Use of spent mushroom compost to bioremediate PAH-contaminated samples

Spent mushroom compost (SMC) is a bulky waste byproduct of mushroom industry and produced abundantly. The SMC of Pleurotus pulmonarius immobilized laccase (0.88 mmoles min(-1) g(-1)) and manganese peroxidase (0.58 mmoles min(-1) g(-1)) of which the optimal temperatures were 45 and 75 degrees C, respectively. In laboratory test, complete degradative removal of individual naphthalene, phenanthrene, benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[g,h,i]perylene (200 mg PAH kg(-1) sandy-loam soil) by 5% SMC was obtained in two days under continuous shaking at 80 degrees C. The SMC-treated PAH samples had significantly reduced or removed their toxicities as revealed by the Microtox bioassay. These results were confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis on the breakdown products. A phthalic derivative which is reported as a degradative product of PAHs by ozonation or ligninolysis was also detected in the SMC-treated samples. The results demonstrate the potential in employing SMC in ex situ bioremediation.     

Competing TCE and cis-DCE degradation kinetics by zero-valent iron-experimental results and numerical simulation

The successful dechlorination of mixtures of chlorinated hydrocarbons with zero-valent metals requires information concerning the kinetics of simultaneous degradation of different contaminants. This includes intraspecies competitive effects (loading of the reactive iron surface by a single contaminant) as well as interspecies competition of several contaminants for the reactive sites available. In columns packed with zero-valent iron, the degradation behaviour of trichloroethylene (TCE), cis-dichloroethylene (DCE) and mixtures of both was measured in order to investigate interspecies competition. Although a decreasing rate of dechlorination is to be expected, when several degradable substances compete for the reactive sites on the iron surface, TCE degradation is nearly unaffected by the presence of cis-DCE. In contrast, cis-DCE degradation rates decrease significantly when TCE is added. A new modelling approach is developed in order to identify and quantify the observed competitive effects. The numerical model TBC (Transport, Biochemistry and Chemistry, Sch?fer et al., 1998a) is used to describe adsorption, desorption and dechlorination in a mechanistic way. Adsorption and degradation of a contaminant based on a limited number of reactive sites leads to a combined zero- and first-order degradation kinetics for high and low concentrations, respectively. The adsorption of several contaminants with different sorption parameters to a limited reactive surface causes interspecies competition. The reaction scheme and the parameters required are successfully transferred from Arnold and Roberts (2000b) to the model TBC. The degradation behaviour of the mixed contamination observed in the column experiments can be related to the adsorption properties of TCE and cis-DCE. By predicting the degradation of the single substances TCE and cis-DCE as well as mixtures of both, the calibrated model is used to investigate the effects of interspecies competition on the design of permeable reactive iron barriers. Even if TCE is present in only small concentrations (>3% of molar cis-DCE concentration) it is the contaminant limiting the residence time and the required thickness of the iron barrier.     

Optimizing electron spin resonance detection of hydroxyl radical in water

The parameters affecting the electron spin resonance (ESR) detection of hydroxyl free radical in water are studied and optimized. The hydroxyl radical is generated by the Fenton reaction with iron (II) ammonium sulfate and hydrogen peroxide reacting in a phosphate buffer using N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitron as the spin trap. The concentrations of Fe²⁺, H₂O₂, and phosphate buffer are the parameters studied. The Taguchi method and the orthogonal experiment design were used to evaluate the effects of these parameters on the ESR signal intensity. By the analysis of the signal-to-noise ratio and the analysis of variance, the order of importance of the various parameters on the hydroxyl radical formation is determined for optimal ESR detection of hydroxyl radical. The results will help the development of water purification technologies using hydroxyl free radical as a green oxidant.     

Variables affecting emissions of PCDD/Fs from uncontrolled combustion of household waste in barrels

The uncontrolled burning of household waste in barrels has recently been implicated as a major source of airborne emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs). A detailed, systematic study to understand the variables affecting emissions of PCDD/Fs from burn barrels was performed. The waste composition, fullness of the barrel, and the combustion conditions within the barrel all contribute significantly to determining the emissions of PCDD/Fs from burn barrels. The study found no statistically significant effect on emissions from the Cl content of waste except at high levels, which are not representative of typical household waste. At these elevated Cl concentrations, the impact of Cl on PCDD/F emissions was found to be independent of the form of the Cl (inorganic or organic). For typical burn conditions, most of the PCDD/F emissions appear to be associated with the later stages of the burn when the waste is smoldering. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were also measured for a subset of the tests. For the nominal waste composition, the average emissions were 76.8 ng toxic equivalency units (TEQ)WHO98/kg of waste combusted, which suggests that uncontrolled burning of household waste could be a major source of airborne PCDD/Fs in the United States.     

PM2.5 assessment in 21 European study centers of ECRHS II: Method and first winter results

The follow-up of a cohort of adults from 29 European centers of the former European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) I (1989-1992) will examine the long-term effects of exposure to ambient air pollution on the incidence, course, and prognosis of respiratory diseases, in particular asthma and decline in lung function. The purpose of this article is to describe the methodology and the European-wide quality control program for the collection of particles with 50% cut-off size of 2.5 microm aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) in the ECRHS II and to present the PM2.5 results from the winter period 2000-2001. Because PM2.5 is not routinely monitored in Europe, we measured PM2.5 mass concentrations in 21 participating centers to estimate background exposure in these cities. A standardized protocol was developed using identical equipment in each center (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Well Impactor Ninety-Six [WINS] and PQ167 from BGI, Inc.). Filters were weighed in a single central laboratory. Sampling was conducted for 7 days per month for a year. Winter mean PM2.5 mass concentrations (November 2000-February 2001) varied substantially, with Iceland reporting the lowest value (5 microg/m3) and northern Italy the highest (69 microg/m3). A standardized procedure appropriate for PM2.5 exposure assessment in a multicenter study was developed. We expect ECRHS II to have sufficient variation in exposure to assess long-term effects of air pollution in this cohort. Any bias caused by variation in the characteristics of the chosen monitoring location (e.g., proximity to traffic sources) will be addressed in later analyses. Given the homogenous spatial distribution of PM2.5, however, concentrations measured near traffic are not expected to differ substantially from those measured at urban background sites.     

Microplastic distribution in surface sediments along the Spanish Mediterranean continental shelf

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microplastics (MPs) are widely recognised as a contaminant of emerging concern in the marine environment. This work provides original data of the...     

Bromide affecting drinking water mutagenicity

The effect of bromide on the mutagenicity of artificially recharged groundwater and purified artificially recharged groundwater after chlorine, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, permanganate, and UV treatments alone and in various combinations was studied. The highest mutagenicity was observed after chlorination, while hydrogen peroxide-ozone-chlorine treatment produced the lowest value for both waters. Chlorinated waters, which were spiked with bromide, had up to 3.7 times more mutagenic activity than waters without bromide after every preoxidation method. 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) was found to correspond as much as 76% of the overall mutagenicity in the waters not spiked with bromide. MX formation was found to be lower when the treated water contained bromide, implicating the formation of brominated MX analogues. Trihalomethane formation increased when the treated water contained bromide.     

Toxicity of chemical components of fine particles inhaled by aged rats: effects of concentration

This study tested the hypothesis that exposure to mixtures containing fine particles and ozone (O3) would cause pulmonary injury and decrements in functions of immunological cells in exposed rats (22-24 months old) in a dose-dependent manner. Rats were exposed to high and low concentrations of ammonium bisulfate and elemental carbon and to 0.2 ppm O3. Control groups were exposed to purified air or O3 alone. The biological end points measured included histopathological markers of lung injury, bronchoalveolar lung fluid proteins, and measures of the function of the lung's innate immunological defenses (macrophage antigen-directed phagocytosis and respiratory burst activity). Exposure to O3 alone at 0.2 ppm did not result in significant changes in any of the measured end points. Exposures to the particle mixtures plus O3 produced statistically significant changes consistent with adverse effects. The low-concentration mixture produced effects that were statistically significant compared to purified air but, with the exception of macrophage Fc receptor binding, exposure to the high-concentration mixture did not. The effects of the low- and high-concentration mixtures were not significantly different. The study supports previous work that indicated that particle + O3 mixtures were more toxic than O3 alone.     

A study on emission of phthalate esters from plastic materials using a passive flux sampler

Phthalate esters are used as plasticizer in many plastics, and several studies have shown their toxicity. Phthalate esters are gradually emitted over time, and so it is conceivable that they pose a significant health risk. This study aims to investigate the temperature dependence of the emissions of various phthalate esters and to estimate the health risks of these emissions at various temperatures. A passive-type sampler was developed to measure the flux of phthalate esters from the surface of plastic materials. With this sampler, we examined three widely used plastic materials: synthetic leather, wallpaper and vinyl flooring. The observed maximum emissions of diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) from these materials at 20°C were 0.89, 0.77, and 14 μg m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. Emissions at 80°C were 2.8, 4.5×10², and 1.5×10³ μg m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. The results showed this temperature dependence is determined primarily by the type of phthalate ester and less so by the type of material. The estimation from the results of temperature dependence indicated the concentration of DEHP in a vehicle left out in the sunshine during the day can exceed the recommended levels of Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.     

Determination of optimum polymeric coagulant in palm oil mill effluent coagulation using multiple-objective optimisation on the basis of ratio analysis (MOORA)

The main limitation of a conventional palm oil mill effluent (POME) ponding system lies in its inability to completely decolourise effluent. Decolourisation of effluent is aesthetically and environmentally crucial. However, determination of the optimum process parameters is becoming more complex with the increase of the number of coagulants and responses. The primary objective of this study is to determine the optimum polymeric coagulant in the coagulation–flocculation process of palm oil mill effluent by considering all output responses, namely lignin–tannin, low molecular mass coloured compounds (LMMCC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), pH and conductivity. Here, multiple-objective optimisation on the basis of ratio analysis (MOORA) is employed to discretely measure multiple response characteristics of five different types of coagulants as a function of assessment value. The optimum coagulant is determined based on the highest assessment value and was identified as QF25610 (cationic polyacrylamide). On the other hand, the lowest assessment value was represented by AN1800 (anionic polyacrylamide). This study highlights the simplicity of MOORA approach in handling various input and output parameters, and it may be useful in other wastewater treatment processes as well.