Assessment of Human and Ecosystem Risk Due to Agricultural Waste Compost Application on Soils: A Review

Agricultural wastes (AW) are often characterized by varying pH and substantial contamination potential, which are mainly related to their high organic load, thus affecting—when improperly disposed of—soils, living organisms, and water bodies. Composting of AW is the most commonly used management option and results in the production of soil improver that enhances crop growth and contributes to agricultural sustainability. This study aims to present the framework for assessing human and ecosystem risk when compost produced from AW is applied on soil. In order to develop this framework, issues such as origin, composition and pre-treatment of AW, application rates on soils, bioavailability and mobility of contaminants present in compost, exposure routes and rates as well as determination of the fate of contaminants in soil, air, and water, should be taken into consideration.     

Chemical composition and mass closure of ambient coarse particles at traffic and urban-background sites in Thessaloniki,Greece

Concentrations and chemical composition of the coarse particle fraction (PM_c) were investigated at two urban sites in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, through concurrent sampling of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 during the warm and the cold months of the year. PM_c levels at the urban-traffic site (UT) were among the highest found in literature worldwide exhibiting higher values in the cold period. PM_c levels at the urban-background site (UB) were significantly lower exhibiting a reverse seasonal trend. Concentration levels of minerals and most trace metals were also higher at the UT site suggesting a stronger impact from traffic-related sources (road dust resuspension, brake and tire abrasion, road wear). According to the chemical mass closure obtained, minerals (oxides of Si, Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, Ti, and K) dominated the PM_c profile, regardless of the site and the period, with organic matter and secondary inorganic aerosols (mainly nitrate) also contributing considerably to the PM_c mass, particularly in the warm period. The influence of wind speed to dilution and/or resuspension of coarse particles was investigated. The source of origin of coarse particles was also investigated using surface wind data and atmospheric back-trajectory modeling. Finally, the contribution of resuspension to PM_c levels was estimated for air quality management perspectives.     

The status of pesticide pollution in surface waters (rivers and lakes) of Greece. Part I. Review on occurrence and levels

This review evaluates and summarizes the results of long-term research projects, monitoring programs and published papers concerning the pollution of surface waters (rivers and lakes) of Greece by pesticides. Pesticide classes mostly detected involve herbicides used extensively in corn, cotton and rice production, organophosphorus insecticides as well as the banned organochlorines insecticides due to their persistence in the aquatic environment. The compounds most frequently detected were atrazine, simazine, alachlor, metolachlor and trifluralin of the herbicides, diazinon, parathion methyl of the insecticides and lindane, endosulfan and aldrin of the organochlorine pesticides. Rivers were found to be more polluted than lakes. The detected concentrations of most pesticides follow a seasonal variation, with maximum values occurring during the late spring and summer period followed by a decrease during winter. Nationwide, in many cases the reported concentrations ranged in low ppb levels. However, elevated concentrations were recorded in areas of high pesticide use and intense agricultural practices. Generally, similar trends and levels of pesticides were found in Greek rivers compared to pesticide contamination in other European rivers. Monitoring of the Greek water resources for pesticide residues must continue, especially in agricultural regions, because the nationwide patterns of pesticide use are constantly changing. Moreover, emphasis should be placed on degradation products not sufficiently studied so far.     

Cosmetic wastewater treatment technologies: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Over the past three decades, environmental concerns about the water pollution have been raised on societal and industrial levels. The presence of...     

Soil column experiments used as a means to assess transport, sorption, and biodegradation of pesticides in groundwater

Soil column experiments are used to investigate the fate of three pesticides of high, intermediate, and low solubility in groundwater: N- phosphonomethyl glycine (glyphosate); O,O-diethyl-S-[(ethylthio)methyl]phosphorodithioate (phorate); (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D). Feed solutions are prepared by adding each pesticide (100 mg/L glyphosate, 50 micro g/L phorate, 50 mg/L 2,4-D) along with conservative tracer, KBr, in synthetic groundwater. The concentration of the pesticides in effluents is detected by ion chromatography (glyphosate, 2,4-D) and GC-FID (phorate). The Br(-) breakthrough curves are employed to estimate the dispersion coefficient and mean pore velocity in each column. Solute transport and reactive models accounting for equilibrium/non-equilibrium sorption and biodegradation are coupled with inverse modeling numerical codes to estimate the kinetic parameters for all pesticides.     

Survey for the occurrence of antifouling paint booster biocides in the aquatic environment of Greece

Since the restriction imposed by European Union regulations on the use of TBT-based antifouling paints on boats below 25 m in length, new terms have been introduced in the 'small boat' market. Replacement products are generally based on copper metal oxides and organic biocides. Several studies have demonstrated the presence of these biocides in European ports and marinas of Spain, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. An extended survey of the antifouling biocides chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, irgarol 1051 and sea-nine 211 was carried out in Greek ports and marinas of high boating activities from October 1999 to September 2000. The sampling sites were: Piraeus, Elefsina, Thessaloniki, Patras, Chalkida, Igoumenitsa, and Preveza (Aktio). The extraction of these compounds from the seawater samples was performed off-line with C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) disks while the determination was carried out with gas chromatography coupled to electron capture (ECD), thermionic (FTD) and mass spectroscopy (MS) detectors. The concentration levels of biocides were higher during the period from April to October. This seasonal impact depends on the application time of antifouling paints and mimic trends in the seasonal distribution of biocides in other European sites.     

Growth rate effects, responses of antioxidant enzymes and metabolic fate of the herbicide Propanil in the aquatic plant Lemna minor

Propanil (3,4-dichloropropionanilide) is a selective contact pesticide, recommended for post-emergence use in rice. This herbicide may end up in surface waters and present potential risk for aquatic vascular plants. Therefore, its toxicity was evaluated on Lemna minor L., an aquatic plant regularly used for toxicological studies, during time- and concentration-dependent exposure. Toxicity assessments were based on inhibition of growth of L. minor cultures after 24 days. The obtained results showed that the growth of Lemna was affected by the herbicide. The responses of the guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) involved in the xenobiotic metabolism and antioxidative system were also investigated following Propanil exposure. Our results showed that Propanil has not induced enzymatic antioxidative defenses of L. minor. Both 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) and 3,4-dichloroacetanilide are the major metabolites in this plant. On the contrary, only 3,4-DCA was found in culture media after 4 days. Probably, the enzymatic hydrolysis by acyl acylamidase and the acetylation by acetyl-CoA are the major pathways for these transformation products, respectively. The results of this study showed that the selected aquatic plant has the potential to accumulate and metabolize rice herbicide, like Propanil. Based on these toxicity data this herbicide should impair the establishment of non-target aquatic plants.     

Passive sampling of selected endocrine disrupting compounds using polar organic chemical integrative samplers

Two types of polar organic chemical integrative samplers (pharmaceutical POCIS and pesticide POCIS) were examined for their sampling efficiency of selected endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Laboratory-based calibration of POCISs was conducted by exposing them at high and low concentrations of 14 EDCs (4-alkyl-phenols, their ethoxylate oligomers, bisphenol A, selected estrogens and synthetic steroids) for different time periods. The kinetic studies showed an integrative uptake up to 28 days. The sampling rates for the individual compounds were obtained. The use of POCISs could result in an integrative approach to the quality status of the aquatic systems especially in the case of high variation of water concentrations of EDCs. The sampling efficiency of POCISs under various field conditions was assessed after their deployment in different aquatic environments.     

Partitioning of endocrine disrupting compounds in inland waters and wastewaters discharged into the coastal area of Thessaloniki,Northern Greece

Background, aim, and scope  

In the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, environmental objectives for the proper quality of inland, surface, transitional, coastal, and ground waters have been set. Member states are required to identify chemical pollutants of significance in the water bodies, to establish emission control measures, and to achieve quality standards. A specific category of pollutants are the compounds that may possess endocrine-related functions known as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). This means that member states have the obligation to take action in order to prevent human exposure to these compounds via aquatic environment. The objective of this research was to study the occurrence and distribution of phenolic and steroid EDCs in inland waters and wastewaters discharged in the area of Thermaikos Gulf, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece.     

Combining steam injection with hydraulic fracturing for the in situ remediation of the unsaturated zone of a fractured soil polluted by jet fuel

A steam injection pilot-scale experiment was performed on the unsaturated zone of a strongly heterogeneous fractured soil contaminated by jet fuel. Before the treatment, the soil was stimulated by creating sub-horizontal sand-filled hydraulic fractures at three depths. The steam was injected through one hydraulic fracture and gas/water/non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) was extracted from the remaining fractures by applying a vacuum to extraction wells. The injection strategy was designed to maximize the heat delivery over the entire cell (10 m × 10 m × 5 m). The soil temperature profile, the recovered NAPL, the extracted water, and the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the gas phase were monitored during the field test. GC-MS chemical analyses of pre- and post-treatment soil samples allowed for the quantitative assessment of the remediation efficiency. The growth of the heat front followed the configuration of hydraulic fractures. The average concentration of total hydrocarbons (g/kg of soil) was reduced by ～ 43% in the upper target zone (depth = 1.5-3.9 m) and by ～ 72% over the entire zone (depth = 1.5-5.5 m). The total NAPL mass removal based on gas and liquid stream measurements and the free-NAPL product were almost 30% and 2%, respectively, of those estimated from chemical analyses of pre- and post-treatment soil samples. The dominant mechanisms of soil remediation was the vaporization of jet fuel compounds at temperatures lower than their normal boiling points (steam distillation) enhanced by the ventilation of porous matrix due to the forced convective flow of air. In addition, the significant reduction of the NAPL mass in the less-heated deeper zone may be attributed to the counter-current imbibition of condensed water from natural fractures into the porous matrix and the gravity drainage associated with seasonal fluctuations of the water table.