Effect of zeolites on the reduction of the ecotoxicity of carbamazepine in the environment.

In this study, the impact of calcination of zeolites on the ecotoxicity of carbamazepine solutions in two matrices, water and synthetic sewage, was assessed. Two types of zeolites were tested: natural zeolite, in the form of a zeolite rock consisting mainly of clinoptilolite, and a synthetic zeolite type 5 A. Additionally, zeolites were calcined at a temperature of 200 °C. The kinetics of carbamazepine adsorption in aqueous solutions and in synthetic sewage matrix was determined. Higher adsorption capacity was obtained for carbamazepine aqueous solutions as well as zeolites after the calcination process. Considering type of zeolite, the highest and fastest uptake of carbamazepine was observed for natural zeolite after calcination. In the case of ecotoxicity, carbamazepine solutions before adsorption was the most toxic towards Raphidocelis subcapitata, next Aliivibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna, regardless to the matrix type. The differentiation in toxicity regarding the type of matrix was observed, in the case of algae and bacteria, higher toxicity was demonstrated by carbamazepine solutions in the water matrix, while in the case of crustaceans-the sewage matrix. After the adsorption process, the toxicity of carbamazepine solutions on zeolites decreased by 34.5-60.9 % for R. subcapitata, 33-39 % for A. fischeri and 55-60 % for D. magna, thus confirming the effectiveness of the proposed method of carbamazepine immobilization.

Ecotoxicological characteristics and properties of zinc-modified biochar produced by different methods.

Despite the dynamic progress of BC engineering, there is a lack of knowledge on the toxicity and environmental impact of modified BC. The aim of this study was the ecotoxicological evaluation of BC modified with zinc (Zn) using different methods: impregnation of feedstock with Zn before pyrolysis (PR), impregnation with Zn after pyrolysis (PS) and impregnation with Zn after pyrolysis with an additional calcination step (PST). The ecotoxicological assessment was based on tests with invertebrates (Folsomia candida, Daphnia magna) and bacteria (Aliivibrio fischeri). The post-treated and calcined composites had a higher content of total (Ctot) PAHs (144-276 µg kg-1) than pre-treated BC-Zn (68-157 µg kg-1). All BC-Zn treatments stimulated the reproduction of F. candida at the lowest BC dose (0.5%) by 4-24%. Increasing the biochar dose to 1% and 3% retained the stimulating effect of the pre-modified biochars (from 19 to 41%). Pre-modified BC-Zn reduced the luminescence of A. fischeri from 40% to 80%. Post-treated BCs reduced bacterial luminescence by 99%, but the calcination step limited the toxic effects to the level observed for the control. Post-treated BCs had a toxic effect on D. magna, with EC50 values ranging from 433 to 783 mg L-1. The ecotoxicity of composites depends on modification methods, BC dose and pyrolysis temperature. The application of limiting conditions for HM leaching (i.e., pre-modification, calcination) increased the safety of using Zn-biochar composites.

Ecotoxicological assessment of sewage sludge-derived biochars-amended soil.

The study aimed to evaluate the ecotoxicity of soil (S) amended with biochars (BCKN) produced by the thermal conversion of sewage sludge (SSL) at temperatures of 500 °C, 600 °C, or 700 °C and SSL itself. The ecotoxicological tests were carried out on organisms representing various trophic levels (Lepidium sativum in plant, Folsomia candida in invertebrates, and Aliivibrio fischeri in bacteria). Moreover, the study evaluated the effects of three plants (Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens, and Arabidopsis thaliana) growing on BCKN700-amended soil on its ecotoxicological properties. The experiment was carried out for six months. In most tests, the conversion of sewage sludge into biochar caused a significant decrease in toxicity by adding it to the soil. The pyrolysis temperature directly determined this effect. The soil amended with the biochars produced at higher temperatures (600 °C and 700 °C) generally exhibited lower toxicity to the test organisms than the SSL. Because of aging, all the biochars lost their inhibition properties against the tested organisms in the solid-phase tests and had a stimulating influence on the reproductive ability of F. candida. With time, the fertilizing effect of the BCKN700 amended soil also increased. The aged biochars also did not have an inhibitory effect on A. fischeri luminescence in the leachate tests. The study has also demonstrated that the cultivation of an appropriate plant species may additionally reduce the toxicity of soil fertilized with biochar. The obtained results show that the conversion of sewage sludge to biochar carried out at an appropriate temperature can become a useful method in reducing the toxicity of the waste and while being safe for agricultural purposes.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) persistence, bioavailability and toxicity in sewage sludge- or sewage sludge-derived biochar-amended soil.

Soils can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) when either sewage sludge (SSL) or biochar (BC) are used. There are no comparative studies regarding the effects of soil amendment with SSL or BC on the persistence, bioavailability and toxicity of PAHs. This research compared the persistence of PAHs (based on the extractable content, Ctot) and their bioavailability (freely dissolved, Cfree) as well as the toxicity (solid phase: Phytotoxkit F with Lepidium sativum and the Collembolan test with Folsomia candida; leachates: Phytotestkit F with L. sativum and Microtox® with Aliivibrio fischeri) of soil amended with SSL or with SSL-derived BCs. BCs were produced from three different sewage sludges at a temperature of 500 °C. SSLs or BCs were added to the soil at a rate of 1% (30 t/ha). Adding SSL to the soil increased more the PAH content in it than after BC application, which was associated with a higher content of PAHs in SSL. Losses of Σ16 Ctot and Cfree PAHs were higher than those observed for biochar only in the case of one SSL. In the other cases, PAH losses were either higher for biochar or did not differ significantly between SSL and BC. On the other hand, the analysis of the individual groups of PAHs showed significant differences between SSL and BC, both for Ctot and Cfree. Nonetheless, these differences were largely driven by the type of sewage sludge and biochar. Only in the case of root growth inhibition the toxicity higher was for the SSL-amended soils than for the BC-amended ones. In the other cases, varying results were observed which were determined by the type of sewage sludge/biochar, similarly to PAH losses.

The convertion of sewage sludge to biochar as a sustainable tool of PAHs exposure reduction during agricultural utilization of sewage sludges.

There is a discussion in the literature whether PAHs introduced with biochar are safe and whether they are persistent in the environment. The persistence of PAHs (Ctot - total and Cfree - freely dissolved) in sewage sludge (SSL) or SSL-derived biochar-amended soils was investigated. Biochar were produced at 500, 600 and 700 °C. We also compared the persistence of PAHs in these experimental treatments depending on the plants cultivated (grass, clover and thale cress). We showed that the Ctot PAHs in the biochar-amended soils exhibited higher persistence than in the SSL-amended soil. The opposite trend was observed for Cfree PAHs. A higher reduction of Cfree PAHs was noted in the biochar-amended soils than in SSL-amended soil. The persistence of both Cfree and Ctot PAHs clearly varied between the biochars produced at different temperatures. It should be stated that despite that for biochar the persistence of Ctot PAHs is higher compared to SSL-amended soils, an opposite trend is observed for the fraction of Cfree (which is directly responsible for the toxic effect), and this entails a lower risk to the environment (lower mobility and bioavailability). The plants had a significant impact on Ctot PAHs content depending on the number of PAH rings.

[Szczecin's newborn infant--somatic state]. / Noworodek szczecinski--stan rozwoju fizycznego.

INTRODUCTION: Newborn's weight and correlated with it size parameters are subject to continuous fluctuations. According to Penrose, it depends on the external factors in 62%. Socioeconomic mother's condition of living is the most important factor. The study aimed at assessing the somatic state of newborn infants born in the Regional Hospital in Police. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Research material consisted of the measurements of newborn infants born in Police hospital's maternity ward in 2005. The measurements of 738 newborns have been carried out - 374 girls and 364 boys, who were born after normal and unifetal pregnancy. The mass and length of body as well as the circumferance of head and chest have been measured. The data have been statystically analyzed. RESULTS: The research confirmed the observed sexual dimorphism in the average weight of a newborn infant at birth. Male newborn infants are significantly heavier than the female ones. Newborn infants born in the third quarter attained the largest birth parameters. The largest number of deliveries occurred in winter months. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that regional monitoring of newborn infant genotypic variation should be carried out in order to develop regional standards allowing for climatic variation.