MOC scoping—Ensuring that MOC action items are correctly and completely described

Shortly after initiating a Management of Change instance, the owner develops a list of action items that need to be accomplished in order to successfully complete the MOC. This activity is termed “scoping the MOC”. A well-scoped MOC is efficient and lower risk; a poorly-scoped MOC is inefficient and higher risk.The quality of MOC scoping depends largely on the methodology used, with different sites using anything from no scoping at all, guesswork approaches, checklist approaches, to very sophisticated asset-based scoping.This paper reviews the various scoping methodologies using examples from actual MOC processes currently in use at chemical plants and refineries. The scoping techniques are then evaluated in terms of cost and error susceptibility of the resulting MOCs, using quantitative assessment tools. The results of this research provide specific guidelines on how to optimize scoping for small, medium and large MOCs.     

Plant uptake of trace elements on a Swiss military shooting range: uptake pathways and land management implications

Over 400tons of Pb enters Swiss soils annually at some 2000 military shooting ranges (MSRs). We measured elements in the leaves of 10 plant species and associated rhizospheric soil on the stop butt of a disused MSR. The geometric mean concentrations of Pb, Sb, Cu, Ni in rhizospheric soils were 10,171mg/kg, 5067mg/kg, 4125mg/kg and 917mg/kg. Some species contained Pb, Cu and Ni, above concentrations (30mg/kg, 25mg/kg and 50mg/kg) shown to be toxic to livestock. Most contaminants in leaves resulted from surface deposition. However, at soil Pb concentrations >60,000mg/kg, Equisetum arvense and Tussilago farfara took up >1000mg/kg Pb into the leaves. These plants are not hyperaccumulators, having <100mg/kg Pb in leaves at lower soil concentrations. Removal of soil with more than 30,000 Pb, from which one could smelt this metal to offset remediation costs, followed by revegetation, would minimise dust and hence leaf-borne contaminants.     

Chemodynamische Verteilung lipophiler organischer Schadstoffe in Gewässern

Using a simple chemodynamical model, the distribution of lipophilic organic contaminants between the solid (suspended particulate matter, sediment) and the aquatic phase in waters has been studied. For numerous organic contaminants found in the river Elbe, the partitioning between the solid and aquous phases has been calculated.     

?konomische ans?tze zur ?kosystembewertung Am Beispiel des Bodens

Zusammenfassung  Da es in einer Industriegesellschaft unm?glich ist, die Belastungen von ?kosystemen auf ein Ma? zu reduzieren, das jegliche Sch?digung ausschlie?t, besteht die Notwendigkeit der Bewertung. Eine der zur Verfügung stehenden Bewertungstechniken ist der ?konomische Ansatz. In der Artikelserie wird dieser Ansatz am Beispiel des Bodens vorgestellt. Im vorliegenden dritten Teil wird die Berücksichtigung des Faktors Zeit durch die sogenannte Diskontierung erl?utert. Auf den ersten Blick führt die Diskontierung dazu, da? Sch?den durch Umweltbelastungen, die m?glicherweise erst von zukünftigen Generationen getragen werden müssen, für die gegenw?rtige Generation (die diese Sch?den verursacht) in ihrer Bedeutung reduziert werden. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden verschiedene Begründungen für die Diskontierung diskutiert und es wird gezeigt, warum die Diskontierung auch bei einer intergenerativen Abw?gung von Kosten und Nutzen unverzichtbar ist. Die Pr?ambel zu diesem Beitrag ist ver?ffentlicht in UWSF 2/99, S. 119, 1999.     

The population biology of the living coelacanth studied over 21 years

Between 1986 and 2009 nine submersible and remote-operated vehicle expeditions were carried out to study the population biology of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae in the Comoro Islands, located in the western Indian Ocean. Latimeria live in large overlapping home ranges that can be occupied for as long as 21 years. Most individuals are confined to relatively small home ranges, resting in the same caves during the day. One hundred and forty five coelacanths are individually known, and we estimate the total population size of Grande Comore as approximately 300–400 adult individuals. The local population inhabiting a census area along an 8-km section of coastline remained stable for at least 18 years. Using LASER-assisted observations, we recorded length frequencies between 100 and 200 cm total length and did not encounter smaller-bodied individuals (<100 cm total length). It appears that coelacanth recruitment in the observation areas occur mainly by immigrating adults. We estimate that the mean numbers of deaths and newcomers are 3–4 individuals per year, suggesting that longevity may exceed 100 years. The domestic fishery represents a threat to the long-term survival of coelacanths in the study area. Recent changes in the local fishery include a decrease in the abundance of the un-motorized canoes associated with exploitation of coelacanths and an increase in motorized canoes. Exploitation rates have fallen in recent years, and by 2000, had fallen to lowest ever reported. Finally, future fishery developments are discussed.     

Influence of altitude concerning the contamination of humus soils in the German Alps: a data evaluation approach using PyHasse

Background, aim and scope  

In an international project named MONARPOP (Monitoring Network in the Alpine Region for Persistent and other Organic Pollutants), selected chemicals in different environmental media were analysed in the years 2004 and 2005. Seventeen pesticides were chosen and analysed in humus and mineral soil in the German Alps. The samples were taken at different altitudes.     

Imprägnierte Filterpapiere für die Wasserreinigung

With special filter materials it is possible to eliminate the heavy metals lead, copper and nickel and arsenic from water by sorption resp. chemical bounding. After a reaction time of 24 hours the reduction rates were between 97% and >99,9%.