Solubility of antimony and other elements in samples taken from shooting ranges

The aim of this study was to determine whether or not Sb and other elements (Ni, Cu, Bi, Tl, and Hg) originating from Pb alloy (2-5 wt. % Sb) bullets become more soluble as a result of weathering and what mechanisms possibly control their solubility. Samples were taken from bank material behind the targets at seven Swiss shooting ranges. The samples were dried, sieved, analyzed, and subjected to leaching experiments. Total average concentrations of Sb ranged from 0.5 to 13.8 g kg(-1). In the leaching experiments, Sb was almost exclusively present in solution as the oxidized species Sb(V) in concentrations of up to 5 mg L(-1). The Ca mineral Ca[Sb(OH)6]2 is suggested to control dissolved Sb(V) concentrations in soils at high concentrations. Oxalate extractions suggested that approximately 50% of Sb [predominantly Sb(V)] in the <0.5-mm fraction was adsorbed to Fe (hydr)oxides and possibly other minerals, such as calcite, that are soluble at pH 2. However, it is possible that only a fraction of the oxalate-extractable Sb(V) is reversibly bound to mineral surfaces. It was concluded that the release of Sb is significant and considerably higher than the other elements under investigation and that the mechanisms controlling Sb mobility should be further investigated.     

SITE Program Success: Cost Savings to Government and Increased Revenue for Technology Vendors

The Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) program is a program mandated by Congress through the 1986 Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA). The original Superfund allowed no provisions for research and development of needed remediation technologies. Problems arose when the demand for involved, complex treatment could not be met by the traditional contain, haul, and dispose process that hazardous waste handlers had become familiar with. In response to the increasing complexity of hazardous waste site remediation, SARA called for an “Alternative or Innovative Treatment Technology Research and Demonstration Program.” As a result, EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response and the Office of Research and Development established the SITE program. This article is a historical analysis of the unique cost savings of the SITE program.     

Genecological variation corresponding to Forest Ecosystem Classification vegetation and soil types for jack pine and black spruce from northwestern Ontario

A preliminary study was undertaken to reveal ecotypic differentiation in jack pine and black spruce corresponding to ecological land classification groups. Seed sources of jack pine (64) and black spruce (68) from northwestern Ontario were classified according to Vegetation Types (V-Types) and Soil Types (S-Types) defined by the Forest Ecosystem Classification (FEC) developed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Canada for northwestern Ontario. Two short-term common garden field trials and a greenhouse trial were established for each species. Significant differences were present among ecological groupings of seed sources for both species. These differences were expressed according to V-Types and S-Types based on first, second, and third year heights as well as needle flushing dates for jack pine and second year growth increments for black spruce. Rank differences among the groups based on FEC V-Types and S-Types were generally consistent for each of the two species although certain groups showed rank reversals at the two field trials. Apparently, selection pressures corresponding to different FEC V-Types and S-Types have resulted in a detectable pattern of adaptive variation for both jack pine and black spruce in northwestern Ontario. However, the management implications for these two species are uncertain since additional tests are required to verify these results.     

Ozone exposure and pulmonary effects in panel and human clinical studies: Considerations for design and interpretation

A wealth of literature exists regarding the pulmonary effects of ozone, a photochemical pollutant produced by the reaction of nitrogen oxide and volatile organic precursors in the presence of sunlight. This paper focuses on epidemiological panel studies and human clinical studies of ozone exposure, and discusses issues specific to this pollutant that may influence study design and interpretation as well as other, broader considerations relevant to ozone-health research. The issues are discussed using examples drawn from the wider literature. The recent panel and clinical literature is also reviewed. Health outcomes considered include lung function, symptoms, and pulmonary inflammation. Issues discussed include adversity, reversibility, adaptation, variability in ozone exposure metric used and health outcomes evaluated, co-pollutants in panel studies, influence of temperature in panel studies, and multiple comparisons. Improvements in and standardization of panel study approaches are recommended to facilitate comparisons between studies as well as meta-analyses. Additional clinical studies at or near the current National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 70 ppb are recommended, as are clinical studies in sensitive subpopulations such as asthmatics.

Implications: The pulmonary health impacts of ozone exposure have been well documented using both epidemiological and chamber study designs. However, there are a number of specific methodological and related issues that should be considered when interpreting the results of these studies and planning additional research, including the standardization of exposure and health metrics to facilitate comparisons among studies.     

Strategies and methods for investigation of airborne biological agents from work environments in Germany.

In 2004/2005, a European Twinning Project was carried out to support Polish occupational safety and health institutions in putting into practice Directive 2000/54/EC regarding the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work. Information on and training in sampling and analysing biological agents of people responsible for bioaerosol measurements and the assessment of measuring results from the workplace atmosphere were part of the project. This paper is an extract of the authors' activities within the project and can be used as a tool for comparable activities in future projects with other European Union candidates. It gives information on working standards for bioaerosol measurements worked out and commonly used in Germany within the frame of European guidelines for bioaerosol measurements in the workplace atmosphere. Additionally it summarizes the authors' long practical experience in carrying out bioaerosol measurements in the atmosphere of various workplaces.     

Better estimates of soil carbon from geographical data: a revised global approach

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Soils hold the largest pool of organic carbon (C) on Earth; yet, soil organic carbon (SOC) reservoirs are not well represented in climate...