Guidance for performing footprint analyses and life‐cycle assessments for the remediation industry

The US Sustainable Remediation Forum (SURF) proposes a nine‐step process for conducting and documenting a footprint analysis and life‐cycle assessment (LCA) for remediation projects. This guidance is designed to assist remediation practitioners in evaluating the impacts resulting from potential remediation activities so that preventable impacts can be mitigated. Each of the nine steps is flexible and scalable to a full range of remediation projects and to the tools used by remediation practitioners for quantifying environmental metrics. Two fictional case studies are presented to demonstrate how the guidance can be implemented for a range of evaluations and tools. Case‐study findings show that greater insight into a study is achieved when the nine steps are followed and additional opportunities are provided to minimize remediation project footprints and create improved sustainable remediation solutions. This guidance promotes a consistent and repeatable process in which all pertinent information is provided in a transparent manner to allow stakeholders to comprehend the intricacies and tradeoffs inherent in a footprint analysis or LCA. For these reasons, SURF recommends that this guidance be used when a footprint analysis or LCA is completed for a remediation project. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Fecal DDA as a biomarker of DDT exposure in chickens

Despite the largely theoretical risks for human morbidity from exposure to DDT (p, p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), the reality that it is inexpensive and highly effective in reducing morbidity and mortality from malaria vectors has encouraged its continued use. Here we present data indicating that domestic fowl are potentially excellent sentinel species for detecting possible human exposures to DDT. In addition to measuring residues of DDT in chicken blood or eggs, a potential alternate analyte indicative of recent DDT exposure is the definitive metabolic product DDA (2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)acetic acid) in feces.     

Pilot biomonitoring of adults and children following use of chlorpyrifos shampoo and flea collars on dogs

Pesticide handlers and pet owners who use products such as shampoos and dips and insecticide-impregnated collars to treat and control fleas on companion animals are exposed to a variety of active ingredients. Chlorpyrifos exposures of adults and children were measured using urine biomonitoring following use of over-the-counter products on dogs. Age and gender-specific measurements of urinary 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy) revealed modest elevations of biomarker excretion following shampoo/dips. Smaller TCPy increments were measured following application of impregnated dog collars. The extent of indoor activity and potential pet contact were important determinants of urine biomarker level. Children without direct pet contact excreted more TCPy following collar application. Pet collars may be a source of indoor surface contamination and human exposure. Children excreted up to 4 times more TCPy than adults when urine volumes were adjusted using age-specific creatinine excretion levels. Although chlorpyrifos is no longer used in the United States in pet care products, results of this research provide perspective on the extent of human exposure from similar pet care products. These pilot studies demonstrated that pet care products such as insecticidal shampoos and dips and impregnated collars may expose family members to low levels of insecticide relative to toxic levels of concern.     

Artificial sweat enhances dermal transfer of chlorpyrifos from treated nylon carpet fibers

The dermal transfer and absorption of 14C-ring-chlorpyrifos from nylon carpet fibers was measured in skin penetration-evaporation cells with excised pig skin. Prior to application, synthetic sweat was applied to skin in half of the cells. Radioactivity was measured in receptor fluid, dermis, epidermis, tape stripping samples, and vapor trap samples during a 24-h period. The sum of radiolabel recovered from the dermis and receptor fluid represented the absorbed dose. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in percutaneous absorption between cells that received the synthetic sweat application and "dry" cells (1.3 +/- 0.3% of applied dose). There was significantly more (p < 0.05) radiolabel recovered from tape stripping (5.4 +/- 2.1 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.6%) and in the epidermis (4.5 +/- 0.8 vs. 3.1 +/- 0.3%) from cells that received the synthetic sweat application, which indicated synthetic sweat facilitated transfer of chlorpyrifos from a treated substrate to the skin surface. The measured value for percutaneous absorption of chlorpyrifos agreed with the value predicted from an empirical model previously developed for nitro compound-containing soil.     

Recreational diving impacts and the use of pre-dive briefings as a management strategy on Florida coral reefs

Ecotourism often is promoted as an ecologically sustainable activity, but some ecotourism activities negatively impact coastal ecosystems. Impacts of intensive diving tourism on coral reefs remain poorly understood, especially in the Florida Keys. We determined patterns of recreational dive frequency, diver behaviour, and coral damage on reefs near Key Largo, and assessed how pre-dive briefings and other factors affect these damage rates. Recreational divers contacted live stony corals ~ 18 times per scuba dive; most contacts deposited sediment onto corals, but also caused abrasion to coral tissues and fracture of coral skeletons. Divers who received pre-dive ecological briefings caused significantly less coral damage than those who did not, and divers with cameras and/or gloves caused the most damage. The proportion of damaged corals increased significantly with the estimated rate of recreational diving on each reef, and the percent cover of live corals decreased. We conclude that current rates of recreational diving in Key Largo are unsustainable, resulting in damage to >80 % of coral colonies and reduction of live coral cover to <11 % at heavily-dived sites. We recommend that dive tour operators administer pre-dive ecological briefings to all recreational divers, provide extra briefings to camera and glove users, and employ underwater dive guides who intervene when divers inadvertently damage live stony corals. This study provides a scientific basis to support management of intensive ecotourism on Florida coral reefs.     

沈阳市大气PM2.5中水溶性离子的季节变化特征

为研究沈阳市大气中PM2.5及其水溶性离子的污染特征、季节差异和来源情况,使用URG-9000D在线监测系统对沈阳市2019年大气颗粒物进行连续的采样分析,并利用正交矩阵因子分析法(PMF)进行污染物的来源解析.结果 表明,2019年沈阳市秋冬季节PM2.5质量浓度变化受相对湿度影响较大,冬季PM2.5平均质量浓度达到85.76 μg·m-3,细粒子污染较为严重.沈阳市大气PM2.5中SNA(SO42-、NO3和NH4+)所占比重表现为春季最高秋季最低;夏季SO42-和NH4+浓度较高,而NO3-浓度较低.SO42-在夏季呈单峰型日变化,与NO3-变化趋势相反.春夏秋三季NH4+与SO42-、NO3-主要结合为(NH4)2SO4和NH4NO3,冬季NH4+主要以(NH4)2SO4和NH4HSO4的形式存在.沈阳市存在较强的SO2和NOx二次转化现象,且各季节中SO2的转化率均高于NO2.PMF源解析结果表明,二次源对沈阳市大气污染贡献最大,夏秋季生物质燃烧和冬季燃煤源贡献同样不可忽视.     

Potential exposure of children and adults to cypermethrin following use of indoor insecticide foggers

The magnitude and distribution of cypermethrin from total release, over-the-counter foggers was studied in a test room and in residences to facilitate evaluation of regulatory exposure algorithms and new human exposure assessments based upon urine biomonitoring. Surface residue (SR) was evenly distributed in a small test room (3.6 μ g cypermethrin/cm²) where thorough mixing of the aerosol occurred. In a residence SR was significantly affected by room size and distance from the fogger. Air levels in the residence were as high as 30 μ g cypermethrin/cm³ after 4.5 h. The availability of surface residues was measured with an automated surface cotton cloth wipe and ethyl acetate extraction. Only 5% of the SR was available from nylon carpet. Tile, wood and linoleum resulted in 30, 10, and 10% of SR being available, respectively. These data are used to estimate cypermethrin exposure of children and adults for comparison with existing regulatory reference dosages and exposure assessments based upon biomonitoring.     

Advantages of Volunteer-Based Biodiversity Monitoring in Europe

Abstract:  Without robust and unbiased systems for monitoring, changes in natural systems will remain enigmatic for policy makers, leaving them without a clear idea of the consequences of any environmental policies they might adopt. Generally, biodiversity-monitoring activities are not integrated or evaluated across any large geographic region. The EuMon project conducted the first large-scale evaluation of monitoring practices in Europe through an on-line questionnaire and is reporting on the results of this survey. In September 2007 the EuMon project had documented 395 monitoring schemes for species, which represents a total annual cost of about €4 million, involving more than 46,000 persons devoting over 148,000 person-days/year to biodiversity-monitoring activities. Here we focused on the analysis of variations of monitoring practices across a set of taxonomic groups (birds, amphibians and reptiles, mammals, butterflies, plants, and other insects) and across 5 European countries (France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, and Poland). Our results suggest that the overall sampling effort of a scheme is linked with the proportion of volunteers involved in that scheme. Because precision is a function of the number of monitored sites and the number of sites is maximized by volunteer involvement, our results do not support the common belief that volunteer-based schemes are too noisy to be informative. Just the opposite, we believe volunteer-based schemes provide relatively reliable data, with state-of-the-art survey designs or data-analysis methods, and consequently can yield unbiased results. Quality of data collected by volunteers is more likely determined by survey design, analytical methodology, and communication skills within the schemes rather than by volunteer involvement per se.     

Concurrent 2,4-D and triclopyr biomonitoring of backpack applicators, mixer/loader and field supervisor in forestry

Two herbicides, 2,4-D and triclopyr esters (application ratio 1.6:1 acid equivalents) were applied as a tank mix by a crew of 8 backpack sprayer applicators, a mixer/loader, and a field supervisor. The crew was employed in a conifer release program in northern California during the summer of 2002. Biomonitoring (urine, 24 h) utilized 2,4-D and triclopyr (a.e.) as rapidly excreted exposure biomarkers. The absorbed dosages of 2,4-D and triclopyr were calculated based upon cotton whole body suits and biomonitoring. Dosages based upon accumulation of the herbicides on body suits averaged 42.6 μg (a.e.) 2,4-D/kg-d and 8.0 μg (a.e.) triclopyr/kg-d. Six consecutive days of concurrent urine collections showed that backpack applicators excreted an average of 11.0 μg (a.e.) 2,4-D/kg-d and 18.9 μg (a.e.) triclopyr/kg-d. Estimates based upon curve fitting were 17.1 and 29.3 μg (a.e.)/kg-d, respectively. Results suggest that passive dosimetry for 2,4-D consistently overestimated the dosage measured using biomonitoring by a factor of 2-3 fold, while for triclopyr, passive dosimetry underestimated the absorbed dose based on biomonitoring by a factor of 2-4 fold.     

Fate and distribution of fipronil on companion animals and in their indoor residences following spot-on flea treatments

Use of fipronil {5-amino-1-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl]-1H-pyrazole-3-carbonitrile CAS 120068–37-3} topical pet products on dogs and cats introduces low level residues into residences. Distribution and fate studies of fipronil on pets and in residences were performed to evaluate potential determinants of human exposure. Fipronil, desulfinyl fipronil, fipronil sulfone and fipronil sulfide were measured on hair clippings and brushed hair. The derivatives usually represented <10% of fipronil applied. Cotton gloves worn over impervious nitrile gloves, cotton cloths placed indoors in locations frequented by pets, and cotton socks worn by residents as direct dosimeters collected fipronil and its derivatives listed above in low amounts during 4-week study periods. Subsequent acid hydrolysis urine biomonitoring did not reveal significant excretion of biomarkers at ppb levels. The human exposure potential of fipronil is low relative to levels of health concern.