Sulphur isotope mass balance of dissolved sulphate ion in a freshwater dam reservoir

We show that sulphur isotopic composition can be a useful tool to discriminate between various sources of sulphate and a tool for better understanding of the sulphur cycling and mass balance. Our investigations, carried out in a dam reservoir, demonstrate differences in sulphur biogeochemistry between different seasons, caused by recharge water supply in spring and intensive sulphate reduction in summer. In the riverine-affected part of the reservoir δ³⁴S(SO₄ ²⁻) varied from 4.7 to 5.9‰ in spring, and from 4.1 to 4.6‰ in summer. In the lacustrine-affected part δ³⁴S(SO₄²⁻) varied from 4.0 to 5.0‰ in spring, and from 4.5 to 5.4‰ in summer. Diurnal variations of δ³⁴S(SO₄ ²⁻) were negligible as compared to seasonal variations.     

UVC Inactivation of dsDNA and ssRNA Viruses in Water: UV Fluences and a qPCR-Based Approach to Evaluate Decay on Viral Infectivity

Disinfection by low-pressure monochromatic ultraviolet (UVC) radiation (253.7 nm) became an important technique to sanitize drinking water and also wastewater in tertiary treatments. In order to prevent the transmission of waterborne viral diseases, the analysis of the disinfection kinetics and the quantification of infectious viral pathogens and indicators are highly relevant and need to be addressed. The families Adenoviridae and Polyomaviridae comprise human and animal pathogenic viruses that have been also proposed as indicators of fecal contamination in water and as Microbial Source Tracking tools. While it has been previously suggested that dsDNA viruses may be highly resistant to UVC radiation compared to other viruses or bacteria, no information is available on the stability of polyomavirus toward UV irradiation. Here, the inactivation of dsDNA (HAdV2 and JCPyV) and ssRNA (MS2 bacteriophage) viruses was analyzed at increasing UVC fluences. A minor decay of 2-logs was achieved for both infectious JC polyomaviruses (JCPyV) and human adenoviruses 2 (HAdV2) exposed to a UVC fluence of 1,400 J/m², while a decay of 4-log was observed for MS2 bacteriophages (ssRNA). The present study reveals the high UVC resistance of dsDNA viruses, and the UV fluences needed to efficiently inactivate JCPyV and HAdV2 are predicted. Furthermore, we show that in conjunction with appropriate mathematical models, qPCR data may be used to accurately estimate virus infectivity.     

Quality of basic data and method to identify shape affect richness-altitude relationships in meta-analysis

We compiled 109 species richness-altitude (SRA) relationships in arthropods to test the hypothesis that identification of shape and robustness of pattern are contingent on the selection of studies included in meta-analysis. We used attributes of their sampling design to distinguish three subsets of data according to stringent, intermediate, and lax selection criteria. We tested (1) whether uncertainty over identification of shape increases as the criteria of inclusion of studies relaxes and (2) whether studies that conform to stringent selection criteria show robustness in SRA patterns to variation in method used to identify shape. We identified the shape of each SRA relationship using statistical and visual methods; data sets that suggested several shapes as equally likely were sorted out by consensus. Arthropods suggested multiple forms in the SRA relationship, with predominance of hump-shaped patterns in the stringent subset. Uncertainty over identification of shape increased after application of intermediate and lax selection criteria. The method of analysis interacted with the quality of basic data to influence the relative distribution of patterns. We concluded that the gathering of large quantities of data is insufficient and that critical evaluation of literature is crucial to infer with confidence the general shape of ecological patterns in meta-analysis.     

The key role played by the Augusta basin (southern Italy) in the mercury contamination of the Mediterranean Sea

The Augusta basin, located in SE Sicily (southern Italy), is a semi-enclosed marine area, labelled as a highly contaminated site. The release of mercury into the harbour seawater and its dispersion to the blue water, make the Augusta basin a potential source of anthropogenic pollution for the Mediterranean Sea. A mass balance was implemented to calculate the HgT budget in the Augusta basin. Results suggest that an average of ～0.073 kmol of HgT is released, by diffusion, on a yearly basis, from sediments to the seawater, with a consequent output of 0.162 kmol y(-1) to coastal and offshore waters; this makes the Augusta area an important contributor of mercury to the Mediterranean Sea. Owing to the geographical location of the Augusta basin, its outflowing shelf-waters are immediately intercepted by the surface Atlantic Ionian Stream (AIS) and mixed with the main gyres of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, thus representing a risk for the large-scale marine system.     

Chemical composition, sources, solubility, and transport of aerosol trace elements in a tropical region

Aerosol particle samples (PM10) were collected at urban, industrial and rural sites located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between October 2008 and September 2009. Aerosol samples for each site were analyzed for total and soluble metals, water-soluble ions, carboxylic acids, and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). The results showed that the mean PM10 concentrations were 34 μg m(-3); 47 μg m(-3) and 71 μg m(-3) at the rural, urban and industrial sites, respectively. An increase in the average concentration of these particles due to air stagnation was observed during the period from May to September for all sites, and an increase in hospitalization for respiratory problems was also reported. On average, the anions species represented 4 to 14% of total content, while cations species corresponded to 1 to 11% and 7.5% for WSOC. The overall metal content at the industrial site was nearly the double that at the rural site. The concentrations of the studied species are influenced mainly by site location and the specific characteristics present at each site. However, higher concentrations of some species were observed on particular dates and were probably due to biomass burning and African dust events. The acid/aqueous percentiles showed that the most efficiently extracted metals from the aqueous phase were V and Ni (40%), while Al and Fe represented a lower percentage (<3%). Analysis of the aqueous fraction provides important information about the bioavailability of metals that is associated with the inflammatory process in the lungs.     

A new approach of ecologically based life cycle assessment for biological wastewater treatments focused on energy recovery goals

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The energy potential of high-organic loaded agro-industrial effluents receiving biological treatment is often neglected, particularly in emergent...     

Integration of the informal sector into municipal solid waste management in the Philippines – What does it need?

The integration of the informal sector into municipal solid waste management is a challenge many developing countries face. In Iloilo City, Philippines around 220 tons of municipal solid waste are collected every day and disposed at a 10 ha large dumpsite. In order to improve the local waste management system the Local Government decided to develop a new Waste Management Center with integrated landfill. However, the proposed area is adjacent to the presently used dumpsite where more than 300 waste pickers dwell and depend on waste picking as their source of livelihood. The Local Government recognized the hidden threat imposed by the waste picker’s presence for this development project and proposed various measures to integrate the informal sector into the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) program. As a key intervention a Waste Workers Association, called USWAG Calahunan Livelihood Association Inc. (UCLA) was initiated and registered as a formal business enterprise in May 2009. Up to date, UCLA counts 240 members who commit to follow certain rules and to work within a team that jointly recovers wasted materials. As a cooperative they are empowered to explore new livelihood options such as the recovery of Alternative Fuels for commercial (cement industry) and household use, production of compost and making of handicrafts out of used packages. These activities do not only provide alternative livelihood for them but also lessen the generation of leachate and Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions from waste disposal, whereby the life time of the proposed new sanitary landfill can be extended likewise.     

Formulation,calibration, and validation of hybrid and coupled models for the design of upflow anaerobic filters in multiple separated stages for organic matter removal from sanitary landfill leachates

In this paper, the formulation, calibration, and validation of hybrid and coupled models for the design of upflow anaerobic filters in multiple separated stages were developed for organic matter removal from sanitary landfill leachates. Three novelties were presented, the type of reactor, design models, and kinetic coefficients. The upflow anaerobic filters were separated into two and three stages identified as UAF-2SS (DI-FAFS, in Spanish) and UAF-3SS (TRI-FAFS, in Spanish). The formulation, calibration, and validation of mathematical structures of hybrid models and five coupled models are proposed for each reactor. The hybrid models are based on the law of mass conservation, with the organic matter transformation component within the UAF-2SS and UAF-3SS reactors, being estimated from empirical equations that have been tested in aerobic culture reactors, adapted to the experimental factors, including among these, those under a non-stationary—advective conditions based on Velz's Law, Phelps's Law, and Monod's equation. The coupled models combine the components of the molecular transport by biosorption and molecular diffusion processes, with adaptations of the Stack's equation and Fick's Law, as well as transformation of organic substrates by biomass, whose kinetic coefficients contribute to explain the fraction, in which, the processes of mobility and biochemical transformation of the organic matter are occurring in the biomass within the bioreactors.     

化学物质水体归趋与影响数据库(CAFE)，一种用于评估水环境中化学物质溢出水平的工具

化学物质水体归趋与影响 (简称CAFE)数据库是一个允许快速并无限制访问数据的集中式数据库。CAFE将现有的32 377种化学物质的归趋数据和4 498种化学物质的毒性效果数据整合至用户友好的工具中,以物种敏感度分布(SSD)的形式总结毒性数据,并提供了相关的1%和5%危害浓度(HC₁和HC₅)。为探究CAFE数据与报道的化学事故之间的联系,一项数据可用性评估显示,2000年至2014年间在美国国家应急中心呈报的55种化学物质中,32种物质的归趋和20种物质的毒性在CAFE中均有记录;2003年至2014年间由美国海洋及大气管理局呈报的205种化学物质中,86种物质的归趋和103种物质的毒性在CAFE中也均有记录。我们假设2种化学物质在环境中溢出(丙烯腈,溢出量为625桶 ;变性乙醇,溢出量为857桶),根据模型对其环境浓度进行模拟,进而说明CAFE在实际中的应用。在24 h时程的SSD中,大多数物种很可能分别在溢出后最初的35 min内和15 h内受到丙烯腈和变性酒精的影响。丙烯腈浓度在溢出后45 min已低于HC₅(17 mg?L^L-1),变性酒精浓度在溢出后60 h已低于HC₅(2 676 mg?L^L-1)。将100种化学物质以CAFE数据为基础得出的HC₅与发表的HC₅进行对比,我们发现超过一半的数值都在2倍差异以内,较少的一部分数值则超过了10倍差异。CAFE的发展提高了获取相关环境信息的能力,并可能应用于水体环境污染物溢出分析之外的更多领域。
精选自Adriana C. Bejarano, James K. Farr, Polly Jenne, Valerie Chu, Al Hielscher. The chemical aquatic fate and effects database (CAFE), a tool that supports assessments of chemical spills in aquatic environments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 35, Issue 7, pages 1576–1586, July 2016. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3289
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3289/full