Sustainable development of deep-water seaport: the case of Lithuania

Introduction  

In 2003, the Japan International Cooperation Agency carried out a development feasibility study of Klaipeda Seaport (Lithuania). The focus in this study was the evaluation of environmental impacts of the port expansion because it is located in an ecologically sensitive area. While the Japanese researchers focused on the environmental impact analysis, they did not provide unambiguous conclusions. The problems remained unresolved and required further, more detailed consideration and deeper analysis.     

The endocrine disrupting potential of sediments from the Upper Danube River (Germany) as revealed by in vitro bioassays and chemical analysis

Introduction  

The present study was part of a comprehensive weight-of-evidence approach with the goal of identifying potential causes for the declines in fish populations, which have been observed during the past decades in the Upper Danube River.     

The human sex odds at birth after the atmospheric atomic bomb tests,after Chernobyl,and in the vicinity of nuclear facilities

Background, aim, and scope  

Ever since the discovery of the mutagenic properties of ionizing radiation, the possibility of birth sex odds shifts in exposed human populations was considered in the scientific community. Positive evidence, however weak, was obtained after the atomic bombing of Japan. We previously investigated trends in the sex odds before and after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. In a pilot study, combined data from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Poland, and Sweden between 1982 and 1992 showed a downward trend in the sex odds and a significant jump in 1987, the year immediately after Chernobyl. Moreover, a significant positive association of the sex odds between 1986 and 1991 with Chernobyl fallout at the district level in Germany was observed. Both of these findings, temporality (effect after exposure) and dose response association, yield evidence of causality. The primary aim of this study was to investigate longer time periods (1950–2007) in all of Europe and in the USA with emphasis on the global atmospheric atomic bomb test fallout and on the Chernobyl accident. To obtain further evidence, we also analyze sex odds data near nuclear facilities in Germany and Switzerland.     

Fine particulate phase PAHs in ambient atmosphere of Chennai metropolitan city,India

Background  

Airborne fine particulates (PM 2.5) and its associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are reportedly hazardous in urban environment due to the presence of multiple emission sources.     

Composition analysis and application of degradation products of whole feathers through a large scale of fermentation

Purpose

Feathers are one of the most abundant bioresources. They are discarded as waste in most cases and could cause environmental pollution. On the other hand, keratin constituted by amino acids is the main component of feathers. In this article, we reported on biorefined feathers and integrants and application of degraded products.

Materials and methods

The fermentation of whole chicken feathers with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia DHHJ in a scale-up of a 5-L bioreactor was investigated in this article. The fermentation process was controlled at 0.08 MPa pressure, 2.5 L/min airflow, and 300 rpm as 100% oxygen saturation level, 40°C, and pH 7.8.

Results

Feathers were almost completely degraded in the tested fermentation reaction with the following conditions: 80 g of whole feathers in 3 L fermentation broth for 72 h, seed age of 16 h, 100 mL inoculation amount, and 50% oxygen saturation level. The degraded products contain 397.1 mg/L soluble protein that has mass weight ranging from 10 to 160 kD, 336.9 mg/L amino acids, and many kinds of metal ions. The fermentation broth was evaluated as leaf fertilizer and found to increase plant growth to 82% or 66% for two- or fourfold dilutions, respectively. In addition, in a hair care assay, the broth showed a hair protective function by increasing weight, flexibility, and strength of the treated hair.

Conclusions

The whole feathers were degraded completely by S. maltophilia DHHJ. The degraded product includes many factors to life, such as peptides, amino acids, and mineral elements. It could be applied as leaf fertilizer and hair care product.     

Genetic ecotoxicology of asbestos pollution in the house mouse <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mus musculus domesticus</Emphasis>

Purpose  

We tested the genetic diversity in wild mice (Mus musculus domesticus) inhabiting the asbestos-polluted area as a model for the long-term mutagenic effect of asbestos. Hazardous effects of deposited asbestos persist in the environment because of low rate of fiber disintegration. The upper layers of the soil in the vicinity of a former asbestos factory are nearly “saturated” with asbestos fibers and dust. Natural populations of mice dwell in this area and are constantly exposed to asbestos fibers.     

Occurrence of perfluorinated organic acids in the North and Baltic seas. Part 1: distribution in sea water

Purpose  

Due to their high water solubilities and mobilities, persistent, polar perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) such as perfluorinated carboxylates and sulfonates are likely to end up in the oceans. In part 1 of this study, their distribution in North and Baltic Sea water is reported, being of special interest because these seas are surrounded by highly industrialized countries with high population densities.     

Salicylic acid involved in the regulation of nutrient elements uptake and oxidative stress in Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara under Pb stress

In this study, the alterations in nutrient elements content, reactive oxygen species level and antioxidant response were studied in leaves of Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara exposed to salicylic acid (SA, 10 or 100 μM), or Pb (50 μM) or their combinations for 4 d. No significant alterations in Mn and Ca content were observed but content of Cu, Zn, Fe and P decreased in plants exposed to SA alone. SA application inhibited the uptake of Pb and partially reversed Pb-induced the alterations in Mn, Ca and Fe content in leaves of V. natans exposed to 50 μM Pb. The decreased chlorophyll (a + b) and increased malondialdehyde and O²⁻ and H₂O₂ content were detected in plants exposed to 100 μM SA, 50 μM Pb, 10 μM SA + 50 μM Pb or 100 μM SA + 50 μM Pb. Application SA partially inhibited Pb-induced the increase of malondialdehyde, O²⁻ and H₂O₂ content. 100 μM SA decreased the activity of NADH oxidase and the content of non-protein thiols, carotenoids and ascorbic acid and increased the content of dehydroascorbate in plants treated with or without Pb. SA alone decreased the ascorbate peroxidase activity and increased the catalase and peroxidase activity, while SA application increased catalase activity but had no significant effect on ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase activity in V. natans exposed to Pb. The results indicate that SA involves in the regulation of Pb uptake, nutrient balance and oxidative stress.     

Removal of Rhodamine B under visible irradiation in the presence of Fe⁰, H₂O₂, citrate and aeration at circumneutral pH

A new Vis-Fe⁰-H₂O₂-citrate-O₂ system comprising zero-valent iron, hydrogen peroxide, citrate anion and aeration at circumneutral pH under visible irradiation was studied. 21 μmol L⁻¹ of Rhodamine B (RhB) was chosen as the substrate to be tested. Experiments were conducted under conditions of 2.9 mmol L⁻¹ of H₂O₂, 12.6 g of Fe⁰ and 1.0 mmol L⁻¹ of citrate at pH 7.5. Results showed that, in 1 h reaction, 54% of RhB was removed with corresponding 26% of COD reduced. Meanwhile, the amount of released dissolved irons from Fe⁰ surface was found to be at a very low level as <5.4 μmol L⁻¹. Extinguishing tests with isopropanol suggested that RhB oxidation by hydroxyl radicals was the main process taken place in Vis-Fe⁰-H₂O₂-citrate-O₂ system, which accounted for 75% of substrate removal in 3 h reaction. Control and factor influencing experiments showed that the prohibitive extents of individual factor importance on RhB removal followed a decreasing order of Fe⁰ > H₂O₂ > citrate > Vis > O₂. This study showed an excellent system that could remove refractory organic compounds from water in laboratory researches, and also provided a good idea to reduce secondary contamination by dissolved irons in future investigations.     

Atmospheric particle characterization, distribution, and deposition in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, Central China

Physical characterization and chemical analysis of settled dusts collected in Xi’an from November 2007 to December 2008 show that (1) dust deposition rates ranged from 14.6 to 350.4 g m⁻² yr⁻¹. The average deposition rate (76.7 g m⁻² yr⁻¹) ranks the 11th out of 56 dust deposition rates observed throughout the world. The coal-burning power was the major particle source; (2) on average (except site 4), ∼10% of the settled dusts having size <2.6, ∼30% having size <10.5, and >70% having size <30 μm; (3) the concentrations for 20 out of 27 elements analyzed were upto 18 times higher than their soil background values in China. With such high deposition rates of dusts that contain elevated levels of toxic elements, actions should be taken to reduce emission and studies are needed to assess the potential impacts of settled particles on surface ecosystem, water resource, and human health in the area.