Jan Schwarzbauer

Occurrence and alteration of organic contaminants in seepage and leakage water from a waste deposit landfill

Organic-geochemical analyses have been applied to seepage water and leakage water samples of a waste deposit landfill in order to give a comprehensive view on the composition of the organic contaminants. Based on intense GC/MS screening analyses a wide variety of organic substances were identified and attributed to natural or xenobiotic waste components. Apart from plant material-derived compounds and degradation products of peptides, carbohydrates and lignin, numerous xenobiotic substances were identified and attributed to the groups of pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, pesticides or chlorinated aromatics. Not all of the substances identified in the seepage water samples were recovered in the leakage water sample due to degradation processes or dilution by uncontaminated water. Quantitative analysis of selected contaminants was used to discriminate substances affected by degradation processes and persistent compounds.

Identification of specific organic contaminants for estimating the contribution of the Elbe river to the pollution of the German Bight

Abstract GC/MS analyses have been applied to sediment samples of the German Bight in order to document the state of organic contamination as well as to identify specific molecular markers that are appropriate to estimate the discharge of anthropogenic compounds derived from the Elbe river. Detailed screening analyses revealed a wide variety of organic lipophilic compounds of biogenic, petrogenic as well as anthropogenic origin. Potential marker compounds indicating the contribution of the Elbe river could be attributed mainly to the chlorinated aromatic contaminants. Specifically, these include tetra- to hexachlorobenzenes, mono- to dichloronaphthalenes, hexachlorobutadiene, tetrabutyl tin, alkylsulfonic acid phenylesters, 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexahydro-1,1,6,6-tetramethyl-4-isopropyl- as -indacene and 4,4′-dichlorodiphenylsulfide. These compounds are suitable to indicate the spatial distribution of Elbe river derived organic matter.

Distribution of polycyclic musks in water and particulate matter of the Lippe River (Germany)

The occurrence and distribution of polycyclic musks in the Lippe River system (a tributary of the Rhine River, Germany) was investigated in order to observe the dynamic transport and partitioning of these compounds between aqueous and particulate phases after their discharge into the river by sewage effluents. 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[g]-2-benzopyrane (HHCB), 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (AHTN), 6-acetyl-1,1,2,3,3,5-hexamethylindane (AHMI) and 4-acetyl-1,1-dimethyl-6-tert.-butylindane (ADBI) concentrations were determined in 19 water and surface sediment samples which were taken from a longitudinal section of the river. HHCB and AHTN were present in each of the water samples at concentrations ranging from < 10 to 180 ng 1 -1 and < 10 to 70 ng 1 -1 , respectively. The load of dissolved HHCB and AHTN was calculated on the basis of compound concentrations in water and the corresponding river runoff data and ranged from 3 to 293 g day -1 and from 1 to 108 g day -1 , respectively. Increasing loads of HHCB and AHTN along the river reflect a high input of sewage effluents to the densely populated areas along the central part of the river. Decreasing loads at the lower reaches indicate that in the corresponding river sections the rate of removal of musks was higher than the rate of input. Degradation and/or adsorption to particulate matter are processes that might explain this phenomenon. Consequently, high concentrations of HHCB and AHTN were detected in surface sediments from the Lippe River (from 5 to 191 μg kg -1 and from 2 to 1399 μg kg -1 , respectively). HHCB/AHTN ratios in sediment samples were lower (average 1.2) than in water samples (average 2.9), suggesting the preferential adsorption of AHTN to particulate matter.

Molecular markers of anthropogenic activity in sediments of the Havel and Spree Rivers (Germany)

Detailed gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analyses have been applied to sediment samples of the Havel and Spree River, tributaries to the Elbe River, in order to identify specific molecular markers of anthropogenic activities. Despite a wide variety of lipophilic organic compounds from diffuse anthropogenic contamination, a local emission of an industrial point source was reflected by specific markers including halogenated compounds and nitrogen containing substances (4-ethylnitrobenzene, formyl piperidine, acetyl piperidine). In addition to well-known anthropogenic markers various new molecular tracers were detected and are discussed, namely plasticizers (alkylsulfonic acid aryl esters, tributyl and tricresyl phosphates), synthetic fragrances (galaxolide, tonalide, 4-oxoisophorone), additives of personal care products (4-methoxycinnamic acid 2-ethylhexyl ester, benzyl benzoate, dibenzyl ether, benzophenone), occurring due to sewage treatment plant input.

Polycyclic aromatic musk compounds in sewage treatment plant effluents of Canada and Sweden--first results.

Polycyclic musk fragrances (PMF) are widely used fragrances for cosmetics and other personal and household care products. Quantitative data on PMF (HHCB-Galaxolide, AHTN-Tonalide, ATTI-Traseolide, AHMI-Phantolide, ADBI-Celestolide, and DPMI-Cashmeran) and the most prominent nitro musks (Musk Xylene-MX, and Musk Ketone-MK) in different wastewater treatment effluents in Canada and Sweden are presented to provide preliminary information on the variations within the emission pattern of these compounds. In all samples HHCB and AHTN were detected at concentrations of up to 1300 and 520 ngl(-1), respectively. ADBI, AHMI were also present, but close to the detection limit. The other PMF DPMI, ATTI, and more surprisingly musk ketone and musk xylene were not detected in any sample analysed. In comparison the samples from Canada were contaminated at a higher level than the Swedish samples, by a maximum factor of ca 10 for HHCB and AHTN.

Identification and chemical characterization of specific organic constituents of petrochemical effluents.

Based on extensive GC/MS screening analyses, the molecular diversity of petrochemical effluents discharged to a river in North Rhine-Westphalia was characterised. Within a wide spectrum of organic wastewater constituents, specific compounds that might act as source indicators have been determined. This differentiation was based on (i) the individual molecular structures, (ii) the quantitative appearance of organic compounds in treated effluents and (iii) the information on their general occurrence in the technosphere and hydrosphere. Principally, site-specific indicators have been distinguished from candidates to act as general petrochemical indicators. Further on, monitoring the environmental behaviour of target organic contaminants in an aquatic system shortly after their release into the river allowed a first evaluation of the impact of the petrogenic emission in terms of the quantity and spatial distribution. The identification of petrogenic contaminants was not restricted to constituents of the effluents only, but comprised the compounds circulating in the wastewater systems within a petrochemical plant. A number of environmentally relevant and structurally specific substances that are normally eliminated by wastewater treatment facilities were identified. Insufficient wastewater treatment, careless waste handling or accidents at industrial complexes are potential sources for a single release of the pollutants. This study demonstrates the relevance of source specific organic indicators to be an important tool for comprehensive assessment of the potential impact of petrochemical activities to the contamination of an aquatic environment.

Anthropogenic organic contaminants in water, sediments and benthic organisms of the mangrove-fringed Segara Anakan Lagoon, Java, Indonesia

Segara Anakan, a mangrove-fringed coastal lagoon in Indonesia, has a high diversity of macrobenthic invertebrates and is increasingly affected by human activities. We found > 50 organic contaminants in water, sediment and macrobenthic invertebrates from the lagoon most of which were polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). Composition of PACs pointed to petrogenic contamination in the eastern lagoon. PACs mainly consisted of alkylated PAHs, which are more abundant in crude oil than parent PAHs. Highest total PAC concentration in sediment was above reported toxicity thresholds for aquatic invertebrates. Other identified compounds derived from municipal sewage and also included novel contaminants like triphenylphosphine oxide. Numbers of stored contaminants varied between species which is probably related to differences in microhabitat and feeding mode. Most contaminants were detected in Telescopium telescopium and Polymesoda erosa. Our findings suggest that more attention should be paid to the risk potential of alkylated PAHs, which has hardly been addressed previously.

Pollution history revealed by sedimentary records: a review

This overview focuses on geochemical and geochronological investigations on dated sediment profiles, used for the evaluation of the inventory and fate of persistent pollutants within the aquatic environment over time and space. It includes a short description of the spectrum of sediment contaminants such as heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), pesticides, pharmaceuticals or personal care products, of the contamination sources and pathways, the prerequisites of the analytical approach as well as numerous case studies worldwide. The aim of the review was to summarise the current knowledge related to the historical input of organic and inorganic sediment contaminants into marine, limnic and fluvial sediment archives, their general contamination trends referring to the increase in sediment contamination during the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century as well as source-specific trends of modern or present-day contaminants since the last four decades. Based on the available literature, it demonstrates the benefit of using correlated chronological and geochemical investigations as a tool for the evaluation of the chemical status and risk assessment of pollutants in aquatic sediment archives over long time intervals, for instance since urbanisation and industrialisation started.

Environmental chemistry for a sustainable world

Part 1 Air and water pollution. Environmental Fate of Chiral Pharmaceuticals: Determination, Degradation and Toxicity; Pollutant-Induced Decay of Building Materials; Novel Bioreactors for Waste Gas Treatment; Extraction Procedures for Organic Pollutants Determination in Water; Oxidation of Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins by Chlorine Dioxide. Implications for Water Treatment; Biodegradation of Azo Dyes from Wastewater; Air Quality Monitoring with Lichens in India. Heavy Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Part 2 Remediation. Electrochemical Remediation Technologies for Waters Contaminated by Pharmaceutical Residues; Biogas Technologies and Cleaning Techniques; Heavy Metals: Toxicity and Removal by Biosorption; Fe-Mn Concretions and Nodules to Sequester Heavy Metals in Soils; Bioremediation of Arsenic in Contaminated Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments; Microbial Pathogen Inactivation Using Heterogeneous Photocatalysis.

DDT isomers and metabolites in the environment: an overview

It is known for decades that the isomeric composition of organic pollutants can be influenced substantially by environmental processes such as biotransformation or transfer between compartments. This accounts also for the pesticide 2,2,-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane, better known as p,p′-DDT, and its accompanied substitution isomer 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (o,p′-DDT). Although many studies followed the environmental fate of DDT, only very few publications reported on quantitative data of both o,p′- and p,p′-isomers. Therefore this condensed review describes evidence for remarkable changes and shifts in o,p′-/p,p′-ratios of DDT-related compounds. The application of isomer-specific analysis remains dominantly on emission source apportionment, for example, to differentiate DDT and dicofol emission. Only very few studies linked observed isomer shifts to aspects of environmental processes, such as (1) volatility from soil to air, (2) environmental stability in soil or (3) bioaccumulation in fishes. Additionally, several studies failed to use isomer-specific interpretation in order to obtain more detailed insight into environmental processes, for example, for observed isomer shifts during air–water fluxes. The o,p′-/p,p′-ratios of DDT and its main metabolite DDD have been detected more or less on the same level, whereas the isomers of the second main metabolite DDE were definitely depleted by the o,p′-isomer in all environmental compartments, indicating a general isomer-specific differentiation during DDT metabolism.