In 1993 municipal sludges from 16 wastewater treatment plants in large American cities were analyzed for asbestos using polarized light microscopy and dispersion staining. Of the 16 sludge samples analyzed, asbestos was found in 13 (81.3%). Sources of asbestos in sewage sludges and possible modes of human exposure are discussed.

Due to their efficient filtration capabilities, zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are effective bio-monitors of a wide range of environmental pollutants. In this study we test the suitability of zebra mussels as bio-monitors of Sr-90 contamination around a nuclear power station situated at Gentilly, Quebec along the St. Lawrence River. Based on the latest emission data which indicated negligible contributions of Sr-90 to the river, we hypothesize that dreissenids collected at sites upstream (Montreal), at the station and downstream from the station (Donnacona) would show no significant differences in shell concentrations of Sr-90. Zebra mussel shell concentrations of Sr-90 were in the order of 0.02 pCi/g at Gentilly, 0.04 pCi/g at Montreal and 0.03 pCi/g at Donnacona, all values being below the limit of detection of the analytical method. We also considered the implication of Sr-90 contamination to higher trophic levels in the food chain.

Whereas fallout from atomic weapons testing has greatly diminished, nuclear generating capacity along the shores of the Great Lakes has increased 100-fold since 1963. Radionuclides such as Sr-90, mainly from liquid effluent releases from nuclear power generating facilities, can contaminate water and biota. Lake ontario ultimately receives the outflow from each of the other Great Lakes. In the work reported, brown trout (Salmo trutta) were captured from Lake Ontario and their entire skeletal bone material analyzed for Sr-90. They showed an average concentration of Sr-90 approximately four times greater than control brown trout captured from nearby Cayuga Lake in Central New York State which has no nuclear generating facilities. The results are discussed considering fallout and hydrographic considerations.

Whereas fallout from atomic weapons testing has greatly diminished, nuclear generating capacity along the shores of the Great Lakes has increased 100-fold since 1963. Radionuclides such as Sr-90, mainly from liquid effluent releases from nuclear power generating facilities, can contaminate water and biota. Lake Ontario ultimately receives the outflow from each of the other Great Lakes. In the work reported, brown trout (Salmo trutta) were captured from Lake Ontario and their entire skeletal bone material analyzed for Sr-90. They showed an average concentration of Sr-90 approximately four times greater than control brown trout captured from nearby Cayuga Lake in Central New York State which has no nuclear generating facilities. The results are discussed considering fallout and hydrographic considerations.

Samples of sewage sludge compost and yard waste compost were analyzed for the presence or absence of asbestos as a function of the time of delivery of the waste to the same composting site. The presence of asbestos was indicated in 9 of 10 samples of sewage sludge compost but was absent in 9 of 10 samples of yard waste compost. Possible sources of asbestos in these wastes are enumerated.

Composting of yard waste, sewage sludge and municipal solid waste (MSW) for subsequent application to soils in agricultural, horticultural and recreational areas is being promoted nationwide. Since asbestos is a common contaminant in sewage sludge, an analytical survey was conducted for the presence of asbestos in composts collected from 26 communities nationwide resulting from sludge as well as yard waste and municipal solid waste. Asbestos was detected in 12 of the 26 composts or 46%. Asbestos was most consistently present in compost resulting from source material containing MSW and to a lesser extent sewage sludge rather than yard waste. The possible origins of asbestos in the compost source material, the mechanisms by which humans may be exposed, and the health significance are discussed.

Municipal sewage sludges from 32 large cities and 19 small cities and towns were analyzed for asbestos using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and dispersion staining. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were also used to verify the presence of several types of asbestos. Of the 51 sludges analyzed, asbestos was found in 34 (66.7%). Asbestos was observed in a greater percentage of sludges from the small cities and towns (84.2%) than those from the large cities (56.3%). This may be due to greater dilution of industrial sources of asbestos in large cities by larger numbers of domestic water users. The possible sources of asbestos in sludge, modes of human exposure and health significance are discussed.

An analytical survey of fly ashes, bottom ashes and mixtures of the two for 36 elements, soluble salts and radioactivity was conducted. The ashes were taken from approximately one-fourth of the municipal solid waste incinerators presently operating in the United States. The concentrations of a number of toxic elements such as As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn in specific ashes were high. The levels of radioactivity were not significant from a health standpoint. A number of ashes were exceedingly high in organic matter, indicating grossly inadequate conditions during incineration. Soluble salt content was appreciable in the ashes. The possible sources of elements in refuse and their behavior and fate during refuse incineration are discussed with respect to their chemical forms and properties and incinerator operating parameters. Variability of metal concentrations in ash with time of sampling and their solubilization in landfills are also considered.

Municipal sewage sludges from 15 small New York State cities were analyzed for asbestos and glass fibers using polarized light microscopy and dispersion staining. Asbestos fibers, identified as chrysotile or amosite, were found in nine of the samples and at levels in the range of 1 to 5% by volume in the sludge ash. Glass fibers were also found in ten of the samples. The possible toxicologic implications of these findings are discussed.

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTToxicologic studies with lambs fed jojoba meal supplemented rationsCharles G. Manos, Patrick J. Schrynemeeckers, Douglas E. Hogue, John N. Telford, Gilbert S. Stoewsand, Donald H. Beerman, John G. Babish, Julia T. Blue, Barbara S. Shane, and Donald J. LiskCite this: J. Agric. Food Chem. 1986, 34, 5, 801–805Publication Date (Print):September 1, 1986Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 September 1986https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf00071a008https://doi.org/10.1021/jf00071a008research-articleACS PublicationsRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views45Altmetric-Citations11LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-Alertsclose Get e-Alerts

The reactions of the tris(acetylacetonato)silicone(IV) cation (Si(acac)3+) with Na+-, Mg2+-, and Co2+-exchange forms of hectorite and montmorillonite have been investigated to understand better the formation process of clays pillared by silicic acid. In acetone as the solvating medium, Si(acac)3+ binds to the Na+- and Mg2+-clays with the desorption of only a small fraction (~5%) of the initial exchange cation, suggesting that the complex binds as the ion pair [Si(acac)3+][Cl−]. With the Co2+-clays, however, the exchange cation is desorbed quantitatively, and Si(acac)3+ binding is accompanied by the formation of an acetone-solvated CoCl2 solution complex which helps to drive the ion-exchange reaction. Thus, Co2+-smectites react with Si(acac)3+ in acetone to produce homoionic Si(acac)3+ intercalates, whereas Na+-and Mg2+-smectites produce mixed-ion intercalates. The interlayer hydrolysis of Si(acac)3+ to silicic acid in the homoionic Si(acac)3+- and mixed-ion Na+/Si(acac)3+- and Mg2+/Si(acac)3+-exchange forms of montmorillonite films is diffusion controlled. In water as the solvating medium, the reaction of Si(acac)3+ with Mg2+- or Co2+-montmorillonite results in the desorption of the exchange cations on a time scale which is comparable to that observed for the solution hydrolysis of Si(acac)3+. Thus, the precipitation of silicic acid from aqueous solution competes strongly with the formation of interlayer silicic acid. With aqueous Na+-montmorillonite dispersions, however, a significant fraction of the exchange cations desorbed rapidly upon Si(acac)3+ binding, and the formation of interlayer silicic acid is favored over the precipitation of Si(OH)4.