The effect of humic acid in chronic deoxynivalenol intoxication

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The most common mycotoxin found in European foodstuffs, especially unprocessed grains, is deoxynivalenol (DON), which inhibits proteosynthesis and...     

Occurrence of platinum and additional traffic related heavy metals in sediments and biota

Non-point sources play an important role in metal emissions into surface waters. One of the most important non-point sources is automobile traffic. Recent studies determining traffic related heavy metals in surface waters have concentrated mainly on worst case scenarios by analyzing heavy metal loads in waters and sediments close to storm-water overflow inlets. The present study aims at identifying traffic related heavy metals in moderately polluted sites, as they occur in highly urbanized regions. Therefore, the concentrations of eight traffic related metals (Pt, Sb, Mo, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr and Zn) were determined in sediment and crustacean samples from eight different aquatic habitats in the Ruhr district, Germany. Traffic related heavy metals could be identified in sediment and biota samples as a combination of heavy metals (Pt, Sb, Cd, Pb for sediments and Pt and Sb for crustacean samples). Pt concentrations received special attention due to the relatively recent occurrence of anthropogenically emitted Pt in the environment. At six sampling sites, Pt was detected in sediment and/or biota samples. The uptake of Pt compared to other traffic related heavy metals by Asellus aquaticus and Gammarus pulex is relatively high and can be compared with the uptake rates of essential metals like Zn.     

Primary biodegradability of mineral base oils in relation to their chemical and physical characteristics.

The primary biodegradability of 32 mineral base (i.e., unformulated) oils of paraffinic nature was evaluated using the CEC L-33-A-93 test. These oils were refinery products obtained by varying manufacturing processes. Biodegradation percentages ranged between 15% and 75%, i.e., below the commonly accepted standards for environmentally-compatible lubricants. Biodegradability values were compared to the overall chemical composition and main physical properties of base oils. Biodegradability decreased with increasing levels of aromatic and/or polar compounds in the tested oils. For most oils, the biodegradation percentage increased with the viscosity index, but was a decreasing function of the kinematic viscosity (KV), the pour point, the flash point (FP) and the refractive index (RI). Linear relationships between biodegradability and FP or RI values were observed. These results show that, beside chemical features such as the contents in polar and aromatic compounds, simple physical magnitudes such as KV and RI, commonly used to characterize lubricant properties, may be useful parameters for predicting the biodegradability of mineral base oils.     

Fernmeßverfahren

The combination of remote sensing methods like Doppler lidar and FTIR allows remote determination of mass fluxes of gases. Doppler lidar measures the three-dimensional wind vector in the vicinity of diffuse sources, or the velocity of air in a chimney plume if an industrial complex is monitored. FTIR is a multicomponent remote sensing method for gas concentrations. The Fourier transformation of an interferogram of a Michelson interferometer within a FTIR system converts the recorded intensity (function of optical path length) to a spectral signal (function of wavenumber). Both information, velocity and concentration, give the mass fluxes of the tracer (gas). A first test was performed at Munich-Nord power station with FTIR and cw-Doppler lidar. Fluxes of CO₂, CO, NO, and HCl were determined. The results are in good agreement with the fluxes measured byin situ instruments of the power station. The method can be used to control industrial complexes from an outside observation site.     

Estimated benefit of automated emergency braking systems for vehicle–pedestrian crashes in the United States

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this research study is to estimate the benefit to pedestrians if all U.S. cars, light trucks, and vans were equipped with an automated braking system that had pedestrian detection capabilities.

Methods: A theoretical automatic emergency braking (AEB) model was applied to real-world vehicle–pedestrian collisions from the Pedestrian Crash Data Study (PCDS). A series of potential AEB systems were modeled across the spectrum of expected system designs. Both road surface conditions and pedestrian visibility were accounted for in the model. The impact speeds of a vehicle without AEB were compared to the estimated impact speeds of vehicles with a modeled pedestrian detecting AEB system. These impacts speeds were used in conjunction with an injury and fatality model to determine risk of Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale of 3 or higher (MAIS 3+) injury and fatality.

Results: AEB systems with pedestrian detection capability, across the spectrum of expected design parameters, reduced fatality risk when compared to human drivers. The most beneficial system (time-to-collision [TTC]?=?1.5?s, latency = 0?s) decreased fatality risk in the target population between 84 and 87% and injury risk (MAIS score 3+) between 83 and 87%.

Conclusions: Though not all crashes could be avoided, AEB significantly mitigated risk to pedestrians. The longer the TTC of braking and the shorter the latency value, the higher benefits showed by the AEB system. All AEB models used in this study were estimated to reduce fatalities and injuries and were more effective when combined with driver braking.     

Meister

A mobile remote sensing system is presented for measuring the concentration of gaseous pollutants in ambient air and in directed effluent streams. MEISTER is based on Fourier-Transform-Infrared-Spectroscopy (FTIS), which is predestinated for a simultaneous analysis of a large number of atmospheric gases. The Kayser-Threde Double-Pendulum interferometer K300 and the Multicomponent Air Pollution Software (MAPS) of the Fraunhofer Institute of Atmospheric Environmental Research, which is based on radiative transfer modeling and least square fit procedures, enable a concentration determination under almost all meteorological conditions. CO, CO₂, NO, N₂O, CH₄, H₂O and HCl concentrations have been determined in good agreement with results from conventionalin situ sensors. NO₂, SO₂, NH₃, HCHO and hydrocarbons have been successfully detected provided their concentrations were high enough.     

Scots pine needles macronutrient (N, P, K, CA, MG, and S) supply at different reclaimed mine soil substrates—as an indicator of the stability of developed forest ecosystems

A main objective of restoration and afforestation at post-mining sites is establishing a long-term sustainable ecosystem which depends on adaptations of tree species and which in turn depends on the soil nutrient flux. The nutrient concentration (nitrogen (N), P, K, Ca, Mg, and sulfur (S)) of Scots pine needles was investigated in reclaimed mine soils (RMS) located at the following post-mining sites: a sand mine pit, spoil heap from a lignite mine, spoil heap from a S mine, and a carbonaceous spoil heap from an underground coal mine. The control plots were arranged on natural forest sites adjacent to the post-mining sites. A higher level of foliar nutrients was noted in the carbonaceous RMS, while lower levels were found in RMS on the spoil heap following lignite mining. The characteristics of the substrate were found to exert greater effect than mineral fertilization (performed at the onset of reclamation) on the tree stand characteristics, needle length and foliar nutrient concentration. While the soils and trees were most deficient in N, negative symptoms have not been noted to this date in tree stands at reclaimed mine sites. Trophic ratings were recommended based on statistical correlations and groupings between N and P contents in needles and needles length (mean length of 300 needles) while nutrient ratings were recommended from statistical differences and groupings of the RMS substrates.     

Inspection of non-CO2 greenhouse gases from emission sources and in ambient air by Fourier-transform-infrared-spectrometry: Measurements with FTIS-MAPS

Infrared spectrometry is a versatile basis to analyse greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. A multicomponent air pollution software (MAPS) was developed for retrieval of gas concentrations from radiation emission as well as absorption measurements. Concentrations of CO, CH₄, N₂O, and H₂O as well as CO₂, NO, NO₂, NH₃, SO₂, HCl, HCHO, and the temperature of warm gases are determined on-line. The analyses of greenhouse gases in gaseous emission sources and in ambient air are performed by a mobile remote sensing system using the double-pendulum interferometer K300 of the Munich company Kayser-Threde. Passive radiation measurements are performed to retrieve CO, N₂O, and H₂O as well as CO₂, NO, SO₂, and HCl concentrations in smoke stack effluents of thermal power plants and municipal incinerators and CO and H₂O as well as CO₂ and NO in exhausts of aircraft engines. Open-path radiation measurements are used to determine greenhouse gas concentrations at different ambient air conditions and greenhouse gas emission rates of diffusive sources as garbage deposits, open coal mining, stock farming together with additional compounds (e.g. NH₃), and from road traffic together with HCHO. Some results of measurements are shown. A future task is the verification of emission cadastres by these inspection measurements.     

Aquatic environmental nanoparticles

Researchers are now discovering that naturally occurring environmental nanoparticles can play a key role in important chemical characteristics and the overall quality of natural and engineered waters. The detection of nanoparticles in virtually all water domains, including the oceans, surface waters, groundwater, atmospheric water, and even treated drinking water, demonstrates a distribution near ubiquity. Moreover, aquatic nanoparticles have the ability to influence environmental and engineered water chemistry and processes in a much different way than similar materials of larger sizes. This review covers recent advances made in identifying nanoparticles within water from a variety of sources, and advances in understanding their very interesting properties and reactivity that affect the chemical characteristics and behaviour of water. In the future, this science will be important in our vital, continuing efforts in water safety, treatment, and remediation.