Dependence of home outdoor particulate mass and number concentrations on residential and traffic features in urban areas

The associations between residential outdoor and ambient particle mass, fine particle absorbance, particle number (PN) concentrations, and residential and traffic determinants were investigated in four European urban areas (Helsinki, Athens, Amsterdam, and Birmingham). A total of 152 nonsmoking participants with respiratory diseases, not exposed to occupational pollution, were included in the study, which comprised a 7-day intensive exposure monitoring period of both indoor and home outdoor particle mass and number concentrations. The same pollutants were also continuously measured at ambient fixed sites centrally located to the studied areas (fixed ambient sites). Relationships between concentrations measured directly outside the homes (residential outdoor) and at the fixed ambient sites were pollutant-specific, with substantial variations among the urban areas. Differences were more pronounced for coarse particles due to resuspension of road dust and PN, which is strongly related to traffic emissions. Less significant outdoor-to-fixed variation for particle mass was observed for Amsterdam and Birmingham, predominantly due to regional secondary aerosol. On the contrary, a strong spatial variation was observed for Athens and to a lesser extent for Helsinki. This was attributed to the overwhelming and time-varied inputs from traffic and other local sources. The location of the residence and traffic volume and distance to street and traffic light were important determinants of residential outdoor particle concentrations. On average, particle mass levels in suburban areas were less than 30% of those measured for residences located in the city center. Residences located less than 10 m from a street experienced 133% higher PN concentrations than residences located further away. Overall, the findings of this multi-city study, indicated that (1) spatial variation was larger for PN than for fine particulate matter (PM) mass and varied between the cities, (2) vehicular emissions in the residential street and location in the center of the city were significant predictors of spatial variation, and (3) the impact of traffic and location in the city was much larger for PN than for fine particle mass.     

可持续的公用事业：放宽限制和私有化给可持续性带来新机会

公用事业已经对环境质量产生重要的影响,特别是在市区.初看起来,放宽限制或公用事业的私有化似乎提供不了任何环境效益.然而,如果在一个合适的管理法律体制内发生这样一个变化,结果实际上是提高了人们对可持续发展的注意.关于这一点,给出了一个关于改善公路运输的可持续发展性机会的实例研究.     

The effects of alkalinity and acidity of process water and hydrochar washing on the adsorption of atrazine on hydrothermally produced hydrochar

Hydrothermal carbonization of simulated food waste was performed at 250 °C for 20 h using deionized water (DI) and 0.01 N solutions of HCl, NaCl, and NaOH. The hydrochars produced were washed with acetone and the adsorptive capacity of the washed and unwashed hydrochars for atrazine were characterized. Using a generalized linear model, it was shown that the adsorptive capacity of the washed hydrochar was significantly higher than that of the unwashed hydrochars. The HCl processed unwashed hydrochar has a slightly higher adsorptive capacity compared to the DI processed hydrochar while both the NaOH processed washed and unwashed hydrochars were slightly lower than the corresponding DI processed hydrochars. ¹³C solid-state NMR results showed no discernible differences in surface functional groups among the washed hydrochars and among the unwashed hydrochars. A clear decrease in alkyl groups and an increase in aromatic/olefinic-C groups were observed after acetone washing. ¹H liquid-phase NMR showed carbon alkyl chains were present in the acetone wash. Interaction energies calculated using dispersion corrected density functional theory show that atrazine is more strongly adsorbed to surfaces without weakly associated alkyl groups.     

Perinatal dioxin exposure, cytochrome P-450 activity, liver functions and thyroid hormones at follow-up after 7-12 years

OBJECTIVES: Prenatal and lactational exposure to Dutch "background" dioxin levels may cause health effects spanning many years. In addition, perinatal studies have shown a relationship between dioxin exposure and thyroid disturbance. To assess the later health effects of prenatal and lactational dioxin exposure on liver function we measured plasma ALAT and ASAT levels amongst our longitudinal cohort, as was done perinatally and at 2(1/2) years. The children underwent a caffeine loading test to determine CYP1A2 activity. To assess the later effects on thyroid function we measured plasma TSH and FT4. STUDY DESIGN: A longitudinal cohort of 37 healthy children (age 7-12, mean 8.2 years), with documented prenatal and lactational dioxin exposure, ingested 3mg caffeine/kg BW 6h prior to blood withdrawal. Paraxanthine/caffeine molar ratio, ALAT, ASAT, TSH and FT4 were determined in venous blood. RESULTS: Linear regression of ASAT and ALAT revealed no relation with prenatal and lactational dioxin exposure. No correlation was found between the paraxanthine/caffeine molar ratio and prenatal and lactational dioxin exposure. Linear regression of TSH and FT4 revealed no relation with prenatal and lactational dioxin exposure. CONCLUSION: This follow-up has shown a normalisation of previously abnormal ALAT and ASAT levels, indicating a transient effect. CYP1A2 activity, measured by means of a caffeine-loading test, revealed no correlation with the prenatal and lactational exposures. A normalisation of previously abnormal thyroid hormone homeostasis was seen, also possibly indicating a transient effect. This study provides new data on long-term follow-up after perinatal dioxin exposure to background levels of dioxins.     

Ecological role of lipids and fatty acids in the early postembryonic development of the daubed shanny, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptoclinus maculatus</Emphasis> (Fries, 1838) from Kongsfjorden,West Spitsbergen in winter

The dynamics of lipid and fatty acid composition of the muscles (flesh) and lipid sac in L. maculatus early life stages of different age collected in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Norway), in winter, during the polar night was studied. We showed that the total lipid content in the muscles increases on account of energetic triacylglycerols derived from the lipid sac, which is resorbed in juveniles as they switch to a demersal mode of life. The fatty acid spectrum directly reflects age-dependent and seasonal features of L. maculatus early life stages. The results of the study elucidate the specific role of lipids and fatty acids in the ecological and biochemical mechanisms related to ontogenic development of fish from the family Stichaeidae, particularly arctic-boreal L. maculatus, which assumed to become increasingly frequent in the Spitsbergen water area. They are important for understanding the ability of organisms to maintain and preserve the functional stability of ecosystems as a whole, especially under conditions of climate change in the Arctic.     

The Impact of First-Generation Biofuels on the Depletion of the Global Phosphorus Reserve

The large majority of biofuels to date is "first-generation" biofuel made from agricultural commodities. All first-generation biofuel production systems require phosphorus (P) fertilization. P is an essential plant nutrient, yet global reserves are finite. We argue that committing scarce P to biofuel production involves a trade-off between climate change mitigation and future food production. We examine biofuel production from seven types of feedstock, and find that biofuels at present consume around 2% of the global inorganic P fertilizer production. For all examined biofuels, with the possible exception of sugarcane, the contribution to P depletion exceeds the contribution to mitigating climate change. The relative benefits of biofuels can be increased through enhanced recycling of P, but high increases in P efficiency are required to balance climate change mitigation and P depletion impacts. We conclude that, with the current production systems, the production of first-generation biofuels compromises food production in the future.     

Towards a renewed research agenda in ecotoxicology

New concerns about biodiversity, ecosystem services and human health triggered several new regulations increasing the need for sound ecotoxicological risk assessment. The PEER network aims to share its view on the research issues that this challenges. PEER scientists call for an improved biologically relevant exposure assessment. They promote comprehensive effect assessment at several biological levels. Biological traits should be used for Environmental risk assessment (ERA) as promising tools to better understand relationships between structure and functioning of ecosystems. The use of modern high throughput methods could also enhance the amount of data for a better risk assessment. Improved models coping with multiple stressors or biological levels are necessary to answer for a more scientifically based risk assessment. Those methods must be embedded within life cycle analysis or economical models for efficient regulations. Joint research programmes involving humanities with ecological sciences should be developed for a sound risk management.     

Associations between sleep,risk and safety climate: A study of offshore personnel on the Norwegian continental shelf

The demands and constraints of the offshore working environment can have adverse effects on health, particularly the quality of sleep. Perceived risk and safety are significant psychological stress factors which may interfere with and deteriorate the sleep quality of offshore personnel. The present study explores the relationship between risk perception, safety climate and sleep quality. Data were collected under the auspices of the Petroleum Safety Authorities in Norway using a cross-sectional design. A total of 9601 offshore workers from 52 offshore installations on the Norwegian continental shelf participated in the study. Our findings indicate that both risk perception and safety climate are significantly related to sleep quality. The results of the present study suggest that risk perception and safety climate not only are important aspects of safety performance in the offshore industry, but also have an impact on sleep quality.