The potential risk assessment for different arsenic species in the aquatic environment

The different toxicity characteristics of arsenic species result in discrepant ecological risk. The predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) 43.65, 250.18, and 2.00 × 10³ μg/L were calculated for As(III), As(V), and dimethylarsinic acid in aqueous phase, respectively. With these PNECs, the ecological risk from arsenic species in Pearl River Delta in China and Kwabrafo stream in Ghana was evaluated. It was found that the risk from As(III) and As(V) in the samples from Pearl River Delta was low, while much high in Kwabrafo stream. This study implies that ecological risk of arsenic should be evaluated basing on its species.     

基于多采样点的南京市PM2.5中的水溶性砷分析

对南京市的18个采样点进行PM_(2.5)样品采集,并利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪以及液相电感耦合等离子体质谱联用仪分别对样品中的总砷和4种水溶性砷进行测量,在此基础上研究PM_(2.5)中砷的形态及其时空分布特征.结果表明:南京市PM_(2.5)中的砷以无机砷为主,有机砷为辅.无机砷以三价砷(As(III))为主,五价砷(As(V))为辅,As(III)/As(V)的平均值为0.39±0.03.有机砷以二甲基胂酸(DMAs(V))为主,所有样品均未检出甲基胂酸(MMAs(V)).总砷(As_T)、As(III)、As(V)和DMAs(V)的年平均浓度分别为6.90、0.99、3.20和0.03 ng·m~(-3).PM_(2.5)中的砷浓度具有明显季节变化:总砷和As(V)最大浓度出现在冬季,As(III)最大浓度出现在夏季,DMAs(V)只在夏季出现.T检验表明:As(III)、总砷和DMAs(V)年平均浓度在城区和郊区之间存在显著差异.空间变异系数的计算结果表明DMAs(V)的空间变化最大,其空间变异系数为0.6.总砷和3种水溶性砷年平均浓度由大到小排列为:农村郊区城区.道路采样点和城市背景点的总砷年平均浓度比为0.92,说明城区交通源对PM_(2.5)中砷污染的贡献不明显.As(III)和As(V)的主要排放源可能为燃煤电厂和钢铁冶炼厂,而DMAs(V)可能主要来源于生物挥发产物的二次生成.     

Integrating geochemical (surface waters, stream sediments) and biological (diatoms) approaches to assess AMD environmental impact in a pyritic mining area: Aljustrel (Alentejo, Portugal)

Aljustrel mines were classified as having high environmental hazard due to their large tailings volume and high metal concentrations in waters and sediments.To assess acid mine drainage impacted systems whose environmental conditions change quickly,the use of biological indicators with short generation time such as diatoms is advantageous.This study combined geochemical and diatom data,whose results were highlighted in 3 groups:Group 1,with low p H(1.9–5.1)and high metal/metalloid(Al,As,Cd,Co,Cu,Fe,Mn,Ni,Pb,Zn;0.65–1032 mg/L)and SO_4(405–39124 mg/L)concentrations.An acidophilic species,Pinnularia aljustrelica,was perfectly adapted to the adverse conditions;in contrast,teratological forms of Eunotia exigua were found,showing that metal toxicity affected this species.The low availability of metals/metalloids in sediments of this group indicates that metals/metalloids of the exchangeable fractions had been solubilized,which in fact enables metal/metalloid diatom uptake and consequently the occurrence of teratologies;Group 2,with sites of near neutral p H(5.0–6.8)and intermediate metal/metalloid(0.002–6 mg/L)and SO_4(302–2179 mg/L)concentrations;this enabled the existence of typical species of uncontaminated streams(Brachysira neglectissima,Achnanthidium minutissimum);Group 3,with samples from unimpacted sites,showing low metal/metalloid(0–0.8 mg/L)and SO_4(10–315 mg/L)concentrations,high pH(7.0–8.4)and Cl contents(10–2119 mg/L)and the presence of brackish to marine species(Entomoneis paludosa).For similar conditions of acidity,differences in diversity,abundance and teratologies of diatoms can be explained by the levels of metals/metalloids.     

Arsenic methylation by an arsenite S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase from Spirulina platensis

Arsenic-contaminated water is a serious hazard for human health. Plankton plays a critical role in the fate and toxicity of arsenic in water by accumulation and biotransformation.Spirulina platensis(S. platensis), a typical plankton, is often used as a supplement or feed for pharmacy and aquiculture, and may introduce arsenic into the food chain, resulting in a risk to human health. However, there are few studies about how S. platensis biotransforms arsenic. In this study, we investigated arsenic biotransformation by S. platensis. When exposed to arsenite(As(Ⅲ)), S. platensis accumulated arsenic up to 4.1 mg/kg dry weight.After exposure to As(Ⅲ), arsenate(As(Ⅴ)) was the predominant species making up 64% to86% of the total arsenic. Monomethylarsenate(MMA(Ⅴ)) and dimethylarsenate(DMA(Ⅴ))were also detected. An arsenite S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase from S. platensis(Sp Ars M) was identified and characterized. Sp Ars M showed low identity with other reported Ars M enzymes. The Escherichia coli AW3110 bearing Spars M gene resulted in As(Ⅲ) methylation and conferring resistance to As(Ⅲ). The in vitro assay showed that Sp Ars M exhibited As(Ⅲ) methylation activity. DMA(Ⅴ) and a small amount of MMA(Ⅴ) were detected in the reaction system within 0.5 hr. A truncated Sp Ars M derivative lacking the last 34 residues still had the ability to methylate As(Ⅲ). The three single mutants of Sp Ars M(C59S, C186 S, and C238S) abolished the capability of As(Ⅲ) methylation, suggesting the three cysteine residues are involved in catalysis. We propose that Sp Ars M is responsible for As methylation and detoxification of As(Ⅲ) and may contribute to As biogeochemistry.     

Characterization of colloidal arsenic at two abandoned gold mine sites in Nova Scotia, Canada, using asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Asymmetric flow-field flow fractionation-inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was used to determine whether colloidal arsenic(As) exists in soil pore water and soil extract samples at two arsenic-contaminated abandoned gold mines(Montague and Goldenville, Nova Scotia). Colloidal arsenic was found in 12 out of the 80 collected samples(= 15%), and was primarily associated with iron(Fe) in the encountered colloids. The molar Fe/As ratios indicate that the colloids in some samples appeared to be discrete iron–arsenic minerals, whereas in other samples, they were more consistent with As-rich iron(oxy)hydroxides. Up to three discrete size fractions of colloidal As were encountered in the samples, with mean colloid diameters between 6 and 14 nm. The pore water samples only contained one size fraction of As-bearing colloids(around 6 nm diameter), while larger As-bearing colloids were only encountered in soil extracts.     

2006年春季长江口砷形态分析及其生物有效性

于2006年春季在长江河口开展野外调查.采集水和表层沉积物样品,并进行总砷、砷形态分析和生物有效性评估.将过滤水样用于测定溶解态砷含量,而未过滤水样经酸消解后用于测定总砷含量,两者之差则为颗粒态砷含量.结果表明.长江口青草沙水源地各层水体中总砷含量为0.88-1.35ug·L-1(涨憩),2.37-3.35ug·L-1(落憩).溶解态和颗粒态砷含量均随潮汐变化明显,各形态砷含量在落憩时均高于涨憩时,颗粒态砷所占总砷的比例也是落憩时明显高于涨憩时.以0.3 mol·L-1磷酸溶液为萃取剂.在微波辅助下可以有效地将沉积物中砷酸盐[As(V)]、亚砷酸盐[As(Ⅲ)]、一甲基胂酸盐(MMA)和二甲基胂酸盐(DMA)提取出来,然后利用高效液相色谱一氢化物发生.原子吸收光谱(HPLC-HG-AAS)联用技术进行检测.结果表明,长江口表层沉积物中总砷含量为6.3-30.7 mg·kg-1,主要为无机砷形态,在江心沙洲及离岸沉积物中且以砷酸盐为主.而在近岸沉积物中以亚砷酸盐为主;利用醋酸纤维素/氧化铁复合膜方法(FeO/CAM)所得沉积物中有嫂砷含量占总砷含量0.6%-3.9%,平均约为2.1%.有效砷含量与总砷含量没有显著相关性,与亚砷酸盐含量呈显著正相关性,与砷酸盐含量呈显著负相关性.结果还表明,长江口南支沉积物中的砷形态分布特征及其生物有效性受城市支流输入和排污活动影响显著.     

Responses of soil ammonia oxidizers to a short-term severe mercury stress

The responses of soil ammonia-oxidizing archaea(AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB) to mercury(Hg) stress were investigated through a short-term incubation experiment.Treated with four different concentrations of Hg(CK,Hg25,Hg50,and Hg100,denoting 0,25,50,and 100 mg Hg/kg dry soil,respectively),samples were harvested after 3,7,and 28 day incubation.Results showed that the soil potential nitrification rate(PNR) was significantly inhibited by Hg stress during the incubation.However,lower abundances of AOA(the highest in CK: 9.20 × 10~7 copies/g dry soil; the lowest in Hg50: 2.68 × 10~7 copies/g dry soil) and AOB(the highest in CK: 2.68 × 10~7 copies/g dry soil; the lowest in Hg50:7.49 × 10~6 copies/g dry soil) were observed only at day 28 of incubation(P 0.05).Moreover,only the community structure of soil AOB obviously shifted under Hg stress as seen through DGGE profiles,which revealed that 2–3 distinct AOB bands emerged in the Hg treatments at day 28.In summary,soil PNR might be a very useful parameter to assess acute Hg stress on soil ecosystems,and the community structure of soil AOB might be a realistic biological indicator for the assessment of heavy metal stress on soil ecosystems in the future.     

Mobilization of arsenic from contaminated sediment by anionic and nonionic surfactants

The increasing manufacture of surfactants and their wide application in industry,agriculture and household detergents have resulted in large amounts of surfactant residuals being discharged into water and distributed into sediment. Surfactants have the potential to enhance arsenic mobility, leading to risks to the environment and even human beings. In this study, batch and column experiments were conducted to investigate arsenic mobilization from contaminated sediment by the commercial anionic surfactants sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate(SDBS), sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS), sodium laureth sulfate(AES)and nonionic surfactants phenyl-polyethylene glycol(Triton X-100) and polyethylene glycol sorbitan monooleate(Tween-80). The ability of surfactants to mobilize arsenic followed the order AES SDBS SDS ≈ Triton X-100 Tween 80. Arsenic mobilization by AES and Triton X-100 increased greatly with the increase of surfactant concentration and p H, while arsenic release by SDBS, SDS and Tween-80 slightly increased. The divalent ion Ca~(2+) caused greater reduction of arsenic mobilization than Na~+. Sequential extraction experiments showed that the main fraction of arsenic mobilized was the specifically adsorbed fraction. Solid phase extraction showed that arsenate(As(V)) was the main species mobilized by surfactants,accounting for 65.05%–77.68% of the total mobilized arsenic. The mobilization of arsenic was positively correlated with the mobilization of iron species. The main fraction of mobilized arsenic was the dissolved fraction, accounting for 70% of total mobilized arsenic.     

Assessing the bioremediation potential of arsenic tolerant bacterial strains in rice rhizosphere interface

The arsenic tolerant bacterial strains Staphylococcus arlettae(NBRIEAG-6), Staphylococcus sp.(NBRIEAG-8) and Brevibacillus sp.(NBRIEAG-9) were tested for their roles in enhancing plant growth and induction of stress-related enzymes in rice(Oryza sativa L. cv. NDR-359) plants at two different concentrations, 30 and 15 mg/kg of As(V) and As(III), respectively. An experiment was conducted to test the effect of these strains on plant growth promotion and arsenic uptake. We found 30%–40% reduction in total As uptake in bacteria-inoculated plants, with increased plant growth parameters compared to non-inoculated plants. Moreover, the bacteria-inoculated plants showed reduced activity of total glutathione(GSH) and glutathione reductase(GR) compared to their respective controls, which suggests the bacteria-mediated reduction of oxidative stress in plants. Thus, these strains were found to be beneficial in terms of the biochemical and physiological status of the plants under arsenic stress conditions.Furthermore, one-way ANOVA and principal component analysis(PCA) on enzymatic and non-enzymatic assays also revealed clear variations. The results support the distinction between control and treatments in both shoots and roots. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential of rhizobacteria in alleviating arsenic stress in rice plants.     

Ploidy-, gender-, and dose-dependent alteration of selected biomarkers in Clarias gariepinus treated with benzo[a]pyrene

Naturally-occurring and artificially-induced polyploids have been documented in various fish species but to date no comparison has been reported of the impacts of ploidy on fish biomarker responses to organic pollutants. This study describes effects of ploidy, gender, and dose on biliary fluorescent aromatic compound (FAC) concentrations, hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities in one of the most commonly cultured warm-water species, the African catfish Clarias gariepinus. Recently matured male and female diploid and triploid fish were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with 0, 5 or 25 mg/kg benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and liver and gallbladder were sampled 48 hr later. No significant differences were found between ploidies in bile concentrations of 7,8 dihydrodiolbenzo[a]pyrene (7,8D BaP), 1-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (1-OH BaP) or 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (3-OH BaP). However, concentrations of the biliary FACs did differ between males and females at different dose of injection with generally higher concentrations in females at the low dose of BaP and higher concentrations in males at the higher BaP concentration. Hepatic EROD activity did not exhibit gender-dependent difference, whereas it was significantly higher in triploids than diploids. GST activities were not significantly influenced by any of the tested factors. This work advanced our understanding of the role of ploidy, gender, and dose in biotransformation of pollutants in fish.     

Characteristics of particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emitted from industrial grade biomass boilers

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) are carcinogenic or mutagenic and are important toxic pollutants in the flue gas of boilers. Two industrial grade biomass boilers were selected to investigate the characteristics of particulate-bound PAHs: one biomass boiler retro-fitted from an oil boiler(BB1) and one specially designed(BB2) biomass boiler. One coal-fired boiler was also selected for comparison. By using a dilution tunnel system, particulate samples from boilers were collected and 10 PAH species were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC–MS). The total emission factors(EFs) of PAHs ranged from 0.0064 to0.0380 mg/kg, with an average of 0.0225 mg/kg, for the biomass boiler emission samples. The total PAH EFs for the tested coal-fired boiler were 1.8 times lower than the average value of the biomass boilers. The PAH diagnostic ratios for wood pellets and straw pellets were similar.The ratio of indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene/[indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene + benzo(g,h,i)perylene] for the two biomass boilers was lower than those of the reference data for other burning devices, which can probably be used as an indicator to distinguish the emission of biomass boilers from that of industrial coal-fired boilers and residential stoves. The toxic potential of the emission from wood pellet burning was higher than that from straw pellet burning, however both of them were much lower than residential stove exhausts.     

Removal of heavy metals and arsenic from a co-contaminated soil by sieving combined with washing process

Batch experiments were conducted with a heavy metals and arsenic co-contaminated soil from an abandoned mine to evaluate the feasibility of a remediation technology that combines sieving with soil washing.Leaching of the arsenic and heavy metals from the different particle size fractions was found to decrease in the order: 0.1,2–0.1,and 2 mm.With increased contact time,the concentration of heavy metals in the leachate was significantly decreased for small particles,probably because of adsorption by the clay soil component.For the different particle sizes,the removal efficiencies for Pb and Cd were75%–87%,and 61%–77% for Zn and Cu,although the extent of removal was decreased for As and Cr at 45%.The highest efficiency by washing for Pb,Cd,Zn,and As was from the soil particles 2 mm,although good metal removal efficiencies were also achieved in the small particle size fractions.Through SEM-EDS observations and correlation analysis,the leaching regularity of the heavy metals and arsenic was found to be closely related to Fe,Mn,and Ca contents of the soil fractions.The remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil by sieving combined with soil washing was proven to be efficient,and practical remediation parameters were also recommended.     

Antimony leaching release from brake pads: Effect of pH,temperature and organic acids

Metals from automotive brake pads pollute water, soils and the ambient air. The environmental effect on water of antimony (Sb) contained in brake pads has been largely untested. The content of Sb in one abandoned brake pad reached up to 1.62 × 10⁴ mg/kg. Effects of initial pH, temperature and four organic acids (acetic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid and humic acid) on Sb release from brake pads were studied using batch reactors. Approximately 30% (97 mg/L) of the total Sb contained in the brake pads was released in alkaline aqueous solution and at higher temperature after 30 days of leaching. The organic acids tested restrained Sb release, especially acetic acid and oxalic acid. The pH-dependent concentration change of Sb in aqueous solution was best fitted by a logarithmic function. In addition, Sb contained in topsoil from land where brake pads were discarded (average 9 × 10³ mg/kg) was 3000 times that in uncontaminated soils (2.7 ± 1 mg/kg) in the same areas. Because potentially high amounts of Sb may be released from brake pads, it is important that producers and environmental authorities take precautions.     

Patterns and dietary intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in food products in China

The health risk of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) to human being should be assessed regularly. To evaluate the contamination levels in various food products in the Chinese market and to assess the dietary exposure of the Chinese population, 11 varieties of food groups totaling 634 samples including beef and mutton, chicken and duck, pork, fish and seafood, milk and dairy products were evaluated. The average concentrations of PCDD/Fs in all groups ranged from 0.291 to 8.468 pg/g whole weight (w.w.). The average toxic equivalency concentrations were from 0.012 pg TEQ/g w.w. for cereal to 0.367 pg TEQ/g fat for marine oil. OCDD and 2,3,7,8-TCDF were the dominant congeners in foodstuffs. The dietary estimated mean intake for the Chinese rural and urban populations were 0.656 and 0.514 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day, respectively, however, the cereal group exposure were higher to the estimate daily intake and contributed 81% for rural and 48% for urban population, followed by fish and seafood which contributed 4% and 16% to the estimate daily intake. The estimated dietary intakes were compared with the toxicological reference values and showed that both rural and urban populations were well below those values.     

Effects of water management on arsenic and cadmiumspeciation and accumulation in an upland rice cultivar

Pot and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of water regimes on the speciation and accumulation of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in Brazilian upland rice growing in soils polluted with both As and Cd. In the pot experiment constant and intermittent flooding treatments gave 3-16 times higher As concentrations in soil solution than did aerobic conditions but Cd showed the opposite trend. Compared to arsenate, there were more marked changes in the arsenite concentrations in the soil solution as water management shifted, and therefore arsenite concentrations dominated the As speciation and bioavailability in the soil. In the field experiment As concentrations in the rice grains increased from0.14 to 0.21 mg/kg while Cd concentrations decreased from 0.21 to 0.02 mg/kg with increasing irrigation ranging from aerobic to constantly flooding conditions. Among the various water regimes the conventional irrigation treatment produced the highest rice grain yield of 6.29 tons/ha. The As speciation analysis reveals that the accumulation of dimethylarsinic acid (from 11.3% to 61.7%) made a greater contribution to the increase in total As in brown rice in the intermittent and constant flooding treatments compared to the intermittent-aerobic treatment. Thus, water management exerted opposite effects on Cd and As speciation and bioavailability in the soil and consequently on their accumulation in the upland rice. Special care is required when irrigation regime methods are employed to mitigate the accumulation of metal(loid)s in the grain of rice grown in soils polluted with both As and Cd.     

Comparison between background concentrations of arsenic in urban and non-urban areas of Florida

Arsenic contamination is of great environmental concern due to its toxic effects as a carcinogen. Knowledge of arsenic background concentrations is important for land application of wastes and for making remediation decisions. The soil clean-up target level for arsenic in Florida (0.8 and 3.7 mg kg⁻¹ for residential and commercial areas, respectively) lies within the range of both background and analytical quantification limits. The objective of this study was to compare arsenic distribution in urban and non-urban areas of Florida. Approximately 440 urban and 448 non-urban Florida soil samples were compared. For urban areas, soil samples were collected from three land-use classes (residential, commercial and public land) in two cities, Gainesville and Miami. For the non-urban areas, samples were collected from relatively undisturbed non-inhabited areas. Arsenic concentrations varied greatly in Gainesville, ranging from 0.21 to approximately 660 mg kg⁻¹ with a geometric mean (GM) of 0.40 mg kg⁻¹, which were lower than Miami samples (ranging from 0.32 to 112 mg kg⁻¹; GM=2.81 mg kg⁻¹). Arsenic background concentrations in urban soils were significantly greater and showed greater variation than those from relatively undisturbed non-urban soils (GM=0.27 mg kg⁻¹) in general.     

Study on the effects of organic matter characteristics on the residual aluminum and flocs in coagulation processes

Characteristics of organic matter may affect the residual aluminum after the coagulation process. This study reported the results of a survey for one drinking water treatment plant and measured the concentration of residual aluminum species with different molecular weights. Survey results indicated that humic acid or organic matter whose molecular weight was smaller than 1500 Da had significant effects on residual aluminum. All the treatment processes were ineffective in removing dissolved organic matter whose molecular weight was smaller than 1500 Da. These results also indicated that the addition of sand or polyacrylamide in the coagulation process could greatly decrease the concentration of humic acid, and the concentration of residual aluminum also decreased. These results revealed that for all water samples after filtration, the majority of total residual aluminum existed in the form of total dissolved aluminum, accounting for 70%–90%. The concentration of residual aluminum produced in bovine serum albumin solutions indicated that when the DOC was larger than 4.0 mg/L, there were still significant differences when the solution pH value varied from 4.0 to 9.0.     

Source apportionment of perfluoroalkyl substances in surface sediments from lakes in Jiangsu Province, China: Comparison of three receptor models

Receptor models have been proved as useful tools to identify source categories and quantitatively calculate the contributions of extracted sources.In this study,sixty surface sediment samples were collected from fourteen lakes in Jiangsu Province,China.The total concentrations of C_4–C_(14)-perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid(∑_(12)PFASs) in sediments ranged from 0.264 to 4.44 ng/g dw(dry weight),with an average of 1.76 ng/g dw.Three commonly-applied receptor models,namely principal component analysis-multiple linear regression(PCA-MLR),positive matrix factorization(PMF) and Unmix models,were employed to apportion PFAS sources in sediments.Overall,these three models all could well track the ∑_(12) PFASs concentrations as well as the concentrations explained in sediments.These three models identified consistently four PFAS sources:the textile treatment sources,the fluoropolymer processing aid/fluororesin coating sources,the textile treatment/metal plating sources and the precious metal sources,contributing 28.1%,37.0%,29.7% and 5.3% by PCA-MLR model,30.60%,39.3%,22.4% and 7.7% by PMF model,and 20.6%,52.4%,20.2% and 6.8% by Unmix model to the ∑_(12) PFASs,respectively.Comparative statistics of multiple analytical methods could minimize individual-method weaknesses and provide convergent results to enhance the persuasiveness of the conclusions.The findings could give us a better knowledge of PFAS sources in aquatic environments.     

Distribution of chlorpyrifos in rice paddy environment and its potential dietary risk

Chlorpyrifos is one of the most extensively used insecticides in China. The distribution and residues of chlorpyrifos in a paddy environment were characterized under field and laboratory conditions. The half-lives of chlorpyrifos in the two conditions were 0.9–3.8 days (field) and 2.8–10.3 days (laboratory), respectively. The initial distribution of chlorpyrifos followed the increasing order of water < straw < soil, and soil was characterized as the major absorber. The ultimate residues in rice grain were below the maximum residue limit (MRL) with a harvest interval of 14 days. The chronic exposure for chlorpyrifos was rather low compared to the acceptable daily intake (ADI = 0.01 mg/kg bw) due to rice consumption. The chronic exposure risk from chlorpyrifos in rice grain was 5.90% and 1.30% ADI from field and laboratory results respectively. Concerning the acute dietary exposure, intake estimated for the highest chlorpyrifos level did not exceed the acute reference dose (ARfD = 0.1 mg/kg bw). The estimated short-term intakes (ESTIs) were 0.78% and 0.25% of the ARfD for chlorpyrifos. The results showed that the use of chlorpyrifos in rice paddies was fairly safe for consumption of rice grain by consumers.     

On-line batch production of ferrate with an chemical method and its potential application for greywater recycling with Al(III) salt

Ferrate(VI) salt is an oxidant and coagulant for water and wastewater treatment. It is considered as a possible alternative method in greywater treatment. However, challenges have existed in putting ferrate(VI) technology into full-scale practice in water and wastewater treatment due to the instability of ferrate solution and high production cost of solid ferrate products. This study demonstrated a new approach of greywater treatment with on-line batch production of Fe(VI) to which Fe(III) salt was oxidized at a weak acidity solution. A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of Fe(VI) on light greywater (total organic carbon (TOC) = 19.5 mg/L) and dark greywater (TOC = 55 mg/L) treatment under different conditions with varying pH and Fe(VI) doses. In addition, the combination use of Fe(VI) and Al(III) salts was proved to be more efficient than using the Fe(VI) salts alone at greywater recycling. The optimum dosage of Fe(VI)/Al(III) salts was 25/25 mg/L for light greywater, 90/60 mg/L for dark greywater, respectively. The TOC values of both light greywater and dark greywater were reduced to less than 3 mg/L with the dosages. The cost for treating greywater was 0.06–0.2 $/ton at ferrate(VI) dosage of 25–90 mg/L and 0.008–0.024 $/ton at AlCl₃ dosage of 25–60 mg/L. The full operating cost needs further assessment before the Fe(VI)/Al(III) technology could be implemented in greywater treatment.