Effect of field exposure to 38-year-old residual petroleum hydrocarbons on growth, condition index, and filtration rate of the ribbed mussel, Geukensia demissa

In September 1969, the Florida barge spilled 700,000 L of No. 2 fuel oil into the salt marsh sediments of Wild Harbor, MA. Today a substantial amount, approximately 100 kg, of moderately degraded petroleum remains within the sediment and along eroding creek banks. The ribbed mussels, Geukensia demissa, which inhabit the salt marsh creek bank, are exposed to the spilled oil. Examination of short-term exposure was done with transplantation of G. demissa from a control site, Great Sippewissett marsh, into Wild Harbor. We also examined the effects of long-term exposure with transplantation of mussels from Wild Harbor into Great Sippewissett. Both the short- and long-term exposure transplants exhibited slower growth rates, shorter mean shell lengths, lower condition indices, and decreased filtration rates. The results add new knowledge about long-term consequences of spilled oil, a dimension that should be included when assessing oil-impacted areas and developing management plans designed to restore, rehabilitate, or replace impacted areas.     

Emission study of a diesel engine fueled with higher alcohol-biodiesel blended fuels

This work examines the effect of butanol (higher alcohol) on the emission pattern of neat neem oil biodiesel (NBD100) fueled diesel engine. Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, research diesel engine was employed to conduct the trial. Blends comprising the mixture of biodiesel and higher alcohol were prepared by employing an ultrasonic agitator. Four test fuels such as neat neem oil biodiesel, diesel, and two blends of higher alcohol/neem oil biodiesel: 10% and 20% (by volume). Experimental result showed that increasing alcohol content to biodiesel brought down the various emissions such as Smoke, NO_x, HC, and CO by 6.8%, 10.4%, 8.6%, and 5.9%, respectively, at all loads. It was also concluded from the trail that a 20% higher alcohol/neem oil biodiesel blends show the promising signs in reducing all the emissions associated with biodiesel fuelled diesel engine.     

Observed trends for CF3-containing compounds in background air at Cape Meares, Oregon, Point Barrow, Alaska, and Palmer Station, Antarctica

The concentrations of CF(3)-containing compounds in archived air samples collected at Cape Meares, Oregon, from 1978 to 1997, at Point Barrow, Alaska, from 1995 to 1998, and at Palmer Station, Antarctica, from 1991 to 1997, were determined by high resolution gas chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry. The CF(3)-containing compounds measured by this method and discussed here are: the perfluorinated compound, C(3)F(8) (FC 218); four perhalogenated compounds, CF(3)Cl (CFC 13), CF(3)CF(2)Cl (CFC 115), CF(3)CFCl(2) (CFC 114a), and CF(3)Br (Halon 1301); and three hydrofluorocompounds, CF(3)H (HFC 23), CF(3)CH(3) (HFC 143a), and CF(3)CH(2)F (HFC 134a). For four of these compounds, very few measurements have been previously reported. The atmospheric concentrations of all of the CF(3)-containing compounds continuously increased in time over the sample collection periods. From these data, the annual rates of emission into the atmosphere have been estimated. The emission rates fall into one of three distinct categories. The annual emission rates of C(3)F(8), CF(3)H, CF(3)CH(3), and CF(3)CH(2)F have continuously increased over the last two decades. That of CF(3)CFCl(2) has decreased continuously. Emission rates for CF(3)Cl, CF(3)CF(2)Cl, and CF(3)Br reached maximum levels in the late 1980s, and have been decreasing in the 1990s. The emission rates of C(3)F(8), CF(3)CH(3) and CF(3)CH(2)F were nearly zero 20 years ago but have increased rapidly during the last decade.