Algal purification of pretreated landfill Leachate

The efficiency of microalgae in removing various pollutants in landfill leachate after pretreatment by free stripping or air stripping was tested by a laboratory batch system. The results showed that Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus sp. had similar removal efficiencies with regard to ammoniacal‐nitrogen, oxidized‐nitrogen, orthophosphate and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The COD removal by algal treatment was better in Junk Bay (JB) leachate than in Gin Drinkers’ Bay (GDB) leachate (14–21% and 0.4–7% respectively). No significant difference (P > 0.05) was found in removing other nutrients including ammoniacal‐nitrogen, oxidized‐nitrogen and orthophosphate between leachate from the two landfills, regardless of the pretreatment used. The removal efficiencies of ammoniacal‐nitrogen and phosphorus were found to be higher in air‐stripped leachate than in free‐stripped one. Removal of ammoniacal‐nitrogen and phosphorus in air‐stripped leachate was 30% and 87% respectively. Poor removal of ammoniacal‐nitrogen was probably due to a deficiency in phosphorus (high N : P ratio) for algal growth in leachate. The two‐stage leachate treatment (ammonia stripping followed by algal purification) resulted in overall reduction of COD (38–51%), ammoniacal‐nitrogen (72–96%) and orthophosphate (79–96%).     

Trace metals in fish,sediment and water from the south west coast of the Arabian sea,Pakistan

Concentrations of ten metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) in the edible muscle of Arius maculatus captured from eight different near‐shore and off‐shore sites off the south west coast of the Arabian Sea, Pakistan, were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Relevant water and sediment samples from the sites were also analysed for the metals. Zinc showed the highest metal concentration (6.763 μg/g, wet weight) in the muscle of the fish, while Mn and Hg showed lowest level (0.019 μg/g, wet weight). Of all the metals investigated, largest scatter (measured as σ) was observed for Zn (σ = 2.058 /μg/g) in fish muscle, for Fe and Mn in sediment (σ = 27481 and 44.50 μg/g) and for As in water (σ = 0.270 μg/L). The metal distribution data pertaining to water, fish and sediment were examined on the basis of simple metal correlations. The statistical study revealed that Ni, Cr, Pb and Cu had significant positive correlations (r > 0.830 at ρ = 0.01). The finding substantiated a trace metal concentration gradient in the area, thereby indicating that the local marine environment is contaminated by anthropogenic sources.     

Adsorptive removal of direct dyes by PEI-treated peanut husk biomass: Box–Behnken experimental design

This paper reports the application of Box-Behnken experimental design to illustrate the adsorption of direct dyes (Indosol Black NF and Indosol Orange RSN) using polyethyleneimine (PEI)-treated peanut husk biomass. The effect of three independent variables (initial dyes concentration, biosorbent dose and pH) was investigated during the study. Maximum biosorption capacity (141 and 98.2 mg/g) of PEI-pretreated biomass was achieved with 200 mg/L initial dye concentration and 0.05 g/50 mL biomass dose for Indosol Black NF and Indosol Orange RSN, respectively. Acidic pH was found to be favourable for maximum dyes removal. Characterisation of biosorbent was carried out through Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and point of zero charge determination. FT-IR analyses confirmed the involvement of carboxylic and carbonyl groups. The desorption study was also conducted to check out the possibility of regeneration of dyes and adsorbent and it was found that 51.58 and 76.6% of Indosol Black NF and Indosol Orange RSN, respectively, can be desorbed from the loaded biosorbent by using 1 M NaOH solution. The results indicated that PEI-treated peanut husk biomass can be used as an efficient biosorbent for the removal of Indosol Black NF and Indosol Orange RSN dyes from aqueous solutions.     

Effects of ultraviolet radiation on skin structure and ultrastructure in Caspian Sea Salmon,Salmo trutta caspius,during alevin stage

Ozone reduction enhances the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the aquatic ecosystems, which can induce adverse effects on fish. In order to study the UV radiation effects on skin structure and ultrastructure, the alevins of Salmo trutta caspius were exposed to two different doses of UV radiation (low doses of: 60 µW cm^?2 UVC; 100 µW cm^?2 UVB; and 40 µW cm^?2 UVA and high doses of: 90 µW cm^?2 UVC; 130 µW cm^?2 UVB; and 50 µW cm^?2 UVA) for 15 min once a day in dark condition. Alevins with no exposure to either solar light or UV exposure served as the control group. No mortality was observed in the control group, whereas all of the alevins died in the 9th day in both UV exposure groups. Light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic studies showed significant reduction in the epidermis thickness, number of skin mucous cells, and percentage of mucus secreting cells in both UV exposure groups. Sunburn cells, lifting epidermis from basal membrane, and disappearance of pavement cell microridges were also observed. Our results showed that UV radiation caused intensive skin cell lesions in the Caspian salmon alevins. Since the skin cells of trout alevins possesses essential roles in respiration, osmoregulation, excretion and defense, the observed damages to the skin could be attributed to their sudden mortality in the UV exposure.     

Effect of the chemical composition of organic extracts from environmental and industrial atmospheric samples on the genotoxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons mixtures

Particulate organic matter (PM) present in the atmosphere is a complex mixture of chemicals like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that may exert adverse health effects including respiratory and cardiovascular disturbances and cancer. In this study, airborne samples from environmental or industrial areas exhibiting different physicochemical composition were compared for their capacities to induce DNA damage in human hepatocytes HepG2. DNA strand breaks and DNA adducts formed by benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), the most reactive metabolite of the carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), were measured with the comet assay and by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/mass spectrometry, respectively. Cells were exposed to organic matter extracted from PM. Experiments were performed either at a constant concentration of B[a]P or at concentrations corresponding to fixed air volumes. Results show that industrial extracts tend to produce more benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-N ²-2′-deoxyguanosine (BPDE-N ²-dGuo) DNA adducts than strand breaks, whereas the opposite was observed with environmental extracts. The chemical composition of the extracts significantly impacts the nature and levels of DNA damage. The amount of B[a]P and interaction with other contaminants in the extracts need to be considered to explain the formation of DNA damage. These results emphasize the use of in vitro tests as promising and complementary tools to widely used toxic equivalent factor (TEF) approach in order to assess health hazards related to chemical exposure of the general population.     

Evaluation of the performance of rural wastewater treatment plants using chemical measurements in combination with statistical techniques: a case study

The performance of a wastewater treatment plant was assessed statistically using multivariate cluster and principle component analysis. This was after measuring some physico-chemical properties in the influent, effluent, downstream, and upstream waters over a 4-month period. The cluster analysis grouped the sampling sites into three clusters: relatively non-polluted (upstream), medium polluted (downstream), and polluted (influent and effluent). The polluted water was further subdivided into very highly (influent) and highly (effluent) polluted. The grouping of influent and effluent into one cluster was due to some water quality parameters such as amount of copper, lead, and phosphates that are not efficiently removed by the plant. Using principal component analysis, samples from the same site taken over a period of 4 months were scattered, indicating inconsistencies in the performance of the plant. This was more pronounced during the rainy season, suggesting that increased water volumes from open sewers make the already poorly performing plant worse. The major loading factors found by principle component analysis were phosphate, lead, iron, zinc, copper, pH, and conductivity. Generally, the wastewater treatment system was found to be efficient in removing heavy metals and these were found in the sludge, but not anions. The mean percentage metal removal could be arranged in the following decreasing order: iron (85%)?>?zinc (57%)?>?copper (40%) and lead (38%) following the concentrations (mg?kg^?1) found in the sludge: iron (11,300)?>?zinc (820)?>?copper (180)?>?lead (20)?>?cadmium (3). Phosphate and iron concentrations in the effluent were found to be above the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) recommendations. The major cause of poor performance is the high volume of the wastewater, exceeding the capacity of the plant 10 times.     

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of cadmium(II) for preconcentration prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection in water

A dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction procedure for cadmium(II) as its 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylamino-phenol chelate is presented. Carbon tetrachloride and methanol were used as extraction and dispersive solvents, respectively. After phase separation, the preconcentrated-separated cadmium(II) is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with a microinjection technique. The factors which affected the extraction efficiency, i.e. the pH of the sample solution and the volumes of reagent and sample were investigated. The effects of some alkali, alkali earth, and transition metal ions, and of some anions on the recovery of cadmium were also studied. A preconcentration factor of 250 was obtained for a sample volume of 50?mL under optimum conditions. The method was validated by analysis of certified reference materials and applied to some water samples from Turkey.     

Cobalt speciation assay for human serum,Part II. Method validation in a study of human volunteers ingesting cobalt(II) chloride dietary supplement for 90 days

A new analytical method for determining cobalt (Co) species in human serum by size exclusion chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS) was applied to serum samples collected from 12 human volunteers who participated in a Co(II) chloride supplement study involving ingestion of 1 mg Co/day for up to 90 consecutive days. The study protocol included determination of serum total Co by acid digestion followed by ICP-MS. Co speciation assay measurements were conducted for up to 13 time points per individual spanning from one to two weeks before dosing began to two weeks after dosing ceased. The Co speciation assay showed good recovery >91% relative to total Co measurements. Undiluted serum demonstrated uniform fractions of large molecular Co defined as Co bound to albumin and other proteins >50 kDa at 96% and the residual as small molecular Co defined as free Co(II) and <1 kDa Co-complexes for individual serum Co concentrations up to 146 μg/L. There were no dose-related changes in Co distribution. Analysis of the same serum samples with tenfold dilution in 0.1 M acetic acid led to a lower fraction of large molecular Co at 87%, with the difference between diluted and undiluted measurements being 8.4%. The difference noted between undiluted and diluted large molecular Co may be attributed to Co release from albumin. Data demonstrated that large molecular Co was the predominant Co species in both undiluted and diluted human serum over a broad range of in vivo Co concentrations, reflecting high albumin–Co binding capacity. These data validate the Co speciation assay and may be employed in understanding further the toxicokinetics and dose-response relationships for Co species.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) levels in the blood of pure vegetarians (vegans)

Intake of many persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including dioxins, dibenzofurans and PCBs is almost exclusively from gastrointestinal ingestion of animal fats in the diet. With polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) brominated flame retardants (BFRs), no consensus exists at present as to the extent of intake from food, from indoor dust or other routes of intake. Vegans, or pure vegetarians, were previously found to have low body burden of dioxins and dibenzofurans in blood. Data reported here for the first time show a trend towards lower PBDE levels with longer time periods without ingestion of food of animal origin in 8 adult residents of the United States. A stronger relationship between lower PBDE levels and time without meat, specifically, is consistent with substantial PBDE intake from meat relative to fish or dairy products in Americans. These vegans had somewhat lower PBDE levels with a range 12.4–127 and a median 23.9?ppb than published reports of US general population samples which had a range of 4–366 and median of 26?ppb. Our findings suggest that food of animal origin may be a major but not the sole contributor to human body burden of PBDEs.     

Solid phase extraction of trace metals from environmental samples using Amberlite XAD-7 loaded with 2-hydroxy-propiophenone-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone and determination by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry

A method for the solid phase extraction of trace metals, namely Co, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn, from environmental and biological samples using column Amberlite XAD-7 loaded with 2-hydroxy-propiophenone-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (HPPPTSC) and determination by inductively coupled spectrometry (ICP–AES) has been developed. The reagent has the capacity to form chelate complexes with the metals because of three binding sites in the reagent molecule. The optimum experimental conditions for the quantitative sorption of five metals, pH, effect of flow rate, concentration of eluent, sorption capacity and the effect of diverse ions on the preconcentration of analytes have been investigated. The sorption capacity of the resin has 83, 127, 35, 88 and 85?µmol?g^?1 for Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺, respectively. The preconcentration factors for Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were 100, 110, 120, 140 and 150, respectively. The accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by standard reference materials. The achieved results were in good agreement with certified values. The proposed method was applied for the determination of trace metals in river water and plant leaves.