Cadmium and lead bioaccumulation in male chickens for high food concentrations

Cadmium and lead bioaccumulation in broilers fed on rations containing high concentrations of Cd and Pb was studied. The degree of bioaccumulation was assessed by using klark of concentration (Kc). It was established that the 100 and 200 fold increase of lead and cadmium in the ration resulted in their increase in the muscles, the bones and the liver, but the degree of bioaccumulation was considerably lower than the increase of both of the heavy elements in the ration indicated by the lower Kc. A conclusion was drawn that the organism possesses adaptation mechanisms for limitation of cadmium and lead bioaccumulation through these mechanisms are not efficient enough for high ration doses of both elements. High ration doses resulted in bioaccumulation exceeding the safe for humans concentrations of lead in the bones and of cadmium in the muscles (for doses 200 fold higher than the highest Bulgarian State standard 13426–77 permissible concentrations /HPC/) and in the liver for doses 100 fold higher than HPC.     

Organic chlorine compounds in lake sediments. V. Bottom of Baikal near a pulp mill

Organically bound chlorine (OCl) together with inorganic chloride (Cl⁻) was measured from bottom surface samples of the Lake Baikal near a pulp mill and compared to organic matter contents (OM). Although total contents of OCl, Cl⁻ and OM were much lower than, the ratio of OCl to OM was of the same order of magnitude as in pulp mill recipients of Finland.     

Treatment of olive mill waste water with activated carbons from agricultural by-products

A series of activated carbons prepared by a two-step steam activation of olive stone and solvent extracted olive pulp (SEOP) have been used in an attempt to investigate the total phenol removal and chemical oxygen demand (COD) decrease in olive mill waste water (OMWW). The temperature of carbonization and activation were kept constant at 850 and 800 degrees C, respectively. One of the carbons was prepared by a single-step process at 800 degrees C. Activated carbons have been characterized by adsorption of N2 at 77 K and mercury porosimetry. Their iodine values were also determined. Surface oxides of activated carbons were determined using the Boehm's method. The porosity development and the surface chemistry of carbons were correlated to increasing removal ability of organic molecules. Kinetics of adsorption was evaluated by applying the Lagegren model while adsorption isotherm data were fitted to Langmuir model. Mesoporosity seems to be the key factor for total phenol removal while micoporosity controls the adsorption of total organics as expressed by the COD decrease in OMWW. For carbons with similar structure, the adsorption of phenols or total organics might be affected by the presence of carbonyls.