Search results for "Contamination"
showing 10 items of 916 documents
Profiles and Sources of PAHs in Sediments from an Open-Pit Mining Area in the Peruvian Andes
2015
The Peruvian Andes are one of the most productive areas for mining and therefore also one of the most exposed to these sources of pollution. This article reports the characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments of Cerro de Pasco area (Peru) located close to a large open-pit mine and, in recent years, several reports have provided evidence of environmental contamination and related health problems. Investigations were carried out into the fifteen PAHs identified by the US-Environment Protection Agency (US-EPA) as requiring priority monitoring, other non US-EPA listed PAHs and perylene were also investigated in order to obtain further information on their origins. …
Studies concerning the decontamination of hydrocarbons- polluted soil areas using bioremediation techniques
2016
The accidental or historic contamination of soils with hydrocarbons, in areas crossed by oil pipelines or where oil- or gas-extraction installations are located, is a major concern and has significant financial and ecological consequences, both for the owners of those areas and for the oil transportation or exploitation companies. Therefore it is very important to find the optimal method for removing the pollution. The current paper presents measures, mainly involving bioremediation, recommended and applied for the depollution of a contaminated area in Romania. While the topic of dealing with polluted soils is well-established in the Romanian speciality literature, bioremediation is a relat…
Sensitivity Analysis Of Multi-Electrode Arrays For Characterizing The Non-Saturated Zone In Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment
2009
The near-surface environment acts as a filter and buffer for contaminants introduced from the surface by anthropogenic activities. For this reason there is a great need to improve our understanding of the shallow subsurface taking into account the increasing demand for vulnerability maps which illustrates the exposure of aquifers against pollution. These maps are designed to show areas of greatest potential for groundwater contamination on the basis of local subsurface conditions. A shallow, unconfined sand-and-gravel aquifer is highly vulnerable to pollutants because rapid recharge gives little time to contaminants to degrade naturally or be adsorbed before reaching the aquifer. Conversely…
Strategies for the rapid characterization of metals and organic pollutants in solid wastes and contaminated soils by using mass spectrometry
1998
Abstract Hyphenated techniques involving mass spectrometry (MS) such as ICP-MS, GC–MS and LC–MS are the most powerful tools for both qualitative and quantitative characterization of metals and organic pollutants in previously dissolved or extracted samples. However a considerable analytical effort is required in developing simple and general sample preparation strategies for the complete characterization of toxic substances in solid wastes and soils. This article gives a critical review of the state-of-the-art and future perspectives for rapid procedures to evaluate the pollution of soils and sediments, also considering new alternatives like flow injection analysis–MS and direct sampling MS.
Combination of contamination indices and ecological risk assessment index for evaluation of pollution level in sediments
2021
Abstract Sediments act as the key storehouse of heavy metals (HMs) and play a vital function in the transport and potential discharge of HMs. Lower basins and agricultural areas are frequently inundated with various pollutants from different origins, which are categorized as constant, bioaccumulative, and unsafe pollutants. Moreover, the unrestricted development of urban and rural parts of developing countries has a great influence on water quality and ultimately on sediments. The human contributions to HM pollution and allied ecological and health risks are discussed in this chapter. Also in this chapter, details of the single pollution indices and multiple pollution indices are described.…
Soil mutagens are airborne mutagens: variation of mutagenic activities induced in Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 by organic extracts of agri…
2000
As our hypothesis was that soil mutagens are airborne mutagens, possibly modified by soil microorganisms, we checked solvent extracts from agricultural and forest soils collected during late summer in the environment of Mainz, a region highly charged by anthropogenic air pollution, or near Bayreuth, a rural low charged region of Germany, or in a remote region of western Corsica without anthropogenic air pollution for the presence of mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium. Levels of mutagenic activities were quantified by calculation of revertants/g from the initial slope of dose-response curves applying tester strains S. typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 in the absence and presence of an activat…
Potentially toxic elements in fen peatland soils located near lignite-fired power plants in Central Poland
2021
Abstract The Grojec Valley (GV) peatland area in Central Poland is located close to lignite-fired power plants, which could be sources of potentially toxic elements (PTE). The aims of this study are: (1) to determine the effect of the lignite-fired power plants on soil pollution, (2) to evaluate pollution indices and magnetic susceptibility methods for determining the origin and distribution of PTE in soils, and (3) to demonstrate the importance of appropriate geochemical background (GB) selection for pollution studies in peatland soils. In order to comprehensively assess the soil pollution, four pollution indices (calculated using various types of GBs), and the mass-specific magnetic susce…
Characteristics of current roadside pollution using test-monitoring plots
2014
Abstract The aim of the study was the qualitative recognition of the existing roadside pollutants deposited in topsoils located close to roads with high traffic volume. So far, the studies have helped to determine the content of pollutants that accumulated over a long period of time. Traditionally, it has been difficult to distinguish between roadside pollution and pollution from other industrial sources. In order to avoid such problems and to accurately recognize present threats originating from road traffic, test-monitoring plots were installed in Poland (Gliwice and Opole), Germany (Tubingen, Ulm and Boblingen), Finland (Helsinki), Tajikistan (Dushanbe) and China (Lanzhou). To install th…
Microplastics in the global aquatic environment: Analysis, effects, remediation and policy solutions
2019
This opinion paper reports on Microplastics (MPs) pollution in the aquatic environment. MPs are a global problem being detected everywhere: marine environment, wastewaters, surface waters, soils, sediments, food and air. MPs can also absorb organic contaminants, and can be ingested by organisms and introduced into the food web. MPs can be a vector as well of pathogens whereas airborne fibrous MPs may enter our respiratory system with risk to the environment and humans. Main issues and gaps related to MPs on-going and future research are highlighted: chemical analysis, fate in wastewater and drinking water treatment plants, environmental and human health effects as well as remediation strate…
Presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments and surface water from Shadegan wetland – Iran: A focus on source apportionment, human and …
2018
Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination in aquatic system is of concern since it may constitute a sink of these contaminants for wetland ecosystem. We investigated pollution characteristics and ecological risks of PAHs by sampling contaminated sediments and water from the Shadegan wetland in Khuzestan province, south-west Iran. Concentrations of total PAHs in water and sediment samples varied from 42 ± 2.3–136 ± 7.5 ng/L and 10 ± 0.5–317 ± 14.3 µg/kg, respectively. Source apportionment of PAHs by both approaches (Principal component analysis-multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR) and molecular isomeric ratios of specific PAHs), indicated impact of potential anthropogeni…