Mutagens,toxicants, and other constituents in small city siudges in New York State

An analytical survey was conducted of sewage sludges from 15 small cities in New York State for mutagens, forty-four elements, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and radioactivity. Low levels of mutagenicity were detected in several of the samples. PCBs were very high in only one sample. A number of toxic elements were found at elevated concentrations in specific sludges but it is not possible to relate these to specific industrial sources with certainty. The concentrations of specific toxicants in five city sludges were above presently suggested federal guidelines for their suitability for land application. Gamma emission was comparatively low in all samples. The problems of analytical sampling and possible sources of specific constituents in sludge are discussed.     

National survey of elements and other constituents in municipal sewage sludges

Fifty-nine elements, poly chlorinated biphenyls, volatile N-nitrosamines and gamma emission were determined in 30 sewage sludges from 23 American cities using several analytical methods. Relatively high concentrations of toxic metals were found in sludges from specific municipal plants. The pH and levels of calcium and iron in certain of the sludges appeared to reflect the addition of lime, ferric chloride and/or spent pickle liquor during sewage treatment. Of 15 sludges analyzed, the carcinogen, N-nitrosodimethylamine was detected in 14 and various other N-nitrosamines in 12 of them. Based on present federal guidelines, only 7 of the 30 municipal sludges analyzed would be considered suitable for land application owing to their elevated content of one or more heavy metals.     

Survey of toxicants and nutrients in composted waste materials

Currently, there is much activity in composting yard wastes (leaves, twigs, grass), sewage sludge and portions of municipal solid wastes (MSW) in the United States. The resultant compost is typically applied to agricultural or recreational land. A nationwide analytical survey was therefore conducted of 21 toxic and nutrient elements, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and gamma emission in 26 composts sampled nationwide in 1991. Those composts produced solely from sludge or MSW tended to be higher in metals such as Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn as compared to totally yard waste compost. Molybdenum, P and Se were higher in composted sewage sludge and Na and Pb in composted MSW than in yard waste compost. PCBs and gamma emission were low or not detectable in most compost samples. Shards of metal and glass found particularly in MSW-containing composts would detract from its application especially in recreational areas. References dealing with the reactions of metals in composts and environmental effects of compost application to land are cited.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorobiphenyls in wastewaters and sewage sludges from the Paris area (France)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) were investigated during 1999-2000 in the sewerage system to the Seine Aval treatment plant which drains the Paris area (France). Contamination of sludges from storage chambers indicated a local origin typical of motor car traffic with PAH concentrations (Sigma16) ranging from 14 to 31 mg kg(-1) of dry weight, pyrene/fluoranthene ratios ranging between 1.12 and 1.48 and PCB concentrations (Sigma7) ranging from 0.07 to 0.65 mg kg(-1) of dry weight. In the same way, sludges from sand removal tanks displayed PAH values related to the importance of traffic whereas PCBs were rather characteristic of a diffuse origin. Among the five sewers entering the Seine Aval treatment plant, Clichy Argenteuil, which drains a large industrial area, was the most polluted one (PAHs as Sigma3, 10 kg year(-1); PCBs as Sigma7, 3.5 kg year(-1)). Seasonal variations were observed for PAHs with higher levels in winter in relation with the occurrence of combustion processes. Ninety-eight percent of the PAHs and 76% of the PCBs were extracted during the treatment plant processes, the primary clarifier of which retained 50% of the pollutants. Fluoranthene and PCB concentrations in the final dehydrated sludge (mean values) were 1.07 and 0.623 mg kg(-1) of dry weight, respectively. For PCBs, a significant correlation was found (r=0.668, P<0.001) between wastewater and dehydrated sludge concentrations. Yearly measured amounts of PAHs (Sigma3) were twice higher in sludges (76.3 kg) than in precipitations (37.7 kg) whereas those of PCBs (Sigma7) brought by total atmospheric fallout (17.6 kg) and sludges (21.1 kg) did not differ significantly.     

Heterocypris incongruens as a tool to estimate sewage sludge toxicity

The toxicity of 13 sewage sludges was evaluated in relation to the crustacean Heterocypris incongruens. The bioassay used was a commercial, direct contact test that allows evaluation of solid-phase toxicity. Evaluation of sewage sludges included physicochemical properties (pH, total organic C, total N, cation-exchange capacity, total exchangeable bases, available forms of P and K, and electrical conductivity), heavy metal content (cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc), and content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency list). The evaluated parameters were then compared with bioassay results (mortality and growth inhibition). Sewage sludges were characterized by optimal physicochemical properties; low K (<5.64 mg/kg) and total organic C (177-253 g/kg) levels were noted. Contaminant content (heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) clearly differed between individual sewage sludges. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contents ranged from 3.8 to 36.4 mg/kg. Total concentrations of heavy metals in all sewage sludges (with the exception of one sludge) were lower than the pollutant concentration limits for land application. Heterocypris incongruens mortality when sludge was applied at doses of 6, 12, or 24% ranged from 0 to 70%, from 4.7 to 72.1%, and from 0 to 100%, respectively. Average growth inhibition was 39.7 to 46.6% (depending on the sludge dose applied). Any stimulating influence of two sewage sludges on the test organism was recorded. The median lethal concentrations calculated for individual sewage sludges ranged from 88 to 956 g sewage sludge/ kg.     

Assessment of the environmental hazard from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment sludge by employing chemical and biological methods

Chemical analyses and toxicity testing were employed in conjunction to evaluate the environmental hazard from the wasted sludge generated during the biological treatment of urban and industrial wastewaters. Chemical analyses included determination of seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), total organic carbon (TOC), and seven heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, and Zn) in sludge and sludge leachates deriving from two standard leaching procedures: (a) the mild leaching test EN-12457-2 proposed by EC and (b) the relatively aggressive toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) leaching test proposed by US EPA. Acute toxicity measurements were performed in aqueous sludge elutriates and leachates by using bioluminescence bacteria. The urban sludge was found to be more enriched with PAHs than the industrial sludge, however, at levels below the EU limits for sludge application. The total PCB content (Sigma7PCBs) in both sludges, particularly in the industrial sludge, exceeded the proposed European limit for sludge use as soil amendment. With regards to their heavy metal content, both sludges met the requirements for use in agriculture. The urban sludge exhibited high ecotoxicity, while the industrial sludge with almost two times lower toxicity was classified as not toxic to slightly toxic. The EN and the TCLP leaching procedures resulted in different sludge characterizations both from chemical and from ecotoxicological points of view. The EN procedure appeared to be more sensitive to the potential environmental risk from sludge disposal. The results of the study revealed the necessity for combining chemical with ecotoxicological criteria for integrated characterization of wasted sludge and the need for harmonization of the methods employed for waste classification.     

Evaluation of occupational exposure to N-nitrosamines in a rubber-manufacturing industry

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine volatile N-nitrosamines levels in the air of a rubber-manufacturing industry and to measure urinary N-nitrosamines concentrations in exposed workers. METHODS: Personal monitoring of 34 workers was performed by sampling nine airborne N-nitrosamines in four factories that manufactured rubber drive belts for automotive engines. Urinary N-nitrosamine levels were determined in all workers and in a control group of 26 subjects. Analyses were conducted by capillary gas chromatography-thermal energy analyzer. RESULTS: Airborne and urinary N-nitrosamines levels were very low and, in most cases, below the limit of detection (0.06 microg/m and 0.1 microg/L, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although airborne and urinary N-nitrosamines levels were found to be very low, exposed workers should still be monitored constantly because some of these substances are known to be genotoxic and carcinogenic.     

Polychlorinated biphenyl contamination and minisatellite DNA mutation rates of tree swallows

The evidence that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) leads to mutations is equivocal and controversial. Using multilocus DNA fingerprinting, we compared the mutation rate of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) nesting at sites with high and low levels of contamination with PCBs. The upper Hudson River, USA, is highly contaminated with PCBs as a result of releases from two capacitor manufacturing plants in Hudson Falls and Fort Edward, New York, USA. Tree swallows nesting nearby have some of the highest known concentrations of PCBs in their tissues of any contemporary bird population (up to 114,000 ng PCB/g tissue). We found no difference in mutation rates between sites in New York with high PCB contamination and reference sites in Wisconsin, USA, and Ontario and Alberta, Canada, with known or presumably low levels of contamination. Thus, the mechanism behind altered reproductive behavior of tree swallows along the upper Hudson River is most likely physiological impairment, such as endocrine disruption, rather than mutation.     

Analysis of Organic Pollutants in Sewage Sludges from the Valencian Community (Spain)

Seventeen sewage sludges were studied to analyse, with the minimum number of steps, the organic pollutants that the European Union proposes to be controlled for land application. The compounds determined were a selection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); a selection of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP); nonylphenolic compounds, including nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates with 1 and 2 ethoxy groups (NP1EO + NP2EO); extractable organic halides (EOX); and linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) with an alkylic chain of 10 to 13 carbon atoms. The results were compared with the proposed regulatory limit values, and it was observed that NP + NP1EO + NP2EO and LAS exceeded the maximums in most samples, and DEHP exceeded some of them, whereas PAHs, PCBs, and EOX almost always went beyond the limits. The values obtained are similar to those from other countries, and it can be said that it is difficult to comply with the limits for NP + NP1EO + NP2EO and LAS in many of them, although this latter parameter was not considered in the study carried out by Leschber (2004) concerning the toxicity of sewage sludge. Statistical multivariant analysis was used to look for some relationship between the results of pollutants and the characteristics of the samples, and it was found that the ratio of NP1EO + NP2EO to NP was related to sludge treatment at the sewage plant. At the same time, it was seen that the higher values of organic pollutants belonged to digested sludges.     

Evaluation for Agricultural Usage with Speciation of Heavy Metals in a Municipal Sewage Sludge

This study was carried out to evaluate the agricultural usage of an anaerobically digested sludge in the contents and fractions of heavy metals. Therefore, a sequential extraction scheme according to the BCR's (Community Bureau of Reference) guidelines and total acid digestion were applied to sewage sludge samples. The results of total heavy metal concentrations in sewage sludge showed that the highest total concentrations were Fe, Zn and Mn. When Turkish, Europe and US EPA directives were compared with each other by depending on the use of sludge for agricultural purposes, all the heavy metals determined for this sludge were below the maximum permitted levels, except for Cd. This sludge should not be applied to land due to its high Cd content. The results of heavy metal fractions indicated that some metals (Cd, Mn, Pb, and Fe) distributed mainly in the residual fraction. All fractions of Zn showed no variation. Cu and Cr were most abundant in the oxidizable phase while Ni was in exchangeable phase. Although total content of Ni in the sludge is lower than the maximum levels allowed by all the directives, it tends to be easily moved and dispersed in the environment. Due to its high mobility, the examined sewage sludge may cause phyto-toxicity after its agricultural application.     

Comparison of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Levels in Sludges from Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants

This study was carried out to investigate the concentrations and potential sources of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sludge of 14 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Sludge samples were collected from 2 municipal WWTPs, 11 industrial WWTPs, and 1 sanitary landfill leachate treatment plant within the city of Bursa, Turkey during the summer of 2008. Ultrasonication was applied for extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to analyze the PAH contents of the samples. Twelve of the 16 EPA-listed PAH compounds were determined. Total PAH concentrations (∑₁₂ PAHs) determined in all of the sludge samples ranged from 1,781 to 19,866 μg/kg dry matter (dm). The sum of 8 of the 11 EU PAHs varied between 1,481 and 17,314 μg/kg dm, and 3 of the samples exceeded the proposed EU limit for land application. One of the automotive industry sludges contained the highest level of PAHs, followed by one of the municipal sludges. The average sum of 5- and 6-ring PAH compounds in all of the sludge samples amounted to almost 65% of the total PAHs. The diagnostic ratios of specific PAHs were calculated to determine the dominant sources for the PAHs in the sludge samples.     

Exposures to multiple air toxics in New York City

Efforts to assess health risks associated with exposures to multiple urban air toxics have been hampered by the lack of exposure data for people living in urban areas. The TEACH (Toxic Exposure Assessment, a Columbia/Harvard) study was designed to characterize levels of and factors influencing personal exposures to urban air toxics among high school students living in inner-city neighborhoods of New York City and Los Angeles, California. This present article reports methods and data for the New York City phase of TEACH, focusing on the relationships between personal, indoor, and outdoor concentrations in winter and summer among a group of 46 high school students from the A. Philip Randolph Academy, a public high school located in the West Central Harlem section of New York City. Air pollutants monitored included a suite of 17 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aldehydes, particulate matter with a mass median aerodynamic diameter 相似文献   

Relations Between Land Use and Organochlorine Pesticides,PCBs, and Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in Streambed Sediment and Fish on the Island of Oahu,Hawaii

Bed-sediment and/or fish samples were collected from 27 sites around the island of Oahu (representing urban, agricultural, mixed, and forested land use) to determine the occurrence and distribution of hydrophobic organic compounds including organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Of the 28 organochlorine compounds analyzed in the fish, 14 were detected during this study. Nineteen of the 31 organochlorine compounds and 40 of the 65 SVOCs were detected in the sediment. Urban sites had the highest number of detections and tended to have the highest concentrations of pesticides. Chlordane compounds were the most frequently detected constituents at urban sites, followed by dieldrin, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and DDT compounds. PAHs were the most frequently detected constituents in watersheds with mixed (urban and agricultural) land use. The only pesticides detected at agricultural sites were DDT and its degradation products, DDD and DDE. No pesticides or PCBs were detected at the forested sites, but a few ubiquitous SVOCs were found in sediments at some forested sites. In general, concentrations of the most frequently detected pesticides were higher in fish than in sediment. Following a trend that has been observed elsewhere in the nation, concentrations of most organochlorine pesticides and PCBs are decreasing in Hawaii.     

Major Pollutants in Soils of Abandoned Agricultural Land Contaminated by e-Waste Activities in Hong Kong

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) compounds and five heavy metals (cadmium, copper, chromium, lead, and zinc) were determined in soil samples collected from six sites of abandoned agricultural land affected by electronic-waste: e-waste dismantling workshop [EW (DW)], e-waste open burning site [EW (OBS)], e-waste storage [EW (S)], and agricultural (A) in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals were detected in all soil samples. EW (DW) contained the highest concentrations of PAHs, Cr, Cu, and Zn, whereas EW (OBS) had the highest concentrations of PCBs, PBDEs, Cd, and Pb. PAH at EW (DW) and EW (OBS) and PCB concentrations at EW (OBS) exceeded the target values of the New Dutch list, whereas Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn levels exceeded the Chinese legislation for the protection of agricultural production and safeguarding of human health, by 3–11 times at EW (OBS) and 5–8 times at EW (DW). Lead at EW (OBS) and EW (DW) and Cr at EW (DW) greatly exceeded the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines by 46 and 20 times and 27 times, respectively. Concentrations of POPs and heavy metals at EW (DW) and EW (OBS) were significantly higher than at EW (S) and A. It was concluded that e-waste activities led to increases of toxic chemicals at these abandoned agricultural land, which would hinder the redevelopment of the land.     

Survival of pathogenic micro-organisms and parasites in excreta, manure and sewage sludge.

The causative agents of many infectious diseases are excreted by the faecal route and also with other excretions or secretions of the body. Some pathogens are also excreted from clinically healthy animals, from those with latent infections and in cases of transmissible multifactorial diseases. In all types of livestock housing, the pathogens finally reach the floor with the installations for collecting manure as a solid or liquid. Under these conditions livestock owners do not realise that manure may contain pathogens, and therefore do not take precautions against possible spread of diseases by utilisation of manure. The pathogens do not survive very long in stored farmyard manure because of the temperatures and biological and biochemical activities prevailing in the middens. But the conditions in slurry are different because the temperature does not rise and biochemical activity is low. Therefore the pathogens survive for rather long periods in slurry. To avoid disease transfer by utilisation of manure and slurry as fertilisers, certain precautions are necessary and these are described in detail. The agricultural utilisation of municipal sewage sludge is common in many countries. However, these sludges contain pathogens which are excreted by the human population served by the sewers and sewage treatment plants. In the sewage purification processes most of the pathogens are reduced in number but not completely eliminated. They are enriched by sedimentation processes in the sewage sludge. To protect the livestock of farms utilising sewage sludge as fertiliser or for amending soils it is necessary to sanitise hygienically dubious sludges prior to their use. The epidemiological aspects of agricultural sludge utilisation are discussed and details of the available sanitation technologies are given.     

Polychlorinated terphenyls as an environmental pollutant in Japan.

This paper summarizes the results of the studies made by our group and other investigators in Japan on the residue levels of polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) in a variety of items in the environment including the human body. In contrast to widespread distribution of PCBs in the environment, PCT residues were seldom found in samples from aquatic environments such as water and sludge and waterfowl and fish, and, if found, the levels of PCTs were so low as to be practically negligible. Similarly, no significant levels of PCTs were detectable in foodstuffs such as edible oils, vegetables, dairy products and meat and in prepared diets. These findings may be explained by the fact that PCTs are much less volatile and soluble than PCBs and the total industrial output of PCTs was as small as 2700 tonnes which is 1/20 of PCBs produced in Japan. However, the levels of PCTs in human fat and blood were shown to be almost equivalent to PCBs, despite a negligible amount of PCTs being found in food. No clear explanation of human contamination by PCTs has been proposed so far.     

Assessment of health effects in New York City firefighters after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs): the Staten Island Transformer Fire Health Surveillance Project

Following an electrical transformer fire in Staten Island, New York, a health surveillance program was established for 60 New York City firefighters and emergency medical technicians exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Exposure potential was documented after high levels of PCBs and PCDFs were found on transformer and firefighters' uniforms. Personnel received comprehensive medical examinations, and the results were compared with preexposure values. Serum was analyzed for PCBs, PCDFs, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs). Follow-up was conducted 9 mo later. Thirty-two of 58 (55%) firefighters reported initial symptoms, and 3 firefighters required brief medical leave. Pulmonary functions, exercise performance, serum liver functions, and serum lipid profiles were normal or unchanged from preexposure baselines. Serum PCBs averaged 2.92 +/- 1.96 ppb (range = 1.9-11.0 ppb). Five (8%) had serum PCBs that were greater than or equal to 6 ppb. Eight (73%) had a significant decrease (p = .05) in serum PCB level at the time of follow-up. Serum toxic equivalency (TEQ [1998 World Health Organization]) for total PCDDs and PCDFs averaged 39.0 +/- 21.5 (n = 48). Eighteen (38%) had elevated TEQs (i.e., > 40). All firefighters had no short-term heath effects. Modern firefighting uniforms are not meant to replace HAZMAT suits, but these uniforms provide protection from this chemical exposure for most firefighters.     

Assessment of Health Effects in New York City Firefighters after Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDFs): The Staten Island Transformer Fire Health Surveillance Project

Following an electrical transformer fire in Staten Island, New York, a health surveillance program was established for 60 New York City firefighters and emergency medical technicians exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Exposure potential was documented after high levels of PCBs and PCDFs were found on transformer and firefighters' uniforms. Personnel received comprehensive medical examinations, and the results were compared with preexposure values. Serum was analyzed for PCBs, PCDFs, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs). Follow-up was conducted 9 mo later. Thirty-two of 58 (55%) firefighters reported initial symptoms, and 3 firefighters required brief medical leave. Pulmonary functions, exercise performance, serum liver functions, and serum lipid profiles were normal or unchanged from preexposure baselines. Serum PCBs averaged 2.92 ± 1.96 ppb (range = 1.9-11.0 ppb). Five (8%) had serum PCBs that were greater than or equal to 6 ppb. Eight (73%) had a significant decrease (p = .05) in serum PCB level at the time of follow-up. Serum toxic equivalency (TEQ [1998 World Health Organization]) for total PCDDs and PCDFs averaged 39.0 ± 21.5 (n = 48). Eighteen (38%) had elevated TEQs (i.e., > 40). All firefighters had no short-term heath effects. Modern firefighting uniforms are not meant to replace HAZMAT suits, but these uniforms provide protection from this chemical exposure for most firefighters.     

Composition of toxicants and other constituents in yard or sludge composts from the same community as a function of time-of-waste-collection

Samples of yard waste compost and sewage sludge compost were analyzed for toxic and nutrient elements and PCBs to assess variations in their concentrations as a function of the time of delivery of the initial organic material to the same composting site. In general, the variations in composition found were remarkably small. Generally, the samples of sludge compost were higher in Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mo, Na, P, Pb, S, Se, Zn, and PCBs than those of the yard waste compost. The latter was higher in Cr, Ni, K, Mg, and Si. Possible factors affecting compost composition are discussed.     

Persistence of enteroviruses in sewage sludge.

Sewage from residential areas often contains viruses pathogenic for man and significant amounts are probably associated with solids in sewage sludge. Information on the survival of viruses in sewage sludge is necessary in order to develop guidelines for recycling programmes that involve spreading the sludge on land. In the present study, a number of enteroviruses were added to sewage sludge and the artificially contaminated sludges were tested for viruses at intervals over a 12-week period. Most of the viruses survived for many weeks at room temperature. It is clear that sewage sludge destined for land application should be adequately treated for virus inactivation. In interpreting these results, it should be borne in mind that the survival of hepatitis A virus might be similar. Recent reports about the reappearance of poliomyelitis in regions with immunization programmes should also be taken into consideration.