Uptake of Cd, Pb, U, and Zn by plants in floodplain pollution hotspots contributes to secondary contamination

Author(s):  
Tomáš Matys Grygar ◽  
Martin Faměra ◽  
Michal Hošek ◽  
Jitka Elznicová ◽  
Jan Rohovec ◽  
...  
2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kevin Horton ◽  
Maureen Orr ◽  
Theodora Tsongas ◽  
Richard Leiker ◽  
Vikas Kapil

ABSTRACTBackground: When not managed properly, a hazardous material event can quickly extend beyond the boundaries of the initial release, creating the potential for secondary contamination of medical personnel, equipment, and facilities. Secondary contamination generally occurs when primary victims are not decontaminated or are inadequately decontaminated before receiving medical attention. This article examines the secondary contamination events reported to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and offers suggestions for preventing such events.Methods: Data from the ATSDR Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance system were used to conduct a retrospective analysis of hazardous material events occurring in 17 states during 2003 through 2006 involving secondary contamination of medical personnel, equipment, and facilities.Results: Fifteen (0.05%) Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance events were identified in which secondary contamination occurred. At least 17 medical personnel were injured as a result of secondary contamination while they were treating contaminated victims. Of the medical personnel injured, 12 were emergency medical technicians and 5 were hospital personnel. Respiratory irritation was the most common injury sustained.Conclusions: Adequate preplanning and drills, proper decontamination procedures, good field-to-hospital communication, appropriate use of personal protective equipment, and effective training can help prevent injuries of medical personnel and contamination of transport vehicles and medical facilities. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2008;2:104–113)


Author(s):  
A. M. Korotkova ◽  
O. V. Kvan ◽  
L. A. Bykova ◽  
O. S. Kudryavtseva ◽  
T. S. Videneeva ◽  
...  

In this article violation of the mineral metabolism of plants as a result of secondary contamination with heavy metals (HM), which at high concentrations have a toxic effect on a wide variety of physiological processes, occupies a central place in the problem of the resistance of plant organisms to unfavorable environmental factors. Nanoparticles based on iron, copper and nickel are of considerable interest. The study of the mechanisms of plant adaptation to structurally different nanometals (NM) from the position of changing a number of physiological and biochemical parameters is relevant for a more complete understanding of the adaptive capabilities of organisms in conditions of technogenic nanomaterials. Analysis of the content of photosynthetic pigments allowed the formation of consistent ideas about the selectivity of the effect of nanometals on the components of the pigment system of seedlings, depending both on the composition of the metal and on its concentration. The obtained results serve as additional evidence of the existence of selectivity in the activation of a particular reaction of the plant's antioxidant system, determined by the nature of the nanomaterial. However, a change in the level of ROS in the presence of Ni? and Cu? can be attributed to the non-specific response of plants, since similar changes are characteristic of a variety of stresses of plants and in most cases require further research. In this aspect the main "target" of the action of LF metals was the root system of plants, which determined the interest in identifying mechanisms of phytotoxicity with an emphasis on the study of cell damage in this part of plants.


Author(s):  
Laskar ◽  
Awata ◽  
Kasai ◽  
Katayama

Anoxic aquifers suffer from energy limitations due to the unavailability of organic substrates, as dictated by hydrogen (H2) for various electron-accepting processes. This deficiency often results in the accumulation of persistent organic pollutants, where bioremediation using organic compounds often leads to secondary contamination. This study involves the reductive dechlorination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by dechlorinators that do not use H2 directly, but rather through a reduced state of humin—a solid-phase humic substance—as the extracellular electron donor, which requires an organic donor such as formate, lactate, etc. This shortcoming was addressed by the development of an anaerobic mixed culture that was capable of reductively dechlorinating PCP using humin under autotrophic conditions induced by homoacetogenesis. Here, H2 was used for carbon-dioxide fixation to acetate; the acetate produced was used for the reduction of humin; and consequently used for dechlorination through reduced humin. The 16SrRNA gene sequencing analysis showed Dehalobacter and Dehalobacterium as the possible dechlorinators, while Clostridium and Oxobacter were identified as the homoacetogens. Thus, this work contributes to the development of an anaerobic consortium that balanced H2 dependency, where efficiency of humin reduction extends the applicability of anaerobic microbial remediation in aquifers through autotrophy, syntrophy, and reductive dechlorination.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. ASWR.S2128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimír Kočí ◽  
Tomáš Ocelka ◽  
Roman Grabic

Persistent compounds are present around almost the entire world. The level of contamination in very old groundwater sources (Cennoman bedrock Mesozoic, approximately 100 millions year old) was assessed. This offers an information about realistic natural background. Together with chemical analysis a toxicity evaluation of sampled sites was performed. Semipermeable membrane devices were applied as a sampling system. Exposed SPMDs were analyzed both for chemical contain of POPs and toxicity properties. The chemical analyses of PAHs were made by HPLC-FLD, PCBs and OCPs were analysed by GC/MS/MS on GCQ or PolarisQ (Thermoquest). Toxicity bioassays on alga Desmodesmus subspicatus, bacteria Vibrio fischeri and crustacean Daphnia magna was performed. The results show very low contamination of groundwater with POPs with concentrations close to detection limits of applied analytical tools. Even this low contamination was possible to rank based on the obtained toxicity data. Toxicity proved to be a good parameter for determination of relative POPs contamination where concentration is near to detection limits and thus correct determination of all POPs cannot be undertaken. Although contamination levels were found to be very low, a secondary contamination of PCBs through the bedrock was observed. Organochlorine pesticides were found at a sampling site near a mouth of the ground watershed. Applied toxicity tests confirmed the presence of toxic substances and marked sites of higher contamination. Application of toxicological parameter Vtox allowed the ranking of assessed sites by their contamination level even in cases where concentrations of pollutants were near or under detection limits and it was not therefore possible to rank the sites on the basis of chemical parameters. Toxicity response of bioassays obtained on SPMDs exposed in clean groundwater can be used as a background toxicity values for further SPMD applications. Secondary contamination with PCBs and pesticides was detected in Cennoman groundwater. Toxicity evaluation of SPMD extract can be used as an effective tool for ranking of general level of water contamination.


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-127
Author(s):  
AKM Nowsad ◽  
MR Islam ◽  
FH Shikha

A low-cost icebox was developed and its efficacy in icing fish was evaluated in order to minimize huge post-harvest loss and ensure adequate price of wet fish through quality maintenance. Traditional bamboo basket capable of containing 25-30 kg fresh fish was wrapped inside, bottom and top twice by polythene gunny sacs. In between the two layers of gunny sacs, a layer of plant leave mat (hogla mat) and a layer of old nylon net/cloths were placed for insulation. A small plastic pipe (1 cm diameter, 60 cm long) was inserted through the bottom to drain out melted water. The rear end of the pipe was kept fasten with the rim of the basket. To keep the iced fish inside of the wrapped basket, a separate plain polythene sheet was used. Freshly caught Puntius sophore (5.8 ± 0.4 cm) and Cirrhinus mrigala (16.4 ± 1.3 cm) were preserved under adequate icing for 7 to 10 days. Temperature of the iced fish inside was maintained between 0.4o to 3.1oC. Freshness of the fish kept in the new icebox during preservation and transportation was investigated through sensory and biochemical methods. No chance of secondary contamination was found in new ice box because the fish could not come in contact of the basket materials. The device was very easy to clean and keep clean. Shape of filled icebox was found regular and stout with no sign of breakage and leakage. Rate of melting of ice was 23.0 ± 1.6% in 24 hours. Replacement of ice was done at such rate. Melted water was adequately drained out. Iced C. mrigala and P. sophore kept in the icebox were in excellent quality in terms of both sensory and biochemical indicators till the end of 7th or 10th day, respectively. The study suggested that the new icebox was effective in preserving and transporting iced fish.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v19i2.16952 Progress. Agric. 19(2): 119 - 127, 2008


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Titus, BS ◽  
George Lemmer, BS ◽  
Jeremy Slagley, PhD ◽  
Robert Eninger, PhD

Chemical and biological (CB) warfare have long been practiced, and although these types of warfare are not acceptable in modern times, this does not prevent them from occurring. This makes it important for societies to be able to appropriately respond to these events, including the best way to decontaminate victims to keep them and emergency responders safe. Decontamination methods such as chemical, physical, wet, and dry methods are discussed, as well as their downsides. Secondary contamination, which played a significant role in the Tokyo sarin attacks, has long been noted by anecdotal evidence, although it has been little studied. Biological agents cause more problems after infection has taken place, and thus preventing the spread of infection is the largest concern. There are many differences between military and civilian populations, and the response to mass casualty attacks differs accordingly. There are several emerging technologies that can make this process easier on all parties, such as bioscavengers, antitoxins, and color changing bleach for visualization. A reliable way to quantify decontamination is also needed, which would allow for better care of victims both in normal hospital situations, as well as during aeromedical transport. In addition, several gaps were identified, such as the lack of scientific basis for 90 percent reduction during decontamination, a way to quantify decontamination, and the lack of studies on toxic industrial chemicals and secondary contamination.


2012 ◽  
Vol 610-613 ◽  
pp. 129-132
Author(s):  
Jing Wang ◽  
Guang Fei Liu ◽  
Hong Lu ◽  
Ji Ti Zhou ◽  
Lihua Li

The continuous dosing and discharge of water soluble redox mediators such as biologically recalcitrant compounds will result in the secondary contamination. The immobilized redox mediator prepared by incorporation of anthraquinonedisulphon-ate (AQDS) during the electropolymerization of pyrrole monomer on active carbon felt (ACF), AQDS/PPy/ACF, was used for catalyzing bioreduction of 2,4-dinitrotoluene(2,4-DNT) in this study. The results showed that the morphology of the PPy films deposits on ACF are characterized by some globular structure; AQDS/PPy/ACF exhibited good catalytic activity and stability for 2,4-DNT, the enhanced reduction rates obtained in the incubations with AQDS/PPy/ACF was about 5 times that without AQDS/PPy/ACF, the corresponding first-order reduction rate constant k reached 0.045 h-1; 2,4-DNT was reduced to be 2,4-diaminotoluene via 2-amino-4-nitrotoluene and 4-amino-2-nitrotoluene in the system.


1997 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 880-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. T. Smith ◽  
D. R. P. Leonard ◽  
J. Hilton ◽  
P. G. Appleby

Environments ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Sara L. Belontz ◽  
Patricia L. Corcoran

The ubiquity and distribution of microplastics, particularly microfibres, in outdoor and indoor environments makes it challenging when assessing and controlling background contamination, as atmospheric particles can be unintentionally introduced into a sample during laboratory analysis. As such, an intra-laboratory examination and literature review was completed to quantify background contamination in sediment samples, in addition to comparing reported quality assurance and control (QA/QC) protocols in 50 studies examining microplastics in sediment from 2010 to 2021. The intra-lab analysis prioritizes negative controls, placing procedural blanks in various working labs designed to prepare, process, and microscopically analyse microplastics in sediment. All four labs are subject to microfibre contamination; however, following the addition of alternative clean-air devices (microscope enclosure and HEPA air purifiers), contamination decreased by 66% in laboratory B, and 70% in laboratory C. A review of microplastic studies suggests that 82% are not including or reporting alternative clean-air devices in their QA/QC approaches. These studies are found to be at greater risk of secondary contamination, as 72% of them ranked as medium to high contamination risk. It is imperative that laboratories incorporate matrix-specific QA/QC approaches to minimize false positives and improve transparency and harmonization across studies.


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