This study provides information on the current status of contamination by DDT in agricultural soils in south-western Spain. A recent use of technical DDT in at least 17% of the soils was found based on the values (<1) of the ratio [Formula: see text] . According to the ratio [Formula: see text] , a dicofol type contamination was detected in about 27% of the soils. A wide range of concentrations was observed (0.08–11.1 ng/g d.w.) regardless of the type of crop soil. Enantiomeric fractions (EFs), based on the chiral analysis of o,p′-DDT residues differed from the racemic value (0.500) in most soils but they were not correlated with the study variables [DDTs], SOM, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] . Given the health risks posed by DDT, our findings support how the environmental control of legacy pollutants such as DDT cannot be neglected.

Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon fluxes were measured in time series sediment trap samples at 200m and at 1000m depths in the open Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, from December 2000 to July 2002. Averaged fluxes of n-alkanes, UCM and T-PAH₃₅ were 2.96±2.60μgm⁻²d⁻¹, 64±60μgm⁻²d⁻¹ and 0.68±0.59μgm⁻²d⁻¹, respectively. Molecular compositions of both hydrocarbon classes showed a contamination in petrogenic hydrocarbons well above the background levels of such an open site, whereas pyrolytic hydrocarbons stand in the range of other open Mediterranean locations. Fluxes displayed ample interannual and seasonal variabilities, mainly related to mass flux variation while concentration evolutions trigger secondary changes in pollutant fluxes. High lithogenic flux events exported particles with a larger pollutant load than biogenic particles formed during the spring bloom and during the summer. Sinking hydrocarbons were efficiently transported from 200m to 1000m.

This paper describes the first report of dioxins and furans (PCDDs/Fs) in sediment cores from Mexico. Sedimentation rates and vertical fluxes were estimated using ²¹⁰Pb dating. Two cores correspond to marine sediments and one to an endorheic lake. Concentrations of PCDDs/Fs found in the three sites are typical of non-impacted areas with low concentrations when compared to reference values. However the PCDDs/Fs sediment profiles show an increasing concentration trend in the upper core sections. This behavior is different from that found at many sites around the globe where diminishing concentrations have been reported. A strong predominance of OCDD was observed, and a comparison to typical composition profiles of industrial and other sources did not result in clear origin assignments for these measured compounds. We suggest that local sources may be responsible for the increase in concentration and, because these undetermined sources have not been curtailed, their importance is still growing.

This study investigated the microbial degradation of ¹⁴C-labelled hexadecane, octacosane, phenanthrene and pyrene and considered how degradation might be optimised in three genuinely hydrocarbon-contaminated soils from former petroleum refinery sites. Hydrocarbon mineralisation by the indigenous microbial community was monitored over 23 d. Hydrocarbon mineralisation enhancement by nutrient amendment (biostimulation), hydrocarbon degrader addition (bioaugmentation) and combined nutrient and degrader amendment, was also explored. The ability of indigenous soil microflora to mineralise ¹⁴C-target hydrocarbons was appreciable; ≥16% mineralised in all soils. Generally, addition of nutrients or degraders increased the rates and extents of mineralisation of ¹⁴C-hydrocarbons. However, the addition of nutrients and degraders in combination had a negative effect upon ¹⁴C-octacosane mineralisation and resulted in lower extents of mineralisation in the three soils. In general, the rates and extents of mineralisation will be dependent upon treatment type, nature of the contamination and adaptation of the ingenious microbial community.

The levels of six perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs), four perfloroalkylsulfonates (PFASs), and one sulfonamide were measured in paired samples of maternal serum, umbilical cord serum, and breast milk. The maternal and cord sera were strongly correlated with each other for all measured compounds (r > 0.5 and p < 0.01). Nevertheless, there was a significant difference in compound composition profile between the two sera matrices, with a more depletion of the longer chain compounds in cord serum. The transfer efficiency values from maternal to cord serum (TFCS/MS) decreased by 70% with each increasing unit of –CF₂ chain within a PFCA group, and for perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), by a half compared to perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). In contrast to the strong correlation in concentrations between the two sera matrices, the pattern of compounds in breast milk differed considerably with those in sera. Accordingly, compound- and matrix-specific transfer must be considered when assessing prenatal and postnatal exposure.

In this study two time scales were looked at: a yearlong study was completed, and a 180-day decay experiment was done. Juncus maritimus and Scirpus maritimus have different life cycles, and this seems to have implications in the Hg-contaminated salt marsh sediment chemical environment, namely Eh and pH. In addition, the belowground biomass decomposition rates were faster for J. maritimus, as well as the biomass turnover rates. Results show that all these species-specific factors have implications in the mercury dynamics and sequestration. Meaning that J. maritimus belowground biomass has a sequestration capacity for mercury per square metre approximately 4–5 times higher than S. maritimus, i.e., in S. maritimus colonized areas Hg is more extensively exchange between belowground biomass and the rhizosediment. In conclusion, J. maritimus seems to provide a comparatively higher ecosystem service through phytostabilization (Hg complexation in the rhizosediment) and through phytoaccumulation (Hg sequestration in the belowground biomass).

Atmospheric concentrations and deposition fluxes of PCDD/F and PCB have been evaluated over a 1-year period in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Etang de Thau, France). Indicative PBDE air concentrations in the hot season are also reported in this work. ∑2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs and ∑18PCBs (gas+particulate) air concentrations ranged from 67 to 1700fgm⁻³ and from 13 to 95pgm⁻³, respectively whereas ∑8PBDEs (gas+particulate) summer time levels varied from 158 to 230pgm⁻³. The PCDD/F and PCB atmospheric occurrence over Thau lagoon and subsequent inputs to the surface waters are determined by an assemble of factors, being the seasonality of atmospheric concentration, the air mass origin and meteorological conditions important drivers. Total (wet+dry) ∑2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs and ∑18PCBs deposition fluxes to Thau Lagoon waters are 117 and 715pgm⁻²d⁻¹, respectively.

Analytical techniques used to assess the environmental risk of contamination from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) typically consider only abiotic sample parameters. Supercritical fluid extraction and sorption enthalpy experiments previously suggested slow desorption rates for PAH compounds in two coal-contaminated floodplain soils. In this study, the actual PAH availability for aerobic soil microorganisms was tested in two series of soil-slurry experiments. The experimental conditions supported microbial degradation of phenanthrene if it was weakly sorbed onto silica gel. Native coals and coal-derived particles in two soils effectively acted as very strong sorbents and prevented microbial PAH degradation. The long history of PAH exposure and degree of coal contamination apparently had no influence on the capability of the microbial soil community to overcome constraints of PAH availability. Within the context of the experimental conditions and the compounds chosen, our results confirm that coal-bound PAHs are not bioavailable and hence of low environmental concern.

Atmospheric phosphine (PH₃) fluxes from typical types of wetlands and PH₃ concentrations in adjacent atmospheric air were measured. The seasonal distribution of PH₃ in marsh and paddy fields were observed. Positive PH₃ fluxes are significantly related to high air temperature (summer season) and increased vegetation. It is concluded that vegetation speeds up the liberation of PH₃ from soils, while water coverage might function as a diffusion barrier from soils or sediments to the atmosphere. The concentrations of atmospheric PH₃ (ngm⁻³) above different wetlands decrease in the order of paddy fields (51.8±3.1)>marsh (46.5±20.5)>lake (37.0±22.7)>coastal wetland (1.71±0.73). Highest atmospheric PH₃ levels in marsh are found in summer. In paddy fields, atmospheric PH₃ concentrations in flourishing stages are higher than those in slowly growing stages.

The changes in the biofilm community due to organic matter enrichment, eutrophication and metal contamination derived from fish farming were studied. The biofilm biomass, polysaccharide content, trophic niche and element accumulation were quantified along an environmental gradient of fish farm wastes in two seasons. Biofilm structure and trophic diversity was influenced by seasonality as well as by the fish farm waste load. Fish farming enhanced the accumulation of organic carbon, nutrients, selenium and metals by the biofilm community. The accumulation pattern of these elements was similar regardless of the structure and trophic niche of the community. This suggests that the biofilm communities can be considered a reliable tool for assessing dissolved aquaculture wastes. Due to the ubiquity of biofilms and its wide range of consumers, its role as a sink of dissolved wastes may have important implications for the transfer of aquaculture wastes to higher trophic levels in coastal systems.