大部分城市对危险废物的管理仍然是全过程从严管理,并未建立基于风险评估的环境管理体系。本研究以城市为边界,从危险废物的风险源危险性、风险受体脆弱性和风险防控与应急能力3个维度构建评估指标体系,然后在层次分析法的基础上,采用等比例分配法对指标进行赋权,并运用线性加权法合成经过正向化处理的指标评分值,从而得出危险废物城市环境风险评估结果。通过计算3个维度评分值的耦合度,可以确定风险防控与应急能力维度与风险源危险性维度和风险受体脆弱性维度的匹配程度。运用该方法对深圳市开展案例研究,结果表明,深圳市在“无废城市”建设试点期间,主要通过提升风险防控与应急能力,将危险废物城市环境风险值降低了20.7%;并且风险防控与应急能力维度与风险源危险性维度和风险受体脆弱性维度的匹配度较高,属于高风险高能力城市。因此,建议深圳市在下一步工作中,继续完善涉危险废物项目环境准入审查,严格评估危险废物再利用安全,不断加强信息化手段在环境监管中的应用,避免涉危险废物突发环境事件的发生,全面降低危险废物对城市造成的环境风险。     

城市水质实时监测系统设计与应用

针对目前大众普遍关心的城市饮用水质质量问题,设计完成了基于无线传感网的在线水质监测系统.系统采用CC2530和MSP430F1611二种MCU来实现水质检测感知节点功能,利用无线传感网的技术优势,结合多传感器前端检测,实现对城市水质多指标的实时监测.系统经过近1年实际使用,完全满足城市水质监测的需要,受到了用户的好评.     

Spatial and temporal variations of the diatom communities in megacity streams and its implications for biological monitoring

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Diatoms have been proven to be good indicators of natural stream conditions, but little is known about the seasonal variability of diatom communities...     

Environmental monitoring study of selected veterinary antibiotics in animal manure and soils in Austria

LC-MS/MS was used for determination of selected tetracyclines, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, and fluoroquinolones in manure samples of pig, chicken and turkey, as well as arable soils fertilized with manure. Recoveries from spiked samples ranged from 61 to 105%. Method quantification limits were set to 100 microg/kg for all substances. Analysis of 30 pig manure, 20 chicken and turkey dung, and 30 lyophilized soil samples taken in Austria revealed that in pig manure up to 46 mg/kg chlortetracycline, 29 mg/kg oxytetracycline and 23 mg/kg tetracycline could be detected. As representatives of the group of sulfonamides, sulfadimidine in pig manure and sulfadiazine in chicken and turkey dung were detected in significant amounts (maximum concentration, 20 and 91 mg/kg, respectively). Enrofloxacin was particularly observed in chicken and turkey samples. Positive detection of chlortetracycline, enrofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin, in soil samples should be outlined as most important results of this study.     

Environmental monitoring in the Mar Grande basin (Ionian Sea,Southern Italy)

Hydrodynamic and water quality data has been recorded since February 2014 by a meteo-oceanographic station installed in the inner part of the Gulf of Taranto, in the northeastern part of the Ionian Sea (Southern Italy). This monitoring action, managed by the research unit of the Technical University of Bari, DICATECh Department, could play a pivotal role in a vulnerable and sensitive area, affected by massive chemical and biological pollutant discharges due to the presence of heavy industry and intense maritime traffic. Monthly trends of winds, waves, currents, and biochemical parameters, such as dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, and turbidity, are analyzed and discussed. The analysis exhibits that the wave regime is slightly controlled by wind forcing; rather, topography strongly affects the wave propagation direction. Surface currents appear wind induced in the measuring station, while near the bottom a quasi-steady current directed towards southwest is formed. The selected water quality indicators show monthly trends consistent with the typical seasonal convective fluxes and mixing.     

水环境监测的生物早期预警系统研究与应用技术初探

针对生物早期预警系统在中国尚缺乏的现状,对生物早期预警系统的含义、特点、种类、研究现状及国外的应用作了概述.并提出在中国建立一个科学、完善的生物早期预警系统是极为必要的.     

Environmental monitoring by gene expression biomarkers in Barbus graellsii: laboratory and field studies

Barbel (Barbus graellsii) is a freshwater fish used as a sentinel species in environmental monitoring programmes and ecotoxicological studies in northern Spain, particularly in the Ebro River basin, the largest freshwater resource in Spain. We developed specific primers for the quantification of CYP1A and metallothionein (MT)-1 and -2 gene expression by QRT-PCR in barbel in order to assess their suitability in biological effect monitoring of dioxin-like compounds and metals. All three genes responded as expected in laboratory tests, using model inducers. Hepatic CYP1A mRNA levels showed a twofold induction in fish injected intraperitoneally with beta-naphthoflavone, whereas MT-1 and MT-2 gene expression was strongly induced by cadmium (15- and 13-fold, respectively) and mercury (five- and eightfold). Barbel populations from different sites on the Ebro River basin showed a good correlation between the historical records of organochlorine pollution, CYP1A expression levels and EROD activity. Nevertheless, although metallothionein protein levels in the liver of wild fish correlated with hepatic levels of mercury, MT-1 and MT-2 gene expression did not correlate with the mercury content or with the concentration of metals in sediments from the sites inhabited by the fish. These results demonstrate the utility of barbel CYP1A-mRNA expression, but not that of MT-1 or MT-2, as a biomarker in field studies. The tools and protocols developed here are likely to apply to other species of the genus Barbus, with some 700 species distributed throughout most of the Old World.     

Environmental monitoring for PCB and heavy metals in the vicinity of a chemical waste disposal facility - I

As part of a long-term environmental monitoring programme, PCBs and heavy metals have been determined on a monthly basis in soil and foliage samples collected from 13 sites, generally located within a 2 km radius of a hazardous and toxic waste disposal facility that has been operating for over ten years. Data are presented for a seven month period, from June 1984 to December 1984, and the results compared with normal worldwide background values given in the literature, and with some isolated U.K. samples. The comparison showed that no elevations indicative of industrial pollution had occurred. A statistical evaluation of the data indicated that there was no correlation suggestive of an airborne mode of transportation from a point source, with respect to distance from the plant or to the predominant wind vectors. The results confirm that the waste disposal facility has had no detrimental effect on the environment.     

Field monitoring of volatile organic compounds using passive air samplers in an industrial city in Japan

Highly portable, sensitive, and selective passive air samplers were used to investigate ambient volatile organic compound (VOC) levels at multiple sampling sites in an industrial city, Fuji, Japan. We determined the spatial distributions of 27 species of VOCs in three campaigns: Mar (cold season), May (warm season), and Nov (mild season) of 2004. In all campaigns, toluene (geometric mean concentration, 14.0microg/m3) was the most abundant VOC, followed by acetaldehyde (4.76microg/m3), and formaldehyde (2.58microg/m3). The spatial distributions for certain VOCs showed characteristic patterns: high concentrations of benzene and formaldehyde were typically found along major roads, whereas high concentrations of toluene and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) were usually found near factories. The spatial distribution of PCE observed was extremely consistent with the diffusion pattern calculated from Pollutant Release and Transfer Register data and meteorological data, indicated that passive air samplers are useful for determining the sources and distributions of ambient VOCs.