Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and trace metals in mosque’s carpet dust of Riyadh,Saudi Arabia,and their health risk implications

The main objectives of this work were to identify and determine the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace metals in carpet dust samples from various mosques of the city of Riyadh and to assess the health risks associated with the exposure to these pollutants. Therefore, 31 samples of mosque’s carpet dust from Riyadh were collected. The results showed that 14 PAHs were present in the dust samples with concentrations ranged from 90 to 22,146 ng g^?1 (mean = 4096 ± 4277 ng g^?1) where low molecular weight compounds were dominant. The presence of PAHs were in the order of naphthalene > chrysene and benzo(b)fluoranthene > benzo(a)pyrene > acenaphthene and benzo(k)fluoranthene > pyrene and the absence of indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene and dibenz(a,h)anthracene. The diagnostic ratio coupled with principle component analysis (PCA) revealed mix sources of petrogenic from traffic, stack emission, and pyrogenic inputs from essence and perfumed wood burning. Trace metals were significant in the dust samples, and their concentrations decrease in the order of Zn, Mn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, and V where Zn being the highest (94.4 ± 91.5 μg g^?1) and indium was the lowest (1.9 ± 9.3 μg g^?1). The trace metals were major in southern and central parts of Riyadh and followed the order of central Riyadh > southern Riyadh > western Riyadh > eastern Riyadh > northern Riyadh. Estimated risk based on the total PAHs was found to be 4.30 × 10^?11 for adult and 1.56 × 10^?11 for children. Elemental non-cancer risk for adults ranged from 7.9 × 10^?4 for Co to 7.58 × 10^?1 for Li and for children ranged from 3.70 × 10^?3 for Co to 3.54 for Li. Policy implication and mitigations of PAHs in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia were highlighted.     

Emerging trends in photodegradation of petrochemical wastes: a review

Various human activities like mining and extraction of mineral oils have been used for the modernization of society and well-beings. However, the by-products such as petrochemical wastes generated from such industries are carcinogenic and toxic, which had increased environmental pollution and risks to human health several folds. Various methods such as physical, chemical and biological methods have been used to degrade these pollutants from wastewater. Advance oxidation processes (AOPs) are evolving techniques for efficient sequestration of chemically stable and less biodegradable organic pollutants. In the present review, photocatalytic degradation of petrochemical wastes containing monoaromatic and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons has been studied using various heterogeneous photocatalysts (such as TiO₂, ZnO and CdS. The present article seeks to offer a scientific and technical overview of the current trend in the use of the photocatalyst for remediation and degradation of petrochemical waste depending upon the recent advances in photodegradation of petrochemical research using bibliometric analysis. We further outlined the effect of various heterogeneous catalysts and their ecotoxicity, various degradation pathways of petrochemical wastes, the key regulatory parameters and the reactors used. A critical analysis of the available literature revealed that TiO₂ is widely reported in the degradation processes along with other semiconductors/nanomaterials in visible and UV light irradiation. Further, various degradation studies have been carried out at laboratory scale in the presence of UV light. However, further elaborative research is needed for successful application of the laboratory scale techniques to pilot-scale operation and to develop environmental friendly catalysts which support the sustainable treatment technology with the “zero concept” of industrial wastewater. Nevertheless, there is a need to develop more effective methods which consume less energy and are more efficient in pilot scale for the demineralization of pollutant.     

Reducing the risk of invasive forest pests and pathogens: Combining legislation,targeted management and public awareness

Intensifying global trade will result in increased numbers of plant pest and pathogen species inadvertently being transported along with cargo. This paper examines current mechanisms for prevention and management of potential introductions of forest insect pests and pathogens in the European Union (EU). Current European legislation has not been found sufficient in preventing invasion, establishment and spread of pest and pathogen species within the EU. Costs associated with future invasions are difficult to estimate but past invasions have led to negative economic impacts in the invaded country. The challenge is combining free trade and free movement of products (within the EU) with protection against invasive pests and pathogens. Public awareness may mobilise the public for prevention and detection of potential invasions and, simultaneously, increase support for eradication and control measures. We recommend focus on commodities in addition to pathways, an approach within the EU using a centralised response unit and, critically, to engage the general public in the battle against establishment and spread of these harmful pests and pathogens.     

Nitrogen dynamics in managed boreal forests: Recent advances and future research directions

Nitrogen (N) availability plays multiple roles in the boreal landscape, as a limiting nutrient to forest growth, determinant of terrestrial biodiversity, and agent of eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. We review existing research on forest N dynamics in northern landscapes and address the effects of management and environmental change on internal cycling and export. Current research foci include resolving the nutritional importance of different N forms to trees and establishing how tree–mycorrhizal relationships influence N limitation. In addition, understanding how forest responses to external N inputs are mediated by above- and belowground ecosystem compartments remains an important challenge. Finally, forestry generates a mosaic of successional patches in managed forest landscapes, with differing levels of N input, biological demand, and hydrological loss. The balance among these processes influences the temporal patterns of stream water chemistry and the long-term viability of forest growth. Ultimately, managing forests to keep pace with increasing demands for biomass production, while minimizing environmental degradation, will require multi-scale and interdisciplinary perspectives on landscape N dynamics.     

臭氧活性炭-后置砂滤工艺对水中农药的控制效能

选择我国饮用水水质标准中有相关规定,以及部分用量较大或虽被禁用但仍有残留的农药共25种,对黄浦江水源水以及采用臭氧活性炭-后置砂滤工艺的某水厂工艺段出水中的浓度分布进行了调查,评估了砂滤后置工艺条件下相应农药的实际处理效果。结果表明:原水中有包括莠去津、乐果、六氯苯、敌敌畏、乙草胺、丁草胺、仲丁威和p,p'-DDT的8种农药检出,且总浓度较高达到760 ng/L,其中莠去津和乙草胺含量较高,最高浓度分别达到531 ng/L和277 ng/L;从季节性分布来看,春季总农药浓度最高达760 ng/L,秋季最低为175 ng/L。从工艺去除效果来看,臭氧活性炭砂滤后置工艺对农药的总体去除率为62%~78%,与冬春季相比,夏秋季节的农药的去除率提高约10%左右,这可能与高温期微生物活性较高有关。值得关注的是,砂滤后置工艺与同期常规臭氧活性炭工艺相比农药的总去除率要低10%左右,应结合总体出水水质情况对其进一步评估。     

2种动物对复合垂直流人工湿地基质中磷形态的影响

分别向复合垂直流人工湿地下行流池和上行流池中加入蚯蚓和泥鳅,研究动物加入后人工湿地基质中磷形态及去除效率的变化。结果表明,加入蚯蚓后,下行流池基质中铁铝磷(Fe/Al-P)、钙磷(Ca-P)、有机磷和总磷的含量显著增加(p<0.05);加入泥鳅后,上行流池基质中Fe/Al-P含量无显著性变化,钙磷、有机磷、总磷含量增加。人工湿地加入蚯蚓后,基质中Ca-P占总磷的百分比下降,Fe/Al-P和有机磷占总磷的百分比增加;加入泥鳅后,基质中Ca-P占总磷的百分比也下降,而有机磷占总磷的百分比升高,该结果表明,蚯蚓和泥鳅促进了基质中Ca-P向有机磷的转化。加入蚯蚓的人工湿地对磷的去除率高于未加蚯蚓的人工湿地,其原因之一可能与加入蚯蚓后人工湿地基质总磷含量增加有关。     

Fenton-like/TiO2催化介质阻挡放电体系对活性艳蓝的降解

为了提高等离子放电对染料的降解效率,研究了Fenton-like/TiO2耦合催化介质阻挡放电体系对活性艳蓝(X-BR)的脱色效果及降解机理。结果表明,投加Fe2+ 或Fe3+与TiO2组成的耦合催化体系可以显著提高X-BR的脱色率。反应10 min后,紫外可见扫描光谱和阴离子(Cl-、NO3-、SO42-)产量分析表明,介质阻挡放电体系可以有效破环蒽醌发色基团,耦合催化体系不仅强化了蒽醌结构的破坏,同时更加有效地破坏了苯环和萘环结构从而提高了TOC降解率。最后,比较研究了投加Mn2+ 和Cu2+对X-BR的脱色效果,在投加浓度均为0.5 mmol/L条件下,两者对X-BR的脱色起到抑制作用,因此,两者不适合作为耦合催化介质阻挡放电体系的添加离子。     

一株铅镉抗性菌株的分离鉴定及其生物学特性

鉴定了从黑龙江扎龙湿地土壤中筛选出的一株抗铅镉的菌株,研究了其生物学特性和部分生理生化指标。利用16SrDNA序列分析鉴定其菌属,并且研究Pb2+、Cd2+、Pb2+/Cd2+、温度、pH、盐以及抗生素对菌株生长的影响。经鉴定,该菌株为阴沟肠杆菌属(Enterobacter cloacae)。该菌株对Pb2+的去除率和吸附率分别达到了70.34%和44.39%,对Cd2+的去除率和吸附率分别达到了40.54%和25.14%。该菌株最适生长温度为25℃,最适生长pH为7.0左右。此菌株对抗生素亚胺培南最敏感。随着盐、Pb2+、Cd2+、Pb2+/Cd2+混合浓度的升高,该菌株生长受到抑制。     

有机膨润土负载纳米零价铁还原-类芬顿氧化降解2,4-二氯苯酚

目前,虽然有很多关于纳米零价铁(NZVI)通过吸附、还原和氧化作用去除各种污染物的报道,但关于如何联合这些方法来提高污染物的去除率仍然不是很清楚。本实验研究了联合有机膨润土DK1(十六烷基三甲基铵盐改性,d(001)=2.2 nm)吸附、NZVI还原、类芬顿氧化作用来去除溶液中2,4-二氯苯酚(2,4-DCP)的方法。在反应前30分钟,有机膨润土DK1负载NZVI(NZVI/DK1)通过吸附还原作用去除溶液中2,4-DCP,2,4-DCP和COD的去除率分别为16.1%和7.8%,说明了吸附还原作用对2,4-DCP的去除效果是有限的。接着向溶液中滴加适量的H2O2,在5 min内2,4-DCP的去除率由16.1%提高到了99%以上,COD的去除率达到了64.1%,这可能是由于NZVI腐蚀形成铁的氧化物缓慢释放出Fe2+和Fe3+,增强了芬顿反应对2,4-DCP和降解产物的氧化去除效果。通过SEM,EDS,UV-Vis和GC-MS等分析方法佐证了上面的结果。最后提出了联合吸附、还原和Fenton氧化去除2,4-DCP的机制。     

聚醚砜小球负载Comamonas sp.(bdq06)生物降解水中的喹啉

以聚醚砜为原料制备了一种具有多孔道的小球载体,负载睾丸酮丛毛单孢菌(bdq06)降解水中喹啉。制备的小球直径约3 mm,表面光滑,存在厚度约20μm的致密层。经过浸蚀去掉致密层后,露出粗糙表面,有助于细菌粘附和生殖。同时出现大量直径约1.5μm的孔道,且由外向内,孔径逐渐增大,细菌可以通过表层孔进入球内生殖。在pH为5、10和温度为40℃的条件下,负载菌的小球对水中喹啉的降解效果优于游离菌。小球具有良好的溶胀性和机械强度,经过多次重复使用后,球形完整而未破裂,细菌在球表面大量生殖形成生物膜,显著提高降解效率,能够在1 h内完全降解100 mg/L喹啉。以聚醚砜为原料制备的小球在废水处理中具有潜在应用前景。