Halogenated Volatile Organic Compounds in Water Samples and Inorganic Elements Levels in Ores for Characterizing a High Anthropogenic Polluted Area in the Northern Latium Region (Italy)

Abstract

This paper shows a characterization of the organic and inorganic fraction of river waters (Tiber and Marta) and ores/soil samples collected in the Northern Latium region of Italy for evaluating the anthropogenic/natural source contribution to the environmental pollution of this area. For organic compounds, organochloride volatile compounds in Tiber and Marta rivers were analyzed by two different clean-up methods (i.e., liquid–liquid extraction and static headspace) followed by gas chromatography–electron capture detector (GC-ECD) analysis. The results show very high concentrations of bromoform (up to 1.82 and 3.2 µg L−1 in Tiber and Marta rivers, respectively), due to the presence of greenhouse crops, and of chloroform and tetrachloroethene, due to the presence of handicrafts installations. For the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the inorganic fraction, it is highlighted the use of a nuclear analytical method, instrumental neutron activation analysis, which allows having more information as possible from the sample without performing any chemical-physical pretreatment. The results have evidenced high levels of mercury (mean value 88.6 µg g−1), antimony (77.7 µg g−1), strontium (12,039 µg g−1) and zinc (103 µg g−1), whereas rare earth elements show levels similar to the literature data. Particular consideration is drawn for arsenic (414 µg g−1): the levels found in this paper (ranging between 1 and 5100 µg g−1) explain the high content of such element (as arsenates) in the aquifer, a big issue in this area.

Examining the mass loss and thermal properties of 3D printed models produced by fused deposition modeling and stereolithography under elevated temperatures

“…The analyte [(E)-4-Formyloxybut-2-enyl] formate produced a retention time of 27.8 min and a 95.4% match to the mass spectrum from the NIST mass spectral library. The compound 2,4,6trimethylbenzoic acid was identified at a retention time of 39.9 min and is a common photodecomposition product from UV photoinitiators after polymerization (Scarsella et al, 2019). The retention time of the 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoic acid standard was 39.9 min with a 81.9% probability of mass spectrum peak alignment with the NIST mass spectral library.…”

“…A sampling needle and injector is used to penetrate the septum on the sealed cap, withdraw a fraction of the gaseous headspace and transfer the sample to the inlet of a GC, where the analytes are separated and analyzed. Flame ionization (Badaro et al , 2021) and electron capture (Russo et al , 2021) detectors can be coupled with SHS-GC analysis, but they are limited since they often do not provide information that can assist in structural elucidation of the volatile molecules. The coupling of MS with SHS-GC permits the trace analysis of volatile molecules as well as the ability to structurally characterize volatile impurities to identify odor-causing compounds (Fuller et al , 2020), contaminants (Cardador and Gallego, 2017) or residual solvents in pharmaceutical products (Yarramraju et al , 2007).…”

Advanced electrocatalytic redox processes for environmental remediation of halogenated organic water pollutants

“…Chlorinated and brominated organic water pollutants are harmful to human health and the environment. 46,47 They accumulate in living organisms. 46 Chlorinated organic compounds found uses in metal working fluids, lubricants, flame retardants, and plasticizers.…”

“…46,47 They accumulate in living organisms. 46 Chlorinated organic compounds found uses in metal working fluids, lubricants, flame retardants, and plasticizers. 48 Polybrominated diphenyl ethers This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2023 (PBDEs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBPA), polybrominated phenols (PBPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs), and chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ClPAHs) are used in the manufacturing of electronic equipment and devices and remain in electronic waste (e-waste), creating serious pollution challenges in e-waste recycling.…”

“…43 Bioaccumulation through food chains and direct uptake introduce organohalogens into the human body, where they have been linked to Parkinson's disease, 44 harm in cognitive function and development, reproductive, hormonal, and metabolic processes, and increased risk for cancer. 30,45,46 Specific applications and associated risks of chlorinated, brominated, and fluorinated organic compounds are detailed below.…”