Some secrets of a great river: an overview of the St. Lawrence River supplement

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
D RS Lean
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
Ecological Context ◽  
Present Issue ◽  
Mercury Transport ◽  
New Information ◽  
Mixing Rates ◽  
St Lawrence River

The present issue attempts to cut across discipline boundaries and examines many of the suspected pollution problems in an ecological context. Each of the papers provides a rich literature on relevant issues so that the present studies can be placed in context with historical observations. The papers provide information on changes in plankton populations, macrophyte distribution, mixing rates of the water column, and the dynamics of sediments, where many of the metals and persistent organic pollutants reside. Papers on metals and persistent organic pollutants follow with special emphasis on the polychlorinated biphenyl problems of the Massena area of the Upper St. Lawrence River. Further downstream reliable models to predict polychlorinated biphenyl levels in whales were developed. Indicators for bioavailable metals in sediments were introduced and new information was provided on aspects of global mercury transport.

Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants as a risk factor of offspring metabolic syndrome development during childhood

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlene Cervantes González
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Prenatal Exposure ◽  
Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Experimental Findings

Abstract Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are exogenous, artificially made chemicals that can disrupt the biological system of individuals and animals. POPs encompass a variety of chemicals including, dioxins, organochlorines (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) that contain a long half-life and highly resistant to biodegradation. These environmental pollutants accumulate over time in adipose tissues of living organisms and alter various insulin function-related genes. Childhood Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) consists of multiple cardiovascular risk factors, insulin function being one of them. Over the years, the incidence of the syndrome has increased dramatically. It is imperative to explore the role of persistent organic pollutants in the development of Childhood Metabolic Syndrome. Some epidemiological studies have reported an association between prenatal exposure to POPs and offspring MetS development throughout childhood. These findings have been replicated in animal studies in which these pollutants exercise negative health outcomes such as obesity and increased waist circumference. This review discusses the role of prenatal exposure to POPs among offspring who develop MetS in childhood, the latest research on the MetS concept, epidemiological and experimental findings on MetS, and the POPs modes of action. This literature review identified consistent research results on this topic. Even though the studies in this review had many strengths, one major weakness was the usage of different combinations of MetS criteria to measure the outcomes. These findings elucidate the urgent need to solidify the pediatric MetS definition. An accurate definition will permit scientists to measure the MetS as a health outcome properly and allow clinicians to diagnose pediatric MetS and provide individualized treatment appropriately.

Sediment-water column exchange of persistent organic pollutants (PAHs and PCBs) and their transport vector in El Bey watershed, Tunisia

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samia Khadhar ◽  
Dhouha Achour ◽  
Anis Chekirben ◽  
Rim Chawachi ◽  
Ammar Mlayah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Persistent Organic Pollutants

Influence of organic carbon cycling on the fate of persistent organic pollutants in marine environments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Sobek ◽  
Inna Nybom ◽  
Hans Peter Arp ◽  
Naiara Berrojalbiz ◽  
Nathan Charlton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
High Nutrient ◽  
Total Sediment

<p>Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are ubiquitously present in the aquatic environment. They are hydrophobic substances that sorb to organic carbon (OC), and thus their environmental fate is closely linked to OC fluxes and pools. In this project, we test the hypothesis that future changes in the OC cycle can influence POP flux from air to sediment and reduce the POP sink in Baltic Sea sediments. The hypothesis relies on the assumption that the OC sorption capacity is affected by the relative contribution of terrestrial OC as well as the trophic status (oligotrophic versus eutrophic) of the area. Four different coastal sites were sampled, to capture different carbon regimes in terms of nutrient status and level of terrestrial OC influence. Concentrations of POPs were analysed along high-resolution sediment porewater- bottom water interface profiles, in total sediment, suspended matter collected in sediment traps and plankton, in the water column and in air. Stable carbon isotope signatures (δ<sup>13</sup>C) showed that the sites are different in terms of the influence of terrestrial organic matter, and the sites differ in nutrient conditions.</p><p>Preliminary results demonstrate that in general, sediments (three sites analysed) act as a source of PAHs to overlying water, whereas sediment and water more often are in equilibrium for PCBs, although there are variations for individual compounds. At the high nutrient-low terrestrial site, which was sampled at two different seasons, both air and water concentrations were higher for PAHs and PCBs in the autumn compared to the summer, indicating the importance of air as source of these contaminants to the water column. Accordingly, air seems an important source of PAHs to the water column in the low terrestrial-low nutrient site, as concentrations in the water column are increasing towards the water surface, whereas this was not observed for PCBs at the same site. Preliminary results from two contrasting sites in the Gulf of Finland, both with high nutrient levels but with different relative contribution of terrestrial OC, demonstrate higher total sediment concentrations of PAHs in the sediment with more marine OC, which was not observed as clearly for PCBs. Data from the water column indicate that marine OC is more efficient in sorbing POPs as air and water concentrations were similar at both sites, even though the OC vertical export at the high terrestrial site was more than double compared to the low terrestrial site. The full data set, will allow for further evaluation of hypotheses on the links between OC cycling and contaminant fate in the Baltic Sea.</p>

scholarly journals Persistent Organic Pollutants in Serum and Several Different Fat Compartments in Humans

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
George W. Yu ◽  
John Laseter ◽  
Charles Mylander
Keyword(s):  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
Elective Surgery ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Abdominal Fat ◽  
Chlorinated Pesticides ◽  
Pcb Congeners ◽  
The Difference

Background. Chemicals that store in lipid-rich compartments have the potential for long-term disruption of metabolic and endocrine processes. Given the evidence that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) also alter systemic metabolic, endocrine, and immune system functions, it follows that elevated chemical concentrations in intra-abdominal fat may alter function, through local chemical signaling, of visceral organs. Despite this potential, there has been little study defining POP concentrations in live human intra-abdominal fat. It is at present uncertain whether POPs distribute equally to all fat compartments, including fat in serum.Methods. Seven human subjects scheduled for elective surgery for benign lesions or cancer provided consent for removal of samples of subcutaneous and intra-abdominal fat and/or cancerous tissue. These samples were analyzed for 22 chlorinated pesticides and 10 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners by GC/ECD plus GC/MS.Results. In only two subjects were the patterns and relative concentrations of PCBs and pesticides about the same in all fat compartments. In the other subjects, there were major differences in levels in subcutaneous as compared to other compartments, but with some higher and some lower. While the pattern of PCBs in the various compartments matched that of the pesticides in some, it was opposite in others.Interpretation. These results demonstrate a complicated distribution of PCB congeners and pesticides in various lipid compartments. The difference may reflect various Kows, different rates of metabolism, and/or different lengths of exposure. But the results suggest that contaminant levels in serum or even subcutaneous fat do not necessarily indicate concentrations and patterns in other kinds of adipose tissue.

scholarly journals State of contamination of agricultural soils after floods in August 2002

2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 307-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Vácha ◽  
O. Poláček ◽  
V. Horváthová
Keyword(s):  
Soil Contamination ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
The State ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Slight Reduction ◽  
New Information

Sixteen soil samples from agriculturally used soils flooded in August 2002 were taken because new information about the state of soil contamination was required. The area in the Vltava river basin from Pragueto Mělník and in the Laberiver basin from Neratovice to Děčín was investigated. The samples were taken in September 2002 and analysed for the contents of potentially risky elements and persistent organic pollutants, including persistent dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans. The results were compared with the data from the project Labe 1992. The findings show a low soil load of potentially risky elements and a slight reduction of their contents in soil in comparison with the state in 1992 (except for vanadium). The same situation was observed in the case of persistent organic pollutants. Only the content of DDT was increased in the soils of most localities after floods in August 2002. This finding needs further observations on a larger collection of samples. The dreads resulting from expected soil contamination by dibenzodioxins from Spolana Neratovice factory were not confirmed and their contents in the soils of observed localities meet the requirements for plant production without any reduction.

Sex specific associations between in utero exposure to persistent organic pollutants and allergy-related outcomes in childhood: The Rhea Mother–Child Cohort (Crete, Greece)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Katerina Margetaki ◽  
Maria Alexaki ◽  
Evangelos Vittorakis ◽  
Theano Roumeliotaki ◽  
Vasiliki Leventakou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Prenatal Exposure ◽  
Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
International Study ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
In Utero ◽  
Current Asthma ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Asthma And Allergy

Abstract Accumulating evidence suggests that in utero exposures can influence the development of the immune system. Few studies have investigated whether prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is associated with allergy-related phenotypes in childhood, nor explored sex differences. We examined the association between prenatal exposure to POPs and offspring allergic outcomes in early and mid-childhood. We included 682 mother–child pairs from the prospective birth cohort Rhea. We measured dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 6 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in maternal first trimester serum. Parents completed the questionnaires adapted from the International Study on Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) for allergy-related phenotypes when their children were 4 and 6 years old. We used Poisson regression models to estimate Risk Ratios. Prenatal HCB was associated with increased risk for rhinoconjunctivitis at 6 years (RR (95% CI): 2.5; (1.3, 4.8) for a doubling in the exposure). Among girls, prenatal DDE was associated with increased risk for current wheeze, current asthma and current rhinoconjunctivitis at 4 years (RR (95%CI): 1.4 (0.8, 2.6), 1.6 (1.1, 2.4) and 1.8 (1.0, 3.3) and p-interaction = 0.035, 0.027 and 0.059, respectively), with increased risk for current rhinoconjunctivitis at 6 years (RR (95%CI): 1.7 (0.7, 3.8) and p-interaction = 0.028) and total PCBs were associated with increased risk for current eczema at 4 years (RR (95%CI): 2.1 (1.1, 4.2) and p-interaction = 0.028). In boys, prenatal DDE was associated with decreased risk for current wheeze and current asthma at 4 years. Our findings suggest that even low levels of exposure to POPs prenatally may affect the development of childhood allergy-related outcomes in a sex and age-specific manner.

Promoting Behavior of Fungal Degradation Polychlorinated Biphenyl by Maifanite

2013 ◽  
Vol 662 ◽  
pp. 515-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo Rui Gao ◽  
Yue Fen Yin ◽  
Duan Yang Yang ◽  
Dong Fang Yang
Keyword(s):  
Zeta Potential ◽  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽  
Marine Fungi ◽  
Polychlorinated Biphenyl ◽  
Feed Additive ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Degradation Rates ◽  
Additive Influence ◽  
Adsorption Capability

Biotransformation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may be affected by many factors such as biostimulation and bioaugmentation whether beneficial or not. Served as natural healthy medical stone, feed additive and also filters for their adsorption capability in water purification function, was used widely in China. In this paper, PCB 118 was selected as typical polychlorinated biphenyl to study maifanite additive influence on the degradating efficiency of marine fungi for POPs. The results of controlled trials by two penicillium fungus showed thatthe degradation rates of PCB 118 were higher with maifanite as promoting additive than mediums without maifanite. Significant differences were found in further analysis of zeta potential of maifanite in solutions from pH 2 to pH 9 suggesting different adsorption capability of maifanite at different pH levels.

Fate of persistent organic pollutants in the water column: Does turbulent mixing matter?

2007 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Jurado ◽  
José-Manuel Zaldívar ◽  
Dimitar Marinov ◽  
Jordi Dachs
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Organic Pollutants ◽  
Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽  
Turbulent Mixing
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