Detection and degradation of organic contaminants in an agricultural soil amended with alkaline-treated biosolids

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 595-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Gillis ◽  
G. W. Price ◽  
G. W. Stratton

Gillis, J. D., Price, G. W. and Stratton, G. W. 2014. Detection and degradation of organic contaminants in an agricultural soil amended with alkaline-treated biosolids. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 595–604. The agricultural use of wastewater biosolids is a common practice in many countries, but concerns exist regarding the presence of organic wastewater contaminants that remain in the land-applied biosolids. The objective of this study was to determine if contaminants present in biosolids are detectable in soil following land application. A suite of organic contaminants were monitored by gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer in agricultural soil samples from a site amended with increasing rates of alkaline-treated biosolids. Triclosan, a common antimicrobial agent, was detected at levels greater than the reporting limit in an environment-controlled incubation study and validated through in situ field samples from soils receiving the same alkaline-treated biosolid. A rapid decrease in triclosan concentration was observed during the first few weeks of the incubation study, with concentrations decreasing from 92±26 to 20±2 ng g−1 (average 78% decrease) after 4 mo. The field results indicate that triclosan in fall-applied may persist overwinter. However, a rapid decrease in triclosan concentration during the spring and summer months led to levels lower than predicted following the spring application, and levels below our reporting limit (up to 85% decrease) by the end of the study. Removal is posited to be through aerobic microbial degradation.

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 738
Author(s):  
Nicola Rossi ◽  
Mario Bačić ◽  
Meho Saša Kovačević ◽  
Lovorka Librić

The design code Eurocode 7 relies on semi-probabilistic calculation procedures, through utilization of the soil parameters obtained by in situ and laboratory tests, or by the means of transformation models. To reach a prescribed safety margin, the inherent soil parameter variability is accounted for through the application of partial factors to either soil parameters directly or to the resistance. However, considering several sources of geotechnical uncertainty, including the inherent soil variability, measurement error and transformation uncertainty, full probabilistic analyses should be implemented to directly consider the site-specific variability. This paper presents the procedure of developing fragility curves for levee slope stability and piping as failure mechanisms that lead to larger breaches, where a direct influence of the flood event intensity on the probability of failure is calculated. A range of fragility curve sets is presented, considering the variability of levee material properties and varying durations of the flood event, thus providing crucial insight into the vulnerability of the levee exposed to rising water levels. The procedure is applied to the River Drava levee, a site which has shown a continuous trend of increased water levels in recent years.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1409
Author(s):  
Hamdhani Hamdhani ◽  
Drew E. Eppehimer ◽  
David Walker ◽  
Michael T. Bogan

Chlorophyll-a measurements are an important factor in the water quality monitoring of surface waters, especially for determining the trophic status and ecosystem management. However, a collection of field samples for extractive analysis in a laboratory may not fully represent the field conditions. Handheld fluorometers that can measure chlorophyll-a in situ are available, but their performance in waters with a variety of potential light-interfering substances has not yet been tested. We tested a handheld fluorometer for sensitivity to ambient light and turbidity and compared these findings with EPA Method 445.0 using water samples obtained from two urban lakes in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Our results suggested that the probe was not sensitive to ambient light and performed well at low chlorophyll-a concentrations (<25 µg/L) across a range of turbidity levels (50–70 NTU). However, the performance was lower when the chlorophyll-a concentrations were >25 µg/L and turbidity levels were <50 NTU. To account for this discrepancy, we developed a calibration equation to use for this handheld fluorometer when field monitoring for potential harmful algal blooms in water bodies.


2021 ◽  
pp. 117548
Author(s):  
Mengfan Luo ◽  
Hongyu Zhou ◽  
Peng Zhou ◽  
Leiduo Lai ◽  
Wen Liu ◽  
...  

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Min ◽  
Zhengqing Wei ◽  
Zhen Yu ◽  
Yu-Ting Xiao ◽  
Shien Guo ◽  
...  

Both efficient charge separation and sufficiently exposed active sites are critical limiting for solar-driven organic contaminants degradation. Herein, we describe a hierarchical heterojunction photocatalyst fabricated by in situ growth of...


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 175-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdallah Shanableh ◽  
Pushpa Ginige

The biosolids industry in Australia is evolving around the beneficial use of biosolids as a resource. Phosphorus rich biosolids from biological nutrient removal (BNR) facilities are highly desirable for land application. However, the accumulation of toxic heavy metals and industrial organic contaminants may render the biosolids unsuitable for land application. The presence of toxic heavy metals has been identified by Local Authorities in Australia as a major constraint limiting the beneficial use of biosolids. The potential of off-site contamination due to the migration of nutrients is also a major concern especially when applying biosolids to acidic agricultural land. Accordingly, the relevant environment protection and conservation agencies are involved in either developing or finalising guidelines to control the beneficial use of biosolids products. Metals bioleaching is a process achieved through bio-acidification. Bio-acidification of biosolids prior to land application can be used to dissolve and remove a significant fraction of the heavy metals content of the product. However, the process also reduces the nutrients content of the resource. Bio-acidification of Loganholme (Queensland) BNR biosolids dissolved 76% of the total phosphorus and 38% of the TKN. The heavy metals solubilisation results reached 50% for Cr, 79% for Ni, 45% for Zn, 24% for Cu, 30% for Cd, and 82% for Pb.


2017 ◽  
Vol 141 (10) ◽  
pp. 1313-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reena Singh ◽  
Kathleen R. Cho

Context.— Nonuterine high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) are believed to arise most often from precursors in the fallopian tube referred to as serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas (STICs). A designation of tubal origin has been suggested for all cases of nonuterine HGSC if a STIC is identified. Objective.— To highlight that many different types of nongynecologic and gynecologic carcinomas, including HGSC, can metastasize to the tubal mucosa and mimic de novo STIC. Data Sources.— A mini-review of several recently published studies that collectively examine STIC-like lesions of the fallopian tube. Conclusions.— The fallopian tube mucosa can be a site of metastasis from carcinomas arising elsewhere, and pathologists should exercise caution in diagnosing STIC without first considering the possibility of metastasis. Routinely used immunohistochemical stains can often be used to determine if a STIC-like lesion is tubal or nongynecologic in origin. In the context of uterine and nonuterine HGSC, STIC may represent a metastasis rather than the site of origin, particularly when widespread disease is present.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiran Tong ◽  
Matthew J. Berens ◽  
Bridget A. Ulrich ◽  
Jakov Bolotin ◽  
Jennifer H. Strehlau ◽  
...  

This work determines isotope enrichment factors for RDX during reduction by iron minerals. The values determined are used to assess the transformation of RDX at a site with groundwater contamination and in laboratory column reactors simulating in situ chemical reduction treatment.


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