Multiple evaluations of the removal of pollutants in road runoff by soil infiltration

High-temperature electrothermal remediation of multi-pollutants in soil

Soil contamination is an environmental issue due to increasing anthropogenic activities. Existing processes for soil remediation suffer from long treatment time and lack generality because of different sources, occurrences, and properties of pollutants. Here, we report a high-temperature electrothermal process for rapid, water-free remediation of multiple pollutants in soil. The temperature of contaminated soil with carbon additives ramps up to 1000 to 3000 °C as needed within seconds via pulsed direct current input, enabling the vaporization of heavy metals like Cd, Hg, Pb, Co, Ni, and Cu, and graphitization of persistent organic pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The rapid treatment retains soil mineral constituents while increases infiltration rate and exchangeable nutrient supply, leading to soil fertilization and improved germination rates. We propose strategies for upscaling and field applications. Techno-economic analysis indicates the process holds the potential for being more energy-efficient and cost-effective compared to soil washing or thermal desorption.

Characterization of contaminant leaching from asphalt pavements: A critical review of measurement methods, reclaimed asphalt pavement, porous asphalt, and waste-modified asphalt mixtures

In recent years, the pavement industry has been seeking sustainable development through recycling reclaimed asphalt pavement and reusing other waste materials as replacements for asphalt mixture constituents. Incorporating waste material into asphalt mixture and the presence of pollutants such as exhaust fumes and gasoline due to vehicle traffic may lead to contaminants leaching from asphalt pavements to underlying soil layers and groundwater aquifers, posing serious risks to ecosystems and the environment. To cast light on contaminant leaching from asphalt pavements, this article presents a comprehensive review of the literature that is divided into four research areas: evaluation of leaching measurement methods, leaching from recycled asphalt materials, leaching characteristics of porous asphalt pavements, and waste-modified asphalt mixtures. Moreover, a critical discussion of bibliometric data, literature content and knowledge gaps in this domain is provided to help highway agencies and environmental scientists address contaminant leaching from asphalt pavements. Finally, some potential research directions are suggested for future research works.

Treatment efficiency of synthetic urban runoff by low-cost mineral materials under various flow conditions and in the presence of salt: Possibilities and limitations

Urban runoff belongs to important carriers of pollutants that during infiltration can accumulate in the soil/water environment. One of the protection solutions may be the enhancement of infiltration systems by horizontal permeable treatment zones. The article presents the results of column tests carried out in order to determine (1) the influence of the hydraulic loading rate on the dynamic capacities of selected reactive materials: low-cost mineral materials (zeolite, limestone sand, halloysite) and reference material (activated carbon), and control soils (topsoil and Vistula sand) against Zn, NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3-, and (2) remobilization of contaminants under the influence of salt (NaCl 5 g/L) present in synthetic runoff water. The research has revealed that the most useful for the removal of zinc ions was limestone sand (>4.36 mg/g), of orthophosphates - halloysite (2.29 mg/g on the average), and of ammonium ions - zeolite (2.75 mg/g on the average). The control soils were characterized by low ability to immobilize the contaminants tested. In addition, increase in the hydraulic loading rate of synthetic runoff water reduced the dynamic capacity of materials to a variable degree depending on the material applied and the contamination removed (by 24% for limestone sand-PO₄^3- system to 95% for activated carbon-NH₄⁺ system). The presence of NaCl caused significant leaching of ammonium ions from zeolite and halloysite filter beds (up to 99.3%), and phosphates from the activated carbon filter bed (up to 41.3%). All tracer contaminants tested leached intensively from the Vistula sand filter bed, while only ammonium ions leached from the topsoil filter bed. It seems justified to support the performance of infiltration systems by layers of: limestone sand, to enhance the processes of heavy metal precipitation and ammonium ion volatilization by increasing the pH, and halloysite for the sorption of phosphates.

Atmospheric diffusion of perfluoroalkyl acids emitted from fluorochemical industry and its associated health risks

The fluorochemical industry is an important emission source of atmospheric perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). In this study, air samples were collected through active high-volume air samplers coupled with Tissuquartz™ filters around a fluorochemical manufacturer, and analyzed for PFAAs levels. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was dominant with concentrations as high as 9730 pg/m³, followed by short chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs). The PFAAs in the air were compared to those measured in outdoor dust and rain collected in the same area. Short chain PFCAs had a greater distribution in air, while PFOA was more distributed in dust and rain. With increasing concentrations, a significant decreasing trend for PFOA was observed in rain (P < 0.05). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of PFOA via indoor air inhalation by five age groups were calculated in two scenarios, and compared to the strictest tolerable daily intake (TDI) of PFOA (≤0.63 ng/kg bw/day). Potential health risk occurred in the best-case scenario, while the EDI from the worst-case scenario was comparable to that via indoor dust ingestion, indicating a notable health risk. This suggests that in terms of PFOA exposure and health risks, air inhalation may be as important as dust ingestion. These results highlight the impacts of PFAAs emissions from the fluorochemical industry to the atmosphere and ultimately, human health.

Combined dual-size foam glass media filtration process with micro-flocculation for simultaneous removal of particulate and dissolved contaminants in urban road runoff

In this study, a combined media filtration process with micro-flocculation (CMF) was developed, to simultaneously treat particulate and dissolved contaminants in urban road runoff. Dual-size foam glass media with stone and sand layers were applied and the efficiency of road runoff treatment was investigated according to filtration and micro-flocculation under various experimental conditions (stone/sand layer ratio, linear velocity, and coagulant types). Moreover, the removal efficiencies of suspended solids (SS), phosphorus, organic carbon, and heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd) by CMF were evaluated. The removal rate of SS was maintained to be above 84.1% for 1 h filtration by the dual-size foam glass, regardless of increasing pressure. The removal of phosphorus by micro-flocculation was more suitable in alum than ferric due to a higher initial floc growth rate and an increased particle size. The performance of the CMF was significantly improved over media filtration only process (MF) in removing both particulate and dissolved contaminants. The removal efficiency of all particulate pollutants by CMF was found to be more than 90%, and notably, the dissolved phosphorus, which was mostly not removed by MF, was also removed by 97.4%. Meanwhile, the backwash efficiency of CMF was half that of MF. Physical removal mechanisms, such as internal diffusion, dominated MF, whereas chemical removal mechanisms, such as adsorption and surface precipitation, dominated CMF. These results show the potential of the CMF process for the treatment of urban road runoff and identify the removal mechanisms of the filtration process that use micro-flocculation with dual-size foam glass.

Distribution of metal(loid)s in particle size fraction in urban soil and street dust: influence of population density

Assessment of street dust is an invaluable approach for monitoring atmospheric pollution. Little information is available on the size distribution of contaminants in street dusts and urban soils, and it is not known how the population density would influence them. This research was carried out to assess the size distribution of trace metal(loid)s in street dust and urban soil, and to understand how population density might influence the size-resolved concentration of metal(loid)s. Three urban areas with a high, medium and low population density and a natural area were selected and urban soil and street dust sampled. They were fractionated into 8 size fractions: 2000-850, 850-180, 180-106, 106-50, 50-20, 20-10, 10-2, and < 2 µm. The concentration of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, As, and Fe was determined, and enrichment factor and grain size fraction loadings were computed. The results indicated that the concentration of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Cr was highly size dependent, particularly for particles < 100 µm, especially for street dust. Low concentrations of Ni and As in street dust and urban soil were size and population density independent. Higher size dependency of the metals concentration and the higher degree of elemental enrichment in the street dust fractions than the urban soils indicate higher contribution of human-induced pollution to the dust. Findings also confirm the inevitability of size fractionation when soils or dusts are environmentally assessed, particularly in moderately to highly polluted areas. Otherwise, higher concentrations of certain pollutants in fine-sized particles might be overlooked leading to inappropriate decisions for environmental remediation.

Temporal and spatial variations of microplastics in roadside dust from rural and urban Victoria, Australia: Implications for diffuse pollution

Microplastic pollution is an important issue for environmental management as their ubiquity in marine and freshwaters has been confirmed. Pollution sources are key to understanding how microplastics travel from land to open oceans. Given that information regarding microplastic transport from diffuse sources is limiting, we conducted a study on roadside dust from rural and urban Victoria, Australia, over two seasons. Any deposited fugitive dust and particulate matter may also be present in our samples. The average microplastic abundance over two seasons ranged from 20.6 to 529.3 items/kg (dry weight based), with a predominant portion of fibers and items less than 1 mm. Polyester and polypropylene were the dominant polymer types (26%) while cotton and cellulose were the most common non-plastic items (27%). Sampling sites displayed consistent microplastic abundances over time and shared similar patterns in size, shape and polymer composition. Multiple correlation and principal component analysis suggest that urbanization and rainfall are important influences to roadside microplastic accumulation. The observed microplastic hotspots were generally located within close vicinity of areas where urban intensive land use and regional population sizes are high. Microplastics accumulated on roads and road verges during periods of dry weather and were flushed away during heavy storms while the corresponding trigger value was unknown. Monitoring roadside dust can be considered as an initial and cost-effective screening of microplastic pollution in urban areas. Further efforts should be made to optimize the methodologies and we advocate prolonged sampling schemes for roadside dust monitoring.

Tropical climate effect on the toxic heavy metal pollutant course of road-deposited sediments

In modern society, the intense vehicle traffic and the lack of effective mitigating strategies may adversely impact freshwater systems. Road-deposited sediments (RDS) accumulate a variety of toxic substances which are transported into nature during hydrologic events, mainly affecting water bodies through stormwater runoff. The aim of this study was to evaluate the RDS metal enrichment ratio between the end of wet season and the middle of the dry season for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in samples from Natal, Brazil. Twenty RDS, drainage system and river sediment samples were collected in the wet and dry seasons using a stainless-steel pan, brush and spatula. In the laboratory, the samples were submitted to acid digestion and heavy metal concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). A consistent RDS enrichment by heavy metals in dry season samples was followed by an increase in the finest particle size fraction (D < 63 μm). Maximum concentrations were 5, ND, 108, 23810, 83, ND, 77 and 150 mg kg^-1 for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively. The RDS enrichment ratio was Cr(1.3 × ), Cu(2.6 × ), Fe(3.3 × ), Mn(1.5 × ), Pb(1.5 × ) and Zn(2.1 × ). The Geo-accumulation Index values showed that RDS were moderately polluted for Cu and slighted polluted for Zn and Pb. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the accumulation of toxic heavy metals decreased according to water flow.

Intermittent operating characteristics of an ecological soil system with two-stage water distribution for wastewater treatment

Ecological soil systems (ESSs) are usually used to remove nitrogen from wastewater. Due to the poor denitrification performance of traditional ecological soil systems (ESSs), this study proposes a two-stage water distribution system to improve the nitrogen removal. The effects of different distribution ratios on the system treatment effect were studied in an intermittent operation mode. After determining the optimal distribution ratio and intermittent operation conditions, the dynamics of system inflow, outflow, and nitrogen removal were monitored. Theoretical analysis of the denitrification mechanism was carried out. The results showed that the optimum water distribution ratio was 2: 1, and a mean total nitrogen removal rate of 60.42% was achieved, which is 23.09% greater than that is typically achieved by the single-section ecological system. Under optimum distribution ratio conditions, the system also demonstrated effective removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP) and ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N), allowing the effluent to satisfy China's urban sewage treatment plant level B emission standards.

A contribution of nanoscale particles of road-deposited sediments to the pollution of urban runoff by heavy metals

Road-deposited sediments (RDS) present a sink for traffic-related pollutants including heavy metals (HMs). HMs associated with RDS particles enter the urban aquatic environment during rainfall events and have adverse effects for biota. RDS nanoscale particles (NSPs) require special consideration due to their specific properties, extremely high mobility in the environment, and ability to penetrate into living organisms. In the present work, the contribution of NSPs of RDS to the pollution of urban runoff by HMs has been evaluated for the first time. It has been shown that bulk RDS samples are polluted by HMs as compared to background urban soils (geo-accumulation indexes of Cu and Zn may attain 2-3). Meanwhile, NSPs of RDS are enriched by HMs as compared to bulk samples; concentration factor for Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn, and Pb in NSPs being varied from 2 to 10. The water-soluble fractions of RDS samples were also analyzed. Results have shown that the content of water-soluble HMs in RDS is insignificant and rarely exceeds 0.5% of the total contents of HMs in the bulk samples; the highest contents are identified for Cu and Pb. It should be noted that the water-soluble fraction is nearly free from Zn and this element is almost entirely present as particulate matter (NSPs). In general, the overall contribution of NSPs and water-soluble fraction of HMs to the pollution of urban runoff is comparable.

Nitrogen and phosphorus removed from a subsurface flow multi-stage filtration system purifying agricultural runoff

Agricultural nonpoint source pollution has been increasingly serious in China since the 1990s. The main causes were excessive inputs of nitrogen fertilizer and pesticides. A multi-stage filtration system was built to test the purification efficiencies and removal characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus when treating agricultural runoff. Simulated runoff pollution was prepared by using river water as source water based on the monitoring of local agricultural runoff. Experimental study had been performed from September to November 2013, adopting 12 h for flooding and 12 h for drying. The results showed that the system was made adaptive to variation of inflow quality and quantity, and had good removal for dissolved total nitrogen, total nitrogen, dissolved total phosphorus (DTP), and total phosphorus, and the average removal rate was 27%, 36%, 32%, and 48%, respectively. Except nitrate ([Formula: see text]), other forms of nitrogen and phosphorus all decreased with the increase of stages. Nitrogen was removed mainly in particle form the first stage, and mostly removed in dissolved form the second and third stage. Phosphorus was removed mainly in particulate during the first two stages, but the removal of particulate phosphorus and DTP were almost the same in the last stage. An approximate logarithmic relationship between removal loading and influent loading to nitrogen and phosphorus was noted in the experimental system, and the correlation coefficient was 0.78-0.94.

ABBREVIATIONS

[Formula: see text]: ammonium; [Formula: see text]: nitrite; [Formula: see text]: nitrate; DTN: dissolved total nitrogen; TN: total nitrogen; DTP: dissolved total phosphorus; TP: total phosphorus; PN: particulate nitrogen; PP: particulate phosphorus.

Removal of organic contaminants in bioretention medium amended with activated carbon from sewage sludge

Bioretention, also known as rain garden, allows stormwater to soak into the ground through a soil-based medium, leading to removal of particulate and dissolved pollutants and reduced peak flows. Although soil organic matter (SOM) is efficient at sorbing many pollutants, amending the bioretention medium with highly effective adsorbents has been proposed to optimize pollutant removal and extend bioretention lifetime. The aim of this research was to investigate whether soil amended with activated carbon produced from sewage sludge increases the efficiency to remove hydrophobic organic compounds frequently detected in stormwater, compared to non-amended soil. Three lab-scale columns (520 cm³) were packed with soil (bulk density 1.22 g/cm³); activated carbon (0.5% w/w) was added to two of the columns. During 28 days, synthetic stormwater-ultrapure water spiked with seven hydrophobic organic pollutants and dissolved organic matter in the form of humic acids-was passed through the column beds using upward flow (45 mm/h). Pollutant concentrations in effluent water (collected every 12 h) and polluted soils, as well as desorbed amounts of pollutants from soils were determined using GC-MS. Compared to SOM, the activated carbon exhibited a significantly higher adsorption capacity for tested pollutants. The amended soil was most efficient for removing moderately hydrophobic compounds (log K _ow 4.0-4.4): as little as 0.5% (w/w), carbon addition may extend bioretention medium lifetime by approximately 10-20 years before saturation of these pollutants occurs. The column tests also indicated that released SOM sorb onto activated carbon, which may lead to early saturation of sorption sites on the carbon surface. The desorption test revealed that the pollutants are generally strongly sorbed to the soil particles, indicating low bioavailability and limited biodegradation.

Retention behavior of isomeric polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Retention indices for 70 polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs) were determined using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) on a monomeric and a polymeric C18 stationary phase. Molecular shape parameters [length, breadth, thickness (T), and length-to-breadth ratio (L/B)] were calculated for all the compounds studied. Correlations between the retention on the polymeric C18 phase and PASH geometry (L/B and T) were investigated for six specific PASH isomer groups with molecular mass (MM) 184Da, 234Da, 258Da, 284Da, 334Da, and 384Da. Similar to previous studies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PASH elution order on the polymeric C18 phase was generally found to follow increasing L/B values. Correlation coefficients for retention vs L/B ranged from r=0.45 (MM 184Da) to r=0.89 (MM 284Da). In the case of smaller PASHs (MM≤258Da), the location of the sulfur atom in the bay-region of the structure resulted in later than expected elution of these isomers based on L/B. In the case of the larger PASHs (MM≥284Da), nonplanarity had a significant influence on earlier than predicted elution based on L/B values.

Is Ongoing Sulfluramid Use in South America a Significant Source of Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS)? Production Inventories, Environmental Fate, and Local Occurrence

Despite international phase-out initiatives, production and use of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and related substances continues in some countries. In Brazil, the PFOS-precursor N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide (EtFOSA) is used in Sulfluramid, a pesticide for controlling leaf-cutting ants. New data on production, environmental fate, and occurrence of Brazilian Sulfluramid are reported herein. From 2003 to 2013, Brazilian Sulfluramid manufacturing increased from 30 to 60 tonnes yr(-1) EtFOSA. During this time <1.3 tonnes yr(-1) were imported, while exports increased from ∼0.3 to 2 tonnes yr(-1). From 2004 to 2015, most EtFOSA was exported to Argentina (7.2 tonnes), Colombia (2.07 tonnes), Costa Rica (1.13 tonnes), Equador (2.16 tonnes), and Venezuela (2.4 tonnes). Within Brazil, sales occurred primarily in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Espírito Santo, and Bahia. Model simulations predict EtFOSA will partition to soils, while transformation products perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) and PFOS are sufficiently mobile to leach into surface waters. In support of these predictions, up to 3400 pg L(-1) of FOSA and up to 1100 pg L(-1) of PFOS were measured in Brazilian surface water, while EtFOSA was not detected. The high FOSA/PFOS ratio observed here (up to 14:1) is unprecedented in the scientific literature to our knowledge. Depending on the extent of conversion of EtFOSA, cumulative Brazilian Sulfluramid production and import from 2004 to 2015 may contribute between 167 and 487 tonnes of PFOS/FOSA to the environment. These levels are clearly nontrivial and of concern since production is continuing unabated.

Bioaccumulation of copper, lead, and zinc in six macrophyte species grown in simulated stormwater bioretention systems

Stormwater bioretention (BR) systems collect runoff containing heavy metals, which can concentrate in soil environments and potentially leach into groundwater. This greenhouse experiment evaluated differences among six plant species undergoing three varying hydraulic and pollutant loads in their bioaccumulation potential when subjected to continual application of low metal concentrations as a means of preventing copper, lead, and zinc accumulation in the BR soil. Results show that >92% of metal mass applied to the treatments via synthetic stormwater was removed from the exfiltrate within 27 cm of soil depth. Compacted soil conditions of unplanted controls retained significantly more Cu, Pb, and Zn than Carex praegracilis, and Carex microptera treatments. Differences in above and below ground plant tissue concentrations differed among species, resulting in significant differences in mass accumulation. In the above ground tissue, from highest to lowest, Phragmites australis accumulated 8 times more Cu than Scirpus acutus, and C. microptera accumulated 18 times more Pb, and 6 times more Zn than Scirpus validus. These results, and differences among species in mass distribution of the metals recovered at the end of the study, reveal various metal accumulation mechanisms.

Particle size distribution and characteristics of heavy metals in road-deposited sediments from Beijing Olympic Park

Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, heavy metals in road-deposited sediments (RDSs) of parks are emitted into the terrestrial, atmospheric, and water environment, and have a severe impact on residents' and tourists' health. To identify the distribution and characteristic of heavy metals in RDS and to assess the road environmental quality in Chinese parks, samples were collected from Beijing Olympic Park in the present study. The results indicated that particles with small grain size (<150 μm) were the dominant fraction. The length of dry period was one of the main factors affecting the particle size distribution, as indicated by the variation of size fraction with the increase of dry days. The amount of heavy metal (i.e., Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) content was the largest in particles with small size (<150 μm) among all samples. Specifically, the percentage of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in these particles was 74.7%, 55.5%, 56.6% and 71.3%, respectively. Heavy metals adsorbed in sediments may mainly be contributed by road traffic emissions. The contamination levels of Pb and Cd were higher than Cu and Zn on the basis of the mean heavy metal contents. Specifically, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) decreased in the order: Cd>Pb>Cu>Zn. This study analyzed the mobility of heavy metals in sediments using partial sequential extraction with the Tessier procedure. The results revealed that the apparent mobility and potential metal bioavailability of heavy metals in the sediments, based on the exchangeable and carbonate fractions, decreased in the order: Cd>Zn≈Pb>Cu.

Adsorption experiment of toxic micro-pollutants derived from automobiles using red soil

In some countries, non-point source pollution derived from a city's economic activities tends to be a barrier to the improvement of water quality. Roadway runoff is known to contain toxic micro-pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Conversely, red soil is known to adsorb some organic matter. In this study, artificial roadway runoff water containing toxic micro-pollutants was made using roadway dust collected from a highway, and used for both batch-type tests and soil column tests with red soil in order to understand adsorption ability of the red soil on such toxic micro-pollutants, especially PAHs. In the batch-type tests, PAHs could be removed by approximately 40% when the contact time was 90 minutes. In the soil column tests, PAHs were removed by more than 80% while suspended solids were removed by more than 90%. Notably, PAHs with a high molecular weight were removed more readily in the tests than PAHs with a low molecular weight.

An innovative wood-chip-framework soil infiltrator for treating anaerobic digested swine wastewater and analysis of the microbial community

Combined anaerobic-aerobic processes are efficacious and economic approaches in treating swine wastewater. Nitrogen removal efficiency of these processes, however, is usually limited due to the low carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio of the wastewater. An innovative wood-chip-framework soil infiltrator (WFSI) was developed and its performance in treating anaerobic digested swine wastewater was investigated. The WFSI showed comparable removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and amongst the highest efficiency of nitrogen removal in treating low C/N wastewater. At a COD volume loading rate of 98.6 g/m3 d the WFSI could remove up to 47.7 g/m3 d of COD. Removal rates of NH4+-N and total nitrogen, also reached 69.1 and 30.4 g/m3 d, respectively, when NH4+-N loading rate was 88.4 g/m3 d. Biological analysis indicated that aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic microbiota occurred throughout the WFSI. Abundant cellulose and lignin decomposing bacteria could degrade the wood chips and provided extra carbon source to enhance denitrification.

Distribution and primary source analysis of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances with different chain lengths in surface and groundwater in two cities, North China

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been widely detected in the hydrosphere. The knowledge on the distribution and composition patterns of PFAS analogues with different chain length significantly contribute to their source analysis. In the present study, a regional scale investigation of PFASs in surface river waters and adjacent ground waters was carried out in two cities of China with potential contamination, Tianjin and Weifang. A total of 31 water samples were collected, and 20 PFASs therein were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer (HPLC-MS/MS). The possible sources of PFASs in the aquatic environment were assessed primarily by concentration patterns as well as hierarchical cluster analysis. In all 4 rivers investigated in the two cities, perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were the dominant compounds contributing over 70% of the PFASs detected. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the dominant PFCA with a concentration range of 8.58-20.3ng/L in Tianjin and 6.37-25.9ng/L in Weifang, respectively. On the average, the highest concentration was observed in samples from Dagu Drainage Canal (Dagu) in Tianjin and those short-chain PFASs (C4-C6) was detected with a comparable level of the longer-chain PFASs (>C6). Specifically, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was dominant in the short-chain analogues. This indicates that a remarkably increasing input of short-chain PFASs might be related to wastewater treatment plant effluent or industrial discharges, which could be possibly due to the switch of manufacturing to short-chain products. In Weifang, precipitation and subsequent surface runoff as non-point sources could be significant inputs of PFASs into surface water while groundwater was possibly subjected to severe point sources with ∑PFASs concentration up to ~100ng/L. The inconsistent distribution patterns in groundwater suggest complicated pathways of contamination.

Investigating sources and pathways of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in aquifers in Tokyo using multiple tracers

We employed a multi-tracer approach to investigate sources and pathways of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in urban groundwater, based on 53 groundwater samples taken from confined aquifers and unconfined aquifers in Tokyo. While the median concentrations of groundwater PFAAs were several ng/L, the maximum concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS, 990 ng/L), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA, 1800 ng/L) and perfluorononanoate (PFNA, 620 ng/L) in groundwater were several times higher than those of wastewater and street runoff reported in the literature. PFAAs were more frequently detected than sewage tracers (carbamazepine and crotamiton), presumably owing to the higher persistence of PFAAs, the multiple sources of PFAAs beyond sewage (e.g., surface runoff, point sources) and the formation of PFAAs from their precursors. Use of multiple methods of source apportionment including principal component analysis-multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid ratio analysis highlighted sewage and point sources as the primary sources of PFAAs in the most severely polluted groundwater samples, with street runoff being a minor source (44.6% sewage, 45.7% point sources and 9.7% street runoff, by PCA-MLR). Tritium analysis indicated that, while young groundwater (recharged during or after the 1970s, when PFAAs were already in commercial use) in shallow aquifers (<50 m depth) was naturally highly vulnerable to PFAA pollution, PFAAs were also found in old groundwater (recharged before the 1950s, when PFAAs were not in use) in deep aquifers (50-500 m depth). This study demonstrated the utility of multiple uses of tracers (pharmaceuticals and personal care products; PPCPs, tritium) and source apportionment methods in investigating sources and pathways of PFAAs in multiple aquifer systems.

Transport of perfluoroalkyl acids in a water-saturated sediment column investigated under near-natural conditions

The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the transport of C4-10 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and C4,6,8 perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFSAs) in a water-saturated sediment column representing a riverbank filtration scenario under near-natural conditions. Short-chain PFCAs and PFSAs with up to six C-atoms showed complete tracer-like breakthrough. Longer chain ones were retarded due to sorption to the sediment or due to other processes in the aqueous phase. The study reports the first column derived sediment-water partition coefficients ranging from 0.01 cm(3) g(-1) to 0.41 cm(3) g(-1) for C4,6 PFSAs and from 0.0 cm(3) g(-1) to 6.5 cm(3) g(-1) for C4,5,6,8,9 PFCAs. The results clearly indicate that short-chain PFCAs and PFSAs may pose a problem if contaminated surface waters are used for drinking water production via riverbank filtration.

Formation of perfluorinated surfactants from precursors by indigenous microorganisms in groundwater

The formation of perfluorinated surfactants (PFSs) from their precursors in waters is of concern. In this study, the formation of PFSs through biodegradation of precursors was measured in incubation tests. Indigenous microorganisms in groundwater were able to biodegrade perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) to yield perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The addition of nutrients and soil promoted the formation. A 42-d incubation test using sources of groundwater recharge showed that PFOS, perfluorooctanoate, and perfluorononanoate were significantly and remarkably (⩾1.5×) formed from precursors in street runoff through biodegradation, but not in rainwater or wastewater effluent. Significant formation of PFSs from precursors in street runoff was observed.

Speciation and size distribution of copper and zinc in urban road runoff

The impact of pollutants from road runoff on receiving water bodies becomes increasingly serious. However, less is known about the study on the distribution of metal speciation in particles with different sizes, and the interaction among metal speciation. Our research is aimed at investigating speciation distribution of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in particles and the interaction among metal speciation. Stainless steel sieves in different sizes were used to accomplish filtration scheme. Sequential extraction procedures contained five steps for the chemical fractionation of metals. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Shimadzu, AA-6800) was used to determine the concentration of metal speciation. Speciation distribution of Cu was similar to that of Zn. Size distribution implied that small particles (<75 μm) determined the distribution for both Cu and Zn, as well as their migration. Correlation analysis indicated that the interaction among speciation of Cu was different from that of Zn.

Potential mobility of heavy metals through coupled application of sequential extraction and isotopic exchange: comparison of leaching tests applied to soil and soakaway sediment

Artificial infiltration facilities (AIFs) that enhance groundwater recharge and regulate urban runoff are going to be an integral element of the urban infrastructure. However, AIFs provide a sink which trap pollutants that are likely to cause groundwater contamination. The current study aimed first to examine the mobility characteristics of Cu, Zn, and Pb through soil and soakaway sediment using an integrated analytical approach for column leaching with artificial road runoff (ARR) and then to differentiate the sorption patterns among different samples, (i.e., surface soil, underlying soil, and soakaway sediments) using mass balances. In addition, the study compares metal retention and release under continuous and intermittent flow conditions. Column leaching experiments were conducted using batches for 10 and 30 d under continuous flow condition and for 20 d of intermittent leaching. Heavy metal content and partitioning in soil and sediment used in columns were well characterized before and after leaching experiments. The results showed that a gradual increase in pH and decrease in dissolved organic carbon had pronounced effect on the mobilization of heavy metals. Pb showed the highest retention compared to Cu and Zn which implies that metal complexes play a pivotal role in metal transport. Labile fractions were found to be trapped by the solid materials for retention and their high concentration in ARR is a major concern from the pollution point of view through infiltration facilities. Results obtained in this study predict the risk associated with the release of retained heavy metal under changing environmental conditions in AIFs.

Towards the determination of an optimal scale for stormwater quality management: micropollutants in a small residential catchment

Stormwater and atmospheric deposits were collected on a small residential urban catchment (0.8 ha) near Paris in order to determine the levels of certain micropollutants (using a preliminary scan of 69 contaminants, followed by a more detailed quantification of PAHs, PCBs, alkylphenols and metals). Atmospheric inputs accounted for only 10%-38% of the stormwater contamination (except for PCBs), thus indicating substantial release within the catchment. On this small upstream catchment however, stormwater contamination is significantly lower than that observed downstream in storm sewers on larger adjacent urban catchments with similar land uses. These results likely stem from cross-contamination activity during transfers inside the sewer system and underscore the advantages of runoff management strategies at the source for controlling stormwater pollutant loads. Moreover, it has been shown that both contamination levels and contaminant speciation evolve with the scale of the catchment, in correlation with a large fraction of dissolved contaminants in upstream runoff, which differs from what has been traditionally assumed for stormwater. Consequently, the choice of treatment device/protocol must be adapted to the management scale as well as to the targeted type of contaminant.

Oxidative conversion as a means of detecting precursors to perfluoroalkyl acids in urban runoff

A new method was developed to quantify concentrations of difficult-to-measure and unidentified precursors of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic (PFCA) and sulfonic (PFSA) acids in urban runoff. Samples were exposed to hydroxyl radicals generated by thermolysis of persulfate under basic pH conditions and perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) precursors were transformed to PFCAs of related perfluorinated chain length. By comparing PFCA concentrations before and after oxidation, the concentrations of total PFAA precursors were inferred. Analysis of 33 urban runoff samples collected from locations around the San Francisco Bay, CA indicated that PFOS (2.6-26 ng/L), PFOA (2.1-16 ng/L), and PFHxA (0.9-9.7 ng/L) were the predominant perfluorinated compounds detected prior to sample treatment. Following oxidative treatment, the total concentrations of PFCAs with 5-12 membered perfluoroalkyl chains increased by a median of 69%, or between 2.8 and 56 ng/L. Precursors that produced PFHxA and PFPeA upon oxidation were more prevalent in runoff samples than those that produced PFOA, despite lower concentrations of their corresponding perfluorinated acids prior to oxidation. Direct measurements of several common precursors to PFOS and PFOA (e.g., perfluorooctanesulfonamide and 8:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate) accounted for less than 25% of the observed increase in PFOA, which increased by a median value of 37%. Exposure of urban runoff to sunlight, advanced oxidation processes, or microbes could result in modest, but measurable, increases in concentrations of PFCAs and PFSAs.

Estimating the aquatic emissions and fate of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) into the river Rhine

The sources, distribution, levels and sinks of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) estimated to be released from areas of high population density, have been explored using the river Rhine as a case study. A comparison between modelled and measured data is presented, along with analysis of the importance of PFOS sorption in riverine systems. PFOS releases into the Rhine were estimated to be 325-690 kg/yr based on per capita emission rates of 27-57 μg day(-1) from a population of 33 million living within a 50 km zone either side of the river. Sorption of PFOS to suspended particles and sediments may alter its fate in the aquatic environment. Therefore available measured and modelled partitioning data was assessed, and K(d) values (sorption coefficient) of 7.5 and 20 were selected. This resulted in sediment-water ratios of 23-76 : 1, which are similar to ratios reported in the literature, and resulted in modelled estimates that <20% of the total PFOS entering the Rhine binds to sediments or suspended particles. The calculated discharge from the Rhine to the North Sea based on measured data was 420-2200 kg/yr; our model predictions are in good agreement with these estimates. Emission trends were accurately predicted, suggesting population density can be effectively used as a surrogate for diffuse PFOS emissions from product use, while predicted concentrations were a factor of 2-4 below measured data showing the importance of other sources. Transfer of PFOS to sediment is estimated to be minimal, and consequently discharges to the North Sea are roughly equal to PFOS releases to river water.

GIS-based source identification and apportionment of diffuse water pollution: perfluorinated compound pollution in the Tokyo Bay basin

To efficiently reduce perfluorinated compound (PFC) pollution, it is important to have an understanding of PFC sources and their contribution to the pollution. In this study, source identification of diffuse water pollution by PFCs was conducted using a GIS-based approach. Major components of the source identification were collection of the monitoring data and preparation of the corresponding geographic information that was extracted from a constructed GIS database. The spatially distributed pollution factors were then explored by multiple linear regression analysis, after which they were visually expressed using GIS. Among the 35 PFC homologues measured in a survey of the Tokyo Bay basin, 18 homologues were analyzed. Pollution by perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was explained well by the percentage of arterial traffic area in the basin, and the 84% variance of the measured PFOS concentration was explained by two geographic variables, arterial traffic area and population. Source apportionment between point and nonpoint sources was conducted based on the results of the analysis. The contribution of PFOS from nonpoint sources was comparable to that from point sources in several major rivers flowing into Tokyo Bay. Source identification and apportionment using the GIS-based approach was shown to be effective, especially for ubiquitous types of pollution, such as PFC pollution.

Evaluation of surface runoff and road dust as sources of nitrogen using nitrate isotopic composition

Stable nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios of nitrate (δ(15)N-NO(3) and δ(18)O-NO(3)) have recently been used to identify nitrogen sources in water environments. However, there have been no investigations designed to determine nitrate isotopes in non-point sources in urban areas for evaluating the impact of surface deposits on nitrogen in surface runoff. In this study, we collected rainwater, surface runoff and surface deposits (road dust, roof dust and soil) to evaluate the nitrogen sources in surface runoff using nitrate isotopes. There were no large differences in δ(15)N-NO(3) among rainwater (-0.3‰ to 1.5‰), surface runoff (-2.7‰ to 0.4‰), leachates from road dust (-5.8‰ to 6.2‰) and soil (-11.5‰ to 0.6‰). In contrast, the δ(18)O-NO(3) in surface runoff (28.5-47.9‰) was lower than that in rainwater (62.7-78.6‰), and higher than that in leachates from road dust (6.1-27.6‰) and soil (-1.1‰ to 6.6‰). δ(18)O-NO(3) is a useful indicator for evaluating the NO(3)-N sources in surface runoff. Using this indicator, NO(3)-N from road dust was estimated to account for more than half of the NO(3)-N in surface runoff. This is consistent with a result based on a comparison of their loads per unit surface between rainwater and surface runoff, which also showed that most of the nitrogen in surface runoff was derived from surface deposits.

The effects of antecedent dry days on the nitrogen removal in layered soil infiltration systems for storm run-off control

The effects of antecedent dry days (ADD) on nitrogen removal efficiency were investigated in soil infiltration systems, with three distinguishable layers: mulch layer (ML), coarse soil layer (CSL) and fine soil layer (FSL). Two sets of lab-scale columns with loamy CSL (C1) and sandy CSL (C2) were dosed with synthetic run-off, carrying chemical oxygen demand of 100 mg L(-1) and total nitrogen of 13 mg L(-1). The intermittent dosing cycle was stepwise adjusted for 5, 10 and 20 days. The influent ammonium and organic nitrogen were adsorbed to the entire depth in C1, while dominantly to the FSL in C2. In both columns, the effluent ammonium concentration increased while the organic nitrogen concentration decreased, as ADD increased from 5 to 20 days. The effluent of C1 always showed nitrate concentration exceeding influent, caused by nitrification, by increasing amounts as ADD increased. However, the wash-out of nitrate in C1 was not distinct in terms of mass since the effluent flow rate was only 25% of the influent. In contrast, efficient reduction (>95%) of nitrate loading was observed in C2 under ADD of 5 and 10 days, because of insignificant nitrification in the CSL and denitrification in the FSL. However, for the ADD of 20 days, a significant nitrate wash-out appeared in C2 as well, possibly because of the re-aeration by the decreasing water content in the FSL. Consequently, the total nitrogen load escaping with the effluent was always smaller in C2, supporting the effectiveness of sandy CSL over loamy FSL for nitrogen removal under various ADDs.

Temporal trends of perfluorinated surfactants in Swedish peregrine falcon eggs (Falco peregrinus), 1974-2007

Perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are today known to be globally distributed environmental contaminants. In the present study, concentrations of PFAS were analyzed in Swedish peregrine falcon eggs (Falco peregrinus), collected between 1974 and 2007. Analytes included in the study were perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs; carbon chain lengths C6-C15), perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs; C4, C6, C8, and C10), and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (PFOSA). The predominant PFAS was perfluorooctane sulfonate, PFOS (83 ng/g wet weight (w wt) mean concentration in samples from 2006), followed by perfluorotridecanoate, PFTriA (7.2 ng/g w wt) and perfluoroundecanoate, PFUnA (4.2 ng/g w wt). PFCA concentrations increased exponentially over the studied time. In contrast, concentrations of PFOS and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) increased initially but leveled off after the mid 1980s. This is different from previously observed temporal trends in marine organisms. The present study is the first to establish temporal trends for PFAS in terrestrial biota. The results indicate potential differences between marine and terrestrial biota regarding sources of PFAS exposure and response to emission changes. The toxicological implications of PFAS exposure for the falcons are not known, but according to recent findings impaired hatching success and sublethal toxicological effects from PFOS exposure in the Swedish peregrine falcon cannot be ruled out.

A new class of perfluorinated acid contaminants: primary and secondary substituted perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides are acidic at environmentally and toxicologically relevant pH values

The SPARC software program was validated for nitrogen-hydrogen acidity constant estimation of primary and secondary sulfonamides against a broad suite of substituted derivatives with experimental datasets in water and dimethylsulfoxide solvent systems and across a wide pK(a) range. Following validation, amidic proton pK(a) values were estimated for all C(1) through C(8) congeners of five major perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide classes: unsubstituted sulfonamides, N-methyl and N-ethyl sulfonamides, sulfonamidoethanols, and sulfonamidoacetates. Branching of the perfluoroalkyl chain is expected to have substantial impacts on amide moiety acidity in these contaminant groups, with intrahomologue variability of up to four pK(a) units and increasing pK(a) values with both increasing chain branching and greater proximity of the chain branching to the sulfonamide head group. Perfluoroalkyl chain length is not predicted to have a substantial influence on sulfonamide acidity. The predicted pK(a) values and variability are anticipated to have substantial impacts on the environmental partitioning and degradation of these compounds, as well as the modes and magnitudes of toxicological effects. Substantial pH dependent isomeric fractionation of perfluoroalkyl sulfonamides is expected both in situ and in vivo, necessitating the incorporation of amide group acidities in multimedia environmental models and pharmacokinetic studies.

Groundwater pollution by perfluorinated surfactants in Tokyo

Perfluorinated surfactants (PFSs) in groundwater were analyzed to reveal their distribution and sources. Sixteen groundwater and spring samples were collected from the Tokyo metropolitan area, and nine PFSs, including perfluorooctane-sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A column test using artificial street runoff was also performed to study their behavior. PFSs were detected in all groundwater samples, some at concentrations comparable to those in wastewater and street runoff, suggesting widespread contamination of groundwater by PFSs. In particular, PFOS -was more abundant in groundwater than in rivers, wastewater, and street runoff. This was attributed to its production from the degradation of its precursors, as supported by the column test. The occurrence of short-chain perfluorocarboxylates (PFCAs) in groundwater was also consistent with the results of the column test, showing that limited amounts of short-chain PFCAs were removed by soil, as the efficiency of removal increased with the chain length. We evaluated the contributions of PFCAs from wastewater and surface runoff to groundwater by using two indicators, the long/(short + long) ratio and the even(even + odd) ratio. Both ratios showed good agreement in their calculated contributions in heavily contaminated groundwater where breakthroughs likely occurred. Wastewater and surface runoff contributed to 54-86% and 16-46% of PFCAs, respectively, in groundwater.

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking water samples by solid-phase nanoextraction and high-performance liquid chromatography

A novel alternative is presented for the extraction and preconcentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from water samples. The new approachwhich we have named solid-phase nanoextraction (SPNE)takes advantage of the strong affinity that exists between PAH and gold nanoparticles. Carefully optimization of experimental parameters has led to a high-performance liquid chromatography method with excellent analytical figures of merit. Its most striking feature correlates to the small volume of water sample (500 microL) for complete PAH analyses. The limits of detection ranged from 0.9 (anthracene) to 58 ng.L (-1) (fluorene). The relative standard deviations at medium calibration concentrations vary from 3.2 (acenaphthene) to 9.1% (naphthalene). The analytical recoveries from tap water samples of the six regulated PAH varied from 83.3 +/- 2.4 (benzo[ k]fluoranthene) to 95.7 +/- 4.1% (benzo[ g,h,i]perylene). The entire extraction procedure consumes less than 100 microL of organic solvents per sample, which makes it environmentally friendly. The small volume of extracting solution makes SPNE a relatively inexpensive extraction approach.