High-throughput evaluation of organic contaminant removal efficiency in a wastewater treatment plant using direct injection UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS

Removal efficiency can be estimated from non-target data using the ratio of peak areas in effluent and influent

Wideband Characteristic Basis Functions in Radiation Problems

In this paper, the use of characteristic basis function (CBF) method, augmented by the application of asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) technique is analyzed in the context of the application to radiation problems. Both conventional and wideband CBFs are applied to the analysis of wire and planar antennas

Biogeochemical functioning of the Baltic Sea

Location, specific topography, and hydrographic setting together with climate change and strong anthropogenic pressure are the main factors shaping the biogeochemical functioning and thus also the ecological status of the Baltic Sea. The recent decades have brought significant changes in the Baltic Sea. First, the rising nutrient loads from land in the second half of the 20th century led to eutrophication and spreading of hypoxic and anoxic areas, for which permanent stratification of the water column and limited ventilation of deep-water layers made favourable conditions. Since the 1980s the nutrient loads to the Baltic Sea have been continuously decreasing. This, however, has so far not resulted in significant improvements in oxygen availability in the deep regions, which has revealed a slow response time of the system to the reduction of the land-derived nutrient loads. Responsible for that is the low burial efficiency of phosphorus at anoxic conditions and its remobilization from sediments when conditions change from oxic to anoxic. This results in a stoichiometric excess of phosphorus available for organic-matter production, which promotes the growth of N2-fixing cyanobacteria and in turn supports eutrophication. This assessment reviews the available and published knowledge on the biogeochemical functioning of the Baltic Sea. In its content, the paper covers the aspects related to changes in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (C, N, and P) external loads, their transformations in the coastal zone, changes in organic-matter production (eutrophication) and remineralization (oxygen availability), and the role of sediments in burial and turnover of C, N, and P. In addition to that, this paper focuses also on changes in the marine CO2 system, the structure and functioning of the microbial community, and the role of contaminants for biogeochemical processes. This comprehensive assessment allowed also for identifying knowledge gaps and future research needs in the field of marine biogeochemistry in the Baltic Sea.Peer reviewe

Human impacts and their interactions in the Baltic Sea region

Coastal environments, in particular heavily populated semi-enclosed marginal seas and coasts like the Baltic Sea region, are strongly affected by human activities. A multitude of human impacts, including climate change, affect the different compartments of the environment, and these effects interact with each other. As part of the Baltic Earth Assessment Reports (BEAR), we present an inventory and discussion of different human-induced factors and processes affecting the environment of the Baltic Sea region, and their interrelations. Some are naturally occurring and modified by human activities (i.e. climate change, coastal processes, hypoxia, acidification, submarine groundwater discharges, marine ecosystems, non-indigenous species, land use and land cover), some are completely human-induced (i.e. agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, river regulations, offshore wind farms, shipping, chemical contamination, dumped warfare agents, marine litter and microplastics, tourism, and coastal management), and they are all interrelated to different degrees. We present a general description and analysis of the state of knowledge on these interrelations. Our main insight is that climate change has an overarching, integrating impact on all of the other factors and can be interpreted as a background effect, which has different implications for the other factors. Impacts on the environment and the human sphere can be roughly allocated to anthropogenic drivers such as food production, energy production, transport, industry and economy. The findings from this inventory of available information and analysis of the different factors and their interactions in the Baltic Sea region can largely be transferred to other comparable marginal and coastal seas in the world

The potential of the EU Water Framework Directive for reducing emissions of pollutants is limited : a case study on river basin specific pollutants in Swedish environmental permitting processes

River basin specific pollutants (RBSPs) are supposedly a key tool to fulfil the EU’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) goal of good ecological status in all European waterbodies. The RBSPs provide a tool to manage chemical pollution identified as a national priority. An important question is if the costly management related to RBSPs leads to reduced emissions, an issue we investigated here using Sweden as a case. Swedish measures implemented under the WFD mainly rely on environmental permitting and supervision. We, therefore, specifically assessed how RBSPs have influenced permit proceedings in the Land and Environment Court of Appeal, where precedents for judgements in lower courts and authorities is established, during the 2010s. Despite permit-review being an important measure highlighted in the WFD and in Swedish programs of measures, all cases appealed to higher court were initiated by the operators/permit holders. The permissibility of environmentally hazardous activities was not impacted by RBSPs in any instance. Permit conditions addressing RBSPs were discussed in ⁓1% of all environmental cases, mainly resulting in conditions demanding further inquiries regarding emissions and concentrations of a limited number of RBSPs (i.e., metals and nitrogen in the forms of nitrate and ammonia). Open-ended conditions and delegation allowing for updating permit conditions if additional RBSPs are identified were suggested but rejected by court as these conflict with fundamental principles of precision and predictability of permit conditions stated in Swedish and European law. We conclude that RBSPs as management tool has little impact on emissions from activities requiring environmental permits and thereby water quality

In situ benthic flow-through chambers to determine sediment-to-water fluxes of legacy hydrophobic organic contaminants

Contaminated sediment can release hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) and thereby act as a secondary source of primarily legacy hazardous substances to the water column. There is therefore a need for assessments of the release of HOCs from contaminated sediment for prioritization of management actions. In situ assessment of HOC sediment-to-water flux is currently done with (closed) benthic flux chambers, which have a sampling time exceeding one month. During this time, the water inside the chamber is depleted of oxygen and the effect of bioturbation on the sediment-to-water release of HOCs is largely ignored. Here we present a novel benthic flux chamber, which measures sediment-to-water flux of legacy HOCs within days, and includes the effect of bioturbation since ambient oxygen levels inside the chamber are maintained by continuous pumping of water through the chamber. This chamber design allows for sediment-to-water flux measurements under more natural conditions. The chamber design was tested in a contaminated Baltic Sea bay. Measured fluxes were 62–2300 ng m−2 d−1 for individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 5.5–150 ng m−2 d−1 for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These fluxes were 3–23 times (PAHs) and 12–74 times (PCBs) higher than fluxes measured with closed benthic chambers deployed in parallel at the same location. We hypothesize that the observed difference in HOC flux between the two chamber designs are partly an effect of bioturbation. This hypothesized effect of bioturbation was in accordance with literature data from experimental studies

Policy brief: : Call for better management of micropollutants in wastewater

Urban wastewater treatment plants are important collection points for many chemical contaminants, often called micropollutants, which are widespread in the aquatic environment. Currently, this issue is not being sufficiently addressed by regional policy and EU-wide legislation. The EU’s Zero Pollution Ambition, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the likely revision of the Urban Waste-water Treatment Directive now provide opportunities to address this issue. Measures to prevent the emissions of micropollutants via wastewater treatment plants are needed both up- and downstream, to ensure policy coherence between EU water and chemicals legislation

Policy brief: : Call for better management of micropollutants in wastewater

Urban wastewater treatment plants are important collection points for many chemical contaminants, often called micropollutants, which are widespread in the aquatic environment. Currently, this issue is not being sufficiently addressed by regional policy and EU-wide legislation. The EU’s Zero Pollution Ambition, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the likely revision of the Urban Waste-water Treatment Directive now provide opportunities to address this issue. Measures to prevent the emissions of micropollutants via wastewater treatment plants are needed both up- and downstream, to ensure policy coherence between EU water and chemicals legislation

Eutrophication Increases Phytoplankton Methylmercury Concentrations in a Coastal Sea : A Baltic Sea Case Study

Eutrophication is expanding worldwide, but its implication forproduction and bioaccumulation of neurotoxic monomethylmercury (MeHg) isunknown. We developed a mercury (Hg) biogeochemical model for the Baltic Seaand used it to investigate the impact of eutrophication on phytoplankton MeHg concentrations. For model evaluation, we measured total methylated Hg (MeHgT)in the Baltic Sea and found low concentrations (39 ± 16 fM) above the halocline and high concentrations in anoxic waters (1249 ± 369 fM). To close the Baltic Sea MeHgT budget, we inferred an average normoxic water column HgII methylationrate constant of 2 × 10−4 d−1. We used the model to compare Baltic Sea’s presentday(2005−2014) eutrophic state to an oligo/mesotrophic scenario. Eutrophication increases primary production and export of organic matter and associated Hgto the sediment effectively removing Hg from the active biogeochemical cycle; thisresults in a 27% lower present-day water column Hg reservoir. However, increasein organic matter production and remineralization stimulates microbial Hgmethylation resulting in a seasonal increase in both water and phytoplankton MeHg reservoirs above the halocline. Previous studies of systems dominated by external MeHg sources or benthic production found eutrophication to decrease MeHg levels in plankton. This Baltic Sea study shows that in systems with MeHg production in the normoxic water column eutrophication can increase phytoplankton MeHg content

Micropollutants in urban wastewater : large-scale emission estimates and analysis of measured concentrations in the Baltic Sea catchment

Highlights • Comprehensive study of micropollutants measured in effluents in the Baltic Sea region • Concentration data were found for ⁓90,000 observations and >1000 individual substances. • Differences in observed levels between countries were assessed. • Catchment scale total mass loads via WWTPs were calculated for 280 chemical contaminants.Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) transmit many chemical contaminants to aquatic environments. Quantitative data on micropollutant emissions via WWTPs are needed for environmental risk assessments and evaluation of mitigation measures. This study compiled published data on substances analysed in effluents from WWTPs in the Baltic Sea region, assessed country related differences in the data sets and estimated micropollutant inputs to the Baltic Sea catchment. Concentration data were found for 1090 substances analysed at 650 WWTPs. Heterogeneity and low number of data points for most substances hindered adequate comparisons of country specific concentrations. Emission estimates were made for the 280 substances analysed in at least five WWTPs in years 2010 to 2019. For selected substances, mass loads were compared to previously published estimations. The study provides data useful for national and Baltic Sea-scale pressure analysis and risk assessments. However, it also highlights the need for broad scope monitoring of micropollutants in wastewater