The odorous air emissions from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), such as swine, poultry and dairy farms, are increasingly raising community complaints. Odorous emissions can result in health damages, psychological discomforts and adverse aesthetic effects in the community. However, these emissions are not well characterized up to now due to the lack of legislation, the limitations in sampling and instrumentation techniques, and the complexity of the emissions themselves. This study is aimed at the development of a high volume sampler and sorbent assembly to identify the odor causing compounds from a diary CAFO. The sorbent was custom designed to target the potential compounds that may exist in a dairy farm and was validated in laboratory with a synthetic odor from the swine manure. The actual samples at the diary farm were collected in spring and summer of 2005. The sorbents were solvent extracted and individual odor compounds were identified using GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy). The data obtained indicated that high volume sampling can shorten the sampling time from days to within 4 h. Both volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) have been identified from the dairy farm, such as phenol, methylphenol, 4-ethyl phenol, indole, methyl indole, benzyl alcohol, hexanoic acid, valeric acid and iso-valeric acid, together with some nitrogen containing compounds that have not been reported before.

An open limestone channel (OLC) was constructed within an existing drain to treat the acidic and metal-rich drainage waters generated from an acid sulfate soil (ASS) catchment. The OLC was constructed downstream of a catchment pump and it consisted of a series of ponds and limestone sections. The accumulation of sediment over the limestone, preventing contact of limestone with acidic water, was the greatest problem impacting the OLC in its first year of operation. The continuous or sporadic operation of the catchment pump (at 120 l/s) was not sufficient to flush sediment from the limestone. The accumulation of large amounts of sediment onto the limestone reduced the amount of alkalinity and calcium released into solution. However, if the sediment is removed by agitating the limestone then an equivalent or greater amount of alkalinity may be added to solution and more metals removed from solution compared to fresh limestone. The coating on the limestone had a high concentration of manganese oxides in addition to slightly lower concentrations of aluminium and iron. Removal of these metals from the water was due to the increase in pH produced by limestone dissolution in addition to sorption reactions of the existing coating which had natural microbial activity.

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between ground-dwelling spider communities and the degree of soil contamination of heavy metals, Cd and Pb. Six sites were selected according to expected differences in Cd and Pb contamination levels in soil and similarity in vegetation composition. Ground-dwelling spiders were collected monthly in 2003 and 2004 by pitfall trapping. Species diversity of ground-dwelling spiders between unpolluted and moderately polluted sites was not significantly different although the value was higher in the unpolluted site. Species diversity tended to decrease with increasing Pb levels in soil although no statistical significance was obtained. No trend was shown between species diversity and Cd levels in soil. The community structure of ground-dwelling spiders was similar for the two types of sites. Overall ground-dwelling spider communities may be not sensitive enough to discriminate moderate heavy metal contamination levels in soil. However, among the dominant spider families, the composition and structure of Linyphiidae separated unpolluted and moderately polluted sites. Pardosa astrigera and P. laura (Lycosidae) have a potential as heavy metal accumulator indicator species and Oedothorax insulanus (Linyphiidae) has a potential as a heavy metal sentinel indicator species.

Measurements of indoor and outdoor PM10, as well as indoor O₃ and CO concentrations were conducted and are presented here. These measurements were carried out at an institute building, located in a suburban industrial area in Greece. Both indoor and outdoor PM10 samples were also collected and their elemental composition was identified by ED-XRF analysis. Twenty seven major, minor and trace elements were identified. The measurements took place generally in different periods of institute operation, from June 2004 to February 2005. The indoor PM10 concentrations which were measured during the normal operation period of the institute were found to be many times higher than the respective outdoor PM10 concentrations of the same periods. On the contrary, the indoor PM10 concentrations which were measured during the holiday period were found to be lower than their corresponding outdoor values. Indoor O₃ and CO concentrations were found to be in low level. Indoor PM10 concentrations were found to be in a relative good correlation with O₃ (r = 0.45) and in high correlation (r = 0.98) with CO concentrations. On average, total elements concentrations were much higher indoors relative to outdoors. Based on above findings we attempted to determine the pollution sources of the indoor environment and to investigate some parameters or chemical processes that affect indoor pollutants' levels.

Sediments from 18 different road runoff detention systems, located on the Swedish West Coast, were assessed for their ecological hazard potential. Thirteen of the sites were detention ponds, three were manholes within the same sedimentation construction, and two were detention basins handling wash water from road tunnels. Sediments from all sites were analysed for a range of physico-chemical parameters and contaminants, and screened for acute toxicity using Hyalella azteca (sediment), Daphnia magna (elutriate), and Ceriodaphnia dubia (elutriate) as the test organisms, and for chronic toxicity using C. dubia as the test organism. The benthic fauna of the thirteen detention ponds was also studied. Sediment quality guidelines probable effect levels were exceeded for one or several contaminants at half of the sites, and one third revealed toxicity in some of the bioassays. Most of the detention ponds were dominated by tolerant taxa indicating low biological quality. Relationships between contaminant concentrations, toxicity in bioassays, and benthic fauna were, however, found to be weak. Extractable organic Zn, which was used as a tire wear marker, correlated with Zn, Cu, presumably from brake linings, and W, a common component of tire studs. The highest concentration, which was found in the manholes (14 mg kg⁻¹ ds), corresponds to a tire wear concentration of 11 g kg⁻¹ ds. The results of the present study have shown that traffic related contaminants accumulate in the studied runoff treatment systems, and, therefore, the maintenance of them is crucial in order to prevent contamination of surrounding waters.

The aim of the present work is to characterize the local atmospheric emissions levels and compare them to the component derived from global pollution in a remote site at South Hemisphere (Admiralty Bay located at King George Island in Antarctic Peninsula). Airborne particles, snow and soil/sediments samples were analyzed. Local-produced atmospheric aerosol dispersion was estimated for metals originated by fossil fuel burning from the permanent scientific stations using a simplified Gaussian model. Validation of atmospheric dispersion was established by in situ measurements. Soluble and insoluble particles deposited in freshly snow and airborne particles were analyzed by PIXE (Particle Induced X-Ray Emission) for the determination of the elemental mass concentration and to obtain the Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameter (MMAD). The results showed significant correlation between the concentration of atmospheric aerosol and the freshly deposited particles in the snow, and permitted an estimate of the atmospheric snow deposition factor for K, Cu, Zn, Fe, Pb, and Ti. Results of long-term aerosol data compilation suggest that besides the local aerosol sources, the continental atmospheric transport of airborne particles is not significantly affected by the airborne particles produced by local human impacts at King George Island.

Although the area of urban river sediment quality has received increasing attention over the last 10 years, the presence of contaminated sediments in urban rivers and the potential risk to public health it poses has yet to be rigorously addressed within the urban river restoration context. This is an issue of particular concern at the current time, as the opening-up of urban rivers is being strongly promoted by many legislative and non-legislative bodies as a multi-benefit approach to tackling a range of urban challenges; from decreasing the risk of flooding to increasing the quality-of-life in urbanised areas. This paper brings together these two contrasting concepts; urban rivers as pollutant sinks and sources (presentation of data on urban river sediment quality) and urban rivers as sites of flood alleviation, amenity, recreation and wildlife value (review of the drivers and initiatives behind the increasing implementation of urban river rehabilitation schemes). In light of this combined assessment, the urgent need for a risk assessment of restored urban river sites to establish whether the presence of contaminated sediments poses a risk to public health is strongly recommended. Should such a risk be demonstrated, a tiered approach to supporting the identification and pro-active management of these risks is proposed as a way to inform and enable, rather than to prevent, the safe and appropriate use of the increasing number of urban river restoration schemes being implemented.

The contamination of 27 urban topsoils has been assessed around two lead and zinc smelters (Metaleurop Nord and Umicore) in the North of France. Eighteen trace elements have been analysed (Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, In, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Tl, Th, U and Zn). The investigation included the study of the vertical distribution of Cd, Pb and Zn as indicators of pollution. It was shown that Cd, In, Pb, Sb and Zn were major pollutants followed in lesser quantities by Ag, Bi, Cu and Hg. In addition, As, Ni, Se, Sn and Tl were present at levels slightly higher than regional agricultural values. The other elements (Co, Cr, Th and U) were at endogenous levels. The observations have highlighted the strong heterogeneity of the physico-chemical parameters of urban soils and the existence of heavy contamination of the under layers by Cd, Pb and Zn. A potential transfer of metals from the topsoil to the deeper layers and especially Cd and Zn, is not excluded. Indeed the soil rework is not the only factor explaining contamination level of the deeper layers of the studied soils. The comparison of the studied element concentrations in urban soils with nearby local agricultural values shows that the dust emission originating from the Metaleurop and Umicore smelters were not the only source of contamination. Thus a large contamination of the studied urban soils by Sb and In could be explained by domestic combustion of coal for heating.

Land disposal of treated human and animal effluent through pumice sand soils is a common practice around Rotorua, in the central North Island of New Zealand. There is increasing concern about the possibility of contamination of shallow pumice sand aquifers associated with this practice. In this study, we investigated the transport and attenuation of F-RNA bacteriophages and Escherichia coli in saturated pumice sand aquifer media using a field tracing experiment, and laboratory batch and column studies. The influence of dissolved organic carbon on microbial transport was also investigated by conditioning the 18 cm-long column with ultrafiltered sewage. The CXTFIT curve-fitting program was used to model the experimental data and to determine transport and attenuation parameters. Batch studies showed more than 90% adsorption of both microbial indicators onto pumice sand. High mass removal of microbial indicators was shown in the field (>99% for phage MS2 and E. coli at 2 m down gradient of the injection well; not detected at 6 m) and in the 'clean sand' column (65% for phage MS2 and 90% or E. coli). These results suggest that uncontaminated pumice is an effective sorbent capable of retaining microbial contaminants due to high surface area and porosity. However, in the column, with additional dissolved organic carbon, phages showed a progressive reduction in mass removal and retardation between experiments (93%, 75%, and 63% removal; retardation factor: 3.5, 2.5 and 1.2). This suggests that the organic matter competed with phages for the sorption sites, thus promoting phage transport. As a result, viral transport rates may be significantly greater in contaminated compared with uncontaminated pumice sand aquifers.

The content of Pb, Cd, Mn, K, Ca, Mg and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb isotope ratios in spruce tree rings (Picea abies) and peat cores from the Brdy Hills area (10 km W of the Pb smelter) were compared with those in spruce tree rings in the vicinity of the Pb smelter. Maximum Pb content in tree rings (up to 60 mg kg-¹ Pb) corresponds to a peak of metallurgical production in the mid 1970s and highest smelter emissions in the early 1970s. The Pb concentration curves obtained from peat deposit profiles closely correlate with the Pb concentrations in tree rings at both sampling sites. The small differences between the individual tree cores, with the identical general trend, may be attributed to the difference in distance from the smelter and the altitude of each sampling site. Similar behaviour to Pb can be observed for Cd and Ca. Lead isotope composition in tree rings (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ~1.143-1.174) is controlled mainly by the smelter emissions (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ~1.16-1.17), with the exception of the youngest segments from the more distant locality from the smelter, which yield isotopic signatures corresponding to car-emission Pb (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ~1.143-1.150). Higher content of Mn, Mg and Ca in tree rings corresponding to the 1970s and 1980s may be related to soil chemistry changes caused by acid deposition. In addition, an increase in K, Mg (and in some cases also Mn) in the youngest part of wood cores corresponds to the physiological processes in sapwood, and may be influenced by a decrease in Pb in organic soil horizons, which limited the cycling of basic inorganic nutrients.