Occurrence and dietary exposure risks of phthalate esters in food in the typical valley city Xi’an,Northwest China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Diet is an important exposure pathway of phthalate esters (PAEs) for humans. A total of 174 food samples covering 11 food groups were collected from...     

Concentrations,bioaccumulation, and health risk assessments of heavy metals in fishes from Nigeria’s freshwater: a general overview

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Heavy metals (HMs) have attracted global attention due to their toxicity, persistence, and accumulation in aquatic fish in the polluted water...     

Concentration and characterization of airborne particles in Tehran’s subway system

Particulate matter is an important air pollutant, especially in closed environments like underground subway stations. In this study, a total of 13 elements were determined from PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples collected at two subway stations (Imam Khomeini and Sadeghiye) in Tehran’s subway system. Sampling was conducted in April to August 2011 to measure PM concentrations in platform and adjacent outdoor air of the stations. In the Imam Khomeini station, the average concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were 94.4?±?26.3 and 52.3?±?16.5 μg m^?3 in the platform and 81.8?±?22.2 and 35?±?17.6 μg m^?3 in the outdoor air, respectively. In the Sadeghiye station, mean concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were 87.6?±?23 and 41.3?±?20.4 μg m^?3 in the platform and 73.9?±?17.3 and 30?±?15 μg m^?3, in the outdoor air, respectively. The relative contribution of elemental components in each particle fraction were accounted for 43 % (PM₁₀) and 47.7 % (PM_2.5) in platform of Imam Khomeini station and 15.9 % (PM₁₀) and 18.5 % (PM_2.5) in the outdoor air of this station. Also, at the Sadeghiye station, each fraction accounted for 31.6 % (PM₁₀) and 39.8 % (PM_2.5) in platform and was 11.7 % (PM₁₀) and 14.3 % (PM_2.5) in the outdoor. At the Imam Khomeini station, Fe was the predominant element to represent 32.4 and 36 % of the total mass of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in the platform and 11.5 and 13.3 % in the outdoor, respectively. At the Sadeghiye station, this element represented 22.7 and 29.8 % of total mass of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in the platform and 8.7 and 10.5 % in the outdoor air, respectively. Other major crustal elements were 5.8 % (PM₁₀) and 5.3 % (PM_2.5) in the Imam Khomeini station platform and 2.3 and 2.4 % in the outdoor air, respectively. The proportion of other minor elements was significantly lower, actually less than 7 % in total samples, and V was the minor concentration in total mass of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in both platform stations.     

Microbiota’s role in health and diseases

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The microbiome is a term that usually refers to the community of various microorganisms that inhabit/live inside human/animal bodies or on their skin....     

The Effect of California’s Wintertime Oxygenated Fuels Program on Ambient Carbon Monoxide Concentrations

Abstract

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandated the use of oxygenated gasoline beginning in the winter of 1992 to reduce the unhealthful carbon monoxide concentrations in many urban areas. The California Air Resources Board (CARB), weighing the potential effects of the program on other pollutants, implemented a modified version of the federal wintertime oxygenated fuels program. In California, the number of violations of the carbon monoxide air quality standard during the three winters associated with the program was dramatically lower than during any winter prior to the program. Because meteorological conditions during the program were very favorable for dispersion of pollutants, any analysis of the impacts of the program must account for the influence of variable meteorological conditions. Analyses of ambient pollutant concentrations suggest that most of the air quality improvement was due to increased atmospheric dispersion. The analyses presented here account for the large influence of meteorology on ambient concentrations and indicate that California’s modified oxygenated fuels program was responsible for an approximately 5–10% reduction in mean ambient carbon monoxide concentrations, depending on the statistical approach used.     

Cost and Benefits of Road Dust Control in Seattle’s Industrial Valley

The paving of gravel roads with an average daily traffic (ADT) over 15 is a least cost method for reducing suspended particulate In the air in Seattle. It is also a good business investment when the ADT exceeds 100. Clean roads, gutters, and parking lots may reduce or eliminate Seattle’s most serious environmental constraint on economic development. In a study done in Seattle’s Duwamish Valley the impact of road dust on air quality was measured by obtaining dust emission factors for vehicles traveling at 10, 20, and 30 mph on gravel as well as dusty paved roads. A University of Washington Mark II Cascade Impactor was mounted on a trailer and towed behind a car to determine the concentration and size distribution of this dust. It was found that each vehicle mile at 20 mph on unpaved roads contributed 7.0 Ib of dust to the air, 1.9 Ib consisting of particles smaller than 10 microns in diameter and 0.24 Ib below 2 microns. Three to eight percent by weight of this respirable dust was free silica, which is potentially toxic. The quantity of dust generated varies as an exponent of the speed. The concentrations of dust found in the air near a dry gravel road with an ADT of 250 reached 584 μg/m3 for an 8 hr work day. A 24 hr suspended particulate reading of 463 μg/m3 total and 3.83 μg/m3 free silica was found beside a dusty paved road with an ADT of 18,000. Nineteen miles of gravel roads and 110 miles of dusty paved roads contributed 2700 tons/year of particulate, of which 700 tons were below 10 microns. Paving or oiling such roads will produce benefits of $3,881,000 yearly in household cleaning, health care, sewer, vehicle operation, and road maintenance costs as well as an increase in property values. Clean roads can lower the cost of clean air in Seattle.     

Effects of fine particles on children’s hospital admissions for respiratory health in Seville,Spain

This study analyzes the influence of fine particles PM_2.5 on nonprogrammed children’s hospital admissions that occurred in the city of Seville between 2007 and 2011, and makes an economic assessment of the cost of the children’s hospital admissions for respiratory causes due to particle pollution. The PM_2.5 dose-response functions for each type of hospital admission were used to quantify the cost of the hospital admissions. It can be concluded that the PM_2.5 concentrations have negative effects on bronchiolitis, pneumonia, asthma, and bronchitis and other causes. A reduction of the daily average annual PM_2.5 concentration from the existing levels to 10 µg/m³ would show an annual average reduction of children’s hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases of 0.09 cases. This paper shows that the daily average cost for children hospital admissions due to respiratory reasons in the city of Seville, associated with daily average annual levels of PM_2.5 above 10 µg/m³, was almost 200€.

Implications:?Elevated PM_2.5 concentrations in Seville have negative effects on children’s bronchiolitis, pneumonia, asthma, and bronchitis and other causes. A reduction of the daily average annual PM_2.5 concentration from the existing levels to 10 μg/m³ would suppose an annual mean reduction of children’s hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases of 0.09 cases.     

Estimation and characterization of children’s ambient generated exposure to PM2.5 using sulphate and elemental carbon as tracers

Children’s exposures to ambient and non-ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) were determined using the sulphate and elemental carbon components of the PM_2.5 mixture as tracers of the ambient contribution during a 6-week winter period in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Personal exposures to PM_2.5 were measured in children at 5 elementary schools located throughout the city and ambient samples were collected on school rooftops. Average ambient levels and personal exposures during this time period were 13.8 μg m^?3 and 16.4 μg m^?3 respectively. From the data pooled across individuals, use of the two different tracers indicated identical estimates of median exposure to ambient PM_2.5 (7.5 μg m^?3) and similar estimates of non-ambient generated exposure (6.4 and 5.0 μg m^?3) and infiltration (0.49 and 0.52) for the sulphate and elemental carbon approach, respectively. The median fraction of the ambient concentration resulting in exposure or exposure factors were 0.54 and 0.55 respectively, however lower values of 0.46 and 0.42 were determined from regression analysis. A strong association was found between exposure to ambient PM_2.5 and measured ambient concentrations at both the closest school monitor (median r = 0.92) and a central site (median r = 0.88) demonstrating that the central site monitor was suitable for assessing longitudinal ambient generated exposure throughout the city. These results support the use of elemental carbon as a tracer of ambient generated exposure and the use of ambient data as estimates of longitudinal changes in children’s exposure in this setting. The importance of both ambient and non-ambient sources of PM_2.5 is emphasized by their almost equal contribution to total personal exposures. Comparison with other studies suggests a limited influence of climate and the cold season in Prince George on exposure levels and found similar mean non-ambient generated exposures despite large variability across and within subjects in any given location.     

Analysis of organochlorine pesticide residues in human and cow’s milk in the towns of Asendabo,Serbo and Jimma in South-Western Ethiopia

The level of some OCPs in human and cow milk collected from Asendabo, Serbo and Jimma in South-West Ethiopia were analyzed using GC–ECD. Results of the analysis indicated that all samples contained detectable quantities of p,p′-DDT and its metabolites, p,p-DDE and p,p-DDD, but none of the other OCPs analyzed. Mean levels of total DDT in the human and cow milk samples in the three areas were 12.68 and 0.389 μg g^?1 respectively. The distributions of p,p-DDT, p,p-DDE and p,p-DDD in the human milk samples from the three locations followed the same trend in which the proportion of p,p-DDT was the highest in all the three cases, comprising 55–71% of total DDT, followed by p,p-DDE, 26–39%, and the least, p,p-DDD of 2–5%. The mean ratio of DDT/DDE concentration for the three areas was calculated to be 2.01. This value was much higher than the values reported from other countries in earlier studies and indicates the existence of a higher quantity of DDT from a fresh input in the three study areas. The mean estimated daily intake of DDT by infants from mother’s milk in the three locations was found to be 62.17 μg kg^?1 body weight, which is about three times higher than the acceptable daily intake set by WHO/FAO for total DDT, 20 μg kg^?1 of body weight. This alarmingly high daily intake value is a cause for concern, since children are highly susceptible to effects from such environmental contaminants. The study has revealed that people in the study areas are facing exposure to DDT from recent use. The observed contamination of mother’s milk and the possible transfer of the contaminant from mother to child is an obvious risk associated with breast-feeding in the study areas and possibly in other parts of the country too.     

Distribution of environmentally sensitive elements in residential soils near a coal-fired power plant: Potential risks to ecology and children’s health

One hundred and twelve soil samples were collected from residential areas surrounding a coal-fired power plant at Huainan City, Anhui Province, China. The concentrations of environmentally sensitive elements (ESEs As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in soil samples were determined, and their potential ecological and health risks were assessed. Mean concentrations of ESEs in the downwind soils of the power plant are relatively higher than those in the upwind soils, pointing to a potential ESEs input from coal combustion. The calculated ecological risk of ESEs in soils indicates a relatively low ecological risk. Hazard quotient (HQ) of ESEs in downwind soils is 1.5, suggesting a potential health risk for children. However, the carcinogenic risk values of ESEs in soils are within the acceptable non-hazardous range of 1E−06–1E−04.     

Concentrations of heavy metal and radioactivity in surface water and sediment of Hazar Lake (Elaziğ, Turkey)

Concentration of heavy metals and natural gross radioactivity were measured in the surface water and sediment of Hazar Lake (Elazi?, Turkey). Eight sampling sites were pre-defined in different locations of the lake. A preliminary study on heavy metals (Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Co and Pb), major elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) concentrations and natural radioactivity related to 226Ra, gross-alpha and gross-beta radiations in the surface water and deep sediments were determined. The obtained results showed that, in general, the heavy metals (Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu and Pb) and major elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) concentrations in water did not exceed WHO (World Health Organization, 1999), EC (Europe Community, 1998), EPA (Environment Protection Agency, 2002) and TSE-266 (Turkish Standard, 1997) guidelines. Generally, heavy metals and major elements concentration of the sediments were found decrease in sequence of Fe>Mg>Ca>Mn>Zn>Ni>Cr>Cu>Co>Pb. The results of this study indicated that a general absence of serious pollution in the Hazar Lake. The results obtained from the radioactivity determination indicate that the surface water radioactivity concentration of 226Ra, gross-alpha and gross-beta were ranging from 0.52+/-0.02 to 2.02+/-0.06 Bq/l and from 0.65+/-0.03 to 2.52+/-0.07 Bq/l and from 0.01+/-0.01 to 0.14+/-0.01 Bq/l, respectively. Deep sediment radioactivity concentrations of 226Ra is ranging from 0.07+/-0.03 to 0.32+/-0.07 Bq/g.     

Regime shifts and resilience in China’s coastal ecosystems

Regime shift often results in large, abrupt, and persistent changes in the provision of ecosystem services and can therefore have significant impacts on human wellbeing. Understanding regime shifts has profound implications for ecosystem recovery and management. China’s coastal ecosystems have experienced substantial deterioration within the past decades, at a scale and speed the world has never seen before. Yet, information about this coastal ecosystem change from a dynamics perspective is quite limited. In this review, I synthesize existing information on coastal ecosystem regime shifts in China and discuss their interactions and cascading effects. The accumulation of regime shifts in China’s coastal ecosystems suggests that the desired system resilience has been profoundly eroded, increasing the potential of abrupt shifts to undesirable states at a larger scale, especially given multiple escalating pressures. Policy and management strategies need to incorporate resilience approaches in order to cope with future challenges and avoid major losses in China’s coastal ecosystem services.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-015-0692-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Influence of additives in the end‐use mixes of tebufenozide on deposition,adhesion and persistence in spruce foliage

Abstract

A commercial flowable formulation of tebufenozide, RH‐5992 2F [N'‐t‐butyl‐N'‐(3,5‐dimethylbenzoyl)‐N‐(4‐ethylbenzoyl) hydrazine], was diluted with water, water and canola oil, and water and the methyl ester of canola oil, to provide six end‐use mixes with concentrations of 35 and 70 g of active ingredient (Al) litre^‐1. The mixes were applied at 70 and 140 g Al ha^‐1 over white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss] seedlings in a laboratory spray chamber and foliar concentrations of tebufenozide were determined over a 60‐d period. At intervals of time post‐spray, seedlings were sprayed with monosized droplets of Sunspray®11N as rainfall, and the amount of tebufenozide knocked off from foliage was determined. The potential energy of adhesion (PEA) of the Al particles on the foliage increased with time and varied according to the type of end‐use mix, its viscosity and the dosage sprayed.

The end‐use mixes were applied over white spruce trees under field conditions and persistence of tebufenozide was investigated. DT₅₀ values were influenced by the type of mix and dosage sprayed. Oil‐containing mixes and higher dosages increased the PEA of tebufenozide particles.     

Assessment of Needs for Technical Information in EPA’s Hazardous and Solid Waste Programs

Headquarters managers and Regional staff in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s hazardous and solid waste programs were surveyed to determine priorities for technical information and guidance among EPA Regional staff, state hazardous waste management staff, EPA contractors, and the regulated community. The survey also examined delivery systems effective for EPA Regional staff. The fifteen highest ranked technical needs for RCRA, Superfund, and UST reflect a pervasive interest in hazardous waste remediation. Top priority technical needs focus on establishing cleanup levels, subsurface fate and transport, field monitoring and quality assurance, remedy selection, and most importantly, which remedies work and which do not in specific situations. Technical needs of non- EPA audiences are quite similar to those for EPA field staff. Preferences for technology transfer delivery systems are generally for conventional distribution methods (such as print materials and workshops) rather than electronic or video media. Regional staff report serious problems in utilizing technology transfer because of time constraints, insufficient knowledge of available products, insufficient travel funds, and limited access to and training on computers.     

The spatial distribution dynamic and convergence of CO2 emissions in Iran’s provinces

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - It is essential to study CO2 emissions intensity as the most critical factor affecting temperature increase and climate change in a country like Iran,...     

Concentrations and accumulation rates of polychlorinated biphenyls in soil along an urban–rural gradient in Shanghai

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study proposed an in situ soil experimental system to quantify concentration and accumulation rates of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners...     

Molecular mechanism of zinc neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s disease

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element for most organisms, including human beings. It plays a crucial role in several physiological processes such as...     

Diurnal and Weekday Variations in the Source Contributions of Ozone Precursors in California’s South Coast Air Basin

Abstract

For at least 30 years, ozone (O₃) levels on weekends in parts of California’s South Coast (Los Angeles) Air Basin (SoCAB) have been as high as or higher than on weekdays, even though ambient levels of O₃ precursors are lower on weekends than on weekdays. A field study was conducted in the Los Angeles area during fall 2000 to test whether proposed relationships between emission sources and ambient nonmethane hydrocarbon (NMHC) and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) levels can account for observed diurnal and day-of-week variations in the concentration and proportions of precursor pollutants that may affect the efficiency and rate of O₃ formation. The contributions to ambient NMHC by motor vehicle exhaust and evaporative emissions, estimated using chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor modeling, ranged from 65 to 85% with minimal day-of-week variation. Ratios of ambient NO_x associated with black carbon (BC) to NO_x associated with carbon monoxide (CO) were approximately 1.25 ± 0.22 during weekdays and 0.76 ± 0.07 and 0.52 ± 0.07 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. These results demonstrate that lower NO_x emissions from diesel exhaust can be a major factor causing lower NO_x mixing ratios and higher NMHC/NO_x ratios on weekends. Nonmobile sources showed no significant day-of-week variations in their contributions to NMHC. Greater amounts of gasoline emissions are carried over on Friday and Saturday evenings but are, at most, a minor factor contributing to higher NMHC/NO_x ratios on weekend mornings.     

A review of coal gangue identification research—application to China’s top coal release process

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Top coal caving is a process for the rational extraction of large amounts of coal resources. However, this process readily causes release of excessive...