Chemical characterization of synthetic soil from composting coal combustion and pharmaceutical by-products

Land application of coal combustion by-products (CCBs) mixed with solid organic wastes (SOWs), such as municipal sewage sludge, has become increasingly popular as a means of productively using what were once considered waste products. Although bulk chemical and physical properties of several of these CCB-SOW materials have been reported, detailed information about their synthesis and mineralogy of the CCB-SOW materials has not been reported. In this paper, chemical and mineralogical properties of a soil-like material obtained from composting a mixture of CCBs with a pharmaceutical fermentation by-product (FB) were investigated at the laboratory and field scale. All starting materials and products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FFIR) spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. The results showed that the FB was strongly bound to the CCBs and could not be removed by washing. Within 2 wk of the start of a composting study, there was a rapid drop in pH from 12 to 8, an increase in temperature to 70 degrees C, and a reduction in the dissolved oxygen content, attributed to the rapid establishment of a highly active microbial population. Composting produced a soil-like material with high levels of plant nutrients, a high nutrient retention capacity, and metal contents similar to median levels of those metals reported for soils. The levels of boron and soluble salts are such that sensitive plants may initially show toxicity symptoms. However, with adequate rainfall, leaching should rapidly remove most of the B and soluble salts. With care, the material produced is safe for use as a synthetic topsoil.     

Effects of gamma irradiation on Holcus lanatus (Yorkshire fog grass) and associated soil microorganisms

An investigation was conducted to determine the impact of acute doses of gamma radiation on the microbial community structure of a Holcus lanatus dominated grassland soil. Mesocosms containing soil and established grass were irradiated using a sealed (137)Cs source (7.0 Gy min(-1)). Doses ranged from 5 to 160 Gy, analyses were conducted on the day of irradiation, then 7 and 30 days later. Plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonisation of roots were reduced by irradiation. Gram-negative bacteria, and microbial metabolic capacity were also negatively affected by treatment. Microbial biomass measured by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, showed an increase at doses above 20 Gy, 7 and 30 days after treatment. Proportions of Gram-positive bacterial and fungal PLFAs fluctuated inversely to each other, in response to both sampling time and radiation dose. We hypothesise that many of the observed soil microbial responses are indirect effects mediated by the influence of ionising radiation on the plants in this system.     

Managing the career deal: the psychological contract as a framework for understanding career management,organizational commitment and work behavior

This paper reports the findings of a study that investigated the relationship between different kinds of career management activities, the psychological contract, and outcomes of psychological contract fulfillment. The study tested a series of linked hypotheses which propose that individual career management behavior is associated with the experience of organizational career management help, which is related to fulfillment of the psychological contract. Fulfillment of the psychological contract in turn is linked to organizational commitment and is associated with behaviors at work, including absenteeism, turnover, and independent ratings of job performance. The findings provide some support for these proposed links. As a result, the paper makes four contributions to the psychological contract and careers literature: first, it shows that both individual and organizational career management behaviors are linked to psychological contract fulfillment; second, organizational career management help is associated with affective commitment and job performance; third, psychological contract fulfillment plays a key role in mediating the relationship between career management help and such attitudes and behaviors; and fourth, organizational commitment may mediate between psychological contract fulfillment and individual career management behavior aimed at furthering the career outside the organization. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aquatic Chemistry and the Human Environment

The evident physical continuity in the cycles of water in air, soil, lake, river, estuary and sea is difficult to describe accurately; there is also a chemical continuity that is impossibly complex in detail but has unifying principles that need to be explored. Amid current somewhat myopic concern about the effects of certain toxic metals in the environment specifically in relation to man it is appropriate to reflect on the wider issues of aquatic chemistry that affect the human environment. These issues embrace the aquatic chemistry of the countryside and the health of the population and reciprocally the impingement of human activities on the aquatic realm. If one can demonstrate a coherent core of chemical principles there may also be an implied need for more enlightened co-ordination in the study of aquatic chemistry, its applications and developments. At present, fundamental chemistry, water and wastewater technologies, environmental chemistry and epidemiology are discrete provinces of aquatic science. Insularity is even more serious in professional affiliations and consequently job qualifications; also among the central, local and industrial bodies who establish legislation and set and administer standards for water.

Benefits of greater collaboration and co-ordination would reach not only scientists, learned institutions, managers and the general public here but would also lead to much more effective understanding and practical help in other lands where water supply and water-related problems are enormously more acute.     

Atmospheric nitrogen compounds-issues related to agricultural systems

Workable pollution abatement policies and effective legislation must be based on sound science. However, despite many years of research, there are still uncertainties about the effects of atmospheric nitrogen compounds on crops and other vegetation. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge of the main compounds, focussing on the concentrations and combinations of pollutants that occur in rural areas. The sources, concentrations and effects of oxidised, reduced and organic nitrogen compounds are considered in turn, then the effects of deposited nitrogen on ecosystems are discussed. Research priorities on the effects of deposited nitrogen in Europe and the USA are compared. Finally, the review leads to a list of issues for discussion and recommendations for research.     

Soil availability,plant uptake and soil to plant transfer of 99Tc--a review

The fission yield of 99Tc from 239Pu and 235U is similar to that of 137Cs or 90Sr and it is therefore an important component of nuclear weapons fall-out, nuclear waste and releases from nuclear facilities. There is particular current interest in 99Tc transfer from soil to plants for: (a) environmental impact assessments for terrestrial nuclear waste repositories, and (b) assessments of the potential for phytoextraction of radionuclides from contaminated effluent and soil. Vascular plants have a high 99Tc uptake capacity, a strong tendency to transport it to shoot material and accumulate it in vegetative rather than reproductive structures. The mechanisms that control 99Tc entry to plants have not been identified and there has been little discussion of the potential for phytoextraction of 99Tc contaminated effluents or soil. Here we review soil availability, plant uptake mechanisms and soil to plant transfer of 99Tc in the light of recent advances in soil science, plant molecular biology and phytoextraction technologies. We conclude that 99Tc might not be highly available in the long term from up to 50% of soils worldwide, and that no single mechanism that might be easily targeted by recombinant DNA technologies controls 99Tc uptake by plants. Overall, we suggest that Tc might be less available in terrestrial ecosystems than is often assumed but that nevertheless the potential of phytoextraction as a decontamination strategy is probably greater for 99Tc than for any other nuclide of radioecological interest.     

Temperature and developmental plasticity during embryogenesis in the Atlantic cod<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Gadus morhua</Emphasis> L.

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) embryos were reared at 4 °C, 7 °C, and 10 °C, and the relative timing of developmental events was characterized, with particular reference to myotomal muscle. Embryos started to feed at an apparently equivalent stage of development, so comparisons were made between temperature groups on the basis of percentage of time to first feeding and somite stage. No differences were found in the time of hatching or timing of appearance of the otic placode, unpaired median fin fold, gut lumen, otic vesicle, lens of the eye, otoliths, first muscular contractions, swim bladder, and hindgut, or in the rate of development of somites, myotubes, myofibrils, and acetylcholinesterase activity over the temperature range studied. In contrast, closure of the blastopore occurred late with respect to segmentation at higher temperatures, at the 3-somite, 10-somite, and 12-somite stages at 4 °C, 7 °C, and 10 °C respectively. Muscle cellularity was also markedly altered in the 10 °C group relative to the 4 °C and 7 °C groups. Larvae reared at 10 °C had significantly more (+14%) deep white fibers at hatch (P <0.001), whereas numbers of superficial red fibers remained unchanged. It is suggested that differences in muscle cellularity might be related to changes in the relative timing of epiboly, through differential proliferation of presomitic myogenic cells and/or their relative exposure to inductive signals.     

Evaluation of commercial odor control agents for suppressing Escherichia coli in swine manure slurry

Ten commercially available manure odor control agents were evaluated in bench-scale laboratory microcosms for their ability to inhibit or kill Escherichia coli, a commonly used indicator of fecal pollution and a potential pathogen. At manufacturer recommended rates, none of the agents reduced viable populations of E. coli in pure cultures or in swine manure slurry. However, at rates 10-fold higher than those recommended by the manufacturer, EnviroPur rapidly reduced viable populations of E. coli. Accelerated death of E. coli was observed at temperatures as low as 4 degrees C. Chemical analysis of EnviroPur indicated that it contains alkylphenol polyethoxylates, common industrial surfactants. These results suggest that at manufacturer-recommended rates, the odor-controlling agents would not be effective at suppressing E. coli in stored swine manure slurry.     

Using Geographical Information Systems to identify and target sites for creation and restoration of native woodlands: a case study of the Chiltern Hills, UK

Rare and threatened habitats in Europe must be restored and enhanced in accordance with the European Union's Habitats and Species Directive. In the United Kingdom, conservation and expansion objectives for species and habitats are outlined in the Species Action Plans and Habitat Action Plans. Site identification for these measures has to date been ad hoc without consideration of either the existing "stock" of the natural resource or the ability of the surrounding land use to deliver the enhancement (enlargement) of a given habitat. Using a Geographical Information System, we outline a targeting system for creating new woodland in association with existing ancient woodland in the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The aim was to create woodland blocks of at least 100 ha, as being of the most benefit to biodiversity. We identified existing patches of woodland between 20 and 50 ha as cores for habitat expansion and classified land use in terms of its suitability and proximity to these core areas for tree planting to meet the targets of the statutory body. Our results suggest that the targeting method employed is a useful tool for habitat restoration.