Effect of Activated Carbon Amendment on Bacterial Community Structure and Functions in a PAH Impacted Urban Soil

ABSTRACT: We collected urban soil samples impacted by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from a sorbent-based remediation field trial to address concerns about unwanted side-effects of 2 % powdered (PAC) or granular (GAC) activated carbon amendment on soil microbiology and pollutant biodegradation. After three years, total microbial cell counts and respiration rates were highest in the GAC amended soil. The predominant bacterial community structure derived from denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) shifted more strongly with time than in response to AC amendment. DGGE band sequencing revealed the presence of taxa with closest affiliations either to known PAH degraders, e.g. Rhodococcus jostii RHA-1, or taxa known to harbor PAH degraders, e.g. Rhodococcus erythropolis, in all soils. Quantification by real-time polymerase chain reaction yielded similar dioxygenases gene copy numbers in unamended, PAC-, or GACamended soil. PAH availability assessments in batch tests showed th

Leaching potential of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from source zones with historic contamination of aqueous film forming foam - a surfactant mixture problem

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Leaching and transport of PFAS from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in the unsaturated soil at a firefighting training facility under cold climatic conditions

The contaminant situation at a Norwegian firefighting training facility (FTF) was investigated 15 years after the use of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) based aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) products had ceased. Detailed mapping of the soil and groundwater at the FTF field site in 2016, revealed high concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFOS accounted for 96% of the total PFAS concentration in the soil with concentrations ranging from <0.3 μg/kg to 6500 μg/kg. The average concentration of PFOS in the groundwater down-gradient of the site was 22 μg/l (6.5–44.4 μg/l), accounting for 71% of the total PFAS concentration...publishedVersio

From Ecological Risk Assessments to Risk Governance. Evaluation of the Norwegian Management System for Contaminated Sediments

Managing of contaminated sediments is a complex process that will naturally have to balance scientific, political, and economic interests. This study evaluates the Norwegian system for managing contaminated sediments toward a generic system for risk governance encompassing both knowledge, legally prescribed procedures, and social values. The review has been performed examining the management plans for 17 prioritized contaminated fjord systems in Norway. The results indicate a strong focus in the Norwegian management system on ecological risk assessment. This facilitates selection of local sustainable remediation measures, but may also complicate the balance toward other relevant interests in a decision-making process. The Norwegian system lacks management tools to identify and handle ambiguity through concern assessments and stakeholder involvement, and the decision-making process seems to a large extent based on ad hoc decisions, making it difficult to incorporate and document multicriteria evaluations into the management process. To develop a sustainable management system, encompassing environmental, economical, and social interests, a stronger focus on concern assessment and multicriteria evaluations is requiredsubmittedVersio

Vertical profiles of sedimentary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and black carbon in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Poland) and Oslofjord/Drammensfjord (Norway), and their relation to regional energy transitions

The analysis of undisturbed sediment cores is a powerful tool for understanding spatial and temporal impacts of anthropogenic emissions from the energy and transport sectors at a regional scale. The spatial and vertical distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and black carbon (BC) were determined in 12 cores of recent (up to 20 cm long) sediments from the Gulf of Gdańsk in Poland, and Oslofjord/Drammensfjord in Norway. The Σ12PAHs levels in individual sediment layers varied from 250 to 4500 ng/g d.w. in the Gulf of Gdańsk, and from 210 to 4580 ng/g d.w. in the Norwegian fjords. Analysis of PAH ratios indicates that PAHs in both studied areas originated mainly from pyrogenic sources. The BC concentrations in sediments were up to 0.9% and were generally higher in the Gulf of Gdańsk (mean - 0.39%) than in Oslofjord/Drammensfjord (mean - 0.19%). The deposition history of anthropogenic emissions over the last 100 years was reconstructed based on the analysis of dated and well-laminated sediment cores from two stations from the Gulf of Gdańsk and two stations from the Norwegian fjords. The evolution in energy structure was especially evident in the Oslofjord, where transition from fossil fuel combustion to hydropower after 1960 coincided with a sharp decrease in sedimentary PAHs. Despite significant changes in the economic development in Poland, temporal patterns in PAH concentrations/profiles in the Gulf of Gdańsk were not as obvious. The historical PAH trends in the Gulf of Gdańsk may be related to the overwhelming PAH inputs from domestic combustion of solid fuels (coal, wood) for heating purposes. The implementation of legislation and other activities addressed to restrict the use of solid fuels in residential heating should reduce PAH emissions.Vertical profiles of sedimentary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and black carbon in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Poland) and Oslofjord/Drammensfjord (Norway), and their relation to regional energy transitionsacceptedVersio