Faecal sterols as sewage markers in the Langat River, Malaysia: Integration of biomarker and multivariate statistical approaches

The Langat River in Malaysia has been experiencing anthropogenic input from urban, rural and industrial activities for many years. Sewage contamination, possibly originating from the greater than three million inhabitants of the Langat River Basin, were examined. Sediment samples from 22 stations (SL01-SL22) along the Langat River were collected, extracted and analysed by GC-MS. Six different sterols were identified and quantified. The highest sterol concentration was found at station SL02 (618.29 ng/g dry weight), which situated in the Balak River whereas the other sediment samples ranged between 11.60 and 446.52 ng/g dry weight. Sterol ratios were used to identify sources, occurrence and partitioning of faecal matter in sediments and majority of the ratios clearly demonstrated that sewage contamination was occurring at most stations in the Langat River. A multivariate statistical analysis was used in conjunction with a combination of biomarkers to better understand the data that clearly separated the compounds. Most sediments of the Langat River were found to contain low to mid-range sewage contamination with some containing `significant' levels of contamination. This is the first report on sewage pollution in the Langat River based on a combination of biomarker and multivariate statistical approaches that will establish a new standard for sewage detection using faecal sterols.     

"Novel" brominated flame retardants in Belgian and UK indoor dust: implications for human exposure

Concentrations of several “novel” brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) are reported in indoor dust samples from Belgian houses (n = 39) and offices (n = 6) and from day-care centers and schools in the West Midlands of the UK (n = 36). Using a GC-ECNI/MS method, the following NBFRs were quantified: decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) (range <20-2470 ng g⁻¹), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE) (range <0.5-1740 ng g⁻¹), tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromopropylether) (TBBPA-DBPE) (range <20-9960 ng g⁻¹), 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB) (range <2-436 ng g⁻¹) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) (range <2-6175 ng g⁻¹). Hexachlorocyclopentadienyl-dibromocyclooctane (HCDBCO), another NBFR, was below the detection limit of 2 ng g⁻¹ dust in all dust samples. No correlation was detected between concentrations of NBFRs and PBDEs. The ratio of TBB:TBPH in the dust samples ranged from 0.01 to 4.77 (average 0.42), compared to the ratio present in the commercial flame retardant product FM 550 (TBB:TBPH = 4:1). Furthermore, no correlation was detected between concentrations in dust of TBB and TBPH. This may suggest different sources of these NBFRs, or similar sources but compound-specific differences in their indoor fate and transport. Exposure via dust ingestion was estimated for both adults and toddlers under low-end (5th percentile), typical (median), and high-end (95th percentile concentrations) scenarios. These were calculated assuming 100% absorption of intake dust and using mean dust ingestion (adults = 20 mg d⁻¹; for toddlers = 50 mg d⁻¹) and high dust ingestion (adults = 50 mg d⁻¹; for toddlers = 200 mg d⁻¹). Typical exposure with high dust ingestion estimates for adults were 0.01, 0.2, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.08 ng kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹ and for toddlers 0.05, 1.9, 0.08, 0.4 and 1.12 ng kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹ for BTBPE, DBDPE, TBB, TBPH and TBBPA-DBPE, respectively. Our results showed that, similar to PBDEs, toddlers have higher exposure to NBFRs than adults. This study documents the presence of NBFRs in indoor environments, and emphasizes the need to evaluate the health implications of exposure to such chemicals.     

Hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms naturally associated with sawdust

Sawdust, one of the materials used as sorbent for removing spilled oil from polluted environments was naturally colonized by hydrocarbon-utilizing fungi, 1 × 10⁵-2 × 10⁵ colony forming units (CFU) g⁻¹, depending on the hydrocarbon substrate. This sorbent was initially free of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria. Incubating wet sawdust at 30 °C resulted in gradually increasing the fungal counts to reach after 6 months between 5 × 10⁶ and 7 × 10⁶ CFU g⁻¹, and the appearance of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria in numbers between 8 × 10⁴ and 3 × 10⁵ cells g⁻¹. The fungi belonged to the genera Candida (32% of the total), Penicillium (21%), Aspergillus (15%), Rhizopus (12%), Cladosporium (9%), Mucor (7%) and Fusarium (4%). Based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences the bacteria were affiliated to Actinobacterium sp. (38%), Micrococcus luteus (30%), Rhodococcus erythropolis, (19%) and Rhodococcus opacus (13%). Individual pure fungal and bacterial isolates grew on a wide range of individual pure aliphatic (n-alkanes with chain lengths between C₉ and C₄₀) and aromatic (benzene, biphenyl, anthracene, naphthalene and phenanthrene) hydrocarbons as sole sources of carbon and energy. Quantitative determinations revealed that all fungal and bacterial isolates could consume considerable proportions of crude oil, phenanthrene (an aromatic hydrocarbon) and n-hexadecane (an aliphatic hydrocarbon) in batch cultures. It was concluded that when sawdust is used as a sorbent, the associated microorganisms probably contribute to the bioremediation of oil and hydrocarbon pollutants in the environment.     

Removal of arsenate from groundwater by electrocoagulation method

Purpose

Arsenic, a toxic metalloid in drinking water, has become a major threat for human beings and other organisms. In the present work, attempts have been made to remove arsenate from the synthetic as well as natural water of Ballia district, India by electrocoagulation method. Efforts have also been made to optimize the various parameters such as initial arsenate concentration, pH, applied voltage, processing time, and working temperature.

Method

Electrocoagulation is a fast, inexpensive, selective, accurate, reproducible, and eco-friendly method for arsenate removal from groundwater. The present paper describes an electrocoagulation method for arsenate removal from groundwater using iron and zinc as anode and cathode, respectively.

Results

The maximum removal of arsenate was 98.8% at 2.0?mg?L^?1, 7.0, 3.0?V, 10.0?min, and 30°C as arsenate concentration, pH, applied voltage, processing time, and working temperature, respectively. Relative standard deviation, coefficient of determination (r ²), and confidence limits were varied from 1.50% to 1.59%, 0.9996% to 0.9998%, and 96.0% to 99.0%, respectively. The treated water was clear, colorless, and odorless without any secondary contamination. The developed and validated method was applied for arsenate removal of two samples of groundwater of Ballia district, U.P., India, having 0.563 to 0.805?mg?L^?1, arsenate concentrations.

Conclusions

The reported method is capable for the removal of arsenate completely (100% removal) from groundwater of Ballia district. There was no change in the groundwater quality after the removal of arsenate. The treated water was safe for drinking, bathing, and recreation purposes. Therefore, this method may be the choice of arsenate removal from natural groundwater.     

Indigenous soil bacteria with the combined potential for hydrocarbon consumption and heavy metal resistance

Introduction  

Transconjugant bacteria with combined potential for hydrocarbon utilization and heavy metal resistance were suggested by earlier investigators for bioremediation of soils co-contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals. The purpose of this study was to offer evidence that such microorganisms are already part of the indigenous soil microflora.     

流动注射氢化物发生法测定水样中痕量砷

报道了用Ｌ－半胱氨酸为预还原剂在低酸度条件下将Ａｓ还原为Ａｓ,用流动注射氢化物发生法测定水样中痕量砷的ＦＩ－ＨＧＡＡＳ法。该方法可用于测定各种不同水体中痕量砷。     

Catalytic evaluation of promoted CeO2-ZrO2 by transition, alkali, and alkaline-earth metal oxides for diesel soot oxidation

Series of mixed metal oxides were synthesized by gel-combustion method and their catalytic activities for soot oxidation were investigated. The catalysts were M-Ce-Zr （M = Mn, Cu, Fe, K, Ba, Sr）, and χK-20Mn-Ce-Zr （χ= 0, 5, 10, 20）, they were characterized by XRD, SEM, TPR and BET surface area techniques. The results of soot temperature programmed oxidation （TPO） in an O2 oxidizing atmosphere indicate that K-Ce-Zr has the highest catalytic activity for soot oxidation under loose contact condition, due to enhancement of the soot and catalyst contacts. On the other hand, under a tight contact condition, Mn-Ce-Zr and Cu-Ce-Zr nano-composites have high activities for soot oxidation and lower the soot TPO peak temperatures by about 280 and 270℃, respectively, as compared to non-catalytic soot oxidation. Furthermore, the addition of up to 10 wt.% potassium oxides into Mn-Ce-Zr increases its catalytic activity and further reduces the soot TPO peak temperature by about 40℃ under loose contact condition.     

Studies on lethal concentrations and toxicity stress of some xenobiotics on aquatic organisms

Three widely used xenobiotics pentachlorophenol (PCP), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2-chloro-2,6-diethyl-N-(butoxymethyl) acetanilide (Butachlor) are evaluated for acute toxicity and stress behavior on freshwater fish (Heteropneustes fossilis, Clarias batrachus, Channa punctatus) and mosquito larvae (Culex pipiens fatigans). The experiment was carried out by medium treatment using intermittent flow-through system. Median lethal concentrations (LC50) were calculated by probit analysis. The LC50 values and 95% confidence intervals showed variable range for tested chemicals. Mosquito larvae generally appeared resistant than fish, while H. fossilis was found to be most sensitive. Stress signs in the form of behavioral changes are also observed. Both types of organisms are recommended as good bioindicator for the risk assessment of aquatic environment due to chemicals tested.     

煤中痕量元素分布的多变量分析及实验研究

本文用多变量分析法研究了煤中痕量元素的分布，并用实验研究了有机溶剂提取前后青山烟煤中痕量元素的变化。多变量分析结果表明：Ａｓ，Ｃｒ，Ｃｏ，Ｎｉ，Ｃｕ，Ｃｄ，Ｖ，Ｐｂ等元素与Ｂｅ，Ｇｅ在煤中具有不同的分布特征，对青山烟煤的实验研究结果则表明：Ｃｒ，Ｃｏ，Ｎｉ，Ｃｕ，Ｃｄ，Ｐｂ等元素趋向于与煤中的矿物质相结合，而Ｂｅ，Ｇｅ两元素有较强的有机亲和性。实验研究结果与多变量分析结果相符。     

Estimation of radon concentrations in coal mines using a hybrid technique calibration curve

The results of epidemiological studies in various countries show that radon and its progeny cause carcinogenic effects on mine workers. Therefore, it becomes of paramount importance to monitor radon concentrations and consequently determine the radon dose rates in coal mines for the protection of coal miners. A new calibration curve was obtained for radon concentration estimation using hybrid techniques. A calibration curve was generated using 226Ra activity concentration measured by a HPGe detector-based gamma-ray spectrometer versus alpha-track-density rate due to radon and its progeny on CR-39 track detector. Using the slope of the experimentally determined curve in the units of Becqueral per kilogram (Bq kg-1) per unit alpha-track-density per hour (cm-2 h-1), radon concentrations (Bq m-3) were estimated using coal samples from various coal mines in two provinces of Pakistan, Punjab and Balochistan. Consequently, radon dose rates were computed in the simulated environment of the coal mines. Results of these computations may be considered with a caveat that the method developed in this paper provides only a screening method to indicate the radon dose in coal mines. It has been shown that the actual measurements of radon concentrations in the coal mines are in agreement with the estimated radon concentrations using the hybrid-technique calibration curve.