PAH deposition to snow surface

The urban snowpack effectively acts as a collection device for atmospheric-deposited PAHs. When these PAHs are flushed out in a short time interval along with springtime snowmelt, these cause shockloading to receiving waters. In order to assess the PAH deposition and accumulation in urban snowpacks, a deposition survey of PAH for the winter months of 1991-92 from the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada was undertaken. The results of the survey are interpreted in view of prevailing meteorology and various emission sources in the study area. The relative PAH deposition levels (to BaP) are compared with relative source emission fingerprints to examine consistency in sampling and analysis. While analyzing the PAH samples using the ASTM (1987) method, the problem of concentration levels being below the detection level was encountered. The ASTM method for PAH analysis was modified to enhance the detection limit of the PAHs by concentrating the PAH extract to very low volumes, on the order of 200-300 microL.     

珠江三角洲气溶胶中有机污染及控制对策

珠江三角洲5个主要城市和地区,气溶胶中类脂质产率为1.50~61.04μg/m3,广州市秋季气溶胶类脂质产率最高(平均36.85μg/m3),澳门次之,香港春季较广州春季类脂质产率稍低,而深圳夏季比广州夏季高,珠海冬季最低。区内气溶胶中检出80多种多环芳烃(PAH),优先控制PAH的浓度为1.32~228.56ng/m3,分布规律基本同类脂质产率,但是澳门和香港的优控PAH浓度较低,分别为9.02~40.52ng/m3和0.68~14.88ng/m3。与国外一些城市对比,区内有机污染比较严重,主要来自汽车尾气排放。控制有机污染的最重要的途径是给机动车安装催化净化装置和建立相应的法律。      

Composition of extractable organic matter in aerosols from urban areas of Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil

The hydrocarbon compositions of atmospheric particulate matter from urban areas of Rio de Janeiro city have been studied to assess the different pollution levels. Samples were acquired using a standard high-volume air sampler (Hi-Vol), extracts were prepared and fractionated into aliphatic and aromatic compounds. High-resolution gas chromatography and GC coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were used for the analysis of the organic matter. The results show that all samples contain n-alkanes, but the distributions are different for each sample, reflecting both the biogenic (vascular plant wax input) and fossil fuel contamination sources (vehicular exhaust). The fossil fuel biomarkers, hopanes and steranes, were also observed in all samples except in the Tijuca Forest, which is a mountain forest in the midst of the sea-level city. A decrease in the level of pollution was observed in the sequence for Rebouças Tunnel>Cinelândia (downtown)>Quinta da Boa Vista Park>Tijuca Forest, as expected from the traffic density. Unfortunately, all sites are polluted mainly from vehicular emissions, but at different degrees, with the lowest levels in Tijuca Forest.     

A review of biomarker compounds as source indicators and tracers for air pollution

An overview of the application of organic geochemistry to the analysis of organic matter on aerosol particles is presented here. This organic matter is analyzed as solvent extractable bitumen/ lipids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The organic geochemical approach assesses the origin, the environmental history and the nature of secondary products of organic matter by using the data derived from specific molecular analyses. Evaluations of production and fluxes, with cross-correlations can thus be made by the application of the same separation and analytical procedures to samples from point source emissions and the ambient atmosphere. This will be illustrated here with typical examples from the ambient atmosphere (aerosol particles) and from emissions of biomass burning (smoke). Organic matter in aerosols is derived from two major sources and is admixed depending on the geographic relief of the air shed. These sources are biogenic detritus (e.g., plant wax, microbes, etc.) and anthropogenic particle emissions (e.g., oils, soot, synthetics, etc.). Both biogenic detritus and some of the anthropogenic particle emissions contain organic materials which have unique and distinguishable compound distribution patterns (C₁₄-C₄₀). Microbial and vascular plant lipids are the dominant biogenic residues and petroleum hydrocarbons, with lesser amounts of the pyrogenic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and synthetics (e.g., chlorinated compounds), are the major anthropogenic residues. Biomass combustion is another important primary source of particles injected into the global atmosphere. It contributes many trace substances which are reactants in atmospheric chemistry and soot paniculate matter with adsorbed biomarker compounds, most of which are unknown chemical structures. The injection of natural product organic compounds into smoke occurs primarily by direct volatilization/steam stripping and by thermal alteration based on combustion temperature. Although the molecular composition of organic matter in smoke particles is highly variable, the molecular tracers are generally still source specific. Retene has been utilized as a tracer for conifer smoke in urban aerosols, but is not always detectable. Dehydroabietic acid is generally more concentrated in the atmosphere from the same emission sources. Degradation products from biopolymers (e.g., levoglucosan from cellulose) are also excellent tracers. An overview of the biomarker compositions of biomass smoke types is presented here. Defining additional tracers of thermally-altered and directly-emitted natural products in smoke aids the assessment of the organic matter type and input from biomass combustion to aerosols. The precursor to product approach of compound characterization by organic geochemistry can be applied successfully to provide tracers for studying the chemistry and dispersion of ambient aerosols and smoke plumes. Presented at the 6th FECS Conference on Chemistry and the Environment, Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution, August 26–28, 1998, Copenhagen.     

Determination of polychlorinated biphenyl and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon marine regional Sediment Quality Guidelines within the European Water Framework Directive

Marine regional Sediment Quality Guidelines (SQG) for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from the Basque coast (SE Bay of Biscay) were determined, on the basis of sediment chemistry, toxicity and benthic community disturbance from analysis of 756 estuarine and coastal samples. The SQG were calculated using a percentile approach (based upon effect and non-effect data), using non-normalised and normalised concentration, by total organic carbon. However, normalisation by total organic carbon did not result in any improvement in accuracy compared with non-normalised values. Hence, this study proposes non-normalised SQG values for assessment of the chemical and physicochemical status in marine waters in the Basque Country, within the Water Framework Directive: 24.6–29 μg kg^?1 for total PCBs; 164–285 μg kg^?1 for low molecular weight PAH; 922–1537 μg kg^?1 for high molecular weight PAH; and 1607–2617 μg kg^?1 for total PAH.     

Short-term influence of nutrient availability on the uptake and translocation of phenanthrene in mangrove seedlings

Abstract

The uptake and distribution of phenanthrene, a typical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, in plant tissues of Aegiceras corniculatum and Avicennia marina and the relationship with nutrient (nitrate, ammonium, and soluble reactive phosphorus) availability were investigated. After 12?h of exposure, enhancements in the concentration of nitrate and soluble reactive phosphorus markedly decreased the residual level of phenanthrene in roots, while the addition of ammonium significantly increased the residual concentration. Due to the similar enzymatic degradation potential between treatment groups, the variation of phenanthrene concentration in mangrove roots may result from the H⁺/phenanthrene cotransport at the root surface that was influenced by nutrient uptake. Moreover, both nitrate and soluble reactive phosphorus amendments significantly increased translocation of phenanthrene from roots to leaves, which likely resulted from the change of hydraulic conductivity in mangrove plants triggered by different nutrient availability.     

Pah characteristics in ambient air within a steel industrial complex

Ambient air samples at ten sites in an iron and steel industrial complex were collected from June to December for analyzing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Sixteen species of PAH components in air samples were identified. The results indicate that both gaseous phase and particle‐bound PAHs at the top of the cokemaking plants are unusually high. The profiles of particle‐bound PAHs indicate that the predominant species at the top of, the coke oven batteries are those of high molecular weight components. The major components of particle‐bound PAHs at sampling sites near the fenceline, however, include the medium molecular weight components. The PAH profiles of air samples within the industrial complex show a strong similarity to those of cokemaking plant samples. The concentrations and the specific content of benzo(a)pyrene in the iron and steel industrial complex are higher than those values measured in urban area, petrochemical industry park, and open‐air burning area.     

Molecular characterisation of high-strength polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading and phenol-tolerant bacteria obtained from thermal power plant wastewater

This article reports the successful isolation and molecular characterisation of nine different phenol-tolerant and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading Gram-positive bacterial species of diverse genera from the effluents of various industries. Based on similarity matrix studies, isolates Corynebacterium sp. DST1, Lysinibacillus sp. and Planococcus sp. showed<97% similarity, suggesting the possibility of new species in their respective genera.     

北京城区大气多环芳烃的沉降特征

从2006年6月至2007年6月期间采集了北京市区的降尘和大气TSP,分析了其中的PAHs和降尘的粒度。降尘颗粒大部分在100μm以下,体积平均径和中位径D50的范围分别为18.89-53.117μm和11.59-28.98μm。全年降尘平均沉降通量为0.451 9 t/（km2.d）,冬季高,夏秋季低;∑16PAHs的沉降通量平均为4.76 g/（km2.d）,冬季高,夏季低,与同期的大气SO2的API指数显著相关。TSP中的∑16PAHs与降尘中的∑16PAHs具有显著的相关关系,成分谱一致。PAHs的沉降速率变化范围为0.004-5.46 cm/s,夏季高、冬季低。交通沿线∑16PAHs的沉降通量远远高于非交通线的沉降通量。     

基于健康风险的土壤修复目标研究程序与方法——以多环芳烃污染土壤再利用工程为例

提出了基于人体健康风险的土壤修复目标的制定方法和程序,并以上海市某重大工程多环芳烃污染土壤处理后再利用工程为例,模拟了多环芳烃在处置场地上的多介质迁移途径及人体暴露场景。模拟结果显示,填埋场污染土壤苯并(a)芘(该污染物毒性因子高,毒性强,致癌风险相对较大)经口摄入和皮肤接触途径最大致癌暴露量分别为1.89×10-6和0.93×10-6mg.kg-1.d-1,人体最大致癌风险水平分别为1.38×10-5和6.79×10-6,超出了中国规定的单致癌污染物的可接受风险水平(≤10-6)。苯并(a)芘呼吸吸入途径最大致癌暴露量为7.79×10-10mg.m-3,人体最大致癌风险水平为6.86×10-10。基于场地的特征条件和参数,以保护人体健康为目的,确定了再利用作为填埋场中层覆土的土壤中5种多环芳烃污染物的修复目标限值(w,mg.kg-1)分别为:苯并(a)芘,0.994;二苯并(a,h)蒽,0.995;苯并(a)蒽,9.95;苯并(b)荧蒽,9.95;苯并(k)荧蒽,99.5。