Andrea Nagyné Szabó
36938122100
Publications - 15
Characterization of PM2.5-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Ambient Air of Győr, Hungary
Publication Name: Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds
Publication Date: 2019-01-01
Volume: 39
Issue: 4
Page Range: 332-345
Description:
In Hungary, the nationwide monitoring of PM10-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air is great importance for a number of reasons related to human health, the environment and compliance with European Union legislation. However, the measurement of PAH concentrations in PM2.5 aerosol fraction has not been carried out. Therefore, the concentration, distribution and sources of PM2.5-bound PAHs at different urban sites of Győr were investigated in a heating season. The total PAH concentrations (sum of 19 individual PAH compounds) ranged from 1.32 to 37.27 ng/m3 with the mean value of 10.54 ng/m3. The high molecular weight PAHs with 5 and 6 aromatic rings were the most abundant PAHs in PM2.5 aerosol samples, which averaged 82% of total PAHs. Using benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) equivalent approach on the concentration data of carcinogenic PAH species, BaP and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene contributed the highest carcinogenic exposure equivalent (1.25 and 0.19 ng/m3 on average). However, the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values for resident children and adults indicated low-potential cancer risk (ILCR < 10−6). The source apportionment results reflected that the major sources of PAH compounds in the Győr atmosphere were fossil fuel combustion and vehicle emissions.
Open Access: Yes
An assessment of ambient air quality in Gyor, Hungary
Publication Name: World Congress on Civil Structural and Environmental Engineering
Publication Date: 2018-01-01
Volume: Unknown
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
This paper presents an assessment of air quality of the city Gyor, located 120 km west to the capital of Hungary. Two urban air monitoring stations are operated by the local Environmental Protection Laboratory in the city. The concentration data of major air pollutants (CO, NOx , SO2 , C6 H6 , O3 , PM10 , PM2.5 ), PM10 -bound heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As and Ni) and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), benzo(a)anthracene, sum of three benzofluoranthene (b, k and j) isomers, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene are available for the assessment based on the latest published monitoring data of the Hungarian Air Quality Monitoring Network. The levels of pollutants were compared with the Hungarian and EU limit or target values defined for health protection and the WHO air quality guidelines (AQGs) or estimated reference levels (RLs). Moreover, the air quality index values for the pollutants were calculated. The results indicated that the main pollutants were BaP, PM10 and PM2.5 in the Gyor atmosphere. The annual mean concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 aerosols reached the WHO AQGs (20 and 10 μg/m3), while that of the BaP it was about 5.5 times higher than the WHO RL value of 0.12 ng/m3. However, a good or excellent air quality was identified for all examined air pollutants based on the concentration data evaluated by the Hungarian and EU limit or target values.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.11159/awspt18.112
Particle-associated PAHs in urban and rural ambient air samples
Publication Name: World Congress on Civil Structural and Environmental Engineering
Publication Date: 2018-01-01
Volume: Unknown
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the concentration levels and distributions of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) between urban area of Gyor and the nearest rural area of Sarro´d (Hungary). Nineteen selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including the 16 priority US EPA PAH compounds, 2-methylnaphthalene, benzo(j)fluoranthene and benzo(e)pyrene in PM10 aerosol samples were determined under the authority of the Government Office for Gyor-Moson-Sopron County, Environmental Protection Laboratory and seasonal distributions were examined based on long-term monitoring data. Moreover, the concentration levels of fine (PM2.5) particle-associated PAHs measured in Gyor in a heating season are also discussed. About 2 times higher Total PAHs concentrations were obtained for urban samples compared to the rural samples on average. All of the investigated PAH compounds were identified in the PM10 aerosol samples. PAHs fluctuate significantly in all years with higher means and peak concentrations in the winter and autumn compared to that of spring or summer times at both monitoring sites. Approximately 27 and 18 times higher benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) toxic equivalence quotient (TEQ) concentrations in PM10 in urban and rural sites were detected in the heating seasons, respectively. Acenaphthene and fluorene were not detected in the PM2.5 samples. The dominant PM2.5-bound PAH compounds were indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene and sum of three benzofluoranthene isomers followed by benzo(ghi)perylene and BaP. Relatively high mean TEQ concentration level were observed for PM2.5-bound PAHs in the examined heating season.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.11159/awspt18.101
Evaluation of trace metal levels in surface water and sediments of the Hungarian upper section of the Danube River and its tributaries
Publication Name: Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A Toxic Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering
Publication Date: 2016-12-05
Volume: 51
Issue: 14
Page Range: 1248-1261
Description:
The objective of this study was to assess the concentration levels of trace metals (Zn, Hg, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Cu) in surface water and bottom sediments of the Hungarian upper section of the Danube River and its main tributaries. A total of 935 samples (water and sediments) were collected from 10 different sampling sites in the period of 2001–2012 and analyzed for the trace metals. Moreover, the dissolved arsenic content was determined in a number of 467 water samples in the period of 2004–2012. The highest dissolved trace element concentrations were observed at the site of Kenyérmezei-patak Creek located near a hazardous waste incinerator. However, the comparison of the dissolved trace metal(loid) concentrations determined with other sections of the Danube River and the European Union environmental quality standards revealed that the dissolved trace metal(loid) concentrations were relatively low in the Hungarian upper section during the 12-year study period (excluding some samples for Hg, Cd and Cr). The concentrations of trace metals in sediments were higher than those found in water samples and varied very much in all sampling sites during the study period. The sediment samples were mainly classified as low or moderate polluted for trace metals. However, some sediment samples collected especially from the Moson Danube branch indicated a considerable (for Zn, Hg, Cd, Ni and Cu) or a very high (for Zn and Hg) contamination.
Open Access: Yes
Ambient concentrations of PM10, PM10-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in an urban site of Győr, Hungary
Publication Name: Air Quality Atmosphere and Health
Publication Date: 2015-04-01
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Page Range: 229-241
Description:
An assessment of the air quality of Győr (Hungary) was performed by determining the ambient concentrations of PM10 , PM10 -bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and regulated heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As and Ni) in the period of 2008−2012. The PM10 concentrations ranged from 7.90 to 119.14 μg/m3 with the mean value of 34.94 μg/m3. On average, the total PAHs (sum of the concentrations of 18 individual PAH compounds) and the four metals contents in the PM10 fraction amounted to 0.04 and 0.06 %, respectively. The total PAH concentrations ranged from 0.29 to 88.30 ng/m3, which were predominated by intermediate and high molecular weight PAHs. Higher concentrations of both PM10 and PAHs were detected in samples collected in the heating seasons. The mean metallic concentrations calculated for the 5-year sampling period were found in decreasing order of Pb (14.47 ng/m3), Ni (3.73 ng/m3), As (0.64 ng/m3) and Cd (0.60 ng/m3). Very little seasonal variation was observed in metal concentrations. Moreover, the comparison of the PM10 , bezo[a]pyrene (BaP) and heavy metal concentrations determined with other Hungarian and European urban sites and the limit or target values for health protection has revealed that the air quality of Győr and other Hungarian cities for the above pollutants generally corresponds to the EU average. It is important to reduce PM10 and BaP pollution to concentrations lower than those specified in current legislation. However, the Hungarian cities have excellent air quality with respect to heavy metals.
Open Access: Yes
Occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water and sediments of the Danube River and its tributaries, Hungary
Publication Name: Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A Toxic Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering
Publication Date: 2014-08-24
Volume: 49
Issue: 10
Page Range: 1134-1141
Description:
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were identified and quantified in surface water and sediments from 9 sites in the Hungarian upper section of the Danube River and its tributaries in autumn 2012. The total PAH concentrations (sum of the concentrations of 17 individual PAH compounds) in water samples ranged from 67 to 96 ng L-1, which were predominated by two- and three-ring PAHs. The total PAH concentrations in sediments ranged from 35.2 to 288.3 ng g-1 dw. Four-ring PAHs including fluoranthene and pyrene were the dominant species in sediment samples. The spatial distribution of PAHs in sediments was site-specific. The highest benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentration was determined at the site located near a hazardous waste incinerator. However, the comparison of the total PAH concentrations determined with other sections of the Danube River and the environmental quality standards revealed that the PAH concentrations are relatively low in the Hungarian upper section. A selected number of concentration ratios of specific PAH compounds reflected a pattern of pyrogenic input as a major source of PAHs. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Open Access: Yes
Trace metal and metalloid levels in surface water of Marcal River before and after the Ajka red mud spill, Hungary
Publication Name: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Publication Date: 2013-11-01
Volume: 20
Issue: 11
Page Range: 7603-7614
Description:
The aim of this study was to compare and assess the dissolved concentrations of trace elements (As, Zn, Hg, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Cu) in surface water of Marcal River before and after the red mud spill that occurred in Ajka, western Hungary, in October 2010. The caustic sludge flooded the surrounding settlements and polluted the nearby Torna Creek, which flows through the Marcal and Raba rivers into the Danube. A total of 92 surface water samples were collected from the Marcal River in the period of 2007-2012 and analysed for dissolved trace metal(loid)s by atomic absorption spectroscopy method. After the spill, the water management authority initially focused on acid dosing of surface waters to lower pH and was effective in lowering both pH and metal(loid) concentrations. Among the dissolved trace metal(loid)s, arsenic and nickel levels were moderately higher in the Marcal River 2 years since the spill compared to that observed in the pre-disaster period. The concentrations of dissolved trace metal(loid)s did not exceed the European water quality standards and the US Environmental Protection Agency aquatic life criteria values (excluding one sample for cadmium). © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
Open Access: Yes
Occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water of the Raba River, Hungary
Publication Name: Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A Toxic Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering
Publication Date: 2013-08-24
Volume: 48
Issue: 10
Page Range: 1190-1200
Description:
The objective of this study was to investigate the concentration level and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface water of the Raba River; the largest Danube tributary in Hungary. A total of 54 water samples were collected in the period of 2008-2011 and analysed for PAHs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. The total PAH concentrations (sum of the concentrations of 17 individual PAH compounds) ranged from 41 to 437 ng/L with the mean value of 111 ± 69.4 ng/L. Phenanthrene and naphthalene were the dominant species in the surface water. Using TEF approaches on the mean concentration PAH data, benzo[a]pyrene and dibenz[ah]anthracene contributed the highest carcinogenic exposure equivalent. A selected number of concentration ratios of specific PAH compounds were calculated to evaluate the possible sources of PAH contamination. The ratios reflected a pattern of pyrogenic input as a major source of PAHs. The comparison of the total PAH concentrations observed for Raba River with other surface waters of the world confirmed that the Raba River could not be regarded as a contaminated river according to the levels of PAHs. © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Open Access: Yes
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water and bed sediments of the Hungarian upper section of the Danube River
Publication Name: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Publication Date: 2013-06-01
Volume: 185
Issue: 6
Page Range: 4619-4631
Description:
This study was performed to elucidate the distribution, concentration trend and possible source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface water and bed sediments of the Hungarian upper section of the Danube River and the Moson Danube branch. A total of 217 samples (water and sediments) were collected from four different sampling sites in the period of 2001-2010 and analysed for the 16 priority US Environmental Protection Agency PAHs. Concentrations of total 16 PAHs (ΣPAHs) in water samples ranged from 25 to 1,208 ng/L, which were predominated by two- and three-ring PAHs. The ΣPAH concentrations in sediments ranged from 8.3 to 1,202.5 ng/g dry weight. Four-ring PAHs including fluoranthene and pyrene were the dominant species in sediment samples. A selected number of concentration ratios of specific PAH compounds were calculated to evaluate the possible sources of PAH contamination. The ratios reflected a pattern of pyrogenic input as a major source of PAHs. The levels of PAHs determined were compared with other sections of the Danube and other regions of the world. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
Open Access: Yes
Impact assessment of chemical decontamination base-technology's preoxidation step on different steel surfaces
Publication Name: Korrozios Figyelo
Publication Date: 2012-12-14
Volume: 52
Issue: 4
Page Range: 73-80
Description:
A novel efficient "soft" chemical decontamination technology has been developed - supported by the Paks Nuclear Power Plant - at the Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology of the University of Pannonia. The present work gives a brief overview on the corrosion and dissolution processes of austenitic stainless steel and carbon steel specimens that occur in the oxidative pretreatment step (mixture of 1.0 g·dm-3 HMnO4 + 0.2 mol·dm-3 HNO3 , pH = 0.8-1.0) of the novel base-technology. The oxidative pretreatment of steel specimens was performed under laboratory conditions in an electrochemical cell, and the open circuit (corrosion) potential of treated surfaces was studied by a VoltaLab 40 (RADIOMETER) type electrochemical measuring system controlled by PC. In addition, the redoxi potential in the decontamination solution was measured on-line by Consort C861 type electrochemistry meter. In the course of the chemical procedure the concentration of the main alloying components (stainless steel: Fe, Cr, Ni, carbon steel: Fe) dissolved from the surface oxide layer into the decontamination solutions was determined by ICP-OES method. The morphology and chemical composition of the oxide layer formed on the surfaces of steel specimens were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer (EDX). The results of our laboratory experiments have revealed that the acidic dissolution of austenitic stainless steel surfaces by nitric acid is negligible (at room temperature), while that the carbon steel surface is significant and intensive. After addition of permanganic acid, a moderate dissolution of the protective oxide layer of the austenitic stainless steel surface was observed; however, the reaction is blocked by MnO2 formed on the steel surface. On the other hand, the dissolution rate of carbon steel surface is not increased following the addition of permanganic acid into nitric acid solution, and the formation of surface MnO2 is marginal.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: DOI not available
Monitoring of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHS) in Surface Water of the Hungarian Upper Section of the Danube River
Publication Name: Nova Biotechnologica Et Chimica
Publication Date: 2012-01-01
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Page Range: 27-36
Description:
The aim of this paper is to investigate the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface water of the Hungarian upper section of the Danube River in the period of 2007-2010. A total of 77 water samples were collected from the sampling sites located at Rajka, Medve and Komarom (1848, 1806 and 1766 river km) under the authority of the Inspectorate for Environment, Nature and Water of the North Transdanubian Region designated by the Hungarian National Monitoring Programme. Sixteen PAHs identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as priority pollutants were monitored. Concentrations of total 16 PAHs (PAHs) ranged from 25 to 357 ng·L-1 with the mean value of 98.27± 58.48 ng·L-1. The low and medium molecular weight PAHs (2-3 and 4 ring) ranged from below method detection limit (<1) to 136 ng·L-1 while high molecular weight PAHs (5-6 ring) were present at much lower concentrations (<1-25 ng·L-1). The 2-3-ring PAHs contributed to about 64% while 4-6-ring PAHs accounted for 36% of the PAHs. The dominant species are naphthalene and phenanthrene in the surface water. Concentration ratios of specific PAH compounds including anthracene/(anthracene+phenanthrene) and fluoranthene/(fluoranthene+pyrene) were calculated to evaluate the possible sources of PAH contamination. The levels of PAHs determined in our study were compared with other sections of the Danube and other regions of the world. © 2012, Versita. All rights reserved.
Open Access: Yes
Comparative study of the corrosion and surface chemical effects of the decontamination technologies
Publication Name: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Publication Date: 2010-12-01
Volume: 286
Issue: 3
Page Range: 815-821
Description:
Decontamination technologies are generally developed to reduce the collective dose of the maintenance and operation personnel at nuclear power plants (NPP). The highest efficiency (i.e., the highest decontamination factors) available without detrimental modification of the treated surface of structural material is the most important goal in the course of the application of a decontamination technology. At the Paks NPP the AP-CITROX procedure has been utilized for the decontamination of the primary coolant circuit's components (e.g., main circulating pump (MCP) and steam generators (SGs)). Our previous studies have revealed that a 'hybrid' structure of the amorphous and crystalline phases was formed in the outermost surface region of the austenitic stainless steel tubes of SGs as an undesired consequence of the industrial application of the AP-CITROX decontamination technology during the period of 1993-2001. In this paper, we report some comparative findings on the corrosion and surface chemical effects of the AP-CITROX procedure and the novel decontamination technology elaborated at our institution. On optimizing the operational parameters the latter technology may become suitable for the effective decontamination of both dismountable (e.g., MCP swivel) and separable (e.g., SGs) equipments. For this purpose experiments were performed. In this laboratory scale experiments, the passivity, morphology and chemical compositions of the treated surfaces of tube specimens were investigated by voltammetry, and SEM-EDX methods, respectively. The SEM-EDX results have revealed that the oxide removal is surprisingly uniform even after 2 or 3 consecutive cycles. The electrochemical studies have provided evidences that no unfavorable tendencies in the general corrosion state of the tube samples can be detected in the course of the chemical treatments. © 2010 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.
Open Access: Yes
Chemical decontamination of steam generators used in nuclear power plants III. Comparative study of the corrosion and surface analytical effects of the decontamination technologies
Publication Name: Korrozios Figyelo
Publication Date: 2009-12-01
Volume: 49
Issue: 6
Page Range: 119-129
Description:
Our earlier publications have revealed that version of the AP-CITROX technology applied for chemical decontamination of the steam generators (SGs) of the Paks NPP was not adequately developed considering its chemical, analytic and corrosion aspects. To replace the AP-CITROX procedure, novel "soft" chemical decontamination technologies have been elaborated at the Institute of Radiochemistry and Radioecology of the University of Pannonia. Present paper deals with the comparative study of the corrosion and surface chemical effects of the novel chemical decontamination technologies. The chemical composition and morphology of the oxide layer formed on the inner side of the austenitic stainless steel specimens before and after the full decontamination process were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer (EDX). The passivity of the inner surfaces of the stainless steel samples was studied by voltammetry. The full decontamination cycle has been performed under laboratory conditions in a pilot plant circulation system elaborated earlier. In various steps of the chemical procedure the concentration of the main alloying components (Fe, Cr, Ni) dissolved from the surface oxide layer into the decontamination solutions was determined by ICP optical emission spectrometric (ICP-OES) method. Based upon the ICP-OES results the average thickness of the oxide layer removed from the surface into the solutions was calculated. The activity concentrations of the radionuclides (60Co, 58Co, 110Ag, 54Mn) measured in the decontamination solutions allow us to draw conclusions concerning the efficiency of the main steps of the technology and depth distribution of the radionuclides on the treated steel surfaces.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: DOI not available
Chemical decontamination of steam generators used in nuclear power plants II. Comprehensive investigation of the efficiency of used in nuclear power plants II. Comprehensive investigation of the efficiency of chemical decontamination technologies
Publication Name: Korrozios Figyelo
Publication Date: 2009-12-01
Volume: 49
Issue: 5
Page Range: 86-94
Description:
Our earlier publications have been focused on detailed explanation of the effects of the applied AP-CITROX chemical decontamination technology on the corrosion state and surface morphology of heat exchanger tubes of steam generators (SG). These studies have revealed that the industrial application of the decontamination technology results in the inhomogeneous dissolution of stainless steel surface, leading to the formation of oxide layer with undesired chemical composition and structure which exhibits potentially greater mobility in the primary coolant. Laboratory examinations have provided an independent verification of the formation of the so called "hybrid" structure. The first part of our three-part series has presented some selected findings on the corrosion and surface chemical effects of the AP-CITROX technology as well as the fundamental issues of the technology development. Present paper deals with the efficiency (mass transport and decontamination characteristics) of the novel chemical decontamination technologies elaborated for the treatment of the inner surface of SGs and regenerative heat exchangers of the water purification system No. 1. The third part of our series is scheduled to highlight some results obtained by laboratorial analysis of the effects of the two novel technologies on the corrosion state as well as on the structure and composition of surface oxide layer. Determining the radioactivity of specified nuclides in the solutions used for decontamination, important conclusions on the efficiency of the main technological steps as well as on the distribution of radionuclides in the depth of treated surface can be drawn.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: DOI not available
Long-term effects of the ap-citrox decontamination procedure on the protective oxide-layer formed on stainless steel
Publication Name: Korrozios Figyelo
Publication Date: 2007-07-09
Volume: 47
Issue: 3
Page Range: 62-72
Description:
Our previous studies have revealed that a "hybrid" structure of the amorphous and crystalline phases is formed in the outermost surface region of the austenitic stainless steel tubes of steam generators (SGs) as an undesired consequence of the industrial application of the AP-CITROX decontamination technology. The formation of this mobile oxide-layer increased the amount of the corrosion products in the primary circuit significantly (∼80 kg/block), resulting in magnetite deposition on fuel assemblies. As deposits blocked the cooling channels, the flow rate of water coolant through the reactor core decreased. Consequently, the power capacity of three nuclear reactor units had to be reduced, and full core fuel replacement became necessary. In the light of the above events, the present work gives a brief overview on the general corrosion state of the heat exchanger tubes of SGs, concerning the long-term effects of the AP-CITROX procedure on the chemical composition and structure of the protective oxide-layer. Owing to the fact that there is no investigation method available for the in-situ monitoring of the inner surfaces of heat exchanger tubes, a research project based on sampling as well as on ex-situ electrochemical and surface analytical measurements was elaborated. Within the frame of this project, comprehensive investigation of the general corrosion state and metallographic features of 36 stainless steel specimens, cut out from various locations of the four steam generators of the Paks NPP has been performed. Electrochemical (voltammetric) and surface analytical (SEM-EDX, CEMS, and XRD) results reveal that some beneficial changes in the corrosion properties, morphology and chemical composition of the inner surfaces of heat exchanger tubes can be observed in the time period of 2000-2006.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: DOI not available
