Cindy M. Lee

Chiral Polychlorinated Biphenyl Transport, Metabolism, and Distribution: A Review

Chirality can be exploited to gain insight into enantioselective fate processes that may otherwise remain undetected because only biological, but not physical and chemical transport and transformation processes in an achiral environment will change enantiomer compositions. This review provides an in-depth overview of the application of chirality to the study of chiral polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), an important group of legacy pollutants. Like other chiral compounds, individual PCB enantiomers may interact enantioselectively (or enantiospecifically) with chiral macromolecules, such as cytochrome P-450 enzymes or ryanodine receptors, leading to differences in their toxicological effects and the enantioselective formation of chiral biotransformation products. Species and congener-specific enantiomer enrichment has been demonstrated in environmental compartments, wildlife, and mammals, including humans, typically due to a complex combination of biotransformation processes and uptake via the diet by passive diffusion. Changes in the enantiomer composition of chiral PCBs in the environment have been used to understand complex aerobic and anaerobic microbial transformation pathways, to delineate and quantify PCB sources and transport in the environment, to gain insight into the biotransformation of PCBs in aquatic food webs, and to investigate the enantioselective disposition of PCBs and their methylsulfonyl PCBs metabolites in rodents. Overall, changes in chiral signatures are powerful, but currently underutilized tools for studies of environmental and biological processes of PCBs.

Field test of high molecular weight alcohol flushing for subsurface nonaqueous phase liquid remediation

A pilot scale field test of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) removal using high molecular weight alcohols was conducted at Operable Unit 1, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Petroleum hydrocarbons and spent solvents were disposed of in chemical disposal pits at this site, and these materials are now present in the subsurface in the form of a light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL). This LNAPL is a complex mixture of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, and other compounds. The field experiment was performed in a 5 m by 3 m confined test cell, formed by driving interlocking sheet pile walls through the contaminated zone into an underlying clay. The test involved the injection and extraction of about four pore volumes (1 pore volume=7000 L) of a mixture of 80% tert-butanol and 15% n-hexanol. The contaminants were removed by a combination of NAPL mobilization and enhanced dissolution, and the results of postflood soil coring indicate better than 90% removal of the more soluble contaminants (trichloroethane, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, trimethylbenzene, naphthalene) and 70–80% removal of less soluble compounds (decane and undecane). The results of preflood and postflood NAPL partitioning tracer tests show nearly 80% removal of the total NAPL content from the test cell. The field data suggest that a somewhat higher level of removal could be achieved with a longer alcohol injection.

Cosolvent effects of alcohols on the Henry's law constant and aqueous solubility of tetrachloroethylene (PCE).

The effects of selected cosolvents ethyl alcohol (EtOH), isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and tertbutyl alcohol (TBA) on the Henrys law constant (H) of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in aqueous solutions were investigated using the static headspace method. Alcohols in solution at a concentration around 20% and above acted as cosolvents increasing the aqueous solubility of PCE, which resulted in lower H values for PCE as compared to the value of H in deionized water. TBA, the most hydrophobic of the three alcohols, exhibited the strongest cosolvent effects, while EtOH had the weakest effects. A ln-linear relationship was observed between H and the volumetric fraction of alcohol added. Investigation of the solubilization of PCE in alcohol solutions confirmed the cosolvent trend observed for the three alcohols. A ln-ln relationship was observed between H and the enhanced solubility of PCE at a particular alcohol concentration. It was also observed that the value of H is a function of the enhanced solubility regardless of the type of cosolvent used. The results from this research further define the behavior of PCE in alcohol flooding solutions used in the remediation of PCE contaminated media.

Transformation of Chiral Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in a Stream Food Web

The enantiomeric composition of chiral PCB congeners was determined in Twelvemile Creek (Clemson, SC) to examine potential mechanisms of biotransformation in a stream food web. We measured enantiomeric fractions (EFs) of six PCB atropisomers (PCBs 84, 91, 95, 136, 149, and 174) in surface sediment, fine benthic organic matter (FBOM), coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM), periphyton, Asian clam, mayflies, yellowfin shiner, and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) using gas chromatography (GC-ECD). Nonracemic EFs of PCBs 91, 95, 136, and 149 were measured in almost all samples. Enantiomeric compositions of PCBs 84 and 174 were infrequently detected with racemic EFs measured in samples except for a nonracemic EF of PCB 84 in clams. Nonracemic EFs of PCBs 91, 136, and 149 in SPMDs may be due to desorption of nonracemic residues from FBOM. EFs for some atropisomers were significantly different among FBOM, CPOM, and periphyton, suggesting that their microbial communities have different biotransformation processes. Nonracemic EFs in clams and fish suggest both in vivo biotransformation and uptake of nonracemic residues from their food sources. Longitudinal variability in EFs was generally low among congeners observed in matrices.

Sorption of humic acids and α-endosulfan by clay minerals

Sorption of alpha-endosulfan by kaolinite andmontmorillonite alone and in the presence of sorbed and dissolved humicacid (HA) was investigated (pH 8 and 25oC). Three types of HA, Elliotsoil HA (EHA), Peat HA (PHA), and Summit Hill HA (SHHA), were used torepresent typical humic substances found in soils. For sorption of HA byeither mineral, Freundlich sorption coefficient (Kf) values appeared todecrease in the order of EHA>PHA>SHHA, which followedincreasing polarity (expressed as the O/C atomic ratio) and decreasingpercent-carbon content. For both clays, sorption of alpha-endosulfan bythe HA mineral complex was greater than for sorption by the clay alone.Sorption of alpha-endosulfan by the HA mineral complexes followed thesame order as the Kf of the HAs (EHA>PHA>SHHA). Based on theamount of HA adsorbed by each mineral, organic carbon partitioncoefficients (KOC) were determined for sorption of alpha-endosulfan bytwo of the HA mineral complexes. The value of KOC for alpha-endosulfansorption was greater for kaolinite EHA than kaolinite SHHA. However, theopposite trend was found with the montmorillonite HA complexes.Montmorillonite appeared to sorb alpha-endosulfan and/or HA with higheraffinity than kaolinite, which likely is due to its 2:1 layer structureand higher surface area. Sorption of endosulfan diol, a hydrolysisproduct, by the minerals was much less than the parentpesticide.

Enantiomeric composition of chiral polychlorinated biphenyl atropisomers in dated sediment cores

Enantiomer fractions (EFs) of seven chiral polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in dated sediment cores of Lake Hartwell (SC, USA) and Lake Ontario (USA) to detect, quantify, and gain insight regarding microbial reductive dechlorination of PCBs in lake sediments with high and low concentrations, respectively. Lake Hartwell sediments had high total PCBs (5-60 microg/g), with significantly nonracemic EFs that generally were consistent with those from previous laboratory microcosm reductive dechlorination experiments using sediments from these sites. Thus, stereoselective reductive dechlorination had occurred in situ, including at total PCB concentrations of less than the threshold of approximately 30 to 80 microg/g suggested as being necessary for reductive dechlorination. Enantiomer fractions of PCBs 91, 95, 132, and 136 in Lake Hartwell cores were significantly correlated both with concentrations of those individual congeners and with total PCB concentration for some sites. This result indicates that enantioselective microbial dechlorination activity increases with higher concentrations within sediments for these congeners. Enantiomer composition reversed with depth for PCBs 91, 132, and 176, suggesting that multiple microbial populations may be present within the same core that are enantioselectively dechlorinating PCBs. Such observations indicate that concentration and time are not the only factors affecting biotransformation, complicating prediction of enantioselectivity. Comparison of EFs with dates suggested biotransformation half-lives of approximately 30 years, which is on the same time scale as sequestration by burial. In contrast, Lake Ontario sediments (maximum total PCBs, 400 ng/g) had racemic or near-racemic amounts of most congeners throughout the core profile, which is consistent with achiral indicators suggesting no microbial biotransformation within Lake Ontario sediments. Thresholds for reductive dechlorination may exist, but they would be at concentrations of less than 30 to 80 microg/g.

Trophic transfer of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems: Identifying critical research needs

To evaluate the process of trophic transfer of microplastics, it is important to consider various abiotic and biotic factors involved in their ingestion, egestion, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification. Toward this end, a review of the literature on microplastics has been conducted to identify factors influencing their uptake and absorption; their residence times in organisms and bioaccumulation; the physical effects of their aggregation in gastrointestinal tracts; and their potential to act as vectors for the transfer of other contaminants. Limited field evidence from higher trophic level organisms in a variety of habitats suggests that trophic transfer of microplastics may be a common phenomenon and occurs concurrently with direct ingestion. Critical research needs include standardizing methods of field characterization of microplastics, quantifying uptake and depuration rates in organisms at different trophic levels, quantifying the influence that microplastics have on the uptake and/or depuration of environmental contaminants among different trophic levels, and investigating the potential for biomagnification of microplastic-associated chemicals. More integrated approaches involving computational modeling are required to fully assess trophic transfer of microplastics. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:505-509.

Metal and acid recovery options for the plating industry

Abstract The metal plating and finishing industry loses large amounts of raw materials, and while pollution prevention (P2) techniques and technologies are being used, there appears to be a disparity among platers in the extent of implementation. Surveys and interviews of South Carolina metal platers and finishers were conducted to explore the reasons for the lack of implementation of P2, to assess the extent of metal and acid recovery practiced, and to determine interest in various options for increasing recovery. Both standard recovery options (in-house recovery and centralized recovery facilities for sludge, spent solutions, and equipment rental) and innovative recovery options (rotating or shared recovery equipment and plating-industry specific and integrated industrial parks) were examined. All recovery options were compared with conventional treatment and each other based on technical, economic, and institutional factors. Although all the recovery options examined are conceptually feasible and have similar benefits, they are not all economically and institutionally feasible at this time for South Carolina platers. Based on the results of this research, it is recommended that platers, regulators, trade associations, and other parties in South Carolina focus on in-house recovery, including encouraging departments within captive plating shops to share recovery equipment. Platers in other regions as well as other industries will also find this research applicable. The two main variables that could change the results are geographic location, which affects transportation costs, and the political climate, which affects the desire to attract industry and the flexibility of the regulatory agencies.

Assessing atmospheric concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls by evergreen Rhododendron maximum next to a contaminated stream

Conifers are often used as an air passive sampler, but few studies have focused on the implication of broadleaf evergreens to monitor atmospheric semivolatile organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In the present study, the authors used Rhododendron maximum (rhododendron) growing next to a contaminated stream to assess atmospheric PCB concentrations. The present study area was located in a rural setting and approximately 2 km downstream of a former capacitor plant. Leaves from the same mature shrubs were collected in late fall 2010 and winter and spring 2011. Polychlorinated biphenyls were detected in the collected leaves, suggesting that rhododendron can be used as air passive samplers in rural areas where active sampling is impractical. Estimated ΣPCB (47 congeners) concentrations in the atmosphere decreased from fall 2010 to spring 2011 with concentration means at 3990 pg m(-3) , 2850 pg m(-3) , and 931 pg m(-3) in fall 2010, winter 2011, and spring 2011, respectively. These results indicate that the atmospheric concentrations at this location continue to be high despite termination of active discharge from the former industrial source. Leaves had a consistent pattern of high concentrations of tetra-CBs and penta-CBs similar to the congener distribution in polyethylene passive samplers deployed in the water column, suggesting that volatilized PCBs from the stream were the primary source of contaminants in rhododendron leaves. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2192-2198.

Innovative recovery options for metal finishers

lthough some metal finishers have implemented pollutionA prevention strategies, there are still many who have not. Surveys and interviews of South Carolina metal finishers were conducted to determine the interest in various options for increasing the use of one pollution-prevention strategy-metal and acid recovery. Standard and innovative, and technological and nontechnological options were included. The results suggest that the majority of metal finishers, especially job-shop (or contract) metal finishers, are interested in pursuing metal and acid recovery and are willing to examine various innovative recovery methods, including collaborating with other interested parties to decrease the risks and costs associated with implementing metal and acid recovery.