Potential Long-Term Ecological Impacts Caused by Disturbance of Contaminated Sediments:A Case Study

Several submerged barges were recently removed from the Passaic River, New Jersey, USA, in two areas (areas 1 and 2) where contaminated sediments are known to exist. During removal of the single barge in area 1, elevated turbidity levels and chemical parameters were measured. Greater increases were measured in area 2, where several barges were removed. In both areas, water column concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and several metals exceeded one or more water quality criteria; turbidity levels in area 2 also exceeded regulatory criteria. Potential chemical bioaccumulation from the water column into residential aquatic receptors was estimated using standard models and assumptions. The modeled results predicted that steady-state tissue concentrations of bioaccumulative chemicals would not occur as a result of the brief increase in water column concentrations that occurred during barge removal but that metals and PCDD/Fs could bioaccumulate to levels that exceed regulatory ecological criteria during long-term sediment disturbance activities. In addition, based on some simplistic assumptions regarding settling of suspended sediments, we estimate that chemical bioaccumulation from surface sediments into the food web could result in substantial increases in PCDD/F body burdens in the benthic forage fish, mummichog. Our findings are consistent with the limited number of field studies that have measured increased body burdens of bioaccumulative chemicals following dredging. We suggest that, prior to consideration of extensive dredging as a remedial alternative for any river system, the potential significant and long-term impacts on the food web must be evaluated.     

A comparison of mussels (Perna viridis) and semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) for monitoring chlorinated trace organic contaminants in Hong Kong coastal waters

A comparison of mussels (Perna viridis) and semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) was carried out at five sites, representing a gradient of contaminant concentrations, in Hong Kong coastal waters. Mussels, originally collected from a “clean” location, were deployed along with SPMDs at each site for 30 days. Analyses for chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) indicated that SPMDs have potential as monitoring tools, and to some extent can overcome the problems associated with mussels, such as natural variability, differing age, sex, and physical condition. However, in most cases, SPMDs failed to rank the sites in the same order as mussels in terms of contaminant concentrations. Nonetheless, in localities where mussels cannot survive – as shown at Kwun Tong in the present experiment – SPMDs may be valuable in providing an indication of potentially bio-available lipophilic pollutants.     

长江口九段沙水域环境及生物体内多氯联苯分布

对长江口九段沙湿地自然保护区的滩涂水样、泥样以及水生生物体内的多氯联苯进行GC-MS检测,研究多氯联苯各单体在不同环境介质及生物体中的分布状况. 结果表明:水样、泥样中的多氯联苯检出率为100%,其中四氯联苯(PCB52)含量最高; 与其他河口地区相比,九段沙水域水体中多氯联苯(PCBs)含量处于中等水平,ρ(PCBs)为23～95 ng/L;滩涂泥样多氯联苯含量则较低,w(PCBs)为1.77～4.51 ng/g; 该水域水生生物多氯联苯检出率为100%,w(PCBs)为0.12～9.40 μg/kg,低于国家标准限量; 软体动物、甲壳类以及鱼类检出单体均以高氯类PCB118和PCB138为主,而非环境中含量较高的PCB52,反映了水生生物对于高氯类多氯联苯富集能力强于低氯类多氯联苯.      

Generation of copper rich metallic phases from waste printed circuit boards

The rapid consumption and obsolescence of electronics have resulted in e-waste being one of the fastest growing waste streams worldwide. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are among the most complex e-waste, containing significant quantities of hazardous and toxic materials leading to high levels of pollution if landfilled or processed inappropriately. However, PCBs are also an important resource of metals including copper, tin, lead and precious metals; their recycling is appealing especially as the concentration of these metals in PCBs is considerably higher than in their ores. This article is focused on a novel approach to recover copper rich phases from waste PCBs. Crushed PCBs were heat treated at 1150 °C under argon gas flowing at 1 L/min into a horizontal tube furnace. Samples were placed into an alumina crucible and positioned in the cold zone of the furnace for 5 min to avoid thermal shock, and then pushed into the hot zone, with specimens exposed to high temperatures for 10 and 20 min. After treatment, residues were pulled back to the cold zone and kept there for 5 min to avoid thermal cracking and re-oxidation. This process resulted in the generation of a metallic phase in the form of droplets and a carbonaceous residue. The metallic phase was formed of copper-rich red droplets and tin-rich white droplets along with the presence of several precious metals. The carbonaceous residue was found to consist of slag and ～30% carbon. The process conditions led to the segregation of hazardous lead and tin clusters in the metallic phase. The heat treatment temperature was chosen to be above the melting point of copper; molten copper helped to concentrate metallic constituents and their separation from the carbonaceous residue and the slag. Inert atmosphere prevented the re-oxidation of metals and the loss of carbon in the gaseous fraction. Recycling e-waste is expected to lead to enhanced metal recovery, conserving natural resources and providing an environmentally sustainable solution to the management of waste products.     

A new strain for recovering precious metals from waste printed circuit boards

A new strain, Pseudomonas Chlororaphis (PC), was found for dissolving gold, silver, and copper from the metallic particles of crushed waste printed circuit boards (PCBs). The optimized conditions that greatly improved the ability of producing CN^? (for dissolving metals) were obtained. Dissolving experiments of pure gold, silver, and copper showed that the metals could be changed into Au⁺, Ag⁺, and Cu²⁺. PC cells and their secreta would adsorb metallic ions. Meanwhile, metallic ions destroyed the growth of PC. Dissolving experiments of metallic particles from crushed waste PCBs were performed by PC. The results indicated that 8.2% of the gold, 12.1% silver, and 52.3% copper were dissolved into solution. This paper contributed significance information to recovering precious metals from waste PCBs by bioleaching.     

PCBs降解菌的筛选及其降解特性研究

采用富集培养的方法从多氯联苯(PCBs)污染土壤中筛选到1株高效降解PCBs的细菌,命名为PS-11.经16S rDNA初步鉴定,此菌株属于嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas maltophilia).结果表明,菌株PS-11能够以PCBs作为唯一碳源生长并且能够降解PCBs,菌株PS-11对2 mg.L-1PCB52 4 d的降解率为31.1%,7 d的降解率可达52.9%;对难降解的高氯代多氯联苯PCB153 7 d的降解率为10.9%.此外,该菌株的环境耐受性比较好,在30℃、pH为7～9、PCB52浓度为2～10 mg.L-1的条件下生长较快、降解效果较好,尤其在pH 7、PCB52浓度为2 mg.L-1时降解率最高;碳源种类不同,菌株PS-11的生长能力也不同,其中在以蔗糖为碳源时PS-11的生长能力最强,以葡萄糖为碳源时PS-11的适应期最短,且蔗糖、葡萄糖和Tween-80均可提高PS-11对PCB52的降解率;同时菌株PS-11还可耐受一定浓度的重金属,其耐受性大小为Pb2+>Cd2+>Zn2+>Cu2+.     

我国半干旱区工业化城镇PCBs干沉降及归趋

采用大气被动干沉降采样器,观测了我国半干旱区城市皋兰2018年非取暖季和取暖季18种多氯联苯（PCBs）的大气干沉降通量和污染特征,并利用主成分分析、环境多介质模型对其污染来源、环境归趋行为等进行了分析和研究.研究区∑₁₈PCBs干沉降通量为13.0~158.8ng/（m²·d）,呈现园区点较高、取暖季高于非取暖季的特征.干沉降中PCBs以四氯联苯和五氯联苯为主,并且四氯联苯干沉降通量在取暖季明显上升.研究区PCBs污染主要源于含PCBs的产品以及燃烧和工业热过程带来的排放,但燃烧和工业热过程无意产生的PCBs可能对研究区产生更大影响.土壤相是研究区PCB81主要的汇,相间迁移以大气相向土壤相的沉降为主;大气平流输出是研究区PCB81的主要清除途径;污染物排放速率、平流停留时间和平流输入污染物浓度是影响大气相、土壤相PCB81浓度的主要因素.     

Simultaneous elimination of cyanotoxins and PCBs via mechanical collection of cyanobacterial blooms: An application of “green-bioadsorption concept”

In this study, the distribution, transfer and fate of both polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and cyanotoxins via phytoplankton routes were systematically investigated in two Chinese lakes. Results indicated that PCB adsorption/bioaccumulation dynamics has significantly positive correlations with the biomass of green alga and diatoms. Total lipid content of phytoplankton is the major factor that influences PCB adsorption/bioaccumulation. Cyanobacterial blooms with relatively lower lipid content could also absorb high amount of PCBs due to their high cell density in the water columns, and this process was proposed as major route for the transfer of PCBs in Chinese eutrophic freshwater. According to these findings, a novel route on fates of PCBs via phytoplankton and a green bioadsorption concept were proposed and confirmed. In the practice of mechanical collections of bloom biomass from Lake Taihu, cyanotoxin/cyanobacteria and PCBs were found to be removed simultaneously very efficiently followed this theory.     

中国近海海洋环境多氯联苯(PCBs)污染现状及影响因素

对中国近海海洋环境(水体、表层沉积物和生物体)中多氯联苯(PCBs)的空间分布、污染程度、来源及影响因素进行了总结,得出如下结果:①我国近海海域水体中,PCBs的含量水平呈现由北向南逐渐增加的趋势,以东部沿海工农业发达地区为最高,我国大部分近海海域水体中PCBs都超过美国EPA制定的30 ng·L-1的标准,污染比较严重;②我国近海海域表层沉积物中PCBs只有小部分超过ISQG(interim sediment quality guideline)和ERL(effects range-low)值,引起生物负效应的几率比较小,污染程度较轻;③生物体内富集的PCBs以4、5和6等高氯代联苯为主,其含量都低于《食品中污染物限量标准》2 000ng·g-1,不会对人类健康造成影响.④我国近海海洋环境中PCBs主要来源于周围大型工厂排放的废水以及电子垃圾拆解造成的PCBs泄漏,影响PCBs含量水平的主要因素有距离陆地的远近程度、水流交换情况、水量大小、季节的变化、沉积物颗粒大小、有机碳含量等等.     

土壤和沉积物中多氯联苯单体测定的净化方法研究

对浓硫酸净化、铜粉脱硫、氟罗里硅土柱、硅胶柱、石墨碳柱等净化方法在土壤和沉积物多氮联苯单体测定中的应用进行了研究.浓硫酸对多氯联苯单体的净化回收率达92.4％～109％;氟罗里硅土柱用正己烷/丙酮混合溶液淋洗,净化洗脱液体积为8 mL～10 mL时,回收率达85.7％ ～ 108％;硅胶柱用正己烷淋洗,净化洗脱液体积为...