Unique bioconcentration characteristics of new aryl fluoroalkyl ethers in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of seven new aryl fluoroalkyl ethers--four bis-4-tetrafluoroethoxyphenyl-type (bis-type) compounds and three mono-4-tetrafluoroethoxyphenyl-type (mono-type) compounds--were obtained by bioconcentration tests using common carp. The BCFs of 4 of the 7 ethers were higher than 5000, indicating their high bioconcentration potential. The bioconcentration characteristics of the bis-type compounds were different from those of the mono-type compounds and non-fluoro diphenylmethanes with a similar skeleton structure to the bis-type compounds, in taking longer to reach a plateau and having a slower elimination rate and in their distribution patterns in the fish body. The BCF of 1 bis-type compound was much higher than the value predicted by an accepted correlation equation between BCF and P(ow). In addition, the logP(ow) of the bis-type compounds calculated by commercially available computer software was remarkably different from that measured.     

Study of the Determination of the Ultimate Aerobic Biodegradability of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting Conditions

Several ISO standards for determining the ultimate aerobic/anaerobic biodegradability of plastic materials have been published. In particular, ISO 14855-1 is a common test method that measures evolved carbon dioxide using such methods as continuous infrared analysis, gas chromatography or titration and others (ISO 14855-1(2005.9)). This method is a small-scale test for determining the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials, where the amounts of compost inoculum and test sample in one tenth comparing with that of ISO 14855-1. This method is well versed in ISO/DIS 14855-2 which the carbon dioxide evolved from test vessel is determined by gravimetric analysis of carbon dioxide absorbent. The focus of this study is to elucidate statistically the results of round robin test by seven countries used MODA, which were various deviations among the experiments.     

Modification of ecological footprint evaluation method to include non-renewable resource consumption using thermodynamic approach

This study is to modify the ecological footprint methodology by incorporating non-renewable or abiotic resources as an additional category. The use of abiotic resources can be quantified as global hectare by using thermodynamic approaches. A detailed case study on various countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Japan, USA, and Vietnam shows the advantage of using the new modified ecological footprint (EF) as an indicator for sustainable development. The modified EF includes not only biotic resources, but also the abiotic resources. The case study indicates that the modified EF differs from the traditional EF up to 123% in the case of Belgium, and 90% in the case of Australia. For developing countries such as Brazil and Vietnam, the differences are relatively smaller (21% for Brazil and 9.4% for Vietnam). The estimated total ecological footprint of the world using the new method implies more serious problems associated with over consumption than using results from the original ecological footprint method.     

Transportation of organic matter to the sea floor by carrion falls of the giant jellyfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nemopilema nomurai</Emphasis> in the Sea of Japan

The fate of the giant jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai after death was examined in the southwest Sea of Japan. The density of dead jellyfish was greater than that of live animals. The dead animals are heavier than the Japan Sea Proper Water which occurs deeper than 200 m, suggesting that dead jellyfish sink to the sea floor. The sea floor survey, conducted with a towed video tape recorder (VTR) monitoring system between mid September and mid October, observed a total of 138 jellyfish during 28 of 29 operations. The density of carrion ranged between 0.2 and 5.1 individuals/1,000 m² (mean ± SE = 1.1 ± 0.2). Ophiuroids occurred abundantly at 23 jellyfish carcasses and a sea anemone was observed attached to five carcasses. The VTR surveys confirmed that carrion sinks to the sea floor not only during the winter, the normal end of life for medusae, but also during the fall. A trap survey baited with medusae was also employed, and four different species were sampled with the traps: the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio), a shrimp (Pandalopsis japonica), the ivory shell (Buccinum striatissimum) and an ophiuroid (Ophiura sarsii). Much of the trap bait remained (49–68% weight-mean = 60.3%) during the 23 h soak-time, and the reduction in weight was greater than that observed by bacterial decomposition, suggesting benthic animals consume dead organisms. The present study indicates that dead N. nomurai sink to the sea floor continuously and were subsequently consumed by benthic scavengers.     

Characterizing emissions from open burning of military food waste and ration packaging compositions

Emissions from open burning of military food waste and ration packaging compositions were characterized in response to health concerns from open burning disposal of waste, such as at military forward operating bases. Emissions from current and prototype Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs), and material options for their associated fiberboard packaging were quantified to assess contributions of the individual components. MREs account for 67–100% of the particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDDs/PCDFs) emissions when burned in unison with the current fiberboard container and liner. The majority of the particles emitted from these burns are of median diameter 2.5 µm (PM_2.5). Metal emission factors were similar regardless of waste composition. Measurements of VOCs and PAHs indicate that targeted replacement of MRE components may be more effective in reducing emissions than variation of fiberboard-packaging types. Despite MRE composition variation, equivalent emission factors for PM, PAH, VOC, and PCDD/PCDF were seen. Similarly, for fiberboard packaging, composition variations exhibited essentially equivalent PM, PAH, VOC, and PCDD/PCDF emission factors amongst themselves. This study demonstrated a composition-specific analysis of waste burn emissions, assessing the impact of waste component substitution using military rations.     

Evaluation of thermally treated asbestos based on fiber number concentration determined by transmission electron microscopy

Appropriate treatment of asbestos waste is a significant problem. In Japan, inertization of asbestos-containing waste by novel techniques approved by the Ministry of the Environment is now promoted. A quantitative method of testing with high sensitivity to the asbestos levels present in the inertization products is required for the approval process, but many testing methods are only qualitative. Thus, we have developed an evaluation method for asbestos in inertized products, consisting of the extraction of fibers from inertized products and determination of fiber number concentration by transmission electron microscopy. We adopted this testing method to evaluate thermally treated asbestos. It was found that fiber number concentrations of thermally treated asbestos decreased with increased treatment temperature, and were below the environmental level (10² Mf/g) at more than 1000 °C for chrysotile and crocidolite and more than 1400 °C for amosite and other amphibole forms of asbestos.     

Mechanical properties of shotcrete with addition of sugarcane bagasse fiber and ash

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Shotcrete is a sprayed concrete placed on steep slopes that have been widely used because it can prevent surface weathering and erosion, and in...     

Evaluation of river pollution of neonicotinoids in Osaka City (Japan) by LC/MS with dopant-assisted photoionisation

An atmospheric pressure photoionisation (APPI) source for liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was applied to determine neonicotinoid pesticides in the aquatic environment. Dopant-assisted APPI was very effective in the ionisation of neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids generated protonated molecules in APPI with high sensitivity, while adduct ions, such as sodiated molecules, were predominantly generated in conventional electrospray ionisation. The ionisation of neonicotinoids was confirmed by ultra-high-resolution MS. An analytical method coupled with solid phase extraction was developed for acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, and thiamethoxam. Method detection limits were 0.47 to 2.1 ng L(-1) for six neonicotinoids. Dinotefuran was the most frequent and highest among the neonicotinoids examined in the aquatic environment in Osaka, Japan. The maximum concentration of dinotefuran was 220 ng L(-1). Given the toxicity of neonicotinoids for aquatic creatures, the concentrations observed here were substantially low. The change in concentrations was temporally coincident with the period of the neonicotinoid application. Although rapid photodegradation and some degradation products have been elucidated, the degradation products in the aquatic environment were not identified in the present study.     

Response surface method for modeling the removal of carbon dioxide from a simulated gas using water absorption enhanced with a liquid-film-forming device

This paper presents the results from using a physical absorption process to absorb gaseous CO_2mixed with N_2using water by producing tiny bubbles via a liquid-film-forming device(LFFD)that improves the solubility of CO_2in water.The influence of various parameters—pressure,initial CO_2concentration,gas-to-liquid ratios,and temperature—on the CO_2removal efficiency and its absorption rate in water were investigated and estimated thoroughly by statistical polynomial models obtained by the utilization of the response surface method(RSM)with a central composite design(CCD).Based on the analysis,a high efficiency of CO_2capture can be reached in conditions such as low pressure,high CO_2concentration at the inlet,low gas/liquid ratio,and low temperature.For instance,the highest removal efficiency in the RSM–CCD experimental matrix of nearly 80%occurred for run number 20,which was conducted at 0.30 MPa,CO_2concentration of 35%,gas/liquid ratio of 0.71,and temperature of 15°C.Furthermore,the coefficients of determination,R~2,were 0.996 for the removal rate and 0.982 for the absorption rate,implying that the predicted values computed by the constructed models correlate strongly and fit well with the experimental values.The results obtained provide essential information for implementing this method properly and effectively and contribute a promising approach to the problem of CO_2capture in air pollution treatment.     

Profile and removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals by using an ER/AR competitive ligand binding assay and chemical analyses

An estrogen receptor (ER)/androgen receptor (AR) ligand competitive binding assay (ER/AR-binding assay) and chemical analyses were used to evaluate the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) behavior of two municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (K and S). In the influents, estrone (E1), androsterone (A), androstenedione (AD), BPA (bisphenol A), NP (nonylphenol) and daidzein (DZ) were detected in high amounts with subsequent 24 h-average concentrations of 350, 1000, 29, 1300, 3900, and 5700 ng/L in K-WWTP and of 310, 620, 59, 1600, 2600, and 8400 ng/L in S-WWTP. The estrogenic (androgenic) activity as 17 -estradiol (E2) equivalents (EEQ) or testosterone (Te) equivalents (TEQ) was consequently 620 ng E2/L (570 ng Te/L) and 580 ng E2/L (800 ng Te/L) for the two WWTPs. The removal e ciencies of the above mentioned sole target chemicals were 51%–100% for K-WWTP and 55.6%–100% for S-WWTP. The removal e ciencies of EEQ were about 73% for both WWTPs, while the removal e ciencies of TEQ were 62.1% for K-WWTP and 98.4% for S-WWTP. In addition, chemical-derived EEQ were about 1.2%–52.4% of those by ER-binding assay for K-WWTP and the corresponding ratios were 1.3%–83.3% for S-WWTP, while chemical derived TEQ were less than 3% of values measured by the AR-binding assay for both WWTPs.