Renewable energy sources: conflicts and opportunities in a changing landscape

Regional Environmental Change - Replacement of conventional energy sources with renewables such as solar panels and wind turbines requires adequate land. Impact assessments should be conducted to...     

Mercury in European Blushers,Amanita rubescens,mushrooms and topsoils: Bioconcentration potential and intake assessment

Total mercury content has been determined in fruiting bodies of European Blushers and topsoils collected from 11 sites across Poland in 2006-2008. Mercury analysis was carried out using a validated analytical method and cold-vapour atomic absorption (CV-AAS). The European Blusher effectively accumulated mercury in fruiting bodies. The mean values of total mercury in caps of European Blushers from background (uncontaminated) areas were from 0.22 to 1.0 (0.067-3.2) and in stipes from 0.16 to 0.65 (0.071-2.7) μg/g dry weight. In topsoil beneath to fruiting bodies, the median Hg concentration at 10 sites in Northern Poland varied between 0.030 and 0.072 (0.0096–0.19) μg/g dw, and in one site in Southern Poland was 0.20 (0.079–0.34) μg/g dw. Data on Hg in European Blushers from different countries were reviewed. The mean concentrations of total Hg in caps of European Blushers from two “pristine” sites in northern part of Poland were ～1.0 μg/g dw. A meal made with 300–500 g of fresh caps of European Blushers collected at such sites (assuming 90% water content in caps) can result in Hg intake of 0.0003–0.0005 mg Hg/kg bm (assuming a 60 kg bm), which is a dose equipotent to a new provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) value set for inorganic Hg.     

NAPL migration and ecotoxicity of conventional and renewable fuels in accidental spill scenarios

Fuels derived from non-petroleum renewable resources have raised interest due to their potential in replacing petroleum-based fuels, but information on their fate and effects in the terrestrial and aquatic environments in accidental spill scenario is limited. In this study, migration of four fuels (conventional diesel, conventional gasoline, renewable diesel NExBTL, and ethanol-blended gasoline RE85 containing maximum 85 % ethanol) as non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL) in soil was demonstrated in a laboratory-scale experiment. Ecotoxicity data was produced for the same fuels. There was no significant difference in migration of conventional and renewable diesel, but gasoline migrated 1.5 times deeper and 7–9 times faster in sand than diesel. RE85 spread horizontally wider but not as deep (p?Eisenia fetida followed by ethanol-blended gasoline (LC50 1,643 mg/kg THC) and conventional diesel (LC50 2,432 mg/kg THC), although gasoline evaporated fast from soil. For comparison, the toxicity of the water-accommodated fractions (WAF) of the fuels was tested with water flea Daphnia magna and Vibrio fischeri, also demonstrating groundwater toxicity. The WAF of conventional gasoline and RE85 showed almost similar toxicity to both the aquatic test species. EC50 values of 1:10 (by volume) WAF were 9.9 %WAF (gasoline) and 9.3 %WAF (RE85) to D. magna and 9.3 %WAF (gasoline) and 12.3 %WAF (RE85) to V. fischeri. Low solubility decreased toxicity potential of conventional diesel in aquatic environment, but direct physical effects of oil phase pose a threat to organisms in nature. Renewable diesel NExBTL did not show clear toxicity to any test species.     

Degradation of aqueous Rhodamine B by plasma generated along the water surface and its enhancement using nanocrystalline Fe-, Mn-, and Ce-doped TiO2 films

The degradation of aqueous Rhodamine B (RhB) was examined using a dual-channel spark switch module designed to regulate the steepness of pulsed high voltage with microsecond rise time. Depending on the energy per pulse, a spark along the water surface (SPWS) or streamer along the water surface (STWS) was formed. STWS was found to have a better degradation effect and energy efficiency toward RhB than SPWS at the same power; however, addition of H₂O₂ amounts resulted in increased degradation, the effect being more pronounced using SPWS. The initial concentration of RhB also appeared to influence the rate constant of the degradation reaction. Furthermore, TiO₂ films doped with Fe, Mn, and Ce were found to enhance the degradation performance of plasma. A possible reaction mechanism of plasma formation along the water surface was concluded by determination of the main inorganic products in the liquid and gas phases.     

A multi-approach monitoring of particulate matter, metals and PAHs in an urban street canyon

For the first time until now, the results from a prediction model (Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling System (ADMS)-Road) of pollutant dispersion in a street canyon were compared to the results obtained from biomonitors. In particular, the instrumental monitoring of particulate matter (PM10) and the biomonitoring of 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 11 metals by Quercus ilex leaves and Hypnum cupressiforme moss bags, acting as long- and short-term accumulators, respectively, were carried out. For both PAHs and metals, similar bioaccumulation trends were observed, with higher concentrations in biomonitors exposed at the leeward canyon side, affected by primary air vortex. The major pollutant accumulation at the leeward side was also predicted by the ADMS-Road model, on the basis of the prevailing wind direction that determines different exposure of the street canyon sides to pollutants emitted by vehicular traffic. A clear vertical (3, 6 and 9 m) distribution gradient of pollutants was not observed, so that both the model and biomonitoring results suggested that local air turbulences in the street canyon could contribute to uniform pollutant distribution at different heights.     

Maternal transfer of brominated flame retardants in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

In many species reproduction and embryonic development have been shown to be sensitive to environmental contaminants. Understanding embryonic exposure to environmental contaminants is thus highly important. In this study concentrations of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) were measured in zebrafish eggs after parental exposure for 42 days via the diet. Zebrafish were exposed to two doses of eleven structurally-diverse BFRs. Eight BFRs were detected in the female zebrafish and maternal transfer to eggs was evident for all eight compounds. The highest concentrations in eggs were observed for hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and 2,4,4'-tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE 28), followed by 2,2',3,4,4',5',6-heptabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 183) and tetrabromobisphenol A 2,3-dibromopropyl ether (TBBPA DBPE). Five potential BFR metabolites were tentatively identified in female fish and maternal transfer was observed also for these compounds. The lipid adjusted concentrations in eggs were significantly higher than the concentrations in female fish for several of the BFRs. Further, the results showed a generally higher transfer in the lower exposure level and also indicated a dependency on the physico-chemical properties of the compounds.     

High chrome exhaustion in a non-float tanning process using a sulphonic aromatic acid

Tanning processes performed in drums consume large amounts of water and chemicals, most of which end up in the wastewater. This study explores an alternative approach at an industrial scale to the traditional pickle-chrome tanning method. The new method replaces formic and sulphuric acids with sulphonic aromatic acid. Because it is done without float, there is a sizeable reduction in the amount of added salt and chrome salt as well as an increase in temperatures at the end of the tanning process. From an environmental perspective, the new method offers important advantages. For instance, there is no float addition in the tannage. Also, there are reductions of 94% and 99%, respectively, in the discharge of chlorides and chrome, as well as a 75% reduction in the residual float. Our financial assessment demonstrated that the new method is 42% cheaper than a traditional approach.     

Simultaneous quantification of Bi(III) and U(VI) in environmental water samples with a complicated matrix containing organic compounds

Trace amounts of bismuth(III) and uranium(VI) can be simultaneously determined in a single scan by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry in the presence of cupferron as a complexing agent. Optimal conditions were found to be: 0.1 mol?L^?1 acetate buffer (pH 5.3), 5?×?10^?5?mol?L^?1 cupferron, accumulation potential of ?0.25 V, and accumulation time of 30 s. The linear range of Bi(III) and U(VI) was observed over the concentration range from 2?×?10^?9 to 2?×?10^?7?mol?L^?1 and from 1?×?10^?8 to 5?×?10^?7?mol?L^?1, respectively. The influence of the main components of real water samples such as foreign ions and organic substances (surface active substances, humic substances) was precisely investigated. The method was applied to the simultaneous measurements of bismuth and uranium in natural water samples.     

Assessment of soils contamination with veterinary antibiotic residues in Northern Poland using developed MAE-SPE-LC/MS/MS methods

Among the wide range of compounds reaching the soil are the veterinary antimicrobials. Since no regulations regarding acceptable levels of drug concentrations in the environment exist, monitoring tests, particularly concerning soils, are carried out very rarely. This study presents a preliminary assessment of the contamination of agricultural soils in Northern Poland with seven antimicrobial veterinary medicines which has never been carried out before. Veterinary drugs were detected in 54% of the examined soil samples; the most commonly detected drugs were sulfonamides and trimethoprim. The highest indicated concentrations refer to enrofloxacin (57.0 μg kg^?1) and trimethoprim (47.8 μg kg^?1). The presence of these target drugs in the soil environment confirms the need for further monitoring studies. The analytical methods developed in this study are an excellent tool to achieve this goal and allow an estimation of the risk connected with the presence of veterinary antimicrobials in soils.