Perfluorochemicals in wastewater treatment plants and sediments in Hong Kong

The study reported in this paper examined the concentrations of nineteen perfluorochemicals (PFCs), including perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, carboxylates, and sulfonamides in samples collected from Hong Kong wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and sediments. The study was the first to use an external isolator column to assist in the quantification of PFCs in environmental samples without having to make internal modifications to a liquid chromatography system. Perfluorooctanesulfonate was found to be the dominant PFC pollutant in Hong Kong, and the WWTP sludge was the major sink of PFCs discharged from the urban areas. Compared to discharge influenced by industrial activities, much less perfluorooctanoate was found in waste streams. The significantly lower level of perfluorodecanesulfonate in WWTP sludge reflects the important influence of consumer products on PFC distribution. The dominance of even-chain length perfluoroalkyl carboxylates in all of the WWTP sludge samples investigated further suggests the strong aerobic degradation of fluorotelomer alcohols in WWTPs.     

Comparative acute toxicity of two phytosanitary molecules,lambda-cyhalothrin and acetamiprid,on Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) juveniles

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the toxicity for fish of two active ingredients (lambda-cyhalothrin-20?g L^?1, a pyrethroid, and acetamiprid-15?g L^?1, a neonicotinoid) which are components of a commercial insecticide (Acer 35 EC) used in cotton crop in many West African countries. The juveniles of Oreochromis niloticus (4.01?±?0.34?g, mean body weight) were exposed for 96?h to increasing concentrations of active ingredients (lambda-cyhalothrin and acetamiprid) or a mixture similar to Acer 35 EC (composed by 20?g of chemical compound lambda-cyhalothrin and 15?g of acetamiprid dissolved in 1?L of acetone). The experiments were carried out under controlled conditions in aquaria according to OECD Guidelines. During the experiments, the behavioral responses (loss of balance, color change, hyperactivity, etc.) that usually precede death were observed in exposed fish. Mortalities were recorded in each aquarium and the LC₅₀-96h of each chemical was determined. The LC₅₀-96h obtained were respectively 0.1268, 0.0029, 182.9 and 0.5685?ppm for Acer 35 EC, lambda-cyhalothrin, acetamiprid and mixture. All insecticides used in this study had profound impact on Nile tilapia behavior which may confirm the neurotoxicity of each single active compound as well as of their mixture.     

苯胺类化合物在不同pH值下对大型蚤的急性毒性及QSAR研究

测定了13种苯胺类化合物在不同pH下（6．0，7．8，9．0）对大型蚤（Daphnia magna)的24h半数活动抑制浓度24h-1C50，应用三种理化参数logP,TSA和pKa，对毒性数据进行了定量构效关系（QSARs)研究，并在此基础上初步探讨了苯胺类化合物的毒性机制。     

Determination of neonicotinoids in Estonian honey by liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry

The aim of the study was to provide a comprehensive overview of neonicotinoid pesticide residues in honey samples for a single country and compare the results with the import data for neonicotinoid pesticides. The levels of four neonicotinoid pesticides, namely thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid, were determined in 294 honey samples harvested from 2005 to 2013 from more than 200 locations in Estonia. For the analyzed honey samples, 27% contained thiacloprid, and its levels in all cases were below the maximum residue level set by the European Union. The other neonicotinoids were not detected. The proportion of thiacloprid-positive samples for different years correlates well with the data on thiacloprid imports into Estonia, indicating that honey contamination with neonicotinoids can be estimated based on the import data.     

Analysis of Herbicide Krovar I™ by Liquid Chromatography with Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A simple, very efficient method is presented for routine analysis of herbicide Krovar I? (active components bromacil and diuron) in water and soil samples. Water samples were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction with dichloromethane (DCM) as extraction solvent. For soil samples two different extraction techniques were compared: microwave-assisted solvent extraction and a shaking technique using a platform shaker. Extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography using a water:methanol gradient. Liquid chromatography was coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS) for quantification of bromacil and diuron. Optimization of the APCI-MS was done by using standards in the flow injection analysis mode (FIA). Method detection limit for liquid samples for bromacil is 0.04 µg L^?1 and for diuron 0.03 µg L^?1. Method detection limit for soil samples is 0.01 µg g^?1 dry weight for both compounds. Results of analysis of field samples of water and soil are also presented.     

Acute toxicity and ecotoxicological risk assessment of rice pesticides to Lithobates catesbeianus tadpoles

The objective of this study was to determine the acute toxicity of some pesticides used in irrigated rice farming to Lithobates catesbeianus tadpoles. The LC_50-96h for commercial formulations containing bentazon, penoxsulam, vegetable oil, permethrin and carbofuran, separately and their mixtures, were determined at the proportions commonly used in the field. The limits of risk concentrations of these products for the studied species were also established. The LC_50-96h for tadpoles was 4,530 mg L^?1 for bentazon; 7.52 mg L^?1 for penoxsulam + 145.66 mg L^?1 of vegetable oil; 81.57 mg L^?1 for vegetable oil; 0.10 mg L^?1 for permethrin; 29.90 mg L^?1 for carbofuran (active ingredients), and 38.79 times the dose used in the field for the mixture of these products. The environmental risk was determined only for permethrin, and care should be taken when using the vegetable oil.     

稀土钇对蚯蚓的急性毒性及蚓体内蓄积研究

文章以蚯蚓为指示生物,分别采用滤纸接触法和自然土壤法研究了稀土元素钇对蚯蚓的急性毒性效应。结果表明,滤纸接触法测得钇对蚯蚓的半数致死浓度LC50为0.18 g/L;土壤法所测LC50值为1.08 g/kg。可见,稀土钇对蚯蚓具有毒性作用,但属低毒级,并且自然土壤法中蚯蚓的半数致死浓度要低于滤纸接触法中的结果。应用ICP-AES分别研究了2种实验方法中钇在蚯蚓体内的富集情况,发现硝酸钇浓度及染毒时间、蚯蚓的死亡率及速度和钇在蚯蚓体内的富集三者存在显著的相关性。     

CEO education and corporate environmental footprint

We analyze the effect of CEO education on environmental decision-making. Using a unique sample of Danish firms from 1996 to 2012, we find that CEO education significantly improves firms' energy efficiency. We seek to derive causality using health shocks: the hospitalization of highly educated CEOs induces a drop in energy efficiency, whereas the hospitalization of less educated CEOs does not have any significant effect. Exploring the mechanisms at play, we show that our results are largely driven by advanced education in business degrees. Moreover, we show that CEO education is associated with greater environmental awareness: highly educated CEOs exhibit greater concerns for climate change, as measured by a survey of social preferences, and drive more environmentally efficient cars. Taken together, our findings suggest that education shapes managerial styles giving rise to greater sustainability in corporate actions.     

A comparative study of classical and biochemical endpoints for phytotoxicity testing of chlorobenzoic acids

IntroductionChlorobenzoic acids ( CBAs ) are important chemicalproducts and extensive used as the intermediate and analysisreagent in many industrial fields(Zhang, 2001). Therefore,CBAs may directly and constantly release into environment,and it was a…