The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (SCPOPs) is an international treaty that operates under the patronage of the United Nations (UN) to control certain chemicals that are considered persistent or...The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (SCPOPs) is an international treaty that operates under the patronage of the United Nations (UN) to control certain chemicals that are considered persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They are of great concern because of their adverse effects on human health and the environment. Exposure to POPs may lead to cancer, infertility, respiratory infections, and other health complications. It is therefore critical to study the degree of human and environmental exposure to these POPs. Passive air sampling was conducted in South Africa to evaluate the presence and trends of persistent organic pollutants at Barberspan (rural agricultural), Vanderbijl Park (urban industrial) and Molopo Nature Reserve (isolated nature reserve). Samples were collected in 2012. Passive air samplers using poly were used for sampling. The Buchi System B-811 automatic extractor was used to analyze for dichloro-diphenyl-trichlorethane (DDT), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), hexechlorobenzene (HCB) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Sampling was conducted for a period of one year. POPs concentrations were generally low at all sites, but Vanderbijl Park had the highest concentrations. Seasonal changes in concentrations were much the same at the three sites with temperatures and wind patterns being major factors. The presence of these chemicals in Molopo Nature Reserve and Barberspan is evidence of long range transportation over dry semi desert areas. Back-trajectories indicate possible sources, including areas where DDT is used for malaria control. The presence of POPs is areas they have never been in use poses health and environmental risks in these areas.展开更多
Lakes are the main reservoirs of persistent organic pollutants(POPs)from land,atmo sphere and rivers.POPs in lakes undergo complex exchange,transformation,and degradation between water-air-sediment-biota interfaces,wh...Lakes are the main reservoirs of persistent organic pollutants(POPs)from land,atmo sphere and rivers.POPs in lakes undergo complex exchange,transformation,and degradation between water-air-sediment-biota interfaces,which are constrained and regulated by various physical,chemical and biological factors.POPs can affect ecological conditions,chemical properties of water and sedi ments,and biodiversity of the lake system.Therefore,it is important to study the sources,migration,transformation,environmental behavior and ecological impacts of POPs in lake ecosystems.This re view summarizes research progress on detection technologies,diversity and origins,historical records,migration and transformation,distribution patterns,degradation and toxic effects of POPs in lakes.Fi nally,future directions related to POPs in lakes were summarized.展开更多
Quantitative structure-activity relationships(QSARs)were determined using partial least square(PLS)and support vector machine(SVM).The predicted values by the final QSAR models were in good agreement with the correspo...Quantitative structure-activity relationships(QSARs)were determined using partial least square(PLS)and support vector machine(SVM).The predicted values by the final QSAR models were in good agreement with the corresponding experimental values.Chemical estrogenic activities are related to atomic properties(atomic Sanderson electronegativities,van der Waals volumes and polarizabilities).Comparison of the results obtained from two models,the SVM method exhibited better overall performances.Besides,three PLS models were constructed for some specific families based on their chemical structures.These predictive models should be useful to rapidly identify potential estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals.展开更多
Obesity and associated metabolic disorders represent a major societal challenge in health and quality of life with large psychological consequences in addition to physical disabilities. They are also one of the leadin...Obesity and associated metabolic disorders represent a major societal challenge in health and quality of life with large psychological consequences in addition to physical disabilities. They are also one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Although, different etiologic factors including excessive food intake and reduced physical activity have been well identified, they cannot explain the kinetics of epidemic evolution of obesity and diabetes with prevalence rates reaching pandemic proportions. Interestingly, convincing data have shown that environmental pollutants, specifically those endowed with endocrine disrupting activities, could contribute to the etiology of these multifactorial metabolic disorders. Within this review, we will recapitulate characteristics of endocrine disruption. We will demonstrate that metabolic disorders could originate from endocrine disruption with a particular focus on convincing data from the literature. Eventually, we will present how handling an original mouse model of chronic exposition to a mixture of pollutants allowed demonstrating that a mixture of pollutants each at doses beyond their active dose could induce substantial deleterious effects on several metabolic end-points. This proof-of-concept study, as well as other studies on mixtures of pollutants, stresses the needs for revisiting the current threshold model used in risk assessment which does not take into account potential effects of mixtures containing pollutants at environmental doses, e.g., the real life exposure. Certainly, more studies are necessary to better determine the nature of the chemicals to which humans are exposed and at which level, and their health impact. As well, research studies on substitute products are essential to identify harmless molecules.展开更多
The effectiveness of ClO_2 bleaching as a replacement for conventional Cl_2 bleaching,which is intensively practiced in developing countries,to reduce polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs)in non...The effectiveness of ClO_2 bleaching as a replacement for conventional Cl_2 bleaching,which is intensively practiced in developing countries,to reduce polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs)in non-wood pulp and paper mills has not been field tested.The first field study was performed to investigate PCDD/F variations when ClO_2 bleaching was used as a substitute for conventional Cl_2 bleaching in a non-wood pulp and paper mill.It was found that the PCDD/F toxic equivalents(TEQs)in solid and effluent samples were approximately 1.3–14.9 times lower when ClO_2 bleaching was used instead of the conventional Cl_2 bleaching.2,3,7,8-Substituted tetrachlorinated dibenzofurans(2,3,7,8-TCDF)were the dominant contributors to total PCDD/F TEQs in samples from the investigated mill when using conventional Cl_2 bleaching.The formation amounts of 2,3,7,8-TCDF were reduced from 1.56–2.76 pg TEQ/g to 0.02–0.32 pg TEQ/g in solid samples when ClO_2 bleaching was used instead of the conventional Cl_2 bleaching.The replacement of Cl_2 with ClO_2 might decrease the chlorination reactions of dibenzofuran as potential precursors,and thus reduce the formation amounts of 2,3,7,8-TCDF.The results could provide important knowledge for suggesting the best available technique for PCDD/F reduction for non-wood pulp and paper mills in developing countries.展开更多
In spite of remote location and very limited human activities,Antarctica is affected by persistent organic pollutants(POPs).POPs investigation in Antarctica has a comparatively long history,but there are still large k...In spite of remote location and very limited human activities,Antarctica is affected by persistent organic pollutants(POPs).POPs investigation in Antarctica has a comparatively long history,but there are still large knowledge gaps in assessment of their emission into environment.In the paper the results of the first inventory of unintentional POPs emission from anthropogenic sources in Antarctica for modern period and preliminary estimate for the late 1980s are presented.Assessment of dioxin/furans(PCDD/Fs)emission in different media,as well as polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs)and hexachlorobenzene(HCB)in air is based on methodology of emission factors and indicators of human activity.The following sources of POPs emission have been estimated:power generation and heating,waste incineration,mobile sources and open burning of waste(in the past).According to the data obtained,annual PCDD/Fs air emission for modern period comprises 60.74 mg toxic equivalent(TEQ),PCBs-5.09 mg TEQ,and HCB-457.6 mg.Additionally 2.5 mg TEQ of dioxin/furans is released to residues,so total PCDD/Fs emission is amounted 63.23 mg TEQ.Waste incineration makes the greatest contribution to POPs emission(96% of PCDD/Fs,98%of PCBs and 36% of HCB air emission).In late 1980s open burning of waste was the major source of POPs.Retrospective assessment shows that over a 30-year period air emissions of PCDD/Fs decreased about 13 times,PCBs-15 times and HCB-57 times,primarily due to the prohibition of open burning of waste in compliance with the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty requirements.展开更多
Electrochemical oxidation is an effective method to degrade persistent organic pollutants.However,due to the limited catalytic activity of traditional thin film electrodes,the anodic oxidation process is slow and usua...Electrochemical oxidation is an effective method to degrade persistent organic pollutants.However,due to the limited catalytic activity of traditional thin film electrodes,the anodic oxidation process is slow and usually requires high energy consumption.Herein,Ti/SnO_(2)-Sb electrode with regulated surface structure was reported to enhance the performance for electrochemical oxidation of persistent organic pollutants.The electrode deposited with SnO_(2)-Sb nanoneedles(Ti/N-SnO_(2)-Sb)showed higher oxidation activity.Its kinetic constant for perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA)oxidation was 2.0 h^(-1)and the total organic carbon removal rate was 81.7%(4 h)at a relatively low current density of 6 mA/cm^2.Compared with Ti/SnO_(2)-Sb thin film and nanoparticles,Ti/N-SnO_(2)-Sb significantly improved the electrochemical active area and·OH yield,and simultaneously reduced the electron transfer resistance,which enabled it to oxidize PFOA more rapidly even at a lower potential.This work provides a new strategy for promoting the electrochemical oxidation performance.展开更多
With the fast development of industrialization and urbanization,large amounts of organic pollutants are released into the natural environment.The efficient elimination of organic pollutants is thereby crucial for envi...With the fast development of industrialization and urbanization,large amounts of organic pollutants are released into the natural environment.The efficient elimination of organic pollutants is thereby crucial for environmental pollution treatment and human health.In the last decades,photocatalytic degradation of persistent organic pollutants has attracted multidisciplinary interest because of its simple operation on a large scale.However,the whole processes for the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants are still unclear.In this perspective,the contribution of reactive species,the contribution of photocatalysts,the analysis of intermediate products,the charge transfer and fast carrier recombination are discussed on biochar-based photocatalysts.展开更多
Sludge is the by-product of wastewater treatment process. Multisource sludge can be defined as sludge from different sources. Based on the sludge properties of five typical cities in the Yangtze River basin, including...Sludge is the by-product of wastewater treatment process. Multisource sludge can be defined as sludge from different sources. Based on the sludge properties of five typical cities in the Yangtze River basin, including Jiujiang, Wuhu, Lu’an, Zhenjiang and Wuhan, this study investigated and summarized the characteristic variations and distribution differences of multiple indicators and substances from municipal sludge, dredged sludge, and river and lake sediments. The results demonstrated pH of multisource sludge was relatively stable in the neutral range. Organic matter and water content among municipal sludge were high and varied considerably between different wastewater treatment plants. Dredged sludge had an obviously higher sand content and wider particle distribution, which could be considered for graded utilization depending on its size. The nutrients composition of river and lake sediments was usually stable and special, with lower nitrogen and phosphorus content but higher potassium levels. The sources of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in multisource sludge were correlated, generally much higher among municipal sludge than dredged sludge and river and lake sediments, which were the most important limitation for final land utilization. Despite various properties of multisource sludge, the final fate and destination have some overall similarities, which need to be supplemented and improved by standards and laws. The study provided a preliminary analysis of suitable technical routes for municipal sludge, dredged sludge, river and lake sediments based on their different characteristics respectively, which was of great significance for multisource sludge co-treatment and disposal in the future of China.展开更多
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH)pollution is a global concern because of their toxicity to environment and ecosystem,which induces adverse effects on plants,animals,and humans.Hydrocarbons are mainly released from...Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH)pollution is a global concern because of their toxicity to environment and ecosystem,which induces adverse effects on plants,animals,and humans.Hydrocarbons are mainly released from natural and anthropogenic activities,such as incomplete fuel combustion,leakages in oil pipelines,and the extensive use of pesticides;PAH contaminants include petroleum hydrocarbons(PHCs),halogenated hydrocarbons,chlorophenols,and pesticides.Bioremediation using microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi is developing as an effective and promising technique to remediate PAHs from the environment.Owing to their remediation efficiency,this method is environmentally friendly and represents a novel approach for reducing the risk of PAHs to human health and the ecosystem.Nanoparticles may be applied in bioremediation,and will not only induce fewer toxic effects but also reduce the effective overall time and costs involved.This article provides a summary of the application of nanomaterials,bacteria,and fungi to PAH remediation;we review and briefly discuss the structure,properties,sources,fate,toxicity,and remediation approaches involved in the remediation of PAH-polluted sites.展开更多
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)are a typical class of persistent organic pollutants that is ubiquitous worldwide.Previous animal studies suggested that PAHs had adverse effects on female reproduction.However,th...Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)are a typical class of persistent organic pollutants that is ubiquitous worldwide.Previous animal studies suggested that PAHs had adverse effects on female reproduction.However,the human data regarding relationship of PAHs exposure with women reproductive health,such as ovarian dysfunction,are scarce.In this case-control study,the associations of serum levels of PAHs with the risk of premature ovarian failure(POF)and reproductive hormones in Chinese women were investigated,with recruiting 157 POF patients and 217 healthy women.The serum levels of 12 types of PAHs,as well as reproductive hormones,including follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone and anti-mullerian hormone,were determined.In the logistic regression models,most individual PAH congeners showed significantly positive correlations with the risk of POF(p<0.05),except for fluorine and pyrene.Benzo(a)pyrene(BaP),as the most carcinogenic PAH congener,was observed to be significantly positively associated with the risk of POF.After adjustment for age,body mass index,educational levels and household income,per one-unit increase in the log-transformed BaP concentration was significantly correlated with 2.191-fold increased risk of POF(OR=2.191,95%CI:1.634-2.938,p<0.05).To the best of our knowledge,this is the first study to report an association between internal exposure levels of PAHs and the increased risk of POF in women.展开更多
High-altitude lake sediment can be used as a natural archive to reconstruct the history of pollutants. In this work, the temporal distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDE...High-altitude lake sediment can be used as a natural archive to reconstruct the history of pollutants. In this work, the temporal distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs) were determined using a high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometer(HRGC/HRMS) in an alpine lake sediment core collected from the southern Tibetan Plateau(TP) to examine whether the expected decreasing trends due to the implementation of the international Conventions could be observed. The concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs in the sediment core were in the range of 11.8–142 pg/g dw and ND-457 pg/g dw, and their fluxes were in the range of 2.51–31.7 ng/(m^2 ·yr) and ND-43.2 ng/(m^2 ·yr), respectively. The prevalence of low-chlorinated(tri-CB) PCBs and low-brominated(tri-to tetra-) PBDEs in most sections of the sediment profiles was observed, suggesting that the light molecular weight PCBs and PBDEs have most likely reached lake sediments by long-range atmospheric transport from distant sources. Despite the restrictions on their applications, the sediment records for the concentrations and fluxes showed no corresponding decreasing trend with restrictions for PCBs, which suggested that these POPs(e.g., PCBs) were still emitted to the environment owing to the influence of primary or secondary emissions. To our knowledge, this is the first report on input history of atmospheric PCBs and PBDEs recorded in TP Lake sediment.展开更多
Bismuth-based material has been broadly studied due to their potential applications in various areas,especially used as promising photocatalysts for the removal of persistent organic pollutants(POPs) and several appro...Bismuth-based material has been broadly studied due to their potential applications in various areas,especially used as promising photocatalysts for the removal of persistent organic pollutants(POPs) and several approaches have been adopted to tailor their features.Herein,the bismuth-based photocatalysts(BiOCl,BiPO4,BiOPO4/BiOCl) were synthesized by hydrothermal method and advanced characterization techniques(XRD,SEM,EDS elemental mapping,Raman and UV-vis DRS) were employed to analyze their morphology,crystal structure,and purity of the prepared photocatalysts.These synthesized photocatalysts offered a praiseworthy activity as compared to commercial TiO2(P25) for the degradation of model pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA) under 254 nm UV light.It was interesting to observe that all synthesized photocatalysts show significant degradation of PFOA and their photocatalytic activity follows the order:bismuth-based catalysts> TiO2(P25)> without catalyst.Bismuth-based catalysts degraded the PFOA by almost 99.99% within 45 min while this degradation efficiency was 66.05% with TiO2 under the same reaction condition.Our work shows that the bismuth-based photocatalysts are promising in PFOA treatment.展开更多
Occupational and environmental exposures to industrial chemicals are well known to cause hepatotoxicity and liver injury.However,despite extensive evidence showing that exposure can lead to disease,current research ap...Occupational and environmental exposures to industrial chemicals are well known to cause hepatotoxicity and liver injury.However,despite extensive evidence showing that exposure can lead to disease,current research approaches and regulatory policies fail to address the possibility that subtle changes caused by low level exposure to chemicals may also enhance preexisting conditions.In recent years,the conceptual understanding of the contribution of environmental chemicals to liver disease has progressed significantly.Mitochondria are often target of toxicity of environmental toxicants resulting in multisystem disorders involving different cells,tissues,and organs.Here,we review persistent maladaptive changes to mitochondria in response to environmental toxicant exposure as a mechanism of hepatotoxicity.With better understanding of the mechanism(s) and risk factors that mediate the initiation and progression of toxicant-induced liver disease,rational targeted therapy can be developed to better predict risk,as well as to treat or prevent this disease.展开更多
Here, we examined the incineration of extruded polystyrene containing hexabromocyclododecane(HBCD) in a pilot-scale incinerator under various combustion temperatures(800–950℃) and flue gas residence times(2–8 sec)....Here, we examined the incineration of extruded polystyrene containing hexabromocyclododecane(HBCD) in a pilot-scale incinerator under various combustion temperatures(800–950℃) and flue gas residence times(2–8 sec). Rates of HBCD decomposition ranged from 99.996%(800℃, 2 sec) to 99.9999%(950℃, 8 sec); the decomposition of HBCD, except during the initial stage of combustion(flue gas residence time < 2 sec), followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics model. An Arrhenius plot revealed that the activation energy and frequency factor of the decomposition of HBCD by combustion were 14.2 kJ/mol and 1.69 sec^(-1),respectively. During combustion, 11 brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(BrPAHs)were detected as unintentional by-products. Of the 11 BrPAHs detected, 2-bromoanthracene and 1-bromopyrene were detected at the highest concentrations. The mutagenic and carcinogenic BrPAHs 1,5-dibromoanthracene and 1-bromopyrene were most frequently detected in the flue gases analyzed. The total concentration of BrPAHs exponentially increased(range,87.8–2,040,000 ng/m^3) with increasing flue gas residence time. Results from a qualitative analysis using gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry suggest that bromofluorene and bromopyrene(or fluoranthene) congeners were also produced during the combustion.展开更多
Long-range atmospheric transport(LRAT)plays a crucial role in the occurrence of persis-tent organic pollutants(POPs)in remote regions.When studying the LRAT of POPs on the Tibetan Plateau,westerly-controlled regions h...Long-range atmospheric transport(LRAT)plays a crucial role in the occurrence of persis-tent organic pollutants(POPs)in remote regions.When studying the LRAT of POPs on the Tibetan Plateau,westerly-controlled regions have received insufficient attention compared with regions influenced by the Indian monsoon or air flow from East Asia.We investigated the residual levels of POPs in soils from the eastern Pamirs and used air backward trajectory analysis to elucidate the influence of potential source regions via LRAT.Organochlorine pes-ticides(OCPs,mainly comprising DDTs,HCHs,and HCB),polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs,mainly comprising penta-and hexa-CBs),and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs,mainly comprising three-and four-ring)were detected at low concentrations of 40-1000,<MDL-88,and 2100-34,000 pg/g,respectively.We elucidated three major geographical dis-tribution patterns of POPs,which were influenced by(1)the distribution of total organic carbon and black carbon in soil,(2)historical use of pesticides in the Tarim Basin,and(3)continuous emissions.Central Asia and the Tarim Basin were major potential source regions of POPs reaching the eastern Pamirs via LRAT.Historical use of technical HCH or lindane and technical DDT in potential source regions may contribute to the accumulation of HCHs and DDTs in the eastern Pamirs,respectively.Local sources seem to play a more important role in the occurrence of PAHs in the study area.By being under the control of less contaminated westerly air flow,the eastern Pamirs are more pristine than the core of the Tibetan Plateau where the Indian and East Asia monsoons deliver contaminants from highly industrialized areas in East China and India.展开更多
Persistent organic pollutants(POPs)are extremely harmful to the environment and human health;the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was therefore adopted by the international community in 2001 to el...Persistent organic pollutants(POPs)are extremely harmful to the environment and human health;the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was therefore adopted by the international community in 2001 to eliminate or reduce the production,use,and emissions of POPs.China is the largest developing country that has signed the Stockholm Convention,and thus plays an important role in its implementation.This paper systematically studies the practice and achievements of China since it signed the Stockholm Convention 20 years ago.China has established an implementation guarantee system including institutions,implementation mechanisms,policies,law enforcement,and scientific and technological support.During the 20 years since the implementation of the Stockholm Convention,dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane(DDT)and hexachlorocyclohexane(HCH)concentrations in the air have been steadily decreasing,and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid/Perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride(PFOS/PFOSF)concentrations in water bodies have decreased.In the past 20 years,China has safely disposed of 6352.1 tons of pesticide persistent organic pollutants and 36998 sets of electrical equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs),with a disposal rate of 100%.In the future,China will further strengthen the construction of persistent organic pollutant monitoring networks,scientific research,publicity,education,and international cooperation to improve environmental quality,providing a reference for other countries to implement the Stockholm Convention.展开更多
Chlorinated paraffins(CPs)have been produced for a wide range of applications,mostly in open uses,such as metalworking fluids,lubricants,coolants or additives in consumer goods.The production volume is more than one m...Chlorinated paraffins(CPs)have been produced for a wide range of applications,mostly in open uses,such as metalworking fluids,lubricants,coolants or additives in consumer goods.The production volume is more than one million tonnes requiring control of the lifecycle of these persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals.In May 2017,the Stockholm Convention amended its Annex A to list short chain chlorinated paraffins(SCCPs)as a Persistent Organic Pollutant(POP).Additionally,a limit for the presence of SCCPs in other CP mixtures was set at 1%by weight.CPs can be released to the environment throughout their lifecycle.Therefore,the major objective of this review was to assess and compile information on SCCPs and other CPs regarding their lifecycle in the technosphere to support the Stockholm Convention implementation.A few studies have assessed CP production plants and contamination in the surrounding environments.However,there was no systematic investigation of release routes from production and no assessment of associated landfills,even though these are known major pollution sources at other organochlorine production sites.Some studies have reported that industrial areas,where CPs have likely been used,have elevated levels of CPs in sediments and soil.However,although CPs are largely released when used as metalworking fluids or lubricants,no systematic assessment of releases has been conducted at the thousands of sites where CPs are used in high volumes.Many CPs,mainly medium chain chlorinated paraffins(MCCPs)and SCCPs,are used as additives in the production of consumer goods,resulting in exposure risks.Levels above the European Union regulation for SCCPs of 1500 mg kg^-1 and up to approx.20%are frequently found.The end-of-life management of CP-containing products is difficult since no labelling requirement exists even for products containing SCCPs.The Stockholm Convention prohibits the recycling of SCCP-containing products,which will result in challenges recycling the impacted waste categories.The activities under the Stockholm Convention related to SCCPs,such as the inventory,phase-out,and management of impacted products,provide opportunities to address existing data gaps and challenges.Special attention needs to be given to developing countries with lacking analytical capacity as well as waste management and destruction capacity.展开更多
A range of brominated flame retardants(BFRs)have been incorporated into polymeric materials like plastics,electronic equipment,foams and textiles to prevent fires.The most common of these,polybrominated diphenyl ether...A range of brominated flame retardants(BFRs)have been incorporated into polymeric materials like plastics,electronic equipment,foams and textiles to prevent fires.The most common of these,polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs),have been subject to legislated bans and voluntary withdrawal by manufacturers in North America,Europe and Australia over the past decade due to long-range atmospheric transport,persistence in the environment,and toxicity.Evidence has shown that replacement novel brominated flame retardants(NBFRs)are released to the environment by the same mechanisms as PBDEs and share similar hazardous properties.The objective of the current research was to characterize soil contamination by NBFRs in the urban soils of Melbourne,Australia.A variety of industrial and nonindustrial land-uses were investigated with the secondary objective of determining likely point sources of pollution.Six NBFRs;pentabromotoluene(PBT),pentabromoethylbenzene(PBEB),hexabromobenzene(HBB),2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate(EH-TBB),1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane(BTBPE)and decabromodiphenyl ethane(DBDPE)were measured in 30 soil samples using selective pressurized liquid extraction(S-PLE)and gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(GC-MS/MS).NBFRs were detected in 24/30 soil samples with S5NBFR concentrations ranging from nd-385 ng/g dw.HBB was the most frequently detected compound(14/30),while the highest concentrations were observed for DBDPE,followed by BTBPE.Electronic waste recycling and polymer manufacturing appear to be key contributors to NBFR soil contamination in the city of Melbourne.A significant positive correlation between S8PBDEs and S5NBFR soil concentrations was observed at waste disposal sites to suggest that both BFR classes are present in Melbourne's waste streams,while no association was determined among manufacturing sites.This research provides the first account of NBFRs in Australian soils and indicates that these emerging contaminants possess a similar potential to contaminate Melbourne soils as PBDEs.展开更多
Since 2006,Kuwait has been a party to the Stockholm Convention(SC)on Persistent Organic Pollutants(POPs).According to Article 7 of the SC,each party should develop a National Implementation Plan(NIP)and endeavour to i...Since 2006,Kuwait has been a party to the Stockholm Convention(SC)on Persistent Organic Pollutants(POPs).According to Article 7 of the SC,each party should develop a National Implementation Plan(NIP)and endeavour to implement the plan for the control and elimination of POPs.A first detailed National Implementation Plan has been developed for Kuwait with the support of the Stockholm Convention Regional Center for Capacity-Building and the Transfer of Technology for West Asia(SCRC Kuwait)in KISR.It includes a detailed action plan to manage and control the POPs in the country but also with activities to further give regional support for POPs monitoring and management.The current paper discusses the major inventory findings for the individual POPs groups including POPs pesticides,polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs),polybrominated diphenyl ethers,and hexabromocyclododecane(HBCD)as well as Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid(PFOS)and unintentional POPs.Besides,information from POPs monitoring studies in Kuwait relevant to the NIP is shortly compiled for further informing on the current situation of POPs in Kuwait.Selected soil samples were collected and analyzed for selected POPs during the NIP development to generate supplementary information to the POP monitoring studies already conducted in Kuwait.Further relevant areas for the POPs management and control were assessed during the NIP development and are listed in the paper.One finding in the NIP assessment was that some of the alternatives used are also bioaccumulative with toxicity in biota and that in the NIP implementation.Also,alternative pesticides in the current use are an issue of concern.Therefore one activity in the implementation of the NIP is the avoidance of regrettable alternatives and the use of more sustainable and green chemicals.展开更多
文摘The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (SCPOPs) is an international treaty that operates under the patronage of the United Nations (UN) to control certain chemicals that are considered persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They are of great concern because of their adverse effects on human health and the environment. Exposure to POPs may lead to cancer, infertility, respiratory infections, and other health complications. It is therefore critical to study the degree of human and environmental exposure to these POPs. Passive air sampling was conducted in South Africa to evaluate the presence and trends of persistent organic pollutants at Barberspan (rural agricultural), Vanderbijl Park (urban industrial) and Molopo Nature Reserve (isolated nature reserve). Samples were collected in 2012. Passive air samplers using poly were used for sampling. The Buchi System B-811 automatic extractor was used to analyze for dichloro-diphenyl-trichlorethane (DDT), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), hexechlorobenzene (HCB) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Sampling was conducted for a period of one year. POPs concentrations were generally low at all sites, but Vanderbijl Park had the highest concentrations. Seasonal changes in concentrations were much the same at the three sites with temperatures and wind patterns being major factors. The presence of these chemicals in Molopo Nature Reserve and Barberspan is evidence of long range transportation over dry semi desert areas. Back-trajectories indicate possible sources, including areas where DDT is used for malaria control. The presence of POPs is areas they have never been in use poses health and environmental risks in these areas.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42172336).
文摘Lakes are the main reservoirs of persistent organic pollutants(POPs)from land,atmo sphere and rivers.POPs in lakes undergo complex exchange,transformation,and degradation between water-air-sediment-biota interfaces,which are constrained and regulated by various physical,chemical and biological factors.POPs can affect ecological conditions,chemical properties of water and sedi ments,and biodiversity of the lake system.Therefore,it is important to study the sources,migration,transformation,environmental behavior and ecological impacts of POPs in lake ecosystems.This re view summarizes research progress on detection technologies,diversity and origins,historical records,migration and transformation,distribution patterns,degradation and toxic effects of POPs in lakes.Fi nally,future directions related to POPs in lakes were summarized.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA11020405)the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.KZZD-EW-14).
文摘Quantitative structure-activity relationships(QSARs)were determined using partial least square(PLS)and support vector machine(SVM).The predicted values by the final QSAR models were in good agreement with the corresponding experimental values.Chemical estrogenic activities are related to atomic properties(atomic Sanderson electronegativities,van der Waals volumes and polarizabilities).Comparison of the results obtained from two models,the SVM method exhibited better overall performances.Besides,three PLS models were constructed for some specific families based on their chemical structures.These predictive models should be useful to rapidly identify potential estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals.
基金INSERM to Inserm U1060“Région Rh?ne-Alpes”,No.ARC 2013-ARC1 SANTE-13-018955-01(to Labaronne E)
文摘Obesity and associated metabolic disorders represent a major societal challenge in health and quality of life with large psychological consequences in addition to physical disabilities. They are also one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Although, different etiologic factors including excessive food intake and reduced physical activity have been well identified, they cannot explain the kinetics of epidemic evolution of obesity and diabetes with prevalence rates reaching pandemic proportions. Interestingly, convincing data have shown that environmental pollutants, specifically those endowed with endocrine disrupting activities, could contribute to the etiology of these multifactorial metabolic disorders. Within this review, we will recapitulate characteristics of endocrine disruption. We will demonstrate that metabolic disorders could originate from endocrine disruption with a particular focus on convincing data from the literature. Eventually, we will present how handling an original mouse model of chronic exposition to a mixture of pollutants allowed demonstrating that a mixture of pollutants each at doses beyond their active dose could induce substantial deleterious effects on several metabolic end-points. This proof-of-concept study, as well as other studies on mixtures of pollutants, stresses the needs for revisiting the current threshold model used in risk assessment which does not take into account potential effects of mixtures containing pollutants at environmental doses, e.g., the real life exposure. Certainly, more studies are necessary to better determine the nature of the chemicals to which humans are exposed and at which level, and their health impact. As well, research studies on substitute products are essential to identify harmless molecules.
基金support provided by the National 973 program (No. 2015CB453100)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (No. 2016038)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the CAS (No. XDB14020102)
文摘The effectiveness of ClO_2 bleaching as a replacement for conventional Cl_2 bleaching,which is intensively practiced in developing countries,to reduce polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans(PCDD/Fs)in non-wood pulp and paper mills has not been field tested.The first field study was performed to investigate PCDD/F variations when ClO_2 bleaching was used as a substitute for conventional Cl_2 bleaching in a non-wood pulp and paper mill.It was found that the PCDD/F toxic equivalents(TEQs)in solid and effluent samples were approximately 1.3–14.9 times lower when ClO_2 bleaching was used instead of the conventional Cl_2 bleaching.2,3,7,8-Substituted tetrachlorinated dibenzofurans(2,3,7,8-TCDF)were the dominant contributors to total PCDD/F TEQs in samples from the investigated mill when using conventional Cl_2 bleaching.The formation amounts of 2,3,7,8-TCDF were reduced from 1.56–2.76 pg TEQ/g to 0.02–0.32 pg TEQ/g in solid samples when ClO_2 bleaching was used instead of the conventional Cl_2 bleaching.The replacement of Cl_2 with ClO_2 might decrease the chlorination reactions of dibenzofuran as potential precursors,and thus reduce the formation amounts of 2,3,7,8-TCDF.The results could provide important knowledge for suggesting the best available technique for PCDD/F reduction for non-wood pulp and paper mills in developing countries.
文摘In spite of remote location and very limited human activities,Antarctica is affected by persistent organic pollutants(POPs).POPs investigation in Antarctica has a comparatively long history,but there are still large knowledge gaps in assessment of their emission into environment.In the paper the results of the first inventory of unintentional POPs emission from anthropogenic sources in Antarctica for modern period and preliminary estimate for the late 1980s are presented.Assessment of dioxin/furans(PCDD/Fs)emission in different media,as well as polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs)and hexachlorobenzene(HCB)in air is based on methodology of emission factors and indicators of human activity.The following sources of POPs emission have been estimated:power generation and heating,waste incineration,mobile sources and open burning of waste(in the past).According to the data obtained,annual PCDD/Fs air emission for modern period comprises 60.74 mg toxic equivalent(TEQ),PCBs-5.09 mg TEQ,and HCB-457.6 mg.Additionally 2.5 mg TEQ of dioxin/furans is released to residues,so total PCDD/Fs emission is amounted 63.23 mg TEQ.Waste incineration makes the greatest contribution to POPs emission(96% of PCDD/Fs,98%of PCBs and 36% of HCB air emission).In late 1980s open burning of waste was the major source of POPs.Retrospective assessment shows that over a 30-year period air emissions of PCDD/Fs decreased about 13 times,PCBs-15 times and HCB-57 times,primarily due to the prohibition of open burning of waste in compliance with the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty requirements.
基金supported by Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program(No.XLYC2007069)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22076019 and 22222601)open project of State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment,Harbin Institute of Technology(No.HC201705)。
文摘Electrochemical oxidation is an effective method to degrade persistent organic pollutants.However,due to the limited catalytic activity of traditional thin film electrodes,the anodic oxidation process is slow and usually requires high energy consumption.Herein,Ti/SnO_(2)-Sb electrode with regulated surface structure was reported to enhance the performance for electrochemical oxidation of persistent organic pollutants.The electrode deposited with SnO_(2)-Sb nanoneedles(Ti/N-SnO_(2)-Sb)showed higher oxidation activity.Its kinetic constant for perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA)oxidation was 2.0 h^(-1)and the total organic carbon removal rate was 81.7%(4 h)at a relatively low current density of 6 mA/cm^2.Compared with Ti/SnO_(2)-Sb thin film and nanoparticles,Ti/N-SnO_(2)-Sb significantly improved the electrochemical active area and·OH yield,and simultaneously reduced the electron transfer resistance,which enabled it to oxidize PFOA more rapidly even at a lower potential.This work provides a new strategy for promoting the electrochemical oxidation performance.
基金Financial support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFC1900105,2017YFA0207002)Beijing Outstanding Young Scientist Program are acknowledged.
文摘With the fast development of industrialization and urbanization,large amounts of organic pollutants are released into the natural environment.The efficient elimination of organic pollutants is thereby crucial for environmental pollution treatment and human health.In the last decades,photocatalytic degradation of persistent organic pollutants has attracted multidisciplinary interest because of its simple operation on a large scale.However,the whole processes for the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants are still unclear.In this perspective,the contribution of reactive species,the contribution of photocatalysts,the analysis of intermediate products,the charge transfer and fast carrier recombination are discussed on biochar-based photocatalysts.
基金supported by the Scientific Research Project of China Three Gorges Corporation, China (No. 202003081)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2020YFC1908702)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No. 52131002)。
文摘Sludge is the by-product of wastewater treatment process. Multisource sludge can be defined as sludge from different sources. Based on the sludge properties of five typical cities in the Yangtze River basin, including Jiujiang, Wuhu, Lu’an, Zhenjiang and Wuhan, this study investigated and summarized the characteristic variations and distribution differences of multiple indicators and substances from municipal sludge, dredged sludge, and river and lake sediments. The results demonstrated pH of multisource sludge was relatively stable in the neutral range. Organic matter and water content among municipal sludge were high and varied considerably between different wastewater treatment plants. Dredged sludge had an obviously higher sand content and wider particle distribution, which could be considered for graded utilization depending on its size. The nutrients composition of river and lake sediments was usually stable and special, with lower nitrogen and phosphorus content but higher potassium levels. The sources of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in multisource sludge were correlated, generally much higher among municipal sludge than dredged sludge and river and lake sediments, which were the most important limitation for final land utilization. Despite various properties of multisource sludge, the final fate and destination have some overall similarities, which need to be supplemented and improved by standards and laws. The study provided a preliminary analysis of suitable technical routes for municipal sludge, dredged sludge, river and lake sediments based on their different characteristics respectively, which was of great significance for multisource sludge co-treatment and disposal in the future of China.
文摘Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon(PAH)pollution is a global concern because of their toxicity to environment and ecosystem,which induces adverse effects on plants,animals,and humans.Hydrocarbons are mainly released from natural and anthropogenic activities,such as incomplete fuel combustion,leakages in oil pipelines,and the extensive use of pesticides;PAH contaminants include petroleum hydrocarbons(PHCs),halogenated hydrocarbons,chlorophenols,and pesticides.Bioremediation using microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi is developing as an effective and promising technique to remediate PAHs from the environment.Owing to their remediation efficiency,this method is environmentally friendly and represents a novel approach for reducing the risk of PAHs to human health and the ecosystem.Nanoparticles may be applied in bioremediation,and will not only induce fewer toxic effects but also reduce the effective overall time and costs involved.This article provides a summary of the application of nanomaterials,bacteria,and fungi to PAH remediation;we review and briefly discuss the structure,properties,sources,fate,toxicity,and remediation approaches involved in the remediation of PAH-polluted sites.
基金supported by Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science of Foundation of China(No.LQ20B070005)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Nos.2019FZJD007 and 2019QNA6008)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.21876151 and 81703236)Project for Zhejiang Medical Technology Program(Nos.2018KY437,2016KYA049 and WKJ-ZJ-1621)
文摘Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)are a typical class of persistent organic pollutants that is ubiquitous worldwide.Previous animal studies suggested that PAHs had adverse effects on female reproduction.However,the human data regarding relationship of PAHs exposure with women reproductive health,such as ovarian dysfunction,are scarce.In this case-control study,the associations of serum levels of PAHs with the risk of premature ovarian failure(POF)and reproductive hormones in Chinese women were investigated,with recruiting 157 POF patients and 217 healthy women.The serum levels of 12 types of PAHs,as well as reproductive hormones,including follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone and anti-mullerian hormone,were determined.In the logistic regression models,most individual PAH congeners showed significantly positive correlations with the risk of POF(p<0.05),except for fluorine and pyrene.Benzo(a)pyrene(BaP),as the most carcinogenic PAH congener,was observed to be significantly positively associated with the risk of POF.After adjustment for age,body mass index,educational levels and household income,per one-unit increase in the log-transformed BaP concentration was significantly correlated with 2.191-fold increased risk of POF(OR=2.191,95%CI:1.634-2.938,p<0.05).To the best of our knowledge,this is the first study to report an association between internal exposure levels of PAHs and the increased risk of POF in women.
基金supported by the second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP (No. 2019QZKK0605)the National Natural Science Founda-tion of China (Nos. 21777184,41977327)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFC1600301)。
文摘High-altitude lake sediment can be used as a natural archive to reconstruct the history of pollutants. In this work, the temporal distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs) were determined using a high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometer(HRGC/HRMS) in an alpine lake sediment core collected from the southern Tibetan Plateau(TP) to examine whether the expected decreasing trends due to the implementation of the international Conventions could be observed. The concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs in the sediment core were in the range of 11.8–142 pg/g dw and ND-457 pg/g dw, and their fluxes were in the range of 2.51–31.7 ng/(m^2 ·yr) and ND-43.2 ng/(m^2 ·yr), respectively. The prevalence of low-chlorinated(tri-CB) PCBs and low-brominated(tri-to tetra-) PBDEs in most sections of the sediment profiles was observed, suggesting that the light molecular weight PCBs and PBDEs have most likely reached lake sediments by long-range atmospheric transport from distant sources. Despite the restrictions on their applications, the sediment records for the concentrations and fluxes showed no corresponding decreasing trend with restrictions for PCBs, which suggested that these POPs(e.g., PCBs) were still emitted to the environment owing to the influence of primary or secondary emissions. To our knowledge, this is the first report on input history of atmospheric PCBs and PBDEs recorded in TP Lake sediment.
基金financial support from Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (Nos.2016YFE0112200 and 2016YFC0202700)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.21507011,21677037 and 21607027)Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (Nos. 19ZR1471200,17ZR1440200)
文摘Bismuth-based material has been broadly studied due to their potential applications in various areas,especially used as promising photocatalysts for the removal of persistent organic pollutants(POPs) and several approaches have been adopted to tailor their features.Herein,the bismuth-based photocatalysts(BiOCl,BiPO4,BiOPO4/BiOCl) were synthesized by hydrothermal method and advanced characterization techniques(XRD,SEM,EDS elemental mapping,Raman and UV-vis DRS) were employed to analyze their morphology,crystal structure,and purity of the prepared photocatalysts.These synthesized photocatalysts offered a praiseworthy activity as compared to commercial TiO2(P25) for the degradation of model pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA) under 254 nm UV light.It was interesting to observe that all synthesized photocatalysts show significant degradation of PFOA and their photocatalytic activity follows the order:bismuth-based catalysts> TiO2(P25)> without catalyst.Bismuth-based catalysts degraded the PFOA by almost 99.99% within 45 min while this degradation efficiency was 66.05% with TiO2 under the same reaction condition.Our work shows that the bismuth-based photocatalysts are promising in PFOA treatment.
基金funded by awards from the National Institutes of Health: K01 DK096042, R03 DK107912, R21 ES031531, P30DK120531 and P20GM113226, USA。
文摘Occupational and environmental exposures to industrial chemicals are well known to cause hepatotoxicity and liver injury.However,despite extensive evidence showing that exposure can lead to disease,current research approaches and regulatory policies fail to address the possibility that subtle changes caused by low level exposure to chemicals may also enhance preexisting conditions.In recent years,the conceptual understanding of the contribution of environmental chemicals to liver disease has progressed significantly.Mitochondria are often target of toxicity of environmental toxicants resulting in multisystem disorders involving different cells,tissues,and organs.Here,we review persistent maladaptive changes to mitochondria in response to environmental toxicant exposure as a mechanism of hepatotoxicity.With better understanding of the mechanism(s) and risk factors that mediate the initiation and progression of toxicant-induced liver disease,rational targeted therapy can be developed to better predict risk,as well as to treat or prevent this disease.
基金supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (No. JP16H05891)the Steel Foundation for Environmental Protection Technology+1 种基金the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (No. 3K153003) of the Ministry of the Environment, Japana Health and Labor Sciences Research Grant of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan
文摘Here, we examined the incineration of extruded polystyrene containing hexabromocyclododecane(HBCD) in a pilot-scale incinerator under various combustion temperatures(800–950℃) and flue gas residence times(2–8 sec). Rates of HBCD decomposition ranged from 99.996%(800℃, 2 sec) to 99.9999%(950℃, 8 sec); the decomposition of HBCD, except during the initial stage of combustion(flue gas residence time < 2 sec), followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics model. An Arrhenius plot revealed that the activation energy and frequency factor of the decomposition of HBCD by combustion were 14.2 kJ/mol and 1.69 sec^(-1),respectively. During combustion, 11 brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(BrPAHs)were detected as unintentional by-products. Of the 11 BrPAHs detected, 2-bromoanthracene and 1-bromopyrene were detected at the highest concentrations. The mutagenic and carcinogenic BrPAHs 1,5-dibromoanthracene and 1-bromopyrene were most frequently detected in the flue gases analyzed. The total concentration of BrPAHs exponentially increased(range,87.8–2,040,000 ng/m^3) with increasing flue gas residence time. Results from a qualitative analysis using gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry suggest that bromofluorene and bromopyrene(or fluoranthene) congeners were also produced during the combustion.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41473095, 41503112, 41773124, and 41907327)the Research Fund of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Theory and Technology for Environmental Pollution Control (No.Guikeneng 1701K008)+1 种基金supports from the China Scholarship Council (No. 201806410038)the Fundamental Research Funds for National Universities,China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)
文摘Long-range atmospheric transport(LRAT)plays a crucial role in the occurrence of persis-tent organic pollutants(POPs)in remote regions.When studying the LRAT of POPs on the Tibetan Plateau,westerly-controlled regions have received insufficient attention compared with regions influenced by the Indian monsoon or air flow from East Asia.We investigated the residual levels of POPs in soils from the eastern Pamirs and used air backward trajectory analysis to elucidate the influence of potential source regions via LRAT.Organochlorine pes-ticides(OCPs,mainly comprising DDTs,HCHs,and HCB),polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs,mainly comprising penta-and hexa-CBs),and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs,mainly comprising three-and four-ring)were detected at low concentrations of 40-1000,<MDL-88,and 2100-34,000 pg/g,respectively.We elucidated three major geographical dis-tribution patterns of POPs,which were influenced by(1)the distribution of total organic carbon and black carbon in soil,(2)historical use of pesticides in the Tarim Basin,and(3)continuous emissions.Central Asia and the Tarim Basin were major potential source regions of POPs reaching the eastern Pamirs via LRAT.Historical use of technical HCH or lindane and technical DDT in potential source regions may contribute to the accumulation of HCHs and DDTs in the eastern Pamirs,respectively.Local sources seem to play a more important role in the occurrence of PAHs in the study area.By being under the control of less contaminated westerly air flow,the eastern Pamirs are more pristine than the core of the Tibetan Plateau where the Indian and East Asia monsoons deliver contaminants from highly industrialized areas in East China and India.
基金the Global Environment Facility(GEF),UNDP and the World Bank for their support.
文摘Persistent organic pollutants(POPs)are extremely harmful to the environment and human health;the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was therefore adopted by the international community in 2001 to eliminate or reduce the production,use,and emissions of POPs.China is the largest developing country that has signed the Stockholm Convention,and thus plays an important role in its implementation.This paper systematically studies the practice and achievements of China since it signed the Stockholm Convention 20 years ago.China has established an implementation guarantee system including institutions,implementation mechanisms,policies,law enforcement,and scientific and technological support.During the 20 years since the implementation of the Stockholm Convention,dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane(DDT)and hexachlorocyclohexane(HCH)concentrations in the air have been steadily decreasing,and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid/Perfluorooctane sulfonyl fluoride(PFOS/PFOSF)concentrations in water bodies have decreased.In the past 20 years,China has safely disposed of 6352.1 tons of pesticide persistent organic pollutants and 36998 sets of electrical equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs),with a disposal rate of 100%.In the future,China will further strengthen the construction of persistent organic pollutant monitoring networks,scientific research,publicity,education,and international cooperation to improve environmental quality,providing a reference for other countries to implement the Stockholm Convention.
基金scholarship offered by the Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio de Janeiro(FAPERJ e Fundaçao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro)to Yago Guida(Bolsa Nota 10 e 2014577050).
文摘Chlorinated paraffins(CPs)have been produced for a wide range of applications,mostly in open uses,such as metalworking fluids,lubricants,coolants or additives in consumer goods.The production volume is more than one million tonnes requiring control of the lifecycle of these persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals.In May 2017,the Stockholm Convention amended its Annex A to list short chain chlorinated paraffins(SCCPs)as a Persistent Organic Pollutant(POP).Additionally,a limit for the presence of SCCPs in other CP mixtures was set at 1%by weight.CPs can be released to the environment throughout their lifecycle.Therefore,the major objective of this review was to assess and compile information on SCCPs and other CPs regarding their lifecycle in the technosphere to support the Stockholm Convention implementation.A few studies have assessed CP production plants and contamination in the surrounding environments.However,there was no systematic investigation of release routes from production and no assessment of associated landfills,even though these are known major pollution sources at other organochlorine production sites.Some studies have reported that industrial areas,where CPs have likely been used,have elevated levels of CPs in sediments and soil.However,although CPs are largely released when used as metalworking fluids or lubricants,no systematic assessment of releases has been conducted at the thousands of sites where CPs are used in high volumes.Many CPs,mainly medium chain chlorinated paraffins(MCCPs)and SCCPs,are used as additives in the production of consumer goods,resulting in exposure risks.Levels above the European Union regulation for SCCPs of 1500 mg kg^-1 and up to approx.20%are frequently found.The end-of-life management of CP-containing products is difficult since no labelling requirement exists even for products containing SCCPs.The Stockholm Convention prohibits the recycling of SCCP-containing products,which will result in challenges recycling the impacted waste categories.The activities under the Stockholm Convention related to SCCPs,such as the inventory,phase-out,and management of impacted products,provide opportunities to address existing data gaps and challenges.Special attention needs to be given to developing countries with lacking analytical capacity as well as waste management and destruction capacity.
文摘A range of brominated flame retardants(BFRs)have been incorporated into polymeric materials like plastics,electronic equipment,foams and textiles to prevent fires.The most common of these,polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs),have been subject to legislated bans and voluntary withdrawal by manufacturers in North America,Europe and Australia over the past decade due to long-range atmospheric transport,persistence in the environment,and toxicity.Evidence has shown that replacement novel brominated flame retardants(NBFRs)are released to the environment by the same mechanisms as PBDEs and share similar hazardous properties.The objective of the current research was to characterize soil contamination by NBFRs in the urban soils of Melbourne,Australia.A variety of industrial and nonindustrial land-uses were investigated with the secondary objective of determining likely point sources of pollution.Six NBFRs;pentabromotoluene(PBT),pentabromoethylbenzene(PBEB),hexabromobenzene(HBB),2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate(EH-TBB),1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane(BTBPE)and decabromodiphenyl ethane(DBDPE)were measured in 30 soil samples using selective pressurized liquid extraction(S-PLE)and gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(GC-MS/MS).NBFRs were detected in 24/30 soil samples with S5NBFR concentrations ranging from nd-385 ng/g dw.HBB was the most frequently detected compound(14/30),while the highest concentrations were observed for DBDPE,followed by BTBPE.Electronic waste recycling and polymer manufacturing appear to be key contributors to NBFR soil contamination in the city of Melbourne.A significant positive correlation between S8PBDEs and S5NBFR soil concentrations was observed at waste disposal sites to suggest that both BFR classes are present in Melbourne's waste streams,while no association was determined among manufacturing sites.This research provides the first account of NBFRs in Australian soils and indicates that these emerging contaminants possess a similar potential to contaminate Melbourne soils as PBDEs.
文摘Since 2006,Kuwait has been a party to the Stockholm Convention(SC)on Persistent Organic Pollutants(POPs).According to Article 7 of the SC,each party should develop a National Implementation Plan(NIP)and endeavour to implement the plan for the control and elimination of POPs.A first detailed National Implementation Plan has been developed for Kuwait with the support of the Stockholm Convention Regional Center for Capacity-Building and the Transfer of Technology for West Asia(SCRC Kuwait)in KISR.It includes a detailed action plan to manage and control the POPs in the country but also with activities to further give regional support for POPs monitoring and management.The current paper discusses the major inventory findings for the individual POPs groups including POPs pesticides,polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs),polybrominated diphenyl ethers,and hexabromocyclododecane(HBCD)as well as Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid(PFOS)and unintentional POPs.Besides,information from POPs monitoring studies in Kuwait relevant to the NIP is shortly compiled for further informing on the current situation of POPs in Kuwait.Selected soil samples were collected and analyzed for selected POPs during the NIP development to generate supplementary information to the POP monitoring studies already conducted in Kuwait.Further relevant areas for the POPs management and control were assessed during the NIP development and are listed in the paper.One finding in the NIP assessment was that some of the alternatives used are also bioaccumulative with toxicity in biota and that in the NIP implementation.Also,alternative pesticides in the current use are an issue of concern.Therefore one activity in the implementation of the NIP is the avoidance of regrettable alternatives and the use of more sustainable and green chemicals.
