Pollution ubiquity

Tompkins A (2002) A prognostic parameterization for the subgrid-scale variability of water vapor and clouds in large-scale models and its use to diagnose cloud cover. J Atmos Sci 59 1917-1942 Turusov V, Rakitsky V, Tomatis L (2002) Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) ubiquity, persistence, and risks. Environmental Health Perspectives 101 125-128 UNEP (2001) Stockholm convention on persistent organic pollutants. http //chmpopsint/... 

Nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, referred to as nitro-aromatic compounds hereafter, constitute one of the most troubling classes of environmental pollutants. They are derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that contain two or more fused aromatic rings made of carbon and hydrogen atoms and at least one nitro group (Fig. 10.1). Concern about these compounds arises partly from their ubiquity nitro-aromatic compounds are released to the environment directly from a variety of incomplete combustion processes [1] and are also formed in situ by atmospheric reactions of PAHs [2]. Nitro-aromatic compounds have been found in grilled food in diesel, gasoline, and wood-smoke emissions and are commonly found in atmospheric particulate matter, natural waters, and sediment [3-8],... 

Feeding behaviour, ubiquity, and the ability to accumulate various materials make earthworms useful species for soil pollution monitoring. Two of these substances are mercury and cadmium, which are highly toxic and non-essential for life. Both metals are proved to accumulate in earthworms in concentrations much higher than in the soil they inhabit [15-19]. 

Despite the ubiquity of PAHs in modern society, their presence in and their contribution to the alleged hazard of tobacco smoke have been repeatedly emphasized for nearly half a century but seldom are the other many sources and/or levels of exposure to PAHs currently acknowledged as they were in the 1930-1950 period. Daily exposure to PAHs by inhalation (MSS, ETS, air pollutants) may represent only a small part of the total daily exposure other exposures to PAHs often substantially exceed exposure via inhalation. Exposures to various PAHs are summarized in two different forms in Tables XXVI-9 and XXVI-10. 

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