Evaluation of an extraction method for a mixture of endocrine disrupters in sediment using chemical and in vitro biological analyses

Aquatic sediments are contaminated by a wide diversity of organic pollutants such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which encompass a broad range of chemical classes having natural and anthropogenic origins. The use of in vitro bioassays is now widely accepted as an alternative method for their detection in complex samples. However, based on the diversity of EDC chemical properties, their common extraction is difficult and comprehensive validation of extraction methods for a bioanalysis purpose is still weakly documented. In this study, we compared the performance of several organic solvents, i.e., acetone, methanol, dichloromethane, heptane, dichloromethane/acetone (50:50, v/v), dichloromethane/methanol (50:50, v/v), heptane/acetone (50:50, v/v), and heptane/methanol (50:50, v/v), to extract a diversity of active chemicals from a spiked sediment matrix using pressurized liquid extraction. For this purpose, we defined a mixture of 12 EDCs with a wide range of polarity (2?<?log Kow?<?8) (i.e., estrone, 17β-estradiol, bisphenol A, o,p′DDT, 4-tert-octylphenol, fenofibrate, triphenyl phosphate, clotrimazole, PCB-126, 2,3,7,8 TCDD, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene). Working concentrations of each individual compound in the mixture were determined as equipotent concentrations on the basis of the concentration-addition (CA) model applied to in vitro estrogenic, dioxin-like, and pregnane X receptor (PXR)-like activities. Extraction efficiencies based on both chemical and biological analyses were assessed in triplicate in artificial blank sediment spiked with this mixture and in natural sediment contaminated by native EDCs. In both spiked and natural sediment, MeOH/DCM yields the best recovery while heptane was the least efficient solvent. Our study provided the validation of a sediment extraction methodology for EDC bioanalysis purposes, which can be used for comprehensive environmental contamination characterization.     

Comparative study of different exposure routes on the biotransformation and genotoxicity of PAHs in the flatfish species, Scophthalmus maximus

In this study, laboratory experiments were carried out in order to come to a better understanding of the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine environment and especially on their bioaccumulation, biotransformation and genotoxic effects in fish. Juveniles of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) were exposed to PAHs through different routes via (1) a mixture of dissolved PAHs, (2) a PAH-polluted sediment and (3) an oil fuel elutriate. Fish were exposed 4 days followed by a 6-day depuration period. In each experiment, PAH concentrations in the seawater of the tanks were analysed regularly by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Muscle and liver samples were also analysed for parent PAH levels and PAH bioconcentration factors were calculated. Biotransformation was evaluated by measuring the levels of PAH metabolites in fish bile. Genotoxicity was assessed by the alkaline comet assay. Regardless of exposure route, the parent PAH concentrations in the liver and muscle showed a peak level 1 day after the beginning of the exposure, followed by a decrease up to the background level towards the end of the experiment, except for the exposure to dissolved PAHs for which levels were relatively low throughout the study. As a consequence, no bioaccumulation was observed in fish tissues at the end of the experiment. In contrast, regardless of exposure routes, a rapid production of biliary metabolites was observed throughout the whole exposure experiment. This was especially true for 1-hydroxypyrene, the major metabolite of pyrene. After 6 days of recovery in clean water, a significant decrease in the total metabolite concentrations occurred in bile. Fish exposed through either route displayed a significant increase in DNA strand breaks after 4 days of exposure, and significant correlations were observed between the level of biliary PAH metabolites and the level of DNA lesions in fish erythrocytes. Overall results indicate that exposure to either a mixture of dissolved PAHs, a PAH-contaminated sediment or a dispersed oil fuel elutriate leads to biotransformation and increase in DNA damage in fish. The quantification of PAH metabolites in bile and DNA damage in erythrocytes appear to be suitable for environmental monitoring of marine pollution either in the case of accidental oil spills or sediment contamination.     

Experimental Evaluation of Waste Tires Utilization in Cement Kilns

ABSTRACT

The present work outlines the main results of a full-scale study conducted on the utilization of waste tires as auxiliary fuel in cement production. Experimental tests were conducted for determining the influence of shredded tires on combustion conditions, emissions produced, and the characteristics of clinker obtained, for feeding ratios over 35% in terms of total heat input. The addition of tire chips did not lead to any appreciable modification in either the whole process or the quality of clinker produced; gaseous emissions were mostly unaffected, with significant improvements related to the reductions obtained in nitrogen and sulfur oxides concentrations. Experimental findings from tests conducted with tire chips exposed to kiln combustion flue gases compare favorably with the typical burnout times derived from theoretical approaches. These experimental data and calculations to estimate particle trajectories beyond the injection point, through proper theoretical analysis of the kinetic behavior, result in important indications for the shredding operation and for optimum injection modes.     

Treatment of phenylmercury salts by heterogeneous photocatalysis over TiO(2)

UV/TiO(2) photocatalysis of phenylmercury salts in aqueous solutions has been performed starting from both acetate (C(6)H(5)HgCH(3)CO(2), PMA) and chloride (C(6)H(5)HgCl, PMC) salts, in the presence or the absence of oxygen at acidic pH. Removal of Hg(II) in solution took place with the simultaneous deposit of dark or pale gray solids on the photocatalyst, identified as metallic Hg (when starting from PMA) or mixtures of Hg(0) and Hg(2)Cl(2) (when starting from PMC). Partial mineralization of the organic part of both compounds has also been achieved. Hg(II) removal and mineralization were enhanced in the absence of oxygen. PMA photocatalysis followed a saturation kinetics, going from first order at low concentration to zero order at higher concentrations (>0.5mM). For PMA, reaction was faster at high pH (11) with formation of mixtures of Hg and HgO. Phenol was detected as a product of the reaction in both cases, PMA and PMC, and no formation of dangerous methyl- or ethylmercury species was observed in the first case. A mechanism for the photocatalytic reaction has been proposed. The fact that calomel was found as a deposit when starting from PMC under nitrogen suggests that the mechanism of Hg(II) transformation proceeds through successive one-electron transfer reactions passing by mercurous forms.     

High-solids anaerobic digestion of municipal sludge pretreated by thermal hydrolysis

High-solids anaerobic digestion can consistently achieve 55 to 60% volatile solids destruction after thermal hydrolysis pretreatment, which reduces its viscosity and increases the fraction of soluble organic matter. For feed sludge with total solids concentrations between 6.8 and 8.2%, the process is stable at hydraulic retention times of 9 to 12 days, significantly increasing the treatment capacity of existing digesters or, in treatment plants without spare capacity, helping to postpone, reduce, or even avoid costly infrastructure investments. Process stability is related to the high concentration of soluble organic matter in the digesters. High-solids temperature-phased digestion appears to be superior to high-solids mesophilic digestion, with respect to process flexibility and stability, biosolids stabilization, and biogas generation, although ammonia inhibition may have occurred. Implementation of high-solids digestion could significantly reduce operation and maintenance costs of solids-handling operations.     

On-board emission measurement of high-loaded light-duty vehicles in Algeria

A sample of eight private gasoline and diesel conventional light-duty vehicles (LDVs) in use with various ages, carrying a load of 460 kg, were tested on a representative trip in the traffic flow of the city of Blida to obtain emission factors representing the actual use conditions of Algerian LDVs. The gas sampling system (mini-constant volume sampling) as well as the analyzers are carried on-board the vehicle. Around 55 tests were conducted during 3 months covering more than 480 km under various real driving conditions. The mean speed downtown is about 16.1 km/hr with a rather low acceleration, an average of 0.60 m/sec2. For each test, kinematics are recorded as well as the analysis of the four emitted pollutants carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and total hydrocarbons. Emission factors were evaluated according to speed for each category of gasoline and diesel engines. The influence of some parameters such as cold/hot start, age of vehicle and its state of maintenance are discussed. Results are compared with the European database ARTEMIS for comparable vehicles. These measurements contribute to the development of unit emission of the vehicles used in Algeria, which are necessary for the calculation of emission inventory of pollutants and greenhouse gases from the road transportation sector. The unit emissions constitute a tool of decisionmaking aid regarding the conception of new regulations of vehicle control and inspection in Algeria and even in similar developing countries.     

The underutilization of street markets as a source of food security indicators in famine early warning systems: a case study of Ethiopia

Famine Early Warning Systems (EWS) are reliant on data aggregated from multiple sources. Consequently, they are often insensitive to localized changes in food security status, leading to delayed response or interventions. While price and infrastructural data are often gathered, this case study suggests that local street markets and vendor knowledge are underutilized. Few efforts have been made to monitor systematically the street markets as an indicator of local stressors. Findings from Ethiopia show that knowledge generated by expanding food security indicators in this sector can be used in combination with EWS to facilitate earlier intervention in, or to monitor more effectively, on-going humanitarian crises. Indicators developed from this study are accurate, cost effective, and sensitive to local climatic and food stressors.     

Documentation of the endotoxins present in the ambient air of cotton fiber textile mills in Québec

Cotton workers are recognized as being at risk of developing occupational lung diseases. Some researchers have identified endotoxins as being a potential etiologic agent for some of the respiratory problems. This study wants to document the concentration of endotoxins found in the ambient air of textile mills where cotton fibers are handled and to identify the processing steps where the highest endotoxins concentrations in the air were found and the one where the relative limit values (RLVs) are exceeded. The 4 mills studied process cotton fibers. All the air samples were analyzed using the chromogenic Limulus Amoebocytes lysate LAL method using a kinetic detection principle based on the IRSST's standard method. In this study, a large variability in the concentrations of endotoxins in the air was observed, depending on the mill, the processing step, and the time. Despite these variations, some processes can be identified as being major generators of endotoxins in the ambient air of the mills. The highest concentrations were measured in the weaving and drawing processes and reached 10,000 EU m(-3) of air. The opening, cleaning, carding, spinning and drawing processes are the other major endotoxins generating processes with concentrations from 24 to 8,700 EU m(-3) of air. The endotoxins concentrations exceeded the RLVs for 55% of the workstations in this project. This study demonstrated that endotoxins levels in the cotton industry are high and appropriate control measures are needed.