Polychlorinated biphenyls in bile of patients with biliary tract cancer.

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are anthropogenic, organic compounds. Although banned in the 1970s, PCBs are poorly biodegradable and hence ubiquitous in the environment. They accumulate in adipose tissue and are implicated various malignancies, including breast and pancreatic cancer.

Comparison of levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in edible oils and oil-based products--possible link to environmental factors.

Food consumption has been widely reported to be the main source of human exposure to PCBs. A total of 47 samples of food products on sale in supermarkets in the United Kingdom were thus analyzed for PCBs to determine residual levels in oil and oil-based products. The objective was to compare the measured levels of total PCBs (Sigma PCBs) in food products to those reported in various environmental compartments.

In vitro approaches to assess bioavailability and human gastrointestinal mobilization of food-borne polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

This study reports on the potential for gastrointestinal (GI) mobilization and bioavailability of food-borne PCBs in humans. The development and validation of a GI simulator and operational protocols, developed in compliance with the requirements of German DIN 19738 risk assessment test procedure, are presented. Food, naturally contaminated with PCBs, was homogenized with simulated saliva fluid and shaken in the GI simulator with simulated gastric fluids (containing pepsin, mucine) for 2 h at 37 degrees C.

Impact of drying and composting procedures on the concentrations of 4-nonylphenols, di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and polychlorinated biphenyls in anaerobically digested sewage sludge.

Enhanced treatments of sewage sludge produce a more manageable product for agricultural use by stabilizing the material, removing water, and reducing the possibility of pathogen transfer. We investigated the impact of pilot-scale composting and drying of sludge on physicochemical characteristics and on the concentrations of some organic contaminants. During the 143 day composting procedure, organic matter fell 22% and moisture by half.

The influence of different temperature programmes on the bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a coal-tar contaminated soil by in-vessel composting.

The biodegradation of 16 US. EPA-listed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (sigma PAHs), with accompanying humification and microbial community structure changes during simulated in-vessel composting-bioremediation of an aged coal-tar-contaminated soil amended with green waste were studied over 56 days. The experimental design compared one constant temperature profile (TC=38 degrees C) with three variable temperature profiles (TP1, TP2 and TP3), including treatment at 70 degrees C to comply with regulatory requirements.

Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in an aged coal-tar-contaminated soil using different in-vessel composting approaches.

The biodegradation of 16 USEPA-listed PAHs (SigmaPAHs) during simulated in-vessel composting-bioremediation of an aged coal-tar-contaminated soil amended with fresh green waste compost (FGWC) collected from two landfill sites in the United Kingdom (UK) were studied over 56 days. The experimental design compared three constant temperature profiles (TC=38, 55 and 70 degrees C) with one variable temperature profile including treatment at 70 degrees C to comply with regulatory requirements (TP1). The highest disappearance of SigmaPAHs was observed in the soil amended with FGWC (53.

Investigation of organic matter dynamics during in-vessel composting of an aged coal-tar contaminated soil using fluorescence excitation-emission spectroscopy.

In-vessel composting of an aged coal-tar contaminated soil from a manufactured gas plant site was investigated over 98days using laboratory-scale in-vessel composting reactors. The composting reactors were operated at 18 different operational conditions using a logistic three-factor factorial design with three temperatures (T=38, 55 and 70 degrees C), four soil to green waste ratios (S:GW; 0.6:1, 0.

Residues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides in organically-farmed vegetables.

The residues of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soils from organic farms and their uptake by four varieties of organic-produced potatoes and three varieties of organic carrots from England were investigated. Samples of the soils, crop peels and cores were all Soxhlet-extracted in triplicate, cleaned up by open-column chromatography and analysed by a multi-residue analytical method using gas chromatography with mass selective detection. The concentrations of PAHs, PCBs and OCPs in soils from organic farms ranged from 590+/-43 to 2301+/-146 microg/kg, 3.

Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an aged coal tar contaminated soil under in-vessel composting conditions.

In-vessel composting of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in contaminated soil from a manufactured gas plant site was investigated over 98 days using laboratory-scale in-vessel composting reactors. The composting reactors were operated at 18 different operational conditions using a 3-factor factorial design with three temperatures (T, 38 degrees C, 55 degrees C and 70 degrees C), four soil to green waste ratios (S:GW, 0.6:1, 0.

Analysis of 4-nonylphenols, phthalates, and polychlorinated biphenyls in soils and biosolids.

When sewage sludge is added to agricultural land, organic chemicals contaminants are also added. The fate of these chemicals, particularly those shown to have oestrogenic potential, has received much research and regulatory interest in recent years. A method was developed for the analysis of 4-nonylphenols, phthalates, and PCB congeners in soils, mesophilic anaerobially digested dewatered (MADD) sewage sludge, and MADD sludge-amended soil.

Laboratory studies of the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated soil by in-vessel composting.

The biodegradation of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), listed as priority pollutants by the USEPA, present in a coal-tar-contaminated soil from a former manufactured gas plant site was investigated using laboratory-scale in-vessel composting reactors to determine the suitability of this approach as a bioremediation technology. Preliminary investigations were conducted over 16 weeks to determine the optimum soil composting temperature (38, 55 and 70 degrees C). Three tests were performed; firstly, soil was composted with green-waste, with a moisture content of 60%.

In-vessel composting--bioremediation of aged coal tar soil: effect of temperature and soil/green waste amendment ratio.

The biodegradation of 16 United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)-listed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in contaminated soil from a manufactured gas plant site was investigated using laboratory-scale in-vessel composting-bioremediation reactors over 8 weeks. The influence of temperature (T, 38, 55, and 70 degrees C) and soil/green waste ratio (S:GW, 0.6:1, 0.

Development of hazard analysis by critical control points (HACCP) procedures to control organic chemical hazards in the agricultural production of raw food commodities.

Hazard Analysis by Critical Control Points (HACCP) is a systematic approach to the identification, assessment, and control of hazards in the food chain. Effective HACCP requires the consideration of all chemical microbiological, and physical hazards. However, current procedures focus primarily on microbiological and physical hazards, while chemical aspects of HACCP have received relatively little attention.