Th. Kouimtzis

Assessment of the surface water quality in Northern Greece

The application of different multivariate statistical approaches for the interpretation of a large and complex data matrix obtained during a monitoring program of surface waters in Northern Greece is presented in this study. The dataset consists of analytical results from a 3-yr survey conducted in the major river systems (Aliakmon, Axios, Gallikos, Loudias and Strymon) as well as streams, tributaries and ditches. Twenty-seven parameters have been monitored on 25 key sampling sites on monthly basis (total of 22,350 observations). The dataset was treated using cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis and multiple regression analysis on principal components. CA showed four different groups of similarity between the sampling sites reflecting the different physicochemical characteristics and pollution levels of the studied water systems. Six latent factors were identified as responsible for the data structure explaining 90% of the total variance of the dataset and are conditionally named organic, nutrient, physicochemical, weathering, soil-leaching and toxic-anthropogenic factors. A multivariate receptor model was also applied for source apportionment estimating the contribution of identified sources to the concentration of the physicochemical parameters. This study presents the necessity and usefulness of multivariate statistical assessment of large and complex databases in order to get better information about the quality of surface water, the design of sampling and analytical protocols and the effective pollution control/management of the surface waters.

Chemical mass balance source apportionment of PM10 in an industrialized urban area of Northern Greece

Ambient PM10 were sampled at three sites in an industrialized urban area of Northern Greece during June 1997–June 1998 and analyzed for 17 chemical elements, 5 water-soluble ions and 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In addition, chemical source profiles consisting of the same particulate components were obtained for a number of industrial activities (cement, fertilizer and asphalt production, quarry operations, metal electroplating, metal welding and tempering, steel manufacture, lead and bronze smelters, metal scrap incineration), residential oil burning, non-catalyst and catalyst-equipped passenger cars, diesel fuelled taxis and buses, as well as for geological fugitive sources (paved road dust and soil from open lands). Ambient and source data were used in a chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model for source identification and apportionment. Results of CMB modeling showed that major source of ambient PM10 at all three sites was diesel vehicle exhaust. Significant contribution from industrial oil burning was also evidenced at the site located closest to the industrial area.

Removal of pesticides from aqueous solutions by combined physicochemical processes—the behaviour of lindane

Abstract The adsorption of the insecticide lindane on powdered activated carbon (PAC) from aqueous solutions with and without the simultaneous presence of coagulants has been studied. Ferric chloride and basic polyaluminium chlorosulfate were examined as coagulants, in laboratory experiments aided in certain cases by polyacrylamide (a common polyelectrolyte) addition, in order to evaluate and optimize the various process parameters, such as coagulant and carbon concentrations, solution pH and position of coagulant addition (before or after PAC). The obtained results indicated that PAC adsorption efficiency was not highly affected by solution pH, while PAC doses greater than 20 mg/L were found to be necessary in order to reduce lindane from initial concentration of 10 μg/L down to 0.1 μg/L within 1 h contact time. However, when coagulants have been added after the addition of PAC, a certain decrease of adsorbent efficiency was observed and, therefore, double PAC concentration (40 mg/L) was necessary for the aforementioned removal. In order to evaluate the effect of position of coagulant addition on the removal efficiency of PAC, the respective adsorption isotherms were calculated and rate studies were performed.

Ionic composition of PM10 in the area of Thessaloniki, Greece

Airborne particulate matter (PM(10)) was collected from July 1997 to July 1998 at three locations in the city of Thessaloniki. PM(10) samples were analyzed for Cl(-), NO3(-), SO4(2-), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Na(+), K(+) and NH4(+). The average PM(10) concentrations were found similar in all three sites with higher values in cold period. The ionic content comprised the 17-23% of the PM(10) mass and sulfate made up the 35-38% of the PM(10) ionic content with an average concentration of 4.80-7.26 microg m(-3). Good correlation was found for SO4(2-) and NO3(-) with Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and Cl(-). Two factors were found to influence the variance of ionic constituents in PM(10) by using factor analysis. Data evaluation considering wind direction showed that higher PM(10) and other ionic concentrations are associated with calm conditions, suggesting influences of local sources.

PCDD/Fs and PCBs in airborne particulate matter of the greater Thessaloniki area, N. Greece

Particle-bound polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were monitored at two sites in northern Greece for an eight-month period in 1999. PCDD/F concentrations were close to the lower end of reported values worldwide. Excepting a few cases, the PCDD/Fs homologue profile was stable. The gaseous PCDD/F fractions calculated were found to account for a small percentage of the total concentrations (<2% for OCDD/Fs and HpCDD/Fs, while 30-35% for TCDFs). Particle-bound PCBs were also found at low concentrations which, however, were higher at the urban site. Calculations of the dry deposition of particulate PCDD/ Fs and PCBs gave mean values of 0.52 and 0.59 pg I-TEQ/m2/day of PCDD/Fs, while 242 and 74 pg/m2/day of sigmaPCBs for the urban and the semirural areas respectively. An anticorrelation of PCDD/F concentrations with ambient temperature was derived particularly for the lower chlorinated congeners. A weak association with winds of western and southern origin was also observed. Factor analysis and literature source profiles were employed to identify possible emission sources. It was appeared that the PCDD/F compositional pattern of TSP is influenced by mixed sources the most prominent being uncontrolled fires and car exhausts.

Characterization of airborne particulate matter in thessaloniki, Greece: Part I: Source related heavy metal concentrations within TSP

TSP samples, collected at two stations in the area of Thessaloniki during the period July 1987‐June 1988, were analysed for heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni and V). Flame and flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for metal determinations. Metals determined were characterized with respect to their origin from natural or man‐made emission sources. Source identification was attempted by relation of metal concentrations to wind direction, and interelement correlations. Results obtained showed that Pb, Zn and Cu are emitted from man‐made sources (traffic, domestic heating, industry), V, Ni and Co are derived partially from natural and man‐made sources, while Cr is mainly soil‐derived.

Characterization of airborne particulate matter in thessaloniki, Greece

A receptor modeling approach has been applied to identify and apportion sources of airborne particulate matter in Thessaloniki, Greece. The absolute principal component analysis source apportionment technique used, provided quantitative information regarding both source particle characteristics and impacts. The analysis identified four major sources of heavy metals within total suspended particles (TSP) in the centre of the city: oil burning, pyrometallurgical non‐ferrous metal processes, motor vehicles and soil resuspension. Their contributions to TSP estimated by regression on absolute principal component scores (APCS) were 12%, 8%, 5% and 4%, respectively. A similar analysis conducted for a sampling site close to the industrial area identified five major sources: oil burning, industrial Cr source, soil resuspension, pyrometallurgical non‐ferrous metal processes and motor vehicles with contributions 20%, 15%, 9%, 8% and 4%, respectively.

Removal of pesticides from surface waters by combined physicochemical processes. Part I: Dodine

The simultaneous action of powdered activated carbon and several coagulant agents on the removal of the fungicide dodine from spiked distilled water, was studied. As coagulants, ferric chloride (FeCl3) and basic polyaluminium chlorosulfate ([Al(OH)xCly(SO4)z]n) were examined, using polyacrylamide, in certain cases, as coagulant aid (polyelectrolyte). The efficiency of dodine removal was investigated with respect to the added amount of powdered activated carbon (PAC), the pH value, as well as the type and dose of coagulant and polyelectrolyte. The experiments were performed applying the standard jar-test procedure. The initial concentration of dodine was 250 μg/L. At this concentration and pH range 5–8 it was found that a dose of 100 mg/L PAC was necessary to achieve more than 98% removal of dodine, whereas lower removal (91–93%) was obtained applying half the dose of PAC under the same conditions. However, when 10–100 mg/L FeCl3 were simultaneously added with PAC, the removal efficiency increased to >98%, even with the half PAC dose.

Study on distribution and origin of boron in groundwater in the area of Chalkidiki, Northern Greece by employing chemical and isotopic tracers

This paper presents an integrate study on the occurrence and distribution of boron in groundwater in the area of Chalkidiki, Northern Greece. Groundwater samples were collected from wells used for drinking and irrigation purposes. Samples were analysed for boron, various physicochemical parameters (T, pH, EC, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Br, Cl, HCO(3), SO(4), NO(3) and As) and isotopes ((18)O, (2)H, (11)B). Boron showed high spatial variation ranged from 0.04 to 6.5mg/L. Almost 60% of the examined wells exhibited boron concentration higher than the limit of 1mg/L proposed for water intended for human consumption. The higher concentrations were determined in geothermal waters with relatively high temperature. Correlation analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were employed to find out possible relationships among the examined parameters and groundwater samples. Chemical and isotopic fingerprints have been used to investigate the origin of boron.

Toxic elements in the environment of thessaloniki, Greece

Heavy metals and other toxic elements (Fe, Cr, Co, Zn, Mn, Cd, As, Sb, Se and Pb) were determined in roadside dust samples collected at 20 sampling points of the area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. Instrumental neutron activation combined with high resolution γ‐ray spectroscopy, as well as atomic absorption spectroscopy were used for element determination. Results showed that roadside dust in the urban area of the city contained elevated concentrations of Pb, Zn and Sb, whereas in the industrial area found increased concentrations of As, Cd, Cr and Pb.