Personal Research Database

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env86, 289.pdf

Abstract: After sampling over regular intervals from 1985 to 1987 the heavy metals Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were quantitatively determined by atomic emission spectrometry/inductively coupled plasma in above-ground parts of the moss Polytrichum formosum (Hedw.). All metals present a typical summer-winter oscillation (seasonal variation), which is much greater than the ‘inter-stand’ variation of Polytrichum formosum within the forest ecosystem under investigation. To obtain comparable results on a regional or global scale it is suggested to collect all samples of Polytrichum formosum for biomonitoring purposes in the last week of September.

Notes: highly cited

? Nriagu, J.O. (1990), The rise and fall of leaded gasoline. Science of the Total Environment, 92, 13-28.

Full Text: 1990\Sci Tot Env92, 13.pdf

Ishimaru, T., Inouye, H. and Morioka, T. (1990), Risk assessment of drinking water in a reservoir contaminated by PAH’s originated from road traffic. Science of the Total Environment, 93, 125-130.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env93, 125.pdf

Abstract: The loads of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) originating from road traffic were measured and in units of per vehicle per meter was estimated as follows: 0.07 ng/veh.m for Benzo[a]pyrene, and 0.83 ng/veh.m for Dibenzanthracene and so on, and 5.77 ng/veh.m for total PAHs. This unit is applied to risk estimation of drinking water in a reservoir where it is planned to construct a new high way the near future, and the concentration in the reservoir water is estimated to be 3.3-101 ng/l for individual PAH’s. Assuming standard oral exposure to PAHs in raw water for drinking water supply, the estimated lifetime risk of carcinogenesis was less than 1 in 10 (6), which is not considered significant.

Stoewsand, G.S., Anderson, J.L., Bache, C.A. and Lisk, D.J. (1990), Cadmium deposition and hepatic-microsomal activity in mice fed swiss-chard grown on municipal incinerator refuse ash. Science of the Total Environment, 94 (3), 253-259.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env94, 253.pdf

Abstract: Incineration of municipal solid waste results in the production of millions of tons of ash that may be typically high in heavy metals such as cadmium. Disposal of such ash in landfills capped with soil could lead to absorption of such metals by plants and deposition in foraging animal tissues. In this study, weanling, male mice were fed swiss chard that was grown on soil amended with 10% w/w municipal incinerator refuse ash. Cadmium was taken up by the swiss chard (8.15 ppm, dry wt). The mice fed diets containing 25% of ash-grown chard showed mean kidney and liver concentrations of cadmium (ppm, dry wt), respectively, of 2.80±0.30 and 0.45±0.03. Control mice fed soil-grown chard showed significantly lower kidney and liver concentrations of cadmium, i.e. 0.39±0.02 and 0.05±0.00 ppm. Since refuse incinerator ashes may contain various organic toxicants that can be hepatic microsomal inducers, the relative liver weights and hepatic microsomal aminopyrine N-demethylase and p-nitroanisole O-demethylase activities of mice fed control or ash-grown chard were measured. No consistent increases in these latter parameters were found in the ash-grown chard fed mice as compared with the control animals.

Neuberger, J.S., Mulhall, M., Pomatto, M.C., Sheverbush, J. and Hassanein, R.S. (1990), Health problems in Galena, Kansas: A heavy metal mining Superfund site. Science of the Total Environment, 94 (3), 261-72

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env94, 261.pdf

Abstract: Health problems at a heavy metal mining Superfund site were surveyed using prevalence information from 1980-85. Current environmental exposures include lead and cadmium in drinking water, mine wastes, and surface soils. Age-and sex-specific illness rates in whites in an exposed town (Galena) were compared with similar rates in two control towns. Multivariate analyses of morbidity data examined statistically significant risk factors for relevant illness in the three towns. Mortality rates for 1980-85 for white residents of Galena and for the U.S. were compared using univariate analysis. Among residents of the three towns who had lived there at least 5 years prior to 1980, there was either a statistically significant or borderline excess reported prevalence in Galena of chronic kidney disease (females aged greater than or equal to 65), heart disease (females aged greater than or equal to 45), skin cancer (males aged 45-64), and anemia (females aged 45-64). Multivariate analyses revealed statistically significant associations of stroke, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, heart disease, skin cancer, and anemia with variables related to Galena exposure. Personal physicians were contacted to confirm the information provided by the subjects, validity was good for all reported illnesses except chronic kidney disease. A statistically significant excess of deaths from hypertensive disease (females aged greater than or equal to 65), ischemic heart disease (males and females aged greater than or equal to 65), and stroke (females aged greater than or equal to 65) was found in residents of Galena City. This study confirms that environmental agents in Galena are associated with, and may have contributed to, the causation of several chronic diseases in residents of this community. Further studies are recommended.

Flaten, T.P. (1991), A nationwide survey of the chemical-composition of drinking-water in norway. Science of the Total Environment, 102, 35-73.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env102, 35.pdf

Abstract: Water samples were collected from 384 waterworks that supply 70.9% of the Norwegian population. The samples were collected after water treatment and were analysed for 30 constituents. Although most constituents show wide concentration ranges, Norwegian drinking water is generally soft. The median values obtained are: 0.88 mg Si l^-1, 0.06 mg Al l^-1, 47-mu-gFe l^-1, 0.69 mg Mg l^-1, 2.9 mg Ca l^-1, 3.8 mg Na l^-1, 6 µg Mn l^-1, 12 µg Cu l^-1, 14 µg Zn l^-1, 9 µg Ba l^-1, 15 µg Sr l^-1, 0.14 mg Kl^-1, 58 µg F l^-1, 6.4 mg Cl l^-1, 11 µg Br l^-1, 0.46 mg NO₃ l^-1, 5.3 mg SO₄^2-l^-1, 2.4 mg TOCl^-1, 6.8 (pH), 50 µS cm^-1 (conductivity) and 11 mg Pt l^-1 (colour). Titanium, Pb, Ni, Co, V, Mo, Cd, Be and Li were seldom or never quantified, due to insufficient sensitivity of the ICP (inductively coupled plasma) method. Norwegian quality criteria, which exist for 17 of the constituents examined, are generally fulfilled, indicating that the chemical quality of drinking water, by the large, is good in Norway. For Fe, Ca, Mn, Cu, pH, TOC and colour, however, the norms for good drinking water are exceeded in more than 9% of the samples, reflecting two of the major problems associated with Norwegian drinking water supplies (i) many water sources contain high concentrations of humic substances, (II) in large parts of the country, the waters are soft and acidic, and therefore corrosive towards pipes, plumbing and other installations. Most constituents show marked regional distribution patterns, which are discussed in the light of different mechanisms contributing to the chemical composition of drinking water, namely: chemical weathering of mineral matter, atmospheric supply of salt particles from the sea, anthropogenic pollution (including acid precipitation), corrosion of water pipes and plumbing, water treatment, decomposition of organic matter, and hydrological differences.

Keywords: Small Norwegian Lakes, Natural Fresh Waters, Trace-Metals, Acid Precipitation, Surface, Lead, Aluminum, Bromide, Health, Canada

Wondergem, E. and van Dijk Looijaard, A.M. (1991), Chlorine dioxide as a post-disinfectant for Dutch drinking water. Science of the Total Environment, 102, 101-112.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env102, 101.pdf

Abstract: Chlorine dioxide has some important advantages over chlorine with respect to water quality (no formation of trihalomethanes, no impairment of taste and no odor) and stability when used for oxidation/disinfection of drinking water. In this paper, results are presented of experiments into the consumption and reaction kinetics of chlorine dioxide in a number of (drinking) waters in The Netherlands. It was found that chlorine dioxide consumption is related to the dissolved oxygen content (DOC) of the water and the reaction time. Water samples from a plant that applied ozonation and activated carbon filtration had a very low chlorine dioxide consumption. Other water quality parameters, including pH and CO₃^2-, did not have any influence on consumption. The temporary advised Dutch guidelines of 0.2 mg l^-1 (dosage) is sufficient for activated carbon treated water. For other Dutch drinking waters, however, none of the 0.2 mg l^-1 chlorine dioxide remained after a reaction time of 10 min, as was also found for the water of Dutch pumping stations where chlorine dioxide is at present used for disinfection.

Lloyd, O.L., Lloyd, M.M., Williams, F.L., McKenzie, A. and Hay, A. (1991), Toxicity from ragwort and fat cow syndrome, or from industrial chemicals: The value of epidemiological analysis for interpreting clinico-pathological findings. Science of the Total Environment, 106 (1-2), 83-96.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env106, 83.pdf

Abstract: When livestock in close proximity to industries develop signs of ill-defined disease, toxic effects from industrial pollution should be considered in the differential diagnosis. In establishing the final diagnosis, epidemiological methods should be applied to supplement the clinical and pathological techniques. This viewpoint is illustrated by two case-histories describing episodes of cattle disease in central Scotland. A long-established and successful dairy herd in central Scotland sustained severe morbidity and mortality amongst animals which had grazed on a field beside a recently established dump which contained wastes from a chemical waste incinerator. An official investigation concluded that the episode of disease was the result of ragwort poisoning, this diagnosis was reached on clinical and pathological grounds only. A similarly unexpected and severe epidemic occurred a few years later in another dairy herd, about 1 km further away from that incinerator (which was also within 100 m of a municipal incinerator). The official investigation, which again focused on clinical and pathological criteria, led to the diagnosis of fat cow syndrome. In the first episode, contaminated water drained from the chemical waste dump on to the cows’ field, in the second episode, the relevant field was affected by airborne pollution from the two waste incinerators mentioned earlier. In both episodes, the epidemiological features, which were not examined systematically by the original investigators, were consistent with the hypothesis that these episodes resulted from exposures to toxic contaminants.

Augustin, J. and Zejda, R. (1991), Cancer incidence and geochemical factors in the environment. Science of the Total Environment, 106 (1-2), 155-163.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env106, 155.pdf

Abstract: Between 1961 and 1987, 9875 cases of cancer were registered in the district of Zdar nad Sazavou in southern Czechoslovakia, this district covers an area of 1627 km2 and has a population of 125,000 living within 197 identifiable communities. The age-standardized cancer incidence (standardized incidence rate, SIR) for selected cancers was calculated for each of the 197 communities. Five distinct geological areas were identified in the district, the percentages of the communities with a high incidence of cancer in each of these five areas were compared and statistically tested. More than 95% of the communities with a significantly high incidence of cancers of the digestive organs, lymphomas, leukaemias and all childhood cancers were situated in the areas containing tectonic faults or geological substrata which allowed radioactive elements (such as U, Rn, Co and Th) and heavy metals (for example, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd) to intrude to the surface. Important quantities of heavy metals and radioactivity were found in drinking water, air (fall-out, including dust) and aerosols. The role of geochemical factors in the environment as possible causes of the high incidence of some cancers is discussed.

de la Torre, M.A., Gomez-Alarcon, G., Melgarejo, P. and Saiz-Jimenez, C. (1991), Fungi in weathered sandstone from Salamanca cathedral, Spain. Science of the Total Environment, 107, 159-168.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env107, 159.pdf

Abstract: Fungi are usually present on weathered sandstone from the cathedral of Salamanca, Spain, as demonstrated by the isolation of 26 different species. The principal genera of fungi isolated were Penicillium, Phoma, Cladosporium, Trichoderma and Fusarium. Penicillium and Trichoderma are acid-producing species, whereas Cladosporium and Phoma do not acidify the medium. Fusarium species are both acid-and non-acid producing. These fungi were most abundant on the facades with evident algal growth, from which the fungi appear to derive the organic matter needed as a carbon source.

Lin, L.Q. (1991), Indoor radon measurements in the Beijing area. Science of the Total Environment, 107, 255-264.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env107, 255.pdf

Abstract: Average indoor air radon concentration of 30 Bq/m³ was determined in various types of dwellings in the Beijing area using activated carbon detectors. In this study, several related factors were also investigated: radon area exhalation rates of 136 building materials and from soil surfaces, Ra-226 contents of 143 soil samples, 34 building materials and 28 coal samples, and radon concentrations in gaseous fuel, outdoor air and drinking water. The magnitude and relative importance of different sources in terms of indoor radon are discussed, compared and evaluated. The results show that the underlying soil and building materials are important sources of indoor radon. Cracks in floors or walls are major pathways for the entry of radon into houses. Measurements of the annual effective dose equivalent from radon daughters for different types of aboveground and underground buildings gave average values of 1.1 and 1.5 mSv, respectively.

Silkowski, M.A., Smith, S.R. and Plewa, M.J. (1992), Analysis of the genotoxicity of municipal solid-waste incinerator ash. Science of the Total Environment, 111 (2-3), 109-124.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env111, 109.pdf

Abstract: Combined bottom and fly ash obtained from a Chicago, IL, municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) was extracted with organic solvents, water or acidified water. The mean amounts of organic material isolated from each extraction procedure were 688.2, 91.8 and 167.7-mu-g/g MSWI ash. These extracts were evaluated for toxicity and mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. We developed and calibrated a micropreincubation assay to evaluate small concentrations of the organic extracts. No direct-acting mutagens were found, however the acid-treated aqueous extracts were toxic. Materials isolated with methylene chloride methanol were mutagenic after hepatic microsomal activation (S9). The mutagenic potencies of the organic extract normalized to a per gram ash basis was the induction of 103.46 revertants in TA98 and 247.5 revertants in TA100. The aqueous extracts were neither toxic nor mutagenic. However, the acid-treated aqueous extract was mutagenic to TA1OO. The organic material isolated from the acidic extract had an induced mutagenic potency of 44.2 revertants/mg extract. Normalizing these data indicate a mutagenic potency of 7.4 revertants/g MSWI ash leached.

Keywords: Arteriosclerotic Plaque Development, Polynuclear Aromatic-Hydrocarbons, Fly-Ash, Refuse Incinerators, Mutagenicity Test, Perspective, Emissions, Exposure, Dioxin, Water

Inbar, Y., Hadar, Y. and Chen, Y. (1992), Characterization of humic substances formed during the composting of solid wastes from wineries. Science of the Total Environment, 113 (1-2), 35-48.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env113, 35.pdf

Abstract: Humic substance (HS) were extracted from grape marc (GM) compost (the residues of wine processing) at various stages of decomposition. Chemical analyses, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (C-13-NMR) acquired with cross-polarization magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements were performed on the purified humic acids (HAs). The total level of HS slightly decreased (from 390 to 310 g kg^-1 OM) during the composting process, HAs and fulvic acid concentrations did not change (250 g kg^-1 OM and 60 g kg^-1 OM, respectively). However, the level of the nonhumic fraction declined rapidly (from 100 to 40 g kg^-1 OM). The ratios between the various HS fractions were calculated and found to be useful humification indices which changed significantly during the process. These ratios were exponentially and significantly correlated with either the composting time or C/N ratio. Although the elemental composition of the GM-HAs did not change during the composting process, an increase in aliphatic C and carboxyl groups, a decrease in phenolic OH and total aromaticity as well as a decline in polysaccharide levels were recorded. The HAs extracted from GM exhibited similar features to peat-HA. Humic acids extracted from GM changed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The spectroscopic characteristics of the HAs resembled these of peat HAs and young forms of soil HAs. On the basis of this study it may be concluded that CPMAS C-13-NMR supported by FTIR significantly improves the characterization of HAs extracted from composts and that several maturity criteria for composts may be derived from sequential quantitative extraction and fractionation of HS.

Keywords: Humic Acids, Composting, Grape Marc, C-13 Cpmas NMR, Organic-Matter, Humification, Peat, Media, Acids

Hibino, M., Matsuda, H., Sato, T., Ose, Y., Nagase, H. and Kito, H. (1992), Generation of mutagenicity by ozonation of humic substances’ components. Science of the Total Environment, 116 (1-2), 1-13.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env116, 1.pdf

Abstract: Components of humic substances, such as vanillin, syringaldehyde, vanillic acid and di-n-butylphtalate, were ozonated and subjected to the mutagenicity assay using Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and 100 with and without S9 mix. The strong mutagenic activity was found on all components except di-n-butylphtalate by strain TA 100 with and without S9 mix. Substances with strong mutagenic activity in ozonated vanillin were water-soluble and were slightly extracted with benzene, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate. Following gel chromatography on Sephadex G-10, the strong mutagens generated by ozonation were found with molecular weights greater than 300.

Pollard, S.J.T., Fowler, G.D., Sollars, C.J. and Perry, R. (1992), Low-cost adsorbents for waste and wastewater treatment: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 116, 31-52.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env116, 31.pdf

Abstract: The recent research interest in low-cost alternatives to activated carbon for waste and wastewater treatment is reviewed. An examination of the selection criteria and activation methods for the preparation of active carbon is followed by a critical assessment of low-cost adsorbents prepared from carbonaceous industrial wastes, agricultural by-products and mineral-derived sources. Emphasis is given to in situ reuse applications where stated in the literature and rudimentary economic analyses provided, where available, for comparative operations with commercial activated carbon.

Keywords: Adsorbants, Carbonaceous, Wastes, Waste U-Use, Wastewater Trea

Sánchez, A.G., Antona, J.F. and Urrutia, M. (1992), Geochemical prospection of cadmium in a high incidence area of prostate cancer, Sierra de Gata, Salamanca, Spain. Science of the Total Environment, 116 (3), 243-251.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env116, 234.pdf

Abstract: A high incidence of prostate cancer was observed in some areas of Salamanca province, Spain. After excluding the most common etiological factors as the cause, it is concluded that the only possible risk factor must be due to the presence of some environmental carcinogen. In view of the etiological relationship between Cd and the pathological state, a study was carried out on the geochemistry of this element in the area. Anomalous amounts of Cd were found in stream sediments. This anomaly does not correspond to human activity, but rather to high regional amounts of cadmium in the substrate. Thus, the contents of Cd in soils developed over substrates containing naturally-occurring anomalous amounts of cadmium and the concentration in underground waters should be considered as a risk factor in this area.

Keywords: Geochemistry, Cadmium, Prostate Cancer, Spain

Kozar, S., Bilinski, H., Branica, M. and Schwuger, M.J. (1992), Adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) on bentonite under estuarine and seawater conditions. Science of the Total Environment, 121, 203-216.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env121, 203.pdf

Abstract: The adsorption of cadmium and lead ions to natural iron bentonite has been studied in seawater of various dilutions. Both ions are well adsorbed under freshwater conditions. However, negligible adsorption of cadmium, as distinguished from lead ions was observed under seawater conditions. The influence of particular seawater constituents on the decrease in cadmium adsorption has been studied. Among the inorganic ions of seawater, magnesium and chloride show the greatest inhibiting effect. The inhibition of cadmium adsorption decreases in the order Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Sr²⁺. This is at variance with the ion-exchange theory and is probably due to the significant difference in concentration ratios of these elements found in seawater (Mg, 0.053, Ca, 0.010, Sr, 0.00015 mol dm⁻³). Organic ligands of marine origin, as well as selected sugars, amino sugars and amino acids, decrease cadmium adsorption, while artificial surface active substances (Triton X-100, dodecyl benzene sulphonic acid-sodium salt, dodecyl piridinium chloride), added in concentrations lower than the critical micellar concentration, show no effect. The experiments performed in this work suggest the mechanism of a self-purification ability of river water containing suspended bentonite. However, upon entering the sea, cadmium will be remobilized from the particles of the organically coated bentonite.

Keywords: Cadmium, Lead, Adsorption, Bentonite, Model Electrolytes, Sea Water

Sukasem, P. and Tabucanon, M.S. (1993), Monitoring heavy metals in the Gulf of Thailand using mussel watch approach. Science of the Total Environment, 139-140, 297-305.

Full Text: S\Sci Tot Env139-140, 297.pdf

Abstract: Concentration of zinc, manganese, copper, chromium, nickel and cadmium were determined in the whole soft parts of the mussel, Perna viridis, collected along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Mussels were sampled from 10 locations, during 1989-1990, following an earlier study in 1986. The trends of accumulations of investigated metals in the mussel were not higher than the previous study, except for the concentration of manganese and nickel. The levels of manganese and nickel in the mussel in 1989 and in 1990 were much higher than those reported previously for 1986. In addition, the level of cadmium, manganese and chromium in mussels from the western coast of the Gulf was higher than that from the other parts of the Gulf. However, the levels of such metals were within the acceptable limits with respect to the public health standards.

Mravcová, A., Jírová, D., Jancí, H. and Lener, J. (1993), Effects of orally administered vanadium on the immune system and bone metabolism in experimental animals. Science of the Total Environment,