PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the fate and the overall potential impacts of the widely prescribed drugs ranitidine and tramadol after their introduction into the aquatic environment. METHODS: The probability to detect these two drugs in the aquatic environment was studied by analyzing their abiotic and biotic degradation properties. For this purpose, samples were irradiated with different light sources, and three widely used biodegradability tests from the OECD series, the closed bottle test (OECD 301 D), the manometric respirometry test (OECD 301 F) and the Zahn–Wellens test (OECD 302 B), were conducted. The ecotoxicity of the photolytically formed transformation products was assessed by performing the bacterial growth inhibition test (EN ISO 10712). Furthermore, quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis and a risk analysis based on the calculation of the predicted environmental concentrations have also been conducted to assess the environmental risk potential of the transformation products. The possible formation of stable products by microbial or photolytical transformation has been investigated with DOC and LC-MS analytics. RESULTS: In the present study, neither ranitidine, nor tramadol, nor their photoderivatives were found to be readily or inherently biodegradable according to test guidelines. The photolytic transformation was faster under a UV lamp compared to the reaction under an Xe lamp with a spectrum that mimics sunlight. No chronic toxicity against bacteria was found for ranitidine or its photolytic decomposition products, but a low toxicity was detected for the resulting mixture of the photolytic transformation products of tramadol. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that transformation products may have a higher environmental risk potential than the respective parent compounds.

BACKGROUND: PM10 aerosol samples were simultaneously collected at two urban and one urban background sites in Fuzhou city during two sampling campaigns in summer and winter. PM10 mass concentrations and chemical compositions were determined. METHODS: Water-soluble inorganic ions (Cl−, NO 3 − , SO 4 2− , NH 4 + , K+, Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), carbonaceous species (elemental carbon and organic carbon), and elements (Al, Si, Mg, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, and Pb) were detected using ion chromatography, thermal/optical reflectance, and proton-induced X-ray emission methods, respectively. RESULTS: PM10 mass concentrations, as well as most of the chemical components, were significantly increased from urban background to urban sites, which were due to enhanced anthropogenic activities in urban areas. Elements, carbonaceous species, and most of the ions were more uniformly distributed at different types of sites in winter, whereas secondary ion SO 4 2− , NO 3 − , and NH 4 + showed more evident urban-background contrast in this season. The chemical mass closure indicated that mineral dust, organic matters, and sulfate were the most abundant components in PM10. The sum of individually measured components accounted for 86.9–97.7% of the total measured PM10 concentration, and the discrepancy was larger in urban area than in urban background area. CONCLUSION: According to the principal component analysis–multivariate linear regression model, mineral dust, secondary inorganic ions, sea salt, and motor vehicle were mainly responsible for the PM10 particles in Fuzhou atmosphere, and contributed 19.9%, 53.3%, 21.3%, and 5.5% of PM10, respectively.

INTRODUCTION: To assess the status of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination in sediments from the upper reach of Huaihe River, East China, 16 surface sediment samples were collected in March 2007 and analyzed for 16 USEPA priority PAHs. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results indicated that the total concentrations of 16 PAHs (∑PAHs) were 95.2–877.5 μg kg−1 dry weight (dw) with a mean value of 370.8 μg kg−1 dw for the main stream, 85.7–935.2 μg kg−1 dw with a mean concentration of 480.7 μg kg−1 dw for tributaries, and 144.8–303.2 μg kg−1 dw with an average concentration of 224.0 μg kg−1 dw for lakes. PAHs pollution was closely related to sewage input and industrial activities. Furthermore, the distribution of PAHs in sediments from the main stream indicated that the input of tributaries was an important factor for Huaihe River. In comparison to a worldwide survey of sedimentary PAHs concentrations, PAHs pollution in Huaihe River sediments was ranked as low to moderate. The dominant compounds in surface sediment samples were four-ring and five-ring PAH compounds. CONCLUSION: Selected PAH ratios suggested that PAHs mainly came from the contamination of pyrogenic processes, such as coal and biomass combustion. Risk assessment indicated that PAHs in sedimentary environment in the upper reach of Huaihe River may cause mild toxic effects but would not cause immediate biological effects.

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE: There is growing evidence to show that dissolved humic substances, HSs, can directly interact with freshwater organisms, such as phototrophic organisms, cladocerans, amphipods and fish. The responses are—at least in part—transcriptionally controlled. These interactions can lead to stress symptoms in the exposed organisms. In phototrophs, stress symptoms include a reduction in photosynthetic oxygen release and antioxidative stress. Besides the direct effects, HSs also cause indirect effects that provoke different physiological adaptations in the phototrophs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HS-influenced photosynthetic performance and stress response of two different green algae, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (Koršikov) Hindák and Monoraphidium braunii (Nägeli in Kützing) Komárková-Legnerová, and two cyanobacterial species, Synechocystis sp. (PCC 6803, Institut Pasteur) and Microcystis aeruginosa (PCC 7806, Institut Pasteur), were tested. Two humic preparations were applied, the synthetic HS1500 and HuminFeed®, HF, which had previously been proven effective in bioassays with invertebrates and a water mould. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: When the algae were grown near light saturation, most of the tested species were positively affected by HSs in growth rate or chlorophyll content. Cell sizes decreased with increasing HS concentrations for all eukaryotic phototrophs, except for the cyanobacteria. After 4 to 5 days of cultivation at the highest HS exposure, there was a decrease in total dry weight due to reduced cell sizes in contrast to an increase in cell numbers. With the exception of Synechocystis, the dry weight per cell ratio decreased with increasing HS concentration. The efficiency of utilizing absorbed light quanta increased with increasing HS concentrations; the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSIImax) was higher in all of the tested species, with the exception of M. aeruginosa, after exposure to HS. CONCLUSION: The applied humic preparations did not interact directly with PSII, but changed the physiological state of the algae, especially the photosynthetic performance. Neither the green algae nor the cyanobacteria were inhibited in growth or negatively affected in their photosynthetic performance. The exposure to lower concentrations of HS stimulated better growth of the phototrophs. The tested humic preparations obviously did not have the potency to act as xenobiotic stressors; furthermore, there was no sign of herbicide potency.

PURPOSE: In this study, we determined normal serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE) activities in Tupinambis merianae in order to obtain reference values for organophosphorus pesticide monitoring. METHODS: Forty-two T. merianae individuals were grouped by sex and size to identify potential differences in their enzyme levels to allow for proper representation of normal values for females, males, juveniles, and hatchlings. Mean CbE was determined using two model substrates: alpha-naphtylacetate (α-NA) and p-nitrophenyl valerate (4-NPV). BChE and CbE sensitivity to malaoxon (Mx) was also evaluated as well as the possibility of BChE reactivation with pyridine-2-aldoxime methochloride (2-PAM). RESULTS: Mean adult females’ BChE was significantly higher than adult males, juveniles, and hatchlings. No significant differences were found between groups regarding CbE. CbE (4-NPV) activity showed slightly negative correlation with lizard snout–vent length, while BChE and CbE (α-NA) showed no correlation with body size. Apparent IC50 values for BChE and CbE (α-NA) suggested different sensitivities among groups. CbE (4-NPV) could not be inhibited. All Mx-inhibited groups treated with 2-PAM in a final concentration of 2.8 mM showed clear signs of reactivation. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the results demonstrate that (1) plasma esterase activity did not vary with age and sex, except for BChE activity, and (2) because biological and environmental variables could be confounding factors in the response of plasma cholinesterases, complementary biomarkers like CbE inhibition and oxime-induced reactivation of esterases are strongly recommended.

PURPOSE: To investigate the significance of sources around measurement sites, assist the development of control strategies for the important sources and mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution due to particle size. METHODS: In this study, sampling was conducted at two sites located in urban/industrial and residential areas situated at roadsides along the Brisbane Urban Corridor. Ultrafine and fine particle measurements obtained at the two sites in June–July 2002 were analysed by positive matrix factorization. RESULTS: Six sources were present, including local traffic, two traffic sources, biomass burning and two currently unidentified sources. Secondary particles had a significant impact at site 1, while nitrates, peak traffic hours and main roads located close to the source also affected the results for both sites. CONCLUSIONS: This significant traffic corridor exemplifies the type of sources present in heavily trafficked locations and future attempts to control pollution in this type of environment could focus on the sources that were identified.

INTRODUCTION: Korea has been making efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including a voluntary commitment to the target of a 30% reduction, based on business-as-usual of the total GHG emission volume, by 2020; 2006 IPCC Guidelines provided default values, applying country-specific emission factors was recommended when estimating national greenhouse gas emissions. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: This study focused on anthracite produced in Korea in order to provide basic data for developing country-specific emission factor. This study has estimated CO₂ emission factors to use worksheet of which five steps consisted according to the fuel analysis method. CONCLUSION: As a result, the average of net colorific value for 3 years (2007∼2009) was 4,519 kcal/kg, and the CO₂ emission factor was calculated to be 111,446 kg/TJ, which is about 11.8% lower than the 2006 IPCC guidelines default value, and about 7.9% higher than the US EPA emission factor.

INTRODUCTION: Arsenic (As) can be removed from water via rhizofiltration using phytostabilizing plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of Eleocharis macrostachya in constructed wetland prototypes, as well as the plant's arsenic mass retention and the distribution of As along the wetland flow gradient and the soil in the wetland mesocosmos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were carried out in laboratory-scale wetland prototypes, two planted with E. macrostachya and one without plants. Samples of water were taken at the inlet and outlet of the wetlands during the 33-week test period. At the end of the experiment, plants and soil (silty-sand) from each prototype were divided in three equal segments (entrance, middle and exit) and analyzed for their arsenic content. Results revealed that the planted wetlands have a higher As-mass retention capacity (87–90% of the total As inflow) than prototypes without plants (27%). RESULTS: As mass balance in the planted wetlands revealed that 78% of the total inflowing As was retained in the soil bed. Nearly 2% was absorbed in the plant roots, 11% was flushed as outflow, and the fate of the remaining 9% is unknown. In the prototype without plants, the soil retained 16% of As mass, 72% of the arsenic was accounted for in the outflow, and 12% was considered unknown. Although E. macrostachya retained only 2% of the total arsenic mass in their roots, its presence was a determining factor for arsenic retention in the wetland soil medium. CONCLUSION: Hence, planted wetlands might be a suitable option for treating As-contaminated water.

PURPOSE AND AIM: Removal of an anionic azo dye Brilliant Yellow has been carried out from its aqueous solutions by using hen feathers as potential adsorbent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hen feathers procured from local poultry were cut, washed, and activated. Detailed chemical and physical analysis of hen feathers and its characterization through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and infrared measurements have been made. Procured dye has been adsorbed over under batch measurements and adsorption process is monitored using UV spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Optimum parameters for the adsorption of Brilliant Yellow over hen feathers have been determined by studying the effect of pH, temperature, concentration of dye, and amount of adsorbent. On the basis of Langmuir adsorption, isotherms feasibility of the ongoing adsorption has been ascertained and thermodynamic parameters have been calculated. Attempts have also been made to verify Freundlich, Tempkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich adsorption isotherm models. It is found that during adsorption, uniform distribution of binding energy takes place due to interaction of the dye molecules and the ongoing adsorption process is chemisorptions. The kinetic measurements indicate dominance of pseudo-second-order process during the adsorption. The mathematical treatment on the kinetic data reveals the rate-determining step to be governed through particle diffusion at 8 × 10−5 M and involvement of film diffusion mechanism at higher concentration at temperatures at all the temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: The developed process is highly efficient and it can be firmly concluded that hen feather exhibits excellent adsorption capacity towards hazardous azo dye Brilliant Yellow.

PURPOSE: The role of water in the transmission of infectious diseases is well defined; it may act as a reservoir of different types of pathogens. Enteric viruses can survive and persist for a long time in water, maintaining infectivity in many instances. This suggests the need to include virus detection in the evaluation of the microbiological quality of waters. METHODS: In this study, enteric viruses (enteroviruses and hepatitis A virus (HAV)) were investigated by RT-PCR and coliphages (known as indicators of viral contamination) were enumerated with the double-layer technique agar in effluents and sewage sludge from three Tunisian wastewater treatment plants. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The molecular detection of enteric viruses revealed 7.7% of positive activated sludge samples for enteroviruses. None of the samples was positive for HAV. Molecular virus detection threshold was estimated to be 103 PFU/100 ml. All samples contained high concentrations of coliphages except those of dry sludge. Reductions in the concentrations of bacteriophages attained by the wastewater treatment plants are of the order of magnitude as reductions described elsewhere. Peak concentrations in raw wastewater were associated with winter rains and suspended materials rate in analysed samples. Our data which is the first in North Africa showed that similar trends of coliphages distribution to other studies in other countries. CONCLUSION: No clear correlation between studied enteric viruses and coliphages concentration was proved. Coliphages abundance in collected samples should raise concerns about human enteric viruses transmission as these residues are reused in agricultural fields.