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Rotifers' presence and significance are being underestimated among marine zooplankton because rotifers are lost when using larger mesh size nets. Furthermore, samples' preservation often makes species identification difficult, creating a knowledge gap regarding their diversity and abundance in coastal ecosystems. Our study aimed to address this gap by documenting the biodiversity and distribution patterns of the rotifer species, exploring their relationships with the components of the zooplankton community and determining the environmental variables driving their seasonal dynamics. Samplings were carried out in an urban coastal area in the North Aegean Sea in Greece, within two sampling periods. Four coexisting Synchaeta species were encountered, whose temporal distribution patterns were mainly driven by temperature; S. neapolitana exhibited a preference for colder temperatures, contrary to the thermophilic distribution patterns of S. baltica and S. vorax. Network analysis unveiled several negative links among Synchaeta species and other zooplankton taxa, suggesting potential competitive trophic interactions. The present study is one of the very few dealing with marine rotifers across the Mediterranean Sea and thus provides a significant contribution to our understanding of the dynamics of this group of micrometazoans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of novel high‐throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies to examine the responses of natural multidomain microbial communities to scrubber effluent discharges to the marine environment is still limited. Thus, we applied metabarcoding sequencing targeting the planktonic unicellular eukaryotic and prokaryotic fraction (phytoplankton, bacterioplankton, and protozooplankton) in mesocosm experiments with natural microbial communities from a polluted and an unpolluted site. Furthermore, metagenomic analysis revealed changes in the taxonomic and functional dominance of multidomain marine microbial communities after scrubber effluent additions. The results indicated a clear shift in the microbial communities after such additions, which favored bacterial taxa with known oil and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) biodegradation capacities. These bacteria exhibited high connectedness with planktonic unicellular eukaryotes employing variable trophic strategies, suggesting that environmentally relevant bacteria can influence eukaryotic community structure. Furthermore, Clusters of Orthologous Genes associated with pathways of PAHs and monocyclic hydrocarbon degradation increased in numbers at treatments with high scrubber effluent additions acutely. These genes are known to express enzymes acting at various substrates including PAHs. These indications, in combination with the abrupt decrease in the most abundant PAHs in the scrubber effluent below the limit of detection—much faster than their known half‐lives—could point toward a bacterioplankton‐initiated rapid ultimate biodegradation of the most abundant toxic contaminants of the scrubber effluent. The implementation of HTS could be a valuable tool to develop multilevel biodiversity indicators of the scrubber effluent impacts on the marine environment, which could lead to improved impact assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1012–1029. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global increase in energy demand has triggered a global boom in the construction of hydropower dams worldwide affecting biological communities. Our objective is to study the zooplankton (Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda) community structure during and after the impoundment of a newly constructed reservoir, to provide valuable knowledge on species diversity, community structure and dynamics to be considered in future management plans. The impoundment period was characterized by increased species richness with high turnover because of the zooplankton's high dispersal ability and reflected the inoculation of the reservoir with local fauna. Zooplankton during this period were also correlated negatively with depth and positively with total organic nitrogen and nitrate, highlighting the importance of trophic impact. The time following the impoundment reflected the colonization processes to more stable communities. The seasonality domination followed the Mediterranean pattern, with cold and warm periods being differentiated by changes in community structure, while abundance and biomass remained low throughout the studied period. Combined with the dominance of small-sized individuals, it resulted in low grazing pressure, indicating that zooplankton was not the factor controlling phytoplankton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the opening session of ICCE 2019, Professor emeritus Panagiotis Siskos, University of Athens, Greece, received the DCE Lifetime Achievement Award for his early and long-lasting contributions to environmental chemistry studies in the Mediterranean region and particularly in Greece and his services for the Division of Chemistry and Environment of the European Chemical Society. The 17th International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment (ICCE 2019) took place in the period 16-20 June 2019, in Thessaloniki, Greece. The ICCE has been organized since 1980 by the Division of Chemistry and the Environment (DCE) of the European Chemical Society (EuChemS) as a biennial conference. [Extracted from the article]

Natural and anthropogenic pressures in inland waters induce molecular response mechanisms in organisms as a defense against such multiple stressors. We studied, for the first time, the expression of the stress proteins, heat shock proteins (HSP) and mitogen-activated proteins kinase (MAPK), in a Daphnia magna natural population as a response to environmental changes in a heavily modified water body (Lake Koronia, Northern Greece). In parallel, the water physicochemical parameters, nutrients' concentration and phytoplankton abundance were measured. Our results showed fluctuations of the proteins' levels (HSP70, HSP90, phospho-p38 MAPK, phospho-p44/42 MAPK) providing evidence of their expression in situ. HSP70 showed an increasing tendency while for HSP90, no tendency was recorded. The MAPKs' members followed a reverse pattern compared to each other. The differential expression of HSP and MAPK members indicates that D. magna in Lake Koronia experienced stressors such as increasing temperature, salinity and increased nutrient concentrations, high pH values and variations in phytoplankton abundance that triggered their activation. These in situ findings suggest that HSP and MAPK expression patterns have the potential to be used as biomarkers of stress factors in D. magna, for effective biomonitoring and setting ecological restoration targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A commercial wood-based activated carbon and the oxidized counterpart were impregnated with iron. The two Fe-impregnated carbons were prepared and characterized for their iron content, textural characteristics, surface chemistry, and their performance for bisphenol A adsorption. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to study the effect of pH, ionic strength, kinetics, and thermodynamic equilibrium. Equilibrium adsorption data were described by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The iron impregnated activated carbon and the oxidized impregnated activated carbon presented maximum adsorption capacities of 785.65 and 469.78 mg/g, respectively, while adsorption followed second-order rate kinetics for both impregnated carbons. According to the thermodynamic parameters (ΔΗο, ΔSo, ΔGo), the adsorption is a spontaneous, exothermic, and physical process. Fenton-driven experiments conducted at different molar ratios of [H2O2]/[BPA] showed efficient degradation of BPA in spent Fe-impregnated carbons up to 82-95%, with traces of hydroxylated products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two classes of polar organic compounds, dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) and sugars/sugar anhydrides (S/SAs), were measured in airborne particulate matter in the area of Thessaloniki, northern Greece. The target compounds were measured simultaneously in two particle fractions PM10 and PM2.5 during cold and warm periods by employing extraction in an ultrasonic bath with a mixture of MeOH/DCM (1:2 v/v), derivatization with BSTFA-TMCS and GC-MS for analysis. At both fractions, phthalic was the predominant carboxylic acid during cold season and a-ketoglutaric acid in warm season, followed by maleic and malic. Levoglucosan was the dominant sugar anhydride during the cold and arabitol during the warm season. In total, the distribution of DCAs seemed to favor the PM2.5 particle fraction, probably due to anthropogenic emissions and photochemical formation. The relative contribution of DCAs to PM2.5 fraction was 0.9-3.2% in cold and 0.9-7.0% in warm period. Regarding S/SAs, levoglucosan was also predominantly distributed in fine particles, with relative contribution to this fraction 0.1-6.3% in cold and <0.65% in warm season, suggesting impact of biomass burning emissions. In contrast, arabitol, fructose, and glucose were mainly found in coarse fraction, possibly due to their biogenic origin. Negative correlation of target compounds with temperature and total solar radiation suggested the contribution of seasonal dependant local sources. Positive relationship with NO and NO2 oxidants and relative humidity showed secondary formation of polar compounds or enhanced gas-to-particle conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence and atmospheric behavior of tri- to deca-polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated during a 2-week campaign concurrently conducted in July 2012 at four background sites around the Aegean Sea. The study focused on the gas/particle (G/P) partitioning at three sites (Ag. Paraskevi/central Greece/suburban, Finokalia/southern Greece/remote coastal, and Urla/Turkey/rural coastal) and on the size distribution at two sites (Neochorouda/northern Greece/rural inland and Finokalia/southern Greece/remote coastal). The lowest mean total (G + P) concentrations of ∑PBDE (BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-66, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154) and BDE-209 (0.81 and 0.95 pg m, respectively) were found at the remote site Finokalia. Partitioning coefficients, K , were calculated, and their linear relationships with ambient temperature and the physicochemical properties of the analyzed PBDE congeners, i.e., the subcooled liquid pressure ( P °) and the octanol-air partition coefficient ( K ), were investigated. The equilibrium adsorption ( P °-based) and absorption ( K -based) models, as well as a steady-state absorption model including an equilibrium and a non-equilibrium term, both being functions of log K , were used to predict the fraction Φ of PBDEs associated with the particle phase. The steady-state model proved to be superior to predict G/P partitioning of BDE-209. The distribution of particle-bound PBDEs across size fractions < 0.95, 0.95-1.5, 1.5-3.0, 3.0-7.2, and > 7.2 μm indicated a positive correlation between the mass median aerodynamic diameter and log P ° for the less brominated congeners, whereas a negative correlation was observed for the high brominated congeners. The potential source regions of PBDEs were acknowledged as a combination of long-range transport with short-distance sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a complementary approach for the evaluation of water quality in a river basin by employing active and passive sampling. Persistent toxic pollutants representing three classes: organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were studied in grab water samples, in passive samplers/SemiPermeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) and in fish tissues collected along the Strymonas River, northern Greece at three sampling campaigns during the year 2013. Almost all the target compounds were detected in the study river of Strymonas, northern Greece at the periods of high rainfall intensity and/or low flow-rate. The most frequently detected compounds were 1,2-benzanthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, endosulfan I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate, endrin aldehyde, fluorene, methoxychlor, polychlorinated biphenyl PCB 28, PCB 180 and pyrene. The family of DDT compounds and aldrin were also occasionally detected. Agricultural run-off and waste effluents are the main sources of hydrophobic organic compounds in the river basin. The use of SPMDs allowed the detection of more micropollutants than active sampling (31 vs. 16, respectively). Results showed relatively low risk however the potential risk associated with micropollutants such as 1,2-benzanthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, p,p-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), endosulfan II, methoxychlor, PCB 180 and pyrene should not be neglected. Performing risk assessment based on passive sampling, more information was obtained about temporal and spatial variation. SPMDs could be applied as a pre-evaluation before chemical monitoring in biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three carbonaceous materials of different textural and surface properties were investigated as suitable adsorbents of bisphenol A (BPA), for comparison reasons, to examine the role of pore size distribution and surface acidity/basicity in bisphenol A adsorption. Typical adsorption isotherms, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies were carried out and the relative parameters as: initial pollutant concentration, solution pH, ionic strength, temperature, desorption, were calculated. Attention was particularly paid to the effect of the carbon structure, examined by BET analysis and surface chemistry examined by potentiometric titration and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, in order to elucidate the removal mechanism. Desorption tests of loaded samples followed, with water and organic solvents of varying polarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a complementary approach for the evaluation of water quality in a river basin by employing active and passive sampling. Thirty-eight hydrophilic organic compounds (HpOCs) (organohalogen herbicides, organophosphorous pesticides, carbamate, triazine, urea, pharmaceuticals, phenols, and industrial chemicals) were studied in grab water samples and in passive samplers POCIS collected along Strymonas River, Northern Greece, at three sampling campaigns during the year 2013. Almost all the target compounds were detected at the periods of high rainfall intensity and/or low flow rate. The most frequently detected compounds were aminocarb, carbaryl, chlorfenviphos, chloropropham, 2,4-D, diflubenzuron, diuron, isoproturon, metolachlor, and salicylic acid. Bisphenol A and nonylphenol were also occasionally detected. The use of POCIS allowed the detection of more micropollutants than active sampling. Low discrepancy between the concentrations obtained from both samplings was observed, at least for compounds with >50 % detection frequency; thus, POCIS could be a valuable tool for the selection and monitoring of the most relevant HpOCs in the river basin. Results showed relatively low risk from the presence of HpOCs; however, the potential risk associated with micropollutants such as carbaryl, dinoseb, diuron, fenthion, isoproturon, metolachlor, nonylphenol, and salicylic acid should not be neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirteen particle-phase PAHs, including nine >4-ring congeners [Benz[a]anthracene (BaAn), Chrysene (Chry), Benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), Benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF), Benzo[e]pyrene (BeP), Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), Dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (dBaAn), Benzo[g,h,i]perylene (BghiPe), Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene (IP)], listed by IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) as class 1, class 2A, and 2B carcinogens, plus four ≤4-ring congeners [Phenanthrene (Ph), Anthracene (An), Fluoranthene (Fl), Pyrene (Py)], were concurrently measured in inhalable and respirable particle fractions (PM and PM) at a heavy-traffic and an urban background site in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, during the warm and the cold period of the year. Carcinogenic and mutagenic potencies of the PAH-bearing particles were calculated, and the inhalation cancer risk (ICR) for local population was estimated. Finally, Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) modeling was employed for the source apportionment of ambient PAH levels and the estimated lung cancer risk. Resulted inhalation cancer risk during winter was found to be equivalent in the city center and the urban background area suggesting that residential wood burning may offset the benefits from minor traffic emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-ground air (26 substances) and surface seawater (55 substances) concentrations of persistent toxic substances (PTS) were determined in July 2012 in a coordinated and coherent way around the Aegean Sea based on passive air (10 sites in 5 areas) and water (4 sites in 2 areas) sampling. The direction of air-sea exchange was determined for 18 PTS. Identical samplers were deployed at all sites and were analysed at one laboratory. hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) as well as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its degradation products are evenly distributed in the air of the whole region. Air concentrations of p, p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene ( p, p′-DDE) and o, p′-DDT and seawater concentrations of p, p′-DDE and p, p′-DDD were elevated in Thermaikos Gulf, northwestern Aegean Sea. The polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener pattern in air is identical throughout the region, while polybrominated diphenylether (PBDE)patterns are obviously dissimilar between Greece and Turkey. Various pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PCBs, DDE, and penta- and hexachlorobenzene are found close to phase equilibrium or net-volatilisational (upward flux), similarly at a remote site (on Crete) and in the more polluted Thermaikos Gulf. The results suggest that effective passive air sampling volumes may not be representative across sites when PAHs significantly partitioning to the particulate phase are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-residue method, based on gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), has been developed for the determination of 70 organic micropollutants from various chemical classes (organochlorinated, organophosphorous, triazines, carbamate and urea, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, pharmaceuticals, phenols, etc.) in surface waters. A single-step SPE extraction using OASIS HLB cartridges was employed for the recovery of target micropollutants. The method has been validated according to monitoring performance criteria of the Water Framework Directive, taking into account the approved guidelines on quality assurance and quality control. The recoveries ranged from 60 to 110 %, the coefficient of variation from 0.84 to 27.4 %, and the uncertainty from 6 to 37 %. The LOD varied from 6.0 to 40 ng/L. The limits of quantification for the priority pollutants anthracene, alachlor, atrazine, benzo( a)pyrene, chlorfenvinphos, diuron, isoproturon, nonylphenol, simazine, and terbutryn fulfill the criterion of <30 % of the relevant environmental standards. The method was employed to investigate the water quality in the basin of a transboundary river, Strymonas, in NE Greece during three sampling campaigns conducted in the year 2013. Thirty-nine compounds were detected in the river water. Metolachlor, diuron, isoproturon, salicylic acid, chlorfenvinphos, 1,2-benzanthracene, pyrene, diflubenzuron, and carbaryl exhibited the highest detection frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations and chemical composition of the coarse particle fraction (PM) were investigated at two urban sites in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, through concurrent sampling of PM and PM during the warm and the cold months of the year. PM levels at the urban-traffic site (UT) were among the highest found in literature worldwide exhibiting higher values in the cold period. PM levels at the urban-background site (UB) were significantly lower exhibiting a reverse seasonal trend. Concentration levels of minerals and most trace metals were also higher at the UT site suggesting a stronger impact from traffic-related sources (road dust resuspension, brake and tire abrasion, road wear). According to the chemical mass closure obtained, minerals (oxides of Si, Al, Ca, Mg, Fe, Ti, and K) dominated the PM profile, regardless of the site and the period, with organic matter and secondary inorganic aerosols (mainly nitrate) also contributing considerably to the PM mass, particularly in the warm period. The influence of wind speed to dilution and/or resuspension of coarse particles was investigated. The source of origin of coarse particles was also investigated using surface wind data and atmospheric back-trajectory modeling. Finally, the contribution of resuspension to PM levels was estimated for air quality management perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations, associated to PM and PM particle fractions, were concurrently determined during the warm and the cold months of the year (July-September 2011 and February-April 2012, respectively) at two urban sites in the city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, an urban-traffic site (UT) and an urban-background site (UB). Concentrations at the UT site (11.3 ± 5.0 and 8.44 ± 4.08 14 μg m for OC and OC vs. 6.56 ± 2.14 and 5.29 ± 1.54 μg m for EC and EC) were among the highest values reported for urban sites in European cities. Significantly lower concentrations were found at the UB site for both carbonaceous species, particularly for EC (6.62 ± 4.59 and 5.72 ± 4.36 μg m for OC and OC vs. 0.93 ± 0.61 and 0.69 ± 0.39 μg m for EC and EC). Despite that, a negative UT-UB increment was frequently evidenced for OC and PM in the cold months possibly indicative of emissions from residential wood burning at the urban-background site. At both sites, cconcentrations of OC fractions were significantly higher in the cold months; on the contrary, EC fractions at the UT site were prominent in the warm season suggesting some influence from maritime emissions in the nearby harbor area. Secondary organic carbon, being estimated using the EC tracer method and seasonally minimum OC/EC ratios, was found to be an appreciable component of particle mass particularly in the cold season. The calculated secondary contributions to OC ranged between 35 and 59 % in the PM fraction, with relatively higher values in the PM fraction (39-61 %). The source origin of carbonaceous species was investigated by means of air parcel back trajectories, satellite fire maps, and concentration roses. A local origin was mainly concluded for OC and EC with limited possibility for long range transport of biomass (agricultural waste) burning aerosol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which explores the distribution of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in Thermaikos Gulf in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. It examines the relationship between the EDC partition coefficients and concentration of organic carbon particulates. Moreover, high concentrations of EDCs were determined in urban streams, and industrial wastewater which pose risk to the aquatic environment.

The article reports on a study regarding the determination of phenolic and steroid endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in environmental matrices. It aims to develop analytical methods for determining phenolic and steroid EDCs in aquatic and solid samples. It uses the solid phase extraction, ultrasonic assisted extraction and elution solvents like methanol, acetone and ethylacetate in recovering target compounds namely 4-nonylphenol, 4-octylphenol, ethoxylate oligomers, bisphenol A, estrogens, and synthetic steroids. It also shows that acetone had better extraction recoveries when compared to other extraction solvents.

The article presents a study on the occurrence of organic micropollutants and emerging contaminants in Glatt River in Switzerland, as well as in the municipal wastewater effluents in the country. The study focuses on such complexing agents as nonylphenol, octylphenol, bisphenol A and benzotriazole, since these are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment. The contaminants and intermediate products were quantitatively determined by various methods in analyzing the data. Based on the results, it has been concluded that concentrations and mass flows in wastewater effluents and in Glatt River always followed the same sequence of abundance.

Shallow lakes display a number of features that set them apart from the more frequently studied deeper systems. The majority of lakes in Northern Greece are small to moderate in size with a relatively low depth and are considered as sites of high value of the wetland habitat. However, the water quality of these lakes has only been evaluated segmentally and occasionally. The objectives of this study were to thoroughly investigate nitrogen and phosphorus speciation in lakes of a high ecological significance located in N. Greece, in order to evaluate their eutrophication status and possible nutrient limitation factors, and to investigate the main factors/sources that affect the water quality of these systems. An extensive survey was carried out during the period from 1998–1999. Water samples were collected on a monthly basis from lakes Koronia, Volvi, Doirani, Mikri Prespa and Megali Prespa located in N. Greece. Water quality parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity), organic indices (COD, BOD5), and N- and P-species (NO3 -, NO2 -, NH4 + and PO4 3-, Kjeldahl nitrogen and acid-hydrolysable phosphorus) were determined according to standard methods for surface water. Statistical treatment of the data was employed. The physicochemical parameters determined in the lakes studied revealed a high temporal variation. The trophic state of the lakes ranged from meso- to hypertrophic. The nutrient limiting factor varied among lakes suggesting either P-limitation conditions or mixed conditions changing from P- to N-limitation throughout the year. Urban/ industrial activities and agricultural runoff are the major factors affecting all lakes, although with a varying contribution. This lake-specific research offers valuable information about water quality and nutrient dynamics in lakes of significant ecological value located in N. Greece that can be useful for an effective pollution control/management of these systems. Due to the large intra-annual variability of certain physicochemical parameters, a properly designed monitoring program of lake water is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the occurrence of disinfection by-products (DBPs) (trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs), halonitriles (HANs), halonitromethane (TCNM) and haloketones (HKs)) in different type of swimming pools in the area of Thessaloniki, northern Greece by employing the EPA methods 551.1 and 552.3. Moreover, general water quality parameters (pH, residual chlorine, dissolved organic carbon, UV254 absorption, total nitrogen, alkalinity and conductivity) were also measured. The concentrations of DBPs showed great variability among swimming pools as well as within the same pool between sampling campaigns. HAAs exhibited the highest concentrations followed by THMs, HANs, TCNM and HKs. Exposure doses for four age groups (3–<6 y, 6–<11 y, 11–<16 y and adults) were calculated. Route-specific exposures varied among DBPs groups. Inhalation was the dominant exposure route to THMs and TCNM (up to 92–95%). Ingestion and dermal absorption were the main exposure routes to HAAs (40–82% and 18–59%, respectively), depending on the age of swimmers. HANs contributed up to 75% to the calculated cytotoxicity of pool water. Hazard indices for different exposure routes were <1, suggesting non-carcinogenic risk. Inhalation posed the higher carcinogenic risk for THMs, whereas risk via oral and dermal routes was low. Ingestion and dermal contact posed the higher risk for HAAs. Risk management strategies that minimise DBPs exposure without compromising disinfection efficiency in swimming pools are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative automatic purge-and-trap (P&T) system coupled with fluorimetric sequential injection (SI), for the on-line separation and preconcentration of volatile compounds, is presented. The truth of concept is demonstrated for the ammonium fluorimetric determination in environmental water samples with complex matrices without any pretreatment. The P&T flow system comprises a thermostated purge-vessel where ammonium is converted into gaseous ammonia and a trap-vessel for ammonia collection. This configuration results in matrix removal as well as analyte preconcentration, avoiding membrane-associated problems. All the main parameters affecting the efficiency of a P&T system were studied and optimized. The proposed method is characterized by a working range of 2.7–150.0 μg L−1 of NH4+, with a detection and quantification limit of 0.80 and 2.66 μg L−1, respectively, for a 10-mL sample consumption. The accuracy of the method was assessed by recovery assays in seawater, estuarine, and lake water samples as well as by the analysis of standard reference material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents introduction which discusses the scientific topics for sustainable environmental chemistry and technology and particulate matter in coastal urban area of Thessaloniki,Greece and removal of heavy metals.