Measurement of black carbon (BC) by an optical method and a thermal-optical method: Intercomparison for four sites

Comparison of black carbon (BC) measurements obtained by two methods was performed for aerosols samples collected on Whatman 41 (W-41) filters, using an optical method (Magee Scientific Optical Transmissometer Model OT-21) and a thermal-optical method (Sunset Laboratory Thermal-optical analyzer). Samples were collected from four sites: Albany (a small urban site, NY), Antalya (coastal site, Turkey), Whiteface Mountain (remote site, NY) and Mayville (rural site, NY). At Albany, comparison between the two methods showed excellent agreement; a least-squares regression line yielded a slope of 1.02, and r² = 0.88. Similar comparisons at Antalya (slope of 1.02, r² = 0.5) and Whiteface Mountain (slope of 0.92 and r² = 0.58) also gave very good relationship. At Mayville, the relationship between the two methods yielded somewhat lower regression: a slope of 0.75, and r² = 0.44. The data from the four locations, when plotted together, yielded an excellent agreement: a slope of 0.91, and r² of 0.84. Based on our measurements, it appears that optical measurement using the OT-21 can be successfully applied to determination of BC in W-41 filters. However, because of the variability in the chemical composition of BC aerosol at different locations, it is suggested that the calibration of OT-21 when using W-41 filters should be performed with a statistically significant numbers of samples for specific sites.     

Determination of elemental carbon in lake sediments using a thermal–optical transmittance (TOT) method

An improved chemical oxidation pretreatment method has been developed for the determination of elemental carbon (EC) [also known as black carbon (BC) or soot] in lake sediments, using a thermal–optical transmittance (TOT) carbon analyzer. The method employs six steps: (1) removal of carbonates by treatment with HCl; (2) removal of silicates by treatment with HF + HCl; (3) removal of any remaining carbonates by treatment with HCl; (4) removal of humic acids by treatment with NaOH; and (5) oxidation of kerogens by K₂Cr₂O₇ + H₂SO₄. A critical step of zinc chloride treatment was added; this apparently changes EC's morphology and enhances retention on quartz fiber filter, resulting in several-fold increased chemical yield. EC was determined using the TOT method with modified combustion timings. Carbon black (acetylene) and four NIST standard reference materials (SRMs) were used for quality control, and to assess the precision of the analysis. The EC recoveries from 18 carbon black samples varied from 90 to 111%, with a mean value of 99 ± 6%. The high EC recoveries confirmed the validity of the method. Char reference materials (i.e. chestnut wood and grass char) were used to determine potential contribution to EC in our measurements. The char references containing about 700 mg total organic carbon (OC) contributed ～1.5% EC. The measured EC values from four NIST standards were 17.0 ± 0.6, 24.2 ± 3.2, 5.6, and 1.9 ± 0.1 mg g_dw^?1 for SRM-1648, SRM-1649a, SRM-1941b and SRM-8704, respectively. These values in SRMs were in agreement (<±4%) with the previously reported values. The method was applied to determine the EC in sediment cores from an urban lake and a remote mountain lake in the Northeastern United States. The EC concentrations in two lakes mimic the model EC emissions from the industrial revolution in United States.     

Effects of ozone on growth, yield and leaf gas exchange rates of four Bangladeshi cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

To assess the effects of tropospheric O₃ on rice cultivated in Bangladesh, four Bangladeshi cultivars (BR11, BR14, BR28 and BR29) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) were exposed daily to charcoal-filtered air or O₃ at 60 and 100 nl l⁻¹ (10:00-17:00) from 1 July to 28 November 2008. The whole-plant dry mass and grain yield per plant of the four cultivars were significantly reduced by the exposure to O₃. The exposure to O₃ significantly reduced net photosynthetic rate of the 12th and flag leaves of the four cultivars. The sensitivity to O₃ of growth, yield and leaf gas exchange rates was not significantly different among the four cultivars. The present study suggests that the sensitivity to O₃ of yield of the four Bangladeshi rice cultivars is greater than that of American rice cultivars and is similar to that of Japanese rice cultivars and that O₃ may detrimentally affect rice production in Bangladesh.     

Distribution and risk assessment of organochlorine contaminants in surface water from River Chenab, Pakistan

Concentrations in surface waters (including particulate phase) of the River Chenab ranged from 27-1100 ng L(-1) and 25-1200 ng L(-1) for OCPs and 7.7-110 ng L(-1) and 13-99 ng L(-1) for PCBs during summer and winter, respectively from 2007-2009. DDTs exhibited the highest concentration, followed by HCHs > chlordane > ∑(24)PCBs > ∑other OCPs. Different indicative ratios for organochlorines suggest that current use, long range transport and also past application of these chemicals contribute to the total burden. Statistical analysis highlighted agricultural and industrial activities and municipal waste disposal as main sources of OCPs and PCBs in the riverine ecosystem of the River Chenab. Risk Quotients (RQ(CCCs)) > 10 for DDTs and PCBs levels in collected water samples from the River Chenab suggest that risk from DDTs and PCBs is moderate to severe and fluxes calculated for OCPs and PCBs from the River Chenab to the Indus River were 7.5 tons per year and 1.0 tons per year, respectively.     

Revealing empirical association among ecological footprints,renewable energy consumption,real income,and financial development: a global perspective

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study quantifies the effect of real income, financial development, trade openness, and renewable energy consumption on the ecological footprint...     

Spectroscopic Analysis of Ultraviolet Lamps for Disinfection of Air in Hospitals

In order to have feasibility study of ultraviolet lamps for air disinfection in hospitals, a number of lamps were studied spectroscopically. It was required to understand if these lamps really emitted 253.7 nm. Was the radiation intense enough to disinfect the surrounding air in the hospital? And to know about the percent transmission of the UV rays through the glass of the lamps. The intensity and UV dose were calculated at various distances in air from the lamps. While putting 1-min exposure time in the reciprocity law, the intensity/distance and dose/distance graphs were drawn for various lamps. From the trend line of the graph the distance at which the lamp emitted 10 μW/cm² was calculated. In this study the 1-min exposure time was considered, using the Riley’s designed upper room air disinfection data for 90% kill rate. In the light of the results these lamps were considered fit to be installed either in the air ducts or in the upper room at certain distances for air disinfection, and suggestions were given for the improvement of the system proposed.     

Start-up performance of a full-scale bioreactor landfill cell under cold-climate conditions

A 0.49-ha bioreactor landfill cell containing approximately 32,400 metric tons of municipal solid waste was constructed and operated at the Northern Oaks Recycling and Disposal Facility in Harrison, Michigan, USA. Design of this full-scale research cell included a network of 48 temperature and moisture sensors, leachate collection basins, and gas sampling ports, which provided for continuous temperature and moisture data and periodic measurements of both the quantity and composition of the leachate and gas produced. The data indicated that methane generation started approximately 3 months after filling in lifts that were placed during summer, but not until 8 months for those filled during the winter. Temperature data indicated that near-0 degrees C temperatures persisted within the lifts filled during winter for more than 6 months, and that gas production was minimal during this period. These results suggest that in addition to maintaining optimal moisture levels within the waste mass, temperature control must be a key design consideration in cold climates.     

Effect of manganese on the concentration of amino acids in different regions of the rat brain

Abstract

The present study was designed to determine if chronic exposure of weanlings and adult rats to Mn produces significant alterations in amino acid concentrations in different regions of the rat brain. Weanling (30 day old) and adult (90 day old) male rats were exposed to 10 and 20 mg Mn/kg body weight per day, by gavage, for 30 days. Forty‐ eight hours after the last dose, animals were sacrificed by decapitation and brains were dissected into different regions to determine the concentration of amino acids by HPLC/EC. A dose dependent decrease in body weight gain was found in the adult, but not in the weanling rats. Significant increases occurred in concentrations of aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, taurine and y‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the cerebellum of the adult rats dosed with 20 mg/kg per day, Mn. A significant decrease in the concentration of glutamine was observed in caudate nucleus and hippocampus of weanling rats dosed with 10 mg/kg, Mn. These data suggest that chronic Mn exposure can produce a decrease in body weight gain in adult rats and alterations in amino acids in different regions of weanling and adult rat brains.     

Book review

Residues of some veterinary drugs in animals and foods

FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 41/5 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome 1993. 177 + xiii pages. $20.00 soft cover. ISBN # 92–5–103288–2     

Influence of ferrochrome ash on mechanical and microstructure properties of ambient cured fly ash-based geopolymer concrete

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Earlier studies indicated that the reactive MgO reduces shrinkage crack and porosity, and accelerates the hydration and strength development....