Rhizobacteria possess a wide variety of qualities governing their pollutant-catabolic and rhizospheric competences. We investigated how the abilities to degrade phenanthrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to synthesize surfactants and the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), to be motile, and to perform chemotaxis toward phenanthrene and some potential root-exudate components were manifested in rhizobacteria isolated from oil-polluted sites. We observed that most of the examined rhizobacteria had the abilities under consideration and that in some strains, these were strongly affected by the bacterial environment. Only one strain--Sinorhizobium meliloti P221--exhibited increased PAH-degrading, surfactant-producing, and IAA-synthesizing activities, as well as distinct behavioral responses. We conclude that S. meliloti P221 can be used as a model to assess the contributions of all these activities to plant-inoculation-induced reduction in the soil PAH contents. This strain also may be useful for phytoremediation applications.

Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash contains economically significant levels of silver and gold. Bottom ashes from incinerators at Amsterdam and Ludwigshafen were sampled, processed, and analyzed to determine the composition, size, and mass distribution of the precious metals. In order to establish accurate statistics of the gold particles, a sample of heavy non-ferrous metals produced from 15 tons of wet processed Amsterdam ash was analyzed by a new technology called magnetic density separation (MDS). Amsterdam's bottom ash contains approximately 10 ppm of silver and 0.4 ppm of gold, which was found in particulate form in all size fractions below 20 mm. The sample from Ludwigshafen was too small to give accurate values on the gold content, but the silver content was found to be identical to the value measured for the Amsterdam ash. Precious metal value in particles smaller than 2 mm seems to derive mainly from waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), whereas larger precious metal particles are from jewelry and constitute the major part of the economic value. Economical analysis shows that separation of precious metals from the ash may be viable with the presently high prices of non-ferrous metals. In order to recover the precious metals, bottom ash must first be classified into different size fractions. Then, the heavy non-ferrous (HNF) metals should be concentrated by physical separation (eddy current separation, density separation, etc.). Finally, MDS can separate gold from the other HNF metals (copper, zinc). Gold-enriched concentrates can be sold to the precious metal smelter and the copper-zinc fraction to a brass or copper smelter.

The paper summarizes the results of a study concerning the operation of industrial plants and their effects to the environment. It also addresses, shortly, the consequences to the quality of human life and proposes potential measures that may contribute to the reduction of the negative environmental impacts. The relatively small organized Industrial Area of Alexandroupolis (Greece) is examined as a case study. In particular, the activities of its major industrial facilities are presented and their emissions to the environment are examined. In addition, the socio-economic aspects of the operation of the Industrial Area are studied. The results of the study showed that the operation of the Industrial Area has specific negative effects in the natural environment of the region and in the quality of life of the residents. Methodological and legislative tools, such as control systems for the environmental pollution, the green chemistry, and the environmental management systems, may be employed to assist the prevention and confrontation of environmental problems.

The dynamic removal of cadmium from aqueous solutions by natural and surfactant-modified Mexican zeolitic rocks (clinoptilolite-heulandite type) in fixed bed column systems was investigated. The performances of fixed bed columns were described through the breakthrough curves obtained from column experiments and the values of column parameters predicted as a function of bed height. The column adsorption data were evaluated in terms of the bed adsorption capacity and the efficiency of the process. The experimental results fitted well the bed depth service time model (BDST) for both adsorbents, and the empty bed residence time model (EBRT) was used to optimize column operating conditions. The surface modification of the zeolitic rock with surfactant affected the removal of cadmium in fixed bed systems. Moreover, a column experiment with surfactant modified zeolitic rock previously saturated with 4-chlorophenol was carried out and the results showed that this saturation had a negative effect on the performance of the column.

The Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine (SBMM), active intermittently from 1873-1957 and now a USEPA Superfund site, was previously estimated to have contributed at least 100 metric tons (10⁵ kg) of mercury (Hg) into the Clear Lake aquatic ecosystem. We have confirmed this minimum estimate. To better quantify the contribution of the mine in relation to other sources of Hg loading into Clear Lake and provide data that might help reduce that loading, we analyzed Inputs and Outputs of Hg to Clear Lake and Storage of Hg in lakebed sediments using a mass balance approach. We evaluated Inputs from (1) wet and dry atmospheric deposition from both global/regional and local sources, (2) watershed tributaries, (3) groundwater inflows, (4) lakebed springs and (5) the mine. Outputs were quantified from (1) efflux (volatilization) of Hg from the lake surface to the atmosphere, (2) municipal and agricultural water diversions, (3) losses from out-flowing drainage of Cache Creek that feeds into the California Central Valley and (4) biotic Hg removal by humans and wildlife. Storage estimates include (1) sediment burial from historic and prehistoric periods (over the past 150-3,000 years) from sediment cores to ca. 2.5m depth dated using dichloro diphenyl dichloroethane (DDD), ²¹⁰Pb and ¹⁴C and (2) recent Hg deposition in surficial sediments. Surficial sediments collected in October 2003 (11 years after mine site remediation) indicate no reduction (but a possible increase) in sediment Hg concentrations over that time and suggest that remediation has not significantly reduced overall Hg loading to the lake. Currently, the mine is believed to contribute ca. 322-331 kg of Hg annually to Clear Lake, which represents ca. 86-99% of the total Hg loading to the lake. We estimate that natural sedimentation would cover the existing contaminated sediments within ca. 150-300 years.

Photodegradation of four pharmaceuticals (i.e. carbamazepine, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and 17α-ethinylestradiol) in aqueous media was studied using a solar light simulator (Xe lamp irradiation) and sunlight experiments. These experiments were carried out in river and seawater and compared to distilled water. The latter was used to evaluate the direct photodegradation pathways. Irradiation time was up to 400 min and 24 days for the solar light simulator and sunlight assays, respectively. Pharmaceutical photodegradation followed a first-order kinetics and their half-lives calculated in every aqueous matrix. Moreover, the sensitizing effect of DOC was evaluated by comparison with the kinetics obtained in distilled waters. Ketoprofen was rapidly transformed via direct photolysis in all the waters under both sunlight (t ₁/₂ = 2.4 min) and simulated solar light simulator test (t ₁/₂ = 0.54 min). Under xenon lamp radiation, ibuprofen and 17α-ethinylestradiol were photodegraded at moderate rate with half-lives from 1 to 5 h. Finally, carbamazepine had the lowest photodegradation rate (t ₁/₂ = 8-39 h) attributable to indirect photodegradation. Indeed, its elimination was strongly dependent on the DOC concentration present in solution. Finally, several ketoprofen photoproducts were identified and plotted against solar light simulator irradiation time. Accordingly, the photodegradation pathway of ketoprofen was postulated.

As global water resources decline, reuse of domestic greywater for the irrigation of home gardens is quickly becoming widespread in many parts of the world. However, the sanitary implications of reusing greywater to water edible crops remain uncertain. This study examined the benefits and risks associated with domestic greywater reuse for the purposes of vegetable garden irrigation. Untreated (settled only) and treated (settling and slow sand filtration) greywater collected from a family home was analyzed for basic water quality parameters over a period of 8 weeks. During that time, both greywaters were used to irrigate individually potted plots of lettuce, carrots, and peppers in a greenhouse. Tap water was used as control. Upon maturity, plants were harvested and the edible portions tested for fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci, common indicators for the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. Heavy metals were not detected in the greywater, but both fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci were present in high levels, averaging 4 x 10⁵/100 mL and 2,000/100 mL of greywater, respectively. Despite these high counts, no significant difference in contamination levels was observed between crops irrigated with tap water, untreated greywater, and treated greywater. Fecal coliform levels were highest in carrots and fecal streptococcus levels were highest on lettuce leaves. However, contamination levels for all crops were low and do not represent a significant health risk. Plant growth and productivity were unaffected by water quality, owing to the low N, P, and K levels of the greywater. These results reinforce the potential of domestic greywater as an alternative irrigation source.

Effluents from petroleum refineries contain a diverse range of pollutants including heavy metals. They also contain oil and grease, phenols, sulphides, dissolved solids, suspended solids and BOD-bearing materials. An overview of heavy metal removal from industrial effluents with emphasis on biological methods is given. Results of studies to remove heavy metals in effluents from a petroleum refinery by water hyacinth were presented. Limited success has been demonstrated for the case of iron and zinc, but further work needs to be done. There is a need to strike the right balance between the possible amount of uptake of heavy metal ions and the tendency to suffocate the ecosystem through the depletion and reduction of light and dissolved oxygen. Similarly there is a need for better understanding of the process of enhancement of the capability the water hyacinth to uptake heavy metal ions before the on-set of toxic accumulation.

The purpose of this study was to gather information on the spatial and temporal variation of stream water total mercury concentrations ([THg]) and to test the hypothesis that stream water [THg] increases as stream pH decreases in the Shenandoah National Park (SNP). We based our hypothesis on studies in lakes that found mercury methylation increases with decreasing pH, and studies in streams that found total mercury and other trace metal concentrations increase with decreasing pH. Stream water was collected at baseflow in SNP in April, July, and October 2005 and February 2006. Contrary to our hypothesis, stream water [THg] decreased with decreasing pH and acid neutralizing capacity. In SNP, stream pH and acid neutralizing capacity are strongly influenced by bedrock geology. We found that bedrock also influences stream water [THg]. Streams on basaltic bedrock had higher [THg] (0.648 ng L⁻¹ ± 0.39) than streams on siliciclastic bedrock (0.301 ng L⁻¹ ± 0.10) and streams on granitic bedrock (0.522 ng L⁻¹ ± 0.06). The higher pH streams on basaltic bedrock had the highest [THg]. The variation in stream water [THg] occurred despite no known variation in wet deposition of mercury across the SNP. The findings of this study indicate that the SNP can be an important area for mercury research with significant variations in mercury concentrations across the park.

The present paper deals with an extensive review of literature concerning the platinum group elements (PGEs), and their impact on the environment. The increased number of cars and vehicles fitted with catalytic converters, has been linked with the wide spread in the environment of the PGEs, i.e. Pt, Pd and Rh. Numerous studies present compelling evidence that the catalytic converters, do not only minimize the pollution caused by the car exhaust fumes, but also they release in the environment particulate matter containing the above noble elements, which accumulate in the soil, and plants, or remain suspended in the air, being transported to large distances. Indeed, the concentration of these noble elements in the soil and plants has increased significantly during the last 10-15 years, especially along the road side of high ways. Assessment of the PGEs health risk was originally based on measuring the body fluid in Pt, Pd and Rh content of occupationally involved people, as well as of the general population. Recent results based on cellular studies show that the PGEs are related to respiratory sensitization, allergic reactions, dermatitis, urticaria, damage of the epithelial lung cells, asthma, rhinoconjuctivitis, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine release and possibly to cancer. In spite of the progress attained, more work is necessary for an accurate health risk assessment.