Why geese benefit from the transition from natural vegetation to agriculture

The energy and nutrient content of most agricultural crops are as good as or superior to natural foods for wild geese and they tend to be available in agricultural landscapes in far greater abundance. Artificial grasslands (fertilised native swards and intensively managed reseeds) offer far superior quality forage and higher intake rates than seminatural or natural grasslands. The availability of such abundant artificial food explains the abandonment of traditional habitats for farmland by geese over the last 50–100 years and favours no reduction in current levels of exploitation of agriculture. Continental scale spatial and temporal shifts among geese undergoing spring fattening confirm their flexibility to respond rapidly to broadscale changes in agriculture. These dramatic changes support the hypothesis that use of agricultural landscapes has contributed to elevated reproductive success and that European and North American farmland currently provides unrestricted winter carrying capacity for goose populations formerly limited by wetlands habitats prior to the agrarian revolution of the last century.     

Regulated emissions from biodiesel fuels from on/off-road applications

This research is one of the largest studies of biodiesel in both on-road and off-road uses. The testing was conducted for the military and encompassed a wide range of application types including two medium-duty trucks, two Humvees, a heavy heavy-duty diesel truck, a bus, two stationary backup generators (BUGs), a forklift, and an airport tow vehicle. The full range of fuels tested included a California ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel, different blend ratios of two different yellow-grease biodiesels and one soy-based biodiesel, JP-8, and yellow-grease biodiesel blends with two different NO_x reduction additives. The B20-YGA, B20-YGB, and B20-Soy did not show trends relative to ULSD that were consistent over all applications tested. Higher biodiesel blends were tested on only one vehicle, but showed a tendency for higher total hydrocarbons (THC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions and lower particulate matter (PM) emissions. The JP-8 showed increases in THC and CO relative to the ULSD.     

Methane emission from lakes

A physico-chemical model to describe methane and carbon dioxide emission from lakes was developed. The model describes the emission by diffusion, bubbles and plants. The intensity of the fluxes can be calculated either for total or particular emission in dependence on gas bubbles composition. It was found, that diffusional (Q) and bubble (J) fluxes depend on the methane molar ratio (X) in bubbles as follows: [formula: see text]. The model allows to estimate the role of the methane oxidation by atmospheric oxygen in the total methane flux. It was shown, that the methane oxidation does not influence much methane fluxes to the atmosphere for most of the experimentally observed situations.     

Potential biodiversity benefits from international programs to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation

Deforestation is the second largest anthropogenic source of carbon dioxide emissions and options for its reduction are integral to climate policy. In addition to providing potentially low cost and near-term options for reducing global carbon emissions, reducing deforestation also could support biodiversity conservation. However, current understanding of the potential benefits to biodiversity from forest carbon offset programs is limited. We compile spatial data on global forest carbon, biodiversity, deforestation rates, and the opportunity cost of land to examine biodiversity conservation benefits from an international program to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation. Our results indicate limited geographic overlap between the least-cost areas for retaining forest carbon and protecting biodiversity. Therefore, carbon-focused policies will likely generate substantially lower benefits to biodiversity than a more biodiversity-focused policy could achieve. These results highlight the need to systematically consider co-benefits, such as biodiversity in the design and implementation of forest conservation programs to support international climate policy.     

Estimating Full IM240 Emissions from Partial Test Results: Evidence from Arizona

ABSTRACT

The expense and inconvenience of enhanced-vehicle-emissions testing using the full 240-second dynamometer test has led states to search for ways to shorten the test process. In fact, all states that currently use the IM240 allow some type of fast-pass, usually as early in the test as second 31, and Arizona has allowed vehicles to fast-fail after second 93. While these shorter tests save states millions of dollars in inspection lanes and driver costs, there is a loss of information since test results are no longer comparable across vehicles. This paper presents a methodology for estimating full 240-second results from partial-test results for three pollutants: HC, CO, and NO_x. If states can convert all tests to consistent IM240 readings, they will be able to better characterize fleet emissions and to evaluate the impact of inspection and maintenance and other programs on emissions over time. Using a random sample of vehicles in Arizona which received full 240-second tests, we use regression analysis to estimate the relationship between emissions at second 240 and emissions at earlier seconds in the test. We examine the influence of other variables such as age, model-year group, and the pollution level itself on this relationship. We also use the estimated coefficients in several applications. First, we try to shed light on the frequent assertion that the results of the dynamometer test provide guidance for vehicle repair of failing vehicles. Using a probit analysis, we find that the probability that a failing vehicle will pass the test on the first retest is greater the longer the test has progressed. Second, we test the accuracy of our estimates for forecasting fleet emissions from partial-test emissions results in Arizona. We find forecasted fleet average emissions to be very close to the actual fleet averages for light-duty vehicles, but not quite as good for trucks, particularly when NO_x emissions are forecast.     

Low-cost adsorbents from bio-waste for the removal of dyes from aqueous solution

Activated carbons (ACs) were developed from bio-waste materials like rice husk and peanut shell (PS) by various physicochemical activation methods. PS char digested in nitric acid followed by treatment at 673 K resulted in high surface area up to ～585 m²/g. The novelty of the present study is the identification of oxygen functional groups formed on the surface of activated carbons by infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and quantification by using temperature programmed decomposition (TPD). Typical TPD data indicated that each activation method may lead to varying amounts of acidic and basic functional groups on the surface of the adsorbent, which may be a crucial factor in determining the adsorption capacity. It was shown that ACs developed during the present study are good adsorbents, especially for the removal of a model textile dye methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. As MB is a basic dye, H₂O₂-treated rice husk showed the best adsorption capacity, which is in agreement with the acidic groups present on the surface. Removal of the dye followed Langmuir isotherm model, whereas MB adsorption on ACs followed pseudo-second-order kinetics.     

Chromium removal from water by activated carbon developed from waste rubber tires

Because of the continuous production of large amount of waste tires, the disposal of waste tires represents a major environmental issue throughout the world. This paper reports the utilization of waste tires (hard-to-dispose waste) as a precursor in the production of activated carbons (pollution-cleaning adsorbent). In the preparation of activated carbon (AC), waste rubber tire (WRT) was thermally treated and activated. The tire-derived activated carbon was characterized by means of scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, FTIR spectrophotometer, and X-ray diffraction. In the IR spectrum, a number of bands centred at about 3409, 2350, 1710, 1650, and 1300–1000 cm^?1 prove the present of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the surface of AC in addition to C═C double bonds. The developed AC was tested and evaluated as potential adsorbent removal of chromium (III). Experimental parameters, such as contact time, initial concentration, adsorbent dosage and pH were optimized. A rapid uptake of chromium ions was observed and the equilibrium is achieved in 1 h. It was also found that the adsorption process is pH dependent. This work adds to the global discussion of the cost-effective utilization of waste rubber tires for waste water treatment.     

粉煤灰合成沸石去除城市暴雨径流中氨氮

采用粉煤灰为原料,通过耦合碱熔-两步合成法制得3种合成沸石产品,并以合成沸石制备大粒径的功能填料。通过氨氮吸附速率实验和等温吸附实验探讨了合成沸石及功能填料的氨氮吸附速率和最大吸附容量(Qm),以功能填料构建模拟人工快速渗滤系统,研究其对城市暴雨径流中氨氮的去除效果。结果表明,合成沸石对氨氮的吸附速率极快,5min去除率约达到75%,氨氮最大吸附容量为11.36～16.13 mg/g;功能填料对氨氮的最大吸附容量有所下降,但氨氮吸附速率仍较快,应用于模拟人工快速渗滤系统时能在较高的水力负荷下快速去除城市暴雨径流中的氨氮。碱处理再生法更适于进行合成沸石功能填料原位再生,氨氮吸附容量一次再生率达到67%～87%。     

Butyltin concentrations in oysters from the Gulf of Mexico from 1989 to 1991

Oyster samples from 53 Gulf of Mexico coastal sites were collected and analyzed for butyltins during 1989, 1990, and 1991. The geometric-mean tributylin concentrations were 85, 30, and 43 ng Sn/g for 1989, 1990, and 1991, respectively. The tributyltin concentrations are best represented by a log-normal distribution. A decline in the butyltin concentrations at sites with relatively low butyltin concentrations for 1989 compared with 1990 and 1991 was observed, and, at relatively high butyltin concentrations (> 400 ng Sn/g), there was hardly any difference between 1989 and 1991, but lower concentrations were present in 1990. Continued monitoring is needed in order to determine if butyltin contamination of the coastal marine environment is decreasing in response to use limitations.     

Release of metals from homogeneous soil columns by wastewater from an agricultural industry

The effect of discharging olive mill wastewater (OMW) in soils on the release of metals previously retained by them is simulated by leaching homogeneous soil columns with a solution of the residue after passing solutions of Cu or Zn through the columns. The effect of other residues, previously added to the soil as composts in field experiments, on the behaviour observed in the laboratory is also discussed. OMW shows a strong power for releasing the metals retained. Previous addition of a compost made from olive mill sludge and plant refuse to the soil causes a significant reduction of the release of retained metal by liquid OMW. Previous addition of concentrated sugarbeet vinasse causes much less significant effects.     

Atmospheric Sulfates from Biological Sources

Bacteriogenic production of H₂S occurs in fine-grained anoxic muds, is promoted by organic and nutrient pollution of water, peaks in the warm months of the year, and is the source of most of the estimated 100 to 200 million tons of biogenic sulfur annually contributed to the global atmosphere. We tested the hypothesis that biogenic sulfur contributes to the atmospheric load of sulfate in urban and nonurban sites by statistical analyses of the 24 hour sulfate levels measured in 4 coastal and 3 Inland nonurban sites where pollutant sulfur dioxide emissions are absent or negligible, and in 8 coastal and 10 inland urban sites, all located in New England or Middle Atlantic states.

Comparisons of annual and seasonal mean sulfate levels show that in nonurban groups summertime sulfate levels significantly exceed wintertime levels, and in summer, sulfate levels in urban sites are nearly the same as in nonurban sites. Comparisons of group sulfate means in 4 New York cities near extended bodies of polluted water with those in 10 inland upstate New York cities show significantly higher levels in the cities near polluted water in spring, summer, and fall and for the year as a whole, but not in winter, when the levels were similar. When the nonurban and urban sites are grouped for proximity to coasts (where bacterial sulfate reduction is active in sediments) paired groups of coastal and inland urban and nonurban sites show no significant differences in sulfate levels in summer and fall.

Studies of the summertime sulfate means in New York state show no evidence of an elevated anthropogenic background which could explain the high summertime sulfate level observed in one nonurban site in that state, while analyses of the day to day fluctuations in urban and nonurban sites support the conclusion that nonurban sites have large local (biogenic) sulfate sources in summer and fall, and that local sulfate sources also exist in spring and may exist in winter.

We conclude that biogenic sulfate sources contribute most of the sulfate observed in the cities studied during summer and fall, and in some cities also contribute in other seasons. These biogenic contributions vary with local conditions and are estimated to contribute up to 6 µg/m³ (50%) or more to the annual geometric mean sulfate levels observed in some cities located near extensive bodies of polluted water.     

Iron improving bio-char derived from microalgae on removal of tetracycline from aqueous system

Novel magnetic carbonaceous bio-char was hydrothermal prepared from microalgae under different loadings of iron and its structures and surface chemistry were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm (BET). The morphology of bio-char changed from sheet to particle as iron loading increased and its surface area also increased. When 3.0 g of dried microalgae and 6.0 mmol iron salt ((NH₄)₂SO₄·FeSO₄·6H₂O) were mixed and treated, the obtained bio-char possessing the highest amount of oxygen-containing functional groups resulted in the best adsorption performance on tetracycline (TC). This adsorption process was fitted to Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity was 95.86 mg/g, which is higher than other bio-char reported. The iron loading contributed to the higher adsorption capacity of bio-char, which may be due to three factors, the high surface area, more hydrogen bonding, and bridging effects of the structural Fe for TC. Our data suggest that bio-char may have more important role in stabilization of pollutants in the environment.     

Characterization of aerosols from biomass burning--a case study from Mizoram (Northeast), India

Physical and optical properties of biomass burning aerosols in Northeastern region, India analyzed based on measurements made during February 2002. Large spatial extent of Northeastern Region moist tropical to moist sub-tropical forests in India have high frequency of burning in annual dry seasons. Characterization of resultant trace gases and aerosols from biomass burning is important for the atmospheric radiative process. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) observed to be high during burning period compared to pre- and post-burning days. Peak period of biomass burning is highly correlated with measured AOD and total columnar water vapor. Size distribution of aerosols showed bimodal size distribution during burning day and unimodal size distribution during pre- and post-burning days. Size distribution retrievals from biomass burning aerosols show dominance of accumulation mode particles. Weighted mean radius is high (0.22 microm) during burning period. Columnar content of aerosols observed to be high during burning period in addition to the drastic reduction of visibility. During the burning day Anderson sampler measurements showed dominance of accumulation mode particles. The diurnal averaged values of surface shortwave aerosol radiative forcing af biomass burning aerosols varies from -59 to -87 Wm(-2) on different days. Measured and modeled solar irradiances are also discussed in the paper.     

Removal of hexafluoroarsenate from waters

Arsenic predominantly occurs in natural ground and surface waters as arsenate and arsenite. Other arsenic species can also be present in anthropogenically influenced waters. By means of a newly-developed speciation technique an arsenic compound was identified as hexafluoroarsenate at high concentration (about 0.8mgl(-1) as As) in a lake polluted by waste water from a former crystal glass factory. This compound shows a completely different behavior than common arsenite and arsenate in waters. However, respective literature data were little found regarding its environmental behavior as well as the applicable remediation technologies. Conventional arsenic treatment mechanisms, such as the well-known sorption to iron hydroxides, can not be used to remediate water with this compound. Hence, an effective method to remove hexafluoroarsenate from water was developed using its strong affinity to anion exchangers (strong basic exchangers with quaternary ammonium groups). The sorption can be described by a Langmuir isotherm and first-order kinetics with a half-life of about 10min. Interferences by sulphate and fluoride, present at much higher concentrations in the polluted lake water, might be expected due to the anion exchange mechanism, but were shown to be of minor importance.     

Phosphate recovery from greenhouse wastewater

A study was conducted to investigate the suitability of phosphate recovery from greenhouse wastewaters by using precipitation/crystallization process. More than 90% of the phosphate could be removed from the greenhouse wastewater. Various calcium phosphate salts were obtained in the process; hydroxyapatite [Ca5(PO4)3OH] could be the main product from the precipitates. Phosphate removal was affected by the presence of magnesium ion in wastewaters. An increase of magnesium concentrations in wastewaters decreased phosphate removal rates. The chemical contents of precipitates in terms of calcium, magnesium and phosphate were affected by calcium to magnesium molar ratio. Higher calcium contents were obtained at wastewaters with high calcium to magnesium molar ratio. An addition of magnesium did not affect the potassium contents in the precipitates. K-struvite, MgKPO4 x 6H2O, was not the major product in the precipitate, even with addition of a large quantity of magnesium.     

Phosphate Recovery from Greenhouse Wastewater

A study was conducted to investigate the suitability of phosphate recovery from greenhouse wastewaters by using precipitation/crystallization process. More than 90% of the phosphate could be removed from the greenhouse wastewater. Various calcium phosphate salts were obtained in the process; hydroxyapatite [Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH] could be the main product from the precipitates. Phosphate removal was affected by the presence of magnesium ion in wastewaters. An increase of magnesium concentrations in wastewaters decreased phosphate removal rates. The chemical contents of precipitates in terms of calcium, magnesium and phosphate were affected by calcium to magnesium molar ratio. Higher calcium contents were obtained at wastewaters with high calcium to magnesium molar ratio. An addition of magnesium did not affect the potassium contents in the precipitates. K‐struvite, MgKPO₄·6H₂O, was not the major product in the precipitate, even with addition of a large quantity of magnesium.     

Reducing the Risks from Radon

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that residential radon levels in the United States lead to approximately 13,600 lung cancer deaths per year. To address this problem, the Agency has identified three program initiatives that can provide substantial reductions in the public’s risks: (1) public information activities that urge the public to test for radon and reduce elevated concentrations in existing homes, (2) new construction standards to reduce radon entry, and (3) radon testing and mitigation during real estate transactions. This paper analyzes the costs and risk reductions that could result from the implementation of these major initiatives, showing how all three elements cost-effectively protect the public’s health.     

Indoor Emissions from Conversion Varnishes

ABSTRACT

Conversion varnishes are two-component, acid-catalyzed varnishes that are commonly used to finish cabinets. They are valued for their water and stain resistance, as well as their appearance. They have been found, however, to contribute to indoor emissions of organic compounds. For this project, three commercially available conversion varnish systems were selected. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 24 analysis was performed to determine total volatile content, and a sodium sulfite titration method was used to determine uncombined (free) formaldehyde content of the varnish components. The resin component was also analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) (EPA Method 311 with an MS detector) to identify individual organic compounds. Dynamic small chamber tests were then performed to identify and quantify emissions following application to coupons of typical kitchen cabinet wood substrates, during both curing and aging. Because conversion varnishes cure by chemical reaction, the compounds emitted during curing and aging are not necessarily the same as those in the formulation. Results of small chamber tests showed that the amount of formaldehyde emitted from these coatings was 2.3–8.1 times the amount of free formaldehyde applied in the coatings. A long-term test showed a formaldehyde emission rate of 0.17 mg/m²/hr after 115 days.     

Reducing Emissions from Refuse Disposal

Estimates indicate that approximately 2.6% of the total atmospheric pollution in this country may originate as a result of refuse disposal. Although this may appear to be a comparatively low figure, it is important to note that refuse disposal is a universal problem: wherever we go, be the area urban, or rural, waste must be disposed of and in most cases the methods of disposal produce air pollution. Tabulated data indicates that the per capita rate of production has been increasing annually. In the city of Hartford, the quantity of refuse that is being burned in the municipal incinerator has been increasing at a rate of 5%/year. A comparison of the air pollutants emitted from open burning at a refuse disposal area, backyard burning and incineration of refuse in a municipal multiple chamber incinerator indicates that the quantity of pollutants emitted from the latter source is much less than those emitted from the other sources. The effect of having legislation with, enforcement authority and a program for regular inspections, has resulted in marked improvements of refuse disposal operations in Connecticut since June, 1966. Most of the burning still being done at refuse disposal areas is limited to only brush and demolition material. A multi-purpose incinerator is presently under construction in the city of Stamford, Conn. It is planned to demonstrate that not only bulky wastes and auto bodies, but also liquid wastes can be burned in the same unit without creating any adverse effect on the environment. This incinerator will be provided with an electrostatic precipitator for removing particulate emissions.

New methods of refuse disposal which are being tried are briefly described in this paper. All these methods tend to reduce or eliminate air pollution along with eliminating the health hazards normally related with open face dump type of operations.

The continual technological progress and improvements in methods of manufacture, packaging, and marketing of consumer products along with the economic, population, and industrial growth of the nation has resulted in an ever-mounting increase and change in the characteristics of the mass of material being discarded by the purchaser. In May 1967, a Three-State Conference on Air Resource Management was held at the City College of the City University of New York. This conference consisted of a number of panels or committees which discussed specialized areas of the problem of air pollution and its control. A portion of the introductory remarks from the panel report of the Solid Waste Committee1 is as follows: