Political influence on non-cooperative international climate policy

We analyze non-cooperative international climate policy in a setting of political competition by national interest groups. In the first stage, countries decide whether to link their domestic emission permit markets to an international market, which only forms if it is supported by all countries. In the second stage, countries non-cooperatively decide on the number of tradable emission allowances. In both stages, special interest groups try to sway the government in their favor. We find that (i) both the choice of regime and the levels of domestic and global emissions only depend on the aggregate levels of organized stakes in all countries and not on their distribution among individual interest groups and (ii) an increase in lobbying influence by a particular lobby group may backfire by inducing a change towards the lobby group's less preferred regime.     

Ozone exposure

Increased tropospheric ozone concentrations cause damage to both human health and the environment. To assess the exposure of forest areas and selected tree species to ozone, it is necessary to calculate the ozone exposure distribution. The present article describes the application of an ozone interpolation model to the calculation of the ozone exposure distribution in combination with forest inventory data. The exposure of forest regions to ozone was assessed by means of an AOT40 map (accumulated ozone exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb). The calculation was performed by hourly running of the model during the summer term and accumulation of the patterns that exceeded 40 ppb. The exposure of the primary Austrian tree species to ozone can be assessed due to the spatial relation of ozone exposure and tree species patterns. This spatial relation also allows the verification of assumptions concerning ozone-related tree damage.     

Registering and analysing data on detection of chemicals in the environment

As part of the research project “information system for environmental chemicals” a factual databank on a testset of 68 chemicals was developed. The set-up of the databank is described and the analysis of the results is shown for benzo(k)fluoranthene using a graphical boxplot illustration.     

Analysis of chlorinated paraffins in cutting fluids and sealing materials by carbon skeleton reaction gas chromatography

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) pose a major risk in the environment, due to their wide application, to their persistence, to their carcinogenic potential, and in view of the fact, that they cannot be easily identified. Various commercial cutting fluids and sealing materials were analysed for CPs with carbon skeleton reaction gas chromatography (GC) and flame ionization detection. CPs are simultaneously dechlorinated and hydrogenated to the corresponding alkanes with Pd catalyst material in the GC injector. With this method, the carbon chain length of commercial technical CPs was determined. In six of sixteen sealing materials we found five short and one medium chain length polychlorinated paraffins in percentages of 9-16% (w/w). In five cutting fluids we found predominantly medium to long chain length chloroparaffins with percentages of 2.5-31% (w/w), only one fluid contained short chain CPs.     

Biodegradability testing of synthetic ester lubricants--effects of additives and usage

The optimised biodegradability test system "O2/CO2 Headspace Test with GC-TCD" is used for the assessment of synthetic ester lubricants. The effects of both additives and usage on biodegradability are examined and discussed. Ester based cutting fluids and hydraulic fluids with and without additives are used under defined conditions at machine tools and hydraulic and plain bearing test benches. The lubricants are characterised additionally with respect to kinematic viscosity, acidity and elemental composition. Furthermore, a formulated mineral oil is characterised before and after usage at an hydraulic test bench. The results clearly show that the mineral oil is far less biodegradable than the ester oils and that their biodegradability is not affected by usage. Biodegradability of the ester oils is mainly depending on the characteristics of the base fluids and not affected by the additives. Antioxidants are influencing stability respectively biodegradability indirectly, since they prevent oxopolymerisation effects. Other effects of usage on biodegradation are not detected. In this context, the antioxidants ensure ready biodegradability and have a positive effect on the environmental fate of synthetic ester lubricants.     

Reproduction of the estuarine and marine amphipod Corophium volutator (Pallas) in laboratory for toxicity testing

The acute whole sediment bioassay with the estuarine and marine amphipod Corophium volutator (Pallas) is broadly used within Europe. Hitherto, the test is carried out with field-collected animals. In order to provide a more standardized and continuously available test organism reproduction and growth experiments were performed for a period of one year in laboratory under simulated summer conditions (light/dark 16:8 at 15, 19, and 23 degrees C). C. volutator was the first time reproduced successfully in laboratory for several generations and independent from its natural life cycle also in winter. The females produced two to three broods with a mean number of 96 offspring. A mean growth rate of 0.07 mm per day was determined at 15 degrees C. The reproduction and growth experiments provide consequently the essential base for the development of a chronic toxicity test with C. volutator.     

Altered human monocyte/macrophage function after exposure to diesel exhaust particles

The relationship between immune defense mechanisms and environmental pollutants has been a focus of intensive research during the last decade. In animal experiments, diesel exhaust particles (DEP) have been shown to exert adjuvant effects on the IgE response against aeroantigens and to compromise broncho-pulmonary immune defense. Important target cells are monocytes/alveolar macrophages which display the important functions of phagocytosis, antigenpresentation and modulation of inflammatory processes. To further evaluate the influence of DEP upon these cells, we investigated whether exposure to suspended DEP would change the phagocytic capacity and the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) release of human peripheral monocytes/alveolar macrophages. Our results demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction of phagocytosis (p < 0.001) and an additional increase of an ongoing TNF-α response (p < 0.005). These findings may help to link exposure to environmental pollutants to such biologic effects as increased susceptibility to broncho-pulmonary disease or facilitated sensitization against aeroallergens.     

Evaluation of the respicon as a personal inhalable sampler in industrial environments

The Respicon has been introduced as a sampler for health related measurements of airborne contaminants at workplaces. The instrument is aimed at simultaneous collection of three health related aerosol fractions: (a) the coarser inhalable fraction, defining the aerosol fraction that may enter the nose and mouth during breathing; (b) the intermediate thoracic fraction, defining the fraction that may penetrate beyond the larynx and so reach the lung; and (c) the finer respirable fraction, defining the fraction that may penetrate to gas exchange region of the lung. The instrument has a number of features attractive to occupational hygienists: in addition to providing the three aerosol fractions simultaneously, it is light and compact enough to be used as a personal sampler. yet can be a tripod mounted for area sampling, it can provide samples not only for gravimetric analysis but also microscopic and chemical analyses; and it is also available in a photometric direct-reading version. The instrument has previously been evaluated as an area sampler and, in this mode of operation, has shown reasonable accuracy in collecting respirable, thoracic and inhalable particles, the latter up to particle diameters of ca. 80 microm. Except for some scattered unpublished data there exist no systematic investigations in the Respicon's performance when used as a personal sampler in the industrial environment. In this paper, we will report on a study of side by side comparison of the Respicon with the IOM inhalable sampler, regarded as a reference instrument for the inhalable fraction. The main study was performed at six different workplaces in a nickel refinery. Statistical analysis of the gravimetrically-determined concentration data reveals consistently lower aerosol exposure values for the Respicon as compared to the IOM sampler. The data for the nickel workplaces are compared with findings from other studies. The results are interpreted in the light of the overall results and the possibility of introducing a correction factor is discussed.