The feasibility and effectiveness of iron turning waste as low cost and sustainable permeable reactive barrier (PRB) media for remediating dieldrin, endrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and ...lindane individually (batch system) and combined (continuous flow column) in water were investigated. After 10 min of reaction in a batch system, removal of endrin, dieldrin, and DDT was higher (86–91 %) than lindane (41 %) using 1 g of iron turning waste in 200 mL of pesticide solution (20 μg/L for each pesticide). Among the studied pesticides, only lindane removal decreased substantially in the presence of nitrate (37 %) and magnesium (18 %). Acidic water environment (pH = 4) favored the pesticide removal than neutral and basic environments. For the column experiments, sand alone as PRB media was ineffective for remediating the pesticides in water. When only iron turning was used, the removal efficiencies of lindane, endrin, and dieldrin were 83–88 % and remained stable during 60 min of the experiments. DDT removal was less than other pesticides (58 %). Sandwiching the iron turning waste media between two sand layers improved DDT removal (79 %) as well as limited the iron content below a permissible level in product water. In a long-term PRB column performance evaluation, iron turning waste (150 g) removed all pesticides in water (initial concentration of each pesticide = 2 μg/L) effectively (≥94 %) at a hydraulic retention time of 1.6 h. Iron turning waste, which was mainly in the form of zerovalent iron (Fe0), was oxidized to ferrous (Fe2+) and ferric (Fe3+) iron during its reaction with pesticides, and electrons donated by Fe0 and Fe2+ were responsible for complete dechlorination of all the pesticides. Therefore, it can be used as inexpensive and sustainable PRB media for groundwater remediation especially in developing countries where groundwater contamination with pesticides is more prevalent.
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•Iron turning waste efficiently treated chlorinated pesticides in water.•Iron turning waste completely dechlorinated all studied chlorinated pesticides.•Except for lindane, pesticide removal was not affected by minerals in groundwater.•Low water pH favored the removal of pesticides compared to neutral conditions.•This study provides sustainable media for remediation of pesticides in groundwater.
Main finding: Iron turning waste has shown its ability as potential permeable reactive barrier media for remediating and completely degrading the organochlorine pesticides in water at a laboratory scale to meet the U.S. drinking water standards and/or World Health Organization health significance values. Iron turning waste is much more affordable than nano-zerovalent iron (nZVI), a similar material typically used for groundwater remediation. Iron turning waste can be used in developing countries that cannot afford nZVI for remediation of contaminants, especially organochlorine pesticides.
Ecological, signaling, metabolic, and chemical processes in plant–microorganism systems and in plant-derived material may link the use of chlorinated pesticides in the environment with plant ...chloromethane emission. This neglected factor should be taken into account to assess global planetary budgets of chloromethane and impacts on atmospheric ozone depletion.
The biological response of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, resident and transplanted to cages, to contamination with anthropogenic pollutants from Kaštela Bay, located in the central part of the ...eastern Adriatic coast, was investigated. The main purpose of this paper is to trace the accumulation of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides (HCB, lindane, heptachlor, aldrin, p,p′-DDTs) as a direct measure of potential contaminant availability to organisms, in a period from 2000 to 2011. In order to do so, cultured mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) of the same size and age were transplanted from the unpolluted Mali Ston Bay to the Kaštela Bay. Sampling was performed bimonthly, and the level of target contaminants in whole soft tissue was determined. After two months of exposure, the concentration of PCBs in transplanted mussels increased on average 6.5-times, and of DDTs 2-times, while the intensity of changes for HCB, lindane, heptachlor and aldrin was negligible. Seasonal variation of pesticide content was similar without a significant change throughout the experimental period, while that of PCBs was somewhat different showing increased accumulation in summer. Seasonal and spatial variation of organochlorines in the Kaštela Bay was likely the result of prevailing environmental rather than biological parameters. In accordance with prevailing hydrodynamic cycling, contaminant concentration decreased in acyclonic direction towards the exit of the Bay. Measurement of target contaminants in resident mussels sampled from the most contaminated area of the Bay exhibited decreasing concentrations of lindane, aldrin and p,p′-DDTs. However, PCBs exhibited statistically significant increasing concentrations in relation to the slightly increasing concentrations of HCB. With regard to human health, organochlorine (OC) levels in the mussel tissue were below prescribed limits for human consumption.
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•Transplanted mussels (2 months exposure), PCBs increased 6.5-times and DDTs 2-times•Resident mussels – decreasing concentrations of lindane, aldrin and p,p'-DDTs•Contaminat levels do not exhibit risk for consumers•Kaštela Bay, low contaminated – CPs, moderately contaminated – PCBs
Within the framework of the Spanish monitoring program, this study reports on air concentration of DDTs, HCB, HCHs, NDL-PCBs, DL-PCBs, PCDD/Fs and PBDEs measured during the five-year sampling period ...2008–2013. Spanish coastal remote and urban locations were studied using PUF disk passive air samplers which were deployed and collected every three months. Despite the wide range of concentrations measured for most contaminants, a common pattern of relative abundance (median values): NDL-PCBs (36.6 pg/m3) > HCB (24.8 pg/m3) ≈ HCHs (17.9 pg/m3) ≈ DDTs (16.6 pg/m3) > PBDEs (3.65 pg/m3) > DL-PCBs (2.99 pg/m3) >> PCDD/Fs (0.060 pg/m3) was found fairly consistent across most seasons and locations. Nevertheless, important variations in yearly concentrations were measured for different POPs. In general, higher levels of DDTs, HCHs, NDL-PCBs, DL-PCBs and PCDD/Fs were found in urban sites highlighting important differences between remote and urban sampling locations for most target contaminants. Greater concentrations of the banned organochlorine pesticides in urban locations suggested the existence of unexpected pointed sources that need to be further investigated and characterized. The limited dataset collected thus far rendered no clear temporal trends for most study target compounds, which emphasizes the necessity of the Spanish monitoring program future maintenance in time.
Air concentrations of POPs measured in Spain during the period 2008–2013, showed a pattern fairly consistent across most seasons and locations: NDL-PCBs > ≈ HCHs ≈ DDTs > PBDEs > DL-PCBs >> PCDD/Fs.
The use of “chemical fingerprinting” or “profiling” has been suggested as a means to identify habitat use by young-of-the-year (YOY) bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). In this study, seasonal and ...interannual trends were examined over a 3-year period of 31 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and 23 chlorinated pesticides in 176 YOY bluefish collected in the Hudson River Estuary, New York State. Principal component analysis identified distinct and coherent clustering of bluefish according to sampling year. Seasonally, PCB patterns were similar among weight classes, regardless of date of capture. Throughout the study period, there was a consistent seasonal shift toward the heavier chlorinated homologs as size increased even though different congeners contributed to the overall PCB profile in Year 3. Unlike PCBs, there was no consistent pesticide accumulation pattern, which varied seasonally and interannually. The results show the first generalized interannual accumulation profiles of organochlorines during the rapid growth stage of age-0 bluefish. As knowledge of temporal changes in different ecosystems improves, this will improve an understanding on how exposure to chemicals in different ecosystems can affect the long-term health of bluefish.
•Seasonally, PCB profiles were remarkably similar for comparable weight classes regardless of sample date•A distinct chemical profile develops in fish as small as 45 mm•Despite significant differences in length and weight, chemical concentrations were consistent among all size classes
This open access book reviews the trends of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in human milk and discusses the main findings of five global surveys that were coordinated by the World Health ...Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) from 2000 to 2019. Human milk was selected as core matrix for human exposure under the Global Monitoring Plan for effectiveness evaluation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Milk from well-defined groups of mothers was collected and mixed to form a representative sample per country. Datasets collected represent the largest global human tissues survey with a harmonized protocol, carried out in a uniform format for more than two decades. Altogether 69 countries participated in these studies between 2000 and 2015, and more than 40 countries participated in the study from 2016 to 2019. Divided into 5 parts, the book offers an authoritative overview of human milk biomonitoring; collates the harmonized sampling requirements and analytical methods for the identification and quantification of contaminants in human milk; examines the results of the WHO/UNEP-coordinated exposure studies, including the identification of selected chlorinated pesticides, dioxin-like compounds, industrial chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and chlorinated paraffins, polybrominated POPs and PFAS, among others; and traces geographic, temporal and cross-substance trends and correlations, and human health risks. The book finishes by providing the reader with the summary of the main findings and outlook from these studies, in which the comparison of concentrations found for the wide range of POPs listed in the Stockholm Convention allowed the identification of possible needs for actions and follow-ups in different countries/regions. This book contributes to the understanding of exposure to hazardous chemicals and pollution as addressed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals on Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and will appeal to environmental and analytical chemists, researchers, professionals, and policymakers interested in learning more about contaminants in human milk. Given its breadth, this book will also appeal to a broader audience interested in maternal and child health.
•We examined the pollution status of deep-sea sediments in the southern Cretan margin.•AHs, UCM, PAHs, PCBs and chlorinated pesticides were ubiquitous in sediments.•AHs and PAHs were of ...terrestrial-biogenic and pyrolytic origin, respectively.•The presence of PCBs and HCHs was attributed to historical emission sources.•An on-going, fresh input of DDT was revealed.
Deep sediments from the southern Cretan margin were analyzed to establish baseline levels for various types of organic pollutants before the anticipated intensification of anthropogenic activities. The total concentration of aliphatic hydrocarbons (ΣAH:326–3758ngg−1, dry weight) was similar to those reported for deep sediments of the western Mediterranean Sea, while considerably lower levels were measured for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ΣPAH:9–60ngg−1). Source-diagnostic ratios suggested that the aliphatic hydrocarbons in sediments were mainly of terrestrial biogenic origin, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons stemmed from the deposition of long-range transported combustion aerosols. Among the organochlorinated compounds analyzed, β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH:222–7052pgg−1), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p′-DDT:37–2236pgg−1) and polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCB:38–1182pgg−1) showed the highest abundance in sediments. The presence of HCHs and PCBs was attributed to historical inputs that have undergone extensive weathering, whereas an ongoing fresh input was suggested for p,p′-DDT. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the levels of the various pollutants in sediments were controlled by different factors, but with organic carbon content playing a prominent role in most cases.
This study was carried out to find chlorinated pesticides residues in foodstuff of animal origin in Jordan through 2013 and 2014. Ministry of Environment of Jordan asked the Royal Scientific Society ...to monitor the pesticides residues of these persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in foodstuff of animal origin under the supervision of official scientific committee. Results of milk products showed that there were two samples from 30 were contaminated, but less than the maximum residue limit (MRL). Results of table eggs showed that 11 samples from 35 were contaminated, but less than MRL. Results of meat and poultry analysis showed that 21 samples from 55 were contaminated, but less than MRL. However, the contaminated samples were contained β-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, heptachlor and aldrin. Conclusions and recommendations were reported to minimize pesticides residues in foodstuff of animal origin in Jordan.
Chlorinated pesticide residues in human breast milk from five southern Jordan districts were analyzed in 2012/2013. The total number of samples from all districts was 100. The number of samples ...gathered from each district was collected according to their population densities. The present study shows that 59% of the samples which contained pesticides' residues were p,p'-DDE, 30% contained β-HCH, 10% contained p,p′-DDT, 6% contained α-HCH, 2% contained heptachlor and 1% contained endrin. These human milk samples were free of aldrin, dieldrin, α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, HCB, γ-HCH, o,p′-DDD, o,p′-DDT and o,p′-DDE. The levels of the six mentioned compounds detected in all mother's milk samples were higher in Ghor El-Safi district compared with the other four districts. In this study, it is recommended to continue the pesticides residues monitoring in all parts of Jordan, particularly in Ghor El-Safi district and other regions in the cultivated Jordan Valley.
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or synthetic substances able to mimic, interfere with, or block endogenous hormones, thus disrupting the normal function of the endocrine system. ...Most of them are largely applied in agriculture and industry. As a result, humans are chronically exposed to mixtures of EDCs. Their adverse effect on human health may appear long after exposure, making it difficult to assess their full impact. Thus, understanding the molecular basis of recognition of suspected EDCs by their biological targets is fundamental to get insight into their mechanism of action. This review will focus on the role of intermolecular interactions, specifically halogen and chalcogen bonds, in EDC recognition processes, offering an overview of the latest advances in the study of disruption mechanisms.
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