In this work we studied the phenol sorption from contaminated water onto modified clay mineral vermiculite and bentonite by insertion of hexadecyltrimethylammonium in the interlayer of clays. The non modified clays showed negligible interaction with phenol. The experimental data were treated using the Freunlich equation which had a good fit. The removal percentages were higher than 35% for modified vermiculite and for modified bentonite, 30%. Vermiculite and bentonite were compared for the removal of phenol from an aqueous solution based on the maximum adsorption capacity of each adsorbent, and no significant difference was found. The adsorption mechanism for both is the same, according to the results. Although, there is a lack of studies using vermiculite for this purpose, it can be concluded that hydrophobic modified vermiculite is very effective for removing phenol from water. Hydrophobic modified bentonite also remove phenol, but in lower proportions.

Soil samples from agricultural and adjacent forest soils in Northwest Ohio were collected and analyzed for As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. pH, Eh, electrical conductivity, and moisture content were also measured. Selected samples were also evaluated for grain size and X-rayed to identify clay minerals. In this region, soils contain a large proportion of fines (~32% clay and ~37% silt) with illite, dickite, and chlorite as the main clay minerals. Surface soils in the arable land are slightly acidic (pH ~5.6) while forest soils are near-neutral to slightly basic. All soils become more basic with depth. Soil Eh and electrical conductivity range from 300 to 450 mV and 100 to 375 μS, respectively. In the soil profiles, between 0 and 50 cm depth, As increases from 4.6 to 11 mg/kg, Cr increases from19 to 23 mg/kg and Ni increases 21 to 29 mg/kg. In contrast, Cu decreases from 23 to 17 mg/kg and Pb decreases from17 to 10 mg/kg. Surface enrichment of Cu and Pb can be the result of aerosol deposition, while the downward increase in As, Cr and Ni is related to pedogenic variation. The average concentration of Zn in the samples is 64 mg/kg and does not change with land-use or depth. With the exception of As, the concentration of metals in the agricultural soil is not significantly different from the concentration in forest soil. The concentration of As in the near-surface arable soil (5.6 mg/kg) is significantly different from the concentration of As in the near-surface forest soil (4.3 mg/kg). In both cases, deeper soils have similar As contents. The relative enrichment of As in the surface arable soil could indicate input from herbicides or pesticides. The upward increase in electrical conductivity is interpreted to show that the exchangeable fraction of each metal is higher in the surface soils. However, the near neutral pH and organic, clay-rich soils may limit the mobility. The concentration of these heavy metals and As in the soils are much lower than the limits set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Silicon presents a close relationship with the amelioration of heavy metals phytotoxicity. However, mechanisms of Si-mediated alleviation of metal stress remains poorly understood. This work aimed at studying the relationship between the accumulation of Si, Cd, and Zn and the tolerance and structural alterations displayed by maize plants grown on a Cd and Zn enriched soil treated with doses of Si (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200mg kg⁻¹) as calcium silicate (CaSiO₃). The results showed that the maize plants treated with Si presented not only biomass increasing but also higher metal accumulation. Significant structural alterations on xylem diameter, mesophyll and epidermis thickness, and transversal area occupied by collenchyma and midvein were also observed as a result of Si application. The deposition of silica in the endodermis and pericycle of roots seems to play an important role on the maize tolerance to Cd and Zn stress.

Two soils with explosives and metals were evaluated for the degradation efficiency of explosives by native microorganisms under anaerobic conditions. The commercially available method Daramend®, amended with zero-valent iron (ZVI), was compared with a horse-manure-amended compost and a treatment with ZVI alone. In a moderately contaminated soil, Daramend® and ZVI treatment gave significantly higher removal rates compared to compost and control treatments (Tukey's test, P < 0.05). The largest overall decrease in ecotoxicity, measured with bioluminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), was achieved with ZVI treatment. In a more contaminated soil, no degradation of contaminants and no decline in soil toxicity could be distinguished after the same time period. Problems with establishment of anaerobic conditions during parts of the remediation process and low microbial activity due to acute toxicity of contaminants are plausible explanations. Redistribution that could potentially lead to mobilization of the co-contaminant Pb was not observed in either of the soils during the biological treatments.

The fate and transport of tricyclazole and imidacloprid in paddy plots after nursery-box application was monitored. Water and surface soil samples were collected over a period of 35 days. Rates of dissipation from paddy waters and soils were also measured. Dissipation of the two pesticides from paddy water can be described by first-order kinetics. In the soil, only the dissipation of imidacloprid fitted to the simple first-order kinetics, whereas tricyclazole concentrations fluctuated until the end of the monitoring period. Mean half-life (DT₅₀) values for tricyclazole were 11.8 and 305 days, respectively, in paddy water and surface soil. The corresponding values of imidacloprid were 2.0 and 12.5 days, respectively, in water and in surface soil. Less than 0.9% of tricyclazole and 0.1% of imidacloprid were lost through runoff during the monitoring period even under 6.3 cm of rainfall. The pesticide formulation seemed to affect the environmental fate of these pesticides when these results were compared to those of other studies.

The effects of poor indoor air quality and mould growth in working environment are major problems in built environment, and there is a need to look for improvement of the health, comfort and productivity of the building occupants. Airborne mould sampling studies were conducted in a reference building located in Rockhampton, Central Queensland, Australia. Both indoor culturable and mould spore levels were observed. It was found through the indoor-outdoor ratios of the species that indoor concentrations are mostly related to the outdoor mould levels. The moulds differ in their relative humidity and temperature requirements to support surface growth. Indoor humidity has a significant effect on occupants comfort, perceived air quality, occupants' health, building durability, emissions and energy efficiency. Practical hygrothermal simulation models are employed to analyse the combined heat and moisture behaviour within the built environment. A review of the current modelling options available to predict building performance based on energy and mass transport simulation is presented, and then a case study is presented with the assessment of indoor built environment to avoid mould problem.

A comprehensive study on biodiversity and environmental characteristics of three different selected study sites located on different estuarine networks viz. Matla, Saptamukhi, and Hooghly on eastern, central, and western regions, having different environmental features of Sundarbans Mangrove Ecosystem, India, a World Heritage Site, was conducted through six seasons of consecutive 2 years. The different sites understudy have shown variable species composition. Special emphasis was made to record the population structure of benthic fauna, which exhibited maximum density during pre-monsoon followed by monsoon and post-monsoon. Physicochemical parameters displayed a wide range of fluctuation through different seasons and also revealed differences among different study sites. Biotic community structures of different study sites have been analyzed using different community indices like similarity index, dominance index, diversity index, and evenness index. Moreover, in order to evaluate the environmental stress on the environmental health of this dynamic mangrove ecosystem of global importance, species pollution value and community pollution value have been deduced as a new model of biotic indices based on the distribution patterns of both zooplanktons and benthic fauna. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed the cumulative influence of a group of environmental parameters on the abundance of different components of biodiversity. The study site II (Saptamukhi), encircled by undisturbed mangrove islands, revealed the least pollution stress and higher biological diversity followed by Jharkhali (study site I), which is in the process of eco-restoration and Bokkhali (study site III), which has been under anthropogenic stress especially from ecotourism.

Atmospheric mercury deposition by wet and dry processes contributes mercury to terrestrial and aquatic systems. Factors influencing the amount of mercury deposited to boreal forests were identified in this study. Throughfall and open canopy precipitation samples were collected in 2005 and 2006 using passive precipitation collectors from pristine sites located across the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota, USA. Samples were collected approximately every 2 weeks and analyzed for total (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg). Forest canopy type and density were the primary influences on THg and MeHg deposition. Highest THg and MeHg concentrations were measured beneath conifer canopies (THg mean = 19.02 ng L⁻¹; MeHg mean = 0.28 ng L⁻¹) followed by deciduous throughfall (THg mean = 12.53 ng L⁻¹; MeHg mean = 0.19 ng L⁻¹) then open precipitation (THg mean = 8.19 ng L⁻¹; MeHg mean = 0.12 ng L⁻¹). The greater efficiency of conifers at scavenging THg and MeHg from the atmosphere may increase the risk of mercury related water quality issues in conifer-dominated systems.

It is well established that the livestock sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gases (GHG) and ammonia (NH₃) emissions. In this paper, the evolution of livestock NH₃, methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O) and particulate matter (PM) emissions is presented for the period 1960-2005 in Greece and the factors influencing the emission fluxes (such as livestock population changes, manure management systems in use) are examined and analyzed. Emission estimates are based on the updated EMEP/CORINAIR methodology together with the revised IPCC guidelines; newly published, Greece-specific emission factors are used. The emissions level from livestock is evaluated and compared with the corresponding emissions from other anthropogenic sources in Greece. Geographical analysis concerning the distribution of animals and the subsequent NH₃ emissions is performed. Main results indicate high levels of emissions from 1960 to 1995, while emissions from 1995 to 2005 show a stabilizing trend.