Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-05-02T20:17:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 mellinadamascenorachidsantos.pdf: 2314329 bytes, checksum: 84236616a29c59d7c0ef8f95761956a0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-05-13T13:13:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 mellinadamascenorachidsantos.pdf: 2314329 bytes, checksum: 84236616a29c59d7c0ef8f95761956a0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-13T13:13:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 mellinadamascenorachidsantos.pdf: 2314329 bytes, checksum: 84236616a29c59d7c0ef8f95761956a0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-30 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O sedimento possui uma grande importância ambiental devido a sua capacidade de adsorver e acumular substâncias tais como hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs) e metais, os quais podem ser redissolvidos para a coluna d’água ou absorvidos pela biota. No presente trabalho determinou-se os níveis de concentração de HPAs e dos metais Cu, Cd, Pb e Zn em sedimentos superficiais do rio Paraibuna, em Juiz de Fora (MG). Foi proposta uma metodologia para determinação de HPAs em sedimentos de rio aplicando extração assistida por ultrassom e quantificação por GC/MS. Para otimizar o processo de extração de HPAs foram delineados experimentos através do planejamento Box-Behnken 33 com triplicata no ponto central, cujas variáveis estudadas foram proporção de n-hexano (n-HEX) e diclorometano (DCM) na mistura de solventes, volume desta mistura e tempo de sonicação. A condição ótima de extração selecionada através da metodologia de superfície de resposta consistiu em três etapas de sonicação de 15 minutos utilizando 10 mL de mistura de solventes composta por n-HEX/DCM (55:45). Esta condição foi avaliada pela percentagem de recuperação obtida através da extração do branco e amostra fortificados utilizando como mistura de solvente n-HEX/DCM (55:45) e n-HEX/acetona (55:45). Esta última foi selecionada por apresentar menor desvio padrão relativo e maior eficiência no processo de extração. Os valores de limites de detecção e quantificação variaram de 0,005 a 0,015 mg L-1 e de 0,016 a 0,050 mg L-1, respectivamente. Assim, a metodologia de extração e quantificação de HPAs desenvolvida foi aplicada em amostras de sedimento do rio Paraibuna, Juiz de Fora. As concentrações de HPAs totais variaram de 10,40 a 246,36 ng g-1 de peso seco, e as concentrações de HPAs prioritários variaram de 7,34 a 187,56 ng g-1 de peso seco. As relações Flu/Flu+Pir e InP/InP+BghiP indicaram uma introdução de origem pirolítica, seja por queima de combustível fóssil ou de biomassa. Para a determinação dos metais, as amostras de sedimento foram tratadas conforme o método de extração 3050B descrito pela EPA e analisadas por F AAS. As faixas de concentração encontradas foram de 4,95 a 40,20 µg g-1 peso seco para o Cu, de 1,84 a 4,99 µg g-1 peso seco para o Cd, de 4,41 a 40,04 µg g-1 peso seco para o Pb, e de 39,35 a 344,27 µg g-1 peso seco para o Zn. Algumas amostras de sedimento do rio Paraibuna apresentaram concentrações de Zn e Cd acima dos valores estabelecidos pela Agência Canadense de Proteção Ambiental com prováveis efeitos adversos à biota (PEL). / Sediments have a great environmental importance due to their ability to adsorb and accumulate substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals, which can be later redissolved to the water column or absorbed by the biota. In the present study, concentration levels of PAH and Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn metals were determined at surface sediments of the Paraibuna river, Juiz de Fora (MG). A method for the determination of PAHs at river sediments applying an ultrasound assisted extraction followed by GC/MS quantification, was proposed. Box Behnken 33 planning, with triplicates at the central point, was delineated in order to optimize the extraction process of PAHs, in which the proportion of n-hexane (n-HEX) and dichloromethane (DCM) at the solvents mixture, this mixture volume and sonication time were chosen as variables. The optimum extraction conditions, selected through a response surface methodology study, consisted in a three steps sonication for 15 minutes using a 10 mL solvent mixture, composed by n-HEX/DCM (55:45). This condition was evaluated by means of the recovery percentage obtained for the extraction of a spiked blank and sample using as solvent mixture n-HEX/DCM (55:45) and n-HEX/acetone (55:45). The n-HEX/acetone (55:45) mixture was chosen since it presented a lower relative standard deviation and a greater efficiency at the extraction process.Detection and quantitation limits values ranged from 0.005 mg L-1 to 0.015 mg L-1 and from 0.016 to 0.050 mg L-1, respectively.Thus, the extraction and quantification methodologies were then applied for PAHs at Paraibuna’s river sediment samples. The total PAH concentrations ranged from 10.40 to 246.36 ng g-1 of dry weight, and priority PAH concentrations ranged from 7.34 to 187.56 ng g-1 of dry weight. Flu/ Flu+Pyr and InP/InP+BghiP relationship indicated an introduction by pyrolytic origin, either by combustion of fossil fuel or biomass. For metals determination, sediment samples were treated by the 3050B extraction methodology, described by EPA, and then analyzed by F AAS. Concentration ranges between 4.95 to 40.20 µg g-1 of dry weight for Cu, 1.84 to 4.99 µg g-1 of dry weight for Cd, 4.41 to 40.04 µg g-1 of dry weight for Pb and 39.35 to 344.27 µg g-1 of dry weight for Zn, were obtained. Some Paraibuna river sediment samples showed Zn and Cd concentrations above the established values by the Canadian Environmental Protection Agency, with some probable adverse effects to the biota (PEL).

Les hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP) sont des polluants organiques largement répandus dans l’environnement. Ils sont très fréquemment détectés dans les sols et sont principalement le produit d’une combustion incomplète de la matière organique. Etant toxiques et cancérigènes, de nombreuses études portant sur leur élimination des sols ont été massivement effectuées au cours des dernières années. Parmi tous les traitements disponibles pour traiter des sols contaminés par les HAP, les approches biologiques sont prometteuses car elles ont un impact limité, voire nul sur l’environnement. Cependant, leur efficacité est étroitement dépendante de nombreux facteurs difficiles à contrôler. L’objectif de cette thèse a été d’obtenir une connaissance plus précise concernant la dépollution biologique de sols contaminés par des HAP, en définissant à travers une série d‘expériences, les conditions les plus appropriées pour leur élimination principalement en termes de caractéristiques physiques et chimiques du sol, de la structure des HAP et leurs concentrations, la densité et la composition microbienne, le pH et l’humidité du sol et la disponibilité des nutriments. Les expériences réalisées dans cette thèse, sont basées sur le compostage de déchets organiques avec des sols contaminés par des HAP. L’ajout de matière organique vise à promouvoir la dégradation biologique simultanée des HAP et des déchets organiques frais en conditions contrôlées. Les résultats attendus de cette approche sont la dégradation des polluants en composés moins nocifs, en raison de la stimulation de l’activité des micro-organismes présents dans le sol ainsi que dans les déchets organiques apportés. Dans le but de comprendre l’influence des facteurs précédemment mentionnés, les expériences ont été menées sur un sol synthétique, artificiellement contaminé, ainsi que sur un sol contaminé provenant d’un site industriel identifié comme pollué par des HAP. Quatre types de déchets organiques frais ont été sélectionnés pour être ajoutés au sol artificiellement contaminé par des HAP. Les résultats ont montré que les boues activées étaient l’amendement organique le plus efficace par rapport au fumier de bufflonnes, aux déchets de cuisine et aux déchets organiques à base de légumes. Un taux d’élimination des HAP totaux supérieur à 60% a été atteint avec les boues activées. En outre, cette série d’expériences a prouvé que les conditions mésophiles étaient plus favorables que les conditions thermophiles, mais également que la teneur en azote, l’importance de la fraction soluble et les teneurs en protéines sont très importantes pour l’élimination des HAP. Sur la base de ces résultats, une série d’expériences a été menée sur un sol historiquement contaminé en apportant des quantités différentes de boues activées (ratio massique sol contaminé : boues activées variant de 1:2, 1:1 , 1:0,5 à 1:0). Contrairement aux résultats obtenus avec le sol artificiel, pour un sol naturellement contaminé, les amendements à base de boues activées n’ont pas stimulé l’élimination de HAP. Les meilleurs résultats ont été obtenu pour le sol non amendé par les boues activées (un rendement d’élimination des HAP totaux de 32% a été atteint en l’absence de boues activées, tandis qu'en présence d’un amendement à base de boues activées les meilleurs résultats ne dépassent pas 14% d’élimination des HAP totaux), cela prouve que la stimulation de micro-organismes pouvant dégrader les HAP est un facteur clé pour le succès du processus de dépollution biologique dans des conditions environnementales favorables / Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic pollutants widely distributed in the environment and very frequently detected in soils as they are mainly produced from an incomplete combustion of organic matter at high temperature. They are toxic and even carcinogenic, therefore their removal from soils has been massively studied in the past years. Among all treatments suitable for treating soils contaminated by PAHs, biological ones are promising and challenging as they have a low or even no impact on the environment as well as their efficiency is tightly dependent on many factors not easy to control. The objective of this thesis has been to get more accurate knowledge on bioremediation of PAHs contaminated soils, by defining, through a series of experiments, the most suitable conditions for their biological remediation mainly in terms of physical and chemical soil characteristics, PAHs type and concentration, microbial density and composition, pH value, moisture content and availability of nutrients. The bioremediation experiments carried out in this thesis are based on landfarming as well as composting soil treatments and aimed at promoting the simultaneous biodegradation of PAHs and fresh organic wastes under controlled conditions. The expected result of this approach has been the conversion of organic pollutants into less harmful compounds, due to the activity of the microorganisms present in soil as well as in the organic waste added to soil. With the aim of deeply understanding the influence of the aforementioned factors on the bioremediation of PAHs contaminated soil, experiments were conducted on a synthetic soil, artificially contaminated, as well as on a real contaminated soil. In details, four different types of fresh organic waste were selected to be added to PAHs artificially contaminated synthetic soil and the results showed that centrifuged activated sewage sludge (SS) was the most effective organic amendment compared to buffalo manure (BM), food and kitchen waste (FKW) and fruit and vegetable waste (FVW). The removal efficiency of total PAHs reached with SS was actually a little higher than 60%. Furthermore, this set of experiments proved that mesophilic conditions were more performing than thermophilic conditions, as well as the content of nitrogen, soluble fraction and proteins played an important role in the PAHs removal. Based on the previous results, the next set of experiments was conducted on a real contaminated soil amended with different amounts of centrifuged activated SS (e.g. contaminated soil to SS mass ratios were 1:2, 1:1, 1:0.5 and 1:0 as wet weight basis). In contrast to results obtained with synthetic soil, in a real contaminated soil, SS amendment resulted in being not beneficial to PAHs removal. The best results were actually achieved where no SS was added (total PAHs removal efficiency of 32%, whereas with SS the best results showed a value of 14%), proving that the adaptation of microorganisms to PAHs is the key factor for the success of the bioremediation process coupled with setting favorable environmental conditions

In this thesis, I report the gas phase infrared spectra of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) namely 1, 5-, 1, 6-, and 2, 6-dimethyl naphthalenes (DMNs); 2, 4-, 2, 6-, 2, 7-, and 2,8-dimethyl quinolines (DMQs); and 1, 9-, 2, 4-, and 3, 9-dimethyl phenanthrenes (DMPs) and diols such as 1, 2-ethylene glycol (1,2-EG) and 1, 4-butanediol (1,4-BD). Assignment of the IR spectra has been done with the help of DFT calculations followed by scaled quantum mechanical force field calculations. Chapter 1 gives a brief introduction to PAHs and diols. A brief survey of literature pertinent to their sources, their importance, experimental techniques for identification of PAHs and different conformers of diols and intramolecular interactions between the two hydroxyl groups in the diols are presented. The scope and motivation of the present investigation have been described at the end of the chapter. In Chapter 2, I have discussed all the methods used in carrying out this work. The details of the experimental FT IR set-up and quantum-chemical calculations employed in this work have been elaborated in this chapter. The subsequent chapters 3 - 5 deal with the experimental and theoretical results obtained for DMNs, DMQs, and DMPs. In chapter 3, infrared spectra of 1,5-, 1,6-, and 2,6-DMN have been described. The spectra have been recorded using a multi-pass gas cell coupled with Nexus-870 spectrometer (Thermonicolet, US). Qualitatively, spectral assignments have been made with the help of calculated doubly scaled (one scaling factor for the C-H stretching and another factor for the non C-H stretching frequencies) harmonic frequencies at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. The spectral features to distinguish three different isomers of DMN have been identified. In chapter 4, IR spectra of 2,4-, 2,6-, 2,7-, and 2,8-DMQ in the gas phase have been recorded using a high resolution Vertex-70 (Bruker Optics, Germany) FT-IR spectrometer. DFT calculations have been carried out in order to get harmonic and anharmonic frequencies and their intensities at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. Unambiguous assignments of IR bands could not be made with the help of anharmonic or selectively scaled harmonic frequencies. Therefore, scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) force field calculations were performed where force fields in local coordinates were scaled for getting frequencies in close agreement with experiment. Potential energy distributions (PEDs) of the normal modes in terms of the local coordinates of the molecule using a modified UMAT program in the QCPE package were also obtained in order to identify the nature of the fundamental vibration modes. In chapter 5, I have presented the gas phase IR spectra of 1,9-, 2,4-, and 3,9-DMP. The harmonic and anharmonic frequencies and their intensities were obtained at the B3LYP/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-311G** levels of theory. I have carried out SQM calculations for the assignment of the experimental frequencies in a similar fashion as was done for the DMQs. In chapter 6, IR spectra of two diols namely 1,2-ethylene glycol and 1,4-butane diol are reported and discussed. DFT calculations have been carried out for the harmonic fundamental frequencies and intensities at the experimental temperatures with 10 unique chosen conformers of the diols at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory. Gas phase equilibrium population analysis has been done in order to generate the theoretical spectrum with the weighted average contributions from the 10 conformers to match the experimental spectrum. The hydrogen bond enthalpy, strength and nature have been investigated in details. From this experimental and theoretical studies, it has been concluded that the intramolecular hydrogen bond is absent in 1,2-EG at ordinary temperatures whereas it is present in 1,4-BD. vi Chapter 7 is the concluding chapter where the main work done in this thesis is summarized and future direction is presented.

With the rising demand for fossil fuels, Northern Canada has seen an unprecedented increase in petrochemical development. These developments are often associated with emissions of PAHs, a group of hydrophobic organic contaminants that are known to be carcinogenic and otherwise harmful to humans. Due to their hydrophobic nature, PAHs tend to bind to organic matter and can be produced through both anthropogenic and natural processes, making them ubiquitous in the environment. Therefore, in addition to impacts from petrochemical developments, changes to climatic conditions, such as increased forest fire disturbance and primary production also have the potential to alter delivery of organic carbon (OC) and PAHs to ecosystems. However, very little is known as to how the combined stressors of climate change and petrochemical development may affect environmental deposition of these contaminants. The concentrations and composition of parent and alkyl PAHs were analysed in radiometrically-dated sediment cores from lakes with one of four different types of petrochemical development in their catchments: (1) in-situ oil sands extraction (Cold Lake, AB); (2) open-pit oil sands extraction (Fort McMurray, AB); (3) abandoned conventional natural gas exploration (Mackenzie Delta Uplands, NWT); and (4) conventional gas and oil extraction (Cameron Hills, NWT). PAH deposition to lake sediments was also compared to climate reconstructions using climate proxies (diatom assemblages, inferred chlorophyll a and its diagenetic products, and Rock Eval carbon fractions as well as %OC). PAH sources were differentiated between potential pyrogenic and petrogenic origin over a period that extends to pre-industrial times using ratios of specific PAHs that can be traced to their potential source. Sediment cores from Cold Lake, AB showed concentrations of the sum of alkyl PAHs greater than those of parent PAHs, while all other cores show the reverse trend. A comparison of the % change of PAH concentrations from pre-development to post-development sediments between the four regions, showed that the greatest increase in concentrations of PAHs occurred in the Athabasca oil sands region. PAH profiles in the conventional regions have been historically dominated by mixed sources (pyrogenic PAHs from general background atmospheric inputs and petrogenic PAHs from the surrounding hydrocarbon-rich soils). While cores from the Fort McMurray area show a clear shift from pyrogenic sources (primarily wood and coal burning) in earlier sediments to petrogenic sources in more modern sediments, and the Cold Lake cores show some shifting sources to those dominated by pyrogenic sources in modern sediments. Organic carbon was significantly correlated with the sum of parent PAHs in 2 out of the 6 NWT cores that were examined for climate change impacts, while all other PAH parameters (concentration and composition) do not correlate significantly with any of the climate proxies. Establishing background concentrations and sources of PAHs in aquatic ecosystems is essential for understanding the natural environmental variations in these contaminants. Moreover, as both petrochemical activity and impacts from climate change are predicted to intensify in the future, studies such as this one allow us to build a solid understanding of how PAH deposition to northern lakes has responded to the warming climate and whether PAHs have been altered as a result of petrochemical activity.

Oil spills, especially in water have happened throughout the years. The consequences from this kind of incident have always been a threat to marine life and take a lot of money and time to clean up. The forensic investigations of oil usually focus on oil spill in water, however, this kind of investigation can be applied on more areas, such as in sexual offense cases and arson. The oil from the crime scene and the oil from the suspected source are analyzed and compared to each other to see if the compositions match. The aim of this thesis was to optimize the clean-up process of heavy fuel oil (HFO) using solid-phase extraction (SPE) according to the European Committee for standardization (CEN) 15522-2 method. HFOs are black oils, containing particles and soot which will decrease injector performance. Thus, a cleanup procedure is attractive when analyzing such samples. The three factors of optimization in this study were elution volumes, solvents, and SPE sorbents.The SPE method used in this study was to use the cartridges as a filter; therefore, the samples were both loaded and eluted with an organic solvent, in this case dichloromethane (DCM) or dichloromethane/heptane (DCM/Hp). The gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis method used is described in Annex B in the CEN 15522-2 method.Concluding, increasing the eluent volume did not indicate improvement on the extraction method. In terms of the solvents, both dichloromethane and dichloromethane/heptane showed similar results. The percentage weathering plots (PW-plots) showed that the SPE sorbents (dual layer florisil/Na2SO4, florisil and silica gel sorbents) worked similar. The overall conclusion from this thesis work was that further optimization must be made before implementing the method.

[pt] A espécie de esponja Hymeniacidon heliophila foi utilizada para avaliar a cinética de incorporação e eliminação dos hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs) e seus efeitos nas células da esponja, compreendendo as variáveis que as condicionam, monitorando-a em campo e em laboratório. Amostras de esponjas e água foram coletadas na Urca, Praça XV e Itaipu, para a realização do biomonitoramento passivo. Amostras de Itaipu (influência petrogênica) apresentaram menor contaminação de HPAs e aquelas da Praça XV (influência pirogênica) apresentaram a maior concentração destes compostos. Bioensaios de depuração e de acumulação foram realizados na esponja H. heliophila para avaliar a toxicidade de HPAs. No ensaio de depuração, esponjas da Baía de Guanabara foram transferidas para sete aquários, contendo três indivíduos cada. Esponjas foram coletadas em 24, 48, 72, 96, 168, 240 e 336 h. O Σ38HPAs reduziu de 1678,9 (T0) para 928,9 μg kg-1 (T336). Nenhuma depuração ocorreu em 96 h. Decréscimo da concentração foi observado depois disso, a uma taxa de 2,6 = μg kg-1 h-1. Não foram observadas alterações nos biomarcadores de efeito. No bioensaio de acumulação, esponjas de Itaipu, uma área controle, foram expostos a criseno (40 μg L-1) em quatro aquários, contendo um indivíduo cada. Esponjas foram coletadas em 24, 48, 72 e 96 h. Também foram retiradas partes de um único espécime de esponja nestes intervalos, para avaliar resposta do mesmo indivíduo ao longo do experimento. A acumulação foi intensa no período de 72 h, seguido por um declínio em T96 em indivíduos diferentes, com uma taxa de acumulação de ~ 250 μg kg-1 h-1. O tempo de retenção do vermelho neutro reduziu, em consequência, foi correlacionado com a acumulação de criseno, indicando uma redução da saúde das células. A glutationa (GSH) aumentou em diferentes indivíduos, e a concentração do criseno diminuiu com a elevada expressão desta proteína, possivelmente, através da conjugação. No mesmo indivíduo, a GSH diminuiu, provavelmente, pelo esforço de reconstrução do tecido retirado. Análises histológicas não foram correlacionadas à concentração dos HPAs em ambos os experimentos, mas podem ser utilizadas como indicativo da saúde das esponjas durante o bioensaio, uma vez que o tecido destes organismos contraiu-se, desorganizando os canais aquíferos e redistribuindo o colágeno pelo tecido. Ensaio de micronúcleo não foi bem sucedido devido à forte associação de células. H. heliophila mostrou ser um biomonitor apropriado para os HPAs por ser resistente a elevadas concentrações e por apresentar capacidade de acumular rapidamente e eliminar HPAs. / [en] The species of sponge Hymeniacidon heliophila was used to evaluate the kinetics of PAHs uptake and elimination and their effects on the sponge cells, comprising the variables that affect these processes, monitoring them in the field and in the laboratory. Sponges and water samples were collected from Urca, Praça XV and Itaipu, for the realization of passive biomonitoring. Itaipu (petrogenic influence) samples showed lower contamination of PAHs and those of Praça XV (pyrogenic influence) had the highest concentration of these compounds. Depuration and accumulation bioassays were carried out in the sponge H. heliophila to evaluate toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). In the depuration assay, sponges from Guanabara Bay were transferred to seven aquaria, containing three individuals each. Sponges were collected at 24, 48, 72, 96, 168, 240 and 336 h. The Σ38 PAHs varied from 1678.9 (T0) to 928.9 μg kg-1 (T336). No depuration occurred in 96h. Declines in concentration were observed thereafter, at a rate of ~ 2.6 μg kg-1 h-1. No changes were noticed in effect biomarkers. In the accumulation bioassay, sponges from Itaipu beach, a control area, were exposed to chrysene (40 μg L-1) in four aquaria, containing one individual each. Sponges were collected at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Parts of a single specimen were removed at all intervals to asses response of the same individual throughout the experiment. Accumulation was intense in the period of 72 h, followed by a decline at T96, with accumulation rate of ~ 250 μg kg-1h-1. The retention time of the neutral red reduced, consequently it was correlated to the chrysene accumulation, indicating a reduction of the cell health. Glutathione (GSH) increased in different individuals and chrysene concentration reduced with the increment of this protein, possibly, through conjugation. In the same individual, GSH decreased, probably, for the effort to rebuild the tissue removed. Histological evaluations were not correlated to PAHs concentration in both experiments, but they can be used as biomarkers of the sponge health during bioassay, since, sponges contracted their tissue, disorganizing the channel aquifers and redistributing the collagen in the tissue. Micronucleus assay was not successful due to strong cell association. The H. heliophila showed to be a suitable biomonitor to PAHs for being resistant to high concentrations and to present ability of accumulating rapidly and eliminate PAHs.

Les travaux de cette thèse sont consacrés principalement à l'optimisation d'une méthode de remédiation électrocinétique (EK) comme une technologie appropriée pour le traitement de sédiments de dragage de faible perméabilité hydraulique et multi-contaminés (en éléments traces (ET), hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP) et polychlorobiphényles (PCB)). Cette étude porte également sur l’effet du traitement EK sur l’évolution de la toxicité des sédiments. Après une revue bibliographique, une seconde partie a été dédiée aux méthodes d’analyse des contaminants, avec un focus sur leur extraction de la matrice sédimentaire ; ainsi, une nouvelle méthode d’extraction par dispersion de la matrice solide (MSPD) a été développée, pour une extraction rapide et simultanée des HAP et de PCB et une purification de l’échantillon, qui s’est avérée plus efficace que la méthode d’extraction assistée par micro-ondes (MAE). Plusieurs études expérimentales (à différentes échelles) de remédiation électrocinétique ont été décrites dans une troisième partie ; ces études ont été menées sur un sédiment reconstitué ou des sédiments de dragage portuaire. De nombreuses combinaisons de tensioactifs et d’agents chélatants ont été testées comme agents d’amélioration pour abaisser simultanément la concentration en métaux (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) et des HAP/PCB. Le choix a été effectué en raison notamment de leur faible toxicité potentielle, en vue de pouvoir les appliquer ultérieurement pour une restauration sur site : (bio)surfactants (Rhamnolipides, Saponine et Tween 20) combinés avec des agents chélatants (acide citrique (CA) et EDDS). Les résultats obtenus montrent que les métaux (à l'exception de Cr) sont difficiles à extraire de ces sédiments de dragage portuaire à caractère réducteur, qui présentent une capacité tampon élevée, une perméabilité hydraulique très faible et une teneur en matière organique élevée. En revanche, les HAP et les PCB fournissent de meilleurs taux d'abattement (29,2% et 50,2%, respectivement). Dans une quatrième partie, l'efficacité du procédé EK a également été évaluée à travers l’évolution de la toxicité aiguë des sédiments traités sur les copépodes E. affinis exposés aux élutriats de sédiments. Les résultats ont montré que l'utilisation de CA,des biosurfactants et du Tween 20 n'a pas eu d'impact significatif sur la toxicité des sédiments traités. Cependant, les copépodes E. affinis étaient sensibles aux faibles valeurs de pH et aux conditions très oxydantes, ainsi qu’à la présence de Cu et, dans une moindre mesure, de Pb, à condition toutefois qu’ils soient rendus plus mobiles et biodisponibles. En revanche, la toxicité a été peu et même négativement corrélée aux concentrations des HAP et des PCB après le traitement EK, probablement en raison de la production de métabolites oxydés des HAP et des PCB, plus toxiques que les composés natifs. / This thesis research is mainly devoted to the optimization of an electrokinetic (EK) remediation process as a promising technology for treating multi-contaminated (trace metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorobiphenyles (PCBs)) dredged harbor sediments of low permeability. This study is also investigating the effect of the EK treatment on the evolution of sediment toxicity. After a bibliographic review, asecond part of this study was dedicated to the analytical methods carried out for the characterization of the sediment and its contaminants, particularly to their extraction from the sediment matrix; thus a new extraction method, through matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) was developed, for a fast and simultaneous extraction of both PAHs and PCBs, and a sample purification.MSPD appeared more efficient than the microwave assisted extraction (MAE) method. Thereafter many EK experiments (at different scales) were described in a third part. EK remediation tests were performed using a spiked model sediment or natural harbor dredged sediments. Many combinations of surfactants and chelators were tested as EK enhancing agents for decreasing simultaneously metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) and PAH/PCB levels. Their choice was done because of their possible low toxicity with a view to use them for future site restoration: (bio)surfactants (rhamnolipids, saponin and Tween 20) combined with chelators (citric acid (CA) and EDDS). The results showed that metals (except Cr) were difficult to remove from this kind of dredged sediment owing to its reductive character, to its high buffering capacity, to its very low hydraulic permeability and to its high organic matter content. However PAHs and PCBs showed better removal levels (29.2% and 50.2%, respectively). In a fourth part, the efficiency of the EK process was also assessed by measuring the evolution of the acute toxicity of the treated sediment on E. affinis copepods exposed to sediment elutriates. The results showed that using CA, biosurfactants or Tween 20 as enhancing agents did not significantly impact the toxicity of the treated sediment. However, E. affinis copepods were significantly sensitive to low pH values and oxidative conditions, to Cu, and to a lesser extent to Pb amounts, if they were transformed in more mobile and bioavailable forms. In contrast, acute toxicity was only slightly and even negatively correlated to PAH and PCB amounts after EK treatment, probably due to the production of oxidized metabolites of PAHs and PCBs, more toxic than the parent compounds.

Many organic compounds are released to the environment and can be harmful to living organisms. These compounds are often persistent and toxic. Some are mutagens, carcinogens, endocrine disruptors or they can cause an increase in bacterial resistance. They tend to accumulate in nature and their transformation is a long-term process. Therefore, various remediation techniques are needed for decontamination. Remediation and bioremediation processes depend on many factors which should be critically evaluated. This dissertation thesis studies the relationship between bioavailability, biodegradation and toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fluoroquinolone antibiotics. These compounds of different origin, character and properties were degradated by ligninolytic fungi. Desorption behaviour of pollutants from historically contaminated sites, degradation potential of ligninolytic fungi, ongoing degradation mechanisms, transformation products and their toxicity were studied as important factors for evaluation of mycoremediation and its environmental impact. The results show that determination of bioaccessible fraction by sequential supercritical fluid extraction is very useful for precise prediction of biodegradability of pollutants. The evidence that ecotoxicity and...

Canadian bitumen is mainly transported in a diluted form via pipeline and train, all posing a risk as they can lead to the release of diluted bitumen (dilbit) in the environment. In the summer of 2018, a collaborative large-scale field experiment was conducted at the International Institute for Sustainable Development - Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), a world-renowned aquatic research facility. The research objectives of the Boreal lake Oil Release Experiment by Additions to Limnocorrals (BOREAL) project were to understand the fate, behaviour, and potential toxic effects of dilbit in a freshwater Boreal lake to inform evidence-based management strategies for the transport of dilbit. A range of controlled dilbit spills was performed in seven 10 m diameter limnocorrals (~100,000 L of water) resulting in environmentally realistic dilbit:water dilutions ranging from 1:69,200 to 1:504, representing the upper half of the distribution of oil spill sizes in North America in the last decade. Additionally, two limnocorrals not treated with dilbit were studied as controls. This thesis identifies the bioaccumulating compounds derived from naturally weathered dilbit in adult giant floater mussels (Pyganodon grandis), to determine the rates at which they were accumulated and excreted. More specifically, the bioaccumulation potential and toxicokinetic parameters of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and various metals were assessed in mussels exposed ex situ for 41 days (25 days of exposure and 16 days of depuration) to water from the limnocorrals. These compounds have shown to be toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic to aquatic organisms. Mussels exposed to dilbit-contaminated water experienced significantly greater TPACs concentrations (0.40 – 0.90 µg L-1, n=12) compared to mussels from the Control (0.017 µg L-1, n=4). Furthermore, dilbit-contaminated water had a higher proportion of alkylated PACs compared to their parent counterpart, demonstrating petrogenic PAC profiles. We detected significantly greater TPACs concentrations in mussels exposed to dilbit-contaminated water (25.92 – 27.79 µg g-1, ww Lipid, n=9, at day 25 of the uptake phase) compared to mussels from the Control (average of 2.62 ± 1.95 µg g-1, ww Lipid; ±SD, n=17). Alkylated PACs represented 96.4 ± 1.8%, ±SD, n=12 of TPACs in mussels from dilbit-contaminated treatments at day 25 of the uptake phase, indicating the importance of conducting a more inclusive assessment of petrochemical mixtures as most studies only focus on parent PACs. From first-order one-compartment models derived from nonlinear curve fitting of the accumulation phase or sequential modelling method, uptake (0.66 – 24.65 L g-1 day-1, n=87) and depuration (0.012 – 0.37 day-1, n=87) kinetic rate constants, as well as bioconcentration factors (log values from 3.85 – 6.12 L kg-1, n=87) for the 29 PACs that bioaccumulated in mussels suggested that alkylated PACs have greater bioaccumulation potential compared to their parent PAC counterpart. Results from this study also demonstrated that giant floater mussels could be used to biomonitor PAC contamination following oil spills as PACs accumulated in mussel tissue and were still present following the 16 day depuration phase. The results of this study are the largest, most comprehensive set of toxicokinetic and bioaccumulation information of PACs (44 analytes) in freshwater mussels obtained to date. Metal contamination following the controlled dilbit spill was minimal, but mussels exposed to water contaminated with naturally weathered dilbit experienced elevated concentrations of dissolved zinc (30.26 – 38.26 µg L-1, n=12) compared to the mussels in the uncontaminated water (6.75 ± 3.31 µg L-1, n=4), surpassing the Canadian water quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. However, it is not clear if dilbit contamination caused elevated zinc concentrations in the water as other factors, such as limnocorral building materials and/or galvanized minnow traps used in the limnocorrals, could have contributed to zinc contamination. Nonetheless, giant floater mussels did not accumulate zinc in their tissues.

Les hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAPs), tels que le benzo(a)pyrène (B[a]P), sont des contaminants environnementaux ubiquistes générés lors de la combustion de matière organique. Ces composés ont été associés au développement d'effets toxiques sur la santé humaine, notamment des effets cancérigènes et immunotoxiques, principalement liés à l'activation du récepteur aux hydrocarbures aromatiques (RAh). Parmi les cellules du système immunitaire, les lymphocytes T apparaissent comme des cibles majeures des HAPs. Des résultats antérieurs, obtenus au laboratoire, ont montré que l'activation des lymphocytes T humains en culture primaire conduit à l’augmentation de l'expression et de la fonction du RAh, suggérant la capacité accrue de ces cellules à répondre à une exposition aux HAPs. Nos objectifs sont : (1) de déterminer les effets du B[a]P sur les profils d'expression génique dans les lymphocytes humains normaux en utilisant des approches à haut débit telle que l'analyse transcriptomique sur puce à ADN, (2) d’évaluer les effets génotoxiques et immunotoxiques du B[a]P en mesurant respectivement les dommages à l'ADN induits et leurs actions immunosuppressives et (3) d’analyser la modulation de ces effets en présence d'autres HAPs. Notre travail identifie les lymphocytes T humains normaux comme un bon modèle pour étudier les effets génotoxiques et immunotoxiques des HAPs, et pour prédire les problèmes de santé humaine liés à l’exposition à ces contaminants. Il permet également de mieux comprendre la régulation par les HAPs de la réponse immune et propose de nouveaux biomarqueurs potentiels de l'exposition à ces contaminants environnementaux. / Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P), are ubiquitous environmental contaminants generated during organic matter combustion. These compounds have been associated with the development of toxic effects on human health, including carcinogenic and immunotoxic effects, mainly related to Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) activation. Among the immune system cells, T lymphocytes appear as major targets of PAHs. Previous results, obtained in the laboratory, have shown that activation of primary human T lymphocytes leads to a functional AhR expression increase, suggesting their ability to respond to PAH exposure. Our specific aims are: (1) to determine the effects of B[a]P on gene expression profiles in human normal lymphocytes by using large-scale approaches such as microarray-based transcriptome analysis, (2) to monitor the genotoxic and immunotoxic effects of B[a]P by measuring DNA damage and immunosuppressive actions, respectively and, (3) to analyze the modulation of these effects by the presence of other PAHs. Our work propose primary cultures of activated human T lymphocytes as a good model for studying both genotoxic and immunotoxic effects of environmental contaminants such as PAHs and predicting human health issues. It also gains a comprehensive insight into the immune response regulation after PAH exposure and provides potential new biomarkers of exposure to these environmental contaminants.