Nikola Tesla B power plant (TENT B), located at the Sava River, in Obrenovac, 50 km west from the Serbian’s capital, Belgrade, is the second largest coal-fired power plant in the country, consisting of two blocks, each of 620 MW capacity. In order to investigate the threat polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from deposited coal ash, obtained by coal combustion in this power plant, can represent for the surrounding environment, samples of coal ash were submitted to extraction with river water used for transport of coal ash to the dump, as well as with water of different ionic strength and acidity. It was found that, out of 16 EPA priority PAHs, only naphthalene, acenaphthylene, fluorene, phenantrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were found in measurable concentrations in the different extracts. Their combined concentration was around 0.1 μg/L, so they do not, in terms of leached concentrations, represent serious danger for the surrounding environment. In all cases of established (and leached) PAH compounds, changes of ionic strength, acidity, or the presence of organic compounds in river water may to some extent influence the leached concentrations. However, under the examined conditions, similar to those present in the environment, leached concentrations were not more than 50 % greater than the concentrations leached by distilled water. Therefore, water desorption is likely the most important mechanism responsible for leaching of PAH compounds from filter coal ash.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the most persistent organic pollutants in worldwide aquatic environments. The extensive isolation of genes responsive to PAH pollution in soft coral (Scleronephthya gracillimum) is described herein. Soft coral colonies were exposed to 100 μg/L of a standard mixture of PAHs. Gene candidates with transcript levels that changed in response to PAH exposure were identified by differential display polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR). There were 37 types of candidate genes identified, of which 20 were upregulated in expression and 17 were downregulated. The functions of the genes identified included oxidative stress response, ribosomal structure maintenance, molecular chaperone activity, protein kinase activation and tumorigenesis, defense mechanisms, transcription, and other biological responses. mRNA quantification was carried out using real-time quantitative PCR in eight selected genes: cytosolic malate dehydrogenase, protein disulfide isomerase, ribosomal protein L6, ral guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator-like 1, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 4, peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) metallopeptidase protein, and eukaryotic initiation factor 4 gamma 3. Changes in transcript levels were consistent with DD-PCR results. The gene candidates isolated in this study were differentially expressed and therefore have potential as molecular biomarkers for understanding coral responses to environmental stressors.

This study reports the chemical fractionation of several potentially toxic elements (Zn, Pb, Cd, As, and Sb) in contaminated technosoils of two former smelting and mining areas using two sequential extraction schemes. The extraction schemes used in this study were the Tessier’s scheme and a modified BCR scheme. The fractions were rearranged into four equivalent fractions defined as acid soluble, reducible, oxidizable, and residual to compare the results obtained from two sequential extraction schemes. Surface soils were samples from a waste landfill contaminated with Zn, Pb, and Cd located at Mortagne-du-Nord (MDN; North France) and from a settling basin contaminated with PTE such as As, Pb, and Sb located at La Petite Faye (LPF; Limoges, France). The study of the Zn, Pb, Cd, As, and Sb partitioning in the acid soluble, reducible, oxidizable, and residual fractions of the technosoils revealed that Zn, Cd, and Pb were mainly associated with the acid soluble and reducible fractions for MDN site, while As, Sb, and Pb were associated with residual fraction for LPF site. Fractionation results indicate that the percentages of Zn, Pb, Cd, As, and Sb extracted in Fe–Mn oxide bound fraction of Tessier’s scheme were always higher than those extracted by modified BCR scheme. This may be attributed to the stronger Tessier’s scheme conditions used to extract this fraction. In contrast the percentages of Zn, Pb, Cd, As, and Sb extracted in the organic fraction of the modified BCR scheme were always higher than those of the Tessier’s scheme. The order of mobility of PTE was as follows: Cd > Zn > Pb in MDN site and As > Sb > Pb in LPF site. PTE were distributed in all soil fractions, with the most relevant enrichments in extractable and residual fractions. A significant amount of Cd, Pb, and Zn were rather mobile, which suggests that these elements can be readily available to plants and soil organisms.

Coal mine spoils are usually unfavorable for plant growth and have different properties according to dumping years, weathering degree, and the occurrence of spontaneous combustion. The establishment of plant cover in mine spoils can be facilitated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the importance of AMF in plant adaptation to different mine spoils and the potential role of AMF for revegetation practices. We investigated the effects of Glomus aggregatum, Rhizophagus intraradices (syn. Glomus intraradices), and Funneliformis mosseae (syn. Glomus mosseae) on the growth, nutritional status, and metal uptake of maize (Zea mays L.) grown in recent discharged (S1), weathered (S2), and spontaneous combusted (S3) coal mine spoils. Symbiotic associations were successfully established between AMF and maize in three substrates. Mycorrhizal colonization effectively promoted plant growth by significantly increasing the uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), adjusting C:N:P stoichiometry and alleviating toxic effects of heavy metals. G. aggregatum, R. intraradices, and F. mosseae exhibited different mycorrhizal effects in response to mine spoil types. F. mosseae was the most effective in the development of maize in S1 and may be the most appropriate for revegetation of this substrate, while R. intraradices played the most beneficial role in S2 and S3. Our results suggest that inoculation with AMF can enhance plant adaptation to different types of coal mine spoils and play a positive role in the revegetation of coal mine spoil banks.

Simple and effective extraction methods based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME), and solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) were developed to determine triketone herbicides—sulcotrione (SUL), mesotrione (MES), tembotrione (TEMB), and their degradation products—in plant tissues and water samples. The extraction procedures were employed to enable quantification of the accumulation of selected triketone herbicides and their degradation products in a model aquatic plant, Egeria densa. To obtain comprehensive information about the triketones' influence on an aquatic plant, changes in chlorophyll concentration in plants exposed to these triketones were monitored. The average recovery ranged from 58 to 115 % (coefficients of variation 7–12 %) for plant tissues and from 52 to 96 % (coefficients of variation 8–20 %) for water samples. The limit of detection (LOD) for the MSPD–HPLC-DAD procedure was in the range of 0.06–0.23 μg/g, whereas for DLLME–HPLC-DAD and SPE–HPLC-DAD, LOD was in the range of 0.06–0.26 μg/mL. Symptoms of the phytotoxicity of sulcotrione, mesotrione, tembotrione, and their degradation products (decrease of chlorophyll concentration in plant sprouts) were observed for E. densa cultivated in water with herbicide concentrations of 100 μg/L. Moreover, the tembotrione degradation product exhibited a high level of accumulation and low metabolism in plant tissues in comparison to the other triketones and their degradation products.

Hospitals are considered as a special and important type of indoor public place where air quality has significant impacts on potential health outcomes. Information on indoor air quality of these environments, concerning exposures to particulate matter (PM) and related toxicity, is limited though. This work aims to evaluate risks associated with inhalation exposure to ten toxic metals and chlorine (As, Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, Mn, Se, Ba, Al, Si, and Cl) in coarse (PM₂.₅–₁₀) and fine (PM₂.₅) particles in a Portuguese hospital in comparison with studies representative of other countries. Samples were collected during 1 month in one urban hospital; elemental PM characterization was determined by proton-induced X-ray emission. Noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were assessed according to the methodology provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA; Region III Risk-Based Concentration Table) for three different age categories of hospital personnel (adults, >20, and <65 years) and patients (considering nine different age groups, i.e., children of 1–3 years to seniors of >65 years). The estimated noncarcinogenic risks due to occupational inhalation exposure to PM₂.₅-bound metals ranged from 5.88 × 10⁻⁶for Se (adults, 55–64 years) to 9.35 × 10⁻¹for As (adults, 20–24 years) with total noncarcinogenic risks (sum of all metals) above the safe level for all three age categories. As and Cl (the latter due to its high abundances) were the most important contributors (approximately 90 %) to noncarcinogenic risks. For PM₂.₅–₁₀, noncarcinogenic risks of all metals were acceptable to all age groups. Concerning carcinogenic risks, for Ni and Pb, they were negligible (<1 × 10⁻⁶) in both PM fractions for all age groups of hospital personnel; potential risks were observed for As and Cr with values in PM₂.₅exceeding (up to 62 and 5 times, respectively) USEPA guideline across all age groups; for PM₂.₅–₁₀, increased excess risks of As and Cr were observed particularly for long-term exposures (adults, 55–64 years). Total carcinogenic risks highly (up to 67 times) exceeded the recommended level for all age groups, thus clearly showing that occupational exposure to metals in fine particles pose significant risks. If the extensive working hours of hospital medical staff were considered, the respective noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were increased, the latter for PM₂.₅exceeding the USEPA cumulative guideline of 10⁻⁴. For adult patients, the estimated noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were approximately three times higher than for personnel, with particular concerns observed for children and adolescents.

The photodegradation processes of fenpropathrin and λ-cyhalothrin were studied in hexane, methanol/water (1:1, v/v), and acetone in both ultraviolet light and simulated sunlight. Intermediates in the photodegradation process were identified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and the analysis of intermediates was used to speculate on possible photodegradation pathways. The photodegradation processes of fenpropathrin and λ-cyhalothrin followed pseudo first-order kinetics. The photodegradation rates varied according to the solvent in decreasing order: hexane > methanol/water (1:1, v/v) > acetone. The effects of substances coexisting in the environment on the photodegradation of pyrethroids were also investigated in the research. Acetone, humic acid, and riboflavin increased photodegradation rates while L-ascorbic acid slowed the process. This study provides a theoretical basis for the removal of pyrethroid pollution from the natural environment.

Lake Al-Asfar (Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia) is under threat from contaminants released through human activities such as agriculture and urban and industrial developments. In the present study, histopathologic and ultrastructural changes in liver of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus were analyzed to monitor the possible impact of pollution in Al-Asfar estuary. Heavy metals such as Ni, Fe, Zn, Co, Ba, Pb, and Cd were predominant in the lake water and far exceeded the international permissible limits. In fish samples, high prevalences of preneoplastic changes (50 %) and one case of cholangiocarcinoma were revealed in liver tissues. Cytological damage in fish hepatocytes included glycogen exhaustion, deformation of nuclear envelope, heterochromatin condensation, mitochondrial degeneration, vesiculation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, augmentation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomal proliferation. In conclusion, the observed biomarker responses were potential indicators of health impairment or disease in field fish populations, although there was no direct proof of a simple cause–effect relationship. This is the first biological effect assessment in Lake Al-Asfar using tilapia as suitable target species.

The degradation of Romandolide® ([1-(3′,3′-dimethyl-1′-cyclohexyl)ethoxycarbonyl] methyl propanoate), a synthetic alicyclic musk, by activated sludge inocula was investigated using both the manometric respirometry test OECD 301F and the CO₂evolution test. In addition to measuring its biodegradability, key steps of the upper part of the metabolic pathway responsible for Romandolide® degradation were identified using extracts at different time points of incubation. Early metabolism of Romandolide® yielded ester hydrolysis products, including Cyclademol® (1-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexyl)ethanol). The principal metabolites after 31 days were identified as 3,3-dimethyl cyclohexanone and 3,3-dimethyl cyclohexyl acetate. Formation of 3,3-dimethyl cyclohexanone from Cyclademol® by sludge was confirmed in subsequent experiments using Cyclademol® as a substrate, indicating the involvement of an oxygen insertion reminiscent of a Baeyer–Villiger oxidation. Further mineralization of 3,3-dimethyl cyclohexanone was also confirmed in subsequent studies. Three steps were thus required for complete biodegradation of the alicyclic musk: (1) successive ester hydrolyses leading to the formation of Cyclademol® with concomitant degradation of the resulting acids, (2) conversion of Cyclademol® into 3,3-dimethyl cyclohexanone, and (3) further mineralization via ring cleavage.

Because of the reduction in the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), including 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), hexabromobenzene (HBB), and pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), started to be marketed as alternatives to the banned formulations. In this study, the spatial distribution and accumulation of NBFRs, PBDEs, and HBCD in the biota have been investigated in the littoral compartment of a large and deep subalpine lake (Lake Maggiore, Northern Italy), using zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and roach (Rutilus rutilus) as bioindicators. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the contamination of NBFRs in the freshwater invertebrate D. polymorpha. Contamination of zebra mussel due to PBEB, HBB, and BTBPE was low, ranging from 0.9 to 2.9 ng/g lipid weight, from 1.1 to 2.9 ng/g l.w., and from 3.5 to 9.5 ng/g l.w., respectively. PBEB and BTBPE in roach were always below the detection limit, while the contamination of HBB ranged from < limits of detection (LOD) to 1.74 ng/g l.w., indicating a weak contamination. DBDPE was < LOD in all the considered biological samples. Finally, HBCD was detected in all organic tissues with mean concentrations up to 74.4 ng/g l.w. PBDE results, supported by principal component analysis elaboration, suggested a possible contamination due to the congeners composing the penta- and deca-BDE technical formulations, which are present in the Lake Maggiore basin. The biomagnification factor values showed that tetra- and penta-BDE biomagnified, while octa-, nona-, and deca-BDE were still bioavailable and detectable in the fish muscles, but they do not biomagnified. Considering the other BFRs, only HBCD showed a moderate biomagnification potential.