Source characterization of ambient fine particles at multiple sites in the Seattle area

To identify major PM_2.5 (particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter) sources with a particular emphasis on the ship engine emissions from a major port, integrated 24 h PM_2.5 speciation data collected between 2000 and 2005 at five United State Environmental Protection Agency's Speciation Trends Network monitoring sites in Seattle, WA were analyzed. Seven to ten PM_2.5 sources were identified through the application of positive matrix factorization (PMF). Secondary particles (12–26% for secondary nitrate; 17–20% for secondary sulfate) and gasoline vehicle emissions (13–31%) made the largest contributions to the PM_2.5 mass concentrations at all of the monitoring sites except for the residential Lake Forest site, where wood smoke contributed the most PM_2.5 mass (31%). Other identified sources include diesel vehicle emissions, airborne soil, residual oil combustion, sea salt, aged sea salt, metal processing, and cement kiln. Residual oil combustion sources identified at multiple monitoring sites point clearly to the Port of Seattle suggesting ship emissions as the source of oil combustion particles. In addition, the relationship between sulfate concentrations and the oil combustion emissions indicated contributions of ship emissions to the local sulfate concentrations. The analysis of spatial variability of PM_2.5 sources shows that the spatial distributions of several PM_2.5 sources were heterogeneous within a given air shed.     

Characterization of marker chromosomes by microdissection and fluorescence in situ hybridization

We characterized by microdissection and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) two marker chromosomes: (1) a de novo, acrocentric marker chromosome detected in 88 per cent of the amniotic fluid cells of one of two physically and developmentally normal twins; and (2) a metacentric marker chromosome present in a phenotypically normal female. Analysis of FISH probes developed from the marker chromosomes indicated that the marker chromosomes in cases 1 and 2 were del(14)(q11) and a derivative chromosome from a Robertsonian translocation, respectively. Microdissection in combination with FISH may prove to be a valuable technique in determining the chromosomal origin of de novo marker chromosomes and unbalanced structural rearrangements detected during prenatal diagnosis.     

Congenital nephrosis in low-risk pregnancies

Congenital nephrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder requiring neonatal renal transplant for survival. The postnatal diagnosis rests upon the electron microscopic evaluation of the epithelial foot processes and basal membrane of the glomeruli. The prenatal diagnosis can be suspected in the presence of a positive family history with an amniotic fluid (AF) alpha-fetoprotein level greater than 5 standard deviations (SD) above the population mean accompanied by a negative AF acetylcholinesterase, absent haemoglobin F, and an unremarkable fetal sonographic examination. We reviewed our series of seven cases of congenital nephrosis fulfilling the above criteria; four cases had negative family histories, and in two cases the diagnosis of congenital nephrosis was further supported by the presence of elevated AF albumin concentrations. We conclude that (1) the prenatal diagnosis of congenital nephrosis is feasible in a low-risk population, and (2) an elevated AF albumin concentration may represent an additional marker for the diagnosis of congenital nephrosis, even though false-negative results have been reported.     

QUALITY OF HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL DATA IN COLD REGIONS1

ABSTRACT: Many users of hydrometeorological records are not aware of the number of inconsistencies and biases that occur in hydrometeorological records. Examples are presented illustrating how the exposures of sites for measurement of precipitation, wind, snow on the ground, and evaporation determine to a large extent how useful the records are for estimating areal conditions. For areas where precipitation in the form of snow produces a significant portion of the runoff, a smaller number of quality records may be more valuable for modeling than a much larger number of records of lower quality. Information is presented to show that the overall value of an operational hydrometeorological network is dependent upon how consistent and representative of average conditions the collected records are, especially for mountainous areas in cold regions.     

Growth performance and proximate profile of Telfairia occidentalis Hook F. (cucurbitaceae) grown in crude oil‒contaminated soil

In this study, the growth performance and nutritional quality of Telfairia occidentalis planted in soil polluted with varied levels of water‐soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil (Bonny light) were evaluated to assess the effectiveness of organic nutrients (poultry manure and sawdust) in the phytore mediation of WSF‐contaminated soil. The results showed that WSF application delayed germination of vegetables. However, treatment of soils with organic nutrients enhanced the germination rate of vegetables, promoted greenish coloration of leafs and increased the levels of energy‐yielding macronutrients (carbohydrate, lipid, and protein). Also, soils supplemented with poultry manure gave the highest caloric values for all the percentages of WSF studied, followed by sawdust. Our findings suggest that the adverse effects of WSF on soil could be remediated through organic nutrient supplementation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Accumulation of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the polychaete Paraprionospio sp. from the Yodo River mouth,Osaka Bay,Japan

This study presents the levels of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) accumulated by Paraprionospio sp. from the Yodo River mouth, Osaka Bay. Since high concentrations of nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BP), octylphenol (OP), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estrone (E1) have been measured in sediment from Osaka Bay, some bioaccumulation could be expected particularly in benthic animals. EDCs were analysed in Paraprionospio sp., a dominant benthic species in Osaka Bay. The results showed that Paraprionospio sp. had accumulated varying concentrations (wet weight; w.w.) of NP at 1,460–4,410 ng/g; BP at 22.5–39.6 ng/g; OP at 18.9–45.4 ng/g; E2 at 0.89–4.35 ng/g; and E1 at 0.06–2.50 ng/g. Accumulation of NP and OP were highest among the samples gathered in summer (July 2008), while concentrations of BP, E2, and E1 did not much differs within 3 years. EDC levels in Paraprionospio sp. were apparently greater than those in sediments showing bioaccumulation.     

Sources of Fine Particulate Species in Ambient Air over Lake Champlain Basin,VT

Abstract

This study is a part of an ongoing investigation of the types and locations of emission sources that contribute fine particulate air contaminants to Underhill, VT. The air quality monitoring data used for this study are from the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments network for the period of 2001–2003 for the Underhill site. The main source-receptor modeling techniques used are the positive matrix factorization (PMF) and potential source contribution function (PSCF). This new study is intended as a comparison to a previous study of the 1988–1995 Underhill data that successfully revealed a total of 11 types of emission sources with significant contributions to this rural site. This new study has identified a total of nine sources: nitrate-rich secondary aerosol, wood smoke, East Coast oil combustion, automobile emission, metal working, soil/dust, sulfur-rich aerosol type I, sulfur-rich aerosol type II, and sea salt/road salt. Furthermore, the mass contributions from the PMF identified sources that correspond with sampling days with either good or poor visibility were analyzed to seek possible correlations. It has been shown that sulfur-rich aerosol type I, nitrate aerosol, and automobile emission are the most important contributors to visibility degradation. Soil/dust and sea salt/road salt also have an added effect.     

Greenhouse gas emissions from waste management--assessment of quantification methods

Of the many sources of urban greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, solid waste is the only one for which management decisions are undertaken primarily by municipal governments themselves and is hence often the largest component of cities' corporate inventories. It is essential that decision-makers select an appropriate quantification methodology and have an appreciation of methodological strengths and shortcomings. This work compares four different waste emissions quantification methods, including Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1996 guidelines, IPCC 2006 guidelines, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Waste Reduction Model (WARM), and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities-Partners for Climate Protection (FCM-PCP) quantification tool. Waste disposal data for the greater Toronto area (GTA) in 2005 are used for all methodologies; treatment options (including landfill, incineration, compost, and anaerobic digestion) are examined where available in methodologies. Landfill was shown to be the greatest source of GHG emissions, contributing more than three-quarters of total emissions associated with waste management. Results from the different landfill gas (LFG) quantification approaches ranged from an emissions source of 557 kt carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) (FCM-PCP) to a carbon sink of -53 kt CO2e (EPA WARM). Similar values were obtained between IPCC approaches. The IPCC 2006 method was found to be more appropriate for inventorying applications because it uses a waste-in-place (WIP) approach, rather than a methane commitment (MC) approach, despite perceived onerous data requirements for WIP. MC approaches were found to be useful from a planning standpoint; however, uncertainty associated with their projections of future parameter values limits their applicability for GHG inventorying. MC and WIP methods provided similar results in this case study; however, this is case specific because of similarity in assumptions of present and future landfill parameters and quantities of annual waste deposited in recent years being relatively consistent.     

Modeling wetland loss in coastal Louisiana: Geology,geography, and human modifications

Habitat change in coastal Louisiana from 1955/6 to 1978 was analyzed to determine the influence of geological and man-made changes on landscape patterns within 7.5 min quadrangle maps. Three quantitative analyses were used: principal components anlaysis, multiple regression analysis, and cluster analysis.Regional differences in land loss rates reflect variations in geology and the deltaic growth/decay cycles, man-induced chages in hydrology (principally canal dredging and spoil banking), and land-use changes (principally urbanization and agricultural expansion). The coastal zone is not homogeneous with respect to these variables and the interaction between causal factors leading to wetland loss is therefore locally variable and complex.The relationship between wetland loss, hydrologic changes, and geology can be described with statistically meaningful results, even though these data are insufficient to precisely quantify the relationship. However, these data support the hypothesis that the indirect impacts of man-induced changes (hydrologic and land use) may be as influential as the direct impacts resulting in converting wetlands to open water (canals) or modified (impounded) habitat.Three regions within the Louisiana coastal zone can be defined, based on the potential causal factors used in the analyses. The moderate (mean = 22%) wetland loss rates in region 1 are a result of relatively high canal density and developed area in marshes which overlie sediments of moderate age and depth; local geology acts, in this case, to lessen indirect impacts. On the other hand, wetland loss rates in region 2 are high (mean = 36%), despite fewer man-induced impacts; the potential for increased wetland loss due to both direct and indirect effects of man's activity in these areas is high. Conversely, wetland loss (mean = 20%) in region 3 is apparently least influenced by man's activity in the coastal zone because of sedimentary geology (old, thin sediments), even though these areas have already experienced significant direct habitat alteration and wetland loss.