An investigation on the physical,chemical and ecotoxicological characteristics of particulate matter emitted from light-duty vehicles

Particulate matter (PM) emitted from three light-duty vehicles was studied in terms of its physicochemical and ecotoxicological character using Microtox^® bioassay tests. A diesel vehicle equipped with an oxidation catalyst emitted PM which consisted of carbon species at over 97%. PM from a diesel vehicle with a particle filter (DPF) consisted of almost equal amounts of carbon species and ions, while a gasoline vehicle emitted PM consisting of ～90% carbon and ～10% ions. Both the DPF and the gasoline vehicles produced a distinct nucleation mode at 120 km/h. The PM emitted from the DPF and the gasoline vehicles was less ecotoxic than that of conventional diesel, but not in direct proportion to the emission levels of the different vehicles. These results indicate that PM emission reductions are not equally translated into ecotoxicity reductions, implying some deficiencies on the actual environmental impact of emission control technologies and regulations.     

Identifying and quantifying nitrogen and phosphorus loadings from agriculture and livestock waste in the Penios River Basin District

The nitrogen and phosphorus loadings coming from diffuse, non-point pollution sources related to agriculture and animal husbandry in the Penios river basin in the region of Thessaly, Greece, were estimated. Detailed data on types of crops and field area as well as types and numbers of animals bred in the municipal districts included in the Penios River Basin District were collected from agricultural cooperatives and rural agencies in Thessaly. Related nitrogen and phosphorus loadings were calculated and all data were mapped in a geographic information system (GIS) environment to show how diffuse pollution is spatially distributed in the Penios basin and to identify areas with the highest anthropogenic pressures. This type of data is useful to a driving forces–pressures–state–impacts–responses (DPSIR) analysis – a tool suitable for the analysis of environmental decisions in the direction of sustainable development.