Integrating gender and environment in NGO training

The global concern for the survival of the planet earth draws particular attention to the Third World countries and the impact of degrading forces on sustainable development. A different response to the growing ecological crisis has recently come to the fore. This response comes from women engaged in the struggle for survival. Women in the Third World, because of their situation on the fringes of society and their role producing sustenance, are often able to offer ecological insights that are deeper and richer than the recipes of technocrats and international experts or ideas resulting from enquiries addressed only to the men in communities. In the following the author seeks to demonstrate how women often bear the brunt of suffering resulting from environmental degradation, wars and poverty that plague the Near East region. However, training of women, especially poor women, in environmental management, and the active participation of local women in community and regional decision making holds a clear promise of eventually controlling the vicious circle of poverty and environmental degradation. An intermediate step is the coordination of NGO activities in a common front for environmental protection and income generation for the poor. Further training of the NGO's own staff in the design and implementation of such projects is also required.     

Modelling soil phosphorus decline: Expectations of Water Framework Directive policies

Depletion of plant-available soil phosphorus (P) from excessive to agronomically optimum levels is a measure being implemented in Ireland to reduce the risk of diffuse P transfer from land to water. Within the Nitrates and Water Framework Directive regulations the policy tool is designed to help achieve good status by 2015 in water bodies at risk from eutrophication. To guide expectation, this study used soil plot data from eight common soil associations to develop a model of Soil Test P (STP) (Morgan's extract) decline following periods of zero P amendment. This was used to predict the time required to move from excessive (Index 4) to the upper boundary of the optimum (Index 3) soil P concentration range. The relative P balance (P balance : Total soil P) best described an exponential decline (R² = 63%) of STP according to a backwards step-wise regression of a range of soil parameters. Using annual field P balance scenarios (?30 kg P ha^?1, ?15 kg P ha^?1, ?7 kg P ha^?1), average time to the optimum soil P boundary condition was estimated from a range of realistic Total P and STP starting points. For worst case scenarios of high Total P and STP starting points, average time to the boundary was estimated at 7–15 years depending on the field P balance. However, uncertainty analysis of the regression parameter showed that variation can be from 3 to >20 years. Combined with variation in how soil P source changes translate to resulting P delivery to water bodies, water policy regulators are advised to note this inherent uncertainty from P source to receptor with regard to expectations of Water Framework Directive water quality targets and deadlines.     

Fatigue and beyond: patterns of and motivations for illicit drug use among long-haul truck drivers

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the illicit drug use patterns of long-distance truck drivers. This population is considered to be a special interest group in terms of drug-driving research and policy due to high rates of use, involvement of drugs in truck accidents, and the link between drug use and work-related fatigue. METHODS: Qualitative interview data were collected from 35 long-haul truck drivers in Southeast Queensland and analyzed through grounded theory techniques. Interviews were conducted at truck stops and loading facilities in both metropolitan and regional cites throughout Queensland. RESULTS: High rates of licit and illicit drug use (particularly amphetamines) were reported by the majority of the sample. However, unlike previous studies that focus on fatigue, this research found overlapping and changing motivations for drug use during individual lifetimes. Becker's model of a drug use "career" was utilized to reveal that some drivers begin illicit drug use before they commence truck driving. As well as fatigue, powerful motives such as peer pressure, wanting to fit the trucking "image," socialization, relaxation, and addiction were also reported as contributing factors to self-reported drug driving. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that these additional social factors may need to be considered and incorporated with fatigue factors when developing effective drug prevention or cessation policies for truck drivers.     

Critical Review of Norovirus Surrogates in Food Safety Research: Rationale for Considering Volunteer Studies

The inability to propagate human norovirus (NoV) or to clearly differentiate infectious from noninfectious virus particles has led to the use of surrogate viruses, like feline calicivirus (FCV) and murine norovirus-1 (MNV), which are propagatable in cell culture. The use of surrogates is predicated on the assumption that they generally mimic the viruses they represent; however, studies are proving this concept invalid. In direct comparisons between FCV and MNV, their susceptibility to temperatures, environmental and food processing conditions, and disinfectants are dramatically different. Differences have also been noted between the inactivation of NoV and its surrogates, thus questioning the validity of surrogates. Considerable research funding is provided globally each year to conduct surrogate studies on NoVs; however, there is little demonstrated benefit derived from these studies in regard to the development of virus inactivation techniques or food processing strategies. Human challenge studies are needed to determine which processing techniques are effective in reducing NoVs in foods. A major obstacle to clinical trials on NoVs is the perception that such trials are too costly and risky, but in reality, there is far more cost and risk in allowing millions of unsuspecting consumers to contract NoV illness each year, when practical interventions are only a few volunteer studies away. A number of clinical trials have been conducted, providing important insights into NoV inactivation. A shift in research priorities from surrogate research to volunteer studies is essential if we are to identify realistic, practical, and scientifically valid processing approaches to improve food safety.     

Investigations into the landfill behaviour of pretreated wastes

Mechanical-biological treatment of municipal solid waste has become popular throughout the UK and other parts of Europe to enable compliance with the Landfill Directive. Pretreatment will have a major influence on the degradation and settlement characteristics of the waste in landfills owing to the changes in the composition and properties of the wastes. This paper presents and compares the results of long term landfill behaviour of the UK and German MBT wastes pretreated to different standards. The gas generating potential, leachate quality and settlement characteristics are highlighted. The results reveal that it is possible to achieve stabilisation of MBT waste within a year and the biogas yield and leachate strength of German MBT waste was significantly reduced compared with the UK MBT waste. The settlement resulting from mechanical creep is more significant than the biodegradation induced settlement in both cases.     

Significance of Atmospheric Ozone as a Phytotoxicant

Since the recognition of ozone as a major phytotoxicant in crop plants in 1957, ozone type symptoms have been observed in a wide range of vegetation. These observations include leafy vegetables, field, forage, and textile crops, also shrubs, broad-leafed ornamental, fruit and forest trees, and various conifers. Fumigation experiments at various institutions have confirmed the etiological relation of ozone in many of these observations. Such visible injuries fail to provide a reliable index to the damaging impact of ozone on the numerous plants affected. Hidden injury or damage by ozone at sub-necrotic levels has been reported and experimentally established in a number of crop plants. Evidence is available which indicats that citrus varieties are so affected, and that much of the citrus decline in Southern California may be ozone induced. Photochemically induced ozone may prove to be the most persistent, if not the most difficult, of atmospheric phytotoxicants to control. Ozone type injury has been reported from eighteen different states, and from Canada to Japan.     

Determination of 14 amines in air samples using midget impingers sampling followed by analysis with ion chromatography in tandem with mass spectrometry

An Ion Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (IC-MS) method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of 14 volatile amines in air. The method includes collection of compounds into two midget impingers in a row filled with 15 ml of ultrapure water. The analytical performances with mass spectrometry detection were compared to those obtained with classical conductivity detection. The use of mass spectrometry detection (in SIM mode) overcomes most of the coelutions encountered with conductivity detection. Although the linearity domain of calibrations is reduced for the MS detection as compared with the CD detection, the detection limits in MS detection are highly lowered allowing the quantification of amines at the levels of μg m(-3) in air with a good accuracy for most compounds (RSD of less than 10%). This method was successfully applied to the analysis of amines released from polyurethane foams. Seven amines were identified and some in high concentrations, like dimethylaminoethanol, NIAX and TEDA.     

Pesticide occurrence in groundwater and the physical characteristics in association with these detections in Ireland

This study explores the associations of pesticide occurrence in groundwater to geological characteristics of the monitoring points (MPs) contributing area. Pesticide analyses were undertaken during a 2-year groundwater monitoring campaign which generated 845 samples. MCPA and mecoprop were the most frequently detected pesticides in groundwater. Each MP (n?=?158) had a specifically delineated zone of contribution (ZOC) and the dominant physical characteristics present from nine national datasets were recorded for each ZOC. Associations between detections in groundwater and the dominant physical characteristic in each MPs ZOC tested were then statistically analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, logistic regression, and multiple logistic regression. The original physical characteristic datasets used that were associated with detections in groundwater were the type of MP, aquifer type, and Quaternary deposit type. Logistic regression revealed that springs, regionally important aquifer types, aquifers with a karstic flow regime, and alkaline Quaternary deposits in existence above karst aquifers in a MP’s ZOC were more likely to have a pesticide detection in groundwater. Multiple regression from this exploratory work showed some mutual dependency between soil association, aquifer type, and the Geological Survey of Ireland groundwater vulnerability map. The combination of national monitoring data and physical attribute datasets can be used to explore key areas where groundwater is more vulnerable to pesticide contamination.     

Synthetic fibers as an indicator of land application of sludge

Synthetic fabric fibers have been proposed as indicators of past spreading of wastewater sludge. Synthetic fiber detectability was examined in sludges (dewatered, pelletized, composted, alkaline-stabilized) and in soils from experimental columns and field sites applied with those sludge products. Fibers (isolated by water extraction and examined using polarized light microscopy) were detectable in sludge products and in soil columns over 5 years after application, retaining characteristics observed in the applied sludge. Concentrations mirrored (within a factor of 2) predictions based on soil dilution. Fibers were detectable in field site soils up to 15 years after application, again retaining the characteristics seen in sludge products. Concentrations correlated with residual sludge metal concentration gradients in a well-characterized field site. Fibers found along preferential flow paths and/or in horizons largely below the mixed layer suggest some potential for translocation. Synthetic fibers were shown to be rapid and semi-quantitative indicators of past sludge application.     

Microbial acidification and pH effects on trace element release from sewage sludge

Leaching of sludge-borne trace elements has been observed in experimental and field studies. The role of microbial processes in the mobilization of trace elements from wastewater sludge is poorly defined. Our objectives were to determine trace element mobilization from sludge subjected to treatments representing microbial acidification, direct chemical acidification and no acidification, and to determine the readsorption potential of mobilized elements using calcareous sand. Triplicate columns (10-cm diameter) for incubation and leaching of sludge had a top layer of digested dewatered sludge (either untreated, acidified with H2SO4, or limed with CaCO3; all mixed with glass beads to prevent ponding) and a lower glass bead support bed. Glass beads in the sludge layer, support layer or both were replaced by calcareous sand in four treatments used for testing the readsorption potential of mobilized elements. Eight sequential 8-day incubation and leaching cycles were operated, each consisting of 7.6 d of incubation at 28 degrees C followed by 8 h of leaching with synthetic acid rain applied at 0.25 cm/h. Leachates were analyzed for trace elements, nitrate and pH, and sludge layer microbial respiration was measured. The largest trace element, nitrate and S losses occurred in treatments with the greatest pH depression and greatest microbial respiration rates. Cumulative leaching losses from both microbial acidification and direct acidification treatments were > 90% of Zn and 64-80% of Cu and Ni. Preventing acidification with sludge layer lime or sand restricted leaching for all trace elements except Mo. Results suggested that the primary microbial role in the rapid leaching of trace elements was acidification, with results from direct acidification being nearly identical to microbial acidification. Microbial activity in the presence of materials that prevented acidification mobilized far lower concentrations of trace elements, with the exception of Mo. Trace elements mobilized by acidification were readsorbed by calcareous sand when present.