Geostatistical analyses and hazard assessment on soil lead in Silvermines area, Ireland

Spatial distribution and hazard assessment of soil lead in the mining site of Silvermines, Ireland, were investigated using statistics, geostatistics and geographic information system (GIS) techniques. Positively skewed distribution and possible outlying values of Pb and other heavy metals were observed. Box-Cox transformation was applied in order to achieve normality in the data set and to reduce the effect of outliers. Geostatistical analyses were carried out, including calculation of experimental variograms and model fitting. The ordinary point kriging estimates of Pb concentration were mapped. Kriging standard deviations were regarded as the standard deviations of the interpolated pixel values, and a second map was produced, that quantified the probability of Pb concentration higher than a threshold value of 1000 mg/kg. These maps provide valuable information for hazard assessment and for decision support.     

Photocatalytic oxidation of triclosan

In the spring of 2003, there was an outbreak of the severe respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong. Health concerns have thus triggered an increased and predominant use of various types of household cleansing agents such as triclosan (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol). However, it has been reported recently that triclosan could be photochemically converted to toxic 2,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,8-Cl(2)DD) in the environment. It is therefore necessary to develop environmentally friendly methods for the treatment of triclosan. To this end, photocatalytic degradation of triclosan in aqueous solution was conducted using TiO(2) (Degussa P25) under irradiation of UV light (lambda < 365 nm). It was found that triclosan could be degraded by this approach. Hydrogen peroxide was added to enhance the degradation process, and the optimal initial hydrogen peroxide concentration for triclosan degradation was 0.005% (w/v). Product identification indicated that triclosan oxidation occurred at its phenol moiety and yielded quinone and hydroquinone intermediates. The formation of a dichlorophenol intermediate in triclosan degradation suggested bond-breaking of the ether linkage occurred during the process. Moreover, no chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin congener was detected. These findings confirm that the photocatalytic degradation of triclosan is an environmentally friendly process.     

On-road motor vehicle emissions and fuel consumption in urban driving conditions

This paper reports on the analysis of on-road vehicle speed, emission, and fuel consumption data collected by four instrumented vehicles. Time-, distance-, and fuel-based average fuel consumption, as well as CO, HC, NOx, and soot emission factors, were derived. The influences of instantaneous vehicle speed on emissions and fuel consumption were studied. It was found that the fuel-based emission factors varied much less than the time- and distance-based emission factors as instantaneous speed changed. The trends are similar to the results obtained from laboratory tests. The low driving speed contributed to a significant portion of the total emissions over a trip. Furthermore, the on-road data were analyzed using the modal approach. The four standard driving modes are acceleration, cruising, deceleration, and idling. It was found that the transient driving modes (i.e., acceleration and deceleration) were more polluting than the steady-speed driving modes (i.e., cruising and idling) in terms of g/km and g/sec. These results indicated that the on-road emission measurement is feasible in deriving vehicle emissions and fuel consumption factors in urban driving conditions.     

Nitrogen balance and groundwater nitrate contamination: comparison among three intensive cropping systems on the North China Plain

The annual nitrogen (N) budget and groundwater nitrate-N concentrations were studied in the field in three major intensive cropping systems in Shandong province, north China. In the greenhouse vegetable systems the annual N inputs from fertilizers, manures and irrigation water were 1358, 1881 and 402 kg N ha(-1) on average, representing 2.5, 37.5 and 83.8 times the corresponding values in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-maize (Zea mays L.) rotations and 2.1, 10.4 and 68.2 times the values in apple (Malus pumila Mill.) orchards. The N surplus values were 349, 3327 and 746 kg N ha(-1), with residual soil nitrate-N after harvest amounting to 221-275, 1173 and 613 kg N ha(-1) in the top 90 cm of the soil profile and 213-242, 1032 and 976 kg N ha(-1) at 90-180 cm depth in wheat-maize, greenhouse vegetable and orchard systems, respectively. Nitrate leaching was evident in all three cropping systems and the groundwater in shallow wells (<15 m depth) was heavily contaminated in the greenhouse vegetable production area, where total N inputs were much higher than crop requirements and the excessive fertilizer N inputs were only about 40% of total N inputs.     

Clonal variation in heavy metal accumulation and biomass production in a poplar coppice culture. II. Vertical distribution and phytoextraction potential

Short rotation coppice cultures (SRC) are intensively managed, high-density plantations of multi-shoot trees. In April 1996, an SRC field trial with 17 different poplar clones was established in Boom (Belgium) on a former waste disposal site. In December 1996 and January 2001, all shoots were cut back to a height of 5 cm to create a coppice culture. For six clones, wood and bark were sampled at the bottom, middle and top of a shoot in August and November 2002. No significant height effect of metal concentration was found, but for wood, metal concentrations generally increased toward the top of the shoot in August, and decreased toward the top of the shoot in November. Phytoextraction potential of a clone was primarily determined by metal concentration and by biomass production. Shoot size and number of shoots per stool were less important, as a high biomass production could be achieved by producing a few large shoots or many smaller shoots. Clone Fritzi Pauley accumulated 1.4 kg ha(-1) of Al over two years; Wolterson and Balsam Spire showed a relatively high accumulation of Cd and Zn, i.e. averaging, respectively 47 and 57 g ha(-1) for Cd and 2.4 and 2.0 kg ha(-1) for Zn over two years.     

Lead levels of feral pigeons (Columba livia) from Madrid (Spain)

Tissue lead data are presented for populations of feral pigeons (Columba livia) from three locations in Madrid (Spain). The lead present in the lungs and digestive tract of pigeons increased progressively with traffic density and in parallel with atmospheric and ground lead values. The contribution of the respiratory route of Pb intake to the pigeons was about three times greater than the digestive route. The highest Pb values were found in bones. It is suggested that the pigeons gave a greatly magnified picture of lead pollution in cities than indicated by atmospheric lead concentrations.     

Accelerated remediation of pesticide-contaminated soil with zerovalent iron

High pesticide concentrations in soil from spills or discharges can result in point-source contamination of ground and surface waters. Cost-effective technologies are needed for on-site treatment that meet clean-up goals and restore soil function. Remediation is particularly challenging when a mixture of pesticides is present. Zerovalent iron (Fe0) has been shown to promote reductive dechlorination and nitro group reduction of a wide range of contaminants in soil and water. We employed Fe0 for on-site treatment of soil containing > 1000 mg metolachlor, > 55 mg alachlor, > 64 mg atrazine, > 35 mg pendimethalin, and > 10 mg chlorpyrifos kg(-1). While concentrations were highly variable within the windrowed soil, treatment with 5% (w/w) Fe0 resulted in > 60% destruction of the five pesticides within 90 d and increased to > 90% when 2% (w/w) Al2(SO4)3 was added to the Fe0. GC/MS analysis confirmed dechlorination of metolachlor and alachlor during treatment. Our observations support the use of Fe0 for ex situ treatment of pesticide-contaminated soil.