This paper presents experimental data on particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) in the atmosphere of Candiota--South Brazil. Samples were collected using stacked filter units equipped with polycarbonate filters, which separate particles into two fractions: coarse 10-2.5 μm and fine <2.5 μm. The particulate matter was collected from January 2003 to September 2004 at three sampling sites: Acegua, 8 de Agosto, and Três Lagoas. The collected material was analyzed for Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Mo, Hg, and Pb, using particle-induced X-ray emission technique. Seasonal variation of the chemical elements with the size fraction was assessed. The elements K, Ca, Si, Ti, Fe, and Mn showed similar seasonal variability in the fine and coarse fractions with a low enrichment factor (<1.0) in both fractions, except for Mn and K, indicating common sources (soil dust, fly ash). Chemical species showing seasonal variability and high values of enrichment factor in fine fractions may indicate an anthropogenic origin.

The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in the chemical partitioning of Cu, Pb, Cr and Zn within a column of soil incubated with an anaerobic sewage sludge (ANSS) for 2.5 months. The soil was irrigated during the incubation period. A sequential extraction method was used to fractionate these metals into exchangeable, weakly adsorbed, organic, Al oxide, Fe-Mn oxide, and residual, respectively. ANSS was applied at a loading rate of 69 Mg ha⁻¹. The soil is a Dystric Cambisol with low pH (<3.8), low CEC [<10 cmol(+) kg⁻¹ below the first 4 cm depth], and low base saturation (<7%). The addition of the ANSS caused a decrease in concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Cr in the A1 horizon, and an increase in the concentrations with depth. Below the A1 horizon, concentrations of Cu increased uniformly (~1 mg cm⁻¹), and the greatest increases were observed in the residual, Fe-Mn oxides, and weakly adsorbed fractions. Maximum increases in Pb occurred at 4-9 cm of depth (1.6 mg cm⁻¹), and mainly affected the weakly adsorbed fraction. Chromium essentially accumulated at the limit between the A2 and the Bw horizons (1.1-1.5 mg cm⁻¹) as residual and organic bound forms, probably through particulate transport. Zinc mainly accumulated in the A1 horizon (2.9 mg cm⁻¹) as exchangeable Zn. At depth, Zn increments were predominantly observed in the residual fraction. The results of this study thus demonstrate the redistribution of contaminants into different chemical pools and soil layers after sludge amendment.

In this research, we have investigated the removal efficiency of natural organic matter (NOM) from river and stream water using potassium ferrate(VI). For the study, ferrate was added in 100-ml water sample mixed either with humic acid or with fulvic acid. The removal efficiency at the ferrate dose of 2-46 mg/l (as Fe) was 21-74% for 10 mg/l humic acid and 48-78% for 10 mg/l fulvic acid. NOM was more effectively removed either at lower pH or at higher temperature. The removal performance by ferrate was comparable to that by traditional coagulants (i.e., alum, FeSO₄·7H₂O, and FeO(OH)). In addition, the removal rate of humic acid using traditional coagulants was improved by pretreatment with a very small dose of ferrate. The reaction between ferrate and humic acid was completed within 60 s, while showing first-order kinetic, and then reached a steady state.

One of the problems to affect Portland cement matrices is low resistance to aggressive agents, due principally to the presence of a high content of portlandite in the hydrated cements. Pozzolanic materials have, for decades, played an important role in improving the durability of cement-based materials. This work studies the behaviour of cement mortar matrices blended with 10% calcined paper sludge (source for metakaolin, MK) and exposed to different environmental conditions (marine and tableland environments). The results obtained using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray analyser techniques show that the ions present speed of different penetration as well as various phases and/compounds in the matrices following exposure over 1 year.

In Brazil's littoral, many iron ore industries are located in areas of restinga, a type of coastal ecosystem; such industries represent stationary sources of iron and acid particulates. The industrial sector is under expansion, threatening the already fragile ecosystem. In the present study, the simulated impact of these emissions was studied on the early establishment stages of two native plant species, Sophora tomentosa and Schinus terebinthifolius. The results indicate that S. tomentosa display deficient germination and low root tolerance when exposed to iron dust and acidity. Toxic iron concentrations were found to accumulate only in the roots of S. tomentosa plants exposed to increasing doses of iron dust. In these plants, initial growth was reduced, leading to the conclusion that S. tomentosa was unable to regulate, and, thus, to overcome, the effects of the iron dust in the substrate. In contrast, the germination, root tolerance index, and initial growth of S. terebinthifolius were not affected by iron dust and acidity, revealing the species' resistance to these pollutants. We propose that under similar field conditions, S. tomentosa would be adversely affected, whereas S. terebinthifolius would thrive. On a long-term basis, this imbalance is likely to interfere in the vegetational composition and dynamics of the affected ecosystem.

The influence of cadmium on growth, cadmium accumulation, composition, and content of glucosinolates was investigated in Arabidopsis thaliana after 4 weeks of growth in hydroponics. Accumulation of 3,820 and 321 μg Cd g⁻¹ dry weight in the roots and leaves of A. thaliana, respectively, exposed to 50 μM Cd. Cadmium treatment significantly decreased the total concentration of glucosinolates both in the leaves and roots. Cd-induced alteration of total glucosinolate content in the roots was mainly due to the decrease of indolyl-glucosinolates. In the Cd treatment leaves, significant decreases were, respectively, detected for glucoibervirin and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin (P < 0.01), while other glucosinolate levels did not decrease significantly. In response to cadmium, the three indolyl-glucosinolates all showed significant decreases in the roots. The distinctive influence of cadmium on glucosinolate profiles in Cd-sensitive A. thaliana may be of great ecological importance, decreasing the resistance to phytophage attack. Taken together, our data is discussed in relation to jasmonic acid and salicylic acid as possible molecules that modulate the alteration of glucosinolate profiles in response to cadmium. The similar effects of Cd treatment on the levels of individual glucosinolates in leaves and roots were observed at higher-concentration cadmium treatment (100 μM Cd).

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the performance of the low-flow filtration system (LFFS) that Kogarah Municipal Council developed for treating and reusing the highly polluted first-flush stormwater (FFSW) while allowing the cleaner subsequent major stormwater flows to be directed to the major street drainage. The LFFS was evaluated through laboratory investigations using columns packed with different filter media to test the removal efficiency of pollutants such as zinc (Zn), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), total organic content, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), and turbidity. The findings from this study demonstrate the effectiveness of the LFFS to largely reduce turbidity, TPH, and trace metals from the FFSW. The LFFS also partially removes dissolved organics, TP and TN. These pollutants are more commonly and effectively removed in subsequent processes of a stormwater treatment train. Further this paper highlights the importance of regular maintenance of the LFFS especially as it is only associated in removing the high pollutant loads during a storm event. Due to this first flush, a thick oily crust-formed layer requires monthly removal, and an entire replacement of the exhausted filter media is required quarterly. However considering the labor required to service the crust formed layer within the LFFS, it is more cost effective to replace the entire depth of filter media monthly.

In Russia in 1950-1960 solutions for the localization and storage of large volumes of liquid radioactive waste produced during defensive tasks were accomplished using natural and man-made water objects. At present, they are non-isolated from the environment and radioactive waste storage facilities constitute a serious potential menace. These objects are not allowed by the current legislation of the Russian Federation on environmental protection and safety. However, they do exist and there are no definite and approved engineering solutions regarding their removal. One of these objects is the Techa Cascade of Reservoirs (TCR) of the Mayak plant. In this article, TCR protection requirements are based on and formalized taking into account the legislation of the Russian Federation and the biospheric approach to the radiation protection of humans and the environment. Special safety requirements are needed because the standard argument “from human exposure to discharge standards” is invalid owing to the fact that the possibility of using water objects that have had contact with the TCR is restricted by law.

Polluted soils are a problem of major concern impacting the health of the global environment and human beings. Without any safe technology for polluted soil treatment, most of the contaminated soils go to landfill especially when metals are the pollutants. This research compares the performance of non ionic (Brij 35 and Tween 80) and amphoteric (cocamydopropyl hydroxysultaine (CAS) and coamydopropylbetaine (BW)) surfactants for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals (mainly Pb) removal from three contaminated soils. Best removal yields have been obtained using 0.5% (w/w) of CAS surfactant with 46 ± 2% for PAHs and 21 ± 5% for Pb simultaneously removed. Sodium chloride and EDTA have been shown to considerably enhance Pb solubilization (respectively 55 ± 5% and 35 ± 12% for [NaCl] = 5.5 M and [EDTA] = 0.025 M). Flotation technology has been tested as a separating technique of PAHs micelles and Pb from aqueous solution and has given good results for both contaminants (54 ± 7% for both PAH and Pb, using [CAS] = 0.5%, [NaCl] = 5.5 M, pH = 3). Finally, this study proposes a soil washing process using flotation to treat soil polluted with both organic and inorganic compounds. The suggested process concentrates the organic compounds in the froth and the inorganic pollutants in the liquid fraction.

This work investigates the solar heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation of three commercial acid dyes: Blue 9 (C.I. 42090), Red 51 (C.I. 45430), and Yellow 23 (C.I. 19140). TiO₂ P25 from Degussa was used as the photocatalyst. The dyes were completely degraded within 120 min of treatment in the following increasing order of removal rate: Blue 9 < Yellow 23 < Red 51. The photocatalytic color removal process was well described by a two-first-order in-series reaction, followed by another first-order reaction. Photolytic experiments showed that this process is quite inefficient and highly selective towards Red 51 only. The dyes' solution was completely decolorized and organic matter removals up to 99% were achieved with photocatalysis. The lack of selectivity and the possibility of using solar light to excite the photocatalyst are promising results regarding the feasibility of this technology.