Growing concern about the environmental impact of ionizable and polar organic chemicals such as p... more Growing concern about the environmental impact of ionizable and polar organic chemicals such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products has lead to the inclusion of some in legislative and regulatory frameworks. It is expected that future monitoring requirements for these chemicals in aquatic environments will increase, along with the need for low cost monitoring and risk assessment strategies. In this study the uptake of 13 neutral and 6 ionizable pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products by modified POCIS (with Strata™-X sorbent) and Chemcatchers™ (SDB-RPS or SDB-XC) was investigated under controlled conditions at pH = 6.5 for 26 days. The modified POCIS and Chemcatcher™ (SDB-RPS) samplers exhibited similar performance with the uptake of the majority of the 19 chemicals of interest categorised as linear over the 26 day deployment. Only a few ionized herbicides (picloram and dicamba) and triclosan showed negligible accumulation. Chemcatcher™ with SDB-XC ...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using semipermeable membrane devices (SP... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and polyethylene-based passive sampler devices (PSDs) for monitoring PAHs in stormwater. Firstly, SPMDs were deployed at one site and SPMD-derived water concentrations were compared with water concentration measured from grab samples. In a subsequent deployment the performance of SPMDs and PSDs was compared. Finally
Augmentation of potable water sources by planned indirect potable reuse of wastewater is being wi... more Augmentation of potable water sources by planned indirect potable reuse of wastewater is being widely considered to address growing water shortages. Environmental buffers such as lakes and dams may act as one of a series of barriers to potable water contamination stemming from micropollutants in wastewater. In South-East Queensland, Australia, current government policy is to begin indirect potable reuse of water from reverse osmosis equipped advanced water treatment plants (AWTPs) when the combined capacity of its major storages is at 40% capacity. A total of 15 organic contaminants including NDMA and bisphenol A have been publically reported as detected in recycled water from one of South-East Queensland's AWTPs, while another 98 chemicals were analysed for, but found to be below their detection limit. To assess the natural attenuation in Lake Wivenhoe, a Level III fugacity based evaluative fate model was constructed using the maximum concentrations of these contaminants detect...
Photosystem II (PSII) herbicides are used in large quantities on agricultural lands adjoining the... more Photosystem II (PSII) herbicides are used in large quantities on agricultural lands adjoining the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Routine monitoring at fourteen sites in inshore waters of the GBR using passive sampling techniques detected diuron (32 – 94 % of sampling periods) at maximum concentrations of 1.7 to 430 ng.L-1 in the relatively pristine Cape York Region to the Mackay
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are lipophilic, persistent pollutants found worldwide in e... more Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are lipophilic, persistent pollutants found worldwide in environmental and human samples. Exposure pathways for PBDEs remain unclear but may include food, air and dust. The aim of this study was to conduct an integrated assessment of PBDE exposure and human body burden using 10 matched samples of human milk, indoor air and dust collected in 2007–2008
Semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were loaded with deuterated anthracene and pyrene as perf... more Semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were loaded with deuterated anthracene and pyrene as performance reference compounds (PRCs) and deployed at a test site in four different chambers (open and closed box chamber, bowl chamber and cage chamber) for 29 days. The losses of PRCs and the uptake of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the ambient air were quantified. UV-B levels measured in
Polyethylene passive sampling devices (PSDs) were deployed to investigate how passive samplers of... more Polyethylene passive sampling devices (PSDs) were deployed to investigate how passive samplers of multiple surface area-to-volume ratios could be used to characterize uptake kinetics for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Theoretically, uptake profiles for different thickness PSDs of the same surface area should show the following: where uptake is linear, the amount of compound accumulated in the different PSDs will be the same and where equilibrium is approached, the amount accumulated by the different PSDs will be proportional to sampler thickness. Polyethylene sheets of the same surface area and approximately 100 and 200 microm thickness were collected after 30, 60, and 90 days of exposure along with samples from a codeployed high volume sampler. Twelve priority pollutant PAHs could be routinely quantified in replicate PSDs. Overall, reproducibility between replicate PSDs was satisfactory, with normalized differences rarely exceeding 25%. The smallest analytes quantified, fluorene, phenanthrene, and anthracene, were shown to approach equilibrium during the deployment period, whereas uptake for fluoranthene and pyrene moved into the curvilinear stage. For most of the larger molecular weight PAHs such as indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, uptake could be described using a linear uptake model. Preliminary sampling rates for the compounds which remained in the linear stage of uptake ranged between 0.5 and 1.5 m3 d(-1) dm(-2). Sampler to air partition coefficients were estimated for PAHs which approached equilibrium and predicted for some of the other compounds. Results suggest that a single deployment of PSDs with multiple surface area-to-volume ratios can be sufficient to determine whether uptake was linear or approaching equilibrium for a range of PAHs.
The mathematical modelling underlying passive air sampling theory can be based on mass transfer c... more The mathematical modelling underlying passive air sampling theory can be based on mass transfer coefficients or rate constants. Generally, these models have not been inter-related. Starting with basic models, the exchange of chemicals between the gaseous phase and the sampler is developed using mass transfer coefficients and rate constants. Importantly, the inter-relationships between the approaches are demonstrated by relating uptake
Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) have been used as passive air samplers of semivolatile org... more Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) have been used as passive air samplers of semivolatile organic compounds in a range of studies. However, due to a lack of calibration data for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), SPMD data have not been used to estimate air concentrations of target PAHs. In this study, SPMDs were deployed for 32 days at two sites in a major
A bioanalytical test battery was used for monitoring organic micropollutants across an indirect p... more A bioanalytical test battery was used for monitoring organic micropollutants across an indirect potable reuse scheme testing sites across the complete water cycle from sewage to drinking water to assess the efficacy of different treatment barriers. The indirect potable reuse scheme consists of seven treatment barriers: (1) source control, (2) wastewater treatment plant, (3) microfiltration, (4) reverse osmosis, (5) advanced oxidation, (6) natural environment in a reservoir and (7) drinking water treatment plant. Bioanalytical results provide complementary information to chemical analysis on the sum of micropollutants acting together in mixtures. Six endpoints targeting the groups of chemicals with modes of toxic action of particular relevance for human and environmental health were included in the evaluation: genotoxicity, estrogenicity (endocrine disruption), neurotoxicity, phytotoxicity, dioxin-like activity and non-specific cell toxicity. The toxicity of water samples was expressed as toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQ), a measure that translates the effect of the mixtures of unknown and potentially unidentified chemicals in a water sample to the effect that a known reference compound would cause. For each bioassay a different representative reference compound was selected. In this study, the TEQ concept was applied for the first time to the umuC test indicative of genotoxicity using 4-nitroquinoline as the reference compound for direct genotoxicity and benzo[a]pyrene for genotoxicity after metabolic activation. The TEQ were observed to decrease across the seven treatment barriers in all six selected bioassays. Each bioassay showed a differentiated picture representative for a different group of chemicals and their mixture effect. The TEQ of the samples across the seven barriers were in the same order of magnitude as seen during previous individual studies in wastewater and advanced water treatment plants and reservoirs. For the first time a benchmarking was performed that allows direct comparison of different treatment technologies and covers several orders of magnitude of TEQ from highly contaminated sewage to drinking water with TEQ close or below the limit of detection. Detection limits of the bioassays were decreased in comparison to earlier studies by optimizing sample preparation and test protocols, and were comparable to or lower than the quantification limits of the routine chemical analysis, which allowed monitoring of the presence and removal of micropollutants post Barrier 2 and in drinking water. The results obtained by bioanalytical tools were reproducible, robust and consistent with previous studies assessing the effectiveness of the wastewater and advanced water treatment plants. The results of this study indicate that bioanalytical results expressed as TEQ are useful to assess removal efficiency of micropollutants throughout all treatment steps of water recycling.
Perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFCs) including perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluorooc... more Perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFCs) including perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) were measured in environmental samples collected from around Homebush Bay, an urban/industrial area in the upper reaches of Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River estuary. Water, surface sediment, Sea Mullet (Mugil cephalus), Sydney Rock Oyster (Saccostrea commercialis) and eggs of two bird species; White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), and Silver Gull (Larus novaehollandiae) were analysed. In most samples PFOS was the dominant PFC. Geometric mean PFOS concentrations were 33 ng/gww (wet weight) in gull eggs, 34 ng/gww in ibis eggs, and 1.8 ng/gww and 66 ng/gww in Sea Mullet muscle and liver, respectively. In sediment the PFOS geometric mean was 1.5 ng/g, in water average PFOS and PFOA concentrations ranged from 7.5 to 21 ng/L and 4.2 to 6.4 ng/L, respectively. In oysters perfluorododecanoic acid was most abundant, with a geometric mean of 2.5 ng/gww.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are lipophilic, persistent pollutants found worldwide in e... more Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are lipophilic, persistent pollutants found worldwide in environmental and human samples. Exposure pathways for PBDEs remain unclear but may include food, air and dust. The aim of this study was to conduct an integrated assessment of PBDE exposure and human body burden using 10 matched samples of human milk, indoor air and dust collected in 2007–2008
Growing concern about the environmental impact of ionizable and polar organic chemicals such as p... more Growing concern about the environmental impact of ionizable and polar organic chemicals such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products has lead to the inclusion of some in legislative and regulatory frameworks. It is expected that future monitoring requirements for these chemicals in aquatic environments will increase, along with the need for low cost monitoring and risk assessment strategies. In this study the uptake of 13 neutral and 6 ionizable pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products by modified POCIS (with Strata™-X sorbent) and Chemcatchers™ (SDB-RPS or SDB-XC) was investigated under controlled conditions at pH = 6.5 for 26 days. The modified POCIS and Chemcatcher™ (SDB-RPS) samplers exhibited similar performance with the uptake of the majority of the 19 chemicals of interest categorised as linear over the 26 day deployment. Only a few ionized herbicides (picloram and dicamba) and triclosan showed negligible accumulation. Chemcatcher™ with SDB-XC ...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using semipermeable membrane devices (SP... more The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and polyethylene-based passive sampler devices (PSDs) for monitoring PAHs in stormwater. Firstly, SPMDs were deployed at one site and SPMD-derived water concentrations were compared with water concentration measured from grab samples. In a subsequent deployment the performance of SPMDs and PSDs was compared. Finally
Augmentation of potable water sources by planned indirect potable reuse of wastewater is being wi... more Augmentation of potable water sources by planned indirect potable reuse of wastewater is being widely considered to address growing water shortages. Environmental buffers such as lakes and dams may act as one of a series of barriers to potable water contamination stemming from micropollutants in wastewater. In South-East Queensland, Australia, current government policy is to begin indirect potable reuse of water from reverse osmosis equipped advanced water treatment plants (AWTPs) when the combined capacity of its major storages is at 40% capacity. A total of 15 organic contaminants including NDMA and bisphenol A have been publically reported as detected in recycled water from one of South-East Queensland's AWTPs, while another 98 chemicals were analysed for, but found to be below their detection limit. To assess the natural attenuation in Lake Wivenhoe, a Level III fugacity based evaluative fate model was constructed using the maximum concentrations of these contaminants detect...
Photosystem II (PSII) herbicides are used in large quantities on agricultural lands adjoining the... more Photosystem II (PSII) herbicides are used in large quantities on agricultural lands adjoining the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Routine monitoring at fourteen sites in inshore waters of the GBR using passive sampling techniques detected diuron (32 – 94 % of sampling periods) at maximum concentrations of 1.7 to 430 ng.L-1 in the relatively pristine Cape York Region to the Mackay
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are lipophilic, persistent pollutants found worldwide in e... more Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are lipophilic, persistent pollutants found worldwide in environmental and human samples. Exposure pathways for PBDEs remain unclear but may include food, air and dust. The aim of this study was to conduct an integrated assessment of PBDE exposure and human body burden using 10 matched samples of human milk, indoor air and dust collected in 2007–2008
Semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were loaded with deuterated anthracene and pyrene as perf... more Semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were loaded with deuterated anthracene and pyrene as performance reference compounds (PRCs) and deployed at a test site in four different chambers (open and closed box chamber, bowl chamber and cage chamber) for 29 days. The losses of PRCs and the uptake of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the ambient air were quantified. UV-B levels measured in
Polyethylene passive sampling devices (PSDs) were deployed to investigate how passive samplers of... more Polyethylene passive sampling devices (PSDs) were deployed to investigate how passive samplers of multiple surface area-to-volume ratios could be used to characterize uptake kinetics for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Theoretically, uptake profiles for different thickness PSDs of the same surface area should show the following: where uptake is linear, the amount of compound accumulated in the different PSDs will be the same and where equilibrium is approached, the amount accumulated by the different PSDs will be proportional to sampler thickness. Polyethylene sheets of the same surface area and approximately 100 and 200 microm thickness were collected after 30, 60, and 90 days of exposure along with samples from a codeployed high volume sampler. Twelve priority pollutant PAHs could be routinely quantified in replicate PSDs. Overall, reproducibility between replicate PSDs was satisfactory, with normalized differences rarely exceeding 25%. The smallest analytes quantified, fluorene, phenanthrene, and anthracene, were shown to approach equilibrium during the deployment period, whereas uptake for fluoranthene and pyrene moved into the curvilinear stage. For most of the larger molecular weight PAHs such as indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, uptake could be described using a linear uptake model. Preliminary sampling rates for the compounds which remained in the linear stage of uptake ranged between 0.5 and 1.5 m3 d(-1) dm(-2). Sampler to air partition coefficients were estimated for PAHs which approached equilibrium and predicted for some of the other compounds. Results suggest that a single deployment of PSDs with multiple surface area-to-volume ratios can be sufficient to determine whether uptake was linear or approaching equilibrium for a range of PAHs.
The mathematical modelling underlying passive air sampling theory can be based on mass transfer c... more The mathematical modelling underlying passive air sampling theory can be based on mass transfer coefficients or rate constants. Generally, these models have not been inter-related. Starting with basic models, the exchange of chemicals between the gaseous phase and the sampler is developed using mass transfer coefficients and rate constants. Importantly, the inter-relationships between the approaches are demonstrated by relating uptake
Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) have been used as passive air samplers of semivolatile org... more Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) have been used as passive air samplers of semivolatile organic compounds in a range of studies. However, due to a lack of calibration data for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), SPMD data have not been used to estimate air concentrations of target PAHs. In this study, SPMDs were deployed for 32 days at two sites in a major
A bioanalytical test battery was used for monitoring organic micropollutants across an indirect p... more A bioanalytical test battery was used for monitoring organic micropollutants across an indirect potable reuse scheme testing sites across the complete water cycle from sewage to drinking water to assess the efficacy of different treatment barriers. The indirect potable reuse scheme consists of seven treatment barriers: (1) source control, (2) wastewater treatment plant, (3) microfiltration, (4) reverse osmosis, (5) advanced oxidation, (6) natural environment in a reservoir and (7) drinking water treatment plant. Bioanalytical results provide complementary information to chemical analysis on the sum of micropollutants acting together in mixtures. Six endpoints targeting the groups of chemicals with modes of toxic action of particular relevance for human and environmental health were included in the evaluation: genotoxicity, estrogenicity (endocrine disruption), neurotoxicity, phytotoxicity, dioxin-like activity and non-specific cell toxicity. The toxicity of water samples was expressed as toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQ), a measure that translates the effect of the mixtures of unknown and potentially unidentified chemicals in a water sample to the effect that a known reference compound would cause. For each bioassay a different representative reference compound was selected. In this study, the TEQ concept was applied for the first time to the umuC test indicative of genotoxicity using 4-nitroquinoline as the reference compound for direct genotoxicity and benzo[a]pyrene for genotoxicity after metabolic activation. The TEQ were observed to decrease across the seven treatment barriers in all six selected bioassays. Each bioassay showed a differentiated picture representative for a different group of chemicals and their mixture effect. The TEQ of the samples across the seven barriers were in the same order of magnitude as seen during previous individual studies in wastewater and advanced water treatment plants and reservoirs. For the first time a benchmarking was performed that allows direct comparison of different treatment technologies and covers several orders of magnitude of TEQ from highly contaminated sewage to drinking water with TEQ close or below the limit of detection. Detection limits of the bioassays were decreased in comparison to earlier studies by optimizing sample preparation and test protocols, and were comparable to or lower than the quantification limits of the routine chemical analysis, which allowed monitoring of the presence and removal of micropollutants post Barrier 2 and in drinking water. The results obtained by bioanalytical tools were reproducible, robust and consistent with previous studies assessing the effectiveness of the wastewater and advanced water treatment plants. The results of this study indicate that bioanalytical results expressed as TEQ are useful to assess removal efficiency of micropollutants throughout all treatment steps of water recycling.
Perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFCs) including perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluorooc... more Perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFCs) including perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) were measured in environmental samples collected from around Homebush Bay, an urban/industrial area in the upper reaches of Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River estuary. Water, surface sediment, Sea Mullet (Mugil cephalus), Sydney Rock Oyster (Saccostrea commercialis) and eggs of two bird species; White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), and Silver Gull (Larus novaehollandiae) were analysed. In most samples PFOS was the dominant PFC. Geometric mean PFOS concentrations were 33 ng/gww (wet weight) in gull eggs, 34 ng/gww in ibis eggs, and 1.8 ng/gww and 66 ng/gww in Sea Mullet muscle and liver, respectively. In sediment the PFOS geometric mean was 1.5 ng/g, in water average PFOS and PFOA concentrations ranged from 7.5 to 21 ng/L and 4.2 to 6.4 ng/L, respectively. In oysters perfluorododecanoic acid was most abundant, with a geometric mean of 2.5 ng/gww.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are lipophilic, persistent pollutants found worldwide in e... more Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are lipophilic, persistent pollutants found worldwide in environmental and human samples. Exposure pathways for PBDEs remain unclear but may include food, air and dust. The aim of this study was to conduct an integrated assessment of PBDE exposure and human body burden using 10 matched samples of human milk, indoor air and dust collected in 2007–2008
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