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Vitali M, Castellani F, Fragassi G, Mascitelli A, Martellucci C, Diletti G, Scamosci E, Astolfi ML, Fabiani L, Mastrantonio R, Protano C, Spica VR, Manzoli L. Environmental status of an Italian site highly polluted by illegal dumping of industrial wastes: The situation 15 years after the judicial intervention. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 762:144100. [PMID: 33360460 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In 2008 the Italian government classified the Bussi sul Tirino area (Central Italy) as Site of National Interest destined to remediation which, unfortunately, has not yet begun. The decision followed >20 years of illegal dumping of industrial wastes, lasting from 1984 to 2005, that generated the biggest illegal toxic waste disposal site in Europe. The contamination profile of the site was mainly characterized by PCDD/Fs, PCBs, PAHs, chlorinated solvents, Hg, and Pb. Due to the health concern of the population and local authorities, an extensive monitoring and biomonitoring campaign was carried out in 2017-2018, checking the site-specific pollutants in local food (free-range hens' eggs, milk from grazing sheep and goats, wild edible mushrooms, and drinking water), environmental (air and freshwaters) and biological (human urine) matrices. A total of 314 samples were processed, obtaining 3217 analytical data that were compared with regulatory limits, when available, and values reported by international literature. The sum PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs ranged from 0.24 to 3.6 pg TEQ g-1 fat, and from 0.46 to 8.3 pg TEQ g-1 fat, respectively in milk in eggs, in line with the maximum levels established by CE Regulations except for an egg sample. As regards PAHs, all our results were lower than the literature data, as well as for Hg and Pb. Outdoor air showed levels of chlorinated solvents ranging from <LOD to 36 μg m-3, and freshwaters from 0.21 to 2.8 μg L-1. All drinking water samples resulted compliant with the maximum levels established by the current EU directive. Despite the severe pollution of the illegal dumping site and the remediation not yet carried out, the local environment and the population living in Bussi and surroundings seem not to be affected by significant exposure to the toxics characterizing the landfill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Vitali
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Federica Castellani
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University, Largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Giorgia Fragassi
- Regional Healthcare Agency of Abruzzo, Via Attilio Monti 9, 65127 Pescara, PE, Italy
| | - Alfonso Mascitelli
- Regional Healthcare Agency of Abruzzo, Via Attilio Monti 9, 65127 Pescara, PE, Italy
| | - Cecilia Martellucci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University of the Marche Region, Via Tronto 10/a, 60020 Torrette di Ancona, AN, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Diletti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Abruzzo and Molise "Giuseppe Caporale", via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, TE, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Scamosci
- Environmental Protection Regional Agency of Abruzzo, via Marconi 49, 65126 Pescara, PE, Italy.
| | - Maria Luisa Astolfi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Leila Fabiani
- Department of Life, Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, P.le Salvatore Tommasi 1, 67100 Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Mastrantonio
- Department of Life, Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, P.le Salvatore Tommasi 1, 67100 Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Carmela Protano
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Romano Spica
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro De Bosis 6, 00135 Rome, Italy.
| | - Lamberto Manzoli
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64B, 44121 Ferrara, FE, Italy.
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Scott PS, Andrew JP, Bundy BA, Grimm BK, Hamann MA, Ketcherside DT, Li J, Manangquil MY, Nuñez LA, Pittman DL, Rivero-Zevallos A, Uhlorn R, Johnston NA. Observations of volatile organic and sulfur compounds in ambient air and health risk assessment near a paper mill in rural Idaho, U. S. A. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH 2020; 11:1870-1881. [PMID: 33162775 PMCID: PMC7644087 DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2020.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The Lewis-Clark Valley is a rural area that includes the cities of Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington and the surrounding areas. The largest industry in the Lewis-Clark Valley is a pulp paper mill located in Lewiston which emits particulate matter and odorous sulfur air pollutants. This study analyzed the Lewis-Clark Valley air composition and seasonal, temporal and spatial variations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 2017 to 2018 to determine potential health risks of the paper mill emissions to the surrounding community. Both active and passive air sampling via sorbent tubes were analyzed by thermal desorption - gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Fifty VOCs including benzene, toluene, chloroform, dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide were measured in the ambient air of the Lewis-Clark Valley at ten different sites, totaling over 800 samples. In addition, passive sorbent tubes were deployed in 2018 to obtain monthly averages in Lewis-Clark Valley and three urban locations in Idaho and Washington for comparison. United States Environmental Protection Agency (2001) methodology was used to assess cancer risks in the community based on the upper confidence levels of five carcinogens and nine air toxics. The Lewis-Clark Valley had similar levels of benzene to urban areas but had a strong signature of chloroform and sulfides from the paper mill. The cumulative cancer risk was 2 x 10-6 - 11 × 10-6 mainly due to the compounds chloroform, benzene and carbon tetrachloride. The hazard index of other air toxics was less than one. Overall, these air pollutants were considered low risk to the local population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nancy A.C. Johnston
- Corresponding author. Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Lewis-Clark State College, 500 8th Avenue, Lewiston, ID, USA. (N.A.C. Johnston)
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Yang Z, Tsona NT, Li J, Wang S, Xu L, You B, Du L. Effects of NO x and SO 2 on the secondary organic aerosol formation from the photooxidation of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene: A new source of organosulfates. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 264:114742. [PMID: 32402708 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
1,3,5-Trimethylbeneze (TMB) is an important constituent of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds that contributes to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). A series of chamber experiments were performed to probe the effects of NOx and SO2 on SOA formation from TMB photooxidation. The molecular composition of TMB SOA was investigated by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-HR-Q-TOFMS). We found that the SOA yield increases notably with elevated NOx concentrations under low-NOx condition ([TMB]0/[NOx]0 > 10 ppbC ppb-1), while an opposite trend is observed in high-NOx experiments ([TMB]0/[NOx]0 < 10 ppbC ppb-1). The increase in SOA yield in low-NOx regime is attributed to the increase of NOx-induced OH concentrations. The formation of low-volatility species might be suppressed, thereby leading to a lower SOA yield in high-NOx conditions. Moreover, SOA formation was promoted in experiment with SO2 addition. Multifunctional products containing carbonyl, acid, alcohol, and nitrate functional groups were characterized in TMB/NOx photooxidation, whereas several organosulfates (OSs) and nitrooxy organosulfates were identified in TMB/NOx/SO2 photooxidation based on HR-Q-TOFMS analysis. The formation mechanism relevant to the detected compounds in SOA were proposed. Based on our measurements, the photooxidation of TMB in the presence of SO2 may be a new source of OSs in the atmosphere. The results presented here also deepen the understanding of SOA formation under relatively complex polluted environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaomin Yang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Narcisse T Tsona
- School of Life Science, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jianlong Li
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Shuyan Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Li Xu
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Bo You
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Lin Du
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China.
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Yan Y, Cabrera-Perez D, Lin J, Pozzer A, Hu L, Millet DB, Porter WC, Lelieveld J. Global tropospheric effects of aromatic chemistry with the SAPRC-11 mechanism implemented in GEOS-Chem version 9-02. GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT 2019; 12:111-130. [PMID: 33613856 PMCID: PMC7894209 DOI: 10.5194/gmd-12-111-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Goddard Earth Observing System with chemistry (GEOS-Chem) model has been updated with the Statewide Air Pollution Research Center version 11 (SAPRC-11) aromatics chemical mechanism, with the purpose of evaluating global and regional effects of the most abundant aromatics (benzene, toluene, xylenes) on the chemical species important for tropospheric oxidation capacity. The model evaluation based on surface and aircraft observations indicates good agreement for aromatics and ozone. A comparison between scenarios in GEOS-Chem with simplified aromatic chemistry (as in the standard setup, with no ozone formation from related peroxy radicals or recycling of NOx) and with the SAPRC-11 scheme reveals relatively slight changes in ozone, the hydroxyl radical, and nitrogen oxides on a global mean basis (1 %-4 %), although remarkable regional differences (5 %-20 %) exist near the source regions. NO x decreases over the source regions and increases in the remote troposphere, due mainly to more efficient transport of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), which is increased with the SAPRC aromatic chemistry. Model ozone mixing ratios with the updated aromatic chemistry increase by up to 5 ppb (more than 10 %), especially in industrially polluted regions. The ozone change is partly due to the direct influence of aromatic oxidation products on ozone production rates, and in part to the altered spatial distribution of NOx that enhances the tropospheric ozone production efficiency. Improved representation of aromatics is important to simulate the tropospheric oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Yan
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, China
- Laboratory for Climate and Ocean–Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - David Cabrera-Perez
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry Department, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jintai Lin
- Laboratory for Climate and Ocean–Atmosphere Studies, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Andrea Pozzer
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry Department, Mainz, Germany
| | - Lu Hu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Dylan B. Millet
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - William C. Porter
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jos Lelieveld
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry Department, Mainz, Germany
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Dhada I, Sharma M, Nagar PK. Quantification and human health risk assessment of by-products of photo catalytic oxidation of ethylbenzene, xylene and toluene in indoor air of analytical laboratories. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2016; 316:1-10. [PMID: 27208611 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.04.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2016] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The by-products of TiO2-based photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of ethylbenze, p,m-xylene, o-xylene and toluene (EXT) in vapour phase and those adsorbed on the catalyst surface (solid phase) were identified and quantified on GC/GC-MS. A factor was developed in terms of μg of by-product produced per mg of EXT removed per sq-meter surface area of catalyst for estimating the mass of by-products produced. The by-products quantified were: acetone, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, crotonaldehyde, toulene, 1,4-benzoquinone, benzaldehyde, phenol, benzylalcohol, cresol, hydroquinone and benzoic acid. The by-products accounted for 2.3-4.2% of the total mass of EXT treated. For treating concentrations of 220μg/m(3) (ethylbenzene), 260μg/m(3) (p,m-xylene), 260μg/m(3) (o-xylene) and 320μg/m(3) (toluene), at a flow rate of 7L/min for 12h in a laboratory of volume 195m(3), the estimated cancer risks of by-products to the occupants were 1.51×10(-6), 1.06×10(-6), 4.69×10(-7), and 1.58×10(-9) respectively. The overall hazard index (HI) of the by-products for EXT was of the order 10(-4); which is much less than desired level of 1.0. The estimated risks were within the acceptable level. This study has also suggested the photocatalytic degradation pathways for EX which are through formation of toluene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indramani Dhada
- Department of Civil Engineering, Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India
| | - Mukesh Sharma
- Department of Civil Engineering, Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India.
| | - Pavan Kumar Nagar
- Department of Civil Engineering, Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India
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A critical review of naphthalene sources and exposures relevant to indoor and outdoor air. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2010; 7:2903-39. [PMID: 20717549 PMCID: PMC2922736 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph7072903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2010] [Revised: 07/07/2010] [Accepted: 07/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Both the recent classification of naphthalene as a possible human carcinogen and its ubiquitous presence motivate this critical review of naphthalene's sources and exposures. We evaluate the environmental literature on naphthalene published since 1990, drawing on nearly 150 studies that report emissions and concentrations in indoor, outdoor and personal air. While naphthalene is both a volatile organic compound and a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, concentrations and exposures are poorly characterized relative to many other pollutants. Most airborne emissions result from combustion, and key sources include industry, open burning, tailpipe emissions, and cigarettes. The second largest source is off-gassing, specifically from naphthalene's use as a deodorizer, repellent and fumigant. In the U.S., naphthalene's use as a moth repellant has been reduced in favor of para-dichlorobenzene, but extensive use continues in mothballs, which appears responsible for some of the highest indoor exposures, along with off-label uses. Among the studies judged to be representative, average concentrations ranged from 0.18 to 1.7 microg m(-3) in non-smoker's homes, and from 0.02 to 0.31 microg m(-3) outdoors in urban areas. Personal exposures have been reported in only three European studies. Indoor sources are the major contributor to (non-occupational) exposure. While its central tendencies fall well below guideline levels relevant to acute health impacts, several studies have reported maximum concentrations exceeding 100 microg m(-3), far above guideline levels. Using current but draft estimates of cancer risks, naphthalene is a major environmental risk driver, with typical individual risk levels in the 10(-4) range, which is high and notable given that millions of individuals are exposed. Several factors influence indoor and outdoor concentrations, but the literature is inconsistent on their effects. Further investigation is needed to better characterize naphthalene's sources and exposures, especially for indoor and personal measurements.
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Burstyn I. Impact of measurement error on quantifying the importance of proximity to point sources of air pollution. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2010; 20:12-18. [PMID: 18941477 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2008.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2008] [Accepted: 09/23/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
This project was motivated by the investigation of the impact of primary oil and gas infrastructure on levels of air pollutants in western Canada. In the published models, we assumed that the distances between sources and air monitors were the key determinants of exposure and were measured precisely. These models related the logarithm of air pollutant concentration to a function of separation distance ("distance weight"). We undertook a simulation study to determine the impact on the observed source-pollutant association of uncertainty in the separation distance and the number of relevant sources per monitoring station. We observed that both the number of sources in the vicinity of the monitoring station and the extent of error in the estimate of separation distance influence the estimate of the slope of the source-pollution association. Measurement error tended to attenuate the association and degrade power, whereas the greater number of sources per monitoring station also led to a shallower observed slope. Attempts to correct the estimates of the slope were hampered by the non-standard nature of the frequency distribution of the difference between distance weights based on true and mismeasured distances. Our results revealed unanticipated challenges in the interpretation and estimation of the original analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Burstyn
- Community and Occupational Medicine Program, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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