Influence of platinum, palladium and rhodium as compared with cadmium, nickel and chromium on cell viability and oxidative stress in human bronchial epithelial cells

The platinum group elements (PGE) Pt, Pd and Rh are increasingly emitted into the environment by automobile catalytic converters. Whereas the biological availability of PGE to plants and animals has been demonstrated, only few studies concentrate on the influence of PGE on a cellular level. The effects of Pt, Pd and Rh compared with Cd, Ni and Cr on cell viability and oxidative stress response using soluble metal salts were studied in the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. Whilst Rh(III) showed little influence, both Pt(II) and Pt(IV) as well as Pd(II) had significant effects on cell viability at levels comparable to Cd(II) and Cr(VI). Arranging metal species in order of increasing toxicity as determined by LC50 yields: Rh(III)=1.2 mmol/L相似文献   

Polyfluorinated compounds in ambient air from ship- and land-based measurements in northern Germany

Neutral volatile and semi-volatile polyfluorinated organic compounds (PFC) and ionic perfluorinated compounds were determined in air samples collected at two sites in the vicinity of Hamburg, Germany, and onboard the German research vessel Atair during a cruise in the German Bight, North Sea, in early November 2007. PUF/XAD-2/PUF cartridges and glass fiber filters as sampling media were applied to collect several fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH), fluorotelomer acrylates (FTA), perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides (FASA), and perfluoroalkyl sulfonamido ethanols (FASE) in the gas- and particle-phase as well as a set of perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCA) and sulfonates (PFSA) in the particle-phase. This study presents the distribution of PFC in ambient air of the German North Sea and in the vicinity of Hamburg for the first time. Average total PFC concentrations in and around Hamburg (180 pg m^?3) were higher than those observed in the German Bight (80 pg m^?3). In the German Bight, minimum–maximum gas-phase concentrations of 17–82 pg m^?3 for ΣFTOH, 2.6–10 pg m^?3 for ΣFTA, 10–15 pg m^?3 for ΣFASA, and 2–4.4 pg m^?3 for ΣFASE were determined. In the vicinity of Hamburg, minimum–maximum gas-phase concentrations of 32–204 pg m^?3 for ΣFTOH, 3–26 pg m^?3 for ΣFTA, 3–18 pg m^?3 for ΣFASA, and 2–15 pg m^?3 for ΣFASE were detected. Concentrations of perfluorinated acids were in the range of 1–11 pg m^?3. FTOH clearly dominated the substance spectrum; 8:2 FTOH occurred in maximum proportions. Air mass back trajectories, cluster, and correlation analyses revealed that the air mass origin and thus medium to long range atmospheric transport was the governing parameter for the amount of PFC in ambient air. Southwesterly located source regions seemed to be responsible for elevated PFC concentrations, local sources appeared to be of minor importance.     

Ecotoxicologial evaluation of wastewater ozonation based on detritus-detritivore interactions

Advanced oxidation technologies such as ozonation have been proposed to improve removal efficiency of micropollutants during wastewater treatment. In a meta-analysis of peer-reviewed literature, we found no ecotoxicological effects of wastewater ozonation on invertebrates (n = 82), but significant adverse effects on bacteria (n = 24) and fish (n = 5). As information on functional endpoints or trophic interactions is lacking, we applied a bioassay relating to leaf litter decomposition to fill this gap. Leaf discs exposed to ozone-treated wastewater with a high (1.04 mg O₃ (mg DOC)⁻¹, n = 49) ozone concentration were significantly preferred by an aquatic detritivore, Gammarus fossarum, over discs conditioned in wastewater not treated with ozone. This effect might have been mediated by reduced bacterial and elevated fungal biomass, and appears to be the first demonstration of wastewater ozonation impacts on invertebrates and an associated ecosystem process. In accordance with the food-choice trials, chemical analyses revealed significantly decreased concentrations of organic micropollutants in wastewater treated with ozone at high concentrations. Thus, food-choice trials as applied here hold promise to assess environmental effects of advanced oxidation technologies in wastewater treatment and appear to be a valuable complement to the ecotoxicological toolbox in general.     

Hydraulic characterisation of the Stuttgart formation at the pilot test site for CO2 storage, Ketzin, Germany

The paper presents an approach for the interpretation of hydraulic tests of a CO₂ storage reservoir. The sandstone reservoir is characterised by a fluviatile channel structure embedded in a low-permeability matrix. Pumping tests were carried out in three wells, with simultaneous pressure monitoring in each well.The hydraulic parameters (permeability and storativity) and the boundary configurations were calibrated using three different approaches: (i) parameter calibration and type curve interpretation for single-hole tests, (ii) calibration of the entire build-up phase for cross-hole tests, and (iii) calibration of the initial pressure response for cross-hole pumping tests. In addition, the arrival time of the pressure response was determined and provides additional information about the pathways of hydraulic connection.The measured pumping test permeabilities of the formation were much lower than those measured on the cores, which is very unusual. The pumping test permeabilities are mainly between 50 mD and 100 mD (millidarcy), while core samples show a mean aquifer permeability of 500–1100 mD. Based on this it was concluded that some kind of continuous low-permeability structure exists, which was supported by core material. Three possible aquifer configurations were considered. The first and second were derived from traditional pumping test analysis and were conceptualised using flow boundaries. Each of the analyses provides a different result. A method was developed in which these differences were resolved by interpreting the pressure response with respect to its spatial and temporal sensitivity. This solution lead to a third configuration which was mainly based on spatially-variable permeabilities. Taking into account the pumping test results, the geological background and the behaviour of injected CO₂, we consider only the third configuration to be realistic. The results are in good agreement with modelled CO₂ arrival times and pressure history.     

Release of silver nanoparticles from outdoor facades

In this study we investigate the release of metallic silver nanoparticles (Ag-NP) from paints used for outdoor applications. A facade panel mounted on a model house was exposed to ambient weather conditions over a period of one year. The runoff volume of individual rain events was determined and the silver and titanium concentrations of 36 out of 65 runoff events were measured. Selected samples were prepared for electron microscopic analysis. A strong leaching of the Ag-NP was observed during the initial runoff events with a maximum concentration of 145 μ Ag/l. After a period of one year, more than 30% of the Ag-NP were released to the environment. Particles were mostly <15 nm and are released as composite colloids attached to the organic binders of the paint. Microscopic results indicate that the Ag-NP are likely transformed to considerably less toxic forms such as Ag₂S.     

Impact of humic substances on the aqueous solubility, uptake and bioaccumulation of platinum, palladium and rhodium in exposure studies with Dreissena polymorpha

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were exposed to different types of water containing PGE salts (PtCl4, PdSO4, RhCl3) to investigate the influence of humic substances on the aqueous solubility, uptake and bioaccumulation of noble metals. The results showed a time dependent decrease of the aqueous PGE concentrations in tank water for all groups. This could mainly be related to non-biological processes. The aqueous solubility of Pd and Rh was higher in humic water compared with non-chlorinated tap water, whereas Pt showed opposing results. Highest metal uptake rates and highest bioaccumulation plateaus were found for Pd, followed by Pt and Rh. Pd uptake and bioaccumulation was significantly hampered by humic substances, whose presence appear to increase Pt uptake and bioaccumulation. No clear trend emerged for Rh. Differences in effects of humic matter among the PGE may be explained by formation of metal complexes with different fractions of humic substances.