USEPA Criteria Research Articles

Photochemical assessment monitoring stations program adapted for ozone precursors monitoring network in Mexico City

The purpose of this study is to select a number of stations from the existing Sistema de Monitoreo Atmosférico (Atmospheric Monitoring System, SIMAT) of Mexico City to serve as an equivalent to the Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations according to the US-EPA criteria, in order to improve the study of urban ozone occurrence. The results indicate that four existing SIMAT stations meet the criteria to form such network. The relevance of this study is to present an ozone precursors monitoring network with continuous measurements for future trustful studies on air quality for ozone, considering the atmospheric chemistry and photochemical modeling for the design control strategies appropriate for the particular conditions of Mexico City.

Effects of aluminium oxide nanoparticles on bacterial growth

Production and wide application of nanomaterials have led to nanotechnology development but their release to environment and the induction of toxic reactions, affects the natural microbial communities. Therefore, studies on the impact of nanoparticles on microorganisms and environment are required and needed. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of aluminium oxide nanoparticles on the growth of Pseudomonas putida . To compare the harmfulness of different forms of aluminium oxide, the ecotoxicity of its macro-forms was also evaluated in the study. Research showed that the exposure to nanoparticles can negatively influence microorganisms. The EC50 -16h determined in this study was 0.5 mg/l, and NOEC equaled 0.19 mg/l. Nano-Al2 O3 proved to be more toxic to P. putida than aluminium oxide. This indicates that the nano-form of a given substance demonstrates different properties and may constitute a far greater danger for the environment than the same substance in the large form. According to EU and US EPA criteria, nano-Al2 O3 proved to be very toxic and highly toxic, respectively. Changes in bacterial communities caused by nanoparticles may affect the normal biological, chemical and nutrient cycle in the ecosystem and the effect triggered by nanomaterials in relation to other organisms is unpredictable.

Estimation of Mortality and Hospital Admissions Attributed to Criteria Air Pollutants in Tehran Metropolis, Iran (2013-2016)

ABSTRACTHealth impact assessments are useful for governmental authorities and decision-makers to determine the need for action and address potential public health problems arising from exposure to air pollution. The present study was conducted to assess the short-term health impacts of ambient air pollution in Tehran using the AirQ 2.2.3 model for March 2013–March 2016. Hourly concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2 and SO2 were acquired from the Department of Environment (DOE) and Tehran Air Quality Control Company (TAQCC). Air pollution data was validated according to the USEPA criteria, and only valid monitoring stations for each of the three years were entered to the AirQ 2.2.3 model. The pollutant concentrations were lower in the March 2015 March 2016 period compared to the previous years. The three-year average (± standard deviation) of PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were 80.21 (± 34.21) and 39.17 (± 17.26) µg m–3, respectively. The three-year averages (± standard deviation) for ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulphur dioxide (SO2) were 54.88 (± 24.15), 103.97 (± 25.88) and 39.84 (± 11.17) µg m–3, respectively. The total estimated number of deaths attributed to PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2 and SO2 over these three years were 4192, 4336, 1363, 2830, and 1216, respectively. The health impacts attributed to all pollutants except for PM10 were estimated to decrease in 2016, compared to the prior years. However, the air quality in Tehran still poses significant risks to public health. In conclusion, urgent efforts are needed such as mandating the replacing of old and poorly functioning vehicles from the roadways in order to reduce the health burden that air pollution is currently imposing on this city.

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in surface water around Beijing.

Contaminant concentrations, sources, seasonal variation, and eco-toxicological risk of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in surface water around Beijing from summer to winter in 2015 and 2016 were investigated. The concentrations of ∑OCPs and ∑PCBs ranged from 9.81 to 32.1ngL-1 (average 15.1±7.78ngL-1) and from 7.41 to 54.5ngL-1 (average 21.3±1.87ngL-1), respectively. Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) were the dominated contamination both in aqueous and particulate phase. For PCBs, lower chlorinated PCBs were the major contaminants. Compositions of HCHs, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs), and PCBs indicated that the sources of OCPs and PCBs in water were due to historical usage in the study areas. For OCPs, there was an obvious variation among three seasons, while insignificant change was shown for PCBs. Water quality standards for China's surface water were not exceeded in this study. Concentrations at Miyun Reservoir, the primary source of drinking water to Beijing, when compared to the USEPA's criterion for cancer risk was below the level of risk.

Sulfur isotope fractionation and sequential extraction to assess metal contamination on lake and river sediments

The present study investigated lake and river sediments affected by metals from an acid mine drainage (AMD) from a former uranium mine. The role of bacterial sulfate reduction in the immobilization of contaminants was evaluated, and the analyses of acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and sequential extraction were performed. Consequently, the potential mobility and bioavailability of contaminants were established. Sulfur isotopic fractionation (δ34S), AVS, and sequential extraction procedure were used to assess the sulfate bacterial reduction and the availability of contaminants in the environment at six sampling stations. The δ34S indicated that bacterial reduction is a key process in the natural attenuation of contamination in the Aguas Claras reservoir, precipitating metal sulfides. According to the USEPA criteria, adverse biological effects are expected for sample S1 (inside the reservoir) which is likely to be toxic, while for sediment S4 (in the river), the toxicity is uncertain. The other samples were classified as non-toxic, likely because of the decreased solubility of zinc sulfide. A decrease in the concentration of the contaminants downstream of the reservoir was observed. The predominance of U (0.4 %) in the labile fraction and the elevated concentrations of Zn (0.5 %) and Mn (0.7 %) in the sediments inside the reservoir raises concerns regarding the availability of these contaminants in the environment. The main environmental impact appears to be concentrated in the Aguas Claras reservoir, whereas the Antas creek does not seem to be affected by the AMD process. Although the bacterial sulfate reduction is effective in its production of sulfides capable of immobilizing the contaminants, the presence of Zn and U in the labile and reducible fraction is a matter of concern due to its long-term bioavailability. Thus, continuous monitoring of the redox potential of the waters and sediments, mainly in the reservoir, is recommended in order to assess and possibly prevent later dissolution of sequestered contaminants.

Metal contamination at recreational boatyards linked to the use of antifouling paints-investigation of soil and sediment with a field portable XRF.

The application of a field portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (FPXRF) to measure Cu, Zn, and Pb in soil and sediments at recreational boatyards by Lake Mälaren in Sweden was investigated. Confirmatory chemical analysis on freeze-dried samples shows that, ex situ, the FPXRF produces definitive level data for Cu and Zn and quantitative screening data for Pb, according to USEPA criteria for data quality. Good agreement was also found between the ex situ measurements and the in situ screening. At each of the two studied boatyards, >40 in situ soil measurements were carried out. Statistical differences in soil concentration based on land use were consequently found: the areas used for boat storage and maintenance were significantly higher in Cu and Zn than the areas used for car parking and transportation. The metal pollution in the boat storage areas is therefore shown to be directly linked to hull maintenance activities during which metal-containing antifouling paint particles are shed, end up on the ground, and consequently pollute the soil. In the boat storage areas, the Cu and Zn concentrations often exceeded the national guideline values for soil. In this study, they were also shown to increase with increasing age of the boatyard operation. Pb soil concentrations were only elevated at a few measurement points, reflecting the phasing out of Pb compounds from antifouling products over the past 2 decades. In the surface sediments, concentrations of Cu and Zn were 2–3 times higher compared to deeper levels. No decrease in metal concentration with time was found in the sediments, indicating that boat owners are not complying with the ban of biocide-containing paints in freshwater introduced over 20 years ago.

Early genotoxic response and accumulation induced by waterborne copper, lead, and arsenic in European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax

Cu, Pb, and As, which are among the most abundant metals in the aquatic environment, are also among the most health-threatened by causing diverse cellular injuries. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the potential early induction of genotoxic effects after waterborne Cu, Pb, and As exposure in European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, a commercial widely cultured fish, using the micronucleus (MN) assay in peripheral blood erythrocytes. Fish were exposed under laboratory conditions to nominal solutions ranging 0-10 mg/L for 24 and 96 h. Furthermore, actual metal ion concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) or differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) in water and four fish tissues differentially related to environmental exposition and metal accumulation, i.e. the gills, liver, muscle, and brain. Dose-dependent increases of micronuclei (MNi) frequency were observed after these very short exposures; based on measured metal concentrations in water, the genotoxic effect ordered as Cu > As > Pb. Significant genotoxic effect at 0.009 mg/L Cu, 0.57 mg/L Pb, and 0.01 mg/L As was seen. For Cu and Pb these are only slightly higher, but for As it is notably lower than the USEPA criteria of maximum concentration to prevent acute toxicity in aquatic organisms. Furthermore, genotoxicity was differentially related to metal accumulation. MNi frequency correlated positively with the content of Pb in all the organs, with the content of As in liver and gills and only with the content of Cu in the brain. In conclusion, our findings raised environmental concerns because these depicted a genotoxic potential of Cu, Pb, and As after a very short exposure to low but environmentally relevant concentrations, too close to regulatory thresholds. In addition, the MN test in D. labrax could be considered an early biomarker of genotoxicity induced by these metals in fish.

Physicochemical characterization, elemental speciation and hydrogeochemical modeling of river and peloid sediments used for therapeutic uses

The present study was conducted to characterize the river sediment and the final peloid from San Diego de los Baños Thermal Center (Pinar del Rio, Cuba), based on its original sedimentary geochemistry and composition, in order to establish the physicochemical and geochemical properties for its inorganic quality assessment in therapeutic uses. The original sediment was extracted from the estuary of San Diego River, and then maturated with thermal waters, yielding a peloid with known anti-inflammatory and dermatological properties. A comparative study of total content and geochemical speciation of seven transition metals (Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Zn) in the sediments was performed using a sequential extraction procedure and Inductively Couple Plasma Emission (ICP) techniques, as well as hydrogeochemical modeling to predict and correlate species under the physicochemical conditions measured for the river and peloid sediments. The results showed that the main differences originated from maturation process are closely related to the changes in electric conductivity (EC) and redox potential (Eh). These variations are reflected in the composition of major elements, and at a lesser extent, in the total content of the transition metals. Most of the elements studied in this investigation appeared in the less mobile fractions, which suggested low availability in the sediments, under the studied conditions. In the case of Mn, species are mainly located in the most leachable fractions, which together with its relatively high content, indicates a need for regular monitoring of this element in the peloids used in the Thermal Center. The findings were useful to predict the behavior of these transition metals regarding solubility, potential motility and availability in the river and final peloid sediments, and led to classify the San Diego de los Baños peloid as mud or fangi. It was concluded that most of the metals are strongly retained in the peloid through the maturation process, as many factors contribute to the low mobility, such as the nearly neutral pH, the presence of organic matter, redox conditions, and the presence of carbonates and salts. The sediments were finally characterized regarding possible contamination, according to USEPA and background criteria, and were considered as non-polluted/non-contaminated except for Mn, which showed a moderate contamination factor. The results from the present work show the relevance of physicochemical and elemental characterization to peloid classification and quality assessment. Moreover, it evidences the importance of performing geochemical speciation using both experimental and theoretical techniques, for proper assessment of mobility and distribution mechanisms of soluble and solid mineral species present in these sediments.

Lime Stabilization of Waste Activated Sludge

Background: Sewage sludge (Biosolids) is a byproduct of wastewater treatment that accumulates in large quantities. Effective stabilization and disinfection of sewage sludge prior to land application are necessary to not only protect human health, but also to induce the public its benefits and safety. Currently, many wastewater treatment plants in Iran dispose great amounts of untreated sewage sludge to the environment. Objectives: The purpose of this work was to upgrade wastewater treatment plants by lime stabilization of waste sludge. Materials and Methods: Lime stabilization of waste sludge from Shoosh wastewater treatment plant was performed in a 10-L reactor. Microbial quality of lime-stabilized sludge was checked for 6 weeks in the reactor. During this stage, pH, FC (fecal coliforms) and viable helminthes ova density were determined and compared with sludge stabilized criteria suggested by USEPA. Results: Average number of fecal coliforms and viable helminthes ova in waste sludge were 1.65 × 1012 MPN/g of dry solids (DS) and 353 ova/4 g of dry solids, respectively. 1.8. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that sewage sludge stabilization with hydrated lime reduced fecal coliforms more than 99.99% and also stabilized sludge covered standards of class B of USEPA criteria.

Limitation of spatial distribution of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in the Haihe River, China, by heavy metals

The Haihe River is characterized by high ammonia pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to determine how environmental factors, such as heavy metals in the river limit the spatial distribution of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms. In this study, the relationships between five heavy metals and ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms were studied. The results showed that under high ammonia, low oxygen and high concentrations of suspended particles, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) ranged from 101.3 to 104.8 gene copies/mL and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) ranged from 102.7 to 104.9 gene copies/mL. The average metal concentrations in water were 23.57 (Cr), 21.58 (Ni), 65.09 (Cu), 622.03 (Zn) and 10.16 (As) μg/L, with those of Zn, Cu and Cr being higher than the US EPA criteria. Scatter plots of microbial abundance and metals indicated that both AOA and AOB were limited by heavy metals, but in different ways. As had an inhibitory effect on AOB, while Ni and Zn promoted AOA, and the other metals investigated showed no significant correlation with microbial abundance. Overall, our results indicated that the effects of heavy metals on ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in water are complex, and that the final effect is determined by the physiological role of each element in the microorganisms, as well as environmental conditions such as complexation of organic matter, not simply the total metal concentration.

Investigation into River Sediments Toxicity as a Result of Inappropriate Waste Disposal

Sediments of the São Francisco River basin (Brazil) were investigated to determine the environmental consequences of incorrect disposal of wastes generated by a zinc industry. Surface sediments were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and chemically analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Total organic carbon (TOC), acid volatile sulfides (AVSs), and simultaneously extracted metals (SEMs) were also determined. AVS/SEM procedure was employed to assess the bioavailability of the metals in sediments. XRD analyses indicated that the main phases in the sediments were kaolinite and quartz. The total concentration of Zn and Pb, near the old industrial discharge point, indicated high levels of contamination according to the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). According to the AVS/SEM criteria, despite the high levels of zinc and lead in the sediments, the toxicity resulting from these metals is unlikely in most of the samples. However, in one of the samples, collected near the old industrial discharge point, the toxicity is uncertain—according to the USEPA criteria.

Chemical and Geological Control on Surface Water within the Shade River Watershed in Southeastern Ohio

The under-sampled middle and western branches of Shade River Watershed (SRW) in SE Ohio were investigated as part of the Ohio University—U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) STAR grant. This project was for monitoring the quality of watersheds in Ohio and classifying them according to their physical, chemical, and biological conditions. Water samples, as well as field parameters, were taken at twenty-two sites for chemical analyses. The ions analyzed included Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Al, NO3, SO4, HCO3, and total PO4, while the field parameters measured included pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and alkalinity. To assess the water quality within the SRW, the analyzed ions and field parameters were compared to the USEPA criteria for the survival of aquatic life. Analytical results showed that the watershed is dominated by Ca-HCO3waters with DO, Fe, Mn, and PO4being the main causes of impairment within the streams. The relatively elevated concentrations of manganese and less extent iron may be associated with the local geology and the acidic nature of the soils. The high alkalinity and calcium concentrations are due to the limestone geology. The elevated phosphate concentration may be due to anthropogenic sources, fertilizers, or contributions from phosphorus-rich bedrock that differs geochemically from other areas.

Toxicological significance of mercury in yellow perch in the Laurentian Great Lakes region

We assessed the risks of mercury in yellow perch, a species important in the trophic transfer of methylmercury, in the Great Lakes region. Mean concentrations in whole perch from 45 (6.5%) of 691 waters equaled or exceeded 0.20 μg/g w.w., a threshold for adverse effects in fish. In whole perch within the size range eaten by common loons (<100 g), mean concentrations exceeded a dietary threshold (0.16 μg/g w.w.) for significant reproductive effects on loons in 19 (7.3%) of 260 waters. Mean concentrations in fillets of perch with length ≥ 15.0 cm, the minimum size retained by anglers, exceeded the USEPA criterion (0.3 μg/g w.w.) in 26 (6.4%) of 404 U.S. waters and exceeded the Ontario guideline (0.26 μg/g w.w.) in 35 (20%) of 179 Ontario waters. Mercury levels in yellow perch in some waters within this region pose risks to perch, to common loons, and to mercury-sensitive human populations.

Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls and total mercury in two fish species (Esox lucius and Carassius auratus) in Anzali Wetland, Iran

The Anzali Wetland is one of the most important ecosystems in the north of Iran, and parts of it were registered as a Ramsar site in 1975. However, even though, due to many problems, including eutrophication produced by inflow of excess nutrients and organic materials, the wetland was also listed on the Montreux Record indicating the need to take urgent remedial action. This study was conducted to study the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and total mercury (THg) in two fish species (Esox lucius and Carassius auratus) as bio-indicators of the ecosystem condition in eastern part of Anzali Wetland. The sampling was carried out in six different periods between years2009 and 2010. The results showed that the amounts of PCBs in the muscle of northern pike were below the detection limit of gas chromatography, whereas the average concentration in goldfish was 0.449mg/kg wet weight. Some possible reasons for the higher levels of PCBs in goldfish in comparison with pike have been discussed. No significant (p < 0.05) correlation was observed between PCBs and biological factors (weight, length, lipid content) for both species. On the other hand, the mean concentration of THg in the muscle of pike and goldfish were 182.22 and 75.27ng/g dry weight, respectively. Although these concentrations were below US-EPA criterion for human consumption (0.3mg/kg), it pointed up a significant deterioration of the ecosystem condition during the past years. Finally, statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between THg with weight and an insignificant correlation with length for pike specimens.

Whole Catchment Land Cover Effects on Water Quality in the Lower Kaskaskia River Watershed

Agricultural runoff is a major non-point source pollutant and is the leading impairment of streams and rivers in the USA. This study examined the effects of agricultural, forest and urban land cover on water quality at the watershed level. Forty-three catchments ranging from 12 to 50 km2 were selected based on a land cover gradient within Lower Kaskaskia River Watershed in Illinois. Grab samples were collected and analyzed for nutrients, bacteria, and total suspended solids (TSS). Forest land cover was included in six of the ten regression models produced. Four of these regression models were for base flow conditions, suggesting that forest land cover had a significant impact on base flow water quality. Urban land cover was also included in six of the regression models. However, the majority were during storm flow conditions implying urban land cover had a greater impact on storm flow conditions. Watersheds were further categorized into agriculture, village, and urban watersheds. During base flow conditions agriculture watersheds had significantly higher TSS concentrations and urban watersheds had significantly higher ortho-P concentrations. In all watersheds, ortho-P concentrations were above the statewide 95th percentile for Illinois streams. Escherichia coli levels during storm conditions exceeded the national US EPA criteria.

A Land Surface Zoning Approach Based on Three-Component Risk Criteria for Groundwater Quality Protection

Protecting the quality of groundwater is a necessity that requires significant restrictions on land use. Because such restrictions are of complex socio-economic consequences, they should be carefully adjusted to the spatially varied protection needs. This paper describes the development of a series of maps designed to facilitate groundwater protection decisions according to land surface zoning. The zoning was based on attributes descriptive of the basic elements of risk (hazard, exposure and consequences) to groundwater quality in Kuwait to provide basis for adjusting the protective regulations to the needs. Standardized maps of the major categories of potentially hazardous activities were prepared using ArcGIS. A country scale map combining and ranking all the hazardous activities was prepared using the USEPA’s hazard ranking system (HRS). The intrinsic vulnerability of the groundwater was mapped using the DRASTIC model. The relative value of the groundwater was mapped according to the three-component criteria of current and future dependence on groundwater, as well as interaction with environmental resources, which were adapted from USEPA criteria for prioritizing the protection/remediation funds. Agricultural activities and oil-related industries were ranked the most hazardous activities in Kuwait. The patterns of the intrinsic vulnerability seemed to be dictated by the depth to the groundwater and the material of the unsaturated zone. Decision making tools were produced by combining the above maps as follows: (1) vulnerability and hazard maps to produce the risk map, (2) risk and value maps to produce the value weighted risk map, and (3) vulnerability and value maps to produce release consequences map. The produced maps should serve the purposes of identifying all potential monitoring targets, prioritizing of funds allocation for monitoring or other corrective actions, and adjusting the land use restrictions to the needs as well as allocating future potentially hazardous land use, respectively. Benefits of including the groundwater value in the criteria for protecting the resource were illustrated by comparing the decisions that would be logically made based on schemes with and without groundwater value as part of the criteria.

Metals in water and surface sediments from Henan reaches of the Yellow River, China

The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in the water and surface sediments from the Henan reaches of the Yellow River. Twenty-three sampling sites along the Yellow River and its tributaries were selected. Generally, metal concentrations were found to decrease in sequences of Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd in water and Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd in sediments. High levels of metal concentration were determined at a few stations of the river and its tributaries, such as Yiluo River, Si River and Qin River. The pollution of the Yellow River by Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn can be regarded as much higher compared to the background values, US EPA criteria (1999) and China water quality criteria (2002). For sediments, metal levels except Pb did not significantly exceed the average shale levels and backgrounds in several countries including China. Data analysis manifests that positive correlations were found between Cu, Ni and Zn in water, and Pb, Ni, Zn and Cr in sediments. The Pearson correlation coefficient analysis and Cluster analysis were provided to assess the possible contamination sources. The results indicate a general appearance of serious pollution along the banks of the Yellow River. The wastewaters discharged by the mine plants, smelter plants, power plants, battery plants, tannery plants, etc., and sewage inputs from the cities along the river banks may be the sources of metals.

Characterisation, Availability, and Risk Assessment of the Metals in Sediment after Aging

The behavior of metals in sediments after their disposal to land has important implications for the environmental management. The sediment from the Carska Bara (Serbia) was polluted with adequate metal salts in order to reach severe contamination based on the pseudo-total metal content of Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Cr according to the corresponding Dutch standards and Canadian guidelines. The toxicity and fate of the metal in sediment depend on its chemical form, and therefore, quantification of the different forms of a metal is more meaningful than the estimation of its total concentration. In this study, fractionation of metals in sediment has been investigated to determine its speciation and ecotoxic potential, as well as evaluation of metal potential toxicity based on the simultaneously extracted metals (SEMs) and acid volatile sulfides (AVSs) analysis at the beginning of the experiment and after 5 weeks of sediment aging. The investigations suggest that Cd, Pb, and Zn have a tendency to associate with labile fraction, the most mobile and most dangerous fraction for the environment. Risk assessment code revealed their high risk. Copper and chromium showed low to medium risk to the aquatic environment. Nickel showed no risk to the aquatic environment. This was the case at the beginning and after 5 weeks of aging. Aging yielded an increased mobility of all metals based on the increased proportion in mobile fractions. The Σ[SEMi]/[AVS] ratio was found to be >1 both at the beginning and after 5 weeks of aging, with the ratio showing an increase with time. This ratio indicates the potential availability/toxicity and, according to the US EPA criteria, the samples belong to the group with probable negative effect. If particular metals are considered, only the Σ[SEMi]/[AVS] ratio for zinc was >1 at the beginning. After 5 weeks, the ratio was >1 for zinc, lead, and copper. Comparison of the results of sequential extraction and the results of SEM and AVS analysis showed good agreement for lead and zinc.

Temporal variation of heavy metal contamination in fish of the river lot in southern France

The present study aims at assessing the current situation of the heavy metal contaminated River Lot (SW France). Several fish species were captured in October 1987 and 2007 at three sampling sites. The concentration of copper, zinc, cadmium and lead were quantified in fish muscle and liver as well as in environmental samples (water, sediment, moss). The decrease in heavy metal concentrations in fish tissue between 1987 and 2007 reflects the decrease of heavy metal concentrations in the environment. Concentrations found in 2007 are comparable to those published by a study conducted in the 1990s. The situation of the River Lot has improved over the last 2 decades, although there is still margin for amelioration according to US EPA criterion to protect freshwater aquatic life. The average concentrations of cadmium in fish muscle in 2007 were above the maximum safe for human consumption defined by the European Commission.

Do 2006/7/EC European Union Bathing Water Standards exclude the risk of contact with Salmonella or Candida albicans?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the recent (2006) European Union Directive concerning the management of bathing water quality to exclude the presence of pathogens from complying waters. Coastal water samples were classified according to the Directive. 2.5% of ‘excellent’ water contained Salmonella and 39.2% Candida albicans 11.8% of samples in category ‘good’ were Salmonella positive and 35.2% were C. albicans positive. When the USEPA criterion for marine waters was applied to the same dataset, fewer samples complied, however 6.0% of the complying samples contained Salmonella. The results suggest that the bacterial indicator threshold levels for marine recreational water quality of the 2006/7/EC European Union Directive do not fully exclude contact of bathers with dangerous pathogens. Enterococci, if used as the sole index, appear to form a more reliable proxy of the risk of contact with Salmonella.