Electrochemical oxidation of landfill leachate using boron-doped diamond anodes: pollution degradation rate, energy efficiency and toxicity assessment.

Electrochemical oxidation (EO), due to high efficiency and small carbon footprint, is regarded as an attractive option for on-site treatment of highly contaminated wastewater. This work shows the effectiveness of EO using three boron-doped diamond electrodes (BDDs) in sustainable management of landfill leachate (LL). The effect of the applied current density (25-100 mA cm-2) and boron doping concentration (B/C ratio: 500 ppm, 10,000 ppm and 15,000 ppm) on the performance of EO was investigated. It was found that, of the electrodes used, the one most effective at COD, BOD20 and ammonia removal (97.1%, 98.8% and 62%, respectively) was the electrode with the lowest boron doping. Then, to better elucidate the ecological role of LLs, before and after EO, cultivation of faecal bacteria and microscopic analysis of total (prokaryotic) cell number, together with ecotoxicity assay (Daphnia magna, Thamnocephalus platyurus and Artemia salina) were combined for the two better-performing electrodes. The EO process was very effective at bacterial cell inactivation using each of the two anodes, even within 2 h of contact time. In a complex matrix of LLs, this is probably a combined effect of electrogenerated oxidants (hydroxyl radicals, active chlorine and sulphate radicals), which may penetrate into the bacterial cells and/or react with cellular components. The toxicity of EO-treated LLs proved to be lower than that of raw ones. Since toxicity drops with increased boron doping, it is believed that appropriate electrolysis parameters can diminish the toxicity effect without compromising the nutrient-removal and disinfection capability, although salinity of LLs and related multistep-oxidation pathways needs to be further elucidated.

Kinetics of the Organic Compounds and Ammonium Nitrogen Electrochemical Oxidation in Landfill Leachates at Boron-Doped Diamond Anodes.

Electrochemical oxidation (EO) of organic compounds and ammonium in the complex matrix of landfill leachates (LLs) was investigated using three different boron-doped diamond electrodes produced on silicon substrate (BDD/Si)(levels of boron doping [B]/[C] = 500, 10,000, and 15,000 ppm-0.5 k; 10 k, and 15 k, respectively) during 8-h tests. The LLs were collected from an old landfill in the Pomerania region (Northern Poland) and were characterized by a high concentration of N-NH4+ (2069 ± 103 mg·L-1), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (3608 ± 123 mg·L-1), high salinity (2690 ± 70 mg Cl-·L-1, 1353 ± 70 mg SO42-·L-1), and poor biodegradability. The experiments revealed that electrochemical oxidation of LLs using BDD 0.5 k and current density (j) = 100 mA·cm-2 was the most effective amongst those tested (C8h/C0: COD = 0.09 ± 0.14 mg·L-1, N-NH4+ = 0.39 ± 0.05 mg·L-1). COD removal fits the model of pseudo-first-order reactions and N-NH4+ removal in most cases follows second-order kinetics. The double increase in biodegradability index-to 0.22 ± 0.05 (BDD 0.5 k, j = 50 mA·cm-2) shows the potential application of EO prior biological treatment. Despite EO still being an energy consuming process, optimum conditions (COD removal > 70%) might be achieved after 4 h of treatment with an energy consumption of 200 kW·m-3 (BDD 0.5 k, j = 100 mA·cm-2).

Electrochemical oxidation of PFOA and PFOS in landfill leachates at low and highly boron-doped diamond electrodes.

Polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) may reach landfill leachates (LLs) due to improper waste management. In this study perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) were used as representatives of PFASs in the decomposition on boron-doped diamond electrodes (BDDs) with high (10k ppm) and low (0.5k ppm) boron doping concentrations. The result shows that although better COD removal efficacies are obtained on the low-doped BDD (59 % after 8 h), the decomposition rate of PFOA and PFOS was not affected by boron doping. In LLs, at the current density of 75 mA/cm2, averaged removal efficiencies of 80 % and 78 % were achieved for PFOA and PFOS, respectively. But besides concentration of mother compounds, the presence of intermediates during electrolysis should be monitored. After 8 h of LL electrolysis, the presence of long-chain degradates C6F13 and C6F13COO- was still observed only in 10k BDD-PFOA assays, while during 0.5k assays C6F13 and C6F13COO- form more intesively at the beginning of the process. This indirectly confirms the more intensive generation of perfluoroalkoxy and hydroxyl radicals and higher susceptibility to electrolysis of PFOA's long-chain intermediates on 0.5k BDD. This is the first study reporting BDD-electrolysis as promising in PFAS removal from the complex matrix of LLs, despite the oxidation of competing LLs components.

Milky Sap of Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus L.) and Anti-Viral Properties.

The milky juice of the greater celandine herb has been used in folk medicine and in homeopathy for treatment of viral warts for years. However, classical medicine fails to use properties of celandine herbs in treatment of diseases induced by papilloma viruses. Nevertheless, dermatological outpatient clinics are regularly visited by patients reporting efficacy of milky sap isolated from celandine herb in treatment of their own viral warts. Authors of this report decided to analyze the respective world literature in order to critically evaluate the potential for treatment of viral dermal warts using the milky sap of celandine. Moreover, the case of a 4-year old boy was presented, the parents of whom applied the milky sap of celandine on viral warts on hands. Thus, Ch. majus may be a potential therapeutic modality for skin warts, especially in a young patients, where conventional therapy may be difficult to apply.

Physical Fitness as Part of the Health and Well-Being of Students Participating in Physical Education Lessons Indoors and Outdoors.

The analysis of existing information on physical activity and fitness as elements of health and well-being reveals that they are achieved particularly effectively in contact with nature. Physical education lessons outdoors, as a form of healthy training, have been performed in numerous countries for years, providing a response to the traditional indoor model of this kind of education. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between the participation of students in outdoor and indoor lesson activities and the change in their physical fitness. 220 students participated in an experimental study. The experimental group, which did exercise usually in open spaces, included 49 boys and 54 girls. The control group, which exercised inside school, consisted of 63 boys and 54 girls. The study period lasted two years and involved the fifth and sixth form of primary school. Experimental group subjects were 11.26 years old (±0.32) during the initial test, and the control group individuals were 11.28 years (±0.32). During the final test, the average ages of experimental group subjects was 12.96 years (±0.32), and 12.98 years (±0.32) in the control group. The International Physical Activity Test was applied in the study. The differences between the levels of particular components of physical fitness were not statistically significant during the initial measurement (p-values ranged from p = 0.340 to p = 0.884). After two years of outdoor physical education lessons, there was revealed a considerable increase in the speed, jumping ability, and aerobic endurance of the students. Statistically significant differences were observed in these three tests, including running speed (p = 0.001), legs power (p = 0.001), and endurance (p = 0.000). The findings encourage one to continue pedagogical experiments regarding physical activity in outdoor natural environments.

Landfill leachates and wastewater of maritime origin as possible sources of endocrine disruptors in municipal wastewater.

In this study, wastewater from municipal services, such as a port wastewater reception facility (PRF-WW) and a municipal solid waste plant (MSWP), was tested for the presence of the suspected endocrine-disrupting compounds phthalates (PAEs) and bisphenol A (BPA). PAEs and BPA were found in this study in high concentrations in raw wastewater obtained from passenger ships (RMT-WWs) (up to 738 µg/L and 957 µg/L, respectively) collected in the Port of Gdynia and in landfill leachates (LLs) (up to 536 µg/L and up to 2202 µg/L, respectively) from a MSWP located near Gdynia. In particular, the presence of reprotoxic di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, up to 536 µg/L in LLs and up to 738 µg/L in RMT-WWs) requires further action because if this compound, as well as other PAEs and BPA, is not degraded by activated sludge microorganisms, it may reach receiving waters and adversely impact aquatic organisms. Therefore, PAEs and BPA should be removed either during the onsite pretreatment of tested industrial wastewater or during tertiary treatment at municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs, representing end-of-pipe technology). Graphical abstract.

Nonactivated Protein C in the Treatment of Neonatal Sepsis: A Retrospective Analysis of Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Previously, we found that plasma protein C (PC) activity ≤10% significantly increased the probability of the occurrence of death during neonatal sepsis. Accordingly, if the activity of plasma PC declined during the course of sepsis to ≤10%, we administered a nonactivated PC zymogen to increase a PC activity. The aim of that retrospective analysis was to explore treatment effects of PC zymogen supplementation in septic infants, with plasma PC activity ≤10%. METHODS: A database was used to locate 85 newborns treated with PC from among 458 analyzed infants with confirmed sepsis. RESULTS: The median birth weight and gestational age of treated infants were, respectively, 1010.0 g and 29 weeks. In 47 infants, early-onset sepsis developed, whereas in 38 neonates, late-onset sepsis was recognized. PC was given as a single dose of 200 IU/kg. Among 458 septic patients, death occurred in 19 newborns (4.2%), exclusively in infants with plasma PC activity ≤10%. In 15 infants, death occurred in the course of early-onset sepsis and 4 newborns died of late-onset sepsis (early-onset sepsis vs. late-onset sepsis; P = 0.036; χ with the Yates correction). CONCLUSIONS: An increased risk of death in septic neonates with plasma PC activity ≤10% suggests the necessity for its evaluation and possibility of supplementation of PC zymogen.

[Students' opinions of the Academy of Physical Education and Sports from Gdansk about their preparation for pro-health education program at school]. / Opinie studentów akademii wychowania fizycznego i sportu w Gdansku o swoim przygotowaniu do realizacji programu edukacji prozdrowotnej w szkole.

The object of the study was to collect opinions on preparations for prohealth education program at school presented by students from Gdansk. A diagnostic survey based on an anonymous questionnaire was applied. The study was carried out in students majoring in motor recreation, coaching and biological regeneration in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 academic years. 234 respondents were qualified for the study. Almost half of the students declare their dissatisfaction with preparations for being promoters and coordinators of prohealth programs at school.