Letting Wet Spots be Wet: Restoring Natural Bioreactors in the Dissected Glacial Landscape

In this paper, we argue that there is tremendous potential for nitrate-N reductions to occur throughout the Corn Belt region of the USA if we simply let naturally occurring wet spots on the landscape be wet. Geologic and hydrologic data gathered in the Walnut Creek watershed located in south-central Iowa provides compelling evidence that substantial nutrient-processing capacity exists in this dissected glacial landscape. Self-similarity of stratigraphy, sedimentology and hydrology observed at all spatial scales in the watershed suggests that Holocene alluvial fill deposits provide a natural bioreactor for denitrification of upland groundwater nitrate-N; the occurrence of such deposits can be mapped to identify potential nitrogen sinks across the landscape. This approach to identifying potential nitrogen sinks is geology focused and extends potential locations for nutrient processing upstream into the headwater catchments of individual fields.     

Validation of Ucides cordatus as a bioindicator of oil contamination and bioavailability in mangroves by evaluating sediment and crab PAH records

This study is aimed at verifying the relevance of Ucides cordatus as a bioindicator of oil contamination and PAH bioavailability in mangrove sediments. For this, crabs and sediment cores were sampled from five mangroves, including an area suspected of contamination derived from an MF380 oil spillage, and analyzed for the 16 PAH in the USEPA priority list as well as for the five series of alkylated homologues. Concentrations in sediments varied from 35 microg kg-1 in the lower core layer of the control area to 33,000 microg kg-1 in the upper layer of the most contaminated area. Total PAH contents in crabs varied from 206 to 62,000 microg kg-1 and were closely correlated to that in sediments. In general, individual PAH profiles in both matrices were in good agreement. Phenanthrenes, however, were more predominant in crabs making up to 30-46% of the Total PAH. Accumulation factors found in the range of 0.7 to 35 were highly variable even after normalizing concentrations for organic carbon and lipid content. Survival in highly contaminated environment and reliable record of environmental contamination in the tissue provide evidence that U. cordatus is an excellent bioindicator for oil in mangroves.     

Identifying hydrologically sensitive areas: bridging the gap between science and application

Researchers have noted that current water quality protection strategies, like nutrient management plans, lack a sound hydrological underpinning for pollutant transport processes. This is especially true for areas like the northeastern U.S. where copious research has shown that variable source area hydrology largely governs runoff generation. The goal of this study was to develop a scientifically justified method to identify the locations that generate overland flow. Furthermore, this methodology must be computationally simple enough that it can be utilized or incorporated into nutrient management plans and other established water quality tools. We specifically tested the reliability of the 'distance from a stream,'D(s), and the 'topographic index,'lambda, to predict areas with a high propensity for generating overland flow, i.e. hydrologically sensitive areas (HSA). HSAs were defined by their probability of generating runoff, P(sat), based on 30 year simulations using a physically based hydrological model. Using GIS, each location's P(sat) was correlated with D(s) and lambda. We used three Delaware Co., NY watersheds in the New York City watershed system with areas varying in size from 1.6 to 37 km2 and with forested and agricultural land uses. The topographic index gave stronger, more regionally consistent correlations with P(sat) than did D(s). Equations correlating lambda and P(sat) for each month are presented and can be used to estimate hydrological sensitivity in the region surrounding our study watersheds, i.e. in Delaware Co. This work is currently being incorporated into an Internet Mapping System to facilitate user-friendly, on-line identification of HSAs.     

Ambient ozone effects on gas exchange and total non-structural carbohydrate levels in cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata L.) growing in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Ozone-sensitive and -tolerant individuals of cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata L.) were compared for their gas exchange characteristics and total non-structural carbohydrates at Purchase Knob, a high elevation site in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance decreased with increased foliar stipple. Sensitive plants had lower photosynthetic rates for all leaves, except the very youngest and oldest when compared to tolerant plants. Stomatal conductance decreased with increasing leaf age, but no ozone-sensitivity differences were found. Lower leaves had less starch than upper ones, while leaves on sensitive plants had less than those on tolerant plants. These results show that ambient levels of ozone in Great Smoky Mountains National Park can adversely affect gas exchange, water use efficiency and leaf starch content in sensitive coneflower plants. Persistence of sensitive genotypes in the Park may be due to physiological recovery in low ozone years.     

Kinetics of Sulfur-Oxide Formation in Flames: II. Low Pressure H2S Flames

The microstructure of 1/10 and 1/20 atmosphere, lean H₂S—O₂—N₂ flames is developed using the mass-spectrometric flame-sampling technique. The flame mechanism developed is in agreement with that determined from an earlier study on 1-atm H₂S flames. The formation of SO₂ appears to be primarily related to the production of SH and the ensuing oxidation steps SH + O₂ = SO + OH and SO + O₂ = SO₂ + O. While there is some question whether SO₂ formation occurs via an SO or an S₂O intermediate, the present study does not give direct support to the role of S₂O in the oxidation mechanism. However, the presence of significant quantities of free sulfur in the pre-flame zone may be indicative of S₂O formation via SO + S → S₂O, and, possibly, via the disproportionation of SO, 3SO → S₂O + SO₂. Kinetic analyses of some of the pre-flame reactions indicate an apparent activation energy of 17,300 calories/mole for the decomposition of H₂S. The actual initiation process in the flame mechanism requires further examination. The specific rate for the reaction step H₂S + O = OH + SH is given by k ₆ = 1.45 × 10₁₅ exp ( – 6600/RT) cm³ mole^–1 sec^–1, and the specific rate for the oxidation of SO, SO + O₂ = SO₂ + O, is given by k ₅ = 5.2 × 10₁₄ exp (—19,300/RT) cm³ mole^–1 sec^–1.     

Detection Limits for Hazardous and Radioactive Elements in Airborne Aerosols Using Inductively Coupled Air Plasma – Atomic Emission Spectrometry

Abstract

This research presents investigations into the use of inductively coupled air plasma – atomic emission spectrometry (air-plasma ICPAES) to determine the presence of inorganic contaminants in airborne aerosols. Limits of detection (LOD) in the ppm to ppb range for 19 hazardous metals and radionuclides were determined for aerosols of solutions nebulized into the air plasma. For many elements, the determined LOD surpass the threshold limit values established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists by one to three orders of magnitude. The potential of air-plasma ICPAES for continuous on-line monitoring of airborne contaminants is discussed.