Emissions of PCDD/Fs, PBDD/Fs, dioxin like-PCBs and PAHs from a cement plant using a long-term monitoring system

The aim of the present work was to assess the emission of different persistent organic pollutants from a cement plant over a period of one year, under normal operational conditions. Thus, a long-term sampling device was installed in the clinker kiln stack of the cement plant. The factory uses petroleum coke as primary fuel, but also alternative fuels such as solid recovered fuel (SRF), automotive shredder residue (ASR), sewage sludge, waste tires, and meat and bone meal (MBM) wastes, with an energy substitution level of about 40%. Both PCDD/Fs (together with dl-PCBs) and PBDD/Fs were continuously sampled, with a total of ten samples collected in 2–4 week periods. Also, PAHs were sampled during one-week periods, in order to evaluate their emissions in three different samples. The emission levels throughout the year were much lower than the set legal limits in all substances, being < 10 pg I-TEQ/Nm3 in the case of PCDD/Fs. The data obtained allowed calculation of updated emission factors for the cement sector, which were 8.5 ng I-TEQ/ton clinker for PCDD/Fs and 3.2 ng WHO-TEQ/ton clinker for PCBs. With respect to the congener distribution, 2,3,7,8-TCDF accounts for 60 to 68% of the total toxicity for PCDD/Fs, and in PBDD/F emissions, a clear predominance of octa-substituted species (both dioxin and furan) was found.Support for this work was provided by CEMEX ESPAÑA, S.A., a company owned by the CEMEX group (http://www.cemex.com). Authors acknowledge the financial support for this work provided by the following projects: Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain): CTQ2013-41006-R, Autonomous Community of Valencia Government (Spain): PROMETEOII/2014/007

Occurrence of C60 and related fullerenes in the Sava River under different hydrologic conditions

The presence of nanomaterials in the environment has caught the attention of the scientific because of the uncertainties in their fate, mobility and potential toxic effects. However, few studies have determined experimentally their concentration levels in aquatic systems up to date, which complicates the development of an adequate risk assessment. In the present study, the occurrence of ten fullerenes has been assessed in the Sava River (Southeastern Europe): 27 freshwater samples and 12 sediment samples from 12 sampling points have been analysed during two sampling campaigns. C was the most ubiquitous fullerene, with concentrations of 8 pg/l–59 ng/l and 108–895 pg/g in water and sediments, respectively. Statistically significant differences existed between the levels in 2014 and 2015, which has been attributed to the extreme hydrologic conditions (severe floods and drought, respectively). C fullerene has been detected in most of the samples and the fullerene derivatives [6,6]-phenyl C butyric acid methyl ester and N‑methyl fulleropyrrolidine have been detected eventually, which highlights that nanotechnology research and development activities are responsible for emitting these emerging contaminants to the environment. The role of diverse potential anthropogenic sources (including oil refinery, general industrial activity, river navigation, urban emissions and nanotechnology) is discussed

Food Safety

24 Páginas.-- 2 FigurasEmerging and re-emerging food safety risks are driven by climate change and other factors like globalization, water scarcity, population aging, and migration, among others. These factors affect the persistence and occurrence of conventional and emerging primary risks. Successful initiatives to manage emerging risks need to identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential risks as well as to respond with sustainable strategies able to reduce the threatsPeer reviewe

Diagnóstico ambiental de la ría de Huelva

Abad Holgado, Esteban et al.-- 101 pages, 51 figuresPeer reviewe

Air monitoring with passive samplers for dioxin-like persistent organic pollutants in developing countries (2017-2019)

As part of the global monitoring plan on persistent organic pollutants (GMP) under the Stockholm Convention passive air samplers equipped with polyurethane foam disks (PUFs) were applied to monitor dioxin-like POPs. For sampling, toluene-pretreated PUFs were exposed for three months during two years. Chemical analysis was performed in one accredited expert laboratory using internationally accepted methods; for comparison, all results were normalized to one PUF and 3 month exposure. Total TEQs, using WHO2005-TEFs, were lowest in the Pacific Islands countries (PAC) and had similar mean values in Africa (16.8 pg TEQ/PUF), Asia (16.9 pg TEQ/PUF), and Latin American and Caribbean countries (GRULAC, 13.3 pg TEQ/PUF). Using median values, Asia (13.4 pg TEQ/PUF) and GRULAC (13.1 pg TEQ/PUF) had higher amounts than Africa (6.1 pg TEQ/PUF) and PAC (2.1 pg TEQ/PUF). The contribution of PCDD/PCDF to the total TEQ was 2-3-times higher than from the dl-PCB. Mono-ortho PCB did not play a role in any of the samples. The previous 40 samples during 2010/2011 and the present 195 samples from 2017/2018 did not show a statistical difference (p value = 0.3), only for GRULAC, a downward trend was identified. It is recommended combining 4 PUFs to 'annual' samples.The contribution of the projects to support POPs monitoring in developing country regions financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by UN Environment is greatly acknowledged (UNEP grant ‘GEF GMP2 GF4030’ to Örebro University and to CSIC). Further thanks are expressed to the national project teams in 42 countries for implementing the passive air sampling network in their countries and sending us the samples for analysis.Peer reviewe

PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs and PBDEs in air: Preliminary results of the Spanish monitoring program on POPs under the Stockholm convention after four years monitoring

Peer Reviewe

Improvements in dioxin abatement strategies at a municipal waste management plant in Barcelona

8 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables.-- PMID: 12547331 [PubMed].-- Available online Dec 7, 2002.This study presents the results of a dioxin abatement programme undertaken in the municipal waste incineration plant of Montcada i Reixac (Barcelona, Spain) after the replacement of an obsolete air cleaning device by a new flue gas treatment system. A number of sampling campaigns were conducted with the aim of characterising stack gas emission levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs)/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and to evaluate initial specifications of dioxin stack gas emission values below 0.1 ng I-TEQ/N m3. Preliminary results revealed levels between 44 and 111 ng I-TEQ/N m3 when the gas-cleaning system consisted only of an old electrostatic precipitator (ESP). Decreased levels around 15 ng I-TEQ/N m3 were observed when the semi-dry scrubber began to operate and the ESP was switched off. Again, remarkable dioxin removal was observed after the installation of the fabric filter and levels around 0.3–0.4 ng I-TEQ/N m3 were soon achieved. Nevertheless, the limit of 0.1 ng I-TEQ/N m3 was reached by additional injection of activated carbon which helped to lower PCDD/PCDF levels to around 0.036 ng I-TEQ/N m3. The results also demonstrated a significant change in the dioxin distribution present in combustion-derived materials (stack gas emission, bottom ash and solid waste from gas treatment). The major dioxin fraction was found in gaseous matrices before the flue gas control system was upgraded. After this step, the major dioxin fraction content was observed in solid waste from gas treatment.Financial support of the project by the Agència Metropolitana de Residus del Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (Entitat de Medi Ambient).Peer reviewe

Occurrence of PCBs, PCDD/Fs, PBDEs and DDTs in Spanish breast milk: Enantiomeric fraction of chiral PCBs

Concentrations and congener specific profile of DDTs, PCBs and PCDD/Fs have been determined in a number of Spanish breast milk samples. The concentrations found indicate a decreasing tendency compared to previous data from the 1990s. Mean concentrations of 238 ng/g fat weight, 111 ng/g fat weight and 82.1 pg/g fat weight were found for DDTs, PCBs and 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs, respectively. When the WHO-TEQs were calculated, PCDD/Fs was the family contributing with the highest percentage to the total (62–84%), followed by the non-ortho PCBs (10–25%) and the mono-ortho PCBs (5–24%). The congener specific accumulation patterns found were comparable to those reported in other studies in industrialised countries. In addition, the levels of 9 PBDEs congeners have been also determined in the breast milk samples. The concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 1.38 ng/g fat weight. The enantiomeric enrichment of a number of chiral PCBs in the breast milk samples, including congeners 84, 91, 95, 132, 135, 149, 171, 174, 176 and 183, has also been studied, for some of them for the first time in this matrix.The authors thank all participant mothers. CAM is acknowledged for Projects 07G/0057/2000 and S-0505/AGR-0312, and CICyT for Project AGL 2004-02072/AL. L.R. Bordajandi thank CAM for PhD Grant.Peer reviewe

Surveillance programme on dioxin levels in soils in the Campo de Gibraltar (southwest Spain)

8 pages, 4 figures.-- PMID: 16564070 [PubMed].-- Printed version published Oct 2006.The results of an epidemiologic study undertaken by the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) after commission by the Spanish Parliament indicated that Huelva and Cádiz were the zones in Andalusia with elevated risk of cancer. A 6% (women) and 10% (men) cancer mortality excess was observed with respect to the other six Andalusian provinces. Huelva and Cádiz are located in the south-western region of Spain, and are characterized by a strong industrial activity concentrated in several industrial sites. This situation led to two environmental surveys in these areas, in which the presence of dioxins was studied among other parameters.A PCDD/F assessment in soils of the Campo de Gibraltar (Cádiz) was carried out from June 2003 to June 2004. A total of 20 samples were collected in this study divided in two sampling campaigns. The first 10 samples were taken in locations affected by high industrial activity zones as well as in landfills (hotspots). The rest of the samples were collected in areas that were not expected to be contaminated, such as agricultural zones and forests.I-TEQ values of the samples ranged from 0.26 to 15.08 ng/kg dm. In all, 85% of the samples were below the limit of 5 ng I-TEQ/kg I-TEQ concentrations of three samples only surpassed this limit. These zones corresponded to a landfill, a quarry used for dumping chemical product containers and a sample from the sewage system of the industrial site. These sites were used neither for agricultural nor for public purposes.The authors wish to thank Mr. M.A. Adrados and Ms. G. Martrat for sample preparation and Mr. Jordi Sauló for the mass spectrometric analyses. In the same way, they thank the financial support of the Junta de Andalucia (Andalusia Government) and Dr. Juan Luis Ramos (project coordinator) as well as the group of Dr. José Julio Ortega from the Agrobiology and Natural Resources Institute of Seville for sampling.Peer reviewe

An episode of dioxin contamination in feedingstuff: the choline chloride case

5 pages, 1 figure, 4 tables.-- PMID: 12962717 [PubMed].-- Printed version published Nov 2003.In 2000, as part of a survey programme, the German authorities detected high levels of dioxins in a choline chloride (CC) premix used as animal food component. The contaminated additive consisted of different products of mineral and vegetable origin acting as a carrier. The CC was manufactured in Belgium. The final product was produced in and distributed from a plant in Spain. The German authorities informed all European Community members of the incident. The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Regional Authorities immediately conducted a survey in collaboration with the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) to determine and isolate the source of the contamination. Analysis of a large number of samples of pure CC, pine sawdust, almond shell and other substances currently used in the preparation of the premix confirmed the presence of a significant amount of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans in mixtures in which pine sawdust was present. An analysis of the congener profiles revealed similarities with those found in technical pentachlorophenol (PCP) formulations. The conclusion was that PCP-contaminated sawdust as carrier for CC was source of dioxin contamination in feedingstuff.The authors wish to thank Mr. Generosa Martrat and Miguel Angel Adrados for sample preparation and Jordi Sauló for instrumental analysis. Dr. Carlos Luis de Cuenca, of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for his support and for information supply.Peer reviewe