Fate of radiocesium in sewage treatment process released by the nuclear accident at Fukushima

The nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) which occurred after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011 resulted in releases of radionuclides such as ¹³⁴Cs (half-life:T_1/2 = 2.06 yr), ¹³⁷Cs (T_1/2 = 30.04 yr) and ¹³¹I (T_1/2 = 8.05 d) to the environment. For this paper, we observed the monthly variations of radiocesium (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) and stable Cs concentrations in influent, effluent, sewage sludge, and sludge ash collected from a sewage treatment plant 280 km north of the FDNPP from July to December, 2011. Using the stable Cs results, we concluded the mass balance of Cs in the sewage treatment plant showed that about 10% of the Cs entering the sewage treatment plant would be transferred to the sewage sludge, and then Cs in the sewage sludge was totally recovered in the sludge ash. The behavior of Cs was similar to that of Rb, but it was not similar to that of K in the sewage treatment process.     

Water at interfaces

Electrolyte cations and anions in aqueous solutions are hydrogen bond breaker. We found that most of anions are strong hydrogen bond breaker whereas cations are not. Further, the electro-reduction of Mg(H₂O)₆²⁺ to Mg(OH)₂ and the growth of the Mg(OH)₂ were observed on Au electrode surface at negative electrode potential. Water molecules in an electric double layer exhibit an ordered and a disordered structure at negative and pzc (point of zero charge) potentials, respectively. Therefore, electrode potential polarization (negative or pzc potential application) from an equilibrium potential operates an electrified interface to cause increased or decreased ordering, orientation and charge transfer of water molecules as well as dissociation of water on the electrode surface.     

N2O Emissions at Solid Waste Disposal Sites in Osaka City

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a trace gas contributing to stratospheric ozone depletion and global warming. Although a large quantity of information exists about N₂O emissions from various ecosystems, this study was initiated to demonstrate the features of N₂O emissions from sea-based waste disposal sites in Osaka City in relation to CH₄ emissions.

Average N₂O emissions at an active landfill (S-Site) were several times higher than those at a closed landfill (N Site). Average CH₄ emissions were also much greater at the S-Site. Regarding the nature of N₂O emissions, remarkable emissions often were observed with aerobic waste layers at the N-Site, suggesting almost inversely related N₂O emissions with CH₄ production at the N-Site. However, at the S-Site a few exceptionally high N₂O emissions were noted in cases of high CH₄ emissions.     

Bringing analysis of gender and social–ecological resilience together in small-scale fisheries research: Challenges and opportunities

The demand for gender analysis is now increasingly orthodox in natural resource programming, including that for small-scale fisheries. Whilst the analysis of social–ecological resilience has made valuable contributions to integrating social dimensions into research and policy-making on natural resource management, it has so far demonstrated limited success in effectively integrating considerations of gender equity. This paper reviews the challenges in, and opportunities for, bringing a gender analysis together with social–ecological resilience analysis in the context of small-scale fisheries research in developing countries. We conclude that rather than searching for a single unifying framework for gender and resilience analysis, it will be more effective to pursue a plural solution in which closer engagement is fostered between analysis of gender and social-ecological resilience whilst preserving the strengths of each approach. This approach can make an important contribution to developing a better evidence base for small-scale fisheries management and policy.     

Photocatalytic decomposition of crotamiton over aqueous TiO(2) suspensions: determination of intermediates and the reaction pathway

The photocatalytic degradation of crotamiton in aqueous solution using TiO₂ was investigated. To investigate the effect of initial pH, the photodegradation behaviors of three types of pharmaceuticals were compared (crotamiton, clofibric acid, sulfamethoxazole). The degradation rates of crotamiton in the pH range 3-9 were nearly equal, but those of clofibric acid and sulfamethoxazole were affected by pH. At pH > 6.5, TiO₂ particles, clofibric acid and sulfamethoxazole had negative charge, therefore, the repulsive force between TiO₂ particles and anionic pharmaceuticals occurred and a low reaction rate at high pH was observed. The effect of UV intensity and TiO₂ concentration on photodegradation efficiency was also investigated. Linear and logarithmical relationships between UV intensity, TiO₂ concentration and the reaction rate constant were confirmed. Furthermore, the structures of photodegradation intermediates formed concomitantly with the disappearance of crotamiton were estimated. Seven intermediates were characterized by LC/MS/MS analyses, and it was assumed that the photocatalytic degradation of crotamiton was initiated by the attack of electrophilic hydroxyl radicals on aromatic rings and alkyl chains.     

Lysis of cyanobacteria with volatile organic compounds

One of bacteria collected from Lake Sagami, Japan, Brevibacillus sp., was found to have a lytic activity of cyanobacteria, but did not produce active compounds. Instead, the co-culturing of Microcystis with the Brevibacillus sp. enhanced the production of two volatile compounds, beta-cyclocitral and 3-methyl-1-butanol, and the former had a characteristic lytic activity. It was confirmed that these volatile compounds were derived from the cyanobacteria themselves. beta-Ionone, geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol derived from cyanobacteria and similar volatile compounds, terpenoids, produced by plants also had a lytic activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration values of the cyanobacterial metabolites were estimated to be higher than those of compounds from plants except for a few compounds. Among them, beta-cyclocitral only produced a characteristic color change of culture broth from green to blue. This color change is similar to the phenomenon observed when a sudden decline in growth of cyanobacteria begins in a natural environment.