Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182
6948891480
Τετάρτη 31 Μαΐου 2017
Synthesis of the DDT metabolite 2,4-dichloro-1-[2-chloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene ( o -Cl-DDMU) and its detection in abiotic and biotic samples
Abstract
Technical dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) has been used worldwide as a pesticide since the beginning of the 1940s. Due to its persistence, DDT residues are still ubiquitously distributed in the environment. Photochemical UV degradation has been shown to be a potent degradation path for DDT and most of the resulting photoproducts have been identified up to now. Nevertheless, in 2012, a new DDT metabolite, most likely formed photochemically from DDE, was detected in ray liver samples from Brazil, an area which is highly contaminated with DDT. This study includes photochemical generation, chemical synthesis and isolation of this compound which was verified to consist of both cis- and trans-2,4-dichloro-1-[2-chloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene. Both stereoisomers were resolved by gas chromatography on a polar capillary column and detected in more than 60 biotic (e.g. marine mammals, birds, human milk) and abiotic samples (fat deposits in kitchen hoods) from different areas all over the world. The stereoisomer distribution and concentrations (0.3–3.9% relative to corresponding 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane (p,p′-DDE) levels) were determined by means of the synthesized analytical standard, indicating the widespread occurrence of this compound as an additional minor metabolite of DDT.
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Genotoxicity in adult residents in mineral coal region—a cross-sectional study
Abstract
The present study assessed the DNA damage in environmentally exposed volunteers living in seven municipalities in an industrial coal region, through the use of the comet assay with blood cells and the micronucleus test with buccal cells. Blood and buccal smears were collected from 320 male volunteers living in seven cities inserted in a coal region. They were ages of 18 and 50 years and also completed a questionnaire intended to identify factors associated with DNA damage through a Poisson regression analysis. The comet assay detected significant differences in DNA damage in volunteers from different municipalities, and neighboring cities (Pedras Altas, Aceguá, and Hulha Negra) had a higher level of DNA damage in relation to control city. Some of the risk factors associated with identified DNA lesions included residence time and life habits. On the other hand, the micronucleus test did not identify differences between the cities studied, but the regression analysis identified risk factors such as age and life habits (consumption of mate tea and low carbohydrates diet). We conclude that there are differences in the DNA damage of volunteers from different cities of the carboniferous region, but the presence of micronuclei in the oral mucosa does not differ between the same cities. Furthermore, we alert that some related factors may increase the risk of genotoxicity, such as residence location and time, and living and food habits. Finally, we suggest the need for continuous biomonitoring of the population, as well as for investing in health promotion in these vulnerable populations.
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Possible maternal offloading of metals in the plasma, uterine and capsule fluid of pregnant ragged-tooth sharks ( Carcharias taurus ) on the east coast of South Africa
Abstract
We studied the possible metal offloading onto the progeny of three pregnant female ragged-tooth sharks (Carcharias taurus) (C. taurus). The presences of five metals, i.e. aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and selenium (Se) were validated by mass spectrometry in the maternal plasma as well as the intracapsular and uterine fluids (UF) in which embryos develop. Metals were ranked in a decreasing concentration as follows: Plasma: As > Al > Se > Pb > Cd; ICF: As > Se > Al > Cd > Pb and UF: As > Se > Al > Cd > Pb. As was present in the highest concentration in all three sharks. Al, Pb and Cd were found to be the highest within the plasma, while concentrations of Se were similar in all three fluids. These results indicate that C. taurus embryos are exposed to metals during early development, but the impact of this exposure remains unknown. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation to confirm the presence of metals in the fluids that surround the developing C. taurus embryos, a species that is already listed as vulnerable.
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The biological response chain to pollution: a case study from the “Italian Triangle of Death” assessed with the liverwort Lunularia cruciata
Abstract
The liverwort Lunularia cruciata, known for being a species tolerant to pollution able to colonize urban areas, was collected in the town of Acerra (South Italy) to investigate the biological effects of air pollution in one of the three vertices of the so-called Italian Triangle of Death. The ultrastructural damages observed by transmission electron microscopy in specimens collected in Acerra were compared with samples collected in the city center of Naples and in a small rural site far from sources of air pollution (Riccia, Molise, Southern Italy). The biological response chain to air pollution was investigated considering vitality, photosynthetic efficiency, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) induction and gene expression levels, and chlorophyll degradation and related ultrastructural alterations. Particularly, a significant increment in Hsp70 expression and occurrence, and modifications in the chloroplasts' ultrastructure can be strictly related to the environmental pollution conditions in the three sites. The results could be interpreted in relation to the use of these parameters as biomarkers for environmental pollution.
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Determination of a new index of sexual maturity (ISM) in zebra mussel using flow cytometry: interest in ecotoxicology
Abstract
The global dynamic spread of chemical contamination through the aquatic environment calls for the development of biomarkers of interest. Reproduction is a key element to be considered because it is related to the sustainability of species. Spermatogenesis is a complex process that leads to the formation of mature germ cells, whose steps and impairments need to be finely described in ecotoxicological analyses. The physiological process has been commonly described by histological analyses of gonads in different taxa. In the present paper, we describe the development of a novel technique to characterize spermatogenesis based on the analysis of the DNA content of germ cells by flow cytometry, using a DNA-intercalating agent. This new biomarker, referred to as an index of sexual maturity, proved relevant to describe the seasonal reproductive cycle of the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771), used as a sentinel species in the biomonitoring of continental waters and sensitive to highlight the reprotoxicity of carbamazepine (an anti-epileptic pharmaceutical) tested under ecosystemic conditions (mesocosms).
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Study on the removal of hormones from domestic wastewaters with lab-scale constructed wetlands with different substrates and flow directions
Abstract
Eight wastewater samples from a university campus were analysed between May and July of 2014 to determine the concentration of 14 natural and synthetic steroid hormones. An on-line solid-phase extraction combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (on-line SPE-UHPLC-MS/MS) was used as extraction, pre-concentration and detection method. In the samples studied, three oestrogens (17β-estradiol, estrone and estriol), two androgens (boldenone and testosterone), three progestogens (norgestrel, progesterone and norethisterone) and one glucocorticoid (prednisone) were detected. The removal of hormones was studied in primary and secondary constructed wetland mesocosms. The porous media of the primary constructed wetlands were palm tree mulch. These reactors were used to study the effect of water flow, i.e. horizontal (HF1) vs vertical (VF1). The latter was more efficient in the removal of 17β-estradiol (HF1: 30%, VF1: 50%), estrone (HF1: 63%, VF1: 85%), estriol (100% both), testosterone (HF1: 45%, VF1: 73%), boldenone (HF1:-77%, VF1: 100%) and progesterone (HF1: 84%, VF1: 99%). The effluent of HF1 was used as influent of three secondary constructed wetland mesocosms: two double-stage vertical flow constructed wetlands, one with gravel (VF2gravel) and one with palm mulch (VF2mulch), and a mineral-based, horizontal flow constructed wetland (HFmineral). VF2mulch was the most efficient of the secondary reactors, since it achieved the complete removal of the hormones studied with the exception of 17ß-estradiol. The significantly better removal of BOD and ammonia attained by VF2mulch suggests that the better aeration of mulch favoured the more efficient removal of hormones.
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Androgens, oestrogens, and progesterone concentrations in wastewater purification processes measured with capillary electrophoresis
Abstract
A novel analytical-scale concept to improve reliability of detection and analysis of natural and processed wastewater samples from a purification plant was developed. A sequential sample clean-up system of polymer-based octadecyl and silane-based quaternary amine sorbents were used for concentrating human based steroid hormones and their metabolites and detecting them by UV absorption with capillary electrophoresis (CE). The water samples were collected from influent and effluent processes of the water purification plant in Helsinki, Finland.
The CE methods were partial-filling micellar electrokinetic chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis. The analysis times and method concentration levels were optimized with eight steroids at the range of 0.5–10 mg/L. Since in CE the detectable quantities were higher than the existing amounts in the process waters, the real samples needed matrix removal combined with steroid enrichment. After 20,000-fold concentration testosterone-glucoside, androstenedione, progesterone, and estradiol-glucoside could be determined in the process water samples. The amounts of individual steroids in influent and effluent waters were 0–429 and 0–207 ng/L, respectively. Correspondently, their total amounts were 735 and 212 ng/L with excellent in day and inter-day repeatability. The RSD values were less than 1, 9.7, and 19% in repeated analyses, calculated from 60 analyses during 24 h, and from 130 analyses during 15 months, respectively. The steroid removal in purification process was 65% on average. The solid particles separated in three steps during the water clean-up concept contained 9.8–45 ng/g steroids in combined dry precipitates.
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Nitrate removal from drinking water with a focus on biological methods: a review
Abstract
This article summarizes several developed and industrial technologies for nitrate removal from drinking water, including physicochemical and biological techniques, with a focus on autotrophic nitrate removal. Approaches are primarily classified into separation-based and elimination-based methods according to the fate of the nitrate in water treatment. Biological denitrification as a cost-effective and promising method of biological nitrate elimination is reviewed in terms of its removal process, applicability, efficiency, and associated disadvantages. The various pathways during biological nitrate removal, including assimilatory and dissimilatory nitrate reduction, are also explained. A comparative study was carried out to provide a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification. Sulfur-based and hydrogen-based denitrifications, which are the most common autotrophic processes of nitrate removal, are reviewed with the aim of presenting the salient features of hydrogenotrophic denitrification along with some drawbacks of the technology and research areas in which it could be used but currently is not. The application of algae-based water treatment is also introduced as a nature-inspired approach that may broaden future horizons of nitrate removal technology.
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Removal of hexavalent chromium upon interaction with biochar under acidic conditions: mechanistic insights and application
Abstract
Chromium pollution of soil and water is a serious environmental concern due to potential carcinogenicity of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] when ingested. Eucalyptus bark biochar (EBB), a carbonaceous black porous material obtained by pyrolysis of biomass at 500 °C under oxygen-free atmosphere, was used to investigate the removal of aqueous Cr(VI) upon interaction with the EBB, the dominant Cr(VI) removal mechanism(s), and the applicability to treat Cr(VI)-contaminated wastewater. Batch experiments showed complete removal of aqueous Cr(VI) at pH 1–2; sorption was negligible at pH 1, but ~55% of total Cr was sorbed onto the EBB surface at pH 2. Detailed investigations on unreacted and reacted EBB through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) indicate that the carboxylic groups in biochar played a dominant role in Cr(VI) sorption, whereas the phenolic groups were responsible for Cr(VI) reduction. The predominance of sorption–reduction mechanism was confirmed by XPS studies that indicated ~82% as Cr(III) and ~18% as Cr(VI) sorbed on the EBB surface. Significantly, Cr(VI) reduction was also facilitated by dissolved organic matter (DOM) extracted from biochar. This reduction was enhanced by the presence of biochar. Overall, the removal of Cr(VI) in the presence of biochar was affected by sorption due to electrostatic attraction, sorption–reduction mediated by surface organic complexes, and aqueous reduction by DOM. Relative dominance of the aqueous reduction mechanism depended on a critical biochar dosage for a given electrolyte pH and initial Cr(VI) concentration. The low-cost EBB developed here successfully removed all Cr(VI) in chrome tanning acidic wastewater and Cr(VI)-contaminated groundwater after pH adjustment, highlighting its potential applicability in effective Cr(VI) remediation.
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Heterotrophic Bacterial Leaching of Zinc and Arsenic from Artificial Adamite
Abstract
Artificial adamite [Zn2(AsO4)(OH)] is a convenient structural model because it is isostructural with other rock-forming minerals in secondary ore deposits formed in cementation zones. Microbial activity in these zones accelerates mineral biogeochemical deterioration and metal release, and our results confirmed that Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus and Cupriavidus strains accelerate adamite leaching by 10 to 465 times compared to controls. Here, the Pseudomonas chlororaphis ZK-1 bacterial strain in a static 42-day cultivation proved more effective than Rhodococcus and Cupriavidus by leaching over 90% arsenic and 10% zinc from adamite in one-step in vitro. We evaluated adamite with the VESTA visualization system for electronic and structural analysis, and our results enhance understanding of zinc and arsenic biogeochemical cycles and mobilization, and highlight bacteria's beneficial natural and biotechnological application in environmental geochemistry and biohydrometallurgy.
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Technical note: Aerosol light absorption measurements with a carbon analyser – Calibration and precision estimates
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 164
Author(s): B.A.J. Ammerlaan, R. Holzinger, A.D. Jedynska, J.S. Henzing
Equivalent Black Carbon (EBC) and Elemental Carbon (EC) are different mass metrics to quantify the amount of combustion aerosol. Both metrics have their own measurement technique. In state-of-the-art carbon analysers, optical measurements are used to correct for organic carbon that is not evolving because of pyrolysis. These optical measurements are sometimes used to apply the technique of absorption photometers. Here, we use the transmission measurements of our carbon analyser for simultaneous determination of the elemental carbon concentration and the absorption coefficient. We use MAAP data from the CESAR observatory, the Netherlands, to correct for aerosol-filter interactions by linking the attenuation coefficient from the carbon analyser to the absorption coefficient measured by the MAAP. Application of the calibration to an independent data set of MAAP and OC/EC observations for the same location shows that the calibration is applicable to other observation periods. Because of simultaneous measurements of light absorption properties of the aerosol and elemental carbon, variation in the mass absorption efficiency (MAE) can be studied. We further show that the absorption coefficients and MAE in this set-up are determined within a precision of 10% and 12%, respectively. The precisions could be improved to 4% and 8% when the light transmission signal in the carbon analyser is very stable.
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Role identification of NH3 in atmospheric secondary new particle formation in haze occurrence of China
Publication date: August 2017
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 163
Author(s): Binfan Jiang, Dehong Xia
Haze pollution in China, dominated by the aerosol particulate matters smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) has raised much concern over the past decade. PM2.5 is principally derived from secondary new particulate formation (NPF) with main precursors SO2, NO2, NH3 and organic compounds (OC), where NH3 is the only alkaline inorganic gas. However, due to the lack understanding of NH3's role in NPF, few attention has been paid to NH3, which hinders the haze mitigation in China. In this work, the role of NH3 in NPF is investigated theoretically with a new kinetic model. Combining the oxidation of SO2/NO2 in SO2/NO2/NH3/H2O/air system and the aggregation of clusters in H2SO4/HNO3/NH3/OC system, this model has been established based on gas-kinetic theory, and tested upon uncertainty analysis with Monte Carlo method. The results of NPF calculations at the atmospheric concentration of each precursor show that NH3 is able to enhance NPF indirectly by facilitating conversions of SO2 and NO2, and directly by promoting aggregations of H2SO4, HNO3, NH3 and OC. The major effect of NH3 on NPF is found to be the enhancement of conversion fractions for SO2 and NO2 during oxidation processes. In addition, the promotion in contribution of HNO3 to NPF due to NH3 has been particularly observed. Therefore, controlling the emission of NH3 strictly as current restrictions on SO2 and NOx is reasonable to mitigating the haze pollution in China which has much higher atmospheric NH3 concentration over the global average level.
Graphical abstract
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Chemical characterization and oxidative potential of particles emitted from open burning of cereal straws and rice husk under flaming and smoldering conditions
Publication date: August 2017
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 163
Author(s): Akihiro Fushimi, Katsumi Saitoh, Kentaro Hayashi, Keisuke Ono, Yuji Fujitani, Ana M. Villalobos, Brandon R. Shelton, Akinori Takami, Kiyoshi Tanabe, James J. Schauer
Open burning of crop residue is a major source of atmospheric fine particle emissions. We burned crop residues (rice straws, barley straws, wheat straws, and rice husks produced in Japan) in an outdoor chamber and measured particle mass, composition (elemental carbon: EC, organic carbon: OC, ions, elements, and organic species), and oxidative potential in the exhausts. The fine particulate emission factors from the literature were within the range of our values for rice straws but were 1.4–1.9 and 0.34–0.44 times higher than our measured values for barley straw and wheat straw, respectively. For rice husks and wheat straws, which typically lead to combustion conditions that are relatively mild, the EC content of the particles was less than 5%. Levoglucosan seems more suitable as a biomass burning marker than K+, since levoglucosan/OC ratios were more stable than K+/particulate mass ratios among crop species. Stigmasterol and β-sitosterol could also be used as markers of biomass burning with levoglucosan or instead of levoglucosan. Correlation analysis between chemical composition and combustion condition suggests that hot or flaming combustions enhance EC, K+, Cl− and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions, while low-temperature or smoldering combustions enhance levoglucosan and water-soluble organic carbon emissions. Oxidative potential, measured with macrophage-based reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay and dithiothreitol (DTT) assay, of open burning fine particles per particulate mass as well as fine particulate emission factors were the highest for wheat straws and second highest for rice husks and rice straws. Oxidative potential per particulate mass was in the lower range of vehicle exhaust and atmosphere. These results suggest that the contribution of open burning is relatively small to the oxidative potential of atmospheric particles. In addition, oxidative potential (both ROS and DTT activities) correlated well with water-insoluble organic species, suggesting that OC components, especially water-insoluble OC components emitted under non-flaming combustion, have a major impact on oxidative potential.
Graphical abstract
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Photochemical ozone creation potentials for volatile organic compounds: Rationalization and estimation
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 163
Author(s): M.E. Jenkin, R.G. Derwent, T.J. Wallington
The Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP) scale quantifies the relative abilities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to produce ground level ozone. POCP values are usually calculated using atmospheric boundary layer models containing detailed representations of atmospheric VOC degradation chemistry. The sensitivity of POCP values to variation of a number of kinetic and mechanistic parameters has been investigated here. It is shown that POCP values for VOCs can be rationalized in terms of their molecular structure and OH reactivity. As a result, a simple method has been developed and optimized that allows POCP values for north-west European and USA urban reference conditions to be estimated for alkanes, alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and several oxygenated VOC classes without the requirement to construct a detailed chemical mechanism or run an atmospheric model. The procedure for determining the estimated POCP value (POCPE) is described, and the results are presented and discussed.
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Cytotoxic and genotoxic responses of human lung cells to combustion smoke particles of Miscanthus straw, softwood and beech wood chips
Publication date: August 2017
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 163
Author(s): Ali Talib Arif, Christoph Maschowski, Patxi Garra, Manuel Garcia-Käufer, Tatiana Petithory, Gwenaëlle Trouvé, Alain Dieterlen, Volker Mersch-Sundermann, Polla Khanaqa, Irina Nazarenko, Richard Gminski, Reto Gieré
Inhalation of particulate matter (PM) from residential biomass combustion is epidemiologically associated with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. This study investigates PM0.4-1 emissions from combustion of commercial Miscanthus straw (MS), softwood chips (SWC) and beech wood chips (BWC) in a domestic-scale boiler (40 kW). The PM0.4-1 emitted during combustion of the MS, SWC and BWC were characterized by ICP-MS/OES, XRD, SEM, TEM, and DLS. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human alveolar epithelial A549 and human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells were assessed by the WST-1 assay and the DNA-Alkaline Unwinding Assay (DAUA). PM0.4-1 uptake/translocation in cells was investigated with a new method developed using a confocal reflection microscope.SWC and BWC had a inherently higher residual water content than MS. The PM0.4-1 emitted during combustion of SWC and BWC exhibited higher levels of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), a greater variety of mineral species and a higher heavy metal content than PM0.4-1 from MS combustion. Exposure to PM0.4-1 from combustion of SWC and BWC induced cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in human alveolar and bronchial cells, whereby the strongest effect was observed for BWC and was comparable to that caused by diesel PM (SRM 2 975), In contrast, PM0.4-1 from MS combustion did not induce cellular responses in the studied lung cells. A high PAH content in PM emissions seems to be a reliable chemical marker of both combustion efficiency and particle toxicity. Residual biomass water content strongly affects particulate emissions and their toxic potential. Therefore, to minimize the harmful effects of fine PM on health, improvement of combustion efficiency (aiming to reduce the presence of incomplete combustion products bound to PM) and application of fly ash capture technology, as well as use of novel biomass fuels like Miscanthus straw is recommended.
Graphical abstract
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Modelling NOX concentrations through CFD-RANS in an urban hot-spot using high resolution traffic emissions and meteorology from a mesoscale model
Publication date: August 2017
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 163
Author(s): Beatriz Sanchez, Jose Luis Santiago, Alberto Martilli, Fernando Martin, Rafael Borge, Christina Quaassdorff, David de la Paz
Air quality management requires more detailed studies about air pollution at urban and local scale over long periods of time. This work focuses on obtaining the spatial distribution of NOx concentration averaged over several days in a heavily trafficked urban area in Madrid (Spain) using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. A methodology based on weighted average of CFD simulations is applied computing the time evolution of NOx dispersion as a sequence of steady-state scenarios taking into account the actual atmospheric conditions. The inputs of emissions are estimated from the traffic emission model and the meteorological information used is derived from a mesoscale model. Finally, the computed concentration map correlates well with 72 passive samplers deployed in the research area. This work reveals the potential of using urban mesoscale simulations together with detailed traffic emissions so as to provide accurate maps of pollutant concentration at microscale using CFD simulations.
Graphical abstract
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High-resolution ammonia emissions inventories in Fujian, China, 2009–2015
Publication date: August 2017
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 162
Author(s): Shui-Ping Wu, Yin-Ju Zhang, James J. Schwab, Yang-Fan Li, Yuan-Long Liu, Chung-Shin Yuan
A high-resolution NH3 emission inventory was developed based on the corrected emission factors and county-level activity data. To provide model-ready emission input, the NH3 emission inventory was gridded for the modeling domain at 1 × 1 km resolution using source-based spatial surrogates and a GIS system. The best estimate of total NH3 emission for the province was 228.02 kt in 2015 with a percentage uncertainty of ±16.3%. Four major contributors were farmland ecosystem, livestock wastes, humans and waste treatment, which contributed 39.4%, 43.1%, 4.9%, and 4.2% of the total emissions, respectively. The averaged NH3 emission density for the whole region was 1.88 t km−2 yr−1 and the higher values were found in coastal areas with higher dense populations. The seasonal patterns, with higher emissions in summer, were consistent with the patterns of temperature and planting practices. From 2009 to 2015, annual NH3 emissions increased from 218.49 kt to 228.02 kt. All of these changes are insignificant compared to the estimated overall uncertainties in the analysis, but indicative of changes in the source categories over this period. Between 2009 and 2015, the largest changes occurred in human emissions and waste treatment plants, which were consistent with the process of rapid urbanization. Meanwhile, the decrease of emissions from pigs was slightly higher than the increased emissions from broilers and the increased emissions from meat goats and beef cattle due to the combine effects of increasingly stringent environmental requirements for pig farms and shift away from pork consumption to beef, chicken and mutton. The validity of the estimates was further evaluated using uncertainty analysis, comparison with previous studies, and correlation analysis between emission density and observed ground ammonia. The inventories reflect the changes in economic progress and environmental protection and can provide scientific basis for the establishment of effective PM2.5 control strategies.
Graphical abstract
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Multitrophic Assessment of Copper Contamination Using Watercress ( Nasturtium officinale ) and the Mustard Beetle ( Phaedon viridis )
Abstract
Copper is an active component of some commercial algaecides and is commonly found in low concentrations in contaminated aquatic systems. Unintended consequences of algaecide application include macrophyte bioaccumulation and possible trophic level bioamplification especially by specialist herbivores. Trophic level effects of copper contamination were observed through feeding trials using the mustard beetle (Phaedon viridis). Several metals, including copper, interfere with the myrosinase enzyme system responsible for the watercress (Nasturtium officinale) allelopathic defense against herbivory. The mustard beetle is a specialist herbivore that has evolved a detection system that is stimulated by the products of the glucosinolate-myrosinase system. Because copper interferes with myrosinase enzymes, mustard beetles were expected to avoid copper-contaminated plants. While larvae exhibited a slight preference for contaminated plants, adult mustard beetles in this experiment exhibited a statistically significant preference for plants uncontaminated with copper.
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Occurrence of phthalates in aquatic environment and their removal during wastewater treatment processes: a review
Abstract
Phthalates are plasticizers and are concerned environmental endocrine-disrupting compounds. Due to their extensive usage in plastic manufacturing and personal care products as well as the potential to leach out from these products, phthalates have been detected in various aquatic environments including drinking water, groundwater, surface water, and wastewater. The primary source of their environmental occurrence is the discharge of phthalate-laden wastewater and sludge. This review focuses on recent knowledge on the occurrence of phthalate in different aquatic environments and their fate in conventional and advanced wastewater treatment processes. This review also summarizes recent advances in biological removal and degradation mechanisms of phthalates, identifies knowledge gaps, and suggests future research directions.
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Illumina sequencing-based analysis of a microbial community enriched under anaerobic methane oxidation condition coupled to denitrification revealed coexistence of aerobic and anaerobic methanotrophs
Abstract
Methane is produced in anaerobic environments, such as reactors used to treat wastewaters, and can be consumed by methanotrophs. The composition and structure of a microbial community enriched from anaerobic sewage sludge under methane-oxidation condition coupled to denitrification were investigated. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis retrieved sequences of Methylocaldum and Chloroflexi. Deep sequencing analysis revealed a complex community that changed over time and was affected by methane concentration. Methylocaldum (8.2%), Methylosinus (2.3%), Methylomonas (0.02%), Methylacidiphilales (0.45%), Nitrospirales (0.18%), and Methanosarcinales (0.3%) were detected. Despite denitrifying conditions provided, Nitrospirales and Methanosarcinales, known to perform anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification (DAMO) process, were in very low abundance. Results demonstrated that aerobic and anaerobic methanotrophs coexisted in the reactor together with heterotrophic microorganisms, suggesting that a diverse microbial community was important to sustain methanotrophic activity. The methanogenic sludge was a good inoculum to enrich methanotrophs, and cultivation conditions play a selective role in determining community composition.
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Impact of metal stress on the production of secondary metabolites in Pteris vittata L. and associated rhizosphere bacterial communities
Abstract
Plants adapt to metal stress by modifying their metabolism including the production of secondary metabolites in plant tissues. Such changes may impact the diversity and functions of plant associated microbial communities. Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of metals on the secondary metabolism of plants and the indirect impact on rhizosphere bacterial communities. We then compared the secondary metabolites of the hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata L. collected from a contaminated mining site to a non-contaminated site in Vietnam and identified the discriminant metabolites. Our data showed a significant increase in chlorogenic acid derivatives and A-type procyanidin in plant roots at the contaminated site. We hypothesized that the intensive production of these compounds could be part of the antioxidant defense mechanism in response to metals. In parallel, the structure and diversity of bulk soil and rhizosphere communities was studied using high-throughput sequencing. The results showed strong differences in bacterial composition, characterized by the dominance of Proteobacteria and Nitrospira in the contaminated bulk soil, and the enrichment of some potential human pathogens, i.e., Acinetobacter, Mycobacterium, and Cupriavidus in P. vittata's rhizosphere at the mining site. Overall, metal pollution modified the production of P. vittata secondary metabolites and altered the diversity and structure of bacterial communities. Further investigations are needed to understand whether the plant recruits specific bacteria to adapt to metal stress.
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Diesel reformulation using bio-derived propanol to control toxic emissions from a light-duty agricultural diesel engine
Abstract
In the Indian agricultural sector, millions of diesel-driven pump-sets were used for irrigation purposes. These engines produce carcinogenic diesel particulates, toxic nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions which threaten the livelihood of large population of farmers in India. The present study investigates the use of n-propanol, a less-explored high carbon bio-alcohol that can be produced by sustainable pathways from industrial and crop wastes that has an attractive opportunity for powering stationary diesel engines meant for irrigation and rural electrification. This study evaluates the use of n-propanol addition in fossil diesel by up to 30% by vol. and concurrently reports the effects of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) on emissions of an agricultural DI diesel engine. Three blends PR10, PR20, and PR30 were prepared by mixing 10, 20, and 30% by vol. of n-propanol with fossil diesel. Results when compared to baseline diesel case indicated that smoke density reduced with increasing n-propanol fraction in the blends. PR10, PR20, and PR30 reduced smoke density by 13.33, 33.33, and 60%, respectively. NOx emissions increased with increasing n-propanol fraction in the blends. Later, three EGR rates (10, 20, and 30%) were employed. At any particular EGR rate, smoke density remained lower with increasing n-propanol content in the blends under increasing EGR rates. NOx reduced gradually with EGR. At 30% EGR, the blends PR10, PR20, and PR30 reduced NOx emissions by 43.04, 37.98, and 34.86%, respectively when compared to baseline diesel. CO emissions remained low but hydrocarbon (HC) emissions were high for n-propanol/diesel blends under EGR. Study confirmed that n-propanol could be used by up to 30% by vol. with diesel and the blends delivered lower soot density, NOx, and CO emissions under EGR.
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Electro-Fenton oxidation of para-aminosalicylic acid: degradation kinetics and mineralization pathway using Pt/carbon-felt and BDD/carbon-felt cells
Abstract
Degradation of a widely used antibiotic, the para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), and mineralization of its aqueous solution was investigated by electro-Fenton process using Pt/carbon-felt and boron-doped diamond (BDD)/carbon-felt cells with applied currents in the range of 50–1000 mA. This process produces the highly oxidizing species, the hydroxyl radical (•OH), which is mainly responsible for the oxidative degradation of PAS. An absolute rate constant of 4.17 × 109 M−1 s−1 for the oxidation of PAS by ●OH was determined from the competition kinetics method. Degradation rate of PAS increased with current reaching an optimal value of 500 mA with complete disappearance of 0.1 mM PAS at 7 min using Pt/carbon-felt cell. The optimum degradation rate was reached at 300 mA for BDD/carbon-felt. The latter cell was found more efficient in total organic carbon (TOC) removal where a complete mineralization was achieved within 240 min. A multi-step mineralization process was observed with the formation of a number of aromatic intermediates, short-chain carboxylic acids, and inorganic ions. Eight aromatic intermediate products were identified using both LC-Q-ToF-MS and GC-MS techniques. These products were the result of hydroxylation of PAS followed by multiple additions of hydroxyl radicals to form polyhydroxylated derivatives. HPLC and GC/MS analyses demonstrated that extended oxidation of these intermediate products conducted to the formation of various short-chain carboxylic acids. Prolonged electrolysis resulted in a complete mineralization of PAS with the evolution of inorganic ions such as NO3− and NH4+. Based on the identified intermediates, carboxylic acids and inorganic ions, a plausible mineralization pathway is also deduced. The remarkably high degree of mineralization (100%) achieved by the present EF process highlights the potential application of this technique to the complete removal of salicylic acid-based pharmaceuticals from contaminated water.
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Exposure assessment of honeybees through study of hive matrices: analysis of selected pesticide residues in honeybees, beebread, and beeswax from French beehives by LC-MS/MS
Abstract
Apiculture and pollination services are seriously threatened by bee weakening and losses phenomena. In this context, a survey was performed on samples from beehives across French areas during the 2012–2016 growing seasons, primarily taken from symptomatic colonies. A total of 488 honeybees, beebread, and wax were analyzed for the presence of pesticide residues. A total of 13 analytes including neonicotinoids and pyrethroids insecticides together with some of their metabolites and the fungicide boscalid were screened within samples. Methodologies based on efficient modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extractions followed by an LC-MS/MS quantification were implemented for each matrix. Thirty-eight percent of the 125 bee samples, 61% of the 87 wax samples, and 77% of the 276 beebread samples contained at least one of the targeted pesticides. Beebread was the most contaminated matrix with an average of two pesticide detections by positive sample and a maximum of seven compounds for a sample. Neonicotinoids and boscalid were the most often detected pesticides, whatever the matrix. The comparison of neonicotinoid detections in samples collected before and after the partial neonicotinoid ban in France displays a decrease in the frequency of detections for contamination levels lower than 1 ng/g in beebread. For higher levels and other matrices, no tendency can be drawn.
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Fullerol C 60 (OH) 24 nanoparticles and mycotoxigenic fungi: a preliminary investigation into modulation of mycotoxin production
Abstract
Increased use of fullerols in various fields and expected increase of their environmental spread impose the necessity for testing fullerol nanoparticles (FNP) effects on microbiota. There is little information available on the interaction of mycotoxigenic fungi and FNP, despite FNP having a great potential of modifying mycotoxin production. Namely, FNP exhibit both ROS-quenching and ROS-producing properties, while oxidative stress stimulates mycotoxin synthesis in the fungi. In order to shed some light on the extent of interaction between FNP and mycotoxigenic fungi, the effects of fullerol C60(OH)24 nanoparticles (10, 100, 1000 ng/mL) on mycelial growth, aflatoxin production and oxidative stress modulation in an aflatoxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus (NRRL 3251) during 168 h of incubation in a liquid culture medium were examined. FNP slightly reduced mycelial biomass weight, but significantly decreased aflatoxin concentration in media. Lipid peroxide content, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities suggest that FNP treatments hormetically reduced oxidative stress within fungal cells in turn suppressing aflatoxin production. These findings contribute to the assessment of environmental risk and application potential of fullerols.
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Use of halophytes in pilot-scale horizontal flow constructed wetland treating domestic wastewater
Abstract
Recent findings encourage the use of halophytes in constructed wetlands for domestic wastewater treatment due to their special physiological characteristics as the ability to accumulate heavy metals and salts in their tissues makes them ideal candidates for constructed wetland vegetation. In this particular study, we investigated the application of halophytic plants in a horizontal flow constructed wetland for domestic wastewater treatment purposes. The pilot plant which was situated in Crete (Greece) was planted with a polyculture of halophytes (Tamarix parviflora, Juncus acutus, Sarcocornia perrenis, and Limoniastrum monopetalum). The system's performance was monitored for a period of 11 months during which it received primary treated wastewater from the local wastewater treatment plant. Results show that halophytes developed successfully in the constructed wetland and achieved organic matter and pathogen removal efficiencies comparable to those reported for reeds in previous works (63% and 1.6 log units, respectively). In addition, boron concentration in the effluent was reduced by 40% in comparison with the influent. Salinity as expressed by electrical conductivity did not change during the treatment, indicating that the accumulation of salts in the leaves is not able to overcome electrical conductivity increasing due to evapotranspiration. The results indicate an improvement in the treatment of domestic wastewater via the use of halophyte-planted CWs.
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Fate of selected drugs in the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for domestic sewage
Abstract
The wide diffusion of Emerging Organic Micropollutants (EOMs) in the environment is receiving increasing attention due to their potential toxicological effects on living organisms. So far, the Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) have not been designed with the purpose to remove these contaminants; therefore, they can represent the major source of release into the environment both through the effluent and the wasted sludge. The fate of EOMs in the WWTPs is still not completely known; further investigations are therefore needed to assess if it is possible to exploit the existing treatment units to reduce EOM concentrations or which processes must be implemented to this purpose. Among the wide class of EOMs, the present study focused on the following drugs of abuse: amphetamine (AM), methamphetamine (MET), 11-nor-Δ9-THC-9carboxy (THC-COOH) and benzoylecgonine (BEG). Presence and removal efficiency of these drugs in the activated sludge tank of a WWTP for domestic sewage was investigated through analyses at both full-scale and laboratory scale. Determinations conducted in the full-scale WWTP highlighted that, among the searched drugs, AM was found to be the most abundant in the influent and effluent of the biological oxidation tank, while 11-nor-Δ9-THC-9carboxy was present at the lowest concentration. Some removal took place in the units prior to the oxidation tank, although the main reduction was observed to occur in the biological oxidation reactor. All the drugs showed a wide variability of the measured concentrations during the week and the day. Taking into account results from both full-scale observations and batch tests, removals in the biological reactor were found within the following ranges: 33–84% for AM, 33–97% for MET, 33–57% for BEG and 29–83% for THC-COOH. These removals were due to a combination of adsorption and biodegradation mainly, while volatilization did not play a significant role. Other processes, e.g. hydrolysis, were likely to occur.
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Extreme learning machines: a new approach for modeling dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration with and without water quality variables as predictors
Abstract
In this paper, several extreme learning machine (ELM) models, including standard extreme learning machine with sigmoid activation function (S-ELM), extreme learning machine with radial basis activation function (R-ELM), online sequential extreme learning machine (OS-ELM), and optimally pruned extreme learning machine (OP-ELM), are newly applied for predicting dissolved oxygen concentration with and without water quality variables as predictors. Firstly, using data from eight United States Geological Survey (USGS) stations located in different rivers basins, USA, the S-ELM, R-ELM, OS-ELM, and OP-ELM were compared against the measured dissolved oxygen (DO) using four water quality variables, water temperature, specific conductance, turbidity, and pH, as predictors. For each station, we used data measured at an hourly time step for a period of 4 years. The dataset was divided into a training set (70%) and a validation set (30%). We selected several combinations of the water quality variables as inputs for each ELM model and six different scenarios were compared. Secondly, an attempt was made to predict DO concentration without water quality variables. To achieve this goal, we used the year numbers, 2008, 2009, etc., month numbers from (1) to (12), day numbers from (1) to (31) and hour numbers from (00:00) to (24:00) as predictors. Thirdly, the best ELM models were trained using validation dataset and tested with the training dataset. The performances of the four ELM models were evaluated using four statistical indices: the coefficient of correlation (R), the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), the root mean squared error (RMSE), and the mean absolute error (MAE). Results obtained from the eight stations indicated that: (i) the best results were obtained by the S-ELM, R-ELM, OS-ELM, and OP-ELM models having four water quality variables as predictors; (ii) out of eight stations, the OP-ELM performed better than the other three ELM models at seven stations while the R-ELM performed the best at one station. The OS-ELM models performed the worst and provided the lowest accuracy; (iii) for predicting DO without water quality variables, the R-ELM performed the best at seven stations followed by the S-ELM in the second place and the OP-ELM performed the worst with low accuracy; (iv) for the final application where training ELM models with validation dataset and testing with training dataset, the OP-ELM provided the best accuracy using water quality variables and the R-ELM performed the best at all eight stations without water quality variables. Fourthly, and finally, we compared the results obtained from different ELM models with those obtained using multiple linear regression (MLR) and multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPNN). Results obtained using MLPNN and MLR models reveal that: (i) using water quality variables as predictors, the MLR performed the worst and provided the lowest accuracy in all stations; (ii) MLPNN was ranked in the second place at two stations, in the third place at four stations, and finally, in the fourth place at two stations, (iii) for predicting DO without water quality variables, MLPNN is ranked in the second place at five stations, and ranked in the third, fourth, and fifth places in the remaining three stations, while MLR was ranked in the last place with very low accuracy at all stations. Overall, the results suggest that the ELM is more effective than the MLPNN and MLR for modelling DO concentration in river ecosystems.
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Testing the EKC hypothesis by considering trade openness, urbanization, and financial development: the case of Turkey
Abstract
This study investigates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for the case of Turkey from 1960 to 2013 by considering energy consumption, trade, urbanization, and financial development variables. Although previous literature examines various aspects of the EKC hypothesis for the case of Turkey, our model augments the basic model with several covariates to develop a better understanding of the relationship among the variables and to refrain from omitted variable bias. The results of the bounds test and the error correction model under autoregressive distributed lag mechanism suggest long-run relationships among the variables as well as proof of the EKC and the scale effect in Turkey. A conditional Granger causality test reveals that there are causal relationships among the variables. Our findings can have policy implications including the imposition of a "polluter pays" mechanism, such as the implementation of a carbon tax for pollution trading, to raise the urban population's awareness about the importance of adopting renewable energy and to support clean, environmentally friendly technology.
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Urinary metabolomic profiling in rats exposed to dietary di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS)
Abstract
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an omnipresent environmental chemical with widespread nonoccupational human exposure through multiple ways. Although considerable efforts have been invested to investigate mechanisms of DEHP toxicity, the key metabolic biomarkers of DEHP toxicity remain to be identified. The aim of this study was to assess the urinary metabonomics of dietary DEHP in rats using the technique of ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS). Fourteen female Wistar rats were divided into two groups and given increasing dietary doses of DEHP for 30 consecutive days. The urinary metabolite profile was studied using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) enabled clusters to be clearly separated. Eleven principal urinary metabolites were identified as contributing to the clusters. The clusters in the positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode were xanthurenic acid, kynurenic acid, nonate, N6-methyladenosine, and L-isoleucyl-L-proline. The clusters in the negative ESI mode were hippuric acid, tetrahydrocortisol, citric acid, phenylpropionylglycine, cPA(18:2(9Z, 12Z)/0:0), and LysoPC(14:1(9Z)). The urinary metabonomic changes indicated that exposure to dietary DEHP can affect energy-related metabolism, liver and renal function, fatty acid metabolism, and cause DNA damage in rats. The findings of this study on the urinary metabolites and metabolic pathways of DEHP may form the basis for future studies on the mechanisms of toxicity of this commonly found environmental chemical.
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Τρίτη 30 Μαΐου 2017
MillennialScale Climate Variations During the MIS3 in the North Piedmontof the Kunlun Mountains China
Fengnian Wang, Baosheng Li, Dongfeng Niu, Xiaohao Wen, Zhiwen Li, Yuejun Si, Yihua Guo, Zhiying Yang and Enbo Liu
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Micro-electrolysis/retinervus luffae-based simultaneous autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification for low C/N wastewater treatment
Abstract
Nitrogen bioremediation in organic insufficient wastewater generally requires an extra carbon source. In this study, nitrate-contaminated wastewater was treated effectively through simultaneous autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification based on micro-electrolysis carriers (MECs) and retinervus luffae fructus (RLF), respectively. The average nitrate and total nitrogen removal rates reached 96.3 and 94.0% in the MECs/RLF-based autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification (MRAHD) system without ammonia and nitrite accumulation. The performance of MRAHD was better than that of MEC-based autotrophic denitrification for the wastewater treatment with low carbon nitrogen (COD/N) ratio. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) revealed that the relative abundance of nirS-type denitrifiers attached to MECs (4.9%) and RLF (5.0%) was similar. Illumina sequencing suggested that the dominant genera were Thiobacillus (7.0%) and Denitratisoma (5.7%), which attached to MECs and RLF, respectively. Sulfuritalea was discovered as the dominant genus in the middle of the reactor. The synergistic interaction between autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrifiers played a vital role in the mixotrophic substrate environment.
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Formulation of the Lagrangian particle model LAPMOD and its evaluation against Kincaid SF6 and SO2 datasets
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 163
Author(s): Roberto Bellasio, Roberto Bianconi, Sonia Mosca, Paolo Zannetti
This paper presents the Lagrangian particle model LAPMOD for modeling time-variable emissions in atmosphere of inert and radioactive gases and aerosols. LAPMOD is fully interfaced with the meteorological model CALMET (Scire et al., 1999a), part of the US-EPA recommended CALPUFF modeling system (EPA, 2017), and can also use the meteorological input files produced with the AERMET meteorological processor of US-EPA recommended model AERMOD (EPA, 2004).The paper outlines the theory on which LAPMOD is based and provides the results of the evaluation of LAPMOD against the Kincaid SF6 and SO2 classical field studies and tracer experiments. The performance of LAPMOD is successfully evaluated with the Model Evaluation Kit (Olesen, 2005) and compared with that of other air quality models.
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Sample integrity evaluation and EPA method 325B interlaboratory comparison for select volatile organic compounds collected diffusively on Carbopack X sorbent tubes
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 163
Author(s): Karen D. Oliver, Tamira A. Cousett, Donald A. Whitaker, Luther A. Smith, Shaibal Mukerjee, Casson Stallings, Eben D. Thoma, Lillian Alston, Maribel Colon, Tai Wu, Stacy Henkle
A sample integrity evaluation and an interlaboratory comparison were conducted in application of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Methods 325A and 325B for diffusively monitoring benzene and other selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using Carbopack X sorbent tubes. To evaluate sample integrity, VOC samples were refrigerated for up to 240 days and analyzed using thermal desorption/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry at the EPA Office of Research and Development laboratory in Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. For the interlaboratory comparison, three commercial analytical laboratories were asked to follow Method 325B when analyzing samples of VOCs that were collected in field and laboratory settings for EPA studies. Overall results indicate that the selected VOCs collected diffusively on sorbent tubes generally were stable for 6 months or longer when samples were refrigerated. This suggests the specified maximum 30-day storage time of VOCs collected diffusively on Carbopack X passive samplers and analyzed using Method 325B might be able to be relaxed. Interlaboratory comparison results were in agreement for the challenge samples collected diffusively in an exposure chamber in the laboratory, with most measurements within ±25% of the theoretical concentration. Statistically significant differences among laboratories for ambient challenge samples were small, less than 1 part per billion by volume (ppbv). Results from all laboratories exhibited good precision and generally agreed well with each other.
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Sore throat and an ache radiating from the centre of the anterior neck to the both ears and the occiput.Idiopathic Carotidynia,TransIent Perivascular Inflammation of the Carotid artery (TIPIC) syndrome,Vascular Neck Pain,Painful carotid artery,Inflammation of Carotid artery and neck pain,Carotidynia on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging,CT findings in a patient with bilateral metachronous carotidyniaContralateral recurrence of carotidynia during steroid therapy,,Carotidynia Possibly due to Localized Vasculitis,
Carotidynia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Carotidynia is a syndrome characterized by unilateral (one-sided) tenderness of the carotid artery, near the bifurcation. It was first described in 1927 by Temple Fay.[1] The most common cause of carotidynia may be migraine, and then it is usually self-correcting. Common migraine treatments may help alleviate the carotidynia symptoms. Recent histological evidence has implicated an inflammatory component of carotidynia, but studies are limited.[2] Carotid arteritis is a much less common cause of carotidynia, but has much more serious consequences. It is a form ofgiant cell arteritis, which is a condition that usually affects arteries in the head. Due to this serious condition possibly causing carotidynia, and the possibility that neck pain is related to some other non-carotidynia and serious condition, the case should be investigated by a medical doctor.[3]Because carotidynia can be caused by numerous causes, Biousse and Bousser in 1994 recommended the term not be used in the medical literature.[4] However, recent MRI and ultrasound studies have supported the existence of a differential diagnosis of carotidynia consistent with Fay's characterization.[5][6]
References
- Hill and Hastings list this reference as: Fay, Temple (1927) "Atypical neuralgia." Arch Neurol Psychiatry.
- Upton, P.; Smith, J. G.; Charnock, D. R. (2003). "Histologic confirmation of carotidynia". Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. 129 (4): 443–444. doi:10.1016/S0194-5998(03)00611-9. PMID 14574303.
- Hill LM, Hastings G (1994). "Carotidynia: a pain syndrome.". J Fam Pract. 39 (1): 71–5. PMID 8027735.
- Biousse V, Bousser MG (1994). "The myth of carotidynia.". Neurology. 44 (6): 993–5. doi:10.1212/wnl.44.6.993. PMID 8208434.Available here
- Lee TC, Swartz R, McEvilly R, Aviv RI, Fox AJ, Perry J, Symons SP. CTA, MR and MRA imaging of carotidynia: case report. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2009 May; 36(3):373-375.
- Kuhn, J.; Harzheim, A.; Horz, R.; Bewermeyer, H. (2006). "MRI and ultrasonographic imaging of a patient with carotidynia". Cephalalgia. 26 (4): 483–485. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2006.01053.x. PMID 16556251.
External links
- Family Practice notebook.com
- Blog assessing whether carotidynia is a valid medical diagnosis.
- Carotidynia condition page on PatientsLikeMe.
Case Rep Vasc Med. doi: 10.1155/2013/585789
Carotidynia Possibly due to Localized Vasculitis in a Patient with Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection.
Cassone G1, Colaci M1, Giuggioli D1, Manfredi A1, Sebastiani M1, Ferri C1.
Author information
1Chair and Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Medical School, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Policlinico di Modena, Via del Pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy.
Abstract
Carotidynia is a syndrome characterized by tenderness of the carotid artery near the bifurcation due to numerous, heterogeneous causes. Here we reported the case of a 31-year-old Moroccan woman with right-sided neck pain and tenderness with irradiation to ipsilateral ear, eye, and occipital region. Clinical symptoms and imaging findings were suggestive of primary variant of carotidynia syndrome. In particular, color-Doppler ultrasonography revealed a concentric wall thickening of the distal common carotid artery, while thoracic magnetic resonance showed localized perivascular enhancement of the soft tissue in the right medial-distal common carotid artery in T1-weighted images, without intraluminal diameter variation. Moreover, careful clinicoserological and imaging investigations (cranial, cervical, and thoracic angiocomputed tomography and magnetic resonance) excluded well-known disorders potentially responsible for carotidynia syndrome. The patient was scarcely responsive to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but clinical symptoms resolved after three months. Of interest, the patient showed latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (positive tuberculosis interferon-gamma release assay; QuantiFERON-TB Gold); this finding suggested a possible triggering role of mycobacterial antigens in the immune-mediated mechanism responsible for localized carotid injury.
PMID: 24363952
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2012.10.011
Contralateral recurrence of carotidynia during steroid therapy.
Inatomi Y1, Nakajima M2, Yonehara T3, Hirano T4.
Author information
1Department of Neurology, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan. Electronic address: y.inatomix@silk.ocn.ne.jp.
2Department of Neurology, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan; Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
3Department of Neurology, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.
4Department of Internal Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan.
Abstract
A 44-year-old woman presented with contralateral recurrence of carotidynia during steroid therapy at 1 month after onset. Carotidynia can present with a multiphasic clinical course and can affect the neck bilaterally. Therefore, patients with carotidynia should be observed even after remission.
Copyright © 2014 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Carotidynia; arteritis; carotid artery; magnetic resonance imaging; temporal arteritis; ultrasonography
PMID: 23253536
Wien Klin Wochenschr. doi: 10.1007/s00508-014-0633-2
A pain in the throat: a 19-year history of symptoms relating to the carotid artery.
Elkins A1, Barakate M, Henderson J, Grieve S.
Author information
1School of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
A 38-year-old man presented with a 19-year history of sore throat and an ache radiating from the centre of the anterior neck to the both ears and the occiput. Computed tomography angiography revealed a tortuous submucosal right internal carotid artery, which was causing tonsillar displacement. The diagnosis of carotidynia has a controversial history within the literature and is currently not accepted as a distinct pathological entity by the International Headache Society. In this patient, the clinical and imaging features, in addition to the absence of any other pathology confers support to the diagnosis of carotidynia.
PMID: 25398291
Clin Imaging. 2015 Mar-Apr;39(2):305-7. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2014.12.001
CT findings in a patient with bilateral metachronous carotidynia.
Young JY1, Hijaz TA2, Karagianis AG2.
Author information
1Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Section, 251 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL, 60611. Electronic address: joseph.y.young@gmail.com.
2Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Section, 251 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL, 60611.
Abstract
Carotidynia is a self-limiting, idiopathic clinical syndrome characterized by acute unilateral neck pain and tenderness of the carotid artery. We describe a unique case of bilateral carotidynia that occurred metachronously, with each incident resolving without long-term sequelae. Knowledge of this entity is important to properly interpret the imaging findings and to not mistake this finding as an ill-defined tumor, thus avoiding unnecessary biopsy.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.KEYWORDS:CT; Carotidynia; inflammation; neck; pain.PMID: 25575581
J Mal Vasc. 2015 Dec;40(6):395-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jmv.2015.06.001
Comparative evolution of carotidynia on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.
Behar T1, Menjot N2, Laroche JP3, Böge B3, Quéré I3, Galanaud JP3.
Author information
1Clinical investigation center and department of internal medicine, hôpital de Montpellier, university hospital, 80, avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 05, France. Electronic address: t-behar@chu-montpellier.fr.
2Department of neuroradiology, university hospital, 80, avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 05, France.
3Clinical investigation center and department of internal medicine, hôpital de Montpellier, university hospital, 80, avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier cedex 05, France.
Abstract
Carotidynia is rare and associates neck pain with tenderness to palpation usually over the carotid bifurcation, the diagnosis of which is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ultrasounds (US) are also frequently used but their accuracy in predicting the course of the disease is unknown. We are reporting the case of a 52-year-old man who presented a typical carotidynia. Clinical symptoms, ultrasound and MRI imaging evolution were closely correlated. Our case suggest that after a first MRI to set a positive diagnosis of carotidynia and exclude differential diagnoses, US which is more widely available and less expensive could constitute the imaging of reference for the follow-up.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.KEYWORDS:Carotidynia; Carotidynie; Follow-up; Imagerie par résonance magnétique; Magnetic resonance imaging; Suivi; Ultrasonography; Échographie.PMID: 26163344
Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2017 Apr;51(3):149-151. doi: 10.1177/1538574417697212.
Idiopathic Carotidynia.
Policha A1, Williams D2, Adelman M1, Veith F1, Cayne NS1.
Author information
1
1 Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
2
2 Department of General Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, NY, USA.
Abstract
Idiopathic carotidynia is a syndrome characterized by pain and tenderness over the carotid artery without an associated structural luminal abnormality. Controversy exists over whether this is a distinct disease entity or merely a symptom attributable to other causes of neck pain, such as carotid dissection or vasculitis. A 50-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset right neck pain. Imaging studies demonstrated transmural inflammation of the proximal internal carotid artery, without evidence of intraluminal pathology. The patient was placed on low-dose aspirin and ibuprofen. Her symptoms resolved within a week. At 3-month follow-up, her carotid artery appeared normal on duplex ultrasonography.
KEYWORDS:
carotid artery; carotidynia; ultrasound
PMID: 2833043
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2017 May 11. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A5214
TIPIC Syndrome: Beyond the Myth of Carotidynia, a New Distinct Unclassified Entity.
Lecler A1, Obadia M2, Savatovsky J2, Picard H2, Charbonneau F2, Menjot de Champfleur N2, Naggara O2, Carsin B2, Amor-Sahli M2, Cottier JP2, Bensoussan J2, Auffray-Calvier E2, Varoquaux A2, De Gaalon S2, Calazel C2, Nasr N2, Volle G2, Jianu DC2, Gout O2, Bonneville F2, Sadik JC2.
Author information
1
From the Departments of Radiology (A.L., J.S., F.C., J.C.S.), and Neurology (M.O., G.V., O.G.), and Clinical Research Unit (H.P.), Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France; Department of Neuroradiology (N.M.d.C.), Montpellier University Hospital Center, Gui de Chauliac Hospital, Montpellier, France; Department of Radiology (B.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France; Department of Neuroradiology (O.N.), Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Paris, France; Department of Neuroradiology (M.A.-S.), Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France; Centre D'imagerie Médicale Tourville (M.A.-S.), Paris, France; Department of Radiology (J.P.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Tours, Tours, France; Brain and Imaging Laboratory Unite Mixte de Recherche U930 (J.P.C.), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, François-Rabelais University, Tours, France; Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology Department (E.A.-C.) and Neurology Department (S.D.G.), Hôpital René et Guillaume-Laënnec, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Saint-Herblain, France; Department of Radiology (J.B.), Hotel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France; Department of Radiology (A.V.), Conception Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Departments of Neuroradiology (C.C., F.B.) and Neurology (N.N.), Hôpital Pierre-Paul-Riquet, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Department of Neurology (D.C.J.), Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. alecler@for.paris.
2
From the Departments of Radiology (A.L., J.S., F.C., J.C.S.), and Neurology (M.O., G.V., O.G.), and Clinical Research Unit (H.P.), Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France; Department of Neuroradiology (N.M.d.C.), Montpellier University Hospital Center, Gui de Chauliac Hospital, Montpellier, France; Department of Radiology (B.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France; Department of Neuroradiology (O.N.), Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne, Paris, France; Department of Neuroradiology (M.A.-S.), Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France; Centre D'imagerie Médicale Tourville (M.A.-S.), Paris, France; Department of Radiology (J.P.C.), Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Tours, Tours, France; Brain and Imaging Laboratory Unite Mixte de Recherche U930 (J.P.C.), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, François-Rabelais University, Tours, France; Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology Department (E.A.-C.) and Neurology Department (S.D.G.), Hôpital René et Guillaume-Laënnec, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Saint-Herblain, France; Department of Radiology (J.B.), Hotel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France; Department of Radiology (A.V.), Conception Hospital, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Departments of Neuroradiology (C.C., F.B.) and Neurology (N.N.), Hôpital Pierre-Paul-Riquet, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Purpan, Toulouse, France; and Department of Neurology (D.C.J.), Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
The differential diagnosis of acute cervical pain includes nonvascular and vascular causes such as carotid dissection, carotid occlusion, or vasculitis. However, some patients present with unclassified vascular and perivascular changes on imaging previously reported as carotidynia. The aim of our study was to improve the description of this as yet unclassified clinico-radiologic entity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
From January 2009 through April 2016, 47 patients from 10 centers presenting with acute neck pain or tenderness and at least 1 cervical image showing unclassified carotid abnormalities were included. We conducted a systematic, retrospective study of their medical charts and diagnostic and follow-up imaging. Two neuroradiologists independently analyzed the blinded image datasets.
RESULTS:
The median patient age was 48 years. All patients presented with acute neck pain, and 8 presented with transient neurologic symptoms. Imaging showed an eccentric pericarotidian infiltration in all patients. An intimal soft plaque was noted in 16 patients, and a mild luminal narrowing was noted in 16 patients. Interreader reproducibility was excellent. All patients had complete pain resolution within a median of 13 days. At 3-month follow-up, imaging showed complete disappearance of vascular abnormalities in 8 patients, and a marked decrease in all others.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our study improved the description of an unclassified, clinico-radiologic entity, which could be described by the proposed acronym: TransIent Perivascular Inflammation of the Carotid artery (TIPIC) syndrome.
© 2017 American Society of Neuroradiology.
PMID: 28495942 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A5214
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine.
LEONARD L. LOVSHIN, M.D.
Department of Internal Medicine
Abstract
A YOUNG or middle-aged women reported to her physician because of a sore throat, without fever or other constitutional manifestations, which may have been present for weeks or months. The patient believes that the glands in the neck are swollen. These "swollen glands" are said to act strangely: sometimes the swelling lasts only a few hours, sometimes it persists for weeks; it disappears mysteriously and recurs frequently. During the course of the physical examination the physician finds no abnormality, but when he re-examines the neck and follows the directions given by the patient, he finds a tender swelling that could be an inflamed lymph node.
The patient then is treated with a sulfonamide or with penicillin, and, when no relief ensues, a course of one of the broad-spectrum antibiotics is administered. This therapeutic program also is unsuccessful, and the harried physician begins to think of other possibilities. Since the patient has "swollen glands," feels weak, tired, and run-down, and antimicrobial therapy has not helped, a diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis may be considered. But, results of a heterophil antibody test are negative, and the diagnosis is changed to possible viral infection.
After several weeks or months of having diagnoses changed, the nervous patient can sense that her physician is uncertain, and she begins to worry about the looming possibility of cancer. She keeps poking in the region of the soreness, and the area becomes even more tender. In desperation, further investigations are carried out and nothing definitely abnormal is found. Teeth . . .
Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182
6948891480
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