PAHs in soils: contemporary UK data and evidence for potential contamination problems caused by exposure of samples to laboratory air

Archived (1951–1974) and contemporary (1993) surface soil samples collected from the same 46 locations widely distributed over the UK have been analyzed for 12 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Contemporary soils were analyzed wet, ensuring that contamination, losses or alteration of PAHs in the samples was minimal. Archived soils had been air-dried prior to storage. The ΣPAH concentration of the contemporary and archived soils range from approx. 20 μg kg⁻¹ to 7.4 mg kg⁻¹ (mean = 1.1 mg kg⁻¹) and from approx. 160 μg kg⁻¹ to 7.1 mg kg⁻¹ (mean = 2.1 mg kg⁻¹), respectively. Comparison of the concentrations of PAHs in the archived and contempcrary soils revealed no significant trends for compounds heavier than benzanthracene. For some of the lighter molecular weight compounds the concentrations were notably higher in the archived soils than in the contemporary soils. Two soils of contrasting PAH content (0.08 and 9.8 mg kg⁻¹) were used in an experiment to compare the effects of air-drying on soils with relatively low and high PAH concentrations. Subsamples of soil (10 g) were placed into foil trays and exposed to laboratory air for up to 64 days. A clear increase in theiconcentration of the lighter molecular weight compounds (acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene) occurred in both soils. No marked changes were observed for the heavier molecular weight PAH compounds. This experiment suggests that the higher concentrations of the lower molecular weight compounds measured in the archived soil samples is due to contamination during air drying.     

Mobilization of arsenic by dissolved organic matter from iron oxides, soils and sediments

The arsenic contamination of aquifers has been linked to the input of dissolved organic matter (DOM). In light of this suggestion, the aim of this study was to quantify chemical effects of DOM on desorption and redox transformations of arsenic bound to synthetic iron oxide and natural samples from different geochemical environments (soils, shallow aquifer, lake sediment). In batch experiments, solutions containing 25-50 mg/L of two different types of DOM (purified peat humic acid and DOM from a peat drainage) were used as extractants in comparison to inorganic solutions. DOM solution was able to mobilize arsenic from all solid phases. Mobilization from iron oxides (maximum: 53.3%) was larger than from natural samples (maximum: 2.9%). The mobilization effect of extractants decreased in the order HCl>NaH2PO4>DOM>NaNO3. DOM solutions, therefore, mainly targeted weakly sorbed arsenic. Mobilization was complete within 24-36 h and DOM was sorbed during incubation indicating competition for sorption sites. The same patterns were observed for different DOM types and concentrations. Addition of DOM lead to (a) enhanced reduction (maximum 7.8%) and oxidation (6.4%) of arsenic in aqueous solution and (b) the appearance of arsenite in aqueous phase of soil samples (5.5%). As the primary mechanism for the arsenic release from solid phases we identified the competition between arsenic and organic anions for sorption sites, whereas redox reactions were probably of minor importance. The results of this study demonstrate that sorption of DOM has a strong potential to mobilize arsenic from soils and sediments.     

膨胀土引起的地面上抬变形及在场地评估中的应用(英文)

回顾了预示膨胀土引起的地面上抬变形的方法和含膨胀土层场地的评估。基于软化模型提出了一个地面上抬变形的计算方法及其公式。给出了确定半空间无限体中土单元在自重下的膨胀势的关系式。对该含膨胀土层的水平场地的地面上抬变形计算方法做了详细说明。对一个含高膨胀压力的膨胀土层的场地计算了地面上抬变形 ,以说明膨胀层位置及厚度对地面上抬变形的影响。最后 ,将该地面上抬变形方法应用于含膨胀土层场地的评估 ,并以例显示了膨胀土层厚度和位置对场地评估的重要影响。     

Quantification of aqueous cyanogen chloride and cyanogen bromide in environmental samples by MIMS

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) was developed and verified for the direct quantification of cyanogen chloride (CNCl) and cyanogen bromide (CNBr) in environmental samples without any sample workup. Factors including the membrane temperature and the liquid flow rates were examined for system optimization. The MIMS method provided linear responses for three orders of magnitude of concentrations. The instrument detection limits of CNCl and CNBr were 1.2 and 3.8 microg/L, respectively, and the method detection limits of CNCl and CNBr were both 1.7 microg/L. Effects of pH and the water matrix including synthetic water, saline water, natural surface water, and wastewater, on the responses were also examined. A pH ranging from 3 to 10 did not affect the quantification. The average recoveries of CNCl and CNBr in the water matrixes tested were 98.5% and 92.7%, respectively. The use of the MIMS method in on-line monitoring of the formation of cyanogen halide was demonstrated in chlorination of aqueous solutions containing glycine and bromide ions. The results indicated the important role of bromide ions in cyanogen halide speciation.     

Determination of trialkyl and triaryl phosphates in environmental samples

Analytical methods of trialkyl and triaryl phosphate esters in water and sediment were developed. An environmental survey of them was performed using developed methods. The extract with dichloromethane (water sample) or acetone (sediment sample) was analyzed with a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame photometric detector and a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer after clean-up through Florisil column. The separation of gas chromatography was good with 2% OV-17 + 2% PZ-179 on Uniport HPS. Recoveries fortified with 0.3–3 μg were 71–98% for water sample and 78–95% for sediment sample. In the environmental survey, tributyl phosphate (5–36 ng l^?1), Tris (3-chloropropyl) phosphate (16–176 ng l^?1), Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) (14–347 ng l^?1), Tris (2,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate (CRP) (23–136 ng l^?1), triphenyl phosphate (13–31 ng l^?1), and tricresyl phosphate (67–259 ng l^?1) were detected in river water and seawater, and TCEP (13-28 ng g^?1) and CRP (9–17 ng g^?1) were detected in sediment.     

Geothermal environmental assessment behaviour of selected geothermal brine contaminants in plants and soils

The behaviour of selected elements found in geothermal fluids of the Roosevelt Hot Springs known geothermal resource area (KGRA) was investigated in plant and soil systems. The kinetics of these potential environmental contaminants were studied by using soil columns and selected cultivated and native plant species.The data collected indicate that, of the 26 elements examined, lithium is the best indicator of geothermal contamination. This element, which occurs in the fluids at concentrations exceeding 25.0 parts per million (ppm), was readily detected in and through a variety of different test soils.The plant species, which were exposed via a number of rooting media including soils, vermiculite, and hydroponic solution, absorbed and translocated lithium to all aerial plant parts. The greatest lithium concentration occurred in hydroponically grown tomatoes where the leaves, stems, and fruit contain 914.5±35.8 ppm, 106.5±3.2 ppm, and 35.7±4.8 ppm of this element, respectively.Two native species — four-winged saltbush, A triplex canescens, and bitterbush, Purshia tridentata — appear to be good biological indicators since they accumulated nearly twice as much lithium, 309.8±29.9 ppm and 226.0±5.8 ppm, respectively, as did other native species tested.     

Analysis of environmental samples by spark source mass spectrometry—I. Trace elements in water

Spark source mass spectrometry is ideally suited to the determination of trace elements in natural waters. In the work described, almost all of the elements present in lake or river waters at concentrations of one part in 10¹¹ parts of water and higher were routinely determined. In the particular waters investigated 30 or more elements were found in each sample.     

Enhanced recovery of arsenite sorbed onto synthetic oxides by L-ascorbic acid addition to phosphate solution: calibrating a sequential leaching method for the speciation analysis of arsenic in natural samples

Stripping voltammetry capable of detecting 0.3microg/L arsenate and arsenite was applied for speciation analysis of arsenic sorbed onto synthetic ferrihydrite, goethite at As/Fe ratio of approximately 1.5mg/g with or without birnessite after sequential extraction using 1M phosphate (24 and 16 h) and 1.2M HCl (1h). Precautions to avoid oxygen were undertaken by extracting under anaerobic conditions and by adding 0.1M l-ascorbic acid to 1M NaH(2)PO(4) (pH 5). Addition of l-ascorbic acid did not reduce As(V) to As(III). The recovery rate for As(III) using l-ascorbic acid for extraction (pH 5) but not for adsorption was 81% and 74% of total sorbed As, and was 99% and 97% of extracted As for ferrihydrite and goethite, respectively. Birnessite oxidized most As(III) during the adsorption procedure. l-ascorbic acid used both in adsorption and extraction procedures improved the recovery of As(III) to 79-94% for ferrihydrite-birnessite and 57-94% for goethite-birnessite systems with Fe/Mn ratios of 7, 70, 140 and 280g/g.     

Levels of aldrin and dieldrin in environmental samples from Delhi, India.

Aldrin and dieldrin residues in soil, earthworms, water, fish and clams from different sites in Delhi were monitored. Concentrations of aldrin and dieldrin were found to be higher in earthworms than in soil. Concentrations of dieldrin were higher in fish than the ambient water, but the concentration of aldrin in the ambient water was the same as that in fish and clams.     

环境心理学在室内设计中的发展与运用

着眼于人与环境的相互关系,研究了室内环境中人的心理行为特征及其指导作用,并对环境与心理的相互作用进行了探讨,从色彩、材料、光影三个角度分析了环境心理学在室内设计中的发展与运用,以期创造宜人的生存环境,提高生活质量。     

Determination of heavy metals in samples of urban solid wastes by means of the ICP atomic spectrometry technique

The concentration of elements of environmental significance in the leachate from landfills of urban solid wastes was determined by means of Inductively-Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The suitability of extraction tests which simulate the leaching process were undertaken. Both highly toxic elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb and V) and elements present at major concentrations (Al, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) were quantified at different levels within and under the landfill. Results showed that the extraction test recommended by EPA is acceptable in order to simulate natural leaching compared with the amounts of the elements which are brought into solution after digestion with nitric acid. Furthermore, significant correlations were found in the landfill composition at different levels for element pairs such as Al-Mn, Co-Cr, Co-Cu, Co-Fe, Co-Mn, Co-Zn, Cr-Fe, Cr-Mn, Cu-Fe, Cu-Zn, Fe-Mn, Fe-Zn, Mn-Zn and Pb-Zn.     

The environmental fate of arsenic in surface soil contaminated by historical herbicide application

Soils from many industrial sites are contaminated with arsenic because of the historical application of herbicide containing arsenic trioxide. The strong affinity of aqueous arsenic species for soil components has led to the retention of significant amounts of arsenic in surface soils decades after the original source application. Soil collected from a site which received a one-time surficial application of arsenical herbicide in the 1950s was investigated to understand the fate of arsenic under natural leaching conditions. Sequential chemical extraction of the contaminated soil revealed that the majority of the arsenic is in its secondary form. The synthetic acid rain leaching of arsenic from the weathered soil can be divided into two distinct stages. During the first stage, the leachate arsenic concentration underwent a rapid decline which suggests an equilibrium-controlled release event. The second leaching stage was marked by a slow, steady release of arsenic, a signature of a kinetically controlled process. A mathematical approach was employed to identify and describe the two distinct arsenic releasing processes (equilibrium desorption and kinetic desorption). This model considers both desorption processes simultaneously and produces leachate arsenic concentrations in good agreement with the measured data. According to the modeling results, 20% of the arsenic remaining in the soil resides in the herbicide source material after five decades of natural leaching; 25% exists on reversible adsorption sites and 55% is present on irreversible adsorption sites.     

Analytical aspects of the gas chromatographic determination of tributyltin and metabolites in environmental samples

Tributyltin and its metabolites were determined in environmental samples by gas chromatography using a flame photometric detection method. The analytical method involved the propylation of the organotins and the use of a recovery standard to correct for inefficient recovery. A detection limit of 5 ng Sn l(-1) for seawater, and 5 ng Sn g(-1) for sediments, was obtained when the detector was equipped with an optical filter; however, this concentration limit, which is higher than the environmental quality standard for TBT, could be improved by a factor of 100 on removing the filter. The limitations imposed by the choice of recovery and internal standards were discussed and it was shown that the possible presence of Sn(II) had no effect on the total extractable inorganic tin, as determined by the analytical protocol. The identification of unexpected mixed methylbutyltins in TBT-contaminated sediments was described, and the implications of the existence of such compounds were discussed.     

Level and source of 129I of environmental samples in Xi'an region, China

Iodine-129 is widely used as a tracer in various environmental practices such as monitoring of nuclear environmental safety, seawater exchange and transport, geochemical cycle of stable iodine and dating of geological events. The spatial distribution of ¹²⁹I concentration varies significantly on global scale because of anthropogenic input from nuclear activities coupled with scarcity of data on environmental ¹²⁹I variability in many parts of the world including Asia. Here we report new data on ¹²⁹I and ¹²⁷I concentrations in soil, vegetation, river water and precipitation collected from Xi'an area, China. The results indicate values for environmental ¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratios in the investigated area range from 1.1 × 10^− 10 to 43.5 × 10^− 10 with a mean of 20.6 × 10^− 10, which is 1-3 orders of magnitude lower than the ratios observed in Europe, but comparable with those observed in the locations far from direct effect of point release sources and at similar latitude. The main source of ¹²⁹I in the investigated area is attributed to the global fallout of both atmospheric nuclear weapons testing and long distance dispersion of fuel reprocessing releases.     

A novel separation of tritiated water formed by biodegradation of surfactant samples and its application to a sample preservation study

Primary biodegradation of a NEODOL^® ethoxylate labeled with tritium primarily in the α and γ positions of the alkyl chain and uniformly with ¹⁴C in the polyoxyethylene chain resulted in a very rapid release of tritiated water (HTO) by cleavage of the surfactant at the hydrophobe-hydrophile junction. This reaction was used to investigate the conditions necessary to preserve samples of biotreater clarifier effluent and mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS). Treatment of the sample with granular activated carbon, followed by filtration, readily isolated the tritiated water. The amount of HTO formed indicated the extent of continued degradation of the surfactant. It was concluded that refrigeration alone was not adequate to prevent primary degradation of the surfactant. Refrigeration in combination with either formalin or 200 ppm HgCl₂ prevented short-term degradation of the surfactant. Formalin, but not HgCl₂, was found adequate for preventing degradation in samples of mixed liquor suspended solids preserved in excess of 14 days.     

Determination of short-chained poly(ethylene glycols) and ethylene glycol in environmental samples

A method for the determination of ethylene glycol (EG), di(ethylene glycol) (E2) and tri(ethylene glycol) (E3) in environmental samples (raw and treated sewage, river water) has been developed. These substances are important by-products in the biotransformation of non-ionic surfactants (NS). The method is based on sequential liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and chloroform (resulting in the separation of poly(ethylene glycols) (PEG) and EG from the water matrix), precipitation of long-chained PEG (PEGlch) with Dragendorff reagent, extraction of short-chained PEG (PEGsh) (EG, E2 and E3) from a filtrate with chloroform and the final determination using alternating current voltammetry. The precision of the method is 7.3%, the recovery 95% and a detection limit of 1.5 microg in the sample, i.e. 10 microg l(-1) was achieved. As evidenced by F and t tests, the developed method is equivalent to the indirect PEGsh determination by the difference approach where concentration of PEGsh is determined by the difference of the total PEG and PEGlch. The PEGsh fraction was found to be present in considerable concentrations in raw and treated sewage, river water, as well as being a major biotransformation by-product in the continuous flow activated sludge testing of fatty alcohol ethoxylates.     

Detection of viable bacteria in environmental water samples using DNase I and PCR method

In this study, we tested the potential application of a previously developed method in detecting Escherichia coli in environmental water samples. To increase the sensitivity of the method, and the recovery of microbial cells, water samples were filtered before being subjected to DNase treatment and polymerase chain reaction amplification. Results showed that DNase I treatment and PCR reaction were not affected by inhibitors as the expected amplicon was successfully amplified in autoclaved environmental waters spiked with E. coli. Then, we applied this method to naturally contaminated environmental water samples. We firstly confirmed the presence of coliforms and E. coli in these water samples by plating in eosin methylene blue agar. Simultaneous PCR amplification targeting Lac Z and uidR gene of total coliforms and E. coli respectively demonstrated that this developed method is potentially applicable for routine microbial assessment of health risks related to viable microorganisms in environmental or drinking waters.     

Utilization of municipal solid waste incineration ash in stone mastic asphalt mixture: Pavement performance and environmental impact

The objective of this study is to the use of municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) fly ash as a partial replacement of fine aggregate or mineral filler in stone matrix asphalt (SMA) mixture. For saving natural rock and reusing solid waste, basic oxygen furnace slag (BOF slag) was used as part of coarse aggregate. And this makes SMA mixtures contain more than 90% solid waste materials by mass. A comparative study of the performance of two mixes designed using superior performance asphalt pavements (SUPERPAVE) and Marshall mix design procedures was carried out in this research. Samples from both mixes were prepared at the design asphalt contents and aggregate gradations and were subjected to a comprehensive mechanical evaluation testing. These tests included Marshall stability, water sensibility, resilient modulus, fatigue life and rutting. In all the performed tests SUPERPAVE mixtures proved their superiority over Marshall mixtures. TCLP test for environmental impact indicated that asphalt is an effective stabilization and solidification agent for heavy metal in MSWI ash. The heavy metal leachates in TCLP tests have great positive correlation with their initial concentration in waste. But Ni is an exception that lower initial concentration leaded to higher cumulative leaching rate.     

Biological monitoring of environmental exposure to manganese in blood samples from residents of the city of Barcelona,Spain

Serum manganese levels were determined in 250 healthy subjects (122 men and 128 women) living in Barcelona in northeastern Spain. The study was designed to assess the reference levels for serum manganese and to investigate its relationship to age and sex. The age distribution ranged from 15 to 90 years. The assays were performed by means of a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The geometric mean of serum manganese concentration was 1.1 microg/l, ranging from 0.3 microg/l to 2.5 microg/l. In almost every case, the 95th upper percentiles of this element were < 1.8 microg/l. No correlation between the concentration of manganese and sex could be established, but in the younger population the manganese levels were nearly three times higher than the results obtained in the older population.     

有效应力原理在各向异性饱和土中的拓展与应用

有效应力原理奠定了土力学的基础。为了刻画由于土颗粒形状和排布的不规则所造成的内应力不均匀现象和土的各向异性力学行为,采用2种典型的分析方法对各向异性饱和土的内应力进行剖析,结果表明:对于各向异性土而言,忽略土颗粒接触面积后所得到的有效应力无法刻画内应力的不均匀现象;骨架应力是一个客观存在的物理量,可以刻画内应力不均匀的现象。为了便于应用,在骨架应力的基础上,提出等效应力张量,使之可以刻画不包含孔隙水压强的其他所有外力作用产生的土骨架应力。借助组构张量,给出等效应力张量的具体表达,明确有效应力、骨架应力和等效应力之间的两两换算关系。在此基础上,以等效应力刻画土骨架应力,以已有本构模型模拟土骨架力学行为,可以在不额外地修正土的基本力学规律的前提下,对各向同性土的本构模型进行"各向异性化"改造,实现有效应力原理在各向异性土中的拓展。以Lade破坏准则为例,建立等效Lade破坏准则,与试验结果对比表明,拓展后的有效应力原理可以适用于各向异性饱和土。