Catalyzing sustainable fisheries management through behavior change interventions

Small-scale fisheries are an important livelihood and primary protein source for coastal communities in many of the poorest regions in the world, yet many are overfished and thus require effective and scalable management solutions. Positive ecological and socioeconomic responses to management typically lag behind immediate costs borne by fishers from fishing pressure reductions necessary for fisheries recovery. These short-term costs challenge the long-term success of these interventions. However, social marketing may increase perceptions of management benefits before ecological and socioeconomic benefits are fully realized, driving new social norms and ultimately long-term sustainable behavior change. By conducting underwater visual surveys to quantify ecological conditions and by conducting household surveys with community members to quantify their perceptions of management support and socioeconomic conditions, we assessed the impact of a standardized small-scale fisheries management intervention that was implemented across 41 sites in Brazil, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The intervention combines TURF reserves (community-based territorial use rights for fishing coupled with no-take marine reserves) with locally tailored social-marketing behavior change campaigns. Leveraging data across 22 indicators and 4 survey types, along with data from 3 control sites, we found that ecological and socioeconomic impacts varied and that communities supported the intervention and were already changing their fishing practices. These results suggest that communities were developing new social norms and fishing more sustainably before long-term ecological and socioeconomic benefits of fisheries management materialized.     

拉萨垃圾填埋场渗滤液处理站周边土壤重金属含量分析及评价

填埋是西藏城乡生活垃圾处理处置主要方式.受垃圾填埋场渗滤液的影响,垃圾填埋场周边环境污染问题越来越引起社会关注.本文于2018年3月22日对拉萨市渗滤液处理站正南50 m和西南200 m处进行土壤采样,分析土壤酸度及Cd、Hg、As、Ni、Cu、Pb、Cr、Zn等8种重金属含量水平,采用Hakanson潜在生态风险危害法对垃圾填埋场周边土壤生态风险进行分析评价.结果表明,受垃圾渗滤液的影响,垃圾渗滤液处理站周边土壤酸度降低;Cd、As和Zn等3种重金属在两个监测点的含量均高于拉萨城市土壤元素背景值和中国土壤元素背景值,其中污染贡献率最大的是Cd,分别是拉萨城市土壤背景值的6.67倍和中国城市土壤元素背景值的8.25倍;根据两个监测RI值可知,150≤RI300为中等生态危害,其危害程度为西南200 m正南50 m.     

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Founded by: Otto Hutzinger – Publisher: Springer – Editors-in-chief: Damià Barceló · Andrey G. Kostianoy – ISSN: 1867-979X

BOOKS

The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry Founded by: Otto Hutzinger – Publisher: Springer – Editors-in-chief: Damià Barceló · Andrey G. Kostianoy – ISSN: 1867-979X     

Analysis of the toxicogenomic effects of exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Slovakian girls: correlations between gene expression and disease risk

The chemical composition of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment is not uniform throughout the world, and these contaminants contain many structurally different lipophilic compounds. In a well-defined study cohort in the Slovak Republic, the POP chemicals present in the peripheral blood of exposed children were chemically analyzed. The chemical analysis data revealed that the relative concentration and profile of structurally different organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 2,2′-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE), 2,2′-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloro-ethane (p,p′-DDT), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), may vary from individual to individual, even within the same exposure area. These chemicals can be broadly classified into two groups. The first group, the PCB congeners, primarily originated from industrial compounds and their byproducts. The second group of compounds originated from or was commonly used in the agricultural sector (e.g., DDT, HCB). The objective of this study was to examine the effects of the two POP exposure profiles on gene expression. For the study population, we selected pre-pubertal girls (mean age of 46.2 ± 1.4 months) with high POP concentrations in their blood (> 75% tile of total POP) and classified them in the high ‘PCB’ group when the total PCB concentration was significantly higher than the total concentration of other POP components and in the ‘Other Than PCB’ (OTP) group, when the total PCB concentration was significantly lower than the concentration of the other major POP constituents. A matched control group of girls (< 25% tile of total POP) was selected for comparison purpose (n = 5 per group). Our aims were to determine whether there were any common effects of high POP exposure at a toxicogenomic level and to investigate how exposure may affect physiological functions of the children in two different exposure scenarios. Global gene expression analysis using a microarray (Affymetrix Gene Chip Human genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array) platform was conducted on the total RNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the girls. The results were analyzed by Partek GS, Louis, MI, which identified twelve genes (ATAD2B, BIVM, CD96, CXorf39, CYTH1 ETNK1, FAM13A, HIRA, INO80B, ODG1, RAD23B, and TSGA14) and two unidentified probe sets, as regulated differentially in both the PCB and OTP groups against the control group. The qRT-PCR method was used to validate the microarray results. The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software package identified the possible molecular impairments and disease risks associated with each gene set. Connective tissue disorders, genetic disorders, skeletal muscular disorders and neurological diseases were associated with the 12 common genes. The data therefore identified the potential molecular effects of POP exposure on a genomic level. This report underscores the importance of further study to validate the results in a random population and to evaluate the use of the identified genes as biomarkers for POP exposure.     

Processing Stability and Biodegradation of Polylactic Acid (PLA) Composites Reinforced with Cotton Linters or Maple Hardwood Fibres

Polylactic acid (PLA) composites comprising up to 25 wt% cotton linter (CL) or up to 50 % maple wood fibre (WF) were prepared by compounding and injection moulding. A reduction of crystallinity in the PLA matrix was observed as a result of the thermal processing method. These PLACL and PLAWF composites provided excellent improvements in both stiffness (with increases in tensile and flexural modulus) and toughness (increases in notched impact strength) properties over the neat PLA resin, while the tensile and flexural strengths of the composites were generally unchanged, while the strain at break values were reduced in comparison to the neat PLA. DMA results indicated incorporating these fibres caused the mechanical loss factor (tan δ) to decrease, suggesting better damping capabilities were achieved with the composites. SEM analysis of the impact fractured surfaces of the PLACL composites showed debonding-cavitation at the matrix-fibre interface while the PLAWF composites showed good wetting along its matrix-fibre interface. The composting of these composites up to 90 days showed that the degradation onset time was increased when increasing the fibre loadings, but the maximum degree of degradation and the maximum daily rates of degradation were decreased compared to neat PLA. On a weight basis of fibre loading, the PLACL composites had a quicker onset of biodegradation, a higher maximum daily rate of biodegradation and, overall, a higher degree of biodegradation at 90 days than the PLAWF composites, possibly due to the quicker thermal hydrolysis observed in the PLA matrix of the PLACL composites during processing and composting.     

Chemical Stabilization of Mixed Organic and Metal Compounds: EPA SITE Program Demonstration of the Silicate Technology Corporation Process

In November 1990, the Silicate Technology Corporation's (STC) proprietary process for treating soil contaminated with toxic semivolatile organic and inorganic contaminants was evaluated in a Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) field demonstration at the Selma Pressure Treating (SPT) wood preserving site in Selma, California. The SPT site was contaminated principally with pentachlorophenol (PCP) and arsenic, as well as lesser amounts of chromium and copper. Because of their importance when selecting a remedy for the site, PCP and arsenic were identified as critical analytes to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

Evaluation of STC's treatment process was based on contaminant mobility, measured by numerous leaching tests, and structural integrity of the solidified material, measured by physical, engineering, and morphological tests. An economic analysis was also performed, using cost information supplied by STC and supplemented by information generated during the demonstration.

Conclusions drawn from this SITE demonstration evaluation are: (1) the STC process can chemically stabilize contaminated soils similar to those at the Selma site that contain both semivolatile organic and inorganic contaminants; (2) PCP was successfully treated as demonstrated by total waste analysis; (3) heavy metals such as arsenic can be immobilized successfully based on various leach-test criteria; (4) the short-term physical stability of the treated waste was good, with unconfined compressive strengths (UCS) well above landfill solidification standards; (5) treatment resulted in a volume increase of 59 to 75 percent (68 percent average) and a slight increase in bulk density; and (6) the process is expected to cost approximately $190 to $360 per cubic yard when it is used to treat 15,000 cubic yards of waste similar to that found at the STC demonstration site, assuming that on-site, in-place disposal is performed.     

Field Verification of Sound Attenuation Modeling and Air Emission Testing in Support of Missile Motor Disposal Activities

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Defense-approved activities conducted at the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) include both operational readiness test firing of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) motors, as well as the destruction of obsolete or otherwise unusable ICBM motors through open burn/open detonation (OB/OD). Within the Utah Division of Air Quality, these activities have been identified as having the potential to generate unacceptable noise levels, as well as significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Hill Air Force Base, UT, has completed a series of field tests at the UTTR in which sound-monitoring surveillance of OB/OD activities was conducted to validate the Sound Intensity Prediction System (SIPS) model. Using results generated by the SIPS model to support the decision to detonate, the UTTR successfully disposed of missile motors having an aggregate net explosive weight (NEW) of 81,374 lb without generating adverse noise levels within populated areas. In conjunction with collecting noise-monitoring data, air emissions were collected to support the development of air emission factors for both static missile motor firings and OB/OD activities. Through the installation of 15 ground-based air samplers, the generation of combustion-fixed gases, VOCs, and chlorides was monitored during the 81,374-lb NEW detonation event. Comparison of field measurements to predictions generated from the US Navy energetic combustion pollutant formation model, POLU4WN, indicated that, as the detonation fire ball expanded, organic compounds, as well as CO, continued to oxidize as the combustion gases mixed with ambient air. VOC analysis of air samplers confirmed the presence of chloromethane, vinyl chloride, benzene, toluene, and 2-methyl-1-propene. Qualitative chloride analysis indicated that gaseous HCl was generated at low concentrations, if at all.     

Field Validation of Sound Mitigation Models and Air Pollutant Emission Testing in Support of Missile Motor Disposal Activities

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Defense approved activities conducted at the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) include both operational readiness test firing of intercontinental ballistic missile motors as well as the destruction of obsolete or otherwise unusable intercontinental ballistic missile motors through open burn/open detonation (OB/ OD). Within the Utah Division of Air Quality, these activities have been identified as having the potential to generate unacceptable noise levels, as well as significant amounts of hazardous air pollutants. Hill Air Force Base, UT, has completed a series of field tests at the UTTR in which sound-monitoring surveillance of OB/OD activities was conducted to validate the Sound Intensity Prediction System (SIPS) model. Using results generated by the SIPS model to support the decision to detonate, the UTTR successfully disposed of missile motors having an aggregate net explosive weight (NEW) of 56,500 lbs without generating adverse noise levels within populated areas. These results suggest that, under appropriate conditions, missile motors of even larger NEW may be detonated without exceeding regulatory noise limits. In conjunction with collecting noise monitoring data, air quality data was collected to support the development of air emission factors for both static missile motor firings and OB/OD activities. Through the installation of 15 ground-based air samplers, the generation of combustion fixed gases, hazardous air pollutants, and chlorides were monitored during the 56,500-lb NEW detonation event. Comparison of field measurements to predictions generated from the U.S. Navy’s energetic combustion pollutant formation model, POLU4WN, indicated that, as the detonation fireball expanded from ground zero, organic compounds as well as carbon monoxide continued to oxidize as the hot gases reacted with ambient air. Hazardous air pollutant analysis of air samplers confirmed the presence of chloromethane, benzene, toluene, 1,2-propadiene, and 2-methyl-1-propene, whereas the absence of hydrogen chloride gas suggested that free chlorine is not generated during the combustion process.