Binding of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by humic acids formed during composting

Binding of two model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenanthrene and pyrene, by humic acids (HAs) isolated from an organic substrate at different stages of composting and a soil was investigated using a batch fluorescence quenching method and the modified Freundlich model. With respect to soil HA, the organic substrate HA fractions were characterized by larger binding affinities for both phenanthrene and pyrene. Further, isotherm deviation from linearity was larger for soil HA than for organic substrate HAs, indicating a larger heterogeneity of binding sites in the former. The composting process decreased the binding affinity and increased the heterogeneity of binding sites of HAs. The changes undergone by the HA fraction during composting may be expected to contribute to facilitate microbial accessibility to PAHs. The results obtained also suggest that bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils with matured compost, rather than with fresh organic amendments, may result in faster and more effective cleanup.     

Introducing an integrated climate change perspective in POPs modelling, monitoring and regulation

This paper presents a review on the implications of climate change on the monitoring, modelling and regulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Current research gaps are also identified and discussed.Long-term data sets are essential to identify relationships between climate fluctuations and changes in chemical species distribution. Reconstructing the influence of climatic changes on POPs environmental behaviour is very challenging in some local studies, and some insights can be obtained by the few available dated sediment cores or by studying POPs response to inter-annual climate fluctuations. Knowledge gaps and future projections can be studied by developing and applying various modelling tools, identifying compounds susceptibility to climate change, local and global effects, orienting international policies.Long-term monitoring strategies and modelling exercises taking into account climate change should be considered when devising new regulatory plans in chemicals management.     

Effect of selected organic and inorganic snow and cloud components on the photochemical generation of nitrite by nitrate irradiation

The effect of selected organic and inorganic compounds, present in snow and cloudwater was studied. Photolysis of solutions of nitrate to nitrite was carried out in the laboratory using a UVB light source. The photolysis and other reactions were then modelled. It is shown that formate, formaldehyde, methanesulphonate, and chloride to a lesser extent, can increase the initial formation rate of nitrite. The effect, particularly significant for formate and formaldehyde, is unlikely to be caused by scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. The experimental data obtained in this work suggest that possible causes are the reduction of nitrogen dioxide and nitrate by radical species formed on photooxidation of the organic compounds. Hydroxyl scavenging by organic and inorganic compounds would not affect the initial formation rate of nitrite, but would protect it from oxidation, therefore, increasing the concentration values reached at long irradiation times. The described processes can be relevant to cloudwater and the quasi-liquid layer on the surface of ice and snow, considering that in the polar regions irradiated snow layers are important sources of nitrous acid to the atmosphere. Formate and (at a lesser extent) formaldehyde are the compounds that play the major role in the described processes of nitrite/nitrous acid photoformation by initial rate enhancement and hydroxyl scavenging.     

Competition between phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl for high-energy adsorption sites in a sediment

We determined the maximum amounts of added phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl sorbed onto high-energy adsorption sites in a sediment on bi-solute experiments. The bi-solute pairs were phenanthrene/chrysene and phenanthrene/2,5-dichlorobiphenyl. On the bi-solute sorption experiments, one solute was introduced and equilibrated with sediment prior to addition of the second solute. The values for the maximum amounts adsorbed onto high-energy sites revealed that, after equilibration of the first solute, still some high-energy sites could be occupied by the second solute. Phenanthrene, chrysene, and 2,5-dichlorobiphenyl seem to share about 30% of the accessible high-energy adsorption sites in the sediment employed.     

有机固体废弃物的热解处理研究

通过对锯末、稻壳、纸屑、橱芥、塑料和橡胶6种具有代表性的有机固体废弃物原料的热解实验,测量了它们三相产物收率,并分析了它们固体、液体和气体三相产物的组成.特别对液体产物,针对它们的特殊性分别采用了层析、模拟蒸馏和全烃气相色谱分析,详细探讨了热解焦油的具体组分,得到了热解法处理有机固体废弃物的一些有意义的数据.     

热解吸对土壤中POPs农药的去除及土壤理化性质的影响

为探索土壤热解吸修复技术对POPs污染土壤的修复效果及修复后土壤可耕作性,选择北京某农药厂旧址的POPs农药污染土壤,研究了不同温度下热解吸处理后土壤中滴滴涕(DDTs)和六六六(HCHs)各组分的去除率以及土壤理化性质的变化。结果表明,热解吸修复技术可有效去除土壤中POPs农药,其中,p,p’-DDE与α-HCH组分去除率受热解吸温度的影响比其他组分更为明显。∑HCH与∑DDT在310℃、340℃时分别达到97%、99%的去除率,且此时土壤中的污染物含量低于我国《展览会用地土壤环境质量评价标准》,此后去除率受温度的影响不明显。热解吸温度对修复后土壤的理化性质有一定的影响,不同温度影响的程度各不相同,其中,有机质含量与全氮含量分别由0.78%、0.0352%降至0.14%、0.0107%;pH波动幅度较小,由7.80变至8.25;阳离子交换量变化存在波动,但呈整体下降趋势,由7.87 mg/kg降至5.00mg/kg;土壤中速效磷显著增加,由7.59 mg/kg升至21.8 mg/kg。而在最优温度条件下,土壤理化性质受热解吸温度的影响较小。由此可以说明,热解吸技术可以用于POPs污染土壤的修复,选择适当的热解吸温度对土壤的可耕作性影响有限,因而是一种潜在的绿色修复技术。     

Levels of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in the critically endangered Iberian lynx and other sympatric carnivores in Spain

Accumulation of organochlorine compounds is well studied in aquatic food chains whereas little information is available from terrestrial food chains. This study presents data of organochlorine levels in tissue and plasma samples of 15 critically endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and other 55 wild carnivores belonging to five species from three natural areas of Spain (Doñana National Park, Sierra Morena and Lozoya River) and explores their relationship with species diet. The Iberian lynx, with a diet based on the consumption of rabbit, had lower PCB levels (geometric means, plasma: <0.01 ng mL⁻¹, liver: 0.4 ng g⁻¹ wet weight, fat: 87 ng g⁻¹ lipid weight) than other carnivores with more anthropic and opportunistic foraging behavior, such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes; plasma: 1.11 ng mL⁻¹, liver: 459 ng g⁻¹, fat: 1984 ng g⁻¹), or with diets including reptiles at higher proportion, such as the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon; plasma: 7.15 ng mL⁻¹, liver: 216 ng g⁻¹, fat: 540 ng g⁻¹), or the common genet (Genetta genetta; liver: 466 ng g⁻¹, fat: 3854 ng g⁻¹). Chlorinated pesticides showed interspecific variations similar to PCBs. Organochlorine levels have declined since the 80s in carnivores from Doñana National Park, but PCB levels are still of concern in Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra; liver: 3873-5426 ng g⁻¹) from the industrialized region of Madrid.     

Long-term variation of PM2.5 levels and composition at rural, urban, and roadside sites in Hong Kong: Increasing impact of regional air pollution

Long-term study of air pollution plays a decisive role in formulating and refining pollution control strategies. In this study, two 12-month measurements of PM_2.5 mass and speciation were conducted in 00/01 and 04/05 to determine long-term trend and spatial variations of PM_2.5 mass and chemical composition in Hong Kong. This study covered three sites with different land-use characteristics, namely roadside, urban, and rural environments. The highest annual average PM_2.5 concentration was observed at the roadside site (58.0±2.0 μg m⁻³ (average±2σ) in 00/01 and 53.0±2.7 μg m⁻³ in 04/05), followed by the urban site (33.9±2.5 μg m⁻³ in 00/01 and 39.0±2.0 μg m⁻³ in 04/05), and the rural site (23.7±1.9 μg m⁻³ in 00/01 and 28.4±2.4 μg m⁻³ in 04/05). The lowest PM_2.5 level measured at the rural site was still higher than the United States’ annual average National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 15 μg m⁻³. As expected, seasonal variations of PM_2.5 mass concentration at the three sites were similar: higher in autumn/winter and lower in summer. Comparing PM_2.5 data in 04/05 with those collected in 00/01, a reduction in PM_2.5 mass concentration at the roadside (8.7%) but an increase at the urban (15%) and rural (20%) sites were observed. The reduction of PM_2.5 at the roadside was attributed to the decrease of carbonaceous aerosols (organic carbon and elemental carbon) (>30%), indicating the effective control of motor vehicle emissions over the period. On the other hand, the sulfate concentration at the three sites was consistent regardless of different land-use characteristics in both studies. The lack of spatial variation of sulfate concentrations in PM_2.5 implied its origin of regional contribution. Moreover, over 36% growth in sulfate concentration was found from 00/01 to 04/05, suggesting a significant increase in regional sulfate pollution over the years. More quantitative techniques such as receptor models and chemical transport models are required to assess the temporal variations of source contributions to ambient PM_2.5 mass and chemical speciation in Hong Kong.     

土壤有机物污染控制标准制订的方法学研究

指出了中国现行土壤环境质量标准存在的问题.对日本和美国等发达国家的有机物污染土壤质量控制标准进行了分析.从土壤环境质量基准制订的方法学和污染控制标准的确定原则上,提出了制订中国土壤有机物污染控制标准的建议.     

Chlorinated solvents in a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant: an assessment of their removal using self-organising maps

The self-organising map approach was used to assess the efficiency of chlorinated solvent removal from petrochemical wastewater in a refinery wastewater treatment plant. Chlorinated solvents and inorganic anions (11 variables) were determined in 72 wastewater samples, collected from three different purification streams. The classification of variables identified technical solvents, brine from oil desalting and runoff sulphates as pollution sources in the refinery, affecting the quality of wastewater treatment plant influent. The classification of samples revealed the formation of five clusters: the first three clusters contained samples collected from the drainage water, process water and oiled rainwater treatment streams. The fourth cluster consisted mainly of samples collected after biological treatment, and the fifth one of samples collected after an unusual event. SOM analysis showed that the biological treatment step significantly reduced concentrations of chlorinated solvents in wastewater.