The impact of age-related sub-chronic exposure to chlorpyrifos on metabolic indexes in male rats

Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphorus pesticide (OP), has been implicated in metabolic diseases; however, the data are controversial. Rising age has been     

Correction to: Clustering the Concentrations of PM10 and O3: Application of Spatiotemporal Model–Based Clustering

Environmental Modeling & Assessment -     

Novel Biodegradable Thermoplastic Elastomer Based on Poly(butylene succinate) and Epoxidized Natural Rubber Simple Blends

Novel biodegradable thermoplastic elastomer based on epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) blend was prepared by a simple blend technique. Influence of blend ratios of ENR and PBS on morphological, mechanical, thermal and biodegradable properties were investigated. In addition, chemical interaction between ENR and PBS molecules was evaluated by means of the rheological properties and infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the phase inversion behavior of ENR/PBS blend was predicted by different empirical and semi-empirical models including Utracki, Paul and Barlow, Steinmann and Gergen models. It was found that the co-continuous phase morphology was observed in the blend with ENR/PBS about 58/42 wt% which is in good agreement with the model of Steinmann. This correlates well to morphological and mechanical properties together with degree of crystallinity of PBS in the blends. In addition, the biodegradability was characterized by soil burial test after 1, 3 and 9 months and found that the biodegradable ENR/PBS blends with optimum mechanical and biodegradability were successfully prepared.     

Increased urinary arsenic concentration in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus: a gender-independent,smoking-dependent exposure biomarker in older adults in Tehran

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Arsenic is ranked in the top ten environmental toxicants but its impact on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its association with other human health...     

Measurements of non-methane hydrocarbons, DOC in surface ocean waters and aerosols over the Nordic seas during polarstern cruise ARK-XX/1 (2004)

To explore processes leading to the formation of volatile organic compounds at the sea surface and their transfer to the atmosphere, whole air, marine aerosols, and surface ocean water DOC were simultaneously sampled during June-July 2004 on the Nordic seas. 19 C(2)-C(6) non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in the air samples are reported from nine sites, spanning a range of latitudes. Site-to-site variability in NMHC concentrations was high, which suggests variable, local sources for these compounds studied. Total DOC in surface waters sampled ranged from 0.84 mg l(-1) (Fram Strait) to 1.06 mg l(-1) (East Greenland Current), and decreased 6-8% with 24h UV-A irradiation. Pentanes and hexanes, as well as acetone and dimethylsulfide, were identified in the seawater samples using solid-phase microextraction/GC-MS. All these compounds are volatile enough that exchange with the atmosphere can be expected, and the detection of the hydrocarbons in particular is consistent with a marine source for these in the air samples. Size-fractionated aerosols from the same sampling regions were analysed by SEM-EDX and contained sea salt, marine sulfates, and carbonates. A culturable bacterium was isolated from the large (9.9-18 microm) fraction at one site, and identified by 16S rRNA PCR analysis as Micrococcus luteus, raising the possibility that marine bioaerosols could transfer marine organic carbon to the aerosol phase and thus influence formation of VOCs above the remote oceans.     

Biotechnology and nanotechnology for remediation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds: current perspectives

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) are persistent organic pollutants which are harmful to public health and the environment. Many CVOCs...     

Development of a hybrid photo-bioreactor and nanoparticle adsorbent system for the removal of CO2 , and selected organic and metal co-pollutants

Fossil fuel combustion and many industrial processes generate gaseous emissions that contain a number of toxic organic pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO₂) which contribute to climate change and atmospheric pollution. There is a need for green and sustainable solutions to remove air pollutants, as opposed to conventional techniques which can be expensive, consume additional energy and generate further waste. We developed a novel integrated bioreactor combined with recyclable iron oxide nano/micro-particle adsorption interfaces, to remove CO_2, and undesired organic air pollutants using natural particles, while generating oxygen. This semi-continuous bench-scale photo-bioreactor was shown to successfully clean up simulated emission streams of up to 45% CO₂ with a conversion rate of approximately 4% CO₂ per hour, generating a steady supply of oxygen (6 mmol/hr), while nanoparticles effectively remove several undesired organic by-products. We also showed algal waste of the bioreactor can be used for mercury remediation. We estimated the potential CO₂ emissions that could be captured from our new method for three industrial cases in which, coal, oil and natural gas were used. With a 30% carbon capture system, the reduction of CO₂ was estimated to decrease by about 420,000, 320,000 and 240,000 metric tonnes, respectively for a typical 500 MW power plant. The cost analysis we conducted showed potential to scale-up, and the entire system is recyclable and sustainable. We further discuss the implications of usage of this complete system, or as individual units, that could provide a hybrid option to existing industrial setups.     

Aqueous photoreduction of oxidized mercury species in presence of selected alkanethiols

Mercury is a global environmental contaminant with severe toxicity impact. The chemical processes resulting in the transformation of oxidized mercury species (Hg²⁺) to elemental mercury (Hg⁰), greatly affects the fate and transport of mercury in the natural environment. We hereby provide the first study on the photochemistry of Hg²⁺ with selected alkanethiols (R-SH) as model compounds to represent thiols and thiol-type binding sites on humic substances in natural waters because of the common sulfhydryl functional group (-SH). Kinetic studies were performed using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (CVAFS), the formation of Hg²⁺-thiol complexes (Hg(SR)₂) were confirmed by UV-visible spectrometry and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (APCI-MS), and the reaction products were analyzed using Electron Impact-Mass Spectrometry (EI-MS) and Solid Phase Microextraction coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS). Our results indicated that the photoreduction of Hg²⁺ by selected alkanethiols may be mediated by Hg²⁺-thiol complexes to produce Hg⁰. Under our experimental conditions, the apparent first order rate constants obtained for 1-propanethiol, 1-butanethiol, and 1-pentanethiol were (2.0 ± 0.2) × 10⁻⁷ s⁻¹, (1.4 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁷ s⁻¹, (8.3 ± 0.5) × 10⁻⁸ s⁻¹, respectively. The effects of ionic strength, dissolved oxygen or chloride ion on reaction rates were found to be minimal under our experimental conditions. The identified products of the reaction between oxidized mercury species with selected alkanethiols (C₃-C₅) were Hg⁰ and disulfides (RS-SR). The potential environmental implications are herein discussed.     

Climate change impacts on European agriculture revisited: adding the economic dimension of grasslands

Forage and more widely grassland systems are difficult to analyze in economic terms because a large proportion of what is produced is not marketed. Economic misestimation of these farm products may dramatically alter projected climate change impacts. This study estimates the economic value of grass and assesses the impact of climatic variations on grassland–livestock systems by taking various environmental and climatic factors into account. Accordingly, grass yield responses to nitrogen inputs (N-yield functions) have been simulated using the grassland biogeochemical PaSim model and then fed into the economic farm-type supply AROPAj model. We developed a computational method to estimate shadow prices of grass production, allowing us to better estimate the effects of climatic variability on grassland and crop systems. This approach has been used on a European scale under two Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change climate scenarios (AR4 A2 and B1). Results show a significant change in land use over time. Accordingly, due to decreases in feed expenses, farmers may increase livestock, thereby increasing overall greenhouse gas emissions for all scenarios considered. As part of autonomous adaptation by farming systems, N-yield functions extending to pastures and fodders allow us to improve the model and to refine results when marketed and non-marketed crops are considered in a balanced way.