Search results for "Pollutants"

Comparing illicit drug use in 19 European cities through sewage analysis

2012

Abstract: The analysis of sewage for urinary biomarkers of illicit drugs is a promising and complementary approach for estimating the use of these substances in the general population. For the first time, this approach was simultaneously applied in 19 European cities, making it possible to directly compare illicit drug loads in Europe over a 1-week period. An inter-laboratory comparison study was performed to evaluate the analytical performance of the participating laboratories. Raw 24-hour composite sewage samples were collected from 19 European cities during a single week in March 2011 and analyzed for the urinary biomarkers of cocaine, amphetamine, ecstasy, methamphetamine and cannabis u…

Comparison between hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor and activated sludge system: a pilot plant experiment

2010

The paper presents the comparison between the traditional activated sludge system (AS) and a hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor (HMBBR). In particular, an experimental campaign has been carried out at the WWTP in Palermo (Italy), on a pilot plant consisting of two pre-anoxic schemes. The aerated tank of the HMBBR line was filled with suspended carriers (AnoxKaldnes™ K1), with a 30% filling ratio. The hydraulic load of the HMBBR line was increased up to two times the AS one. Further, in order to distinguish the additional contribution of the attached biomass for the HMBBR system, in the two lines the Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) was maintained as equal as possible. The monitoring peri…

Separate and combined sewer systems: a long-term modelling approach

2009

Sewer systems convey mostly dry weather flow, coming from domestic and industrial sanitary sewage as well as infiltration flow, and stormwater due to meteoric precipitations. Traditionally, in urban drainage two types of sewer systems are adopted: separate and combined sewers. The former convey dry and wet weather flow separately into two different networks, while the latter convey dry and wet weather flow together. Which is the best solution in terms of cost-benefit analysis still remains a controversial subject. The present study was aimed at comparing the pollution loads discharged to receiving bodies by Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) for different ki…

Influence of organic amendments on diuron leaching through an acidic and a calcareous vineyard soil using undisturbed lysimeters.

2008

9 pages; International audience; The influence of different organic amendments on diuron leaching was studied through undisturbed vineyard soil columns. Two composts (A and D), the second at two stages of maturity, and two soils (VR and Bj) were sampled. After 1 year, the amount of residues (diuron þ metabolites) in the leachates of the VR soil (0.19e0.71%) was lower than in the Bj soil (4.27e8.23%), which could be explained by stronger diuron adsorption on VR. An increase in the amount of diuron leached through the amended soil columns, compared to the blank, was observed for the Bj soil only. This result may be explained by the formation of mobile complexes between diuron and water-extrac…

Has long-term metal exposure induced changes in life history traits and genetic diversity of the enchytraeid worm Cognettia sphagnetorum (Vejd.)?

2004

We studied whether long-term metal exposure has affected life history traits, population growth patterns and genetic diversity of the asexual enchytraeid worm Cognettia sphagnetorum (Vejd.). Enchytraeids from metal contaminated and uncontaminated forest soil were compared by growing them individually in the laboratory and by following their population development in patchily Cu contaminated microcosms. Genetic differences between the two native populations were studied using allozyme electrophoresis. Individuals from the contaminated site had slower growth rate and they produced fewer fragments of larger size when compared to individuals from the uncontaminated site. In patchily Cu contamin…

Follow-up trends of parasite community alteration in a marine fish after the Prestige oil-spill: shifting baselines?

2008

This study evaluates the follow-up trends in the composition and structure of the parasite communities in the marine sparid Boops boops after the Prestige oil-spill. A total of 400 fish comprising 11 seasonal samples was analyzed from three impacted localities on the Atlantic coast of Spain. A large number of parasite species was recovered only after the spill thus suggesting a substantial alteration of the marine food webs. Post-spill communities exhibited higher richness and abundance due to the significant changes in the abundance of the common species, the latter indicating accelerated parasite transmission rates. Multivariate analyses at two nested scales detected a directional trend i…

Effects of propanil on the European eel Anguilla anguilla and post-exposure recovery using selected biomarkers as effect criteria

2008

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the physiological response of Anguilla anguilla to propanil and the degree of recovery after being moved to clean water. Preliminary acute toxicity test was carried out in the laboratory and the median lethal concentration (LC50) at 96 h was calculated as 31.33 mg/L (29.60–33.59 mg/L). NOEC and LOEC values (at 96 h) were also calculated as 20 and 25 mg/L, respectively. The fish were exposed to 0.63 and 3.16 mg/L of propanil for 72 h and allowed to recover for 144 h. Total proteins (TPs), γ -glutamil transpeptidase ( γ -GT), alanin aminotransferase (AlAT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and water content (WC) were assayed i…

Mercury in sediments of lake Päijänne, Finland

1978

A preliminary investigation of total organic carbon variation in influent and effluent of Isfahan (Iran) water treatment plant, urban network and Fel…

2006

In this work a series of total organic carbon (TOC) analyses were carried out to analyse the influent and the effluent of a water treatment plant providing Isfahan city in Iran. Other analyses were focused on the determination of TOC in the urban network and Fellman wells (in Isfahan and Dehaghan cities), in order to compare the water quality soon after the treatment with that of circulating water in the city network. Since it supplies water treatment plant, TOC content of Zayandehrood River was also compared with the treated water. The obtained results revealed that there were significant differences between TOC content of effluent of water treatment plant and that of the urban network (ma…

Use of semipermeable membrane devices for monitoring pesticides in indoor air.

2009

Abstract In this work, 40 pesticides from different categories were analyzed in the air of 20 indoor places that have an intensive use of pesticides. Passive sampling was carried out by using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) deployed for 7 days. SPMDs were analyzed using microwave-assisted extraction and GC/MS. PCB-195 was used as an internal standard. Recoveries ranged between 81 and 108 for many compounds, with RSD values <11. Typical LOD values for 7 days of sampling were from 0.1 to 3.1 ng/m. Propamocarb, propoxur, carbosulfan, pirimicarb, metribuzin, metalaxyl, pendimethalin, oxadiazon, phenothrin, and permethrin were detected in 11 sampling sites, with air concentrations …