Comparison of recycling outcomes in three types of recycling collection units

Commercial institutions have many factors to consider when implementing an effective recycling program. This study examined the effectiveness of three different types of recycling bins on recycling accuracy by determining the percent weight of recyclable material placed in the recycling bins, comparing the percent weight of recyclable material by type of container used, and examining whether a change in signage increased recycling accuracy. Data were collected over 6 weeks totaling 30 days from 3 different recycling bin types at a Midwest University medical center. Five bin locations for each bin type were used. Bags from these bins were collected, sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable material, and weighed. The percent recyclable material was calculated using these weights. Common contaminates found in the bins were napkins and paper towels, plastic food wrapping, plastic bags, and coffee cups. The results showed a significant difference in percent recyclable material between bin types and bin locations. Bin type 2 was found to have one bin location to be statistically different (p = 0.048), which may have been due to lack of a trash bin next to the recycling bin in that location. Bin type 3 had significantly lower percent recyclable material (p < 0.001), which may have been due to lack of a trash bin next to the recycling bin and increased contamination due to the combination of commingled and paper into one bag. There was no significant change in percent recyclable material in recycling bins post signage change. These results suggest a signage change may not be an effective way, when used alone, to increase recycling compliance and accuracy. This study showed two or three-compartment bins located next to a trash bin may be the best bin type for recycling accuracy.     

Chemical transformations of lead compounds under humid conditions: implications for bioaccessibility

This short communication documents chemical transformations caused by weathering of two Pb compounds that commonly occur in house dust. Chamber experiments were designed to simulate humid indoor environment conditions to determine whether Pb compounds undergo chemical transformations influencing bioaccessibility. Reference compounds of Pb metal (12 % bioaccessibility) and Pb sulfate (14 % bioaccessibility) were subjected to an oxygenated, humidified atmosphere in closed chambers for 4 months. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy were used to characterize the main Pb species, and the change in Pb bioaccessibility was determined using a simulated gastric acid digestion. At the end of the weathering period a small amount of Pb carbonate (9 % of total Pb) appeared in the Pb sulfate sample. Weathering of the Pb metal sample resulted in the formation of two compounds, hydrocerussite (Pb hydroxyl carbonate) and Pb oxide, in significant amounts (each accounted for 26 % of total Pb). The formation of highly bioaccessible Pb carbonate (73 % bioaccessibility), hydrocerussite (76 % bioaccessibility), and Pb oxide (67 % bioaccessibility) during weathering resulted in a measurable increase in the overall Pb bioaccessibility of both samples, which was significant (p = .002) in the case of the Pb metal sample. This study demonstrates that Pb compounds commonly found in indoor dust can ‘age’ into more bioaccessible forms under humid indoor conditions.     

Aquatic and terrestrial organic matter in the diet of stream consumers: implications for mercury bioaccumulation

The relative contribution of aquatic vs. terrestrial organic matter to the diet of consumers in fluvial environments and its effects on bioaccumulation of contaminants such as mercury (Hg) remain poorly understood. We used stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in a gradient approach (consumer isotope ratio vs. periphyton isotope ratio) across temperate streams that range in their pH to assess consumer reliance on aquatic (periphyton) vs. terrestrial (riparian vegetation) organic matter, and whether Hg concentrations in fish and their prey were related to these energy sources. Taxa varied in their use of the two sources, with grazing mayflies (Heptageniidae), predatory stoneflies (Perlidae), one species of water strider (Metrobates hesperius), and the fish blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) showing strong connections to aquatic sources, while Aquarius remigis water striders and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) showed a weak link to in-stream production. The aquatic food source for consumers, periphyton, had higher Hg concentrations in low-pH waters, and pH was a much better predictor of Hg in predatory invertebrates that relied mainly on this food source vs. those that used terrestrial C. These findings suggest that stream biota relying mainly on dietary inputs from the riparian zone will be partially insulated from the effects of water chemistry on Hg availability. This has implications for the development of a whole-system understanding of nutrient and material cycling in streams, the choice of taxa in contaminant monitoring studies, and in understanding the fate of Hg in stream food webs.     

Evaluation of the digital opacity compliance system in high mountain desert environments

The digital opacity compliance system (DOCS) has been proposed as an alternative to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Reference Method 9 (Visual Determination of the Opacity of Emissions for Stationary Sources). The DOCS, which employs standard digital photography to estimate the opacity of visible emissions, was evaluated in a high mountain desert environment located in Weber County, UT. The DOCS recorded an average opacity deviation of 5.28% when applied to black smoke plumes having true opacities in the range of 0-100%, an error rate that was found to be significantly less than 7.5% (allowable error rate for attaining certification under Method 9). In contrast, results from estimating the opacity of white smoke plumes indicated that the accuracy of the DOCS was less than the Method 9 error rate only in the opacity range of 0-60%, over which the DOCS average opacity deviation was determined to be 6.7%. For the 0-40% opacity range, the DOCS recorded an average opacity deviation of 5.44% and 5.9% for black and white plumes, respectively. Results from the present study suggest that the DOCS has the potential to quantify visible opacity with an error rate that is significantly less than the Method 9 permissible error rate. Although encouraging, it is unclear to what extent the DOCS is affected by climatic conditions other than those encountered in a dry desert environment. Future studies should focus on evaluating the performance of the DOCS under variable weather conditions.     

New tools and strategies for the inspection of the psychosocial working environment: The experience of the Danish Working Environment Authority

In 2007 the Danish Working Environment Authority launched a new strategy to strengthen and qualify primary prevention of work related stress. Part of the strategy consists of increased inspections of the psychosocial working environment as well as the development and implementation of a new inspection tool, namely the “guidance tool”.Twenty-four sector specific guidance tools have been developed to help WEA inspectors assess psychosocial working environment problems in all Danish enterprises. Based on recent research, the guidance tools consist, in each sector, of the three to five most important risk factors (for example quantitative demands, emotional demands, and work related violence), as well as the most important preventive factors, e.g. quality of management, influence/control and training.During the first years of the strategy, an increasing number of inspectors have issued improvement notices regarding work related stress and violence, and there has been an increasing number of notices issued on several risk factors. For some aspects, the tools have helped increase the clarity and comprehensibility of the improvement notices and reduce the WEA’s time consumption per enterprise.The guidance tools seem to be a suitable and efficient way of assessing several health and safety risks concerning work related stress and violence thereby allowing the WEA to detect more of the existing problems. Future challenges projected for the strategy include continuously training all WEA inspectors in the proper use of the tools and continuously refining the tools – or developing new tools – based on further research and experiences from practice.     

Leveraging assets: a case study of the sustainability initiative at the University of Minnesota,Morris

This article presents an overview of the sustainability initiative at the University of Minnesota, Morris, key components of which include a realistic goal of energy self-sufficiency by 2010, a new environmental studies curriculum, and various research and outreach projects. Many non-obvious institutional assets – such as lobbying networks in the state legislature, and geographic/demographic features that are more commonly thought of as liabilities – turned out to play critical roles in setting the initiative in motion. The initial physical assets have been leveraged into complementary opportunities for research, teaching, and institutional development in this direction.     

SURFACE AREA CORRECTIONS APPLIED TO A RESOURCE MAP1

ABSTRACT: Generally a difference exists between the horizontal planar area of a watershed as measured on a map and the actual surface area. A technique is presented, utilizing a topographic map, for computing the difference in the two areas as well as yielding a prediction of the actual surface area. Spatial variations in the magnitude of the difference in the two areas for small local sites over the watershed are displayed on computer generated maps. The technique is also used to adjust various inventory variables on maps, such as vegetation density, to reflect actual surface coverage. This allows estimates to be made of the difference in using corrected versus uncorrected area related parameters in mathematical functions describing processes occurring in the atmosphere-surface boundary layer.     

Light and electronmicroscopic studies of the acute and long-term toxic effects of N-nitrosodipropylamine and N-methylnitrosurea on the marine mussel Mytilus edulis

The acute (1) and long-term (2) toxic effects of N-nitrosodipropylamine (NDPA) and N-methylnitrosurea (NMU) were studied by light and electronmicroscopy following injection of the chemicals into the foot of the mussels Mytilus edulis (L.) (1) Mussels reveived one injection of NDPA at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg NDPA mussel^-1, and one injection of NMU at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 4.0 mg NMU mussel^-1. Within 12d, necrosis of the epithelial lining of the digestive diverticula took place, and the vesicular connective tissue in the digestive diverticula were heavily infiltrated by eosinophilic granular leucocytes. (2) Mussels received four weekly injections of 0.5 mg NDPA mussel^-1, and 0.5 mg NMU mussel^-1. NDPA-exposed mussels were examined for a period of 17 weeks, and NMU-exposed mussels were examined for a period of 24 weeks. Both chemicals produced progressive tissue damage, characterized by destruction of digestive tubules and ducts in the digestive diverticula. Destroyed tubules and ducts were replaced by collagenous scars, and granulocytomas were frequently seen.