How Probability Survey Data Can Help Integrate 305(b) and 303(d)Monitoring and Assessment of State Waters

Section 305(b) of the United States’ Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to assess the overall quality of waters in the states, while Section 303(d) requires states to develop a list of the specific waters in their state not attaining water quality standards (a.k.at impaired waters). An integrated, efficient and cost-effective process is needed to acquire and assess the data needed to meet both these mandates. A subset of presentations at the 2002 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) Symposium provided information on how probability data, tools and methods could be used by states and other entities to aid in development of their overall assessment of condition and list of impaired waters. Discussion identified some of the technical and institutional problems that hinder the use of EMAP methods and data in the analysis to identify impaired waters as well as development needs to overcome these problems.     

Effect of temperature on single and competitive adsorptions of Cu(II) and Zn(II) onto natural clays

This study conducted a combined adsorption-sequential extractionanalysis (CASA), by which five phases (i.e., exchangeable, carbonate, Mn-Oxide, organic, and Fe-Oxide phases) of adsorbed heavy metals were analyzed, to investigate temperature effects on single and competitive adsorptions of Zn(II) and Cu(II) ontonatural clays. In the case of single adsorption of Zn, the exchangeable phase adsorption decreased from 65 to 40%, but thecarbonate phase adsorption increased from 30 to 40%, with an increase in temperature from 15 to 55 °C. However, in itscompetitive adsorption with Cu, Zn was mostly present in the exchangeable phase (over 90%), and with an increase in temperature, the exchangeable phase adsorption decreased only 10%. In the case of Cu, over 50% among the total amount of adsorption was present in the carbonate phase in both cases ofsingle and competitive adsorptions. The carbonate phaseadsorption of Cu increased from 56 to 61% and from 60 to 66% in single and competitive adsorptions, respectively, with atemperature increase. These results show that in the case of Zn,the major mechanism of retention in natural clay soils might beexchangeable phase adsorption, especially in the case of competitive adsorption with Cu. However, in the case of Cu, the major mechanism might be carbonate phase adsorption, which is known to be a more immobile phase than exchangeable phase adsorption. It seems that the adsorption of Zn and Cu onto natural clays is an endothermic reaction, which represents thatthe adsorption equilibrium constants and capacities increase with a temperature increase, with the exception of exchangeablephase adsorption.     

Sampling and Analysis of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) Traces in Indoor Atmosphere

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) are widely found in disinfectants used in hospitals. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) predominate in the disinfecting formulations. These compounds are strong irritants and can play a role in the induction of Occupational Asthma among the professionals of health and cleaning. In order to evaluate the potential health effect of these quaternary ammonium compounds to hospital employers, the development of an analytical method for their quantification in indoor air was developed. DDAC aerosols are trapped by adsorption on XAD-2 resin SKC tube. The air in hospital buildings was sampled using a constant debit Gillian pump at a flow of 1.0 l/min (+/-5%). Ion Chromatography (IC) was chosen for the analysis of DDAC especially for its high sensitivity and specificity. The Limit of Detection (LOD) by IC for DDAC is 0.56 mug/ml. Therefore the LOD of atmospheric DDAC is 28 microg/m(3) with an air volume of 100 l and a desorption volume of 5 ml. All DDAC air samples were lower than the LOD of the analytical method by IC. Under the standard conditions of use of the disinfecting solutions (Surfanios, Ampholysine Plus and Amphospray 41), the insignificant volatility of DDAC would not seem to be able to contaminate the indoor hospital atmosphere during the disinfection process. However, the DDAC can contaminate working atmospheres if it is put in suspension by aerosolisation.     

吹扫—捕集／气相色谱法测定水中挥发性有机物

为提高样品分析效率,研究并建立了吹扫-捕集／气相色谱／氢火焰检测器联用同时测定水中1,2-二氯乙烷、苯、甲苯、氯苯、乙苯、对-二甲苯、间-二甲苯、苯乙烯、邻-二甲苯、异丙苯、1,4-二氯苯、1,2-二氯苯、硝基苯、1,3,5-三氯苯、1,2,4-三氯苯、1,2,3-三氯苯、六氯丁二烯17种挥发性有机物的分析方法。结果表明,当进样体积为25．0ml时,最低检出限为0．0034-0．1088μg/L,相对标准偏差为1．8％～6．4％,加标平均回收率为97．6％-105．8％。该方法可快速、简便、准确、高灵敏度的测定水中17种挥发性有机物,并适用于饮用水和地表水中挥发性有机物的测定。     

Selective and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric determination of micro amounts of palladium(II) in spiked samples: using a new reagent N-ethyl-3-carbazolecarbaxaledehydethiosemicarbazone

N-Ethyl-3-cabazolecarboxaldehydethiosemicarbazone (ECCT) is proposed as a new, sensitive and selective complexing reagent for the separation and extractive spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II) at pH: 4.0 to form a yellowish orange colored 1:1 chelate complex, which is very well extracted in to n-butanol. The absorbance was measured at a maximum wavelength, 410 nm. This method obeys Beer’s law in the concentration range 0.0–6.6 μg mL⁻¹ and the correlation coefficient of Pd(II)-ECCT complex is 0.998, which indicates an excellent linearity between the two variables with good molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity, 1.647 × 10⁴ l mol⁻¹cm⁻¹, 6.49 × 10⁻³ μg cm⁻², respectively. The instability constant of complex calculated from Edmond’s method, 2.724 × 10⁻⁵ was in good agreement with the value calculated from Asmus’ method 2.624 × 10⁻⁵, at room temperature. The precision and accuracy of the method is checked with calculation of relative standard deviation (n = 5), 0.839. Edmond’s method was observed to be a more selective method in the presence of EDTA, oxalate and phosphate ions. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Pd(II) in water samples, synthetic mixtures and hydrogenation catalysts, employing an atomic absorption spectrometer for comparing these results.     

Assessing effects of ambient ozone on injury and yield of bean with ethylenediurea (EDU): three years of plant monitoring at four sites in The Netherlands

EDU (ethylenediurea) and non-EDU-treated bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) L. cv. Lit) were exposed to ambient air at four rural sites in the Netherlands during the growing seasonsof 1994 through 1996 to investigate the responses to ambient ozone. Ozone-induced foliar injury was observed each year anddifferences in injury between sites depended on year. On average,injury amounted to 27% in 1994, to 8% in 1995 and to 1% in 1996. Injury increased with increasing ozone exposure (AOT40) and the estimated AOT40 value corresponding with 5% injury wascirca 3650 nl l^-1 h ozone. The highest ozone levels accumulated at each site for five consecutive days before injuryexceeded the proposed short-term critical level for injury development. EDU reduced injury and its protective effect was positively related to the injury intensity in non-EDU-treatedplants. Yield of green marketable pods (intermediate harvest) andmature pods (final harvest) was generally reduced in non-EDU-treated plants compared to EDU-treated plants and differences inyield reduction between harvests varied between years. The yield of mature pods was reduced in 1994 and 1996 while the yield ofgreen pods was reduced in 1995 by ozone only. Since yield reduction was not correlated with AOT40, the EDU method was notvalid to determine an ozone exposure-yield reponse relationshipfor bean.