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This study compares the environmental performance of Mexican banknotes printed on high-durability cotton paper (HD paper) and thermoplastic polymer (polymer) through a life cycle assessment to appraise the environmental impacts from the extraction of raw materials to the final disposal of the banknotes. The functional unit was defined considering the next parameters: 1) lifespan of the banknotes, stablished in 31.5 and 54 months for HD paper and polymer, respectively; 2) denomination, selecting $200 pesos banknotes; 3) a 5 year time frame and 4) a defined amount of money, in this case stablished as the monthly cash supply of an average Mexican household, equaling $12,708 pesos. Accordingly, 121 pieces for the HD paper and 71 pieces for the polymer banknotes were analyzed. The results favor the banknotes printed on polymer substrate primarily because of the longer lifespan of this type of material; however, there is a considerable environmental impact in the stages of distribution, followed by the extraction of the raw materials (crude oil) during manufacturing. Regarding the HD cotton paper, the major impact corresponds to extraction of the raw materials, followed by the distribution of the banknotes. The inclusion of the automatic teller machines (ATMs) in the life cycle assessment of banknotes shows that the electricity required by these devices became the largest contributor to the environmental impacts. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis that the average lifetime of the banknotes is a determining factor for the environmental impacts associated with the whole life cycle of this product. The life cycle stages that refer to the extraction of the raw materials, combined with the average lifetime of the banknotes and the electricity required during the usage stage, are determining factors in the total environmental impact associated with Mexican banknotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper mill effluents are complex mixtures containing different toxic compounds including endocrine-disrupting (EDCs) and genotoxic compounds. In the present study non-concentrated raw and biologically treated wastewaters from two paper mill plants with different paper production technologies i) Paper mill A uses virgin fibres, and ii) Paper mill B uses recycled fibres for paper production and the corresponding receiving surface waters, were assessed for their cytotoxic/genotoxic activity with SOS/ umuC , Ames MPF 98/100 Aqua, and comet assay with human hepatoma HepG2 cells. In addition the levels of seven selected EDCs were quantified in wastewater samples and receiving surface waters. All investigated EDCs were confirmed in raw and biologically treated effluents from both paper mills with concentrations being markedly higher in Paper mill B effluents. In the receiving surface waters three of the studied EDCs were determined downstream of both paper mills effluent discharge. The wastewater samples and the recipient surface water samples from Paper mill A were not mutagenic for bacteria and did not induce DNA damage in HepG2 cells. On the contrary, half of the raw wastewater samples from Paper mill B were mutagenic whereas biologically treated wastewater and the recipient surface water samples were negative. In HepG2 cells most of the raw and biologically treated wastewater samples from Paper mill B as well as surface water samples collected downstream of Paper mill B effluent discharge induced DNA damage. The results confirmed that genotoxic contaminants were present only in wastewaters from Paper mill B that uses recycled fibres for paper production, and that the combined aerobic and anaerobic wastewater treatment procedure efficiently reduced contaminants that are bacterial mutagens, but not those that induce DNA damage in HepG2 cells. This study highlights that in addition to chemical analyses bioassays are needed for a comprehensive toxicological evaluation of complex wastewater samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, two pulps, bleached (BP) and raw pulp (RP), derived from the paper production process, were used as precursors of non-activated and activated carbons (ACs). In the case of non-ACs, the production involved either pyrolysis or pyrolysis followed by acid washing. For ACs production, the pulps were impregnated with K 2 CO 3 or H 3 PO 4 , and then pyrolysed and acid washed. After production, the materials were physically and chemically characterized. Then, batch adsorption tests on the removal of two pharmaceuticals (the anti-epileptic carbamazepine (CBZ) and the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX)) from ultra-pure water and from Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) effluents were performed. In ultra-pure water, non-ACs were not able to adsorb CBZ or SMX while ACs showed good adsorption capacities. In WWTP effluents, although ACs satisfactorily adsorbed CBZ and SMX, they showed lower adsorption capacities for the latter. Tests with WWTP effluents revealed that the best adsorption capacities were achieved by carbons produced from BP and activated with H 3 PO 4 : 92 ± 19 mg g −1 for CBZ and 13.0 ± 0.6 mg g −1 for SMX. These results indicate the potential of paper pulps as precursors for ACs that can be applied in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an internal circulation-anoxic/aerobic (IC-A/O) process followed by ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) system was applied for paper wastewater reclamation. The IC-AO system presented a stable and efficient performance, achieving high removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) with methane production rate of 132.8 mL/d. Acute toxicity to Daphnia magna (D. magna) was reduced significantly (83.2%) and the spearman's rank correlation analysis indicated that the toxicity of effluents from each reactor were positively correlated with COD and TOC. Hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid and benzophenone were the main toxic contributors for biological effluent. Microbial community revealed that Anaerolinea was significantly related with organic pollutants. The UF-RO system further removed pollutants and toxicity with the final effluent COD, TOC, ammonium nitrogen (NH 4 +-N) and TN of 32.6, 18.8, 0.3 and 9.2 mg/L, respectively, which proved that it was feasible for paper wastewater reuse. This study presented an efficient, practical and environmentally competitive system, and paved a foundation for the treatment and reuse of paper wastewater. Unlabelled Image • The IC-A/O system efficiently reduced pollutants and toxicity in paper wastewater. • TU value decreased significantly with reduced COD and TOC. • Anaerolinea , Thauera and Nitrospira were important functional genera. • UF-RO system was feasible for advanced reclamation of paper wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fly ash (FA) from biomass combustion and biological sludge (S), both wastes from the pulp and paper industry, were granulated in different proportions (90% FA + 10% S, and 70% FA + 30% S w/w, dry weight basis, dw) and used to recover the functionality of soils affected by mining activities (Aljustrel, Iberian Pyrite Belt), with and without the application of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC). Application doses of both mixtures were 2.5, 5.0 and 10% (w/w, dw). These materials corrected soil acidity to circumneutral values and increased extractable P and K concentrations. A significant increase in soil organic matter (from 0.6 to 0.8–1.5% w/w, dw) and N content (from 0.04 to 0.09–0.12% w/w, dw) was also observed, but only when MSWC was applied. The soil was already heavily contaminated with Cu, Pb and Zn and the application of amendments did not increase their pseudo-total concentrations. The CaCl 2 extractable fractions of both Cu and Zn decreased to very low values. The improvement in soil quality, compared to fertilizer only treatment, was further evidenced by the increase in some soil enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase and cellulase), with a better response for the granules with the higher proportion of biological sludge, as well as by the decrease in the soil-water extract toxicity towards different organisms (Daphnia magna , Thamnocephalus platyurus , and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata). Agrostis tenuis germinated and grew during the first month only in the amended pots, but, after that, a considerable phytotoxic effect was evident. This was mainly attributed to salt stress or to some specific ionic toxicity. In conclusion, to establish a long-term plant cover in mining soils amended with biomass ash-based materials, the selection of plants with higher resistance to salinity and/or the stabilization of the amendments, to reduce their soluble salt content, is recommended. Unlabelled Image • Biomass ash and biological sludge from a paper mill were used to amend mine soils. • Soil pH increased to neutral values and Cu and Zn CaCl 2 extractability decreased. • Compost application was essential to increase soil organic matter, N and P content. • Some soil enzymatic activities increased, and soil-water extract toxicity decreased. • However, high salinity promoted phytotoxicity to Agrostis tenuis Sibth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to optimize the biogas recovery from the co-digestion of food waste (FW) and paper waste (PW), the effect of PW content on two-phase anaerobic digestion (TPAD) was investigated. The mixtures of FW and PW, with the ratios of 10:0, 8:2, 6:4 and 5:5 (total solids), were fed into TPAD to recover biomethane. After the long-term expriment, it is elucidated that the methanogenesis in TPAD was stable for PW ≤ 40%. When PW = 50%, NH 4 HCO 3 was added to the methanogenic phase to provide nitrogen. As the indicators of the stability of the anaerobic process, the ammonia and alkalinity in the methanogenic phase were simulated for their decreasing trend. The simulation results quantified the nitrogen deficiency in the methanogenic phase for PW = 50%. Also, the comparison of alkalinity and ammonia revealed that ammonia was the major contributor to the alkalinity. Furthermore, via stoichiometric calculations, high C/N ratios were found to increase the microbial yield and exacerbated the nitrogen deficiency. In the energy estimation, adding PW showed significant increase only when PW ≥ 40%. It was concluded that 40% was the optimal PW content for bioenergy augmentation from co-digestion of FW and PW using TPAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative life cycle assessment, under a cradle to gate scope, was carried out between two hand drying methods namely conventional hand dryer use and dispenser issued roll paper towel use. The inventory analysis for this study was aided by the deconstruction of a hand dryer and dispenser unit besides additional data provided by the Physical Resources department, from the product system manufacturers and information from literature. The LCA software SimaPro, supported by the ecoinvent and US-EI databases, was used towards establishing the environmental impacts associated with the lifecycle stages of both the compared product systems. The Impact 2002 + method was used for classification and characterization of these environmental impacts. An uncertainty analysis addressing key input data and assumptions made, a sensitivity analysis covering the use intensity of the product systems and a scenario analysis looking at a US based use phase for the hand dryer were also conducted. Per functional unit, which is to achieve a pair of dried hands, the dispenser product system has a greater life cycle impact than the dryer product system across three of four endpoint impact categories. The use group of lifecycle stages for the dispenser product system, which represents the cradle to gate lifecycle stages associated with the paper towels, constitutes the major portion of this impact. For the dryer product system, the use group of lifecycle stages, which essentially covers the electricity consumption during dryer operation, constitutes the major stake in the impact categories. It is evident from the results of this study that per dry, for a use phase supplied by Ontario's grid (2010 grid mix scenario) and a United States based manufacturing scenario, the use of a conventional hand dryer (rated at 1800 W and under a 30 s use intensity) has a lesser environmental impact than with using two paper towels (100% recycled content, unbleached and weighing 4 g) issued from a roll dispenser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The current investigation deals with how chemically activated carbon derived from industrial paper sludge (ACPS) performs on sorptive removal of enrofloxacin (ENF), an antibacterial drug from its water solution. Thermogravimetric (TGA) and proximate analysis of raw paper sludge (RPS) were conducted. ACPS was characterized with proximate analysis, XRD, FT-IR, SEM and BET. The influence of five operational parameters viz. adsorbate concentration (initial), dose of adsorbent, pH, temperature, and contact time on the adsorption of ENF onto ACPS has been conducted using batch experiments. The process of adsorption was optimized through ANN (artificial neural network) in addition to RSM (response surface methodology). The maximum percentage removal (95.85%) was achieved at initial ENF concentration 12 mg/g, adsorbent dose 1.2 g/L, contact duration of 18 h and temperature 20 °C. Kinetic data were best fitted into pseudo-second order kinetic model and adsorption equilibrium study indicates that the adsorption process follows Langmuir isotherm model. Adsorption capacity was noted to have a highest value of 44.44 mg/g. A study on thermodynamics of the adsorption process suggests that it exhibits spontaneity, being essentially exothermic. Cost analysis and reusability study confirm that adsorbent produced from industrial paper sludge is cost-effective and reusable. Therefore, ACPS as adsorbent has potency for removing ENF from aqueous solution. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Adsorbent was developed from industrial paper sludge. • Above 95% removal of enrofloxacin was achieved. • Operational parameters were optimized using RSM and ANN. • 72.45% removal of enrofloxacin was possible after four cycle of use of adsorbent. • The cost of preparation of adsorbent is INR 207.35 per kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In areas with high exposure to pathogen contaminated water and lack the economic means for water treatment, low cost and convenient point-of-use drinking water disinfection materials/devices are essential. Using a simple craft paper making method, Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite impregnated filter paper was constructed to filter live Escherichia coli (E. coli)-spiked water. The Scanning Electron Microscopic images of the E. coli cells in contact with the Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite impregnated filter paper showed: 1) Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite particles were uniformly coated on the cellulose paper fiber, creating large mineral surface for cell contact; and 2) E. coli cell membrane was dehydrated and damaged, resulting cell deactivation upon contacting with the Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite particles impregnated in the paper. The E. coli cells passing through the Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite impregnated filter paper were not viable as further confirmed by the microfluidic dielectrophoresis analysis. They remained non-viable at room temperature even after 5 days, as shown by the results from both the Colony Counting test and the Colilert test. More than 99.5% deactivation efficiency was achieved when the ratio of the volume of the E. coli contaminated water to the mass of Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite was maintained at <1:1.5 (mL/mg). The Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite impregnated filter paper maintained ~74% E. coli deactivation efficiency even after the 8th consecutive use. About 0.52 mg Fe3+, which is bioavailable, could be leached into the water for every 2 L E coli -contaminated water that is treated with the filter paper. The treated water could therefore provide iron supplement to a person at a level within the range of the FDA recommended human daily intake of iron. The results from this study has clearly demonstrated promising potential of using the Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite impregnated filter paper for low cost (~$0.07/L treated water for this study) and convenient point-of-use drinking water disinfection. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite (FSM) dehydrates/damages E. coli cell membrane. • FSM-impregnated paper was used to filter and deactivate E. coli cells in water. • >99.5% deactivation efficiency was achieved. • FSM-impregnated filter paper provides dietary iron supplement when disinfect water. • FSM-impregnated filter paper is easy to make and low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and paper waste was successfully operated with a 0% to 70% fraction of paper waste. The variation of functional microbial community was investigated by 16S rRNA gene analysis. The results indicated that the hydrolyzing bacterial community changed from carbohydrate/protein-degrading bacteria to cellulose-degrading bacteria when the paper waste ratio was higher than 50%. Significant changes in the taxon responsible for cellulose degradation were found depending on the paper waste fraction. Cellulose-degrading bacteria outcompeted lactic acid bacteria in the degradation of monosaccharide, resulting in a decline in the proportion of lactic acid bacteria and the absence of an accumulation of lactic acid. At high paper waste ratios, because the cellulose-degrading bacteria, such as Defluviitoga tunisiensis , were more likely to degrade monosaccharides directly to acetate and hydrogen rather than to propionate and butyrate, the abundance of syntrophs was reduced. The variation of those bacteria with high H 2 -producing ability significantly influenced the proportion of hydrogenotrophic archaea. The change in the microbial community as the paper waste fraction increased was illustrated with regard to anaerobic degradation steps. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Effect of paper waste on microbial community in thermophilic digestion was clarified. • Functional groups of prokaryotes changed greatly as the paper waste ratio increased. • Community of cellulose-degrading bacteria changed greatly due to declined pH value. • Hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was enhanced when the paper waste ratio ≥ 50%. • The predominant microorganism response for each metabolic step was summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in vitro potential of sensitizers and related compounds (SRCs) originating from impurities in waste paper in activating the human aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) α was assessed using yeast reporter gene as well as cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1 and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) assays. In the yeast assay, eight compounds exhibited agonist activity, and their activity relative to β-naphthoflavone (BNF) ranged from 1.4 x 10-4 to 8.3 x 10- 2, with the highest activity observed for benzyl 2-naphthyl ether (BNE). In the EROD assay, six compounds caused a more significant induction of CYP1A-dependent activity than did the vehicle control at 50 µM (p < 0.01), and their induction levels were 5.1- to 11-fold more potent; 1,2-bis(3-methylphenoxy)ethane (BME) was the most effective inducer. The water from the waste paper recycling area was fractioned using solid-phase extraction (SPE) combined with a C18 disk and florisil cartridge. In gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, SRCs were detected in the first fraction, at a total concentration of 5.5 µg/L. This fraction also activated AhR, and its activity, expressed as a BNF equivalent value, was 0.42 nM in the yeast assay. The contribution ratio of active compounds accounted for up to 34% and 4.4% observed activity of the fraction and total samples, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that paper industry-related compounds, namely aromatic sensitizers, activate AhR by using a yeast assay and HepG2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the next decade it will be necessary to develop novel combinations of management strategies to sustainably increase crop production and soil resilience. Improving agricultural productivity, while conserving and enhancing biotic and abiotic resources, is an essential requirement to increase global food production on a sustainable basis. The role of farmers in increasing agricultural productivity growth sustainably will be crucial. Farmers are at the center of any process of change involving natural resources and for this reason they need to be encouraged and guided, through appropriate incentives and governance practices, to conserve natural ecosystems and their biodiversity, and minimize the negative impact agriculture can have on the environment. Farmers and stakeholders need to revise traditional approaches not as productive as the modern approaches but more friendly with natural and environmental ecosystems values as well as emerging novel tools and approaches addressing precise farming, organic amendments, lowered water consumption, integrated pest control and beneficial plant-microbe interactions. While practical solutions are developing, science based recommendations for crop rotations, breeding and harvest/postharvest strategies leading to environmentally sound and pollinator friendly production and better life in rural areas have to be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 2,4,7,9-Tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol (TMDD) is a non-ionic surfactant which is preferentially used as defoamer in paints and printing ink and for the treatment of surfaces. Effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as the domination point sources for TMDD in rivers since the removal rate of the compound in the WWTPs is in general less than 70%. However, the dominating entry pathways of TMDD into the sewage were unknown so far. In this study effluents from both, municipal WWTPs with and without treatment of indirect industrial dischargers and from industrial WWTPs with direct discharge of wastewater into receiving rivers were analyzed for the first time to identify the proportions of TMDD coming from domestic wastewater and from various industrial sources. Moreover, rivers were samples before and after the influent of sewage water from WWTPs. The TMDD concentrations in the water samples were measured using solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). High TMDD concentrations were found in rivers (up to 63.5μg/L), and in effluents of WWTPs (up to 310μg/L) affected by wastewater from paper recycling industry and factories producing paint and printing ink. Concentrations of TMDD revealed to be far higher in wastewater from factories processing recycled paper (up to 113μg/L) compared to wastewater from factories not processing recycled paper (0.066μg/L). The results indicate that the use of recycling paper in the paper production process is the dominating reason for increased TMDD concentrations in wastewaters and receiving rivers due to the wash out of TMDD from the paper impregnated with printing ink. Very high TMDD concentrations (up to 3300μg/L) were also detected in wastewater from a printing ink factory and a paint factory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Secondary effluent from paper mill was characterized by poor biodegradability and containing recalcitrant compounds. In this study, four bioreactors, including a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR), a stirred-tank reactor (STR) and two submerged aeration reactors (SAR) were used to treat secondary effluent from a recycled paper mill respectively. The results indicated that chemical oxygen demand (COD) was increased by SAR2 treatment and COD removal efficiency for SBBR, SAR1 and STR was 39.7%, 15.7% and 30.9% respectively. It is suggested that recalcitrant compounds were removed by SBBR, SAR1 and STR respectively. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) of wastewater were increased by treatments of each bioreactor, which suggested that endogenous respiration of biomass occurred during the treatment. Microbial analysis of sludge from different bioreactors suggested that the removal of recalcitrant compounds in SBBR and STR might be related to the presence of unique microorganisms in each reactor. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Paper mill secondary effluent was treated by SBBR, STR, SAR1 and SAR2 respectively. • Recalcitrant compounds were removed by SBBR, STR and SAR1 respectively. • Endogenous respiration of biomass happened in every bioreactor during the treatment. • Unique microorganisms were found in SBBR and STR, which achieved better performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Alkaline residuals, such as wood ash and lime mud generated from pulp and paper mills, could be recycled as liming agents in sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) forests affected by soil acidification. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate soil chemistry, in particular soil acidity, after the application of three alkaline residuals from the pulp and paper industry, and (2) to determine if these alkaline residuals altered soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a result of the change in soil pH or due to their chemical composition. Soil properties and GHG fluxes were monitored for two years after alkaline residuals were applied to six forest sites dominated by sugar maple in southeastern Quebec, Canada. Each site received six treatments: wood ash applied at 5, 10 and 20 t ha−1, lime mud (7.5 t ha−1), a mixture of slaker grits and green liquor sludge (7 t ha−1) and an unamended control. These treatments had acid-neutralizing power from 0 to 9 t ha−1. All alkaline residuals buffered soil acidity as a function of their neutralizing power, and more neutralization occurred in the forest floor layer than in the underlying mineral soil. In the forest floor, the alkaline residual treatments significantly increased pH by more than one unit, nearly doubled the base saturation, and reduced exchangeable acidity, Al and Fe concentrations compared to control plots. The CO 2 and N 2 O fluxes were lower after application of alkaline residuals, and this was related to the soil pH increase and the type of alkaline residual applied. Lime mud was more effective at reducing GHG fluxes than other alkaline residuals. We conclude that these alkaline residuals can effectively counteract soil acidity in sugar maple forests without increasing soil GHG emissions, at least in the short term. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Alkaline residuals are potential liming agents for acidified sugar maple forests. • Soil pH after liming is explained by the neutralizing power of alkaline residuals • More neutralization occurred in the forest floor layer than underlying mineral soil. • Greenhouse gas fluxes were lower after application of alkaline residuals. • Reduction in greenhouse gas fluxes was related to the increase in soil pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this work, a granular activated carbon (GAC) was produced using primary paper mill sludge (PS) as raw material and ammonium lignosulfonate (AL) as binder agent. PS is a residue from the pulp and paper industry and AL is a by-product of the cellulose pulp manufacture and the proposed production scheme contributes for their valorisation together with important savings in GAC precursors. The produced GAC (named PSA-PA) and a commercially available GAC (GACN), used as reference material, were physically and chemically characterized. Then, these materials were tested in batch experiments for the adsorption of carbamazepine (CBZ), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), and paroxetine (PAR) from ultra-pure water and wastewater. Even though GACN and PSA-PA possess very similar specific surface areas (S BET) (629 and 671 m2 g−1, respectively), PSA-PA displayed lower maximum adsorption capacities (q m) than GACN for the pharmaceuticals here studied (6 ± 1–44 ± 5 mg g−1 and 49 ± 6–106 ± 40 mg g−1, respectively). This may be related to the comparatively higher incidence of mesopores in GACN, which might have positively influenced its adsorptive performance. Moreover, the highest hydrophobic character and degree of aromaticity of GACN could also have contributed to its adsorption capacity. On the other hand, the performance of both GACs was significantly affected by the matrix in the case of CBZ and SMX, with lower q m in wastewater than in ultra-pure water. However, the adsorption of PAR was not affected by the matrix. Electrostatic interactions and pH effects might also have influenced the adsorption of the pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Industrial wastes were used as precursors of granular activated carbon (PSA-PA). • Key properties of PSA-PA are identical to reference materials (e.g. S BET 671 m2/g). • PSA-PA was applied in the removal of 3 pharmaceuticals from wastewater. • Electrostatic interactions and average pore diameter strongly influenced adsorption. • Matrix effects were highly dependent on the pharmaceuticals electrical charge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This opinion paper focuses on the role of eco-toxicological tools in the assessment of possible impacts of emerging contaminants on the aquatic ecosystem, hence, on human health. Indeed, organic trace pollutants present in raw and treated wastewater are the pivot targets: a multidisciplinary approach allows defining the basic principles for managing this issue, from setting a proper monitoring campaign up to evaluating the optimal process treatment. Giving hints on trace pollutants fate and behaviour, attention is focused on the choice of the bioassay(s), by analysing the meaning of possible biological answers. Data interpretation and exploitation are detailed with the final goal of providing criteria in order to be able to select the best targeted treatment options. The manuscript deals with conventional and innovative analytical approaches for assessing toxicity, by reviewing laboratory and field assays; illustrative real scale and laboratory applications integrate and exemplify the proposed approach. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Bioassays must be chosen by taking into account the meaning of biological responses. • Lab and in situ bioassays must be integrated, based on reliability and applicability. • Trace pollutants can cause unpredictable and non-linear biological responses. • Wastewater composition and flowrate variability affects any toxicity assessment. • Environmental and socio-economic aspects underpin sewage treatment scheme choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulp and paper mills generate varieties of pollutants depending upon the type of the pulping process. This paper is the state of the art review of treatability of the pulp and paper mill wastewater and performance of available treatment processes. A comparison of all treatment processes is presented. Combinations of anaerobic and aerobic treatment processes are found to be efficient in the removal of soluble biodegradable organic pollutants. Color can be removed effectively by fungal treatment, coagulation, chemical oxidation, and ozonation. Chlorinated phenolic compounds and adsorable organic halides (AOX) can be efficiently reduced by adsorption, ozonation and membrane filtration techniques. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Excessive water consumption in pulp and paper industry results in high amount of wastewater. Pollutant characteristics of the wastewater vary depending on the processes used in production and the quality of paper produced. However, in general, high organic material and suspended solid contents are considered as major pollutants of pulp and paper industry effluents. The major pollutant characteristics of pulp and paper industry effluents in Turkey were surveyed and means of major pollutant concentrations, which were grouped in three different pollution grades (low, moderate and high strength effluents), and flow rates within 3000 to 10,000m3/day range with 1000m3/day steps were used as design parameters. Ninety-six treatment plants were designed using twelve flow schemes which were combinations of physical treatment, chemical treatment, aerobic and anaerobic biological processes. Detailed comparative cost analysis which includes investment, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation costs was prepared to determine optimum treatment processes for each pollution grade. The most economic and technically optimal treatment processes were found as extended aeration activated sludge process for low strength effluents, extended aeration activated sludge process or UASB followed by an aeration basin for medium strength effluents, and UASB followed by an aeration basin or UASB followed by the conventional activated sludge process for high strength effluents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thermal paper contains potentially toxic additives, such as bisphenol A (BPA), as a common color developer. Because of its known endocrine disrupting effects, structural analogues to BPA, such as bisphenol S (BPS), D-8 and Pergafast 201, have been used as alternatives, but little is known about the presence and toxicological effects of alternatives other than BPS. In this study, thermal paper is screened by direct probe ambient mass spectrometry (rapid pre-screening method not requiring sample preparation) and by liquid chromatography (LC) with high resolution time-of flight (TOF-MS) mass spectrometry. Cash receipts and other thermal paper products (cinema tickets, boarding passes and luggage tags) were analyzed. Besides BPA and BPS, other developers only recently reported (Pergafast 201, D-8) or to the best of our knowledge not reported before (D-90, TGSA, BPS-MAE) were frequently found as well as some related unreported impurities (2,4-BPS that is a BPS related impurity and a TGSA related impurity). To gain some insight into the potential estrogenicity of the detected developers, a selection of extracts was further analyzed using a LC-nanofractionation platform in combination with cell-based bioassay testing. These preliminary results seems to indicate very low or absence of estrogenic activity for Pergafast 201, D-8, D-90, TGSA and BPS-MAE in comparison to BPA and BPS, although further dose-response tests with authentic standards are required to confirm these results. Compounds for which standards were available were also tested for developmental toxicity and neurotoxicity using zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) embryos. TGSA and D-8 induced similar teratogenic effects as BPA in zebrafish embryos. BPS and 2,4-BPS did not induce any developmental effects but 2,4-BPS did alter the locomotor activity at the tested concentration. Our findings suggest that the alternatives used as alternatives to BPA (except BPS) might not be estrogenic. However, TGSA and D-8 showed abnormal developmental effects similar to BPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic xenoestrogen widely used in various industrial fields, can be present, in its un-reacted form, as an additive in thermal paper. BPA is virtually ubiquitous in industrialized societies and humans are exposed to this chemical via dietary and non-dietary sources. Since in 2015 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) indicated that thermal paper is the second source of BPA exposure after the food chain, some suppliers replaced BPA with its analogue Bisphenol S (BPS), speculatively supposed to be safer. In this work BPA and BPS concentration levels were determined in thermal paper receipts collected in Italy from 50 different sources by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem fluorescence and ultraviolet detection. BPA was found in 44 samples at mean concentration of 107.47 μg/100 mg of paper (from below Limits of Quantification (LOQ) to 1533.733 μg/100 mg of paper). BPS was found in 31 samples at mean concentration of 41.97 μg/100 mg of paper (from below the LOQ to 357.989 μg/100 mg of paper). 26 samples were positive to both BPA and BPS. The estimate daily intake (EDI) values of BPA and BPS occurring through dermal absorption were calculated for 70 kg body weight individuals. For general population, they were 0.0625 μg/day for BPA and 0.0244 μg/day for BPS, based on the mean content of bisphenols found. For occupationally exposed individuals, they were 66.8 μg/day for BPA and 15.6 μg/day for BPS, based on the worst scenario. Such levels would produce a dermal intake below the Tolerable Day Intake established by EFSA (4 μg/kg·bw/day); nevertheless, the occurrence of co-exposure to dietary and non-dietary sources should be considered in the health risk assessment, mainly for people frequently exposed to thermal paper contact for occupational reason. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Lead gunshot, rifle bullets, and fishing weights are still allowed in Canadian provincially-regulated hunting and fishing, despite the contribution to lead exposure in humans, wildlife, and the environment. Non-lead gunshot and fishing weights are required in Canada only for waterfowl hunting, and angling in national parks and national wildlife areas. Lead wheel weights are also allowed and comprise a majority of the Canadian market. Effective non-lead substitutes for these products exist, and are already required in various American and European jurisdictions. Several analyses commissioned by the Canadian government in 2018 identified the problems of lead exposure attributable to these four lead products. Lead is already listed under Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) that authorizes the government to undertake measures to reduce exposure. CEPA could require, simultaneously, use of non-lead ammunition, fishing weights and wheel weights at the national level, following an appropriate phase-in period. The low provincial and territorial licence fees for hunting and fishing in Canada would offset any costs associated with use of lead substitutes. Costs for non-lead wheel weights would comprise a small percentage of the costs of new vehicles and new tire purchases. This regulatory initiative would complement other Canadian national bans on lead products. Because there is no safe threshold level for blood lead, use of non-lead products would benefit the health of humans, scavengers, upland game species, and fish-eating birds. Graphical abstract A: Lead ammunition fragments in the carcass of a deer and dove, lead wheel weights, and ingested lead fishing weights in a loon contribute to lead exposure. B: Barnes copper bullets, non-toxic bismuth gunshot, stainless steel wheel weights and tin sinkers reduce lead exposure. Unlabelled Image Highlights • Lead is present in spent ammunition, fishing weights, and wheel weights. • This leads to exposure and toxic effects in Canadian wildlife and humans. • A national phase-in of non-lead substitutes is proposed in Canadian. • This would complement other national bans, and benefit human and wildlife health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In anaerobic wastewater treatment, the occurrence of biological sulfate reduction results in the formation of unwanted hydrogen sulfide, which is odorous, corrosive and toxic. In this paper, the role and application of bacteria in anaerobic and aerobic sulfur transformations are described and exemplified for the treatment of a paper mill wastewater. The sulfate containing wastewater first passes an anaerobic UASB reactor for bulk COD removal which is accompanied by the formation of biogas and hydrogen sulfide. In an aeration pond, the residual CODorganic and the formed dissolved hydrogen sulfide are removed. The biogas, consisting of CH4 (80–90 vol.%), CO2 (10–20 vol.%) and H2S (0.8–1.2 vol.%), is desulfurised prior to its combustion in a power generator thereby using a new biological process for H2S removal. This process will be described in more detail in this paper. Biomass from the anaerobic bioreactor has a compact granular structure and contains a diverse microbial community. Therefore, other anaerobic bioreactors throughout the world are inoculated with biomass from this UASB reactor. The sludge was also successfully used in investigation on sulfate reduction with carbon monoxide as the electron donor and the conversion of methanethiol. This shows the biotechnological potential of this complex reactor biomass. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Parabens (alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid) are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and foodstuffs. Although parabens have been reported to be used as antimicrobials in certain types of papers (e.g., wet sanitary or hygiene wipes), little is known about the occurrence of these compounds in paper products. In this study, we determined the concentrations of six paraben analogs, methyl (MeP), ethyl (EtP), propyl (PrP), butyl (BuP), benzyl (BzP), and heptyl parabens (HepP), in 253 paper products divided into 18 categories, using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). At least one of the six parabens was detected in almost all (detection rate: 98%) paper samples, and the total concentrations (∑PBs; sum of six parabens) ranged from 1.85 to 3,220,000ng/g (geometric mean (GM): 103; median: 55.1ng/g). Sanitary wipes contained very high concentrations of ∑PBs (GM: 8300ng/g). Paper currencies, tickets, business cards, food cartons, flyers, and newspapers contained notable concentrations of ∑PBs, and the GM concentrations in these paper categories were on the order of a few tens to thousands of nanograms per gram. One source of parabens in paper products is the use of these chemicals as antifungal agents. MeP and PrP were the predominant analogs, accounting for approximately 62% and 16% of the total concentrations of parabens, respectively. On the basis of measured concentrations and frequency of handling of paper products, we estimated the daily intake (EDI) of parabens through dermal absorption. The GM and 95th percentile EDI values were 6.31 and 2050ng/day, respectively, for the general population. Among the paper categories analyzed, sanitary wipes contributed to the majority (>90%) of the exposures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Most studies focus on the ecotoxicity of pulp and paper mill effluents, rather than on how they affect the physicochemical and biological structure and the intrinsic ecological capabilities of the receiving watercourses. We investigated the impact of such effluents on the water quality, microplankton system and microbial self-purification capacity (degradation of polymeric organic compounds via extracellular enzymes) of the Biobío River in Chile. The physicochemical impact on the water quality was indicated by raised conductivity, by the pollution of the water body with nitrate, nitrite and soluble reactive phosphorus, by the appearance of tannin and lignin, and by the steady accumulation of inorganic and organic suspended matter (SPM) along the river. From the biological structure of the microplankton system, very low and declining concentrations of chlorophyll a and heterotrophic flagellate densities were determined. The pulp and paper mill effluents introduced high bacterial abundances and biomass concentrations into the river water. This reflects the effective use made of the abundantly available inorganic and organic nutrients within this industrial and municipal process water by bacteria adapted to these extreme environments, additionally supported by concomitant low grazing pressure derivable from low heterotrophic flagellate abundances. Indeed, in one section of the river affected by a pulp mill, the plant was found to significantly contribute to the self-cleaning capacity of the river. However, this elevated degradation capacity was not enough to compensate for the additionally discharged organic material which, together with the toxic effects of the paper plant effluents, significantly interferes with the ecological status of the Biobío River. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective of this study was to measure the anaerobic biodegradation of different types of paper products in laboratory-scale landfill reactors. The study included (a) measurement of the loss of cellulose, hemicellulose, organic carbon, and (b) measurement of the methane yields for each paper product. The test materials included two samples each of newsprint (NP), copy paper (CP), and magazine paper (MG), and one sample of diaper (DP). The methane yields, carbon storage factors and the extent of cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition all consistently show that papers made from mechanical pulps (e.g., NPs) are less degradable than those made from chemical pulps where essentially all lignin was chemically removed (e.g., CPs). The diaper, which is not only made from chemical pulp but also contains some gel and plastic, exhibited limited biodegradability. The extent of biogenic carbon conversion varied from 21 to 96% among papers, which contrasts with the uniform assumption of 50% by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for all degradable materials discarded in landfills. Biochemical methane potential tests also showed that the solids to liquid ratio used in the test can influence the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Following on our discovery that pulp and paper mill effluents can interact with, and disrupt, various neurotransmitter receptors and enzymes important to fish reproduction, we tested wood and bark extracts of 14 Eastern North American hardwood trees used in pulp and paper production. Radioligand binding to neurotransmitter receptors, including the dopamine-2 receptor (D2), the gamma aminobutyric acid receptor A (GABA(A)), N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor, and muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mACh-R), were significantly changed following in vitro incubations with many but not all extracts. Activities of neurotransmitter-related enzymes monoamine oxidase (MAO), GABA-transaminase (GABA-T), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) were also significantly altered. Butternut wood extracts and the isolated compound juglone significantly inhibited the enzymatic activities of MAO and GAD which we suggest may be part of a mechanism that may negatively affect fish reproduction. Besides giving credence to the hypothesis that neuroactive compounds in pulp and paper effluent may originate in the trees used by mills, the results reported here also indicate important neuropharmacological activities in hardwoods which may help identify new sources of biologically active natural products. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Burning joss paper, a common practice in temples in some Asian countries, can release toxic pollutants. This study investigated polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) emissions and profiles from burning joss paper in a temple furnace connected to two wet scrubbers. The mean total PCDD/F content and corresponding toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) in joss paper were 193 ng kg−1 and 0.645 ng I-TEQ kg−1, respectively, whereas those in bottom ash from burned joss paper were 18.5 ng kg−1 and 1.92 ng I-TEQ kg−1, respectively. The wet scrubbers decreased individual PCDD/F emissions by 26.7–71.0% and those of total PCDD/Fs and I-TEQ by 47.2% and 66.0%, respectively. The total PCDD/F TEQ emission factors before and after the wet scrubbers were 8.14 and 3.42 µg I-TEQ ton-feedstock−1, respectively. The estimated total PCDD/F and corresponding TEQ emissions were 5.29 g year−1 and 0.462 g I-TEQ year−1, respectively, in Taiwan. Burning joss paper in temple furnaces is a significant source of PCDD/F emissions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a commonly used color developer in thermal paper. In this application, BPA is present in its free, unbound form and can be readily released, making thermal paper a potential source for human exposure. In this study, BPA was determined in 44 thermal paper samples collected in Belgium. BPA was detected in all the samples; 73% of the samples had concentrations between 0.9% and 2.1% (between 9 and 21mg BPA/g paper), while the remaining 27% of the samples had concentrations below 0.01% (0.1mg BPA/g paper). The BPA concentrations measured in thermal paper were comparable with those reported in other international studies. Since thermal paper is a feedstock for paper recycling processes, contamination of other “BPA-free” papers can occur. An estimation of human exposure through thermal paper results in a median intake of 445ng BPA/day for the general population, which corresponds to an exposure of 6.4ng/kg bw/day for a person of 70kg. The exposure of those people who come occupationally in contact with thermal paper can be much higher. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]