BACKGROUND, AIMS, AND SCOPE: Formaldehyde (FA) is a harmful chemical, which is classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Solutions of FA that are used to preserve cadavers in research and education morphological institutes represent a risk to occupational health of professionals and students. During the dissection of cadavers in the anatomy laboratories, FA vapors are emitted, resulting in the exposure of students and their instructors to elevated levels of FA. The World Health Organization recommends an air quality guideline value of 0.1 mg m⁻³ for exposure to FA. The limit of occupational exposure adopted by the Brazilian legislation (2.3 mg m⁻³) is markedly higher than those adopted by institutions of other countries around the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of personal exposure and the area concentration of FA in the morphology department of the Federal Fluminense University, Brazil, and investigate and compare the relationship between them. METHODS: Four rooms distributed in the three floors of the Morphology Department were evaluated: the embalming laboratory, the anatomy laboratories, the corridor of the teachers’ rooms, and the entrance hall. Thirty-six samples in total were collected in the second semester of 2010 and first semester of 2011. The air sampling and FA analysis were performed according to the EPA TO-11A Protocol, using a diffusive sampling device for carbonyl compounds. Personal samples were collected from monitors using a sampling device pinned on each person’s lapel. The samples were analyzed using rapid resolution liquid chromatography with UV-DAD detection at 360 nm. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The concentrations of FA ranged from 0.20 and 0.18 mg m⁻³ in the corridor between the teachers’ rooms, 0.03 to 0.37 mg m⁻³ in the entrance hall, 0.22 to 2.07 mg m⁻³ in the anatomy laboratory, 2.21 to 2.52 mg m⁻³, in the embalming room. The levels found in the corridor between the teachers’ rooms and in the entrance hall were lower than in other compartments because of their large distances to the sources of FA and better ventilation. The other rooms presented higher levels of FA because of the activities carried there (embalming and dissection procedures). Even in the rooms that showed the lowest levels of FA, the values found were higher than those established by all international guideline limits, except the Brazilian legislation limit, although, the concentration level in the embalming room was even greater than the Brazilian guideline. These concentrations are 100–1,000-fold higher than those reported in an FA outdoor study. The exposure levels of monitors and students ranged from 1.89 to 4.82 mg m⁻³, indicating that current practices at the Morphology Department at the university would represent a health risk. The simultaneous monitoring of area concentrations and personal exposure showed that the characteristics of classes and of cadavers’ parts, the number of students in the room and even the activities of the monitors influence the FA concentrations. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the concentration of FA was low in the ventilated areas of the Morphology Department, and that the personal exposure when the person was close to the cadavers during the dissection procedure was higher than the mean FA concentration. This should be considered in the risk assessment of FA during these activities without effective protection equipment. It is suggested that the Brazilian legislation of exposure to formaldehyde requires an urgent update considering international legislation.

Large day-to-day variability in O3 and CO was observed at Chongming, a remote rural site east of Shanghai, in August 2010. High ozone periods (HOPs) that typically lasted for 3–5 days with daily maximum ozone exceeding 102 ppb were intermittent with low ozone periods (LOPs) with daily maximum ozone less than 20 ppb. The correlation analysis of ozone with meteorological factors suggests that the large variations of surface ozone are driven by meteorological conditions correlated with the changes in the location and intensity of the west Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) associated with the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). When the center of WPSH with weaker intensity is to the southeast of Chongming site, the mixing ratios and variability of surface ozone are higher. When the center of WPSH with stronger intensity is to the northeast of Chongming site, the mixing ratios and variability of surface ozone are lower. Sensitivity simulations using the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model indicate that meteorological condition associated with WPSH is the primary factor controlling surface ozone at Chongming in August, while local anthropogenic emissions make significant contributions to surface ozone concentrations only during HOP.

Concentrations of air pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), trace metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in 2008 and 2009 in the city of Eskişehir, central Turkey. Spatial distributions of NO2, SO2, and ozone were determined by passive sampling campaigns carried out during two different seasons with fairly large spatial coverage. A basic population exposure assessment was carried out employing Geographical Information System techniques by combining population density maps with pollutant distribution maps of NO2 and SO2. It was found that 95 % of the population is exposed to NO2 levels close to the World Health Organization guideline value. Regarding SO2, a large proportion of the population (83 %) is exposed to levels above the WHO second interim target value. Concentrations of all the pollutants showed a seasonal pattern increasing in winter period, except for ozone having higher concentrations in summer season. Daily PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations exceeded European Union limit values almost every sampling day. Toxic fractions of the measured PAHs were calculated and approximately fourfold increase was observed in winter period. Copper, Pb, Sn, As, Cd, Zn, Sb, and Se were found to be moderately to highly enriched in PM10 fraction, indicating anthropogenic input to those elements measured. Exposure assessment results indicate the need for action to reduce pollutant emissions especially in the city center. Passive sampling turns out to be a practical and economical tool for air quality assessment with large spatial coverage.

INTRODUCTION: Solar wastewater treatment based on photocatalytic reactions is a green process that utilizes renewable energy resources and minimizes secondary pollution. Reactor design plays an important role in promoting treatment efficiency and throughput density (based on unit volume of the reactor). EXPERIMENTAL: A rotating disk reactor that significantly increases the process efficiency has been designed and evaluated for application to photocatalytic decomposition of dye pollutants in aqueous solutions. In this process, a novel multi-layer rotating disk reactor (MLRDR) was presented. Photocatalyst (TiO2) particles are immobilized on the surfaces of disks. Within each layer of the reactor, methyl orange aqueous solution is allowed to flow from the center of the disk in a radial direction along the surface of the disk, which is rotating at high speed and is irradiated with UV lamps. The effluent is then directed to the center of another layer that lies underneath. Up to four stacked layers have been tested in this study, and the effects due to the number of the layers and volumetric flow rate on reaction conversion are investigated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The efficiency of this photocatalytic reactor exhibits complex dependence on these parameters. With selected operating conditions, conversions greater than 95% can be achieved within seconds of residence time. Design equations of the reactor have been derived based on fluid dynamics and kinetic models, and the simulation results show promising scale-up potential of the reactor.

PURPOSE: Some of the pharmaceuticals that are not extensively investigated in the aquatic environment are the anesthetic lidocaine (LDC), the analgesic tramadol (TRA), and the antidepressant venlafaxine (VEN). LDC metabolizes to 2,6-xylidine (2,6-DMA) and monoethylglycinexylidine (MEGX), TRA to O-desmethyltramadol (ODT), and VEN to O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV). Within this study, the distribution and behavior of these compounds in German wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were investigated. METHODS: Samples of influents and effluents from WWTPs in Hesse, Germany were collected between January and September 2010. Analytes were extracted from wastewater samples by solid-phase extraction and from solid samples by sonication. Extracts were measured using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS: LDC, TRA, VEN, ODT, and ODV were detected in all analyzed influent and effluent samples. 2,6-DMA could not be identified. MEGX was not detected. TRA and ODV were present in untreated wastewater at the highest concentrations (max, 1,129 (TRA) and 3,302 ng L−1 (ODV)), while the concentrations of LDC and VEN were all significantly lower (mean, 135 (LDC) and 116 ng L−1 (VEN)). All of the analytes were only partially removed in the WWTPs. The mean ratios between the concentrations of the metabolites and their respective parent compounds in influents were 4.7 (ODV/VEN) and 0.7 (ODT/TRA). These values remain approximately constant comparing influents and effluents. CONCLUSIONS: LDC, TRA, VEN, ODT, and ODV are only partially removed from sewage water by WWTPs and thus are continuously discharged in respective recipient rivers. A further transformation of TRA and VEN into the known metabolites during treatment in the WWTPs is not observed.

INTRODUCTION: Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present in the environment and can have serious effects on humans and wildlife. For the establishment of environmental quality guidelines and regulation of EDCs, a better understanding and knowledge of the occurrence and the behavior of environmental EDCs is necessary. The aim of the present study was to comprehensively identify substances that are responsible for the estrogenic effect of an environmental sediment sample taken from the river Elbe/Germany. DISCUSSION: The estrogenic effect of the organic sediment extract was determined using the yeast–estrogen–screen (YES). The sample was fractionated by liquid chromatography (LC) for effect directed analysis. The composition of estrogen-active fractions was further investigated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and high-resolution LC–MS analysis. The composition of the environmental sample was rebuilt with pure compounds in order to assess the partition of estrogenic activity caused by the identified compounds. The organic sediment extract showed an estrogenic potential of 1.9 ± 0.4 ng/g ethinylestradiol equivalents in the sediment. The most prominent contaminants with an estrogenic potential were 17β-estradiol, estrone, and 4-iso-nonylphenols, but other xenoestrogens like bisphenol A and stigmasterol could be found as well. A rebuild of the sample was measured in the YES in order to investigate mixture effects. About 67 % of the observed estrogenic effect in the sediment extract could be explained by a mixture which contained all identified compounds. Chlorophene (o-benzyl-p-chlorophenol)—a widely used antiseptic that was also identified in the sediment extract—has xenoestrogenic properties in the YES that are in the range of other xenoestrogens like 4-n-nonylphenol. This is the first report on chlorophene acting as a xenoestrogen.

PURPOSE: The discharge of colored effluents from industries is an important environmental issue and it is indispensable to remove the dyes before the water gets back to the rivers. The magnetic adsorbents present the advantage of being easily separated from the aqueous system after adsorption by positioning an external magnetic field. METHODS: Magnetic N-lauryl chitosan (L-Cht/γ-Fe2O3) particles were prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. Remazol Red 198 (RR198) was used as a reactive dye model for adsorption on L-Cht/γ-Fe2O3. The adsorption isotherms were performed at 25°C, 35°C, 45°C, and 55°C and the process was optimized using a 23 factorial design (analyzed factors: pH, ionic strength, and temperature). The desorption and regeneration studies were performed in a three times cycle. RESULTS: The characterization of the material indicated that the magnetic particles were introduced into the polymeric matrix. The pseudo-second order was the best model for explaining the kinetics and the Langmuir–Freundlich was the best-fitted isotherm model. At room temperature, the maximum adsorption capacity was 267 mg g−1. The material can be reused, but with a decrease in the amount of adsorbed dye. CONCLUSIONS: L-Cht/γ-Fe2O3 is a promising material to remove RR198 and probably other similar reactive dyes from aqueous effluents.

PURPOSE: Electroplating industries are the main sources of heavy metals, chromium, nickel, lead, zinc, cadmium and copper. The highest concentrations of chromium (VI) in the effluent cause a direct hazards to human and animals. Therefore, there is a need of an effective and affordable biotechnological solution for removal of chromium from electroplating effluent. METHODS: Bacterial strains were isolated from electroplating effluent to find out higher tolerant isolate against chromate. The isolate was identified by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Absorbed chromium level of bacterium was determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES), atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Removal of metals by bacterium from the electroplating effluent eventually led to the detoxification of effluent confirmed by MTT assay. Conformational changes of functional groups of bacterial cell surface were studied through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS: The chromate tolerant isolate was identified as Bacillus cereus. Bacterium has potency to remove more than 75% of chromium as measured by ICP-AES and AAS. The study indicated the accumulation of chromium (VI) on bacterial cell surface which was confirmed by the SEM-EDX and TEM analysis. The biosorption of metals from the electroplating effluent eventually led to the detoxification of effluent. The increased survivability of Huh7 cells cultured with treated effluent also confirmed the detoxification as examined by MTT assay. CONCLUSION: Isolated strain B. cereus was able to remove and detoxify chromium (VI). It would be an efficient tool of the biotechnological approach in mitigating the heavy metal pollutants.

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) used as alternatives for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are also persistent in the environment as PBDEs. Limited information on these non-PBDE brominated flame retardants (BFRs) is available; in particular, there are only few publications on environmental pollution by these contaminants in the coastal waters of Asia. In this regard, we investigated the contamination status of HBCDs, BTBPE, and DBDPE in the coastal waters of Asia using mussels as a bioindicator. Concentrations of HBCDs, BTBPE, and DBDPE were determined in green (Perna viridis) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from the coastal areas in Cambodia, China (mainland), SAR China (Hong Kong), India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam on 2003–2008. BTBPE and DBDPE were analyzed using GC-MS, whereas HBCDs were determined by LC-MS/MS. HBCDs, BTBPE, and DBDPE were found in mussels at levels ranging from <0.01 to 1,400, <0.1 to 13, and <0.3 to 22 ng/g lipid wt, respectively. Among the three HBCD diastereoisomers, α-HBCD was the dominant isomer followed by γ- and β-HBCDs. Concentrations of HBCDs and DBDPE in mussels from Japan and Korea were higher compared to those from the other Asian countries, indicating extensive usage of these non-PBDE BFRs in Japan and Korea. Higher levels of HBCDs and DBDPE than PBDEs were detected in some mussel samples from Japan. The results suggest that environmental pollution by non-PBDE BFRs, especially HBCDs in Japan, is ubiquitous. This study provides baseline information on the contamination status of these non-PBDE BFRs in the coastal waters of Asia.