Recent years have seen considerable improvement in water quality standards (QS) for metals by taking account of the effect of local water chemistry conditions on their bioavailability. We describe preliminary efforts to further refine water quality standards, by taking account of the composition of the local ecological community (the ultimate protection objective) in addition to bioavailability. Relevance of QS to the local ecological community is critical as it is important to minimise instances where quality classification using QS does not reconcile with a quality classification based on an assessment of the composition of the local ecology (e.g. using benthic macroinvertebrate quality assessment metrics such as River InVertebrate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS)), particularly where ecology is assessed to be at good or better status, whilst chemical quality is determined to be failing relevant standards. The alternative approach outlined here describes a method to derive a site-specific species sensitivity distribution (SSD) based on the ecological community which is expected to be present at the site in the absence of anthropogenic pressures (reference conditions). The method combines a conventional laboratory ecotoxicity dataset normalised for bioavailability with field measurements of the response of benthic macroinvertebrate abundance to chemical exposure. Site-specific QSᵣₑfare then derived from the 5%ile of this SSD. Using this method, site QSᵣₑfhave been derived for zinc in an area impacted by historic mining activities. Application of QSᵣₑfcan result in greater agreement between chemical and ecological metrics of environmental quality compared with the use of either conventional (QScₒₙ) or bioavailability-based QS (QSbᵢₒ). In addition to zinc, the approach is likely to be applicable to other metals and possibly other types of chemical stressors (e.g. pesticides). However, the methodology for deriving site-specific targets requires additional development and validation before they can be robustly applied during surface water classification.

Lead is reported to be an endocrine disruptor. In the current study, we exposed female Prussian carp to artificial feed, supplemented with five doses of dietary Pb (0, 1 (control), 8, 13, 24, and 49 mg/kg) over either a 24-month period or a 12-month period, followed by further 12 months where the fish were fed the control diet. Periodically, oocyte maturation, gonadosomatic index (GSI), ability to secret luteinizing hormone (LH) as well as gonad Pb concentrations were measured. It was found that the reproductive system of the female Prussian carp is not indifferent to chronic exposure to lead. The negative effect was manifested by a decrease in the GSI after 12 months despite the fact that a higher proportion of oocytes at more advanced maturity stages were concurrently observed. After 12 months of exposure, the effect on LH secretion varied according to the dose. In the group exposed to the lowest dose (8 mg/kg), LH decreased spontaneously, and in the groups exposed to the highest two doses (24 and 48 mg/kg), a significantly higher LHRH-A-stimulated LH secretion was observed. After 24 months of lead exposure, the effects on oocyte maturation and size and on GSI values were not pronounced. Analysis of the effect of lead exposure on LH secretion showed that the relationships were similar to those observed after 12 months but nonsignificant. During chronic a 24-month period exposure to Pb, Prussian carp female appears to acclimate to Pb doses used in the experiment. After 12 months of exposure and 12 months of depuration, the levels of spontaneous and stimulated LH secretion observed in all the groups were similar to the control, which is evidence that depuration eliminates the previously observed effects of exposure to lead. Lead is easily accumulated in the ovary, reaching a fivefold higher level (0.8 mg/kg tissue) compared to the control (0.15 mg/kg tissue), but after discontinuation of exposure, this organ is quickly depurated. The results indicate that environmental Pb can be a potent endocrine disruptor affecting ovarian steroidogenesis, gametogenesis, and ovulation, which may lead to adverse impacts on fish reproduction and population density and that female Prussian carp become resistant to the negative effects of lead with advancing age, and their organs cope by reaching a state of homeostasis.

Ostrya spp. and Carpinus spp. pollen was in vitro exposed to three atmospheric pollutants: CO, O₃ and SO₂. Two levels of each pollutant were used, and the first level corresponds to a concentration about the atmospheric hour-limit value acceptable for human health protection in Europe and the second level to about the triple of the first level. Experiments were done under artificial solar light with temperature and relative humidity controlled. The viability of the exposed pollen samples showed a significant decrease. Also, the germination percentage showed a significant decrease in both exposed pollens, and the effect was most pronounced for SO₂, followed by O₃ and CO. A general decreasing trend in the total soluble protein content of the exposed pollen samples when compared with the control was observed, but it was only statistically significant for the Ostrya spp pollen. The results showed marked effects were observed on the Ostrya spp. and Carpinus spp. pollen when exposed to air pollutant levels that can be considered safe for human health protection.

Self-cleaning photocatalytic coatings for biocalcarenite stones, based on TiO₂nanoparticles obtained by sol–gel processes at different pH values and also adding gold particles, have been investigated. The selected test material is a biocalcarenite named “pietra di Lecce” (Lecce stone), outcropping in Southern Italy. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman investigations were carried out to characterize the TiO₂nanoparticles and coatings. Nanocrystalline anatase and, to a lesser extent, brookite phases are obtained. Photocatalytic activity of the TiO₂sols and of the coatings on “pietra di Lecce” was assessed under ultraviolet irradiation, monitoring methyl orange (MeO) dye degradation as a function of time. To evaluate the harmlessness of the treatment, colorimetric tests and water absorption by capillarity were performed. The results show good photodegradation rates for titania nanosols, particularly when putting in Au particles, whereas a satisfactory chromatic compatibility between the sol and the surface of the calcarenite is found only without Au addition. HIGHLIGHTS: Sols of nanocrystalline titania at different pH values and with Au particles were prepared and characterized. Satisfactory photodegradation of MeO by the sols in solution and on calcarenite-coated surfaces is obtained. The addition of Au particles improves the photodegradation activity but gives poor chromatic results on “pietra di Lecce”.

A series of treatment experiments were carried out to evaluate the applicability of a high-temperature melting treatment (GeoMelt process) to the destruction of polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) formulation. We started with 10-kg-scale experiments in which a small melting furnace was used and then scaled up to a 1-t-scale experiment in which a melting furnace that resembled an actual treatment system was used. These runs were evaluated whether destruction efficiency (DE) of total PCNs was more than 99.999 % and whether concentrations of PCNs and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/DFs) in vitrified materials, emission gas, and scrubber water were below the target levels. Because DE values and the target levels of PCNs and PCDDs/DFs in these runs were satisfactory, then we carried out a demonstrative experiment using the actual treatment system and confirmed destruction of PCNs. Based on good results of the demonstrative experiment, stock of PCN formulation was successfully treated continuously.

Current water quality standards for the protection of human health in Korea include 17 substances found in rivers and streams. Due to increasing concern over the release of hazardous chemicals into the aquatic environment, there has been a demand for additional water quality standards. Therefore, the Korean Ministry of the Environment plans to gradually increase the number of water quality standards to 30 substances, including 22 substances for protection of human health and 8 substances for protection of aquatic ecosystems by 2015. In this study, new water quality standards for protection of human health were established for 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, and hexachlorobenzene. We selected candidate hazardous chemicals, conducted a human health risk assessment to determine priority chemicals, established water quality standards based on technical analyses and comparison with domestic and developed countries’ water quality standards, and conducted an expert review. Water quality standards for protection of aquatic ecosystems will be derived in the near future. This study describes how the water quality standards for protection of human health were developed and implemented. Current status, recent expansion, and future plans for water quality standards in Korea are also covered.

In this study, a relevant literature has been reviewed focusing on the carbon dioxide capture technologies in general, such as amine-based absorption as conventional carbon dioxide capturing technology, aqueous ammonia-based absorption, membranes, and adsorption material (e.g., zeolites, and activated carbons). In more details, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as new emerging technologies for carbon dioxide adsorption are discussed. The MOFs section is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of MOFs including material characteristics and synthesis, structural features, CO₂adsorption capacity, heat of adsorption and selectivity of CO₂.

A novel method for the extraction of Sudan dyes including Sudan I, II, III, and IV from environmental water by magnetic titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@TiO₂) coated with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) as adsorbent was reported. Fe₃O₄@TiO₂ was synthesized by a simple method and was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The magnetic separation was quite efficient for the adsorption and desorption of Sudan dyes. The effect of the amount of SDS, extraction time, pH, desorption condition, maximal extraction volume, and humic acid on the extraction process were investigated. This method was employed to analyze three environmental water samples. The results demonstrated that our proposed method had wide linear range (25–5,000 ng L⁻¹) with a good linearity (R ² > 0.999) and low detection limits (2.9–7.3 ng L⁻¹). An enrichment factor of 1,000 was achieved. In all three spiked levels (25, 250, and 2,500 ng L⁻¹), the recoveries of Sudan dyes were in the range of 86.9–93.6 %. The relative standard deviations obtained were ranging from 2.5 to 9.3 %. That is to say, the new method was fast and effective for the extraction of Sudan dye from environmental water.

In the current study, the bioaccumulation of essential and nonessential metals and related antioxidant activity were analyzed in three organs (muscle, gills, and liver) of herbivorous (HF) and carnivorous (CF) edible fish of Chenab River. The comparative analysis revealed a more heterogeneous accumulation of metals in the muscles of HF fish than that of CF fish [chromium (Cr, 3.4 μg g⁻¹), cobalt (Co, 1.7 μg g⁻¹), copper (Cu, 3 μg g⁻¹), and iron (Fe, 45 μg g⁻¹) versus Cr (1.3 μg g⁻¹), Co (0.1 μg g⁻¹), Cu (1.1 μg g⁻¹), and Fe (33 μg g⁻¹), respectively, P < 0.001]. These results implied an organ-specific accumulation of metals at different trophic levels. According to logistic regression analysis, the bioaccumulation of metals had marked differences in HF and CF. The antioxidant activity was significantly related to the tissue type and the metals to which the organs are exposed to. The liver of CF fish had a higher activity of antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidase (LPO) than that of HF (P < 0.05). LPO and guaiacol peroxidase (POD) in both groups were associated with a number of metals, but in HF, cadmium (Cd), Cr, Pb, and Zn were more related with the LPO and SOD activities. Moreover, Cd, Co, Fe, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn were above the permissible limits set by various agencies. In numerous cases, our results were even higher than those previously reported in the literature. The results provide an insight into the pollution pattern of Chenab River. These results may be helpful in the future to identify biomarkers of exposure in aquatic organisms.

To analyze the effect of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) 118 on fish bone metabolism, we examined osteoclastic and osteoblastic activities, as well as plasma calcium levels, in the scales of PCB (118)-injected goldfish. In addition, effect of PCB (118) on osteoclasts and osteoblasts was investigated in vitro. Immature goldfish, in which the endogenous effects of sex steroids are negligible, were used. PCB (118) was solubilized in dimethyl sulfoxide at a concentration of 10 ppm. At 1 and 2 days after PCB (118) injection (100 ng/g body weight), both osteoclastic and osteoblastic activities, and plasma calcium levels were measured. In an in vitro study, then, both osteoclastic and osteoblastic activities as well as each marker mRNA expression were examined. At 2 days, scale osteoclastic activity in PCB (118)-injected goldfish increased significantly, while osteoblastic activity did not change significantly. Corresponding to osteoclastic activity, plasma calcium levels increased significantly at 2 days after PCB (118) administration. Osteoclastic activation also occurred in the marker enzyme activities and mRNA expressions in vitro. Thus, we conclude that PCB (118) disrupts bone metabolism in goldfish both in vivo and in vitro experiments.