Kinetic aspects and identification of by-products during the ozonation of bitertanol in agricultural wastewaters

The degradation of bitertanol by ozone treatment is investigated. Solutions of bitertanol (8.4 μg mL^?1) were prepared either by dissolution of the standard or by dilution of Gaucho Blé seed loading solution and then ozonated under different conditions. Evolution of the concentrations of bitertanol and its ozonation by-products in both solutions was monitored by HPLC–UV as a function of the treatment time for a concentration of 100 g m^?3 of ozone in the inlet gas. Bitertanol degradation was found to follow a pseudo-first order reaction in both cases. However, the rate of the reaction in diluted seed loading solution was much lower (0.19 vs. 0.27 min^?1 in standard solution) and was close to the reaction rate observed in the presence of a radical scavenger, tert-butanol (0.11 min^?1). Thus, it may be suggested that additives present in the seed loading solution may play the role of radical scavengers. Study of ozone concentration in the inlet gas (from 25 to 100 g m^?3) showed that ozone degradation is also a first-order reaction with respect to ozone. Four ozonation by-products were highlighted, collected and identified by HPLC coupled with an ion trap mass spectrometer using positive electrospray ionization mode. A degradation pathway of bitertanol was finally proposed.     

Fish and seafood availability in markets in the Baie des Chaleurs region, New Brunswick, Canada: a heavy metal contamination baseline study

The consumption of halieutic products has many health benefits. However, their contaminants loads need to be addressed to better understand the risk from consuming these products. The aquatic biota from the Baie des Chaleurs in New Brunswick is contaminated by cadmium, zinc and lead. In spite of this, no study has examined the heavy metal concentrations in commercial halieutic products sold in this Canadian region. The objective of this pilot study was to characterize the species and origin of fish and seafood sold in the Baie des Chaleurs region by using an ecosystemic approach. Additionally, a baseline picture of the heavy metal levels found in these products has been determined. In 2008, interviews were carried out in markets located in the Baie des Chaleurs area. Species that were identified as the most purchased were then bought for analysis. Samples were freeze-dried and homogenized before nitric acid digestions. Aluminum, copper, cadmium, iron, manganese, and zinc concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Results show that 36 % of seafood species sold in markets were caught in the Baie des Chaleurs. Lobsters, shrimps, scallops and oysters are the most purchased species regardless of the season. High amounts of cadmium exceeding tolerable daily intake are found in lobster hepatopancreas and can cause deleterious effects on health, in particular in vulnerable populations such as children and heavy consumers. The ecosystemic approach to health used in this pilot study shows the feasibility of an exhaustive study on the exposure of coastal population to heavy metal from fish and seafood consumption and the source of halieutic products sold in markets.     

Towards a renewed research agenda in ecotoxicology

New concerns about biodiversity, ecosystem services and human health triggered several new regulations increasing the need for sound ecotoxicological risk assessment. The PEER network aims to share its view on the research issues that this challenges. PEER scientists call for an improved biologically relevant exposure assessment. They promote comprehensive effect assessment at several biological levels. Biological traits should be used for Environmental risk assessment (ERA) as promising tools to better understand relationships between structure and functioning of ecosystems. The use of modern high throughput methods could also enhance the amount of data for a better risk assessment. Improved models coping with multiple stressors or biological levels are necessary to answer for a more scientifically based risk assessment. Those methods must be embedded within life cycle analysis or economical models for efficient regulations. Joint research programmes involving humanities with ecological sciences should be developed for a sound risk management.     

Identification of multixenobiotic defence mechanism (MXR) background activities in the freshwater bivalve Dreissena polymorpha as reference values for its use as biomarker in contaminated ecosystems

The biological defence mechanism called MXR or MXD for multixenobiotic resistance or defence protects cells against the entry and the accumulation of xenobiotics. As the defence is modulated by man made chemicals, MXR is used as a biomarker of organisms' exposure to environmental contamination. However, to reliably assess and evidence MXR induction, the use of a reference level is required. In this context, we focused on MXR background level in a freshwater bivalve, the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha, in order to propose its use as a reference during MXR evaluation. We monitored the MXR transport activity in mussels collected either in a natural population or in a caged population and then transplanted to clean water in the laboratory. The results showed that MXR activity was decreased to its baseline level after an eight to nine day depuration period (13.1+/-3.1; 7+/-2.6; 13.7+/-3.9 pmol RB min(-1)org(-1) after three experiments of laboratory depurations). Moreover, significant MXR induction was measured in depurated zebra mussels exposed to contaminated sites (39.6+/-3.7; 59.2+/-20.3 pmol RB min(-1)org(-1) after two experiments of field exposure), showing that the laboratory depuration did not affect the induction potential. The MXR responses (decrease as well as increase) occurred in few days and were highly significant, highlighting its reactivity in zebra mussels. Finally, this paper confirms the usefulness of MXR as a tool in biomonitoring studies and provides a protocol for field experiments that enables to establish and use the background level of MXR activity as a reference.     

Thirty years of land-cover change in Bolivia

Land-cover change in eastern lowland Bolivia was documented using Landsat images from five epochs for all landscapes situated below the montane tree line at approximately 3000 m, including humid forest, inundated forest, seasonally dry forest, and cloud forest, as well as scrublands and grasslands. Deforestation in eastern Bolivia in 2004 covered 45,411 km2, representing approximately 9% of the original forest cover, with an additional conversion of 9042 km2 of scrub and savanna habitats representing 17% of total historical land-cover change. Annual rates of land-cover change increased from approximately 400 km2 y(-1) in the 1960s to approximately 2900 km2 y(-1) in the last epoch spanning 2001 to 2004. This study provides Bolivia with a spatially explicit information resource to monitor future land-cover change, a prerequisite for proposed mechanisms to compensate countries for reducing carbon emissions as a result of deforestation. A comparison of the most recent epoch with previous periods shows that policies enacted in the late 1990s to promote forest conservation had no observable impact on reducing deforestation and that deforestation actually increased in some protected areas. The rate of land-cover change continues to increase linearly nationwide, but is growing faster in the Santa Cruz department because of the expansion of mechanized agriculture and cattle farms.     

Assessment of plasma gasification of high caloric waste streams

Plasma gasification is an innovative technology for transforming high calorific waste streams into a valuable synthesis gas and a vitrified slag by means of a thermal plasma. A test program has been set up to evaluate the feasibility of plasma gasification and the impact of this process on the environment. RDF (refuse derived fuel) from carpet and textile waste was selected as feed material for semi-pilot gasification tests. The aim of the tests was: (1) to evaluate the technical feasibility of making a stable synthesis gas; (2) to characterize the composition of this synthesis gas; (3) to define a suitable after-treatment configuration for purification of the syngas and (4) to characterize the stability of the slag, i.e., its resistance to leaching for use as a secondary building material. The tests illustrate that plasma gasification can result in a suitable syngas quality and a slag, characterized by an acceptable leachability. Based on the test results, a further scale-up of this technology will be prepared and validation tests run.     

Innovative technologies to remove alkylphenols from wastewater: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Alkylphenols and alkylphenol polyethoxylates are emerging hazardous contaminants due in particular to their endocrine-disrupting properties. These compounds...     

Removal of emerging contaminants from wastewater using advanced treatments. A review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The rise of emerging contaminants in waters challenges the scientific community and water treatment stakeholders to design remediation techniques that are simple,...