The present study monitors BTEX concentration in outdoor and indoor air of eight different microenvironments during summer 2017 and winter 2018 at Asaloyeh city, Iran's energy capital. It samples BTEX compounds by charcoal tubes, analyzing the samples by means of a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector. According to the obtained results, outdoor concentrations of BTEX have been higher than the indoor ones, for both seasons, with the highest outdoor and indoor BTEX being 21.70 and 18.59 μg/m3, respectively. Toluene has been the most abundant substance, among the investigated BTEX in all sampling points. Based on the MIR scale, m, p-xylene is the most dominant contributor to ozone formation potential among BTEX species. Indoor to outdoor (I/O) ratios of BTEX compounds range from 0.53 to 0.88 and 0.41 to 0.77 in winter and summer, respectively. The cumulative hazard index (HI) is within an acceptable range. The LTCR value of benzene concentration, obtained, exceeds the value of 1.0E-06, recommended by USEPA. Sensitivity analysis shows that benzene concentration, exposure duration, and inhalation rate have a greater impact on health risk assessment.

Finding an environment-friendly and affordable method to remove contaminated soils from Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) has now become an attractive field for researchers, with super-critical fluid extraction being an innovative process in the field of contaminated soil treatment. Extraction with super-critical fluid is a simple and rapid extraction process that uses super-critical fluids as solvents. The present study has investigated the extraction of contaminated soil with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) by means of batch supercritical water reactor, employing variables like pressure (100–300 bar), temperature (60–140 ◦C), residence time (0.5–3 hours), and base, acidic, and neutral pH values. In order optimize the process parameters, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) has been used. Results show that removal efficiency of PAHs is between 82%-100%, where the highest PAHs removal efficiency (100%) has been observed in Test No. 22, with a pressure of 300 bars, temperature of 500°C, acidic pH equal to 5, and duration of 3 hours. In addition, the lowest removal efficiency of these compounds (82%) has been obtained in Test No. 26, with a pressure of 300 bars, temperature of 350°C, base pH of 9, and duration of half an hour. According to the results from this study, it has become clear that residence time is the most important and most effective parameter for removing PAHs from contaminated soil. Afterwards, temperature and pH are most influential with pressure showing the least effect. Using supercritical water method in appropriate conditions can eliminate more than 99% of aromatic contamination.

The main objective of this study is to estimate the total economic loss due to inefficient use of irrigation water in Tunisia. Several approaches have been used for this purpose. The optimal level of water application for different crops is calculated using the actual crop evapotranspiration which is based on FAO-56 method. The residual imputation and yield comparison methods have been used to estimate the economic value of irrigation water for different irrigated crops in different bioclimatic areas. For the empirical analysis, primary data were obtained from a series of surveys that covered 78% of the total irrigated areas and were collected within the framework of the BVirtual Water and Food Security in Tunisia project^ (2013–2015). Secondary data about land distribution of crops in Tunisia were taken from the Ministry of Agriculture (2016). Around 724 farms were randomly sampled considering their bioclimatic area, farm type, and production system. The survey included the main 20 crops produced in Tunisia. Results show that most of farmers are either under or over utilizing irrigation water. The value of total direct economic losses, at the country level, of both types of water inefficiencies, was estimated to around 470 million Tunisian Dinars. Therefore, an improvement of water use efficiency at field level through dissemination of information/knowledge on irrigation scheduling and crop water requirements by extension services to farmers is needed to reduce this huge economic loss, reach higher sustainability in water use and improve food security.

peer reviewed | This works estimated the relationships between heavy metals in milk from individual cows, drinking water, silage and soil as well as the links between those elements and the milk composition. © 2019Various industrial activities lead to environmental pollution by heavy metals. Toxic heavy metals enter the food chain of dairy cows through feed and water, then transferred into milk. This study investigated the correlations of heavy metal contents between individual cows’ milk, water, silage and soil. The relationships between heavy metal contents in individual cows’ milk with milk protein, fat, lactose, solid nonfat (SNF), and total solids (TS) were analysed. Concentrations of Pb, As, Cr, and Cd in milk, silage and water were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Lead, Cr, and Cd in soil were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), and As was detected by Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (AFS). One-way non-parametric tests and Spearman correlation analyses were performed using SAS 9.4 software. Levels of Pb and Cd in milk from the unpolluted area were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than those from industrial area. Significantly higher (P < 0.01) As residue was recorded in milk from unpolluted area. Positive correlation of Pb was observed between milk and silage, and As in milk was positively correlated with As in water. Content of As in milk was slightly (r = 0.09) correlated with As in silage, even though strong positive correlation (r = 0.78) was observed between silage and water. Positive correlations were observed for Cr and Cd between milk and silage, as well as milk and soil. Positive correlations were observed in Pb-protein, Cr-protein, and Cd-lactose; other positive correlation coefficients were nearly equal to zero. The results suggest that industrial activities lead to possible Pb and Cd contamination in milk. Drinking water could be the main source of As contamination in cows. No clear relationship was found between milk composition and heavy metals contents in milk. Water and soil on the farm had a partial contribution to heavy metal contamination in milk. © 2019 | Project of Risk Assessment on Raw Milk (GJFP2019008)

Concentrations of organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs) can show significant temporal and spatial variation in the environment and wildlife. Most of the variation is due to changes in use and production, but environmental and biological factors may also contribute to the variation. Nestlings of top predators are exposed to maternally transferred OHCs in the egg and through their dietary intake after hatching. The present study investigated spatial and temporal variation of OHCs and the role of age and diet on these variations in plasma of Norwegian white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) nestlings. The nestlings were sampled at two locations, Smøla and Steigen, in 2015 and 2016. The age of the nestlings was recorded (range: 44 - 87 days old) and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) were applied as dietary proxies for carbon source and trophic position, respectively. In total, 14 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, range: 0.82 - 59.05 ng/mL), 7 organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs, range: 0.89 - 52.19 ng/mL), 5 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs, range: 0.03 - 2.64 ng/mL) and 8 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs, range: 4.58 - 52.94 ng/mL) were quantified in plasma samples from each location and year. The OHC concentrations, age and dietary proxies displayed temporal and spatial variations. The age of the nestlings was indicated as the most important predictor for OHC variation as the models displayed significantly decreasing plasma concentrations of PCBs, OCPs, and PBDEs with increasing age, while concentrations of PFASs were significantly increasing with age. Together with age, the variations in PCB, OCP and PBDE concentrations were also explained by δ13C and indicated decreasing concentrations with a more marine diet. Our findings emphasise age and diet as important factors to consider when investigating variations in plasma OHC concentrations in nestlings. | acceptedVersion

Embargo until 09 October 2020 | The ubiquity and high bioavailability of microplastics have an unknown risk on the marine environment. Biomonitoring should be used to investigate biotic impacts of microplastic exposure. While many studies have used mussels as indicators for marine microplastic pollution, a robust and clear justification for their selection as indicator species is still lacking. Here, we review published literature from field investigations and laboratory experiments on microplastics in mussels and critically discuss the suitability and challenges of mussels as bioindicator for microplastic pollution. Mussels are suitable bioindicator for microplastic pollution because of their wide distribution, vital ecological niches, susceptibility to microplastic uptake and close connection with marine predators and human health. Field investigations highlight a wide occurrence of microplastics in mussels from all over the world, yet their abundance varies enormously. Problematically, these studies are not comparable due to the lack of a standardized approach, as well as temporal and spatial variability. Interestingly, microplastic abundance in field-collected mussels is closely related to human activity, and there is evidence for a positive and quantitative correlation between microplastics in mussels and surrounding waters. Laboratory studies collectively demonstrate that mussels may be good model organisms in revealing microplastic uptake, accumulation and toxicity. Consequently, we propose the use of mussels as target species to monitor microplastics and call for a uniform, efficient and economical approach that is suitable for a future large-scale monitoring program. | acceptedVersion

Disposal of mine tailings in marine shallow water ecosystems represents an environmental challenge, and the present paper reports results from a field study in Frænfjorden, Norway, which is subject to such disposal. Structural and functional responses of benthic infauna and epifauna were investigated along a gradient from heavy tailings deposition to reference conditions. The tailings clearly impacted the faunal composition, with lowered species number close to the outfall. Total abundance of infauna increased in the most impacted area due to dominance of opportunistic species, whereas the epifauna was reduced and represented by a few scattered specimens only. In the most impacted area functional responses included an increase in mobile carnivores/omnivores and species utilizing symbionts. Sessile and tube-living taxa, and deposit and suspension feeders decreased, probably due to smothering in combination with tailings-associated changes of the substrate. Functional diversity decreased for both infauna and epifauna, but less than the structural diversity. | publishedVersion

peer reviewed

Plants were sampled from four different types of chlordecone-contaminated land in Guadeloupe (West Indies). The objective was to investigate the importance of biological and agri-environmental parameters in the ability of plants to bioaccumulate chlordecone. Among the plant traits studied, only the growth habit significantly affected chlordecone transfer, since prostrate plants concentrated more chlordecone than erect plants. In addition, intensification of land use has led to a significant increase in the amount of chlordecone absorbed by plants. The use of Bayesian networks uncovers some hypothesis and identifies paths for reflection and possible studies to identify and quantify relationships that explain our data.

Toxicity of weathered oil was investigated using Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae. A novel exposure system was applied to differentiate effects associated with dissolved and droplet oil with and without dispersant. After a 4-day exposure and subsequent 4-day recovery period, survival and growth were determined. Analytical data characterizing test oil composition included polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) based on GC/MS and unresolved hydrocarbon classes obtained by two-dimensional chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection was used as input to an oil solubility model to calculate toxic units (TUs) of dissolved PAHs and whole oil, respectively. Critical target lipid body burdens derived from modeling characterizing the sensitivity of effect endpoints investigated were consistent across treatments and within the range previously reported for pelagic species. Individually measured PAHs captured only 3–11% of the TUs associated with the whole oil highlighting the limitations of traditional total PAH exposure metrics for expressing oil toxicity data. | acceptedVersion