Prediction and assessment of xenoestrogens mixture effects using the ERα-CALUX assay.

Many natural or synthetic compounds used in foods, dietary supplements, and food contact materials (FCMs) are suspected endocrine disruptors (EDs). Currently, scientific evidence to predict the impacts on biological systems of ED mixtures is lacking. In this study, three classes of substances were considered: i) phytoestrogens, ii) plant protection products (PPP) and iii) substances related to FCMs.

European experience in chemicals management: integrating science into policy.

The European Union (EU) adopted the first legislation on chemicals management in 1967 with the Dangerous Substances Directive (DSD). Over time the underlying concepts evolved: from hazard identification over risk assessment to safety assessment. In 1981 a premarketing notification scheme was introduced.

Seasonality of PCDD/Fs in the ambient air of Malopolska region, southern Poland.

Background, Aim, And Scope: The aim of the study was to identify the impact of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and furan (PCDD/F) emission sources on ambient air concentrations in the Malopolska Region, southern Poland. Three sites were selected: the city center of Krakow (Aleje), an industrial area (Nova Huta), and a rural site (Zakopane). In order to investigate the annual variations of PCDD/F sources, summer and winter time samples were taken.

Relationships of Indoor, Outdoor, and Personal Air (RIOPA): part II. Analyses of concentrations of particulate matter species.

During the study Relationships of Indoor, Outdoor, and Personal Air (RIOPA*), 48-hour integrated indoor, outdoor, and personal air samples were collected between summer 1999 and spring 2001 in three different areas of the United States: Elizabeth NJ, Houston TX, and Los Angeles County CA. Air samples suitable for analyzing particulate matter 2.5 microm or smaller in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.

Seasonal air-water exchange fluxes of polychlorinated biphenyls in the Hudson River Estuary.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in the air and water over the Hudson River Estuary during six intensive field campaigns from December 1999 to April 2001. Over-water gas-phase SigmaPCB concentrations averaged 1100 pg/m3 and varied with temperature. Dissolved-phase SigmaPCB concentrations averaged 1100 pg/L and displayed no seasonal trend.

Occurrence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Lake Maggiore (Italy and Switzerland).

Samples of air (gas and particulate phases), bulk deposition, aquatic settling material and sediments were collected in Lake Maggiore (LM) in order to determine their content of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Air (gas and particulate phases) concentrations were 0.5 pg m(-3), 80 pg m(-3), 13 pg m(-3) and 106 pg m(-3) for SigmaPCDD/Fs, SigmaPCBs, Sigma dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) and SigmaPBDEs, respectively.

Atmospheric deposition and marine sedimentation fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin.

Atmospheric input was studied and found to be the major source of PAHs in the eastern Mediterranean open marine ecosystem. Dry and wet atmospheric deposition, air-sea exchange, and sediment trap fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the eastern Mediterranean basin were estimated from November 2000 to July 2002. Seven dry and four wet deposition samples were analyzed in total and PAH concentrations were determined.

LC-MS-MS analysis and occurrence of octyl- and nonylphenol, their ethoxylates and their carboxylates in Belgian and Italian textile industry, waste water treatment plant effluents and surface waters.

Alkylphenols (APs), alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs), ethoxycarboxylate metabolites (APECs) and bisphenol A were determined in surface water using solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by triple-quadrupole LC-MS-MS. APs were separated by LC from APECs using an acetonitrile-water-gradient without the addition of any buffer. Nonylphenol ethoxycarboxylates (NPECs) interfere in the detection of nonylphenols (NPs) when using an acidic mobile phase, because they produce the same MS-MS fragment ions (219>133 and 147).

Direct and indirect atmospheric deposition of PCBs to the Delaware River watershed.

Atmospheric deposition can be an important source of PCBs to aquatic ecosystems. To develop the total maximum daily load (TMDL) for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for the tidal Delaware River (water-quality Zones 2-5), estimates of the loading of PCBs to the river from atmospheric deposition were generated from seven air-monitoring sites along the river. This paper presents the atmospheric PCB data from these sites, estimates direct atmospheric deposition fluxes, and assesses the importance of atmospheric deposition relative to other sources of PCBs to the river.

Mercury emissions from cement-stabilized dredged material.

Upland placement of dredged materials from navigation channels in the New York/New Jersey Harbor is currently being used to manage sediments deemed inappropriate for open water disposal. Although upland placement sites are equipped with engineering controls (leachate collection and/or barrier walls), little is known of the potential impacts of this approach to air quality. The aim of this study was to estimate the flux of mercury to the atmosphere from New York/New Jersey Harbor stabilized dredged material (SDM) that was used for land reclamation at a site in northeastern New Jersey.

Atmospheric concentrations and deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to the Mid-Atlantic East Coast region.

Atmospheric concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured at urban/industrial, suburban, coastal, and rural areas in New Jersey as part of the New Jersey Atmospheric Deposition Network. Concentrations of 36 PAH compounds were measured in the gas and particle phases in air and in precipitation at nine sites at regular intervals from October 1997 through May 2001. Gas-phase and particle-phase sigma36PAH concentrations ranged from 0.

Chlordanes in the mid-Atlantic atmosphere: New Jersey 1997-1999.

To characterize the atmospheric dynamics and behavior of chlordane compounds in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, atmospheric concentrations were measured in 1997-1999 at three New Jersey locations as part of the New Jersey Atmospheric Deposition Network (NJADN) project. Observed concentrations of sigma-chlordanes (cischlordane + trans-chlordane + cis-nonachlor + transnonachlor) are log-normally distributed, with a geometric mean concentration of 77.1 pg m(-3) and range from 6.

Chlordanes in the indoor and outdoor air of three U.S. cities.

Indoor and outdoor concentrations of six chlordane components (trans-chlordane, cis-chlordane, trans-nonachlor, cis-nonachlor, oxychlordane, and MC5) were measured at 157 residences, all of which were inhabited by nonsmoking individuals, in three urban areas during June 1999-May 2000. The analyses were conducted on a subset of 48 h integrated samples collected in Los Angeles County, CA, Houston, TX, and Elizabeth, NJ within the Relationship of Indoor, Outdoor, and Personal Air (RIOPA) study. Both particle-bound (PM2.

Atmospheric concentrations and deposition of polychorinated biphenyls to the Hudson River Estuary.

The first estimates of atmospheric deposition fluxes of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to the Hudson River Estuary are presented. Concentrations of PCBs were measured in air, aerosol, and precipitation at nine sites representing a variety of land-use regimes at regular intervals from October 1997 through May 2001. Highest concentrations in the gas phase were observed at urban sites such as Camden and Jersey City (sigmaPCB concentrations averaged 3250 and 1260 pg m(-3), respectively).

Persistent organic pollutants in dusts that settled indoors in lower Manhattan after September 11, 2001.

The explosion and collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) was a catastrophic event that produced an aerosol impacting many residents, workers, and commuters after September 11, 2001. In all, 12 bulk samples of the settled dust were collected at indoor locations surrounding the epicenter of the disaster, including one sample from a residence that had been cleansed and was once again occupied. Additionally, one sample was collected from just outside a fifth story window on the sill.

Multi-component analysis of polar water pollutants using sequential solid-phase extraction followed by LC-ESI-MS.

A multi-component screening analysis method for polar to medium-polar water pollutants was developed. Sample clean-up and group separation are performed by sequential solid-phase extraction (SSPE) using automated SPE with C18 and polymeric sorbent materials. Analyses are performed by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) using a single-quadrupole instrument.

Reevaluation of air-water exchange fluxes of PCBs in Green Bay and southern Lake Michigan.

Air-water exchange of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is an import process for the delivery of contaminants to water bodies, as well as for their removal, and is thus a pivotal parameter in the construction of mass balances in aquatic systems. Simultaneous measurements of PCB concentrations in the gas and dissolved phases conducted in Green Bay in 1989 and in southern Lake Michigan in 1994-1995 were used to estimate air-water exchange fluxes. In this work, improved Henry's law constants for PCBs and new mass-transfer rates across the air-water interface were used to update the previous calculations.

Oceanic biogeochemical controls on global dynamics of persistent organic pollutants.

Understanding and quantifying the global dynamics and sinks of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is important to assess their environmental impact and fate. Air-surface exchange processes, where temperature plays a central role in controlling volatilization and deposition, are of key importance in controlling global POP dynamics. The present study is an assessment of the role of oceanic biogeochemical processes, notably phytoplankton uptake and vertical fluxes of particles, on the global dynamics of POPs.

Wet deposition of polychlorinated biphenyls in urban and background areas of the Mid-Atlantic States.

Spatial and temporal trends of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in precipitation were measured at urban and background sites as part of the New Jersey Atmospheric Deposition Network (NJADN). The volume weighted mean concentration (VWM) of sigmaPCBs (sum of PCBs) based on precipitation measurements at three background sites was in the range of 0.30-0.

Characterization of the dust/smoke aerosol that settled east of the World Trade Center (WTC) in lower Manhattan after the collapse of the WTC 11 September 2001.

The explosion and collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) was a catastrophic event that produced an aerosol plume impacting many workers, residents, and commuters during the first few days after 11 September 2001. Three bulk samples of the total settled dust and smoke were collected at weather-protected locations east of the WTC on 16 and 17 September 2001; these samples are representative of the generated material that settled immediately after the explosion and fire and the concurrent collapse of the two structures. We analyzed each sample, not differentiated by particle size, for inorganic and organic composition.