The mobility of thiobencarb and fipronil in two flooded rice-growing soils

The mobility of the rice pesticides thiobencarb (S-[(4-chlorophenyl) methyl] diethylcarbamothioate) and fipronil ([5-amino-3-cyano-1-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[(trifluoromethyl)sulfinyl]pyrazole) were investigated in the glasshouse under flooded conditions using two Australian rice-growing soils. When using leakage rates of 10 mm day(-1), less than 20% of applied thiobencarb and fipronil remained in the water column after 10 days due to rapid transfer to the soil phase. Up to 70% and 65% of the applied thiobencarb and fipronil, respectively, were recovered from the 0-1 cm layer of soils. Only 5-7% of each pesticide was recovered from the 1-2 cm layer, and less than 2% was recovered from each 1 cm layer in the 2-10 cm region of the soils. Analysis of the water leaking from the base of the soil cores showed between 5-10% of the applied thiobencarb and between 10-20% of the applied fipronil leaching from the soil cores. The high levels of pesticide in the effluent was attributed to preferential flow of pesticide-laden water via soil macropores resulting from the wetting and drying process, worm holes and root channels.     

Direct measurement of fugitive emissions of hydrocarbons from a refinery

Refineries are a source of emissions of volatile hydrocarbons that contribute to the formation of smog and ozone. Fugitive emissions of hydrocarbons are difficult to measure and quantify. Currently these emissions are estimated based on standard emission factors for the type and use of equipment installed. Differential absorption light detection and ranging (DIAL) can remotely measure concentration profiles of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere up to several hundred meters from the instrument. When combined with wind speed and direction, downwind vertical DIAL scans can be used to calculate mass fluxes of the measured gas leaving the site. Using a mobile DIAL unit, a survey was completed at a Canadian refinery to quantify fugitive emissions of methane, C2+ hydrocarbons, and benzene and to apportion the hydrocarbon emissions to the various areas of the refinery. Refinery fugitive emissions as measured with DIAL during this demonstration study were 1240 kg/hr of C2+ hydrocarbons, 300 kg/hr of methane, and 5 kg/hr of benzene. Storage tanks accounted for over 50% of the total emissions of C2+ hydrocarbons and benzene. The coker area and cooling towers were also significant sources. The C2+ hydrocarbons emissions measured during the demonstration amounted to 0.17% of the mass of the refinery hydrocarbon throughput for that period. If the same loss were repeated throughout the year, the lost product would represent a value of US$3.1 million/yr (assuming US$40/bbl). The DIAL-measured hourly emissions of C2+ hydrocarbons were 15 times higher than the emission factor estimates and gave a different perspective on which areas of the refinery were the main source of emissions. Methods, such as DIAL, that can directly measure fugitive emissions would improve the effectiveness of efforts to reduce emissions, quantify the reduction in emissions, and improve the accuracy of emissions data that are reported to regulators and the public.     

Use of Sediment Risk and Ecological/Conservation Value for Strategic Management of Estuarine Environments: Sydney Estuary,Australia

Sediment mantling the floor of Sydney estuary contains a wide range of chemicals at highly elevated concentrations over extensive areas. Appropriate sediment management decisions are urgently required to prevent further degradation of sediment quality and to minimize resulting adverse ecological effects. The objective of the present work was to provide a systematic, estuary-wide assessment of sediment risk and ecological/conservation value throughout the harbor to guide sediment management decisions. Sediment risk is the likelihood of sediment chemistry causing adverse biological effects to bottom-dwelling animals and was conducted using national sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for single contaminants and the mean SQG quotient approach to assess chemical mixtures. Sediment risk was negligible at the mouth of the estuary, but increased strongly landwards. The ecological/conservation value assessment was conducted to identify sites that warrant different levels of protection and was conducted using the value of ecological communities and priority waterway use. Consideration of these two parameters combined enabled the estuary to be prioritized for management attention. The prioritization and identification of appropriate management strategies were determined through the use of management matrices also based on sediment risk and ecological/conservation value. A computer package is being developed to provide managers with information on sediment risk, ecological/conservation value, the urgency and the type of management intervention required for any location in Sydney estuary, in real-time. This approach to estuarine management is unique and will greatly improve effective management of Sydney estuary, and other harbors in urgent need of management action and protection.     

Risk-based management of contaminated land in the UK: Lessons for China?

The management of contaminated land is now assuming greater attention in Chinese debates on environmental governance. However, the existing management system appears ineffective as it lacks a clear policy framework and technical basis. In the United Kingdom (UK), contaminated land issues are dealt with through a risk-based approach. This approach emphasizes the application of risk approaches in both technical and integrated management systems. Conceptually, this paper outlines generic issues related to transferring programmes from one place to another. We argue that too much emphasis has been placed on the barriers to effective transfer, rather than focusing on methods of abstracting lessons for application in foreign settings. We then examine the Chinese system and its problems in managing contaminated land before turning to the UK risk-based approach to see what lessons can be learned from it. Four aspects are analyzed and compared: legislative and policy framework; administrative structure and capacity; technical approaches; and incentive strategy. Based on the experience of the UK in practice, some suggestions are then proposed for China in order to improve its management of contaminated land. We suggest that this should include: a focus on the problem sites; development of a risk-based technical approach and integrated management system; the introduction of financial incentives; and the use of planning control as a management strategy. It is believed that a risk-based integrated management approach may be helpful for China to achieve sustainable solutions for contaminated land.     

Application of flow field-flow fractionation and laser sizing to characterize soil colloids in drained and undrained lysimeters

This paper reports the use of a new technique, flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF), for the characterization of soil sampled under grassland. FlFFF can be used to determine the fine colloidal material in the <1 microm fraction obtained by gravitational settling of 1% m/v soil suspensions. The aim of this work was to determine the potential of FIFFF to characterize soil colloids in drained and undrained field lysimeters from soil cores sampled at different depths. Two different grassland lysimeter plots of 1 ha, one drained and one undrained, were investigated, and the soil was sampled at 20-m intervals along a single diagonal transect at three different depths (0-2, 10-12, and 30-32 cm). The results showed that there was a statistically significant (P = 0.05) increase in colloidal material at 30- to 32-cm depth along the transect under the drained lysimeter, which correlates with disturbance of the soil at this depth due to the installation of tile drains at 85-cm depth backfilled to 30-cm depth with gravel. Laser sizing was also used to determine the particles in the size range 1 to 2000 microm and complement the data obtained using FlFFF because laser sizing lacks resolution for the finer colloidal material (0.1-1.0 microm). The laser sizing data showed increased heterogeneity at 30- to 32-cm depth, particularly in the 50 to 250 microm size fraction. Therefore FIFFF characterized the finer material and laser sizing the coarser soil fraction (<2000 microm) at depth in drained and undrained grassland. This is of importance as colloidal material is more mobile than the larger material and consequently an important vector for contaminant transport from agricultural land to catchments.     

Human-ecological dimensions of disaster resiliency in Thailand: social capital and aid delivery

This study focuses on the human-ecological dimension of disaster resilience after the 2004 tsunami. The paper examines how concepts of social capital and external aid delivery influence community performance in conservation of mangrove ecosystems. Experiences are reported through the words of local informants in six villages in Thailand. Findings indicate that social capital represents a potential for collective action, but design of aid programmes may prevent such action. Programmes that emphasised bottom-up aid delivery mobilised local social capital and directed it toward obtaining resources that fit local needs and capabilities. Alternatively, top-down aid programmes provided significant resources, but oppressed mobilisation of social capital. Implications are that disaster stricken communities should be treated as active participants, rather than the more common perspective that views them as vulnerable and in a state of helplessness.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polybrominated biphenyls in Australian sewage sludge

This paper presents a brief review of the international scientific literature of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) in sewage sludge and a survey of these compounds in sewage sludge from 16 Australian wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The SigmaPBDE mean concentration in the Australian study was 1137microgkg(-1) dry weight (d.w.) (s.d. 1116) and ranged between 5 and 4 230microgkg(-1)d.w. The urban mean of 1308microgkg(-1) (s.d. 1320) and the rural mean of 911microgkg(-1) (s.d. 831) are not statistically different and are similar to levels in European sludges. Principal components analysis was performed on the data set and revealed that 76% of the data variation could be explained by two components that corresponded to overall concentration of the pentaBDE and the decaBDE commercial formulations. An analysis of variance was performed comparing PBDEs levels at three WWTPs over the years 2005 and 2006, finding differences between treatment plants (BDE-47) but no significant difference in PBDE levels in the years 2005 and 2006. Low levels of BB-153 were detected in all samples of this survey (n=16); mean 0.6microgkg(-1)d.w. (s.d. 0.5). This compound has rarely been reported in any other study of sewage sludges undertaken outside Australia. This work highlights the need for a risk assessment of PBDEs in sewage sludge when used for land application, taking into account typical levels found in Australian sludges and soils.     

Comparative study of degradation of toluene and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) in aqueous solution by pulsed corona discharge plasma

Effectiveness of pulsed power plasma for the degradation of two toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toluene and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), in aqueous solution was evaluated. The plasma degradation of MIBK has been studied for the first time. The influence of initial concentration of target compound, solution pH and scavengers on percentage degradation was evaluated. 100% removal of 200 mg/L of toluene and MIBK was achieved both in liquid and gaseous phases after 12 and 16 min of plasma treatment, respectively. The first order rate constant of toluene and MIBK degradation (for 200 mg/L each) was 0.421 and 0.319 min^?1 respectively when they were treated individually, and these values decreased slightly during degradation of their mixture. MIBK degradation was slower than toluene and it might be due to semi volatile and hydrophilic nature of MIBK. The effect of initial concentration of toluene and MIBK showed different degradation patterns. Highest degradation of both the compounds was obtained in neutral pH and in absence of scavengers. ?OH radical was the major reactive species involved in their degradation. Their degradation in real environmental matrices showed that removal reduced significantly in secondary effluent due to scavenging of reactive species by various ions and organic matter. The total number of degradation intermediates identified in case of toluene and MIBK was 11 and 14 respectively and formate was the one recalcitrant byproduct generated. The degradation pathway of toluene and MIBK involving reactions of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and reductive species is proposed.     

Woody biomass phytoremediation of contaminated brownfield land

Economic and environmental regeneration of post-industrial landscapes frequently involves some element of re-afforestation or tree planting. We report field trials that evaluate whether woody biomass production is compatible with managing residual trace element contamination in brownfield soils. Large-scale mapping of contamination showed a heterogenous dispersion of metals and arsenic, and highly localised within-site hotspots. Yields of Salix, Populus and Alnus were economically viable, showing that short-rotation coppice has a potentially valuable role in community forestry. Mass balance modelling demonstrated that phytoextraction potentially could reduce contamination hotspots of more mobile elements (Cd and Zn) within a 25-30-year life cycle of the crops. Cd and Zn in stems and foliage of Salix were 4-13 times higher than EDTA-extractable soil concentrations. Lability of other trace elements (As, Pb, Cu, Ni) was not increased 3 years after planting the coppice; woody biomass may provide an effective reduction of exposure (phyto-stabilization) to these less mobile contaminants.     

Adsorption and desorption characteristics of hydrophobic pesticide endosulfan in four Indian soils

Adsorption and desorption characteristics of endosulfan in four Indian soils were studied extensively. The soils used were clayey soil (CL--lean clay with sand), red soil (GM--silty gravel with sand), sandy soil (SM--silty sand with gravel) and composted soil (PT--peat) as per ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards. Adsorption and desorption rates were calculated from kinetic studies. These values varied for alpha and beta endosulfan depending on the soil type. Maximum specific adsorption capacities (qmax) for different soils were calculated by Langmuir model. The values varied from 0.1 to 0.45 mg g(-1) for alpha endosulfan and 0.0942-0.2722 mg g(-1) for beta endosulfan. Maximum adsorption took place in clay soil followed by composted soil and red soil. Adsorptions of alpha and beta endosulfan were negligible in sand. The binding characteristics of various functional groups were calculated using Scatchard plot. Effect of functional groups was more predominant in clayey soil. Organic matter also played a significant role in adsorption and desorption of endosulfan. Endosulfan adsorption decreased drastically in clay soil when the pH was reduced. Desorption was higher at both acidic and alkaline pH ranges compared to neutral pH. Results indicated that alpha endosulfan is more mobile compared to beta endosulfan and mobility of endosulfan is maximum in sandy soil followed by red soil. It can be inferred that crystal lattice of the clay soil plays a significant role in endosulfan adsorption and desorption. Immobilization of endosulfan is more advisable in clay soil whereas biological and or chemical process can be applied effectively for the remediation of other soil types.