Dry season water allocation in the Chao Phraya River basin,Thailand

This study examines the recent quantitative characteristics of dry season water allocation in the Chao Phraya River basin, Thailand. Previous studies have focused on inequitable allocation, where the highest priority is given to the domestic water sector and uneven irrigation water variability exists among projects in the delta. This study uses a statistical test and panel data analysis to confirm that the characteristics highlighted in previous studies remain accurate, and it discusses the source of these characteristics in order to understand the issues in water allocation in the Chao Phraya River delta.     

Emissions of perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS) from point sources--identification of relevant branches

Effluents of wastewater treatment plants are relevant point sources for the emission of hazardous xenobiotic substances to the aquatic environment. One group of substances, which recently entered scientific and political discussions, is the group of the perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFAS). The most studied compounds from this group are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS), which are the most important degradation products of PFAS. These two substances are known to be persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT). In the present study, eleven PFAS were investigated in effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and in industrial wastewaters. PFOS and PFOA proved to be the dominant compounds in all sampled wastewaters. Concentrations of up to 340 ng/L of PFOS and up to 220 ng/L of PFOA were observed. Besides these two compounds, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) was also present in nearly all effluents and maximum concentrations of up to 280 ng/L were measured. Only N-ethylperfluorooctane sulphonamide (N-EtPFOSA) and its degradation/metabolisation product perfluorooctane sulphonamide (PFOSA) were either detected below the limit of quantification or were not even detected at all. Beside the effluents of the municipal WWTPs, nine industrial wastewaters from six different industrial branches were also investigated. Significantly, the highest emissions or PFOS were observed from metal industry whereas paper industry showed the highest PFOA emission. Several PFAS, especially perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) and PFOS are predominantly emitted from industrial sources, with concentrations being a factor of 10 higher than those observed in the municipal WWTP effluents. Perfluorodecane sulphonate (PFDS), N-Et-PFOSA and PFOSA were not detected in any of the sampled industrial point sources.     

Perfluoroalkyl acids in Lake Superior water: Trends and sources

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAs) are a family of highly persistent compounds which are present in the environment as a result of degradation of polyfluorinated precursors, from use as processing aids for production of fluoropolymers, and use in fire fighting foams. The purpose of this study was to investigate prevailing concentrations and possible sources of PFAs in Lake Superior, as well as in Siskiwit Lake on Isle Royale. Between 2001 and 2005, replicate water samples were taken from lake surface waters, and from depth profiles, as well as from major tributaries including municipal waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) at three major population centers. Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) was the predominant PFA in Lake Superior, with concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 1.2 ng/L in surface waters. PFOA concentrations were generally 1.5 to 2-fold greater than perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) levels. WWTPs were found to contribute up to 20 fold higher concentrations of PFOA (22 ng/L) relative to the intake water from Lake Superior, while most tributaries contained lower concentrations of perfluorocarboxylates (PFCA) and perfluoroalkylsulfonates (PFSs) (< 0.1 ng/L). Overall tributaries and precipitation were estimated to be the major sources of PFCAs and PFSs to Lake Superior. Tributaries were estimated to be the largest source contributing 59% of PFOA and 57% of PFOS inputs to the lake. Profiles conducted over the deepest points in the lake showed that PFAs were found throughout the water column, however, there was no distinctive trend with depth.     

Adsorption of four perfluorinated acids on non ion exchange polymer sorbents

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have attracted global concern due to their ubiquitous distribution and properties of persistence, bio accumulation and toxicity. The process of adsorption has been identified as an effective technique to remove PFCs in water. Different non ion-exchange polymeric adsorbents were tested with regard to their sorption kinetics and isotherms at low PFCs concentrations. Selected PFCs were perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and the tested polymers were three types of Dowex optopores (V-493, V503, and L493), Amberlite XAD-4, and Filtrasorb 400 (Granular Activated Carbon-GAC). We observed the selective adsorption of PFCs on synthetic polymers. For PFDA, Amberlite XAD-4 gave the Freundlich adsorption constant of 2,965 (microg PFCs/g sorbent)(microg PFCs/L)(-n), which was higher than that of GAC (121.89 (microg PFCs/g sorbent) (microg PFCS/L)(-n)). In the case of PFBA, GAC showed better performance (13.36) (microg PFCs/g sorbent) microg PFCS/L)(-n) than synthetic polymers (0.62-5.23) (microg PFCs/g sorbent) (microg PFCS/L)(-n). Adsorption kinetics of all adsorbents were well described (R2 = 0.85-1) by pseudo-second order kinetic model. Sorption capacity was influenced by initial PFCs concentration for all adsorbents. GAC reached the equilibrium concentration within 4 hours, Amberlite XAD 4 reached it within 10 hours and other polymers took more than 70 hours.     

辽河流域全氟和多氟烷基化合物来源、赋存和风险评价研究进展

综述了辽河流域全氟和多氟烷基化合物(PFASs)的来源及其在地表水、沉积物和生物体内的分布特征及变化趋势。PFASs可通过生产及使用、污水处理厂尾水排放及挥发性前体物质大气迁移降解3种途径进入水环境中。不同环境介质内PFASs赋存现状不同:地表水中PFASs质量浓度随时间呈递增趋势,且以短链PFASs及PFOA为主;沉积物中PFASs质量比随时间呈下降趋势,且以PFOA和PFOS为主;生物体内以PFOS为主。比较分析了PFASs的生态风险评价方法并阐述辽河流域PFASs的生态风险状况,建议进一步加强流域尺度下PFASs的科学研究和管理。     

Water matrix effect on UV photodegradation of perfluorooctanoic acid

The widespread detection of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the water environment has been a concern for the last several years, while effluents from wastewater treatment facilities are the major sources of these compounds. Even advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) are not useful for mineralization of the compounds due to their very high stability. Photochemical techniques using particularly vacuum UV (VUV) have been found to be very promising in this regard. But the use of VUV in UV-based AOTs has still not progressed much. Moreover, the impact of water quality on PFCs photomineralization is unknown. This investigation aimed to assess photomineralization potentials of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in ultrapure water (UPW), tap water (TW), surface water and treated wastewater effluent using a reactor setup enabling maximum utilization of VUV emission of low pressure lamp in laboratory batch experiments. Neya River water (NRW) and the Nakahama Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent (NWWTPE) represented surface water and treated wastewater effluent respectively. Also, tests were carried out in 50% diluted NRW and NWWTPE. PFOA photomineralization in terms of PFOA removal, defluorination and total organic carbon (TOC) removal are discussed. The usefulness of the method for PFOA mineralization in organic-rich wastewaters, and further research needs are also highlighted.     

Toxicity of perfluorononanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate to Daphnia magna

In order to study toxicological effects of perfluorononanoic acid(PFNA), perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS), and their mixtures(PFNA/PFOS) on Daphnia magna(D. magna), a suite of comprehensive toxicity tests were conducted, including a 48-h acute toxicity test, a 21-day chronic test, a feeding experiment, and a biomarker assay. D. magna were exposed to aqueous solutions of PFNA and PFOS(alone and in combination) at concentrations ranging from 0.008 to 5 mg/L. The survival, growth, and reproduction of D. magna were monitored over a 21-day life cycle. The biomarkers, including acetylcholinesterase(ACh E), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and catalase(CAT) activities, were determined after seven days of exposure. PFOS was more toxic than PFNA based on the results of the acute toxicity test. Perfluorinated compounds(PFCs) inhibited both growth and reproduction of D. magna during the testing period. The ingestion rates and the biomarkers,including ACh E, SOD, and CAT activities, were significantly inhibited by PFCs in most cases. Moreover, the combined effects related to the growth and reproduction showed the antagonistic effects of PFCs.     

Spatiotemporal trends of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in surface and suspended sediments from the Lake Ontario Canadian nearshore 1994–2018: A fish consumption advisory perspective

Spatiotemporal trends for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were examined in surface and suspended sediments collected between 1994 and 2018 from over twenty nearshore stations on the Canadian side of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. In 2018, PCB concentrations ranged over an order-of-magnitude in surface (<10 ng/g?357 ng/g) and suspended sediments (<10 ng/g–330 ng/g), illustrating the presence of legacy hotspots as well as diffuse urban inputs. PCB concentrations in both surface and suspended sediments were consistently highest in Hamilton Harbour, but were also elevated at other stations around the perimeter of the Niagara basin as well as near Trenton and Kingston, Ontario. Generally, higher PCB concentrations were found in surface sediment relative to paired suspended sediment samples suggesting temporal improvements in nearshore sediment quality. However, many stations demonstrated temporal variability in PCB concentrations, a likely factor in the lack of an overall nearshore declining trend. Given that PCBs are listed as a consumption-limiting contaminant for all fish sampling blocks in the Canadian waters of Lake Ontario and are responsible for 78% of restricted advisories, sediment quality benchmarks that account for bioaccumulation potential should be considered over toxicologically-derived guidelines to gauge severity of PCB contamination of nearshore sediments. Relatively higher TOC-normalized PCB concentrations in the western end of Lake Ontario suggests additional research on PCB bioavailability from nearshore sediment would be beneficial in understanding basinwide trends of PCBs in fish, and that an adaptive approach to sediment management may be needed in the context of consumption advisories.     

Perfluorooctane sulfonate--a quite mobile anionic anthropogenic surfactant, ubiquitously found in the environment.

The biochemical degradation of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in closed-loop systems was monitored in laboratory scale. Adsorptive effects of these compounds to glass and polypropylene were also examined. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS) under negative electrospray (ESI(-)) conditions was applied for determination. Elimination of PFOS was observed under anaerobic conditions whereas aerobic treatment was not effective.     

Surficial Sediment Contamination in Lakes Erie and Ontario: A Comparative Analysis

Sediment surveys were conducted in Lakes Erie and Ontario to characterize spatial trends in contamination, to assist in elucidation of possible sources of contamination, and for identification of areas where contamination exceeded Canadian sediment quality guidelines for protection of aquatic biota. Sediment levels of metals including nickel, lead, zinc, chromium, and copper were compared to pre-colonial concentrations, and sediment enrichment factors, defined as the ratio of surficial concentrations to background concentrations determined from benthos cores, were calculated. Sediments in Lake Ontario exhibited elevated contamination compared to Lake Erie. The average enrichment factor for Lake Ontario (2.6) was comparable to the western basin in Lake Erie but greater than those for the central (1.3) and eastern (1.0) basins. There was a gradient toward decreasing sediment contamination from the western basin to the eastern basin of Lake Erie, and from the southern to the northern area of the central basin. Sediment contamination in Lake Ontario was similarly distributed across the three major depositional basins. The spatial distribution of metals was similar to those of other contaminants including mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs). Lake-wide averages of sediment mercury, PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs in Lake Erie were 0.185 μg/g, 96.5 ng/g, and 18.8 pg/g TEQs, respectively. Lake-wide averages of sediment mercury, PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs in Lake Ontario were 0.586 μg/g, 100 ng/g, and 101 pg/g TEQs, respectively.     

Occurrence and Transport of Organic Microcontaminants in the Duluth-Superior Harbor

A large number of organic compounds were identified in sediments and suspended solids from St. Louis Bay in the Duluth harbor. Most of the organic compounds appeared to be naturally occurring plant decomposition products consisting of non-halogenated hydrocarbons, organic acids, aldehydes, ketones, amines, esters, alcohols, and phenols. However, the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were confirmed by GC/MS methods. Particulate levels of PAH compounds such as fluorene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were found to lie in the 0.2 to 3 μg/g range. PCBs associated with suspended particles from St. Louis Bay and the Superior harbor were at concentrations of 0.2 to 0.9 μg/g and less than 0.1 μg/g, respectively. Measurements of PCBs in water from the St. Louis Bay showed an average value of 19 ng/L. Considering the concentration of PCBs in water and particulates in conjunction with average suspended solids levels, it was calculated that 81% of the PCBs were dissolved in water and 19% associated with suspended particles. It was estimated that suspended solid transport of PCBs and PAH to Lake Superior is less than 0.01% of airborne transport.     

PCB concentrations in walleyes and their prey from the Saginaw River,Lake Huron: A comparison between 1990 and 2007

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in composited samples of walleyes Sander vitreus and their prey during 2005–2007 from Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. There was a linear relationship between fish length and PCB concentrations in walleyes between 356 and 608 mm, but fish 680 mm had lesser concentrations than 608-mm fish. When fish 222–550 mm from 1990 were compared with those from 2007, there was a decrease of 1315 ng PCBs/g wet wt (ww). Concentrations of PCBs in gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum (190 ng PCBs/g ww) were three-fold less than fish collected in 1990 (516 ng PCBs/g ww). Round gobies Neogobius melanostomus collected from the Saginaw River had the greatest concentrations of PCBs (range: 200–350 ng PCBs/g ww) compared with other prey fishes (45–190 ng PCBs/g ww). Concentrations of PCBs in Saginaw River round gobies were three-fold greater than those from Saginaw Bay. Zooplankton from 1990 and 2008 contained 8.0 and 32 ng PCBs/g ww, respectively, while zebra mussels Dreissena polymorpha from 2008 contained 351 ng PCBs/g ww. Principal components analysis showed that PCB congeners differed between the largest walleyes and other fish. There are several possible explanations for lesser concentrations of PCBs observed in 2007. These include effects of dredging, changes in the food web related to round gobies, loss of alewife Alosa pseudoharengus, which was a major walleye prey item in 1990, and replacement by yellow perch Perca flavescens, or decreases in release of PCBs from sediments due to weathering, burial, or diffusion.     

长江水源水厂排泥水处理研究

对长江水源水厂排泥水处理进行了研究,确定了长江水源水悬浮固体含量与浊度的关系,对水厂干泥量和排泥水总量进行了估算;通过动态浓缩试验,确定了斜板浓缩池运行优化条件;测定了排泥水的颗粒粒径分布、固体成分组成和污泥比阻;并简要介绍了污泥机械脱水和泥饼处置方法.     

太湖流域水源地多环芳烃分布、溯源与生态风险评估

利用GC-MS对太湖流域水源地多环芳烃(PAHs)的浓度水平进行监测分析。结果表明,3月水相、悬浮颗粒物和沉积物中PAHs的质量浓度分别为63.5~393.9 ng/L、167~4 358.2 ng/g和940.8~7 398.3 ng/g,分别远高于6月的21.1~64.6 ng/L、125.6~282.3 ng/g和337.3~1 318 ng/g。不同月份单体PAH浓度水平差异较大,可能受控于污染物来源、径流稀释和水动力条件的差异性。特征比值判源结果表明,6月水相和悬浮颗粒物中PAHs主要来源于石油类泄漏和燃烧过程,而沉积物中PAHs在3月和6月均体现为混合源。生态风险评估结果表明,水相、悬浮颗粒物和沉积物中PAHs的生态风险较小,但个别样点单体PAH的含量高于基于生物影响试验的风险评价低值ER-L和ISQV-L,说明存在一定的健康风险,需引起重视。     

补远江流域水沙特性及其变化分析

补远江是澜沧江干流来水量最大的一级支流,其水文效应随着干流梯级电站相继建成而凸显,而对该流河水沙研究尚欠关注。采用补远江曼安水文站1960～2008年月平均流量和1993～2008年月平均悬移质含沙量数据,对补远江流域的水沙特性及其变化进行了统计分析。结果表明：① 研究时段内,补远江流域水沙的年内分配不均;② 流域水沙的年际变化幅度较大,年径流量和年悬移质输沙量均呈现一定的下降趋势;③ 曼安流量与含沙量呈现明显正相关,拟合程度较高。     

Sediment Contamination in Lake Erie: A 25-Year Retrospective Analysis

Lake Erie sediment surveys were conducted in 1997 and 1998 to characterize spatial and temporal trends in contamination and for comparison with historical levels to assess the degree of improvement in environmental quality since the advent of measures to reduce impacts from sources. These surveys were also designed to assist in identification of possible sources of contamination and areas where contamination exceeded Canadian sediment quality guidelines for protection of aquatic biota. Encouragingly, lakewide contaminant concentrations were found to have significantly decreased from levels observed in samples collected in 1971 in previous Environment Canada surveys. The lakewide average polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) sediment concentrations decreased from 136 ng/g in 1971 to 43 ng/g in 1997. This decreasing temporal trend was also evidenced by contaminant profiles of core samples from all three major basins. There was a lakewide spatial trend in increasing sediment contamination from the eastern basin to the western basin, and from the north-central basin to the south-central basin. Sediments in many areas of Lake Erie still exceeded Canadian Federal and Provincial sediment quality guidelines. However, exceedences of sediment guidelines describing contaminated environments in 1997/98 were largely restricted to the western basin and the southern portion of the central basin. Exceedences of Canadian Sediment Quality probable effects guidelines were most numerous for dioxins and furans (40%) followed by mercury (6%). The Canadian threshold effects guideline for PCBs (34.1 ng/g) and the Provincial lowest effect guideline (70 ng/g) were exceeded at 52% and 22% of the sites, respectively. Mercury, PCBs and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans are responsible for fish consumption advisories in Lake Erie.     

2-D NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF RADIONUCLIDE TRANSPORT IN THE LOWER YANGTZE RIVER

The assessment of the radiological impact of the liquid discharges from nuclear power plants is a major issue for the environmental protection. In this study, a numerical model for the radionuclide transport in the aquatic environment is built, based on the hydrodynamic equations, including the complete set of Saint-Venant equations, the sediment transport equations, with consideration of several different particle sizes and the deposition and erosion of the suspended sediments, and the radionuclide transport equations. The exchanges of radionuclides between water, suspended matter and bed sediments are described in terms of kinetic transfer coefficients. The model is used to simulate the transport of the radionuclides discharged from a planned nuclear power plant project to be sited along the lower Yangtze River. From the model results, one may see the detailed temporal-spatial evolution of the radionuclide contamination in the solution, in the suspended matter and in the bed sediments. The model can be used as a basic tool for studying the environmental impacts of the liquid discharges from nuclear facilities on a river system.     

Monitoring and assessment of oil pollution in the Danube River during the transnational Joint Danube Survey.

An extensive river basin monitoring exercise of 2581 km of the river Danube was carried out in 2001 under of the aegis of the transnational Joint Danube Survey (JDS). Water, suspended and bottom sediment, and biota samples were collected from 76 cross-sections in the Danube main stream and 22 major tributaries during the 39-day cruise, and analysed for chemical and biological variables. During the JDS, oil pollution was characterised with GC-FID and fluorescence measurements. Fluorescence fingerprints of the cyclohexane extracts of water, suspended and bottom sediment samples allowed characterization and quantification of the type and level of oil pollution. The results revealed that the oil pollution in the water varied in the range 1-300 microg/l. Gasoline type contamination was found at the higher concentration levels and diesel oil type in the lower concentrations. Oil contamination was similar in the suspended and bottom sediment (the less than 63 microm grain-size fraction) and varied between 2-140 mg/kg. A higher contamination level was found along the middle Danube reach. The highest concentrations were observed in the suspended sediment upstream of the Danube delta. Weathered crude oil characteristics were observed in the upper Danube basin, whereas between crude and diesel oil characteristics were dominant along most of the middle and the lower Danube reaches.     

PCB Residues in Bottom Sediments Collected from the Bay of Quinte,Lake Ontario 1972-73

Surficial sediment samples (214) were collected in 1972-73 on a systematic grid throughout the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario. PCB analysis was carried out on all samples and the data were collated for depositional basins and non-depositional zones. The mean residue for the whole bay was 48 ± 43 ng/g. Mean residues in the basins and non-depositional zones were not significantly different, being 50 and 47 ng/g respectively. The Trenton basin had the highest mean residue of 74 ng/g and Adolphous basin had the lowest at 33 ng/g. Variations in concentrations were found within basins and within the non-depositional zone. The over-all distribution was patchy but high concentrations off the Trent River and east of the Moira River indicated these two rivers as the major sources of PCB to the bay.     

Contaminant concentrations in bald eagles nesting on Lake Superior,the upper Mississippi River,and the St. Croix River

We measured concentrations of DDE, total PCBs, and mercury in bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nestlings at three locations in the upper Midwest: Lake Superior, the upper Mississippi River, and the St. Croix River, 2006–2008. We also analyzed trends in concentrations of these contaminants for eagles on the southern shore of Lake Superior, from 1989 to 2008, using the current and previously published data. Concentrations of DDE in nestling blood plasma samples were greatest on Lake Superior (geometric mean: 16.2 μg/kg, n = 29), whereas concentrations of total PCBs were highest in Mississippi River samples (88.6 μg/kg, n = 51). Mercury concentrations were highest along the upper St. Croix River (6.81 μg/g wet weight in feathers, n = 19). For Lake Superior, DDE concentrations declined significantly in nestling blood plasma samples from 1989 to 2008, an average of 3.0% annually. Similarly, total PCBs in Lake Superior eaglets decreased 4.0% annually from 1989 to 2008, and mercury concentrations in nestling feathers from Lake Superior nests also decreased significantly from 1991 to 2008, 2.4% per year. With the possible exception of mercury on the upper St. Croix River, mean concentrations in 2006–2008 of all three compounds were below levels associated with significant impairment of reproduction for all sites, and reproductive rates at all three sites averaged > 1.2 young per occupied territory, which is greater than the rate indicative of a healthy population.