Article
Engineering, Chemical
Swati Sharma, Lalit M. Pandey
Summary: Microbial bioremediation of spilled oil is an eco-friendly approach, but the slow biodegradation rate is a challenge. This study explored a surface-induced biosorption coupled microbial biodegradation approach using bagasse as a biosorbent. The integrated process significantly improved oil adsorption capacity and biodegradation rate.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Christian M. Bako, Andres Martinez, Jessica M. Ewald, Jason B. X. Hua, David J. Ramotowski, Qin Dong, Jerald L. Schnoor, Timothy E. Mattes
Summary: In this study, we found that bioaugmentation with aerobic, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degrading microorganisms can effectively reduce PCB emissions from contaminated sediment to air. Through synthetic samples and qPCR analysis, it was observed that the total PCB mass in the bioaugmented treatment decreased by 57% on average, with a preferential biodegradation of lower-chlorinated PCBs. The use of the phytogenic biosurfactant, saponin, was also found to enhance the abundance of the degrading microorganisms and promote the biodegradation process. These findings demonstrate that bioaugmentation can be an effective approach to reduce PCB emissions and minimize exposure risks in surrounding communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anne Kreutzer, Mathias Reininghaus, Julia Meyer, Ingrid Kroencke, Thomas-Benjamin Seiler, Henner Hollert, Gesine Witt
Summary: The pollution state in the German Bight was investigated by determining pollutant concentrations in sediment samples. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were measured in the pore water of North Sea sediment. The results showed relatively low contamination levels, but higher contamination near the sediment-dumping site.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yuying Zhang, Claudia Labianca, Liang Chen, Sabino De Gisi, Michele Notarnicola, Binglin Guo, Jian Sun, Shiming Ding, Lei Wang
Summary: Routine waterway dredging activities generate large volumes of dredged sediment, posing a global challenge in remediating contaminated sediment. Sustainable ex-situ treatment technologies have been developed to transform sediment into construction materials. Proper selection and design of remediation technologies should consider factors such as cost, safety, environmental impacts, and social acceptability.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guilherme R. Lotufo, Mandy M. Michalsen, Danny D. Reible, Philip M. Gschwend, Upal Ghosh, Alan J. Kennedy, Kristen M. Kerns, Magdalena Rakowska, Adesewa Odetayo, John K. MacFarlane, Songjing Yan, Mandar Bokare
Summary: The study evaluated the precision and accuracy of multilaboratory measurements for determining freely dissolved concentrations of PAHs and PCBs in sediment porewater, using polymeric samplers. The results showed high precision and low variability between laboratories, indicating the method's reliability and potential for increased regulatory acceptance.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michaela Belhacova-Minarikova, Ian Allan, Branislav Vrana
Summary: The contamination of aquatic ecosystems by hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) is often evaluated based on their concentrations in riverbed sediment and suspended particulate matter (SPM). However, the total HOC concentration (C-TOT) in sediment or SPM has limited value in assessing the exposure of benthic or pelagic organisms. The accessible HOC concentration (C-AS) provides a useful parameter for quantifying the overall pool of HOC available for partitioning to the water phase or biota. This study compared C-TOT and C-AS in SPM and sediment samples collected from the Danube River and found that they provide complementary but not interchangeable information on HOC contamination.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dat Thanh Pham, Abhrajyoti Tarafdar, Pil-Gon Kim, Jung-Hwan Kwon
Summary: Cancer risk is associated with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in playground dust and soil. This study found that coal combustion and vehicular emissions are the main sources of PAHs, and higher organic carbon content and atmospheric deposition contribute to the accumulation of PAHs.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Amanda A. Brennan, David R. Mount, Nathan W. Johnson
Summary: Passive sampling is used to quantify the net partitioning of hydrophobic organic contaminants between porewater and solid phases in contaminated sediments, improving risk management strategies. Direct measurements of porewater (C-free) are the most accurate way to predict adverse effects on biota. A stochastic framework is proposed to map solid-phase concentration (C-total) to estimated C-free by considering variability in passive sampling-derived K-TOC relationships.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nan Lin, Lexuan Zhong, Christopher Godwin, Stuart Batterman
Summary: This study develops a sensitive method for measuring airborne 1,4-dioxane in indoor air and evaluates the performance of the method. The results show that there are limits to sampling times in high humidity environments and other measures are needed to ensure good performance. Scenario analyses demonstrate the potential impact of shallow groundwater contamination in flooded areas, highlighting the urgent need for monitoring vapor intrusion of 1,4-dioxane.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Branislav Vrana, Jakub Urik, Ganna Fedorova, Helena Svecova, Katerina Grabicova, Oksana Golovko, Tomas Randak, Roman Grabic
Summary: POCIS is widely used for sampling polar organic substances due to its applicability to a wide range of substances and environments, although its sampling performance may vary depending on exposure conditions. In situ calibration is necessary for accurate estimation of aqueous concentrations, and comparisons with grab sampling show that POCIS-derived data generally align well with traditional methods, indicating the robustness of POCIS for identifying contamination trends in surface waters.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tariq Hussain, Dimitrios Athanasiou, Balaji Rao, Michelle Bejar, Magdalena Rakowska, Ilektra Drygiannaki, D. Bart Chadwick, Marienne A. Colvin, Nickolas T. Hayman, Gunther H. Rosen, Megan Otto, Brandon Steets, Robert Pitt, Danny D. Reible
Summary: This study focused on the influence of stormwater on sediment recontamination and biota bioaccumulation. The results showed that a majority of contaminants were associated with coarser particles, and that sediment contamination did not directly correlate with bioaccumulation in the studied organism.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jia-Ho Shiu, Che-Hung Lin, Aziz Jabir Mulla, Viet Do Hung Dang, Chia-Ling Fong, Yoko Nozawa
Summary: The study found that both ex situ and in situ environments have significant impacts on the bacterial communities of coral offspring, while the bacterial composition in maternal colonies is less influenced by environmental changes. Dominant bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) varied between in situ and ex situ environments in the eggs of Dipsastraea speciosa. For Heliopora coerulea samples, the composition of bacterial communities among larvae was more diverse in in situ environments.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anne Kreutzer, Susann-Cathrin Schacht, Gesine Witt
Summary: A passive equilibrium sampling method for the measurement of organic pollutants in biota was developed, which can improve the efficiency and comprehensiveness of biological monitoring.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alex Smith, Xiaolong Shen, Uriel Garza-Rubalcava, William Gardiner, Danny Reible
Summary: This study utilized polydimethylsiloxane solid-phase microextraction passive samplers to evaluate the long-term performance of a sand/gravel cap in reducing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon transport. The results showed that the cap effectively limited the exposure of contaminants in the overlying surface water.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Si -Si Liu, Qi-si Cai, Cailin Li, Shengming Cheng, Zhanyun Wang, Yuanyuan Yang, Guang-Guo Ying, Andy J. Sweetman, Chang-Er Chen
Summary: Melamine and related triazines have become a public concern due to their persistence, mobility, and toxicity. A new passive sampling method based on DGT technique was developed and validated in this study to assess environmental exposure and risks of these compounds. The MCX-DGT sampler showed reliable performance in measuring triazines in water samples, indicating its potential as an in situ tool for understanding the occurrence, sources, and fate of these emerging substances in aquatic environments.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Isabelle J. Neuwald, Daniel Huebner, Hanna L. Wiegand, Vassil Valkov, Ulrich Borchers, Karsten Noedler, Marco Scheurer, Sarah E. Hale, Hans Peter H. Arp, Daniel Zahn
Summary: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been the focus of environmental chemistry and chemical regulation. This study analyzed short-chain and ultra-short-chain PFASs in German drinking water and found that ultra-short-chain PFASs were widely present and had the highest concentrations. Traditional PFAS contamination detection methods did not capture these ultra-short-chain PFASs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tatsiana P. Rusina, Simona Rozarka Jilkova, Lisa Melymuk, Branislav Vrana, Foppe Smedes
Summary: Many SVOCs accumulate in indoor dust and pose a risk to human health. Assessments of exposure are commonly based on total SVOC concentrations in dust, assuming full accessibility. This study used a passive sampling technique to estimate the accessibility of SVOCs in indoor dust. The results showed that SVOC accessibility varied with particle size and moisture conditions. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the human risk associated with dust exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ita Wulandari, Samuel Katz, Roger Patrick Kelly, Rebecca S. Robinson, Rainer Lohmann
Summary: The occurrence, trends, and sources of soot black carbon (BC) in coastal sediments were investigated using sediment cores from the US East Coast and Florida Straits. The study found that BC fluxes were similar at both sites and accounted for a significant percentage of total organic carbon (OC). Carbon stable isotope values indicated marine origin for OC and terrestrial origin for BC, with different sources observed between North Carolina and Florida Strait based on radiocarbon values and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ratios.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lihong Zhang, Yuxin Ma, Simon Vojta, Maya Morales-McDevitt, Mario Hoppmann, Thomas Soltwedel, Jane Kirk, Amila De Silva, Derek Muir, Rainer Lohmann
Summary: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are continuously released from multiple sources and can be transported over long distances. This study investigated the presence, transport, and fate of PAHs in remote and deep oceans. Deploying passive samplers in different regions, including the High Arctic and high-emission areas, it was found that dissolved PAHs had higher concentrations in the high-emission areas. The study also found that PAHs were exported from the Arctic Ocean to the North Atlantic through the Fram Strait and the Davis Strait.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Muhammad Sohail, Syed AliMusstjab Akber Shah Eqani, Shazia Ilyas, Habib Bokhari, Nadeem Ali, Joel E. Podgorski, Shafi Muhammad, Dave Adelman, Rainer Lohmann
Summary: This study provides new data on the distribution and sources of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the ambient air and surface soil along the Indus floodplain in Pakistan. The levels of DDTs and PCBs were found to be higher in both air and soil samples, with higher concentrations in the wet mountain zone. The air-soil exchange of DDTs and PCBs generally showed volatilization, except in a few samples from the frozen mountain zone and wet mountain zone. These findings suggest that long range regional atmospheric transport plays a role in the accumulation of POPs in colder areas of Pakistan.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rainer Lohmann, Branislav Vrana, Derek Muir, Foppe Smedes, Jaromir Sobotka, Eddy Y. Zeng, Lian-Jun Bao, Ian J. Allan, Peleg Astrahan, Ricardo O. Barra, Terry Bidleman, Evgen Dykyi, Nicolas Estoppey, Gilberto Fillmann, Naomi Greenwood, Paul A. Helm, Liisa Jantunen, Sarit Kaserzon, J. Vinicio Macias, Keith A. Maruya, Francisco Molina, Brent Newman, Raimon M. Prats, Manolis Tsapakis, Mats Tysklind, Barend L. van Drooge, Cameron J. Veal, Charles S. Wong
Summary: Passive samplers are effective in monitoring the distribution and trends of organic pollutants in aquatic systems. The results show that certain pollutants are more concentrated in northern latitudes/Arctic Ocean, while others tend to reach equilibrium across sampling sites. Additionally, the concentrations of some pollutants are closely related to their production and use, indicating limited global transport.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Larry B. Barber, Heidi M. Pickard, David A. Alvarez, Jitka Becanova, Steffanie H. Keefe, Denis R. LeBlanc, Rainer Lohmann, Jeffery A. Steevens, Alan M. Vajda
Summary: Aqueous film-forming foams used during fire training at Joint Base Cape Cod caused significant PFAS groundwater contamination. The potential for PFAS bioconcentration from contaminated groundwater exposure was assessed through laboratory experiments using fish, mussels, POCIS, and PETS. The study found species- and compound-specific differences in bioconcentration factors and linear and bilinear uptake patterns for PFAS.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Hans Peter H. Arp, Dagny Aurich, Emma L. Schymanski, Kerry Sims, Sarah E. Hale
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah E. Hale, Loretta von der Tann, Alanna J. Rebelo, Karen J. Esler, Ana Paula Morais de Lima, Aline F. Rodrigues, Agnieszka Ewa Latawiec, Nancy Andrea Ramirez-Agudelo, Elisabet Roca Bosch, Lina Suleiman, Nandita Singh, Amy M. P. Oen
Summary: The term nature-based solutions (NBS) has been widely used in various settings, but there is a lack of comprehensive assessment frameworks that can guide the planning and implementation of NBS and capture their short- and long-term impacts. In this study, a recently presented framework based on the theory of change was applied to seven diverse case studies on water quality and quantity issues in peri-urban areas. The results showed that the framework was applicable to the case studies, but the diversity of contexts highlighted the limitations of transferring NBS projects from one location to another easily.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hasti Ziaei, Balaji Rao, Tea V. Wood, Uriel Garza-Rubalcava, Ashkan Alborzi, Huayun Zhou, Paul Bireta, Nancy Grosso, Danny Reible
Summary: The South River in Waynesboro, Virginia is contaminated with mercury due to historical releases from an industrial facility. Two sampling events were conducted in 2015 to assess mercury concentrations in the bank interstitial waters during base flows and after flooding events. The results showed higher mercury concentrations during bank drainage compared to base flow conditions. Laboratory experiments using South River sediments revealed that drainage cycles can result in high mercury leachate from contaminated sediment. A remedial approach involving sediment removal and the placement of biochar and an armoring layer successfully decreased mercury concentrations.
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Matthew Dunn, Jitka Becanova, Jarod Snook, Rainer Lohmann
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jarod Snook, Jitka Becanova, Simon Vojta, Rainer Lohmann
Summary: Characterizing sorbent affinity for a target compound is an essential step in the process of capturing aquatic contaminants, but there is currently no standardized method to measure the sorbent-water distribution coefficient, leading to significant variations in experimental setup and performance. This study systematically tested variations in experimental design and proposed a reference procedure and general guidelines for batch experiments with different compounds and sorbents. Well-constrained K (sw) values for 23 PFAS and two sorbents were also reported.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rainer Lohmann, Branislav Vrana, Derek Muir, Foppe Smedes, Jaromir Sobotka, Eddy Y. Zeng, Lian-Jun Bao, Ian J. Allan, Peleg Astrahan, Ricardo O. Barra, Terry Bidleman, Evgen Dykyi, Nicolas Estoppey, Gilberto Fillmann, Naomi Greenwood, Paul A. Helm, Liisa Jantunen, Sarit Kaserzon, J. Vinicio Macias, Keith A. Maruya, Francisco Molina, Brent Newman, Raimon M. Prats, Manolis Tsapakis, Mats Tysklind, Barend L. van Drooge, Cameron J. Veal, Charles S. Wong
Summary: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a global concern, but information on their trends in water has been missing. Passive samplers have emerged as an attractive alternative for monitoring POPs. Deployments of passive samplers at globally distributed sites showed variations in POPs concentrations, with some compounds displaying higher concentrations in specific regions. These results contribute to our understanding of the global distribution and transport of organic pollutants in aquatic systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew Dunn, Jitka Becanova, Jarod Snook, Bridger Ruyle, Rainer Lohmann
