Incidence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in central air conditioner filter dust from a new office building

This study examined polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in central air conditioner filter (CACF) dust from a new office building in Shenzhen, China. Human exposure to PBDE via dust inhalation and ingestion were also estimated. PBDEs level in CACF dust was lower than those in the other countries and regions. Approximately 0.671 pg/kg bw/day PM_2.5 (Particulate Matter up to 2.5 μm in size) bounded Σ₁₅PBDEs can be inhaled deep into the lungs and 4.123 pg/kg bw/day PM₁₀ (Particulate Matter up to 10 μm in size) bounded Σ₁₅PBDEs tend to be deposited in the upper parts of the respiratory system. The average total intake of Σ₁₅PBDEs via dust inhalation and ingestion for adults reached ∼141 pg/kg bw/day in this building. This value was far below the reference dose (RfD) recommended by United States Environmental Protection Agency. Human exposure to PBDEs via dust inhalation and ingestion in the new building is less than the old ones.     

Mercury distribution in seawater discharged from a coal-fired power plant equipped with a seawater flue gas desulfurization system

Background and purpose  

More and more coal-fired power plants equipped with seawater flue gas desulfurization systems have been built in coastal areas. They release large amount of mercury (Hg)-containing waste seawater into the adjacent seas. However, very limited impact studies have been carried out. Our research targeted the distribution of Hg in the seawater, sediment, biota, and atmosphere, and its environmental transportation.     

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) as new Stockholm Convention POPs��a global perspective on the management of Lindane and its waste isomers

Purpose

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers (??-, ??- and ??- (Lindane)) were recently included as new persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the Stockholm Convention, and therefore, the legacy of HCH and Lindane production became a contemporary topic of global relevance. This article wants to briefly summarise the outcomes of the Stockholm Convention process and make an estimation of the amount of HCH waste generated and dumped in the former Lindane/HCH-producing countries.

Results

In a preliminary assessment, the countries and the respective amount of HCH residues stored and deposited from Lindane production are estimated. Between 4 and 7 million tonnes of wastes of toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative residues (largely consisting of alpha- (approx. 80%) and beta-HCH) are estimated to have been produced and discarded around the globe during 60 years of Lindane production. For approximately 1.9 million tonnes, information is available regarding deposition. Countries are: Austria, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Macedonia, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, The Netherlands, UK, USA, and former USSR. The paper highlights the environmental relevance of deposited HCH wastes and the related POPs?? contaminated sites and provides suggestions for further steps to address the challenge of the legacy of HCH/Lindane production.

Conclusion

It can be expected that most locations where HCH waste was discarded/stockpiled are not secured and that critical environmental impacts are resulting from leaching and volatilisation. As parties to the Stockholm Convention are legally required to take action to stop further POPs pollution, identification and evaluation of such sites are necessary.     

固定化微生物法去除模拟渗滤液中氨氮的研究

采用固定化微生物曝气生物滤池（I-BAF）技术成功处理了模拟垃圾渗滤液,探讨了pH和溶解氧（DO）对系统脱氮性能的影响。结果表明,固定化微生物曝气生物滤池反应系统启动迅速,运行稳定,可以有效去除模拟垃圾渗滤液中的有机物和氨氮,其去除率分别达到97.1%和99.9%。在pH为7.5～8.5之间,DO 4.0 mg/L左右的条件下对模拟垃圾渗滤液中氮的去除最为有利,同步硝化反硝化效率以及总氮去除率均达到最高,分别为96.2%和94.3%。这主要是由于I-BAF系统中大孔载体提供了厌氧-兼氧-好氧的微环境,使硝化和反硝化反应在同一个反应器内发生,共同作用实现模拟垃圾渗滤液中总氮的去除。     

The Effect of CTBN Concentrations on the Kinetic Parameters of Decomposition of Blends of Epoxy Resins Modified with Carboxyl-Terminated Liquid Copolymer

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol—A (DGEBA)—based epoxy resin was blended in the ratio of 3:1 (weight basis) with cycloaliphatic epoxy (CAE) resin. The prepared blend sample was further blended with different weight percentages of carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer (CTBN) ranging between 0 and 25 wt% with an interval of 5 wt% and cured with stiochiometric amounts of 4, 4’- diamino diphenyl sulphone (DDS) cure agent. Structural changes during blending were studied by Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. The kinetic parameters, viz., order of decomposition reaction (n), activation energy (E), pre-exponential factor (Z) and rate decomposition constant (k), for the decomposition of the samples were calculated by applying Coats-Redfern equation over thermogravimetric (TG) data. The degradation of each sample followed second-order degradation kinetics, which was calculated by Coats-Redfern equation using best-fit analysis. This was further confirmed by linear regression analysis. The validity of data was checked by t-test statistical analysis. Further, the blend sample had higher initial degradation temperature and activation energy than its respective pure epoxy resin indicating that the CTBN acted as thermal stabilizer for epoxy resin which improved the thermal stability.     

Analysis of metabolic changes in Trichoderma asperellum TJ01 at different fermentation time-points by LC-QQQ-MS

Trichoderma spp. are among the most widely recognized biocontrol fungi used to inhibit pathogens and promote plant growth. These functions are related to primary and secondary metabolites. This study investigated the different metabolites in Trichoderma asperellum TJ01 cultured for 24 and 72?h using liquid chromatography with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. Compared to the 24?h culture of T. asperellum TJ01, the 72?h culture with amino acid metabolism tended to decrease while sugar and lipid metabolisms tended to increase. Furthermore, the 72?h culture had a higher proportion of upregulated flavonoids, in combination with a higher proportion of downregulated alkaloids, and equal proportions of upregulated and downregulated polyphenols and hormones. This study also identified a few valuable medicinal substances such as trigonelline and 5-hydroxytryptophan in T. asperellum TJ01 fermentation cultures.     

Gas/particle partitioning of atmospheric PCDD/Fs in a satellite town in Eastern China

Gas/particle partitioning of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in ambient air was investigated in a satellite town in Eastern China from April 2007 to January 2008 comprehending large temperature variations (from 3 to 34 °C, daily average). Molecular weight, molecular structure and ambient temperatures are the three major factors that govern the gas/particle partitioning of atmospheric PCDD/Fs throughout the year. Generally, good agreements were obtained (except for winter) between measured particulate fractions and theoretical estimates of both the Junge–Pankow adsorption model and Harner Bidleman absorption model using different sets of subcooled liquid vapor pressure and octanol–air partition coefficient (K_oa), respectively. Models utilizing estimates, derived from gas chromatographic retention indices (GC-RIs), are more accurate than that of entropy-based. Moreover, during winter, the K_oa-based model using the GC-RIs approach performs better on lower chlorinated PCDD/Fs than that of -based. Furthermore, possible sources of mismatch between measured and predicted values in winter (3–7 °C) were discussed. Gas adsorption artifact was demonstrated to be of minor importance for the phenomena observed. On the other hand, large deviations of slopes (m_r) and intercepts (b_r) in logK_p vs. plots from theoretical values are observed in the literature data and these are found to be linearly correlated with ambient temperatures (P<0.001) in this study. This indicates that the non-equilibrium partitioning of PCDD/Fs in winter may be significantly influenced by the colder temperatures that may have slowed down the exchange between gaseous and particulate fractions.     

Ecological footprint: an indicator of environmental sustainability of a surface coal mine

Ecological footprint of mining can be used as an indicator to monitor and regulate mining operations and ensure long-term environmental sustainability. It can be viewed as a mining footprint, which is surrogate of the environmental impacts of mining. In this paper, a methodological framework is developed to demonstrate how ecological footprint can be used as an indicator of environmental degradation. Nine air quality and 26 soil quality samples are collected from the adjoining area of a mechanized coal mine, located in Raniganj coal mining belt of Burdwan district, West Bengal. Geographical information system is used for data interpolation and preparation of air and soil quality maps. The weights of different air and soil quality parameters are calculated by running principal component analysis. These derived weights are used for preparation of final composite air and soil quality maps. The composite maps show the mining footprints, expressed as land equivalent, around the active mine sites. The impact zones reveal the extent of degradation of the soil and air qualities in the areas near a mine. It is found that the impact zones, with respect to air and soil qualities, extend over areas which are 7.7 and 7.8 times the actual mining areas, that is, the area covered under mining operations, respectively. The results show the extent of degradation of air and soil qualities of the area. At different stages of mining, these footprints can be used as indicators to reveal the areas where soil and air qualities are adversely impacted.