Toxicity
Anaerobic benzene oxidation 3+
Biologically mediated benzene oxidation coupled with Fe reduction in petroleumcontaminated aquifers does not occur under most field conditions and, in instances where it does occur, has not been extensively studied. R. Anderson and coworkers identified a site at which rapid benzene oxidation was occurring in situ and traced this to the presence of high numbers of specific microorganisms from the family Geobacteraceae. Results of analysis of [14C]benzene oxidation in undisturbed sediments indicate that anaerobic benzene oxidation may be restricted to narrowly confined portions of the Fe3+ reduction zone. These results suggest that assaying for Fe3+-reducing microorganisms may aid in identifying zones in which anaerobic benzene oxidation occurs. {Environ. Sci. Technol., this issue, pp. 1222-1229)
Air Pollution: Pets As Sentinels of Environmental Cancer Risk," Environ. Health Perspect. 1997,105{11), 1312-1318)
Measurements Quantifying herbicides. A new trace analysis technique for detecting imidazolinone herbicides has been developed. (Lagana, A.; Fago, G.; Marino, A. "Simultaneous Determination of Imidazolinone Herbicides from Soil and Natural Waters Using Soil Column Extraction and Off-Line Solid-Phase Extraction Followed by Liquid Chromatography with UV Detection or Liquid Chromatography/ Electrospray Mass Spectrometry," Anal. Chem. 1998, 70, 121-130)
evolution over the past 70 years and suggests improvements. (Thomann, R. V. "The Future Golden Age of Predictive Models for Surface Water Quality and Ecosystem Management,"/. Environ. Eng. 1998, 124(2), 94-103)
Methyl mercury and sludge. The first quantitative1measurementsof a terrestrial source of methyl mercury to the atmosphere were obtained from a study of soil amended with sewage sludge. (Carpi, A.; Lindberg, S. E.; Prestbo, E. M.; Bloom, N. S. "Methyl Mercury Contamination and Emission to the Atmosphere From Soil Amended with Municipal Sewage Sludge," J. Environ. Qual. 1997, 26, 1650-1655) Tree rings and metal emissions. Concentrations of lead and cadmium in tree rings are used to monitor historic emissions of heavy metals from anthropogenic sources. (Jonsson, A; Eklund, M.; Hakansson, K. "Heavy Metals in the Environment," /. Environ. Qual. 1997, 26, 1638-43)
Modeling Water quality models. An analysis of water quality models indicates their
Waste Dioxinlike compounds. Unidentified dioxinlike compounds in fly ash may account for its unexplained toxicity. (Till, M.; Behnisch, P.; Hagenmaier, H.; Bock, K. W; Schrenk, D. "Dioxinlike Compounds in Incinerator Fly Ash: A Comparison Between Chemical Analysis Data and Results from a Cell Culture Bioassay," Environ. Health Perspect. 1997,105(12), 1326-32)
Pesticides Atrazine sorption in soils. Atrazine sorption in soils is influenced by soil organic carbon, pH, and soil clay content. (Novak, J. M.; Moorman, T. B.; Cambardella, C. A. "Atrazine Sorption at the Field Scale in Relation to Soils and Landscape Position," /. Environ. Qual. 1997, 26, 1271-1277)
Risk Metals
Fuel oil phytotoxicity. Fuel oil hydrocarbon contaminants in soils reduced plant growth, but uptake of hydrocarbons in stems and leaves was not observed. (Chaimneau, C. H.; Morel, J. L.; Oudot, J. "Phytotoxicity and Plant Uptake of Fuel Oil Hydrocarbons," /. Environ. Qual. 1997, 26, 1478-83)
Ecological risk of mercury. Data uncertainties confound assessments of wildlife harm. (Meyer, M. W "Ecological Risk of Mercury in the Environment: The Inadequacy of the Best Available Science," Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 1998, 17, 137-138)
Soils Nitrogen cycling. Soil microbial populations responsible for nitrogen cycling may be more sensitive to adverse effects of contaminants than previously reported. (Fuller, M. E.; Scow, K. M. "Impact of Trichloroethylene and Toluene on Nitrogen Cycling in Soil," Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 1997, 63(10), 4015-4019) Soil ingestion. EPA methodology for estimating soil ingestion risks for children may not be protective. (Calabrese, E. J.; Stanek, E. J.; James, R. C; Roberts, S. M. "Soil Ingestion: A Concern for Acute Toxicity in Children," Environ. Health Perspect. 1997, 105(12), 1354-58)
2 3 4 A • MAY 1, 1998 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / NEWS
Wastewater Surface water contaminants. Urban wastewater treatment plant effluents are a major contributor to herbicide pollution of surface water. Herbicides, such as diuron, mainly used in urban weed control account for the major effluent load. (Nitschke, L.; Schussler, W. "Surface Water Pollution by Herbicides From Effluents of Waste Water Treatment Plants," Chemosphere 1998, 36(1), 35-41) Monitoring wastewater effluents. A remote-sensing technique is described for monitoring wastewater pond quality. (Gitelson, A.; Stark, R.; Dor, I. "Quantitative Near-Surface Remote Sensing of Wastewater Quality in Oxidation Ponds and Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Naan System," Water Environ. Res. 1997, 69(7), 1263-70)
Contributors: Michael Brauer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brian Eitzer, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Conn.; Stephen Geiger, Remediation Technologies, Inc., King of Prussia, Pa.; Vincent Hand, Miami University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Oxford, Ohio; Louis Kovach, Ecolife Associates, Wilmington, Del; Geoffrey Nobes, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; and Raewyn Town, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
