Plant protection products (PPPs) can be transported from the target area to other environmental compartments, e.g. groundwater. To minimize potential negative impacts, their environmental fate is assessed as part of the PPPs authorization process. Bank filtration describes the process where surface water infiltrates into groundwater systems, transporting dissolved or particulate compounds through the subsurface. The report provides a literature review of the state of the art on the processes and influencing factors of bank filtration, summarises bank filtration rates for pesticides, and evaluates the suitability of the model Exposit 3.02 to represent the removal of PPPs via bank filtration. Veröffentlicht in Texte | 115/2025.
The environmental fate of tire and road wear particles (TRWPs) receives increasing attention due to the per capita emission volumes of 0.2-5.5 kg/(cap year) and recent reports on the environmental hazard of TRWP constituents. It is expected that aging impacts TRWPs fate in the environment but detailed knowledge is quite limited, yet. Making use of information on tire aging, the available knowledge on environmental aging processes such as thermooxidation, photooxidation, ozonolysis, shear stress, biodegradation and leaching is reviewed here. Experimental techniques to simulate aging are addressed as are analytical techniques to determine aging induced changes of TRWPs, covering physical and chemical properties. The suitability of various tire wear test materials is discussed. Findings and methods from tire aging can be partially applied to study aging of TRWPs in the environment. There is a complex interplay between aging processes in the environment that needs to be considered in future aging studies. In addition to existing basic qualitative understanding of the aging processes, quantitative understanding of TRWP aging is largely lacking. Aging in the environment needs to consider the TRWPs as well as chemicals released. Next steps for filling the gaps in knowledge on aging of TRWPs in the environment are elaborated. © 2021 The Authors
Engineered nanomaterials (ENM) have a widespread presence in human life and are components of many products and applications. This warrants an easy and fast evaluation of potential environmental risks. However, so far this is hampered by the multitude of different nanomaterials on the markets in addition to the many variations in form, size and surface modifications. Testing of each variation of ENM is not manageable, and hence the development and application of fast risk screening tools for ENMs is discussed. Here, we present the development of a scoring scheme with regard to ENM environmental risks under consideration of the two compartments water and soil. It allows for the ranking of ENM according to their environmental fate and hazard by taking into account criteria that are meaningful and relevant for ENM. The selection of the criteria is based on conceptual considerations, existing knowledge, and experimental work including transport and transformation studies as well as aquatic and terrestrial toxicity tests. The allocation of the ENM to the scores informs on the potential for transport and transformation and the hazard potential. Fate and hazard scores are subsequently combined into one risk score (1â€Ì10 for aquatic compartment, 1â€Ì7 for terrestrial compartment). The risk score has the intention to indicate which ENM may need prioritization for further action, i.e. with regard to the degree of detail for further testing or modelling. The applicability and consistency of the scoring schemes were assessed by taking different chemical species (e.g. of Ag, TiO2, SiO2, Cu, Fe) of ENM in various modifications (e.g. different shapes and coatings) into account. In conclusion, the established scoring schemes were found to be applicable to rank ENM according to their environmental fate and hazard potential, and thus to their environmental risk potential. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Human pharmaceuticals are extensively studied and assessed before marketing approval. Since 2006, this also includes an assessment of environmental risks. In the European Union, this is based on the guideline on the environmental risk assessment of medicinal products for human use (EMEA/CHMP/SWP/4447/00 corr 2), which is currently under revision. For Germany, the German Environment Agency (UBA) is tasked with the evaluation of environmental risks of human pharmaceuticals. Applicants seeking approval of medicinal products need to submit fate and effect data, in case predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) exceed 10 ng/L in surface waters, or the substance is of specific concern through its mode of action or physico-chemical characteristics. Over the last decade, this regulatory work resulted in an internal agency database containing effect data on approximately 300 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). A considerable part of this data is currently not publicly available due to property rights held by the respective applicants. The database was evaluated to draw conclusions on how the current assessment approach may be improved. The evaluation of aquatic effect data shows considerable variation in ecotoxic effect concentrations, but supports the current use of 10 ng/L as PEC action limit. For endocrine-active substances and antibiotics, a clear sensitivity profile was observed, which allows a more targeted assessment in the future. The conclusions drawn from terrestrial effect data are less clear, as the database itself is biased because information is only available for substances with high sorption. Further adaptations of the terrestrial assessment strategy, including action triggers, appear necessary. Fate data show a high persistence of many APIs: approximately 43% of all APIs are classified as very persistent; 12% of these show DT50 values in a range where abiotic or biotic degradation is not expected. Overall, the evaluation has shown that improvements of the current guideline are possible. © The Author(s) 2021
Im Verlauf eines Jahres wurden 10 Beprobungen zweier kommunaler Kläranlagen in Stuttgart-Möhringen an der Körsch und in Stuttgart-Mühlhausen am Neckar vorgenommen. Dabei wurden jeweils folgende Matrices zur Quantifizierung der Phosphonate ATMP, EDTMP, DTPMP, HEDP und PBTC entnommen: Kläranlagenzulauf, Ablauf der Vorklärung, Ablauf der Nachklärung und, im Falle der Kläranlage Stuttgart-Mühlhausen, auch Ablauf des Sandfilters und Ablauf des Aktivkohlefilters. Weiterhin wurden Flusswasser, Flusssediment und Flussschwebstoffe vor und hinter der Einleitstelle beprobt. Zusätzlich zur Phosphonatanalytik erfolgte die Erfassung der Kenngrößen Temperatur, Kläranlagendurchfluss, pH, Leitfähigkeit, Feststoffgehalt, chemischer Sauerstoffbedarf und Phosphorgehalt. Die Schwerpunkte der Methodenentwicklung lagen auf der Extraktion von Phosphonaten aus Feststoffproben, der Anpassung der Chromatographie zur Analyse matrixbelasteter Proben und der Etablierung einer automatischen Anreicherung zur Quantifizierung von Oberflächenwasserproben. Im Rahmen dieses Projekts wurde die etablierte ionenchromatographische Trennung erstmals erfolgreich mit einem empfindlichen Tandem-Massenspektrometer gekoppelt. Diese Technik erlaubte die Quantifizierung aus Oberflächenwasserproben bis zu einer Bestimmungsgrenze von 0,1 (my)g/L. Durch Eigensynthese isotopenmarkierter Interner Standards wurde die Empfindlichkeit und Spezifität der Analyse erheblich verbessert. Nach der Etablierung einer robusten Analysemethode erfolgte die Bilanzierung der Phosphonate innerhalb und im Umfeld der beiden Kläranlagen. Dabei zeigte sich, dass HEDP und PBTC in der Regel die höchsten Gehalte aufwiesen. Hohe Eliminierungsraten von 80-90 % nach dem Durchlaufen der Nachklärung wurden festgestellt. Die gegenwärtigen Daten zeigen, dass Phosphonate in der Kläranlage und im Fließgewässer zu hohem Anteil adsorbiert an Feststoffpartikel (unterer bis mittlerer mg/kg-Bereich) vorliegen. Sowohl im Neckar als auch in der Körsch wurden der Einleitstelle signifikant erhöhte Sedimentbeladungen und, abhängig von der Größe des Gewässers, auch erhöhte Schwebstoffbeladungen festgestellt. Die im Oberflächenwasser detektierten Konzentrationen befanden sich, abhängig von der Belastung, im unteren (my)g/L-Bereich und darunter. Quelle: Forschungsbericht
For an adequate and valid interpretation of data regarding the environmental fate and behavior of nanomaterials it is essential to describe parameters like dissolution (rate), dispersibility and dispersion stability. Aim of the project was the development of a standardized test method to determine dispersibility and dispersion stability of nanomaterials in simulated environmental media as new OECD Test Guideline. For this objective, both conceptual and experimental work was conducted and an international round robin was initiated and executed to validate the proposed test setup regarding reliability and reproducibility. Two comprehensive expert commenting rounds of the OECD Test Guideline program supported the refinement of the draft within this project. The test method developed in this project was submitted to the OECD Test Guideline program by UBA and published by OECD in October 2017 as new “Test Guideline on dispersion stability of nanomaterials in simulated environmental media (OECD No. 318)”. The presented final report summarizes the experimental work performed to develop the OECD Test Guideline.
Currently there are no testing and assessment strategies for environmental fate and effects taking the specific properties and behaviour of engineered nanomaterials into account. Therefore, the project objective was to develop a strategy for the investigation of ecotoxicity and environmental fate that allows the consideration of nano-specific effects within the environmental risk assessment of nanomaterials. For the development of the test strategy, both the results of "classic" assessment as well as those of recognized non-standardized endpoints were taken into account. For this analysis environmental fate and effects were addressed separately. Furthermore, the discussions of national and international level, e.g. the conclusions of the expert meeting on Ecotoxicology and Environmental fate of the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials were taken into account. The test strategy considers various levels of test complexity as they are to be used in a tiered risk assessment scheme on the basis of a full life-cycle assessment. For the environmental risk assessment approach, the use of mathematical models and trigger values to either stop the procedure or proceed to the next tier is included. The presented test strategy features an overarching approach to test and assess fate and effects of NM while considering the specific challenges when investigating the potential environmental impact of NM.<BR>Quelle: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/
Veterinary medicines may enter soils along with manure applications. Recently ecologically effective concentrations of antibacterial veterinary medicines have been detected in soil. However, fundamental model ideas for a comprehensive analysis of the resulting risks are lacking. Existing knowledge on the environmental fate of hydrophobic pollutants allows only for limited conclusions on the dynamics of the polar veterinary medicines. Effects of additional C sources and co-solvents on binding, degradation, and transport of veterinary medicines are hardly predictable for complex organic mixtures like manure. Effects of the manure on the environmental toxicity of these substances in soil are, according to our knowledge, not investigated at all. Therefore, it is the superimposing objective of the Research Unit to elucidate, with two different target substances (sulfadiazine and difloxacin), how the ecotoxicological effects of these substances in soil are coupled with their dynamics under the influence of manure. We recognise several open questions in the area of dynamics (e.g. degradation and metabolism, sequestration, scale-dependent redistribution), of effects (e.g. on structure and function of microorganisms, antibiotic resistant gene abundance and diversity) and particularly of the space-time coupling of dynamics and effects of the target substances in soil (from milliseconds to years and from the mineral surface to the soil profile). To answer these questions we will in the first phase identify, predominantly with laboratory and controlled field experiments, the relevant scales and processes as well as their mode of interaction in time. Hence, we will quantify the rates which control the dynamics and effects of the substances in soil alone and under the influence of manure. In a second phase the processes will be coupled, upscaled from Ìm to plot size, and their relevance further verified in a joint outdoor test. Therewith we can reveal and quantify the dominating factors and mechanisms that control the fate of the target substances in soils under the influence of manure. The Research Unit comprises of totally eight individual research teams. Four teams are dealing with the fate of the target substances in soils, three groups address the effect on soil microbes and one group connecting both through modelling.
Black carbon (BC) residues from the incomplete combustion of vegetation and fossil fuels are ubiquitous in soil, sediment and water. Due to its stability, BC is an important component of the slow cycling global carbon pool. Analysis of BC in environmental matrices such as soils and sediments is complicated by its diverse nature. Sediments are the quantitatively most important sink in the global black carbon cycle and represent archives of BC deposition on local and regional scales, but the identification and apportionment of the BC sources (fossil fuel combustion versus vegetation fires) remain unclear to date. Benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCA) are molecular markers specific for BC and are used to measure quantity and quality of BC. The method provides information about the degree of condensation and allows characterization of different forms of BC (e.g. charcoal, soot). Recent advances in BPCA analysis improved the method in terms of sample preparation and made analyses faster and more accurate. Compound specific radiocarbon (14C) dating is a powerful tool in geochemistry and archaeological sciences to trace the fate of specific molecules in soils and sediments. Up to now, 14C measurements are inaccurate for BC, as established methods measure 14C contents of oxidation resistant bulk carbon. In the proposed research project, I will follow a novel approach for BPCA separation with subsequent determination of its 14C contents. This technique will allow to precisely estimate the apportionment of sources of BC found in sediments and the age of black carbon in soils. In this project I will take advantage of an existing set of well-dated lake sediment samples. These sediment cores feature undisturbed lamination, thus providing a high-resolution record of BC depositions over more than two centuries. Analyzing this unique sample set, the qualitative and quantitative information yielded by the BPCA method and the novel approach for radiocarbon dating of BC molecular markers will be used to construct a historical record of black carbon emissions. The data will be used to apportion the measured BC concentrations to either fossil fuel or biomass burning since pre-industrial times and to identify the type of BC being preferentially preserved in aquatic sediments. The outcome of the project will help to elucidate the environmental fate of BC and will be an important contribution to the accurate calculation of a global BC budget.
Engineered nanomaterials (ENM) such as nano-sized cerium dioxide (CeO2) are increasingly applied. Meanwhile, concerns on their environmental fate are rising. Understanding the fate of ENM within and between environmental compartments such as surface water and groundwater is crucial for the protection of drinking water resources. Therefore, the colloidal stability of CeO2 ENM (2 mg L-1) was assessed with various surface coatings featuring different physico-chemical properties such as weakly anionic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), strongly anionic polyacrylic acid (PAA) or complex natural organic matter (NOM) at various water compositions in batch experiments (pH 2 - 12, ionic strength 0-5 mM KCl or CaCl2). While uncoated CeO2 ENM aggregate in the range of pH 4-8 in 1 mM KCl solution, the results show that PAA, PVA and NOM surface coatings stabilize CeO2-ENM at neutral and alkaline pH in 1 mM KCl solution. Stabilization by PAA and NOM is associated with strongly negative zeta potentials below -20 mV, suggesting electrostatic repulsion as stabilization mechanism. No aggregation was detected up to 5 mM KCl for PAA- and NOM-coated CeO2 ENM. In contrast, CaCl2 induced aggregation at >2.2 mM CaCl2 for PAA and NOM-coated CeO2 ENM respectively. PVA-coated ENM showed zeta potentials of -15 mV to -5 mV in the presence of 0-5 mM ionic strength, suggesting steric effects as stabilization mechanism. The hydrodynamic diameter of PVA-coated ENM was larger compared to PAA and NOM at low ionic strength, but the size did not increase with ionic strength of the suspensions. The effect of ionic strength and counter ion valency (pH 7) on the colloidal stability of ENM depends on the prevailing stabilization mechanism of the organic coating. NOM can be similarly effective in colloidal stabilization of CeO2-ENM as PAA. Our results suggest natural Ca-rich waters will lead to ENM agglomeration even of coated CeO2-ENM. © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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