To improve the indoor air quality of apartments in Korea, a toluene adsorptive paint was manufactured and tested for its efficiency to remove the indoor toluene released from wallpaper adhesives. The toluene adsorptive paint was prepared by blending activated carbon and inorganic binder, and the pore characteristics and chemical functional groups of the activated carbon were analyzed to determine whether the micropores and surface functionalities of activated carbon affected toluene adsorption. Toluene adsorption performance of the toluene adsorptive paint was confirmed through static and verification experiments. The average adsorption efficiency of toluene adsorptive paint in the static experiment was 98.3% and the verification experiment confirmed that about 96.3% of toluene was adsorbed from the indoor air of the apartment. As a result, the use of toluene adsorptive paint effectively removes toluene, which may occur in the adhesive, and thus can be considered to have a good effect on the improvement of indoor air quality. Furthermore, toluene adsorptive paint has been found to be an effective way to achieve consumer wall finishing preferences and maintenance convenience.

This study investigates trace element concentrations (arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn)) and Pb isotopic compositions in an Australian native bee species, Tetragonula carbonaria, and its products of honey and wax. Co-located soil and dust samples were simultaneously analysed with the objective of determining if the bees or their products had potential application as a proxy for monitoring environmental contamination. The most significant relationships were found between Pb concentrations in honey (r = 0.814, p = 0.014) and wax (r = 0.883, p = 0.004) and those in co-located dust samples. In addition, Zn concentrations in honey and soil were significantly associated (r = 0.709, p = 0.049). Lead isotopic compositions of native bee products collected from background sites adjacent to Sydney national parks (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.144, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 2.437) corresponded to local geogenic rock and soil values (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.123–1.176, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 2.413–2.500). By contrast, inner Sydney metropolitan samples, including native bees and wax (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.072–1.121, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 2.348–2.409), co-located soil and dust (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.090–1.122, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 2.368–2.403), corresponded most closely to aerosols collected during the period of leaded petrol use (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 1.067–1.148, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb = 2.341–2.410). A large range of Pb isotopic compositions in beehive samples suggests that other legacy sources, such as Pb-based paints and industrials, may have also contributed to Pb contamination in beehive samples. Native bee data were compared to corresponding samples from the more common European honey bee (Apis mellifera). Although Pb isotopic compositions were similar in both species, significant differences in trace element concentrations were evident across the trace element suite, the bees and their products. The statistical association between T. carbonaria and co-located environmental contaminant concentrations were stronger than those in European honey bees, which may be attributable to its smaller foraging distance (0.3–0.7 km versus 5–9 km, respectively). This implies that T. carbonaria may be more suitable for assessing small spatial scale variations of trace element concentrations than European honey bees.

Melamine formaldehyde resins have hard and durable properties and are found in many products, including automobile paints. These resins contain high concentrations of nitrogen and, if properly composted, can yield valuable products. We evaluated the effects of starter compost, nutrients, gypsum and microbial inoculation on composting of paint sludge containing melamine resin. A bench-scale composting experiment was conducted at 55 °C for 91 days and then at 30 °C for an additional 56 days. After 91 days, the composts were inoculated with a mixed population of melamine-degrading microorganisms. Melamine resin degradation after the entire 147 days of composting varied between 73 and 95% for the treatments with inoculation of microorganisms compared to 55–74% for the treatments without inoculation. Degradation was also enhanced by nutrients and gypsum additions. Our results infer that large scale composting of melamine resins in paint sludge is possible.

This article presents evidence demonstrating that the historical use of leaded gasoline and lead (Pb) in exterior paints in Australia has contaminated urban soils in the older inner suburbs of large cities such as Sydney and Melbourne. While significant attention has been focused on Pb poisoning in mining and smelting towns in Australia, relatively little research has focused on exposure to Pb originating from inner-city soil dust and its potential for childhood Pb exposures. Due to a lack of systematic blood lead (PbB) screening and geochemical soil Pb mapping in the inner cities of Australia, the risks from environmental Pb exposure remain unconstrained within urban population centres.

A study of a large number of samples of flaking old paint from various buildings in Bergen, Norway (N = 68) suggests that paint may be the most important contemporary source of PCBs in this urban environment with concentrations of PCB7 up to 3.39 g/kg. Twenty-three of the samples were collected from a single building, and the concentrations were found to vary over 3 orders of magnitude. In addition, 16 concrete samples from a large bridge previously coated with PCB-containing paint were collected and separated into outer- and inner samples indicating that PCBs are still present in high concentrations subsequent to renovation. PCBs were found in several categories of paint from wooden and concrete buildings, potentially introduced to the environment by natural weathering, renovation, and volatilization. Consequently, this dispersion may lead to increased levels of PCBs in urban atmospheres, soils, and harbor sediments where high concentrations have resulted in Governmental advice against consumption of certain seafood. Paint from structures built during the period 1950-1970 may be the most important source of PCBs in an urban environment.

We present direct evidence of the release of synthetic nanoparticles from urban applications into the aquatic environment. We investigated TiO2 particles as these particles are used in large quantities in exterior paints as whitening pigments and are to some extent also present in the nano-size range. TiO2 particles were traced from exterior facade paints to the discharge into surface waters. We used a centrifugation based sample preparation which recovers TiO2 particles between roughly 20 and 300 nm. Analytical electron microscopy revealed that TiO2 particles are detached from new and aged facade paints by natural weather conditions and are then transported by facade runoff and are discharged into natural, receiving waters. Microscopic investigations are confirmed by bulk chemical analysis. By combining results from microscopic investigations with bulk chemical analysis we calculated the number densities of synthetic TiO2 particles in the runoff. The release of synthetic TiO2 particles from exterior applications into the aquatic environment is demonstrated.

Lead (Pb) both in paints and children's Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys is a major public health concern which has attracted attention of the international community. Concentrations of Pb both in lead-based paints and children's PVC toys have been assessed through various studies across the globe. Therefore, the purpose of this article was to summarize the results reported in these studies and provide some comprehension on their implications to human health for law enforcement as well as for awareness raising to the general public. Highlights on identified gaps have been provided to pave ways for further research interventions in order to establish comprehensive information on the subject.Regardless of regulatory limits on the content of lead, both in paints and children's PVC toys existing in different countries in the world, some of the reviewed articles have revealed significant levels of lead in these two items far above the permissible limits.High lead levels in paints have been recorded in China (116,200 ppm), Cameroon (500,000 ppm), South Africa (189,000 ppm), Tanzania (120,862.1 ppm), Uganda (150,000 ppm), Thailand (505,716 ppm) and Brazil (170,258.4 ppm) just to mention a few.Lead poisoning cases in children have been reported in several countries including France, Morocco, South Africa and United States. Countries where high levels of lead in children's PVC toys have been recounted include; China (860,000 ppm), South Africa (145,000 ppm), United States (22,550 ppm), Thailand (4,486.11 ppm), Palestine (6,036 ppm) and India (2,104 ppm).Awareness raising among parents is vital to impart them with knowledge on the matter so that they can take strenuous measures to protect their children from lead poisoning emanating from playing with toys and paint dust. Law enforcement on phasing out lead-based paints and control of lead content in children's PVC toys worldwide is also highly recommended.

Microplastics (MPs) contamination in water environment has recently been documented as an emerging environmental threat due to their negative impact on the ecosystem. Their sources are many, but all of them are from synthetic materials. The sources of MPs are cosmetics and personal care products, breakdown or abrasion processes of other plastic products, textile and tyre, bitumen and road marking paints. Because of their low density and small particle size, they are easily discharged into the wastewater drainage systems. Therefore, the municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are indicated to be the main recipients of MPs before getting discharged into the natural waterbodies. Therefore, understanding the occurrence and fate of MPs in WWTPs are of great importance towards its control. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review to better understand the pathways of MPs before entering the WWTPs, characteristics of MPs in wastewater, and the removal efficiency of MPs of the existing wastewater treatment technologies adopted by the WWTPs. This review also covers the development of potential microplastics treatment technologies investigated to date. Based on the review of existing literature, it is found that the existing WWTPs are inefficient to completely remove the MPs and there is a risk that they may get discharged into the ambient water sources.

Tributyltin is a biocide used in nautical paints, aiming to reduce fouling of barnacles in ships. Despite the fact that many effects of TBT on marine species are known, studies in mammals have been limited, especially those evaluating its effect on the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of subchronic exposure to TBT on the HPT axis in female rats. Female Wistar rats received vehicle, TBT 200 ng kg−1 BW d−1 or 1000 ng kg−1 BW d−1 orally by gavage for 40 d. Hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, liver and blood samples were collected. TBT200 and TBT1000 thyroids showed vacuolated follicular cells, with follicular hypertrophy and hyperplasia. An increase in epithelial height and a decrease in the thyroid follicle and colloid area were observed in TBT1000 rats. Moreover, an increase in the epithelium/colloid area ratio was observed in both TBT groups. Lower TRH mRNA expression was observed in the hypothalami of TBT200 and TBT1000 rats. An increase in Dio1 mRNA levels was observed in the hypothalamus and thyroid in TBT1000 rats only. TSH serum levels were increased in TBT200 rats. In TBT1000 rats, there was a decrease in total T4 serum levels compared to control rats, whereas T3 serum levels did not show significant alterations. We conclude that TBT exposure can promote critical abnormalities in the HPT axis, including changes in TRH mRNA expression and serum TSH and T4 levels, in addition to affecting thyroid morphology. These findings demonstrate that TBT disrupts the HPT axis. Additionally, the changes found in thyroid hormones suggest that TBT may interfere with the peripheral metabolism of these hormones, an idea corroborated by the observed changes in Dio1 mRNA levels. Therefore, TBT exposition might interfere not only with the thyroid axis but also with thyroid hormone metabolism.