PubMed · 12775037
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Philipp Mayer, Johannes Tolls, Joop L M Hermens, Donald Mackay. 2003-05-01. Equilibrium sampling devices.. https://doi.org/10.1021/es032433i
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
Organophosphate esters (OPEs), widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers, have been increasingly detected in aquatic environments. However, investigations of their distribution in high-altitude plateau lakes remain scarce. Identifying and quantifying the sources and associated risks of OPEs are crucial for subsequent water environment management. In this study, an integrated source-risk analysis approach was employed by combining the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, the Geodetector (GD) model, and risk quotient (RQ). Analysis of 14 OPEs in surface waters of the Dianchi Lake Basin (DLB) revealed 12 detectable compounds, with total OPEs concentrations (ΣOPEs) ranging from not detected (ND)-64.6 ng/L during the wet season and ND-35.8 ng/L during the dry season. Elevated ΣOPEs were primarily observed at inflow sites in the northern part of the lake and in urban rivers. Source apportionment indicated four major contributing sources: agricultural films containing flame-retardant and plasticizer additives, traffic-related particulate emissions, releases from household and personal care products, and industrial production and applications of flame retardants in plastics, electronics, and related products (the predominant source). The ecological impact caused by OPEs ranges from no risk to low risk, with tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate emitted from industrial source being the primary driver of potential environmental risk. These findings highlight the necessity of prioritizing industrial sources in future management strategies. Overall, this study provides a methodological framework for source apportionment and risk assessment of OPEs and offers scientific evidence to support environmental management of OPEs in the DLB.
Occupational health regulations and practices in EU Member States have been directed, to a large extent, by the principle of social protection, aiming to protect both the health and the employment of every (candidate) worker. Medical and biomonitoring practices have played a major role in identifying health problems at work and also in establishing preventive measures. Lately, a new tendency is occurring that reduces health protection to compliance with a limited set of standards for workplaces and individuals. According to this approach, 'predictive' medical tests might be used for the selection of the fittest workers. At a time when the labor market is evolving towards less stable forms of work, such a 'standardization approach' may lead to an unequal occupational health policy: the better off being more protected, the more exposed being less protected and the more susceptible being excluded. Instead, biomonitoring tools should only be developed as part of medical surveillance and used for those who need it most.
The concentrations of different forms of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb) were determined in a mine dump material rich in chalcopyrite. The concentrations were compared with those of the natural vegetation colonising the dump. Samples taken from the dump are acid (pH(H(2)O) between 3.0 and 5.0), have carbon contents lower than 0.5%, N lower than 0.2%, effective cation exchange capacity between 0.74 and 4.96 cmol(+)kg(-1) and percent Al saturation in the exchange complex higher than 20% in 85% of the samples. Iron was the most abundant heavy metal, in both total and bioavailable forms, and the relative abundance of metals was: Fe>Cu>Mn>Zn>Cr. The total Fe concentrations ranged between 4315 and 31578 mg x kg(-1), the total Cu between 273 and 5241 mg x kg(-1), the total Mn between 294 and 2105 mg x kg(-1), the total Zn between 73 and 894 mg x kg(-1) and total Cr between 0.01 and 30 mg x kg(-1). Ni, Cd and Pb were below the analytical detection limits. The concentration of bioavailable Fe ranged between 40 and 1550 mg x kg(-1); Zn was the least abundant metal in this fraction (between 2 and 100 mg x kg(-1)). Copper was the most abundant heavy metal in the exchange complex and in the aqueous extracts, followed by Zn, Mn and Fe. Exchangeable Cu ranged between 17.7 and 1866 mg x kg(-1), whereas the maximum concentrations of exchangeable Zn, Mn and Fe did not exceed 140 mg x kg(-1). The Cu concentration in the aqueous extracts varied between 0.1 and 8.3 mg x l(-1) and the concentration of Fe was always less than 0.52 mg x l(-1). The heavy metal contents in the spontaneously occurring vegetation in the dump ranged between: 150 and 900 mg Fe x kg(-1), 84 and 2069 mg Mn x kg(-1), 20.5 and 106 mg Cu x kg(-1) and between 35 and 717 mg Zn x kg(-1), when considering all the plant samples analysed. Festuca sp. accumulated Fe, Salix atrocinerea accumulated Zn and Mn, and Frangula alnus and Quercus robur accumulated Mn. These native plant species may contribute to decrease the heavy metal contents in the dump material.