H2O2/UV enhanced degradation of pesticides in wastewater.

Photodegradation of organic pesticides in industrial wastewater was examined in a UV/H2O2/air system. An experimentally determined optimal amount of hydrogen peroxide (0.008% v/v) indicates that hydrogen peroxide concentration controlled the efficiency of photodegradation. Pre-treatment operations such as sedimentation, filtration and coagulation were used to obtain better efficiency of pesticide removal and to cut down on irradiation time. Finally, scale-up experiments in the air-sparged hydrocyclone (ASH) reactor were carried out. After 5 min irradiation of 100 dm3 industrial wastewater almost all pesticides were destroyed. Thus the ASH reactor proved to be an effective contactor for carrying out photochemical reactions.

Pesticides in precipitation in the Gdansk region (Poland).

Selected organonitrogen, organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides have been determined in precipitation samples collected at 10 sites in the Gdansk region (northern Poland) over a period of one year (1998). Compounds which were detected most often included simazine (0.11-5.80 ng/l), fenitrothion (0.1-2.10 ng/l), chlorfenvinfos (0.1-1.30 ng/l), gamma-HCH (0.012-5.06 ng/l), heptachlor epoxide (0.05-3.28 ng/l) and aldrin (0.02-3.28 ng/l). The pesticide concentrations in precipitation samples revealed seasonal fluctuations, with higher concentrations observed during the application periods (June and July). The concentrations observed were also affected by the inflow of polluted air masses from the southwest. The total pesticide concentration in the precipitation samples was strongly related to the abundance of green areas in the vicinity of the sampling sites. A weak correlation was also found between the total concentration of organonitrogen and organophosphorus pesticides, and the total concentration of organochlorine pesticides in the samples collected.

Levels of lead in atmospheric deposition in a large urban agglomeration in Poland.

Lead levels in wet and dry deposition were determined within this project. A network of 10 sampling stations was established. The stations were located in areas characterized by heavy traffic volumes, but away from industrial and/or municipal pollution sources. It was assumed, therefore, that lead in the samples collected was coming primarily from automobile emissions. Measurements were carried out over a period of one year. Both rain and snow samples were collected. Lead concentrations in the samples ranged from 0.6 to 141 microg dm(-3). They depended on street topography, traffic volume, average speed of the vehicles, frequency of traffic congestion and atmospheric conditions. The highest lead levels in deposition were observed during the cold season.