Urinary arsenic,cadmium, manganese,nickel, and vanadium levels of schoolchildren in the vicinity of the industrialised area of Asaluyeh,Iran

Asaluyeh is one of the most heavily industrialised areas in the world where gas, petrochemical, and many downstream industries are located. This study aims to survey the biomonitoring of four metals and one metalloid in children living in the vicinity of Asaluyeh area. To do this, we analysed the creatinine-adjusted urinary levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), vanadium (V), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) in 184 elementary schoolchildren (99 boys and 85 girls) living in Asaluyeh and compared them with a reference population. The comparisons were done for two seasons (spring and fall). The results showed that in the case area (Asaluyeh), the levels of As, V, Mn, and Ni were significantly higher and that of Cd was not significantly higher than the reference city for both seasons. The mean concentration of metal(loid)s in Asaluyeh (case) and Sadabad (reference) area as μg g^?1 creatinine was As 2.90 and 2.24, V 0.06 and 0.03, Mn 0.28 and 0.25, Ni 0.54 and 0.29, and Cd 0.31 and 0.28 in spring and As 3.08 and 2.28, V 0.07 and 0.03, Mn 0.30 and 0.26, Ni 0.91 and 0.30, and Cd 0.36 and 0.31 in the fall. Seasonal variations played a key role in determining urinary metal(loid) concentration, as we saw the significant level of As, Cd, V, and Ni in fall than in spring. With regard to the impact of gender on the absorption and accumulation of urinary metal(loid)s, boys showed higher levels of the studied elements, especially for As, than girls as outdoor activities are more popular among boys. Due to the values being lower than those reported in literature, more research is needed on various population groups and other exposure sources in order to judge whether living in the vicinity of the gas and petrochemical industries in Asaluyeh is a threat to nearby residents.     

Source, concentration, and distribution of elemental mercury in the atmosphere in Toronto, Canada

Atmospheric gaseous elemental mercury [GEM] at 1.8, 4, and 59 m above ground, in parking lots, and in indoor and outdoor air was measured in Toronto City, Canada from May 2008-July 2009. The average GEM value at 1.8 m was 1.89 ± 0.62 ng m(-3). The GEM values increased with elevation. The average GEM in underground parking lots ranged from 1.37 to 7.86 ng m(-3) and was higher than those observed from the surface parking lots. The GEM in the indoor air ranged from 1.21 to 28.50 ng m(-3), was higher in the laboratories than in the offices, and was much higher than that in the outdoor air. All these indicate that buildings serve as sources of mercury to the urban atmosphere. More studies are needed to estimate the contribution of urban areas to the atmospheric mercury budget and the impact of indoor air on outdoor air quality and human health.     

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, mercury, cadmium, copper, selenium, arsenic, and zinc in the harbour seal, Phoca vitulina, in Norwegian waters

Residue levels of the chlorinated hydrocarbons polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total DDT, alpha-, beta- and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and oxychlordane in blubber, and the elements mercury, cadmium, copper, selenium, arsenic, and zinc in liver, of 82 harbour seals, Phoca vitulina, were determined. The seals were found dead or dying in Norwegian waters during the disease outbreak caused by a morbilli virus in 1988. Of the chlorinated hydrocarbons, the highest concentrations were found of PCBs, which were 2-4 times higher than the total DDT concentrations. P,p'-DDE was the main contributor to the total DDT, and constituted about 80%. The PCB and total DDT concentrations ranged from 0.4-38 and 0.1-8.8 mg kg(-1), respectively. The mercury concentrations ranged from 0.1-89 mg kg(-1). Significantly higher mean levels of PCBs (13 mg kg(-1) and mercury (16 mg kg(-1)) were found in blubber and liver, respectively, of seals from the Southern coast of Norway, as compared to the corresponding mean levels in seals from the Oslofjord (8.8 and 4.1 mg kg(-1)), and at the Northwestern coast (5.8 and 7.9 mg kg(-1)), respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the concentrations of selenium and mercury. When the seals were grouped according to sex and age, females of ageclass > 1 and pups of both sexes had significantly lower PCB and total DDT levels than males ageclass > 1. Significantly higher hepatic mercury levels were found in seals ageclass > 1 as compared to pups. Only low levels of the other organochlorines, cadmium and arsenic, were found. Copper and zinc were considered to be present at normal physiological levels. The present organochlorine and heavy metal concentrations gave no support to suggestions that organochlorines and heavy metal pollution may be directly involved in the observed seal deaths.     

Lead in the diet and body tissues of dunlins, Calidris alpina, from the Bristol Channel, UK

Lead concentrations were determined in the organs of a shorebird, the dunlin, in its main invertebrate prey, and in sediments collected from five sites in the Bristol Channel. The highest sediment concentrations were found in the Taff Estuary (97 microg g(-1) dry mass). The highest concentrations in invertebrates were found in the upper Severn Estuary (45 microg g(-1) dry mass in Nereis diversicolor). In dunlins, the highest concentrations were found in the sternum (25 microg g(-1) dry mass in males), followed by the beak, legs, kidney, liver and pectoral muscle. Adult males contained significantly higher concentrations (ca 20%) than adult females, and in some cases adults had significantly higher concentrations than first year birds (36% higher in the case of the sternum). Lead concentrations tended to increase throughout the winter, being 37-115% higher in the spring. Birds were able to purge themselves of a substantial portion of their body lead burdens, probably during the autumn moult.     

Evaluation of the Stone and Marble Industry in Palestine: environmental,geological, health,socioeconomic, cultural,and legal perspectives,in view of sustainable development

The Stone (limestone) and Marble (trade name) Industry (SMI) is one of the most important and active industries in Palestine, as being economically and financially rewarding and greatly beneficial to the public and private sectors. This industry, which employs about 15,000–20,000 workers, contributes 20–25% to the total industrial revenues of Palestine, and 4.5% to the total gross national product. Despite its benefits, SMI has adverse effects on public health, the environment, biodiversity, water systems (both surface and underground), green cover, and ecosystems in general, as it is considered one of the most air- water-, soil-, and noise-polluting sources. To achieve the purpose of this research paper, available data and literature are analyzed, evaluated, and used, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the status of SMI, in light of sustainable development. This relates to various perspectives, including limestone geology, geopolitics, socioeconomics, culture, technology, legislation, as well as climate change, acid rain, and harmful effects of the SMI scale on public health and safety, environmental well-being, and challenges facing the industry. Two field studies, carried out in northern and southern West Bank, dealing with particulate matter (PM₁, PM_2.5, PM₇, PM₁₀, and TSP) and environmental pollution, were analyzed, and their results were compared with each other, as well as with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines. It is found that both West Bank’s areas are heavily polluted, resulting in considerable adverse impacts on public health, the environment, and green cover. Based on the findings of this paper, it is recommended that SMI should properly adhere to WHO guidelines and international standards to make the industry safer and more durable and sustainable, with fewer negative impacts on public health, the environment, and green cover.

     

Bioaccumulation of toxicants in the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, at the Times Beach Confined Disposal Facility, Buffalo, New York

This study consisted of a site characterization followed by biomonitoring the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, at the Times Beach Confined Disposal Facility (CDF), located in Buffalo, New York. Concentrations of selected contaminants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals -arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), barium (Ba), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), selenium (Se) and silver (Ag)-were at or below detection limits in the water column. Sediment contaminant concentrations, recorded as dry weight, were as high as 549 mg/kg for total PAHs, 9 mg/kg for PCB Aroclor 1248 and 54, 99, 6, 355, 637 and 16 mg/kg for the metals As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb and Hg, respectively. To predict contaminant bioavailability, elutriate and whole sediment toxicity tests were performed utilizing the cladoceran, Daphnia magna. Whole sediment tests indicated significant impact. Control survival was 84%, while sediment treatment had survival ranging from 1 to 7%. Mean control reproduction was 86.8 neonates, whereas treatment reproduction ranged from 1.4 to 9.0. Zebra mussels placed both in the water column (Upper) and at the sediment level (Lower) survived the 34-day exposure. Contaminants that significantly accumulated in zebra mussel tissue (wet wt mg/kg) were total PAHs (6.58), fluoranthene (1.23), pyrene (1.08), chrysene (0.98), benzo(a)anthracene (0.60), PCB Aroclor 1248 (1.64), As (0.97), Cr (2.87) and Ba (7.00). Accumulation of these contaminants in zebra mussel tissue represent a potentially realistic hazard to organisms (i.e. fish and birds) that feed on them.     

Occurrence,distribution, and risk assessment of antibiotics in the Songhua River in China

The occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment of antibiotics in freshwater systems are receiving global attention, because of their impact on the environment and human health. However, few studies have focused on this topic in Northeast China and its Songhua River, the third-largest river in China. This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of 12 antibiotics, including three cephalosporins (cefazolin, cefmetazole, cefotaxime), three macrolides (azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin), three fluoroquinolones (ofloxacin, norfloxacin, flumequine), and three sulfonamides (sulfadiazine, sulfapyridine, sulfamethoxazole) in the mainstream and tributaries of the Songhua River. A total of 152 surface water samples were collected in January, May, July, and October 2016. These samples were analyzed using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The results indicated the wide use of all 12 antibiotics in the mainstream of the Songhua River. Sulfamethoxazole and cefazolin were the dominant antibiotics, with maximum concentrations of 73.1 and 65.4 ng L^?1, respectively. Other antibiotics were present at mean concentrations below 15 ng L^?1, except cefmetazole, present at a mean concentration of 35.6 ng L^?1. The spatial distribution of antibiotics showed that unbalanced regional development may lead to the distribution pattern of the antibiotics in the tributaries and the mainstream. Thus study also assessed the seasonal variation of antibiotics in urban surface water; cephalosporin, sulfonamide, fluoroquinolone, and macrolide concentrations were significantly higher during the icebound season than during non-icebound season. This may be due to the low temperature and water flow of the river in winter. Risk assessment showed that azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin, flumequine, and sulfamethoxazole posed a low or median risk to the aquatic organisms in the mainstream. The potential risks created by antibiotics to the aquatic environment should not be neglected in the Songhua River. The potential risks created by antibiotics to the aquatic environment should not be neglected in the Songhua River.

     

Distribution of PAHs in tissues of wetland plants and the surrounding sediments in the Chongming wetland, Shanghai, China

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations were determined in sediments and three types of wetland plants collected from the intertidal flats in the Chongming wetland. The concentration of total PAHs in sediments ranged from 38.7 to 136.2 ng g⁻¹. Surface sediment concentrations were higher in regions with plant cover than in bare regions. Rhizome-layer sediments (56.8-102.4 ng g⁻¹) contained less PAHs than surface sediments (0-5 cm). Concentrations of PAHs in plant tissues ranged from 51.9 to 181.2 ng g⁻¹, with highest concentrations in the leaves of Scirpus. Most of the PAHs in the leaves and other plant tissues were low molecular weight compounds (LMW, 2-4 rings), and a similar distribution pattern of PAHs in different types of plants was also observed. Source analysis indicated that plants and sediments both came from pyrogenic sources, but plants had additional petroleum contamination. The low ratio of benzo[a]anthracene over chrysene suggests that the wetland PAHs came mainly from long-distance atmospheric transportation. Significant bioaccumulation of PAHs from the sediments into plants was not observed for high molecular weight PAHs (HMW, 5-6 rings) in Chongming wetland. The small RCFs (root concentration factor from sediments) for HMW PAHs and large RCFs for LMW PAHs suggested that roots accumulated LMW PAHs selectively from sediments in Chongming wetland.     

Congener profiles of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs in the breast milk samples in Tokyo, Japan

Exposure to dioxins has raised much public concern recently. We determined the congeners' distribution of polychlorinated-dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) in the breast milk samples collected in Tokyo, Japan. Breast milk was taken from 240 mothers, 30 days after delivery in 1999 and 2000 in Tokyo, Japan. The actual concentration and TEQ concentration of PCDDs (14 congeners), PCDFs (15 congeners), and dl-PCBs (12 congeners), and each congener's contribution to the total TEQ level were calculated. Among all the samples, PCDDs accounted for 34.8%, PCDFs accounted for 23.5%, dl-PCBs accounted for 41.7%, which was also similar in the breast milk from the primiparae and secundiparae. The main contributors to the total TEQ with increasing percentages were 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD and 3,3',4,4',5-PCB (#126), and they accounted for more than 65% of the total TEQ. Detailed congener analysis in breast milk samples is effective to understand dioxin sources.     

Occurrence, distribution and seasonal variation of antibiotics in the Huangpu River, Shanghai, China

Water samples were collected from 19 sampling sites along the Huangpu River in June and December 2009. The occurrence, distribution and seasonal variation of 22 antibiotics, including four tetracyclines, three chloramphenicols, two macrolides, six fluoroquinolones, six sulfonamides and trimethoprim were investigated. It was found that all 19 sampling sites were contaminated by antibiotics. Four antibiotics (sulfamerazine, norfloxacin, fleroxacin and sarafloxacin) were not detected. The detection frequencies of the other 18 antibiotics were in the range of 5.3-100%. The median concentrations of the detected antibiotics ranged from quantification limits to 36.71 ng L⁻¹ (tetracycline) in June and to 313.44 ng L⁻¹ (sulfamethazine) in December. The number of detected antibiotics and the overall antibiotic concentrations were higher in December than in June due to the different river flow conditions. Different dominant antibiotics were observed for each group of antibiotics between June and December. Higher total concentrations of veterinary antibiotics such as tetracyclines were observed in suburban sampling sites than in unban sites, indicating the role of livestock and agricultural activities as an important source of antibiotic contamination.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls in the Kupa River, Croatia, Yugoslavia

The presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was investigated in samples of water, suspended particles, sediments and fish from the Kupa river, Croatia, Yugoslavia, along a river stretch extending up to 10 km upstream and 200 km downstream of the primary contaminated karst region. Contamination was due to improper disposal of industrial waste discharge. The PCB levels detected in the samples collected downstream ranged from 1 to 52 ng 1⁻¹ for water, from 50 to 190 μg kg⁻¹ for suspended particles and from 8 to 39 μg kg⁻¹ for the sediment. A wide range of PCB concentrations, from 0.1 to 42.3 μg g⁻¹, which were measured in edible portions of different fish confirmed a long-term contamination of the river with PCBs. As the Kupa may be classified among low to moderately contaminated waters, it is essential that the investigations of the presence and behaviour of PCBs in the river and its environment be continued.     

Root uptake,translocation, accumulation and dissipation of the botanical insecticide,azadirachtin, in young spruce trees

Abstract

A formulation containing the biopesticide azadirachtin‐A (AZ‐A), extracted from the seeds of neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, was applied (10 μg/mL) in a nutrient solution (200 mL) to the roots of young spruce trees [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss]. The uptake, translocation, persistence and dissipation of AZ‐A in spruce were studied. The insecticide was taken up by the root system, translocated via xylem vessels and accumulated in the photosynthate sinks (areas of new growth, especially shoots), confirming that AZ‐A is systemic. The peak AZ‐A concentrations (μg/g, fresh weight) in the shoots (5.16 ± 0.73) and needles (2.56 ± 0.31) occurred at 8 and 15 d after treatment, respectively. The AZ‐A concentrations in bark and wood during this period were very low, however they were high in the root samples. The dissipation of AZ‐A from the shoots was rapid compared to other matrices. The initial (0‐d) and final (20‐d) AZ‐A concentrations (μg/mL) in the nutrient solution were 8.99 ± 1.24 and 3.24 + 0.55, respectively. The dissipation of AZ‐A in the nutrient solution followed first‐order kinetics. Dissipation half‐life (DT₅₀) and rate constant (C), calculated from the nonlinear regression equation (Y = 8.400 e^‐00544t), were 12.74 d and 0.0544, respectively. Usefulness of AZ‐A as a systemic insecticide in forest insect control programs is discussed.     

Levels of PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs in the blood of the non-occupationally exposed residents living in the vicinity of a chemical plant in the Czech Republic

In 2003, concentrations of altogether 17 PCDD/Fs congeners and 12 non-ortho and mono-ortho dioxin-like PCBs were measured in the blood of 60 randomly selected adults who lived in three settlements surrounding a chemical plant that had been producing chlorinated herbicides (mainly HCHs, HCB, pentachlorophenole, 2,4,5-T) in the 1960's; subjects consuming home-produced animal foods were chosen. Twenty blood donors with similar characteristics from the locality with about 80 km distance were used as control subjects. The factors that influenced the dioxin levels were investigated on the basis of a questionnaire. The aim of our study was to find out whether the residents living in the surroundings of the chemical plant are at a greater exposure risk than the controls. To calculate TEQ values, WHO-TEFs were used. The concentrations of four PCDD and six PCDF congeners were below the LOD in more than 50% of samples. Significantly higher WHO-TEQ levels (p<0.05) were found for PCDDs, PCDFs, or PCBs in all three followed up groups compared with controls. The geometric means of the total TEQ values for PCDD/F/PCBs were 43.8, 50.2, and 40.0 pg/g fat compared to 23.2 pg/g fat in the control. The percentages of TEQ due to the measured congeners in exposed groups were 9-10.3% for PCDDs, 20.5-26.9% for PCDFs, 19.2-23.1% for coplanar and 43.6-47.2% for mono-ortho PCBs. In control, the percentage of TEQ was 11.6, 26.7, 24.1, and 37.5%. PCBs, predominantly PCB156, followed by PCB126 contributed 60 to 70% of the total TEQ value. Positive correlation of the PCDD/PCDF/PCB blood levels with age and with consumption of locally produced eggs was found.     

An Air Quality Study in the Vicinity of Lewiston,Idaho, and Clarkston,Washington

This report summarizes data and conclusions from a one-year, interstate air quality study conducted in 1962 in the vicinity of Lewiston, Idaho, and Clarkston, Wash.^{1, 6, 7} The sampling and analyses techniques were selected to permit differentiation between possible sources and types of air pollutants.     

Adsorption, transformation, and bioavailability of the fungicides carbendazim and iprodione in soil, alone and in combination

When studying the effect of mixtures of toxic substances on soil organisms, attention must be paid to peculiarities in exposure to mixtures as opposed to that of single toxicants. The fungicides carbendazim and iprodione compete in the adsorption to soil. The presence of iprodione reduced the adsorption of carbendazim by 30%, while carbendazim reduced the adsorption of iprodione by 70%. Iprodione had little effect on the transformation rate of carbendazim in soil. However, carbendazim retarded the transformation of iprodione in soil by 26%. The concentration of the fungicides in pore water was found to be substantially higher for mixtures than when a fungicide alone was present in the soil. The effect of the additional fungicide on the concentration is especially apparent in the period following the first 1 to 2 weeks of the incubation. The inclusion of copper in the mixture has little additional effect on the concentration of the fungicides in pore water.     

The distribution of the chlorinated solvents dichloromethane,perchloroethylene, and trichloroethylene in the global atmosphere

Dichloromethane, perchloroethylene, and trichloroethylene are commercially important chlorinated solvents whose health and environmental impacts are under scrutiny in the industrial world. Their distributions in the global atmosphere have been computed based on data from the Reactive Chlorine Emissions Inventory (RCEI) project using the Global Balance Environment (GLOBE) model, a 3-D radiative-dynamical-chemical model. Their atmospheric lifetimes, scaled to an observed methyl chloroform lifetime of 4.8 years, are 158 days, 105 days, and 4.3 days, respectively. They have strong interhemispheric gradients, with maximum zonal mean surface concentrations in the winter mid-latitude northern hemisphere of approximately 40 ppt, 9 ppt, and 2.5 ppt, respectively. Their spatial distributions show significant seasonal variability, and are sensitive to vertical mixing by cumulus convection and horizontal mixing by synoptic-scale turbulence. While the model interhemispheric exchange time (1.0 years) and computed atmospheric lifetimes are very sensitive to sub-grid scale diffusion, interhemispheric gradients of the chlorinated solvents are not. The simulated results suggest a greater importance for oceanic emissions of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene than has previously been assumed.     

Geochemical contamination in the Densu Estuary,Gulf of Guinea,Ghana

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Chemical contaminants are released from mining, domestic and industrial effluents into an aquatic environment. Sediments (n?=?10) were...     

Metal accumulation in the smooth toadfish, Tetractenos glaber, in estuaries around Sydney, Australia

This study determined the metal levels in sediments and tissues of a common estuarine fish, Tetractenos glaber (smooth toadfish), from two metal contaminated and two reference estuaries near Sydney, Australia. Metal levels were highest in sediments and fish from contaminated estuaries. Gonads contained the highest metal levels followed by muscle, gill and liver. Metal accumulation was gender-dependant (e.g. male gonads were >20 times higher in As than females; female gills were >30 times higher than males for Pb). Cadmium, Pb and Ni levels in fish tissues reflected sediment levels, indicating sediment and/or dietary metal uptake. Levels of As, Co, Cd & Pb in gills showed similar patterns to other tissues, suggesting that metals may have been taken up by gills through contaminated water. Similar metal patterns in tissues and sediments suggest more than one uptake pathway. This study indicates that multiple factors influence metal accumulation in fish.