The mobile source effect on curbside 1,3-butadiene,benzene, and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons assessed at a tollbooth

On-road mobile sources contribute substantially to ambient air concentrations of the carcinogens 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The current study measured benzene and 1,3-butadiene at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel tollbooth over 3-hr intervals on seven weekdays (n = 56). Particle-bound PAH was measured on a subset of three days. The 3-hr outdoor 1,3-butadiene levels varied according to time of day and traffic volume. The minimum occurred at night (12 a.m.-3 a.m.) with a mean of 2 microg/m3 (SD = 1.3, n = 7), while the maximum occurred during the morning rush hour (6 a.m.-9 a.m.) with a mean of 11.9 microg/m3 (SD = 4.6, n = 7). The corresponding traffic counts were 1413 (SD = 144) and 16,893 (SD = 692), respectively. During the same intervals, mean benzene concentration varied from 3 microg/m3 (SD = 3.1, n = 7) to 22.3 microg/m3 (SD = 7.6, n = 7). Median PAH concentrations ranged from 9 to 199 ng/m3. Using multivariate regression, a significant association (p < 0.001) between traffic and curbside concentration was observed. Much of the pollutant variability (1,3-butadiene 62%, benzene 77%, and PAH 85%) was explained by traffic volume, class, and meteorology. Results suggest > 2-axle vehicles emit 60, 32, and 9 times more PAH, 1,3-butadiene, and benzene, respectively, than do 2-axle vehicles. This study provides a model for estimating curbside pollution levels associated with traffic that may be relevant to exposures in the urban environment.     

Sequential extraction of heavy metals during composting of sewage sludge

The major limitation of soil application of sewage sludge compost is the total heavy metal contents and their bioavailability to the soil-plant system. This study was conducted to determine the heavy metal speciation and the influence of changing the physico-chemical properties of the medium in the course of composting on the concentrations, bioavailability or chemical forms of Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni in sewage sludge. Principal physical and chemical properties and FTIR spectroscopical characterization of sludge compost during treatment show the stability and maturity of end product. The total metal contents in the final compost were much lower than the limit values of composts to be used as good soil fertilizer. Furthermore, it was observed by using a sequential extraction procedure in sludge compost at different steps of treatment, that a large proportion of the heavy metals were associated to the residual fraction (70-80%) and more resistant fractions to extraction X-NaOH, X-EDTA, X-HNO3 (12-29%). Less than 2% of metals bound to bioavailable fractions X-(KNO3+H2O). Heavy metal distribution and bioavailability show some changes during composting depending on the metal itself and the physico-chemical properties of the medium. Bioavailable fractions of all elements tend to decrease except Ni-H2O. Zn and mainly Cu present more affinity to organic and carbonate fractions. In contrast, Pb is usually preferentially bound to sulfide forms X-HNO3. Nickel shows a significant decrease of organic form. Significant degrees of correlation were found between heavy metal fractions and changes of some selected variables (e.g. pH, ash, organic matter, humic substance) during the course of composting. Mobile fractions of metals are poorly predictable from the total content. The R2 value was significantly increased by the inclusion of other variables such as the amount of organic matter (OM) and pH.     

Diapycnal Mixing in the Thermocline of Lakes: Estimations by Different Methods

In order to evaluate the performance of different methods for estimation of the vertical eddy diffusivity in thermally stratified lakes, two field studies were conducted in Lake Biwa, Japan and Lake Kinneret, Israel. Lake Biwa experienced three typhoons during the campaign while Lake Kinneret experienced high winds in the afternoons. Microstructure profiles were collected by a portable flux profiler (PFP) during calm and disturbed periods. Then, the vertical eddy diffusivity was estimated by three indirect methods. The estimated vertical eddy diffusivities varied more than one order of magnitude, from 4.7× 10⁻⁷ to 7.7× 10⁻⁶ m² s⁻¹. The comparison of results with previous buoyancy flux measurements and scaling arguments showed that the Dillon–Park’s method is not appropriate and Osborn–Cox method performs better than Osborn method in the studied case. Furthermore, the low value of vertical eddy diffusivity within the thermocline suggests that within the thermocline of these lakes, diffusive vertical transport can be neglected.     

Workplace incivility: A review of the literature and agenda for future research

A growing body of research explores workplace incivility, defined as low‐intensity deviant workplace behavior with an ambiguous intent to harm. In the 15 years since the theoretical introduction of the workplace incivility construct, research in this domain has taken off, albeit in a variety of directions. We review the extant body of research on workplace incivility and note the multitude of samples, sources, methodologies, and instrumentation used. In this review article, we provide an organized review of the extant body of work that encompasses three distinct types of incivility: experienced, witnessed, and instigated incivility. These three types of incivility serve as the foundation for a series of comprehensive models in which we integrate extant empirical research. In the last part of this review article, we suggest directions for future research that may contribute to this growing body of work. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A study on chemical properties of groundwater and soil in ophiolitic rocks in Firuzabad, east of Shahrood, Iran: with emphasis to heavy metal contamination

In order to assess the chemical properties of groundwater and soil in ophiolitic zone of Firuzabad, in east of Shahrood, Iran, 10 soil samples with regard to sensitive points (vicinity to mine, ophiolitic rocks, and villages) and 10 groundwater samples including nine samples from springs, and also one sample from a well in a village of the study area were taken. These samples were analyzed in laboratories using inductively coupled plasma method. The soil samples were also evaluated for grain size. The obtained results show that most of heavy and major elements were exceeding the permissible levels in soil and water samples in the study area. On the subject of soil quality, concentrations of elements Cr, Mn, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ca, Ni, and Zn are above permissible levels. Enrichment factor and index of geoaccumulation have been calculated for heavy and major elements of all soil samples. According to the obtained results, it may be argued that soil samples are contaminated in relation to the above-mentioned indices. Comparing the concentrations of elements with results of grain size analysis illustrates that the concentrations of Cr, Ni, Fe, Mg, and Co are positively correlated with sand fraction and the concentrations of Al, P, Mn, and Pb are directly proportional with clay fraction in soil samples. The study on water contamination suggests that concentrations of elements Cr, Ni, and Mg in groundwater samples of the study area are above the permissible levels. Some indices like metal index and heavy metal pollution index show that most of the water samples include heavy metal contamination.     

Preceding crop affects grain cadmium and zinc of wheat grown in saline soils of central Iran

Enhanced Cd concentrations in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain produced on saline soils of central Iran have been recently reported. Because wheat bread is a major dietary component for the Iranian people, practical approaches to decrease Cd concentration in wheat grain were investigated. This study investigated the influence of sunflower-wheat vs. cotton-wheat rotations on extractable Cd and on Cd uptake by wheat in these salt-affected soils. Two fields with different levels of Cd contamination (1.5 and 3.2 mg total Cd kg(-1) dry soil) were cropped with different rotations (cotton-wheat and sunflower-wheat) in Qom province, central Iran. Seeds of cotton (Gossypium L.) or sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Record) were planted in plots. After harvesting of the plants and removal of crop residues, wheat (cv. Rushan) was seeded in all plots. For both studied soils, the concentrations of Cd extracted by 0.04 M EDTA and 1 M CaCl(2) were significantly (P < or = 0.05) greater after cotton than after sunflower. Accordingly, the total amount of Cd in sunflower shoot was significantly (P < or = 0.05) greater than in the cotton shoot. Shoot Cd content in wheat plants grown after cotton and sunflower were significantly different; wheat shoots after cotton accumulated more Cd (two to four times) than after sunflower. Wheat grain Cd concentration after sunflower was much lower (more than seven times) than after cotton. The results of this study showed that sunflower in rotation with wheat in salt-affected soils of central Iran significantly reduced the risk of Cd transfer to wheat grain.     

PEAKING STORAGE TANKS FOR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT: Construction of a “peaking storage tank” may reduce the operational cost of municipal water in the availability of a time-of-use energy rate. A peaking storage tank is used for storing water that is pumped from wells or other sources of supply during off-peak periods when energy costs are less for use during periods of on-peak water demand. The optimal size of a peaking storage tank is that which results in the minimum total cost, which includes both the storage construction cost and the cost of operation of the pumps. The operational cost for a given time-of-use rate is determined by help of a pipe network simulation model solved by the Newton-Raphson technique and a dynamic programming optimization model. A more simplified method is also introduced. Analyses show that low off-peak energy costs make the construction of peaking storage tanks economically attractive and reduce on-peak energy use, which results in electrical load leveling.     

Simultaneous effect of shift work on blood pressure and lipid profile: a path analysis

The aim of this study was to assess the direct and indirect effects of shift work (SW) on the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and lipid profile of male workers. For this purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 6539 male workers of Esfahan Mobarakeh Steel Company. From all of the participants, 3065 (46.8%) were day workers and the remainder were shift workers. The results of path analysis revealed that the most effective variables on SBP were body mass index, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and SW with a total effect of 0.241, 0.095, 0.064 and 0.056, respectively.     

A sustainable method for optimizing product design with trade-off between life cycle cost and environmental impact

In today’s competitive market, corporations have learned that taking sustainability issues into account can significantly improve their public image. Modern producers therefore must simultaneously reduce the environmental impact of their products and make economic gains. Therefore, making trade-offs between economic and environmental issues is required to ensure a company’s continuity. In doing so, companies have attached a great deal of importance to the new product design phase. However, optimization at the design stage becomes very complex for a product with a large number of parts, which can have several design alternatives with similar forms and functionality, but different costs and environmental impacts. In the automobile, shipbuilding and aircraft industries, if the conventional complete enumeration method is applied, the time required for selecting the optimal combination of design alternatives with respect to life cycle cost and environmental impact may exceed a human’s natural life span. To overcome this limitation, this paper introduces an optimization method for use as a design aid tool that enables a designer to assess the life cycle cost and environmental impact of his/her design very early in the product development process. To support the developed method, an illustration is provided using a case study on a locally manufactured automobile.