There is evidence that over the last 30 years, there have been mass declines in diverse geographic locations among amphibian populations due to disease outbreaks. Multiple causes have been suggested to explain this increase in disease incidence. Among these, climate changes, environmental pollution and reduced water quality are gaining attention. Indeed, some chemicals of environmental concerns are known to alter the immune system. It is possible that exposure to these pollutants could alter the immune system of anurans and render them more susceptible to different pathogens. In this study, we sampled Rana pipiens in five different sites near St. Lawrence River (Quebec, Canada) during the months of July and September in 2001. Two of these sites were protected areas, in which low levels of pesticides were detected, while the remaining three sites were located in areas with intensive corn and soybeans cultivations. Our results demonstrated that frogs living in agricultural regions are smaller in size and weight than frogs living in areas with lower levels of pesticides at both sampling times. Moreover, we have observed a significant decrease in the number of splenocytes (cellularity) and the phagocytic activity in frogs sampled in impacted sites. Taken together, these results suggest that frogs living in agricultural regions might be more vulnerable to infections and diseases through their smaller size and alteration of their immune system. Our results also contribute to the overall discussion on factors involved in amphibian declines.

Ciliated protozoa (ciliates) play important ecological roles in coastal waters, especially regarding their interaction with environmental parameters. In order to increase our knowledge and understanding on the functional structure of ciliate communities and their relationships to environmental conditions in marine ecosystems, a 12-month study was carried out in a semi-enclosed bay in northern China. Samples were collected biweekly at five sampling stations with differing levels of pollution/eutrophication, giving a total of 120 samples. Thirteen functional groups of ciliates (A–M) were defined based on their specific spatio-temporal distribution and relationships to physico-chemical parameters. Six of these groups (H–M) were the primary contributors to the ciliate communities in the polluted/eutrophic areas, whereas the other seven groups (A–G) dominated the communities in less polluted areas. Six groups (A, D, G, H, I and K) dominated during the warm seasons (summer and autumn), with the other seven (B, C, E, F, J, L and M) dominating in the cold seasons (spring and winter). Of these, groups B (mainly aloricate ciliates), I (aloricate ciliates) and L (mainly loricate tintinnids) were the primary contributors to the communities. It was also shown that aloricate ciliates and tintinnids represented different roles in structuring and functioning of the communities. The results suggest that the ciliate communities may be constructed by several functional groups in response to the environmental conditions. Thus, we conclude that these functional groups might be potentially useful bioindicators for bioassessment and conservation in marine habitats.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particles emitted by incense sticks and candles combustion in an experimental room have been monitored on-line and continuously with a high time resolution using a state-of-the-art high sensitivity-proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer (HS-PTR-MS) and a condensation particle counter (CPC), respectively. The VOC concentration–time profiles, i.e., an increase up to a maximum concentration immediately after the burning period followed by a decrease which returns to the initial concentration levels, were strongly influenced by the ventilation and surface interactions. The obtained kinetic data set allows establishing a qualitative correlation between the elimination rate constants of VOCs and their physicochemical properties such as vapor pressure and molecular weight. The emission of particles increased dramatically during the combustion, up to 9.1(±0.2) × 10⁴ and 22.0(±0.2) × 10⁴ part cm⁻³ for incenses and candles, respectively. The performed kinetic measurements highlight the temporal evolution of the exposure level and reveal the importance of ventilation and deposition to remove the particles in a few hours in indoor environments.

In 2009, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers (α-HCH, β-HCH, and γ-HCH [lindane]) were listed as persistent organic pollutants (POP) in the Stockholm Convention. Accordingly, the legacy of HCH/lindane production with the associated large HCH waste deposits has become recognized as an issue of global concern and is addressed in the implementation of the Convention. The current paper gives an overview of the major contaminated sites from lindane production of the INQUINOSA Company. This company operated from 1975 to 1988 in the city of Sabiñánigo, Spain. HCH production resulted in the production of approximately 115,000 tonnes of waste isomers which were mainly dumped in two unlined landfills. These two landfill sites, together with the former production site, are recognized sources of environmental pollution. Assessment and remediation activities at these sites are described. A dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) contaminated inter alia with HCH isomers, benzene, chlorobenzenes, and chlorophenols as the main contaminants and an associated contaminated groundwater plume have been discovered at both landfill/dumpsites and at the former production site. The approximately 4,000 t of DNAPLs constitute a serious risk for the environment due to the proximity of the Gállego River. Since 2004, more than 20 tonnes of this DNAPL has been extracted using “pump and treat” techniques. The Aragon Regional Government and the Spanish Environmental Ministry are taking action, focusing on the treatment of DNAPL and on the transfer of the large quantities of solid POP wastes to a new landfill. A range of laboratory tests has been performed in order to plan the aquifer remediation.

In this study, a natural adsorbent (activated dry flowers (ADF)) was prepared from plant-derived waste biomass by chemical activation and employed for chromium (VI) removal from aqueous medium using experimental batch technique. Experiments were carried out as function of adsorbent dosage, pH, and contact time. The maximum chromium (VI) removal was observed at initial pH 3 (~94% removal). The equilibrium data was fitted well to Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption capacity of ADF was found to be 4.40 (mg chromium (VI)/g) which was comparable to the adsorption capacity of some other adsorbents documented. Among various kinetic models applied, pseudo second-order model was found to explain the kinetics of chromium (VI) adsorption most effectively (R2>0.99). Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG, ΔS, and ΔH shows that adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic at all the concentration ranges studied. Desorption of chromium (VI) with 2 N NaOH was effective (~71%) and, hence, there exists the possibility of recycling the ADF. The major advantages of using ADF as an adsorbent are due to its effectiveness in reducing the concentration of chromium (VI) to very low levels. It requires little processing and is reversible as well as eco-friendly in contrast to traditional methods.

Since the publication of the first version of European standard EN-1948 in 1996, long-term sampling equipment has been improved to a high standard for the sampling and analysis of polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD)/polychlorodibenzofuran (PCDF) emissions from industrial sources. The current automated PCDD/PCDF sampling systems enable to extend the measurement time from 6-8 h to 15-30 days in order to have data values better representative of the real pollutant emission of the plant in the long period. EN-1948:2006 is still the European technical reference standard for the determination of PCDD/PCDF from stationary source emissions. In this paper, a methodology to estimate the measurement uncertainty of long-term automated sampling is presented. The methodology has been tested on a set of high concentration sampling data resulting from a specific experience; it is proposed with the intent that it is to be applied on further similar studies and generalized. A comparison between short-term sampling data resulting from manual and automated parallel measurements has been considered also in order to verify the feasibility and usefulness of automated systems and to establish correlations between results of the two methods to use a manual method for calibration of automatic long-term one. The uncertainty components of the manual method are analyzed, following the requirements of EN-1948-3:2006, allowing to have a preliminary evaluation of the corresponding uncertainty components of the automated system. Then, a comparison between experimental data coming from parallel sampling campaigns carried out in short- and long-term sampling periods is realized. Long-term sampling is more reliable to monitor PCDD/PCDF emissions than occasional short-term sampling. Automated sampling systems can assure very useful emission data both in short and long sampling periods. Despite this, due to the different application of the long-term sampling systems, the automated results could not be directly compared with manual results, not even in terms of measurement uncertainty. This investigation focuses on both uncertainty and repeatability of the automated sampling method. The standard 20988, developed by Internarional Organization of Standardization (ISO) can be used to estimate the measurement uncertainty. The results confirm that the uncertainties of manual and automated methods are comparable. At the same time, it is not appropriate to consider the manual method as a reference for the evaluation of the uncertainty of the automated sampling system, due to the high variability of both systems.

This study investigated the degradation pathway of metoprolol, a widely used β-blocker, in the ozonation via the identification of generated ozonation by-products (OPs). Structure elucidation of OPs was performed using HPLC coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry. Seven OPs were identified, and four of these have not been reported elsewhere. Identified OPs of metoprolol included aromatic ring breakdown by-products; aliphatic chain degraded by-products and aromatic ring mono-, di-, and tetrahydroxylated derivatives. Based on the detected OPs, metoprolol could be degraded through aromatic ring opening reaction via reaction with ozone (O₃) and degradation of aliphatic chain and aromatic ring via reaction with hydroxyl radical (•OH).

The objective of the study was to determine the leachates toxicity from sewage sludge-amended soils (sandy and loamy). Samples originated from a plot experiment realized over a period of 29 months. Two types of soil were fertilized with sewage sludges at the dose of 3 % (90 t/ha). Soil samples were taken after 0, 7, 17, and 29 months from the application of sewage sludges. Leachates were obtained according to the EN 12457–2 protocol. The following commercial tests were applied for the estimation of the toxicity: Microtox (Vibrio fischeri), Microbial assay for toxic risk assessment (ten bacteria and one yeast), Protoxkit F™ (Tetrahymena thermophila), Rotoxkit F™ (Brachionus calyciflorus), and Daphtoxkit F™ (Daphnia magna). The test organisms displayed varied toxicity with relation to the soils amended with sewage sludges. The toxicity of the leachates depended both on the soil type and on the kind of sewage sludge applied. Notable differences were also observed in the sensitivity of the test organisms to the presence of sewage sludge in the soil. The highest sensitivity was a characteristic of B. calyciflorus, while the lowest sensitivity to the presence of the sludges was revealed by the protozoa T. thermophila. Throughout the periods of the study, constant variations of toxicity were observed for most of the test organisms. The intensity as well as the range of those variations depended both on the kind of test organism and on the kind of sludge and soil type. In most cases, an increase of the toxicity of soils amended with the sewage sludges was observed after 29 months of the experiment.

The biochemical effects in Carcinus maenas and contamination levels in seawater and sediments of Bizerta Lagoon (northeast of Tunisia) were investigated. The levels of metals and hydrocarbons were higher in seawater and sediments in Menzel Bourguiba and Cimentery in February and July than in the other sampling sites. Differences among sites for glutathione S-transferase, catalase, acetylcholinesterase activities, and the content of lipid peroxidation and metallothioneins in two important organs which accumulated contaminants (the gills and the digestive gland) of the C. maenas were found and possibly related to differences in metal and hydrocarbon levels. The seasonal variation of biomarkers was possibly associated with chemical contamination and also with the high fluctuation of physico-chemical characteristics of the sites. The integrated biomarker response values found in the five sites is in good agreement with hydrocarbon and trace metal concentrations detected in the water and sediments of the stressful places where crabs are living.

Carbonised beet pulp (BPC) produced from agricultural solid waste by-product in sugar industry was used as adsorbent for the removal of Remazol Turquoise Blue-G 133 (RTB-G 133) dye in this study. The kinetics and equilibrium of sorption process were investigated with respect to pH, temperature and initial dye concentration. Adsorption studies with real textile wastewater were also performed. The results showed that adsorption was a strongly pH-dependent process, and optimum pH was determined as 1.0. The maximum dye adsorption capacity was obtained as 47.0 mg g⁻¹at the temperature of 25 °C at this pH value. The Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models were used for describing the adsorption equilibrium data of the dye, and isotherm constants were evaluated depending on sorption temperature. Equilibrium data of RTB-G 133 sorption fitted very well to the Freundlich isotherm. Mass transfer and kinetic models were applied to the experimental data to examine the mechanisms of adsorption and potential rate-controlling steps. It was found that both external mass transfer and intra-particle diffusion played an important role in the adsorption mechanisms of dye and adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo second-order type kinetic model. The thermodynamic analysis indicated that the sorption process was exothermic and spontaneous in nature.