The Formation of Reactive Oxygen Species Catalyzed by Neutral,Aqueous Extracts of NIST Ambient Particulate Matter and Diesel Engine Particles

ABSTRACT

It is important to characterize the chemical properties of particulate matter in order to understand how low doses, inhaled by a susceptible population, might cause human health effects. The formation of reactive oxygen species catalyzed by neutral, aqueous extracts of two ambient par-ticulate samples, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Materials (SRM) 1648 and 1649, and two diesel particulate samples, NIST SRM 1650 and SRM 2975, were measured. The formation of reactive oxygen species was estimated by measuring the formation of malondialdehyde from 2-deoxyribose in the presence of ascorbic acid; H₂O₂ was not added to this assay. SRM 1649, ambient particulate matter collected from Washington, DC, generated the most malondialdehyde, while SRM 2975, diesel particulate matter collected from a forklift, yielded the least amount. Desferrioxamine inhibited the formation of malondialdehyde from the par-ticulate samples providing additional data to support the observation that transition metals were involved in the generation of reactive oxygen species. Six transition metal sulfates (iron sulfate, copper sulfate, vanadyl sulfate, cobalt sulfate, nickel sulfate, and zinc sulfate) were assayed     

Application of Satellite Remote-Sensing Data for Source Analysis of Fine Particulate Matter Transport Events

Abstract

Satellite sensors have provided new datasets for monitoring regional and urban air quality. Satellite sensors provide comprehensive geospatial information on air quality with both qualitative imagery and quantitative data, such as aerosol optical depth. Yet there has been limited application of these new datasets in the study of air pollutant sources relevant to public policy. One promising approach to more directly link satellite sensor data to air quality policy is to integrate satellite sensor data with air quality parameters and models. This paper presents a visualization technique to integrate satellite sensor data, ground-based data, and back trajectory analysis relevant to a new rule concerning the transport of particulate matter across state boundaries. Overlaying satellite aerosol optical depth data and back trajectories in the days leading up to a known fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <2.5 μm (PM_2.5) event may indicate whether transport or local sources appear to be most responsible for high PM_2.5 levels in a certain location at a certain time. Events in five cities in the United States are presented as case studies. This type of analysis can be used to help understand the source locations of pollutants during specific events and to support regulatory compliance decisions in cases of long distance transport.     

SynGas Production from Organic Waste Using Non-Thermal-Pulsed Discharge

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a technology that can convert biogas to synthesis gas (SynGas), a low-emission substituted energy, using a non-thermal-pulsed plasma method. To investigate the characteristics of Syn-Gas production from simulated biogas, the reforming characteristics in relation to variations in pulse frequency, biogas component ratio (C₃H₈/CO₂), vapor flow ratio (H₂O/total flow rate [TFR]), biogas velocity, and pulse power were studied. A maximum conversion rate of 49.1% was achieved for the biogas when the above parameters were 500 Hz, 1.5, 0.52, 0.32 m/sec, and 657 W, respectively. Under the above conditions, the dry basis mole fractions of the SynGas were as follows: H₂ = 0.645,CH₄ = 0.081, C₂H₂ = 0.067, C₃H₆ = 0.049, CO = 0.008 and C₂H₄ = 0.004. The ratio of hydrogen to the other intermediates in the SynGas (H₂/ITMs) was 3.1.     

Managing water services in tropical regions: From land cover proxies to hydrologic fluxes

Watershed investment programs frequently use land cover as a proxy for water-based ecosystem services, an approach based on assumed relationships between land cover and hydrologic outcomes. Water flows are rarely quantified, and unanticipated results are common, suggesting land cover alone is not a reliable proxy for water services. We argue that managing key hydrologic fluxes at the site of intervention is more effective than promoting particular land-cover types. Moving beyond land cover proxies to a focus on hydrologic fluxes requires that programs (1) identify the specific water service of interest and associated hydrologic flux; (2) account for structural and ecological characteristics of the relevant land cover; and, (3) determine key mediators of the target hydrologic flux. Using examples from the tropics, we illustrate how this conceptual framework can clarify interventions with a higher probability of delivering desired water services than with land cover as a proxy.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0578-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Reuse of hydroponic waste solution

Attaining sustainable agriculture is a key goal in many parts of the world. The increased environmental awareness and the ongoing attempts to execute agricultural practices that are economically feasible and environmentally safe promote the use of hydroponic cultivation. Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants in nutrient solutions with or without the use of artificial medium to provide mechanical support. Major problems for hydroponic cultivation are higher operational cost and the causing of pollution due to discharge of waste nutrient solution. The nutrient effluent released into the environment can have negative impacts on the surrounding ecosystems as well as the potential to contaminate the groundwater utilized by humans for drinking purposes. The reuse of non-recycled, nutrient-rich hydroponic waste solution for growing plants in greenhouses is the possible way to control environmental pollution. Many researchers have successfully grown several plant species in hydroponic waste solution with high yield. Hence, this review addresses the problems associated with the release of hydroponic waste solution into the environment and possible reuse of hydroponic waste solution as an alternative resource for agriculture development and to control environmental pollution.     

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in Korean human milk: Contamination levels and infant risk assessment

The levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were determined in 50 samples of Korean human milk. POPs include organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) [aldrin, chlordanes, dieldrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), endrins, heptachlors, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), mirex, and toxaphenes] and marker PCBs (PCB28, PCB52, PCB101, PCB138, PCB153 and PCB180). In all samples, p,p′-DDE were determined as 75.5–1115.3 ng/g fat. The compounds β-HCH and p,p’-DDT were detected at 72% and 60% of the samples, respectively. Chlordanes (nd–84.9 ng/g fat) heptachlors (nd–40.1 ng/g fat), HCB (nd–42.9 ng/g fat) and PCBs (nd–38.3 ng/g fat) were detected in several samples. The ratio of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethylene (DDE)/DDT was 6.8, which explained that exposure of volunteers to DDT did not occur recently. Compared with the previous monitoring data, the level of marker PCBs generally decreased in the milk samples. The levels of OCPs are significantly correlated to the residential periods of the mothers but not with their dietary habits. Considering the daily intake of each OCPs, 18% of infants would ingest the amount of heptachlor exceeding the acceptable daily intake (ADI) proposed by World Health Organization (WHO). There was no sample surpassing the WHO ADI for DDTs, HCB and chlordanes.     

Modeling adsorption kinetics of trichloroethylene onto biochars derived from soybean stover and peanut shell wastes

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is one of the most hazardous organic pollutants in groundwater. Biochar produced from agricultural waste materials could serve as a novel carbonaceous adsorbent for removing organic contaminants from aqueous media. Biochars derived from pyrolysis of soybean stover at 300 °C and 700 °C (S-300 and S-700, respectively), and peanut shells at 300 °C and 700 °C (P-300 and P-700, respectively) were utilized as carbonaceous adsorbents to study batch aqueous TCE remediation kinetics. Different rate-based and diffusion-based kinetic models were adopted to understand the TCE adsorption mechanism on biochars. With an equilibrium time of 8–10 h, up to 69 % TCE was removed from water. Biochars produced at 700 °C were more effective than those produced at 300 °C. The P-700 and S-700 had lower molar H/C and O/C versus P-300 and S-300 resulting in high aromaticity and low polarity accompanying with high surface area and high adsorption capacity. The pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models were well fitted to the kinetic data, thereby, indicating that chemisorption and pore diffusion were the dominating mechanisms of TCE adsorption onto biochars.     

Comparisons of polybrominated diphenyl ethers levels in paired South Korean cord blood, maternal blood, and breast milk samples

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), commonly used flame retardants, have been reported as potential endocrine disruptor and neurodevelopmental toxicants, thus giving rise to the public health concern. The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between umbilical cord blood, maternal blood, and breast milk concentrations of PBDEs in South Korean. We assessed PBDE levels in paired samples of umbilical cord blood, maternal blood, and breast milk. The levels of seven PBDE congeners were measured in 21 paired samples collected from the Cheil Woman’s Hospital (Seoul, Korea) in 2008. We also measured thyroid hormones levels in maternal and cord blood to assess the association between PBDEs exposure and thyroid hormone levels. However, there was no correlation between serum thyroxin (T4) and total PBDEs concentrations. The total PBDEs concentrations in the umbilical cord blood, maternal blood, and breast milk were 10.7 ± 5.1 ng g⁻¹ lipid, 7.7 ± 4.2 ng g⁻¹ lipid, and 3.0 ± 1.8 ng g⁻¹ lipid, respectively. The ranges of total PBDE concentrations observed were 2.28-30.94 ng g⁻¹ lipid in umbilical cord blood, 1.8-17.66 ng g⁻¹ lipid in maternal blood, and 1.08-8.66 ng g⁻¹ lipid in breast milk. BDE-47 (45-73% of total PBDEs) was observed to be present dominantly in all samples, followed by BDE-153. A strong correlation was found for major BDE-congeners between breast milk and cord blood or maternal blood and cord blood samples. The measurement of PBDEs concentrations in maternal blood or breast milk may help to determine the concentration of PBDEs in infant.     

Removal of heavy metals using waste eggshell

The removal capacity of toxic heavy metals by the reused eggshell was studied.As a pretreatment process for the preparation of reused material from waste eggshell,calcination was performed in the furnace at 800℃for 2 h after crushing the dried waste eggshell.Calcination behavior,qualitative and quantitative elemental information,mineral type and surface characteristics before and after calcination of eggshell were examined by thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA),X-ray fluorescence (XRF),X-ray diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM),respectively.After calcination,the major inorganic composition was identified as Ca(lime, 99.63%)and K,P and Sr were identified as minor components.When calcined eggshell was applied in the treatment of synthetic wastewater containing heavy metals,a complete removal of Cd as well as above 99% removal of Cr was observed after 10 min. Although the natural eggshell had some removal capacity of Cd and Cr,a complete removal was not accomplished even after 60 min due to quite slower removal rate.However,in contrast to Cd and Cr,an efficient removal of Pb was observed with the natural eggshell rather than the calcined eggshell.From the application of the calcined eggshell in the treatment of real electroplating wastewater, the calcined eggshell showed a promising removal capacity of heavy metal ions as well as had a good neutralization capacity in the treatment of strong acidic wastewater.