Fibre crops as alternative land use for radioactively contaminated arable land

The transfer of radiocaesium, one of the most important and widespread contaminants following a nuclear accident, to the fibre crops hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) as well as the distribution of radiocaesium during crop conversion were studied for sandy soil under greenhouse and lysimeters conditions. Soil parameters did not unequivoqually explain the transfer factors (TF) observed. TFs to flax stems ranged from 1.34 to 2.80x10(-3) m2 kg(-1). TFs to seeds are about a factor of 4 lower. During the retting process for separating the fibres from the straw, more than 95% of the activity was removed with the retting water. For hemp, the TF to the stem was about 0.6x10(-3) m2 kg(-1). For hemp, straw and fibres were mechanically separated and TF to straw was about 0.5x10(-3) m2 kg(-1) and to fibres 1.0x10(-3) m2 kg(-1). Generally, the TFs to the useable plant parts both for hemp and flax, are low enough to allow for the production of clean end-products (fibre, seed oil, biofuel) even on heavily contaminated land. Given the considerable decontamination during retting, contamination levels in flax fibres would only exceed the exemption limits for fibre use after production in extreme contamination scenarios (>12,300kBq m(-2)). Since hemp fibres are mechanically separated, use of hemp fibres is more restricted (contamination <740kBq m(-2)). Use of stems as biofuel is restricted to areas with contamination levels of <250 and 1050kBq m(-2) for flax and hemp, respectively. Use of seeds for edible oil production and flour is possible almost without restriction for flax but due to the high TFs to seed observed for hemp (up to 3x10(-3) m2 kg(-1)) consumption of hemp seed products should be considered with care.     

Deposition rates of unattached and attached radon progeny in room with turbulent airflow and ventilation

In this paper deposition rate coefficients for unattached and attached radon progeny were estimated according to a particle deposition model for turbulent indoor airflow described by Zhao and Wu [2006. Modeling particle deposition from fully developed turbulent flow in ventilation duct. Atmos. Environ. 40, 457–466]. The parameter which characterizes turbulent indoor airflow in this model is friction velocity, u*. Indoor ventilation changes indoor airflow and friction velocity and influences deposition rate coefficients. Correlation between deposition and ventilation rate coefficients in the room was determined. It was shown that deposition rate coefficient increases with ventilation rate coefficient and that these parameters of the Jacobi room model cannot be assumed to be independent. The values of deposition rate coefficients were presented as functions of friction velocity and ventilation rate coefficient. If ventilation rate coefficient varies from 0.1 up to 1 h⁻¹, deposition rate coefficients for unattached and attached fractions were estimated to be in the range 3–110 h⁻¹ and 0.015–0.35 h⁻¹, respectively.     

Sequence analytical approach to the Upper Kimmeridgian-Lower Tithonian storm-dominated ramp deposits of the Boulonnais (Northern France). A landward time-equivalent to offshore marine source rocks

An interdisciplinary approach based on high-resolution physical stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, organic matter analysis and clay mineralogy has been applied to the mixed siliciclastic/carbonate Kimmeridgian/Tithonian deposits of the Boulonnais (north-western France). These rocks are the age-equivalents of some of the offshore marine source rocks of the North Sea and were deposited in an overall storm-dominated homoclinal ramp setting which may represent one of the most shore-proximal sediments of this age cropping out in north-western Europe. Comparison with data from the Yorkshire, Dorset, Lorraine and Aquitaine areas allows the discrimination of three major transgressive-regressive sediment packages with disconformities of interregional extent: (1) from the Baylei Zone to top Eudoxus Zone; (2) from the Autissiodorensis Zone to base Scitulus Zone; (3) from the upper Scitulus Zone to the Pectinatus Zone. The lower two regionally correlative disconformities correspond to the sequence boundaries at the top of the Eudoxus Zone and the top of the Autissiodorensis Zone, formed by high-frequency relative sea-level variations during the periods of maximum transgression of the platform. The latter disconformity (the P1 nodule bed) reflects a major tectonically induced reorganization of the north-west European intrashelf sedimentary basin, characterized by a shift in both the location of the main depocentre and the sources of sediment production.     

A motley of possible therapies of the COVID-19: reminiscing the origin of the pandemic

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The 2019 outbreak of corona virus disease began from Wuhan (China), transforming into a leading pandemic, posing an immense threat to the global...     

Glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphisms in association with susceptibility to lead toxicity in lead- and cadmium-exposed children near an abandoned lead-zinc mining area in Kabwe,Zambia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Interindividual genetic variations determine human’s susceptibility to heavy metal-induced toxicity. Thus, we analyzed blood concentrations of...     

COVID-19 pandemic: impacts on bees,beekeeping, and potential role of bee products as antiviral agents and immune enhancers

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - COVID-19 pandemic has passed to the front all the contradictions of the beekeeping sector: the valuable role of bee products as immune enhancers and...     

Behavior of potentially toxic elements from stoker-boiler fly ash in Interior Alaska: paired batch leaching and solid-phase characterization

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Despite significant investigation of fly ash spills and mineralogical controls on the release of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) from fly ash,...     

Bioaccumulation of pesticides and genotoxicity in anurans from southern Brazil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The expansion of agricultural activities causes habitat loss and fragmentation and the pollution of natural ecosystems through the intense use of...