TOXICITY OF CHLORINATED BENZENES TO MARINE ALGAE

Growth of Chlorella marine, Nannochloropsis oculata, Pyramidomonas sp, Platymonas subcordiformis and Phaeodactylum tricornutum exposed to monochlorobezene (MCB), 1, 2-dichlorobenzene (1, 2-DCB), 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrachlorobenzene (1, 2, 3, 4-TeCB) and pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) was tested. Tests of 72 h-EC50 values showed that the toxicity ranged in the order: MCB<1,2-DCB<1,2,3,4-TeCB<PeCB,and that toxjcity of chlorinated benzene (CB) alone to marine algae was almost in the order: Pyramidomonas sp.< Platymonas subcordiformis<Nannochloropsis oculata < Chlorella marine< Phaeodactylum tricomutum. Study of the QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship) between Kow and toxicity of CBs to marine algae showed good relationships between-logEC50 and logKow.

A Model Describing the Time Course and Variability in Toxicity of Hydrophobic Chemicals to Aquatic Organisms-Toxicity of chlorinated benzenes to marine algae

The growth of Chlorella marine, Nannochloris oculate, Pyramimonaos sp., Platymonas subcordiformis and Phaeodactylum tricornutum exposed to chlorobenzene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene and pentach-lorobenzene was tested. The Boltzman equation was used to describe organism growth. The time course for uptake of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) by aquatic organisms was expressed by incorporating growth and, if desired, the effect of metabolism into the HOC bioconcentration process. The probability of any given concentration of HOCs in the organisms causing a specified toxic endpoint was expressed with a modified Weibull distribution function. The combined bioconcentration and probability equations were tested with data for time course of incubation of algae exposed to chlorinated benzenes (CBs). A set of parameters, including the uptake rate constant k 1, the elimination rate constant k 2 and thereafter the bioconcentration factor on a dry weight basis, BCF D, the critical HOC concentration in the organism resulting in a specified toxic endpoint, C* A, and the spread factor, S, could be obtained by fitting only experimental data for percent growth inhibition(%)-time-CB exposure concentration. The average coefficients of variation within CBs were 15.2% for BCF D, 21.0% for k 1, 18.3% for k 2, 8.1% for C* A and 9.7% for S. The variability in toxicity (such as EC 10, EC 50, EC 90) derived from the model equations agreed well with those experimentally observed.

Kinetics and mechanisms of reactions for hydrated electron with chlorinated benzenes in aqueous solution

The reactions between chlorinated benzenes （CBzs） and hydrated electron （eaq^-） were investigated by the electron beam （EB） and laser flash photolysis （LFP） experiments. Under the EB irradiation, the effects of irradiation dose, initial concentration and the number of Cl atoms on the removal efficiencies were further examined. At 10 kGy, the removal efficiencies of mono-CB, 1,3-diCB, 1,2-diCB and 1,4-diCB were 41.2%, 87.2%, 84.0%, and 84.1%, respectively. While irradiation dose was 50 kGy, the removal efficiencies increased to 47.4%, 95.8%, 95.0%, and 95.2%, respectively. Irradiation of CBzs solutions has shown that the higher the initial concentration, the lower the percentage of CBzs removal. In addition to this, the dechlorination efficiencies of 1,2-dichlorobenzene （1,2-diCB）, 1,3-dichlorobenzene （1,3-diCB） and 1,4-dichlorobenzene （1,4-diCB） were much higher than that of chlorobenzene （mono-CB）. The kinetics of the reactions was achieved with nanosecond LFP. The rate constants of second-order reaction between eaq^- with mono-CB, 1,2-diCB, 1,3-diCB and 1,4-diCB were （5.3±0.4） × 10^8, （4.76±0.1） × 10^9, （1.01±0.1） × 1010 and （3.29±0.2） × 10^9 L·mol^-1·s^-1, respectively. Density functional theory （DFT） calculations were performed to determine the optical properties of unstable CBzs anion radicals, and the main absorption peaks lied in the range of 300–550 nm. The primary reaction pathway of CBzs with eaq^- was gradual dechlorination, and the major products were Cl^- and benzene （CBzs（-Cl^-））. Furthermore, biphenyl （or chlorobiphenyl） was observed during the LFP, which was probably formed by recombination of benzene radicals.

Fate Processes of Chlorobenzenes in Soil and Potential Remediation Strategies: A Review

Chlorobenzenes （CBs） are a group of organic pollutants that pose a high environmental risk due to their toxicity, persistence and possible transfer in the food chain. Available data in literature show that CBs axe detected in different environmental compartments such as soil, water, air and sediment. The widespread presence of CBs in the environment is related to their former extensive use in agriculture and industry. Some CBs are ranked in the list of priority pollutants by the Stockholm Convention, and their reduction or elimination from the environment is therefore of high importance. Environmental risk assessment of CBs requires knowledge on the role and importance of the main environmental fate processes, especially in soil. Furthermore, development of remediation strategies for reduction or elimination of CBs from the environment is related to the enhancement of fate processes that increase their dissipation in various environmental compartments. The main objectives of the current review were to present up-to-date data on fate processes of CBs in the soil environment and to explore possible remediation strategies for soils contaminated with CBs. Dechlorination of highly-chlorinated benzenes is the main degradation pathway under anaerobic conditions, leading to the formation of lower-chlorinated benzenes. Biodegradation of lower-chlorinated benzenes is well documented, especially by strains of adapted or specialized microorganisms. Development of techniques that combine dechlorination of highly-chlorinated benzehes with biodegradation or biomineralization of lower-chlorinated benzenes can result in useful tools for remediation of soils contaminated with CBs. In addition, immobilization of CBs in soil by use of different amendments is a useful method for reducing the environmental risk of CBs.