Lead contamination of an agricultural soil in the vicinity of a shooting range

In this study, coupled Pb concentration/Pb isotope data were used to evaluate the effect of a shooting range (operational for over 30 years) on Pb contamination of adjacent agricultural soils and the associated environmental risks. Lead was mainly concentrated in the arable layer of the contaminated agricultural soils at total concentrations ranging from 573 to 694 mg kg^???1. Isotopic analyses (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb) proved that Pb originated predominantly from the currently used pellets. Chemical fractionation analyses showed that Pb was mainly associated with the reducible fraction of the contaminated soil, which is in accordance with its predominant soil phases (PbO, PbCO₃). The 0.05 M EDTA extraction showed that up to 62% of total Pb from the contaminated site is potentially mobilizable. Furthermore, Pb concentrations obtained from the synthetic precipitation leaching procedure extraction exceeded the regulatory limit set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water. Ion exchange resin bags showed to be inefficient for determining the vertical distribution of free Pb^2?+? throughout the soil profile. Increased Pb concentrations were found in the biomass of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) sampled at the studied site and two possible pathways of Pb uptake have been identified: (1) through passive diffusion-driven uptake by roots and (2) especially through atmospheric deposition, which was also proved by analyses of a bioindicator species (bryophyte Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw.). This study showed that shooting ranges can present an important source of Pb contamination of agricultural soils located in their close vicinity.     

Does stream water chemistry reflect watershedcharacteristics?

In this study, we investigated the relationships between stream water chemistry and watershed characteristics (topography—mean altitude and slope; climate—mean annual temperature and precipitation; geology—geochemical reactivity; land cover; inhabitation—population density, road density and number of municipalities). We analyzed the concentrations of the major anions (Cl, F, NO₃, SO₄, SiO₂), cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K, Mn, Fe, Al), trace elements (Li, Sr, Cu), ABS₂₄₅, TDP (total dissolved phosphorus), pH, and conductivity at 3,220 diverse watersheds covering a wide variety of watershed characteristics in the Czech Republic. We used marginal and partial multivariate analyses to reveal the most important variables. The partial analysis showed that only 14 % of the variance could be assigned to a specific factor and that 41 % of the variance is shared among the factors, which indicated complex interactions between the watershed characteristics.     

Numerical Study of Physical and Biogeochemical Processes Controlling Dissolved Oxygen in an Urbanized Subtropical Estuary: Vitória Island Estuarine System,Brazil

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - Subtropical estuaries such as the Vitória Island Estuarine System (VIES), located on the central coast of Brazil, are under strong anthropic pressure....     

Detection and extraction of endosulfan by metal nanoparticles

One of the most common pesticides in the developing world, endosulfan, can be detected in ppm levels using gold nanoparticles. Endosulfan adsorbs on the nanoparticle surface and upon interaction for a long time, the nanoparticles precipitate from the solution. Interaction with silver is weak, yet adsorption occurs leading to removal of endosulfan from the solution. A multilayer assembly of gold nanoparticles prepared on a glass substrate shows excellent spectrophotometric response suggesting potential applications.     

An indicative method for determination of the most hazardous changes in slopes of the subsidence basins in underground coal mining area in Ostrava (Czech Republic)

Considering growing population and decreasing mineral resource reserves, the issue of undermining has been and shall remain very topical. This study aims to identify the mutual connections between mined out panels of a deposit and the final manifestations on the ground surface related to deep black coal mining. On the grounds of the identified connections, the study describes a method to simplify a common evaluation of undermined areas according to building site categories. Within the study, a demarcation of the areas was conducted in two localities in Czech Republic influenced by the effects of undermining in the Upper-Silesian Basin. In the allotment of the CSM Mine, an area unsuitable for founding structures was defined from the centre of the worked out workings to the distance of 175 m from the panel's edge, for which the corresponding break angle is 78.3°. Similarly, in the allotment of the Paskov Mine, an area unsuitable for founding structures was determined to the distance of 500 m from the panel's edge, for which the corresponding break angle is 50.2°. This demarcation may be implemented prior to deposit mining being aware of several physical-mechanical parameters of rocks in the deposit's overburden. Having mined out a particular section of a deposit, it is recommended to verify the values of break angle using the method described herein. The study may be applied as a relatively fast and effective method to evaluate future land use for planning.     

Changes in maternal blood concentrations of selected essential and toxic elements during and after pregnancy

The objective of this study was to investigate changes in the levels of toxic and essential elements in maternal blood during pregnancy and subsequently. A subset of 211 pregnant women from the North Norwegian Mother-and-Child Study was included. Blood samples were collected during the 2(nd) trimester (P1) and postpartum (day 3, P2; and 6 weeks, P3) in different regions of northern Norway, and were analyzed for a suite of 10 selected elements. The latter feature three general but distinct concentration patterns across the three collection periods, namely: progressive increase [Group 1: As, Cd (non-smokers only), Mn, Pb and Zn]; V-shaped, with a minimum at P2 [Group 2: Cd (smokers), Hg, Mo and Se]; and downward V, with a maximum at P2 [Group 3: Co and Cu]. These trends are interpreted in the context of underlying metabolic, hematological and physiological changes that occur in mothers, as well the biochemistry and accumulation preferences of these elements within the whole blood compartment and breast milk. Implications for biomonitoring strategies are discussed. In a multivariable analysis of the P1 data, fish consumption was a robust positive predictor for Hg (p < 0.02), As (p < 0.01) and Se (p ≤ 0.001) blood concentrations, multivitamin intake for Se (p < 0.001), and parity for Co (p < 0.002); age reached significance only for Hg (p < 0.001). An inverse association was observed between parity and Hg (p < 0.05). For the other elements, predictor patterns were not evident.     

Getting of the seeds-and-tools treadmill with CRS seed vouchers and fairs

The free distribution of seeds and tools is the standard approach to agricultural recovery. The predominance of this approach is partly attributable to the: (1) perception that farmer seed quality is poor, (2) insistence on seed certification, (3) promotion of researcher varieties, (4) misdiagnosis of unavailability, (5) difficulty accessing farmer seed, and (6) support for the commercial seed sector. This paper presents a Seed Security Assessment Framework to distinguish among the causes of seed insecurity and focuses on three principal concepts: seed availability; access to seed; and factors associated with seed utilisation. Using this diagnostic framework, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has developed a better approach to promoting seed system-based agricultural recovery. It involves a combination of seed voucher distribution and the organization of seed fairs, which bring together a range of sellers from whom the holders of vouchers may purchase seed. This approach is advantageous because it: strengthens farmer seed procurement systems; is cost efficient; in economic terms, has a multiplier effect in the community; is straightforward to plan and implement; allows commercial sector participation; provides an opportunity to promote improved varieties for farmer evaluation; brings together different communities.     

A proactive approach to human error detection and identification in aviation and air traffic control

In recent years, there has been a realization that total elimination of human error may be difficult to achieve. A further reduction of accidents will require a better understanding of how practitioners manage their errors in ways that consequences are contained or mitigated. With this goal in mind, the present study has set out to propose a framework of cognitive strategies in error detection that would make human performance resilient to changes in work demands. The literature regarded error detection as a spontaneous process that occurs either while an action is executed (action-based detection) or after action feedback (outcome-based detection). To help practitioners maintain a state of mindfulness and introspection, this study proposes several cognitive strategies such as, rehearsing tasks for future execution, bringing into conscious attention routine tasks, seeing how trajectories change over time, and cross-checking data for reliability. Two further detection mechanisms are proposed at the situation assessment and planning stages of performance. Awareness-based detection may include revising a model of the situation, finding hidden assumptions, and testing the plausibility of assumptions. Planning-based detection addresses issues such as, identifying uncertainties in a plan, thinking out possible errors, and deciding when and how often to review task progress. Finally, several attitudinal factors and team factors are presented that affect the processes of error detection and identification. The cognitive strategies in error detection together with the attitudinal and team factors constitute a framework for designing the content of error management training.