The absorption of atmospheric radionuclides by soybean plants was experimentally studied using a radioactive multitracer consisting of radionuclides of Sc, Mn, Co, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Eu, Gd, Yb, Hf, Re, and Ir. The soybean plants were cultivated in soil under no-rain conditions in a box containing air in which multitracer-absorbed cellulose particles were dispersed. The soil was covered with plastic film. After about one-month cultivation, the plants were harvested and washed with dilute HCl solution. The leaves, stems, and beans were subjected to γ-ray measurement. The radionuclides of As, Se, and Re were accumulated in the leaves, and those of Co, Se, and Rb were accumulated in the beans. Among them Se was accumulated to a large extent in the leaves and in the beans. Small amounts of the radionuclides of Co, Se, Rb and Re were found in the roots. Little absorption of these radionuclides into the soil occurred. These results indicate that various radionuclides in the atmosphere were absorbed through the soybean leaves and then transported to the seeds. These findings must be taken into consideration for a complete understanding of the system of uptake of radionuclides by the soybean plant.

A great deal of research has been directed towards the problem of reduction and control of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The aim of this research is to find a process that is both efficient and inexpensive in comparison with traditional air treatment technologies.Our biofilter (one stage system, 2 m in height) is an aerobic system for waste gases containing VOCs using the degradation properties of microbial flora (assorted cultures of Bacillus, Micrococcus, Acinetobacter and yeast). In this process, polluted gas diffuses across a filter bed into which a microbial culture has previously been introduced. Peat is the medium of choice for inoculation with microorganisms because of its adsorption and absorption properties, ability to retain moisture, and buffering capacity. Furthermore, the peat utilized is spherical in shape; thus, it is possible to avoid problems related to compacting.The objective of this study was to eliminate VOCs emitted from a rotogravure process. We were able to achieve promising results from biofiltration of two types of VOCs (a mixed solvent containing isopropyl acetate and 1-nitropropane, and the solvent: 1-nitropropane). The results obtained indicate that the elimination of nitropropane and the mixed solvent in the biofilter are considered to follow zero-order kinetics with reaction rate limitation and diffusion rate limitation, respectively.

From 1990 to 1994, a total of 21 sediment cores and 37 grab sediment samples were collected from the Milwaukee Harbor Estuary. Each sediment core was sectioned and dated using ²¹⁰Pb and¹³⁷ Cs radioisotope techniques. A total of 305 samples were analyzed for sixteen polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs). Grain size distribution, porosity, and total organic carbon content as measured by loss on ignition were also determined. The results provide a historical overview of the impact of industrialization in the Milwaukee area. Although highly variable, the concentration profile of PAHs show, in general, peaks in the 1950's through 1980's. The PAH concentrations have declined since then for most sediment cores. The current levels of total PAHs in most surface sediment samples range from 25 to 200 ppm. A few cores, some of which were collected in 1994, have an elevated PAH concentration at the surface. Toxicity of the surface sediments was evaluated by comparing with the benchmark values developed by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The most heavily contaminated area was found in the Kinnickinnic River between the Becher Street Bridge and the Wisconsin Wrecking Company Wharf. The highest total PAH concentration determined from seven vibra cores collected in this area ranges from 380 to 1000 ppm. The former Wisconsin Solvay Coke Company may have been a major point source of PAHs until the 1970's. Highway traffic and various industrial discharges also contribute to the sediment PAHs in this area.

To study whether airborne pollution can be detected in overbank sediments, samples collected from five overbank sediment profiles in eastern Finnmark, Norway, at 1 cm depth intervals, were subjected to chemical analysis and ²¹⁰Pb dating. The studied drainage basins constitute parts of an area polluted by emissions from two Ni-Cu smelters in Russia. In the most polluted catchment area, the surface sample showed a 5-fold higher Ni concentration and a 3-fold higher Cu concentration than the pre-industrial sediments at depth. The increases started at the same time as the smelters. Slight Ni increases were also detected in the neighbouring drainage basin, while no significant concentration change was seen in drainage basins previously shown to be only weakly influenced by the smelter emissions. In the most polluted drainage basin, the increase in Ni accumulation rate did not equal the airborne deposition rate. Selective surface erosion of fine grained particles with adhering airborne Ni has probably caused excess Ni accumulation in both overbank and lake sediments. On the contrary, opening of minerogenic point sources may dilute the pollutant concentrations in the drainage sediments. Thus, dating of the sediment profiles is necessary to determine the airborne pollutant accumulation rates. However, dating is not necessary to map the resultant concentration increase, that may show the increased exposure of humans and biota in contact with the sediments.

The atmospheric heavy metal pollution of the Fraser Valley, B.C., Canada was assessed in 1993 by analyzing 62 samples of the common woodland moss Isothecium stoloniferum for lead, cadmium, nickel, zinc, chromium, and manganese. The latter two metals did not show a distinct regional distribution, but lead, cadmium, nickel, and zinc showed distinct pattern along a west-east gradient. High values were found in the metropolitan Vancouver area, located in the west of the study region. Significantly lower values were recorded for mosses from the eastern more rural areas of the Fraser Valley. Metal pollutants are likely to be contained close to their emission sources by alternating south-east, north-west winds. Highest values overall were found in the North Shore Mountains, adjacent to Vancouver. This was related to higher precipitation and short range pollutant transport from the industrialized, heavily populated areas in the floodplain of the Fraser River.

The Henry's law constant of trichloroacetic acid [K′H (mol kg⁻¹ atm⁻¹) for the equilibrium CCl₃COOH₍g₎ ⇌ CCl₃COOH₍ₐq₎] has been determined from measured partial pressures over aqueous solutions at 298.15 K and 308.15 K. Its value is given by: ln(K′H) = (11.21 ± 0.5) – 8.66 × 10³ (l/Tᵣ – l/T) where T (K) is temperature and Tᵣ is equal to 298.15 K, for an aqueous phase dissociation constant (Kₐ) of 0.55 mol kg⁻¹ determined from literature osmotic coefficient and electromotive force data. Accuracy is estimated to be 4–30% in the product K′HKₐ. Trichloroacetic acid is highly soluble and will partition strongly into aqueous atmospheric aerosols, and completely into fog and cloud water. Its occurrence and transport in the environment are therefore to be associated primarily with liquid phases.