Porous material based on modified carbon and the effect of pore size distribution on the adsorption of methylene blue dye from an aqueous solution

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Carbon porous materials obtained through KOH activation of a furfural?+?hydroquinone?+?urotropine mixture were applied as...     

Growth of northern deciduous trees under increasing atmospheric humidity: possible mechanisms behind the growth retardation

Regional Environmental Change - Increasing atmospheric humidity—a climate trend predicted for northern Europe—will reduce water flux through vegetation. Diminished transpirational water...     

Monetary assessment of the recreational benefits of improved water quality – description of a new model and a case study

The European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) has created a demand for comparing the benefits and costs of the remedial measures. A major part of the benefits from improved water quality relate to the increased recreational value. However, there is a lack of easily operative and widely applicable quantitative methods to assess the benefits of improved water quality for recreational use. We present a new model to link physical indicators of water quality, water feasibility indicators for different recreational uses, individuals’ perceptions concerning the current feasibility of water for recreational purposes and monetary measures of water-related recreation benefits. The model has been applied to nine lakes, three rivers and one large coastal area in Finland. In this paper, we present the principles of the method and the results from one case study. In Finland, the method has been applied for the economic analysis required in the WFD.     

Leaf size and surface characteristics of Betula papyrifera exposed to elevated CO2 and O3

Betula papyrifera trees were exposed to elevated concentrations of CO₂ (1.4 × ambient), O₃ (1.2 × ambient) or CO₂ + O₃ at the Aspen Free-air CO₂ Enrichment Experiment. The treatment effects on leaf surface characteristics were studied after nine years of tree exposure. CO₂ and O₃ increased epidermal cell size and reduced epidermal cell density but leaf size was not altered. Stomatal density remained unaffected, but stomatal index increased under elevated CO₂. Cuticular ridges and epicuticular wax crystallites were less evident under CO₂ and CO₂ + O₃. The increase in amorphous deposits, particularly under CO₂ + O_3, was associated with the appearance of elongated plate crystallites in stomatal chambers. Increased proportions of alkyl esters resulted from increased esterification of fatty acids and alcohols under elevated CO₂ + O₃. The combination of elevated CO₂ and O₃ resulted in different responses than expected under exposure to CO₂ or O₃ alone.     

Identification of some plasticizers compounds in landfill leachate

In this work it was described a simple method for extraction of plasticizer compounds (mainly phthalate esters and bisphenol A (BPA)) from landfill leachate samples. The samples were submitted to an extraction procedures based on precipitation, solid phase extraction (SPE) and ionic exchange chromatography (IEC). Firstly the landfill leachate sample was acidified by addition of HCl concentrated, in order to precipitate the organic compounds that are less soluble in water. The precipitate was washed with several solvents. The aqueous phase was then submitted to SPE with XAD-4 resin and IEC with Amberlyst A-27 resin. The instrumental analysis was performed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometer detector (GC/MSD) and the compounds were identified by the GC/MSD library (Wiley) and by using some standard substances. These methodologies allow the isolation and identification of the following compounds: dioctylphthalate, diisobutilphthalate, BPA, benzoic acid, palmitic acid and diisopentylphthalate. The methods are very simple, rapid and selective, for plasticizers extraction from landfill leachate matrices.     

Growth, leaf traits and litter decomposition of roadside hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L.× P. tremuloides Michx.) clones

Road traffic contributes considerably to ground-level air pollution and is therefore likely to affect roadside ecosystems. Differences in growth and leaf traits among 13 hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × P. tremuloides) clones were studied in relation to distance from a motorway. The trees sampled were growing 15 and 30 m from a motorway and at a background rural site in southern Finland. Litter decomposition was also measured at both the roadside and rural sites. Height and diameter growth rate and specific leaf area were lowest, and epicuticular wax amount highest in trees growing 15 m from the motorway. Although no significant distance × clone interactions were detected, clone-based analyses indicated differences in genotypic responses to motorway proximity. Leaf N concentration did not differ with distance from the motorway for any of the clones. Leaf litter decomposition was only temporarily retarded in the roadside environment, suggesting minor effects on nutrient cycling.     

Photocatalytic oxidation of humic substances with TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-coated glass micro-spheres

The photocatalytic oxidation of humic substances in aqueous solutions and natural waters with TiO₂ attached to buoyant, hollow glass micro-spheres was studied. A maximum oxidation efficiency of 3.6 mg W^–1 h^–1 was achieved in neutral or alkaline media at a plane surface concentration of the catalyst attached to the micro-spheres of 25 g m^–2. Proceeding by different mechanisms in acidic and alkaline media, the photocatalytic oxidation efficiency did not benefit from an excessive presence of hydroxyl radical promoters, hydrogen peroxide and alkali.     

Leading indicators of system safety – Monitoring and driving the organizational safety potential

An indicator can be considered any measure – quantitative or qualitative – that seeks to produce information on an issue of interest. Safety indicators can play a key role in providing information on organizational performance, motivating people to work on safety and increasing organizational potential for safety. We will describe the challenges of monitoring and driving system safety. Currently, the same lead indicators are used – explicitly or implicitly – for both purposes. The fact that the selection and use of safety performance indicators is always based on a certain understanding (a model) of the sociotechnical system and safety is often forgotten. We present a theoretical framework for utilizing safety performance indicators in safety–critical organizations that incorporates three types of safety performance indicators – outcome, monitor and drive indicators. We provide examples of each type of indicator and discuss the application of the framework in organizational safety management. We argue that outcome indicators are lag indicators since outcomes always follow something; they are the consequences arising from multiple other situational and contextual factors. Monitor and drive indicators are lead indicators. The main function of the drive indicators is to direct the sociotechnical activity in the organization by motivating certain safety-related activities. Monitor indicators provide a view on the dynamics of the organization: the practices, abilities, skills and motivation of the personnel – the organizational potential for safety. We conclude that organizations should better acknowledge the significance of monitor and drive indicators in safety management.     

Magnetic signature,geochemistry, and oral bioaccessibility of “technogenic” metals in contaminated industrial soils from Sindos Industrial Area,Northern Greece

The objective of this study was to assess the contamination level of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in industrial soils and how this relates to environmental magnetism. Moreover, emphasis was given to the determination of the potential mobile fractions of typically “technogenic” metals. Therefore, magnetic and geochemical parameters were determined in topsoils (0–20 cm) collected around a chemical industry in Sindos Industrial Area, Thessaloniki, Greece. Soil samples were presented significantly enriched in “technogenic” metals such Cd, Pb, and Zn, while cases of severe soil contamination were observed in sampling sites north-west of the industrial unit. Contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mo, Sb, Sn, and Zn in soils and pollution load index (PLI) were highly correlated with mass specific magnetic susceptibility (χ _lf). Similarly, enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I _geo) for “technogenic” Pb and Zn exhibited high positive correlation factors with χ _lf. Principal component analysis (PCA) classified PHEs along with the magnetic variable (χ _lf) into a common group indicating anthropogenic influence. The water extractable concentrations were substantially low, while the descending order of UBM (Unified BARGE Method) extractable concentrations in the gastric phase was Zn > Pb > As > Cd, yet Cd showed the highest bioaccessibility (almost 95%).