Organic pollutants pdf

As the samples are concentrated to a final represents a significant source of contamination, as well. The gas from gasoline stations and vehicles, are major sources of BTEX chromatograph used to perform chemical analysis is of the that released in the environment.

When levels of pollutants are Varian GC instrument typeequipped with both FID and very low, a larger volume of samples is needed. Liquid-liquid PTV detectors. To isolate and determine 13 PAHs compounds, extraction is a method used in many laboratories [15,7], but a VF-1ms capillary column 30 m x 0. The injector and FID detector temperature is kept the water samples, are frequently used [11,15]. The water samples represented headspace solid phase micro extraction HS-SPME technique the Adriatic sea with 12 samples taken in the Vlora bay, 9 is used.

A volume of water of 5 ml was placed, in a 10 mL samples taken in Porto-Romano and 12 samples taken in Port headspace vial and 5 replicate vials for each sample are used of Durres, Semani river with 16 samples, Shkumbini river with to adsorb BTEX.

Extractions of volatile compounds were done using a taken in Karavasta Lagoon, 15 samples taken in PatokuLagoon. Sediment samples were analyzed for both lagoons for the Direct injection in HS mode was performed in oC 20 sec same number of samples.

There are also performed chemical in a PTV injector. Helium was used as carrier gas in constant analyzes of some species of fish that grow in both lagoons, flow mode of 0. PatokuLagoonis represented by 9 samples. At the same time, chemical analyzes were carried out for biota samples taken Results and Discussion from the above-mentioned lagoons.

The study period has a two-year extension, from March to April For the period, , were analyzed water samples from different important ecosystems of Albania. Simultaneously extraction Patoku lagoons.

Higher level of HCHs were found for Semani by liquid-liquid extraction. After phase separation, drying of River Total the organic phase was performed using anhydrous sodium of HCH in Mati River and both lagoons were found in low level. Then, water samples Note that average of HCH was: sea Higher concentration of HCHs in sea water Table 2. Profile of HCHs in 4. HCH levels in water samples of 2. Total HCHlevels were lower than allowable levels for water samples.

Total of PCB markers were higher norme. The founded levels for lindane and its isomers were concentrations in water samples of Shkumbini River For the same stations, the observed levels were a-HCH N.

PCBs could Table 2 presend average of DDT data for surface water be because of land sources, probably due to spills from damaged samples of Albania. Total used. Some mechanical businesses that discharge their waste of DDTs were found in low level in Mati River and Patoku direct into the rivers can influence on the levels and distribution Lagoon.

This is conected to the influence of the Shkumbini and Karavasta Lagoon Figure 1. Average of DDT was: river Water samples of Karavasta lagoon contained high from water irrigation. Similar conclusion was reached previous use. This fact was based on higher concentrations for for Shkumbini and Seman rivers.

Both rivers and water currents degradation products of DDT. Their presence was in some Table 3. PCB 28 Madridge J Anal Sci Instrum. PAH concentrations were as follows: Durresstations Benzene and Toluene were found in higher level for Durres 6. BTEX were found Durres 6. Pyrene was founded at higher concentration in Port of is influenced directly by exctracting and processing oil industry Durres water sample. Chrysene was founded at higher level in discharges. Benzo[a]anthracene was founded in rivers is due to automobilis transport and some mechanical higher concentration on water samples of Vlora Bay.

Presence buisnesesthatdischarging their wastes directly in these rivers. It was noticed presence higher than Patoku Lagoon 4. The huge number of Semani River impact in Karavasta Lagoon. Benzene concentrations ships in this port can affected in PAH level and distribution.

Semani River is influenced by oil extraction and processing industry. Wastes Adriatic Sea, Lagoons of Rivers of Albania from oil exctracting and procesing industry, often discharges Albania Albania directly in waters of Gjanica and Semani rivers. Benzene 8. PAH levels o-Xylene 0. Table 4. Acenaphthylene 0. Fluorene N. Phenanthrene 0. Benzo[a] 1. The quality of Conclusions Albanian natural waters and the human impact. Environ Int. New arrivals of pesticides from soil irrigation as a 6.

Gustafson E, Dickhut M. Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons result of rainfalls could be main factor for their presence in in southern Chesapeake Bay surface water: evaluation of three methods rivers, sea and lagoons. All Albanian rivers rivershave in their for determining freely dissolved water concentrations. Environment Toxicology Chemistry. Discharges of Porto-Romano plant directly to the sea for 7. The status of pesticide pollution in surface waters rivers and lakes of Greece.

These same chemicals, however, have had unforeseen effects on human health and the environment. POPs include a range of substances that include:. DDT is likely one of the most famous and controversial pesticides ever made.

An estimated 4 billion pounds of this inexpensive and historically effective chemical have been produced and applied worldwide since In the United States, DDT was used extensively on agricultural crops, particularly cotton, from to DDT was also used to protect soldiers from insect-borne diseases such as malaria and typhus during World War II, and it remains a valuable public health tool in parts of the tropics. The heavy use of this highly persistent chemical, however, led to widespread environmental contamination and the accumulation of DDT in humans and wildlife - a phenomenon brought to public attention by Rachel Carson in her book, Silent Spring.

A wealth of scientific laboratory and field data have now confirmed research from the s that suggested, among other effects, that high levels of DDE a metabolite of DDT in certain birds of prey caused their eggshells to thin so dramatically they could not produce live offspring.

One bird species especially sensitive to DDE was the bald eagle. The bald eagle has since experienced one of the most dramatic species recoveries in our history. A major impetus for the Stockholm Convention was the finding of POPs contamination in relatively pristine Arctic regions - thousands of miles from any known source. Much of the evidence for long-range transport of airborne gaseous and particulate substances to the United States focuses on dust or smoke because they are visible in satellite images.

Tracing the movement of most POPs in the environment is complex because these compounds can exist in different phases e. For example, some POPs can be carried for many miles when they evaporate from water or land surfaces into the air, or when they adsorb to airborne particles. Then, they can return to Earth on particles or in snow, rain, or mist.

POPs also travel through oceans, rivers, lakes, and, to a lesser extent, with the help of animal carriers, such as migratory species. For example, none of the original POPs pesticides listed in the Stockholm Convention is registered for sale and distribution in the United States today and in , Congress prohibited the manufacture of PCBs and severely restricted the use of remaining PCB stocks. In addition, since , EPA and the states have effectively reduced environmental releases of dioxins and furans to land, air, and water from U.

These regulatory actions, along with voluntary efforts by U. To better understand the risks associated with dioxin releases, EPA has been conducting a comprehensive reassessment of dioxin science and will be evaluating additional actions that might further protect human health and the environment. Today: There is no U. EPA has pursued regulatory control and management of dioxins and furans releases to air, water, and soil.

The Clean Air Act requires the application of maximum achievable control technology for hazardous air pollutants, including dioxins and furans. Major sources regulated under this authority include municipal, medical, and hazardous waste incineration; pulp and paper manufacturing; and certain metals production and refining processes. Dioxin releases to water are managed through a combination of risk-based and technology-based tools established under the Clean Water Act. Studies have linked POPs exposures to declines, diseases, or abnormalities in a number of wildlife species, including certain kinds of fish, birds, and mammals.

Wildlife also can act as sentinels for human health: abnormalities or declines detected in wildlife populations can sound an early warning bell for people.

Behavioral abnormalities and birth defects in fish, birds, and mammals in and around the Great Lakes, for example, led scientists to investigate POPs exposures in human populations see below for more information on the Great Lakes.

In people, reproductive, developmental, behavioral, neurologic, endocrine, and immunologic adverse health effects have been linked to POPs. People are mainly exposed to POPs through contaminated foods. Less common exposure routes include drinking contaminated water and direct contact with the chemicals. In people and other mammals alike, POPs can be transferred through the placenta and breast milk to developing offspring. It should be noted, however, that despite this potential exposure, the known benefits of breast-feeding far outweigh the suspected risks.

A number of populations are at particular risk of POPs exposure, including people whose diets include large amounts of fish, shellfish, or wild foods that are high in fat and locally obtained. For example, indigenous peoples may be particularly at risk because they observe cultural and spiritual traditions related to their diet. To them, fishing and hunting are not sport or recreation, but are part of a traditional, subsistence way of life, in which no useful part of the catch is wasted.

In remote areas of Alaska and elsewhere, locally obtained subsistence food may be the only readily available option for nutrition see below for more information on the Arctic. In addition, sensitive populations, such as children, the elderly, and those with suppressed immune systems, are typically more susceptible to many kinds of pollutants, including POPs. Because POPs have been linked to reproductive impairments, men and women of child-bearing age may also be at risk.

POPs work their way through the food chain by accumulating in the body fat of living organisms and becoming more concentrated as they move from one creature to another. This process is known as "biomagnification. This means that even small releases of POPs can have significant impacts. For example, laboratory studies have shown that low doses of certain POPs adversely affect some organ systems and aspects of development.

Studies also have shown that chronic exposure to low doses of certain POPs can result in reproductive and immune system deficits. Exposure to high levels of certain POPs chemicals - higher than normally encountered by humans and wildlife - can cause serious damage or death. Epidemiological studies of exposed human populations and studies of wildlife might provide more information on health impacts. However, because such studies are less controlled than laboratory studies, other stresses cannot be ruled out as the cause of adverse effects.

As we continue to study POPs, we will learn more about the risk of POPs exposure to the general public, how much certain species including people are exposed, and what effects POPs have on these species and their ecosystems.

POPs can be deposited in marine and freshwater ecosystems through effluent releases, atmospheric deposition, runoff, and other means. Because POPs have low water solubility, they bond strongly to particulate matter in aquatic sediments.

As a result, sediments can serve as reservoirs or "sinks" for POPs. When sequestered in these sediments, POPs can be taken out of circulation for long periods of time. If disturbed, however, they can be reintroduced into the ecosystem and food chain, potentially becoming a source of local, and even global, contamination. The Great Lakes - Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario - and their connecting channels make up the largest system of fresh surface water in the world.

A vital resource for the United States and Canada, the Great Lakes are used for fishing, swimming, boating, agriculture, industry, and tourism; they are also a source of drinking water and energy. Despite their size, however, the Great Lakes are vulnerable to pollution. Until the s, a variety of POPs, heavy metals, and other agricultural and industrial pollutants were routinely discharged into the Great Lakes.

Toxic substances also entered the Great Lakes Basin through other avenues, including waste sites, river runoff, and atmospheric deposition. These pollutants existed in large enough quantities to warrant concern regarding the effects on human health and wildlife, including several species of fish and shellfish, bald eagles and other birds of prey, and fish-eating mammals such as mink.

Extensive cleanup and pollution control efforts were subsequently launched, and many contaminant levels have declined dramatically in the Great Lakes as a result, illustrating the positive outcomes that can be achieved when communities, government, and industry work together to reduce pollution.

Still, some POPs exist at significant concentrations, indicating their persistence and the possibility of continued contamination from other sources, particularly long-range atmospheric transport of POPs from other areas.

In , the United States and Canada signed the first Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement , calling for the two countries to clean up and control pollution of these waters. In , they signed a new agreement, which added a commitment to work together to rid the Great Lakes of persistent toxic chemicals, some of which are POPs. As part of this agreement, both countries have been monitoring atmospheric loadings of these chemicals to the Great Lakes since The strategy provided a guide for governments and stakeholders toward the virtual elimination of 12 identified substances through cost-efficient and expedient pollution prevention and other incentive-based actions.

Over the course of the ten-year period, working closely with state, provincial, tribal, and local governments and stakeholders from industry, academia, environmental and community groups, both governments made significant progress in meeting that goal of virtually eliminating persistent toxic substances such as mercury, PCBs, and dioxin from discharging into the Great Lakes environment. The two governments agreed to continue to extend the agreement in order to work together to identify new challenges that are presented by emerging substance of concern, such as flame retardants.

Through these efforts, we will steadily continue to reduce levels of toxics in fish. Someday we will answer the question. Today, much of our knowledge of POPs, populations at risk, and possible health effects comes from research conducted in the Great Lakes region. We have learned, for example, that a major route of exposure is through contaminated food, particularly fish. Studies conducted in the s showed a correlation between fish consumption and elevated POPs levels in blood, leading researchers to conclude that people can be exposed to POPs by eating contaminated fish.

As a result, extensive fish contaminant monitoring programs have been established in the Great Lakes states, and fish consumption advisories are regularly released to help inform people which fish are safe to eat and how much is safe to eat see Resources below.

For many Americans, Alaska much of which is in the Arctic conjures images of commanding tundra, glaciers, and pure coastal waters - a remote and wild land relatively untouched by the human hand. But even here, POPs have been found in the air, water, soil, plants, fish, and other wildlife. Some POPs have been used or released in Alaska and other northern regions by military sites, smelters, pulp and paper mills, power stations, mines, and other sources. Others have rarely or never been used locally.

POPs can enter Alaska and the Arctic in several ways, too. The first indication that Arctic pollution could originate elsewhere came during the s, when pilots noticed a haze in the North American Arctic that was eventually traced to sources in the lower latitudes.

Since then, scientists have discovered that POPs can reach Arctic regions via air, water, and, to a lesser extent, migratory species.

POPs can also travel in rivers from southeast and central Asia into the Pacific Ocean, where water currents flow into the Arctic Ocean.

During the long, cold Alaskan winters, mammals metabolize fat, and this process releases POPs that have accumulated in the fat directly into their bodies. Then, in the spring, a critical period of reproduction for Alaskan wildlife, POPs that have accumulated in the ice and snow can be released into the environment and the food chain.

The Alaskan and Arctic ecosystems are fragile and take a long time to recover from damage. In addition, slow-growing plants and the animals that feed on these plants can be exposed to bioaccumulating contaminants such as POPs for a long time before being consumed at the next level in the food chain. For example, POPs accumulation in and on lichen in Alaska may contribute to levels of contaminants found in caribou tissue.

The caribou, in turn, can then be exposed to these contaminants for a long time before being consumed by predators themselves. For many Native cultures, subsistence activities such as hunting seals, whales, and birds; fishing; and gathering bird eggs are the main methods of procuring food.

Alaskan Natives therefore consume much more fish than the average American and more often consume animals higher on the food chain, including predator species such as seals, sea lions, bears, and toothed whales, all of which have potentially higher levels of POPs. In , nations with territory in the Arctic developed the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy to protect, enhance, and restore the Arctic ecosystems. In , those same nations established the Arctic Council , a high-level intergovernmental forum, to address environmental protection and sustainable development in the Arctic.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which was adopted in and entered into force in , is a global treaty whose purpose is to safeguard human health and the environment from highly harmful chemicals that persist in the environment and affect the well-being of humans as well as wildlife. UNEP is the leading international environmental entity that supports the agenda and implementation of environmental sustainability for the United Nations.

The role of Parties is to implement the obligations of the Convention, including eliminating or restricting the production and use of the intentionally produced POPs, prohibiting and eliminating production and use or import of POPs, conducting research, identifying areas contaminated with POPs, and providing financial support and incentives for the Convention.

The process of becoming a Party begins with a state or regional economic integration organization submitting a means of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to the depositary.