Monoaromatic hydrocarbons. Airborne concentrations of benzene, toluene, and the xylenes have been measured inside passenger cars while driven along major roads in the city of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, as well as immediately outside the car and at the roadside. (Leung, P-L.; Harrison, R. M. "Roadside and In-Vehicle Concentrations of Monoaromatic Hydrocarbons," Atmos. Environ. 1998, 33(2), 191-204)
Methods Polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles. An analytical method is described for the separation, identification, and quantification of a number of polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles in three fossil fuel-related samples. (Moessner, S. G.; Wise, S. A. "Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Sulfur Heterocycles in Fossil Fuel-Related Samples," Anal. Chem. 1999, 71(1), 58-69)
Monitoring Emissions. Levoglucosan and the related degradation products from cellulose can be utilized as specific and general indicator compounds for the presence of emissions from biomass burning in samples of atmospheric fine particulate matters. (Simoneit, B. R. T.; Schauer, J. J.; Nolte, C. G.; Oros, D. R.; Elias, V O.; Fraser, M. R; Rogge, W. E; Cass, G. R. "Levoglucosan: A Tracer for Cellulose in Biomass Burning and Atmospheric Particles," Atmos. Environ. 1998, 33(2), 173-182)
Herbicide contamination More than 100,000 tons of herbicides are used annually on field crops in the Mississippi River Basin. G. M. Clark and coworkers sampled water collected from rivers in the basin area and analyzed them for selected herbicides to evaluate their discharge to the Gulf of Mexico and to identify their predominant source areas within the basin. Results indicate that atrazine, metolachlor, and alachlor ESA (an alachlor metabolite) were the most frequently detected herbicides in the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge, and, in general were present in the largest concentrations Factors such as temporal and spatial variations in climate application patterns and crop rotations result in variations in the primary source location area of herbicides and in the annual herbicide load deliverpri to the Rnlf of Mexico Hnring IQQfi—1997 the Ohio River contrihntpH about Rfl0/ of I L e discharno from and basm anrl Rn"/
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plex, and the natural and anthropogenic sources of acidity contributing to these processes. (Markewitz, D.; Richter, D. D.; Allen, H. L.; Urrego, J. B. "Three Decades of Observed Soil Acidification in the Calhoun Experimental Forest: Has Acid Rain Made a Difference?" Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 1998, 62, 1428-1439)
Sediments Polychlorinated terphenyls. High concentrations of an unusual, complex mixture of chlorinated compounds were discovered in sediments and oysters near a federal aeronautics facility during implementation of a pollutant screening protocol. (Hale, R. C; Enos, C; Gallagher, K. "Sources and Distribution of Polychlorinated Terphenyls at a Major U.S. Aeronautics Research Facility," Environ. Manage. 1998, 22(6), 937-945)
Atrazine adsorption. The relation between results of atrazine interaction and the molecular structure of humic matter indicates that the aliphatic C content of soil organic matter may be one of the parameters controlling atrazine adsorption to soils. (Piccolo, A.; Conte, R; Scheunert, I.; Paci, M. "Atrazine Interactions With Soil Humic Substances of Different Molecular Structure," /. Environ. Qual. 1998, 27, 1324-1333)
Soils
Technology
Acid rain. Three decades of repeated soil sampling from eight permanent plots at the Calhoun Experimental Forest in South Carolina have allowed for the estimation of the rate of soil acidification, the chemical changes in the soil exchange com-
Electrochemical immunosensor. A screen-printed immunosensor device has proven to be a valid tool for the quantification of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in buffer, methano,, and methanolic soil extracts at the parts-per-million level. (Kroger,
1 7 2 A • APRIL 1, 1999 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / NEWS
S.; Setford, S. J.; Turner, A. R F. "Immunosensor for 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid in Aqueous /Organic Solvent Soil Extracts," Anal. Chem. 1998, 70(23), 5047-5053) Laser mass spectrometry. It was demonstrated that a newly developed, mobile laser mass spectrometer enables real-time, online trace analysis of combustion flue or industrial process gases. (Heger, H. J.; Zimmermann, R.; Dorfner, R.; Beckmann, M.; Griebel, H.; Kettrup, A.; Boesl, U. "Online Emission Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Down to pptv Concentration Levels in the Flue Gas of an Incineration Pilot Plant With a Mobile Resonance-Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer" Anal Chem 1999, 71(1), 46-57)
Toxicity Toxic equivalency factors. In spite of uncertainties, an expert meeting organized by the World Health Organization concluded that the use of toxic equivalency factors is still the most plausible and feasible approach for risk assessment of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons with dioxinlike properties. (Van den Berg, M.; et al. "Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEFs) for PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs for Humans and Wildlife," Environ. Health Perspect. 1998, i06(12), 775-792)
Wastewater Metals analysis. The analysis of metals in aquatic environments is better understood when speciation characteristics are examined, which provides a better mechanism for developing site-specific water quality criteria for metals. (Erten-Unal, M.; Wixson, B. G.; Gale, N.; Pitt, J. L. "Evaluation of Toxicity, Bioavailability and Speciation of Lead, Zinc and Cadmium in Mine/Mill Wastewaters," Chem. Speciation Bioavail. 1998 10(2) 37-46) Contributors: Michael Brauer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Brian Eitzer, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Conn.; Stephen Geiger, ThermoRetec, Fairfax, Va.; Vincent Hand, Miami University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Oxford, Ohio; Louis Kovach, Ecolife Associates, Wiimington, Del.; and Raewyn Town, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
