Metal and petroleum hydrocarbon contamination at Wilkes Station, East Antarctica

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirstie A. Fryirs ◽  
Erla G. Hafsteinsdóttir ◽  
Scott C. Stark ◽  
Damian B. Gore
Keyword(s):  
Water Contamination ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Hydrocarbon Contamination ◽  
Contaminated Sites ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Background Concentration ◽  
Site Assessment ◽  
Quality Guidelines ◽  
Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination ◽  
Concentration Levels

AbstractThe management of sediment and water contamination from legacy waste is a significant problem in Antarctica. Although several reports have noted that there are contaminated sites at the abandoned Wilkes Station, a systematic attempt to assess the spatial scale of the problem has not been made, making development of clean-up or preservation programmes difficult. A contaminated site assessment for the old Wilkes Station and surrounds is presented in this paper. The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) sediment and water quality guidelines and background concentration levels (BCL) were used to assess the extent of contamination across Clark Peninsula. Of 67 sediment sites sampled, 72% were contaminated with at least one metal or metalloid, with values exceeding the ANZECC ISQG-High or 2 x BCL. Moreover, 19% were contaminated with four or more metals/metalloids. Of the 93 water samples collected, all but one was contaminated with at least one metal/metalloid concentration exceeding the guidelines, and 96% were contaminated with two or more metals/metalloids. For hydrocarbons in sediment and water, most samples were below quantitation limits. There is a complex pattern of contamination across Clark Peninsula that needs to be considered in future waste treatment, containment or removal operations, and for protection of heritage items.

scholarly journals Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils of an industrial area in semi-arid Uzbekistan: spatial distribution, relationship with trace metals and risk assessment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin A. Musa Bandowe ◽  
Nosir Shukurov ◽  
Sophia Leimer ◽  
Michael Kersten ◽  
Yosef Steinberger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Industrial Area ◽  
Copper Smelting ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Background Concentration ◽  
Industrial Complex ◽  
Metal Mining ◽  
Quality Guidelines ◽  
Us Epa ◽  
Semi Arid

AbstractThe concentrations, composition patterns, transport and fate of PAHs in semi-arid and arid soils such as in Central Asia are not well known. Such knowledge is required to manage the risk posed by these toxic chemicals to humans and ecosystems in these regions. To fill this knowledge gap, we determined the concentrations of 21 parent PAHs, 4,5-methylenephenanthrene, 6 alkylated PAHs, and biphenyl in soils from 11 sampling locations (0–10, 10–20 cm soil depths) along a 20-km transect downwind from the Almalyk metal mining and metallurgical industrial complex (Almalyk MMC), Uzbekistan. The concentrations of Σ29 PAHs and Σ16 US-EPA PAHs were 41–2670 ng g−1 and 29–1940 ng g−1, respectively. The highest concentration of Σ29 PAHs occurred in the immediate vicinity of the copper smelting factory of the Almalyk MMC. The concentrations in topsoil decreased substantially to a value of ≤ 200 ng g−1 (considered as background concentration) at ≥ 2 km away from the factory. Low molecular weight PAHs dominated the PAH mixtures at less contaminated sites and high molecular weight PAHs at the most contaminated site. The concentration of Σ16 US-EPA PAHs did not exceed the precautionary values set by the soil quality guidelines of, e.g., Switzerland and Germany. Similarly, the benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration in soils near the Almalyk MMC did not exceed the value set by the Canadian guidelines for the protection of humans from carcinogenic PAHs in soils. Consequently, the cancer risk due to exposure to PAHs in these soils can be considered as low.

Application of an Environmental Remediation Methodology: Theory vs. Practice—Reflections and Two Belgian Case Studies

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Blommaert ◽  
K. Mannaerts ◽  
S. Pepin ◽  
B. Dehandschutter
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Environmental Remediation ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Sampling Strategy ◽  
Contaminated Sites ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Chemical Contamination ◽  
First Case ◽  
The Impact

Like in many countries, polluted industrial sites also exist in Belgium. Although the contamination is purely chemical in most cases, they may also contain a radioactive component. For chemically contaminated sites, extensive regulations and methodologies were already developed and applied by the different regional authorities. However and essentially because radioactivity is a federal competence, there was also a necessity for developing a legal federal framework (including an ER-methodology [1]) for remediation of radioactive contaminated sites. Most of the so-called radioactive contaminated sites are exhibiting a mixed contamination (chemical and radiological), and hence the development of such methodology had to be in line with the existing (regional) ones concerning chemical contamination. Each authority having their own responsibilities with regard to the type of contamination, this makes it more complicated and time-consuming finding the best solution satisfying all involved parties. To overcome these difficulties the legal framework and methodology — including the necessary involvement of the stakeholders and delineation of each party’s responsibilities — has to be transparent, clear and unambiguous. Once the methodology is developed as such and approved, the application of it is expected to be more or less easy, logic and straightforward. But is this really true? The aim of this document is to investigate as well the impact of factors such as the type of radioactive contamination — levels of contamination, related to NORM activity or not, homogeneous or heterogeneous, the differences in licensing procedures,… — on the application of the developed methodology and what could be the consequences in the long run on the remediation process. Two existing case studies in Belgium will be presented ([2]). The first case deals with a historical radium contaminated site, the second one with a phosphate processing facility still in operation, both with (very) low levels of radioactivity but containing very large volumes of contaminated materials. These case studies will demonstrate that, although the applied methodology will be the same in both cases, the impact of e.g. sampling strategy, scenario definitions, modelisations, final destination of the land, presence of chemotoxic components, dose or risk assessments, uncertainties, derivation of clean-up radionuclide guidelines, stakeholder involvement and waste treatment could be important on licensing, cost-estimate, planning and final outcome of the environmental remediation activities to be executed.

scholarly journals Potential Enhancement of the In-Situ Bioremediation of Contaminated Sites through the Isolation and Screening of Bacterial Strains in Natural Hydrocarbon Springs

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Rizzo ◽  
Matilde Malerba ◽  
Antonio Bucci ◽  
Anna M. Sanangelantoni ◽  
Sara Remelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Hydrocarbon Contamination ◽  
Microbial Consortia ◽  
Contaminated Sites ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Promoting Effect ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination ◽  
Emulsifying Capacity ◽  
A Site

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination (PHC) is an issue of major concern worldwide. These compounds represent the most common environmental pollutants and their cleaning up is mandatory. The main goal of this research was to analyze microbial communities in a site in southern Italy characterized by the presence of hydrocarbons of natural origin by using a multidisciplinary approach based on microbiological, geological and hydrological investigations. Bacterial communities of two springs, the surrounding soils, and groundwater were studied through a combination of molecular and culture-dependent methodologies to explore the biodiversity at the study site, to isolate microorganisms with degradative abilities, and to assess their potential to develop effective strategies to restore the environmental quality. Next-generation sequencing revealed the dominance of species of the Proteobacteria phylum but also the presence of other autochthonous hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms affiliated to other phyla (e.g., species of the genera Flavobacterium and Gordonia). The traditional cultivation-based approach led to the isolation and identification of 11 aerobic hydrocarbon-oxidizing proteobacteria, some of which were able to grow with phenanthrene as the sole carbon source. Seven out of the 11 isolated bacterial strains produced emulsion with diesel fuel (most of them showing emulsifying capacity values greater than 50%) with a high stability after 24 h and, in some cases, after 48 h. These results pave the way for further investigations finalized at (1) exploiting both the degradation ability of the bacterial isolates and/or microbial consortia to remediate hydrocarbon-contaminated sites and (2) the capability to produce molecules with a promoting effect for oil polluted matrices restoration.

scholarly journals Characterization of microbial response to petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in a lacustrine ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio D’Ugo ◽  
Milena Bruno ◽  
Arghya Mukherjee ◽  
Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay ◽  
Roberto Giuseppetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
Petroleum Hydrocarbon ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Oil Pollution ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Hydrocarbon Contamination ◽  
Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination ◽  
Microbial Response ◽  
Pollution Event ◽  
Hydrocarbonoclastic Potential

AbstractMicrobiomes of freshwater basins intended for human use remain poorly studied, with very little known about the microbial response to in situ oil spills. Lake Pertusillo is an artificial freshwater reservoir in Basilicata, Italy, and serves as the primary source of drinking water for more than one and a half million people in the region. Notably, it is located in close proximity to one of the largest oil extraction plants in Europe. The lake suffered a major oil spill in 2017, where approximately 400 tons of crude oil spilled into the lake; importantly, the pollution event provided a rare opportunity to study how the lacustrine microbiome responds to petroleum hydrocarbon contamination. Water samples were collected from Lake Pertusillo 10 months prior to and 3 months after the accident. The presence of hydrocarbons was verified and the taxonomic and functional aspects of the lake microbiome were assessed. The analysis revealed specialized successional patterns of lake microbial communities that were potentially capable of degrading complex, recalcitrant hydrocarbons, including aromatic, chloroaromatic, nitroaromatic, and sulfur containing aromatic hydrocarbons. Our findings indicated that changes in the freshwater microbial community were associated with the oil pollution event, where microbial patterns identified in the lacustrine microbiome 3 months after the oil spill were representative of its hydrocarbonoclastic potential and may serve as effective proxies for lacustrine oil pollution.

The potential of anaerobic bacteria to degrade chlorinated compounds

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 49-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.H.A. van Eekert ◽  
G. Schraa
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Bacteria ◽  
Granular Sludge ◽  
Chlorinated Ethenes ◽  
Contaminated Sites ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Chlorinated Aromatics ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Acetogenic Bacteria ◽  
Uasb Reactors

Chlorinated ethenes and chlorinated aromatics are often found as pollutants in sediments, groundwater, and wastewater. These compounds were long considered to be recalcitrant under anaerobic conditions. In the past years however, dechlorination of these compounds has been found to occur under anaerobic conditions at contaminated sites and in wastewater treatment systems. This dechlorination is mainly attributed to halo-respiring bacteria, which are able to couple this dechlorination to energy conservation via electron transport coupled phosphorylation. The dechlorinating activities of the halo-respiring bacteria seem to be confined to the dechlorination of chloroethenes and chlorinated aromatic compounds. In addition, methanogenic and acetogenic bacteria are also able to reduce the chlorinated ethenes via a-specific cometabolic pathways. Although these latter reactions may not be important in the remediation of contaminated sites, they may be of substantial influence in the start-up of remediation processes and in the application of granular sludge from UASB reactors. Specific halo-respiring bacteria may be used to increase the dechlorination activities via bioaugmentation in the case that the appropriate microorganisms are not present at the contaminated site or in the sludge.

scholarly journals Chemical and Physical Analysis of a Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contamination on a Soil Sample to Determine Its Natural Degradation Feasibility

Inventions ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Karuna Arjoon ◽  
James G. Speight
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Petroleum Hydrocarbon ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Polluted Soil ◽  
Hydrocarbon Contamination ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Physical Analysis ◽  
Oil Composition

Crude oil is the world’s leading fuel source and is the lifeblood of the industrialized nations as it is vital to produce many everyday essentials. This dependency on fossil fuels has resulted in serious environmental issues in recent times. Petroleum contaminated soils must be treated to ensure that human health and the environment remain protected. The restoration of petroleum-polluted soil is a complex project because once petroleum hydrocarbon enters the environment, the individual constituents will partition to various environmental compartments in accordance with their own physical–chemical properties; therefore, the composition and inherent biodegradability of the petroleum hydrocarbon pollutant determines the suitability of a remediation approach. The objective of this study was to assess the prospective of bioremediation as a feasible technique for practical application to the treatment of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, by trending the changes in the properties of the petroleum due to biodegradation. Each polluted soil has particularities, thus, the bioremediation approach for each contaminated site is unique. Therefore, hydrocarbon-contaminated sites that have remained polluted for decades due to lack of proper decontamination treatments present in this part of the world would benefit from cost effective treatments. Most bioremediation case studies are usually based on hypothetical assumptions rather than technical or experimental data; providing data that show the capabilities of biodegradation of indigenous microbes on specific oil composition can lead to the creation of strategies to accelerate the biological breakdown of hydrocarbons in soil.

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