Fresenius J Anal Chem, 2000 Jan, 366(1), 89 - 94 Application of ion-chromatography for the determination of the organic-group parameters AOCl, AOBr and AOI in water; Oleksy-Frenzel J et al.; A method of differential AOX-analysis, i.e . the simultaneous determination of AOCl, AOBr and AOI is described . Individual steps of the method including enrichment at activated carbon, combustion in an oxygen stream and ion-chromatographic detection were optimized . In most cases quantitative recoveries of various organic Cl, Br and I containing substances of different polarity and structure were obtained . The method was applied to the determination of AOX-fractions in municipal and hospital wastewater . A good agreement between conventional coulometric and the described ion-chromatographic determination was found . High concentrations up to 130 microg/L I of organic iodine compounds were measured in the influent and effluent of a municipal treatment plant in Berlin and up to 10 mg/L I in a hospital waste-water. Biosens Bioelectron, 2000 Oct, 15(7-8), 371 - 6 Optical fiber biosensor for the determination of low biochemical oxygen demand; Chee GJ et al.; An optical fiber biosensor was developed for the evaluation of low Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) values in river waters . Artificial wastewater (AWW) solution was employed as standards for the calibration of the BOD sensor . The response time of the sensor was 15 min, and the optimal BOD response was observed at 30 degrees C, pH 7.0 . A linear relationship was obtained between the output voltage and BOD5 values, and the range of determination was 1-10 mg l(-1) BOD . The sensor response was almost not influenced by chloride ion up to 1000 mg l(-1), and also not affected by heavy metal ions (Fe3+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Cr3+, Zn2+) . The BOD of river waters was estimated by using the optical fiber biosensor, and good correlation between the sensor and BOD5 test was obtained (r2 = 0.971). Biosens Bioelectron, 2000 Oct, 15(7-8), 343 - 53 Designing an amperometric thick-film microbial BOD sensor; Chan C et al.; Thick film oxygen electrodes manufactured by screen print method have been used as a transducer for a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor . The kinetics of the immobilized yeast, Arxula adeninivorans (Arxula) has been studied . The apparent KM of immobilized Arxula (> 100 microM) is higher than free cells of Arxula (70 microM) . The increase in KM caused by the effect of immobilization extends the linear range of the sensor . End-point measurement and quasi-kinetic measurement have been studied comparatively as measurement procedures with a good correlation . The Vmax for end-point measurement is 790.7 microM/s and that for quasi-kinetic measurement is 537.3 microM/s . The limit of detection is calculated 1.24 mg/l BOD . Using the quasi-kinetic measurement, instead of end-point measurements, the measuring time can be reduced from 5-30 min to 100 s . The sensor layer thickness or increase in the layer of covering gel can increase the KM that is accompanied with the extension of the linear range of the sensor . Nevertheless, increase in the layer of covering gel will not increase the saturation signal . Domestic wastewater was checked by the thick film BOD sensor and the results are satisfactory. Ann Chim, 2000 Nov-Dec, 90(11-12), 677 - 86 Assessment of ground water quality in a fractured aquifer under continue wastewater injection; Carrieri C et al.; Experimental studies have been carried out in a fractured coastal aquifer of the Salento Region (Nardo (Le), Italy), subject since 1991 to injection of 12,000 m3/d of treated municipal wastewater in a natural sink . The analytical parameters of ground water sampled in monitoring wells, have been compared before and after the injection started . The mound of water table (1.5 m), the reduction of seawater extent of 2 km and the spreading of pollutants injected were evaluated by means of mathematical model results . After ten years operation, the volume of the available resource for agricultural and drinking use has been increased, without notable decrease of the preexistent ground water quality . Moreover for preserving such resource from pollution, the mathematical model allowed the standards of wastewater quality for recharge to be identified . Around the sink, a restricted area was also defined with prohibition of withdrawals, to avoid infection and other risks on human health. Anal Chem, 2001 Feb 1, 73(3), 589 - 95 Exact mass measurements on-line with high-performance liquid chromatography on a quadrupole mass spectrometer; Storm T et al.; Exact mass measurements were performed on-line with high-performance liquid chromatography on a quadrupole mass spectrometer . Compounds with molecular weights from 98 to 797, mainly aromatic sulfonates and sulfonamides, were analyzed with electrospray ionization in positive or negative mode . Internal mass calibration compounds were continuously added after separation . A Gaussian fit of the mass errors of 808 individual measurements (concentrations of 1-10 mg/L, 20-200 ng absolute on column) resulted in a mean error of 0.1 mmu (0.45 ppm) and a standard deviation sigma of 1.5 mmu (5.4 ppm) . The 99.7% confidence intervals (3sigma) were +/-4.5 mmu (+/-16.2 ppm) for single mass measurements . Averaging 10 measurements further reduced the errors to less than +/-1.5 mmu (+/-5 ppm) . Isobaric interferences with ions resulting from the mass calibrants were avoided by the use of complementary mass calibrants . The results were verified (differences below +/-4.5 mmu) with a LC/ oa-TOFMS . Limited mass range chromatograms were used to enhance selectivity in the analysis of mixtures . The method was applied to determine the elemental composition of a potential dye metabolite detected in anaerobically treated textile wastewater. J Environ Qual, 2001 Jan-Feb, 30(1), 238 - 45 Transport of Escherichia coli in sand columns with constant and changing water contents; Powelson DK et al.; Understanding how changes in volumetric water content (theta) affect bacterial adsorption could help reduce transport of pathogenic and indicator bacteria that may be present in infiltrating wastewater . Three flow regimes that simulated infiltration from a household septic system were evaluated: saturated, unsaturated with a constant volumetric water content theta (constant unsaturated flow), and unsaturated with cyclic changes in theta (variable unsaturated flow) . Escherichia coli was suspended in artificial sewage (AS) and applied as step inputs to sand columns, with regular interruptions in input for variable unsaturated flow . A transport model was fit to the saturated and constant unsaturated flow breakthrough curves to determine retardation (R), the first-order filtration coefficient (mu), and the maximum outflow relative concentration (Cmax) . The total cells transported as a fraction of input (tau) in all three flow regimes was calculated . Constant unsaturated flow resulted in a significantly lower Cmax (0.633) in comparison with saturated flow (0.803, P < or = 0.05), although unsaturated mu (0.0693 h(-1)) was not significantly different from saturated mu (0.0259 h(-1)) . Constant unsaturated flow also resulted in a significantly smaller tau (0.617) than saturated (0.806) or variable unsaturated flow (0.734) . In variable unsaturated flow, cell concentrations were out of phase with theta--as the column drained, cell concentrations in the outflow increased; and when a pulse of suspension was applied, cell concentrations decreased . Constant unsaturated flow is probably the best for removal of pathogenic bacteria because this regime resulted in lower maximum concentrations of E . coli and greater cell removal, in comparison with saturated and variable unsaturated flow. Poult Sci, 2001 Jan, 80(1), 57 - 65 Recovery and characterization of by-products from egg processing plant wastewater using coagulants; Xu LJ et al.; The effectiveness of precipitation or coagulation technology to treat commercial egg processing plant wastewater, using such coagulants as lignosulfonate, bentonite, carboxymethylcellulose, and ferric chloride, was evaluated . For simulated and industrial waste-water, chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, and total solids were reduced over 90, 97, and 95%, respectively, for all coagulants tested . Protein and fat recoveries were over 95% for all coagulants . The optimal coagulant concentration for maximum by-product recovery depended on initial wastewater concentrations of protein, total solids, and fat . The dried by-products contained high concentrations of protein (30 to 50%) and fat (30 to 40%) and had similar essential amino acid profiles as standard proteins from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) . The relative protein digestibilities of each recovered solid (carboxymethycellulose, lignosulfonate, bentonite, and ferric chloride) and corn meal relative to a liquid whole egg standard were approximately 80, 90, 60, 30, and 56%, respectively . These compositional and in vitro digestibility studies suggest that the recovered by-products could be useful as livestock feed ingredients or for other applications. J Chromatogr A, 2001 Jan 5, 905(1-2), 157 - 62 Determination of metal complexes of ethylenediaminetetraacetate in the presence of organic matter by high-performance liquid chromatography; Bedsworth WW et al.; A high-performance liquid chromatography method is described here for the determination of the Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) complexes of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) in municipal wastewaters and surface waters . The method involves separation by ion-exchange chromatography on a reversed-phase C18 column coated with ion-pair reagent, followed by post-column conversion to FeEDTA and subsequent detection by UV absorbance . Although Co(II) and Cu(II) coelute, they can be quantified by analyzing absorbance by CuEDTA2- prior to post-column conversion . The method detection limit of 6-8 x 10(-8) M (5-7 ng) is an order of magnitude improvement over previous UV absorbance post-column reaction methods . The technique can be used in the presence of organic matter encountered in matrices such as untreated wastewater without pre-concentration or sample cleanup. Bioresour Technol, 2001 Feb, 76(3), 191 - 7 The role of HRT and low temperature on the acid-phase anaerobic digestion of municipal and industrial wastewaters; Maharaj I et al.; Two identical 31 completely mixed reactors with solids recycling capabilities were used to investigate the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and low temperatures on volatile fatty acid (VFA) production . One reactor was fed with a 1:1 ratio of diluted primary sludge and a starch-rich industrial wastewater, while the other was fed with diluted primary sludge alone . The VFA and soluble COD concentrations and specific production rates reached their highest values at 30 h HRT and at 25 degrees C . Further increase in HRT (at 25 degrees C) or decrease in temperature (at an HRT of 30 h) resulted in lower amounts of VFA and COD produced . All parameters related to VFA and COD production were significantly higher in the industrial-municipal reactor than in the municipal-only reactor . The VFA:COD ratios were very high, with values ranging from about 0.8 to 1.0 indicating that hydrolysis was the rate-limiting step . Degradation of proteins (measured by ammonia production) was inhibited by the starch-rich wastewater in the industrial-municipal reactor, while no evidence of inhibition was found in the municipal-only reactor . This study revealed that VFA production was feasible at low temperatures (down to 8 degrees C), particularly in the presence of the industrial waste . Ultimately, the amount VFA produced was adequate, in most cases, to support subsequent biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes. Rev Bras Biol, 2000 Aug, 60(3), 373 - 9 Influence of photoperiod on the uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water by Eichhornia crassipes and Salvinia auriculata; Petrucio MM et al.; The main goal of this research was to quantify the concentrations of total and ammonium N, nitrate, total and soluble P in the water in the presence of Eichhornia crassipes and Salvinia auriculata, which were submitted to two different photoperiods in a 24 hours incubation period in the laboratory . The macrophytes were incubated in plastic vials of approximately 1.5 litters, with a previously prepared solution with NH4NO3, NH4Cl, and KH2PO4 . Eichhornia crassipes showed the highest average rate of reduction of all the nutrients analysed in relation to Salvinia auriculata . The largest photoperiod reflected in a higher average rate of reduction of nutrients, in both plants . Therefore, we may expect that in some periods of the year (e.g . summer), the aquatic macrophytes would show higher growth rates and higher rates of nitrogen and phosphorus absorption . These results are important for the implementation and management of wastewater treatment systems in tropical areas using aquatic macrophytes. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 2001 Jan, 48(1), 56 - 61 Determination of wastewater LC50 of the different process stages of the textile industry; Villegas-Navarro A et al.; Textile plants are very important sources of toxic discharges . The purpose of the research described in this paper was to use bioassays with daphnids to determine the LC50 values of textile wastewater samples taken from different stages of the finishing textile industry . Toxicity due to dyeing, chlorination, and the absence of adequate physicochemical conditions for daphnid survival were considered . Wastewater samples corresponding to each process stage were collected at five finishing textile industries and assayed according to previously published procedures . The sensitivity of daphnids to chemicals was assayed using sodium dodecyl sulfate and was similar to other reports (14.6+/-6.8 vs 14.5+/-2.3 mg/L) . All effluents from the five company samples were toxic in terms of LC50 and exhibited very high toxicity with acute toxicity unit (ATU) levels between 2.2 and 960, indicating that the five textile industries produced toxic water . The sensory characteristics indicated that the dyes contributed to overall sample toxicity at all process stages . The most toxic contaminant seemed to be ClO- at levels between 0.2 and 6.8 mg/L, suggesting that further research is needed on the economic costs of stage-by-stage and total effluent treatments. Bioresour Technol, 2001 Jan, 76(2), 91 - 8 The effect of temperature on slaughterhouse wastewater treatment in anaerobic sequencing batch reactors; Masse DI et al.; High strength slaughterhouse wastewater was treated in four 42 l anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBRs) operated at 30 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 20 degrees C . The wastewater contained between 30% and 53% of its chemical oxygen demand (COD) as suspended solids (SS) . The ASBRs could easily support volumetric organic loading rates (OLRs) of 4.93, 2.94 and 2.75 kg/m3/d (biomass OLRs of 0.44, 0.42 and 0.14 g/g volatile SS (VSS)/d) at 30 degrees C, 25 degrees C, and 20 degrees C, respectively . At all operating temperatures, the total COD (TCOD) and soluble COD (SCOD) were reduced by over 92%, while average SS removal varied between 80% and 96% . Over the experimental period, 90.8%, 88.7% and 84.2% of the COD removed was transformed into methane at 30 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 20 degrees C, respectively . The decrease in the conversion of the COD removed into methane as operating temperature was lowered, may be partly explained by a lower degradation of influent SS as temperature was reduced . The reactors showed a high average methanogenic activity of 0.37, 0.34 and 0.12 g CH4-COD/gVSS/d (22.4, 12.7 and 11.8 l/d) at 30 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 20 degrees C, respectively . The average methane content in the biogas increased from 74.7% to 78.2% as temperature was lowered from 30 degrees C to 20 degrees C. Bioresour Technol, 2001 Jan, 76(2), 151 - 9 Decolorization of azo-reactive dye by polyphosphate- and glycogen-accumulating organisms in an anaerobic-aerobic sequencing batch reactor; Panswad T et al.; An anaerobic-aerobic sequencing batch reactor with a sludge age of 8 days and anaerobic + aerobic + settling times of 18 + 5 + 1 h, was used to decolorize an azo-reactive dye wastewater . The nutrient broth (NB) and sodium acetate (SA) solution at 500 + 0, 350 + 150, 250 + 250 and 0 + 500 mg/l as COD was fed to the system to promote the polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), while only glucose (500 mg/l COD) was used as a glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) promoting substrate . The decolorization capability of the process was about 73-77 and 59-64% in terms of ADMI for the systems which the PAOs and GAOs proliferated, respectively . The color reduction was mainly achieved within the first 2 h of the anaerobic stage. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2000 Dec, 54(6), 844 - 9 Evaluation of parameters for monitoring an anaerobic co-digestion process; Bjornsson L et al.; The system investigated in this study is an anaerobic digester at a municipal wastewater treatment plant operating on sludge from the wastewater treatment, co-digested with carbohydrate-rich food-processing waste . The digester is run below maximum capacity to prevent overload . Process monitoring at present is not extensive, even for the measurement of on-line gas production rate and off-line pH . Much could be gained if a better program for monitoring and control was developed, so that the full capacity of the system could be utilised without the risk of overload . The only limit presently set for correct process operation is that the pH should be above 6.8 . In the present investigation, the pH was compared with alkalinity, gas production rate, gas composition and the concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) . Changes in organic load were monitored in the full-scale anaerobic digester and in laboratory-scale models of the plant . Gas-phase parameters showed a slow response to changes in load . The VFA concentrations were superior for indicating overload of the microbial system, but alkalinity and pH also proved to be good monitoring parameters . The possibility of using pH as a process indicator is, however, strongly dependent on the buffering capacity . In this study, a minor change in the amount of carbohydrates in the substrate had drastic effects on the buffering effect of the system. Waste Manag, 2001, 21(1), 33 - 40 Treatment of effluent containing micropollutants by means of activated carbon; Solisio C et al.; Different amounts of granular activated carbon (GAC) have been tested for the removal of aliphatic and aromatic micropollutants contained in a liquid stream coming from an industrial plant . Tests have been carried out in a JAR-Test apparatus, using plugged flasks, in order to eliminate the oxygen influence on the adsorption process and to obtain information for studying the process in a pilot plant . The removal of aliphatic compounds resulted better than aromatic ones, probably because these substances are enveloped by water molecules which make adsorption on the GAC surface easier; in contrast, aromatic compounds show a lower affinity for the GAC, owing to their steric conformation . The good results obtained confirm that the proposed system is applicable to the examined effluent, even when the concentration of the pollutant load varies . In the latest part of this work, a plan for the construction of a full-scale plant to treat the examined wastewater has been developed. Environ Manage, 2001 Mar, 27(3), 463 - 76 Analysis of socioeconomic and environmental impacts of waste stabilization pond and unrestricted wastewater irrigation: interface with maintenance; Agunwamba JC; The effluent from the waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Campus, is used for irrigation by poor rural farmers . There has been fear that the poorly maintained WSPs and the reuse practices are contributing to environmental degradation and health hazards . In this study the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the WSPs and reuse were evaluated based on data collected from questionnaires and the literature . The engineering and agricultural properties of soil in the irrigated and nonirrigated areas were compared . Comparison of the health status of the farmers and nonfarmers, of consumers of crops irrigated with wastewater and nonconsumers was performed using Student's t test and the z-score test . The occurrences of diarrhea, typhoid fever, and malaria among the various groups were used as indices . Analyses show that the health status of the farmers and consumers is poorer than those of nonfarmers and nonconsumers at the 5% level of significance . Vegetable cultivation using WSP effluent is a means of sustenance to the farmers and provides an affordable means of satisfying their nutritional deficiencies . However, the poorly maintained WSPs create odor and mosquito nuisances, trap and destroy livestock, and flood nearby compounds with waste debris . At both 1% and 5% levels of significance, communities around the ponds (< 300 m) suffer malaria more frequently than those who live far away (> or = 300 m) . Cost-benefit analysis argues in favor of improvement of WSP management and irrigation reuse of wastewater . Dredging of the ponds, training workers and farmers, and adopting appropriate maintenance and monitoring strategies will greatly enhance the socioeconomic status of the urban poor farmers. J Chromatogr A, 2000 Nov 3, 897(1-2), 205 - 14 Ion chromatographic analysis of tetracyclines using polymeric column and acidic eluent; Ding X et al.; High-performance ion chromatography (HPIC) is first successfully used to analyze tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) in this work . The TCs are well separated on a solvent compatible polymeric cation-exchange column within 12 min . Isocratic elution with acetonitrile-hydrochloride is very advantageous for routine analysis . HPIC may be seen as a specific variant of the more common high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for water-soluble and polar pharmaceuticals with low hydrophobicity . The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio=3:1) of oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC), doxycycline (DC) are 10, 10, 20 and 20 microg l(-1), respectively . Samples are prepared by vortex mixing with an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (Na2EDTA)-McIlvaine buffer (pH 4.0) solution and the mixture filtrates through a molecular weight cut-off filter . The method has been successfully applied to monitor the OTC removal rate through every reactor in the process of OTC manufacturing wastewater treatment by bio-chemical technology . It is also applicable to determine the TCs residues in milk and milk powder with satisfying results. J Air Waste Manag Assoc, 2000 Nov, 50(11), 1920 - 8 Characterization of products from fluidized-bed combustion of coal; Bednarik V et al.; The technology of fluidized-bed combustion (FBC) of coal generates byproducts that have a series of unique characteristics and potential uses in technological practice . In this study, the products of fluidized-bed combustion (FBC-P) of coal derived from Moravian heat stations, a.s . Zlin, Cinergy Global Resources, Czech Republic, were characterized . Particular attention was paid to determining the chemical composition of FBC-P, the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxic metals in the water leachates of these FBC-P, the content of unburned carbon, the capability of FBC-P to solidify with water and form a solid matrix, and the method for discovering optimum mixing water content for FBC-P solidification . The results suggest that one of the qualitatively more important means of utilizing FBC-P could be their application during solidification/stabilization (S/S) of wastes, particularly wastewater treatment sludges. Risk Anal, 2000 Oct, 20(5), 613 - 25 Exposure assessment of heavy metals resulting from farmland application of wastewater sludge in Tianjin, China: the examination of two existing national standards for soil and farmland-used sludge; Cao H et al.; Land application is one of the major methods of managing municipal sludge in China . The sludge is used for fertilizing and conditioning soil, but due to the high concentration of heavy metals and other chemicals that it contains, improper use of sludge will lead to the contamination of farmland soil . To provide guidance on the application of sludge in China, the Control Standards for Pollutants in Sludge for Agricultural Use (CSPSAU) were enacted, and implemented in 1985 . Afterwards, the National Environment Quality Standards for Soil (NEQSS) were also formulated and put into effect in 1996 . In this article, these two national standards were examined by means of exposure assessment . The main exposure pathway to humans that was considered was dietary intake of crops grown on the sludge-applied farmland . Five major types of agricultural crops (rice, wheat, tuber roots, vegetables, and fruits) and three groups of exposure population (the urban individual group, the rural sludge-applying individual group, and the rural sludge nonapplying individual group) were assessed . This case study in Tianjin, China, shows the necessity of reexamining the national standards of the CSPSAU and the NEQSS in the context of risk assessment . More comprehensive surveys and monitoring programs assessing heavy metals contained in farmland soils and crop tissues will be necessary for examining the risks to human health. Occup Med, 2001 Jan-Mar, 16(1), 23 - 38 Sewage workers: toxic hazards and health effects; Mulloy KB; Municipal sewage workers provide an essential service in the protection of public health . The wastewater treatment process brings the worker in contact with multiple pathogens, toxic gases, chemicals, and physical hazards . Issues such as the prevalence of hepatitis A among wastewater treatment workers in the U.S . have not been well studied . There remains a controversy on the need to offer hepatitis A pre-exposure immunization . Health effects to some exposures, such as gram-negative bacteria and endotoxins, have been well studied among other workers, and preventive measures, such as permissible endotoxin levels, that have been established for these workers should be adopted for the wastewater treatment environment . Further study into mortality and morbidity rates among sewage workers and the relationship to exposures and the development of preventive measures is needed. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1999, 44(6), 673 - 6 Effect of spent cotton stalks on color removal and chemical oxygen demand lowering in olive oil mill wastewater by white rot fungi; Kahraman S et al.; Wastewater from olive oil mill was decolorized (and its chemical oxygen demand reduced in static cultivation) using the fungi Coriolus versicolor, Funalia trogii, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Pleurotus sajor-caju . The effect of cotton stalk on decolorizing and COD removing capability was demonstrated . P . chrysosporium (in 20% medium with cotton stalk) reduced the COD by 48% and color by 58%, F . trogii (in 30% medium with cotton stalk)) by 51 and 55%, respectively. J Chromatogr A, 2000 Oct 27, 896(1-2), 149 - 58 Improved routine speciation of organotin compounds in environmental samples by pulsed flame photometric detection; Bancon-Montigny C et al.; The high toxicity of the organotin species requires sensitive analytical methods in order to understand the origins of pollution and perform monitoring programs in the water cycle . The optimisation of a new detection method, pulsed flame photometric detection (PFPD), is reported for the simultaneous determination of butyl-, phenyl- and octyltins . The methodology of the experimental designs at two levels was used . It allows the evaluation of the influence of the three gas flow-rates on the peak heights and resolution between the closest peaks obtained using two different wavelengths of detection (390 and 611 nm) . The modelling of these two responses, according to second-order polynomials, leads to the precise adjustment of the operating conditions . PFPD has shown two significant improvements over conventional flame photometric detection: increased sensitivity (absolute detection limits: 0.07 to 2 pg as Sn) and greater selectivity, whatever the wavelength used . This new analytical process was validated by the analysis of certified reference material and spiked river water . It was used in routine analysis of environmental samples (wastewater, sludge, sand and oyster). J Chromatogr A, 2000 Oct 27, 896(1-2), 95 - 104 Highly selective and efficient determination of US Environmental Protection Agency priority phenols employing solid-phase extraction and non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis; Morales S et al.; Non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis has been used in the separation of a complete list of 26 priority phenols included in the 8041 US Environmental Protection Agency method and the 76/464/EEC European Union directive . A highly selective and efficient separation was obtained when the background electrolyte used was 150 mM ammonium acetate dissolved in N-methylformamide-acetonitrile (75:25) . Solid-phase extraction was successfully assayed as an enrichment strategy for the analysis of low-concentration samples . A styrene-divinylbenzene functionalized cartridge provided excellent recoveries of phenols from water samples at neutral pH . The limits of quantification obtained permit the application of the proposed method to the determination of priority phenols in wastewater samples. Environ Manage, 2001 Jan, 27(1), 37 - 46 A simple stream monitoring technique based on measurements of semiconservative properties of water; Stewart AJ; Correlative relationships exist among conductivity, alkalinity, and hardness in streams due to natural geological and climatological controls, but the relationships among these three water-quality factors can be altered strongly by inputs of ion-rich wastewaters . The degree of alteration can be monitored conveniently by use of a simple chemical perturbation index, computed by subtracting the sum of rank pairwise correlations among the conductivity, alkalinity, and hardness (for observations on each of these variables, measured through time) from 3.0 . The chemical perturbation index can be used to document or characterize spatiotemporal changes in stream water quality . This study explains the development of the index's concept and provides examples of its application in an extensive stream monitoring program used to assess ecological conditions in streams on the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Reservation in east Tennessee, USA . The chemical perturbation index technique may be particularly useful in community-based stream monitoring programs because to its simplicity and low cost. J Hazard Mater, 2000 Dec 30, 80(1-3), 33 - 42 The removal of heavy metal from aqueous solutions by sawdust adsorption - removal of copper; Yu B et al.; Locally available sawdust, a byproduct of the world industry, was found to be a low cost and promising adsorbent for the removal of copper(II) from wastewater . In this work, adsorption of copper on sawdust has been studied by using batch techniques . The equilibrium adsorption level was determined to be a function of the solution pH, contact time, and sorbate concentration . The equilibrium adsorption capacity of sawdust for copper was obtained by using linear Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms . Ion exchange is probably one of the major adsorption mechanisms for binding divalent metal ions to the maple sawdust . The results provide strong evidence to support the hypothesis of adsorption mechanism . It also supplies significant sawdust operation capacity data for engineering design. Anal Chem, 2000 Nov 1, 72(21), 5280 - 4 Immunologic trapping in supported liquid membrane extraction Thordarson E, Jonsson JA, Emneus J. To obtain a high degree of selectivity in sample preparation, supported liquid membrane (SLM) extraction was combined with immunologic recognition . The SLM employs a hydrophobic polymer for supporting the immobilization of an organic solvent, thus forming a nonporous membrane . Said membrane separates the aqueous sample on one side (donor) from a receiving aqueous phase on the other (acceptor) . The extraction involves the partitioning of neutral compounds between the sample solution, continuously pumped alongside the membrane, and the membrane . From the membrane, reextraction takes place into a second aqueous phase containing antibodies specific for the target compound(s) . Hence, there is a formation of an antibody-antigen complex at the heart of the sample preparation (ImmunoSLM) . When the immunocomplex forms, the antigen can no longer redissolve in the organic membrane, thus being trapped in the acceptor . Consequently, the concentration gradient of free antigen over the membrane is ideally unaffected, this being the driving force for the process . With a surplus of antibody, the concentration of analyte in the receiving phase will easily exceed the initial sample concentration . In this work, the so formed immunocomplex was quantified on-line, using a fluorescein flow immunoassay in a sequential injection analysis (SIA) setup . The outlined ImmunoSLM-SIA scheme was successfully applied for the extraction of 4-nitrophenol from spiked water solutions as well as from a spiked wastewater sample, indicating that the immunoextraction can be suitable when dealing with difficult matrixes. Ultrason Sonochem, 2000 Oct, 7(4), 255 - 9 Sonochemical and photochemical oxidation of organic matter; Naffrechoux E et al.; Recent developments in sonochemistry have led us to study its use to treat water and wastewater . The effects of ultrasound wave in hydrophilic chemical oxidations are mainly due to hydroxyl radical production during the cavitation-induced water decomposition . Currently, the sonochemical destruction of aromatic compounds in water solution is obtained with low rates . The aim of this work is to evaluate the efficiency of the sonochemical effect in conjunction with a photochemical irradiation . Taking phenol as an example, the combined action of sonochemistry and photochemistry has been considered in a 'sonuv' reactor . An important enhancement of the degradation rate of phenol has been observed . It may be the result of three different oxidative processes: direct photochemical action, high frequency sonochemistry and reaction with ozone (produced by UV irradiation of air) . The process has been successfully tested to lower the chemical oxygen demand of a municipal wastewater. Chemosphere, 2000 Nov, 41(10), 1611 - 20 Toxicity and detoxification of Swedish detergents and softener products; Pettersson A et al.; Detergents and softeners are used in large quantities and some of their ingredients are highly toxic to aquatic organisms . In the present study the acute toxicity to Daphnia magna was determined for 26 detergents and five softener Swedish products . Only one of the detergents had a 48-h EC50 > 100 mg/l . The 48-h EC50 for the other 25 detergents ranged from 4 to 85 mg/l . The 48-h EC50 for the five softeners ranged from 15 to 166 mg/l . Detoxification tests, with and without inoculum of sewage organisms, showed that all tested products were detoxified to some extent after 16 days and that the rate of detoxification was considerably higher with addition of sewage organisms . Toxicity to D . magna of the detergents and softeners, and the biotic detoxification rate was correlated with the concentration of surfactants used in formulating the products (more surfactants increased toxicity and a slower rate of detoxification) . These results emphasize the importance of biological purification of domestic wastewater containing detergents and a suggested development of less toxic and more easily degradable surfactants. Chemosphere, 2000 Nov, 41(10), 1519 - 27 The cytotoxic effect of wastewater from the phosphoric gypsum depot on common oak (Quercus robur L.) and shallot (Allium cepa var . ascalonicum); Pavlica M et al.; The effect of wastewater from a phosphoric gypsum depot on common oak, Quercus robur L., at cytogenetical level was studied . Allium-test was used as a control . The treatment of common oak seedlings with wastewater under laboratory conditions caused mitodepressive effect . Chromosome aberrations and mitotic irregularities were found . Cytogenetic analysis of common oak seedlings grown from acorns collected near the depot did not show changes in mitotic activity in comparison to control but the number of aberrations was higher than in control . In comparison to Alliumtest common oak was found to be more tolerant to wastewater from the phosphoric gypsum depot. Chemosphere, 2000 Dec, 41(11), 1733 - 40 EOX and organochlorine compounds in fish and ringed seal samples from Lake Ladoga, Russia; Kostamo A et al.; Information about the pollution of Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe, has been controversial . Various effluents and drainage waters affect the quality of the lake water . Wastewaters have caused eutrophication of parts of Lake Ladoga, but concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in the lake's food webs are poorly understood . In this study, concentrations of some organochlorine compounds, chlorophenols (CPs), and extractable organic halogen (EOX) were determined in smelt (Osmerus eperlanus), vendace (Coregonus albula), pikeperch (Lucioperca lucioperca), whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus), and the Ladoga seal (Phoca hispida ladogensis) from the northern part of the lake . The concentrations of organochlorine compounds in fish were low . Concentrations were between 0.07 and 0.15, 0.65 and 1.0, and 0.29 and 0.48 mg/kg lipids for hexachlorobenzene, total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and p,p'-DDE, respectively . The results indicated biomagnification from smelt and vendace to pikeperch and ringed seal . In ringed seals, concentrations of PCB and DDT were 12 and 29 times higher than in fish used by ringed seals as major food sources. Chemosphere, 2000 Aug, 41(3), 311 - 21 An approach for assessment of water quality using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and bioindicator tests; Petty JD et al.; As an integral part of our continued development of water quality assessment approaches, we combined integrative sampling, instrumental analysis of widely occurring anthropogenic contaminants, and the application of a suite of bioindicator tests as a specific part of a broader survey of ecological conditions, species diversity, and habitat quality in the Santa Cruz River in Arizona, USA . Lipid-containing semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were employed to sequester waterborne hydrophobic chemicals . Instrumental analysis and a suite of bioindicator tests were used to determine the presence and potential toxicological relevance of mixtures of bioavailable chemicals in two major water sources of the Santa Cruz River . The SPMDs were deployed at two sites; the effluent weir of the International Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWWTP) and the Nogales Wash . Both of these systems empty into the Santa Cruz River and the IWWTP effluent is a potential source of water for a constructed wetland complex . Analysis of the SPMD sample extracts revealed the presence of organochlorine pesticides (OCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) . The bioindicator tests demonstrated increased liver enzyme activity, perturbation of neurotransmitter systems and potential endocrine disrupting effects (vitellogenin induction) in fish exposed to the extracts . With increasing global demands on limited water resources, the approach described herein provides an assessment paradigm applicable to determining the quality of water in a broad range of aquatic systems. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2000 Nov, 66(11), 5092 - 8 Heavy metal coprecipitation with hydrozincite {Zn(5)(CO(3))(2)(OH)(6)} from mine waters caused by photosynthetic microorganisms; Podda F et al.; An iron-poor stream of nearly neutral pH polluted by mine tailings has been investigated for a natural phenomenon responsible for the polishing of heavy metals in mine wastewaters . A white mineralized mat, which was determined to be hydrozincite {Zn(5)(CO(3))(2)(OH)(6)} by X-ray diffraction analysis, was observed in the stream sediments mainly in spring . The precipitate shows a total organic matter residue of 10% dry weight and contains high concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, and other metals . Scanning electron microscopy analysis suggests that hydrozincite is mainly of biological origin . Dormant photosynthetic microorganisms have been retrieved from 1-year-old dry hydrozincite . The autofluorescent microorganisms were imaged by a scanning confocal laser microscope . A photosynthetic filamentous bacterium, classified as Scytonema sp . strain ING-1, was found associated with microalga Chlorella sp . strain SA1 . This microbial community is responsible for the natural polishing of heavy metals in the water stream by coprecipitation with hydrozincite. Anal Chem, 2000 Oct 15, 72(20), 4979 - 84 Room temperature sonolysis-based advanced oxidation process for degradation of organomercurials: application to determination of inorganic and total mercury in waters by flow injection-cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry Capelo JL, Lavilla I I, Bendicho C. A new oxidation method based on room-temperature ultrasonic irradiation (sonolysis) is proposed for conversion of organomercurials into inorganic mercury and subsequent determination by flow injection-cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry . This advanced oxidation process eliminates the need for chemical oxidants, high temperature, and pressure for degradation of organomercurials so that total mercury can be determined with sodium tetrahydroborate(III) or tin(II) chloride as reducing agents . Complete oxidations can be accomplished within 3 min, using a 40% sonication amplitude (100 W nominal power) provided by a probe ultrasonic device (20 kHz frequency) and a 1 mol L(-1) HCl liquid medium . The presence of HCl was seen to be necessary for fast oxidation of organomercurials, in contrast to other chemical oxidants such as H2O2 or HNO3 which yielded incomplete oxidation . Further advantages of the proposed method over existing methods which are currently employed for oxidation prior to total Hg determination are the removal of hazardous wastes and the decreased risk of Hg losses by volatilization . Oxidation kinetics indicated a pseudofirst-order reaction with apparent rate constants (k) of 3.2 x 10(-2) and 1.6 x 10(-2) s(-1) for methylmercury and phenylmercury, respectively . Oxidation experiments in the presence of foreign substances acting as OH radical scavengers showed a tolerance at least up to a concentration of 1000 mg L(-1) . Likewise, model wastewaters with chemical oxygen demand of up to 1000 mg L(-1) could be processed without diminishing the oxidation efficiency . The method was applied to determination of inorganic and total mercury in simulated wastewaters and spiked environmental waters in combination with selective reduction. J Agric Food Chem, 2000 Oct, 48(10), 5061 - 7 Decreased superoxide anion production in cultured human promonocyte cells (THP-1) due to polyphenol mixtures from olive oil processing wastewaters; Leger CL et al.; The purpose of this study was to examine whether human monocytic line THP-1 after differentiation into adherent macrophages, taken as a model of human macrophages implicated in atheroma, is able to produce lower quantities of O(2)(*)(-) either in the presence of polyphenol-rich olive oil wastewater (OWW) fractions or after OWW preincubation and withdrawal from the medium . In these respective conditions, the purpose was to examine the scavenging activity and the cell action of OWW toward O(2)(*)(-) production . It was clearly seen that OWW fractions lowered the O(2)(*)(-) production in both conditions, leading to the conclusion that they were able to scavenge O(2)(*)(-) and to depress O(2)(*)(-) production in the cell . Given the role of O(2)(*)(-) in LDL oxidation and oxidized LDL in atheroma, these results support an antiatherogenic role of OWW and its potential utilization as a food complement. J Agric Food Chem, 2000 Oct, 48(10), 4839 - 43 Development and characterization of a flavoring agent from oyster cooker effluent; Kim DS et al.; The general composition of concentrated oyster cooker effluent (OCE) was 80% moisture, 6.7% total nitrogen, 2.4% glycogen, and 8.5% ash . Optimum conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis of OCE were 50 degrees C, 2 h of reaction time, 0.1% amylase mixture (alpha-amylase plus glucoamylase), and 0.2% protease NP . Hydrolysis of OCE led to an increase in free amino acids, with taurine comprising approximately 20% of the total . Inosine monophosphate was predominant (456 mg/100 g) among nucleotides and related compounds . Enzyme hydrolysis increased extractable nitrogen by approximately 2-fold . Trimethylamine, trimethylamine oxide, and total creatinine levels were not affected by enzyme treatment . Predominant aroma-active components of enzyme-hydrolyzed OCE included 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline and 3-(methylthio)propanal . Results of this study may help alleviate the wastewater disposal problem currently caused by OCE. J Hazard Mater, 2000 Dec 1, 79(1-2), 117 - 31 Adsorption studies on Citrus reticulata (fruit peel of orange): removal and recovery of Ni(II) from electroplating wastewater; Ajmal M et al.; The ability of fruit peel of orange to remove Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb and Cr from aqueous solution by adsorption was studied . The adsorption was in the order of Ni(II)>Cu(II)>Pb(II)>Zn(II)>Cr(II) . The extent of removal of Ni(II) was found to be dependent on sorbent dose, initial concentration, pH and temperature . The adsorption follows first-order kinetics . The process is endothermic showing monolayer adsorption of Ni(II), with a maximum adsorption of 96% at 50 degrees C for an initial concentration of 50 mg l(-1) at pH 6 . Thermodynamic parameters were also evaluated . Desorption was possible with 0.05 M HCl and was found to be 95.83% in column and 76% in batch process, respectively . The spent adsorbent was regenerated and recycled thrice . The removal and recovery was also done in wastewater and was found to be 89% and 93.33%, respectively. Sci Total Environ, 2000 Oct 16, 261(1-3), 75 - 89 Detection of localized methylmercury contamination by use of the mussel adductor muscle in Minamata Bay and Kagoshima Bay, Japan; Haraguchi K et al.; Based on our previous finding that the concentrations of total mercury in mussel adductor muscle approximated those of methylmercury, we compared concentrations of total mercury in the adductor muscle of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, collected from four sites around Minamata City from 1993 to 1995 and four sites in Kagoshima Bay from 1997 to 1998, to assess the level of localized methylmercury contamination . Though the input of mercury from the chemical plant had stopped by around 1970, concentrations of total mercury in the mussel adductor muscle were higher at two sites (26-121 ng/g, n = 135) near the main fallout of wastewater from the chemical plant in Minamata Bay than at the other sites, i.e . two sites 1-5 km from the former sites in Minamata City (6-28 ng/g, n = 52), and all sites in Kagoshima Bay (2-30 ng/g, n = 287) . The localized methylmercury contamination around the chemical plant in Minamata Bay was documented also by our sensitive analysis of mercury concentrations in seawater and sediment samples . The survey of concentrations of total mercury in the mussel adductor muscle seems to be useful for monitoring the methylmercury contamination in coastal areas. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2000 Sep, 50 Pt 5, 1821 - 7 Janibacter terrae sp . nov., a bacterium isolated from soil around a wastewater treatment plant; Yoon JH et al.; A bacterial strain, CS12T, which was isolated from soil around a wastewater treatment plant, was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study using phenotypic characterizations and genetic methods . The cell wall of strain CS12T contains meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diamino acid but no arabinose and galactose . The predominant menaquinone is MK-8(H4) . Mycolic acids are absent . Strain CS12T has a cellular fatty acid profile containing saturated, unsaturated, branched and 10-methyl fatty acids . The major fatty acids are iso-C16:0, C18:1 omega9c and anteiso-C17:0, The G+C content is 69 mol% . A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rDNA sequences showed that strain CS12T forms an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of the family Intrasporangiaceae and, in particular, a coherent cluster with Janibacter limosus DSM 11140T . The level of 16S rDNA similarity between strain CS12T and J . limosus DSM 11140T is 98.7% . The phenotypic characteristics and DNA-DNA relatedness data indicate that strain CS12T should be distinguished from J . limosus DSM 11140T . Therefore, on the basis of the data presented, a new species of the genus Janibacter, Janibacter terrae, is proposed . The type strain of the new species is strain CS12T (= KCCM 80001T = JCM 10705T). Sci Total Environ, 2000 Oct 9, 260(1-3), 45 - 55 Mercury in the River Nura and its floodplain, Central Kazakhstan: II . Floodplain soils and riverbank silt deposits; Heaven S et al.; A unique and serious case of mercury pollution has occurred in the River Nura and its floodplain in Central Kazakhstan, where mercury-rich wastewater from an acetaldehyde plant was discharged largely without treatment for several decades . In the river, the mercury became associated with millions of tonnes of power station fly ash, forming a new type of deposit known as 'technogenic silt' . During spring floods these highly contaminated silts are transported downstream and are dispersed over the floodplain, leading to widespread contamination of the land . A detailed survey of the floodplain was carried out to investigate the extent of pollution and to assess the need for remediation . Total mercury concentrations in the topsoils of the floodplain ranged from near background levels to over 100 mg/kg . Mercury concentrations in river bank deposits were found to range from a mean of 73.3 mg/kg Hg in the most contaminated section of the river to a mean of 13.4 mg/kg Hg at a distance of 70 km downstream . Concentrations were lower than corresponding concentrations in the riverbed within the first 25 km from the source of the pollution, but thereafter they were significantly higher . The results show that over the past 30-40 years a large proportion of the contaminated sediments from the river was deposited on the 70 km of banks and in the floodplain below the pollution source . Topsoils of the floodplain and silt deposits located on or close to the river banks contain an estimated 53 t and 65 t of mercury respectively, with an additional 62 t in a small natural swamp which was formerly used as a waste disposal area . The contamination is serious but relatively localized, with > 70% of the total amount of mercury in topsoils and > 90% of mercury in river bank deposits located within 25 km from the source. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, 2000 Nov, 39(4), 469 - 79 A comparison of selected diversity, similarity, and biotic indices for detecting changes in benthic-invertebrate community structure and stream quality; Lydy MJ et al.; Implementation of advanced wastewater treatment at the two municipal wastewater-treatment plants for Indianapolis, Indiana, resulted in substantial improvement in the quality of the receiving stream and significant changes in the benthic-invertebrate community . Diversity, similarity, and biotic indices were compared to determine which indices best reflected changes in the composition of the biota in the river . None of the indices perfectly reflected the changes in river quality or community structure . Similarity indices, especially percentage similarity, exhibit the most promise of the three classes of indices . Diversity indices were least useful, wrongly indicating that water quality deteriorated after the upgrade of the wastewater-treatment plants . The most descriptive tool in analyzing the data was the percentage of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa present . Using a mixture of indices and other analytical tools, such as EPT, in the analysis of biological data will ensure the most effective investigations of water quality. J Colloid Interface Sci, 2000 Oct 15, 230(2), 367 - 376 Preparation and Characterization of Ceramic Hollow Microspheres for Heavy Metal Ion Removal in Wastewater; Bae E et al.; Ceramic hollow microspheres (CHMSs) were prepared to use as supports for the removal of heavy metal ions from industrial waste-water . A water extraction sol-gel technique was used to prepare porous CHMS by extracting water from an emulsion of LUDOX (silica colloid; SiO(2), Aldrich Co.) and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol . Experiments were conducted to control pore size, wall thickness, and separation yield by examining the ratio of precursors (LUDOX and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol), catalyst (NH(4)OH), sintering temperature, surfactant (SPAN 80), extractant (n-butanol), stirring speed, and concentration of precursor (LUDOX) . The results revealed that the optimum conditions were 20 ml of a 10 wt% solution of LUDOX, 10 ml of NH(4)OH, a sintering temperature of 500 degrees C, 0.4 ml of SPAN 80, 200 ml of n-butanol, and a stirring speed of 730 rpm/100 ml of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol . CHMSs were impregnated in Cyanex 272 and examined for their ability to remove heavy metal ions from a solution . Based on an experiment involving the removal of metal ions using CHMSs that were prepared under optimum conditions, Zn ion was removed at a level of 0.354 mmol/g at pH 4, which was about twice the adsorption capacity of CHMSs prepared by Wilcox (Mater . Res . Soc . Symp . Proc . 346, 201 (1994)) . Sci Total Environ, 2000 Aug 21, 258(1-2), 5 - 19 Cost-benefit analysis of the use of TBT: the case for a treatment approach; Abbott A et al.; The current climate of hostility towards the use of tributyltin (TBT) as an active ingredient in ship anti-fouling paint appears to be based on a very biased assessment of its environmental impact . While many national and international regulatory agencies are moving towards further restriction, and a complete ban is under active discussion, a number of factors appear to have been ignored . The economic impact of a ban on TBT when no adequate substitute exists could be substantial . Environmentally, consequences would include a substantial increase in the consumption of fossil fuel, with corresponding increases in carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions; the construction of more vessels; the transfer of ship-building, ship-repairing and ship-breaking activities from well-regulated to unregulated or under-regulated areas in the developing world; and a shift from sea transport to less environmentally acceptable forms of transport . Experience in Europe and other parts of the developed world shows that existing restrictions, where they are properly enforced, are probably adequate to alleviate the environmental damage associated with TBT . Some existing legislation acts to inhibit the search for effective substitutes . The environmental benefits of TBT have been ignored . Little thought has been given to a technical, rather than a legislative solution to controlling TBT inputs to the environment . A method is described for treating TBT-contaminated wastewaters, which has been successfully tested in prototype at full scale . Legislative measures against TBT will do nothing to address the problem of the existing backlog of contaminated material, nor even to permit the IMO proposal for the removal of TBT from all ships by 2008 to be successfully concluded in an environmentally safe manner, since no provision has been made for the disposal of the existing TBT; most probably it will be dumped in environmentally sensitive, unregulated areas in the developing world. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 2000 Sep-Oct, 95(5), 713 - 6 Factors that can interfere with virus concentration from wastewater when using Zeta Plus 60S filter membranes; Queiroz AP et al.; Zeta plus filter membranes (ZP60S) have been shown to be efficient for rotavirus concentration from wastewater and for the reduction of cytotoxicity for cell cultures . Recently a variability in both properties was observed . In view of the low costs and the high virus recovery rates obtained in the past, we re-evaluated the application of ZP60S filter membranes for virus concentration from environmental samples . Some factors that could interfere with the concentration strategy using ZP60S were also considered and assessed including the type of water to be filtered and the possible release of toxic substances from the membrane matrix during filtration. Anal Chem, 2000 Sep 1, 72(17), 3995 - 4002 Electrochemical study of chemically modified and screen-printed graphite electrodes with Prodromidis MI, Veltsistas PG, Karayannis MI. The preparation and electrochemical characterization of graphite electrodes modified with hexadecylpyridinium-bis(chlorilato)-antimonyl(V), {SbVO(CHL)2}Hex, (CMEs) as well as their behavior as electrocatalysts toward the oxidation of sulfide are described . The self-exchange rate constant ko of immobilized {SbVO(CHL)2}Hex and the effect of the surface coverage were evaluated . {SbVO(CHL)2}Hex is a new compound . Synthesis protocol and some identification studies are given . The fabrication of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) with a mixture of 5% (w/ w) {SbVO(CHL)2}Hex/graphite powder in 1.5% (w/v) ethyl cellulose in 2-butoxyethyl acetate is also described . SPEs, poised at +0.08 mV versus Ag/AgCl, at pH 6.5 were utilized for the determination of sulfide in simulated wastewater samples . Interference of various compounds was also tested . The proposed method correlates well with a colorimetric method . Calibration graphs were linear over the range 0.01-0.7 mM sodium sulfide and the CV was 2.8% (n = 8) for 0.1 mM sodium sulfide . Recovery ranged from 94 to 102% . Both {SbVO(CHL)2}Hex CMEs and SPE showed very good storage stability . {SbVO(CHL)2}Hex CMEs showed poor working stability in contrast to printed electrodes, which operated with no remarkable loss of their initial activity for more than 100 runs. J Chromatogr A, 2000 Aug 11, 889(1-2), 195 - 209 Inter-laboratory comparison of liquid chromatographic techniques and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the determination of surfactants in wastewaters; Castillo M et al.; Seven laboratories participated in an inter-laboratory comparison exercise within the framework of the PRISTINE, SANDRINE and INEXsPORT European Union Projects . Solid-phase extraction (SPE) methodologies were used for the extraction of target analytes from wastewaters . The analytical strategies were based on liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometric (MS) or to fluorescent (FL) detection in all cases with the exception of one laboratory using a test-tube enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit . Samples were spiked with the surfactants nonylphenolpolyglycol ether, coconut diethanolamide, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, nonylphenolpolyglycol ether sulfate, alkylpolyglycol ether and secondary alkane sulfonate . After enrichment on previously conditioned SPE cartridges, the SPE cartridges were distributed among the participating laboratories without the information about the amount of spiked surfactants . In addition, SPE cartridges loaded with a real-world environmental sample containing a tannery wastewater were also analyzed . The results of the programme showed that SPE followed by LC-MS techniques are reliable for the surfactants determination at submicrogram to microgram per liter levels in wastewaters . Inter-laboratory precision values were calculated as the reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSD(R)) which was determined from the reproducibility standard deviation (sR) and the average concentration at a particular concentration level . When data from all laboratories were pooled, the RSD(R) values ranged from 5.1 to 28.3% for the determination of target analytes . The most accurate result corresponded to that given for linear alkylbenzene sulfonates . Taking into account that different methodologies were used (including non-chromatographic techniques) and the complexity of the samples analyzed, it can be considered that acceptable reproducibility values were obtained in this inter-laboratory study. East Mediterr Health J, 1999 Sep, 5(5), 912 - 21 Helminthic infections associated with the use of raw wastewater for agricultural purposes in Beni Mellal, Morocco; Habbari K et al.; We aimed to determine the possible risks associated with raw wastewater use for agricultural purposes, particularly the transmission of helminthic infections among children . In a randomly-selected sample of 1343 children, 740 of them were from five regions using raw wastewater for agriculture, while 603 were from four control regions that do not use such water . The prevalence of helminthic infection was found to be significantly higher among children in regions using wastewater, compared to control regions . Behavioural characteristics and public water supply were found to be associated with higher infection rates . Adequate treatment of wastewater as well as public health education are highly recommended. Environ Manage, 2000 Nov, 26(5), 577 - 584 Nonpoint-Source Agricultural Hazard Index: A Case Study of the Province of Cremona, Italy; TREVISAN M et al.; This paper reports the results of a study aimed at the evaluation of the hazard level of farming activities in the province of Cremona, Italy, with particular reference to groundwater . The applied methodology employs a parametric approach based on the definition of potential hazard indexes (nonpoint-source agricultural hazard indexes, NPSAHI) . Two categories of parameters were considered: the hazard factors (HF), which represent all farming activities that cause or might cause an impact on groundwater (use of fertilizers and pesticides, application of livestock and poultry manure, food industry wastewater, and urban sludge), and the control factors (CF), which adapt the hazard factor to the characteristics of the site (geographical location, slope, agronomic practices, and type of irrigation) . The hazard index (HI) can be calculated multiplying the hazard factors by the control factors and, finally, the NPSAHI are obtained dividing HI into classes on a percentile basis using a scale ranging from 1 to 10 . Organization, processing, and display of all data layers were performed using the geographical information system (GIS) ArcView and its Spatial Analyst extension . Results show that the potential hazard of groundwater pollution by farming activities in the province of Cremona falls mainly in the fifth class (very low hazard). Lett Appl Microbiol, 2000 Aug, 31(2), 157 - 62 Effect of disinfection upon dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in wastewater: bacterial bioassays; Arana I et al.; Quantitative and qualitative changes in organic matter content of wastewater effluents attributable to chlorination and ozonation have been analysed using bioassays as well as organic carbon direct measures . Bioassays were carried out using the bacterial populations of wastewater and two Escherichia coli strains as test micro-organisms . Our results indicate that pure strains present some advantages over indigenous bacteria . Although wastewater bacterial populations are better adapted to growth in wastewater, E . coli strains are more sensitive to changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content . Moreover, the use of pure cultures allows estimation of the portion of DOC which can be converted in cell biomass, the assimilable organic carbon (AOC) . Finally, the results obtained using prototrophic and the auxotrophic strains of E . coli suggested that ozonation alters the amino acid composition of wastewater while chlorination does not change the quantity nor the quality of the DOC present in effluents. J Environ Sci Health B, 2000 Sep, 35(5), 623 - 43 Phytoavailability and extractability of potassium, magnesium and manganese in calcareous soil amended with olive oil wastewater; Gallardo-Lara F et al.; Land disposal of olive oil wastewater using it as a soil amendment requires a knowledge of the effects that its application may produce on the status of the mineral nutrients in the plant-soil system . A pot experiment using calcareous soil was performed in a growth chamber to examine the effects of olive oil wastewater on the availability and postharvest soil extractability of K, Mg and Mn . The experiment included 6 treatments: two rates of olive oil wastewater, two mineral fertilizer treatments containing K (which supplied K in amounts equivalent to the K supplied by the olive oil wastewater treatments), a K-free mineral fertilizer treatment, and a control . The pots were sown with ryegrass as the test plant, harvesting 3 times at intervals of one month . Olive oil wastewater has demonstrated a considerable capacity for supplying K that can be assimilated by the plant, tending in fact to surpass the mineral potassium fertilizer tested . The application of olive oil wastewater tends to reduce the concentration of Mg in the plant, similarly to the effect of adding mineral potassium fertilizer . An enhancement of Mn availability takes place in the soil amended with olive oil wastewater, which on occasion has produced Mn concentrations in plant that could be considered phytotoxic or at least excessive . After harvesting, we observed an increase in the amount of exchangeable K in soil with added industrial wastewater . However, these increases are lower than those in soil treated with mineral potassium fertilizer . The levels of exchangeable, carbonate-bound, organic-bound and residual Mg in soil were higher in treatments incorporating olive oil wastewater than in those with added mineral K, with the opposite tendency occurring in the amount of Fe-Mn oxides-bound Mg in soil . Treatments based on olive oil wastewater, especially in high doses, increased the amount of exchangeable and carbonate-bound Mn in soil, in comparison with treatments adding mineral fertilizers with or without K . In contrast, the addition of industrial wastewater caused a drop in the amount of Fe-Mn oxides-bound and organic-bound Mn in soil. J Occup Environ Med, 2000 Aug, 42(8), 821 - 6 Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus in drinking water workers and wastewater workers in Texas from 1996 to 1997; Weldon M et al.; To determine if wastewater workers had a higher prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) than drinking water workers, a convenience sample of Texas wastewater and drinking water workers was evaluated for risk factors by questionnaire and tested for anti-HAV . A total of 359 wastewater and 89 drinking water workers participated . Anti-HAV positivity was 28.4% for wastewater and 23.6% for drinking water workers . After adjustment for age, educational attainment, and Hispanic ethnicity, the odds ratio for the association between anti-HAV positivity and wastewater industry employment was 2.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 3.8) . Among wastewater workers, never eating in a lunchroom, > or = 8 years in the wastewater industry, never wearing face protection, and skin contact with sewage at least once per day were all significantly associated with anti-HAV positivity in a model that adjusted for age and educational attainment . Wastewater workers in this study had a higher prevalence of anti-HAV than drinking water workers, which suggested that wastewater workers may have been at increased risk of occupationally acquired hepatitis A . Work practices that expose workers to wastewater may increase their risk. J Chromatogr A, 2000 Jul 21, 886(1-2), 271 - 82 Identification of reactive dyes in spent dyebaths and wastewater by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry; Poiger T et al.; Capillary electrophoresis with diode array detection and mass spectrometry combined with solid-phase extraction were employed for the identification of reactive vinylsulfone and chlorotriazine dyes and their hydrolysis products in spent dyebaths and raw and treated wastewater . Recoveries of dyes from treated wastewater as their tetrabutylammonium ion-pairs using C18 reversed-phase cartridges ranged from 81 to 121% . Detection limits in sewage effluent of the different dyes and hydrolysis products ranged from 23 to 42 microg/l . The method was successfully applied to the detection of the hydrolysis products of five reactive dyes in influents and effluents of a municipal wastewater treatment plant receiving dyehouse effluents. Cent Eur J Public Health, 2000 Jul, 8 Suppl, 88 - 9 H2O2/UV/air oxidation of organic contaminants in the gas-sparged cyclone reactor; Artuna E et al.; In the last decade advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been gaining importance for destruction of waste as cleaner methods enabling conversion of organic contaminants to harmless species . Photodegradation processes in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ozone (O3) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) are most frequently offered for wastewater treatment . The novel gas-sparged reactor equipped with UV lamp proved to be an efficient system for photochemical degradation . In this investigation 80 ppm aqueous solution of phenol was treated for 40 minutes . 13% of phenol was eliminated in the UV/air system and 73% in the UV/H2 O2/air system at 80 l/min air flowrate . Air sparging did not result in phenol removal with the gas phase. Can J Microbiol, 2000 Aug, 46(8), 736 - 40 Identification and characterization of nuclease activities in anaerobic environmental samples; Ruiz TR et al.; DNA-degrading activity from anaerobic samples of bovine ruminal fluid, primary anaerobic digestor wastewater, freshwater sediments, and marine sediments was observed in the presence of 5 mM EDTA . Nuclease activity experiments involved exposing salmon chromosomal DNA to the environmental samples in 50 mM pH 7.2 buffer, incubating at 37 degrees C, and subjecting the products to electrophoresis . The same stock and concentration of EDTA used in these assays (5 mM) completely inhibited commercial grade DNase . Nuclease activity in two of the samples, ruminal fluid and wastewater, was further characterized . DNA degradation in the ruminal sample was significantly reduced when EDTA or citrate concentrations were increased to 50 mM or above . DNA degradation activity in ruminal fluid was associated with material that passed through a 0.22-micron filter, but wastewater activity was associated with material retained by a 3-micron filter . Degradation activity in the wastewater was resistant to heat pretreatment, whereas the rumen activity was heat-labile (70 degrees C, 60 min) . These results demonstrated the biochemical complexity of these two environments and that high molecular weight DNA has a short half-life in these anaerobic environments. Anal Chem, 2000 Jul 15, 72(14), 3379 - 82 Photocatalytic sensor for chemical oxygen demand determination based on oxygen electrode; Kim YC et al.; The construction and performance evaluation of a novel Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) sensor is described . The sensor measures, using an oxygen electrode, a decrease of dissolved oxygen of a given sample resulting from photocatalytic oxidation of the organic compounds therein . As the photocatalyst, titanium dioxide (TiO2) fine particles adsorbed on a translucent poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) membrane was used . The oxygen electrode with the membrane attached on its tip was used as the sensor probe . The operation characteristics of the sensor are demonstrated using an artificial wastewater and real water samples from lakes in Japan . This method is considered to be reliable, in that the observed parameter is close to the theoretical definition of chemical oxygen demand (COD), the amount of oxygen consumed for oxidation of organic compounds. J Hazard Mater, 2000 Sep 15, 76(2-3), 237 - 49 Removal of chlorophenols from aqueous solution by fly ash; Kao PC et al.; Fly ash from coal-fired thermal power plants can be used for the removal of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) with enthalpy changes of about -3 kcal/mol . The amounts of 2-CP and 2,4-DCP removed are affected by the pH value of the solution . The efficiency of removal improves when the pH value is less than the pK(a) values of 2-CP and 2,4-DCP, respectively . The adsorbed amount of chlorophenol by fly ash is also affected by particle diameter, carbon content, and the specific surface area of the ash used in this study . As expected, more adsorption takes place with fly ash of higher carbon content and larger specific surface area . Moreover, the adsorbed amount of chlorophenol is not influenced by the matrix in the wastewater, as shown by studying the removal of 2-CP and 2, 4-DCP in wastewater from a synthetic fiber plant . Chlorophenols in the wastewater were also removed efficiently through a fly ash column, with breakthrough times being inversely proportional to flow rates. Can J Microbiol, 2000 Jul, 46(7), 653 - 9 Changes in the metabolism of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris when coimmobilized in alginate with the nitrogen-fixing Phyllobacterium myrsinacearum; Gonzalez-Bashan LE et al.; In an agroindustrial wastewater pond, a naturally occurring unicellular microalga, Chlorella vulgaris, was closely associated with the terrestrial plant-associative N2-fixing bacterium Phyllobacterium myrsinacearum . When the two microorganisms were artificially coimmobilized in alginate beads, they shared the same internal bead cavities, and the production of five microalgal pigments increased, but there were no effects on the number of the cells or the biomass of the microalga . The association, however, reduces the ability of C . vulgaris to remove ammonium ions and phosphorus from water . The bacterium produced nitrate from ammonium in synthetic wastewater with or without the presence of the microalga, and fixed nitrogen in two culture media . Our results suggest that interactions between microalgae and associative bacteria should be considered when cultivating microalgae for wastewater treatment. Int J Occup Environ Health, 2000 Jul-Sep, 6(3), 177 - 82 Predictors of blood lead levels in agricultural villages practicing wastewater irrigation in Central Mexico; Cifuentes E et al.; To investigate whether the agricultural use of untreated wastewater (i.e . crop irrigation) was associated with elevated blood lead levels in a farming population in the Mezquital Valley and which risk factors, other than exposure to untreated wastewater, were associated with elevated blood lead levels, lead levels were measured in venous blood obtained from 735 individuals . Blood samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry . Food habits and dietary intake were gathered by interview, using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire . The average blood lead level was 7.8 microg/dL (SD 4.66 microg/dL; range 1.2-36.7 microg/dL) . 23% of the study population had blood lead levels exceeding 10 microg/dL . The use of lead-glazed ceramics (LGC) was significantly associated with elevated lead levels (p = < 0.001) . Other significant variables included age, gender (males), and non-farming-related occupations (e.g., technicians, factory workers) . p = 0.005, 0.08, and 0.001, respectively . When the analysis was stratified by the use of LGC for food preparation, an inverse relationship between higher daily calcium intake and blood lead level was detected (beta = - 0.040, p = < 0.05) . Thus, blood lead levels were positively associated with the use of LGC . Calcium intake showed a protective effect, maybe by decreasing absorption of lead in the gastrointestinal tract . No association between occupational exposure to untreated wastewater or crop consumption and blood lead levels was detected . Further environmental and health surveillance is recommended. Emerg Infect Dis, 2000 Jul-Aug, 6(4), 358 - 62 Seroprevalence of West Nile, Rift Valley, and sandfly arboviruses in Hashimiah, Jordan; Batieha A et al.; We conducted a serosurvey among patients of a health center in Hashimiah, a Jordanian town of 30,000 inhabitants located near a wastewater treatment plant and its effluent channel . Serum samples from 261 patients >/=5 years of age were assessed for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies against West Nile, sandfly Sicilian, sandfly Naples, and Rift Valley viruses; the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies was 8%, 47%, 30%, and 0%, respectively . Female participants were more likely to have been infected than male . Persons living within 2 km of the treatment plant were more likely to have been infected with West Nile (p=0.016) and sandfly Sicilian (p=0.010) viruses . Raising domestic animals within the house was a risk factor for sandfly Sicilian (p=0.003) but not for sandfly Naples virus (p=0.148) . All serum samples were negative for IgM antibodies against the tested viruses . Our study is the first documentation of West Nile and sandfly viruses in Jordan and calls attention to the possible health hazards of living close to wastewater treatment plants and their effluent channels. Environ Health Perspect, 2000 Jul, 108(7), A308 - 15 Bordering on environmental disaster; Schmidt CW; Millions of people live on the U.S.-Mexico border, drawn by employment opportunities from industry and agriculture, and booming growth is expected to continue in the coming decades . But the influx of people has long outstripped the capacity of border towns and cities to provide for their citizens, and a large percentage of the population lives in sprawling, underserviced shantytowns . Although investment in environmental infrastructure on both sides has led to improvements, shortages among necessities such as drinking water, wastewater treatment, and solid waste disposal are at crisis levels . In addition, a host of diseases including gastrointestinal infections, asthma, tuberculosis, multiple myeloma, systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis A, neural tube defects, and lead poisoning have been linked to environmental conditions on the border . Ongoing binational studies are attempting to define the breadth of the public and environmental health crisis and find ways to help make the border a healthier place. Chemosphere, 1999 Feb, 38(4), 823 - 34 Analysis of volatile fatty acids in wastewater collected from a pig farm by a solid phase microextraction method; Yo SP; The main purpose of this study is to develop a reliable Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) method for monitoring the concentration of volatile fatty acid (VFA) in the wastewater collected from pig farms . Ten volatile fatty acid species were spiked in 2 ml of swine wastewater and extracted with a carbowax coated extraction fiber to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the method . The fiber was introduced into a gas chromatography system by thermal desorption and detected by a mass spectrometer detector . The estimated method detection limits ranged from 11.5 mM/L for formic acid to 0.03 mM/L for heptanoic acid . The method is more sensitive than the sample direct injection method . The percentage recovery of analytes ranged from 77.3 for propanoic acid to 114.1 for formic acid at the spike level of 19.09 mM/L . The compound absorption rate varied significantly with the fiber absorption time for n-Valeric, isocaproic, n-caproic and heptanoic acids . An SPME method with twenty minutes fiber absorption and three minutes thermal desorption was tested in this study and resulted in good reproducibility for analyzing VFAs in swine wastewater . The method may be applied for scanning a wide spectrum of polar organic compounds in environmental samples. Chemosphere, 2000 Oct, 41(8), 1287 - 94 Decolorization of textile wastewater by photo-fenton oxidation technology; Kang SF et al.; This paper describes the use of photo-fenton process for color removal from textile wastewater stream . The wastewater sample to be treated was simulated by using colorless polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and reactive dyestuff of R94H . As a result, the hydroxyl radical (HO*) oxidation can effectively remove color, but the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was removed in a slight degree . The color removal is markedly related with the amount of HO* formed . The optimum pH for both the OH* formation and color removal occurs at pH 3-5 . Up to 96% of color can be removed within 30 min under the studied conditions . Due to the photoreduction of ferric ion into ferrous ion, color resurgence was observed after 30 min . The ferrous dosage and UV power affect the color removal in a positive way, however, the marginal benefit is less significant in the higher range of both . PVA as the major background COD of a textile wastewater stream inhibits the color removal insignificantly as its concentration increases. Chemosphere, 2000 Oct, 41(8), 1155 - 60 Ground discarded tires remove naphthalene, toluene, and mercury from water; Gunasekara AS et al.; Ground discarded tires adsorb naphthalene, toluene, and mercury ions (Hg2+) from aqueous solutions . Their sorption properties and kinetics were determined by batch equilibration techniques at 20 degrees C . The isotherms were linear for naphthalene and toluene and their sorption coefficients were about 1340 and 255 (ml/g), respectively . Sorption of the organic compounds by the ground rubber particles was relatively fast (within 30 min) . However, the mercury isotherms were non-linear, and its sorption was slow as compared to the sorption of the organics . The rubber particles had a strong affinity for Hg2+ . These results show that ground discarded tires are effective in removing organic compounds and Hg2+ from wastewater and other contaminated environments . In addition it would be a useful, environmentally friendly use of discarded tires (one tire per year per capita is discarded in the United States). Chemosphere, 2000 Oct, 41(8), 1137 - 47 Photochemistry of hydrolytic iron (III) species and photoinduced degradation of organic compounds . A minireview; Feng W et al.; On the basis of the research literature of the last fifty years, we have reviewed the photochemical properties of different hydrolytic Fe(III) species and the photodegradation of organic compounds in aqueous solutions initiated by them (mainly including low-molecular-weight Fe(III)-OH complexes, Fe(III) oxides (Fe2O3) and Fe(III) hydroxides (FeOOH)) . Furthermore, the feasibility and prospects of the novel photochemical methods of using Fe(III) salts and oxides in wastewater treatments are being discussed in this paper. Sci Total Environ, 2000 Jun 22, 256(1), 39 - 57 An inventory of historical mercury emissions in maritime canada: implications for present and future contamination; Sunderlan EM et al.; Mercury is a longstanding concern in Maritime Canada due to high levels of contamination in a number of fish and bird species . The recycled component of past releases of anthropogenic mercury may be a significant source of ongoing pollution in many areas . Historical information on mercury releases can be used to quantify past and present anthropogenic contamination . We present an inventory of historical mercury emissions from anthropogenic sources in Maritime Canada for the years 1800-1995 . Long-term trends in mercury emissions and the significance of the cumulative burden of mercury released from local sources are discussed . Emissions are calculated using both historical monitoring data and the application of emission factors . The nature of current anthropogenic sources of mercury is quite different than it was several decades ago when many of the existing policies governing mercury pollution were created . Our inventory illustrates that many of the most significant sources in the past such as the chlor-alkali industry, paint containing mercury additives, and pharmaceuticals, have been largely phased out with fossil fuel combustion and waste disposal remaining as the most significant modern sources . Atmospheric emissions in Maritime Canada peaked in 1945 (> 1,750 kg year-1), and again between 1965 and 1970 (> 2,600 kg year-1) . Cumulative releases of mercury from anthropogenic sources for the years 1800-1995 were between 115 and 259 t to the atmosphere alone, and 327-448 t when discharges to wastewater and effluents were included . Assuming that only 0.2% (Nriagu, 1994.) of these releases become part of the recycled fraction of current fluxes, we estimate that between 570 and 900 kg Hg year-1 is deposited in Maritime Canada from past anthropogenic sources . Modern sources within Maritime Canada contribute at least 405 kg year-1 to the total annual deposition of 1.71 t over the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, leaving approximately 735 kg year-1 from natural sources and long-range contamination . Further study is needed to verify these estimates and clarify the significance of natural and long-range sources of mercury in Maritime Canada. J Chromatogr A, 2000 Jun 16, 882(1-2), 321 - 8 On-line microdialysis-ion chromatographic determination of inorganic anions in olive-oil mill wastewater; Buldini PL et al.; A fully automated method is presented for the determination of inorganic anions in olive-oil mill effluents using on-line dialysis-ion chromatography . The wastewater is first of all sonicated at room temperature to make it homogeneous, then diluted and microdialized . Most of the organic load of the effluents is removed in a few minutes without using reagents, while soluble anion quantitation remains unaffected . The clear solution is analyzed for the inorganic anions content by direct injection on to an ion chromatograph equipped with a conductivity detector . In the absence of standards, the separation efficiency of microdialysis has been investigated by spiking wastewater samples as well as standard oil emulsions with varying amounts of inorganic anions and subjecting them to microdialysis for different periods of time prior to performing instrumental analysis . Excellent spike recoveries and low relative standard deviations are obtained for all the anions if a 10 min microdialysis time is overcame . Chloride, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and sulphate are not affected by the microdialysis procedure and their recovery is between 96 and 104% in wastewater as well as in standard oil emulsion . Calibration plots are linear over about two orders of magnitude . The dialysis membrane has been replaced after more than 100 analyses . The UV photolysis pre-treatment of the same sample evidences the different information that can be obtained by the two sample pre-treatment procedures. Tunis Med, 2000 Feb, 78(2), 109 - 14 {Intestinal parasitosis and environmental pollution: 1343 pediatric cases in Beni-Mellal, Morocco}; Habbari K et al.; This study was undertaken to determine the possible health risk associated with raw wastewater use in agricultural purposes, particularly, the transmission of parasite infections among children of five regions in Beni-Mellal, Morocco . In a randomly-selected sample of 1343 children, 740 of them were from five regions using raw wastewater for agriculture, and 603 were from 4 control regions that do not practice wastewater irrigation . One or more parasite infections were identified in 50.8% of the children living in the wastewater re-use regions and in 8.2% only of the others . The seven parasites identified were Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia intestinalis, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, Taenia saginata, which infected 34.3%, 5.1%, 20.5%, 0.4%, 5.2%, 7.2%, 0.5% in the exposed population and 4.3%, 0.3%, 3.8%, 0.3%, 1.0%, 0.6% and 0.0% in the control population respectively . In conclusion, raw wastewater use in Beni-Mellal lead to a high risk of parasite infections . Adequate treatment of wastewater is highly recommended. Nat Biotechnol, 2000 Jul, 18(7), 775 - 8 Aerobic degradation of tetrachloroethylene by toluene-o-xylene monooxygenase of Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1; Ryoo D et al.; Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is thought to have no natural source, so it is one of the most difficult contaminants to degrade biologically . This common groundwater pollutant was thought completely nonbiodegradable in the presence of oxygen . Here we report that the wastewater bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1 degrades aerobically 0 . 56 micromol of 2.0 micromol PCE in 21 h (Vmax approximately 2.5 nmol min(-1) mg(-1) protein and KM approximately 34 microM) . These results were corroborated by the generation of 0.48 micromol of the degradation product, chloride ions . This degradation was confirmed to be a result of expression of toluene-o-xylene monooxygenase (ToMO) by P . stutzeri OX1, since cloning and expressing this enzyme in Escherichia coli led to the aerobic degradation of 0.19 micromol of 2.0 micromol PCE and the generation of stoichiometric amounts of chloride . In addition, PCE induces formation of ToMO, which leads to its own degradation in P . stutzeri OX1 . Degradation intermediates reduce the growth rate of this strain by 27%. Annu Rev Public Health, 2000, 21, 223 - 45 Water reclamation and unrestricted nonpotable reuse: a new tool in urban water management; Okun DA; Growing urbanization accompanying growing population is increasing the demand for water supply in communities throughout the world . Water resources for many cities are already proving inadequate . Additional water resources are inherently more costly and are often not available because other communities and/or land owners have the water rights . Although conservation, particularly through demand management, may delay the need for additional sources for a short period, the need is inevitable . One approach that has been found to provide substantial additional water for communities is the reclamation of wastewaters produced by the communities themselves for unrestricted nonpotable purposes, such as for landscape and market crop irrigation, industry, cooling towers, air conditioning, toilet flushing, construction, vehicle washing, and environmental enhancement . This is done by providing dual distribution systems . Nonpotable reuse is already widely practiced despite the fact that the reclaimed water distribution systems needed to be installed in existing communities . Inasmuch as additional water is needed for growing populations, the costs would be substantially reduced if the two systems were to be built at the same time in the newly developing areas . Reuse of reclaimed water for potable purposes may be feasible, but it imposes added public health risks that need to be accepted only as a last resort. J Toxicol Environ Health A, 2000 May 26, 60(2), 137 - 51 Evaluating the efficiency of toxicity abatement in a constructed wetland with Ceriodaphnia dubia; Belin JI et al.; Constructed wetlands are becoming increasingly popular as low-cost, high-efficiency means of treating agricultural and municipal wastewaters . Monitoring programs for constructed wetlands usually measure physical and chemical characteristics of wetland treatment, including hydraulic residence time and removal of nutrients (N, P), suspended solids, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) . However, toxicity abatement is seldom measured as evidence of wetland treatment efficiency . In this study, toxicity tests combined with chemical measurements were employed to measure the efficiency of a constructed wetland in treating swine wastes during fall and winter sampling periods . Although the wetland system operated at three wastewater loading rates, only the high-loading-rate cells were tested because of their year-round flows . Wastewater samples were collected prior to, during, and following wetland treatment to track treatment progress as effluents passed through the wetland cells . Toxicity tests with Ceriodaphnia dubia showed significant toxicity abatement of wastewater as it progressed through the constructed wetland system; however, residual toxicity was still observed in the final wetland effluent . No seasonal differences were observed in toxicity abatement between fall and winter wastewater samples, although nitrate and BOD were removed more efficiently during the fall . Results suggest that, while the constructed wetland system is effective in reducing toxicity in swine wastewater, further pre- or posttreatment or additional dilution is necessary before treated effluents are discharged into surface water. J Hazard Mater, 2000 Aug 28, 76(1), 125 - 38 The management of arsenic wastes: problems and prospects; Leist M et al.; Arsenic has found widespread use in agriculture and industry to control a variety of insect and fungicidal pests . Most of these uses have been discontinued, but residues from such activities, together with the ongoing generation of arsenic wastes from the smelting of various ores, have left a legacy of a large number of arsenic-contaminated sites . The treatment and/or removal of arsenic is hindered by the fact that arsenic has a variety of valence states . Arsenic is most effectively removed or stabilized when it is present in the pentavalent arsenate form . For the removal of arsenic from wastewater, coagulation, normally using iron, is the preferred option . The solidification/stabilization of arsenic is not such a clear-cut process . Factors such as the waste's interaction with the additives (e.g . iron or lime), as well as any effect on the cement matrix, all impact on the efficacy of the fixation . Currently, differentiation between available solidification/stabilization processes is speculative, partly due to the large number of differing leaching tests that have been utilized . Differences in the leaching fluid, liquid-to-solid ratio, and agitation time and method all impact significantly on the arsenic leachate concentrations.This paper reviews options available for dealing with arsenic wastes, both solid and aqueous through an investigation of the methods available for the removal of arsenic from wastewater as well as possible solidification/stabilization options for a variety of waste streams. Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2000 Spring, 84-86, 255 - 65 N-demethylation of methylene blue by lignin peroxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium . Stoichiometric relation for H2O2 consumption; Ferreira VS et al.; Phanerochaete chrysosporium lignin peroxidase (LiP) can degrade synthetic dyes such as heterocyclic, azo, and triphenylmethane on its activation by H2O2 . Analysis of the reaction products indicated that N-demethylation reactions are involved in the degradation of crystal violet and methylene blue (MB) . We studied LiP oxidation of methylene blue and azure B (AB) in reaction mixtures containing different dye:H2O2 stoichiometric relations aiming at the selective formation of N-demethylated derivatives . High yields, about 70%, of the mono- and didemethylated derivatives, azure B and azure A, were obtained with the use of 1:1 and 1:2 MB:H2O2, respectively . Using azure B as substrate in reaction mixtures containing 1:1 AB:H2O2, a yield of 70% was also observed in azure A . Reaction mixtures containing 1:3 MB:H2O2 and 1:2 AB:H2O2, originated several oxidation products in similar proportions . These results indicated that the process of enzymatic degradation of methylene blue and azure B initiates via N(CH3)2 oxidation . According to the yields that were obtained for azure B and azure A, this enzymatic route can be used for the synthesis of these dyes since these data compare favorably to the chemical route that has a yield of 35% . The use of a dye:H2O2 relation of 1:10 resulted in a decoloration level of about 85%, showing the usefulness of this procedure for wastewater treatment . The reaction products were followed by spectrophotometric analysis within the wavelength of 500-700 nm . The product identifications were performed using a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) C-18 column and thin-layer chromatography. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2000 May, 50 Pt 3, 1203 - 10 Gordonia nitida sp . nov., a bacterium that degrades 3-ethylpyridine and 3-methylpyridine; Yoon JH et al.; A bacterial strain, LE31T, which is capable of degrading 3-ethylpyridine and 3-methylpyridine, was isolated from an industrial wastewater and was taxonomically studied by using a polyphasic approach . Strain LE31T was identified as a member of the genus Gordonia on the basis of chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic inference-based 16S rDNA sequence . The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose (wall chemotype IV) . The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H2) . The mycolic acids contained 47-55 carbon atoms . The major fatty acids were C16:0, C18:1 omega9c, 10-methyl-C18:0 (TBSA) . The G+C content of DNA was 67 mol% . The 16S rDNA sequence of strain LE31T was most similar to that of the type strain of Gordonia rubropertincta . The differences in some phenotypic characteristics and the genetic distinctiveness distinguish strain LE31T from the Gordonia species described previously . Therefore it is proposed that strain LE31T should be placed in the genus Gordonia as a new species . The name Gordonia nitida is proposed for strain LE31T . The type strain of the new species is strain LE31T (= KCTC 0605BPT = KCCM 80004T). Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 427 - 32 New policies and measures for saving a great manmade reservoir providing drinking water for 20 million people in the Republic of Korea; Ahn KH; Water quality of the Paldang reservoir, the largest drinking water supply source in the Republic Korea provides raw water for about 20 million people living in Seoul Metropolitan area . Water quality has been deteriorating mainly due to improperly treated livestock waste and domestic wastewater discharged from motels, restaurants, and private homes . A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) showed that the water quality of this reservoir has been identified as Class III must contain less than 6 ppm of BOD, which will require advanced purification treatment before it can be used as drinking water . The MOE also announced that this water source would no longer be potable unless wastewater in the catchment is treated efficiently . To protect drinking water resources, the MOE has set up comprehensive management . These programmes include new regulations, measures, land use planning and economic incentives. Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 383 - 7 Review of the wastewater situation in Morocco; Mandi L; Recent estimations of the wastewater production of Morocco amounted to 370 million m3 per year, and this is expected to increase to 900 million m3 by the year 2020 . In most cases wastewater is discharged directly into the environment, either to the sea via short outfalls or onto farmland for irrigation or infiltration . Major improvements in the quality of wastewater are needed urgently because of the strong migration of the rural population towards the towns and the very rapid demographic expansion . Studies for Sanitation Master Plans for the main towns are currently in progress and are a first step towards meeting these requirements . Development of a national master plan for liquid sewage is a way of extending this procedure over the whole territory. Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 331 - 6 Sewage disinfection towards protection of drinking water resources; Kolch A; Wastewater applied in agriculture for irrigation could replace the use of natural drinking-water resources . With respect to high concentrations of human pathogens wastewater has to be disinfected prior to use . This paper introduces disinfection methods with emphasis on UV irradiation. Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 325 - 9 Improved purification of water and waste-water with low-cost dead-end-ultrafiltration; Peters TA; One aspect of the increasing contamination of water sources is sewage effluent . In some countries it is generally disinfected prior to discharge to protect downstream communities, which use the water for drinking and recreation . However, serious questions have been raised regarding the efficacy of conventional treatments to remove or destroy viruses, and regarding the generation of harmful byproducts by sewage chlorination . A safe and reliable solution is the use of ultrafiltration for the purification of wastewater, as the ultrafiltration membranes form an absolute barrier for bacteria and viruses including colloids and macromolecules . However, this application also demands the use of open channel module systems that can be cleaned with high efficiency with regard to scaling, fouling and especially biofouling . The flat membrane module systems using selected membranes and a special plant design can meet these and further requirements expected in this application, including easy handling, low energy consumption and optimised operation costs . Technical details of the module system, case studies and cost aspects are presented. Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 257 - 60 Carbon, nitrogen and heavy metal dynamics in long-term wastewater irrigated Mexican soils; Herre A et al.; In column experiments of Mexican wastewater irrigated soils the effects of changing water quality (untreated = UT, primary = PT and tertiary treated = TT wastewater) on carbon, nitrogen and heavy metal dynamics were investigated . In the column effluents the nitrate concentrations varied between 141-683 mg l-1 . The total amount of leached TOC decreased in the order UT > PT > TT . Outflow concentrations of Pb ranged from 31.6-166.5 micrograms l-1 and of Cu from 31.2-146.8 micrograms l-1 . Irrigation water quality influenced the Pb but not the Cu efflux . Cu seemed to be co-transported with TOC by preferential flow whereas there was no correlation of Pb and TOC concentrations in the effluents . The possibility of Pb transport through preferential flow paths is discussed. Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 241 - 7 Health effect of wastewater reuse in agriculture; Bouhoum K et al.; The present study addresses the impact of wastewater reuse in agriculture on the transmission of protozoan and helminthic infections . For this purpose, an epidemiological study was carried out on two populations of children totalling 608 individuals for protozoan infections and 528 for helminthic infections . Each population comprised an exposed group living in the wastewater spreading area of Marrakech and a control group . Results showed that 72% of the exposed group had protozoan infections . This rate did not exceed 45% in the control group . The pathogenic protozoan infections observed were giardiasis and amoebiasis . Regarding helminthic infections, 73% of the exposed children were infected compared with 30% of the control group . The risk attributable to wastewater reuse in the transmission of pathogenic protozoan and helminthic infections was 41% and 43%, respectively . Children of the spreading area are therefore more exposed to detectable risks from parasitic helminths and protozoa than the control children. Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 233 - 9 Reuse of wastewater in aboriginal communities in Western Australia; Mathew K et al.; Western Australia is a very arid area and freshwater is a precious resource . The wise and efficient use of this resource is essential for the establishment of communities in this region . Wastewater reuse in Aboriginal communities is a very recent development . Initially leach drains disposed of wastewater . Due to their failure most of the major communities now have the effluent from the septic tanks collected by a small diameter reticulated sewerage system and directed to oxidation ponds for treatment . The overflow from the oxidation ponds is allowed to flow over land or to a creek without any specific use . This paper discusses available reuse options as well as the options specific to Aboriginal communities in Western Australia . It is intended to demonstrate that in arid regions reuse wastewater can act as a water conservation and pollution control measure. Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 227 - 32 Efficiency and sustainability of soil-aquifer treatment for indirect potable reuse of reclaimed water; Drewes JE et al.; An increasing number of municipalities are considering the indirect reuse of treated wastewater (recycled water) by groundwater recharge as a feasible option to augment potable water supplies . This planned approach offers several advantages compared to the conventional way of discharging effluents into surface waters, including the additional treatment afforded as the water percolates and co-mingles with groundwater (soil aquifer treatment) . While groundwater recharge has been used in the United States (U.S.) for several decades and has been the subject of a number of studies, limitations in methodology and testing have prevented many within the scientific and technical community from being able to fully address a number of complex public health questions related to organic chemicals, nitrogen and microorganisms . Ongoing research being conducted in Arizona and California is directed at reducing the uncertainties about the efficiency and sustainability of soil aquifer treatment for indirect potable reuse of recycled water. Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 213 - 8 Wastewater reuse with groundwater safeguard; Ouazzani N et al.; In Morocco, reuse of raw wastewater for irrigation is practised around the big cities without taking into account the sanitary and environmental concerns . All national institutions involved in wastewater problems are convinced of the need for wastewater treatment with extensive systems before it can be applied for agricultural reuse . Our experimental work on wastewater treatment using lagooning, macrophytic plants, reed beds, infiltration percolation or over-land flow showed that of all these extensive systems lead to an effluent classified into category B according to WHO guidelines . However, the amount of nitrogen largely exceeded the crops' requirements and could cause serious problems for groundwater . Using the DRASTIC method, a vulnerability map was established for groundwater in the plain surrounding the city of Marrakech . The estimates of nitrogen amounts from wastewater that can reach groundwater after crop uptakes showed that only the low vulnerability zone could be safely irrigated with the treated wastewater . The second zone of moderate vulnerability covering 50% of the area in the plain could receive the treated wastewater, but a careful program of irrigation is required to avoid nitrate contamination of groundwater . The third zone at a high vulnerability level should be protected, without any further irrigation using wastewater, even after extensive treatment . This new approach integrating the results of the preliminary vulnerability study of groundwater zones could constitute a helpful tool to improve management of regional projects of wastewater reclamation and reuse. Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 207 - 12 Improvements of wastewater treatment for groundwater protection in the Haertsfeld; Haakh F; Wastewater treatment in rural water protection zones is crucial for sustainable source water protection . Specific problems arise where wastewater from decentral treatment plants infiltrates towards vulnerable aquifers . Within the water protection zone of the Egau Waterworks sited on the Swabian highlands with a karstic aquifer, a concept for a central sewer system and wastewater plant went into operation in 1993 in order to solve the conflict between drinking water demands and wastewater treatment . Since then, water quality of the Buchbrunnen karst spring which is used for drinking water supply for about 400,000 inhabitants has shown improvements . The paper describes the development of typical parameters including groundwater flow time and corresponding concentration levels . The concept implemented here may serve as a model for a successful water protection initiative. Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 2000, 105, 141 - 6 Wastewater discharge and water quality standards in Brazil--implications for the selection of wastewater treatment technologies; von Sperling M; The paper describes and comments the Brazilian standards for water quality and effluent discharge (CONAMA Directive No . 20, 1986) . The emphasis of the paper is on the conventional parameters which characterise domestic wastewater (BOD, SS, NH4+, N, P and coliforms) . The wastewater treatment systems for achieving compliance are analysed with two perspectives: requirements for the discharge standards and requirements for the receiving water standards . The main treatment technologies available are listed, together with their capability to remove the major pollutants included in the Brazilian legislation . The analysis for the receiving water standards are given for different dilution ratios (river/discharge flows): 1/10, 1/1, 10/1 and 100/1 . The difficulty in complying with the receiving water standards for BOD, phosphate and coliforms is highlighted and the cost implications for the adoption of more sophisticated technologies in order to achieve compliance are also provided . Although the specific quantitative values cited in the paper are associated with the Brazili