Selecting Species for Marine Assessment of Radionuclides Around Amchitka: Planning for Diverse Goals and Interests

Considerable attention has been devoted to selecting bioindicator species as part of monitoring programs for exposure and effects from contaminants in the environment. Yet the rationale for selection of bioindicators is often literature-based, rather than developed with a firm site-specific base of data on contaminant levels in a diverse range of organisms at different trophic levels in the same ecosystem. We suggest that this latter step is an important phase in the environmental assessment process that is often missing. In this paper we address the problem of how to select a wide range of species representing different trophic levels that serve as a basis for selecting a few species suitable as bioindicators. We illustrate this with our assessment of radionuclides on Amchitka Island, Alaska. We propose a multi-stage process for arriving at the list of available species that includes review of literature, review by experts experienced in the area, review by interested and affected parties, selection of trophic levels or groups for analysis, arraying of possible species, and selection of species within each trophic level group for sample collection. We first had to identify all likely species, then narrow our focus to those we could collect and analyze. In all cases, review includes suggestions for possible target species with justifications. While this method increases the up-front costs of developing bioindicators for an ecosystem, it has the advantage of providing information for selection of species that will be most informative in the long run, including those that are the best bioaccumulators, thus providing the earliest warning of any potential environmental consequences. Further, the recognition that a range of stakeholder's needs and interests should be included increases the utility for public-policy makers, and the potential for continued usage to establish long-term trends.     

Hypoxia in the Baltic Sea: Biogeochemical Cycles, Benthic Fauna, and Management

Hypoxia has occurred intermittently over the Holocene in the Baltic Sea, but the recent expansion from less than 10 000 km² before 1950 to >60 000 km² since 2000 is mainly caused by enhanced nutrient inputs from land and atmosphere. With worsening hypoxia, the role of sediments changes from nitrogen removal to nitrogen release as ammonium. At present, denitrification in the water column and sediments is equally important. Phosphorus is currently buried in sediments mainly in organic form, with an additional contribution of reduced Fe-phosphate minerals in the deep anoxic basins. Upon the transition to oxic conditions, a significant proportion of the organic phosphorus will be remineralized, with the phosphorus then being bound to iron oxides. This iron-oxide bound phosphorus is readily released to the water column upon the onset of hypoxia again. Important ecosystems services carried out by the benthic fauna, including biogeochemical feedback-loops and biomass production, are also lost with hypoxia. The results provide quantitative knowledge of nutrient release and recycling processes under various environmental conditions in support of decision support tools underlying the Baltic Sea Action Plan.     

Marine and farmed fish on the Polish market: comparison of the nutritive value and human exposure to PCDD/Fs and other contaminants

Chemical analyses were performed in nine fish species that are popular on the Polish market. These included Baltic fish (cod, herring, salmon), fish farmed in Poland (carp, trout), marine fish imported from China (Alaska pollock, sole), and farmed fish imported from Vietnam and China (sutchi catfish, tilapia). The nutritional composition (amino acid, micro- and macronutrients, fat-soluble vitamins - A₁, D₃, E) and certain contaminants (organochlorine pesticides, OCPs; indicator polychlorinated biphenyl, PCB₆; polychlorinated dibenzo-paradioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, PCDD/Fs; dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, dl-PCBs; organotin compounds, OCTs; dyes, malachite green and crystal violet; veterinary drug residues, nitrofurans and chloramphenicol; toxic metals, Cd, Pb, Hg) in the muscle tissues of fish were determined. It was confirmed that the fish species analyzed were excellent sources of amino acids, and were rich in phosphorous and selenium. Baltic Sea fish (salmon, herring), fish farmed in Poland (carp and trout), and tilapia were also rich in vitamin D₃.Traces of OCP, PCB₆, OCT, dyes, veterinary drug residues, and heavy metals were detected in concentrations which do not pose a threat to consumers at the current rate of fish consumption in Poland. However, the problem might arise from the content of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in fatty Baltic fish. The fish species analyzed, differed in their nutritional values and degrees of contamination. We suggest that for optimum health and safety, it is advisable that consumers include a variety of different fish species in their diets.     

The potential of public engagement in sustainable waste management: designing the future for biosolids in New Zealand

Strategies for beneficial use of biosolids in New Zealand and elsewhere are currently focused primarily on land application. The long-term success of these and other strategies is dependent not only on technical factors, but also on their environmental, economic, social and cultural sustainability. This paper briefly reviews the situation with respect to biosolids management in New Zealand, where land application is not yet widespread; the rise in public opposition to land application in the United States; and the biosolids industry's approach to public engagement. We argue that, at least until recently, the industry has misinterpreted the nature and meaning of public opposition and thus substituted public relations for public engagement. We argue that genuine public engagement is necessary and that its purpose cannot be to gain public acceptance for an already-decided-upon strategy. It therefore calls for humility among biosolids managers, including a willingness to open up the framing of 'the problem', to acknowledge areas of uncertainty, and to recognise the role of values in 'technical' decision-making. We then present and analyse an example of the use of the scenario workshop process for public participation in biosolids management policy in Christchurch, New Zealand, and conclude that scenario workshops and related methods represent an opportunity to enhance sustainable waste management when certain conditions are met.     

Study on the raw fish oil purification from PCDD/F and dl-PCB-industrial tests

The results of tests for the purification of fish oils with activated carbon for industrial use are presented. The optimum parameters for the process of purification (granulation of the activated carbon, its dosage, the oil temperature, and the duration of mixing the oil with activated carbon) were previously established for the laboratory scale. The optimization of the process consisted of selecting purification parameters that would allow for maximum reduction of the toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) content, while retaining the favorable high fatty acid content [C20:5 n−3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and C22:6 n−3, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)]. The use of that optimum parameters in industrial conditions confirmed the satisfactory results obtained in laboratory tests. Five types of oil derived from various Baltic fish were purified. Reduction in the PCDD/Fs content was 77.0–93.6% on average, whereas in the dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs)—it was 42.7–50.5% on average, with insignificant changes in the total amount of EPA and DHA content. Furthermore, a significant reduction in the content of arsenic was noted (by about 62% on average), with insignificant changes in the content of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and marker polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), cadmium, lead, and mercury.Purification provided fish oil having standardized parameters that allow for its use as feed additives, whilst retaining its favorable fatty acid content.     

Remediation of chlorinated ethenes,ethanes, and methanes in groundwater using carbon‐ and iron‐based electron donor

Field‐scale pilot tests were performed to evaluate enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD) of dissolved chlorinated solvents at a former manufacturing facility located in western North Carolina (the site). Results of the site assessment indicated the presence of two separate chlorinated solvent–contaminated groundwater plumes, located in the northern and southern portions of the site. The key chlorinated solvents found at the site include 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane, trichloroethene, and chloroform. A special form of EHC^® manufactured by Adventus Americas was used as an electron donor at this site. In this case, EHC is a pH‐buffering electron donor containing controlled release carbon and ZV Iron MicroSphere 200, a micronscale zero‐valent iron (ZVI) manufactured by BASF. Approximately 3,000 pounds of EHC were injected in two Geoprobe^® boreholes in the saprolite zone (southern plume), and 3,500 pounds of EHC were injected at two locations in the partially weathered rock (PWR) zone (northern plume) using hydraulic fracturing techniques. Strong reducing conditions were established immediately after the EHC injection in nearby monitoring wells likely due to the reducing effects of ZV Microsphere 200. After approximately 26 months, the key chlorinated VOCs were reduced over 98 percent in one PWR well. Similarly, the key chlorinated solvent concentrations in the saprolite monitoring wells decreased 86 to 99 percent after initial increases in concentrations of the parent chlorinated solvents. The total organic carbon and metabolic acid concentrations indicated that the electron donor lasted over 26 months after injection in the saprolite aquifer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Region: A Cross-Country Analysis of Institutional Stakeholder Perceptions

Before climate change is considered in long-term coastal management, it is necessary to investigate how institutional stakeholders in coastal management conceptualize climate change, as their awareness will ultimately affect their actions. Using questionnaires in eight Baltic Sea riparian countries, this study examines environmental managers' awareness of climate change. Our results indicate that problems related to global warming are deemed secondary to short-term social and economic issues. Respondents agree that problems caused by global warming will become increasingly important, but pay little attention to adaptation and mitigation strategies. Current environmental problems are expected to continue to be urgent in the future. We conclude that an apparent gap exists between decision making, public concerns, and scientific consensus, resulting in a situation in which the latest evidence rarely influences commonly held opinions.     

Polyurethanes Based on Atactic Poly[(R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate]: Preliminary Degradation Studies in Simulated Body Fluids

The aliphatic polyurethanes based on atactic poly[(R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (a-PHB) and commercial oligomerols: poly(ε-caprolactone)diol and polyoxytetramethylenediol were investigated. a-PHB was obtained by anionic ring-opening polymerization of (R,S)-β-butyrolactone. The 4,4′-methylenedicyclohexyl diisocyanate and 1,4-butanediol were used as contributors of hard segments. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of synthetic, atactic a-PHB in soft segments of polyurethanes on their degradability in simulated body fluids (SBF) and Ringer solution. The incubation of polymer samples in both degradative solutions was carried out for 36 weeks. It was concluded that the presence of a-PHB in polyurethane structure accelerated their degradation in SBF and in Ringer solution and, protected the calcification process.     

Man-Made and Natural Fibres as a Reinforcement in Fully Biodegradable Polymer Composites: A Concise Study

Biodegradable and ecologically friendly polymer materials attract great attention of many scientific groups in the world as they fit well in the sustainable development policy and are considered to be “a right thing to do” by the general public. Such polymers can be modified by the addition of different fillers, favorably of natural origin. In the paper we provide a comparison between composites based on two biodegradable polymers: poly(lactic acid)—biodegradable, natural stock polymer and poly(butylene succinate)—biodegradable polymer produced from fossil based materials. For each polymer we have prepared a series of composites with different fibres (natural: hemp and flax, and manmade: Cordenka) and different filler loadings. To fully characterize obtained materials thermal, mechanical and surface free energy measurements were performed, completed with morphology observations and an attempt to compare the experimental data for tensile measurements with values obtained using the modified rule of mixtures. The tensile results calculated using the modified rule of mixture for below 30% fibre loading are found to be fitting the experimental data. Composites mechanical properties and morphology were strongly affected by the type of fibre used and its loading, however thermal properties remained almost unchanged. In specific, Cordenka fibres tend to form bunches which presence greatly influences the mechanical properties but still our studies have shown clear advantage of manmade Cordenka fibres over the hemp and flax fibres when considering distribution and fibre–polymer interaction.     

Novel Tough Crystalline Blends of Polylactide with Ethylene Glycol Derivative of POSS

Blending of polylactide (PLA) with low stereoregularity and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane grafted with arms of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether, acting as a plasticizer, allowed us previously to obtain a novel stable elastomeric-like material. The present contribution focuses on the properties of semi-crystalline PLA plasticized with this compound. Melt blends of PLA with 5–15 wt% of the plasticizer, were compression molded, quenched and annealed, which enabled cold-crystallization. The glass transition temperature of the blends and their drawability depended on their crystallinity and plasticizer content. The best ductility was reached at the plasticizer content of 15 wt%; the achieved strain at break was 6.5 (650%) and 1.3 (130%), for the quenched and annealed material, respectively. The latter value exceeded 20 times the strain at break of neat crystalline PLA. The tensile toughness of the annealed 15 wt% blend was 12 times larger than that of crystalline PLA. Moreover, annealing of 15 wt% blend improved its yield strength by 40%. Despite the two peaks of the loss modulus, indicating the two glass transitions in this blend, no heterogeneities were found by scanning electron microscopy, indicating that the plasticizer enriched phase formed instead of distinct inclusions of the plasticizer.