| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Bolin, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Prediction of Preeclampsia by Combining Serum Histidine-Rich Glycoprotein and Uterine Artery Doppler
- 2012
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Ingår i: American Journal of Hypertension. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0895-7061 .- 1941-7225. ; 25:12, s. 1305-1310
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundPreeclampsia is associated with both maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is a protein interacting with angiogenesis, coagulation, and inflammatory responses, processes known to be altered in preeclamptic pregnancies. Significantly lower levels of HRG have been demonstrated as early as in the first trimester in women later developing preeclampsia compared with normal pregnancies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of HRG and uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography can be used as a predictor of preeclampsia.MethodsA total of 175 women were randomly selected from a case-control study; 86 women had an uncomplicated pregnancy and 89 women later developed preeclampsia. Blood samples and pulsatility index (PI) were obtained from both cases and controls in gestational week 14.ResultsHRG levels were significantly lower in women who developed preterm preeclampsia compared with controls, but not for women developing preeclampsia in general. PI was significantly higher in the preeclampsia group compared with controls, especially in preterm preeclampsia. The combination of HRG and PI revealed a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 62% for preterm preeclampsia.ConclusionsThe combination of HRG and uterine artery Doppler may predict preterm preeclampsia in early pregnancy.
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| 3. |
- Celma, Alberto, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives in biochar treated stormwater
- 2023
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Ingår i: MethodsX. - 2215-0161. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), oxygenated PAHs (oxy-PAHs) and nitrogen heterocyclic polycyclic aromatic compounds (N-PACs) are persistent and semi-volatile organic compounds primarily formed due to incomplete combustion of organic material or, in the case of the derivatives, through transformation reactions of PAHs. Their presence in the environment is ubiquitous and many of them have been proven carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic. These toxic pollutants can therefore pose a threat to both ecosystem and human health and urges for remediation strategies for PAHs and derivatives from water bodies. Biochar is a carbon-rich material resulting from the pyrolysis of biomass resulting in a very porous matter with high surface area for an enhanced interaction with chemicals. This makes biochar a promising alternative for filtering micropollutants from contaminated aquatic bodies. In this work, a previously developed and validated methodology for the analysis of PAHs, oxy-PAHs and N-PACs in surface water samples was adapted for its utilization in biochar treated stormwater with special emphasis on scaling down the solid-phase extraction as well as including an additional filtering step for the removal of particulate matter in the media. & BULL; Optimized extraction method for PAHs, oxy-PAHs and N-PACs from stormwater treated with biochar. & BULL; Biochar strongly impacts the stormwater matrix and, therefore, additional steps are required in the extraction methodology. & BULL; Solid-phase extraction combined with GC-MS have been used to analyse PAHs, oxy-PAHs and N-PACs in stormwater treated with biochar.
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| 4. |
- Dahlberg, Anna-Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Capping fiberbank sediments to reduce persistent organic pollutants (POPs) fluxes : A large-scale laboratory column experiment
- 2023
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Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 333
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Deposits of contaminated wood fiber waste (fiberbanks), originating from sawmills and pulp and paper industries, have been found in the aquatic environment in boreal countries. In-situ isolation capping has been proposed as a remediation solution because it has the potential to prevent dispersal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from this type of sediment. However, knowledge about the performance of such caps when placed on very soft (un-consolidated), gaseous organic rich sediment is scarce. We investigated the effectiveness of conventional in-situ capping to limit POPs fluxes to the water column from contaminated fibrous sediments that produce gas. A controlled, large-scale laboratory column (40 cm diameter, 2 m height) experiment was performed over 8 months to study changes in sediment-to-water fluxes of POPs and particle resuspension before and after capping the sediment with crushed stones (& GE;4 mm grain size). Two different cap thicknesses were tested (20 and 45 cm) on two types of fiberbank sediment with different fiber type composition. Results showed that capping fiberbank sediment with a 45 cm gravel cap reduced the sediment-to-water flux by 91-95% for p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDD, by 39-82% for CB-101, CB-118, CB-138, CB-153, CB-180 and by 12-18% for HCB, whereas for less hydrophobic PCBs, capping was largely ineffective (i.e. CB-28 and CB-52). Although cap application caused particle resus-pension, the long-term effect of the cap was reduced particle resuspension. On the other hand, substantial sediment consolidation released large volumes of contaminated pore water into the overlying water body. Importantly, both sediment types produced large amount of gas, observed as gas voids forming inside the sediment and gas ebullition events, which increased pore water advection and affected the structural integrity of the cap. This may limit the practical applicability of this method on fiberbank sediments.
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| 5. |
- Dahlberg, Anna-Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Dispersal of persistent organic pollutants from fiber-contaminated sediments : biotic and abiotic pathways
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Soils and Sediments. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1439-0108 .- 1614-7480. ; 21:4, s. 1852-1865
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeNumerous sites contaminated with fiber emissions from pulp and paper industries are found in coastal areas of the Baltic Sea, but there is limited knowledge about the magnitude of dispersal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from these anthropogenic, organic-rich sediments called fiberbanks. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare different POP dispersal pathways from such fiberbanks. Dispersal mechanisms studied included abiotic and biotic routes (dissolved in water, particle-bound, and bioaccumulation).Materials and methodsContaminated fibrous sediments located in Ångermanälven River estuary in north-eastern Sweden were studied in sediment types representing different fiber content (i.e., fiberbanks, fiber-rich sediments, and less fiber impacted sediments). Sediment-to-water fluxes of dissolved contaminants (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)) were measured in situ using benthic flux chambers. Particle resuspension was measured by sampling bottom water, before and after disturbing the sediment surface. Benthic biota was collected to determine the body burden of contaminants and to determine biota-pore water accumulation factors (BAFPW) and biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs). In addition, concentrations of dissolved POPs in the water column were measured in field using passive samplers. Instrumental analysis was performed using gas chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC-MS/MS).Results and discussionThe flux of dissolved Σ20PCBs was approximately two times higher from one of the investigated fiberbanks (3.4 ng m− 2 day− 1) compared to the other. The average particle burden of PCBs was also higher at this fiberbank after artificial disturbance (15 ng g−1 particle), which indicates that larger amounts of contaminants are likely to disperse via particle resuspension from this site compared to the other fiberbank (4.8 ng g− 1 particle). The difference might be associated with a layer of recently settled minerogenic material that covers one of the fiberbanks, which probably functions as a protective barrier. The lack of benthic biota implies that contaminant release by bioturbation is negligible in the studied fiberbanks. However, benthic biota from fiber-rich sediment showed bioaccumulation and biomagnification of contaminants.ConclusionsThe importance of diffusive flux from fiberbanks under undisturbed conditions became apparent when the different dispersal pathways were quantified. However, no dispersal pathway could be judged as irrelevant, since even under undisturbed conditions, advective particle transport was significant. Additionally, the uptake by biota and trophic transfer can be considerable. Quantification of dispersal routes and understanding of the relative importance of various pathways is critical for proper risk assessment and management of contaminated sediments.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Dahlberg, Anna-Karin, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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Persistent organic pollutants in wood fiber–contaminated sediments from the Baltic Sea
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Soils and Sediments. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1439-0108 .- 1614-7480. ; 20:5, s. 2471-2483
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many coastal areas in the Baltic Sea are contaminated with wood fiber and pollutants from pulp and paper industries. These anthropogenic, organic-rich, sediments (fiberbanks) have not been characterized and knowledge about their role as secondary sources for dispersal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is limited. Hence, the aim of this study was to elucidate the fate of POPs and the relationships between sorption (KD and KTOC), sediment type, and compound hydrophobicity (KOW) in fiber-contaminated sediments.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Goransson, Gunnel, et al.
(författare)
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Assessing the Risk of Contaminant Dispersion From Fibrous Sediments of Industrial Origin
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Marine Science. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2296-7745. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Unregulated discharges of wastewater from pulp and paper factories resulted in the formation of relatively thick organic (cellulose) rich sediments in shallow waters along the Swedish coast. These deposits are known as fiberbanks and are contaminated by persistent organic pollutants (POPs), metals and methylmercury, which can be dispersed by diffusion and advective processes coupled to propeller wash, high river discharges, strong wind waves and submarine landslides. Based on a case study of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), one group of prevalent POPs in the fiberbanks, we present a probabilistic approach to estimate the potential risk of dispersion of fiberbank contaminants. The approach allows for estimation of the dispersal pathways that dominates the risk within a given time and provides more insight about the significance of various dispersion processes. We show that it is highly likely that chemical diffusion and advection triggered by ship-induced resuspension will disperse PCBs (sum of seven congeners; sigma 7PCB) above a threshold level for environmental impact, while the likelihood of river and wind-wave generated resuspension dispersion pathways are lower (similar to 20%, respectively). We further show that there is approximately 5% likelihood that a submarine landslide will disperse sigma 7PCB above the threshold level. The study implies that the governing parameters for risk assessment specifically should include reliable data on contaminant concentration, water depth above the fiberbank, estimation of concerned fiberbank areas, time duration of erosive fluid flows and measured diffusion. The approach provides insight into the importance of various dispersion processes. We suggest that it can be applied to support risk assessment, especially when there are limited available data and/or knowledge about the system under study.
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| 10. |
- Sha, Bo, et al.
(författare)
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Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) and cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMSs) in indoor air from occupational and home environments
- 2018
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Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 241, s. 319-330
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Indoor air samples were collected from private homes and various occupational indoor environments using passive air sampler and analysed for fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) and cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes (cVMSs). The aim was to investigate their occurrence in indoor air, factors that may affect their presence and human daily exposure dose (DED) via inhalation. In general, levels of cVMSs were 3-4 orders of magnitude greater than the other compound classes. OPFRs concentration was found significantly higher than BFRs in indoor air. The most abundant compounds in each chemical class were 8:2 FTOH, 2,4,6-TBP, TNBP and TCEP and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5). Home samples contained higher level of FTOHs, BFRs and cVMSs than occupational environments, whereas concentration of OPFRs in office samples were higher. BFRs concentrations were significantly correlated with building age and with the number of electronic/ electrical devices at the sampling sites. Moreover, significantly lower levels of FTOHs and cVMSs were observed in rooms with forced-ventilation system. Estimated DED via inhalation was significantly higher at home than in office and the total DED was on average 3-5 orders of magnitude lower than the reference value. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 11. |
- Volchko, Yevheniya, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Assessing costs and benefits of improved soil quality management in remediation projects : A study of an urban site contaminated with PAH and metals
- 2020
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 707
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Contaminants in the soil may threaten soil functions (SFs) and, in turn, hinder the delivery of ecosystem services (ES). A framework for ecological risk assessments (ERAs) within the APPLICERA - APPLICable site-specific Environmental Risk Assessment research project promotes assessments that consider other soil quality parameters than only contaminant concentrations. The developed framework is: (i) able to differentiate the effects of contamination on SFs from the effects of other soil qualities essential for soil biota; and (ii) provides a robust basis for improved soil quality management in remediation projects. This study evaluates the socio-economic consequences of remediation alternatives stemming from a Tier 1 ERA that focusses on total contaminant concentrations and soil quality standards and a detailed, site-specific Tier 3 Triad approach that is based on the APPLICERA framework. The present study demonstrates how Tier 1 and Tier 3 ERAs differ in terms of the socio-economic consequences of their remediation actions, as well as presents a novel method for the semi-quantitative assessment of on-site ES. Although the presented Tier 3 ERA is more expensive and time-consuming than the more traditional Tier 1 ERA approach, it has the potential to lower the costs of remediation actions, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, reduce other environmental impacts, and minimise socio-economic losses. Furthermore, the remediation actions stemming from the Tier 3 ERA were predicted to exert far less negative ES effects than the actions proposed based on the results of the Tier 1 ERA.
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| 12. |
- Wiberg, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Spatial distribution of legacy pesticides in river sediment from the Republic of Moldova
- 2021
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Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier BV. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Historical use of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the Republic of Moldova could pose a potential risk for the aquatic environment due to the persistence, bioaccumulation and toxic properties of these environmental pollutants. However, knowledge on environmental concentrations of legacy OCPs in Moldova is limited. In this study, surface sediment from the two main rivers; Dniester (8 sites, n = 15) and Prut (6 sites, n = 12), and two tributary rivers; Bic (11 sites, n = 11) and Raut (6 sites, n = 6), were collected during 2017-2018 and analyzed for hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and their transformation products (DDDs and DDEs) using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Sediment concentrations of Sigma 6DDX (1.9-140 ng g(-1) dry weight (dw)) and Sigma(4)HCHs (n.d-2.5 ng g(-1) dw) were found. In the big rivers, the average Sigma 6DDX concentration (18 ng g(-1) dw) were 35 times higher than Sigma(4)HCHs (0.51 ng g(-1) dw). Whereas, in the small rivers the average Sigma 6DDX concentration (32 ng g(-1) dw) was approximately 41 times higher than Sigma(4)HCHs (0.77 ng g(-1) dw). Compared to previous studies from Eastern Europe, the sediment levels were generally similar as found in Moldova's neighboring countries (Romania and Ukraine). Overall, the contamination profile indicates long-term ageing of OCPs used in the past in the agricultural sector. Less than half of the sites (45%) had levels that pose a potential risk for benthic organisms. Hence, further work is needed to determine the bioaccumulation of OCPs in the aquatic food web in this region and the associated risks to ecosystems and human health.
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| 13. |
- Ahrens, Lutz, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and phenolic compounds in Swedish rivers over four different seasons
- 2018
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka miljökoncentrationer, sammansättning, säsongsvariationoch flöden av 28 PFAS-substanser och 10 fenolära ämnen i 10 svenska vattendrag över fyra olikaårstider (oktober 2016, januari 2017, april 2017 och juli 2017). Totalt detekterades 7 av 28 PFASämneni relativt låga nivåer (i genomsnitt 3,2 ng per liter för Σ28PFAS) i flodvatten (n = 40).Koncentrationerna av de fenolära föreningarna var generellt högre (genomsnittshalt 230 ng per literför summan av alla fenoler som mättes; n = 38). Detektionsfrekvensen var dock låg (i genomsnitt50%), vilket resulterade i låga mediankoncentrationer för summahalten (0 ng per liter). Dedominerande PFAS-substanserna var perfluorbutansulfonsyra (PFBS, 38% av Σ28PFAS),perfluoroktansyra (PFOA, 21%) och perfluoroktansulfonsyra (PFOS (grenad), 8,9%) medan dedominerande fenolära föreningarna var 4-nonylfenol (4-NP, 67%), 4-tert-nonylfenol-dietoxilat (4-NP-EO2, 20%) och 2,4,6-tribromfenol (TBP, 10%). Koncentrationerna av PFAS och fenolföreningaruppvisade ingen säsongsvariation under de fyra undersökta årstiderna, vilket indikerar ett relativtstabilt flöde av dessa två ämnesklasser till vattendragen. De uppmätta PFAS-koncentrationerna varinte relaterade till koncentrationerna av fenolära föreningarna, vilket indikerar olika källor för de tvåämnesklasserna. Flödena för totalhalterna uppskattades till 220 g per dag (81 kg per år) för Σ28PFAS,och >70 gånger högre för de fenolära ämnena med totalflöden på 16000 g per dag (5700 kg per år).Miljökvalitetsstandarden för ett årligt genomsnitt (AA-EQS) som anges i EU: s ramdirektiv förvatten (WFD) överskreds för 33% (n = 13) av vattenproverna för summan av linjära och grenadePFOS och för 13% (n = 5) av för 4-NP. Detta indikerar att halterna av PFOS och 4-NP utgör enpotentiell risk för vattenmiljön. AA-EQS för 4-oktylfenol (4-OP) och pentaklorfenol (PCP)överskreds inte i något fall.vatten (WFD) överskreds för 33% (n = 13) av vattenproverna för summan av linjära och grenadePFOS och för 13% (n = 5) av för 4-NP. Detta indikerar att halterna av PFOS och 4-NP utgör enpotentiell risk för vattenmiljön. AA-EQS för 4-oktylfenol (4-OP) och pentaklorfenol (PCP)överskreds inte i något fall.
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| 14. |
- Ahrens, Lutz, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and phenolic compounds in Swedish rivers over four different seasons
- 2018
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and phenolic compounds are emerging organic pollutants characterized by their persistency, bioaccumulation and toxicity potential. In this study, 28 PFASs and 10 phenolic compounds were investigated in 10 Swedish rivers over four different seasons (October 2016, January 2017, April 2017 and July 2017). The objective was to investigate the levels, composition profiles, sesonal trends and fluxes for both compound classes. In total, 7 out of 28 PFASs and 9 out of 10 phenolic compounds were detected in surface water from the 10 rivers. The average concentration in all samples was 3.2 ng L-1 for ∑28PFASs (median 2.4 ng L-1, n = 40), while 230 ng L-1 for the sum of the phenolic compounds (median 0 ng L-1, n = 38). Highest average ∑28PFAS concentrations were found in Rönneån with 10 ng L-1 (median 11 ng L-1), followed by Norrström with 9.0 ng L-1 (median 9.1 ng L-1), whereas no PFASs were detected in Umeå älv and Ångermanälven. On the other hand, highest average of the sum of the phenolic compound concentrations were found in Nyköpingsån with 1500 ng L-1 (median 57 ng L-1), while for the other rivers the average ranged between 50 ng L-1 and 140 ng L-1, except for Emån where TBP was only detected in one sample with 0.33 ng L-1. This indicates that PFASs and phenolic compounds origin from different sources. The dominant PFASs were perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS, 38 % of the ∑28PFASs), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, 21 %), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS (branched), 8.9 %), while the dominant phenolic compounds were 4nonylphenol (4-NP, 67 %), 4-tert-nonylphenol-diethoxylate (4-NP-EO2, 20 %), and 2,4,6tribromophenol (TBP, 10 %). The concentrations of PFASs and phenolic compounds were relatively constant during the four investigated seasons which indicates a relatively steady input of these two compound classes into the river systems. The daily fluxes of Σ28PFAS was estimated to be in total 220 g d-1 (81 kg year-1), whereas the daily fluxes of phenolic compounds was estimated to be 16000 g d-1 (5700 kg year-1) for all 10 investigated rivers. The Annual Average Environmental Quality Standard (AA-EQS) of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) was exceeded in 33% (n = 13) of the surface water samples for the sum of linear and branched PFOS and in 13% (n = 5) of the surface water samples for 4NP. This indicates that there is a potential risk for the aquatic environment. The AA-EQS of 4-octylphenol (4-OP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) was not exceeded in any surface water sample.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Ahrens, Lutz, et al.
(författare)
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Screening av perfluoralkylerade ämnen och flamskyddsmedel i svenska vattendrag
- 2014
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Syftet med projektet var att studera förekomst av perfluoralkylerade ämnen (PFASs) samt relativt nya flamskyddsmedel (FRs) i svenska vattendrag. Vi provtog på 44 platser (totalt 41 vattendrag) och bestämde innehållet av PFASs (alla platser) och FRs (25 platser). Av de 12 utvalda FRs, kunde 3 kvantifieras. TCIPP var det klart dominerade ämnet med en halt på upp till 3900 ng L-1 (Fyrisån). 2,4,6-TBP uppvisade högre halter i åar i södra Sverige. Vattendragen med de högsta av σFRs var Fyrisån och Norrström. Den totala belastningen på östersjön av σFRs uppskattades till 38 kg dag-1, där ångermanlandsälven och Norrström stod för de största bidragen. Det ska noteras att i dessa belastningssiffror ingår inte äldre FRs med omfattande historisk användning, t.ex. PBDE. Totalt 13 av 25 de analyserade PFASs kunde kvantifieras. Medelvärdet av σPFASs i alla vattendrag var 9,5 ng L-1, och de högsta medelhalterna uppmättes för PFBS och PFHxS (~2 ng L-1). Det sammanlagda utflödet av σPFASs uppgick till 3,2 kg dag-1. PFOS överskred miljökvalitetsnormen på 0,65 ng L-1 (årligt medelvärde; AA-EQS; 2013/39/EU) på 12 av 44 platser.Den här fältstudien baseras på en provtagningskampanj med ögonblicksprovtagning, och därför ska alla rapporterade värden tolkas med försiktighet. Verifikation av höga resultat och mer detaljerade studier på platser med förhöjda värden rekommenderas. Studien pekar också på att uppströmsmätningar är nödvändiga för att finna viktiga föroreningskällor.
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| 18. |
- Ahrens,, Lutz, et al.
(författare)
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Screening av PFAS i grund- och ytvatten
- 2016
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Levels of 26 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were measured in 502 water samples originat-ing from Swedish groundwater, surface water, sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents and landfill leachates. In drinking water source areas, the average Σ26PFAS concentration was 8.4 ng L-1. The national drinking water guideline value of 90 ng L-1 for Σ7PFASs was exceeded in 2% of these samples. In water not used for drinking water, Σ26PFASs average concentration was 142 ng L-1. PFOS concentra-tions exceeded the Annual Average Environmental Quality Standard (AA-EQS) of the EU Water Frame-work Directive in 42% of the surface water samples. Among the different water categories, the landfill leachates had the highest average concentration of Σ26PFAS with 487 ng L-1, followed by surface water (average 112 ng L-1), groundwater (49 ng L-1), STP effluents (35 ng L-1) and background screening lakes (3.4 ng L-1). The composition profile of the PFASs differed between the types of waters showing an even distribution of ΣPFCAs, ΣPFSAs and ΣPFAS precursors in groundwater, whereas in all other water categories, ΣPFCAs were dominant. As FOSA, PFNA, PFDA, and 6:2 FTSA were frequently detected in drinking water source areas (constituted 20%, 7.3%, 5.9%, and 4.4% of the Σ26PFASs, respectively), it is reasonable to consider the inclusion of these in the Swedish drinking water guideline.
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| 19. |
- Ahrens, Lutz, et al.
(författare)
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Screening of perfluoroalkyl substances and organic flame retardants in Swedish Rivers : Screening av perfluoralkylerade ämnen och flamskyddsmedel i svenska vattendrag
- 2013
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The occurrence and effects of ubiquitously present persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment is one of the challenges the society is facing today. Two categories of chemicals that have gained increased public attention during the last decades are organic flame retardants (FRs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Many representatives from these compound groups have bioaccumulative, persistent and toxic properties. This has led to a ban of some of these compounds based on international agreements.FRs and PFASs end up in surface waters and sometimes also in ground water due to their widespread distribution, disinclination of getting removed at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and persistence. However, the knowledge of the occurrence, fate, and effect in the environment of FRs and PFASs is still in great need of research, especially for recently introduced compounds (such as novel FRs). The objective of this project was to provide a snapshot of the current pollution situation of PFASs and selected novel FRs in Swedish surface waters. We sampled at 44 sites (representing 41 rivers and streams) along the whole coastline of Sweden and analysed their content of PFASs (all sites) and FRs (25 sites representing 23 rivers).Among the 12 target FRs, 3 could be quantified (2,4,6-TBP, TCIPP, and TPHP). TCIPP was the predominant compound with a level up to 3 900 ng L-1. The 2,4,6-TBP showed higher levels in southern rivers. The river with highest levels of ΣFRs was Fyrisån, and the total riverine input of the targeted FRs into the Baltic Sea was estimated to 38 kg day-1 with Ångermanlandsälven and Norrström as major contributors. It should be noted that these values only include the targeted, relatively novel FRs, while historically more important FRs such as the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are not included.In total 13 PFASs were detected (PFBA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFDoDA, PFTeDA, FOSA, PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS) among the 25 target compounds. The mean ΣPFAS level of all sampled rivers was 9.5 ng L-1 and the median 4.2 ng L-1, and the highest mean values were found for PFBS and PFHxS (~2 ng L-1 for each compound). Streams in the north (e.g. Alterälven, Öre älv, Gide älv, Lögde älv and Ljungan) showed generally higher fractions of the longer chained perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs; i.e. PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFDoDA, PFTeDA) whereas in the south the fractions of PFHpA and PFOA were higher. The total riverine input of all PFASs into recipient seas was estimated to 3.2 kg day-1 (1150 kg yr-1).PFOS exceeded the annual average Environmental Quality Standard (AA-EQS; 2013/39/EU) of 0.65 ng L-1 at 12 of 44 sampling sites, which are located in all parts of Sweden (Ume älv at Gubböle, Ångermanälven, Delångersån, Fyrisån, Norrström, Nyköpingsån, Emån, Lyckebyån, Rönneån, Nissan, Viskan and Göta älv at Alelyckan).As this study was a one-time grab sampling campaign for screening purposes, all values should be interpreted with care. A screening study like the current may, however, reveal hot spots. Verification and more detailed studies over a longer time period are recommended for sites with elevated levels. Our study also suggests that upstream monitoring is necessary to reveal important pollution sources.
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| 20. |
- Ahrens, Lutz, et al.
(författare)
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Screening of PFASs in groundwater and surface water
- 2016
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are emerging organic pollutants characterized by their persistency, and bioaccumulation and toxicity potential. In this study, 26 PFASs were screened in 502 water samples originating from Swedish groundwater, surface water, sewage treatment plant (STP) effluents and landfill leachates. The objectives were to establish baseline concentrations of PFASs in the aquatic environment, to screen for potential sources, and to compare PFAS concentrations with guideline values for estimation of potential effects on the ecosystem and human health. In drinking water source areas, the average ∑26PFAS concentration was 8.4 ng L-1 with a median value of 0.6 ng L-1 (n = 172). The drinking water guideline value of 90 ng L-1 for ∑7PFASs (PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS) established by the Swedish National Food Agency was exceeded in 4 samples (2% of the total number of samples in this category). In water not used for drinking water, ∑26PFASs concentrations were on average 142 ng L-1 (median 5.4 ng L-1). The high average PFAS concentrations can be explained by the fact that some samples showed extremely high PFAS concentrations with a maximum ∑26PFASs value of 12 900 ng L-1. In surface water, PFOS concentrations exceeded the annual average Environmental Quality Standard (AA-EQS) of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) in 42% of the samples. Among the different water categories, the landfill leachates had the highest average concentration of ∑26PFAS with 487 ng L-1 (median 435 ng L-1, n = 10), followed by surface water (average 112 ng L-1, median 4.1 ng L-1, n = 285), groundwater (average 49 ng L-1, median 0.4 ng L-1, n = 164), STP effluents (average 35 ng L-1, median 26 ng L-1; n = 13) and background screening lakes (remote lakes; average 3.4 ng L-1, median 1.4 ng L-1, n = 10). The composition profile of the PFASs differed between the types of waters showing an even distribution of ∑PFCAs, ∑PFSAs and ∑PFAS precursors in groundwater, whereas in all other water categories (surface water, background lakes, STP effluents and landfill leachates), ∑PFCAs were dominant. As FOSA, PFNA, PFDA, and 6:2 FTSA were frequently detected in drinking water source areas (constituted 20%, 7.3%, 5.9%, and 4.4% of the ∑26PFASs, respectively), it is reasonable to consider the inclusion of these in the Swedish drinking water guideline.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- Ahrens, Lutz, et al.
(författare)
-
The relevant role of ion mobility separation in LC-HRMS based screening strategies for contaminants of emerging concern in the aquatic environment
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier BV. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 280
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ion mobility separation (IMS) coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (IMS-HRMS) is a promising technique for (non-)target/suspect analysis of micropollutants in complex matrices. IMS separates ionized compounds based on their charge, shape and size facilitating the removal of co-eluting isomeric/isobaric species. Additionally, IMS data can be translated into collision cross-section (CCS) values, which can be used to increase the identification reliability. However, IMS-HRMS for the screening of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) have been scarcely explored. In this study, the role of IMS-HRMS for the identification of CECs in complex matrices is highlighted, with emphasis on when and with which purpose is of use. The utilization of IMS can result in much cleaner mass spectra, which considerably facilitates data interpretation and the obtaining of reliable identifications. Furthermore, the robustness of IMS measurements across matrices permits the use of CCS as an additional relevant parameter during the identification step even when reference standards are not available. Moreover, an effect on the number of true and false identifications could be demonstrated by including IMS restrictions within the identification workflow. Data shown in this work is of special interest for environmental researchers dealing with the detection of CECs with state-of-the-art IMS-HRMS instruments.
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| 23. |
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| 24. |
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| 25. |
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| 26. |
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| 27. |
- Anteneh, Assefa, et al.
(författare)
-
Tracing the sources of PCDD/Fs in Baltic Sea air by using metals as source markers
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 2050-7887 .- 2050-7895. ; 20, s. 544-552
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The atmosphere is the major contributor of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the Baltic Sea environment. In this study, we investigated the potential of using metals along with PCDD/Fs as markers of important emission sources of PCDD/Fs in air. The air concentrations of PCDD/F congeners (n = 17), other persistent organic pollutants (n = 8) and metals (n = 16) were determined in summer and winter air using high volume samplers at a rural field station (Aspvreten, Sweden) located close to the Baltic Sea coast. During winter, PCDD/F levels were on average 20 times higher than in summer (5.1 +/- 5.8 fg toxicity equivalents (TEQ) m(-3) and 0.26 +/- 0.18 fg TEQ m(-3), respectively) mostly due to a higher fraction of PCDFs. The increased levels of PCDD/Fs were pronounced mainly in air masses that had travelled from southern (S) and eastern (E) compass sectors. A principal component analysis (PCA) of metal levels in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) needles sampled to reflect various air emission source types helped to identify potential marker metals for selected known atmospheric emission sources of PCDD/Fs and to rank among the candidate source types. Brown coal burning, domestic burning and heavy oil burning appeared to be the source types that contribute most of the PCDD/Fs in Baltic Sea air. The current study demonstrates a successful approach for source tracing of PCDD/Fs in air, where integrated indices from seasonal and spatial patterns of PCDD/Fs as well as metal source markers were used to trace and rank sources.
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| 28. |
- Apler, Anna, 1980-
(författare)
-
Dispersal and environmental impact of contaminants in organic rich, fibrous sediments of industrial origin in the Baltic Sea
- 2018
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The health of the Baltic Sea is negatively affected by hazardous substances such as metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which include legacy pollutants that were banned decades ago, but still circulate in the ecosystem. Elevated levels of legacy pollutants, identified by HELCOM as key hazardous substances, have been found in accumulations of fibrous sediments, so-called fiberbanks and fiber-rich sediments, which derive from old pulp mills along the Swedish north coast. The fiberbanks are deposited in shallow water and bathymetrical models show evidence of their erosion, potentially caused by propeller wash, submarine landslides and gas ebullition. This thesis addresses the potential dispersal of key substances from three fiberbank sites located in a non-tidal Swedish estuary, in which metals and POPs are present in concentrations that may pose a risk for benthic organisms. Metals and POPs are partitioned to organic material and, as expected, show the highest partitioning coefficients (KD) in fiberbanks that have higher TOC levels compared to adjacent areas with fiber-rich sediments (natural clay sediments mixed up with fibers) or relatively unaffected postglacial clays. However, many analytes were found to be present in quantifiable concentrations in pore water, which indicates diffusion of substances from the solid phase to the aqueous phase. To assess the dispersive influence of an abrupt erosional event on dispersion, metals were measured in undisturbed bottom water and in bottom water disturbed by artificial re-suspension of fibrous sediments. The bioavailable, dissolved fraction of metals decreased in bottom water after re-suspension, probably due to the particle concentration effect. In contrast, the total concentrations of metals and number of quantifiable metals increased with particle concentration caused by re-suspension. At one station, the total concentration of chromium (Cr) was elevated to a level where it may lower the ecological status of the water body during periods of substantial erosion (e.g. spring floods or submarine landslides). Analyses of disturbed bottom water revealed, however, that minerogenic particles were preferentially re-suspended compared to organic. This suggests that physical erosion and re-suspension of fiberbank sediments might have a larger effect on dispersal of metals than on POPs.
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| 29. |
- Armitage, James M, et al.
(författare)
-
A model assessment of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran sources and fate in the Baltic Sea.
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 407:12, s. 3784-3792
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The contamination of the Baltic Sea with polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) has resulted in restrictions on the marketing and consumption of Baltic Sea fish, making this a priority environmental issue in the European Union. To date there is no consensus on the relative importance of different sources of PCDD/Fs to the Baltic Sea, and hence no consensus on how to address this issue. In this work we synthesized the available information to create a PCDD/F budget for the Baltic Sea, focusing on the two largest basins, the Bothnian Sea and the Baltic Proper. The non-steady state multimedia fate and transport model POPCYCLING-Baltic was employed, using recent data for PCDD/F concentrations in air and sediment as boundary conditions. The PCDD/F concentrations in water predicted by the model were in good agreement with recent measurements. The budget demonstrated that atmospheric deposition was the dominant source of PCDD/Fs to the basins as a whole. This conclusion was supported by a statistical comparison of the PCDD/F congener patterns in surface sediments from accumulation bottoms with the patterns in ambient air, bulk atmospheric deposition, and a range of potential industrial sources. Prospective model simulations indicated that the PCDD/F concentrations in the water column will continue to decrease in the coming years due to the slow response of the Baltic Sea system to falling PCDD/F inputs in the last decades, but that the decrease would be more pronounced if ambient air concentrations were to drop further in the future, for instance as a result of reduced emissions. The study illustrates the usefulness of using monitoring data and multimedia models in an integrated fashion to address complex organic contaminant issues.
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| 30. |
- Assefa, Anteneh, et al.
(författare)
-
Airborne dioxins and other POPs in the Baltic Sea environment: the potential of using metals as source markers
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Atmospheric sources are major contributors of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the Baltic Sea environment. In this study, we investigated the potential of using trace metals along with PCDD/F levels and seasonal trends as markers of important source types for PCDD/Fs in air. Levels of PCDD/F congeners (n=17) and metals (n=16) were measured in summer and winter air using high volume sampling at a rural field station (Aspvreten, Sweden). During winter, levels were on average 20 times higher than in summer (5.1 ± 5.8 fg TEQ m-3 and 0.26 ± 0.18 fg TEQ m-3, respec- tively) mostly due to a higher fraction of PCDFs. The increased levels were pronounced in air masses from southern (S) and eastern (E) compass sectors. Most of the detected metals (n=12) were positively and significantly correlated with the PCDF congeners for all compass sectors (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Pb, Sb, and Zn) during winter season. The average correlation coefficient (r) value for the correlation between PCDF congeners and these metals was 0.85 and p values generally below <0.05. In contrast, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) showed no significant correlations with detected metals except for HCB and Cr (r=0.60 and p<0.01). The wide range of candidate metals as source markers for PCDD/F emissions, and the lack of an up-to-date extensive compilation of source characteristics for metal emission from various sources, limited the use of the metals as source markers in the current study. Although, the study was not able to pin-point primary PCDD/F sources for Baltic air, we demonstrated a promising approach for source tracing of PCDD/F in air.
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| 31. |
- Assefa, Anteneh, et al.
(författare)
-
Source-apportionment shows why dioxin levels have not declined in Baltic fish
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs, “dioxins”) in fatty fish of the Baltic Sea have remained high despite declines in environmental levels since the 1980s. This has raised human health concerns and restricted marketing of Baltic herring and salmon within the European Union. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify and control current PCDD/F emission sources. Analysis presented here explains why PCDD/Fs levels in fish have stopped declining or even increased in recent decades. We show that contributions of “thermal” sources (e.g., waste incineration) of PCDD/Fs to Baltic fish have declined since the 1990s, but not contributions of sources associated with the manufacture and use of chlorophenols (particularly tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol, TCP and PCP, respectively). Moreover, the discrepancy between declines in levels of dioxins in abiotic compartments (e.g. sediments and air), and stable or increasing levels in biota can be explained by the persistently high bioavailability of PCDD/Fs associated with TCP and PCP type sources.
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| 32. |
- Assefa, Anteneh, et al.
(författare)
-
Sources of dioxins in Baltic Sea herring: A modelling study for identification of dioxin sources and quantification of their temporal and spatial impacts
- 2018
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This study presents a step-by-step statistical analysis for tracing dioxins sources that have contributed to levels in Baltic herring during the last decades. The study is based on the concentrations of the 17 toxic (2,3,7,8-substituted) dioxin congeners in herring and sediment from the Baltic Sea, and it evaluates how the impacts of the sources may have changed during the studied periods, i.e. 1990–2009 in the Bothnian Bay, 1979–2009 in the Bothnian Sea and 1988–2009 in the Baltic Proper. The modelling technique used (PMF) extracted three dioxin patterns in herring that could be used to obtain source patterns after applying transformation factors. The transformed patterns were compared to real dioxin source patterns available through previous measurement and modelling studies. The identified sources included tetrachlorophenol (TCP), pentachlorophenol/atmospheric background (PCP/AB) and emissions from thermal activities.The results indicate that the thermal source type has been the major contributor of dioxins to Baltic herring during the pre-and post-2000 periods (72% and 59%, respectively). Its impact appears, however, to have declined by 19% in the Bothnian Bay, by 67% in the Bothnian Sea, and by 48% in the Baltic Proper (TEQ-basis). On the other hand, the relative importance of TCP and PCP/AB appear to have increased over time, from 1.4% and 1.5% to 19% and 6.6% in the Bothnian Bay, from 3.3% and 7.2% to 12% and 10% in the Bothnian Sea, and from 8.9% and <1% to 33% and 13% in the Baltic Proper. Comparisons using absolute values (pg TEQ g-1 lipid weight) indicate an increase of the TCP source by five times in the Bothnian Bay from the pre-2000 to the post-2000 period, a slight increase in the Bothnian Sea, and more than a doubling of the levels in the Baltic Proper. The agreement between the trends in the three sub-basins is a good indication for an increased impact of the TCP source during recent years (post-2000). Corresponding analysis for the PCP/AB source type, indicate slightly decreased TEQ levels from the PCP/AB source type in the Bothnian Sea (by ~50%), more than twice as high in the Bothnian Bay, and more than triplicated in the Baltic Proper. While the declining trends of the thermal source type encourages continuing management efforts for air emissions, the apparent increase of TCP and PCP/AB call for more attention to such sources in the Baltic Sea. As the use of technical products containing TCP and PCP have been banned/restricted since the 1970s and 1980s, more focus on contaminated sites may be required in the mitigation actions of such sources.
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| 33. |
- Assefa, Anteneh, et al.
(författare)
-
Sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans to Baltic Sea herring
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 218, s. 493-500
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in herring (Clupea harengus) remain high in several parts of the Baltic Sea, despite declines in PCDD/F emissions since the 1980s. The reasons behind this are not well understood. This study applied a statistical modeling approach where sources of PCDD/Fs that contaminate Baltic biota were quantitatively assessed by analyzing existing datasets. PCDD/F patterns were extracted from a herring dataset using positive matrix factorization (PMF). The extracted biota patterns were transformed into sediment patterns using fish-to-sediment transformation factors, and the resulting patterns were compared with known source PCDD/F patterns. The model distinguished three model patterns, which explained 85% of the data. These patterns were matched to tetra-chlorophenol (TCP), penta-chlorophenol/atmospheric background (PCP/AB), and thermal source patterns, respectively. The thermal source was the largest contributor to toxic equivalents (TEQ) in herring, but the level decreased from 42 ± 9.0 pg TEQ g−1 lipid weight (lw) before year 2000 (pre-2000) to 15 ± 2.4 pg TEQ g−1 lw post-2000, i.e., a decline of around one-third in the original TEQ concentration. The contribution of TCP more than doubled, from 2.1 ± 0.62 pg TEQ g−1 lw to 5.6 ± 1.1 pg TEQ g−1 lw, and the relative contribution of PCP/AB also increased. These increasing trends suggest that, as primary air emissions of PCDD/Fs are managed and levels decline, the impact of TCP and PCP/AB sources on Baltic Sea biota will become more important over time and that PCDD/F-contaminated sites in coastal areas and marine environments require more attention.
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| 34. |
- Assefa, Anteneh Taye, et al.
(författare)
-
Assessment of PCDD/F Source Contributions in Baltic Sea Sediment Core Records
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851 .- 1086-931X .- 1520-6912. ; 48:16, s. 9531-9539
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Spatial and temporal trends of sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the Baltic Sea were evaluated by positive matrix factorization (PMF) and principal component analysis (PCA). Sediment cores were sampled at eight coastal, one coastal reference, and six offshore sites covering the northern to the southern Baltic Sea. The cores, which covered the period 1919-2010, were sliced into 2-3 cm disks among which 8-11 disks per core (in total 141 disks) were analyzed for all tetra- through octa-CDD/Fs. Identification and apportionment of PCDD/F sources was carried out using PMF. Five stable model PCDD/F congener patterns were identified, which could be associated with six historically important source types: (i) atmospheric background deposition (ABD), (ii) use and production of pentachlorophenol (PCP), (iii) use and production of tetra-chlorophenol (TeCP), (iv) high temperature processes (Thermal), (v) hexa-CDD-related sources (HxCDD), and (vi) chlorine-related sources (Chi), all of which were still represented in the surface layers. Overall, the last four decades of the period 1920-2010 have had a substantial influence on the Baltic Sea PCDD/F pollution, with 88 +/- 7% of the total amount accumulated during this time. The 1990s was the peak decade for all source types except TeCP, which peaked in the 1980s in the northern Baltic Sea and has still not peaked in the southern part. The combined impact of atmospheric-related emissions (ABD and Thermal) was dominant in the open sea system throughout the study period (1919-2010) and showed a decreasing south to north trend (always >80% in the south and >50% in the north). Accordingly, to further reduce levels of PCDD/Fs in the open Baltic Sea ecosystem, future actions should focus on reducing atmospheric emissions.
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| 35. |
- Assefa, Anteneh Taye, et al.
(författare)
-
Temporal Trends of PCDD/Fs in Baltic Sea Sediment Cores Covering the 20th Century
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 48:2, s. 947-953
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The pollution trend of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the Baltic Sea region was studied based on depth profiles of PCDD/Fs in sediment cores collected from six-offshore areas, eight coastal sites impacted by industrial/urban emissions, and one coastal reference site. A general trend was observed for the offshore and coastal reference sites with substantial increase in PCDD/F concentrations in the mid-late 1970s and peak levels during 1985-2002. The overall peak year for PCDD/Fs in Baltic Sea offshore areas was estimated (using spline-fit modeling) to 1994 +/- 5 years, and a half-life in sediments was estimated at 29 +/- 11 years. For the industrial/urban impacted coastal sites, the temporal trend was more variable with peak years occurring 1-2 decades earlier compared to offshore areas. The substantial reductions from peak levels (38 +/- 11% and 81 +/- 12% in offshore and coastal areas, respectively) reflect domestic and international actions taken for reduction of the release of PCDD/Fs to the environment. The modeled overall half-life and reductions of PCDD/Fs in offshore Baltic Sea sediment correspond well to both PCDD/F trends in European lakes without any known direct. PCDD/F sources (half-lives 30 and 32 years), and previously modeled reduction in atmospheric deposition of,PCDD/Fs to the Baltic Sea since 1990. These observations support previous findings of a common diffuse source, such as long-range air transport of atmospheric emissions, as the prime source of PCDD/Fs to the Baltic Sea region. The half-life of PCDD/Fs in Baltic Sea offshore sediments was estimated to be approximately 2 and 4-6 times longer than in semirural and urban European air, respectively. This study highlights the need for further international actions to reduce the levels of PCDD/Fs in Baltic Sea air specifically and in European air in general.
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| 36. |
|
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| 37. |
- Assefa, Anteneh, et al.
(författare)
-
Tracing the sources of PCDD/Fs in Baltic Sea air by using metals as source markers
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Environmental Science. - Cambridge : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2050-7887 .- 2050-7895. ; 20:3, s. 544-552
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The atmosphere is the major contributor of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the Baltic Sea environment. In this study, we investigated the potential of using metals along with PCDD/Fs as markers of important emission sources of PCDD/Fs in air. The air concentrations of PCDD/F congeners (n = 17), other persistent organic pollutants (n = 8) and metals (n = 16) were determined in summer and winter air using high volume samplers at a rural field station (Aspvreten, Sweden) located close to the Baltic Sea coast. During winter, PCDD/F levels were on average 20 times higher than in summer (5.1 +/- 5.8 fg toxicity equivalents (TEQ) m-3 and 0.26 +/- 0.18 fg TEQ m-3, respectively) mostly due to a higher fraction of PCDFs. The increased levels of PCDD/Fs were pronounced mainly in air masses that had travelled from southern (S) and eastern (E) compass sectors. A principal component analysis (PCA) of metal levels in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) needles sampled to reflect various air emission source types helped to identify potential marker metals for selected known atmospheric emission sources of PCDD/Fs and to rank among the candidate source types. Brown coal burning, domestic burning and heavy oil burning appeared to be the source types that contribute most of the PCDD/Fs in Baltic Sea air. The current study demonstrates a successful approach for source tracing of PCDD/Fs in air, where integrated indices from seasonal and spatial patterns of PCDD/Fs as well as metal source markers were used to trace and rank sources.
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| 38. |
- Back, Pär-Erik, 1961, et al.
(författare)
-
Markmiljöns skyddsvärde – En härledning med utgångspunkt i miljöetik och lagstiftning
- 2016
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Vid riskbedömning av förorenade områden ska riskerna som föroreningen utgör bedömas för olika skyddsobjekt, främst människor, markmiljö, grund- och ytvatten. I fördjupade riskbedömningar kan det även vara aktuellt att bestämma lämpliga skyddsnivåer för skyddsobjekten. Till vilken nivå vi väljer att skydda ett objekt beror i hög grad på objektets skyddsvärde. Vad detta skyddsvärde består av och hur stort det anses vara beror i sin tur på vem det är som gör värderingen och vilket miljöetiskt synsätt som tillämpas. När skyddsobjektet markmiljö ska värderas uppstår ofta många frågor och oenigheten mellan olika aktörer kan ibland vara stor.Syftet med publikationen är att tydliggöra vad som avses med begreppet markmiljöns skyddsvärde och beskriva vad det består av. Olika miljöetiska synsätt kan leda till att vår markmiljö värderas olika högt beroende på vem som utför värderingen. I syfte att skapa en gemensam grund för denna typ av värderingar har vi här valt att utgå från den miljöetik som ligger till grund för vår miljölagstiftning. Målet med publikationen är att presentera en härledning av markmiljöns skyddsvärde och ge en grund för hur man kan resonera kring flera av de besvärliga frågor som ställs beträffande skyddet av markmiljön.Rapporten innehåller också en allmän diskussion av skyddsvärdet men beskriver inte konkret hur markmiljön bör värderas vid ett enskilt objekt. Publikationen är med andra ord ingen vägledning i den bemärkelsen att den är direkt tillämpbar för värdering i verkliga projekt. Vår förhoppning är istället att publikationen kommer att utgöra en viktig grund för arbetet med att ta fram framtida vägledningsmaterial för ekologisk riskbedömning samt riskvärdering.
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| 39. |
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| 40. |
- Bergknut, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
-
Atmospheric deposition, retention, and stream export of dioxins and PCBs in a pristine boreal catchment
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 159:6, s. 1592-1598
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The mass-balance between diffuse atmospheric deposition of organic pollutants, amount of pollutants retained by the terrestrial environment, and levels of pollutants released to surface stream waters was studied in a pristine northern boreal catchment. This was done by comparing the input of atmospheric deposition of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and PCBs with the amounts exported to surface waters. Two types of deposition samplers were used, equipped with a glass fibre thimble and an Amberlite sampler respectively. The measured fluxes showed clear seasonality, with most of the input and export occurring during winter and spring flood, respectively. The mass balance calculations indicates that the boreal landscape is an effective sink for PCDD/Fs and PCBs, as 96.0-99.9 % of received bulk deposition was retained, suggesting that organic pollutants will continue to impact stream water in the region for an extended period of time.
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| 41. |
- Bergknut, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
-
Dioxins, PCBs, and HCB in soil and peat profiles from a pristine boreal catchment
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 158:7, s. 2518-2525
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to explore how atmospherically derived soil pollution is affected by environmental processes at two typical boreal catchment landscape type settings: wetlands and forested areas. Measurements of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in forest soil and peat from an oligotrophic mire at various depths were performed at a remote boreal catchment in northern Sweden. HOCs in peat were evenly distributed throughout the body of the mire while levels of HOCs in the forest soil increased with increased amount of organic matter. Evaluation of HOC composition by principal component analysis (PCA) showed distinct differences between surface soils and deeper soil and peat samples. This was attributed to vertical transport, degradation and/or shifting sources over time. The calculated net vertical transport differed between surface layers (0.3%) and deeper soils (8.0%), suggesting that vertical transport conditions and processes differ in the deeper layers compared to the surface layers.
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| 42. |
- Bergknut, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
-
Modelling the fate of hydrophobic organic contaminants in a boreal forest catchment : a cross disciplinary approach to assessing diffuse pollution to surface waters
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 158:9, s. 2964-2969
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The fate of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in soils and waters in a northern boreal catchment was explored through the development of a chemical fate model in a well-characterised catchment system dominated by two land types: forest and mire. Input was based solely on atmospheric deposition, dominated by accumulation in the winter snowpack. Release from soils was governed by the HOC concentration in soil, the soil organic carbon fraction and soil-water DOC content. The modelled export of selected HOCs in surface waters ranged between 11 and 250ng day(-1) during the snow covered period, compared to 200 and 9600ng/d during snow-melt; highlighting the importance of the snow pack as a source of these chemicals. The predicted levels of HOCs in surface water were in reasonable agreement to a limited set of measured values, although the model tended to over predict concentrations of HOCs for the forested sub-catchment, by over an order of magnitude in the case of hexachlorobenzene and PCB 180. This possibly reflects both the heterogeneity of the forest soils and the complicated and changing hydrology experienced between the different seasons.
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| 43. |
- Bergknut, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Vertical and lateral redistribution of POPs in soils developed along a hydrological gradient
- 2011
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 45:24, s. 10378-10384
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Study of the dispersion of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) throughout the environment is necessitated by their toxicological properties and propensity to accumulate in biota. In this study, we use data from the analysis of three (210)Pb dated soil profiles collected along a 30-m hydrological gradient to demonstrate postdepositional mobility of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We found that (i) humus originating from litter exposed to surface fallout during the 1960-1970s contains the highest concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in the O-horizon of the soils; (ii) accumulation rates of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in the O-horizon (similar to 5.0 and similar to 210 mu g m(-2) yr(-1)) constituted only 9.1% and 3.5%, respectively, of the measured annual input, demonstrating that a minor fraction of the deposited material is retained within the O-horizon; (iii) POP inventories in the upper 0.5-0.9 m of the mineral soil constituted a considerable part (40-70%) of the total pool stored in the soil, implying significant vertical translocation of atmospheric derived POPs; and (iv) increasing downslope inventories of POPs suggest a lateral downward transport of POPs from uphill soils. The findings challenge the commonly accepted view that POPs fallout is effectively retained within O-horizons.
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| 44. |
- Bergman, Åke, et al.
(författare)
-
Science and policy on endocrine disrupters must not be mixed : a reply to a "common sense" intervention by toxicology journal editors
- 2013
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Ingår i: Environmental Health. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1476-069X. ; 12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The "common sense" intervention by toxicology journal editors regarding proposed European Union endocrine disrupter regulations ignores scientific evidence and well-established principles of chemical risk assessment. In this commentary, endocrine disrupter experts express their concerns about a recently published, and is in our considered opinion inaccurate and factually incorrect, editorial that has appeared in several journals in toxicology. Some of the shortcomings of the editorial are discussed in detail. We call for a better founded scientific debate which may help to overcome a polarisation of views detrimental to reaching a consensus about scientific foundations for endocrine disrupter regulation in the EU.
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| 45. |
- Bidleman, TF, et al.
(författare)
-
Air-soil and air-water exchange of chiral pesticides
- 2003
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Ingår i: ENVIRONMENTAL FATE AND EFFECTS OF PESTICIDES Book Series: ACS SYMPOSIUM SERIES. - 0097-6156. ; 853, s. 196-225
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The enantiomers of chiral pesticides are often metabolized at different rates in soil and water, leading to non-racemic residues. This paper reviews enantioselective metabolism of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soil and water, and the use of enantiomers to follow transport and fate processes. Residues of chiral OCPs and their metabolites are frequently non-racemic in soil, although exceptions occur in which the OCPs are racemic. In soils where enantioselective degradation and/or metabolite formation has taken place, some OCPs usually show the same degradation preference; e.g. depletion of (+)trans-chlordane (TC) and (-)cis-chlordane (TC), and enrichment of the metabolite (+)heptachlor exo-epoxide (HEPX). The selectivity is ambivalent for other chemicals; preferential loss of either (+) or (-)o,p'-DDT and enrichment of either (+) or (-)oxychlordane (OXY) occurs in different soils.Non-racemic OCPs are found in air samples collected above soil which contains non-racemic residues. The enantiomer profiles of chlordanes in ambient air suggests that most chlordane in northern Alabama air comes from racemic sources (e.g. termiticide emissions), whereas a mixture of racemic and non-racemic (volatilization from soil) sources supplies chlordane to air in the Great Lakes region. Chlordanes and heptachlor exo-epoxide (HEPX) are also non-racemic in arctic air, probably the result of soil emissions from lower latitudes.The (+) enantiomer of alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH) is preferentially metabolized in the Arctic Ocean, arctic lakes and watersheds, the North American Great Lakes and the Baltic Sea. In some marine regions (Bering and Chukchi seas, parts of the North Sea) the preference is reversed and (-)alpha-HCH is depleted. Volatilization from seas and large lakes can be traced by the appearance of non-racemic alpha-HCH in the air boundary layer above the water. Estimates of microbial degradation rates for alpha-HCH in the eastern Arctic Ocean and an arctic lake have been made from the enantiomer fractions (EFs) and mass balance in the water column. Apparent pseudo first-order rate constants in the eastern Arctic Ocean are 0.12 y(-1) for (+)alpha-HCH 0.030 y(-1) for (-)alpha-HCH, and 0.037 y(-1) for achiral gamma-HCH. These rate constants are 3-10 times greater than those for basic hydrolysis in seawater. Microbial breakdown may compete with advective outflow for long-term removal of HCHs from the Arctic Ocean. Rate constants estimated for the arctic lake are about 3-8 times greater than those in the ocean.
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| 46. |
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| 47. |
- Bidleman, Terry, et al.
(författare)
-
Atmospheric pathways of chlorinated pesticides and natural bromoanisoles in the northern Baltic Sea and its catchment
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Ambio. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 44, s. 472-483
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Long-range atmospheric transport is a major pathway for delivering persistent organic pollutants to the oceans. Atmospheric deposition and volatilization of chlorinated pesticides and algae-produced bromoanisoles (BAs) were estimated for Bothnian Bay, northern Baltic Sea, based on air and water concentrations measured in 2011-2012. Pesticide fluxes were estimated using monthly air and water temperatures and assuming 4 months ice cover when no exchange occurs. Fluxes were predicted to increase by about 50 % under a 2069-2099 prediction scenario of higher temperatures and no ice. Total atmospheric loadings to Bothnian Bay and its catchment were derived from air-sea gas exchange and bulk'' (precipitation ? dry particle) deposition, resulting in net gains of 53 and 46 kg year(-1) for endosulfans and hexachlorocyclohexanes, respectively, and net loss of 10 kg year(-1) for chlordanes. Volatilization of BAs releases bromine to the atmosphere and may limit their residence time in Bothnian Bay. This initial study provides baseline information for future investigations of climate change on biogeochemical cycles in the northern Baltic Sea and its catchment.
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| 48. |
- Bidleman, Terry F, et al.
(författare)
-
Chiral Pesticides in Soil and Water and Exchange with the Atmosphere
- 2002
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Ingår i: TheScientificWorldJOURNAL. - : Hindawi Limited. ; 2, s. 357-373
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The enantiomers of chiral pesticides are often metabolised at different rates in soil and water, leading to nonracemic residues. This paper reviews enantioselective metabolism of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soil and water, and the use of enantiomers to follow transport and fate processes. Residues of chiral OCPs and their metabolites are frequently nonracemic in soil, although exceptions occur in which the OCPs are racemic. In soils where enantioselective degradation and/or metabolite formation has taken place, some OCPs usually show the same degradation preference — e.g., depletion of (+)trans-chlordane (TC) and (-)cis-chlordane (CC), and enrichment of the metabolite (+)heptachlor exo-epoxide (HEPX). The selectivity is ambivalent for other chemicals; preferential loss of either (+) or (-)o,p?-DDT and enrichment of either (+) or (-)oxychlordane (OXY) occurs in different soils. Nonracemic OCPs are found in air samples collected above soil which contains nonracemic residues. The enantiomer profiles of chlordanes in ambient air suggests that most chlordane in northern Alabama air comes from racemic sources (e.g., termiticide emissions), whereas a mixture of racemic and nonracemic (volatilisation from soil) sources supplies chlordane to air in the Great Lakes region. Chlordanes and HEPX are also nonracemic in arctic air, probably the result of soil emissions from lower latitudes. The (+) enantiomer of a-hexachlorocyclohexane (a-HCH) is preferentially metabolised in the Arctic Ocean, arctic lakes and watersheds, the North American Great Lakes, and the Baltic Sea. In some marine regions (the Bering and Chukchi Seas, parts of the North Sea) the preference is reversed and (-)a-HCH is depleted. Volatilisation from seas and large lakes can be traced by the appearance of nonracemic a-HCH in the air boundary layer above the water. Estimates of microbial degradation rates for a-HCH in the eastern Arctic Ocean and an arctic lake have been made from the enantiomer fractions (EFs) and mass balance in the water column. Apparent pseudo first-order rate constants in the eastern Arctic Ocean are 0.12 year-1 for (+)a-HCH, 0.030 year-1 for (-)a-HCH, and 0.037 year-1 for achiral ?-HCH. These rate constants are 3–10 times greater than those for basic hydrolysis in seawater. Microbial breakdown may compete with advective outflow for long-term removal of HCHs from the Arctic Ocean. Rate constants estimated for the arctic lake are about 3–8 times greater than those in the ocean.
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| 49. |
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| 50. |
- Bidleman, TF, et al.
(författare)
-
Soil as a source of atmospheric heptachlor epoxide
- 1998
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 32:10, s. 1546-1548
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The chiral pesticide heptachlor can undergo photolysis to yield the racemic products heptachlor-exo-epoxide (HEPX) and photoheptachlor. Heptachlor is also metabolized to nonracemic HEPX in biological systems and soils. HEPX in ambient air samples from the southern United States and Lakes Ontario and Superior was nonracemic and enriched in the (+) enantiomer. Average enantiomer ratios (ER = areas of (+)/(-) HEPX) in these locations ranged from 1.51 to 2.02, and were similar to ER values of HEPX reported for agricultural soils. Airborne heptachlor was racemic, with ERs of 0.98-1.02. These results suggest that the main source of HEPX in ambient air is not photolysis of heptachlor, hut rather metabolism of heptachlor in soils followed by volatilization of HEPX. The study exemplifies the use of chiral analysis for investigating the environmental fate of pesticides.
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