Method optimization to measure polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations in soils of Bratislava, Slovakia

We modified an analytical method to determine polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in urban soils of Bratislava (Slovakia). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) introduced as a clean-up step for soil extracts substantially reduced matrix enhancements when PBDEs were measured with gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-NCI-MS). The resulting method proved to be accurate, precise, and showed low detection limits. The sum of 15 PBDE concentrations in surface horizons of Bratislava soils ranged from 87 to 627 pg g⁻¹. PBDE concentrations were mostly higher in surface than deeper horizons probably because of atmospheric deposition and lack of substantial vertical transport. Lower brominated PBDEs undergo more soil-atmosphere exchanges or are more scavenged and transferred with litter fall to the soil organic matter than higher brominated ones as suggested by the correlation between lower brominated PBDEs and soil organic C (C_org) concentrations.     

The impact of ambient ozone on mountain spruce forests in the Czech Republic as indicated by malondialdehyde

Malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation and biomarker of oxidative stress, is measured over the long term in spruce Picea abies needles under real conditions in three Czech mountain border areas. The trends presented collate the MDA content in spruce needles with ambient ozone, temperature and precipitation as casual, and defoliation as a subsequent factor for the period 1994-2006. We have found the overall decreasing trends in MDA and defoliation. The highest MDA and defoliation are recorded in the Jizerske, the lowest in the Krusne hory Mts. Out of the examined variables the MDA is predicted best by mean temperature in vegetation season, median of O₃ concentrations and AOT40; these three variables account for 34% of MDA1 and 36% of MDA2 variability. Our hypothesis that higher ambient O₃ exposure results in higher MDA contents in P. abies needles under real conditions has not been approved.     

限氮和限磷对活性污泥合成聚羟基烷酸的影响

聚羟基烷酸(PHA)是微生物在不平衡营养条件下贮存的一种胞内聚合物,限磷和限氮两种方式均有助于活性污泥中的混合菌群合成PHA,研究考察了两种不同方式下活性污泥合成PHA的情况。实验结果表明,当C∶N为125时,活性污泥中PHA的合成量达到细胞干重的59%;当C∶P为750时,活性污泥积累的最大PHA含量占细胞干重的37%,说明限氮和限磷两种方式对活性污泥合成PHA均有很大影响,且限氮方式更有效。     

无碴轨列车运行引起的环境振动影响评价

对遂渝高速铁路无碴轨道试验段客车运行引起的环境振动进行了现场实测,根据实验数据分析得知:环境振动强度随距离增大而减小,随车速增大而增大,但车厢数量对环境振动强度影响不明显;环境振动主要频率范围为30～120 Hz,距轨道距离、车速、车厢数量对振动主要频率影响不显著;在轨道两侧31.9 m处,速度超过104.7 km/h列车环境振动强度超过GB 10070-1988要求,须采取措施隔振。     

Inorganic iodine incorporation into soil organic matter: evidence from iodine K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure

The transformation of inorganic iodine (I⁻ and IO₃⁻) incubated in soils with varying amounts of organic matter (Andosols from the surface layer of an upland field and forest, as well as Acrisols from surface and subsurface layers of an upland field) was investigated by using the iodine K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES). After 60 d of reaction, both I⁻ and IO₃⁻ were transformed into organoiodine in surface soils containing sufficient amounts of organic matter, whereas IO₃⁻ remained unchanged in the subsurface soil of Acrisols with low organic matter contents. Transformation of IO₃⁻ into organoiodine was not retarded when the microbial activity in soil was reduced by γ-ray irradiation, suggesting that microbial activity was not essential for the transformation of inorganic iodine into organoiodine. Soil organic matter has the ability to transform inorganic iodine into organoiodine.     

中国能源可持续发展区域差异及其因素分析

该文在明晰中国能源可持续发展内涵的基础上,从能源足量、可持续、合理供给;能源与水、土地、森林等资源配套能力;国家可持续能源政策与地区规划的融合,减缓环境资源的损耗;环境可持续性四个目标出发,构建了区域能源可持续发展指标体系。从定量的角度刻画中国能源可持续发展的区域差异,解析影响中国能源可持续发展的主要因素。研究结果表明,可持续能源政策与环境的可持续性是制约能源可持续发展的关键环节;能源与森林、土地资源的配套能力是重要基础;能源供应能力是核心所在;从中国东、中、西部来看,西部地区是中国能源可持续性最强的地区,中部次之,东部能源可持续性最弱;从中国八大区域来看,能源可持续性沿海地区最弱,东北和长江中游地区次之,大西北、西南和黄河中游地区最强。本文作者最后认为多元化发展,提升能源供应能力;建立健全环境税收制度,增强环境可持续性;因地制宜,是促进中国区域能源可持续发展的必然选择。     

Metabolism of the Nonylphenol Isomer [Ring-U-14c]-4-(3′,5′-Dimethyl-3′-Heptyl)-Phenol by Cell Suspension Cultures of Agrostemma githago and Soybean

Abstract

The biotransformation of the nonylphenol isomer [ring-U-¹⁴C]-4-(3′,5′-dimethyl-3′-heptyl)-phenol (4-353-NP, consisting of two diastereomers) was studied in soybean and Agrostemma githago cell suspension cultures. With the A. githago cells, a batch two-liquid-phase system (medium/n-hexadecane 200:1, v/v) was used, in order to produce higher concentrations and amounts of 4-353-NP metabolites for their identification; 4-353-NP was applied via the n-hexadecane phase. Initial concentrations of [¹⁴C]-4-353-NP were 1 mg L^?1 (soybean), and 5 and 10 mg L^?1 (A. githago). After 2 (soybean) and 7 days (A. githago) of incubation, the applied 4-353-NP was transformed almost completely by both plant species to four types of products: glycosides of parent 4-353-NP, glycosides of primary 4-353-NP metabolites, nonextractable residues and unknown, possibly polymeric materials detected in the media. The latter two products emerged especially in soybean cultures. Portions of primary metabolites amounted to 19–22% (soybean) and 21–42% of applied ¹⁴C (A. githago). After liberation from their glycosides, the primary 4-353-NP metabolites formed by A. githago were isolated by HPLC and examined by GC-EIMS as trimethylsilyl derivatives. In the chromatograms, eight peaks were detected which due to their mass spectra, could be traced back to 4-353-NP. Seven of the compounds were side-chain monohydroxylated 4-353-NP metabolites, while the remaining was a (side-chain) carboxylic acid derivative. Unequivocal identification of the sites of hydroxylation/oxidation of all transformation products was not possible. The main primary metabolites produced by A. githago were supposed to be four diastereomers of 6′-hydroxy-4-353-NP (about 80% of all products identified). It was concluded that plants contribute to the environmental degradation of the xenoestrogen nonylphenol; the toxicological properties of side-chain hydroxylated nonylphenols remain to be examined.     

Electrochemical Monitoring of Methylparathion Degradation in an Acid Aqueous Medium in Presence of Cu(II)

Abstract

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of Cu(II) in degradation of methylparathion (o,o-dimethyl o, 4-nitrophenyl phosphoriotioate) in acid medium. Initial electrochemical characterization of Cu(II) and methylparathion was done in an aqueous medium at a pH range of 2–7. Cu(II) was studied in the presence of different anions and it was observed that its electroactivity depends on pH and is independent of the anion used. Methylparathion had two reduction signals at pH ≤ 6 and only one at pH > 6. The pesticide's transformation kinetic was then studied in the presence of Cu(II) in acid buffered aqueous medium at pH values of 2, 4, and 7. Paranitrophenol appeared as the only electroactive product at all three pH values. The reaction was first order and had k values of 5.2 × 10^?3 s^?1 at pH 2, 5.5 × 10^?3 s^?1 at pH 4 and 9.0 × 10^?3 s^?1 at pH 7. It is concluded that the principal degradation pathway of methylparathion in acid medium is a Cu(II) catalyzed hydrolysis reaction.     

Biodegradation of α and β Endosulfan in Soil as Influenced by Application of Different Organic Materials

Abstract

A laboratory pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of amending soil with four different sources of organic matter on the degradation rate of α and β endosulfan isomers. Poultry by-product meal, poultry manure, dairy manure, and municipal solid waste compost were cured, dried, ground (<1 mm) and thoroughly mixed with a calcareous soil at a rate of 2% and placed in plastic pots. Endosulfan was added at the rate of 20 mg kg^?1. The moisture level was kept near field capacity and the pots were kept at room temperature. Soil sub-samples, 100 g each, were collected from every pot at days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 43, and 57 for the measurement of endosulfan isomers. Endosulfan residues were extracted from the soil samples with acetone. The supernatant was filtered through anhydrous sodium sulphate, 5 mL aliquot was diluted to 25 mL with hexane, mixed well, and then two sub-samples from the filtrates were analyzed for α and β endosulfan isomers by gas chromatography. The results indicated that the half-life (T _½) of α-endosulfan in the poultry by-product meal treatment was 15 days compared to about 22 days in the other treatments. The T _½ of β-endosulfan was 22 days in the poultry by-product meal treatment and followed a bi-phasic pattern, 57 days in the municipal solid waste compost treatment and the extrapolated T _½ was about 115 days for the other three treatments.     

Method Development for Determination of Fluroxypyr in Soil

Abstract

Four methods were developed for the analysis of fluroxypyr in soil samples from oil palm plantations. The first method involved the extraction of the herbicide with 0.05 M NaOH in methanol followed by purification using acid base partition. The concentrated material was subjected to derivatization and then cleaning process using a florisil column and finally analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) equipped with electron capture detector (ECD). By this method, the recovery of fluroxypyr from the spiked soil ranged from 70 to 104% with the minimum detection limit at 5 µg/kg. The second method involved solid liquid extraction of fluroxypyr using a horizontal shaker followed by quantification using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with UV detector. The recovery of fluroxypyr using this method, ranged from 80 to 120% when the soil was spiked with fluroxypyr at 0.1–0.2 µg/g soil. In the third method, the recovery of fluroxypyr was determined by solid liquid extraction using an ultrasonic bath. The recovery of fluroxypyr at spiking levels of 4–50 µg/L ranged from 88 to 98% with relative standard deviations of 3.0–5.8% with a minimum detection limit of 4 µg/kg. In the fourth method, fluroxypyr was extracted using the solid liquid extraction method followed by the cleaning up step with OASIS® HLB (polyvinyl dibenzene). The recovery of fluroxypyr was between 91 and 95% with relative standard deviations of 4.2–6.2%, respectively. The limit of detection in method 4 was further improved to 1 µg/kg. When the weight of soil used was increased 4 fold, the recovery of fluroxypyr at spiking level of 1–50 µg/kg ranged from 82–107% with relative standard deviations of 0.5–4.7%.