This study investigates the process of long-term (bio)degradation of polyethylene (PE) in an old municipal waste landfill (MWL) and its implications for environmental and human health. Advanced techniques, such as ICP-ES/MS and IC-LC, were used to analyze heavy metals and anions/cations, demonstrating significant concentration deviations from control samples. The soil's chemical composition revealed numerous hazardous organic compounds, further indicating the migration of additives from PE to the soil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe impact of fluorine on plants remains poorly understood. We examined duckweed growth in extracts of soil contaminated with fluorine leached from chicken manure. Additionally, fluorine levels were analyzed in fresh manure, outdoor-stored manure, and soil samples at varying distances from the manure pile.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDepositing plastic waste has long been a prevalent method of utilization, persisting today. Plastic waste within municipal waste landfills (MWL) undergoes diverse (bio-)degradation processes, which may be a potential source of chemicals and microorganisms harmful to the environment and human health. Soil and air samples were collected from modern MWL to identify environmental contamination caused by 5 years of plastic (bio-)degradation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPoultry farming is one of the most efficient animal husbandry methods and it provides nutritional security to a significant number of the world population. Using modern intensive farming techniques, global production has reached 133.4 mil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhthalates are a class of compounds that have found widespread use in industrial applications, in particular in the polymer, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. While ingestion, and to a lesser degree inhalation, have been considered as the major exposure routes, especially for higher molecular weight phthalates, dermal exposure is an important route for lower weight phthalates such as diethyl phthalate (DEP). Assessing the dermal permeability of such compounds is of great importance for evaluating the impact and toxicity of such compounds in humans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDue to wide use of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (e.g., in metal-plating, in fire-fighting foam, lubricants) and their resistance to degradation, they occur widely in the environment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method to determine polar and thermally unstable phthalate metabolites [monomethyl phthalate-MMP, monoethyl phthalate-MEP, mono--butyl phthalate-MnBP, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-MEHP] has been developed. This is the first report presenting the separation of monophthalates without derivatization step and any additional equipment or special injection port. Injection parameters (temperature, pressure, time, and volume of injection), chromatographic separation (retention gap, temperature program), and MS detection/identification (working parameters, ion selection) were investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince the 1980s, gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents (GBCAs) have been routinely used in magnetic resonance imaging as stable chelates of the Gd ion, without toxic effects. Generally, GBCAs are considered some of the safest contrast agents. However, it has been observed that they can accumulate in patient tissue, bone, and probably brain (causing nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with kidney failure or insufficiency and disturbance of calcium homeostasis in the organism).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDue to the specific structure of surfactants molecules they are applied in different areas of human activity (industry, household). After using and discharging from wastewater treatment plants as effluent stream, surface active agents (SAAs) are emitted to various elements of the environment (atmosphere, waters, and solid phases), where they can undergo numerous physic-chemical processes (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRisk assessment of industrial areas heavily polluted due to anthropogenic actions is of increasing concern worldwide. So is the case of Polish Silesia region where mostly heavy industry like smelters, mining, chemical industries as well as heat and electricity production facilities are being located. Such situation raises numerous questions about environmental state of local water bodies with special attention paid to the Kłodnica Catchment which is receiving waste waters from numerous industrial plants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new analytical procedure for the simultaneous determination of individual cationic surfactants (alkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides) in surface water samples has been developed. We describe this methodology for the first time: it involves the application of solid phase extraction (SPE-for sample preparation) coupled with ion chromatography-conductivity detection (IC-CD-for the final determination). Mean recoveries of analytes between 79% and 93%, and overall method quantification limits in the range from 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBecause of their specific physical and chemical properties (amphiphilicity, solubility in polar and nonpolar liquids, ability to form micelles, adsorption at phase boundaries, low toxicity) surfactants (surface-active compounds) are widely applied in industry and in the household. As their applications are on a very large scale, it has become necessary to acquire a more detailed understanding of their environmental fate. In the methodologies for analysing environmental samples, the isolation and/or preconcentration of analytes constitutes an important step.
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