Investigation of Soil Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Trace Elements, and Anions Due to Iron–Steel Plant Emissions in an Industrial Region in Turkey

The spatial distribution of several air pollutants emitted from iron–steel industries in Hatay-Iskenderun industrial region in Turkey was investigated by measuring their concentrations in soil. Collected soil samples (n?=?20) were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs; i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and polychlorinated naphthalenes), anions, and trace elements. Generally, all measured POP concentrations and marker trace elements for iron–steel industry (Zn, Pb, and Cu) were high relative to those reported previously for rural and urban areas around the world, and they were comparable to those measured recently in a similar industrial region (Aliaga, Izmir, Turkey). For all investigated POPs, elements, and anions, the highest concentrations were measured at points located north of the iron–steel industries where their emissions are transported by the prevailing southerly winds. The spatial distribution and levels of POPs, elemental, and anionic concentrations indicated that the iron–steel plants in Hatay-Iskenderun region are important sources for these pollutants. Statistically significant relationships between several organic and inorganic pollutants further confirmed that they are emitted by common sources (iron–steel plants).     

当前部分有机肥料中的持久性有机污染问题

持久性有机污染物是目前已知对人类生存威胁最大的一类污染物,已经证实有些畜禽粪便等有机肥中存在持久性有机污染物,特别是一些抗生素类污染物。这些污染物通过施肥进入农业土壤,进而进入食物链,危害人类身体健康。然而人们并没有意识到有机肥料中的相关污染问题。我国国内尚没有关于农田环境、有机肥料、农作物的抗生素类等有机污染的研究报道,国内外文献也少见报道抗生素类等有机污染物对作物生长发育的影响。开展有机肥料中持久性有机污染物的环境安全、演变趋势和控制原理研究,是我国环境安全、履行斯德哥尔摩公约、应对WTO绿色贸易壁垒、促进可持续发展的重大需求。本文概述了持久性有机污染物的内涵、与有机肥料的关系,介绍了抗生素类有机污染物的研究现状,提出了未来的应对策略。     

中国南亚热带农业土壤中的多环芳烃

The contributions of persistent organic pollutants （POPs） from the subtropical regions of China to pollution of the global environment have been paid great attention; however, little is known about the state of POPs in agricultural ecosystems within these regions of China. This study primarily revealed the state of the contamination and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAH） in agricultural soils in the subtropical regions. 115 surface soils （0-20 cm） were sampled in the breadbaskets of these regions. The concentrations and types of PAH were determined using gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. The total PAH concentrations ranged from 22.1 to 1 256.9 ng g^-1 with a mean of 318.2 ± 148.2 ng g^-1. In general terms, the current PAH concentrations were lower than most PAH levels reported in a number of investigations from different countries and regions. PAH isomer ratios indicated that pyrolytic origins, such as fossil fuel combustion related to vehicle tail gas and industrial emissions, were the dominant sources of PAH in the southern subtropical areas of China. Although PAH concentrations decreased with decreasing pollution, population, and traffic density, to a great extent PAH compositions were similar throughout subtropical soils, with naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and benzo（b）fluoranthene being dominant.     

Persistent Organic Pollutants in Singapore's Coastal Marine Environment: Part I,Seawater

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) continue to receive widespread attention as harmful contaminants in the global environment. Increasingly, there have been concerns regarding adverse effects on marine wildlife due to the potential of POPs to induce adverse health effects, including the disruption of endocrine systems. Marine water samples within one kilometer of the coastline of Singapore were analysed to determine prevalent concentrations of a range of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Samples were collected from 0.5 m and mid-depth (approximately 14 m depth) at twenty-two locations. POPs analysed are classed as USEPA priority pollutants, and included: sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); eight polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and twelve organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Total PAH concentrations varied from 88.44 to 1419.57 ng l^-1 at the surface, and 129.78 to 940.41 ng l^-1 at mid-depth. Total OCP concentrations varied between 4.90 ng l^-1 to 22.04 ng l^-1 at surface, and 4.09 to 18.05 ng l^-1 at mid-depth. Total PCB concentrations varied from 0.22 ng l^-1 to 20.41 ng l^-1 at surface and 0.4 to 10.79 ng l^-1 at mid-depth. In general, the distribution profile shows that the surface concentrations of POPs are higher than at mid depth. Concentrations of PAHs were considered higher than reported levels for several other countries, whereas levels of OCPs and PCBs are generally lower than reported levels for other Asian countries.     

Potential hotspots of persistent organic pollutants in alluvial sediments of the meandering Wurm River,Germany

Purpose

Fluvial sediments can act as archives for lipophilic pollutants. However, their distribution within the highly dynamic regime of the river corridor is scarcely investigated. Herein, a novel approach combining geochemical investigations of sediment bodies in the river corridor of the Wurm River (catchment < 400 km²) and aerial photograph evaluation provide information about the history of river course change and the distribution of pollution by selected persistent organic compounds (POPs) and selected heavy metals.

Materials and methods

The study is based on nine sediment cores and a total number of 45 subsamples. The sediment samples were analyzed for trace element inventory (X-ray fluorescence), grain size composition (laser diffraction particle size analyzer), and organic compounds (chromatography-mass spectrometry). On the basis of quantitative data of persistent organic substances as well as three heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn) and morphological changes from 1953 until 2016 of the area of investigation provided by eight aerial photographs, analyzed sediments were assigned to different decades, and lateral migration rates as well as deposition rates were calculated.

Results and discussion

High morphodynamics within the river corridor limits the explanatory power of single approaches (for example, geochronology and radiometric dating). However, a combination enables further insight into floodplains such as the pollution history, spatial pollutant dispersal, hotspot localization, meander migration rates (0.2–0.5 m year^?1), sedimentation rates (0.5–5.2 cm year^?1) and estimation of hotspot remobilization. Quantitative data for the analyzed heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn) show a decreasing trend for locations with younger sediment bodies, whereas quantitative data for the synthetic organic pollutants reflect the corresponding history of emissions with increasing concentrations until a climax followed by decreasing concentrations due to restrictions regarding their application.

Conclusions

Results reveal hotspot areas for POPs and their degree of remobilization. This study demonstrates that by knowing the history of emissions of a lipophilic substance, potential hotspots can be localized solely based on a sufficient number of aerial photographs documenting the river channel migration and sediment body formation in the corresponding period of time.

     

接种功能内生细菌降低作物体内POPs污染

如何有效地去除污染区农作物体内持久性有机污染物(POPs),以规避作物POPs污染风险、保障农产品安全,实现污染土壤的资源化利用备受国际关注。植物体内含有内生细菌(EB),其数量和种类丰富,且能重新定殖在目标植物组织的间隙或细胞内部,促进植物生长、提高植物抗逆性,甚至减少植物体内POPs含量。能否利用植物-功能EB的微生态系统,从污染区植物体内获得具有POPs降解特性的功能EB,并将其重新定殖在目标农作物中,进而降低作物体内POPs含量、规避作物污染风险?本文综述了农业生态系统中作物体内POPs的污染现状及植物对POPs的吸收调控作用,系统地评估了具有POPs降解特性的功能EB在目标植物体内的定殖、传导及效能,阐释了功能EB调控植物体内POPs污染的作用机理,展望了功能EB定殖在作物体内调控其POPs污染的优点及仍需解决的技术问题,旨在为利用植物-功能EB的微生态系统规避作物体内POPs污染风险、保障农产品安全和人群健康提供新思路和途径。     

Redistribution of organic pollutants in river sediments and alluvial soils related to major floods

Background, Aims, and Scope  More frequent occurrence of stronger floods in Europe as well as in other parts of the world in recent years raises major concern about the material damages, but also an important issue of contamination of the affected areas through flooding. The effects of major floods on levels and distribution of contamination with hydrophobic organic pollutants were examined from the continuous set of data for floodplain soils and sediments from a model industrial area in the Czech Republic where a 100-year flood occurred in 1997. The goal of this study was to evaluate the risk related to contamination associated with such extensive natural events and characterize the spatial and temporal distribution and dynamics of pollutants related to a major flooding shortly after the floods and also in the time period several years after floods. Methods  Sediments and alluvial soils from fourteen sites each were repeatedly sampled during the period from 1996 until 2005. The sampling sites represented five regions. Collected top-layer sediment and soil samples were characterized and analyzed for hydrophobic organic pollutants PCBs, OCPs and HCB using GC-ECD and PAHs using a GC-MS instrument. Spatial and temporal differences as well as the relative distribution of the pollutants were examined in detail by statistical analysis including multivariate methods with special emphases placed on the changes related to floods. Results  The organic pollutants levels in both alluvial soils and sediments exceeded the safe environmental limits at numerous sites. Pollutants concentrations and relative distribution as well as organic carbon content in both sediment and floodplain soils were significantly affected by the flooding, which resulted in a decrease of all studied contaminants in sediments and significant rise of the PAH pollution in the flooded soils. There was a unique and highly conserved PAH pattern in soils regardless of the floods and greater changes in PAH pattern in sediments related to floods. The relative distribution of individual PAHs reflected a combustion generated PAH profile. PAH levels in the river sediments rose again at the sites with continuous sources several years after floods. Discussion  The results showed different dynamics of PAHs and PCBs during the floods when PAHs were redistributed from the sediments to alluvial soils while PCBs have been washed out of the study regions. The data reveal longer contamination memory and consistent contamination pattern in soils, whereas sediments showed more dynamic changes responding strongly to the actual situation. The stable PAH pattern within the regions also indicates that a relative amount of all compounds is comparable across the samples and, thus, that the sources at different sites have similar character. Conclusions  Sediments have the potential to function as a secondary source of contamination for the aquatic ecosystem, but also for the floodplain soils and other flooded areas. The floods served as a vector of PAHs contamination from sediments to soils. The reloading of river sediments in time, namely with PAHs, due to present sources increases their risk as a potential source in the next bigger flood event both to the downstream river basin and affected alluvial soils. Recommendations and Perspectives  The results stress the importance of including the floodplain soil contamination in the risk assessment focused on flood effects. Floodplain soils have stable long-term environmental memory related to contamination levels, pattern and distribution, whereby they can provide relevant information on the overall contamination of the area. The sediments will continue to serve as a potential source of contaminants and alluvial soils as the catchment media reflecting the major flood events, especially until effective measures are taken to limit contamination sources. ESS-Submission Editor: Dr. Henner Hollert (Hollert@uni-heidelberg.de) This article is openly accessible!     

香港土壤研究 Ⅰ.研究现状与展望

对近半个世纪以来香港地区的土壤分类、农业和园林绿地土壤的肥力以及土壤环境保护等研究工作进行了系统的回顾和介绍,为中国香港地区及其他社会经济快速发展地区的土壤资源合理利用、生态环境保护与社会可持续发展提供了科学信息。认为,高度城市化和国际化的香港地区可以结合香港高科技及新产业的发展目标,合理利用和开发土地资源,定向培育中草药产地土壤环境与教育基地;需要进一步系统研究香港地区土壤发生与系统分类、性状与特征、空间分布与变异规律,建立香港土壤基础数据库、土壤图和土壤信息与服务系统;进一步探明污染元素和有益元素的土壤地球化学背景以及持久性有机污染物的环境生物地球化学过程及其生态与健康风险,建立长期的土壤环境质量动态观测点与研究平台,以及区域尺度的土壤环境质量信息系统和定量可视化预测预警系统;研究与发展适合香港地区的有问题土壤的风险评估与修复技术体系     

How do persistent organic pollutants be coupled with biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems under global climate change?

Purpose  

Global climate change (GCC), especially global warming, has affected the material cycling (e.g., carbon, nutrients, and organic chemicals) and the energy flows of terrestrial ecosystems. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were regarded as anthropogenic organic carbon (OC) source, and be coupled with the natural carbon (C) and nutrient biogeochemical cycling in ecosystems. The objective of this work was to review the current literature and explore potential coupling processes and mechanisms between POPs and biogeochemical cycles of C and nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems induced by global warming.     

Contamination of soils and groundwater with new organic micropollutants: A review

The input of organic micro- and nanopollutants to the environment has grown in recent years. This vast class of substances is referred to as emerging micropollutants, and includes organic chemicals of industrial, agricultural, and municipal provenance. There are three main sources of emerging pollutants coming to the environment, i.e., (1) upon soil fertilization with sewage and sewage sludge; (2) soil irrigation with reclaimed wastewater and (3) due to filtration from municipal landfills of solid wastes. These pollutants contaminate soil, affect its inhabitants; they are also consumed by plants and penetrate to the groundwater. The pharmaceuticals most strongly affect the biota (microorganisms, earthworms, etc.). The response of microorganisms in the contaminated soil is controlled not only by the composition and the number of emerging pollutants but also by the geochemical environment.     

土壤和沉积物中烃类污染物的主要来源与识别标志

土壤、沉积物中烃类污染物的来源十分复杂,其输入方式主要包括矿物油直接输入、大气颗粒物沉降、通过水介质输入、工业固体废弃物、城市垃圾和生活废弃物排放及天然有机质生物化学降解产物等。不同来源的烃类污染物组成上存在一定的差别,可根据这些差别判识环境中烃类污染物的来源。介绍了不同污染源的烃类污染物中正构烷烃、类异戊间二烯烷烃、单甲基取代支链烷烃、烷基环己烷、甾萜烷烃及芳香烃类化合物的组成与分布特征,综合评述了不同污染源的分子标志物特征及主要识别标志。     

Nonabsorbable dietary fat enhances disposal of 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether in rats through interruption of enterohepatic circulation

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are lipophilic persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which accumulate in the environment, leading to human exposure. The compounds exert a negative impact on human health. Strategies to prevent or diminish their accumulation in humans are required. We investigated in rats whether the disposal rate of 14C-labeled tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) could be enhanced by increasing fecal fat excretion through dietary treatment with nonabsorbable fat (sucrose polyester, SPE). As compared to control rats, SPE treatment increased fecal excretion rates of fat (+188%, p < 0.05) and 14C-BDE-47 (+291%, p < 0.05). On the basis of biliary secretion and fecal excretion rates of 14C-BDE-47, SPE effectively inhibited the enterohepatic circulation of 14C-BDE-47. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of nonabsorbable fat can enhance excretion of hydrophobic POPs by interruption of their enterohepatic circulation. Our data indicate that this strategy could decrease concentrations of hydrophobic POPs in the human body and thereby their impact on human health.     

Persistent organic pollutants in the natural environments of the city of Bratsk (Irkutsk Oblast): Levels and risk assessment

The contents of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)—polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)—in the natural environments of an industrial city (Bratsk) of Irkutsk oblast have been studied. Features of the spatial and seasonal distribution of the PCBs and OCPs in the soils and the atmospheric air have been revealed. The structure of the homological and congeneric composition of the PCBs in the soils and the atmospheric air has been shown. Parameters of the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks for human health from the impact of the PCBs and OCPs present in the soils and the atmospheric air have been determined.     

Atmospheric Transport and Air-Surface Exchange of Pesticides

Atmospheric transport and exchange of pesticides with soil, vegetation, water and atmospheric particles are discussed, with an emphasis on applying physicochemical properties of the compound to describe environmental partitioning. The octanol-air partition coefficient is promoted as a unifying property for describing volatilization of pesticides from soil and sorption to aerosols. Present-day sources of organochlorine (OC) pesticides to the atmosphere are continued usage in certain countries and volatilization from contaminated soils where they were used in the past. Models are available to predict volatilization from soil; however, their implementation is hampered by lack of soil residue data on a regional scale. The need to differentiate "new" and "old" sources is increasing, as countries negotiate international controls on persistent organic pollutants (POPs). A new technique, based on the analysis of individual pesticide enantiomers, is proposed to follow emission of chiral OC pesticides from soil and water. Air monitoring programs in the Arctic show the ubiquitous presence of OC pesticides, PCBs and other POPs, and recently a few "modern" pesticides have been identified in fog and surface seawater. Atmospheric loadings of POPs to oceans and large lakes take place mainly by air-water gas exchange. In the case of OC pesticides and PCBs, aquatic systems are often near air-water equilibrium or even oversaturated. Measurement of water/air fugacity ratios suggests revolatilization of PCBs and several OC pesticides in the Great Lakes and, for α-hexachloroacyclohexane (α-HCH), in the Arctic Ocean. Outgassing of α-HCH in large lakes and arctic waters has been confirmed by enantiomeric tracer studies. The potential for pesticides to be atmospherically transported depends on their ability to be mobilized into air and the removal processes that take place enroute: wet and dry deposition of gases and particles and chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Measurement of reaction rate constants for pesticides in the gas and particle phase at a range of environmental temperatures is a critical research need. The transport distance of a chemical is related to its overall environmental persistence, determined by the partitioning among different compartments (water, sediment, soil, air), degradation rates in each compartment and mode of emission (into water, soil, air). Several pesticides found in the arctic environment have predicted lifetimes in the gas phase of only a few days in temperate climates, pointing out the need for monitoring and evaluation of persistence in cold regions.     

多溴联苯醚对鲫鱼组织DNA损伤及p53蛋白表达的影响

以鲫鱼（Carassius auratus）为试验材料,研究了经不同浓度的2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚（PBDE-47）和十溴联苯醚（PBDE-209）暴露后,鲫鱼体内DNA损伤产物8-羟基脱氧鸟苷（8-OHdG）的含量及p53蛋白的水平。结果表明,采用浓度为0．10～5．00mg·L^-1的PBDE-47和10．0—50．0mg·L^-1的PBDE-209处理鲫鱼20d,除了0．10mg·L^-1PBDE-47和10．0mg·L^-1PBDE-209浓度组的8-OHdG和p53蛋白含量与对照组相比无显著差异（P〉0．05）,其余各浓度组的8-OHdG和p53蛋白含量均随PBDE-47和PBDE-209浓度增加而逐渐上升,呈显著的相关关系（P〈0．01）,且8-OHdG和p53蛋白之间也呈显著的正相关。说明PBDE-47和PBDE-209对鲫鱼组织的DNA产生了损伤,具有遗传毒性影响。     

铜污染农田表层土壤的持久性有机氯农药残留状况

土壤中持久性有机污染物往往与重金属共存形成混合污染,但过去的研究较少关注它们在土壤中的相互影响。本研究选择典型铜污染区农田,分析了铜不同污染程度的表层土壤中HCB、HCHs与DDTs等持久性有机氯农药的组分及含量。结果表明:DDTs在土壤中的残留量随着土壤铜污染程度的加剧而上升;土壤中铜抑止了DDT向DDE或DDD的转化,DDTs残留量相对较大。供试土壤中持久性有机氯农药含量与有机质之间的相关性分析表明,污染土壤中两者之间的相关性大于未污染土壤,说明铜促进了土壤中的DDTs和HCHs与土壤有机质结合,这可能是导致水田土壤中DDTs的平均含量显著高于旱地和林灌地土壤的原因之一。     

水体中活性氧物种的种类与光化学来源

天然水体系中有机污染物的环境行为与水体中各种活性氧物种的光化学来源密切相关。主要介绍了水体中羟基自由基（·OH）、单线态氧（1O2）、水合电子（e–（aq））、烷基过氧自由基（·OOR）和双氧水（H2O2）五种活性氧物种的性质及其光化学来源。     

Gaseous and PM10-Bound Pollutants Monitored in Three Sites with Differing Environmental Conditions in the Venice Area (Italy)

Understanding and controlling air pollution in highly populated areas is very important, although interpreting the levels of gaseous pollutants and airborne particulate matter is complicated by dominant natural and anthropogenic emissions, micro-meteorological processes, and chemical reactions which take place directly in the atmosphere. For this reason, it is very difficult to relate the characteristics of air pollution to one or more specific emission sources. The aim of this paper is to detect associations among elements and organic compounds emitted from specific sources by means of chemical analyses, statistical processing of data, seasonal evolution study, and geochemical considerations to trace their origin. A detailed characterization of air quality during the period September 2000–September 2001 was carried out in three locations of the Venice region: A heavy traffic urban site, a public park, and the island centre of the city of Venice. Twenty-eight inorganic elements, four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, CO and benzene were quantified and processed by a statistical procedure based on factor analysis considering variations on a seasonal basis. Results show the presence of associations between elements and compounds with the same behaviour in all sampling points. This indicates that several pollutants originate from a common source, and are then “diluted” throughout the study area, maintaining the imprint of their origin. Pt, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, CO and benzene originating from the exhaust gas of vehicles are all linked in the traffic factor, whereas Cd is associated with Se, having a common source in industrial processes.     

Persistent Organic Pollutants in Singapore's Coastal Marine Environment: Part II,Sediments

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can enter the marine environment from a variety of anthropogenic sources. As some PAHs are known or suspected carcinogens and mutagens, their potential hazard to human health and the natural environment warrants investigation. This is the first reported study on the prevalence and concentration of PAHs in marine sediments from Singapore's coastal environment, and accompanies the report by Basheer et al. (2003) on the measurement of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in seawater. The concentration of 16 PAH, classified as USEPA priority pollutants were analysed in sediments from 22 sample stations located within the northeastern and southwestern regions of Singapore's marine waters. The total PAH concentration varied between 15.22 μg g^-1 and 82.41 μg g^-1 in the northeastern region and between 13.63 μg g^-1 and 84.92 μg g^-1in the southwestern region. The highest concentration of total PAH i.e. 84.92 μg g^-1 was recorded at a site adjacent to a petrochemical refinery. Among the sixteen individual PAHs, chrysene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and benzo[a]anthracene were most prevalent in the sediments. The relatively low kinetic/thermodynamic isomer ratios for PAHs suggest that PAHs of pyrogenic origin are predominant in Singapore's coastal environment. The distribution of higher molecular weight i.e. (4–5 ring) individual PAHs corresponded to mixture profiles typical of those originating from high temperature combustion processes subjected to photolytic degradation during long-range atmospheric transportation. A comparison of total PAH concentration data for sediments collected from Singapore relative to those reported for other countries indicates a moderate level of PAH contamination in Singapore's coastal marine sediments.