Isosteric heats (ΔH) of sorption/desorption of phenanthrene were determined for carbonaceous materials (Pahokee peat, lignite, and high-volatile bituminous coal) and two soils based on reported equilibrium sorption/desorption isotherms at four different temperatures (4, 20, 46 and 77 °C). In addition, ΔH for desorption of native phenanthrene was determined to elucidate the “aging” effect by equilibrating samples with water at six temperatures (20, 40, 53, 61, 73, and 86 °C). Isosteric heats decreased with increasing solute concentration and were in a range of 19–35 kJ mol−1. Values higher than the heat of octanol–water phase transfer for phenanthrene (19 kJ mol−1) imply that both partitioning and adsorption processes are involved for these materials, where the sorptive contributions from both processes were estimated based on the phenanthrene thermodynamic data. Moreover, on the basis of ΔH values of desorption, release of native and spiked phenanthrene from our samples was similar.

Drug abuse assessment methods based on measuring illicit substances in waste waters are consolidated. The approach of ambient air monitoring looks questionable, nonetheless it can be explored if the variables determining the drug burdens are accounted for, or suitable co-contaminants are adopted to normalize concentrations to environmental and human contours. The general approach linking the airborne drug concentrations to consumption is presented and the case of cocaine is discussed according to measurements conducted in Italy. The cocaine/nicotine concentration ratio, identified as the most suitable tool, fitted well with anti-drug Police operations and people noticed for drug-related crimes, and with the abuse prevalence estimated in the cities investigated. According to that, the conversion factors of drug concentrations into prevalence estimates seem assessable, provided sufficient databases over space and time are collected. Further investigations are necessary to understand if airborne drugs cause adverse sanitary effects.

Molecular tools in microbial community analysis give access to information on catabolic potential and diversity of microbes. Applied in bioremediation, they could provide a new dimension to improve pollution control. This concept has been demonstrated in the study using atrazine as model pollutant. Bioremediation of the herbicide, atrazine, was analyzed in microcosm studies by bioaugmentation, biostimulation and natural attenuation. Genes from the atrazine degrading pathway atzA/B/C/D/E/F, trzN, and trzD were monitored during the course of treatment and results demonstrated variation in atzC, trzD and trzN genes with time. Change in copy number of trzN gene under different treatment processes was demonstrated by real-time PCR. The amplified trzN gene was cloned and sequence data showed homology to genes reported in Arthrobacter and Nocardioides. Results demonstrate that specific target genes can be monitored, quantified and correlated to degradation analysis which would help in predicting the outcome of any bioremediation strategy.

Phytomanagement in terms of phytostabilisation is considered a suitable method to decrease environmental risks of metal(loid) enriched mine tailings. The goal of this study was to identify plant-favourable edaphic niches in mine tailings from a semiarid area, in order to obtain relevant information for further phytostabilisation procedures. For this purpose, a transect-designed sampling from non-disturbed soils to two mine tailings was performed, including the description of soil and plant ecology gradients. Plant ecological indicators showed several stages in plant succession: from weeds to stable patches of late successional plant species. PCA results revealed that plant distribution at the tailings was driven mainly by salinity while metal(loid) concentrations played a minor role. The presence of soil desiccation cracks generated low salinity patches which facilitated favourable niches for plant establishment. Edaphic-patch distribution may condition phytostabilisation since ploughing or the employment of certain amendments should take into account favourable niches for plant growth.

The ecotoxicity of artificially alterated cerium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-CeO2) suspensions was determined using the freshwater microalgae growth inhibition test. The agglomeration or aggregation state of the alterated suspensions was followed because it represents one of the obvious modifications when nanoparticles reached the environment. In addition, its influence on the ecotoxicity of nanoparticles is currently not well-addressed. Our results showed that the suspensions were stable within the first 24 h and then agglomerate up to 10 μm after 3 and 30 days. The inhibitory effect on the growth of exposed algae was however similar whatever the tested suspension. This supports the fact that the agglomeration state of nano-CeO2, in our conditions, has few influences on the ecotoxicity toward these organisms. The EC50 values were 5.6; 4.1 and 6.2 mg L−1, after exposure to non aged, 3 and 30 days aged suspensions respectively. The interaction between algal cells and nano-CeO2 was also addressed.

Recently, biomagnetic monitoring of tree leaves has proven to be a good estimator for ambient particulate concentration. This paper investigates the usefulness of biomagnetic leaf monitoring of crown deposited particles to assess the spatial PM distribution inside individual tree crowns and an urban street canyon in Ghent (Belgium). Results demonstrate that biomagnetic monitoring can be used to assess spatial PM variations, even within single tree crowns. SIRM values decrease exponentially with height and azimuthal effects are obtained for wind exposed sides of the street canyon. Edge and canyon trees seem to be exposed differently. As far as we know, this study is the first to present biomagnetic monitoring results of different trees within a single street canyon. The results not only give valuable insights into the spatial distribution of particulate matter inside tree crowns and a street canyon, but also offer a great potential as validation tool for air quality modelling.

This paper investigates the biases associated with the ground-level nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations derived from the satellite Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) NO2 data through comparisons with the modeling and the monitoring results for the state of California in 2008. The seasonal and annual average ground-level NO2 concentrations are both analyzed from the OMI using the local NO2 profile obtained from the GEOS-Chem simulation. The OMI-derived ground-level NO2 concentrations are then compared with the NO2 concentrations predicted by a GIS-Based Multi-Source and Multi-Box model (GMSMB) and the in-situ measurements, correlation coefficients among the three sets of results are all above 0.84 with an average slope of 0.81 ± 0.04. Particularly, various biases associated with the three data sets have been analyzed, and the OMI-derived NO2 concentrations and the GMSMB modeling results have been proven to be essential for assessing regional air pollutant exposure risks with the aid of the extensive remote sensing database.

A chronological sequence of urban soils 3–92 years old was studied to determine the effects of time on morphogenesis, artifact weathering, and the geochemical partitioning of Pb. Key chronofunctions determined are an increase in ˆA horizon Development Index (defined herein based on soil color) and water-soluble Pb, and a decrease in pH and C/N, with increasing soil age. Key artifact weathering reactions are: 1) portlandite in mortar altered to calcite, 2) ferrite in wrought-iron altered to ferrihydrite and goethite, and 3) carbonaceous materials altered to water-soluble organic substances. Mortar and wrought-iron were found to be Pb-bearing, but weather to produce immobilizing agents. Hence, they are both a source and a sink for Pb. The origin and mobilization of water-soluble Pb is complex and probably includes microbial extracellular polymeric substances, biodegraded soil organic matter, and solubilized organic substances derived from carbonaceous anthropogenic microparticles (soot, char and coal-related wastes).

With the open-top chambers (OTCs) in situ in Yangtze River Delta, China in 2007 and 2008, the effects of elevated O3 exposure on nutrient elements and quality of winter wheat and rice grain were investigated. Grain yield per plant of winter wheat and rice declined in both years. The N and S concentrations increased under elevated O3 exposure in both years and C–N ratios decreased significantly. The concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, P, Mn, Cu and Zn in winter wheat and the concentrations of Mg, K, Mn and Cu in rice increased. The concentrations of protein, amino acid and lysine in winter wheat and rice increased and the concentration of amylose decreased. The increase in the nutrient concentration was less than the reduction of grain yield in both winter wheat and rice, and, hence, the absolute amount of the nutrients was reduced by elevated O3.

An original combined organic geochemistry and soil science approach was used to elucidate PAH availability controlling factors in a multi-contaminated industrial soil. Water granulodensimetric fractionation was applied to obtain five water-stable material fractions. These were characterized by elemental, molecular and mineral analysis, and microscopic observations. Among the different fractions, fine silts distinguished themselves by higher carbon and nitrogen contents, lower C/N ratio, an enrichment in total PAH and especially high molecular weight compounds, a coal tar signature and the lowest PAH availability. This fine silt fraction seemed to play a protective role for PAH that might be explained by its size and/or its specific reactivity. The mineral phases present in this fraction were proposed to explain the protection of organic matter. This led to a specific molecular signature of OM, having higher sorption properties both processes (sorption and mineral-bound protection) resulting in a lower PAH availability.