Investigating habitat value to inform contaminant remediation options: case study

Habitat valuation methods were implemented to support remedial decisions for aquatic and terrestrial contaminated sites at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) on the US Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge Reservation in Oak Ridge, TN, USA. The habitat valuation was undertaken for six contaminated sites: Contractor's Spoil Area, K-901-N Disposal Area, K-770 Scrapyard, K-1007-P1 pond, K-901 pond, and the Mitchell Branch stream. Four of these sites are within the industrial use area of ETTP and two are in the Black Oak Ridge Conservation Easement. These sites represent terrestrial and aquatic habitat for vertebrates, terrestrial habitat for plants, and aquatic habitat for benthic invertebrates. Current and potential future, no-action (no remediation) scenarios were evaluated primarily using existing information. Valuation metrics and scoring criteria were developed in a companion paper, this volume. The habitat valuation consists of extensive narratives, as well as scores for aspects of site use value, site rarity, and use value added from spatial context. Metrics for habitat value were expressed with respect to different spatial scales, depending on data availability. There was significant variation in habitat value among the six sites, among measures for different taxa at a single site, between measures of use and rarity at a single site, and among measures for particular taxa at a single site with respect to different spatial scales. Most sites had aspects of low, medium, and high habitat value. Few high scores for current use value were given. These include: wetland plant communities at all aquatic sites, Lepomid sunfish and waterbirds at 1007-P1 pond, and Lepomid sunfish and amphibians at K-901 pond. Aquatic sites create a high-value ecological corridor for waterbirds, and the Contractor's Spoil Area and possibly the K-901-N Disposal Site have areas that are part of a strong terrestrial ecological corridor. The only example of recent observations of rare species at these sites is the gray bat observed at the K-1007-P1 pond. Some aspects of habitat value are expected to improve under no-action scenarios at a few of the sites. Methods are applicable to other contaminated sites where sufficient ecological data are available for the site and region.     

Integration of traditional and innovative characterization techniques for flux-based assessment of Dense Non-aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) sites

Key attributes of the source zone and the expanding dissolved plume at a trichloroethene (TCE) site in Australia were evaluated using trends in groundwater monitoring data along with data from on-line volatile organic compound (VOC) samplers and passive flux meters (PFMs) deployed in selected wells. These data indicate that: (1) residual TCE source mass in the saturated zone, estimated using two innovative techniques, is small ( 10 kg), which is also reflected in small source mass discharge ( 3 g/day); (2) the plume is disconnecting, based on TCE concentration contours and TCE fluxes in wells along a longitudinal transect; (3) there is minimal biodegradation, based on TCE mass discharge of  6 g/day at a plume control plane  175 m from source, which is also consistent with aerobic geochemical conditions observed in the plume; and (4) residual TCE in the vadose zone provides episodic inputs of TCE mass to the plume during infiltration/recharge events. TCE flux data also suggest that the small residual TCE source mass is present in the low-permeability zones, thus making source treatment difficult. Our analysis, based on a synthesis of the archived data and new data, suggests that source treatment is unwarranted, and that containment of the large TCE plume ( 1.2 km long,  0.3 km wide; 17 m deep;  2000–2500 kg TCE mass) or institutional controls, along with a long-term flux monitoring program, might be necessary. The flux-based site management approach outlined in this paper provides a novel way of looking beyond the complexities of groundwater contamination in heterogeneous domains, to make intelligent and informed site decisions based on strategic measurement of the appropriate metrics.     

Effects of probiotic bacteria on the bioaccessibility of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A using an in vitro digestion model under fed conditions

In the present study, we aimed at determining the release of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) and ochratoxin A (OTA) from different food products in the gastro-intestinal tract in the absence and presence of probiotics, a possible adsorbent. The average bioaccessibility of AFB₁ and OTA without probiotics was about 90%, and 30%, respectively, depending on several factors, such as food product, contamination level, compound and type of contamination (spiked versus naturally contaminated). The six probiotic bacteria showed varying binding capacity to AFB₁ and OTA depending on the bacterial strain, toxin studied, type of food and contamination level. A reduction to a maximum of 37% and 73% as observed for the bioaccessibility of AFB₁ and OTA in the presence of probiotic bacteria, respectively. This is the first report on the effect of probiotic bacteria on reducing the fraction of mycotoxins available for absorption in the gastrointestinal tract from different food products.     

Monitoring of the microbial community composition in saline aquifers during CO2 storage by fluorescence in situ hybridisation

This study reveals the first analyses of the composition and activity of the microbial community of a saline CO₂ storage aquifer. Microbial monitoring during CO₂ injection has been reported. By using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), we have shown that the microbial community was strongly influenced by the CO₂ injection. Before CO₂ arrival, up to 6 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹ were detected by DAPI staining at a depth of 647 m below the surface. The microbial community was dominated by the domain Bacteria that represented approximately 60% to 90% of the total cell number, with Proteobacteria and Firmicutes as the most abundant phyla comprising up to 47% and 45% of the entire population, respectively. Both the total cell counts as well as the counts of the specific physiological groups revealed quantitative and qualitative changes after CO₂ arrival. Our study revealed temporal outcompetition of sulphate-reducing bacteria by methanogenic archaea. In addition, an enhanced activity of the microbial population after five months CO₂ storage indicated that the bacterial community was able to adapt to the extreme conditions of the deep biosphere and to the extreme changes of these atypical conditions.     

From mute to reflective: changing governmentality in St Petersburg and the priorities of Russian environmental planning

This paper analyses, by using a constructivist methodology, how sustainability is perceived by Russian urban and regional planners and how environmental planning is understood on a discursive level. The planning discourse, which was reconstructed primarily with the help of 14 thematic interviews undertaken in St Petersburg, is positioned on the axes of the triangle of planning contradictions. The analysis shows that the promoted planning paradigm – the interpretations about the priorities of environmental planning – stem from the expert-centred approach of the Soviet era, and poorly suits the changing governmentality of St Petersburg. Due to regime changes, a significant step from a mute to a reflective governmentality was taken in St Petersburg, but the professional planning discourse is in conflict with this context reality and prohibits a more sustainable planning standpoint from developing.     

浙江省上虞市水资源分析及饮用水水源地水质现状评价研究

本文通过大量的基础数据调研,获取了浙江省上虞市水资源现状及饮用水水源地水质现状的第一手资料,对当地的水资源空间分布现状及水资源平衡进行了科学分析,并结合当地的社会经济发展趋势及城市发展中的用水需求增长趋势,提出了科学合理的水源地建设与保护建议。自2009年6月起,对汤浦水库、四明湖水库、隐潭溪、下管溪、总干渠等5个水源地进行了长期连续监测,为进一步保护优质水源地,城乡统筹一体化供水系统的建设提供科学依据。监测结果表明,作为重要备用水源地的总干渠目前呈现有机微污染特征,需要加强水源保护区内的环境管理,尽快设立水源保护区,确定合理的入河污染物的源头削减任务,以确保2010年前达到水功能区的水质目标。     

对长江防洪规划的思考

在初步分析长江１９９８年水情与防汛情况的基础上，对长江防洪体系中各项措施的情况作了研究，说明在９８年抗洪斗争中已建控制性水利枢纽发挥了较好的作用，如三峡工程已建成则防汛情势会有本质变化；长江主要堤防均保证了安全，出险多的是一些保护面积相对小的堤段；分蓄洪区安全建设严重滞后，从而难以决策实施计划分洪：“平垸行洪，退田还湖”应区别对待，植树造林，水土保持很严重，但不是影响９８年洪水的主要因素。长江防洪     

日地环境对人类自发攻击性事件的影响

考察了日地空间物理环境扰动与人类自发攻击性群体性事件发生率之间相关性。统计分析发现，两者之间的相关程度很高，历元叠加后相关系数可达０．８４和０．７９、这表明日地空间物理环境对人类攻击性本能和情绪具有显著的调节作用，导致全球自发攻击性群体事件年发生率具有１１ａ准周期波动特征。其作用机制可能是地磁场活动和大气温度的影响。     

石油野外作业工人体力劳动强度分级调查

据ＧＢ３８６９—８３标准对江汉油田测量、地震、钻井、井下四类野外作业３４名工人、２４个工种进行了体力劳动强度分级调查，其结果：测量作业为Ⅰ～Ⅱ级；钻井作业Ⅱ级占５／８，Ⅲ级占１／４；井下作业Ⅲ级占２／３；地震作业Ⅲ、Ⅳ级各占４／９、２／９。说明前两类基本属中等强度劳动，后两类大部分属重强度劳动。     

建筑施工伤亡事故现状、原因及其对策

应用安全系统工程学原理及方法分析建筑行业伤亡事故增多的根本原因；综合阐述建筑安全的基本对策，以求标本兼治，使建筑施工伤亡严峻形势得到根本好转