Investigations on Mineralogical and Chemical Composition of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in the Odra Estuary

In order to recognize lateral and seasonal variations in composition of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the Odra Estuary, samples were taken at four sites in the period July 1996 - July 1997 monthly if possible. The contents of the elements Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, P, C, S as well as Ba, Cr, Sr, V, Zn, Cu, Zr, and of the minerals illite, chlorite, smectite, kaolinite and others have been determined. The decreasing influence of the river Odra towards the open sea could be realized with the help of the contents of the minerals quartz, smectite, and of the elements Ba, Cr, K, P, Si and other. 60% of the seasonal and lateral variations can be explained by changing contents of total carbon (TC), total organic carbon (TOC), Al, Fe, Si, Ti, P, Mn, and Ba. They are mainly caused by differences in the production of organic matter, resuspension, riverine input, and redox-sensitive processes.     

The Effects of Nutrients on Natural Organic Matter (NOM) Removal in Biological Activated Carbon (BAC) Filtration

Effective biodegradation of organic compounds is one of the major objectives while optimizing biological drinking water treatment processes. Enhancing the biological activated carbon (BAC) filter performance with nutrient addition was studied using chemically pre-treated and ozonated lake water. Three parallel pilot-scale biofilters were operated: one with phosphorus addition, one with a mixture of inorganic nutrients addition, and one as a reference. The addition of nutrients had no statistically significant influence on the natural organic matter (NOM) removal when monitored by total organic carbon (TOC), UV absorbance, and assimilable organic carbon (AOC). However, the addition of nutrients significantly increased the heterotrophic plate count (HPC) bacteria of the filter effluent, while the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) analysis of the attached bacteria did not show any increase in BAC filters. It seemed that in BAC filters the bacterial growth was limited by phosphorus, but the increased bacteria could not attach themselves during the relatively short acclimatization period.     

Approaches to the Immunochemical Analysis of Non-extractable Triazine Residues in Refractory Organic Substances (ROS) and Characterization of ROS

The tendency of several pesticides to form non-extractable residues requires simple and fast screening methods. Immunochemical methods can meet this demand. They are based on selective and highly sensitive antibody binding to pesticide residues exposed on refractory organic substances (ROS). s-Triazines were used as an example to show the feasibility of this approach. It was proven that under laboratory conditions atrazine was bound to ROS. Antibody recognition pointed to the availability of free ethyl and isopropyl groups exposed at the non-extractable s-triazine residue. Therefore, it is suggested on the basis of antibody selectivities that binding of atrazine to ROS may take place by substitution of the chlorine residue. In the next step, aquatic ROS isolated from surface waters located in an agricultural area were examined for non-extractable s-triazines. ROS from a lake were found to contain bound residues, whereas none were detected in the creek samples. As an outlook the feasibility of serological characterization of ROS is discussed. The novel concept of serotyping is based on the fractionation of ROS by electrophoretic techniques followed by an immunoreaction with polyclonal antibodies directed against different ROS. When immunoelectrophoresis is used, precipitation lines can be compared and checked for identity and cross-reactivity. This approach can form the basis for classifying ROS and determine similarities with unknown ROS.     

Total Organic Carbon (TOC) as a Sum Parameter of Water Pollution in Selected Polish Rivers (Vistula,Odra, and Warta)

This paper reports on total organic carbon (TOC) and its fractions dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) studied in different Polish rivers. The samples investigated came from the Vistula, Odra, and Warta rivers, and were compared with similar data on river waters available in the literature. The DOC concentrations ranged from 10.0 to 14.2 mg/L and did not vary during the vegetative season. The POC values considerably increased from May through September and reached a maximum in summer. Results for the years 1991τ1996 evidenced a significant increase in the POC value for the Polish rivers from 10.8 to 24.5 mg/L, in comparison with analogous values for West European rivers and North American ones. The enhanced values of TOC and POC were interpreted as being due to anthropogenic pollution.     

Changes of Acute Toxicity of Organic Chemicals to Daphnia magna in the Presence of Dissolved Humic Material (DHM)

With a series of substituted anilines, a series of substituted phenols as well as diazinon and tetrabromobisphenol-A alterations of short-term acute toxicity to the waterflea Daphnia magna have been studied in the presence of dissolved humic material (DHM). The results may be categorised as follows: No alteration in acute toxicity occurred with: tetrabromobisphenol-A, o-toluidine, 3,4-dichloroaniline, and pentachlorophenol. Toxicity decreases significantly with: diazinon, 4-chloroaniline, and 4-nitrophenol. Significant toxicity increases were observed with 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol. As demonstrated for diazinon, our study reveals that in the presence of DHM and light the chemical speciation of this chemical is altered and daughter products are produced most likely via photoactive species of DHM. Most probably the toxicity of both the parent and daughter compounds is changed as well. Alterations in acute toxicity of organic chemicals may thus be attributed to the adsorption to DHM as well as to the photoactive species mediated production of daughter products with toxicity different from that of the parent compounds.