Effectiveness of zerovalent iron and nickel catalysts for degrading chlorinated solvents and n-nitrosodimethylamine in natural groundwater.

Laboratory batch experiments were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of nickel catalysts, nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) doped with palladium, and microscale ZVI for treatment of tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, and n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in soil-groundwater slurries. Results indicated that the presence of NDMA inhibited degradation of chlorinated solvents. Although both the nickel catalyst and nZVI were able to degrade NDMA in deionized water, neither of these metals was effective at degrading NDMA in the soil-groundwater system evaluated in this study. The effectiveness of the nickel catalyst and nZVI, with respect to treatment of the chlorinated solvents, also appeared to be highly dependent on the groundwater geochemical conditions. Overall results of this study suggest that the degradation mechanisms involving nickel catalysts and nZVI in natural soil/groundwater systems are not well-understood, and addition of metal catalysts to ZVI may not necessarily enhance observed degradation rates in natural systems.     

Persistent blooms of surf diatoms along the Pacific coast,USA

Productivity was studied in two diatom species, Chaetoceros armatum T. West and Asterionella socialis Lewin and Norris, which form persistent dense blooms in the surf zone along the Pacific coast of Washington and Oregon, USA. Past observations have shown that surf-diatom standing stock usually declines in summer along with concentrations of nitrate and ammonium. Using the ¹⁴C method, photosynthetic rates in natural surf samples were measured monthly for one year (October 1981 through September 1982) at a study site on the Washington coast. Also measured were temperature, salinity, dissolved nutrients, particulate carbon and nitrogen (used as estimates of phytoplankton C and N), and chlorophyll a. Assimilation numbers (P _max) were higher in summer (5 to 8 g C g^-1 chl a h^-1) than in winter (3 to 4gC). Specific carbon incorporation rates (µ_max) showed no obvious seasonality, mostly falling within the range of 0.09 to 0.13 g C g^-1 C(POC) h^-1. The discrepancy between the seasonal trends for chlorophyll-specific and carbon-specific rates reflects a change in the carbon-to-chlorophyll ratio. Because of seasonal differences in daylength and light intensity, daily specific growth rates () are thought to be higher in summer than in winter. Neither ammonium enrichment assays nor particulate carbon-to-nitrogen ratios provided convincing evidence for nitrogen limitation during summer, and the observed changes in diatom abundance cannot be explained on this basis. Both the high diatom concentrations and their seasonal variations probably are due mainly to factors other than growth rates; two factors considered important are diatom flotation and seasonal changes in wind-driven water transport. C. armatum usually dominates the phytoplankton biomass in the surf zone, and evidence suggests that this species is strongly dominant in terms of primary production.Contribution No. 1391 of the School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA     

Effects of bisphenol A on energy balance and accumulation in brown adipose tissue in rats

Some environmental contaminants have the potential to affect humans or animals by mimicking the effects of hormones. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a weak estrogen agonist when tested using in vitro or in vivo bioassays. In addition to the well documented effects of estrogens on reproductive functions, ovarian hormones also have salient effects on mammalian energy balance and feeding behavior. In this study, we investigated the effects of BPA on body weight and food intake of ovariectomized adult female rats. Treatment with doses of 4 or 5 mg/day for 15 days resulted in a significant reduction of body weight gain with no reduction in food intake. A dose of 1 mg/day did not affect feeding or weight gain. BPA was detected in the blood, brain and adipose tissues of the BPA-treated animals but not in the vehicle control group. There was a preferential concentration of BPA in brown adipose tissue. These results indicate that BPA can affect energy balance and that brown adipose tissue may be a primary tissue into which BPA accumulates in mammals.     

What drives visitors to tourist sites to choose “green” accommodation facilities?

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Our aim is to determine the factors influencing a visitor’s decision to stay in a green accommodation facility. Visitors from six tourist sites...     

Governance baselines as a basis for adaptive marine spatial planning

A marine spatial planning (MSP) initiative—if to be successful—has to be rooted in a thorough understanding of the tradition and structures of the governance system in the area targeted for the initiative. After decades of a mainly sectoral approach towards maritime affairs, governments began to recognised the need for a governance framework that applies a more integrated approach to maritime policy. The new Integrated Maritime Policy of the European Union is only one example for such a changed way of policy and decision making. The assembly of a governance baseline can help to identify the crucial hindering and success factors for the implementation of MSP. A governance baseline has two parts. Part One focuses upon the past and current performance of the governance system as it has responded—or failed to respond—to changes in the condition of ecosystems in a specific locale. Part Two of a baseline outlines a strategic approach to the design of a new program and records the goals, objectives and strategies of MSP implementation. Focus on both governance processes and their outcomes is essential and forms the core justification for documenting governance responses to ecosystem change.     

Game theory, multi-modal signalling and the evolution of communication

We discuss how the theoretical framework related to selection pressures on multi-component and multi-modal signalling introduced by the article of Wilson et al. in this special issue could usefully be built both theoretically and empirically. Theoretically, we suggest that the game theory approach of Wilson et al. could be generalised using the methodology of adaptive dynamics in order to indicate evolutionary trajectories and paths of evolution. This might indicate the relative likelihood of finding different equilibriums empirically in situations where the game theory explorations of Wilson et al. suggest that multiple equilibriums may exist for a given system. We also suggest how the work of Wilson et al. could be extended theoretically and empirically to further capture the effects of receiver psychology on selective pressures on multi-component and multi-modal signals. We also highlight the assumptions and predictions of the existing theory that would most benefit from and would be most amenable to empirical testing.     

Greenhouse evaluation and environmental impact assessment of different urine-derived struvite fertilizers as phosphorus sources for plants

A selection of six urine-derived struvite fertilizers generated by innovative precipitation technologies was assessed for their quality and their effectiveness as phosphorus sources for crops. Struvite purity was influenced by drying techniques and magnesium dosage. In a greenhouse experiment, the urine fertilizers led to biomass yields and phosphorus uptakes comparable to or higher than those induced by a commercial mineral fertilizer. Heavy metal concentrations of the different struvite fertilizers were below the threshold limits specified by the German Fertilizer and Sewage Sludge Regulations. The computed loading rates of heavy metals to agricultural land were also below the threshold limits decreed by the Federal Soil Protection Act. Urine-derived struvite contributed less to heavy metal inputs to farmland than other recycling products or commercial mineral and organic fertilizers. When combined with other soil conditioners, urine-derived struvite is an efficient fertilizer which covers the magnesium and more than half of the phosphorus demand of crops.