Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes in ambient air and Pinus sylvestris L. needles: a comparative study between Belgium, Hungary and Latvia

Concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes (BTEX) in ambient air and in 1 yr old Pinus sylvestris pine needles were monitored along a busy road, petrol station and rural area of Belgium, Hungary and Latvia in a 1 yr period. To test P. sylvestris as a possible biomonitor for the BTEX concentrations, samples were taken in the four seasons. As the distribution of data was not normal, the level of pollution on different sites and seasons was compared and evaluated by non-parametric tests. The measured air concentrations did not differ significantly from one season to another throughout the year. There were, however, differences between sampling places. The C₂-alkylbenzene and toluene concentrations in the needles were similar in the autumn/winter and spring/summer periods but a significant decrease in their concentration was observed in every place between winter and spring. This effect was less obvious for toluene.     

Intra- and intercompartmental associations between levels of organochlorines in maternal plasma, cord plasma and breast milk, and lead and cadmium in whole blood, for indigenous peoples of Chukotka, Russia

Long-range transport of pollutants towards circumpolar regions emphasizes the need for up-to-date and reliable biological monitoring data. This paper explores the use, reliability and availability of maternal blood (MB) and plasma (MP), cord blood (CB) and plasma (CP) and mother's milk (MM) in terms of assessing exposure to persistent toxic substances (PTSs). It is concluded that MP has the best combination of availability, sensitivity in terms of number of PTSs, their detection frequency and concentrations, and physiological relevance. The study group consisted of 48 pregnant women of indigenous origin from the Chuchki district in the eastern Russian arctic. Blood, CB and MM specimens were collected from all women and MP, CP and MM were analyzed for the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) suite of organochlorines (OCs) and metals (Pb and Cd in MB and CB). Generally speaking, the levels of PTSs coincided with those indicated in several AMAP publications from Chukotka and other areas of northern Russia. The correlations of PTS concentrations between the three body fluid compartments exceeded the minimum statistical requirements of alpha = 0.05 and beta = 0.20 for most of the compounds, with r > 0.46 except for Cd (r = 0.05); lipid adjustments for the OCs did not affect the r-values to any significant extent. The majority of the inter-OC correlations within compartments also fulfilled the indicated statistical condition. Careful consideration is given to the replacement of concentrations below the detection limit, OC detection frequency, the criteria for log-transformation of the data, analytical uncertainty, and biological variability. Practical implications of the findings are explored.     

HYDROLOGIC BALANCE OF LAKE CHAPALA (MEXICO)1

ABSTRACT: Lake Chapala, whose primary tributary is the Río Lerma, is the largest freshwater lake in Mexico and for the past 95 years has maintained an average storage capacity close to 6,700 Mm³. Starting hi the early 1970s, the Lerma-Chapala basin rapidly industrialized. In response to these upstream anthropogenic activities, the fisheries, aesthetics, and water quality of Lake Chapala have decreased as a consequence of the increasing chemical and biologic pollutants mainly from the Río Lerma. Additionally, the growth of Guadalajara has resulted in increasing potable water demands on the lake to satisfy a population currently greater than 4.5 million. During the 1980s, the outflow and water losses from the lake substantially exceeded the inflow and other water contributions. In this paper, the recent behavior of the hydrologic and bathymetric parameters of Lake Chapala are summarized and some important physical stresses on the system are identified. The focus of this work is the 1934–1989 period, and it is shown that starting around 1980 some of the main contributors to the lake water balance were severely perturbed and the lake reached its second lowest recorded level. The disturbances of the system are so severe that the entire regional ecosystem could be irreversibly affected in the near future.     

Municipal solid waste management strategies in Turkey

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a major environmental problem in Turkey, as in many developing countries. Problems associated with municipal solid waste are difficult to address, but efforts towards more efficient collection and transportation and environmentally acceptable waste disposal continue in Turkey. Although strict regulations on the management of solid waste are in place, primitive disposal methods such as open dumping and discharge into surface water have been used in various parts of Turkey. This study presents a brief history of the legislative trends in Turkey for MSW management. The study also presents the MSW responsibility and management structure together with the present situation of generation, composition, recycling, and treatment. The results show that approximately 25 million ton of MSW are generated annually in Turkey. About 77% of the population receives MSW services. In spite of efforts to change open dumping areas into sanitary landfills and to build modern recycling and composting facilities, Turkey still has over 2000 open dumps.     

Biobased Polyurethanes from Rapeseed Oil Polyols: Structure, Mechanical and Thermal Properties

Biobased polyols were synthesized from rapeseed oil (RO) with diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA) and glycerol (GL) at different molar ratios. The structures of the synthesized polyols were analyzed using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. Polyurethane (PU) networks from RO/DEA polyols and polymeric MDI showed higher tensile strength, modulus and hardness, but their elongation at break decreased, compared to the case of the PU obtained from RO/TEA and RO/GL polyols. The tensile strength and modulus of PU networks increased with increasing PU cohesion energy density (CED) and decreasing molecular weight between crosslinks M _c . From the thermogravimetric analysis and its derivative thermograms, at the first stage of destruction (below 5 % weight loss) in the air and inert atmosphere, the PU obtained from RO polyols were ranked in the following order: PU RO/GL > PU RO/TEA > PU RO/DEA, and their thermostability was higher than that of the PU based on propylene oxide.     

A monitoring of environmental effects from household greywater reuse for garden irrigation

The option of reusing greywater is proving to be increasingly attractive to address the water shortage issue in many arid and semiarid countries. Greywater represents a constant resource, since an approximately constant amount of greywater is generated from kitchen, laundries, bathroom in every household daily, independent of the weather. However, the use of greywater for irrigation in particular for household gardening may pose major hazards that have not been studied thoroughly. In this study, a 1-year monitoring was conducted in four selected households in Perth, Western Australia. The aim of the monitoring works is to investigate the variability in the greywater flow and quality, and to understand its impact in the surrounding environments. Case studies were selected based on different family structure including number, ages of the occupants, and greywater system they used. Samples of greywater effluent (showers, laundries, bathtub, and sinks), leachate, soil, and plants at each case study were collected between October 2008 and December 2009 which covered the high (spring/summer) and low (autumn/winter) production of greywater. Physical and chemical tests were based on the literature and expected components of laundry and bathroom greywater particularly on greywater components likely to have detrimental impacts on soils, plants, and other water bodies. Monitoring results showed the greywater quality values for BOD, TSS, and pH which sometimes fell outside the range as stipulated in the guidelines. The soil analyses results showed that salinity, SAR, and the organic content of the soil increased as a function of time and affected the plant growth. Nutrient leaching or losses from soil irrigated with greywater shows the movement of nutrients and the sole impact from greywater in uncontrolled plots in case studies is difficult to predicted due to the influence of land dynamics and activities. Investigative and research monitoring was used to understand greywater irrigation in households. Greywater quality is very site specific and difficult to predetermine or control except for the use of some recommended household products when using greywater. Investigative and research monitoring was indicated that greywater quality is very site specific and difficult to predetermine or control except for the use of some recommended household products when using greywater.     

SOLIDS DISTRIBUTION IN LAKE CHAPALA,MEXICO1

ABSTRACT: Lake Chapala is the largest natural water body in Mexico and also one of the most important shallow lakes in Latin America. For the past several years it has suffered various environmental problems such as the upstream overuse of water, contamination, and sedimentation. For the past 10 years the lake has had less than 50 percent of its historical water level over the past century. No criteria are reported in the literature that establish a water storage volume that will guarantee water quality conditions necessary for the survival of the lake. After determining the behavior of total solids concentrations in relation to the variations in the lake's depth, we proposed a minimum water column height of 5.0 m, representing a storage volume of about 5,000 Mm³. This volume would result in the recommended water quality standards for total dissolved solids. Calculated distribution maps show that the total solids concentration in the lake has increased since the end of the 1970s. The solids are primarily concentrated in the eastern part of the lake, as a consequence of the high solids discharged from the Lerma River, its main tributary.     

Understanding the Impact of Microcrystalline Cellulose Modification on Durability and Biodegradation of Highly Loaded Biocomposites for Woody Like Materials Applications

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The transition from fossil-based to bio-based materials requires in-depth environmental durability analysis for material engineering and construction...