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A comprehensive assessment of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in an Indian food basket: Levels, dietary intakes, and comparison with European data
2021
Sharma, Brij Mohan | Bharat, Girija K. | Chakraborty, Paromita | Martiník, Jakub | Audy, Ondřej | Kukučka, Petr | Přibylová, Petra | Kukreti, Praveen Kumar | Sharma, Anežka | Kalina, Jiří | Steindal, Eirik Hovland | Nizzetto, Luca
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in diet are a health concern and their monitoring in food has been introduced in the European Union. In developing countries, EDC dietary exposure data are scarce, especially from areas perceived as pollution hotspots, including industrialized countries like India. Several persistent organic pollutants (POPs) act as EDCs and pose a pressure to human health mainly through dietary exposure. In the present study a range of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dioxins and furans were measured in several food items collected in an Indian urban (Delhi) and a rural area (Dehradun). Food basket contamination data were used to estimate dietary exposure and compare it with that of the average European population estimated from available monitoring data. All targeted contaminants were found in most food items, especially in dairies and meat products. OCPs were the main contributors. Food supplied to Delhi's markets had higher contamination than that supplied to the peri-urban market in Dehradun. Despite looser control and restrictions, Indian dietary exposure of OCPs and PBDEs were comparable with that of Europe and were lower for PCBs and dioxins. Higher meat consumption in Europe only partly explained this pattern which was driven also by the higher residues in some European food items. A substantial part of endocrine disrupting potential in the diet derives from food and animal feeds internationally traded between developed and developing countries. With increasingly globalized food systems, internationally harmonized policies on EDC in food can lead to better protection of health in both these contexts. | publishedVersion
Show more [+] Less [-]Small-scale on-site treatment of fecal matter: comparison of treatments for resource recovery and sanitization
2021
Kelova, Mariya Evgenieva | Ali, Aasim Musa Mohamed | Eich-Greatorex, Susanne | Dörsch, Peter | Kallenborn, Roland | Jenssen, Petter D.
publishedVersion | On-site small-scale sanitation is common in rural areas and areas without infrastructure, but the treatment of the collected fecal matter can be inefficient and is seldom directed to resource recovery. The aim of this study was to compare low-technology solutions such as composting and lactic acid fermentation (LAF) followed by vermicomposting in terms of treatment efficiency, potential human and environmental risks, and stabilization of the material for reuse in agriculture. A specific and novel focus of the study was the fate of native pharmaceutical compounds in the fecal matter. Composting, with and without the addition of biochar, was monitored by temperature and CO2 production and compared with LAF. All treatments were run at three different ambient temperatures (7, 20, and 38°C) and followed by vermicomposting at room temperature. Materials resulting from composting and LAF were analyzed for fecal indicators, physicochemical characteristics, and residues of ten commonly used pharmaceuticals and compared to the initial substrate. Vermicomposting was used as secondary treatment and assessed by enumeration of Escherichia coli, worm density, and physicochemical characteristics. Composting at 38°C induced the highest microbial activity and resulted in better stability of the treated material, higher N content, lower numbers of fecal indicators, and less pharmaceutical compounds as compared to LAF. Even though analysis of pH after LAF suggested incomplete fermentation, E. coli cell numbers were significantly lower in all LAF treatments compared to composting at 7°C, and some of the anionic pharmaceutical compounds were detected in lower concentrations. The addition of approximately 5 vol % biochar to the composting did not yield significant differences in measured parameters. Vermicomposting further stabilized the material, and the treatments previously composted at 7°C and 20°C had the highest worm density. These results suggest that in small-scale decentralized sanitary facilities, the ambient temperatures can significantly influence the treatment and the options for safe reuse of the material.
Show more [+] Less [-]Reliability-based design and implementation of crow search algorithm for longitudinal dispersion coefficient estimation in rivers
2021
Ghaemi, Alireza | Zhian, Tahmineh | Pirzadeh, Bahareh | Hashemi Monfared, Seyedarman | Mosavi, Amir
publishedVersion
Show more [+] Less [-]Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Contaminated Coastal Marine Waters of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea: A baseline study
2020
Ali, Aasim Musa Mohamed | Higgins, Christopher | Alarif, Walied | Al-Lihaibi, Sultan | Ghandourah, Mohammed | Kallenborn, Roland
publishedVersion | Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are today considered important constituents of the continuously growing substance group of persistent contaminants of emerging environmental concern (PCEC). Here, we report for the first time the concentrations of 12 relevant PFASs in 28 marine water samples from the Saudi Arabian coastal waters of the Red Sea. The sum levels of 12 PFASs (Σ12 PFAS) in surface seawater ranged from <LOQ to 956 ngL−1. For the reference background site of this study, Σ12 PFAS levels ranged from <LOQ to 10.9 ng/L. The highest PFAS levels have been found in Al-Arbaeen and Al-Shabab, two lagoons continuously receiving treated sewage effluents. PFHxA, PFHxS, and 6:2 FTS were the most prevalent PFASs with relatively high concentrations. Discharge of municipal and industrial wastewaters is considered an important source of PFASs. The pattern of PFASs observed here suggests that the usage of PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) is a potential additional source for these compounds in Al-Arbaeen and Al-Shabab lagoons. However, a systematic elucidation of local PFASs sources is needed. Contamination of the Red Sea waters with PFASs poses a potential imminent risk to the marine environment of the Red Sea and ultimately may even affect the health of human consumers through the consumption of local seafood
Show more [+] Less [-]Effects of crown decline on increment in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) in southern Sweden
1989
Bjoerkdahl, G. | Eriksson, H. (Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, Garpenberg (Sweden). Dep. of Forest Yield Research)
Effects of ozone on plants in relation to other environmental conditions
1989
Mortensen, L.M. (Norges Landbrukshoegskole, Aas (Norway). Inst. for Hagebruk)
Effect of local air pollution on the sporophore production of mycorrhizal fungi, mycorrhizae and microbial activity in Scots pine forests
1989
Ohtonen, R. | Markkola, A.M. (Oulu University (Finland). Dep. of Botany)
The liming of forest soils in Finland
1989
Derome, J. | Paetilae, A. (The Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vanda (Finland))
Nutrients and structural dynamics of conifer needles in South Sweden 1985-1987
1989
Nihlgaard, B. (Lund University (Sweden). Dep. of Plant Ecology)
Effects of long term exposure of ozone on ultrastructure and net photosynthesis of Norway spruce
1989
Sutinen, S. | Wallin, G. | Sellden, G. (Goeteborg Univ. (Sweden). Dep. of Plant Physiology) | Skaerby, L. (Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Goeteborg (Sweden))