Atmospheric Concentrations and Health Implications of PAHs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs in the Vicinity of a Heavily Industrialized Site in Greece

Background: Thriassion Plain is considered the most industrialized area in Greece and thus a place where emissions of pollutants are expected to be elevated, leading to the degradation of air quality. Methods: Simultaneous determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was performed in PM10 samples. SPSS statistical package was employed for statistical analysis and source apportionment purposes. Cancer risk was estimated from total persistent organic pollutants’ (POPs) dataset according to the available literature. Results: POPs concentrations in particulate matter were measured in similar levels compared to other studies in Greece and worldwide, with mean concentrations of ΣPAHs, ΣPCDD/Fs, dioxin like PCBs, and indicator PCBs being 7.07 ng m−3, 479 fg m−3, 1634 fg m−3, and 18.1 pg m−3, respectively. Seasonal variations were observed only for PAHS with higher concentrations during cold period. MDRs, D/F ratios, and principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted combustions as the main source of POPs’ emissions. Estimation of particles’ carcinogenic and mutagenic potential indicates the increased toxicity of PM10 during cold periods, and cancer risk assessment concludes that 3 to 4 people out of 100,000 may suffer from cancer due to POPs’ inhalation. Conclusions: Increased cancer risk for citizens leads to the necessity of chronic POPs’ monitoring in Thriassion Plain, and such strategies have to be a priority for Greek environmental authorities.

Pollutants in Hong Kong Soils: Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were investigated in 138 soil samples collected in Hong Kong. Results showed that within the selected OCPs, only DDT and its metabolites (DDD and DDE) were frequently detected. Of 138 soil samples, 18% were non-detected for any DDT residues, while 25% were contaminated sporadically with DDT only (non-detected to 1090 µg kg−1) and 57% contained various combinations of DDT, DDD and DDE (2.03 to 1118 µg kg−1). In contrast, total PCBs (∑66 congeners) contamination was distributed more evenly (0.22 to 154 µg kg−1) than DDTs, but serious contamination was found in industrial areas and soils collected near highways. Concentrations of 7 indicator PCBs ranged between non-detected to 34.5 µg kg−1. The ratios of DDT/metabolites were typically greater than 1, thus suggesting recent application of DDT. Medium-range deposition from industrial areas within as well as away from the city is also suspected to be the origins of DDTs and PCBs found in Hong Kong soils. The concentrations of DDTs and PCBs in all soil samples did not exceed the recommended values in soil quality guidelines except 3 samples for DDT from locations far away from densely populated districts such as Tuen Mun and Tin Shui Wai. Therefore, DDTs and PCBs were not of significant concern in terms of their impacts on public health and environment.

Levels and risk assessment of selected persistent organic compounds in dust samples from Tianjin, China

The aim of this paper was to determine spatial variation of 6 indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 18 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in street dust samples (n=49) collected during summer season from suburban/urban zones of Tianjin, China. Sample preparation was performed by using accelerated solvent extraction with simultaneous extraction and clean-up of PCBs and OCPs, while quantification was carried out using gas chromatography coupled with microelectro absorption detector and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The total concentrations of studied PCBs varied from <method limit of quantification (MLOQ) (0.028) to 6.38 ng/g (mean 0.72 ng/g and the median value of 0.028 ng/g), while the total concentrations of studied OCPs varied from <MLOQ (0.020) to 123 ng/g (mean 33.6 ng/g and the median value of 25.9 ng/g). Regarding the OCPs analyzed, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (?-HCH), and ?-HCH were quantified, while all indicator PCBs were quantified at least in one sample, with the exception of PCB 180. Additional, principal component analysis was performed to evaluate relationships between quantified compounds (PCBs, DDTs, and HCHs) and dust characteristics. No correlation was found among quantified compounds and dust characteristics with the exception of PCB 101 and PCB 138, which correlates positively with pH and negatively with conductivity. The total lifetime carcinogenic risk (TLCR) as well as total non-carcinogenic risk hazard quotient (TnHQ) indicated that the risk to the human population related to the presence of OCPs and PCBs in dust samples was acceptable.

Organochlorine contaminants (PCBs, DDTs, HCB & HBDE) in fish from the Lake Varna and Lake Beloslav, Bulgaria

Concentrations of organochlorine compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and its metabolites, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and hexachlorobutadiene (HBDE) were determined in three fish species: goby (Neogobius melanostomus), golden grey mullet (Mugil auratus) and silverside (Atherina boyeri). Samples were collected from the Lake Varna and the Lake Beloslav in 2014. The edible fish tissues were analyzed in order to investigate the presence of pollutants in species from the lakes near Varna City, Bulgaria and compared the results to the levels in other aquatic ecosystems. The fifteen congeners of PCBs, HCB, HCBD, DDT and its two main metabolites DDE and DDD were determined by capillary gas chromatography system with mass spectrometry detection. The OCPs levels in the wild fish were found in the order DDTs > PCBs. The other contaminants HCB and HCBD were not detected or were below the analytical detection limit. Among the pesticides, essentially only the metabolites p, p’- DDE and p, p’- DDD were found. The concentrations of DDTs were determined from 2.66 to 17.97 ng/g wet weight and PCBs concentrations were found from 0.43 to 8.05 ng/g ww (in goby and golden grey mullet, respectively). The sum of the six Indicator PCBs did not exceed the European maximum limit 75 ng/g wet weight. The concentrations of DDTs and PCBs were found lower compared to those in similar fish species from other aquatic ecosystems.

Enhanced Soil Washing of PCB by Sophorolipids from Transformer Oil Contaminated Soil

The effects of surfactants including synthetic surfactants and biosurfactants on 7 indicator PCBs removal from transformer oil-contaminated soil by using batch soil washing assessment were investigated. The sophorolipids (SLs) produced by Wickerhamiella domercqiae var. sophorolipid, especially lactonic SLs exhibited much higher PCB removal efficiency than SDS and Tween-80. The Σ7 PCB removal by 1.0 g/L lactonic SLs, 5.0 g/L of total SLs and acidic SLs was 30.2%, 30% and 25.4%, respectively. Removal efficiency of lower chlorinated congeners was significantly increased by adding sophorolipid, but higher chlorinated congeners removal efficiency was not further improved. 0.5 g/L lactonic SLs was efficient for PCB101 and 118 removal while 1.0 g/L lactonic SLs was efficient for PCB28 and 52 removal. The removal percentage was not increased with the increase of lactonic SLs concentration. The fermentation broth (yeast extract as nitrogen source) of W. domercqiae that was used directly on PCB removal was of superior efficiency.