Occurrence of Banned and Currently Used Herbicides, in Groundwater of Northern Greece: A Human Health Risk Assessment Approach.

The presence of pesticide residues in groundwater, many years after their phase out in European Union verifies that the persistence in aquifer is much higher than in other environmental compartments. Currently used and banned pesticides were monitored in Northern Greece aquifers and a human health risk assessment was conducted. The target compounds were the herbicides metolachlor (MET), terbuthylazine (TER), atrazine (ATR) and its metabolites deisopropylatrazine (DIA), deethylatrazine (DEA) and hydroxyatrazine (HA).

Essential and non-essential metals in three lowland rivers of temperate South America (Argentina): Distribution and accumulation.

Background: Geographic distribution of essential metals on earth is largely uneven. Therefore, regional specific approaches to assess metal contents in freshwater ecosystems are mandatory. Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Ni, Mn and Zn concentrations were measured in water, sediments and fish tocharacterize the partitioning of these essential and non-essential metals in three river ecosystems of the Pampean Plain==.

Seven potential sources of arsenic pollution in Latin America and their environmental and health impacts.

This review presents a holistic overview of the occurrence, mobilization, and pathways of arsenic (As) from predominantly geogenic sources into different near-surface environmental compartments, together with the respective reported or potential impacts on human health in Latin America. The main sources and pathways of As pollution in this region include: (i) volcanism and geothermalism: (a) volcanic rocks, fluids (e.g.

Comparison Between Two Submerged Macrophytes as Biomonitors of Trace Elements Related to Anthropogenic Activities in the Ctalamochita River, Argentina.

The temporal variation of As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in surface waters and sediments, and trace element accumulation and physiological changes in the macrophytes Stuckenia filiformis and Potamogeton pusillus, were estimated in the Ctalamochita River, Argentina, both upstream and downstream of Río Tercero. Chromium, Fe, Pb and Zn in surface water were higher at the downstream site, while Cu and Mn were higher upstream. Chromium, Mn and Zn in S.

Sunlight and UVC-254 irradiation induced photodegradation of organophosphorus pesticide dichlorvos in aqueous matrices.

Dichlorvos (DDVP) is an organophosphorus pesticide that has been classified as highly hazardous chemical by the World Health organization. In this study, the fate of the pesticide DDVP in natural water compartments was examined under simulated sunlight. Moreover, the effect of UV-254 irradiation on DDVP depletion was also studied.

Arsenic effects on some photophysical parameters of Cichorium intybus under different radiation and water irrigation regimes.

The presence of arsenic (As) in groundwater is a major problem in several parts of Latin America. In the present work, non-destructive approaches to monitor the effects of As on plants of Cichorium intybus, an herbaceous Asteraceae, were explored. In this sense, the effects of As at different levels of water and radiation were evaluated on these crops.

The removal of fluoride from aqueous solution by a lateritic soil adsorption: Kinetic and equilibrium studies.

The use of natural sorbents to remove fluoride from drinking water is a promising alternative because of its low-cost and easy implementation. In this article, fluoride adsorption on a latosol soil from Misiones province (Argentina) was studied regarding kinetic and equilibrium aspects. Experiments were conducted in batch at room temperature under controlled conditions of pH 4-8) and ionic strength (1-10mM KNO).

Phytoextraction of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn using the aquatic plant Limnobium laevigatum and its potential use in the treatment of wastewater.

In order to study the bioaccumulation of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn and the stress response, the floating aquatic plant Limnobium laevigatum was exposed to increasing concentrations of a mixture of these metals for 28 days, and its potential use in the treatment of wastewater was evaluated. The metal concentrations of the treatment 1 (T1) were Pb 1 μg L, Cr 4 μg L, Ni 25 μg L, and Zn 30 μg L; of treatment 2 (T2) were Pb 70 μg L, Cr 70 μg L, Ni 70 μg L, and Zn 70 μg L; and of treatment 3 (T3) were Pb 1000 μg L, Cr 1000 μg L, Ni 500 μg L, and Zn 100 μg L, and there was also a control group (without added metal). The accumulation of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn in roots was higher than in leaves of L.

Transference factors as a tool for the estimation of arsenic milk concentration.

The Chaco Pampean Plain of central Argentina represents one of the largest regions with high levels of arsenic (As) in groundwater. The aim of this study was the assessment of a biotransference factor (BTF) as a tool for the estimation of As concentration in cow's milk from As drinking water concentration. Total As content in livestock drinking water, soil, forage, and milk was determined in farms located in an area of high As groundwater, in order to analyze the relation between As uptake and its transfer to milk.

Biosorption of arsenic from groundwater using Vallisneria gigantea plants. Kinetics, equilibrium and photophysical considerations.

Arsenic (V) uptake from groundwater by using Vallisneria gigantea plants was studied using batch experiments. Reflectance and fluorescence of intact plants were investigated and changes in photophysical properties following arsenic absorption were reported. Good correlations have been found between arsenic concentration in groundwater and parameters derived from reflectance and fluorescence measurements.

Heavy metals and trace elements in muscle of silverside (Odontesthes bonariensis) and water from different environments (Argentina): aquatic pollution and consumption effect approach.

The concentrations of As, Ag, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Te, Ti, U, V and Zn were determined in water and silverside (Odontesthes bonariensis) muscle samples from four important commercial fishing sites (Argentina) by ICPMS. Trace element concentrations in water with well-documented human health effects were above the recommended maximum levels established by Argentinean and international guidelines for the aquatic biota protection in three sampling sites (e.g.

Effect of arsenic on reflectance spectra and chlorophyll fluorescence of aquatic plants.

Arsenic pollution of groundwater is a serious problem in many regions of Latin America that causes severe risks to human health. As a consequence, non-destructive monitoring methodologies, sensitive to arsenic presence in the environment and able to perform a rapid screening of large polluted areas, are highly sought-after. Both chlorophyll - a fluorescence and reflectance of aquatic plants may be potential indicators to sense toxicity in water media.

Economic feasibility study for improving drinking water quality: a case study of arsenic contamination in rural Argentina.

Economic studies are essential in evaluating the potential external investment support and/or internal tariffs available to improve drinking water quality. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a useful tool to assess the economic feasibility of such interventions, i.e.

Concentration of arsenic in water, sediments and fish species from naturally contaminated rivers.

Arsenic (As) may occur in surface freshwater ecosystems as a consequence of both natural contamination and anthropogenic activities. In this paper, As concentrations in muscle samples of 10 fish species, sediments and surface water from three naturally contaminated rivers in a central region of Argentina are reported. The study area is one of the largest regions in the world with high As concentrations in groundwater.

Occurrence of fluoride in arsenic-rich surface waters: a case study in the Pampa Plain, Argentina.

High levels of fluoride in freshwater ecosystems are harmful for humans and animals, particularly, aquatic biota. In this paper, the concentrations of fluoride in arsenic-rich lotic ecosystems of the Pampa Plain, Argentina, were recorded. The relationship of fluoride with the concentration of arsenic was explored.

Small-scale and household methods to remove arsenic from water for drinking purposes in Latin America.

Small-scale and household low-cost technologies to provide water free of arsenic for drinking purposes, suitable for isolated rural and periurban areas not connected to water networks in Latin America are described. Some of them are merely adaptation of conventional technologies already used at large and medium scale, but others are environmentally friendly emerging procedures that use local materials and resources of the affected zone. The technologies require simple and low-cost equipment that can be easily handled and maintained by the local population.

Geographic distribution of arsenic and trace metals in lotic ecosystems of the Pampa Plain, Argentina.

In this paper, the geographic distribution of arsenic and other trace elements in surface waters of 39 lotic ecosystems of central Argentina was evaluated. Manganese and arsenic were the most conspicuous elements, being present in 82% and 59% of the sampled ecosystems of this region, respectively. As concentration averaged 113.

Synthesis of new chelating surfactants from octyl D-glucopyranosiduronic acid and amino acids for metal flotation.

A new family of surfactants with metal-chelating properties was synthesized in few steps from octyl D-glucopyranosiduronic acid. The complexing function was either a carboxylic acid or a hydroxamic acid function introduced after coupling with glycine, aspartic acid, or glutamic acid and finally hydroxylamine. Interfacial properties were determined.

Synthesis of sugar-based chelating surfactants for metal removal from wastewater.

Four chelating surfactants were synthesized in a few steps from octyl D-glucosides. Their main interfacial properties were determined, and their flotation properties were evaluated on a laboratory scale using Fe(III) as a model contaminant metal. The performance on metal extraction was mainly dependent on the complexing functional group, but the surfactant efficiency was also important.

Simultaneous heavy metal removal mechanism by dead macrophytes.

The use of dead, dried aquatic plants, for water removal of metals derived from industrial activities as a simple biosorbent material has been increasing in the last years. The mechanism of simultaneous metal removal (Cd2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+) by 3 macrophytes biomass (Spirodela intermedia, Lemna minor and Pistia stratiotes) was investigated. L.

Arsenic concentration in water and bovine milk in Cordoba, Argentina. Preliminary results.

The Chaco Pampean Plain of central Argentina constitutes one of the largest regions of high arsenic (As) groundwaters known, covering around 1 x 10(6) km2 (Smedley & Kinniburg, 2002; Farías et al. 2004). The high-As groundwaters are from Quaternary deposits of loess (mainly silt) with intermixed rhyolitic or dacitic volcanic ash (Nicolli et al.

Aquatic macrophytes potential for the simultaneous removal of heavy metals (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Heavy metal removal from water has been approached by using different technologies. Phytotechnologies, with an increasing development during the last two decades, involve using plants for metal removal. Three autochthonous floating macrophytes, common in pampean shallow lakes (Argentina), Pista stratiotes, Spirodela intermedia and Lemna minor were used in laboratory experiences for the simultaneously removal of several heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr and Pb) resulting from anthropogenic activity, in order to simulate a naturally polluted environment.