Emission rates of chlorinated volatile organics from new and used consumer products found during vapor intrusion investigations: Impact on indoor air concentrations

Consumer products can emit chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) that complicate vapor intrusion (VI) assessments. Assessment protocols acknowledge the need to remove these products during VI investigations, but they can be problematic to identify and locate. Predicting if the products cause detectable air concentrations is also difficult since emission rate information is limited and can vary with product use and age. In this study, the emission rates of 1,2-dichloroethane, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and carbon tetrachloride from four consumer products identified as indoor sources during VI field investigations were measured under laboratory conditions using a flow through system. Emissions of PCE from an adhesive container tube ranged from 1.33 ± 1.13 μg/min (unopened) to 23.9 ± 2.93 μg/min (previously opened). The laboratory-measured emission rates were used to estimate indoor air concentrations, which were then compared to concentrations measured after the products placed were into an actual residence. The estimated and measured indoor air concentrations were generally comparable, showing that emission rate information can be used to determine the relative impact of internal CVOC sources.     

典型工业园污染源羰基化合物排放特征研究

选取中国华东地区某工业园新区典型行业企业进行现场采样,利用PFPH衍生化-GC/MS联用技术进行羰基化合物(CBCs)的组成特征和含量水平检测,研究其排放特征。结果表明,在该工业园新区内共检出22种CBCs,各化合物的质量浓度为0.008~239.4μg/m~3,各企业CBCs总质量浓度均值为(437.62±64.45)μg/m~3,工业污染源排放贡献率由高至低顺序依次为涂料制造橡胶制造医药制造化学品制造金属制造电子元件制造。根据各物质化学反应活性及大气化学寿命,获得该工业园新区典型的CBCs分子标志物为甲醛、乙醛、丙酮、丙醛、2-丁酮、丁醛、己醛、环己酮和苯甲醛,它们占总CBCs含量的80.01%,其中乙醛含量最高,质量浓度均值高达(95.42±71.48)μg/m3。最后,建立了6种典型工业污染源CBCs成分谱。     

Tertiary treatment of municipal wastewater using isolated algal strains: treatment efficiency and value-added products recovery

ABSTRACT

Two microalgal strains (Chlorella sorokiniana, A&B,) grown optimally at pH 9 (A) and 7 (B) were isolated from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. These strains were used to check their efficacy for nutrients and organic carbon removal capacities from the tertiary wastewater. The strains were characterised using 18S rDNA sequencing method and both the strains closely related to Chlorella sorokiniana. Different inoculum doses (IDs) of both the strains were tried to check their efficacy on wastewater treatment. Due to the increase in the IDs, hydraulic retention time decreased from 6 d to 1?d. On an average, 12–100% of total kjeldahl nitrogen, 53–96% NO₃–N, and 59–92% PO₄–P, were removed. Despite the same growth environment, strain A with the highest ID (700?mg/L) showed the best performance in terms of overall organic carbon removal, nutrient removal, and value-added products recovery. Strain A showed an increase in carbohydrate and protein content by 42% and 13%, respectively. Both the strains showed luxury phosphorus uptake and found suitable for advanced wastewater treatment.     

多尺度环境空气质量预报业务产品测试研究

为了探讨NAQPMS数值模式预报产品及其他预报业务所需产品在国家-区域-城市不同尺度单位的有效使用率、重污染过程中的作用,以及不同地区(城市)预报业务需求及作业产品需求偏差,选取17家单位进行测试研究。分析数据显示:15类参与研究产品均为各省市监测中心空气质量日常预报业务的开展作出了重要贡献,NAQPMS数值预报产品准确率最高可达到84.72%,省会城市准确率略低,总体平均可达50.21%,重污染过程的平均捕捉准确率为52.33%;研究测试产品在各尺度的获取时间均可控制在2.5 h左右。研究结果表明,指导产品能基本反映污染物形成、发展及变化趋势,明确不同地区城市预报业务需求及产品偏差,在PM_(2.5)和O_3预报准确率和重污染过程捕捉预报结果偏低等方面有待加强。     

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products found in the Great Lakes above concentrations of environmental concern

The monitoring of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) has focused on the distribution in rivers and small lakes, but data regarding their occurrence and effects in large lake systems, such as the Great Lakes, are sparse. Wastewater treatment processes have not been optimized to remove influent PPCPs and are a major source of PPCPs in the environment. Furthermore, PPCPs are not currently regulated in wastewater effluent. In this experiment we evaluated the concentration, and corresponding risk, of PPCPs from a wastewater effluent source at varying distances in Lake Michigan. Fifty-four PPCPs and hormones were assessed on six different dates over a two-year period from surface water and sediment samples up to 3.2 km from a wastewater treatment plant and at two sites within a harbor. Thirty-two PPCPs were detected in Lake Michigan and 30 were detected in the sediment, with numerous PPCPs being detected up to 3.2 km away from the shoreline. The most frequently detected PPCPs in Lake Michigan were metformin, caffeine, sulfamethoxazole, and triclosan. To determine the ecological risk, the maximum measured environmental concentrations were compared to the predicted no-effect concentration and 14 PPCPs were found to be of medium or high ecological risk. The environmental risk of PPCPs in large lake systems, such as the Great Lakes, has been questioned due to high dilution; however, the concentrations found in this study, and their corresponding risk quotient, indicate a significant threat by PPCPs to the health of the Great Lakes, particularly near shore organisms.     

Application of different chromatographic techniques and chemometric analysis in authenticity testing of plant protection products containing azoxystrobin as an active substance

Azoxystrobin (methyl(2E)-2-{2-[6-(2-cyanophenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yloxy] phenyl}-3-methoxyacrylate) is an active ingredient used to protect crops against fungal diseases. The experience of the Polish control laboratory indicates relatively frequent cases of counterfeit plant protection products (PPPs) containing this active substance. The present study aimed to use chemometric methods to model chemical fingerprints obtained by different chromatographic techniques to verify the original formulation of PPPs containing the active substance azoxystrobin. The pesticides used in the study came from different sources (including stores and warehouses), were manufactured at a different time and came from different production batches. The results obtained with the HPLC-DAD and HS-GC-MS techniques were then modeled using principal component analysis (PCA) and soft independent modeling by class analogy (SIMCA) classifier. The proposed approach has been confirmed as useful for verifying the authenticity of PPPs and can be used in the routine control testing of SC pesticides containing azoxystrobin.     

Inhibition of Alternaria stem canker on tomato by essential oils from Baccharis species

Abstract

The toxicity of four essential oils extracted from Baccharis articulata, Baccharis ochracea, Baccharis psiadioides and Baccharis trimera was tested against the phytopathogen Alternaria alternata, which causes Alternaria stem canker on tomatoes. Diseases caused by Alternaria fungi are responsible for great economic losses in terms of production and are controlled by synthetic fungicides; however, essential oils offer an alternative, since they have been proven to be effective for controlling against various plant pathogens. In this way, the antifungal activity of Baccharis essential oils was tested using potato dextrose agar medium with concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 20.0?µL mL^?1. Baccharis trimera and Baccharis ochracea essential oils presented 100% mycelial growth inhibition of A. alternata and were also able to control Alternaria stem canker disease under greenhouse conditions. Tomato plants treated with these essential oils exhibited area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values of 230.10 and 241.42, differing from the control condition, which showed an AUDPC value of 268.92. The essential oils of B. trimera and B. ochracea can be an alternative for controlling Alternaria stem canker disease of tomatoes and should be formulated as a potential fungicide against the A. alternata pathogen.     

开发研制预防污染的绿色化学产品

文章叙述绿色化学在环境保护中的应用,绿色化学是一门从源头上彻底阻止污染的化学,简介了几种开发研制的对人类健康和环境安全的绿色化学产品及研究开发进展。     

Eco-Labelling of Shampoos,Shower Gels and Foam Baths (6 pp)

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Environmental issues of personal care products have been met with little attention in the past. Monitoring data as well as preliminary environmental risk assessments indicate that some ingredients in personal care products might be relevant pollutants in the environment. Following the precautionary principle, eco-labelling is proposed as an effective tool for source control of one major group of personal care products, shampoos, shower gels and foam baths (SSBs). Eco-labelling is a soft, but effective market driven and product specific approach to lower discharge of environmentally detrimental substances. Products that fulfil the criteria proposed help to minimise the impact of SSBs on the environment. METHODS: Available assessment tools for dangerous substances (e.g. current legislation on environmental risk assessments and classification, and labelling, eco-labelling criteria for similar products, the calculation of the critical dilution volume) were adapted and integrated into the criteria for the eco-labelling of SSBs. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A short outline of the eco-labelling criteria developed for SSBs is provided. The basic criteria concern the effects of the substances discharged into the waste water during and after use. Products with an eco-label award may exclusively contain substances for which basic information about their effects on the environment is available. They may not contain persistent, bioaccumulating, toxic or ecotoxicological substances. In addition, the basic criteria include requirements for the container and consumer information. CONCLUSION: The basic criteria for eco-labelling SSBs are based on the actual state of science and are at the same time as simple and transparent as possible to ensure the best applicability. SSBs that comply with the described basic criteria can contribute to a lower chemical burden of waste water treatment plants and surface water. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: The proposal for basic criteria described should stimulate discussion on eco-labelling of SSBs. It should help to pass valid criteria supported by authorities, producers and consumer groups for a national or international eco-label, e.g. for the European Flower or the German Blue Angel. In future, the successful introduction of labelled SSBs into the market will raise the awareness of the general public about the environmental effects of personal care products and it will help to promote environmentally compatible products.     

APDC-MIBK萃取火焰原子吸收分光光度法测定生活垃圾堆肥产品中铅、镉的研究

通过试验研究,建立了硝酸-氢氟酸-高氯酸消解、APDC-MIBK萃取火焰原子吸收分光光度法测定生活垃圾堆肥产品中的铅、镉.该方法铅的检出限为2mg/kg,镉的检出限为0.2mg/kg(按称取0.5g试样消解定容至50ml计算),用于不同地域堆肥样品测定,铅、镉的相对标准偏差(RsD)分别为2.29%～8.16%和5.17%～11.7%,加标回收率介于86.8%～107.2%和88.0%～108.0%之间.