In this study, geophysics, geochemistry, and geostatistical techniques were integrated to assess seawater intrusion in Kapas Island due to its geological complexity and multiple contamination sources. Five resistivity profiles were measured using an electric resistivity technique. The results reveal very low resistivity <1 Ωm, suggesting either marine clay deposit or seawater intrusion or both along the majority of the resistivity images. As a result, geochemistry was further employed to verify the resistivity evidence. The Chadha and Stiff diagrams classify the island groundwater into Ca-HCO₃, Ca-Na-HCO₃, Na-HCO₃, and Na-Cl water types, with Ca-HCO₃ as the dominant. The Mg²⁺/Mg²⁺+Ca²⁺, HCO₃ ⁻/anion, Cl⁻/HCO₃ ⁻, Na⁺/Cl⁻, and SO₄ ²⁻/Cl⁻ ratios show that some sampling sites are affected by seawater intrusion; these sampling sites fall within the same areas that show low-resistivity values. The resulting ratios and resistivity values were then used in the geographical information system (GIS) environment to create the geostatistical map of individual indicators. These maps were then overlaid to create the final map showing seawater-affected areas. The final map successfully delineates the area that is actually undergoing seawater intrusion. The proposed technique is not area specific, and hence, it can work in any place with similar completed characteristics or under the influence of multiple contaminants so as to distinguish the area that is truly affected by any targeted pollutants from the rest. This information would provide managers and policy makers with the knowledge of the current situation and will serve as a guide and standard in water research for sustainable management plan.

The Lake Maggiore (Northern Italy) has been recognized as an aquatic environment heavily contaminated by persistent organic pollutants, mainly organochlorine compounds, but to date limited information is available regarding another class of widespread and hazardous pollutants, such as the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The aim of this study was to investigate seasonal and temporal trends of 18 PAHs accumulated in native Dreissena polymorpha specimens during a 5-year biomonitoring program, as well as to identify the possible PAH emission sources by using isomeric diagnostic ratios. Zebra mussels were sampled both in their pre- (May) and post-reproductive (September) stage over the 2008–2012 period in eight sampling stations covering the whole lake shoreline. PAH concentrations were measured through gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. A notable PAH contamination following an increasing temporal trend was noticed in bivalves from all the sampling stations, with the benzo(α)anthracene as the predominant compound. An overall increase in PAH levels was found in the post-reproductive surveys, indicating a marked seasonality of this contamination probably due to the increase in touristic activity during spring–summer months.

Genotoxicity of pressmud (PM) to Allium cepa was investigated to assess its toxic potential and to elucidate the effect of vermicomposting to reduce its toxicity. The PM produced as a waste by product of the sugar cane industry was mixed with cow dung (CD) at different ratios of 0:100 (V₀), 25:75 (V₂₅), 50:50 (V₅₀), 75:25 (V₇₅) and 100:0 (V₁₀₀) (PM:CD) on a dry weight basis for vermicomposting with Eisenia fetida. Different concentrations of 100 % PM sludge extract (10 %, 20 %, 40 %, 60 %, 80 % and 100 %) and negative control (distilled water) and positive control (maleic hydrazide) were analyzed with A. cepa assay to evaluate frequency of chromosomal aberrations before and after vermicomposting. Percent aberration was greatest (30.8 %) after exposure to 100 % PM extract after 6 h but was reduced to 20.3 % after vermicomposting. Exposure to the extract induced c-mitosis, delayed anaphase, laggards, stickiness and vagrant aberrations. Microscopic examination of root meristem exposed to PM sludge extract showed significant inhibition of mitotic index. Also, the mitotic index decreased with increase in concentration of PM sludge extract. After vermicomposting the mitotic index was increased. However, increasing percentages of PM significantly affected the growth and fecundity of the worms and maximum population size was reached in the 25:75 (PM:CD) feed mixture. Nitrogen, phosphorus, sodium, electrical conductivity (EC) and pH increased from initial feed mixture to the final products (i.e., vermicompost), while organic carbon, C/N ratio and potassium declined in all products of vermicomposting. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was recorded to identify the changes in texture with numerous surface irregularities and high porosity that proves to be good vermicompost manure. It could be concluded that vermicomposting could be an important tool to reduce the toxicity of PM as evidenced by the results of genotoxicity.

Understanding the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the expressions of the dominant plant-related genes under heavy metal (HM) stress is important for developing strategies to reclaim polluted sites. In this study, we cloned full-length cDNAs of phytochelatin synthase gene (PCS1) and Actin of Sophora viciifolia Hance., a predominant plant in Qiandongshan lead and zinc mine, by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Consequently, we studied the response of SvPCS1 to Funneliformis mosseae inoculation under lead stress (0, 50, and 200 μM Pb(NO₃)₂) at different durations (1, 3, and 7 days) using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain-reaction (qRT-PCR) technique. The Pb concentrations and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were also measured to assay Pb toxicity to Sophora viciifolia. We found that Pb concentrations in roots increased with increasing Pb application and the durations; the F ᵥ /F ₘ , F ᵥ /F ₒ , qP, and Y(II) decreased; NPQ rose with increasing Pb concentrations; mycorrhizal symbiosis alleviated the Pb toxicity to plants; and SvPCS1 was constitutively expressed in the roots. It was also found that F. mosseae inoculation could promote the expression of SvPCS1 with the concentration ≤200 μM at the exposure time shorter than 7 days.

Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) of proposed natural origin have been detected throughout the food web of the Baltic Sea. Some OH-PBDEs have been shown to disrupt oxidative phosphorylation and the thyroid hormone system in exposed organisms. This paper describes an investigation into the fate of OH-PBDEs in the Baltic Sea’s predominant specie, the blue mussel. The main focus was on the conjugation of OH-PBDEs with lipophilic moieties (e.g., fatty acids) and the potential role this transformation mechanism may have in heavily exposed mussels in nature. Analytical methods were developed to accurately determine the concentrations of these conjugates in blue mussels collected on different occasions during the summer in a coastal area of the Baltic proper. The measured concentrations of conjugated OH-PBDEs were compared to those of the unconjugated parent compounds, and it was found that in some cases, the levels of the conjugated derivatives can be equal or even higher than the levels of the unconjugated OH-PBDEs. This is, to our knowledge, the first study on lipid-soluble OH-PBDE conjugates, and the first study to investigate the occurrence of such conjugates of halogenated phenolic compounds in environmentally exposed mussels. The mussels were also found to contain hydrolysable water-soluble derivatives of OH-PBDEs (such as e.g., glucuronic acid and/or sulfate conjugates etc.). These were tentatively determined to be of lower concentration (by up to an order of magnitude) than that of the OH-PBDEs which were conjugated with lipophilic moieties.

The new method for producing the functionalized polymers and oligomers containing carbonyl C=O groups is developed. The method is based on the noncatalytic oxidation of unsaturated rubbers by nitrous oxide (N₂O) at 180–230 °С. The proposed method allows obtaining the new type of functionalized rubbers—liquid unsaturated polyketones with regulated molecular weight and concentration of C=O groups. The influence of the liquid polyketone addition on properties of rubber-based composites is investigated. The study indicates good prospects of using the liquid polyketones for the improvement of properties and operating characteristics of the various types of rubbers and the rubber–cord systems.

The concentration levels and congener profiles of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pentachlorobenzene (PeCBz), and hexachlorobenzene (HxCBz) were assessed in commercially available organic pigments. Among the azo-type pigments tested, PCB-11, which is synthesized from 3,3′-dichlorobendizine, and PCB-52, which is synthesized from 2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobendizine, were the major congeners detected. It is speculated that these were byproducts of chlorobendizine, which has a very similar structure. The total PCB concentrations in this type of pigment ranged from 0.0070 to 740 mg/kg. Among the phthalocyanine-type pigments, highly chlorinated PCBs, mainly composed of PCB-209, PeCBz, and HxCBz were detected. Their concentration levels ranged from 0.011 to 2.5 mg/kg, 0.0035 to 8.4 mg/kg, and 0.027 to 75 mg/kg, respectively. It is suggested that PeCBz and HxCBz were formed as byproducts and converted into PCBs at the time of synthesizing the phthalocyanine green. For the polycyclic-type pigments that were assessed, a distinctive PCB congener profile was detected that suggested an impact of their raw materials and the organic solvent used in the pigment synthesis. PCB pollution from PCB-11, PCB-52, and PCB-209 pigments is of particular concern; therefore, the monthly variations in atmospheric concentrations of these pollutants were measured in an urban area (Sapporo city) and an industrial area (Muroran city). The study detected a certain level of PCB-11, which is not included in PCB technical mixtures, and revealed continuing PCB pollution originating from pigments in the ambient air.

Due to activities involving nuclear energy research during the latter half of the 1900s, environmental contamination in the form of elevated cesium-137 levels was observed within the Brookhaven National Laboratory, a US Department of Energy facility. Between the years 2000 and 2005, the laboratory carried out a major soil cleanup effort to remove cesium-137 from contaminated sites. In this study, we examine the effectiveness of the cleanup effort by comparing the levels of cesium-137 in the meat of white-tailed deer found within and around the laboratory. Results suggest that the cleanup was effective, with mean concentration of cesium-137 in the meat from within the laboratory decreasing from 2.04 Bq/g prior to 1.22 Bq/g after cleanup. At the current level, the consumption of deer would not pose any human health hazard. Nevertheless, statistically higher levels of cesium-137 were detected in the deer within the laboratory as opposed to levels found in deer 1 mi beyond the laboratory site.

A fractionation technique, combining dialysis removal of metal and ash components with hydrofluoric acid and pH 10 citrate buffer followed by chromatography of dialysis permeate on XAD-8 resin at decreasing pH values, has been applied to lignite humic acid (lignite-HA) and soil humic acid (soil-HA). H-binding data and non ideal competitive adsorption-Donnan model parameters were obtained for the HA fractions by theoretical analysis of H-binding data which reveal a significant increase of the carboxyl and the phenolic charge for the lignite-HA fractions vs. the parental lignite humic acid (LPₐᵣₑₙₜₐₗHA). The fractionated lignite-HA material consisted mainly of permeate fractions, some of which were fulvic acid-like. The fractionated soil-HA material consisted mainly of large macromolecular structures that did not permeate the dialysis membrane during deashing. Chargeable groups had comparable concentrations in soil-HA fractions and parental soil humic acid (SPₐᵣₑₙₜₐₗHA), indicating minimal interference of ash components with carboxyl and phenolic (and/or enolic) groups. Fractionation of HA, combined with theoretical analysis of H-binding, can distinguish the supramolecular vs. macromolecular nature of fractions within the same parental HA.

Sediment management from stormwater infiltration basins represents a real environmental and economic issue for stakeholders due to the pollution load and important tonnages of these by-products. To reduce the sediment volumes to treat, organic and metal micropollutant-bearing phases should be identified. A combination of density fractionation procedure and microanalysis techniques was used to evaluate the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) within variable density fractions for three urban stormwater basin sediments. The results confirm that PAHs are found in the lightest fractions (d < 1.9, 1.9 < d < 2.3 g cm⁻³) whereas trace metals are equally distributed within the light, intermediary, and highest fractions (d < 1.9, 1.9 < d < 2.3, 2.3 < d < 2.6, and d > 2.8 g cm⁻³) and are mostly in the 2.3 < d < 2.6 g cm⁻³fraction. The characterization of the five fractions by global analyses and microanalysis techniques (XRD and MEB-EDX) allowed us to identify pollutant-bearing phases. PAHs are bound to the organic matter (OM) and trace metals to OM, clays, carbonates and dense particles. Moreover, the microanalysis study underlines that OM is the main constituent responsible for the aggregation, particularly for microaggregation. In terms of sediment management, it was shown that density fractionation is not suitable for trace metals but could be adapted to separate PAH-enriched phases.